hey guys...

Which comics are the ones that really define DD, in your opinion? I have this idea for this project I want to do *enshrouds self in mystery*, but it would require me to bolster my knowledge of the really good DD comics. They don't have to be top 10, or anything either, just comics with honestly good writing and art.


so recommend away, I guess.

oh, and you can't say your own! ; D

I'd say Charby, Gods of Aakarlean, Lola, Elijah and Azzuu... Craving Control -when it was still alive.
That's a mixture of comics that made a big impression on me initially on DD and other's that have done so afterwards, in various ways...

----
Just remembered another: Star crossed destiny.

One of the things that "defines" DD for me (i.e. what distinguishes it from other hosting sites) is the variety of the comics on offer. It isn't especially dominated by action or gag-strips or manga etc. Therefore, I think any attempt to list its "defining" comics should reflect that diversity.

I know I'm going to hate myself when I realise I've missed off some obvious ones but, off the top of my head, I'd say the list must include:

Simply Sarah
Purgatory
The Dreamer

I'd recommend you also look at the list of winners of last year's Drunk Duck Awards. The forum has a list of all the finalists (with links!) and the actual winners are set out here in comic format .

wow... I've never read any of those, except for Lola... although I kind of just click on people's banners in the forum and find them that way, or people who give me comments... I don't usually click on the top 10 ones, mostly cause I tried with charby once right when I started and was frightened by the ginormous archive. no offense amelius! I was young and foolish...

Hey I'd have to say Pinky TA and Shades!! (those were both already on my own personal list...)

And I just started reading Lesbian Pirates from Outer Space, and it's like crack!! (in the good way!! oooh man I love it it is so lolerific and adorable!)

Scorch
Edepth Angel
Hub
Demon Eater
Used Books is a really good storyteller, although I haven't read it for a while...
London Underworld

(although 'definitive' is so relative)

etc

Well whatever is on the front page would seem a sound place to start.

Thing is, asking this is a very subjective thing.
I always read rock paper cynic and Uper Dave, so from my point of view they define DD, regardless of if anyone else is reading them too.
I dont read 90% of the ones people have mentioned here, though I have heard of them all.
A few people have mentioned comics I actively dislike, so that would make them ones that define it in a bad way for me.

It is the nature of DD that everyone experience is their own, so trying to create a universal list that defines it all is meaningless.
But thats just my subjective opinion, of course.

I agree with Harkovast. Most of the really popular comics are overrated if you ask me. Not all of them mind you. But a vast majority. As Harko said DD is very personal. The comics I really enjoy reading (Just a few examples) Maya: Legend of the Wolf and Cricket's Creature and the creators are my friends and also enjoy my comic. That's the great thing about it. There is a comic for every taste and they are made by real people who actually care if you read there work.

As noted by the others, it's purely subjective, of course, but it would be a strike close to the mark simply to survey the top ten DD offerings. On the other hand, in my estimation, the best spread of past and present offerings pretty much representative of DD's over all nature are:

Elijah and Azzuu, Craving Control, and Life and Death.

Elijah and Azzuu was indicative of the brilliant young cartoonist determined to strive for perfection in every aspect of his work. One could track Inkmonkey's progression as a cartoonist and storyteller day by day.

Craving Control was indicative of a cartoonist 'striking it rich' by hitting a previously unknown market niche right on the money. Everything came together for the cartoonist and the results were spectacular and the rewards were well-deserved.

Life and Death is simply comedy gold. It's essentially a gag-a-day strip that actually works and could probably go mainstream if anyone in the cartoon syndicates would pull his head out of his arse long enough to rub two brain cells together.

I'll give you two separate impressions I take on "DD's defining comics" (for me).

First: There are the comics I don't read but I think define DD in terms of the "outside world." They are very good and I think have the bigger DD presence. When I think about DD, their banners and things spring to my mind even though I don't read them (because I'm just not into those genres and stories). Those comics include Pinky TA, Lesbian Pirates, Charby, Hero by Night, Gods of Aakarlean, and Elijah and Azzuu. -- I consider these titles "defining" because if someone was to ask me what DD was, those are probably the ones I'm mention.

Second definition: Personally, when I envision DD myself, as opposed to describing it to others, a different group of comics leap to mind. These, of course, are ones I follow regularly. They provide my personal definition of DD. Among these are Salt the Holly, Shades, The Faction, Wolf, & The Devon Legacy. These aren't my only nor necessarily my *top* favorites, but they are the ones that I think of when I think about DD, and that's what "defining" means, right?

