Creative Decision Pet Peeves

[Devika]

i didn't realize how much i hated this until nostalgia critic pointed it out but i also dont like the 'liar revealed' story

I had to find that video and ohmg yes (he made lots of other great points there too, like "the misunderstanding" or "he's such a dork but he tries so HARD you MUST LIKE HIM"). It makes things so predictable, and gah if there's one thing I can't deal with it's predictability.

[joannekwan]

'Nother one:

Characters with child-looking bodies having sex. NOOOOOOOO

[gosunkgugi]

Fantasy name dropping pisses me off. Unless it's self-explanatory or you're going to exposit on it right away, there's no reason for your characters to name drop locations and concepts you haven't explained or given us any reason to care about. I don't care if the ochre plague of Zm'fynk'r'ovver was caused by the filth witches of W'hu'tt'vr, if it has nothing to do with what's happening 'on screen' and won't be brought up again until fifty chapters in. It's not world building in any meaningful sense, it doesn't pique my interest, and in the unlikely event that anyone remembers it when it is brought up, they won't care.

The fact that this sort of stuff is the bread and butter of certain popular fantasy novels drives me up the wall.

[Michelle]

Like most things, left-to-right is not a hard and fast rule! My reason for disliking it in western comics is that it puts unnecessary strain on the reader. Chances are, if you're coming from a left-to-right reading culture, most of your audience probably also reads left-to-right. So going against the way your audience reads in an effort to look like a manga sets up unnecessary roadblocks. I don't think anyone has a problem with right-to-left when it comes to translated comics.

[Mocha]

Yeah I only like those types of characters when they're not meant to be taken seriously in the first place, otherwise I just cringe when reading their dialogue.

[Mocha]

Just thought of one more thing.

When authors use stock characters without actually adding any other unique traits to the character. The most common one I've seen being over used is the tsundere trope. The only good tsundere character that I can think of that has more to their character than just being a tsundere is Mikoshiba from GSNK....

[spadesart]

there's one i know of in particular that's on the front page every single day and the entire 300+ episode comic is exclusively just talking heads with no backgrounds or panels at all?? ?? it's got like 9k subs too

[jurinova]

Honestly my biggest pet peeve is probably the lack of safe sex in comics. Especially if it's sex between two men. There seems to be an idea that they don't need condoms because they don't need a contraceptive but STD's are an actual thing! Like seriously, if someone is old enough to be drawing sex scenes they should be old enough to know better. Safety is important!

Another thing that kinda bugs me is when characters never change their clothes. Of course, if the story happens within a short period of time, they wear an uniform daily or there is no possibility of changing clothes, then sure. But wearing the same outfit for a long time without an explanation just seems kinda lazy.

[martharpearson]

A creative pet peeve is romantic couples abusing each other. It doesn't even have to be romantic. It's any lead duo bullying each other, and mistreating each other while everyone is totally okay with it. Couples abusing each other is one step closer to objectification.

We need more couples who respect each other or at least friends and families setting the suitors straight about mistreating each other.

[joannekwan]

Honestly my biggest pet peeve is probably the lack of safe sex in comics. Especially if it's sex between two men.

So true! Like I had shots of condoms (the packaging etc.) in my sex scenes and a number of people lauded their inclusion. Like I didn't have a second thought about them until the comments and it made me think, "Yeah, there isn't enough visible protection that I can recall when reading comics in general."

EDIT: The scary part was one commenter asked why the need for condoms (it was two men doing the do) and I had to remind them of STD's. X0

[almondjoy445]

Romanticizing abuse is one thing I can't stand. The best example I can think of is from the Steven Universe fandom (which I know isn't a comic here but it's the best I can think of) and pairing Lapis and Jasper. It's very clear that their relationship was toxic and a very good example on what an abusive relationship is...yet people still find it romantic. I don't get it.

Girl trains for years to be good at her skill. Guy trains for months and becomes better cause he is chosen one (vice/versa)...Actually just the chosen one trope in general is starting to get on my nerves.

Speaking of the chosen one trope, I didn't realize this until I was watching a video talking about trope pet peeves and this one bugs the hell out of me. Keeping dark secret from loved ones to keep them safe only for loved ones to be targeted anyway because they don't know what kind of danger to look out for. It's kind of stupid when you think about it and it sort of defeats itself and it just kind of makes the drama somewhat shoehorned in.

[AlkseeyaKC]

there's one i know of in particular that's on the front page every single day and the entire 300+ episode comic is exclusively just talking heads with no backgrounds or panels at all?? ?? it's got like 9k subs too

Yes, this is another pet peeve of mine. comics that do a lot of the pet peeves listed here with crazy amounts fans. Probably just sounds like jealousy, but I've seen a lot of popular comics where I just have no idea what is even happening in plot or anything. Then I see they have a huge reader base and this confuses me. I can say I've personally not really seen one of these comics on Taptastic though.

[Marvin]

I can say I've personally not really seen one of these comics on Taptastic though.

• people saying "Taptastic" (kidding, I find it hilarious)

I pretty much agree with most of the above... Hmmm... what else...

• unatural conversation between two characters who are supposed to know each other very well just to give infos about the characters background. (Like the famous "you know our dad died when I was 6 month old..." Well DUH, that's not something they're gonna forget anytime soon !)
• creators who give essential infos about their characters and universe in their Q&A, galleries and other side arts. It's not an encyclopedia guys, discovering those infos in the comic is what makes the story... a story...

Anyway, I've read all the previous posts and noted how many of these concerned me... That's a good exercise. Slightly depressing though.

[Devika]

Anyway, I've read all the previous posts and noted how many of these concerned me... That's a good exercise. Slightly depressing though.

While it's good to reflect on your work (that's how you get better!), keep in mind that these are personal peeves, not universal rules. So don't sweat it too much! (:

[AlkseeyaKC]

people saying "Taptastic" (kidding, I find it hilarious)

oops. I say it that way and I type how I sound things out. I have writing problems.

and I agree I like reading what comic pet peeves people have so I know what not to do. lol

[joannekwan]

Oh, also when characters in stories are unrealistically successful at a profession and they're younger than me. Makes me envious, even though I know it's fictional. XD

[Jabbage]

Doubly annoying if it's completely anachronistic for a corset to exist in the time period that the comic is set!

[monotone_ink]

"300 years ago, there were 4 crystal maidens, watching over the crystals that kept the world alive. It was then that a scourge spread, initiated by a fallen king. Demons spread across the world, terrorising the people and taking their eggs, consuming said eggs and shitting out boulder sized babies to roam the lands. It was then that a weeaboo warrior rose from the ashes and wiped the eos of the scourge with the power of his holy dong, renewing the life that was taken from the demons and putting said demons into their own eternal wet dreams. But it was only a matter of time until they awoke from their fantasies."

Fuck yourself. Please don't do this.

[joannekwan]

Ok but if there was a story like that verbatim, it actually sounds somewhat interesting, haha~

[AnnaLandin]

Doubly annoying if it's completely anachronistic for a corset to exist in the time period that the comic is set!

Pixar's Brave, I'm looking at you. Boned corsets were not in common use during the medieval era, and certainly not in Scotland. And the hourglass-pinch thing wasn't a thing until the 19th century.