by Gillian Taber

Created on: June 22, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

It is difficult to write a 'best' list for anything to do with the comic and graphic novel genre. Best is in the eye of the beholder and different people prefer different styles and content. This 'best' list attempts to cover a few styles and to give the reader a choice.

Anime and Manga are two of the big styles when it comes to comics. With a huge worldwide market, there are plenty of sites about the subject for the reader to browse. The basic difference between Manga and Anime is that Anime refers to Japanese animation and Manga is a particular style of Japanese comic and book.

OneManga.com is an excellent resource for all things Manga. From Naruto and Bleach to Vampire Knight and Death Note, it is possible to read the comic versions of hundreds of Manga series. They have excellent searchable lists, an extremely active forum (over 57,000 members at time of writing) and the user can make requests for specific Manga titles. With the sheer volume of titles already on the site, it would have to be a very obscure title for it not to already be there. The site is updated very regularly and is simple to use, meaning there is nothing in the way of your comic enjoyment.

Comics.com is the place to get your fix of single page comic cartoons. They have a huge selection, including 'Ripley's Believe it or Not', 'Peanuts' and 'Jane's World'. If you are looking for some of the big name comic strips, Toptenlinks.com has a great page dedicated to some of the biggest names in cartoons. These include Garfield, Dilbert and Snoopy, all of which open in a separate page and offer many options such as video and games alongside the comics themselves.

If you are looking for the traditional superhero comics, it is close to impossible to find any of the trademark characters that are free to read online. Marvel.com now requires you to sign up on their site and to become a member if you want to read their digital comics. This currently costs $9.99 a month or $59.98 for a year's membership.

Finding suitable comic material for children can be a little more difficult. Makebeliefscomix.com has a great take on the idea by making it possible to create your own comics. The site is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese and Latin. Making your comic is extremely easy, so easy that your child will probably be making them long before you have tried to explain the process.

Imagecomics.com is a great resource for a variety of comic styles and content. Their front page tells you instantly about titles that are available for free reading. There are forums, F.A.Q.s, previews and the opportunity for submitting your work in the genre. The site is easy to navigate and contains some excellent work, well worth checking out.

For a more general idea of what it available in the comic world and the online community, TheWebcomiclist.com covers virtually every style and content you can imagine. From fantasy, gaming and quirky to weird, workplace and Sci-Fi, you'll find it all here and much more besides. This really is an excellent resource for all your comic needs.

A similar idea comes from Onlinecomics.net. Their front page is split into searchable categories, such as genre, style and format. Or you can enter the name of the comic you are looking for and search that way. Again, there is a huge variety of comics available and is worth bookmarking for future reference.

Using this list of websites will help you find the comic that you are looking for or lead you to a resource that will find the more obscure titles. Enjoy your reading!

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