Is your comic going to have a proper ending? "And they lived happily ever after. The End." Or, say, "And every one of them expired in a pool of congealing blood. The End."? Anytime soon? Or are you going to doodle episode 243645667 on your deathbed, 86 years from now, cursing fate for putting an end to it just as you were warming up?

There are webcomics that seem to be going on since forever - and are far from over. Think Sluggy Freelance (www.sluggy.com). It started around 1999 or so, updating every day, with weekend full color specials, and had a MASSIVE archive by 2003, when I first stumbled upon it. It's 2008 and it's still there. Then there's "For Better or For Worse", which launched thirty years ago. And, of course, "Garfield". And while Jim Davis isn't drawing and inking the strip, himself, any more - he's still involved with the series. How about you? Can you imagine yourself focussed on one project all your life? Is your comic your Opus Magnum - the work of your life, your beloved only child you want to go on for as long as you live? Or just one of many? If so - What's Next?

Born in the beginning of 2007 and launched in July that year, "A Bit Cheesy" is my longest running project. Oh, there was a "novel" I started in my late teens and wrote on and off for 7 years, never to finish it.None of my other writings took me more than 7 months to complete. So yeah, ABC has the longest life so far. And it's only just starting! I love my comic. I'm having so much fun writing lines for the main characters. And I think the two of them are enough to keep this story going. But not forever. There's still a lot of fun ahead of them - but it'll end, someday. There's a limited scope of things that antropomorphic mice can do, I guess. And I want to keep the story as straightforward as it gets. So if I send Mick and Ryan to Pakistan to hunt down Osama - as a part of a rodent marine troop - somebody shoot me, k? No. Simply: no. I don't want it to get any weirder than a mouse in love with a human girl. And while that's not the only story arc I have in mind - I'm picky about them. So... it'll end. Someday. Hopefully, before I get burnt out and bored more than my readers. Somehow, I think it's more classy to end a story while people still like it and leave them wanting more than let them get tired of it. PLUS, I tend to have a thousand ideas an hour - most of which seem fun enough for me to consider making them happen. Right now, ABC is taking up all of my free time, so no can do. But when I finish ABC, I'll probably go on to draw or write something new, straight away. Ok, maybe I'll take a week off. I'll sigh, sniffle, wipe a tear maybe (I'm a sappy person). But then - onto new adventures!

How about you? What are your plans for your current comic? And do you have plans for later, too?

Ugh...well "Faults" is not really a story comic...its more of a Strip kind of thing. I really enjoy doing it, but i don't want it to be a strip that goes on for all eternity...Forever and ever and blah blah. I am not too worried about it right now, But i have so many story ideas that will never get done until i have more free time. Which I don't, because what time there is left for a comic is given to Faults...and An occasional update to APOK.

Aww. NOw i am depressed. Dammit.

I think every story should have a proper ending. It gets a bit silly when webcomics just go on and on for 1000+ pages. It's impossible for new readers to get into that. "Charby the vampire" is a prime example of a comic that just goes on and on for potentially forever. Strip based comics are easier to jump into as they are essentially just "laugh of the day" comics that doesn't rely heavily on a plot.

Separate stories or "issues" works as long as they are properly divided and isn't just continued from the previous chapter. That way i can jump into the comic with the latest issue. "Gunnerkrigg Court" is a good example of a episode based comic.

I have huge respect to authors such as Locoma that had a proper and planned ending for his comic. Instead of just dragging on and on with the same comic he ends it as planned and starts to work on other comic stuff.

I think a lot of large comics never end the comic because they get money for doing it. Donations, ads, etc. Megatokyo and misfile just keep it going with no progress forever because if they ever stopped the author wouldn't be making money if they ended it. They're also afraid to make a new better comic, it takes time, money, and actual effort to do so.

I think comics can go on and on and still be good. For example 'The lounge', a very large comic, is tedious. But it has a finale with the Helson sisters that was one of the most intense and well-executed moments i've ever read in a webcomic, and the conclusion was more then i could have asked for. But there are obvious reasons people won't read it.

