For many artists with a sense of humor, comics are a no-brainer when it comes to visually expressing their ideas and feelings. Taking the form of sequential images with overlaid captions and speech bubbles, the narrative art form first became popular in America and Japan during the mid-20th century. Though comic illustrations were traditionally printed in comic books, graphic novels, and the “funnies” section in newspapers, today many artists are publishing their own webcomics online using popular platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr.
While some artists illustrate daily visual diaries full of hilariously relatable scenarios, others use webcomics to create narratives where real and make-believe creatures vent their grievances about the world, or just spread good vibes. No matter their style, there’s sure to be a webcomic for everyone to identify with and enjoy.
Even if you think you’re not much of a comics person, you’d be surprised by how a webcomic can be a tiny dose of joy to your day, uplifting you and commiserating through humor. Scroll down to take a look at some of these talented artists, gifted wordsmiths, and wonderfully witty comics.
Check out our list of 10 witty webcomics that will brighten your day.
Gemma Correll
A self-confessed “anti-socialite,” British illustrator Gemma Correll creates an easily relatable webcomic, especially for those prone to anxiety. Her human and animal characters—rendered in her distinct cartoon style—perfectly sum up the “daily struggle” in the life of a socially awkward twenty-something. From worrying about networking events to making a beeline for the cat at a party, Correll’s illustrations are sure to make you giggle.
They Can Talk
Presented simply as “a comic about animals,” artist Jimmy Craig’s they can talk gives a voice to all manner of creatures, offering rationale and sage advice regarding all the weird things they get up to. Whether it’s a one-panel gag, or a silent punchline, Craig’s minimalist style is sure to tickle your funny bone.
They can talk has branched out from webcomics and now offers hand-signed prints, as well as a book that gathers together 100 of the most popular from the series.
Alex Norris
UK-based Alex Norris describes his Webcomic Name series as “A bad webcomic with the same joke every time.” The amusing three-panel narratives feature a naive, pink blobby character that seems to always find itself 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 how surprisingly relatable they are, even though she draws great inspiration directly from her own life. They provide plenty of reasons to literally laugh out loud, whether it’s her slice-of-life humor, cat problems, or absolutely absurd imagination. The illustrator also recently found the humor in her life's journey into motherhood. (You can purchase many of her quirky cast of characters as prints, mugs, tote bags, and more over on Society6.)
Incidental Comics
Incidental Comics is the creation of Grant Snider—an acclaimed 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, his clever wordplay and accompanying playful illustrations encourage readers to question lofty ideas on all topics. There’s something undeniably uplifting and motivational about his ongoing work that’s perfect for anyone pursuing a creative (or just open-minded) path in life.
False Knees
Joshua Barkman is the man behind the False Knees webcomic—a humorous series of colorful ink drawings that depict the existential ponderings and social interactions of woodland animals, voiced as if they were human.
