SURVEY: What do you hate most about reading webcomics?

[concepcionbrothers]

Just wanted to do a quick survey when it comes to the reading experience of webcomics. Hope many of you guys can get to answer it for me

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

I'm asking this because I'm trying to figure out how we can make reading our favorite webcomics better. So answering that first question would be of great help.

And, if you have the time, I have a couple of follow-up questions:

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
- By page
- By chapter
- By scene
- Binge-read the entire comic

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

6. What DO you want them to email you about?

To those that do answer these questions, thanks! And think of it as a way to help all of us understand our readers better

[AnnaLandin]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
Actually.... I can't really think of anything specific. I mean, I don't like it when creators go AWOL for months without letting anyone know what's happening, but I wouldn't say I hate it. It's just annoying.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
Ideally by scene, but I'm perfectly okay with page by page, too. I don't usually want to read an entire chapter in one chunk (or, if it's here on Tapastic, an entire chapter in one episode). If it's posted on Tapastic, I find it easy to get lost in my reading if the episode is too long. 5-10 page episodes suit me fine, but as I said, I'm okay with page-by-page - that's how I post my own comic, after all.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
My enjoyment of the comic. That's really all it takes. I might hesitate to subscribe to a really good comic if the updates are, like, months and months apart - but I've been reading Dresden Codak for years, so I'm used to waiting a long time for updates. As long as I like the comic, I'll subscribe.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
I don't know... I mean, I'm already getting the comic for free, right? Maybe digital sketches? Maybe some stickers, if they feel up to paying for the shipping?

5) If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
Anything not pertaining to the comic. If I want updates on their personal lives, I can follow them on Twitter. Signing up for emails from the creator of a comic I follow means I'm interested in updates on their comic.

6). What DO you want them to email you about?
Their comic, and the progress on it. Sideprojects - like maybe they're going to post behind-the-scenes stuff. Information on them starting new comics, or having giveaways, or if they're going to cons. You know, newsletter stuff.

[keii4ii]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

Anything that makes it inconvenient to read/follow the comic. This can include text that's too small to read (more common than one would think), subpar navigation design (for comics hosted on their own sites), too many ads...

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?

By chapter/scene works great if I can still get updates every week, like on Naver/LINE. If the updates are further apart than that, it had better be amazing or I probably won't bother. (unless it's on Tapastic, in which case following comics is easy regardless of update frequency.)
So I guess by page in most cases?

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

Do I like this comic?

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

I'm not big on freebies. If the comic has amazing art, I would like the individual panels available for free download; this is what Wormwood Saga does (they post the individual panels on dA).

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

NO emails! NONE! Never!

[joannekwan]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
   I don't really hate anything, I have small annoyances but nothing I can pin down to webcomics in general, rather more series by series.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
   Scene by scene is good, but I understand creators can't do that all the time, so I'm fine with page by page, as long as the page has meaningful content. Like, I wouldn't want just a whole page of establishing shots with not dialogue or action, if you need that, pair it with the next page that does.

3. What would get you to subscribe?
   If it interests me or shows promise of interesting me.

4. What would you like as a freebie?
   Hi-res downloads of a really well-done illustration from the series would be nice.

5. What wouldn't you want your favorite creator to e-mail you about?
   Nothing spammy or anything unrelated to their art/work.

6. What do you want them to e-mail you about?
   I dunno, if they have enough going on, maybe like a newsletter announcing things, like if they're attending any cons, starting any new projects, etc.

[ghostnxs]

What do you hate most about webcomics?
Scrolling and slow short updates. I know not everyone has the time to do that, but I don't remember much about the story.

How would you prefer to read webcomics?
Page by Page or at least a few pages. If it's too long sometimes I find myself just scrolling and staring at the art.

What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Good Art, I couldn't care less about the story for the most part. I'd read anything to the end unless its really bad with no direction. It can have plot holes, I just don't want mindless/pointless plot or characters. As long as there is good art + some sort of structure I'll subscribe. Also for not having slow updates.

If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
More pages, I don't want that extra stuff.

