As almost everybody who writes for the web already knows, and as anyone who writes for print media should know by now, web presence is vital. Whether your work is published exclusively on the web or primarily in print, people must have access to your work or at least something pertaining to your work online. This is especially important to the comic book industry, as the demographic actually buying comics has gotten steadily older, and comics’ original targets, kids, have mostly abandoned print comics in favor of video games. Rather than merely bemoan the death of the publishing industry, print comics in particular, the companies determined to thrive in this environment are doing something about it.

Many up and coming creators are foregoing print publication altogether, releasing comics exclusively on the web. www.topwebcomics.com guarantees the most access I’ve seen to such independent web comics and news pertaining to them. They also take things a couple of steps further, giving readers a chance to vote for their favorites. You may also like the ways they make sure you’re not a spam bot. If you’re a web comic creator, you will also like the way the site promotes your work.

Some independent and small press companies straddle the line between web and print media, offering comics and other books online and through print on demand and even traditional print media. It’s a challenge to me as a writer to work for such a company, preparing the same story for every contingency- whether my work will be first released as novellas, web comics, in print, or all three. However, like any writer worth a keystroke, I love what I do, so writing in prose and then revisiting and scripting the story accordingly only adds to the fun. But best of all for the reader, companies that offer comics or stories in general in a variety of media give readers a choice between seeing their work on the web or in print. They also have a better chance of availability through comic book retailers- another business I love to support.

Even the biggest comic book companies recognize the benefits of availability on the web and giving readers more options. Marvel and DC both not only sell their print comics through retailers or by subscription, but they make previews available online through their web sites. Marvel goes even further, offering full comics online as well.

Finally, there are the sites done strictly by the fans. They range in quality and quantity of content from haphazard collections of lovingly but atrociously written fan fiction to well-maintained sites that boast active, friendly message boards, chat rooms, galleries, and even an occasional visit from a comic book creator, like the Marvel and DC sites do. Some take things even further, offering writing challenges and role-playing games. All in all, they create rich online environments for comic book fans to socialize, share what they love about comics, et cetera. The best I can think of those would be www.nightscrawlers.com. I’m not just saying that because it’s devoted to my favorite member of the X-Men, but because it has everything I’ve just mentioned, including artwork by notable comic book creators such as Alan Davis, Darick Robertson, and the late, great Dave Cockrum.

And then there is www.comicbookresources.com, the most in-depth and indisputably most popular online comic book magazine and community on the Internet. It covers everything, and I mean everything from Marvel and DC all the way to any independent company or self-publisher with a comic out. When the big companies release previews to the public, they go to CBR first!

And now that our tour of my favorite comic book web sites is concluded, feel free to stop by where I work at Media Storm Entertainment. http://mediastormmarketing.com/mse

And if you are so inclined, create your own comic site. There’s room among my bookmarks for more.