Tappytoon hopes to create a space for female readers to feel empowered through their webcomics.
According to an infographic created by Tappytoon, 74% of their readership in the U.S. is female. When asked in an Anime Corner interview why they think that is, the founders of Tappytoon, CEO Sun Bang and Chief Product Officer Ernest Woo, admitted this was intentional on their part. “We made a conscious effort to reach female readers, who we felt were somewhat overlooked by the US comics and superhero industry at large, dominated by the big 2 [Marvel and DC].” Woo said. “We knew female readers wanted something different, something that never existed for them before in the mainstream — we knew we could deliver that — like really well-made female-centered stories and comics.”
According to ICV2, a report conducted in 2017 revealed that 63% of comics and graphic novels are purchased by men and 37% by women. While the number of female readers has increased over the years, and more female heroes are taking up the mantle, comics are still mainly written by men rather than women. Comics Beat reported that 17.2% of female creators made up DC’s overall percentage, with 82.8% male creators from July to Dec 2018. Marvel had 16.3% female creators and 83.7% male creators.
Tappytoon Readers Connect With Strong Women
Bang found that female readers connected with one particular type of female protagonist. “More importantly, many of our stories are about strong-willed, smart, leading women out to take charge of their life and love, protect someone, and right some wrong, whether personal or a more significant issue.” Bang said, “They are literally the center of their stories or working towards it, utilizing all the tools and skills they have to shape their worlds how they see fit. Empowerment, inspiration, catharsis, and even humor, it’s all there, and it resonates with our female readers.”
Bang cited protagonists from Tappytoon works such as Light and Shadow, Father, I don’t Want this Marriage and This Broken Ring as examples of strong female leads. Light and Shadow follows a lowly servant named Edna who must marry a duke, but despite her status, she may be the noblest of them all. Father, I don’t Want this Marriage follows the villainess Juvelian who is left to die a pitiful death. Determined to change the course of her preordained fate, she decides to enact a dating contract with her father’s student. In This Broken Ring, six-year-old Inés chooses Cárcel as her fiancé which the latter avoids for 15 years, but Inés doesn’t mind as she’s counting on the marriage failing.
Tappytoon is available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Source: Anime Corner
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