If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
Anything, I don't want emails.

What DO you want them to email you about?
No emails.

[YoungAdventurer]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
When an author has a complex plotline and only uploads a page a week or uploads without a schedule. If it is too hard to keep up with the story I usually unsubscribe.
2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
By page, as I find scenes are too tedious to scroll through and chapters usually take too long to update.
3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Either good artwork or a great story. Both is preferable but just one will usually get me to subscribe. (unless the other is unbearably awful)
4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
Commissioned sketches or maybe even a desktop background?
5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
I wouldn't want '100 subscribers reached' emails
6. What DO you want them to email you about?
I follow a lot of creators so I would only want them to email me about important things like if they were going on a haitus or if they were starting another series.

[sophiekaldinski]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

There is nothing in particular I hate about webcomics as a medium. That is something hard to pin down, because they are so many different ones. I can say though, which kind of webcomics are just not for me (or certain pet peeves I hold with them). I certainly have nothing against gag-a-day webcomicstrips, what I despise however if they develop into copy-pasted panels and start to lack originality. Like those comics where you have two people facing each other, talking about something and than punchline. I hope that makes sense.

Something I also dislike is, when artists go on hiatus without informing the people reading their webcomics and when they suddenly stop the comic after all. I can relate to getting tired of a certain project, but that is still frustrating. So I mostly like to stick to comics that already have at least 50 pages or so.

1. How would you prefer to read webcomics?

I enjoy binge reading them, but I am also okay to read them by scene or by page if I caught up with a story. Webcomics are still hard to make so I don´t mind like, one page per week for example.

1. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

Three things:
1. Style that catches my eye (bonus points for non-conventionally attractive main characters)
2. Endearing characters and story. I give more points to characters though (bonus points if the cast is well balanced).
3. Overall storytelling.

1. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

If it´s a giveaway in the sort of a raffle maybe a drawing? I´m mean if they are my favorite creator I´m mostly content with just reading their works. I don´t need to get anything, because they already give pretty much?

1. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

I don´t want emails. Mostly creators keep the readers up to date over the site they are hosting their work on, so I don´t think that is especially necessary.

1. What DO you want them to email you about?

See 5.

[yvettegustafsson]

1. That I sometimes forget to read them because they're not all up in my face. I'm easily distracted

2. I prefer reading per page, because again, I'm easily distracted and if there's an episode that's 10 pages and I have to do something else at page 4 I can't bookmark it there to take it up again later and I get lost.

3. I subscribe to try something out for a while. I don't look into it much before subscribing because some things need some time to get to know. I subscribe if I like the feel of it, like cute characters, I understand what it's all about, the art is nice etc. etc.

4. It's ok. I'm here for the comics, not freebies.

5. To be honest I probably wouldn't read them. I get the notifications on Tapastic and if I want to I can get e-mails about the notifications to remind me to check out the website. I prefer to keep it in this bubble because again: easily distracted.

6. If they did e-mail me it would have to be with something that doesn't have anything to do with what's going on in Tapastic. Like, they're doing a Kickstarter or an anthology where they want people to join. Something like that.

[Kura]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

Redraws. I absolutely hate when the comic I'm reading suddenly stops progressing so the artist can go back and re-do pages I've already read. As a creator I understand wanting to do that, especially if you started out the series not aware of comic making rules you eventual became aware of while working on the series. It's good for new readers, but not always so fun for your current ones.

The wait time, again, as a creator I completely understand the situation, it takes a lot of flipping time to make comics. But I'm still impatient.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?

If we're talking on a 'as it's being released' reading, it honestly depends on the series. I have a process. I enjoy reading them page by page (if it's released that way) then after the chapter is complete I go back and read the whole chapter again.

If I'm starting up an established series and it's has an archive with several chapters to it. I'll usually read a chapter at a time until I catch up, reading one chapter one day and leaving the other chapters for when I have the time.

