What was the comic / graphic novel that first sparked your interest in comics / resukted in you wanting to write your own?!

[perfectboy]

All of Junji Ito's work. He's such a master with creating an atmosphere of dread, and inventing incredibly creative ways to frighten you.

The series Prophet from image comics really got me into the comic shops to check out what was really happening in the current comic scene, and my girlfriend and I have been reading like never before now

[NickRowler]

I dunno, I always read comic strips in the newspaper.

The first graphic novel I read was Ramna 1/2 which I guess introduced me to a new type of comic story telling, seeing how most of what I knew about comics was just comic strips. I guess reading Dragonball, DBZ, and Naruto sort of pushed me to start making my own stuff.

However, I think I pull more influence from TV shows like the Simpsons. And I think the comic Little Lulu also influenced me in some ways.

[dojo]

Comics have more or less always been a part of my life, but I know the ones I was most interest in were some of the random super hero comics, donald duck comics, and sunday comics that were laying around the house.

There IS one in particular that I remember having my mind blown with what comics could actually be, and it was this graphic novel I wish for the life of me I could remember what the name was, but I read it when I was very young and was something I found in the library. Basically all I remember about it is it was entirely black and white, it took place in a city, and I think it may have been post apocalyptic??? I don't know if that is for sure, but I remember the city being incredible empty, and also covered in snow. (Also I CAN'T remember if there was any dialog in it or not. I remember there being a lot of moments where there wasn't, but it's likely there was some??) There was also like, an adult, and a younger kid, and I DON'T KNOW I wish I could remember more details about it, but the vague stuff that is there has definitely inspired me a lot in terms of how powerful storytelling can be just from pictures alone.

[Mharz]

I started knowing the existence of comics when I read an issue of Archie comics my sister owned. After that, they've been buying me new issues every now and then. But what really got me into making webcomics is Shilin's Carciphona. Her art inspired me a lot and made me want to draw more.

[MidZM]

Well I didn't start out wanting to draw comics, I started out wanting to make an Anime. That dream was shot down by Studio Mad Houses Hellsing Ultimate and various other Anime's attention to detail and my lack of concentration/patience to sit there and DRAW EVERY FRAME! But then I started reading Manga, and ironically the Manga that made me want to draw my own is the one that I hate the most right now, Naruto. I don't feel like going into the details of why I hate Naruto right now but if you really wanted to know you could do some digging and probably easily find the reason xD. I used to always try and draw in Kishimoto's style to practice drawing Manga (Might be able to see it in my own work) but then I adapted my own way of doing it

[whirlwyndstorm]

Calvin and Hobbes was the first one, later the Sonic the Hedgehog comic, Sailor Moon and Magic Knight Rayearth. Sailor Moon and Rayearth had the most influence on my art style but I've been going back and studying Calvin and Hobbes recently to learn more about expression and melding realistic art with a more cartoonish style.

[Merle]

Mine was Mickey Mouse. Really digged them. They always amazed me.

I only dared to start doing my own thing when reading Mangas, but I honestly still love reading about Donald Duck and his friends/enemies.

[SynergyEclipse]

I became interested in comics in middle school, because I had some friends in my school's anime and manga club who were making comics, and there were several manga and webcomics I was introduced to in this club that interested me. Reading them and seeing my friends make their own inspired me to read more of them, and make my own too, but it's hard for me to point to a single series that sparked my interest.

My friends posted their comics online, and I read theirs, but I was mostly content with making comics just for myself. I mostly made short gag comics back then. If I had to point to a series that sparked my interest in publishing a long-form webcomic, it would be Megatokyo, which I was introduced to from the club, and it was the first long-form webcomic that I've ever read.

[saerel]

Mine was Maus from Art Spiegelman. I'd read French/Belgian comics growing up, and loved them (Asterix, Yoko Tsuno, Tintin..) But reading Maus convinced me of the sheer power of the media. I've never had such a shock from a graphic novel before, or since.

[joannekwan]

I dunno, the first "comics" I ever made were after the cartoons I watched as a kid. Like I loved watching their stories and wanted to create my own, and since I couldn't animate as a 6 year old, I started drawing sequential pictures instead.

The first real comic I got into was Shaman King though, so I guess it's that.

[NiLukka]

My first inspiration was Fullmetal Alchemist! It's been my favourite manga for a decade. ... Does that make me seem old?
Also, Inuyasha was a big inspiration.

[vongcw]

Todd Mc Farlane's Spawn then followed by Neil Gaiman's Sandman

[that1person]

The comic that really sparked my interest in comics was the webcomic Smile Brush from WebToon. It opened me to a bunch of comics that I still enjoy reading to this day. It even lead me to discovering this wonderful site.

The comic that most inspired me to make my own comic was Life Happens by Mikochi. Still one of my favorite webcomics.

[ChipGod]

I liked Bone By Jeff Smith. It and Calvin and Hobbes inspired me

[TehCow]

My first introduciton into webcomics was Rage Comics and Cyanide and Happiness XD After that I found more, such as OwlTurd, and Theodd1sout. Eventually I decided I really wanted to make a comic of my own, and I felt pretty good about my art style

[Vanesalisa]

W.I.T.C.H that comic spark my interest when I was a grade school and it was manga and that Twilight graphic novel (don't judge I love that saga well Harry Potter will always be #1)

[Zpreader]

Manga has definitely been my biggest influence, but the line of Sonic the Hedgehog Archie comics that I bought when I was little (and still get from time to time today) are definitely where my wish to draw comics started.

[bsienk90]

Well, the first manga I read was gravitation

But what inspired me to try comic making was Re:Play by Christy Lijekski

[demthorshie]

Believe it or not, it was the VGCats webcomic series that inspired me to start making my own comics. It was a pretty popular comic back in the day was my very first introduction to webcomics.

[WhatAHero]

Freakin' Scott Pilgrim got me thinkin' I could do a comic/graphic novel.

I absolutely loved the series back when I was in High School (not really far off but still).
Reading over it again though, I sorta realized how much I overlooked the convoluted plot progression and shaky character relationships in favor of the lively and simple art style.

It's still near and dear to my heart, even if I have this inner desire to one day surpass Brian O' Malley in a non-existant shounen form of rivalry.