kbac - VGF

ToK · 09-24-2005, 06:17 PM

I'm back.
Basicly, you saw my comic Teh one Interveiws and thought it was a peice of ****. Well, it is. I've made two new comics since then, and I am doing a new ToI that fixes the crap that I made last time. What I want to know is, what is high in YOUR Standards? I want to become the best, and since you guys are the hardest critcing comic forum I know, I'm gonna take your flames upon my name.So, what is a GOOD comic?

Glyph Phoenix · 09-24-2005, 07:50 PM

This won't be the pinnacle of accuracy or anything, nor will most judge by these exact standards. This is just a breakdown of what I'd like to see in a comic.

----------
WHAT TO DO
----------

Your most important elements:

Funny & Interesting

That is going to be why someone reads your sprite comic. NC's graphics are really quite bad, sometimes the plot is thrown out the window(but most of the time it stays intact, which is cool) but it's just hilarious sometimes.

You want it to be funny to everyone, not some stupid in-joke you and your brother or a single forum enjoy. That is, unless you only show it to your brother, or the one forum. Play to your audience.

Interesting is when the comic has elements and characters that get you addicted all their own without being funny. It's harder to do, but if you start funny and start working on characters here and there it'll likely happen eventually.

Next two elements:

Structure & Story

Structure is a very important element in a comic. You don't want to jump into a climactic battle and kill someone with absolutely no character exposition. If you don't know the character, you won't care. I think that happened to Jumi Jao's comic, it was kinda stupid at first and I never cared about the characters so when one died it didn't have the effect Jumi intended.

Structure is what keeps the jokes placed for maximum effect and what keeps the story in place.

Story is more important than you might think. In NC, the story may seem innocuous, but once Bill and Fred get under your skin with their funny antics, then you'll honestly care about their adventures.

Also, you'll learn that often it's the story that provides the jumping-off point for the jokes. The jokes are usually less funny without one or the other. And if you have a dry part of a comic that's not terribly funny, a plot will keep them reading.

Next two elements:

Graphics & Grammar

These are important. Without them, your comic will be less fun to read. They are, however, less important than the others. If I had to pick 4 elements to be contained in a comic I'd leave these two out.

If you read a comic and it has a lot of grammatical errors, you might leave before it gets good. It just reeks of unprofessionalism, and it sure is annoying!

Art can attract the masses, and they can keep you reading even if the story or jokes suck. I myself am guilty of reading more crappy comics than I should have because someone painted them pretty. But art still doesn't make for good comics, design, genuinely interesting characters and situations, and funny jokes do.

---------------
TIPS AND TRICKS
---------------

The above is your most important, but still, you'll likely end up in some pitfalls even following the above. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid like the plague.

Don't use MS Paint. A good comic can be made with MS Paint, but it'll be harder. You can't put sprites and backgrounds on separate layers and there's no translucency support. If you can't afford or can't find another program, this will do, but try to avoid it if you can.
Stay away from author characters. They're not as funny because they've been done so many times before. Also, when you make an author character out of yourself, sometimes you see all your good points and not your bad -- making yourself and your comic look really lame. Nobody cares about your imaginary relationship with Aeris from FF7.
Out of character statements and actions really suck. The best way to do things is make your own characters and occasionally having characters from games and such cameo, always doing only the kind of thing they'd do in their own game.
Keep nonsense out. Don't throw in "plot holes" and call it a joke. It's rarely funny.
Characters. Are. Important. It's that simple. Don't introduce a bunch of filler characters. Give them personalities. If you can't do that, at least give them gimmmicks, like NC.
Leave the fourth wall intact. Most of the time fourth wall jokes aren't funny, and they mess with your plot. I guess the only exception is when you manage to pull a "Hey, are you the comic, and are they the people reading" or something like that.

And that, kids, is the deepest essay ever written about comics. *suckerpunched by Scott McCloud*

Mr.Hammermap · 09-24-2005, 08:58 PM

I've already seen one of your new comics when I was bored and searching Serebii, unless you aren't the creator of a comic called Shinyman 64. Other than that, there's really nothing I can add that Glyph didn't say anything about, except if you do an author character, don't make it immortal or a regular. I did once, and looking back, my comics were crap.

Glyph Phoenix · 09-24-2005, 09:04 PM

Except I already did mention author characters.

