Do you post your real name in your webcomic/website?

[mitchellbravo]

I think it's entirely up to the author. I personally use my real name because this comic is my most loved creation and having my name associated with it is something that makes me incredibly happy. I can understand how some people would be very uncomfortable with putting their real name out there though, and that's perfectly alright.

Yeah, I could definitely see it in the case of someone drawing like, really hardcore porn comics or something. You probably don't want your potential employer to say "Ah yes, Sean Waddleface, let me google him quickly. ... 'The Adventures of Veiny Schlong and Bubbletits'?"

Or for that matter, anything too political.

[Lapsang]

Hmm, this is something I've been thinking about my self recently... So it's been really interesting reading everyones differing opinions on it.

Due to having somewhat, shall we say, eccentric parents my name is very singular. In fact, if google results are anything to go by, I might just be the only person in the world with my name, certainly the internet. So this makes me a little apprehensive... It just feels like, once I put my name to something, that's final, I can't take it back.

On the other hand, I am currently studying illustration at uni and fully intend to pursue comics as a career, so having any artistic web presence be in my actually name would probably be beneficial in the long run.

However, I am somewhat glad I never put my name to any of my shamefully bad initial forays into web-comicing... It makes it easier to make a fresh start.

[C_You]

I generally post my real nickname (my initials), does that count?

[Alexis_Royce]

dA just announced username changes, and I immediately changed my old username to my real name. I've wanted to do this for years. Never looking back.

[erase]

I've actually been thinking of changing my dA name to my online handle instead of my real name because it's more recognizable :/

[withasmilemanga]

just pen names

[VanSavesLives]

A lot of people think my Real name (Mike Steele) sounds ridiculous to begin with so I go ahead and use it on everything.

[FezBaker]

I think it generally boils down to personal preference!

I work as a professional comic book artist, so it helps to use my real name as a handle on related things- however, I have an online pen name that's completely different for personal, non-comic book work, so if potential clients want to Google me, they're not bringing up irrelevant sites like a Tumblr with stupid pictures of my cat, etc! (Also, using a completely different pen name on seperate accounts does mean that you can get away with that kinky porn comic ) However, you could also use your real name but change it somewhat- I work in a four-person studio, and all of us have somewhat-tweaked pen names - for example, one of our girls has a very distinctive surname, so to protect herself she uses her mother's maiden surname when publishing books and hiring herself out to clients, Fez is a nickname rather than my christian name, etc etc- even if you work through a publishing agent like we do, all you need to do is explain and they're very accepting of the idea. My agent has a number of authors that he works with who work entirely anonymously, so it's not as uncommon as you'd think!

On the other hand, I know plenty of professionals and hobbyists who work entirely under a pen name- so long as it's not a name you came up with when you were twelve and know you'll regret when you're thirty (come on, we've all had them), pen names can become just as much a real name to the people who know and follow your work as your real name can. I've got a number of friends who I met first online, and it takes some while to get used to calling them by their real names when we meet up at events!

Of course, some of us (like Mr Steele above me) are blessed with names that sound pretty badass in the first place- in which case, use it! Frankie Salmon, Vince Cable and Rusty Wolfe (all real people) are certainly names that you wouldn't forget if you bought or read comics by them!

[Gabu]

I have my real name in my website, in case I actually become popular enough that a name such as 'scuzzlebutt5034' would just make me look silly.

[squighy101]

I can actually see why your worry sum of having your real name up on the web, I think the best thing to do is to make a stage name. Stage names make it easier for readers to know your work from others and can help with popularity. You can always give the customer your full name when talking one on one (like e-mail, chat or on phone were it's just you two). If you want to be more professional then don't use your full name, they don't have to know.
I also suggest a separate email account, this way it's more professional and less worry sum. ^-^

another thing I have notice are levels of professions

miner- you do art work but you sell nothing and still learning
beginner- your selling some of your art work, but your not well known
stage 1- your selling your art work at an ravage rate, and your sum what known on various of sites, you also have a solid book or manga of sorts of your work
stage 2- Your selling your art to were your almost considered prow to most and your pretty well know, you also have a solid book or manga of sorts of your work that you sell!
final- Your a pro! your have a business or one has taken you in or one of you works are being sold out in stores! :D

usually a full name isn't needed really until your in the last two stages or around that area, but if your popular it will leak out which you want! :D
Sav out

[Bre Ishurna the Wolf]

Not my last name, no.

[Badgercheese94]

Nah, just put my signature and the year.

[Mayja.Walsh]

yes and no, I have a pen name for my minor projects but I will use my real name or a variation of my real name on projects that I want to put the extra effort into and suceed.

[YellowLime]

Once you reveal your actual name, there's no going back, so if in doubt, keep using your pen name. Although probably nothing bad would happen if you use your real name.

[butter]

I don't usually go by my real first and last name online (first name is perfectly fine), but for comics I'm willing to make an exception since I take it seriously enough. I also don't think it's difficult to remember, nor is it too common. My comic shows up on the second page while searching for it in Google, and if you add "comic" it's the first 7 or so results. So I guess that's something to consider for anyone not sure which approach to take--plug it into Google and see how much it stands out already before deciding. And yeah, I could do better than showing up on page 2 of a Google search, but I also don't really want to agonize over a pen name that's catchy and unique and easy to remember AND that I actually like.