The StoryBased comic vs the "Slice of lifes" (non story based) comics

[Nio_Kasgami]

So Hellow,

So first before flaming me for anything I'm just stating my opinion and shouldn't be took as something offensive.

So I joined Tapastic since one years now I think (I should check when I published my comic lol)

and I noticed ...the TONS of "Slice of lifes" comics and I speak of the one who just show running gag and are mostly 4 frames.
This not show a story but more likes "artist anecdote".

after you have what's you call Story Based comics well where you tell a story either realistic or not etc.
it's well a "comic" in general you can see with a story likes a hero go save a princess!

Anyway's they have tons and tons of story but generally you either share a fictive story or a life story.

SO as I Iove both and I don't despise any of them. I noticed that Tapastic is full but FULL of "Slices of lifes" comics who get noticed and popular...Then you notice REALLY good story based comics hardly getting any attentions of the tapas community. Unless the story is SUPER good and have insane graphics etc.

Wich is sad because IN MY OPINION I find it's likes going to the "easiest" way when you do a slice of lifes comics.
Okay let's clear something before : NO I don't hate slices of lifes and I know some VERY nice slices of lifes who are awesome and I follow!
I just find them a "easy" or "lazy" way's to get "popular" on Tapastic...
Why?

• Don't tell a story most of times ( so don't need to think about super big storylore or character dept)
• Easy to produce and fast
• Easier to read most of times
• Requires less efforts on the details (you don't have to draw your character in super dynamic Pose for trigger attentions

on that I don't mind since some artist are input a lots of caring and efforts in those types of comics and it's make them really good to read even if we read just some punny joke and anecdote haha.

What's "frustrated" me it's when artist who put slices of lifes who input sh*tty jokes ...and ZEROS what I mean it's totally ZEROS efforts in their comics gets likes 1000000 (exagérations) subs when someone who put a awesome story and effort in the graphics get hardly likes 1000 subs?

I don't complain because I'm only at 200 subs on my comic though haha my subs raise really fast actually and I'm surprised.

but after I just shared my opinion you can argument to it (politely please)

anyway's I hope we can have a civiliste conversation

[heterodont]

To give a little bit of credit, there are plenty of SOL's that do just start off as slice of life, but eventually develop some semblance of a plot - however small it may be. Easy to produce and fast is arguably wrong, as you never know how much effort an artist puts into their work, even if it doesn't seem like they do.

It's been said time and time again that Slice of Lifes and Gag A Days can get popular very quickly in comparison to long form comics because they don't need very much participation from the readers. They can be posted out of context as a 'haha so relatable!" joke and people who hadn't read the comic don't have to go scouring for context clues just to understand the page/joke. Meanwhile, Longform comics have characters and, as you said, a story that needs to be read from the start in order to understand any later pages. They don't have the luxury of being able to be posted out of context unless, again as you said, they have really pretty eyecatching art.

If someone wants to get popular quickly by making a SOL or a gag a day, it's going to be obvious and soon they're going to get burned out because it's not something they truly have a passion for.

[Michelle]

I wouldn't say they're easier or lazier by default. Yes, there are some lazily-made slice-of-lifes, but those typically aren't the ones getting huge readerships-- same goes for any comic though. Compared to long-form comics, slice-of-lifes face the challenge of having to update way more frequently AND stay funny and not recycle the same old thing. I'd say that's pretty difficult to pull off.

It's been said many times around here, but slice-of-life comics are more popular because they're more prolific and easily shared. A slice-of-life comic can update 3-5 times a week (some even daily!), while most narrative comics update around 1-2 times a week, which makes a huge difference in exposure. Also, slice-of-lifes are a lot more shareable on social media as opposed to a page from a long narrative comic where people need to get invested in a story.

As for amazingly beautiful comics with hardly any readership... well, it IS on the creator to promote their own work. There is the rare occasion where someone's comic gets found among the pile and put in the spotlight, but usually even the most skillfully-crafted comics need promotion from their creator to get traction. Of course, if it really bothers you, you can always promote these underappreciated comics in the forums and elsewhere! I'm always extremely grateful when a reader takes it upon themselves to promote my comic.

[miseryhunting]

I have noticed a similar discussion in the forums before, but I don’t think it is as simple as that.
Numerous “slice’s of life” develop a storyline and many “story driven” comics have “gag episodes” where they use minimum amount of panels to tell a joke.
This is especially true for webcomics, as you’re neither limited by certain number of pages or have an editor to tell you what to focus on and I think it’s great!
The 4 panel comics you’re describing are called a comic strip, something originating so far back in our history and it’s been an art form of its own. There’s no surprise it’s popular either – it’s well familiar, most people know what to expect from it (a joke/satire) but mostly, it’s short and we live in a fast paced society which is used to consuming information in small bids.
I, personally, like them. Comics like “Calvin and Hobbes” or “Peanut’s” or even Sarah’s Scribbles are both reflection of the current society and light, easy reading.

