I'd read sheeps ages ago when it was up for review a couple of months ago and it hasn't update since I looked at it then.
But suddenly it has jumped up the ratings, finally getting into the top ten today!
Do you suppose the author has paid for tons of advertising?
I was just surprised to see it go up so massively when I had previously thought he had given up on it.

Surprised? Naw, I'm glad to see it getting more attention! While advertising DOES help, that's not always a factor in what gets people on the front page. Sometimes it's just luck (like in my case, I never advertised until just this week because the Emperor of Evil says it's about time I get serious about the comic & stuff) but another thing is getting the right sort of attention. I think the fact that there's a quote from the guy who makes the cartoon Flapjack complimenting the comic looks like a pretty major endorsement, if youse ask me! I think it's a good thing to see the top ten get mixed up a little more, there's a few comics in there and some getting close that I'm really cheering on to move up the list.

I am just surprised because it has not updated in so long.
I wonder what gave it a big break and made so many log on so recently?

The Flapjack endorsement probably is what pushed this strip over the top. It's ironic that the last update was back in October. The artist probably doesn't even know about his/her success.

Of course after the flapjack endorsement the artist may be flooded with paying work and so no longer has time to continue the strip itself. Perhaps we will know what really happened some day.

And my follow on question....
Who or what the heck is flapjack?

harkovast
And my follow on question....
Who or what the heck is flapjack?

It's a horrible cartoon on Cartoon Network...I wouldn't recommend it.

Mushroomcomix

harkovast
And my follow on question....
Who or what the heck is flapjack?

It's a horrible cartoon on Cartoon Network...I wouldn't recommend it.

It's the greatest animated show to come on public television in decades, rivaling Rocko's Modern Life in terms of directing, art, and writing. It's funny, disturbing, bright and colorful, and just plain fun.

If you have Cartoon Network I recommend watching it. And Chowder, too.

EDIT: Flapjack is also important because it represents a cartoon shown in a major broadcasting syndicate with creative control which is rare in this day and age. In the past decade, cartoons have been primarily controlled by the producers to create the most marketable product possible.

While shows like Flapjack, Chowder, Superjail, The Mighty B, and Moral Orel certainly have merchandising power, the real control mainly lies in the directors as opposed to some talentless, faceless studio head who controls every decision. Flapjack and the other cartoons I mentioned are the brain children of the individual creators. They're the Calvin and Hobbes of 21st century cartoons after nearly 20 years of being put under tight controls.

There's still plenty of room for improvement before American animation reaches it's height that it had in the early 20th century, but the last 3/4 of this decade have proven that original material sells more than generic material with cheap merchandise.

That's why I love it and why I respect it as well as all the other fine qualities I previously mentioned regarding pacing and direction.

EDIT 2: Yeah, I always wanted to get into animation as a kid. As I got older and noticed how big business started killing off awesome cartoons (see Wikipedia article for Angry Beavers and Invader Zim and you'll understand why I hate syndicates like Viacom) I quit on my dream. I turned to comics because it takes many elements of animation like the importance of visual clues and character design and the web allowed me the freedom to do whatever I wanted without worrying about some asshat breathing down my neck and whiting out what he didn't like.

Now that Ward, Greenblatt, Orman, Stamatopolous, Tartakovsky, and other animation pioneers have pushed ahead proving that good ideas generate more buzz and revenue than toys and paper plates I might start working towards my dream again.

I've seen Moral Orel, none of the rest of those mean anything to me.
I won't talk about Moral Orel though, because it would get this thread locked in about a second.
But this flapjack mans endorsement does not explain Sheeps sudden rise to glory. It had that endorsement when I was reviewing it 2 months ago (when it stopped updating).
It has become popular in about the last week.

I've never even heard of Sheeps until now and it certainly doesn't appeal to me but it's popularity could probably be attributed to "slashdotting."

Basically, someone posted it on their blog and then their friends posted it on their blogs and it spread out from there. Networking is pretty much INSTANT fame and since this hasn't been updated in 2 months it'll probably lose steam by next week.

Go ask the creator why :/

Also I watched flapjack when the main character was still named 'spongebob'. It contained less uncalled for homosexual undertones at least.

Skullbie
Go ask the creator why :/

Also I watched flapjack when the main character was still named 'spongebob'. It contained less uncalled for homosexual undertones at least.

Oh hey another ill informed opinion from Skullbie, bravo! From past conversations we've had I'm already used to how you think but God dammit I cannot stand when people say this because it's incredibly retarded. There is absolutely no connection between Flapjack and Spongebob except *gasp* both shows take place in and around the water.

HAY GUYS! DID YOU KNOW ALL ANIME COPIED OFF AKIRA TORIYAMA YUP ITS TRUE!

I dunno, think what you guys will, but I hate blanket statements like that. I just find it ironic that the last "argument" we had was when I said Yaoi manga was offensive to gay people because it stereotyped them as feminine, submissive wimps swooning after the big buff jock who likes girls but quickly learns that sucking dick is the way to go (that is, if anyone in yaoi comics ever had sex; unless you're reading hentai they just cuddle and brush each other's hair). You "put me in my place" by saying that I shouldn't be oversensitive or whatever (and then you made some comment about black and mexican stereotypes in comics and how people get bent out of shape about political correctness or something that I'd totally expect some opinionated high schooler to say even though I know you're more mature than that) but man, way to come out the closet with your hypocrisy and flat out call a show that you've probably seen one episode of a carbon copy of another.

BTW did you know that all super hero comics are immature wish fulfillment with tons of fanservice?

