TWCL

[Casual Notice]

So, over on the Dogpile, VL has started a conversation about how the best way toget good production out of your artist is to be your artist (this inexplicably reminded me of Oliver Wilde's comments regarding masturbation, but that's not germaine to this topic). So that got me thinking...what is the key to webcomics success? Yes, I know that question has nothing to do with making artists ignore their muse and draw what you want them to draw on a useful schedule, but stay with me here...

So here's my formula based on exactly zero research and vague memories of the hundreds (yes, literally hundreds...maybe thousands---I dunno, I stopped counting afte rall the archetypes started seeming like the same person) of more or less successful webcomics:

• Create a cast of pretty young people. I don't care if you're old and the only way you'll get kissed is if you rub peanut butter on your lips and visit a puppy farm. The fact is that people want to read stories about the people they want to believe they are. And everyone, regardless of age and relative attractiveness, wants to believe that they are young and pretty...also blazingly intelligent and witty, but that's not as important.
  
• Make one of those a girl who has both feet firmly on the ground, but is willing to humor the wacky crazy people around her for unexplained reasons.
  
• Make one a guy who thinks he has both feet on the ground, but really he's just afraid of the unknown and kind of boring. He should bear an unrequited love of the tolerant girl, and should have occasional flashes of crazy/brilliance.
  
• One should be a smirky douchebag, who always gets away with incomprehensibly vile crap. For some reason, he will be your most popular character.
  
• Boobs.
  
• There should be at least one character (either sex, but one of each is best) who displays a bizarre and frightening mix of ADHD and Asperger's syndrome. This person should drive most of the action despite being in fewer than 30% of all panels.
  
• Boobs. I know I already said, "Boobs," but I feel it's importnant to repeat. WHile nearly 50% of the western world has reliable access tothe Internet approximately 90% of the content is determined by people with the emotional and sexual maturity of ten-year-old boys. Your comic should have boobs, and the promise (but not reality) of exposing those boobs to your readers. You may want to attach them to a girl of some sort.

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What I lack in sincerity, I make up for in sarcasm.
S*P*Q*R

[Zoe Robinson]

This seems about right. I would add these, however:

* You will need lots of pop culture references but try to not make them the punchline of every strip, so you can claim you actually write your comics.
* Once you've had a few jokes and fun situations pop up, remember to keep referencing them so your readers feel there's a real sense of community to your comic - they're "in the know", so to speak.
* Try not to overly rely on references to past strips unless you don't want new readers

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[Max Vaehling]

Don't forget to cater to the gamer crowd. According to popular belief, they make the majority of online audiences. And, despite being able to enjoy games about anything, they only ever seem to read comics about gamers.

Is this a good time to announce my upcoming new comic Gamers with Boobs?
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Webcomics - Blog - Twitter

[Zoe Robinson]

Max Vaehling wrote:

Is this a good time to announce my upcoming new comic Gamers with Boobs?

But how will they game with boobs? Surely breasts get in the way of the controller! It'll never work! Etc!
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[Max Vaehling]

I thought the title gave it away: It's a fantasy webcomic.Magical girls, y'know.
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Webcomics - Blog - Twitter

[vulpeslibertas]

You need to fight zombies, too.
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[ewomack]

Gamer zombies with detachable boobs fight lactating petite women in lingerie with bra melting light sabers.
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Ed Womack

[vulpeslibertas]

Stop stealing all my good ideas
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[Zoe Robinson]

I want to read these comics RIGHT NOW!!!!!!1!!!!!one!!!!!7!
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[natephoenix]

I...Um...

...I am ashamed.

*Slinks off into corner to cry about his webcomic*
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www.JazzandJess.com <---May contain Boobies and Zombies.

[wendyw]

natephoenix wrote:

I...Um... ...I am ashamed. *Slinks off into corner to cry about his webcomic*

Haha.

Aww...
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Blog

[Kail]

[UncleRobot]

LMAO

[Justinfh]

Max Vaehling wrote:

Don't forget to cater to the gamer crowd. According to popular belief, they make the majority of online audiences. And, despite being able to enjoy games about anything, they only ever seem to read comics about gamers. Is this a good time to announce my upcoming new comic Gamers with Boobs?

Hey! Remember that thread I made about choose your own adventure comics? Well I'm creating a choose your own adventure story that has to do with video games. Also, I remember one time I did a story-line on my Website that had to do with video games. So my Webcomic [url="http://DisgruntledComics.com"]DisgruntledComics.com[/url] should be a huge success, right?

[Eve Z.]

Don't forget that the action SHOULD take place in Japan.

Like, ZOMFG! Japanese are kawaiii-desu awesome! ^o^
And if they're furries they Have to have Japanese names. guaranteed success.
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