Are really large archives a turn-off to new readership?

Taiwanimation · Post by **Taiwanimation** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:26 pm

I'm nearing #500. However, there is a MAJOR change in quality from the earlier comics to the later ones. What should I do about this? I'm thinking of putting up a note after the later-added introduction for peoplpe to skip ahead for the better quality stuff, or read on for the early work. Your thoughts?

Oh yes, I saw one site where the person had a different news box every day, is there some way of doing this with autokeen? It just might be what I need for this.

KedaDibandion · Post by **KedaDibandion** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:29 pm

I luv big archives! Lots o' fun! Going through Sluggy took me about 2 weeks of reading for hours per day until my eyes hurt, and it was wonderful!!!

I don't hate short archvies, though; I mean, duh.

Hey, Wiebe, you started in February? I started Feb 2nd, 2002. And the hundredth strip goes up on December 4th...YEE HAW!

Taiwanimation · Post by **Taiwanimation** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:40 pm

Before we continue, what does everyone define as short and long?

For me, anything under 50 is short, unless each page is long. Anything with more than 100 is long. With the exception of comics with strong real world ties (Final Draft would be an example) chronological age doesn't matter.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:42 pm

That's a pretty reasonable cut off, I guess. I kinda think of long as anything over about 300 or so, though. I think it may be dependant on bandwidth. ^_^

Spectralsingularity · Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:43 pm

Big archives are what we all dream for man! I get misty eyed just thinking about someday having a large archive, and I think most readers do to. I'm pretty sure most of us got interested in webcomics because of a few choice webcomics that kept us glued to the computer for hours, even days, until finally we had to try it for ourselves.

And I think a storyline helps out more then it hurts, when the characters are evolving I want to see what happens to them next. I tried reading a more gag by gag strip like residence life but I never made it all of the way through cause gags just sort of blended together.

And I just want to add, since we're on the subject of archives, isn't high time Scrubbo actually looked through some of ours? You may be the oldest and wisest of the keenspacers but you don't even know what comics the other people on this board are making (isn't that kind of an idea behind these forums?). Besides, some of us have little archives and some have huge ones, maybe you'll find your answer through a little research.

Okay, okay I'm done rabbiting on.

KedaDibandion · Post by **KedaDibandion** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:49 pm

I think anything below 50 is short, and anything over 100 is "enough." Once you start getting into 500+, THAT'S "long."

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:52 pm

I actually plan on doing some serious "comic research" over christmas break. And a little bit over the next few weeks. I've cleared the last of my biochem tests before finals so I have a little breathing space. The two comics I was thinking of starting with are Elf Only Inn (but I'm afraid the cut and paste will make me die) and Post Sex Cleanup (Cause sex has never been so cute.) and go from there.

^_^

I myself bitch about my lack of getting "new" comics on my read list. I really want to add a few. ^_^

Note : I have a tendancy not to read something that hasn't updated fairly consistantly for at least 3 months as many MANY comics die in the first 3 months. Kind of an acid test.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 12:07 am

Mm. Acid bath. Caffinated soap. Awake.

Seriously, though. My favorite type of comic is one that has a strong plot with interesting characters, yet still manages to be consistantly funny. Gag-a-days can be great, but the comics that I find are most near and dear are those with plot and character developement. In a way, that's what I really appreciate about webcomics. I don't often find a solid, underlying plot in the funnies section of the newspaper, right? No, Rex Morgan DOESN'T count. :} Anyhow, the most they reach for is a short side-plot that lasts maybe two weeks rather than an overarching theme. This is fine and it fits the medium....but I just like a good story.

Chascraw4d · Post by **Chascraw4d** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 12:11 am

I have mixed feelings about large archives. On the one hand, there needs to be a fairly substantial body of work for me to really get into something. On the other hand, my connection is so slow that I tend to be very limited in how much I can read through in a single setting. I tend to get distracted easily, so if I don't read through the archives in one sitting it may be months before I finally catch up.

Sortelli · Post by **Sortelli** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 5:25 am

scrubbo wrote:I was thinking of starting with Elf Only Inn (but I'm afraid the cut and paste will make me die)

So far the tests on laboratory animals are inconclusive, so there's NO PROOF that my comic led to the deaths of those 315 people.

Odd1 · Post by **Odd1** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 8:26 am

I think you could say that in my case, a large archive is a turn-off. I like reading comics as they come out instead of having a big-ass archive to kill first. With exception of comics that just don't update enough...

The largest archive I've ever concurred in one go would be Sinfest. Other archives I've read in one sitting are RAoK, Netheroak, Sexy Losers, EOI, the Lounge, Return To Sender and McVille among others.

If I seriously deem a comic worth reading, I will get through the archive sooner or later. No matter the size. My personal preference just happens to be a light archive.

Nd · Post by Nd » Tue Nov 19, 2002 8:55 am

A big archive can be a turnoff if you look at the recent comics and the quality is still lacking (lots of examples of this). However, if the comic is great, it's fun to look at the way it evolved (as with Bobbins).

And to answer Taiwanimations questions about cluing in readers or preparing them for low end quality, Bobbins does an excellent job of that as well.

And regarding the cut and paste of Elf Only Inn, it was the comic that got me past that particular bias.

ZOMBIE USER 11784 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 11784** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:04 am

Krazy Krow wrote:I think if it's the kind of comic where you must read every strip beforehand to understand what's going on... it can be an obstacle.

Of course, I've had some people read through my entire archives in a day and complain there's not enough.

Yeah See Gameshow while were still in the low 40's

Odd1 · Post by **Odd1** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 9:04 am

*Sigh*

Bobbins... I miss it so.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 11:33 am

Bobbins was the BOMB!

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 11:44 am

Yeah, but SGR is too.

I was seeing some kind of scheme here (until Liz broke it) that those with bad connections prefere short archives and others long. (and those with no connection like both)
I'm the one with bad connection so I've read a lot of comics with a few months archives but I'm hard to decide to read a big-ass comic. Not enough time too. I know it's wrong and long comics are better, but, inertia... So I invented a lots of ways to decide if comic is worth reading without reading it whole... some worked, some not...
The only big comic I red all at once was CRFH!

Oh, and for Nookies, it's not such a long archive, first years he updated once or twice a week, so it's quick to read.

Karlie · Post by **Karlie** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 3:36 pm

it depends, if i comic is good, then a large archive tends to be a good thing. i love reading through archives, especaly in epic comics, and not haveing to wait a few days to find out what happens next

ZOMBIE USER 11601 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 11601** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 4:18 pm

I definitely prefer comics to have as long an archive as possible...
When I found that I had a whole 5 years of Sluggy to read through, I was just all like "WOOHOO!"
Although I do enjoy the anticipation of waiting to find out what happens in storyline comics if they're not weekly or something, then the wait is too long.
Anyway, as long as the jokes are good at the start of the archives, I don't think it matters that much if the art is any good (

Careksims · Post by **Careksims** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 5:16 pm

If the whole archive is oozing with sexiness and comedy I will read it all (a la PSC). Having a cute girl in a comic is plus for me *hides*

Cindermain · Post by **Cindermain** » Tue Nov 19, 2002 6:33 pm

Good God, I hope they don't detract.

I have enough stuff for a good couple of years at least.