Why You Should Support Independent Webcomics
If you love anime, there's a good chance you love manga too. It's the original source for content and is essentially the story authors originally wanted to tell you. And while mainstream manga is fantastic and will always be herald as a pillar in the fandom community, there's someone else you should also consider when you're reading; webcomic artists.
Independent artists are some of the most under appreciated people in the fandom community. They do everything from attending conventions to sell individual pieces to running their own website to host their work. This varies from artist to artist, of course, but for independent webcomic creators, this is an even tougher job.
Think about how mainstream manga and comic books are made; not only is there a lot of artwork and writing that goes into the piece itself, but there's multiple drafts, edits and even translators that go over it before it comes even close to being distributed to the public. That's a lot of work, not to mention a lot of money. For independent artists, that entire process is put on their shoulders. Even when it's a group working together, there's often very little funding and time is stretched thin.
This is why, at your next convention or if you follow an independent comic online, I urge you to purchase or donate to the artist. Even if you can't find funds to help out, share their work in the appropriate manner to get their name out there and encourage others to potentially help fund their projects. There are plenty of people out there creating their own comics as a passion projects, but many are also looking to build careers starting this way.
I remember growing up, I would often follow countless webcomics, especially throughout high school when it was a lot easier for me to find them. At the time, there weren't a lot of places that would host these comics, like LINE WEBTOON or Lezhin Comics. Regardless of the type of content you were making, you were going to have to navigate how to host and find your audience yourself. The only other option would be to pitch to a bigger company and hope they picked you up officially. These days, it's a little bit easier, but some still choose to go the independent route.
I've always been a huge supporter of anything local or small business-ran. Typically, the people trying to make it on their own are paid less and susceptible to abuse; in this case, not being paid on time, if at all, or being expected to give away free art. I've talked to a few independent artists before, and already it's hard enough trying to make things work with commissions. Imagine that, but for an entire comic.
The kind of strain that creating a webcomic gives on individual people or small groups is enormous, but it's also a feat worth recognizing. It's something not a lot of people would feel up to the task for, so if you're one of those people that says a lot about the kind of passion you have for the industry. That's why, for those of you potential readers looking for some new material, you should always look for independent webcomics that will certainly appreciate your view, review and share.