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I started my comic on a whim without any real plot, people really liked it so i sat down one night and wrote out a plot. I thought to all the things that annoyed me with yuri comics and removed them, i had one ending in mind.
After about 50 more pages it got decently popular and i sat down to write more. Now i've got to choose between 3 endings with a lot of twists and material to go through to get to them. Looking back on my old plot i'm embarrassed by how childish it was, but hey it's my first comic. I'm glad i did sit down to write it out, i would have stopped the comic if it went on as stupidly random as before.

My comic is meant to run like a TV series (originally, I drew it more as rough storyboards rather than an actual comic), so it doesn't have the defined beginning-middle-end overall the way some comics or graphic novels do. Of course a story should have an ending, but not all comics are a *single* story. (As Vega said, "issues." ;) )

I actually find it most fullfilling to write that way. It's like reading short-story murder mysteries. (In fact, I started writing to fullfill my own desire for new adventure/mystery stories.) Each arc/issue gets to see an exciting climax, a fun twist, a bit of justice, etc.

Of course, there is a main story acting as the glue holding it all together. My original plan was to build on that v...e...r...y s...l...o...w...l...y to eventually reach a conclusion. However, I realized that I didn't like it that way, and I started developing the main plot at a more rapid and enjoyable pace. I even planned some pretty fantastic story conclusions about 200 pages in (and then 300, and I was sure it wouldn't go past 500) -- but I ended up not using those. Instead of reaching a conclusion, it simply evolves, and major events/reveals/whatever happen from time to time but don't end the story (more like a "season finale." ) I'm actually quite pleased I can pull it off (multiple climaxes ... XD)

I live in constant fear that the next big story development will start the chain reaction of a series finale. My bigger fear is that I won't recognize when it should end and instead leave it to face the slow death of a series that turns into beating a dead horse... I know it has to end eventually, and I'll end it when I feel the story is naturally over.

After that? I dunno... Spin-offs? A prequel? Maybe an alternate reality with my cast (as in Tenchi Muyo v. Tenchi Universe XD). More likely, I'll call an end to this comicking thing -- at least to my attempts at art. Maybe by then I'll meet an artist who'd like to collaborate and I can contentedly write my scripts and see them drawn properly.

Din Krakatau is just a practice piece where I learn the craft. While it started as a random piece with no plot, it quickly evolved and almost forced me to tie it into another story of mine (or several stories actually) that I had growing in my mind and notebooks since a while. At this point I have the ending page of Din Krakatau burned into my mind and the script is written until the very end.
Although in a way I will continue this. I have about 10-15 other stories that happen in the same "universe", some of which will have recurring characters, so DK shall become first volume of that series (I shall most likely restart it in b&w after the color story concludes).

As for my opus magnum? Too early for that. I can't deliver my art or writing at high enough level to start working on these. Perhaps in few years? I have two in mind, one being my "visual" masterpiece with exquisite art (designed with an 250 page A4-sized trilogy in mind, digitally painted art made with help of photographs and 3d, heavily filled with novel-like narration). The second one is going to be my fantasy series, I'm shooting for 10.000 pages, haha (so I need to learn to draw faster for this one).

Meanwhile, before I reach the speed and skill required for these, I have about 70 other stories to pick and choose from to hone my skills. :)

I look at it pretty much the same as Used Books. It's a tv series in comic form.
Season finales and all.

I have an END END to the series but it isn't until I have exhausted every other story arc I have left in me.

Right now I am near 250 pages. Issue 6. That means I have finished 5 "episodes". 250 pages is a lot but when you think of it as a mere 5 episodes of a tv series I have accomplished little to nothing. My 1st 7 issues (The Prologue) are the pilot episodes.

Each season does have a definite beginning and end. But there are things that will continue to tie them together.
While I could be ending 1 story, 2 or 3 more could be taking root.

To be honest, I have a couple of ending ideas. I haven't made up my mind on which would be the best. (What's new?) I guess I could make VP the first webcomic to have alternate endings?

"Oh, just choose the one you like." XD
Nah. People probably wouldn't like that.

