Geographic borders in the digital age

Web comics since the early 90's have made steady gains, growing from a few hundred to thousands of sites hosted worldwide. While the quality varies, among this critical mass of work is a growing percentage of excellent material - on both sides of the Canada - U.S. border and around the world.

In the process of interviewing Canadian web and print comic authors, their influences, background and ideas are discussed and how they are continuing to shape the future of Canadian comic strips. How we, as Canadians present our work, tell out stories and convey our experiences through art is an important concern in todays increasingly Americanized culture.
In an age where the Americanization of North American culture is easily recognizable in every form of media, the digital nature of the internet is able to look beyond it's authors nationality. It isn't our 'Canadian-ness' thatĘ pre-determines success or defines our work in a readers eyes. It is the authors skill and determination, resulting in high quality work that defines the author in this digital medium.

Interviews with multiple comic authors, both Canadian and American revealedĘ that for both Nations, art is a concentrated expression of thought, that while influenced, it is not bound by global or cultural location.
Regional influences on authors across Canada were found to impact the thematic concerns a comic author is likely to investigate, but Canadian comic artists did not confine their work to a reflection of nationality. For example, in interviewing comic author Bill Duncan, he revealed that he grew up and currently works in Quebec. When asked how being 'Canadian' factored into the creative process, he responded with a delightfully thought provoking answer.

"You might also ask how being an English Quebecer factors in. I suppose it's a factor in that I am exposed to a lot of American media with an outsider's perspective, but being a linguistic minority within a linguistic minority has probably influenced the kinds of stories I do. They're often about people who don't quite fit in, and I think that's something that interests me quite a bit."

Comic author Frank Cormier was born and raised in Dieppe, New Brunswick. He related that he "...proudly push[es his] Acadian identity over [his] Canadian identity." However, he is quick to point out that "Cyberspace allows for the ultimate Melting Pot: we're all Netizens first, and people from specific countries second." As artist-Netizens first, and Canadian citizens second, an interesting distinction and comment about how regional differences impact art is given.

A common thread that runs among all artists interviewed was a fascination from an early age with the drawing medium. Art doesn't come easily to anyone, requiring years of practice to arrive at a point that's stylistically satisfying. Many of those interviewed appear to have interests that lay slightly outside main stream popular culture, as reflected in their choice of favorite art and literature.

Online comic art in Canada, as elsewhere, isn't created simply for the sake of production. Like any expressive medium, it combines writing and art into a fused commodity to express a voice.
Comics, humorous or serious in nature have a story to tell - that which is a concentrated expression of the authors thought.
Geographic borders in this digital age have faded away, opening a new venue of artistic exploration, free from the restrictive boundaries of the print media. Dominated by the syndicated comic strips of the Sunday papers, the print industry is looked upon as an option for successful web comics, but not necessarily the final destination. The end point of internet comic strips will be decided collectively by the authors themselves the world over - through their choice, action and success on the web.

Posted by B.Scott
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