I asked this in my author's notes on today's comic, but then wanted to get an opinion from everyone.

Out of the numerous types there are, what's your favourite? Light hearted strips or deep stories? Large archives or under 100 pages? Long running or recently started? Manga or western? Lots of updates a week or just one or two?

For me, I like long running stories with large archives that update often. Stuff like Misfile or Flipside, a little bit of comedy but there's a depth to the characters that's easy to see, along with a little craziness.

I just can't seem to keep interest in comic strips. There's just nothing that makes me want to come back.

I'm much more of a story person.

In stories I can range from really light hearted comedy like Punk Pink to really serious works or writing/art like Shades .

3 major things can grab my attention.
1.Lively and interesting characters.
The lively will grab my attention and the interesting keeps me there. I like pretty much knowing how a character should act. It's great to laugh at/with them or cheer them on. Without mentioning a comic I already mentioned... Used Books or Wolf are good examples of main characters really shining!

2.Action
Not a necessity. But I can fall in love with a comic just because of it's action if it's done well enough. I just love kung fu flicks, car chases, things blowing up and all that stuff. Not bashing Hexagon Death Squad , but when it started up I wasn't particularly fond of most of the characters. But the action alone makes it one of my all time faves. And the characters are really starting to grow in most parts now.

3. Adventure
This one is really important. I notice just about EVERY comic I read has adventure. From simple "save the girl" to more complicated "stop the conspiracy" - adventures are a must for me.

I don't seem to stay interested in many comics that just have characters hanging around. Unless the characters are REALLY REALLY good. Takes a lot of work in comics to get me to come back. Can't really say favorite adventure comic of mine. They are harder to compare. Check the comics I refer. Almost all are an adventure!

As for archives... preference is dependent on my time. Right now I am totally content to be caught up on nearly all comics. Only so much time in the day to read them.

So far the only comic I have faved and not had time to read the archive is Legend of the King
When I get time the archive will be nice but currently I just don't even want to read it until I can devote time to go through it all.


Oh and between manga and US... My comic is a mix of each. If it's too generic in either way I don't like the art much. Too many chibis and too much of the same ol same ol in manga is a turn off. Especially lots of chibis in a more serious story. Takes me right out!!!

US, anything with a touch or dynamic. Give me what marvel or DC gives me and I probably won't want to look at it. I tend to fave more manga comics but they tend to always do action and emotions really well. I like a comic that can be dynamic, lively, and exaggerating with it's art.

Awe, you mentioned me. *Feels special.*

I like two kinds of comics:

1. Clever and original strips. They can either be single panel or in a several panel strip -- but no more than 4 panels or so because I'm in it for a quick laugh! The art should be good, clean, but simple. (Going along with the "few panels," rule, I want to see the joke! Unnecessary complication/detail is distracting.) Regular characters are completely optional. In fact, they can become a hindrance as they might accidentally get developed or create a story arc. -- Ack! I HATE story arcs in comic strips. H-A-T-E. I have on several occasions unfaved a comic strip once it started down the path of a dreaded arc and faved again only after checking back to see that the accursed story had passed. My ideal strip is completely stand-alone and non-linear. Period. Short arcs, up to maybe three strips long, can be forgiven. More than that and I start getting annoyed. (I also don't enjoy strips that glean laughs from violence and gore. I don't find it funny myself. There seems to be an abundance of those on DD, most in the "stick figure" category.)

My favorite strip is probably Raw Fish . George the Dragon is pretty good too (I much prefer the single panel strips to the other formats he plays with).

2. Serious adventures with light-hearted characters. I like an adventure (not "action" but "adventure" ) with real danger, some intrigue, and a realistic setting. With VERY few exceptions, I am not interested in science fiction, fantasy, or superpowers -- the less I can relate to a story, the more detached I am and the less I like it. Stories set in modern times, real places, with average people (though engaged in a non-average adventure) are my favorites.

But more important than the setting are the characters. I don't like deadly serious soap opera people. I like characters that are in dire straights but break the tension with their own personalities, make jokes to feel better and take the time to comfort each other with realistic encouragement rather than just lots of tears and pain and angst. With a relatable and dynamic cast, I can forgive a crazy setting or premise. Dump a regular person in the middle of an insane universe, and chances are, I'll still enjoy it.

