"Web comics volatility?" Topic

It seems like every time my friend (or I) mention/plan on paying money to a web based cartoon they go on hiatus, stop that strip, or become very irregular (with or without explanation.)

And announced schedules – mostly seem like a well-intentioned intent… Sigh

Other than Kevin and Kell, every comic I have tried following has suffered this just when I feel I (or he) should support them.

I just caught on to Out There by R. C. Monroe so here's hoping that it continues to be stable…

Is it just that the "Old Comics" had contracts that "had" to be met? Is it that most web comics are from aspiring cartoonists that have day jobs and real lives? Is it the ephemeral nature of virtual comics that lends itself to less rigorous production?

Or is just <urphy at work?

Garcias,

Glenn

It happened with paper comics too, probably just not the ones your read. I can think of a couple that really ed off my husband when they stopped appearing.

Web comics are volatile by nature. The exceptions are few and far between.

"Yet another fantasy gamer comic" has been relentlessly posted day in, day out. In the artist's own words, "I can make them faster than you can read them."

Sluggy usually has to run a filler every few weeks.

And Dresden Kodak updates at the speed of a glacier.

I think there is a similar trend in paper comics today. Note how long most artists work on a series these days. One or two years tops. Some top artists are called in to man a series for a few issues, draw in enough readers and then switch to a "B" artist who has nowhere near the same talent and skill. I think that today, artists who keep at a series more than a year or so are very rare indeed. "Yeah, I like don't wanna be pinned down the same thing for ages (six issues), you know … But now I'm like moving onto my real dream project you know (real dream project #16, expected lifetime six months before ADHD sets in)

You get what you pay for.
-Kle.

Questionable Content has been very regular and, well, enjoyable if not drop down funny at times (and has been mentioned and raved about here on TMP also.) Granted, it is not wargames or mini related AT ALL, but if you have the cash to burn supporting, it really does not look like that series is going away anytime soon.

questionablecontent.net

What GypsyComet said.

One of the big plusses of the web is that anyone can publish anything they want. Obviously, ha ha, this is the big minus, too. But gifted artists with day jobs often put together really stirring, engaging, amazing pieces of art we all enjoy free. Unbound by market research and corporate oversight real art emerges from their god-given talent and pops up on our monitors for free. When they're inspired. When they're not there's no boss, no paycheck, nothing to make them produce.

So I don't think "you get what you pay for." A lot of stuff you can buy at the comic store is worthless, and some web stuff is golden. But since they're not doing it to feed themselves, they don't have to do it if they don't feel like it.

It's annoying, but it's the price we pay for truly independent art, independent not only from big business, but from the artists' own non-artistic needs.

Andrew

The exceptions mentioned are all (except Kevin & Kell) in my bookmarks list, as it happens.

Sluggy Freelance: sluggy.com
Dresden Codak: dresdencodak.com
YAFGC: yafgc.shipsinker.com/index.php

A few others
Wapsi Square: wapsisquare.com
Schlock Mercenary: schlockmercenary.com
Freefall: freefall.purrsia.com
Goats: goats.com (still in serial-but-not-all-that-funny mode)
Sinfest: sinfest.net
Girl Genius: link
Atland: realmofatland.com (NSFW – slightly racy)

As well as PvP, Something Positive, Errant Story, and others.

If you think that's a lot, hit the old Keenspace comics list for the legions of "proves the rule" examples.

Just about everyone on that list takes breaks occasionally. Sometimes they are more than occasional, even for long running comics that keep going despite the breaks. Megatokyo come to mind, as does the already mentioned Dresden Codak and a MOO2-based comic I can't find the link to at the moment.