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1->''"If you can't draw, never fear, just steal some graphics from your favorite video game. And add yet another unlicensed pixel comic to the overcrowded, overstunk landfill of web comics."''
2-->-- '''[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Strong Bad]]''', ''WebAnimation/StrongBadEmail'' #181 [[Recap/StrongBadEmailE181WebComics "web comics"]]
3
4A sprite comic is a comic, most usually a [[{{Webcomics}} webcomic]], that uses sprites from video games for the majority of its visual work. A "sprite", in computer graphics, is a 2D object that moves around; the characters and enemies in video games, especially earlier ones, are good examples of these. The comic is not about pixies, more often than not.
5
6An artist chooses to use sprite art in their comic for various reasons. Sometimes, the "artist" has no drawing skill but still has the desire to make a comic. In other cases, the artist's skills lie in manipulation or creation of their own sprites. In still other cases, the artist wishes to achieve a distinct look. In other cases, the artist attempts to replicate the look used in the original work, in the case of a fancomic.
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8Sprite comics that use ripped sprites have a reputation for being poor quality in terms of writing, humour and visuals; as they're easy to create, those with the least skill often gravitate toward them. However, there are many notable exceptions, enough to justify giving a newly discovered sprite comic the benefit of the doubt.
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10Was ''very'' prevalent in the years between 2000 and 2007. After that it seemed to have gone through a decline, as more people seem to be aware of the negative thoughts associated with sprite comics, as well as many of the most influential sprite comics ending their runs. Another major issue (which many of the most prominent creators have pointed out when warning people off from making them) is that it's difficult to make money off of one if you're successful - you generally can't sell physical volumes or anything of that nature due to copyright issues.
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12A sprite comic is distinct from a PixelArtComic in that the majority of the visuals are sprites. Also not to be confused with the comic [[http://skeptics.nz/author/donaldrooum Sprite]] by Donald Rooum.
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14See also {{Machinomics}}.
15----
16!!Examples:
17* The majority of the Website/BZPower comics forum are these. Though rather than using video game ripped sprites, they use sprites created by artists in a different forum. It's so prolific that it's developed into its own subculture, and the amount of good ones possibly exceeds 10%, due to [=BZPower=]'s decreasing and maturing userbase.
18** Most of the sprite comics in the Webcomic/InternationalComicContinuity are good examples of the latter.
19[[index]]
20* One of the earliest notable sprite comics was ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'', which played a big role in the genre becoming popular in the first place. Ironically, the sprite comic started as filler for a hand-drawn comic that never got off the ground. Instead, the author used the sprite comic to tell the sometimes comical, sometimes dramatic tale of two super-powered siblings trapped in the universe of the ''Franchise/MegaMan'' games.
21* Dave Anez also hosts a number of sprite comics on the ''Bob and George'' site. Two particularly notable ones would be:
22** ''Webcomic/MSPaintMasterpieces'', a reinterpretation of the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' stories, which mixes the Gameboy-exclusive bosses into the story (and gives a plausible explanation as to why a robot with a 100% Metool alloy armor would be useless).
23** ''Webcomic/MetroidThirdDerivative'' is a pseudo-sequel to ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', written long before any notable information was released about ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', and which turned out to have a knack for [[IKnewIt guessing plot elements from the actual third game]].
24** He also hosted a number of popular, now defunct sprite comics including ''Webcomic/JailhouseBlues'' and ''Plague's Misadventures''. They are still available for download on his [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/downloads/ downloads page]].
25* ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'' is a fractured SadistShow retelling of the first ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' game for the NES. The "[[DesignatedHero heroes]]" of our tale are Fighter [=McWarrior=] (a naive nimrod obsessed with swords), Black Mage Evilwizardington (a HeroicComedicSociopath, though calling someone who was briefly King of Hell "heroic" is stretching the term to the breaking point), Thief Prince Elf of Clan Khee'bler (an [[OurElvesAreDifferent elf]] with a fondness for exploiting the stupidity of those around him with convoluted, fine-print laden contracts, enforced by his crack teams of Lawyer Ninjas), White Mage (the resident [[OnlySaneMan Only Sane Woman]], who also plays the DeadpanSnarker when Black Mage isn't available) and Red Mage Statscowski (the {{Munchkin}} personified, complete with stat-fudging, rules-lawyering, and needlessly complicated plans thwarted by either circumstance, or blissful ignorance of his own stupidity). Quite possibly the single most successful sprite comic ever made, as it served as the launchpad for Brian Clevinger's [[ComicBook/AtomicRobo general]] [[http://www.amazon.com/Nuklear-Age-Brian-Clevinger/dp/0595325114 creative]] [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/hikym/ career]] and inspired countless imitators.