I think the best examples I can give of this type of story/setting/character are Cricket's Creature (Cricket is especially endearing and in a fairly normal setting -- despite the conspiracy+alien) and Shades (set modern times in a real place, which an interesting and relatable cast, even with their "super powers" )

I don't pay that much attention to art. Obviously in a story comic, it needs to be more detailed than a strip in order to establish setting and mood, but I love different styles and media. The character designs are most important to me. I actually prefer simple but distinct characters. And I should know a character is sad or happy or fearful by their expression without them saying "I'm sad." I am drawn to manga styles (moderate ones not disturbingly disproportional ones) more than American ones. I just find myself turned off by very detailed drawings with distinct face lines and all their muscles showing (especially if they show through their clothes o_0).



EDIT:

I forgot about the length question. Heh.

In story comics, it doesn't matter as long as I have the time. I love reading archives in clumps and the assurance that a comic will stick around, so a good length of at least 20 pages is good. Longer than a few hundred pages is fine too -- as long as I don't lose interest halfway through.

With comic strips, longer is better. They don't require archive reading and I can check them out at my leisure. The longer the strip, the better a feel I can get for its consistency, the more likely the creator will keep it going, and, of course, the more I get to read.

I like anything that has high-intensity to it in every chapter.

By definition of high-intensity I mean one or any of the following:
- drama. All the screaming and yelling and cussing and complaining about yadda yadda that is all about a dysfunctional family. Exactly what is found in the Tagalog teledramas. Its a PLUS if there's this loner character who appears to have this I-hate-this-world-I-have-angst mindset.


- romance. Even if romance is normally a "girly" thing, I guess I'm sort of in touch with my "feminine side". Yep. I DO like them if its done right. And there has to be bedroom scenes. lol Its a PLUS if there's pretty girls.


- comedy. I like to see characters going crazy or saying or doing completely stupid stuff. On the same concept as shows like "jackass" or "beavis and butthead". And as a side note, I don't normally find myself laughing at a comic even if everyone else thinks its funny (orvice versa). I have a weird sense of humor.


- action. There has to be a long complicated fight scene. Its ok if its DBZ style but its more interesting if its like Yuyu Hakusho or Naruto or Bleach in where there's this whole let-me-explain-my-move-hahaha thing going on. A plus if the author demonstrates knowledge on the subject matter of fights. Doesnt matter if its about martial arts or gun fight or military tactics.


- interesting subject matter:
a) Political, philosophical, religious discussions. It wont matter if I agree or disagree with it. Its a BIG PLUS if the author at least demonstrates some knowledge that he/she knows what he/she is talking about.

b) conspiracies (both real and fictional), UFOs, angels, demons, ghosts, psychics, reincarnation, etc.

c) science fiction. Its a plus if there is ACTUALLY a theory behind it that gets explained. An even BIGGER PLUS if there are REAL scientific or technical concepts that are being brought forward.

I like a good action adventure story.

I like humour strips too. If they have an on going story, that's fantastic! As long as it's not too deep and doesn't take the thing outside of the joke a strip comic format.

Good adult comics should have lots of sex.

There you go. I'm feeling simple at the moment.

--------------
Large archives are a pain. I find them intimidating to get into. But then it's nice to have a decent store of pages to read though. Updates are irrelevant as long as I've still got archive pages to read :)

-Whatever it is, it needs to have a dark sense of humor. And a healthy appreciation for the absurd.
-I prefer story/ long-running comics. It's because I like well-developed characters, methinks. I have no problem going through 1k pages of archives if I dig the story enough.
-I like the epic, fantasy type thing. A lot. Unfortunately, a lot of the stuff that falls into this category takes itself way too seriously. I mean, c'mon- the quest thing? It's been done to death, okay? Can you not just have a little fun with the genre, already?
-Most of the comics I read fall into the genre of "ordinary people in extraordinary settings" or "extraordinary people in ordinary settings". Make of that what you will.
-As far as style, I like original stuff- something that I can look at and immediately know that this person did it. I'd rather read a comic that's not particularly well-drawn, but that's been done in a unique style, than read a comic with art that looks like twenty other folks'.
-I prefer black and white. It's just my thing.

good one.

UsedBooks
(not "action" but "adventure" )...I am not interested in science fiction, fantasy, or superpowers

LOL... how can you stand to read my comic? XD
Maybe you somehow noticed the "serious adventure with light hearted characters" hidden behind a sci fi, super power, action comic :P

Mostly strip comics, usually ones that aren't afraid to cross the line, and possibly offend people, for a good joke. The art should be simple, brilliant art just can't work in a strip. Obviously it needs to be funny, and not just filled with puns, there should be a certain subtle, intelectual and random quality to the humour. (And when I say intelectual I don't mean pi jokes) It shouldn't be one of thoose comics that has normal people doing normal things, I like absurdity in comics.

