Webcomic Wednesday: Art of the Epic Graphic Novel
Comics. Graphic novels. Is a comic a graphic novel or is a graphic novel a comic? I tend to think of a graphic novel as an epic comic, but comics don’t necessarily have to be novels. Make sense? In any case, for today’s Webcomic Wednesday I want to bring to you some of my most favorite and most epic of all online graphic novels. Can these really be classified as webcomics or are they just too big for the web to contain? I’ll let you decide. Enjoy
Wormworld Saga by Daniel Lieske
- wormworldsaga.com
- Daniel Lieske
- The moment I started reading through Chapter 1 of this epic, my first thought was, “Wow, he must be inspired by Miyazaki!” Later, after reading through his description of the saga’s beginning, I found out that, yes, he was! There is something magical, whimsical, mystical about Lieske’s work. It isn’t just the characters either – every background is studded with incredible attention to detail. Be prepared to get pulled fully into the amazing Wormworld Saga.
Roza by Kelly Hamilton
- junglestudio.com/roza
- Kelly Hamilton
- I have been a big fan of Kelly Hamilton for years. She actually helped me become a better artist back in the day when she ran a really awesome art forum. Her first webcomic was called Good Cheese and I loved it, but Roza takes her comics to a new degree. It started as just one small story about a girl with a curse, and it’s now become several stories long with some of the most beautiful colors and dynamic scenes I’ve ever seen in a webcomic.
In Maps and Legends by Michael Jasper and Niki Smith
- niki-smith.com/inmapsandlegends
- Michael Jasper and Niki Smith
- I discovered this comic on Graphic.ly and I was hooked on the first cover page. Niki Smith has an incredibly unique style that really pulls in the eyes with her great lineart and intense colors. Michael Jasper’s story captures you on the first page and the dialogue between the characters keeps you wanting more. As an artist, I have always wished that I could paint a world and be able to jump right into it. But what would happen if it actually happened and you had that power?
Nikki Jeske is an illustrator and web designer who doodles her life away in Austin, Texas. She blogs at Snailbird, designs at Design Coyote, and spends far too much time madly drawing the many animals that make up The Family Menagerie. You can also find her on twitter.
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I absolutely LOVE the Wormworld Saga. I’ve been waiting for Chapter 2 ever since I discovered it a few weeks ago. It really is beautiful, and the scrolling technique is absolutely perfect for online graphic novels or comics. I expect to see a lot more artists and storytellers following this example.
Great article Nikki, thanks!
I know! He needs to update more often – I can’t wait for the second chapter. And I agree about the layout – it works really nicely on the iPad, where I read more of my favorite comics. :D