So I know anime is the popular style. But I find that kinda limiting in terms of expression
What I wanna do is pretty out there in comparison to what I see on Tapas and webtoon.
Im talking heavy textures
Surreal colors (thi example is from an animation so it's got more outlines than the comic would)
Traditionally drawn backgrounds.
My question is would you read a comic in this style?
Dec '19
Jan '20
I think all of these are very pretty to look at and i would read a comic with any of them tbh! I especially like the last two pictures! However, when it comes to comic making, it’s important to remember to choose a style you can generally do quickly since you’re making so many images per page etc. so when I see a comic with an interesting style I really do appreciate it a lot more due to the uniqueness!
It's hard to make an assessment here because the images aren't all equivalent in terms of level of finish, they're not all of the same subject and we're not seeing them in a comic context.
I don't know what a human character would look like in the first style, and the colours don't look "surreal" in the example because it's a weird monster and my brain expects a weird monster to be weird colours. I'd only be able to judge how the colours would work in an example with things I recognise from the real world and know how they'd normally appear (ie. a human kind of person in a room or landscape). I will say this though, it looks unfinished. The lines look rushed and don't clearly describe the shape of the character, and the use of partial transparency is generally considered a "beginner error" in digital painting circles because it looks wishy washy and lacks clarity of form. If this is the level of polish you can get in a reasonable amount of time, like a timeframe that would allow you to make a comic without killing yourself, I'd advise using another style that gives you a more polished result in the given time.
The second image is my favourite because it actually shows me something that could be a comic panel. It's an actual scene featuring a person doing/expressing something. The lines and perspective are a little limp and lazy, but it's within reason for a comic panel, and the face looks good, which is the main thing a person tends to focus on. The loose lines do make the pillars look like curtains though, and the liquid on the floor would be helped with a bit of perspective. Also if the character just broke out of that tank of green goo, the panel would read more clearly if they looked like they're a bit wet or covered in goo.
The third image is the best drawn, with perspective that isn't quite perfect, but works well enough and is way better than the previous image. It also looks more finished. That said, it looks like it surely took a lot longer than the other images, with multiple passes of different colours and then touched up lines and highlights creating a far richer effect. I don't necessarily think it's better because of the media used, but because it looks like more time was taken. It looks less rushed, which is good, but may also be a tell that actually it's too time-consuming for a comic with regular updates.
As a general comment, I'll say this about style generally: Your goal should be a style that allows you to draw characters, objects and places in scenes that clearly depict the actions and emotions of your story consistently while fitting the sort of feeling of your comic and being viable with your update schedule. That's all. Choose based on those criteria; what allows you to most clearly express action and emotion, not what you feel is the most cool and unique, or what you think hides areas you think you're not so good at.
Also, yes, if you're not good at expressing things in a manga style, you shouldn't draw in a manga style, the result of people who don't love drawing manga trying to draw it is always a terrible pastiche. Draw however works best for you.
I don't know how to explain to you that literally none of this is was information I didn't already know from years experience.
This is super early concept art for a comic I don't plan on putting out for another year and a half.
As an animator I can design a variety of styles with ease, all of which are easy to draw in. The first two drawings took less than ten minutes. The point of this topic was to get reader opinions because I see "it's not in anime style" as a real reason people list for putting down a comic on this website. I did not come here to get the concept of style condescendingly explained to me in a ten point essay.
When a chef shows you a photo and asks "would you eat a dish that looks like this?" You don't then go on about how he should wash his hands first.
Making comics in usually a more 'European' style, the short answer is YES. Yes people will want this. There's plenty of people done with anime being the norm, and if you just create with a passion, people will follow what you create. 
The question you'd rather have to ask is if it's something you would like to see yourself. And from all of the images above, the answer is yes. I love the pieces you put up so far ^^ Just go with the one you're most comfortable with / want to create in most, your audience will follow.
If someone's argument is 'but this is not animé', there's 10 more saying they'll still love the story even if it isn't. 
If a chef showed me three random collections of ingredients thrown together in some pans and said "based on looks alone, which of these would you eat?" and I took the time to give detailed feedback like, "based on looks alone, I don't know how these dishes will look when they're finished because none of them is on a plate and you didn't properly finish making any of them, they're all at different stages of completion and some are missing key ingredients so I have no idea how they'd look compared to each other when completed?" and then the chef decided to get all uppity about how they're an experienced chef and they could make any of those recipes super quickly no problem as if I just don't understand how cooking works... I'd say "Then why didn't you show me the completed dishes?" 
I don't magically know you're experienced; the fact is you made a beginner error in market research and I explained my thoughts based on assumption that you're a beginner. I'm sorry if that upset you, but you asked for feedback and I took the time to give it with a level of detail I felt was appropriate based on a lack of any knowledge about your ability level and the unpolished look of the examples given. I've worked in the industry for over a decade, I am literally helping to make a new IP for Cartoon Network right now in my day job, a heavy part of which has involved huge amounts of research and making judgements on style based on feedback from focus groups. I have created documents hundreds of pages long on style research and analysis for my clients and done tons of concept art both sketchy internal pieces designed just to show the illustrator on the book examples of how we want illos laid out and completed style concepts and promo images designed to be shown externally. Any style concept designed to get audience reaction to a style we always ensure it's finished to the level that the audience will see it, and that it depicts something similar to the content of the finished product.