When it comes to story comics I find them a little harder to read, ecspecially if it is filled with 200+ word text blocks and draws out scenes to be long and tedious. There are plenty of story comics that I like, but usually it's harder for me to be interested. When it comes to stories I have no genre preference, a good story is the same in all genres.

I am a sucker for a good story, an interesting story. I'm not too much into strip comics and I like there to be a beginning/middle/end to a story. I'm always there for the ride and if there's action/adventure along the way I'm happy. I don't mind romance comics or any genre really.

As long as I'm entertained by the characters, the story and the dialogue is decent - I'm there!

I used to always love color. I used to think everything was bad about black and white comics. Then I discovered a webcomic called, Sam and Fuzzy. It was then my opinion changed.

I'm into the black and white comics. I like ones with lots of detail. Color ones aren't too bad either though. I think if the artwork screams badass, then chances are, I'd wanna read it. Same with the story.

And I love Zombies.

I haven't read anyones replies yet but I'm willing to bet they're reflective of their own comics. lol!

-Romance with a twist: I don't want to see that the two main characters are guaranteed together, why the heck should i read it when i know the outcome? Throw in twists right from the beginning, and keep them coming

-Original premise: There's fags that say 'nothing is original!' and that's a complete lie. Changing the setting could make your story original, there's no excuse for parody anymore unless it's funny.

-Story from the start: Please just get into the action, i don't want to read talking heads for 25 pages setting up their 'personalities'. Make something happeeeeennn start in the middle of the story and flshback or something

Skullbie
I haven't read anyones replies yet but I'm willing to bet they're reflective of their own comics. lol!

Probably, but why would anyone write what they wouldn't want to read?

JustNoPoint
LOL... how can you stand to read my comic? XD

The shiny colors are like CANDY!!

I follow a couple of webcomics that aren't in my usual realm of preferences. Usually, something about the dialogue or characters is what gets my interest. -- Like The Mighty Warlord , which is fairly straightforward superhero plot (my absolute least favorite genre), and become very emo in places (another giant pet peeve of mine). But the narration is so beautifully written and the dialogue is often very witty, so I find myself enjoying it quite a bit.

usedbooks

Skullbie
I haven't read anyones replies yet but I'm willing to bet they're reflective of their own comics. lol!

Probably, but why would anyone write what they wouldn't want to read?

$$$!
Cash is King.
;)

There's not much for me to cover that's not been said already but I'll weigh in anyway. I also really like strips and stories with a dark sense of humor and I also like stories with memorable and well developed characters. I think that if you spend more time thinking about a comic than you do reading about it then it was definitely a good comic.
I really like crime drama and detective stories, especially gangster stories. Used Books is a well-written crime drama for the fact that I really do get attached to the characters. I'm also really fond of psychological horror, partly because it's the only kind of horror that really works in comics. Manifestations really freaked me out and it was genuinely unnerving. Sadly good horror comics are rare and horror webcomics are even less common, I loved the Nightmare World series when I could still read it online. My absolute favorite stories are the kind that you might see in a punk zine or a mini comic-- basically about misfits trying to find a place in the world, (as vague and pretensious as that sounds.) Sort of like comics that Nate Powell or Liz Bailie might make. The closest thing I've found online is The Hub, which I really like because it sort of transplants the idea of not quite fitting in but Victor doesn't fit in because he suddenly wakes up in a surreal Kafka-esque crazy-world and has a great darkly subtle sense of humor.
That being said, I can like just about any type of comic if it's presented in a unique enough way and/or has characters that I can get attached to.

Light hearted strips or deep stories?
Generally speaking, I'm more attracted to the story-driven comics. Humour is always difficult to get right and, for me, I find that very few gag strips on the web offer anything that isn't already available in the mainstream press. The range of story comics on the web, however, is so much more diverse than either DC or Marvel are willing to put out.

Large archives or under 100 pages?
Large archives can be daunting, especially for a story-driven comic. If there are several hundred pages then, rather than go back to the beginning, I'm more likely to try to find a jumping-on point within the last 20-50 pages or so. (Having said that, the archives for my comic now run to more than 100 pages, so hopefully other people out there feel differently!)

Long running or recently started?
No real preference. Age is no guarantee of quality. In fact, I am frequently surprised at how poor some of the biggest comics on the web actually are (DD comics excepted, of course!) I can only attribute their apparent popularity to the fact they have been running for so long and started when there was little competition!

Manga or western?
I have a preference for Western art styles. I do read a few Manga titles and I know the art style can be very beautiful. If the writing is also strong, I'll probably follow it. But if a Manga comic has, for example, an over-abundance of chibis etc, then I'm unlikely to stay with it for very long.

