When Andrew and I originally decided to do BORDER CROSSINGS as a webcomic, I had very little experience with that medium. Originally, I wrote this series for print publication, but the realities of the 2009 economy and the changing landscape of the comics industry made us decide to go to the web first.

At the time, FREAKANGELS was really the only online comic I followed. I have an academic background so of course I decided to go research this medium and discover how we could present BORDER CROSSINGS the best way possible online. I looked at many webcomics and one of my greatest realizations was that there is no one-way to do it. Webcomics is an even more flexible storytelling medium than traditional paper published comics!

However, because there are so many webcomics, with such diverse stories and styles, I found it difficult to locate ones that appealed to my reading interests.

The following is a list of five webcomics that I think share a sort of kinship with BORDER CROSSINGS. I’m not trying to make a “best of” list here. But I do think these five stories have a similar approach in style and sensibility to what we’re hoping to achieve. If you enjoy our work, you might like these comics as well.

1. THE GUNS OF SHADOW VALLEY: This is a gorgeously illustrated super-powered western. I think of it as Deadwood if the characters had the powers of the Justice League. This webcomic also has one of the nicest designs I’ve seen around. A smart use of the comics press engine and color theory makes the site blend seamlessly with the setting of the comic.

2. PLAN B: Lord Mitz was an artist that I once had discussions with about working on BORDER CROSSINGS. His comic PLAN B proves that he didn’t need someone like me riding on his coat tails. Veronica is the cruelest super-villainess out to get revenge on her former lover. Along the ride, she eviscerates people, imagines sex with Godzilla and clumsily tries to have a relationship with a normal everyday dude. Not only does PLAN B have some of the most imaginative ideas I’ve seen in comics (a skeleporter?), but it is also hands down the most hilarious thing I’ve read in ages. I haven’t laughed out loud at a comic since NEXTWAVE. Plus, don’t miss the interlude story FLYGIRL which deconstructs the internet and smacks lol cats all over the face.

3. K.G.B: This comic by Becky Cloonan and Hwan Cho is about as different a story from BORDER CROSSINGS’ nautical fantasy as you can get. Nevertheless, there’s something about the adventures of a boy-band and the histrionics of their fans that just feels right. K.G.B. has two other qualities I love: a) the bold move of using hot pink as a background color that bleeds into the massive banner that demands your attention, and b) the “next week” blurbs at the bottom of every page. A perfect example of how to turn the medium upside down and use its weekly page update to your advantage. All that, and they teach you how to read Korean along the way!

4. NECESSARY MONSTERS: You’ve read stories before where secret agencies battle paranormal horrors while the rest of the world blindly moves on. NECESSARY MONSTERS is eerily different from its relatives with similar premises. It’s weird, dirty, horror fiction. The protagonists are the kind of creatures that might scare the hell out of you at the movies. Cowboy 13 is like Jason Voorhees & Leatherface’s friendly cousin. Similarly, Charlotte Hatred pays homage to the Japanese horrors of The Ring and The Grudge that have been infiltrating our shores for almost a decade now. The story dragged me in and after awhile I blinked and found I had blown through multiple issues without even realizing it.

5. BOX 13: This last recommendation isn’t technically a “webcomic” but it is a comic designed for digital mediums. The creators of Zuda’s HIGH MOON bring us BOX 13. The issues are free to download through the “Comics” app run by Comixology.

A famous author descends into madness as he opens mysterious numbered boxes that each send him reeling into adventure and terror. I found the story immediately compelling and when I had devoured the first three issues, I hungered for more.

On the other hand, you might already be aware of these fine productions. Maybe you know of more? If there are other webcomics out there that I haven’t listed and you think they’ve also got a similar vibe to what we’re doing, please comment below and share your findings with us.