My completely subjective opinion, but I guess the comics I think of first when people say "Drunk Duck" are Usedbooks, Misfit Assassins, Teenage Wasteland, The Magic Flute, Lola, and Pinky TA. Only reason is because those are the ones that I saw when I first came on DD and made me think "wow I should stay here coz ppl are so friggin talented!" I guess now there are a few others I'd add like The Dreamer and Simply Sarah (never ending list) but those are the ones that made an impression on me when I first arrived.

Do you remember "Buckley's World" Kristen? that's another one I'd add to the list, lol.

Alright heres another one.
Raising Hell.
The comic was crappy, but it some how jumped into the top ten briefly when I first started on here. It was also on the review thread when I first wrote some reviews on there.
It was abandoned not long after, I never liked it, but to me it is always quintessential DD.

to say drunkduck definitive comics you have to say....

what is the SPIRIT of drunkduck?

and that of course varies for different people because they like different genres. For me my definitive comics for drunk duck would be my favorites list...its the reason i come to the site and the comics i see the most.

my definitive list would be

GRIND
PUTRID MEAT
Mastorism
YO! Comix
Acrobat
Peppermint saga

i think also if we did more of a "definitive comic" by genre it would work better...but then thats what the drunkduck awards are for...so this thread is kind of pointless to me, i guess =\

I don't really think you can define DD based on some of the comics it hosts... the whole idea is that any comic can be hosted here. The first problem is that, like others have said, it's incredibly subjective. Our 'view' of DD is going to be based on the comics that have somehow made an impression on us and the associations we've made. The comics don't exist to serve Drunk Duck in any way - Drunk Duck exists to serve the comics.

The other problem with 'defining' DD based on its comics is that, for the vast, vast majority, comics that are popular here are virtually unknown outside of DD. That's a bit cruel to say, but there are a number of well known webcomics out there, and none of them are on Drunk Duck. Some of them may have started out here, or kept a mirror host here for a while, but to the comic community at large the definition of DD is 'temporary hosting' or 'amateurs.' That's not necessarily a view I want to perpetuate, but if you're talking about DD to someone else on the internet and you say "it has great comics on it like X, Y, and Z!" the other person is probably going to say "what are those?" Like it or not, most places see DD as the place to put sprite comics, although we are a step above smackjeeves and comicgenesis.

I think in order to do what you're doing (if I understand your intention right) is to go the other way - figure out which comics would probably not even be on the internet without Drunk Duck. People who make the comics but wanted a place to put them that was easy to use, had a built-in community, and had a good atmosphere.


If you are just looking for a list of good comics, there are 2 or 3 stickied threads in this forum that have some suggestions. :]

I like seeing these lists. :) Not so much that they "define DrunkDuck" but because they define the different people using it. I think it really is interesting to see these lists as almost an overview of "user personalities/tastes." Just because it's subjective doesn't make it less valid or interesting.

DrunkDuck really is a community, so the fact, in itself, that all the lists are different defines Drunkduck.

I would say "Gods of Arr-Kelaan" first and foremost. It was there when i joined DD years ago and it's still here now, I don't read any of the other top10 comics so it definitely not a popularity issue.

Pretty much all the other big DD comics that i used to read have left and it used to include stuff by KC green, comics such as Beaver & Steve and Gunnerkrigg court.

harkovast
Raising Hell. --- It was also on the review thread when I first wrote some reviews on there. It was abandoned not long after

The reviews made him abandon the comic unfortunately. But that's another story.

Yeah I really don't see DD as having a definitive comic per se.

I Think there are a lot of good comics on here, but just because something is popular doesn't necessarily mean it's good. That goes for webcomics in general, not just anything specific on DD.

It really is a shame that people view webcomic hosting sites as having inferior comics though.

I suggest showing some variety like talking about the defining DD comics of different genres. Maybe do a write up about the DD awards.

I think the biggest DD comics are The Gods of A., Charby, and Life and Death.

there also were some really good ones that aren't at the top anymore such as Pinky TA, Vampire Phantasm and Purgatory Tower. There are also ones that aren't on DD anymore such as Gunnerkrigg Court and the Talisman comics (by the lady that does Xylia.)

Those ones stick out for me.

My top three still stand from the background thread. The Optimist, LAX, and Pinky TA are still the top three comics that not only stand out, but continue to live up to standards set in a more professional world. Not to mention they have very interesting storylines and wonderful artwork. Although THAT QUEER Myxo has stopped making LAX (that bastard).

