SURVEY: What do you hate most about reading webcomics?

[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.

[Pandastrophic]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
Webcomics with super small text or images, I don't want to strain my eyes reading so I end up closing it right away. Bad resolution or saving as JPEG and it gets fuzzy...it's just super distracting.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
I prefer reading by scene, it's easier to keep track of where I am. I also like to binge-read if the comic really captures my interest.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
Category: Romance (lol) but yeah, I look for romance comics mostly and I'd subscribe right away if I see nice art or interesting characters. Although if it's new I tend to stalk it without subscribing for a bit just until it updates a few more pages just to see if I'm really into 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?
Printed copy of the comic would be nice.

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, I don't like getting emails from creators since I can just check my notifications on here.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
nothing, no emails at all.

[keii4ii]

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?

Announcement on their wall, or in the episode description. If they want to make sure no one misses it, they can insert a small footer banner at the bottom of the actual comic (in the latest episode) and tell the readers to go to the description/wall for more details.

[fishy]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
   So I don't go on a rampage I'll stick to one. People who handwrite their speech! I mean most of the time the writing isn't bad but it's super off putting and looks really unprofessional how they squash it in a speech bubble or even around the entire panel.
   Making a font out of your handwriting is fine, handwriting your sfx is totally fine, but please not the main body of text.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
   By chapter! It's super more comfortable loading an entire chapter and just flowing with it rather than load each page one at a time gah
   Reading by chapters also gives me breaks in between to do stuff and come back to it easily.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
   I love a bit of magic and supernatural in a comic, whether it's an epic fantasy or an everyday ghost busting thing. I'm not really into slice of life dramas and whatnot.

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 think a character sketch of my favourite from the webcomic or somethings sounds cool!

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?
   General news/announcements I'm fine without, if I wanted to look up what's happening I can read it up when I want to. Some people on tapastic I subscribe update with pictures of their holidays or something which I think is fine on twitter but not really what I'm here for on tapastic.
   Well, unless they make a short update on life when updating a new page. I think that's fine. Seperate news updates not so much.

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
   Umm if they replied to my comment maybe? I don't really feel like I want emails about anything else.

[TrustyShamrock]

hah cool i like surveys

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
i get annoyed when manga style american comics read from right to left. the japanese ones go that way cuz thats how their language goes. its not a style thing. so it just bugs me when people who read left to write try to copy it

woah also when theres automatic sound on a page. i didnt sign up for this song DONT FORCE ME TO LISTEN TO YUR PLAYLIST

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
- By page
- By chapter <--- that ones pretty fun
- By scene
- Binge-read the entire comic

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
i like it if the arts good. buut also witches or gods are a pretty fast sub for me. i just really dig those stories

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 think itd be really rad to get fanart for my comic from them. woah jeez thatd be cool

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?
could i just pass on all the emails? i think mostly gettin update emails would annoy me tho. ill just sign onto the webcomic site to check updates. dont get all up in my bizz about it in my emails

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
i think special events or if theyre comic is going into print would be ok. as long as they dont have special events like every tuesday or something

[PotooGryphon]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
   I get annoyed with inconsistencies, low quality images, unreadable text, however these are necessarily turn offs. If the story is still there or if it's a good gag, I'll stay with it.

2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
   By page, it's easier to bookmark that way where I've left off in a series on Tapastic. However, I do like series that have 2 pages in an episode too. Not necessarily a scene or a chapter, just an extra page.

3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
   Art/story. Or if it a gag comic, the jokes. Entertain me! lol

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 agree with everyone else. I don't really want stuff. I have no idea what to do with it. Extra comic pages or art requests are fun though.

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! Not at all, nope. Not for anything. I'd rather read updates and general info the creator might send on their site or profile. I'm not in a comics mindset when checking my email (i'm in business mode)

6. What DO you want them to email you about?
   NONE!

[RainDogs]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
I don't hate much about the craft really. I do get frustrated with "entitled feedback" though; specifically, when I receive non-constructive criticism from anonymous posters.
2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
Lately, I've really been enjoying the vertical format offered with most sites like Tapastic & Webtoons. One feature I wish would become available to Tapastic users is a "funny-papers" type of format that would aggregate all of my subscriptions into one large section (or page) that I could navigate through.
3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
I love to "grow with" a webcomic, so to speak. I will subscribe to any strip that is obviously trying to push the limit with every update, both in style and writing.
4. If your favorite webcomic creator was giving away something for free to his readers/subscribers, what would you like that something to be?
Process videos. I can sit for hours on end watching people draw line art. Plus, this would allow me as a reader to connect more with your creation.
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?
Emails are a tricky thing for me. With sites like Tapastic and various social media outlets, I usually have all I need to keep up to date with a comic that I enjoy. I might be on my own here, but I try to keep my email for business purposes only. However, to answer your question, if I were receiving emails in this hypothetical scenario, I would prefer that they not mention every milestone that you reach with your comic.
6). What DO you want them to email you about?
Again, IF I were getting emails about your comic, I would prefer they contain information about either future projects or subscriber-only discounts for your merchandise.

[Kura]

Ya'll hung up on this e-mail thing.

No e-mails. (Even my exception I would rather not friggen get, but I listed it more as the least annoying thing I could get in an e-mail to make an effort to provide a better answer)

If I actually care about any of that I'll follow the artist's (or the comics) social media page and get my updates through there. Make a wall post or something. I would rather voluntarily find the information than have it shoved in my face in a manner like spam.

Also note that now a days e-mails are connected to your phone, so if my e-mail sends me a fucking notification to my phone that wakes me up when I am trying to sleep and I find out it is not from someone or about something important I will be pissed. That shit is worse than waking up to drunk texting.

[TheLemmaLlama]

Somewhere public and out of my delete-happy hands

[kazukitakamura126]

1. What do you hate most about webcomics?
The one thing I hate about webcomics is if the creator goes missing for a long period of time and doesn't at least let his followers know what has happened.
2. How would you prefer to read webcomics?
I read by page however, if the comic is interesting I may end up binge reading what they have available.
3. What would get you to subscribe to a webcomic's updates?
I would subscribe if the comic's story and characters caught my interest.
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 what I would want from another webcomic creator. I don't want to suggest something they wouldn't want.
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?
Hypothetically if my favorite webcomic artist sent me emails I wouldn't want them to send anything personally unless they need help.
6. What DO you want them to email you about?
I would like to get emails of updates for their comics as that is the reason i follow them.