[Nio_Kasgami]

Thanks for your further answer and yes I do admit my opinion was kinda crude on begin and I'm sorry for that ;A;...

but yes I see your point and I should put them in it sorry for that

and thanks I was expecting WAY more agressive comment since I'm kinda arguing on it haha

but yes you guys point are valid and I should had consider them thanks :o!

And thanks guys I actually wanted to shate my feeling on this and worries in a way's and I'm happy to see I don't got bashed or get say GTFO you haters or something like that ;w;!

[miseryhunting]

Hey, no need to apologize! You stated your opinion and weren't looking for a fight, I don't see a reason to say sorry. I feel like discussions are generally a good thing - only by reflecting on events/evidence does real knowledge occur AND you're allowed to have an opinion.

[infectedbloodcomics]

What can I say? I generally don't care for slice-of-life and gag-a-day comics. I don't find them necessarily lazy, but they are certainly better attention grabbers than comics with an actual story (especially an original one). Humans like quick and repetitive things, it gives them comfort and solace, especially at work or in school, which apparently are the places where most readers check out comics from. Not much time + a cute, relatable, simple story = gag-a-day comics and the like.

Just like you, I don't despise any of this. It's just not my cup of tea, but apparently it's what sells best

[Dan_Lucifer]

I'm an author of storybased comics and I perfectly understand your frustation.
But you know, our lives are getting more and more messy and people when surfing online look for quick answers, quick readings, quick everything (and sadly this applies to real life too).

So, yes, more and more often you will see lazy (and sometimes also stupid) "slice of life" comics have a lot of success.
Nobody wants to "think" anymore.

Our path is the most difficult, but that's what we chose .

[carloswebcomic]

What's "frustrated" me it's when artist who put slices of lifes who input sh*tty jokes ...and ZEROS what I mean it's totally ZEROS efforts in their comics gets likes 1000000 (exagérations) subs when someone who put a awesome story and effort in the graphics get hardly likes 1000 subs?

You complain that people put zero effort and get tons of subs.
Sorry, that's a load of bullshit right there.
No one, and I mean NO ONE, get subs with zero effort.
You think writing jokes is easy and requires no effort?
Making people laugh is tricky and requires a deep awareness of timing, flow and wording to lead up to an unexpected result.

This is how toxic webcomic communities start. The old "I'm doing so much work with my comic and these lazy people become popular with no effort."
People start putting on their "artist" hat and then they bashing popular comics because of their apparent lack of artistic integrity or some rubbish.

EVERYONE put effort into their comic.
Popular comics are not made by the artist or writer, it's the readers. Readers are the ones who decide if to subscribe or not.
So if you want to complain about what becomes popular, perhaps you should complain about the readers.

[Michelle]

This is how toxic webcomic communities start. The old "I'm doing so much work with my comic and these lazy people become popular with no effort."People start putting on their "artist" hat and then they bashing popular comics because of their apparent lack of artistic integrity or some rubbish.

This is very true. We shouldn't forget that webcomics took a long time to be taken seriously by anyone because they were seen as unprofessional and lazy by print comic artists who were donning their "true artist" hats. Effort doesn't always correlate with entertainment quality.

[Nio_Kasgami]

and now you misread half of what I said Carlos.

and wow could you relax? I put a calm conversation here I just shared my though and you jump on me. for that do I used the word "bullshit" do I "getting upset" likes ranting on all slices of lifes are trash?
I just shared my though so no need to attack me for that.

and I know that a joke is not easy to make or neither it's easy to implement in 4 panels.

People start putting on their "artist" hat and then they bashing popular comics because of their apparent lack of artistic integrity or some rubbish.

and I will let you know I shared a Impression I didn't bashed ANY Popular comic here did I put any Comic name here ? No I just stated my opinion

So if you want to complain about what becomes popular, perhaps you should complain about the readers.

and no I'm not complaining again. I stated a opinion and I SAID it in the first thread and you throw me that in the face.

anyway's everyone's free of their opinion and I agree on some of your point since they are true I just don't like you bash this on the face instead to be gentle and say it calmly

[carloswebcomic]

and wow could you relax?

I'm sorry if what I typed came across as aggressive, but that's just the way I converse.

Yes, you're entitled to your opinions, just as I am entitled to challenge them.
You did a post which, whether was your opinion or not, was a complaint over a genre that you feel that takes less effort than other comics and is apparently popular.

Do let me know if I'm wrong, but don't think I misread anything.

