Why?

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Sun Mar 24, 2002 9:12 pm

Why is my comic so underread/underground/underappreciated?
Why do I keep doing it? (not like I'm gonna stop...I don't think I could if I tried)
Why am I such a masochist, breaking my back doing this full painted color every damn day, when other comics that look like they take like a tenth of the effort get ten times the audience?
why why WHY?!?
...why am I so whiny?
Why did I post this?
Sorry everyone. I'm okay, really.

Ashley · Post by **Ashley** » Sun Mar 24, 2002 11:13 pm

*smoosh hugs Kath*

Don't worry - the people that read your comic know its one of the better ones out there. Those big ones, while I'm sure their creators work on them really hard, are kinda slick and flashy. I mean, I read them sure (Penny Arcade, Megatokyo, etc) but they just don't have the, well, *heart* that yours does. (And I'm not just saying this cause I'm your cousin. ^_^;;;)

So don't worry - your readers enjoy Coolville, and in the end, I figure that's what really counts. ^_____^

*gives cookies*

Justinpie · Post by **Justinpie** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 12:13 am

Aww, no! We love you, Kat!

*sniff!*

Aww, I gotta find a way to show it...
[edit] ok, check your mail.

[ This Message was edited by: justinpie on 2002-03-25 07:14 ]

Exit · Post by **Exit** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 10:47 am

It's good to be underground. Don't give up doing this...unless you don't enjoy it anymore.

I like Coolville.

I dunno what to tell you about why your not SUPER-UBER-POPULAR.

Maybe its because people are to lazy to read your archives? to stupid to understand the story? want naked elf ladies?

the mind boggles.

just remember you have a small cult following. and we love you....even if half of the readers never email you or post here.

JPSloan · Post by **JPSloan** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 11:15 am

Why do you do this? You're an artist. 'Nuff said.

Why do comics with 1/10 effort = 10X viewership? Pandering. The average websurfer who reads webcomics is 12-25 years old, and has the following interests:

Sex
Video games
Sex
Anthropomorphic animals having sex
Anime/manga
and, Sex

What the average websurfer doesn't appreciate in a webcomic:

Quality art
Consistency of style and form
Subtlety
Artistic expression
Mastery of mood via color and shading
Real stroke effect
Character development
Daring subject matter
Relevance

And guess what? Coolville possesses all of these things. So, what you have is a strong if not enormous following of intelligent readers who understand what you are doing and what you are trying to say. Your readership is the top percentile.

You are one of the only unique web comics left out there. You are also one of the few who manage to express herself. In this, you are a successful woman and artist.

Just my opinion, anyway...

Joe van der Gonz · Post by **Joe van der Gonz** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 5:38 pm

The problem with many cartoons on the internet is that they are all too aware of the fact that they have no standards to live up to. Therefore, they decide that they have to be rude or nasty simply because they can.

Unfortunately, that's also what many webcomic readers are looking for.

Bleh. Coolville rocks.
--josh

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 7:38 pm

Thank you!
...I don't have the most readers, but I have the best readers. Seriously, from the mail and comments I get, I've found that my comic tends to appeal to people who are a little more intelligent, or sensitive, or both, than the general reader population. I don't get the fourteen year old boys looking for gaming-related lesbian anthropomorphic pornography, but meh, I don't want em.
...more evidence that my friends/fans are the best...Justin made me a Coolville screen saver to cheer me up! He said I could put it up for download, and I will tomorrow.

JP, your post made me feel like I should make a tearful emotional Oscar acceptance speech. I'm honored.
I'm glad you all think what I do is better than the webcomic norm...and I like to think it is.
But I think my real problem is not that people don't like my comic...it's that they don't know about it. I do like 99.5% comic effort and 0.5% advertising/promotion.
The fact is, I have NEVER gotten bad feedback mail (execpt questions about what illegible writing says!) or heard from someone who didn't like my stuff. What I hear often is that people didn't know know my comic existed until they found it accidentally.
So yeah, you all cheered me up. Today I'm in the best mood I've been in in weeks.

