List of webcomics in print


Though webcomics are typically published primarily on the World Wide Web, some webcartoonists may get publishing deals in which comic books are created of their work. Sometimes, these books are published by mainstream comics publishers who are traditionally aimed at the direct market of regional comic books. Some webcartoonists may pursue print syndication in established newspapers or magazines. In other cases, webcomic creators decide to self-publish their work. Crowdfunding through Kickstarter is often used in order to fund such projects.

Publication of webcomics

Though mainstream comic book publishers have typically been wary of licensing webcomics and adapting them into a print format, the rise of webcomics in the 2000s coincided with an American boom in graphic novels. Anna Baddeley, writing for The Guardian, stated that the established fanbase many webcomics have could give publishers a chance to attract new audiences to the print format, making webcomics an attractive focus for publishers. The traditional audience base for webcomics and print comics are vastly different, and webcomic readers do not necessarily go to bookstores. For some webcartoonists, a print release may be considered the "goal" of a webcomic series, while for others, comic books are "just another way to get the content out."
Caitlin Rosberg, writing for Paste Magazine, noted that "digital-first" comics, as found on platforms such as ComiXology, Marvel Unlimited and DC Comics' Digital First, share more aspects with printed comics than with webcomics. With the exception of two-page spreads and the occasional large-panel layout, the formatting of such digital comics are indistinguishable from their print counterparts. "Digital-first" comics can almost seamlessly transition from screen to print, as they are designed with this leap in platform in mind. Rosberg claimed that such comics are not webcomics, as webcomics are designed for consumption only on the World Wide Web, often using infinite canvas techniques or uncommon page formats. Similarly, Lauren Davis wrote for Comics Alliance that "webcomics are not print comics that happen to appear on the web. They're a distinct animal, offer a distinct reading experience, and should be evaluated accordingly."
Webcomics have been seen by some artists as a potential new path towards syndication in newspapers, but attempts have rarely proven lucrative. According to Jeph Jacques, "there's no real money" in syndication for webcomic artists. For instance Jeffrey Rowland uploaded his webcomics to the internet in order to gain constructive criticism after being rejected from various syndicates in 1999, but eventually found that he didn't need to get his work syndicated when he started selling merchandise of his webcomic Wigu. To The Boston Globe, Rowland said that "if a syndicate came to me and offered me a hundred newspapers, I would probably say no ... I'd probably make less money, with more work." When Diesel Sweeties found syndication by United Media in 2007, its creator Richard Stevens still made 80% of his income through his website. Other webcomic creators, such as R. K. Milholland and Michael Terracciano, wouldn't be able to syndicate their work in newspaper because they fill up a specific niche and wouldn't be accepted by a broader audience. Some webcartoonists have proven more successful with newspaper syndication since: in 2015, Dana Simpson syndicated her webcomic Phoebe and Her Unicorn through Universal Uclick to over 100 newspapers.
Many authors opt to self-publish their webcomic in print. In order to do so, many comic artists may use the crowdfunding service Kickstarter, which successfully funded 994 comic and graphic novel projects in 2015.