26* ''Webcomic/LifeOfWily'': One of many that tried to FollowTheLeader after Bob and George, though it tried its best to find its own voice.
27* ''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'': A version of ''WesternAnimation/CaptainNTheGameMaster'' set in 2001, starring a new "champion" as he tries to figure out a way to save Videoland from being shot to hell. For Mature audiences only.
28%%* [[http://joshlesnick.horse/ Josh Lesnick]] parodied it in one of his comics.
29* Spoofed in ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', in which one of the examples of webcomics Strong Bad gives are "unlicensed pixel comics". The site currently has a game that lets you make your own ''VideoGame/{{Stinkoman 20X6}}'' comics.
30* ''Webcomic/NeglectedMarioCharacters'', by Jay Resop, are probably the first sprite webcomics ever, having started in 1997.
31* ''Webcomic/ZeldaComic'', inspired by ''8-Bit Theater'', is based on ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series; in particular, it draws inspiration from ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink''.
32[[/index]]
33* Creator/BenCroshaw of ''WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation'' fame had one of these back in the day. The main characters were both protagonists from his video games. [[OldShame He has since disowned them.]]
34[[index]]
35* ''Webcomic/MegaPain'' is a sort of lets play on smackjeeves, and sequel ''Mvsvmm''
36* ''Webcomic/AnsemRetort'' is a comic that uses sprites from ''Webcomic/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' and places KH characters on a FOX reality show. Its core cast also competes with the cast of ''8-Bit Theater'' in the Olympics, with the winner being largely a matter of taste.
37* ''Webcomic/HolyZen'' is a webcomic that primarily relies on sprites from the ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' video game series.
38** ''Webcomic/{{Blazen}}'' was later created by Shadow Dragyon, the creator of Holy Zen. It's based on Guilty Gear's own SpiritualSuccessor, ''VideoGame/BlazBlue''. It's available to read [[http://blazen.thecomicseries.com/comics/first here]].
39* ''Webcomic/PowerRings'' ([[http://wizard-alcove.net/ Link here]]) is a Sonic the Hedgehog-based comic that essentially makes fun of all of the characters through absurd {{Flanderization}}s. Unfortunately, those not particularly familiar with the games and comics are likely to miss a lot of the jokes.
40* ''Webcomic/FinalBlasphemy'' is the story of a group of friends who (mostly independently of each other) suddenly find themselves super-powered and part of a very large multiverse, including worlds based on those of ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'', ''Franchise/MegaMan'', and the various ''[[Franchise/FinalFantasy Final Fantasies]]''. Powerful forces threaten that multiverse, though, so the friends are charged with defending the multiverse from said forces.
41* ''[[http://comicsovereasy.net/8eb/ How to Make a Sprite Comic in 8 Easy Bits]]'' is a sprite comic focusing on The Author's (not an author avatar. Names aren't given for the characters, and as such they are referred to by their role) attempt to make a sprite comic. The actual author of the comic is an English major, so it boasts excellent writing and it's written as if video game sprites are actors, so his sprite comic, in context, makes more sense as a TV Serial than a comic.
42* ''Webcomic/InWilysDefense'' is a MirrorUniverse of the classic ''Mega Man'' games set within its own universe that's presided over a God that's lazier than a sloth watching TV and with a love of widespread chaos as his angels of [[TheGrimReaper Death]] and [[UncannyValleyGirl Destruction]]. Original characters aside ([[SarcasmMode after all, who cares about]] ''[[SarcasmMode those]]''?), [[DeadpanSnarker Cut Man]] is the main character, Dr. Wily is an ex-roboticist that runs a Twinkie factory, [[TheMafia the New York Mets]] (led by Don Bluehat) patrol the corridors, Dr. Light is an [[SmallNameBigEgo egomaniacal]] villain, X (yes, X is in here, despite it still technically being the classic series) is an OmnicidalManiac, Heat Man has a [[AGodAmI god complex]], and Gemini Man is a [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} raving lunatic]]. And that's just the start. Its short-lived sequel, Tales of Southtown, goes to a new scene where SNK characters are all shoehorned into the same city, and is worth looking at just to read Geese Howard's insane rants about America. However, the comics [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness lack any sort of brevity]].
