The History Of Webcomics

by T. Campbell

One of the more remarkable phenomena associated with the World Wide Web is the web comic: serialized comics strips (or single-panel episodes) produced originally and specially for viewing on the web. Noted web historian T. Campbell has compiled a comprehensive history of this remarkable development in the comics industry and history of literature.

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction, Webcomic, History

192 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2006

Reviews

[Kevin O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does exactly what the title says it does: it covers the history of Webcomics from 1993-2005. Now, that is a pretty specialized topic, I will grant, but as it happens I like Webcomics and have a group of them I read every day, and I was interested in exploring this history in more detail, and maybe even picking up a few leads on ones I might want to add to my daily reading. Sadly, that didn't work out because all of the ones that piqued my interest had either stopped producing or were already in my list. Ones that have stopped include, for instance, the wonderful User Friendly, which I miss, and Realm of Atland. Some of the ones covered, like Penny Arcade, I tried and decided were not to my interest. But the book still was enjoyable. I would say this is not a compulsive page turner, but a book to read a little from time to time as the mood takes you

[Christian West · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title says, this is a history of webcomics from the beginning of the www until 2005. The text reads a bit like a highschool history essay, but there were comics throughout to keep my interest. Unfortunately I found that the format of the publication let me down. The book comes across as a self-published work with no page numbers or index, and everything sort of looks like it was made in MS Word rather than by someone with some graphic design experience. To find out that this was produced by a publisher that specialises in comics (where the design is key) was disappointing.

An okay read but not one I'd actively recommend.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Campbell has taken a lot of shit for this book, but when you actually read it you can't understand why it is so controversial. Small, insular communities treat mild statements of fact as incredibly controversial because they are small insular communities which lack even the mild level of perspective this book attempts to bring. Are there flaws in this book? Sure, it's a breezy overview with the occasional bombastic declaration you might hear from a precocious undergraduate. But it's a decent overview, and more importantly, it's the only one we have, so the naysayers can write their own book, with hookers and blackjack. The most significant flaws are the unforgivable lack of page numbers and an index, but the blame for that lies at the feet of the slightly unsavory publisher Antarctic Press, and considering some things I've seen from them, this package looks pretty good considering. It was tough to track down, I think it's time for a reprint. And considering that it's a key text about an internet phenomenon, why no e-book? But that would require Antarctic to get their act together.

[Kevin Connery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief overview-so-so.

[Neko · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I was going to enjoy this book. I was sadly mistaken. I found myself falling asleep while I read this book >_>;;