Gag a days I tend to read as released or let them collect to read a bunch of them. Tend to read them once and never look back (unless I remember it and want to reblog it to a friend)

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

I actually don't really want anything extra aside from the comic. I would just subscribe to show I like and support the comic itself.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

Again, I don't really want anything from creators. They work hard enough on the comic and that's honestly all I really need from them. I DO really like streams while they are drawing though, that is always fun.

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

Pretty much anything and everything. Don't spam my ****ing e-mail.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?

The only thing I would actually mind/care about getting an intrusive e-mail about would be if an artist is appearing at a convention.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Ohhh shiny

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

The lack of music :c

Alright, webcomic is best medium which solves the issues about all the other media, so nothing Of course I'd dislike the usual stuff that make stories bad like boring plot etc but that's got nothing to do with webcomics in particular

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?

BINGE READING FTW

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

The fact that I like it, of course, but you're probably looking for something more specific XD

A clear presentation and engaging story, mostly The plot doesn't have to be super fancy to catch my interest; as long as I feel invested in the characters and/or the setting c: I'm not picky about art either; no matter how pretty the pictures are, I probably won't find them that interesting if they're just pretty pictures

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

An opportunity to make a cameo in their comic It'll still benefit me if I don't get the offer because I like cameos c:

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

Everything >:D

6. What DO you want them to email you about?

Nothing >:D

Nah I'm not one of those "no emails" people, I just want blank e-mails

[Zikul]

1 What do you hate most about webcomics?

When the story becomes inconsistent because of reader pressure, and you pretty much have to interact with other readers in order to understand where this comes from. That's a rare one though.

And, if you have the time, I have a couple of follow-up questions:

2 How would you prefer to read webcomics?
By page
and
Binge-read the entire comic
but in the reverse order. You binge-read and then you have to wait on new pages like everyone else.

3 What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
I'm a late subscriber, so I usually subscribe because I binger-read what was there already, and want to know the continuation.

4 If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
I don't really participate in giveaways, but I like comission giveaways in general.

5 If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
I wouldn't read the emails because I never read news-letters due to the amount I get.

6 What DO you want them to email you about?
If it's absolutely necessary, I guess it would be nice to know if they were going on hiatus or similar, or that they were returning from it, but it's not certain I would see the email.

[Stellamari]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

When artist discontinue their webcomics or go into long sudden hiatus without prior notice. It's understandable especially when life gets in the way but it still is not a nice thing to happen.

1. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
   Binge reading especially when I love it the webcomics.

2. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
   When it has that certain appeal. It doesn't have to be super pretty or super dramatic, engaging storyline but it need to have that certain charm.

3. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
   Nothing specific. Anything free is always a good thing, knowing that someone sitting at the other end of the screen thinking of me is already giving me a nice, warm fuzzy feeling.

4. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
   Nothing particular.

5. What DO you want them to email you about?
   Anything important such as announcing about upcomic hiatus, convention appearance, new published book etc.

[eschaefges]

1. The two biggest things are Inconsistent scheduling, and any Guilt-Tripping the audience (demands for purchasing side-products/supporting/donating 'if you really like the series' beyond a simple ask. doesn't happen often but when it does it's a huge turn-off)

2. Depends on the comic. If the page is itself a self-contained moment (even if part of a bigger story), that's fine. Otherwise, preferably by chapter or book.

3. Good art and story, delivered consistently.

4. Artwork? Bonus strips? More episodes? Not sure I understand entirely.

5 & 6. Notices on my tapastic page are OK but i'd prefer no email from creators unless I engaged them first - i get too much email as it is.

[jmhenry]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

Something I decided to coin "Cut-Time Syndrome": Gigantic page delays mid chapter. I mean like 12-17 day/2-3 month absence before the next page in the chapter updates. That's the only thing that'll ever really bother me.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?- By page- By chapter- By scene- Binge-read the entire comic
Page-by-page. I don't mind the wait.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Just generally good work. Can't imagine much else would do it.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
If I'm already getting to read the webcomic for free, I'd honestly rather support them with cash. Plus I always feel weird just getting free stuff....