Lots of updates a week or just one or two?
The more updates the better! It helps keep the story fresh in the reader's mind. I can only update my comic once a week but, if I could update five times a week, I most definitely would!

I like western art more then manga. I think Manga is so over done these days that I find it hard to get excited about. This will offend all you manga fans, but to me it all sort of looks the same!
Looking over my favourites, I like a lot of comedies, but also a few exciting ones (and a few that are both, OOTS or MS Painted adventures!)
Being an incredible nerd, rpg in jokes amuse me no end.
If the comic is any good I want as big an archive as possible! I love to dive in and go through reams and reams of comic I like. More updates the better! If I like it, I want as much as possible.
I'm incredibly lame and PC so anything really sexist or racist wil put me off very quickly.
I dont want to state with certainty what I would and wouldn't read as I am pretty open minded to anything that is good.

DAJB
In fact, I am frequently surprised at how poor some of the biggest comics on the web actually are (DD comics excepted, of course!) I can only attribute their apparent popularity to the fact they have been running for so long and started when there was little competition!

Oh God yes, that's always gotten me. Especially something like Megatokyo, which seems to be the ultimate example of how not to do a webcomic (Unfinished pages, sketchy art, characters driven by mood swings, etc.) or Little Gamers with barely any increase in the artwork, character development or joke quality. (Before i get flamed, yes I sadly admit I read both comics).

That's why I've always wanted to go back to those years with a quality artist and start up something that's actually good. All I need is a time machine and an artist. Who's willing to come back with me? (Must be able to get three pages done each week)

I like some comedic fare that doesn't result in roommates on a couch, Gen X slackers saving the world suddenly after having Seinfeld moments, or other webcomic cliches. A little adventure is good too. I think if a person can look at a piece and still envision themselves possibly enjoying it anew 20 years later without having to choke down a content filled with modern trends and buzzwords, that's a good sign. Pewfell and Thog Infinitron give me that sensation usually. They're just fun quirky works.

On another side, I like some webcomics written more for adult/mature content without actually being just solid porn. :shakes head out of ennui: I can't remember the name, but there was a really good one featured some months ago about a schizophrenia sufferer in a pocket dimension that caught my eye. I don't know, but it seems there's extremely few of this kind. Maybe they're harder to write for or the audience is more niche.

Chernobog
On another side, I like some webcomics written more for adult/mature content without actually being just solid porn.

Well, there are some really creative adult comics out there- the ones I like do have explicit sex, but with quirky, original art and interesting concepts. I don't know if it's appropriate to post links to 'em here (they're totally NSFW nor suitable for minors!), so I'll just give the names:

Curvy
(A cute(!?!) black and white comic about an alien princess from Candy Land and the bigh school girl trying to save her from an undesirable arranged marriage)
Chester 5000 XYV
(Victorian erotica about a woman who falls in love with a robot; the author also has some short erotica comics that are equally as compelling.)
Dr.Voluptua
(By the author of "Girly"; she's a sex psychiatrist. Hilarious.)


There's also a few on Slipshine that I really like, but I made a "no more pay websites!" vow a few years back, so I'm confined to the teaser strips.

Great. Now I feel like a total sleazebag. ;)

Skullbie
I haven't read anyones replies yet but I'm willing to bet they're reflective of their own comics.

No doubt that is correct for the most part and yet it does not quite work for me in that I generally like most the types of strips that I am least likely to try crafting myself.

Here are three of my favorites and only one of them is a Drunk Duck strip:

http://www.the-whiteboard.com/

http://www.uglyhill.com/

http://www.drunkduck.com/Life_and_Death/

The first strip is the Whiteboard and it is about a polar bear running a paint ball supplies store and the various characters that work with him or that he meets . . . and that's it. Sometimes there is a story arch and sometimes it's just gag-a-day stuff. There is gradual character development to a minor extent. Mostly it's just about the personalities involved and humor.

Bear in mind that the final three sentences above also apply to the other two strips.

Ugly Hill has, alas come to an end after a three year run, but the archive should remain in place. It is about a monster who lives for business and about his slacker younger brother who lives because he's in the habit. The business monster keeps getting married and keeps failing at being a good husband.

Last but not least is Drunk Duck's own Life and Death strip. Most of you probably know that it is about the incarnation of Death and his associates and his job and his adventures.

All three strips mentioned nurture character relationships and keep the humor on track whether the artist is doing gag-a-day stuff or venturing into a story arch.

As far as strips go, these three have precisely the blending of character development and humor and weirdness that I like . . . but that I cannot do myself.

In the professional cartooning world, I liked Bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes and Nine Chickweed Lane for the same reasons. I wish that I could do such work myself and sustain the correct mix of elements over time, but . . . well, at least some people can do it and I can enjoy the results. For that I am grateful.

