Humor Comics vs Story Comics

Jops · Post by **Jops** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:44 am

I assume the actual question here goes between story comics and gag-a-day ones, as nothing prevents a story driven plot to be humorous (Order of the Stick makes one fine example).

Anyway, i think i'll go with story either humorous or not: they offer a lot more elements than just punchlines.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:59 am

Jops wrote:(Order of the Stick makes one fine example).

Except that it started out as pure gag-a-day and mutated (as they do).

- Joel Fagin

Kemmy · Post by **Kemmy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:05 am

Story with humour (as a lot of people have already said). I like being able to become invested in the characters and their situations, but I also like to giggle insanely. Unfortunately, few newspaper comics--several of which ostensibly use the story-with-humour format--now either do much with their characters or make me giggle insanely.

CSchaefer · Post by **CSchaefer** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:17 am

There needs to be a "both" option.

Generally speaking, I prefer story comics, but there are some brilliantly funny humor strips out there which just wouldn't work in that format. (Perry Bible Fellowship, for instance, or The Parking Lot is Full (RIP), aren't really the right place for long-term character development...)

Perk_daddy · Post by **Perk_daddy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:49 am

If it's done well, I can't say I have a preference one over the other. And the great part is that we don't have to choose; I can read Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and then move right on to Out There, and so on. I get several doses of each every day. Webcomics are the best media, baby!

The Neko · Post by **The Neko** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:55 am

I kind of like having comics that are just humor, and others that are more story-oriented. It allows me to get my fill of both without it being diluted.

As for the whole "realism of continuity" thing... it really seems to me that the whole point of comics and art is to not HAVE to be restrained by realism (although naturalism is still a viable option), as long as the audience can suspend disbelief on some level. I feel that gag comics have an experimental quality to them, and sometimes allow someone to make jokes without being restrained by having to "tie it back to the characters" in some way, which can often weaken the joke by having to change the premise. It's why I switch between characters for some comics and other gags that have nothing to do with the cast at all.

I find that a lot of story comics on the web are written by people who either take themselves too seriously, aren't very good at writing, or are ill-equipped to portray the story because of their limited art skills and composition. (I.E. People who do dramatic/adventure comics with newspaper comic layouts and talking heads.)

Legendary · Post by **Legendary** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:07 am

Joel Fagin wrote:
Jops wrote:(Order of the Stick makes one fine example).
Except that it started out as pure gag-a-day and mutated (as they do).

- Joel Fagin

I don't know, it did still contain the same characters and same basic setting from day-to-day. It definitely leaned heavily towards gag-a-day, but pure gag-a-day would be something like the Far Side, Perry Bible Fellowship, or Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

Sorcery101 · Post by **Sorcery101** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:56 am

The Neko wrote: I find that a lot of story comics on the web are written by people who either take themselves too seriously, aren't very good at writing, or are ill-equipped to portray the story because of their limited art skills and composition. (I.E. People who do dramatic/adventure comics with newspaper comic layouts and talking heads.)

That exactly why I for webcomics I prefer humor strips.

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:12 am

I like all three of the mentioned forms. Gag a day comics are great for the one shot laugh, though quality ones are few on the internet. Pure story comics that lack humor are my least favorite but I'll still read them if the characters engage me. Lastly the story with gags are quite prolific on the web and I enjoy them the most of the three types. As mcduff said, story without wit or humor seems unnatural.

Legendary · Post by **Legendary** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:01 am

Vorticus wrote:Pure story comics that lack humor are my least favorite but I'll still read them if the characters engage me.

Personally, that's actually my favorite if it's done right.

Unfortunately, there is exactly one webcomic I've seen that does pure story right. And that one's my personal favorite, but comics like it are just so rare.

Fleakitten · Post by **Fleakitten** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:25 am

Wow. The poll results so far are the exact opposite when this was posted on TWCL.

Geekblather · Post by **Geekblather** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:58 pm

Although, I think that a big part of that discrepancy is who is being asked. Personally, I think that people who create comics or webcomics have slightly different standards and different things they appreciate in a comic than people who only read them. I've kind of found, not just here, but in other forums as well, that people who are also comic creators have higher standards for what they're willing to read than people who are more casually involved in comics.

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:11 am

Legendary wrote:
Vorticus wrote:Pure story comics that lack humor are my least favorite but I'll still read them if the characters engage me.
Personally, that's actually my favorite if it's done right.

Unfortunately, there is exactly one webcomic I've seen that does pure story right. And that one's my personal favorite, but comics like it are just so rare.

Care to enlighten me on your selection?

Legendary · Post by **Legendary** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:49 pm

Vorticus wrote:
Legendary wrote:
Vorticus wrote:Pure story comics that lack humor are my least favorite but I'll still read them if the characters engage me.
Personally, that's actually my favorite if it's done right.

Unfortunately, there is exactly one webcomic I've seen that does pure story right. And that one's my personal favorite, but comics like it are just so rare.
Care to enlighten me on your selection?

The Fortuna Saga. It starts out OK, starts getting really good around #30 to #40, and is great at around #70.

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:50 pm

americangothic wrote:I get sucked into a character and keep coming back to find out what is going on with them. Jokes are just jokes.

Yet you seem to like my comic.

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:15 pm

Legendary, are you pulling my leg? A sprite comic? I try not to judge a comic by it's medium but I'm skeptical that a sprite comic can create dramatic tension. When you said Pure Story comic I was thinking something along the line of this. Oh well, I'll give it a shot.

I'd like to endorse Shisho as one of the better pure gag comic creators on the web.

Shishio · Post by **Shishio** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:18 pm

Vorticus wrote:I'd like to endorse Shisho as one of the better pure gag comic creators on the web.

Thank you.

By the way, I haven't read Fortuna Saga myself, but I have often heard that it's very well done, and serious, despite being a sprite comic. So I wouldn't dismiss it outright.

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:30 pm

If two people have heard good things it can't be entirely bad. I'll give it an honest shot.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 2:40 pm

Vorticus wrote:I'd like to endorse Shisho as one of the better pure gag comic creators on the web.

I'm stuck at work, so I decided to read Shisho's comic.

Now, I'm stuck at work, but I'm laughing.

Bustertheclown · Post by **Bustertheclown** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:43 pm

As a personal preference? Aw, hell, man. I read both, I've drawn both, I like both. To me, it's like trying to compare elephants and dolphins. Sure, they're in the same class, but they aren't the same animal.