Future of Comics

Sarah Boxer writes about the evolution of comic books from the printed media to the digital, in the NYTimes. Comics haven't fully made it on the web. They're either limited by the necessitity to scroll to see the entire page, which makes the final product inferior to the printed page -- or, they've become inferior animation -- neither comic or full blown animation. It's clear that innovation hasn't reached the digital comic book as yet -- and to some degree, the digital comic book shares the same problems that other printed artform has in the translation to the web. The biggest problem is in the appreciation of the art by the end consumer. The digital world still hasn't given end consumers the touch, feel, smell -- the initimacy -- that printed on paper art provides -- be it a novel, a comic book or a piece of art. It's not tactile. It can't be savoured. It's just not real enough. There's something personal in appreciation of art that the digital doesn't convey. Digital paper may one day get us there, but it's going to take more than evolution to get us there. A revolution perhaps -- as the masses won't be easily converted.

Boxer provides the following links in her article to give you a sample of online comics:

OnlineComics.net
Blank Label Comics
Coconino World
Webcomics Nation
Web Cartoonists Choice Awards