What do I do if I have super negative beta readers?

I'm sorry but if any of your beta readers are saying "This is hot garbage" or ""You're not that creative" you should seriously tell them to screw off. Whatever negative aspect your series has can be addressed in a proper, assertive but also respectable manner.

Salutations!

Okay, I want you to listen carefully: Nobody and I mean NOBODY does good on their very first comic. Ever. At ANY time. Does your comic have flaws? Yes. Do ALL comics have them? Absolutely. I'd take your beta readers negative for the sake of being negative comments and junk them altogether. They weren't interested in helping you, they were only interested in tearing up your work and being utterly disrespectful of the love and time you've so far put into the work. So I'll give you honest feedback.

First off, yes, your story could use some work in the narrative department. To start, the first trouble I have is with the changing fonts between speech bubbles. Long story short, you want to use the same font for every character barring intense and unusual circumstance. The uniformity puts your readers into a reading flow and it's subconsciously soothing to a reader (and helps keep them on track). You also want to keep your font size uniform on each page (not necessarily with preceding pages, but just on the pages they're on) Having differing fonts between characters is jarring and bumps me out of my immersion. I would also recommend using shorter dialogue if you're going to have more than one character speaking in a single panel, as you run into the issue of the speech bubbles covering your art.

So that's speech bubbles and text. I'll move on to art: Firstly, it's very clear to me that you love what you're doing. You're making a comic in full color and I know how hard and time consuming that is, not only that, but you're drawing backgrounds detail by detail and trying to make use of foreground and background. I will say that some of your images are blurry when characters look like they're meant to be in the foreground, so for future, I'd recommend making certain that your images are crisp so you don't lose detail.

I will say that I like the way you've differentiated your characters. I can tell who everyone is right from the off and we've only a handful of important leads to start with, and in different locations so they don't all get mixed up. This is a good narrative tool and it helps your flow, so you've actually done a good thing here. I also appreciate that you experiment with different backgrounds and textures. I think sometimes the colors drown each other out, so I'd refer you to this Complementary Colors4 cheat sheet. When in doubt, check it out. I will also give you this2, as you do have fluctuating anatomy from panel to panel. This is a thing that happens when you first make a comic and it's totally okay! You're going to grow, you're going to evolve and get used to drawing your characters. You can refer to the figure drawing stuff I've sent or find some online whenever it suits your fancy!

Now, in terms of story. I will say that I was confused with your first panel, as "Woot" was not a sound I associate with a siren, nor is the color white, so I had to look at the panel a couple of times to get what was happening. I know red is the go-to for emergency lights, but it doesn't have to be. However, using a color that most people associate with danger is a way for your audience to immediately grasp the situation. I do appreciate that you started your narrative in the middle of the action.

One of the troubles you run into is exposition. Now, there is nothing wrong with having exposition but, I'll use an example so you know what I mean:

In the bathroom scene Kristianna is having a conversation with Amy. We go from discussing a bad day to Mike's disappearance. It happens so fast that Mike being missing doesn't register with me. It's just infodumping. Now, you're not a bad artist in the least, and you're good at getting expressions out of composition. You use black and white for intense scenes and I think that, Mike's disappearance, if it's going to be important later, is due a little more of an artistic representation. Maybe show Amy's day in contrast to Kristianna's.

You might try starting off the day with Amy learning about her brother (so we can see how it affects her and how she feels, thus making your audience sympathetic to her plight), moving on to Kristianna in the principals office and then having the two meet in the bathroom to compare notes about their respective days. Then we'd have more of a concept of the pain both of the girls feel.

Now, everything said above, I'll tell you something more important than all of it: Don't stop. If you've got a story to tell, tell it, and even if you don't finish this one, never stop making stories, comics, or art. I think you hit a rash of bad luck with your beta readers if they were so rude to you and unhelpful. The people here that I've met on Tapas are good people who want to help fellow artists for the sake of helping and for no other reason. I hope you have a better experience here than what you had before. Never forget that, you improve forever. You'll never be in a place where your art is at it's zenith and that's the best part, you'll ALWAYS be growing and changing. Sometimes you will get discouraging words, and sometimes you'll get feedback that hurts (and is amicable) so, you'll just have to take both in stride but, don't give up what you love because someone tried to deride you instead of help you.

All of us start somewhere and none of us are perfect. I wish you luck creating your story and I know you can make a good one.

I agree with heterodont -- these beta readers don't seem to be able to provide you with very useful feedback. Like, "this is bad, you're not creative" isn't even harsh crit -- it's just not useful information in any way.

