Action/Adventure/comedy

[shiningtalabert]

My name is Talabert, I'm relatively new to the forums so hello to you all. I am currently uploading http://tapastic.com/series/Mana-Zero onto tapastic in bi-weekly uploads, if you like give it a read.
I wanted to create this post to discuss my favorite genre of stories, in all formats (ie. movies, comics,shows)
What elements do you feel can give birth to a great action or destroy one?

[Kitsu]

Ah I really like it 0v0
http://tapastic.com/series/Aesthetic-Fruitz
heres mine if you wanted to read idk >-<

[UzukiCheverie]

Wow, I'm liking this art style! I'll definitely give it a read

What elements do you feel can give birth to a great action or destroy one?

I feel that one mistake creators often make with action scenes is that they don't let their characters get roughed around a bit. They either let them win every fight, get saved in the nick of time by someone who technically shouldn't even be there, or if they do get injured, they're fine in like 5 minutes, even if it's a broken leg or something, they still somehow manage to step up and fight (this last one can work but you have to set it up properly).

Let your characters get the snot beat out of them every once in a while. Let them get scars, bruises, and broken limbs. I'm not saying your character needs to look like a physical wreck by the end of their journey, but at least let them show some indication that they've been through a lot, mentally and physically. Don't be afraid to give them a bloody nose or have them end up in the hospital for a week, and don't feel that because they're the main character they need to be constantly protected by plot armor and never lose a fight.

(also shameless plug cough cough)

[starlightcityentert]

@shiningtalabert wow dude, your art style is nice!! i'll check out your series for sure

@UzukiCheverie I agree 100%

In action, I love those hits that a main character takes that comes out of nowhere, that leaves him or her reeling for a good bit of the fight. Adds a bit of drama to the scene, you've got to at least give off the feeling in a big battle that the main character's life is at risk.

My series falls under sci-fi and has plenty of action, so hey check it out if you're interested:

[infectedbloodcomics]

Really nice style! I'm not a manga fan, but your style is a bit different from lots of stuff I see around. Keep it up!

To answer your question, I can think of at least two elements that can both give birth and doom to a great action:

1) Complexity: if you set up a nice, even long complex fight, you'd better keep it clear. Who's fighting with whom and the fight sequences should read and flow really well. Too long or overly complicated scenes and you'll lose your readers

2) Keep it believable: no matter if you go for Star Wars battles or hand-to-hand combat in a jungle, you need to know your combat stuff. For example, learn how a proper kick is thrown and what a laser should look like. Once you've grounded that, you can come up with anything you want, including warping reality (e.g., a little baby may zap people just with her mind ray)

If you'd like to have a look, here's my sci-fi/action/adventure/drama story, The Green-Eyed Sniper

[nobody]

I pretty much agree with everything @UzukiCheverie said!

I remember reading a World of Warcraft comic with a team consisting of a human, a blood elf and a night elf (if I remember correctly). There were several reasons why I stopped reading it, but one of the biggest reasons was that our main characters (three of them, remember?), had NO PROBLEM facing dozens and dozens of enemies and kill them off without as much as a scratch. I think creators sometimes think this makes the heroes cool, when in fact it makes them boring, because nothing is a challenge. When your protagonists never struggle, it's much harder for your readers to sympathise with them.

[shiningtalabert]

I will! and Thank you!

[shiningtalabert]

Wow you really nailed this Uzuki! I completely agree! I feel like to many creators now-a-days focus to heavily on creating 'perfect' characters. There is almost little to no development and that ruins most stories. What's worse is that the 'pros' are doing this which causes a domino effect when up and coming artists use them as study or reference material. They tend to carry that trend on like a virus. I really miss the wholesomeness of a well drawn out battle where characters are pushed to their very limits but still have to push even more! There are stories out there that have this but I would like to see more of it in new artists work.
I will totally check out your work XD and also thank you.

[shiningtalabert]

Yes STAR! them feels XD they make you wonder, "whoa, how is he/she going to get outa this situation?!" That's the type of story that pulls you along for the ride. My goal is to create those types of stories. I will be reading your work shortly also and thank you.

