Have an Origin Story as the First Arc? Or have an Origin Story later on?

[ToxicRamen]

For one of my webcomics, Paranormal Consultants, it involves people solving various paranormal/supernatural problems. Originally I wanted it to start out with the main characters doing their jobs and later on, one of the story arcs would be an origin story explaining how one of main characters started working as paranormal consultant. Or is it easier to have the origin story as the first arc instead?

[Inspector_Spinda]

no usually have it be later, unless there's a lot of details from "the early days" that are important. If you just want to show the origin story and cut to the future when they're experienced, then just have the origin be later on

[BakedPotato]

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[IndigoShirtProd]

Whenever the inciting incident is to get the story in motion, that's where you should start. I say only have an origin story if that is when the inciting incident occurs, like in MHA, or if there is a character defining moment, like in Spider-man. Spider-man is also a story where you don;t have to focus on the origin like in the new movies.

[Sirell]

I think there's some kind of charm in beginning in medias res, where you get to know the characters in their current state first.
That way, the readers get more interested and invested in their origin stories, because they may have already asked questions like "What is their story? How did they get together?" and the like themselves beforehand.

[hannahlaine]

I usually reveal the origin story piece by piece through out the book.

[Tulmut]

Always later, start en media res. (idk if I spelled that right). Think of their origin story as a cause, and then jump strait to the effect. What is the end point of their origin. Like Batman's first night cleaning up Gotham, or maybe one his early nights, or even further on. You could have it be the first time they encounter the villain. Logically you could know this villain and the hero go way back (like villain killed their parents), but the audience should meet them for the first time face to face with your hero.

[rmdooley]

Later on.

I also do a comic involving people looking into supernatural conflicts and I am saving origin stories for after the characters are introduced and established.

Wait until readers are interested in the characters before delving into their backstories

[dwopey]

Audiences are more perceptive and curious than we think. Starting when the group is already established in my opinion is always better since characters are easier to carve out and relationships are already set up y'know?