What is your least favorite type of thumbnail?

[Maps]

What type of thumbnail or novel cover will have you sobbing, rolling your eyes, or running away screaming?

But really. What kind of thumbnail will throw you off and make you not really even want to get started on someone's work?

[joannekwan]

Something that's clearly lifted from a generic Google search/uses other people's artwork that wasn't created for the story.

Also doll bases.

[Penni]

Kissing.

I don't know what it is, but the moment I see kissing on a thumbnail I just go:

I haven't pinned pointed why I dislike it. Maybe I think it's overdone or I automatically think it's going to be a bad romance or something. There are lots of cool ways to highlight affection/love in a thumbnail!

[Maps]

I'm not huge on an over-domineering character aggressively grabbing the she or he that they are likely going to romance up in the work. It just gives me the idea it's going to be one of those submissive relationships. Especially when there’s two people grabbing at them.

[vothnthorvaldson]

I hate these ones too, but I'd rather have that on the thumbnail so I know what story to avoid.

So I'd say, what I don't like is a thumbnail that does not reflect the story.

[Maps]

You make a good point!

[antimekii]

Side profile of two characters in white background. These peeve maybe more on the romance/drama genre but I feel like these types of thumbnails has been too common that I don’t even click in.

[rajillustration]

the ones that say the sexuality in huge ass letters as if that's the only reason I'm reading a comic. Just feels like maybe that's a cash grab soft porn and not a plot comic whenever I see it.

[Penni]

That's true! At least they are upfront about what kind of story it's going to be 🤷‍♀️

[Kann]

Besides types mentioned here, I don't like the thumbnails where there are too many characters crammed into that tiny square.

Or when it's a close-up on someone's butt. xD

[Drewbie]

I see a thumbnail with real people and I just quit vibin.

[ArthurAleksei]

I guess it sounds very generic, like the artist thought "oh, this is a romance so the thumbnail should have kissing"

[ArthurAleksei]

But what if the webcomic is made up entirely of photos ?

[VibrantFox]

what if the webcomic is made up entirely of photos

with no offense to those who may do so, I don't think it's much of a webcomic at that point. I can understand a photo for a novel cover but not so much a comic.

I agree with the response that said having a bunch of characters crammed into one small thubmnail, it's not the best look and for ideas like that it's best reserved for the banner.

Personally thumbnails with muddled colors or hard to decipher art tend to steer me away. That or if it's just the name in the icon. I'll still take a peek out of curiosity but if it doesn't pop it's easy to just kind of pass over. I will say I actually sometimes prefer black and white icons especially if the character art is really crisp, something about clean lines is just appealing.

[gurugeorge1111]

This reminds me of a few projects I was getting paid to work on but knew the whole thing was doomed from the start.

Just like a bad thumbnail non of these bad projects helped me in the long run. Now that I'm looking back yes it would have been better to offer some good advice or C & C to turn the project around rather then just taking the money.

Same goes for thumbnails. Got to learn to speak up, that goes double when your young!

[dawgofdawgness]

Variations on 2 people in profile looking at each other lovingly.
(Special: the taller person is smirking and the shorter person is blushing)

[Maps]

lol guilty at my first thumbnail and hated it until I finally changed it.

[Jenny-Toons]

I kinda glimpse over thumbnails that have 1-2 characters with the...arms crossed. Especially if it's supposed to be a romance?

Just...I dunno, it gives me that "feel good romance comedy where SHE'S a business executive and HE'S a small town guy. Both have their differences, but this time they'll have to work together! Maybe they'll find love along the way~~"

Veeery cheesy.

[Jophiel]

Sexual thumbnails...I know I read my fair share of mature works but more often than not do I avoid those that have the characters moaning or have the other one look really submissive OTL jfksjfsk

While not sexual, I'm not most likely to read characters who are blushing too much in the cover...

[Kiweevil]

Any thumbnail that is just two very plain looking pretty boys kissing. Because like, every BL comic has that and it makes them not as memorable. Why can't one of the boys be juggling chainsaws and kissing the other boy while he's wrangling a crocodile? I'd read that.