Girlamatic

published her first major webcomics on Girlamatic. The website allowed readers and creators to avoid the male-dominated direct market of superhero comic books. Talking with Publishers Weekly in 2004, Hernandez said "an anthology of girl-friendly comics would sink like a stone in the direct market." Hernandez said she had gathered artists of "the new mainstream" and she hoped they would find a wider audience for their work through Girlamatic. Webcartoonist Shaenon K. Garrity noted that she liked the website's name for its "juxtaposition of squishy girliness with hard retro tech," saying that the website has always blended a large variety of themes, including "cuteness and horror, comedy and melodrama, gruesome darkness and giggly light, femininity and masculinity." Lisa Jonté stated that Girlamatic's inclusion criteria were essentially "whatever appeals to the editor ... we want engaging stories with well-developed characters." Jonté did note that she mainly wanted to stay away from female sex-appeal and "frilly pink melodrama." This subscription model was revolutionary at the time, and was one of the first profitable subscription models for webcomics. ==History==

Girlamatic launched on March 31, 2003, with sixteen artists: Donna Barr, Vera Brosgol, Kris Dresen, Shaenon K. Garrity, Lisa Jonté, Layla Lawlor, Jenn Manley Lee, Dylan Meconis, Andre Richard, Harley Sparx, Spike Trotman, Jason Thompson, Carla Speed McNeil, Rachel Hartman, Jesse Hamm, and Tochi. Girlamatic archives could be accessed for $2.95 USD per month or $29.95 per year. Arcana Jayne creator Lisa Jonté took over Hernandez's role as editor in early 2006. At this point, Girlamatic sent out an open call to creators once or twice per year. McQueen believed the subscription model of the Modern Tales-family had failed and too few readers were willing to pay for online media. Girlamatic went on to have limited online advertising handled by the ComicSpace ad network. McQueen aspired to have print editions of Girlamatic in the tradition of Shojo Beat, and Girlamatic closed alongside Manley's other websites in April 2013. ==Webcomics==

stated that serializing a weekly webcomic on Girlamatic "[offered] just enough structure to finally tell a story" she had in mind for years. • Svetlana Chmakova's first professional work was publishing Chasing Rainbows on Girlamatic. • Barry Deutch began publishing Hereville on Girlamatic in 2004. • Shaenon K. Garrity published a spin-off of her webcomic Narbonic on Girlamatic, titled ''Li'l Mell and Sergio''. • Layla Lawlor published ''Kismet: Hunter's Moon'' on Girlamatic. • Dave Roman began releasing Astronaut Elementary on Girlamatic in 2004. and Smile graphic novels on Girlamatic in 2004. • Arcana Jayne, a strip by Girlamatic editor and former Sequential Tart contributor Lisa R. Jonté. Set in a 1930s-meets-sorcery world, the comic follows the adventures of the titular Arcana Jayne, a witch and treasure seeking hedonist. The character was one Jonté had previously created, utilising her creation for the new strip. Two new webcomics were added to the Girlamatic roster during its 2009 relaunch: The Continentals by Darryl Hughes and Monique McNaughton, and Godseeker by Lisa Gilbert and Terry Blauer. ==Reception==

Some critics were unsure what to make of the website when it launched in 2003. American editorial cartoonist Ted Rall initially proclaimed the website a "ghetto for women cartoonists". In 2006, comic book author Gail Simone called Girlamatic "one of the most important venues for female-friendly comics created to date." Girlamatic has received various Lulu awards and nominations for being among the "most women-friendly and reader-friendly work in comics." ==References==