[DynamoToon]

You're comic is an instant subscribe, damn son. Anyways, if action movies use too many cliches I feel like it can absolutely destroy the film entirely. Think of it this way, why watch an action movie if you've seen it before?
Btw, here's my comic utipugpfisiufbrliblwayfrejsh http://tapastic.com/series/Room-for-Improvement

[shiningtalabert]

Yes, yes, a decent grasp on reality can definitely help with creating the odd. Fight scenes that are too long become boring because the creativity of the scene constantly wanes with each part. ie. a hand to hand combat fight in any field be it comics to movies is just a hand to hand fight. That would get boring in about 2 min if they are just throwing constant blows but when you throw in a little sugar and spice lets say a hand to hand inside of a burning building that simplicity just became more complex! Now you have just generated a gripping scene that gets viewers wanting to know how it will end.

[shiningtalabert]

I couldn't agree more INGUNN. The whole 'trick' I would say to making a story believable would fall heavily upon whether or not readers/viewers can understand and relate to the situation of said characters situation/world. I believe that things have become stagnant in this matter in this age because everyone feels that a story can only have one or the other: a good story and boring characters or the exact opposite in which I completely disagree. So with this the focus is split, when in fact they should be conjoined!

[shiningtalabert]

lol clichés make me laugh early on in a series or movie, sometimes that can be used to the creators advantage if they are wise but most just don't know how to stray away from them due to the large range of others that use them. It becomes more simple to put it this way "If it aint' broke don't fix it". I cannot stand that phrase lol I feel like walls should be torn down in order to progress unless of course there is absolutely no need for it.

[AnnaLandin]

Hi, Talabert! Nice to meet you! I'm the creator of Grassblades, which is kind of short on the comedy at the moment, but has plenty of action and adventure.

Don't be afraid to give them a bloody nose or have them end up in the hospital for a week, and don't feel that because they're the main character they need to be constantly protected by plot armor and never lose a fight.

This. I am somewhat guilty of the whole plot-armor thing in Grassblades, at least so far, but I have every intention of roughing up my main character down the line - and he has certainly been roughed up before the start of the story. Action - especially violent action - should have consequences, and if a main character wins every fight without trying, that decreases the tension a lot.

Another thing I like to see is the one where the action/violence is unavoidable; the character(s) do their best to avoid fighting, but eventually they are pushed into a corner and are forced to fight their way out. That makes the fight seem a bit more desperate, and less like a walk in the park.

[shiningtalabert]

oooooo I like the way you think Annalandin! I will definitely check out your work!

[shiningtalabert]

Boy you all have a fantastic grasp on what can make or break a good action. All great responses. Now I would like to switch the topic to Adventure styled stories with the same question as before. Feel free to combine the two topics as well or just stick with the old topic if you like also!

[allenthomas]

I love the look of your comic. Nice and clean linework too. I'm not really sure what could break an action comic in my eyes, other than a lack of updating on time I guess. I'm a sucker for a really detailed story and deep characters, but I occasionally like just no-nonsense fighting and action even if the story itself is a little flawed. (Not really sure which one of these two categories does my comic fall in, LOL)

If you get a chance check out my comic Shadosassins, and keep up the good work Talabert!

[shiningtalabert]

Haha I understand where your coming from ALLEN. I love a good ole battle comic any day, DBZ FOR LIFE!
Also I'll give it a read, and thanks!

[StevenDacasin]

Personally i like these types of stories its simple and clear. The only thing i found was that the main caracter Caden took awhile to introduce the first chapter showed him as a kid with his older sister. I know its a intro chapter but i think characters should be introduced somewhere in the first chapter.

Plug

[AnnaLandin]

Now I would like to switch the topic to Adventure styled stories with the same question as before.

One of my favourite things in adventure-stories is that sense of wonder. That exploring of the world, of discovering new things and the wonder of those new things. Sure, excitement and tension and danger are good too, and lend a sense of urgency to the story, but I do so love that wide-eyed wonder.

There should be more of it.