Craving Control I would dispute though. It only made a big deal due to the massive amount of inflation fetish lovers that flooded the site, and people from that dump TD who wanted to rip it apart. Not that I'm innocent from that or anything. :/

I do need to read more comics on here though, I'm sure there is plenty I'm missing out on.

Like what Warped said, the great thing about DD is that no matter what kind of comic you like you can find something that you'll be into. As for "definitive," I can't really be sure-- as far as comics that are well-known outside of DD are Pinky TA, Charby and the Gods of Arr-Kelaan. I suppose by that standard they could be considered definitive.
As for comics that I myself think stand out Due East, Putrid Meat, The Hub, Adventures of Katmandi, the Optimist and Manifestations, (are we counting finished comics?) come to mind. I'd also say Para-Ten but that's a comic where the creator wanted to restart the story and the comic itself seems to have dropped off the planet.

patrickdevine
Like what Warped said, the great thing about DD is that no matter what kind of comic you like you can find something that you'll be into. As for "definitive," I can't really be sure-- as far as comics that are well-known outside of DD are Pinky TA, Charby and the Gods of Arr-Kelaan. I suppose by that standard they could be considered definitive.
As for comics that I myself think stand out Due East, Putrid Meat, The Hub, Adventures of Katmandi, the Optimist and Manifestations, (are we counting finished comics?) come to mind. I'd also say Para-Ten but that's a comic where the creator wanted to restart the story and the comic itself seems to have dropped off the planet.

I remember picking up Para-Ten when it was featured, then it never updated. And then, no more paying attention to it. Fantastic art and story. Not enough commitment.

I've been rethinking 'definitive' and continue to maintain that it amounts to personal opinion. I stand by my previous choices of Elijah and Azzuu, Craving Control, and Life and Death only because they are -- or were -- presented by very talented amateurs; and it is that status that more or less represents Drunk Duck to me.

It is a place for amateurs to congregate and for them to learn how to become professionals, if that is their desire. If not then at least as amateurs they have a friendly site available to them through which they can present their work.

Professionals, whether they stay or are just passing though, really do not represent Drunk Duck. This is an amateur friendly site and therefore the artists that best represent the essence of DD are the ones that produce borderline professional work but retain enough of their amateur status that they do not or cannot actually earn a living off their strip or ongoing story work.

Convoluted thinking? Yeah. Am I correct? I dunno. It FEELS right to me, though.

CharleyHorse
It is a place for amateurs to congregate and for them to learn how to become professionals, if that is their desire. If not then at least as amateurs they have a friendly site available to them through which they can present their work.

Professionals, whether they stay or are just passing though, really do not represent Drunk Duck. This is an amateur friendly site and therefore the artists that best represent the essence of DD are the ones that produce borderline professional work but retain enough of their amateur status that they do not or cannot actually earn a living off their strip or ongoing story work.

Convoluted thinking? Yeah. Am I correct? I dunno. It FEELS right to me, though.

I agree.

While all these lists may be personal opinion, as I've never heard of a few of these, I feel that some of these DO actually come to my mind when I hear/say/read DRUNKDUCK.

I'll try and put together a list.
It's not a list for everybody, but just my personal list. Whenever I hear/see/or say anything about these comics, I think about Drunkduck. (No, I won't include my own :P)

Plastic
Putrid Meat
Engine
Harkovast
Bear Versus Zombies
Oh! And Despotize.
Kung Fu Komix as well.

See? I'm sure some of you haven't heard of a few of these.
It's all opinionated.

I think of the first ones I read when I joined, too (Gawd, talk about archive binging- I think I read most of 'em in one sitting):
Charby
Pinky TA
Purgatory Tower
Putrid Meat
Cwen's Quest
and
Powerjeff (one of my favoritest DD comics) which was featured right as I joined.



I could post my personal "must read" list, but it's easy enough to check out my "recommends", so... meh.

Reiterating what folks have said: I love DD because of the diversity in comics here.

I was thinking about skool's comment on comics that wouldn't be available without DrunkDuck and the idea of hosting sites and amateurs, and it got me to consider another aspect of DrunkDuck-hosted comics that seems pretty unique to me. While DD has it's share of poorly done comics as well as stunning professional-level artists, I think one feature that stands out on DD is the sense of community and comments that are geared towards improvement. It is a supportive community, and while some might view it as amateurs lavishing each other with empty compliments, I know that the support and critiques (though generally less mean-spirited than other webcomic communities) are helpful.

