Is my comic too mature?

[Rai_Muffin]

Hi, I'm looking to post my comic series on Tapas and wanted to seek some clarification on the rules regarding maturity before I start flagging my comics as mature or not.
From the comics, I've read through and the guidelines while submitting, I believe my work isn't enough to warrant the mature filter, but I'd rather air on the side of caution than risk violating the guidelines accidentally or offending anyone.

-Some pages have light swearing, mostly "damn", but there's a few instances of "bitch", "bastard" and "crap" when a more vulgar character is angry.
Though if these go against the guidelines, it's an easy fix to change them.
-A character being cut or stabbed is accompanied by an unusually large spray of blood, though nothing overly graphic or detailed. I've included some examples below.

As I said, these don't seem like a big deal to me, but everyone's definition of "over-the-line" is a little different, so I wanted to find out where that line is regarding this site and community.

Some future chapters include characters losing limbs or being impaled.
Is it better to flag those individual chapters as mature?
Or is it more simple to only post the initial story arc on Tapas, and then direct people to my own site after it concludes for the rest of the story?

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

[CommanderMarty]

I think you are fine for the most part, I would start marking the chapters as mature when people start losing limbs.

[drcharlotterodricks]

Also in the previous chapter in your description add a disclaimer

[DaphnePanda]

I don't think that amount of blood would warrant a mature tag. Add a disclaimer in the previous chapter and a content warning at the top of the chapter. If you don't want to do that, since your comic seems to be pretty action heavy you can add a content warning to the beginning of the entire comic and a warning in your summary/description instead.

As for losing limbs, I'd give those a mature tag just to be on the safe side.

Black Horda is a pretty good example for mild blood and gore, and is what I've been basing my warnings and disclaimers off of.

Black Horda | Tapas

I'm not positive where they draw the line on swearing. I think they're more worried about racial slurs and the like. Light swearing I'm pretty sure is fine and I'm testing the waters with the slightly more vulgar ones like "crap" right now. So far there hasn't been an issue, though I do have a recommended age 16+ in my comic description.

[Iris-Grimoire]

Because it's black and white, I think it's absolutely fine as long as it's just blood, but limb removal does indeed warrant a mature tag in the pages it happens. Swearing is always fine and doesn't need a tag (I don't think even sexual-themed swearing needs a mature tag? I wouldn't risk it myself), though a warning is a nice way to give people a heads up early that it can get PG-15.

[HGohwell]

Your swearing is absolutely fine, doesn't need a mature tag at all. I think they only warning I've ever seen over swearing is just don't have them swear like a sailor aka don't have every other word be a curse, or something particularly bad, for instance a lot of even mature shows will still beep out c**t even if they allow most other words. And even then, things just crap and damn aren't considered swears by almost anyone these days and bitch and bastard are allowed on most day time TV that isn't aimed at kids. You've also got the option of just staring out swear words, if you're worried, that way people know they're swearing but don't have to read it.

And as others have said, as long as you're not showing details, and especially because it's black and white, your blood is fine. Things like loss of limbs being impaled can be a bit trickier and yeah, should be being a mature filter, or censored somehow. A warning on the chapters, and/or a blanket warning in your blurb should be good.

[Rai_Muffin]

Thanks a lot for the advice!
It really means a lot!

[drcharlotterodricks]

No problem, thats the best bit about Tapas.Since everyone here is either a creator or reader or both you will always receive sound advice on the forums.All you have to do is ask ^-^