Who else prefers horizontal newspaper-style comics? Would you read mine?

[calima]

Anyone else here just enjoy the simple 3-4 panel comics like Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, and Garfield more that the vertical kind? Personally (subjectively!) it’s really just a more natural orientation, and the simple gag storytelling of these comics is so much more interesting to me.
I know I’m in the minority but it would be interesting to know if at least one other person shares this view—or are making horizontal comic strips on here at all.
And for those who prefer vertical Korean style: What would it take to get you interested in a horizontal newspaper gag strip? I’m working on one right now on paper and am hoping to get as many eyes on it as possible, even those who usually prefer vertical comics.

Any tips or advice or thoughts or questions? Which style do you prefer? Horizontal strips? Comic book pages? Vertical webtoons? Would you read my strip? Let me know.

[justincarbunkle]

The first year of my comic I did with the panels going horizontal. I changed to vertical so it would be harder for a reader to spoil themselves on the punchline/ending of the strip by having the other panels visible in their sides view.

For simple gag comics, I think the horizontal orientation is still valid, maybe even better. It's just my comic ended up becoming more story focused/complex, so it hurt the experience more having it horizontal than having to scroll through each individual panel.

For a webcomic, especially for a site like Tapas that is designed for vertical comics, I think that orientation is generally better. But if you can make the horizontal format work, go for it. Whether for nostalgia for those older comics, you have interesting ideas to make use of it, or just like how it looks, do what you think works best for your jokes/storytelling.

[friritsu]

I feel like the newspaper style would be great for print, that makes me so nostalgic x)

though, since we have to adapt for technology and getting more visible, it doesn't hurt editing your horizontal comic to vertical, even if it takes a bit more time to edit.

[calima]

You know, that’s a really good point. I suppose like you said, it really depends on the ratio of “gags” to story in a comic. I put “gags” in parentheses because some of my favorite Peanuts/Calvin and Hobbes strips have punchlines that aren’t obvious jokes but more philosophical observations and simple scenarios that just play out in an interesting way. That’s why I prefer those two over Garfield, which is way more focused on simple gags.
I feel like horizontal is the best option for me, and I will draw it that way, but at the end of the day if it’s not accessible for Tapas readers I’m willing to break it up and reformat the panels digitally, which shouldn’t be too hard.

[calima]

(post withdrawn by author, will be automatically deleted in 24 hours unless flagged)

[jwabeasley]

I'm a big fan of the classic newspaper strip, but I think you'll have more success if you adapt to a modern screen-focused layout. That's why I do my comic in a square 2x2 format - it's the modern online equivalent to the newspaper strip. It still reads left-to-right, is has lots of room if I want to do something unusual, and the square format can go on any feed well enough.

Tapas prefers scroll comics, and mobile users seem to prefer that, so if you don't go square, I'd recommend formatting them vertically - it could be limiting, though. It'll help with getting recommendations and staff picks, and so on. Same with Webtoon, as well.

I noticed that the strip Phoebe and her Unicorn moved to a mostly square layout when it went to print as a collection, event though it is a traditional horizontal newspaper strip, so if you want to play with the 4-panel layout any, the square format might be your best bet online. I've noticed that even C&H strips tend to get reformatted to 2x2 layouts when shared on Facebook, reddit, or other social media platforms. 2x2 just does better.

[calima]

Hilarious! And cute, I love it. Hope to be as talented as you one day sir. I never actually considered 2x2, so I might try that through reformatting. Thanks.

[NickRowler]

Horizontal comics are designed for newspapers. They are a bit difficult to read on webcomic sites do to everything being crammed into 800px or 900px.

I 2nd using a 2x2 format.

The virtual format sort of predates webcomics. Some asian newspapers and manga gag series use the 4-koma format.

[kyupol]

I won't mind reading horizontal comics