43* ''Webcomic/TooManyAuthors'' is a ''Franchise/MegaMan'' sprite comic parody (supposedly), most notable for being in the [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover Crossover Wars]].
44* ''[[Webcomic/Friends4Ever FRIENDS 4 EVER!!!!]]'' uses sprites from various horror video games including ''Franchise/SilentHill'' and ''Franchise/{{Doom}}''.
45* ''Webcomic/CastlevaniaRPG'' ([[http://www.cvrpg.com Link here]]) (aka CVRPG) uses primarily custom-made sprites to parody not only ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' but RPG ''VideoGames'' and ''TabletopGames'' as well.
46* ''Webcomic/NintendoAcres'' is about five video game characters living together. Its fans have been known to start similar webcomics.
47* ''Webcomic/ThePerpetualAquarium'' is a comic that uses graphics from the Neopets website, jumping between pop culture parodies, commentaries on daily life, and commentaries on Neopets site happenings. It differs from many Sprite comics in that it is actually authorized by the terms of the main site.
48* ''Webcomic/PlanetZebeth'' is a comic based on Franchise/{{Metroid}} that uses sprites from the original ''VideoGame/{{Metroid|1}}'' and Simon Belmont from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaI''.
49* ''Webcomic/TalesOfTheSkullKing'' is a comic that uses sprites from the video game ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}''.
50* ''Webcomic/KidRadd'' takes sprite comics to a different approach. Besides a few small cameos, all of the sprites were made by the author himself (being expies or homages for the most part) while using it to explore video game logic, ethics, morality and so on. In essence, it's arguably a spiritual predecessor to ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' and ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''.
51* ''Webcomic/LsEmpire'': Luigi's had enough.
52* ''Webcomic/KnightsOfTheOldCoding'' is a comic that focuses on various knights trying to rescue Gwenevere. Unlike most sprite comics, it focuses on a wider variety of games, instead of focusing primarly on one or two games.
53* ''Webcomic/RumorsOfWar'' lies in a muddy territory somewhere between sprite comic and PixelArtComic; all the character sprites are original creations of the author but the backgrounds are ripped from [=RPGMaker=].
54* ''Webcomic/SurvivorFanCharacters'' is a spoof of Survivor using original characters from all sorts of media. Notably, it does not use ''any'' video game sprites; every sprite and background is made from scratch by the author.
55* ''Webcomic/ShootersEpicAwesomeAdventureOfManliness'' is a Sprite Comic based on VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou. Sorta. See also:
56** ''Webcomic/{{Gatito}}''
57** ''Webcomic/BroRangers''
58* ''Webcomic/KristophGavinAceAttorney'' is a [[FanFic fanmade spinoff]] of the Franchise/AceAttorney series, featuring several heavily-edited sprites made into [[OriginalCharacter Original Characters]].
59* Like the above example, ''Webcomic/FrancisEquitasAceCasanovaAndAttorney'' is a spinoff based on the Ace Attorney universe, albeit with less reference to canon.
60* ''Webcomic/{{Bard}}'' focuses on the oddball staff and more eccentric patrons of the Leafy Bar. It has to be seen to be believed.
61* ''Webcomic/UnijuHolidayTheater'' is a comic that edits sprites of characters, usually from UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance games, into the Users of Userpedia, and inserts them into a series of holiday-related escapades. So far, it's been running since Halloween 2008 through the present day.
62* ''Webcomic/PebbleVersion'' is a parody of ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire''. Has a lot of LampshadeHanging with regard to Pokemon tropes. [[http://www.pebbleversion.com/Archives/Strip1.html Check it out here.]]
