The future for longer comics

[SirGutsalot]

I was just thinking about how we have to be entertained these days in such short bursts like the 'vines' or 'gifs' for example. As this is becoming particularly prominent in the video-scene, I'm wondering whether people will just want to read really short comics eventually and therefore the appreciation for longer stories will go down.
What are you're thoughts?

https://tapastic.com/series/Galaxy-Guts

[heterodont]

delayed gratification

it's already happening anyway. it's well known that long-form comics take longer to gain traction because there's more for the reader to absorb, remember, and connect to. thats why gag a days or comedic slice of lifes are so popular, it doesn't take much for the reader to find the jokes relatable and share it with their friends. but theres always going to be people who are looking for stories to read, it's not like it's a dying population by any means.

[joannekwan]

Yep, there will always be people who want more out of their stories. They want deep stuff to connect to and theorize about.

[AnnaLandin]

Yep, there will always be people who want more out of their stories. They want deep stuff to connect to and theorize about.

This.

I like short joke-comics, I like funny GIFs and Vines and so on as much as the next person - but I also get deeply and emotionally involved in longer stories.

They're different kinds of enjoyment. The shorter bursts are like eating candy - while longer stories are like eating proper meals. I love candy, it makes me happy, I'm gonna keep eating it - but I'm always gonna want to eat proper meals, too.

I read a bunch of gag-strip comics regularly - but I also watch One Piece, an anime that has 700+ episodes. I've been watching it for 12 years. I read Moby Dick for fun. I am a huge fan of Friends at the Table, a podcast in which a bunch of friends play tabletop rpgs together - and their two seasons so far add up to 100+ hours straight of listening. And when I say I'm a huge fan, I mean I sometimes have to pause the episodes because I'm crying too hard about the fate of minor characters.

There is a special kind of joy in getting to immerse yourself in a larger fictional world, for many reasons. There's more space in them to explore different aspects of the characters and the story, there's more space for speculation, there's more space for ideas, etc. etc.

That's not to say that longer stories are inherently better than shorter ones - they're just different, and I like both kinds.

[shazzbaa]

I mean, the predominance of vines hasn't diminished the popularity of movies, though. Heck, TV is going in the opposite direction -- the most popular TV series lately require you to tune in for every episode or you'll miss important story. Even shows that seem episodic, like Steven Universe, have a long-running arc underneath that you gotta invest in. Older TV shows are the ones that came in short, fully contained episodes.

I feel like webcomics have already responded to shifting attentions by their very medium -- instead of waiting to finish a graphic novel and releasing it as one big story, we release one or two pages at a time -- a digestible amount, and something that can be released more frequently to hold interest -- and that allows us to maintain a long story for a modern audience.

But I hardly think that's new. People crowded the harbour when Dickens' latest episode came in to find out whether Little Nell lived or died; I don't think that's so very different from Homestucks fretting over which troll Hussie's gonna kill off or SU fans freaking out together about what's going to happen to Jasper.

[Elm]

My only complaint with my favourite webcomics. Is that there isn't enough pages up! I don't read gag a days. I'm mostly in this for the Longform comics.

[phen]

I think gifs, vines, all of this bite-sized media at our fingertips will act as fuel for long-form comics, feeding into content as creators and readers connect to these micro-stories on a deeper level. How many times have you seen memes fleshed out in great detail, theorized, AUs on short stories that end up spinning universes of their own? It will definitely affect extended-story comics because it already has.

We are creatures of intense imagination and, double-luck, we crave entertainment. We reach for gag-a-day, slice-o-life shorts but we will also latch onto the right long-form stories we feel attracted to, it's wholly a personal preference.

[SirGutsalot]

I have to admit, I'm a manga/anime viewer and have been for the past 5 years with series like bleach and naruto. But when it comes to webcomics I do have a thing for the 1-3 frame joke for the same reason we like vines. But if a long comic comes along that's really good, I will read it from dawn to dusk!

[Thesleepypencil]

The whole concept that we as a younger generation need instant gratification with our media leaves a bad taste in my mouth the same way when someone says "kids these days don't read"

It's such a stereotype that makes no sense. This is a generation that waited years for the end of Harry Potter. (Or nine years to see Ted meet that damn mother) And will willing sit down and watch all 7 star wars or both the hobit and lotr in one long go. Movies are literally splitting movies into two or threes because they know well watch it. So long form media is still alive and kicking and we love it. ((Do you think steven universe would be as popular if they removed that long running story??))

we expect gratification from vines and gag a days, but that's because we expect that from that medium. We are not going to read a story and expect everything right away. We want different things from different forms of media.

same with comics. I read alot of long comics and i love them. Sure it takes a while but that allows me more time to love it. Long form comics may take their time. But audiences still read them enjoy the.