And you can see through the evolution of some comics on DD how this community has provided artistic growth rather than just being a place to upload pages for talentless hacks or a mirror for people who already excel. Some of these are from my other list, but you get what I mean...

Plastic: Really great success here. Skullbie had a lot of talent already, but her work was equal to many other manga-style artists. You can see how it has grown, and she learned plenty of advertising techniques. She became successful enough to leave DD.

Misfit Assassins: Again, amazing progress. Kristen's art and story telling improved page-by-page, strongly influenced by the suggestions and support in her comments. She left this comic (forever? maybe?) but has taken these skills to her not-so-manga comic The Optimist, and there, she still encourages suggestions and critiques to improve.

The Devon Legacy: JustNoPoint had a decent level of talent to begin with, but he always had the spirit of "I must be better" and encouraged as much criticism and suggestions as anyone could offer. He took absolutely every piece of advice given to him. Not only has his work evolved over time, but he often uploads new versions of the most current pages in response to readers' comments. He also asks for advice during his hiatuses (which he takes too many of ;) ) sometimes on very minor things, like a slightly different kind of coloring/shading.

Angelfish: This comic has really long breaks and hiatuses, but it was one of the first I noticed when I was starting on DD. Before it was restarted, the cool thing about it was that Luminous tried new styles very frequently. When it was restarted, it had a more consistent look, though there is some experimentation still going on.

I think these are a good example of "DrunkDuck, the learning experience." Some use their skill to become more professional, to restart old projects, begin new ones, or simply continue telling their story with their improved skillset and being proud of how far they've come. I also believe none of them would have "made it on their own" with no hosting site, and if they did, I don't think they'd be what they are today without DrunkDuck.

Ya I've heard critics refer to Drunkduck as a "circlejerk" but I've learned so much since I started just becuase we aren't jerks to each other like on 4chan or something that doesn't mean we aren't being helpful.

Warpedwenger
Ya I've heard critics refer to Drunkduck as a "circlejerk" but I've learned so much since I started just becuase we aren't jerks to each other like on 4chan or something that doesn't mean we aren't being helpful.

These forums have a nice balance between being civil and being constructive.

Wow, thanks for everyone who put Pinky TA up there. I'm glad it made that impression at one time.

Phillby

Warpedwenger
Ya I've heard critics refer to Drunkduck as a "circlejerk" but I've learned so much since I started just becuase we aren't jerks to each other like on 4chan or something that doesn't mean we aren't being helpful.

If people want to hang around aresholes they should probably consider a career in proctology.

Skoolmunkee
Well know comics on DD not well known outside of DD

That's a lot less true than it once was in a lot of ways, but not I think what the original post was about either. It's less about what defines DD to others and what defined DD to "you". It's very subjective and not about "good" comics, so much as what made an impression on you in this context.

JillyFoo
There are also ones that aren't on DD anymore such as Gunnerkrigg Court

omg so THAT's how I've heard of that comic... I randomly clicked on it once because the title was familiar, and then the art was familiar, and I was confused XD... (they must've been from my early Misfit Assassins days)

how about "I Come From Mars"? it was one of the first ones I read on here...
And I used to be incredibly in love with "Rainbow Carousel", although it stopped updating... D:

Lol, and Terminal's Tetris comic always made a big impression on me...

I have to agree that one of the defining qualities of DrunkDuck is the variety, but also the originality. The whole site is designed around the idea that it is original concepts that should be pushed to the forefront. And I see a tendency of creators on the site to take traditional comic cliches to the extreme, or give them surprising new twists. If held at gun point and forced to list some comics that exemplify these qualities, I would say something like this:

Kung Fu Komix (extremes, remember?)
Lesbian Pirates (you rarely get any more original or wacky than that)
Xolta (sci-fi porn with an engaging plot. What more can you ask for?)
Charbi, of course. Commitment is key.

I should note that I've deliberately chosen comics that don't have that overly polished, professional look, at least when they started. I think DD is, in this respect, a bit like the old Olympic games: a haven for amateurs.

Whoah, I'm glad to see Elijah and Azuu considered on some peoples' lists. Though apparently the page isn't working... I didn't even realize that... I think it's a problem with my last update being a flash animation.

Hello Inkmonkey. Some of us tried leaving you PQs a month or two ago informing you of the problem, but it would seem that DD decided to eat them instead of delivering them.

At one time we could still access your early works but now we don't seem to be able to see either the early work or the latter stuff. It would be nice to have those up and running and available again. I am itching to look through the entire archive.