The webcomics industry has grown steadily the past few years. New cartoonists are taking to the Web to create and distribute their strips, and new readers are finding and following them. Few, however, are focused on professional wrestling, and even fewer exclusively on women's professional wrestling.

And that's why "Rival Angels," a popular comic that boasts its popularity as "the world's number one wrestling webcomic," has found such a dedicated audience. Its creator, local artist Alan Evans, took some time to speak with Greenfield Patch about "Rival Angels," its popularity, and the work that goes into its creation.

Greenfield Patch: Tell me about "Rival Angels."

Alan Evans: "Rival Angels" is the story of four girls trying to make it in the world of wrestling, only to discover that the outside-of-the-ring battles are much different. It's the drama of four roommates all competing for the same job.

Greenfield Patch: What motivated you or inspired you to create this?

Evans: Since my early teen years, I've always loved pro wrestling. It was on every day after school on ESPN. Before that, I've always liked comic books and art. Two and a half years ago, I was trying to think of a new idea, something I could do for a really niche audience. It had occurred to me that nobody was doing wrestling webcomics, let alone a women's wrestling webcomic.

Greenfield Patch: Over the years, women's wrestling has always played second-fiddle to the men. Why did you choose to focus exclusively on women's wrestling?

Evans: First, I thought it would be more interesting. The fact that it's "women's" wrestling has always been second to me. And there's plenty out there for the guys in terms of wrestling, so it was in the spirit of going for something different. It's about scarcity... and pretty girls.

Greenfield Patch: How do you draw it?

Evans: It's a combination of several steps. First, I thumbnail it in my paper notebook. Then I use my tablet to draw the thumbnails on the computer. Then I print it and pencil it in. After that, I scan it back into the computer to tweak it, then color it in Photoshop and letter it in Illustrator.

One page takes about eight hours, so with three updates a week, it takes me about 24 hours per week. It's a lot of my free time.

Greenfield Patch: How do you promote "Rival Angels?"

Evans: Well, the best way I can market it is by doing the best that I can. I would rather put more time and effort into a good-looking product than spend money on advertising a "so-so" looking product. The best thing I can do is make it look good.

After that, I've worked with a few independent wrestling federations. One year, I printed some mini-comics and handed them out at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling here in Milwaukee. There is a women's wrestling organization in Chicago called SHIMMER, and their promoter lets me give out mini-comics there as well. That strategy has worked quite well. I also set up a booth at various comic conventions, including Wizard World in Chicago, Anime Central, and Anime Milwaukee, among others.

I also have paid for advertising on websites – mainly wrestling websites. I have other friends in the webcomics industry that have plugged me as well.

Greenfield Patch: Is your wife supportive of your hobby?

Evans: Oh, absolutely. She goes to all the wrestling shows with me, especially in the last couple of years. She's this little, 5-6, 110-pound stick of dynamite, and she loves screaming and shouting at the shows. She's also a big MMA fan and a football fan. She's 100 percent supportive, and she helps me out with anything I need. She helps me staple the mini-comics, and she offers a woman's perspective every once in a while when I need it. But the biggest thing she gives me is the time to do it, as long as our home budget holds up.

Greenfield Patch: What were your expectations for "Rival Angels" starting out, and where do you want it to go in the future?

Evans: I thought it would be great to have a readership of about 1,000 people by the end of the first year, which I did. I've been doing this since Jan. 1, 2008, and I've made a little bit of money, but the dream is to do this fulltime and be able to quit my day job. We're not quite there yet, though. Hopefully, we are gaining some traction as one of the better webcomics out there, and it would be great to win an award or two.