I don't mean to keep Vampire Phantasm going forever before finally ending, but perhaps I did plan for too LONG a story. I've been trying to figure out a few things with it and that especially involves cramming the story length down to something that has a better chance of actually being finished one day.

Oh yeah and the uhh...working on prequels and constantly restarting probably ain't helping that either. ^^;

I started mine with the intent of just doing gag-a-day to see if it was possible to create a joke comic that could be called quality or become popular and avoid as many of the cliches and normal pratfalls of the genre as possible. ( I'm still not sure whether I even managed to prove that much or not. ).

I have eventual plans to return to it and do some more, but by no means do I want Last Words to become the only thing I've ever done with my life. I have some rough ideas for a story that I want to do as my eventual finale to end the strip, but I feel like I've still got just a few more ideas to put down before I start wrapping things up.

I just never want to get to the point that whatever I do come up with isn't funny in the slightest to anyone at all including me or the point where all I'm doing is regurgitating the same old internet jokes we've all heard from 4chan.

I envy those with comics that have ended or are nearing the end point. It doesn't mean I actively long for my own comics to end. Because even though the script is already written, every page that I actually translate into comics teaches me something new when I draw it. And the longer I work on the comics portion, the more I refine my script, because it necessitates me to have both the time and the motivation to revisit it again and again. Therefore, it's fine that I'm far from reaching the end, because that means I have much more to learn (and to teach ).

But yeah the endings exist; they're already scripted. And by the time I reach those endings, I might have other stories I want to tell.

The script for Shades was fully written with a beginning, middle and end even before I approached an artist to work on it with me. I always saw it as a "graphic novel" rather than a continuing series. For me, therefore, that meant it had to have a proper ending in the same way that a (non-graphic!) novel would.

When I started, I did have vague ideas for a possible sequel and there are lots of short spin-off stand-alone stories I could write ... but I'm no longer sure I want to. It is my magnum opus, but I've lived with it for so long now that I'm more inclined to throw my energies into a new project in a new setting and with completely different characters. Maybe when I'm rich and Shades is famous, I'll license the rights for a small fortune to someone else so they can write the spin-offs while I sit back and let the royalties roll in!

I have a definite end on how KFK is going to end...but it will, of course, leave it open for a sequel if i ever get the itch.

My comics all have endings planned. I may never reach 20 Galaxies' end, though, at least not in comic form =( The story was originally meant to be a series of novels. I started posting the 20G comic online in 2002 - so it's been around six years and I haven't even gotten Part 1 of 20 done yet. Of course, the frequent hiatuses and the restarts didn't help.

I started out as a novel-reader and short story writer, so everything I'm working on in graphic form has a pretty solid ending. Some of them have an ending, a vague beginning and not much else. Heh. Or an ending, a beginning and several events from the middle, but not a lot of order to the middle parts. (Mmm ... maybe those would be good candidates for the "issues" variety.) But the ending and the setting are usually what inspire a story for me.

I prefer to read things that have an ending of some kind, even if it's the end of an issue. Probably all the early training in, "Introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution."

Ah, the age old question.

A Roll of the Dice has...well, sort of an ending planned. I have a potential ending planned that will take place about three or so years later in comic time (roughly translating to an eternity in real time at my current pace). It'll wrap things up, but it'll also be very open, so that later, if I can manage to plan a final ending, I could do that. Sort of like a surprise final season where we get plenty of resolution and I leave my readers satisfied knowing what happens.

Without, that is, getting real silly about it and going through each waking moment of the characters lives (R.I.P. Robert Jordan).

There comes a time when, if you're writing any sort of story, you need to know when to say enough. But...that doesn't mean you can't fudge a little and leave it open for a continuation if the mood strikes you. ;)

BK is a completed comic. Check it out!!!

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Anyway, I plan to end MAG-ISA after its 3rd installment.

