keeping webcomics fresh

[titankore]

I am currently trying to make a webcomic but I keep wondering if my ideas are too similar to existing ones. So I would like your input on my idea.

It starts out with two kids that become friends and go through generaly amusing adventures.
The lead is a boy who loves to read and write and is into more classical things while the girl is really into more modern stuff like video games and movies. Both are fairly intelligent but naive as young kids are. Their clash on whats fun usually results in fights but most of the humor comes from trying to understand adults.

There is a deeper story involved but it doesn't happen for a while. Also I'm drawing it with animal people mostly because its easier to draw things that aren't real and it's more adorable when they fight.

I just want some opinions on the concept and if it doesn't seem too cliche.

edit. here is an example of my artwork http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4600549&l=5b169da7ab&id=535063572

 

[Urgh76]

Nothing like i have ever heard before so good luck

and welcome to the escapist

 

[Jaranja]

There isn't much to comment on but it seems okay. If you like doing it, then it being cliché doesn't matter at all. Do want you want, accept criticism and try to work on it from others' opinions. Good luck, for what it's worth.

 

[GreyWolf257]

Sounds pretty original. Seeing as your characters are anthropomorphic, I can only assume you will find good reviews on yiffstar, or something like it, if you want help on where to put it. Not meaning to offend you, but type the word "furry" into the Google search bar and you might find a suitable home for it.

 

[Composer]

id keep up with it if u start it for real.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Sounds like a decent idea, I say go for it. if you screw up you can always learn from your mistake and try again.

 

[Incompl te]

I'd say go for it. Listen to your reviewers/criticism givers and talking about current events is always a plus (relevance can really boost popularity)

 

[titankore]

How do I add a picture?

how do I add it directly to the forum?

 

[Incompl te]

How do I add a picture?

I believe (I haven't been on here in ageeeees so im not 100% sure if things have changed) either direct link us to a site where it's on, or upload it to something like Imageshack [www.imageshack.com] and give us the URL for it.

EDIT: 1234th post!!!

 

[MorsePacific]

Sounds like most webcomics. Two people having zany, "hilarious" adventures. All that's been added is the possibility of strips focused around the whole "past vs. future" thing.

No offense meant.

 

[blue heartless]

To be honest that sounds a lot like VGCats mixed with Peanuts, only with an overarching storyline. But you have to give yourself some credit, original ideas are few and far between because it's all based off of your own experiences and what you've encountered. If you are serious about making a good comic, focus on making it one that you would want to read first!

 

[Sleekgiant]

Well as long as its updated regularly I would read it. I'm sad that Vinci and Arty is postponed as well as VG cats.Jack is updated once a week, which is to slow.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

Keep children OUT! No one likes children, I hate children, and by the age of 11, I already understood how adults worked, so they would have to be around 8, and you can't do that because South Park already has done it!

 

[titankore]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4600549&l=5b169da7ab&id=535063572

This is one of my rough sketches but it gives a good idea of the style and my level of drawing.

 

[Noone From Nowhere]

If you want to make it fresh, make it about robots or set it in space.They could make tragicomic plays at humanity for their sadistic masters' amusement! How many webcomics are about space-faring robot buddies?

While I'm not being serious in that suggestion, that particular motif has both seen better days and excessive use of late in webcomics to the point of dilluting whatever impact that using animal people as characters once had. They aren't exactly Aesop's Fables, Bre'er Rabbit or Coyote stories or anything of that nature, more like Animal House with a different kind of animal.

If the story absolutely needs animal people (see 'Blacksad: Artic Nation' for an example of a story which wouldn't have worked quite the same with your average ape-descended protagonists),then go for it.
Of course, that pretty much goes for any gimmicky story hook at all, including even mighty robots.

 

[Revolutionary]

there is a zp on this.

 

[Lotet]

they don't look too enthused at getting thier own comic

and LordNue is right, many people use children for any reason except for the Story. I wonder then, how much does this child know about classical subjects? and what could he be writing about? I hope you're not making him have the personality of an adult. or is he just a real smart kid? or maybe he represents some of what you want to be, people love doing that

anyway, if you can amuse me I'll give you this $10 sitting on my internets that I'll never use

 

[Lotet]

they don't look too enthused at getting thier own comic

and LordNue is right, many people use children for any reason except for the Story. I wonder then, how much does this child know about classical subjects? and what could he be writing about? I hope you're not making him have the personality of an adult. or is he just a real smart kid? or maybe he represents some of what you want to be, people love doing that

anyway, if you can amuse me I'll give you this $10 sitting on my internets that I'll never use

OP, please don't make either character an author insert. PLEASE. it's a waste of your artistic ability.

that's if he has artistic capabilities. I certainly hope he does but I can't judge that yet

I would usually like to sound knowlegable but why is self representation such a bad thing? would you think they're underdeveloped or something? or maybe you believe they're always so lucky? when I write I only write for fights and for the great scheme of things, so naturally I'm left a bit daft when it come to the finer details

 

[SimuLord]

You could always try the Prince Valiant/8-Bit Theater approach. Keep the story arcs going long enough and you should in theory never run out of material.

Or try the Dragonball Z approach. If you take over nine thousand six comics (two weeks' worth if you publish three times a week) for slow-moving action sequences it'll spare you some writing trouble.

 

[titankore]

Well to clarify a few things about the characters:

Eion Fujisawa: 4th generation Japanese American 10 year old. His affinity for classic things comes from the books he reads such as Moby Dick, King Arthur, Gulliver's travels etc. He is knowledgeable from the books he read but as a kid he still doesn't grasp certain adult concepts such as death. He is fairly introverted.

Maggy Colfer: 11 year old gamer. She tends to favor video games, sports, and loud action movies. Her general childish nature helps him come out of his shell whether he likes it or not. She likes to pretend she is an adult mostly when she is trying to get away with something.

The story starts out with just some funny bits to attract readers, but as it goes on it shows their development as people. As they get older they develop individual talents that leads to their and others destiny.