Yeah, me too!

angry_black_guy
BTW did you know that all super hero comics are immature wish fulfillment with tons of fanservice?

They're not? o_O

I know you're just being sarcastic (or... are you? *dun nanna na*) but I don't want this to escalate into a stupid hissy fit so I LOUDLY RETRACT FROM THE TOPIC.

Yes, it was me just being silly. ^_^

angry_black_guy
Oh hey another ill informed opinion from Skullbie, bravo! From past conversations we've had I'm already used to how you think but God dammit I cannot stand when people say this because it's incredibly retarded. There is absolutely no connection between Flapjack and Spongebob except *gasp* both shows take place in and around the water.

I didn't read that second part of your post but this is why people call it spoungbob:
Spongebob: Flapjack.
Acts incredibly immature and happy, quite gay and a do-gooder. Annoying voice.

Captain: Mr.Krabs
Is a friend of flapjack relies on him but puts his selfish actions first. Only difference is Mr.Krabs wasn't a pedophile.

That whale thing:Sandy
Mature and strong, whale keeps our two main characters out of trouble. Like sandy she is a lesbian.

Humor: Humor relies on flapjack being immature and making trivial things important(candy/braby patty), almost exactly like spondgebob except more repartition humor. Occasional good joke in the fail like 'wesssssst' and 'beautiful squidward'

I can see why young kids and artistic types adore this show but spongebob is what we grew up with, As dexter's lab to that insufferable jonney test. The formula's are just being rehashed to us.
----------------------------

LOUDLY RETRACT FROM THE TOPIC
Dangit I type so slow >:0 but good idea.

Sheeps is cute. I have no reason to begrudge them a spot.

That said, jumps in rank (especially noticeable ones) usually have nothing at all to do with updates or comic quality. All it takes is one link on one site that gets a lot of hits. Someone thought the site was cute and posted a link on a popular forum -- or, as mentioned before, on their blog, so their friends might have posted it on blogs too.

Basically, at least one person liked the comic enough to mention it somewhere where the link was noticed. Quality might also contribute if the comic is good enough that the people who checked it out read the archives.

The creator himself/herself might not even be aware of this flood of traffic at all. (Sometimes they are the source of it -- like getting a prime ad spot, but not always.)

Okay now it is making some sense. Thanks for the insights.
I also don't begrudge sheeps it's time in the sun, it is a pretty good comic. I was not questioning it based on quality, just wondering why it would happen so suddenly without any updates.
Angry black guy needs to change his name to angry flapjack fan!
With regard to fan service, when I see it in a comic I tend to roll my eyes and lose interest. If I wanted porn, I would go read porn, if I go to read a story, don't throw in soft porn to try to get me to over look weak story telling. It belittles us both.

Now.......who here has a popular blog and wants to link to Harkovast?

harkovast
Okay now it is making some sense. Thanks for the insights.
I also don't begrudge sheeps it's time in the sun, it is a pretty good comic. I was not questioning it based on quality, just wondering why it would happen so suddenly without any updates.
Angry black guy needs to change his name to angry flapjack fan!
With regard to fan service, when I see it in a comic I tend to roll my eyes and lose interest. If I wanted porn, I would go read porn, if I go to read a story, don't throw in soft porn to try to get me to over look weak story telling. It belittles us both.

Now.......who here has a popular blog and wants to link to Harkovast?

Since you have a furry comic, I recommend advertising here which will host a small picture of your comic for a year.

I have about half a dozen other topsites and list sites in my bookmarks but they require payment. I also recommend using project wonderful; just search around and you'll find some websites that get 20-100k visitors but their ad space is only .10 cents a day. Using Belfry alone, my visitors went from 20 a day to 50-200 a day. I already have a PW campaign ready and when I start it in January I won't be surprised if my readership jumps up into the thousands and I'm only spending 20$ on it for the entire month.

I don't know why, but I always feel like there is some sort of stigma attached to it being called a furry comic.
If people call it a fantasy comic, I am fine.
But when someone says it is a furry comic I keep wanting to go "No! It's not just talking animals! It is a complex story, with well thought out characters..." etc.
Is this normal or do I have issues?

But my mental problems aside, thanks for the links and advice, I will go check them out.

I understand. It carries negative connotations and most people think "furry" and "porn" go hand in hand. It's alright to set yourself from the pack like how people don't like their work being called manga just because it's manga-styled or whatever.

I just call anything with anthropomorphs "furry." Meant no disrespect from it.

Oh man, I'm glad this topic exists. Because:

(1) Sheeps is adorable. Usually I don't check out anything in the top ten (except for a couple comics I've been meaning to read for years), but this comic already has me hooked lol. And hey, it just updated.

(2) Insight into why awesome cartoons like Angry Beavers suddenly disappeared, and why shows like Superjail and Chowder are so awesome now unlike most cartoons these days. Creative control is key... sad to see that robbed from cartoons.

(For some reason Flapjack lacks the appeal Spongebob has for me, so I haven't watched it fully yet. I respect it for doing its own thing animation-wise in this age, though.)

I actually had to re-scroll up to remind myself what this topic was about.......flapjack can be distracting, i guess.....

And i guess flapjack COULD have something to do with it, because i didn't find sheeps cute...it was a good comic, just, not cute.
Ah well, if anything the flapjack thing must have spiked it up somewhat, causing a chain reaction i guess and viola, lots of views.

Does it really matter? Good for him, he's getting what he wants, is there anything bad about that? Unless the comic was bad, but it's really not, so it's all good.