What's the thing you most value in comics?

[GingerLoge]

When reading and drawing a comic, what's that thing that is the most important to you? The one that hooks you as a reader, and that you want to absolutely have in your own comic?
Is it the art style? Is it the story itself, or the message it has? Is it the world building and the setting? Or maybe something less romantic, like the lettering, because why not, I f*cking love when things are easy to read.
To me, the most important thing in comics are characters. As a reader, I want to grow attached to them, I love to see how they move and interact with the world they live in and how they change during the story. When I write, I first begin with characters, and then decide what will happen to them. I try to create their personality and then write a story suitable for them.

So, the most important thing in comics. Your turn!

[silverraven0]

Flow.

I didn't know why but I have a very specific need to only stick to comics with good flow on pacing. If I read a comic with a very weird flow, i most definitely going to drop them because my brain just won't shut up about how bad the pace of the story is.

Next is the basic need of story and good character developments. I don't particularly care about art quality as long as they made good use of the panels and camera angles.

[GingerLoge]

Interesting! You are so right! I think that having a good flow is also hard to learn

[Zin_Trollborn]

Definitely story.
Any kind of stories as long as it's interesting and well thought of. I like when things are logical according to it. Like... even if I like a story but some things don't make sense or are stupid to me, it's a big disappointment (It can work if it's a comical story tho, but in a serious one it's a big "meh").
Quality art style is a very big +

[GingerLoge]

Right! I love when all parts of the story work together like in a mechanism!

[sushy00]

I have a short attention span, so I prefer short comics! If it is too long it has to have a really really really good story and flow in order to keep me reading.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Variety in art style and energetic action storytelling.
Those are two things I look for. I read hundreds of separate comic titles a year. Eastern or Western, doesn't matter. I just like reading comics.

[GingerLoge]

Even if I like longer stories, I think I can relate. I feel a bit like dying inside every time I want to buy a comic and find out there's hundreds of issues of it.

[GingerLoge]

Variety in art style is something I find very valuable too.
I love all these different replies I'm getting from this thread!

[IndigoShirtProd]

The look of the speech bubbles. While I do care a lot about the look of a comic, I care more about being able to read the comic. If the bubbles and the text are too small, I will not read. If there's too much text per speech bubble or the text is too close to the edges of the bubble, I will not read. Also if the bubble placement is confusing and doesn't lead the eye through the page, also a no go. To me, and this may sound harsh, it just shows a lack of consideration for the reader and a lack of problem solving skills. Unless the comic is wordless, the speech bubbles should work with the art! They're not just an accessory, they're an important part of comic making.

[GingerLoge]

That's not harsh at all, if there's dialogue, I'd like to read it clearly! The font also is very important, and the distance between the letters and the inner border of the balloon!

[R.n.P]

If I'm reading an action comic, it would be how fluid the fight scenes are and if the artstyle fits it.
Its a weird thing to describe

[GingerLoge]

I think I get it. I immediately though of Fullmetal Alchemist as an example. Not over detailed, with lively fight scenes

[fleurravenbooks]

If blurb doesn't catch my attention, i start comic for the art style, but if i already heard about that and i like the story i don't care about art style

[Aeneas1]

Obscure literary references.
I feel that in comics, one should always include little references to appease intellectuals. That’s why Neil Gaiman’s Sandman works and Gerard Way’s Umbrella Academy doesn’t. Well, that’s what I think.

[GingerLoge]

It's not fair game to just compare anyone to Neil Gaiman
just my opinion of course.
but yes: that feeling of triumph when you get a reference and think "oh, I know that!" and feel connected to the author! Books talk about books, that is, it is as if they were talking to each other

[Mallory]

Characters for me. If I don't connect with the characters of a property, I usually just lose interest, no matter how interesting the plot/world was or how high the production value was. I especially like characters who are built on contradictions but still come out looking like one coherent entity despite the obvious conflict (e.g. a pacifist-oriented individual gets drafted to war and is found out to be a brilliant strategist because they have very unconventional means of thinking about problems; they wind up being celebrated for being great at war, even as that takes a big emotional toll on the character).

[GingerLoge]

Yes! People are also made of contradictions after all! A character without contradictions is predictable, a bit flat maybe. Especially when the whole story is based on the characters' personalities

[Kelheor]

Because comics are a visual media for me.

By which I mean not "the comic must look like WLOP's art", but it should look good in some way, it shouldn't consist of flying heads and it should make me feel things?
I consider art being the same as writing in a book. I won't read it if it's badly written, and I won't read it if it's badly drawn, I will only struggle through art (or writing) I don't enjoy if someone trustworthy will say it will pay off later.

(I do consider my criteria pretty strange sometimes though, because the "feeling" of each and every comic is absolutely subjective and I can dislike some pretty comics because of some unidentifiable reasons)

[Swamp]

Characters! It's hard to gauge plot early on, but the ability to write real feeling people comes much earlier. Besides, I'm fine waiting for authors to learn as they go on plot if the cast is interesting.

For me, art supports the writing. Good art helps me understand the plot, see the character's emotions and relationships, and buy into the story.