How did Web comics challenge the book-length graphic novel format?

Web comics challenged the book-length graphic novel format primarily by offering an alternative medium for narrative delivery that emphasized creative freedom and different structural approaches.1

While graphic novels gained prominence for their ability to sustain complex, long-form narratives in a printed book format, the rise of Web publishing introduced a shift in how creators approached storytelling. Web comics often favored shorter narratives, which encouraged a return to serialization—a practice reminiscent of traditional comic pages but distributed through the Internet. This created a tension for creators, who had to decide between the possibilities of extended, book-length storytelling or the immediate, serialized nature of digital platforms.1

Ultimately, the emergence of Web comics contributed to a state of flux within the industry at the turn of the 21st century, forcing a reevaluation of how the term "graphic novel" was understood in an increasingly digital and rapidly changing marketplace.1