You have to be able to trust your beta readers/editors. For example, someone you trust saying a scene feels cliche might mean they've noticed you're using conventions of your genre without adding much to them -- useful feedback! -- but some rando you don't trust saying a scene feels cliche might just not like the conventions of your chosen genre at all, no matter how well they're used, and that feedback is less useful because you can't say for sure what it means.

And ultimately if someone has already announced they think your work is uncreative garbage, then it's hard to trust their feedback. They can't help you make your story the best it can be if they just want a different story.

Author Neil Gaiman put together 8 Rules of Writing4, one of which I think is relevant here:

• Put [your work] aside. Read it pretending you’ve never read it before. Show it to friends whose opinion you respect and who like the kind of thing that this is.

Your beta readers need to have some interest in the kind of thing that you're trying to make, or else they won't know how to tell you to make a good one. If you're making a shoujo story, you don't show it to your friend who hates shoujo and ask their opinion.

I will note that some of the feedback you're getting are comments that can be helpful sometimes -- "What's the point of this character" and "where did this come from," when they come from someone you trust, are really valuable questions that show you when your foreshadowing isn't being picked up by readers, or when you've introduced a pointless element that's adding unnecessary confusion. But again..... that's only if they're people you trust, and know that they're coming from a place of wanting to make the story better rather than just dragging a work they don't like. If they just don't like it, and have no ideas for how to fix the problems they see -- or if the ways they want it to change would fundamentally change the story in a way you're not comfortable with -- it might be better to get new beta readers.

I was going into this expecting to tell you all betas will have more negative because that's what they're there to point out, but these people are out of line and not helpful as betas. I've been called a harsh editor, but I would never say a lot of this. Editing is a skill, but some people use it as an excuse to prove that they're smarter or better by putting another person down. They're probably not trying to sabotage you, but they're also looking for where they can make themselves look knowledgeable, not how to make you or your story better.
If they were good beta readers, here is how those comments might read
-This character doesn't do much in the story. Is there a way you could cut them or drop more hints they're important early on.
(Comments insulting your writing are useless. That's bullying, not editing. Also why do they act like you need to explain ethnicity?)
-I like that you play with multiple genres. That said [x plot point] felt a little cliche to me.
-I did not pick up on the foreshadowing for this. Could you add some more hints?
Honestly the gun on the wall thing is fair. These guys were being jerks with their phrasing, but it also sounds like you keep trying to prove why they're wrong rather than thinking about how to change it. If the readers don't see foreshadowing, it's not helpful to get annoyed they didn't see it. Instead think about why they didn't see it and make it stronger. If they are focusing on something, you can figure out what made them think it would be important. I'm sure you know the feeling where you get interested in an idea and it doesn't come up again.
And none of this makes you a bad writer or means you should give up. The entire point of a good beta reader is you spend so much time with your own story, it's hard to see how it looks from the outside. I feel pretty good about my writing, but I still rely on betas who tell me I don't need a character or some part feels cliche.
The problem isn't your story sucks, or that they are trying to destroy you. Edits don't mean you suck. On the other hand, editors who tell you that you suck are kinda sucky editors. (And hey, editing is a skill too. Maybe they'll improve) Even if you have an editor focused on actual, specific critique, it's okay to know your limits. I've been edited and edit enough I usually go harsh, but it's fine to say "I'm a little nervous, so if you can be gentle with your edits and not throw too much at me", there's no shame in that
Also, if I don't sound too harsh for you, I'd be happy to go through your story and brainstorm ways to work on it.
Good luck and don't give up!

Most of what you're quoting is bad feedback because it's not constructive. They're giving you nothing to build on. My advice: find better beta readers.

its good that you have beta readers that are willing to tell you what needs to improve, but the way theyre framing it is super unhelpful. have you talked to them about their feedback?

ive worked with some harsh critics before, largely teachers (i worked in theatre, you ever had a paper edited by a director? shit). sitting them down and talking about what kind of feedback is productive for the pair of you (talk to each one personally) can be really helpful.

if theyre getting frustrated when talking through your story with you, it could be something about how youre reacting to their critique. it could be that their crit is shite, but look over your reactions to see - cut down on the excuses and explanations for each thing they point out, genuinely chew over each point even if you choose to dismiss it after. ppl giving feedback need to feel listened to and respected, or theyll resort to 'clearly youre no help, you suck.'

this all said, it may be that youre surrounded by assholes. if you cant talk it through with them and come to an understanding, its in the best interest of the pair of you to part ways, find more nurturing beta readers. im assuming youre quite young? and youre new, regardless. it's important you surround yourself with people who will encourage you to strive for better, not tell you youre incapable of it. your first comic probably will be garbage, whenever you start it, but the only way out of that is through, so have fun with it, and surround yourself with people having fun with it.

