Webcomics are something I have only discovered in the last couple months...and boy am I glad did! It takes real talent to get people hooked and keep them interested with only a couple of panels a week...and it just takes a couple minutes a day to check them out. I know I am probably missing a couple of "big ones", but I don't really care, here are the 5 webcomics that I enjoyed most over the past "year"!

5. EmiTown

Written and drawn by Emi Lennox, I first heard about her work and blog on an episode of iFanboy's Don't Miss podcast. While it's less of a "comic" and more of a "online graphic diary" of sorts, it is nonetheless awesome. It is really an insight into her life on a day-by-day basis, conveyed through a variety of styles and emotions, and helped along by some poignant song lyrics and movie quotes. And what's great to see is that other people are noticing as well...she is doing some pages for the upcoming Sweet Tooth #19 (further evidence that Jeff Lemire is a genius) and some page in an upcoming Madman special. If you like the work she's doing, she has put together a 400 page collection (365 days plus some extras) in print (available on Amazon here) which can be had for under $17!




 
3. Troop 142

I really like Mike Dawson. In my exploration of the comics world this year, I managed to stumble upon Freddie and Me in my local public library and was immediately blown away. It was different than anything else I had read up to that point, and when I found out he had a webcomic going I was very excited. Troop 142 does not disappoint. Dawson's signature black and white art is great as usual, and his storytelling style seem perfect for a webcomic. Even better news is that Troop 142 is going to be getting done up in graphic novel form later this year!





2. The Guns of Shadow Valley

Probably the most beautiful webcomic out there, The Guns of Shadow Valley, written by Dave Wachter and James Andrew Clark with art by Dave Wachter, is a western adventure tale set in the Oklahoma Territory during the 1870's. And it's also awesome!


1. Axe Cop

What can you say about Axe Cop? Just look at this picture and tell me you wouldn't read this! Written by 5 year old  Malachai Nicolle and drawn by his very talented 29 year old brother Ethan Nicolle, this webcomic has been grabbing the world by its collar and not letting go. The premise...well, basically there is a Cop and he has (you guessed it) an axe...and everything goes apeshit from there!





Honorable Mentions

Mystery Solved (Zack Kruse and friends) - A globetrotting adventure helmed by The Colonel awaits in this beautifully drawn webcomic.

Hark, a Vagrant (Kate Beaton) -  She's funny, clever, and (most importantly) Canadian. Makes me laugh every time!

Scenes from a Multiverse (Jonathan Rosenberg) - Described as "a webcomic reality show with more unreality than reality", this webcomic explores what it's like to live in a multiverse, with each destination voted on by the readers. Great fun and some great art!


Dinosaur Comics (Ryan North) - Another Canadian (we're slowly taking over comics)! This webcomic uses the exact same artwork of two dinosaurs with the dialogue being the only thing that changes...and yet, it is magic!

xkcd (Randall Monroe) - "A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language" written by a physics graduate and NASA employee...and some of the funniest comics on the web!