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
No politics, please. I'm just interested in your webcomic.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
Updates, contests, cool stuff, hiatuses, print releases and progress. I think that covers everything.

[concepcionbrothers]

Hi @keii4ii, @ghostnxs, @sophiekaldinski, @kurapikasuki, and @crapshoot!

Thanks for the feedback
Quick follow-up question regarding the emails...

What if the artist was coming out with a new book/comic series, or was starting a Kickstarter campaign, or something similar, how would you prefer to find out about it?

[ghostnxs]

When they do the post notify subscribers on here or in the description of one of the episodes. I don't read webcomics anywhere else.

[Andrej]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

Blandness and no insight. I don't like stuff that keeps it way too safe for the author. Non-jokes, dependance on clichés from animés and videogames, Mary Sue-like self inserts, cardboard-cutout characterization, and such.

I mentioned "no insight" as a turn-off, but I'm also adding "way too much insight" as a negative here. Keep the soapbox propaganda away, I'm here to read comics, not to be lectured about the real world or what have you.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
By page, although if I'm not up to date with a comic, I'll binge-read it all the way to its latest release.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?

A through-and-through solid execution. The concept doesn't have to be the hypest shit of all time, it's just has to be well made.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?

A wallpaper, maybe. I don't go reading comics for freebies, anyways.

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?

Memes.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?

I dunno. Only really urgent stuff.

BONUS QUESTION: What if the artist was coming out with a new book/comic series, or was starting a Kickstarter campaign, or something similar, how would you prefer to find out about it?

Through the page itself (but more especifically, its RSS feed -- as long as your site has one, we're good).

[rc360]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
   I've never hated a webcomic and there's not much to say when I don't like one. It's usually because the text is too small or it just doesn't interest me.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
   I really don't mind how I read a comic. If I'm subscribed to it, I'm fine with how with how they upload it. Preferably, I like reading by scene like when I read On the Bright Side. It gives me a few pages at a time to enjoy. If I just start reading a webcomic that's well into the story and I'm really into it, I'll binge read it in my free time until I'm caught up.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
   If I enjoy reading it, I'm subscribing.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
   Free artwork, whether it's a print or a custom drawing. Free merch, like a t-shirt, would be cool too.

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
   I just don't want to get spammed. Unless a creator doesn't have a site I can follow them on, I usually don't sign up for emails.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
   I'd like to see contest announcements and a convention schedule, which would be especially helpful if you're following a local creator.

[Kayke]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

When a creator abandons a project! There was this one comic I was super into and I was really attached to the characters and then poof the artist decided to stop making the comic so now I'll never know what happens.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
By the page, but I'm busy most of the time, so I usually fall behind and then binge read to catch up.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Honestly, I'm the type to subscribe blindly if I like the art as a means to remind myself to read it later. I'll subscribe to a bunch of comics that look cool and then read them when I have free time, unsubscribing if the story isn't good.

Short answer: Good Art.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
Maybe stickers or postcards at a con? I don't really care about desktop wallpapers or anything like that.

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
I'd rather not be emailed at all. If I follow a creator on social media, that's where I get updates about them. I don't want stuff like that going to my email, especially not monthly, that's excessive.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
See above.

[winglesscomic]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?

• Bad site navigation, if I have to spend more than a second trying
  to figure out how to go to the next page or have to click on your
  TEENY TINY little 'next' arrow button ^{(fuck you, 90% of all
  tumblr themes)}, nope. Just nope.
• Tiny or hard to read font. I'm of no mind to go blind from reading
  your comic thank you.
• Horizontal scrolling: NO. Maybe if it was designed for mobile-only to
  swipe left and right. But reading on a PC? NO.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
I like binge reading the most. I have a short term memory so when a creator says a funny word in last week's update I'm not going to remember the funny word or its meaning a week later.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Fancy arts and violence.

4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
I don't want anything from creators other than their comic.

5. If you were getting 1 or 2 emails a month from creators you follow, what DON'T you want them to email you about?
Anything. No emails. I fucking hate getting emails.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
If I HAD to then notices about hiatuses or contests would be ok.