For many artists with a sense of humor, comic books are a no-brainer when it comes to visually expressing their ideas and feelings. Taking the form of sequential images with superimposed captions and speech bubbles, the narrative art form first became popular in America and Japan in the mid-20th century. Although comic book illustrations have traditionally been printed in comic books, graphic novels, and the “funnies” section of newspapers, many artists today publish their own webcomics online using popular platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr.
While some artists illustrate daily visual diaries full of hilarious storylines, others use webcomics to create narratives where real and imagined creatures air their grievances about the world, or just spread good vibes. Whatever their style, there is sure to be a webcomic that everyone can relate to and have fun with.
Even if you think you’re not really a fan of comics, you’d be surprised how much a webcomic can be a small dose of joy to your day, uplifting and compassionate through humor. Scroll down to take a look at some of these talented, verbally gifted artists and wonderfully witty comics.
Check out our list of 10 witty webcomics that will brighten your day.
Gemma Correl
British illustrator Gemma Correll, a self-proclaimed “anti-socialite”, creates an easily recognizable webcomic, especially for those prone to anxiety. His human and animal characters – rendered in his distinct comic book style – perfectly encapsulate the “daily struggle” in the life of a socially awkward twentysomething. Whether it’s worrying about networking events or heading to the chat room at a party, Correll’s illustrations are sure to make you laugh.
They can talk
Billed simply as “an animal comic,” artist Jimmy Craig they can talk gives voice to all manner of creatures, offering vindication and sound advice regarding all the weird things they do. Whether it’s a one-panel gag or a quiet punchline, Craig’s minimalist style is sure to tickle your funny bone.
They can talk has moved away from webcomics and now offers hand-signed prints, as well as a book that collects 100 of the most popular from the series.
Alex Norris
UK-based Alex Norris describes his Web comic name series like “A bad webcomic with the same joke every time.” The fun three-panel stories feature a naive, rosy blobby character who always seems to find himself in those all-too-relatable “oh no” moments.
Hannah Hillam
Hannah Hillam is an artist whose 4-panel comics have found a loyal following due to their surprisingly relatableness, even though she draws inspiration directly from her own life. They provide plenty of reasons to literally laugh out loud, whether it’s his slice-of-life humor, his cat issues, or his utterly absurd imagination. The illustrator also recently found humor in her life’s journey to motherhood. (You can buy many of his original characters as prints, mugs, tote bags and more at Society6.)
comics accessories
comics accessories is the creation of Grant Snider, renowned illustrator, author of The Shape of Ideas: An Illustrated Exploration of Creativity, and frequent contributor to The New York Times Book Review. Snider’s multi-panel comics often revolve around art, creativity, writing, and finding inspiration. More often than not, its clever puns and accompanying playful illustrations encourage readers to question lofty ideas on any subject. There’s undeniably something uplifting and motivating about his ongoing work that’s perfect for anyone pursuing a creative (or just open-minded) path in life.
fake knees
Joshua Barkman is the man behind the fake knees webcomic – a humorous series of colorful ink drawings that depict the existential musings and social interactions of woodland animals, voiced as if they were human.