63* ''Webcomic/WarioComix'' was an early crude sprite comic series that began in the early 2000's and ended later that decade. It was quite possibly the most obscene sprite comic at the time. Two storylines included fan interaction and influence on the plot through forum polls. In the later strips, the author matured and so did the comic's content, reducing the profanity and mixing in hand-drawn content intermittently. Due to a lapsed domain name and a lengthy delay in the series' 200th episode (to be done in Flash), it just disappeared from the web for a number of years. Suigi, the author, has posted [[http://thesuigi.deviantart.com/art/The-Wario-Comix-Collection-161 No619277 the entire series on his deviantART account]] along with a finished alternate take on [[http://thesuigi.deviantart.com/art/WC200-185977769 the 200th episode]].
64* ''WebVideo/BobSquad'' is based on the ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'' series and focuses on a squadron of five Orange Star units (one of them named Bob), and the crowd-pleasing [[BigBad Sturm]] who has more than one CO Power, which he uses for mundane/stupid purposes.
65* ''Webcomic/ToDefeatThemAll'' is a narrative lets play, produced on smackjeeves.
66* ''Webcomic/RobertLynchsHeroesInc'' is a unique example of this genre, in that it uses sprites from SNES games mixed with 3D rendered environments. The comic began as a traditional sprite comic, based on the premise that Mario and Luigi get sick of doing everything themselves, so they hire other video game protagonists to work alongside them, however both the art style and story transitioned into its current more complex state over the course of its run. VERY well done.
67* ''Webcomic/{{Pogeymanz}}'' is a sprited Pokémon parody that is almost a deconstruction of other Pokémon sprite comics, or maybe even sprite comics in general. But you have to look really hard.
68* ''Webcomic/ContraFarce'' is a parody webcomic of the NES game ''Contra Force''.
69* ''Webcomic/KirbyAdventure'', a webcomic based on the ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'' video game series.
70* ''Webcomic/KirbyCardClash'', While starting out in Pixel Art, is primarily a sprite comic set after ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe''
71* ''Webcomic/KirbyTalesInDreamland'', a comic about the future of Dreamland after the events of ''VideoGames/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' and future Kirby games.
72* ''Webcomic/StrifeStrips'' featuring the adventures of ''VideoGame/DukeNukem'' and his roommate, the VideoGame/{{Doom}} Marine. Noteworthy for being made almost in ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'''s engine ''Build''.
73* ''Webcomic/KirbyBlast'', previously a sprite comic, is a comic about a human girl turned into a puffball trying to get home.
74* ''Webcomic/{{SMGPMD}}'', an AffectionateParody of the VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeon series featuring Team SMG being sent to the world of Pokémon.
75* ''Webcomic/TheLegendOfMaxx'' is a sprite comic based on the [[WebcomicOfTheGame sandbox game]] ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}''.
76* ''Webcomic/MMBN7TheWorldTournament'', a TournamentArc comic based on the ''VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork'' series.
77* ''Webcomic/DungeonCrawlInc'' used sprites from ''VideoGame/BaldursGate 2'' for the first 66 strips, switching to original art thereafter.
78* ''Webcomic/WinneBobble'' has the creator using sprites he makes on his own, taking liberties of using other game sprites only when necessary. On occasion, there will be pixel art present.
79* ''Webcomic/LiberalArt'' covers adventures from the 8-bit college of Liberal Art.
80* ''Webcomic/{{Megamanspritecomic}}'' is a StylisticSuck comic that is Megaman InNameOnly. HilarityEnsues.
81* ''Webcomic/MegaManDissonance'' is a ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'' comic acting as a FanSequel.
82* ''WebComic/InSonicNia'' was a Sonic comic hosted on the (now-defunct) [=MysticalForestZone=].
83* ''Webcomic/NewSonicAdventures'' is done almost entirely in Sonic sprites, telling original stories using inspiration from many different sources.
84* ''Webcomic/TisTree'' is a sprite comic comprised of gifs taken from Platform/GeoCities as well as from several video games.
85* ''Webcomic/TotallyFlaked''
86* ''Webcomic/AkumasComics'' is a fighting comic similar in concept to ''VideoGame/{{MUGEN}}'', mainly featuring Sonic sprites.
87* The ''Webcomic/EEComic'' series uses screenshots from ''VideoGame/EverybodyEditsFlash'', alongside additional drawn lines to illustrate motion.
88* ''Webcomic/{{Reporterz}}'' mainly uses sprites based off ''Franchise/MegaMan'', however its main protagonists are from the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' universe and it explores both original and existing fictional worlds via DimensionalTravelling.
89[[/index]]

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