09-24-2005, 07:50 PM	#2
Glyph Phoenix Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Gender: Posts: 1,774 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 6,549.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 7,049.00 Donate	This won't be the pinnacle of accuracy or anything, nor will most judge by these exact standards. This is just a breakdown of what I'd like to see in a comic. ---------- WHAT TO DO ---------- Your most important elements: </font> Funny & Interesting</font> That is going to be why someone reads your sprite comic. NC's graphics are really quite bad, sometimes the plot is thrown out the window(but most of the time it stays intact, which is cool) but it's just hilarious sometimes. You want it to be funny to everyone, not some stupid in-joke you and your brother or a single forum enjoy. That is, unless you only show it to your brother, or the one forum. Play to your audience. Interesting is when the comic has elements and characters that get you addicted all their own without being funny. It's harder to do, but if you start funny and start working on characters here and there it'll likely happen eventually. Next two elements: </font> Structure & Story</font> Structure is a very important element in a comic. You don't want to jump into a climactic battle and kill someone with absolutely no character exposition. If you don't know the character, you won't care. I think that happened to Jumi Jao's comic, it was kinda stupid at first and I never cared about the characters so when one died it didn't have the effect Jumi intended. Structure is what keeps the jokes placed for maximum effect and what keeps the story in place. Story is more important than you might think. In NC, the story may seem innocuous, but once Bill and Fred get under your skin with their funny antics, then you'll honestly care about their adventures. Also, you'll learn that often it's the story that provides the jumping-off point for the jokes. The jokes are usually less funny without one or the other. And if you have a dry part of a comic that's not terribly funny, a plot will keep them reading. Next two elements: </font> Graphics & Grammar</font> These are important. Without them, your comic will be less fun to read. They are, however, less important than the others. If I had to pick 4 elements to be contained in a comic I'd leave these two out. If you read a comic and it has a lot of grammatical errors, you might leave before it gets good. It just reeks of unprofessionalism, and it sure is annoying! Art can attract the masses, and they can keep you reading even if the story or jokes suck. I myself am guilty of reading more crappy comics than I should have because someone painted them pretty. But art still doesn't make for good comics, design, genuinely interesting characters and situations, and funny jokes do. --------------- TIPS AND TRICKS --------------- The above is your most important, but still, you'll likely end up in some pitfalls even following the above. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid like the plague. </font> Don't use MS Paint. A good comic can be made with MS Paint, but it'll be harder. You can't put sprites and backgrounds on separate layers and there's no translucency support. If you can't afford or can't find another program, this will do, but try to avoid it if you can.</font> Stay away from author characters. They're not as funny because they've been done so many times before. Also, when you make an author character out of yourself, sometimes you see all your good points and not your bad -- making yourself and your comic look really lame. Nobody cares about your imaginary relationship with Aeris from FF7.</font> Out of character statements and actions really suck. The best way to do things is make your own characters and occasionally having characters from games and such cameo, always doing only the kind of thing they'd do in their own game.</font> Keep nonsense out. Don't throw in "plot holes" and call it a joke. It's rarely funny.</font> Characters. Are. Important. It's that simple. Don't introduce a bunch of filler characters. Give them personalities. If you can't do that, at least give them gimmmicks, like NC.</font> Leave the fourth wall intact. Most of the time fourth wall jokes aren't funny, and they mess with your plot. I guess the only exception is when you manage to pull a "Hey, are you the comic, and are they the people reading" or something like that.</font> And that, kids, is the deepest essay ever written about comics. suckerpunched by Scott McCloud

09-24-2005, 06:17 PM	#1
ToK Newbie Join Date: May 2005 Location: A place Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 939.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 1,439.00 Donate	I'm back. Basicly, you saw my comic Teh one Interveiws and thought it was a peice of ****. Well, it is. I've made two new comics since then, and I am doing a new ToI that fixes the crap that I made last time. What I want to know is, what is high in YOUR Standards? I want to become the best, and since you guys are the hardest critcing comic forum I know, I'm gonna take your flames upon my name.So, what is a GOOD comic?

09-24-2005, 08:58 PM	#3
Mr.Hammermap Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: POUNDS OF BEER Posts: 479 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 5,589.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 6,089.00 Donate	I've already seen one of your new comics when I was bored and searching Serebii, unless you aren't the creator of a comic called Shinyman 64. Other than that, there's really nothing I can add that Glyph didn't say anything about, except if you do an author character, don't make it immortal or a regular. I did once, and looking back, my comics were crap.

09-24-2005, 09:04 PM	#4
Glyph Phoenix Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Gender: Posts: 1,774 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Points: 6,549.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 7,049.00 Donate	Except I already did mention author characters.