Published webcomics

In 1996, David Allen launched Plan Nine Publishing, a small press American publisher focused on printing webcomics. The first webcomic Plan Nine published was Bill Holbrook's Kevin and Kell. Plan Nine published over 70 titles, printing late 1990s and early 2000s webcomics such as Sluggy Freelance, Ozy and Millie, Greystone Inn, and College Roomies from Hell!!!. Since 1997, various webcomic creators worldwide have made book deals with larger publishing companies, resulting in their webcomics being adapted into comic books and distributed to retailers.
WebcomicPublication titleCreatorPublisherInitial publicationIssuesIssues totalRef.
AcceptionCoco “Colourbee” OuwerkerkSyndikaat20162
AchewoodDark Horse Comics20083
The Adventures of Dr. McNinjaTopatoCo200736
The Adventures of Dr. McNinjaDark Horse Comics201136
American ElfTop Shelf Productions20044
Ant ComicAnt ColonyDrawn and Quarterly20141
As the Crow FliesIron Circus Comics20171
Aoi HouseSeven Seas Entertainment20064
Axe CopMalachai and Ethan NicolleDark Horse Comics20116
Bad MachineryOni Press20138
Battlepug / Allen Passalaqua / Chris CrankDark Horse Comics20125
BeeShutterbug FolliesDoubleday200212
BeeMotel Art Improvement ServiceDark Horse Comics201012
BouletcorpNotesBouletDelcourt200810
Bucko / Erika MoenDark Horse Comics20121
Buzzer BeaterShueisha19974
Check, Please!First Second Books20182
Cheshire Crossing / Sarah AndersenTen Speed Press20191
Comical Psychosomatic MedicineYoung King201015
copperGRAPHIX20101
Crocodile in Water, Tiger on LandAnonymousHarperCollins India2015
Cucumber QuestFirst Second Books20174
Cyanide & HappinessExplosmIt Books200924
Cyanide & HappinessExplosmBoom! Studios201424
DemonFirst Second Books20164
Diesel SweetiesOni Press20133
DiggerSofawolf Press20056
Dinosaur ComicsTopatoCo20103
Evert KwokEelke de Blouw and Tjarko EvenboerSyndikaat20067
FormingNobrow Press20112
FreakAngels / Paul DuffieldAvatar Press20086
Get Your War OnSoft Skull Press200223
Get Your War OnRiverhead Books200413
Gunnerkrigg CourtArchaia Entertainment20087
Hark! A VagrantHark! A Vagrant /
Step Aside, Pops		Drawn and Quarterly20112
'Gentosha20086
HomestuckTopatoCo201137
HomestuckViz Media201877
How to Keep a MummyFutabasha20164
I Was Kidnapped By Lesbian Pirates From Outer SpacePlatinum Comics20076
InverlochSeven Seas Entertainment20062
The Joy of TechThe Best of the Joy of Tech / Bruce EvansO'Reilly Media20031
Kill Six Billion DemonsImage Comics20163
Leaving Richard's ValleyDrawn and Quarterly20191
Ma vie est tout à fait fascinanteDelcourt20121
Marine Corps Yumi and Kodansha20127
Wendy Pini's Masque of the Red DeathMasque of the Red DeathGo! Comi20071
Megatokyo / Rodney CastonStudio Ironcat200316
Megatokyo / Rodney CastonDark Horse Comics200436
Megatokyo / Rodney CastonCMX200626
Megatokyo / Rodney CastonWildStorm201016
Ménage à 3 / David LumsdonUdon Entertainment20184
Mob Psycho 100OneShogakukan201216
Mom's CancerAbrams Books20061
Moving Pictures / Stuart ImmonenTop Shelf Productions20101
My Lesbian Experience With LonelinessEast Press / Seven Seas Entertainment20161
NimonaHarperCollins20152
Octopus PieImage Comics20165
Oglaf / Doug BayneTopatoCo20112
Ojisan and MarshmallowIchijinsha20144
One-Punch ManOne / Yusuke MurataShueisha / Viz Media201318
Parade Image Comics20072
Penny Arcade / Mike KrahulikDark Horse Comics200659
Penny Arcade / Mike KrahulikDel Rey Books201029
Penny Arcade / Mike KrahulikOni Press201229
The Perry Bible FellowshipThe Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other StoriesDark Horse Comics20072
PolarDark Horse Comics20132
Princess MaisonShogakukan20152
Problem SleuthTopatoCo20105
PvPDork Storm Press2001145
PvPImage Comics20034545
Questionable ContentTopatoCo20106
The Red HookImage Comics20182
Red StringDark Horse Comics20023
Rice BoyIron Circus Comics20181
Salamander DreamAdHouse Books20051
Sarah's ScribblesAdulthood is a Myth / Big Mushy Happy Lump / Herding CatsAndrews McMeel Publishing20163
Saturday Morning Breakfast CerealSave Yourself, Mammal! / The Most Dangerous Game / Science: Ruining Everything Since 1543Breadpig20113
Schlock MercenaryHypernode Press200016
Serenity RoseSlave Labor Graphics20053
SinfestDark Horse Comics20092
Sleepless DomainHachette20181
SmileSmileGRAPHIX20101
A Softer World / Emily HorneTopatoCo200945
A Softer World / Emily HorneBreadpig201615
Spy × FamilyShueisha / Viz Media20193
Strong Female Protagonist / Molly OstertagTop Shelf Productions20142
Templar, ArizonaIron Circus Comics20074
Tsuredure ChildrenKodansha201212
Tu mourras moins bêteAnkama201124
Tu mourras moins bêteDelcourt201424
Up and OutSuper Late Bloomer: My Early Days in TransitionAndrews McMeel Publishing20181
User FriendlyO'Reilly Media199945
User FriendlyManning Publications200815
Van Von Hunter / Ron KaulferschTokyopop20053
WitchyLion Forge Comics20191
Woman WorldDrawn and Quarterly20181
The Wormworld SagaLion Forge Comics20184
'FujitaIchijinsha / Kodansha USA20147
xkcdxkcd: Volume 0Breadpig20091
Yarichin Bitch ClubGentosha / Viz Media20123

Webcomics syndicated in newspapers and magazines

Some webcomics have been regularly published in periodicals such as newspapers and magazines.
WebcomicCreatorSyndicatePublicationSizeRef.
A Softer World / Emily HorneThe Guardian"several newspapers"
AiuraChamaKadokawa Shoten4-Koma Nano Ace / Monthly Shōnen Ace
Big Fat WhaleAssociation of Alternative NewsmediaCleveland Free Times / The Poenix
Boy on a Stick and SlitherUnited MediaThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution / Esquire
Comical Psychosomatic MedicineYoung King
Diesel SweetiesUnited Media20 newspapers
Fetus-XMetro Times / Lansing State Journal
Helen, Sweetheart of the InternetTribune Media ServicesThe New York Times / New Straits Times60 newspapers
Idiot BoxUnited MediaSeven Days / Funny Times
Phoebe and Her UnicornUniversal Uclick100+ newspapers
Tsuredure ChildrenKodanshaWeekly Shōnen Magazine
Van Von Hunter / Ron KaulferschUniversal Press SyndicateLos Angeles Times, / The Denver Post / The Seattle Post-Intelligencer / The Detroit News / The Oregonian / The Vancouver Sun / Toronto Sun

Collected works

From 2004 to 2011, graphic novel author and illustrator Kazu Kibuishi edited the comics anthology series Flight. Published by Image Comics and Ballantine Books, Flight featured short comics by various artists who had varying audiences online. The third book in Ted Rall's, subtitled "The New Subversive Online Cartoonists", features interviews with and strips of 21 different webcartoonists.