Also i have seen many different long term webcomics that have a active fan base that makes fan fiction, fanart, fan comics due to their being alot more to work with. But while i know they exist i have yet to see fan fiction for a gag a day yet

[robertsienicki]

I think the problem with comics on the internet is that people read them while having a break at work or while drinking coffee to breakfast. That's why the short stories, memes and jokes are more popular. I love a good, long story, but I feel like I would like to read it in a book form than on my computer screen. It's also better to read long stories at one sitting. Long stories aren't that good to read one page per week.

I think the best option for longer stories is publishing them in book form, or publishing them as a pdf, where people can download it.

https://tapastic.com/series/Under-Pressure

[Greg_Dickson]

I wouldn't worry too much. There will always be a market for something. If you're truly worried about views and subs, then maybe a shorter, gag-a-day comic would work best for you. But if you're passionate about producing content that fits a smaller market, you just have to accept it and create what you love. For me, my comic will be relatively long-form, and it's action-based, sprinkled with some comedy and drama. Not only are long-form comics less popular, but so are action ones, compared to straight-up comedy and slice of life. Regardless, I'll produce the type of content that plays to my strengths, as it will create a more quality comic for the smaller amount of viewers that I have, rather than me trying to pander to the masses for popularity.

So while I agree that most people will want to consume their comics in small bites and gain instant gratification, I know that there will always be people that are interested in different markets. Most of us aren't out to make money with our webcomics, so let's make what we want and appreciate however much attention that will come our way.

[infectedbloodcomics]

I agree with most thoughts already posted. I actually don't read gag-a-day comics and the like, I want nice, long stories, and I'm sure that lots of people enjoy those, too. It may take longer to gain readers, but there is an emotional investment in long-story characters and event that I believe go much deeper into people's hearts than any short comic could. Those are my readers, hopefully <3

[shaneoid77]

It's so wonderful to see such support and love for the longer running comics. I have difficulty writing the short gag comics as I love to flesh out a story and arch. I don't mind the shorter comics, but I often feel cheated with them.

[Akhdas]

i keep asking myself why my comic growth is slower than a snail pace. people just like fun,faster and constantly updated comic. if i remember correctly the most subscribed comic in here is a gag comic, right? i don't have a problem with them, i sub to some of them too. it just hurts me because it takes less stress and are more successful the majority who could potentially make their own long form would rather draw a gag story. why would anyone decide to make a long convoluted story when they can just upload one gag page and it's probably worth 10x more than the long form one?

[tophersmith21]

Its nice to see that there are others who appreciate longer form comics over gag. I keep asking myself on a daily basis if I want to even get into that territory since I know its easier and thats whats popular but im hoping after I complete the first chapter of my comic that will be enough to start getting feedback

[infectedbloodcomics]

why would anyone decide to make a long convoluted story when they can just upload one gag page and it's probably worth 10x more than the long form one?

Because they LOVE long, convoluted stories At least, this is my case. I also make shorter comics, but I need my long stories like air. That's how I express myself the best, that's what gives me the most pleasure, and this is the art I am most proud to share with my readers.

[iddqd]

it's probably worth 10x more

See, I think this is where a big part of the issue of long-form vs. short-form is. Worth 10x more... in what unit of measurement? If we are talking about likes and even subscriptions, they are sometimes not what they seem. I have subscribed to a bunch of webcomics "to take a look at later" and haven't come back to view them so far, yet I add to their sub count. How many people who subscribed to you are creators with their own series, with whom you have to compete, one way or another, for viewership? Likes are easy and free to give, too, so what do they mean? I guess what I am getting at is the people who sub and who like will not necessarily also be happy to pay for your comic, e.g. for extra content, merchandise, if you print it in a book form, and so on. So maybe long-form comics aren't necessarily as impaired as they seem in their success.

[shaneoid77]

I got a lot more from your comic @Bagas_Nursivin than I have a hundred gag comics, nice work!

It seems a recurring theme in our Webcomics world that being noticed is tough, just throwing this out there but I wonder if there's something we could all attempt communally to help promote everyone's comic?

[SirGutsalot]

I definitely know from my experience, the longer comic always has so much more work involved when stringing out the plot and the characters and sometimes the drawing style. At the end of the day, a gag comic might come out with 20 different comics but that could pretty much equal 1 chapter of a longer comic. So props to anyone who perseveres with it - I have a lot of respect!!!

[PurpleGround]

You know I THINK there MAY be a connection between how a website present itself to how the audience would respond to it. I went to LineWebtoons and noticed there is a lot of long form comic on the front page, while of course slice of life still popular but they were put in the bottom page. Here, in tapastic, Slice of Life is pretty much on the main page. So, maybe Tapastic works best for short comic, while Mangafox, Mangahere, or LineWebtoon works for long form comic?

I think the problem with comics on the internet is that people read them while having a break at work or while drinking coffee to breakfast. That's why the short stories, memes and jokes are more popular.

I agree with this. And looking back at the Tapastic apps. It's built for mobile use, and people would probably read them during breakfast, lunch or tea break but never at night when you got a whole tv, kids or e- games to play with. IMO. And usually night time is where you get all the free time to Invest in something.