Inspiring Women in (Web)Comics Today!

Editor’s note: Starting this week and continuing until I run out of people to bug, WWAC will be running short pieces on some of the women working in comics now who are doing innovative or inspiring work. And not just women creators, but women working in comics retail, merchandising, marketing, editorial, journalism and more. If you would like to contribute to the series you can get in touch with me at megan.purdy@wwacomics.com


I have so much respect for the women working in webcomics. So many of them have built businesses from scratch, using only their artistic talent and grit to become powerhouses in an industry that is traditionally inhospitable for women, non-binary, trans, and people of color creators. I could go on and on about this so I thought I’d limit myself to four. In no particular order:

Spike Trotman – Iron Circus Comics

Spike is not only an absurdly talented artist and storyteller, she’s also a hardcore businesswoman who constantly shares advice and supports other webcomickers. What she’s done with Iron Circus and now Creators for Creators is incredible and inspiring; the webcomics world is lucky to have her.

Yuko Ota – Aidosaur

I say a lot of people are my favorite artist, but Yuko is my favorite artist. I’ve been reading Johnny Wander for years, watching her–and Ananth–effortlessly jump from autobio to fiction to fantasy stories. There is no artistic challenge this woman cannot tackle! If you want to be totally floored, check out her tumblr and scroll back to see her left-handed comics, and their evolution. Just. Daaaaamn.

Erika Moen – Oh Joy Sex Toy

Reading Erika’s comic DAR was a big part of coming out to myself, but also played a big role in teaching me the power of comics. Her vulnerability in DAR is a gift, and her more educational comics–whether they are about sex toys, STIs, lesbian sex or the amorphous concept of virginity–are an equally wonderful gift. I don’t think there’s a queer comic artist today who isn’t inspired or influenced by Erika Moen!

Magnolia Porter – Magnolia Pearl

I’ve been thinking about Magnolia’s comics a lot, because when I wrote the Giant Days article I revisited Bobwhite and realized just how much of an impact her work has had on me. Her comics are a testament to how webcomics can let an artist experiment, expand and grow, not just in terms of art but also genre and storytelling. Her current comic, Monster Pulse gets better with every strip, and really highlights her ability to plot out and execute a complex but accessible fantasy world.

Series NavigationInspiring Women in Comics Publishing and Retail Today! >>
Advertisements
Alenka Figa

Alenka Figa

Alenka is a queer librarian and intense cat parent. When not librarian-ing they spend their days reading zines and indie comics and listening to D&D podcasts. Find them on Bluesky @uprightgarfield.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Close
Menu