hi! I'd really like some constructive criticism on what I have so far of my newest webcomic, which is called Wake Up, David. It's only 4 pages so far, but they're a very "talky" four pages, and introduce two main characters. I'm looking for feedback, generally on characterization, format of the pages, artwork... and anything else. Thanks in advance, pals!!
here's the link!
http://www.drunkduck.com/Wake_Up_David

ALSO, I would like some critical commentary on my main comic, MISFIT ASSASSINS. It's much longer, and so it would probably be easier to review. And please, be as critical as you want, but PLEASE don't be vague. to reach MISFIT ASSASSINS, click on the banner thing.

Kristen Gudsnuk
And please, be as critical as you want, but PLEASE don't be vague.

Be critical, eh? But don't be vague, eh? Let me try. Hmm, this comic reminds me of that time I ate one of those melting blue plastic melon while a fish rode a stereo sandwich. Kinda like that.

In reality, I like MISFIT ASSASSINS, yet I'm not much of a reviewer.

Artwork looks crude, struggling even. Maybe trying too hard?

The MISFIT panels need serious horizontal allignment. And the lettering is poor, also not alligned horizontally. However, that may just be your intended style, I dunno.

Storytelling is clear, however it lacks some dynamic captivating verbiage to make the reader want to look for more, you know?

Work on hand studies, get the anatomy looking better- and properly- constructed, within your character designs. Figure drawing studies will enhance your skillset immensely!

If you're a serious artist, you will excel and learn from your critiques and practice. It's obvious you have the passion- that will go a long way for you.

I really like the colouring style. Also I love the artist references. As it's only 4 pages, so no real coments about the storyline. Also refine your lines around the speech bubbles.

thanks guys!!!! Thanks ferretshark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm assuming you're talking about "Misfit Assassins" because of the length of your critique, also because of the hands thing (I drew them really poorly in MA, mostly because I drew that in pen, and so when I messed up there was no going back, hehe)
As far as the dialogue and stuff, I agree, and I'm trying harder now to come up with better stuff.
And with the hand-written dialogue and crooked boxes, well, I drew the first seventy-something pages in a little notebook of mine, and colored them in with markers, and then scanned them. I feel like if I go into the images and redo the boxes and speech bubbles and text, it'll disrupt the fluency of the image. BUT! Around page 77, when I post that, I started drawing using photoshop, which means I use a font, and the boxes have straight lines! The times, they are a changin'!

about WUD:
and GAAAAH with the speech bubbles!!!!!!!!!! People keep telling me to do polar-opposite things- make them look more sketchy and organic, refine them... blaargh. hehehe. oh well. I think I'll keep them the way they are now, because they "pop out" and are easier to draw.
^_^ thanks everyone for your comments!!!! woho!

I think your work flow process needs revisiting. It's obvious you have the passion, but how's your patience? You need to have these two traits married as one in your journey.

Start your panels by roughing out your scenes in pencil first and then have those critiqued before you move on to the inking phase. The critiques are important so you don't waste a lot of time producing something that is seemingly okay to you but very substandard to others. Perception is everything!

Roughing out is your initial blueprint, with you being the architect! Now, if you're already roughing out your work in pencil first then maybe you are skipping the important phase of having those roughs critiqued effectively. Have those roughs properly viewed and commented upon by several keen eyes out there, people in the know about drawing and composition. This is so, so important.

Once you've edited or made appropriate modifications to the roughs based on a good critiquing phase, you can move on to inking. And once the inking is done have THOSE critiqued BEFORE you move on to any coloring phase (if you decide to color).

Have the script prepared and critiqued as well, of course, before stamping it upon the comic as permanent. You need to leave editing room of your property (property=comic in this case). I know the ego is a tough one amongst us artists and receiving opinions on one's work requiring one to return to the drawing board is always a hard pill to swallow at first. But I think, in time, you will welcome the critiques during those preliminary stages and, as time moves forward and having your work proofread and proof"viewed" regularly prior to finishing, you will actually feel emotionally 'naked' if you skip the editing/critiquing phases.

are you talking about the dialogue in "Wake Up, David"? because if so, I tried hard to make that as acerbic as possible. -_- maybe the characterizations are what's wrong... like, it's how I imagine adults interact, you know? Maybe adults really aren't that adultish, having conversations about art, and calling each other bad lovers. ._. but I don't know what to do about that comic, besides scrapping it completely!!!!
Misfit Assassins on the other hand, I agree I haven't had much of a focus on scintillating dialogue. I've been trying to work on that, but also, I don't want people to be bored by excessive verbiage, so I tend to make it stuff like "watch out!" "Stop it!" heheh, two word sentences, mostly, huh!
actually, I've just started plotting things out just to get the boxes right; however, I'm still updating old pages, so no matter what you're going to be seeing pre-DD work. I would love an editor, just someone to read through my stuff and tell me what I should change, but where would I find one?
Also, just for future reference, which lines were the ones that sounded wrong/bad/ineffective, in both comics?
by the way, thanks a lot for all your advice; I really do want to improve. I almost view MA as a practice run, seeing as it's my first foray into the japanese manga style. ^_^ thankssss!!