I'll try to make it as dramatic as possible. Imagine something like a big big fight scene with alot of those cliche "I'll-explain-my-move-thing" and the "powering-up-keep-going-back-and-forth" you see in anime or the kung fu movies. While at the same time there's a debate between the combatants. Think of it like a verbal and physical combat at the same time. Combined with some flashbacks of characters. Most likely humanizing the "bad guy".

I plan to make it come off like "Too bad he/she had such a troubled life because (insert x tragedy here). He/she isn't really bad as you think he/she is. What a waste. How can someone with so much potential end up selling their soul to the darkness?"

Yeah I know its been done before in animes like Naruto but I love it when they do that. To make it interesting its all about HOW YOU DELIVER it and how you developed the build up to it.

I haven't scripted an ending for Salt yet. I know at what point the story ends for particular characters - and I don't mean them dying off necessarily... more like, I know at what point they have fulfilled their obligation to the story. There's just so much I want to do with them before their stories are over!

Next time I decide to create a comic, I'm writing it out solidly from start to finish, though. Easier that way.

Due East, at some point, will have an ending. We write this book by book, with general plot elements and loose ends tying each book together. We wait for inspiration on a lot of the story, so that's why the definitive end is not even in sight at this point. But we won't let the series drag, either. Everything has a point and when all the goals we set out for in the series have been met, it will have a proper ending with all loose threads resolved, etc.

The bad thing with webcomics, or good depending on how you see it, is that there is hardly ever any "cutting room" editing done. While traditionally released comics have a issue size of 22 pages, a webcomic can easily drag on for hundreds of pages for each chapter. I think very few authors have the self critique to cut in their story and generally makes their comic way longer than it needs to be.

Most of the time though i think webcomic authors just make it up as they go along. And in that regard they just make pages as long as it is fun and the comic ends when they get tired of it and abandon it.

VegaX
Most of the time though i think webcomic authors just make it up as they go along. And in that regard they just make pages as long as it is fun and the comic ends when they get tired of it and abandon it.

I think that's true a lot of the time. While I don't have a plan for the "series," I do come up with solid plotlines for each chapter and put them through a rigorous editing with several rewrites. Sometimes I think I edit a little too much. I hate anything that drags out so I end up cutting out a lot of scenes and things I'd love to include but feel are unnecessary or mess with flow. (Some of the scenes I lament having to cut and mention them in my author's notes.) I also think it leaves some things to the readers' imaginations -- which is nice as long as it doesn't damage the story's clarity.

That is probably another difference between a long, complete story and shorter issues with self-contained plotlines. It's much easier to manage, edit, and streamline shorter stories than longer ones. Long stories can get out of hand very quickly if you don't have a complete plan and write/edit several drafts.

In either case, planning only one page at a time is really a bad way to do things if your goal is good story-telling and a complete work. -- But if someone's webcomic is just stress-relief that you write on a whim, an improvised art/journal (as I suspect many are), then they don't really want to plan things too in depth if it reduces their spontaneity and enjoyment. And I suppose that serves its purpose as far as being an outlet for creativity. But it also is a way to get tired of your story as both a reader and writer. It's not fun to have a story that either doesn't progress or you have no idea how much it has progressed and when/if it will reach it's conclusion.

That's probably a good reason to write gag-a-day strips. A good creative outlet that doesn't require any more planning than the current page nor any reader commitment. Plus it can remain fresh and interesting for as long as the writer wants -- and abandoned at any time without leaving anyone hanging. ;)

I like minimalistic endings. Meaning that when a story ends the primary plot points are tied up but there's some details that remain unresolved. I get fed up with endings that try to resolve everything after the the main conflict in the story has been resolved because after that the driving force behind the story doesn't seem to be there anymore.
I also like having small unresolved details in stories because they sort of imply that life for the characters goes on and they still have something to work towards. As weird as it sounds when all plot points are tied up at the end I imagine characters living rather dull lives after the ending, besides it seems a little more believable somehow. The obvious exception to this preference is an "everybody dies" ending.

VegaX
The bad thing with webcomics, or good depending on how you see it, is that there is hardly ever any "cutting room" editing done. While traditionally released comics have a issue size of 22 pages, a webcomic can easily drag on for hundreds of pages for each chapter. I think very few authors have the self critique to cut in their story and generally makes their comic way longer than it needs to be.

