ANNOUNCING LUNCHBOX FUNNIES

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

The idea of a webcomics collective is hardly a new one. But the newest entrant into the crowded webcomics field offers something different – something for everyone. Launching today at www.lunchboxfunnies.com, Lunchbox Funnies is a collection of eight ongoing webcomics with the common thread of being "all ages".

Although some might classify "all ages" as kids only, it's not: a successful "all ages" title is one that is understandable and enjoyable for people regardless of their age. If it's something you wouldn't mind giving to your youngest family member and your oldest, then that's all ages. "I think there's a misconception that the term "all-ages" refers only to entertainment aimed at children. All-ages means simply that," said Butterfly creator Dean Trippe, whose comic is one of the eight series of the new collective.

"It seems like the idea of appealing to the largest possible audience has gone out of favor lately, as mature dramas on television get more and more adult, and simultaneously children's programming has grown more and more juvenile," said Trippe. "The cartoonists of Lunchbox Funnies hope to provide quality comics that anyone can enjoy--comics that parents, teachers, and older siblings can enjoy just as much as the children that look up to them. There's just so little entertainment these days that crosses those boundaries."

The eight series under the Lunchbox Funnies banner is an eclectic mix, in both the comics and the creators themselves. Besides Trippe's Butterfly there is also Ovi Nedelcu's Lunchbox, Ryan Sias' Silent Kimbly, Astronaut Elementary by Dave Roman, Mike Maihack's Cow & Buffalo, Zip & Li'l Bit by Trade Loeffler, Aki Alliance by Ryan Estrada and Wally & Osborne by Tyler Martin.

The idea of Lunchbox Funnies originated with Tyler Martin of Wally & Osborne, who fleshed it out with friends and fellow cartoonists Sias and Trippe. The strategy of having a comic collective is that with a more unified front and common thread, the group can create more awareness of each of their all-ages comics. "Comic collectives can serve a good purpose in a market that competes for attention, much like Voltron; a group of like-minded creators can form together to become a new superpower," said Martin.

"Well, to be honest, it's just that there are so few reliably all-ages comics out there that aligning with other ones that my readers could link over to and enjoy seemed like a no-brainer," said Dean Trippe, creator of Butterfly.

The webcomics of Lunchbox Funnies aren't new to the game, as each of them has already had successful runs on their own and build audiences. "Silent Kimbly is and has always been all ages," said creator Ryan Sias. "My audience is definitely is all ages. I mostly get teen girls – college women and hipster moms. But I also get young kids, who sit in their mom’s lab and enjoy my comics. For this last Halloween I had a fan Yukiko make a whole Kimbly costume. It’s amazing, you can see it here."

Although each individual series will continue to be posted on their individual websites, the Lunchboxfunnies.com site will serve as a rallying point for the series and the broader theme of "all ages" webcomics. "It serves to provide a staple selection of some of the best work being done in this genre, as well as regularly promoting other all-ages comics worthy of greater attention," said Martin. "Our members will continue to publish the comics from their own sites, so they can maintain their unique layouts, artistic delivery, and how they want the comics to be read."

Under one roof, readers will be able to find several varieties of "all ages" comics, whether it be silver age super-heroics of Butterfly, the off-kilter kids tales of Lunchbox and other possibilities. "Readers can find several quality comics of a similar light-hearted feel to them but with a variety of humor, stories and stylish art," explained Martin, the website's founder. "With an audience of aging Webcomic readers, they can recapture some innocent fun that a no-holds barred Internet is often devoid of. They will be able share some of their comic reading hobby with their own children now coming of reading age. Young and old readers alike will have a place to go to share smiles and bridge gaps."

Visit http://www.lunchboxfunnies.com to sample each of the eight comic strips.

[Bill_Nolan]

This should be great! I'm all about the all-ages stuff. I'm definitely looking forward to checking out this site, but when I clicked on the link this monring there was nothing really there yet.

- B

Edited to add: OK, now it's up and running.

[marioboon]

Neat!

I want more of that! And me being a part of it

[djcoffman]

This is greatness. I've enjoyed several of the cartoonist's work from that group already, and now I get to discover some more.

[ssava]

This is wonderful!
It's great to see more All Ages books out there!

Way to go!!!

[J. Torres]

Good luck with this endeavour, everyone! I look forward to being a regular reader! And spreading the word to all the kids in my family...