There is a difference between internal concept art we do for people within our studio who already know our capabilities and what level of polish we can bring and how long a drawing takes us (or of course, for ourselves, because we always know our own intentions with a piece and can fill in those gaps), and concept art we do to show an outside audience for market research. The people who you are showing do not know that you only spent ten minutes on the sketches because that's all we're seeing of the style. As far as the information you have presented me goes, you want to make a comic that looks like an unfinished drawing, and you've shown me three images I can't compare that aren't good examples of what the product would look like. I'm not a mind-reader! I can't see the finished piece that's in your head, or how it looks in context of a scene in a comic unless you actually show me. If it's so quick and easy for you to draw these things then just finish them so the viewer can make an informed decision.
You may be an experienced animator, but market research is a different skillset from animation, and instead of getting defensive, you could take this as an opportunity to learn something that could be super helpful to you.
When doing market research for the most effective data from a focus group or selection of potential users, you should present finished work that accurately represents what you're selling in order to get accurate audience reactions to different styles not skewed by the level of polish or differences in image content.
I like the first one and would read a comic like this...the proof, however, is whether you can pull of complex panels in this style that show action and also consistency of character. Good luck.
Short answer: Yeah I'd read a comic in those styles if the story or concept grabbed my attention.
Longer answer: It really depends on the content the illustrations are trying to convey. Do the abstract characters push my sense of disbelief too far? Does the intense color palette take me out of what's happening in the story? I dabbled with style change a few years ago when I was into oct comic tournaments, and not fully understanding the style I was toying with got me really heavy critique. So I'd probably have a more decisive answer to give you if these were more finalized comic style pitches you were showcasing.
Thank you for sharing!
Look, I didn't ask for a crit and in general it's rude to give one if not explicitly requested to. Neurodivergent people notoriously need days to mentally prepare for a crit, due to RSD.
So for fucks sake, don't write crits for people who didn't ask for one, it's not that hard to mind your own business.
In all honesty, I wouldn't read a comic featuring any three of the presented styles. For one, they all look unfinished and messy. For two, I get a sci-fi vibe off the artwork and I don't care much for sci-fi. For three I'm not that big on traditionally drawn comics. It's just not my thing.
Look, I understand what you're going for. Showing multiple attempts and sketches of what could so that if and when people dislike the style, it's not entirely established and you're not forced to overhaul. The downside is that, those who do see what you're offering, don't entirely understand what you're going for.
@Sky-Chau So you didn't ask for criticism, fine. Don't be so rude about it. Calmly explain to @darthmongoose "thanks but no thanks". You being rude and spiteful isn't going to descalate the situation.
Yea, I have a more western art style. Mostly inspired by Danny Phantom and other action cartoons:
You do realize this is a public forum? If you don't want other people commenting on your art maybe you shouldn't post it. I thought the comment you got was great and instead of being hostile you could either learn from it or ignore it.
I mean no offense but if your mental health can't take constructive criticism on a comic forum (that is in my experience filled with super nice fellow comic creators) you definitely should't upload your art elsewhere because people out there don't give a damn about your neuro-condition. They're going to shit on your comic/art in a manner that can be very cruel and there's nothing you can do about it.
Are the characters going to be drawn digitally with the backgrounds being traditional?
I might check it out depending on how the finished product looks, if it's going to have the 80's sci-fi look shown in the last example, it'll be intriguing to say the least!
Ho boy, you are a salt mine, though! I mean, I can't talk since I can be one too. But when faced with feedback on your work, if you're having an emotional reaction, it's good to step away for a bit to take it all in then come back with your response after a cool down. If you don't agree or don't find the feedback useful, it's best to just say 'thank you' and move on. It's always good to remember that criticism of your work isn't criticism of you as a person.
You're kinda new here (or at least I only remember seeing you these past few days), so regulars aren't going to automatically know about your Autism. While you're getting established here it would be good to bring it up for a few posts until everyone gets to know you, like "Hey, just to let you all know, I'm Autistic so I may process some things differently than a neurotypical person.". Sure, it's awkward, but most people here are understanding and will be considerate of your situation if you let them know right away.
Anyways! I'm done lecturing you, I'm sure you've already heard/read more than enough.
If you want to see some comics with really interesting visual styles; Seluda, There Was a War, SUPERPOSE, Skeletons in the Closet, Hookteeth and Weaker Sides are pretty awesome!
If you're going by Japanese inspired styles as the norm my comic can technically be considered "unique". It's western, kinda semi-realistic? And traditionally drawn, super loosely inspired by open impressionism as far as coloring and has complimentary color shading.
General disclaimer: This work is rated NC-17 for nudity, profanity, and substance abuse. Features sensitive topics like mental illness, abuse and trauma. Read at your own discretion.
If it has an interesting story (or is enjoyable to some degree) then sure. The art styles nice and all, but it has to be very breathtaking for me to be invested solely on the art style.
https://tapas.io/episode/13695208 A battle manga shonen/seinen about a transforming teenager who discovers his power after an attempt on his life by a villain who may have something to do with the disappearance of his father.
Unsolicited critiques are like being given a plate of veggies. It might not be what you really want, but they're good for you and you should probably eat them.
However, sometimes you just really don't wanna eat your veggies for whatever reason and that's completely valid! But when a chef offers you a plate of veggies and you don't want them, we don't spit in the chef's face. We thank him for taking the time to prepare them but politely explain that you don't want veggies at this time.
Guys... Can you not? You made your point.
As for me, I think I'd read it no matter the style, story is much more important to me. Both the traditional rough (I think) acrylics look appealing to me, as well as the digital characters. Though I think separately they're more appealing than mixed.
A variety of art styles used in comics is something I really like to see, so by all means go ahead! Don't let the naysayers stop ye 
