I know an embarassing amount about comic books. In Understanding comics, Scot McCloud has an entire chapter that attempts to define what a comic is. Surprisingly, Atlanta and Athens, where the University of Georgia is, have some interesting comics scenes. Bizarro Wuxtry is a comics shop in Athens with a big selection of mini comics https://jessicaabel.com/resources/diy/making-minicomics/ I think Athens has a mini comics con too. I'm over ten years removed from that city though. Atlanta is home to Top Shelf. Which is currently the home of Alan Moore which should say something. He didn't even want his name on a Marvel reprint a few years ago. He's done with both major publishers. Chris Staros is the president of Top Shelf. I've met him twice and he's big into the unique storytelling potential of comics. Top Shelf comics tend to be gorgeous. In content and presentation. You might look into Top Shelf for some reading material and the mini comics scene if you want to keep doing this. Yes, they're comics, but no they're not really comics, either.
I certainly have a different perspective on comics and what they actually are now. I have a lot more respect for people who make them regularly or professionally, and frankly I'm in awe of Sandman and Swamp Thing and the other graphic novels I've read in a way I wasn't before. There's so much more to comics or graphic novels than I had thought of or been able to appreciate.