DMH
Out of the numerous types there are, what's your favourite? Light hearted strips or deep stories? Large archives or under 100 pages? Long running or recently started? Manga or western? Lots of updates a week or just one or two?

All of these strips definitely tend to be lighthearted and they all have substantial archives and are long running and they all tend to be a bit on the weird side of things with unusual characters doing unusual things. The exception would be Nine Chickweed Lane, but -- on the other hand -- that strip I no longer read. In fact I don't read any professionally produced strips. Most of them are too mundane in subject manner, I suppose, to sustain my interest.

Light hearted strips or deep stories?
I am open to both categories, so long as they are well written. That's the most important thing for me- even if the art is so great a page is like a painting, I will go periodically to feast upon the art but I will not read the comic that has no dialogue or bad dialogue. Most of my favourites are stories, but the occasional strip is there too :)


Large archives or under 100 pages?
If the writing's good, it's a pleasure, and we got the bookmark feature too, so long or short, I don't mind at all :)

Long running or recently started?
I don't know. I never check to see when a comic first begun running so... yeah.

Manga or western?
I prefer 'personal style'. In the sense that, manga or not, the artist is not producing generic art, but rather has added something to the mix to make his/her art unique and recognisable anywhere. But if the story's good, I'll even take stick figures. XD

Lots of updates a week or just one or two?
The more the better! But I can't really ask for updates, since I often struggle with them. I am always grateful though!

JNP: I'm so glad you enjoy my comic and its characters!! (since all my stories are character driven and all... XD)

why does everyone hate large archives? :(

I LOVE large archives. Its like reading a free book. But I only stop reading if you fail to capture my interest after me reading anywhere from 20-50 pages.

Thats why those 1st 20-50 pages are very cruicial

kyupol
why does everyone hate large archives?

Time. :(

DAJB

kyupol
why does everyone hate large archives?

Time. :(

That's true. Sometimes it can take days or even weeks depending on the comic's archive size, so you do have to set aside a few hours in order to go through a massive archive.

Personally, I don't find this a worry. I manage to organise my day so well I always have a few spare hours to kill, so occasionally I look for a new comic. Also, i go through comics I've already read (Sinfest, Gunnerkrigg Court, Flipside, Misfile, Questionable Content, etc.) because they're always fun to re-read.

But yeah, as kyupol said, it's like having a free book. And some of the best comics out there have over 1000 updates, so it's worth it to go through them.

Of course, you always have the other cases where some people are just too lazy or want to feel important/superior because they've been following a comic since the beginning.

kyupol
why does everyone hate large archives? :(

I LOVE large archives. Its like reading a free book. But I only stop reading if you fail to capture my interest after me reading anywhere from 20-50 pages.

Thats why those 1st 20-50 pages are very cruicial

Scrolling and clicking between every friggen page is a complete and utter bitch.

Eddie Jensen
Scrolling and clicking between every friggen page is a complete and utter bitch.

If the comic is good then it should be enjoyable.

I prefer to read humorous strips online...
a full blown comic can be quite time consuming to read online.

I admit, there have been plenty of times that I’ve held off on a webcomic because I was afraid to tackle its monster archive. However, when I DO get into a comic, I want as large an archive as you can give me! Too much of a good thing is never enough!

As for the other questions, I don’t really make a distinction between “light hearted” and “deep.” I think a well written story should have aspects of both at one point or another. I do prefer character driven comics to gag strips, though. Character development is VERY important if I’m going to get into a comic. Even the stand alone comics I read (Gill, Sanda and Woo, heck, even VGCats) have recurring characters. It’s very difficult for a purely gag comic to make an impression on me.
Having said all that, I do NOT like comics that are basically graphic novels released one page at a time. Even if the story is epic and long running, each individual page has to end on its own climax/punch line/twist or I loose my motivation to keep going to the next one. (Dominic Deegan and Order of the Stick are great examples of how to do this)

Regular updates are pretty important because, once I develop a taste for a comic, I want it ALL THE TIME. If I have to go too long without a new fix, I’ll get out of the habit of reading at all.

Regarding art, I’m a total manga geek. No offence, comic fans, but the vast majority of western style art just blurs together into one drab, uninteresting smudge to me. I don’t care what kind of story it is, give me big eyes any day.

~ Regarding art, I’m a total manga geek. No offence, comic fans, but the vast majority of western style art just blurs together into one drab, uninteresting smudge to me. I don’t care what kind of story it is, give me big eyes any day.

Funny you should say that Blitzkreig1701, I'm of the same opinion about Manga art actually.