TWCL

[Shishio]

This has probably been said a dozen times but...

Two-dimensional characters.

Since the foundation of a good story is compelling characters, I would say the very worst thing you could do is tell a story about poorly realized characters.

Other than that, I would echo what someone else said (Casual Notice?) and say that cliches are not inherently bad; they make a story bad when they are used improperly.

Good characters (and writers) can use most cliches to good effect.

Fear Agent (it's a print comic) is a good example of a type of story I wouldn't normally enjoy, but despite the prevalence of cliches and other things I consider flaws, Rick Remender makes the book fun enough for me to disregard all that and enjoy it. And that's exactly what a good story should be - enjoyable.
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One-liners: Come for the laughs, stay for the abuse.

[okram]

Shishio wrote:

Other than that, I would echo what someone else said (Casual Notice?) and say that cliches are not inherently bad; they make a story bad when they are used improperly.

there may be hope for me yet.
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www.roomiescomic.com
www.insignificantcomics.com

S*P*Q*R

[f2x]

If you don't mind hearing another hypocritical goofball rant from me, here's something I've tended to notice with a lot of amateur comics: The assumption of familiarity.

Established authors (And I know I'm not one of them) can get away with things you can't, because people actually know the characters. Now you may have done a splendid job of creating your character(s) on a profile page, but when I visit your site for the first time, I'm immediately turned off when your current scenario relies on the reader to know or assume a particular character's personality quirks.

See also:

It's funny because she made a thumbs up while winking and grinning.
It's funny because he always does stupid things like that.
If you have to explain it, it's not funny.

Example: Probably my next webcomic. (Sorry, but I'm not a webcomic genius.)

Here's one for the kids at home:
Q:Where does the General keep his armies?
A:In his sleavies!
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[Murdaugh]

You know what would make a good webcomic, nay, awesome?

One where the main character is a wise-cracking pirate with a sneaky ninja room mate.

The catch? It's not a satire, and it's not bad!

Top that, if you will.
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S*P*Q*R

[hajrarara]

haahaha and one has a girlfriend who is, in fact - a MONKEY!
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[Azraelle]

a monkey ... who plays video games!
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[mirz]

Ninja-bot wrote:

Brideau gets me. It'll be awhile before SD starts to get that sorta thing, if ever, but if it does happen, or if we do a guest strip swap, there's no way that we'll skip an update day for it. I'd reckon we'd post it on a non-update day, or right under the regular comic for a regular update.

This is what we do. We have our "once a month special" where we post all our fan art and such. Guest comics are posted then, and then kept permanently in our "bonus" section.
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[kismetropolis]

duralict wrote:

brideau wrote: I agree that guest and fan comics are GREAT. But I also agree guest strips mixed in with the regular strips are bunk. They break up the continuity of any comic. I think they make for a nice breather when they come in between story arcs. Having them in the middle of a chapter is a horrible idea, though.

That depends on whether the guest page is drawn in accord with the existing storyline or canon.

When I draw guest pages, I try to go by the flavor and vibe set by the comic thus far. Riff off their existing gags, or the existing relationships of the characters, rather than going way off on a tangent from what the comic already is.
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[Murdaugh]

When I did a guest comic, I had two original sketches. I chose one of them, but could've just as easily done two guest comics, since they were part of their own self-contained mini-arc.

I think what kismetropolis says is right, which makes it harder to draw for someone you don't know, or someone with a large archive.
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S*P*Q*R

[Nismorack]

Thing about guest comics, and this may sound 'silly'. It's not what the reader signed up for.

Even though your comic is 'free'. People read it because they like your comic. If someone else comes along and draws it differently then most readers won't like it.

An artist will 'love' someone else doing a take on their characters and stories. But the guestartist will always do it 'different', and not all readers will like it.

Personally I tend to skip them. Even the stick figure ones in sluggy I skip. (Yes I read sluggy)

As for the general use of cliches. Sometimes they can be used right, but more often they're used wrong. Which is why not everybody likes them. Simply put: If it works for your comic and people like it, then it's probably okay.

[NobbyNobody]

Oh it's old polymer nuts again.
Argh.
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[austenandrews]

I swear the gal in the top row is a Real Doll.

Though I confess, while I can do without the android sex, I kind of like the randomly bumped threads from before I joined.
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Gordian Algebra