Hey everybody, it's time for shameless advertising :D
Now, where do I start?
Well, it's basically the same story everbody else here has to tell: I started making my own webcomic, noticed working on it makes me happy and proud of myself, decided to continue it, suddenly got bored and was out of ideas, put it on hiatus, then remembered how much I actually loved it and started a sort-of coming back, and with all the new ambitions I have, decided to host it elsewhere as well, which brings me to my current position. (excuse me for this very poor attempt at pretending to be a sane person ;))

However, besides advertising, I also look for critique (the good, constructive one, mind you :P I'm trying to get better, not to get my ego shattered in thousands of little pieces. If I wanted that, I'd visit my parents more often *incredibly bad joke*)

So, anyway, the comic can be found:
- on Deviantart: http://loam.deviantart.com/gallery/#Vice-and-Virtue
- And here, of course :D
- on my homepage once I finally get my act together and make a new design O_o (it's only a matter of decades...)

Aaand that's pretty much it.
Any comments and critique are greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance for reading to this point.

Have a nice day,
Loam

Hey Loam,

I really like your style. I'm not a huge fan of manga types, but you seem to have your own spin on it that is not over the top and interesting. Your work seems to have gotten tighter and more expressive as you have moved on.

I'm not quite sure what your comic is about though. It seems somewhat autobiographical. I smiled at a few of them, but mostly I seemed a bit lost. The ones that talk specifically about you working on your comic I didn't really like. What I want from a comic is some kind of story that takes me somewhere, rather than reminds me I'm reading a comic.

I think if you sat down and really worked on who your characters are and what the story direction was going to be and developed those things you'd probably have a real solid comic. Because your artwork stands out, you've got a leg up on most of the dreck that is out there. Couple that with some solid writing and planning and you've probably got something.

Good luck!

Tom

Hey Tom,

thanks for all the critique. Trying to answer everything in order ;)

I'm not a huge fan of manga types, but you seem to have your own spin on it that is not over the top and interesting.
Yes, these are the remaining fragments of the time when I was all over Manga. I've really tried to get away from it, but there always are these indicators that show what influenced me the most. Hope I'll get rid of them all one of these days :)
As for the "more expressive" thing, I guess that's due to the fact that the first strips are incredibly old ;)

I'm not quite sure what your comic is about though. It seems somewhat autobiographical
It is - for most parts O_o Well, usually the way the story starts is taken out of my real life, and whatever happens from then on is either due to clishé-abusing, exaggeration or the gruesome things my brain makes up whenever it's short on caffeine.

I smiled at a few of them, but mostly I seemed a bit lost
I see... could you give me an example for the ones were you seemed lost? I guess I often get carried away and suppose everybody knows what I am talking about because I know.
Also, the series started on Deviantart, and since I was registered there for over a year when I started the comic, everybody there knew that Mark was my boyfriend and Mika my pet rat and so on and so on. But, of course, that doesn't apply for drunkduck (but when I started uploading I didn't even think about this rather crucial piece of information. However, I'll see what I can do against that :) )

The ones that talk specifically about you working on your comic I didn't really like
Me neither :D
Well, when I drew them, I guess I kinda liked the idea, but retrospectively speaking they're not even remotely good.
In the end I just uploaded them because although they're bad, they initially were part of the series, and I would feel bad if I just pretended I'd never drawn them.


I'll keep your advice in mind for the future strips, thank you ;)

Ahm, btw: I'll probably start uploading the "new" strips beginning with tomorrow (namely the ones I started drawing after a 4-month hiatus), and I'd really appreciate if you could take the time to look at them and tell me whether or not you think they have increased storytelling- and punchline-wise.

Anyway, I wish you a nice day and thanks again for the crit,

Loam

Hey, I've fav'ed your comic. I do like the manga style although you clearly have your own that incorpates some of the manga stuff but dropping some of the items that tend to frustrate american readers (like pages of speed lines, etc)... anyway, I think your art is great (makes me a little jealous :). Reminds me a little Fred Perry's work. As Marooned said you have a good thing going. I understand his comments about an ongoing story but I also read "slice of life" comics and that can be an enjoyable format as well. I look forward to whatever you post... thanks.

Whoa, thanks :D

And no need to be jealous, all it needs is practise, loving what you do, enormous amounts of patience and a pinch of ambition ;) Oh, and a big cup of coffee every now and then :]
Well, if it makes you feel any better: I've been drawing "seriously" (=with the wish to get better) for almost seven years now, and since I especially loved to draw at school, it's actually a miracle I graduated at all ;) So, I guess all things have their price.

Anyway, thanks for your extremely kind comment, and I'm glad you enjoy the series so much. I'll try not to disappoint you :D

Updated!
Enjoy ^^

UPDATED!

Updated.

up up and away with yet another update :D

:] Guess what!

Enjoy

Aaaand another update :]

Update!

And here we go with another update :)
Now for something different because the idea was just TOO good not to be drawn

Another update!!!

Ready?

Set?

...

GO!

And yet another update!
With fan-service!

Enjoy!!!

Loved it... hard to crit your work. I think the script is fun and the art is very good. Everyone should read V&V and not just for the fan service! :D

Just finished looking it over and had to fave it!

Vice and Virtue just updated (too late, but still in time!!!)

Why should you check it out? Because I sacrificed what was left of my friday evening just so you guys get the comic in time!

Agreed, it doesn't look as good as my strips usually do, but i kinda killed myself here for you guys!!! And now - before I lose conscience - I'm going to bed!

Enjoy :)

And updated again.

Uh, yeah, I forgot. You can go and look now :P

Apart from that, I probably won't write updates in here anymore. I'm already starting to forget about it anyway.

However, feel free to drop a note, it's always appreciated.

I guess it is somewhat appropriate to bring this thread back to life.

VAV will start updating again on May, 4th.
Save the date!
Bring friends!
And cookies!

Love, Loam

I would have to say...
I enjoyed your comic. :D
Sometimes a bit wordy, but i like how your style improved over time.

I too suffer from the manga rebound.
=_= But you know what, we draw how we draw. And are influenced by what we like.

It is quite rad.
Makes me want to do a Slice of life comic i've been meaning to do for a while now. :D

-kaymonster

hey, thanks a lot for taking the time to comment :)
And yes, the wordiness is a problem. I really have to get more fluid in english...

____

Also, I have to plug, because todays issue of VAV features the one and only:
ROB LIEFELD!!!
http://www.drunkduck.com/Vice_and_Virtue/?p=565021

Enjoy ;)

I'm liking your comic so far. I like the witty observations you share with us about your life in the comic, that and I like how you're always finding something to make fun of in it. Keep it coming.