Are "Online Comics" Really "Comics"?

            Last week in class, we were introduced to the type of storytelling that combines the use of the Internet and comic styles. Essentially, they are online comics. These types of comics make way for a new era, leading to the inevitable virtual comics that can already be viewed on tablets and E-readers of today. Some of our favorite comics are being taken off of shelves, and are being put onto a screen to make viewing easier. But the question is: Is it really easier, and is this medium of viewing taking away that comic style?

THE RIGHT NUMBER

            To answer this question, I viewed two different online comics on my own, the first being Scott McCloud’s The Right Number: Parts 1and 2. This story is very different from anything I’ve read online before. It’s only one frame, and the viewer changes pages simply by clicking the spacebar or arrow on the screen. This then prompts an image in the very middle of the page to zoom in to be seen. At first, this was very distracting; I could not NOT notice it. But after the first 15-20 pages, I got used to it, and realized that it can actually be seen as a positive. It helps to add motion to the comic, so I actually consider it to be a hybrid of motion and classic comic. Each page takes less than 20 seconds to read, so it moves pretty quickly, giving the idea that the characters are actually moving. I’m eager to read Part 3.

CTRL+ALT+DEL

            The second online comic that I read is actually a 4-panel comic strip looking at two male characters who mostly sit around and play video games. It is titled CTRL+ALT+DEL, written by Tim Buckley. The majority of each comic, though, revolves around how their obsessions affect those around them. They’re funny stories that viewers like me can relate to. This comic strip had its first issue on October 23, 2002, and has a new episode every day since then. Over ten years, and it’s still extremely popular, which is good for such a small and simple story.

            So, to answer the original question of whether or not these “online comics’ really fit the description of “comics”, I’d have to say YES! They may have altered a bit, but it’s expected, especially if it changes from paper to computer screen. If they were the exact same, they would be quite boring due to lack of innovation. Buckley’s story does not stray far from paper comics at all, but the topics brought up in the stories are very relevant to a computer audience. McCloud’s story is so new and fresh, it actually ENHANCES story-telling, tenfold! In conclusion, it can be said that the comics of the future are heading in the right direction, and with a few more ideas, maybe, in my lifetime, we will begin to see the age of paper and newspaper comics coming to an end.