Webcomic Roundup: Moth City, Insufferable, and more!

For many webcomics, their beginnings on the web are merely a way to build an audience before print issues or collected editions are made later on. After months or years of posting online they take their hard work and put it in material form. This process has been the status quo for many years, but now there’s a new front emerging in webcomics: the digital-specific comics. These are comics that rely on the unique nature of the internet and smart devices to tell their stories in innovative ways. Whether it’s story progression somewhat similar to Comixology’s “guided view” or having panels appear one at a time, building upon each other, this format allows for creators to do things impossible in print media. In honor of these unique comics, this week’s Webcomic Roundup is comprised completely of these very special comics, with some of the finest being mentioned. So, get ready to learn about Moth City, Zurvan Club, Insufferable, Luther, and Clown in the Mirror!

Up first is Moth City by Tim Gibson. Gibson has worked on such films as District 9 and Avatar but now he’s creating his own story. Moth City is an island manufacturing compound given to American tycoon Governor McCaw by the Chinese Nationalist government. In exchange for his island, the Nationalist army expects McCaw to help arm them as they attempt to destroy the communists and unify China. As McCaw industrializes the island he crushes both the inhabitants and their traditions beneath his feet. It’s only after a bizarre murder that McCaw is forced to reveal some of his secrets, in hopes that the island won’t be torn apart. Gibson uses his shadowy art and flip book style animations to build his story page by page and sentence by sentence. The second chapter just began, so it’s a great time to jump in.

Next is Insufferable by Mark Waid and Peter Krause. It’s all about a superhero and his sidekick who go their separate ways, only to be reunited by a baffling mystery. Insufferable makes its home at Waid’s Thrillbent site, which is basically the new face for innovation in digital comics. Through great art and story combined with animations that help build the story in unique, wonderful ways, Insufferable has become one of the best known of this new wave of digital comics.

If you’re looking for a story that involves Ancient Aliens, myths, science, dinosaurs, and ancient history look no further than The Zurvan Club. It’s the tale of a group that journeys to a place that shouldn’t exist and finds things that never should’ve been. The thing that’s truly innovative about this comic is that it’s wide panels perfect for tablet or computer viewing. In addition, each panel is comprised of digital 3D animation, with every object being built. It’s like reading a comic that’s entirely a videogame cut scene.

These last two comics also make their home at Thrillbent, but are in a very different vein than Insufferable.

Next is Luther, written again by Waid and with art by Jeremy Rock. Luther is about the people that clean up the roadkill after a zombie apocalypse. The titular Luther is a mentally retarded man who often steals a wallet or locket from the corpses while cleaning the roads. It’s after an unfortunate bite and Luther’s death that the others discover what Luther does with all the wallets. It turns out that he may just be the smartest of them all. It’s heartfelt story in an unlikely setting and the helpful animations make Luther a truly unique story.

Last this week is Clown in the Mirror, written by Tom Peyer and drawn by Chee. A mentally ill man is terrified of the clown he sees in the mirror, but after a breakthrough in his psychiatrist’s office, he might finally be rid of him. In the end, we see that things aren’t as the man sees them. This short story utilizes fitting art and great transitions to help build the suspense necessary for such a tale.

 

 

These are just a few of the fantastic digital comics currently being made. If you have any webcomic you would like to see featured, feel free to leave a comment or contact us on Twitter.

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