[Nio_Kasgami]

I'm sorry too I should got more calm in my reactions.

well I will try to explain it the best I can (I'm not english so sorry for this)

when I say easy it's how to explain this 50/50 so both share their "easiness"

When I say a slice of lifes is easier than storyboarded comics it's that normally a slices of lifes don't have to bother about those points :

1. The environnement. ( honestly I don't saw many backgrounds in slice of lifes but maybe they have I didn't saw much)
2. The Character Movement or Angles of camera (many slice of lifes I readed don't make often multiples angles cameras for catch people attentions.)

but after that I kinda Forgot to points about the jokes and speed publishing where's the other peoples said it. and I'm sorry for that so yes I reread my thread and I do bash on it (accidently I swear!)

So in StoryBoarded comics you don't necessarlly need to think : oh gosh I have to think about a punny jokes (Unless if this a Comedy comics then you have too haha) You just have to draw well the story since it's the story you think about.

When I said it's was easier FOR me it's seem it's because it's not mandatory to example put a "lore" or a context to the comic or background when in a storyBoarded you have to make sure the reader know where the Protoganist is right now, the characters have to be "interesting" etc

this why I though that in a way's a slices of lifes comics seemed "easier"

But I didn't think about that if Slices of lifes don't needs Context and character Lores, Environnement lores...it's need to cope with the lacks of those elements and make it "Good" and interesting.

I realised that after I readed peoples and your comments about this
so I do recognize that my opinion was a bad assumption.

I hope it's...clear xD?

[NickRowler]

So I am new to this site and I also notice this and it sort of confused me and I was going to write a forum post about it but I think you worded it better.

I have read some gag-a-days on here which I enjoyed and I notice they tend to be ones with define characters or they have good art.

However, I've also seen some which are generic, self-insert does day to day tasks in an awkward or cute way. The main character is bland and could be interchanged with anyone, the art looks unfinished, over simplified, rushed, etc. despite the fact that they are released once a week. Yet despite only having like 15 strips, they already have 100+ fans.

I dunno...I always felt I was never "up and up" with what is "cool" so right now I am simply writing it off as "I just don't get it."

[miseryhunting]

Effort doesn't always correlate with entertainment quality.

This is a phenomenon in all industries. A lot of recent research, mainly focused on television and quality, has established that interest/quality set by standards is not a clean correlation. Viewers do not always enjoy productions which are considered “quality works” by critics and many quality works are not necessary entertaining. Also, there is the re-watch factor, or putting this in context, the re-read factor – studies have shown many people would avoid re-watching a quality production because it is more serious and “burdening” while they were looking forward to something light and funny. In this case, popularity/trend is set by demand, not quality.
It’s the same with comics.

And on the topic of funny comics – man, I admire creative writers so much! I was never a funny folk, but my sister could come up with the funniest jokes/situations/intonations I’ve heard; it takes talent and lots of work for folks like me.

[carloswebcomic]

I hope it's...clear xD?

Indeed!
Making comics is hard, and one often wonders how is it that some become popular while others don't.
I believe that webcomic artists (specially since this is a very amateur field) need to be aware that no one has it easy. It's a hard slog and no one is spared.

[Nio_Kasgami]

Yes!
I'm still surprise though how likes 1000 fans can appear in one night but after....it's the mystery of tapastic. >w>"

[Michelle]

The re-watch/read factor makes a lot of sense; I know I'm more likely to revisit and share a short funny video clip than a serious one.

Also something can be made with all the craftsmanship and finesse imaginable... and still end up so, so boring. I've seen a lot of amazingly-rendered comics that surely took hours to create, but they lost me in the first chapter because they were an absolute slog.

[RandomEncounterComic]

As for amazingly beautiful comics with hardly any readership... well, it IS on the creator to promote their own work.

While I can agree that Tapastic lends itself really well to a 'slice of life' format, I cannot agree more with this. Part of being an independent comic creator means going the extra mile to reach out and grab an audience's attention. It's rough, it's slow going, and it's definitely an uphill climb for a completely unknown artist, but if your story is worth telling then it's got to be worth going to extra mile to share it.

[JessJackdaw]

Ahhh, gag-a-days and slice of life. Seriously guys whatever side you sit on, it's good that comics are still popular and florishing at all. The way I see it maybe someone stopped by for a gag-a-day, but afterward started browsing the rest of Tapastic for more good comics, even longform.

We rely on readership, so if these daily comics bring in more interest. This is a GOOD thing.

shrug I like both daily and longform. Does one take more work? Quite probably, but the reader doesn't care. The point is, do the type of comic you care about, and stop comparing numbers. Sure a longform's readers are small by comparison, but heck, their interaction with the author is very unique. They are engaged with the characters and the story such in a beautiful way, and speculate what might be next. You don't often get that in a gag-a-day. Sometimes it isn't quantity that you should be striving for.