Katy: Girls can have sex with each other? How does that work?
Me: Have you looked up “Tribadism” in the dictionary? Spoiler alert! It’s actually a lesbian practice in which one lies on top of the other & simulates the male role in heterosexual intercourse.
It’s not that I have absurdly high expectations, I just think the issue is that it’s evident from the direction of your comic that you want the stories to be character driven with some level of seriousness in them. This was made especially clear in the original continuity, where it emphasized how perpetual disfunction can break people alongside straight social commentary regarding moral guardians, abusive families, bigotry, outcasts, etc.
I personally think the issue is that the comic feels like it has trouble sticking to an exact tone (especially with the newspaper format it uses). Like, many of the relatively serious strips, like this one for example, end with the character(s) making some sort of witty or comical comment that causes immediate mood whiplash. And not exactly in a “tempting fate” kind of way or in a way where there’s a break in-between the events.
I’m not trying to bully you dude. I just think I might’ve been spoiled by the more darker and serious storytelling of the original continuity which usually tends to be more down my isle. Which is why I like to study the story and characters so I can provide criticism that’s as constructive as I can make it.
@jbwarner86: I’m starting to get the feeling that some of your readers fall into that very same category of “people with expectations you can never live up to”.
The old continuity portrayed a dark, crapsack world where the heroes keep getting shafted and the villains keep getting away with murder. You didn’t like it, we didn’t like it, and so you rebooted and started fresh. And yet, people still complain.
Personally, I LIKE how this comic is shaping up. There’s more than enough suffering and misery in the real world; I don’t need it in my comics as well. This comic portrays a brighter, friendlier world, where the good guys win and the bad guys get their just desserts quickly and decisively. And that’s just how I like it.
See, here’s the thing – I’ve met people like Allie. I’ve met control freaks who lost their shit if things didn’t go exactly their way all the time, who had no empathy for the people around them who sincerely tried their best to measure up to their impossible standards and just couldn’t ever meet them. To me, that’s the most frustrating thing in the world, being at the mercy of someone whose expectations you can never hope to measure up to. Eventually, you just have to say “fuck it”.
I always wanted to be somebody like Joel, or Jocelyn, or Steve, or any of my protagonists, who could stand up to people like that. That’s one of the major recurring themes in this series: “Some people are just unpleasable dicks. Fuck ’em, you don’t have the time for that, just do what you know is right for you.” It’s a simple message, but that’s all I want to say. This is some doofy ’90s nostalgia webcomic I draw for fun when I get home from work, I don’t know why people are expecting it to be Game of Thrones or something.
While seeing Joel blow his stack is admittedly pretty kino, I’ll have to side with Jayster and Gonzo on this whole overblown, unrealistic antagonists thing. You always write your characters in such a black-and-white way. There’s gotta be more nuance. Make the bad guys have understandable motivations or make valid points every once in a while, present them in a more empathetic way, make them not be hammy, over-the-top bromites, something.
Katy’s question is the reason proper sexual education is important. It’s also VERY satisfying to actually see Joel snap and stand up for himself. The rarity of these moments is what makes them among some of the best.
Also, I’m sorry to say this, but I agree with Gonzo22’s comments from the previous strip. I’ve told you this like a hundred times already, but one of the biggest complaints I’ve had about the way you write your antagonists is that they come off as WAY too one-dimensional. Which is why I don’t feel like they’re realistically portrayed because they essentially come across more like villains you’d expect to see in a Saturday morning cartoon.
Not to mention a lot of them have a psychotic side to them that just feels a bit too over-the-top to take seriously.
Katy: Girls can have sex with each other? How does that work?
Me: Have you looked up “Tribadism” in the dictionary? Spoiler alert! It’s actually a lesbian practice in which one lies on top of the other & simulates the male role in heterosexual intercourse.
Lindsay should’ve been the one who chewed out Allie! It honestly would’ve been very effective.
The only difference between real life and fiction is that fiction has to make sense.