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 7:42 pm

...even if half of the readers never email you or post here.

Half? I'd say like 97%+.
But that's typical. I've never communicated with most of the other comic artists I read.
EDIT: sorry for two posts in a row!

[ This Message was edited by: kathleenJ on 2002-03-25 19:43 ]

Exit · Post by **Exit** » Mon Mar 25, 2002 11:55 pm

On 2002-03-25 19:42, kathleenJ wrote:
...even if half of the readers never email you or post here.
Half? I'd say like 97%+.
But that's typical. I've never communicated with most of the other comic artists I read.
EDIT: sorry for two posts in a row!

[ This Message was edited by: kathleenJ on 2002-03-25 19:43 ]

Sorry about that bit....I dont get feedback. If I do it's from people I already know.

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 pm

Wha? Don't be sorry!

TheFish · Post by **TheFish** » Tue Mar 26, 2002 2:45 pm

Kath babe, I love you. I love the comic, I love all of the work you put into it, I love the topics you cover, I even love your sense of humor. Coolville is #1 in my book, quickly replacing the far more popular Ku-2 (http://www.ku-2.com) and that's written by a good friend of mine that even did the graphics for my old site. I would call that an accomplishment. I'm behind you 100%. Personally, I don't even remember how I happened to stumble upon this little artistic haven of yours, but let me just tell that I've shared the comic with at least like 10 close personal friends, so I'm trying to do my part. Cheer up babe, we love ya!!

[ This Message was edited by: TheFish on 2002-03-26 14:46 ]

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Tue Mar 26, 2002 10:05 pm

Thank you!
I'm feeling a lot better than I did. Today was the greatest day I've had in a while.
I love all my readers and I love doing my comic.

Uneide · Post by **Uneide** » Wed Mar 27, 2002 11:04 pm

hm. I had only read a few of your strips. Then today I sat down and read over all your archives.
I love many comics. They amuse, delight, intrigue. Yours...isn't a comic really. It's visual poetry. It's raw emotion, that lets us connect to characters that are real, and flawed and visceral.
Yours has stories that elicit a reaction, and wake us from the lull of our routine.

Because you put your heart, and your talent, into crafting something that is purely, undeniably, unique. And if you don't have thousands upon thousands of hits, I wouldn't worry - those of us who do read it are enthralled to watch you weave their tales.

:feels urge to make fan art...:

Apis

Lorraine · Post by **Lorraine** » Thu Mar 28, 2002 1:11 am

hi kathleen!
ive been reading coolville for a long time now, [actually found it through Dave Kelly's living in greytown] but i had never looked in your forum before. i just did today and it inspired me to register on the damn message board and give you a piece of my mind.
i really enjoy your comic, i always have. i can tell how much work you put into it and it really inspires me. keep your chin up and shit! theres somthing really different about your comic. to me, its very female. i think thats so rad, and that it really sets your comic apart from others. keep up the good work! ill always be a faithful reader.
love, lorraine

KathleenJ · Post by **KathleenJ** » Thu Mar 28, 2002 4:39 pm

Thank you! ...those are some of the nicest things that have been said about my comic.
Uneide, I love that idea that it's visual poetry, and I love your description of the characters as 'flawed and visceral'. I hope my comic is as good as you make it sound. And lorraine, I love how you said there's something female about it. I'm totally in the minority as a female artist, and the world of comics is really traditionally male. I kind of like to think that there's some kind of female energy in it, but it's not a stereotypical 'girl' comic. Something I'm always really interested in, in the comic and the characters, is the balance of masculine and feminine.
Woo! I like when new people post on my board! Welcome.
And since you mentioned it, fan art is always welcome!

[ This Message was edited by: kathleenJ on 2002-03-28 16:40 ]