Finishing off your comic....

For discussions, announcements, non-technical questions and anything else comics-related or otherwise that doesn't fit in any of the other categories.
User avatar
K-Dawg
I wanna LIVE
Posts: 4844
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Yes, let us check!
Contact:

Post by K-Dawg »

I stand by that all comics need an ending. If you aren't having fun with your comic anymore than man you should end it. It'll start to show when you do more and you'll just end up destroying the whole thing anyways.
Image

Shocking news Angry D. Monkey

User avatar
CaptainClaude
Witty British President
Posts: 5647
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:50 am
Location: SITTING ON A BOMB IN A GREENHOUSE.
Contact:

Post by CaptainClaude »

tetsuo75 wrote:
ryclaude wrote:
ataraxia wrote: You just gave away the ending to Reckless Youth, didn't you?
>.>


<.<
Well, you can't use it... It's mine now!!! BWAHAHAHA!
I've changed my mind! murder is never the answer!

User avatar
Shishio
Regular Poster
Posts: 697
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:31 pm
Location: Toronto-ish
Contact:

Post by Shishio »

No! Don't let John Solomon win!

But seriously, you have to decide what's right for you.

I think the whole "give it a proper ending" argument is bullshit. If that's what you want, fine, but it's absurd to feel any obligation to faceless strangers that don't give a fuck about you, only how big you draw Natasha's tits.

I've invested quite a lot of time and money into my comic, and aside from the joy of having made comics, I get next to nothing in return. So if it ever becomes too much of a hassle, I will stop cold turkey and anyone who doesn't like it can suck my dick.

It'll be a shame to see it (Your comic) go, I was going to ask you if you would let me cameo Natasha in a strip at some point in the future.
Image
One-liners: Come for the laughs, stay for the abuse.

User avatar
Jops
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1951
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2003 9:55 am
Location: Zzyzx Rd.
Contact:

Post by Jops »

Shishio wrote:I think the whole "give it a proper ending" argument is bullshit.
The argument is about of what would be the best way to finish a comic. And it does actually matter more if you care about you readers or not, rather than the other way round.

Tetsuo's free to just stop it like that if he wishes, but that would be more like leaving the comic unfinished rather than actually finishing it.
Jops

Image Image

User avatar
Kels
Regular Poster
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:00 am
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by Kels »

I'd say another consideration is if he just says "screw you guys" and walks away, how likely are current readers going to follow him to his next project? Especially if that project is more story oriented than the current one? There's a matter of credibility here.
Image

User avatar
NakedElf
Regular Poster
Posts: 937
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 8:39 am
Location: Cambridge
Contact:

Post by NakedElf »

If you have other projects you want to be working on (I read that correctly?) then just on the mental level it might be easier to transition if you start working on them, too. After all, there's only so much time in a day, and if you find yourself increasingly focusing on new things, that may make it easier to mentally 'move on' and wrap up the old comic.
Image

User avatar
Vorticus
Backrub Fiend
Posts: 6163
Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:24 pm
Location: Walking on sunshine
Contact:

Post by Vorticus »

Definately go with some sort of ending rather than simply stopping the updates. Even gag comics can have closure.

User avatar
Siabur
Regular Poster
Posts: 219
Joined: Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:44 pm
Location: Fairview, a place where things that are maybe...
Contact:

Post by Siabur »

You could always end it with a finale, then if you find your self working on it outta habit later, put them up as a limited series.
Friction Fit Theatre. Updates 7 days a week after 3pm Colorado time.
Image

User avatar
Legion
Regular Poster
Posts: 352
Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:22 am
Location: Manchester

Post by Legion »

I've always seen an ending as important, even if just for your own peace of mind. If you wrap the whole thing up and give it a good send-off, then perhaps it'll help to move on from it. After all, I know that for me at least, leaving something effectively 'unfinished' - even if you've decided to leave it that way - would just mean part of me would fret about that for ages afterwards.

But then, I'm not you. It's a cliche, I know, but do what you think is best for you.

User avatar
Dr Neo Lao
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 2397
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:21 am
Location: Australia

Post by Dr Neo Lao »

You said that you'd already worked out what you wanted to do, so I'm not sure if any further comments are going to help, but just in case:

What I did when I ended my first comic (which was more story-driven) was to simply nuke everyone.

I've been reading your comic since Eugene dressed up as a hotdog and I've always liked it. However, your comic has developed into more of a gag-a-day over the last year or so, so you don't really need to worry too much about 'wrapping things up'.

My two cents: just make comic of as many characters as you care to draw waving at the readers saying 'thanks for reading' and then stop.

However, I for one would like to see a simple storyline that climaxes on or around the 4th anniversary. But that's just me.

User avatar
Dark Spider
Regular Poster
Posts: 165
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2005 8:26 am
Contact:

Post by Dark Spider »

The best way to end a story comic is to resolve the various conflicts, lingering questions and give the characters closure.

The best way to end a "gag a day" comic is to not only give the characters some semblance of closure (if possible) but to also think about what kind of lasting impression you want your readers to have about your characters long after you stopped writing about them.

Its kinda hard to explain, but the best example I can give you is the ending to "Calvin and Hobbes". Watterson just had Calvin and Hobbes on a sled heading into their next adventure. The lasting impression the reader gets from this is a sort of timeless feeling. Like, the comic may have ended, but Calvin and Hobbes will continue to be "Calvin and Hobbes" and go on their adventures into eternity. It leaves the reader with a sort of happy feeling that their characters won't stop with the comic, and they'll live on.

