Results tagged “dinosaurcomics”

Insanely popular Dinosaur Comics is one of Toronto's most unusual success stories. Insanely popular Twitter is one of the internet's most unusual success stories. Mash them up and you have a whole new level of meta.

This weekend’s TCAF was a lesson in facial hair and anxious hovering (refer to Karen Whaley's photo recap). Most comic artists are known for their self-loathing and surrealism (what artists aren’t?), but never have so many accomplished beards gathered in one place. Knowing that comics have traditionally been a boy’s club, it was especially great to see so many women artists come out and make it a more gender-even atmosphere. However, the female presence did make the nervous, skinny boys floating about the tables even more so. The tension! Oh yes, the tension!

The best things in life are free: long walks on the beach, make-outs in the dark and, for one day a year, comic books. Comics nerds around the globe will unite in spirit this Saturday to celebrate Free Comic Book Day, which means a trip to your local comic book store will result in a handful of free stuff and a general sense of well-being.

Can you still call yourself a webcartoonist if you don't actually draw your own strip? Toronto resident Ryan North proves that the answer is a resounding "yes". Three years ago, he launched Dinosaur Comics, the conversational adventures of T-Rex and his friends Dromeceiomimus and Utahraptor, where characters are rendered in archaic clip art and the panel structure never changes. Dinosaur Comics' popularity has been increasing ever since: Ryan's site averages 70,000 hits per day and he supports himself financially through t-shirt and book sales. The former computer science student now spends his days answering fan-mail, working on several internet-related side projects, and talking to Torontoist over soup and sandwiches.

It's old news now, but just in case you didn't hear, Boing Boing editor and former Torontonian Cory Doctorow is one of three judges for the 2006 Blooker prize. The Lulu Blooker prize is awarded to the best non-fiction, fiction and comic books inspired by a blog (or blog turned into books). The most impressive title on the short list, in Torontoist's humble opinion is Julie Powell's Julie and Julia, the New York secretary that cooked every recipe in Julia Child's epic Mastering the Art of French Cooking. But we also have a soft spot for Toronto artist Ryan North's Dinosaur Comics. (pictured above)