What do you value more - good art with a sub-par story or terrible art with an amazing story?

[onigiriinu]

I'm not sure, usually, the art attracts me.
The story is making me wanting for more.
Since I'm also a comic artist with skills, I often look for a great story that will keep me there for a long time!
So, yes, the story is important to most of the readers.

[keii4ii]

What really turned me off to GC is the lettering. I've tried twice to read it and can't get past the readability issue. Much more important than art or story.

While I'm inclined to agree, it's just not the topic at hand. There are lots of factors behind "will you rather read comic x or comic y" and this thread is just examining two factors.

Also, legibility is surprisingly subjective! At least, more than one might think, once you get past the obvious crimes like 3pt tiny text in #e0e0e0 against #ffffff. It's evident that a lot of people don't have difficulty reading GC's font, but that doesn't mean it's easily readable for all, as you prove that. On the other hand, Mare Internum uses a very typical-looking comic font, but I know someone who physically can't read it because it messes with her eye condition... though she can read other comics with seemingly similar fonts?

[LT1986]

I value an amazing story with terrible art more than good art with a sub-par story, only if the story catches my attention. Good art usually makes me want to read a story. Now if the terrible art has an interesting message that I see right away from the art without reading, then I'll read the story.

[DiegoPalacios]

I prefer an amazing story and terrible art over amazing art and terrible story. (of course in the extreme case that the art is uninteligible, then i can`t appreciate the story)

Of course, amazing art is always a plus and helps with first impressions, but i watch a comic/show/movie for the story it tells, not for how good it looks.

[eochoa92]

Being very conscious about my storytelling, I seek out great artists so that their art can make my stories look good. That being said, I've talked to several people who also say that they don't mind if the art is sub-par, just the story needs to be great.
For me, it needs to be a bit of both.
I don't particularly like John Romita Jr's art and find it difficult to read comics where he was the artist.
Same goes for some Adult Swim shows.

[charliesackett]

Not gonna lie, I have a lot of comics on my shelf that are horribly written that I keep because they're pretty. If I love the story I will slog through bad art, but it's really hard for me because so much of my enjoyment of the medium is in the art. I get fixated on anatomical problems and then I cant even appreciate the writing because I'm distracted.

I'm also one of those people that's okay with just reading a book, so if I'm looking for good writing I don't need bad art to distract from it.

[Mari]

Both. comics with art that is something the person has not invested any time into I cannot get into. I wish I could. But if I cannot tell what is happening, or there is just no style at all, I can't get over it, no matter how amazing I find the story.

If it's clear and I can see there was atleast a semblance of effort, I'm more forgiving for bad art. Atleast they tried, you know?

[JeanGuillet]

While I'm inclined to agree, it's just not the topic at hand.

I'd say the visual presentation including legibility all falls under the art category. Was already mentioned earlier the Sandman series and how that comic uses legibility as a device. Can be done well, can be done poorly, but all part of the art. The is the great strength of comics in mixing media in unique ways. one cannot separate the lettering from the art without losing something about the presentation as a whole.

[TJSchongar]

A good story will win out over good art. There are some beautiful comics out there with amazing art that I very much appreciate...but I just...can't...read them... But if the story is good and the art isn't great, that's fine. The art doesn't mean much in a comic without the words, so if the words are on point, I'm good!

[Rhonder]

I'm in the good story/bad art camp, although there's absolutely a lower limit to just how "Terrible" the art can be and I'll still spend my time on it, even if it was the best story in the world. That said, that lower limit is pretty far down for me lol. An art style that's simple, or is clearly a beginner artist still finding their footing is no problem. I can easily look past proportional issues, or unrefined coloring, or whatever. But like... if it's clear 0 effort went into it and it's a dumpster fire of barely legible scribbles and haphazard paneling, I'll draw the line lmao. The same goes for like... comics that are okay art-wise, but are presented poorly, like photos at bad angles in poor lighting or wev. Like I understand not everyone has access to a scanner or wev, but there are still ways to try and get your comic legible and looking good.

[Kura]

Hunter x Hunter has proven I'm in the terrible art good writing camp.

And yeah, that art was bad, and not just objectively, it would get to the point where, no, you could NOT always tell what was going on (that's why he finishes it up for the tankobon, because it's not supposed to look like that)

[Trevor]

i’m reading a comic called “Die Wonder”. Amazing art, but very slow story, layered on top of slow uploading because of the quality art. When i look in the comments there’s lots of arguing because people will say how they unsubbed because the story was so slow. i think story definitely serves more importance over the art to keep an audience in this case, the art is really good, but it’s been four chapters in, 120 pages and it’s only now starting to pick up. It was kinda frustrating for some of the audience and some of the audience was frustrated with the frustrated audience

[Maps]

Man... I’ve read mediocre stories because I’ve liked the art, but there is usually always a point where I end up quitting because it becomes a chore to read. I also struggle with art that I don’t find appealing, BUT if the story is good enough, I can usually look past it. Really, I just try to find comics that have a balance of both for me.

[Akhdas]

As long as it conveys what it tries to tell, it's a okay to me. Not for a lot of people though

[myumyudapao]

I'm focusing on a good story than art, if the story is good I don't mind the art unless if the art wasn't conveyed properly and ends up making the reader confused, regardless how bad the artstyle was,
if the story is bad the art should definitely good, , no offense but comic with extremely good art but terrible story .. majority of people will read it because of the art not the story
though that is based on my opinion.welp I didn't notice this topic was a year ago

[Puck]

A good story is the foundation everything else builds on.
Sometimes the art destroys the story for me and sometimes the lack of a story destroys the art

[Kaydreamer]

It depends on the intent of the author, for me. The generally accepted norm in comics is that the art is there to serve the story - which is mostly true, but for me, the two have to match. A fun, lighthearted story may be served with art which is very simple. (Not BAD, but simple.) A humorous or satirical comic can get away with art most people may call 'bad'.

But there are some stories which really need solid art to serve them, or it saps away some of the gravity of the story. I couldn't imagine the like of Full Metal Alchemist, for instance, with the art style of the average satirical webcomic. It just wouldn't work, and I wouldn't be able to 'fall into' it in the way I like to 'fall into' a good story. Immersion is important to me.

On the other hand, there are some artists - usually illustrators - who need only the simplest of narratives to pull together beautiful, lush pages in a compelling way.

Knowing what your audience needs to best engage with what you wish to create, and what your creation needs to best convey itself to that audience, is the key.

[KrazySparrow]

both won't work for me >: I need good art with a good story

[BlairFujin]

good art is what makes me pick up a comic, good story is what makes me stay with it ;p

[iHateFridays]

Art is subjective, but a good story will always be a good story