And what's wrong with not having a 22 page limit? The 22 page thing is a reality of commercial print, not a reality of good storytelling. Webcomics are blessed with not having an uncaring editor looking over your shoulder: "Oh very nice very nice, but is it 22 pages?"

mlai
And what's wrong with not having a 22 page limit? The 22 page thing is a reality of commercial print, not a reality of good storytelling. Webcomics are blessed with not having an uncaring editor looking over your shoulder: "Oh very nice very nice, but is it 22 pages?"

Pretty sure he meant how webcomics could take 100 pages to do what 22 pages would have accomplished if the author actually put their writing to it.

Skullbie
Pretty sure he meant how webcomics could take 100 pages to do what 22 pages would have accomplished if the author actually put their writing to it.

Exactly.

I wish I could actually say something along the lines of, "Yes, I know EXACTLY what I want the ending to be."

But, over the past 8 months, I've spent so much time working on these 3 characters. I've grown to love them as my own. Considering how much work and dedication I've put into this comic alone, it'll be really hard to end it some day.

Especially with my 6 or so restarts already :\.
BUT, I'm working incredibly hard, to get a good plot, so that someday, in a few years, my comic could end, and it will be good.

I honestly cannot wait to see where it goes from here...

Skullbie

mlai
And what's wrong with not having a 22 page limit? The 22 page thing is a reality of commercial print, not a reality of good storytelling. Webcomics are blessed with not having an uncaring editor looking over your shoulder: "Oh very nice very nice, but is it 22 pages?"

Pretty sure he meant how webcomics could take 100 pages to do what 22 pages would have accomplished if the author actually put their writing to it.

If it's a 100 pages that read great, doesn't matter if they show 20 years of history or conversations during a family dinner. Actually, you could set an entire story during that dinner and just tell it through flashbacks and conversations :)

Aurora Borealis
If it's a 100 pages that read great, doesn't matter if they show 20 years of history or conversations during a family dinner. Actually, you could set an entire story during that dinner and just tell it through flashbacks and conversations :)

Ha-ha, you'd have to be a REALLY great storyteller and a visually creative artist to make that work i think. :) ( Although technically "Charby" has survived for 800+ pages with primarily "talking heads" art so I'm probably wrong. ;) )

Talking about endings though, i wonder how many comics here on DD that actually had a proper ending. I'm guessing the abandoned ones are in a great majority, which is of course sad.

VegaX
Talking about endings though, i wonder how many comics here on DD that actually had a proper ending. I'm guessing the abandoned ones are in a great majority, which is of course sad.

We should compile a list of officially complete DD comics (not including the abandoned ones).

I thought there used to be a way to search for completed comics? Way back before I joined up here. (Way way back before I started posting.)

*digging noises*

Or maybe I'm wrong. I sure don't see it. Maybe I'm remembering a way to mark a comic as completed from the creation screen ... or was there a way to tell at one point?

There are many things in this thread that have been brought up that I disagree with, but I think the thread should stay about webcomics and possible endings.

My comics I started with endings in mind, but they've developed into what I call "Floating endings" in that I can push them back and have some other short adventures before I finish the comic.

That is to say for SbH especially.
Recently I haven't had as much time to work on Soapbox Hill because I've been doing some work for comic companies on different projects, and what I've learned from that is, even with professional books, the story's always evolving in a similar manner to how I've been doing my webcomic.

Does that inherently make that way right? No. It doesn't make it wrong either. Which brings me to something else I've learned, there is no Right and no Wrong way to do comics. It's very good to know where you're going with a story, but the story also develops as you write it and as such the ending may get pushed back beyond especially the 22 pages. You can condense stuff to get it below that 22 page mark but depending on the story you may loose a great deal of suspense, or an emotional connection to the characters.

Here are my completed comics:
War Machine: http://www.drunkduck.com/War_Machine/index.php
Late Entry: http://www.drunkduck.com/Late_Entry_DDCW/index.php