Webcomics don't need to follow rules.
They are often created by one person and don't need to answer to editors, publishers or money-type-people. They can be made by just you, and can be made for an audience of just a couple friends or relatives…or just for yourself ...
Inside Jokes
Banes at 12:00AM, Jan. 5, 2017Beginnings
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Dec. 31, 2016
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Thinking about the new year that is just about to begin, I thought to talk about beginnings in stories, and especially in webcomics.
How a story begins, the very first pages of it, are key for catching the audience’s attention and keeping it. The ...
A Fate Worse Than Death
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Dec. 24, 2016
part of the painting “The last days of Messolonghi” by François-Émile de Lansac
First things first- Happy Holidays everyone!
In all types of creative writing and artwork, and definitely in webcomics we always talk about the ultimate stakes in the game- death. Death is absolute and irreversible (except when it ...
Quackcast 302 - the agendacast
Ozoneocean at 12:00AM, Dec. 20, 2016 LISTEN!
Art by Ozoneocean
Today we talk about works of pop-culture that have an obvious political agenda, so obvious that t not only gets in the way of the entertainment but also dictates to the audience without letting them have a chance to come to their own conclusions: forcing you ...
Diminishing Returns
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 15, 2016
Emotional Charges and Diminishing Returns
Many writing methodologies suggest mapping out the emotional change of each scene. The scene either starts positive, and goes to either negative or “extra positive”, or starts negative and goes to positive or “extra negative” by the end of the scene.
So if a lovelorn ...
The Table Scene
Tantz_Aerine at 7:01AM, Dec. 3, 2016
It’s the ultimate horror.
You are trapped with your very own demons.
You cannot escape- you will not be excused.
You will need to look at them, as they look back at you, and do a reckoning.
At least until dessert.
In my opinion, in all creative writing/art ...
Your Self-Insert is Everywhere
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 26, 2016
I came across a little blurb the other day about Mary Sues, and fanfiction, and how the writer of a fanfiction is basically writing a fantasy, inserting themselves as the character at the center of attention, immaculate, glittering and perfect. Basically everything you want to smack into a different galaxy ...
Timeliness vs Timelessness
Banes at 12:00AM, Nov. 24, 2016
Rogue from the X-Men encounters President Ronald Reagan!
(…who???)
Timeliness vs Timelessness
Some comics are very much “of the moment”, while others are more timeless.
Connecting to the events of the moment can be a worthy endeavor. The political satire of Jesus 2016 comes to mind. Webcomics are well suited ...
Constructing Suspense
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 19, 2016
Everyone loves a good thriller, a titillating mystery, a tale full of twists and turns (that make sense), something that challenges you to find the answer before you’re given it at the final act.
I’m not sure how many like sitting down to construct them.
Don’t get ...
When Death Comes…
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 12, 2016
No matter what the genre, plot and general tone of your comic, death always is absolute.
Or alternatively, death is used as a very efficient comedy device (if anyone remembers the numerous ways Dirk dies in Dragon’s Layer). Unsurprisingly so, I think, since real comedy is based on tragedy ...