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| Comics with gay themes and characters like (clockwise from top left) ‘Boy Meets Boy,’ ‘Queen of Diamonds’ and ‘Young Bottoms in Love,’ are abundant on the Web. |
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HOME > ENTERTAINMENT > FEATURE
By: BILL ROUNDY COMMENTS
 
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lives, really sad, and I wish I knew better what to tell them. I’ve been
that person, and I got lucky.”
DESPITE THE WEB’S ADVANTAGES, most creators have their eye on an eventual
print publication — either as a collection of strips, or as a full-fledged
comic book. “Just about every fan I meet says, ‘I love the comic.
When is it going to print?’” says Fish. “Or I meet people
at conventions who flip through my printouts and say, ‘This great, but
I only read printed comics.’ The feedback is that print is still preferable.”
The other advantage of print is getting paid. It is difficult, if not impossible,
to make money from Web comics. And despite some intriguing experiments with “micropayments,” a
workable system for getting paid seems a long way off.
Most Web cartoonists post their work to express themselves, to reach out to
people, or just to get practice drawing and telling stories. “I like
having my stuff available online for free: it goes with the ‘spirit of
the Web,” says Shaw. Keeping it free also keep her comics accessible
to queer youth.
The Web’s biggest advantage is the ability to self-publish cheaply and
widely. Anyone with a pencil, a scanner and a vision can reach a worldwide
audience.
www.prismcomics.com
www.gayleague.com
www.howardcruse.com
www.keenspace.com
boymeetsboy.keenspace.com
triggercut.diary-x.com
www.nowheregirl.com
venusenvey.keenspace.com
www.popimage.com
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