So what makes a good webcomic?

[Furrama]

(This isn't about liking or hating individual webcomics, it's about what you like or hate to see in webcomics story structures, in any genre.)

I was reading though the Zero Punctuation about webcomics and after 28 some pages of Buckley bashing and other such heated discussions I began to wonder what this fine group of people thought a good webcomic IS exactly. I feel as though most people here are Yahtzee worshipers to some degree, and seem to like to unleash a bit of his spirited sarcasm whenever it is applicable, (though I may be reading to much into things). Good or bad, that makes this group/groups of people quite interesting to me.

As such, I am very interested in what you DO like- what are you willing to overlook in storylines, what do you read for pages hoping to see? How much does artist/writer's ego play into your like/dislike of the comic? When do you think a comic has 'jumped the shark'? (If you really have some comic you really want to rip into or hold up cite your source and say specifically why you think it's bad or good. If bad, try and see if there is ANYTHING salvageable about it, if there ever was.)

 

[milskidasith]

I like Penny Arcade and XKCD (and Cyanide and Happiness). They both manage to be humorous, but more subtle than most webcomics, and they never seem to stray from their inherent wackiness, even when doing "story arcs" (which, in this case, is actually NOT about a miscarriage.)

What I like about Penny Arcade: It gets the punchline off in the end (instead of on frame two with two more frames explaining it, hint hint), it manages to be about videogames in a way that usually isn't an extremely obscure reference about the game a "cake is a lie" or other meme related joke, or using violence every comic (don't get me wrong, violence can be a good punchline... but not when the punchlines already been done, or you do it every time), and it can be subtle when it wants to be. You don't have to be a genius to figure it out, but it isn't the type of violent crap that's funny for just enough comics to get somebody to be a violent fan.

Pretty much the same for XKCD, but with technology replacing videogames. It is a bit heavier on techno-speak, but you can understand it most of the time. I forgive the fact it sometimes gets really wacky because it's A: genuinly funny and B: has never attempted to muddle the main comic with seriousness.

And Cyanide and Happiness... After just disliking comics due to violence, why do I like this? It's all crude humor and bad drawings. However, the violence and crude humor in Cyanide and Happiness is legitimatly funny. It isn't just a groinkick every few minutes, it's a legitimate act of cruelty done is some fashion that's so over the top it's funny.

Basically, there is a scale of violence and crude humor:

Groin kicks, the occasional random arrow, fart jokes, etc: Generally funny if added in every so often, but they get old fast.

Rape, brutal decapitation in a way that is for pure revenge and not from stuff like that, racist jokes that aren't funny but are just basically saying "whites are better!" (and yes, I've seen all of that in supposedly "funny" webcomics): Just... bad.

And then the REALLY crazy stuff that C & A sometimes pulls, where they take something that would normally be freaky and make it funny by going over the top with it. For example, in one comic, a bunch of people get their arms and legs (apparantly) cut off so one guy can make himself into a spider guy. Sounds freaky, right? But when they all joyously shout "We're worm people!" and considering the general insanity of grafting other people's arms onto you, it goes past the 10 year old stupid humor, shoots above the "why the hell would you try to make a joke of that" level, and loops back around to where it is, and will always be, genuinly funny.

 

[rottenbutter]

I would have to say not overloading it with something that shouldn't be there.
Like putting too much drama in a comedy comic.

It should also update regularly, not just when the creator gets around to it.
Even if it is worth the wait.

CAD is dead to me and I'm going crazy waiting for the next VG Cats.

 

[Jonathan Hexley]

I like humour in my webcomics, and not just normal 'I made a joke har har look at me I'm smart' humour, no. I like my comics to have questionable humour. Such as sexual innuendos, and possibly a gender switch.
But those never mean anything if they're used too much. What I'm trying to say is have something good, but don't have too much of that or the comic's going to be CRAP.
Plus, I have to agree. Try to keep with a good schedule, and if a comic IS late, at least have a decent reason for it, and not a half-arsed one that a five-year old could easily make up.

 

[Bling Cat]

http://www.hlcomic.com/
Saves time if I tell you through example.

 

[Souplex]

So long as its funy, the art is tolerable to look at and it isnt needlessly offensive I can dig it.

 

[cainbrain]

I would have to say 'Sinfest' (http://www.sinfest.net) , it reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes but for a bit more grown up tastes.

I also like anything by bleedman mostly for the stories and the fantastic art.

 

[Erana]

XKCD and a lesser-known comic called, "Chain Bear," have a similar mode of indirect humor. One is for programmers, while the other one is much more macabre.

Comics such as those are about creating humorous, often unlikely scenarios. They tend to not linger on one concept, but stay within the comfort zone of their audience. On rare occasion, they make a serious point which proves that they have a mature side to them.

 

[Spleeni]

I consider http://www.drmcninja.com to be a very good web-comic because
1. It updates very frequently
2. The storyline, and the characters are FUNNY
3. The story is absurd, but in an awesome way
4. The art is very good; it's not colored, but it doesn't need to be
I consider
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com to be a HORRID comic because
A. It updates whenever the author feels like it
B. The plot is lame, the characters are all cliches
C. Lacks win
D. The art is lame; he reuses the same characters all the time, and steals his background from other places.

 

[HeyZeus_Ezekiel_Jesus]

If it's funny and the artist isn't stuck up his own ass.

 

[mark_n_b]

The problem with "what makes a good web comic" is that it isn't a definable equation do A and B and get C where C is an awesome web comic.

Updating regularly (Not even frequently as VGCats has proven)and extended existence are the only definable factor. No matter what, if a comic (or anything) updates regularly and is around for at least two years then there has to be some major / major flaws in the whole process to not become a listed staple of the web comic community.

Look at CAD, I am no fan, but the art is satisfactory, the theme is clearly established and relevant to the culture it speaks about, and his perceptions of irony aren't offensive in anyway.

Yes, he is stuck up his own ass, but it is a lot of work to draw a comic on a regular basis add the fact that he is informed about current game culture issues / titles. Winner.

 

[hughball]

Yeah I think the most important thing for web comics now is individuality, because lets face it it's getting harder and harder to do something new.

 

[kanyatta]

"Good webcomic" is an oxymoron, just like "rap music".

 

[siege_1302]

Let me see...

Characters you can relate to, feel sympathy for, are intrigued by.

Something core to the comic which is original.

Pithy, relevant, and above all funny humour (that's right, English spelling).

Frequent updates and a story arc which keeps the plebs who read it (read: me) interested.