Webcomics are the example I hold up as evidence that western comics have been held back. There is absolutely and appetite for western comics that aren't just Marvel/DC slop. There's a ton of stuff you can explore with the medium that just straight up isn't getting a chance to shine. I have read probably in the realm of hundreds of webcomics over the years and the shear number of gems I've come across that should have been seminal works in the broader culture but languished in obscurity before vanishing off the face of the internet is absolutely staggering. Even the capeshit genre had stronger showings in the realm of webcomics than what you can find at your local comic shop.
There is a reason why literal garbage like Crossed has half a dozen spinoffs, its because its a rare non-cape, non-kiddy Western Comic.
Shit its half the reason why Scott Pilgrim was remotely successful. It was something of serviceable quality. Which is also why anything of value calls itself a "graphic novel" now, because the label of comic itself stifles them.
Webcomics are the example I hold up as evidence that western comics have been held back. There is absolutely and appetite for western comics that aren't just Marvel/DC slop. There's a ton of stuff you can explore with the medium that just straight up isn't getting a chance to shine. I have read probably in the realm of hundreds of webcomics over the years and the shear number of gems I've come across that should have been seminal works in the broader culture but languished in obscurity before vanishing off the face of the internet is absolutely staggering. Even the capeshit genre had stronger showings in the realm of webcomics than what you can find at your local comic shop.
There is a reason why literal garbage like Crossed has half a dozen spinoffs, its because its a rare non-cape, non-kiddy Western Comic.
Shit its half the reason why Scott Pilgrim was remotely successful. It was something of serviceable quality. Which is also why anything of value calls itself a "graphic novel" now, because the label of comic itself stifles them.