It looks like you've had a lot of feedback to read both on this thread AND your latest episode.
If you don't mind, I'd like to share my thoughts as well ^_^
What are your initial thoughts on what you've read?
I remember seeing your series when it appeared on the Daily Snack on the app. You reached out for feedback on the episode and you expressed that you were a little concerned because it’s a more obscure genre that people may not easily get into. I noticed the immediate yaoi undertones of the first chapter and everyone knows that Tapastic has a lot BL content already, So I left this comment on ep 1:
Basically, I just wanted to say you have nothing to worry about. You will have an audience that likes what you have to offer.
Okay, to be completely honest, I’m not really into yaoi-esque content, buuuuut I love the art. You captured my attention with that, along with the beautiful use of animation. THE MAIN reason I subscribed to you, however, was simply because you replied to my comment. It’s active creators that get my sub, and you got it ^_^.
I use animation in my comic as well, so I'm biased towards other series that use animation, too. <3
Favourite and least favourite part of my comic and why?
Favorite part of the comic is your brilliant use of the “scroll comic” format and framing. You really know how to use the space to your storytelling benefit (I.e. The long black spaces with floating speech bubbles). I also love the character design. Really really pretty people. Also, your use of colors are amazing. The use of large, solid colors and deep/low contrast to shape the mood are apparent.
Least favorite? If I have to choose, it’s the lack of females thus far. I know, I know. You chose a male-dominant genre, but that’s just my personal preference. That doesn't mean I won't give your story a chance =P. Also, yes, the English you use is a little awkward, but it's forgivable (and really good, considering it's not your first language).
Opinion on each character appeared in this comic? (Just talk about one or two that most interest you is fine)
Hayate: I have a feeling his motivations around Lucius will slowly be revealed over time. Who is Lucius to him? What will it take for Hayate to accomplish his goal? Will he? To be honest, it's not that original of a motivation for a protagonist, but it's compelling nonetheless. I hope that Hayate gets some more character development. If all we focus on is this sole ambition, he may start to feel flat as a character.
The two girls: I checked, they aren't named. Perhaps they're there to just reveal more of how the world is? In any case, I was drawn to them and their dynamic with the other boy. It's clear that females are dominant because of their ability to wield magic.
On scale 1 to 10, how much did you enjoy the story by far?
8. It's only lower because the comic is still in the beginning. A majority of what's released is prologue and introduction. I'm waiting for the first big conflict to draw me in. Other than that, I DO love the premise of the story. An empress sitting on top in a paradise within hell that uses male concubines to receive mana? Nice. This series definitely switches around typical gender rolls depicted in fantasy stories (i.e. dominant female figure and submissive males).
On scale 1 to 10, how eager are you to read the next chapter?
10. I feel like something's about to go down. Let it come! It looks like it's a ton of work to put into each episode, so I don't expect a rush of content. But, I do hope you are at least consistent.
Do you have any predictions?
Hayate's true intentions will be hidden for a while, until he has a chance to unleash on the Empress. But, when he does, he finds out how little he compares to the competition and escapes. He lays low and later teams up with a few other characters.
My series: The Middle Crowd
It's a comedy, which is COMPLETELY different from the series you have. ^_^. It doesn't seem like it now, but it's going to be a long-form comedy with planned character arcs.
I also plan to release a second series that falls in the same universe. That series' genre will be intensely darker than The Middle Crowd, and I can't wait to release that.
Oh, and one more piece of advice:
It's good to be open to feedback, but don't let your readers control what story you tell. It's your story. Find the core of the story and stick with it. After all, people don't follow stories because they can choose how it's told. Don't worry about whether Tapastic will accept it or not (btw, yes, the tapastic community is very welcoming). Focus on telling the story how you want to tell it, and the audience will come to you ^_^.
