Substacks about comics! Part 1
A round-up of indie comics substacks, to the best of our knowledge
If there’s one thing you should know about me—Cara—I’m a nerd.
I love love love a nerdy project. Late last fall, thanks to a call put out by
and ofabout how few female and nonbinary cartoonists are featured on Wikipedia, I learned to make Wikipedia articles. At night, I got cozy on my couch, reading about rad cartoonists. I started by dipping my toes in— I edited two Wikipedia articles about female cartoonists. Then I took the plunge—I created three new Wikipedia articles about female cartoonists.Y’all, it was so fun. I read comics I’d never read before. I felt like I was doing something to give back to the comics community which brings me so much joy.
In true nerd fashion, the Wikipedia project inspired another project: an annotated bibliography, a list of substacks about comics. It’s not comprehensive. I focused on indie, autobio comics, rather than superhero comics. I classified comics-related substacks into 5 categories:
comics substacks, where images > words
substacks that function like comics anthologies
substacks about making comics
substacks about comics (reviews, interviews, etc.)
and substacks that aren’t strictly comics—by cartoonists.
And then, because I love collaborations, I asked
and if we could connect up for this project since is such a great resource about nonfiction and autobio comics on Substack.This post is about comics substacks…the rest are forthcoming.
Comics Substacks
- draws The Sadbook Collections, a whimsical collection of comics using stick figures
- draws Am I doing this right? which I’d describe as delightful stories you didn’t know you wanted to read.
- draws TBH. Recently, she’s drawn a series about God. All I can say is yes, please, more.
- writes and draws Found Objects, which features comics, work in progress, and illustrations. Sarah’s comics are lovely. Read her interview with Autobiographix here.
- draws drool-worthy black and white line drawings on her newsletter Sketchy. Topics include everyday life stuff, teaching comics, life with kids, and diary comics.
- writes and draws Comfort Soup—doesn’t that name alone make you want to subscribe? Dasha shares small drawings that have a lively line.
- draws Mack’s Comics Newsletter, with enjoyable small autobio comics.
- draws a visual advice column called You’re doing great. I’m a fan.
- draws Liana’s newsletter which, oh man, check out that line! Yes!
- is a newsletter with a simple line that I find delightful.
- draws autobio comics about neurodivergence and shares work in progress at Ana’s Comics.
- draws daily diary comics and cool essay-comics at Jett Draws
- ’s weekly newsletter Never Not Nervous are slice-of-life comic stories. I love the subtle facial expressions.
I haven’t seen a Drawing Links newsletter from
for a minute, so I’m not sure if it lives on—but check out the fun mix of everyday life comics and speculative fiction-type comics that she’s got.- draws Tara Comics, with animal-characters that are so expressive.
- draws Everyday Love Art, sharing her thumbnails for her work in progress, and enjoyable New Yorker rejections, amongst other comics.
- draws comics at Incidental comics. I’m a fan of how he draws arms.
- draws Haleywrotethis— comics featuring a cute heart.
- draws Pretend I never sent this to you—omg that title though—autobio comics about feelings and inner life with lovely color.
- draws Snugglebugg comics—autobio story comics that are sweet.
- draws WeirdoPoetry. Yay for poetry comics!
- draws I’m fine I’m fine, a newsletter with drawings that have such a lively line.
- draws Betje’s comics, which are fun slice-of-life comics and also useful comics about climate change. Read her interview with Autobiographix here.
- draws MomLife Comics: This is Personal, which I’m gonna say, if you know mom life, you know.
- draws Margreets’s Comics, often amusing autobio stories.
- draws Comics by Lilah, autobio comics about all sorts of interesting topics.
Trish Tails draws daily diary comics at DishKitty. I love the soft colors.
- draws In the telling. There’s a useful series of “how to make a graphic novel” posts and recent comics work that is in progress.
- draws Kristin Missile Comics which are delightful slice of life comics.
- draws of sound and fury—daily autobio funny drawings.
- draws Audry without an e—3-panel autobio comics and omg, that line is satisfying.
- draws which includes a psychological comic called Processing as well as a comic called STEPPERS about political resistance.
- draws which are lovely comics about being a human and mental health.
- is drawn by —it’s a mix of comics, including autobio comics, and musings on the creative life, with some recent comics about postpartum life.
- draws —autobio comics, often about parenthood.
- draws —autobio comics with a great line.
- draws , with comics and sketches. I love his self-portrait.
- draws , an assortment of indie comics which include a no-touch sanitary smart trash can developing a will of its own and another about mutinous cats staging an uprising.
If I’ve missed someone—let me know! I’m happy to add more.
I’ll post a complete compendium so that all the substacks are in one place if it’s possible given Substack newsletter size limits.
Next up! An annotated bibliography with the next four categories of comics-related substacks: substacks that function like comics anthologies; substacks about making comics; substacks about comics (reviews, interviews, etc.); substacks that aren’t strictly comics—by cartoonists.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading some new comics!
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