What do you expect from a webcomic?

[Salyavin]

Seeing as that my updating Schedule has begun to catch up with me I have decided to go with shorter pages for most of my current storyline.

But I'm not going to rant about that. After I'd decided an interesting question popped up in my mind.

What kind of updates do you expect from different kinds of webcomics on different schedules.

I mean do you expect a full page from a weekly comic and a short strip from a daily one and what do you expect from a comic who updates thrice or twice (like I do) a week?

I know that there's no universal rule or anything like that but what do you personally expect?

[Warofwinds]

I expect a strip comic in b/w to update 3 days a week. Colored, 2 days a week.

I expect a story comic, full page, to update minimum once a week, and depending on the detail, 2 days a week. If it's uncolored, 2 days a week.

I...I don't think I read any comics that update less than that, except for TTG, 'cause the art is just so great. It's just not enjoyable if the speed of updating does not match the quality (inverse relationship, unless you're Sarah Ellerton.)

[Cope]

I expect nine updates a week, and I expect them yesterday.

[Hogan]

I expect nine updates a week, and I expect them yesterday.

.... Boss, is that you?

[Jackhass]

Basically all I really expect is regularity. If you can get a comic out on a specific day/days every week or month then it doesn't really matter to me if you update every single day or once a month.

It's people showing up expecting a comic and not getting it that will kill you. If they know to only expect one a week or whatever they won't be disappointed, but if they show up for that one a week and it's not there, they will be.

[Black Sparrow]

I expect a consistent update schedule. Once a week, for any type of comic. Strip styles should usually update twice or three times a week, at least. Story comics, I'm willing to wait a month, if the updates go up when promised and if they're good and full of effort.

Overall, though, I'm not picky about frequency, as long as it's dependable. I've got lots of comics to get through, so what's one less update to read? You get the comics eventually.

[Shishio]

I'm in the minority, but I think it's pretty fucking arrogant to expect anything from people who provide you with free entertainment.

[Prettysenshi]

I'm in the minority, but I think it's pretty fucking arrogant to expect anything from people who provide you with free entertainment.

Alright, I'm go to a website expecting to have decent art and writing, that updates somewhat regularly and is at least entertaining, and end up viewing a webcomic that has atrocious art and story, is just degrading and sick, that updates only a few times a year, and isnt' entertaining, at all. If I paid for it, I could at least get a refund. But because its free, I can't get any of what I invested into viewing the comic back.

Btw, I dont' think I'm arrogant I just think that there's nothing wrong with expecting anything from someone who's trying to entertain you.

[Lunar]

I expect a consistent update schedule. Once a week, for any type of comic. Strip styles should usually update twice or three times a week, at least. Story comics, I'm willing to wait a month, if the updates go up when promised and if they're good and full of effort.

Overall, though, I'm not picky about frequency, as long as it's dependable. I've got lots of comics to get through, so what's one less update to read? You get the comics eventually.

Crap... I am a terrible failure...

[Black Sparrow]

I expect a consistent update schedule. Once a week, for any type of comic. Strip styles should usually update twice or three times a week, at least. Story comics, I'm willing to wait a month, if the updates go up when promised and if they're good and full of effort.

Overall, though, I'm not picky about frequency, as long as it's dependable. I've got lots of comics to get through, so what's one less update to read? You get the comics eventually.

Crap... I am a terrible failure...

Yeah, me too.

*Does the hypocrite dance*

[Warren]

Free downloads of hot redheads.

[Jim North]

Waffles.

I also hope for syrup, but I do not expect it.

[Phact0rri]

its a hobby, hopefully everyone has lives outside of comic making. I don't really set standards, but if it goes for about six months and there's no update I'm gonna think the comic is over.

[KWill]

My different expectations don't really depend on the length of the individual pages or the quality of the art. It's more dependent on whether the artist is doing it as a hobby or if they're actually earning money from it. In case of the latter, update when you feel like it. In case of the latter, a regular update schedule, frequency depending on the quality and complexity, must be met, as I'm technically paying you for it by reading your commercials.

Although a frequently and regularly updated "amateur" comic is greatly appreciated.

[ShineDog]

It might be unreasonable to expect it, thats true, but i dont really care.

If something isnt updating, ill stop reading it. No grudge against the author but i wont read it.

If the art is ugly, I wont read it.

If the writing is bad, I wont read it.

Not unreasonable!

[Dr Neo Lao]

Some people say I'm unreasonable, but I expect a full page, full colour, comic printed on glossy paper to be sent to me via courier every day in a Gold Envelope. Now, if that's too much to ask, then I don't see what the author was thinking when they decided to make a webcomic. And just because I live on another continent is no excuse!

Joking aside, there are a couple of ways to look at it. As far as I'm concerned, if the author puts a sign or footnote on their comic saying "I'm only doing this as a hobby and I'll update whenever I damn well please" then I assume that the author is doing it because they are emulating.

Now, just who they are emulating will vary depending on the comic, but the majority of people who start webcomics do so because they ... uh ...

Sod it. I can't be bothered finishing this post. kthxbai

[Dutch!]

And just because I live on another continent is no excuse!

And Western Australia at that! How is it in 1950?

[KWill]

Some people say I'm unreasonable, ...

And I'm one of them =P

[Fabio Ciccone]

I expect a strip comic in b/w to update 3 days a week. Colored, 2 days a week.

I expect a story comic, full page, to update minimum once a week, and depending on the detail, 2 days a week. If it's uncolored, 2 days a week.

I second that, although the most important thing is that if you're not being paid for the webcomic you should really do it when you CAN. I draw a B/W strip but can only do it once a week... I can't stop working (or looking for a better job for that matter) to do it more often. I love my comic, but my life is more important

[Garneta]

I don't expect anything from the update schedule, especially after both doing a comic myself, and after seeing how many other comics update very sporadically.

The only thing I really do expect from a comic is that the artwork should either be consistent, or improved upon as the comic progresses.