As someone who has beta'd for a few people, your "beta readers" are shit and you should dump them. If they can't provide proper criticism, then they need to shut the hell up. Let's take "What's the point of this character? like they've done nothing" for example. The proper way to provide criticism is "I'm having a hard time understanding the point of this character, could you elaborate on them more, if applicable?" (bc some characters are just there to fill up an area, kinda like NPCs in video games) or "I'm having a hard time understanding the point of this character, so here's what I think you should do to give them a bit more meaning < Lists ideas for you to try >"

If all your readers can do is tear you down and only talk about the negatives of a problem in your writing, then they're being a-holes just to be a-holes and you should drop them like a scalding hot potato. Don't take insults and ignore them because they're only do it because they have shitty lives and want to take it out on others

If you would like me to take a look at your comic/writing (assuming you have a script or story of some kind written?) I'd happily take a look and send you proper constructive criticism (would email be okay?)

I'm sorry you have to deal with morons who know nothing about editing. My feelings are, ultimately do the comic for yourself and do what you feel is best in telling your story. In many cases, there's not really a bad way to write, though characters and the way the story flows properly (events needing to be in proper order for example) is crucial. You don't want to alter your characters halfway through telling your story because that just confuses people, so keeping a clear picture of who your characters are is really important! So just keep doing your best and the real helpers will come along to help you become better (:

Just to echo off what other people said, your beta readers shouldn't treat you that way. Beta readers are to help you grow and learn, not insult your work. A good beta knows how to give feedback with positives and negatives. Negatives aren't, "you're not creative." They should say, "maybe add a little more to this. If you need some inspiration, we can bounce ideas off each other."

be Hulk hahah! Just kidding~

Well... at least they're honest. Better than unconditional praise. If they're willing to notice your work is flawed then they'll be willing to give some advice to help. If they refuse to expand on anything more than "this sucks" then dump them. I had art college teachers like that, they will rip apart your work and make you feel like shit but at least they gave criticism in between telling you your work is a flaming dumpster fire... let's hope these people are the same lol

I want your beta readers tbh! Seem they're brutally honest, but honest! I do feel they have a couple of dumb complains, but at least they're being honest!

A couple of dumb things:
* You don't have to justify everything. You know how the story is going, so If someone is like "why does this happen..?" And you know the answer and don't want to tell it, you don't have to. Example: Interracial relationship...People fall in love, period. Unless your characters are racist, they don't need a justification. It's just common sense, but many readers don't get it (because they're dumb, not you tbh)
* Some readers are gonna be dumb or distracted, always. That's why in movies or shows you may see people repeating what happenned more than once so the reader/viewer gets it.
* Check your beta readers age and culture. If they read little to none and are used to ONLY watch TV... They will be dumber on getting your story. Sorry. Sounds harsh but it's true. Now, a comic will be easier on people like that because there are images. You have to make sure they get it with images as well with words <3
* It's on you that both dumb and smart people understand your comic, that with paneling, composition, etc.

¨Good luck, lovely!

I have been seeing this is your first comic. So... Usually anybody's first anything is not as good as what you will be able to achieve.

Mm something I did when I started publishing (though this is my 41th story/comic) is that I started with one of my short stories to see how it went. So, If you can/want you can do a short story to go learning. After you learn more you publish your super long masterpiece! Idk this is a silly suggestion unless you like it.

I don't want to echo what everybody else has said so I'll keep it short and say that they're not being constructive with their criticism.

Also, sorry if you said and I missed it, where did you get the beta readers from? Randomers are no good because you need to have a little experience and discipline at giving feedback. Equally, I've heard that you shouldn't ask people too close to you. It's good to join in on some of the feedback threads on Tapas as most people here have been doing their stuff long enough to know what and what not to say.

Honestly, these beta readers reflect the average reader that will come across your story online. Most people are not gonna be kind or articulate properly what's wrong, but knowing that something is wrong can steer you in the right direction. What I can tell is that your story Is not hooking them. We've all been there. Perhaps ask them what changes they would make or how is it cliche? Ask them how they feel about the main character. If they don't care enough about your MC to give a rats behind about what happens to them then Houston you have a problem. Perhaps it would help to keep these readers but join a writers group to dig deeper into the feedback you're getting from them? You can also put yourself in their shoes as a person who only knows the story by what they've read. Would you keep reading your own story?

And like mgart1937 said. Your first will probably not be a masterpiece anyway. Keep it up! You'll learn a lot by continuing and asking your readers some questions.