@jbwarner86:
It’s not that I have absurdly high expectations, I just think the issue is that it’s evident from the direction of your comic that you want the stories to be character driven with some level of seriousness in them. This was made especially clear in the original continuity, where it emphasized how perpetual disfunction can break people alongside straight social commentary regarding moral guardians, abusive families, bigotry, outcasts, etc.
I personally think the issue is that the comic feels like it has trouble sticking to an exact tone (especially with the newspaper format it uses). Like, many of the relatively serious strips, like this one for example, end with the character(s) making some sort of witty or comical comment that causes immediate mood whiplash. And not exactly in a “tempting fate” kind of way or in a way where there’s a break in-between the events.
I’m not trying to bully you dude. I just think I might’ve been spoiled by the more darker and serious storytelling of the original continuity which usually tends to be more down my isle. Which is why I like to study the story and characters so I can provide criticism that’s as constructive as I can make it.
Everyone’s a critic. You do you, man. I’m still enjoying this
Good point, megajar. There’s a saying that goes something like this: Ignore the boos, they’re usually from cheap seats.
@jbwarner86: I’m starting to get the feeling that some of your readers fall into that very same category of “people with expectations you can never live up to”.
The old continuity portrayed a dark, crapsack world where the heroes keep getting shafted and the villains keep getting away with murder. You didn’t like it, we didn’t like it, and so you rebooted and started fresh. And yet, people still complain.
Personally, I LIKE how this comic is shaping up. There’s more than enough suffering and misery in the real world; I don’t need it in my comics as well. This comic portrays a brighter, friendlier world, where the good guys win and the bad guys get their just desserts quickly and decisively. And that’s just how I like it.
In summary: you do you. Keep on keepin’ on.
See, here’s the thing – I’ve met people like Allie. I’ve met control freaks who lost their shit if things didn’t go exactly their way all the time, who had no empathy for the people around them who sincerely tried their best to measure up to their impossible standards and just couldn’t ever meet them. To me, that’s the most frustrating thing in the world, being at the mercy of someone whose expectations you can never hope to measure up to. Eventually, you just have to say “fuck it”.
I always wanted to be somebody like Joel, or Jocelyn, or Steve, or any of my protagonists, who could stand up to people like that. That’s one of the major recurring themes in this series: “Some people are just unpleasable dicks. Fuck ’em, you don’t have the time for that, just do what you know is right for you.” It’s a simple message, but that’s all I want to say. This is some doofy ’90s nostalgia webcomic I draw for fun when I get home from work, I don’t know why people are expecting it to be Game of Thrones or something.
…and Joel quits like a boss. Oh, and Allie…? Lots of other places.
While seeing Joel blow his stack is admittedly pretty kino, I’ll have to side with Jayster and Gonzo on this whole overblown, unrealistic antagonists thing. You always write your characters in such a black-and-white way. There’s gotta be more nuance. Make the bad guys have understandable motivations or make valid points every once in a while, present them in a more empathetic way, make them not be hammy, over-the-top bromites, something.
Katy’s question in the last panel is just brilliant.
In the words of Sans… “get dunked on.”
Katy’s question is the reason proper sexual education is important. It’s also VERY satisfying to actually see Joel snap and stand up for himself. The rarity of these moments is what makes them among some of the best.
Also, I’m sorry to say this, but I agree with Gonzo22’s comments from the previous strip. I’ve told you this like a hundred times already, but one of the biggest complaints I’ve had about the way you write your antagonists is that they come off as WAY too one-dimensional. Which is why I don’t feel like they’re realistically portrayed because they essentially come across more like villains you’d expect to see in a Saturday morning cartoon.
Not to mention a lot of them have a psychotic side to them that just feels a bit too over-the-top to take seriously.
Not helping Ashleigh
Time to step off.
Hell yes!! Joel lays down the goddamn LAW!
Oh, Katy! Sweet, innocent Katy. XD
He told her off GOOOOOD!
Don’t flatter yourself Allie
FUCK YEAH!!! You tell her Joel.