I like comics. I like laughing. I like t-shirts.
And there must be hundreds, thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands others like me out there. Why do I know this? Because Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content and R. Stevens of Diesel Sweeties post FREE daily webcomics and are still two of the few creators who can support themselves with income from their comic.
Questionable Content and Diesel Sweeties share several features: solid writing, top notch art, occasional not safe for reading out loud at work dialogue, interesting characters interacting through friendship, dating and other disasters and ROBOTS. Both also offer a wide range of merchandise inspired by their comics so readers can join in the fun.
I’m still deciding what to buy when I’m in a solvent mood. Will it be the darn cute pixel owl socks from Diesel Sweeties, true haven of pixelated arty snarkiness? I’ll leave the pixel skull t-shirt to Scott Pilgrim (both in the book and on the big screen; if you haven’t read Scott Pilgrim, I recommend you buy the boxed set ASAP and loan me the poster for my office.) I’ve seen the clever DS Galactus shirt wandering comic book conventions and been tempted.
Creating your own merchandise allows a quick response to your readers. Jacques of QC scores with a kick ass punchline, say “Baking is Science for Hungry People,” there’s buzz, then suddenly it’s an apron or t-shirt destined to become a Christmas/birthday present for the person who bakes you cookies (or pies, diabolical pies).
The characters do their own advertising, some of the shirts appearing regularly in both comics. Charles of DS wears his pixel Canada shirt all the time. Me, I want QC’s Marten’s “Teh shirt” for no reason I can think of. Just a certain sympathy.
Web comics I need to read? A comic related joke on a shirt I can’t miss? Let me know in the comments.