Hope I helped somewhat...
This has been the Dark Spider...
Image
My webcomic on Comic Genesis, check it out!

User avatar
Tetsuo75
Regular Poster
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: The land of big hopping rats- Australia
Contact:

Post by Tetsuo75 »

Shishio wrote:No! Don't let John Solomon win!
Oh god, no! If I was letting him win I would be quitting comics altogether.... (You know, I haven't even read his review...)

It's just the schedule of it all that's killing me... and a new idea that I can't get out of my head....

BTW- Shishio, You can use Nat if you want... it's all good

Dr Neo Lao , I can't nuke them since they will also feature in my next project... I like the idea of the lots of characters in the one comic and thank you for reading though....

User avatar
The Neko
A Blithe ray of Schadenfreude
Posts: 3878
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 6:16 pm
Location: New York City

Post by The Neko »

tetsuo75 wrote:(You know, I haven't even read his review...)
Maybe you should.


Anyway, if you want to end it. Just end it. Doesn't do you any good to keep chugging at it if you don't even enjoy it. Not like it's your entire livelihood is it?

User avatar
Princess
Regular Poster
Posts: 827
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:04 pm
Location: Eastern Vulgaria
Contact:

Post by Princess »

End it with a big event, such as a wedding, Nat or/and Eugene(?) going to university or overseas?
Image

User avatar
Tetsuo75
Regular Poster
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: The land of big hopping rats- Australia
Contact:

Post by Tetsuo75 »

The Neko wrote:
tetsuo75 wrote:(You know, I haven't even read his review...)
Maybe you should.
Why should I? If someone wants to appoint himself as a critic that's fine by me, just don't expect me to play along...

@ princess - Nah, I'll finish it off just the way I started it... small....

User avatar
Dr Neo Lao
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 2397
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 5:21 am
Location: Australia

Post by Dr Neo Lao »

Nooo!!! Don't kill Doom Piggy! Or, you know, send him out of the piggy doll that he possessed.

Yeah, I agree with Neko. About ending it that is, not reading someone else's drivel. I also agree with Shishio, to a certain extent. If the comic "isn't doing it for you" then you can just wrap it up. And since your comic is more along the lines of brief snapshots or vignettes of a place rather than a concrete storyline then that will make things a lot easier for you. You won't have a lot of characters sitting around with loose ends.

And if you've already been wanting to stop, then it may be that you just need a bit of a holiday from the comic. I'm reluctant to say the 'H' word, but you could just stop doing lowroad for a while, whilst you do your other project.

That way, if you're inclined to tinker with the characters or get inspired to do something else with them later on, you can come back to the comic and add a few new pages without worrying about it.

User avatar
Tetsuo75
Regular Poster
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: The land of big hopping rats- Australia
Contact:

Post by Tetsuo75 »

Dr Neo Lao wrote:Nooo!!! Don't kill Doom Piggy! Or, you know, send him out of the piggy doll that he possessed.

Yeah, I agree with Neko. About ending it that is, not reading someone else's drivel. I also agree with Shishio, to a certain extent. If the comic "isn't doing it for you" then you can just wrap it up. And since your comic is more along the lines of brief snapshots or vignettes of a place rather than a concrete storyline then that will make things a lot easier for you. You won't have a lot of characters sitting around with loose ends.

And if you've already been wanting to stop, then it may be that you just need a bit of a holiday from the comic. I'm reluctant to say the 'H' word, but you could just stop doing lowroad for a while, whilst you do your other project.

That way, if you're inclined to tinker with the characters or get inspired to do something else with them later on, you can come back to the comic and add a few new pages without worrying about it.
You may be right about the whole holiday thing... I've been doing it all this time without a break. Maybe I need a month or so to think about it then see if I want to finish it off... But the lure of a new project has me in it's claws... maybe I should put it on extended hiatus and to be updated whenever I feel like it rather than trying to keep readers happy with regular updates...

P.S.- Kill off Doom-Piggy? NEVER!!! He is IMMORTAL!!!! He might also make an appearance in my new project...

User avatar
The Neko
A Blithe ray of Schadenfreude
Posts: 3878
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 6:16 pm
Location: New York City

Post by The Neko »

tetsuo75 wrote:
The Neko wrote:
tetsuo75 wrote:(You know, I haven't even read his review...)
Maybe you should.
Why should I? If someone wants to appoint himself as a critic that's fine by me, just don't expect me to play along...
Because sometimes criticism... is GOOD?

User avatar
Tetsuo75
Regular Poster
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 9:14 pm
Location: The land of big hopping rats- Australia
Contact:

Post by Tetsuo75 »

The Neko wrote:
tetsuo75 wrote:
The Neko wrote: Maybe you should.
Why should I? If someone wants to appoint himself as a critic that's fine by me, just don't expect me to play along...
Because sometimes criticism... is GOOD?
Yes I agree... but I get plenty of it already from people whose opinion I value. It's not like I live in a bubble where people kiss my ass endlessly, you know...

User avatar
Kels
Regular Poster
Posts: 155
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:00 am
Location: Canada
Contact:

Post by Kels »

tetsuo75 wrote:It's not like I live in a bubble where people kiss my ass endlessly, you know...
So what you're saying is you don't have a bubble butt? :P
Image

Post Reply