08/13/07 [#806] Molesternated

[Amber Williams]

I was surprised by Dominic Deegan myself.  When I first even heard about it, it was in negative light by various circles. So for the first while I was only giving it passing glances with a bit of a negative frame of mind. 

Then after a while I decided to finally just sit down and read through the whole thing so I could know what everyone was talking about.   And thats when I found out DD is actually a pretty cute and nifty little read and perhaps some people are taking it too seriously.  Granted, there are a couple aspects I can understand in the critique...but deep down a lot of the things in Dominic Deegan struck me as simple and honest expressions and from Mookies rants, it reminds me of a lot of similar ways that I feel in regards to DMFA.  And I can't knock a person who just wants to tell their story.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

There's been some complaint recently about DD, regarding the way, recently at least, that the main characters have become untouchable - ie, they win at anything they put their hands to, nobody can permanently beat them, etc etc.

Whilst the person complaining has a point, I think we're still mid-swing, and we'll just have to wait and see. After all, we can't see where things are going from here, and if you look back, there's been points where the same thing could have been said....

Still and all, a nice little story, as Amber says. I know -I- enjoy it.


But then, I enjoy all sorts of crap. ;-]

[Aridas]

Who's a hypocrit?  I'm confused now.

I was talking about the people who think DMFA is ZOMG TEH AWESOME and the people who think Jack is ZOMG TEH AWESOME, and how they say the same things about one another like some freaky mirror of webcomics. It was a few posts or so up from yours.

[Amber Williams]

Thats enough Aridas.  The conversation is now about webcomics and the discussion of them. 

I do agree that there can be a bit of Meh-Factor in that its "oh lookie.  Here comes another obstacle that Dominic and crew will skate through easily-breezily"     And I do admit from my standpoint, the artstyle does retain a bit of staticness to it.  But I also realize that is a possibility when you are chugging out daily strips: you need to find a steady default to rely on.

[Turnsky]

Soooo....anyone read Dominic Deegan? 

i should, people say things about it, either good or bad.

i should really go see what all the hubub's all about.

that aside, i do dislike the general styling that DD's presented in, i mean character style, by the way.. the way their faces look as though they could stab people by a well placed faceplant. 

but really, that's his artstyle, who am i to pick it? Still, anatomically, his characters do seem overly stiff, again, that's been a fault with my style that i've been trying to iron out for ages. I think that's the problem with a few self-taught artists out there, we tend to pick up bad habits and it's a pain to get them out of our systems.

[Zedd]

I dont think I have...Its alittle sometimes I will have to catch it if I lurk around some

[superluser]

There's been some complaint recently about DD, regarding the way, recently at least, that the main characters have become untouchable - ie, they win at anything they put their hands to, nobody can permanently beat them, etc etc.

This may be true, but DD seems to have been changing a bit.  It not as clear that what Dominic et al. are doing is right or good, anymore.  Granted, they are still always in the right, but I have a sneaking suspicion that we're going to see that change, pretty soon.

Also, it's pretty hard to have a strip center around one guy and his family and then kill all the characters off.  If you want that, go read Robin Hobb.

that aside, i do dislike the general styling that DD's presented in, i mean character style, by the way.. the way their faces look as though they could stab people by a well placed faceplant. 

Well, his style used to be a lot better...and by better, I mean you'd hate it even more.

So...anybody else read yesterday's PvP?

[Amber Williams]

PvP is a comic that tends to be touch and go with me.  Its never been overly offensive to my senses, but the times it has caused me to laugh out loud are few and far between.  Yesterday's comic wasn't really noteworthy IMO as it didn't really have a punchline so much as a launchpad to continue the current storyline.

[Azlan]

I read Dominic Deegan, it is not too bad, and I have seen and understand its criticisms.  I do find it nice that things work out for the crew, that aspect doesn't bother me, as I read a huge amount of comics and it is about the only one that does, so it is kind of an uplifting thing.  Many take things far too seriously, fans of many of the comics out there that is, which is depressing to witness.  It is entertainment, artists and writers telling their stories, it is really awkward to see fans throwing so much emotion into it...

Anyways, meh... I swore I'd stop paying attention to it all, the gods only know I have a tirade to throw into the stuff previously mentioned.

I grew tired of PvP myself, been meaning to check it out again...

[Rafe]

By the way, according to the Belfry Comic Index of something like 5,000 web comics, the top ten most read are:

7.  Peter is the Wolf ANVX

Hmm. This is the only one I don't read. Yet. ;-]

Pretty much one of those thin-stories-tying-together-porn-scenes type of comics.  If you like werewolf porn, go for it.  I'm actually impressed that there seems to be such a mix of comics in that top ten.  Everything from tame to, well, that one. 

By the way, anyone here know of any other webcomic listings/ratings like Belfry (maybe with less of a bias toward furry comics) ?

[Paul]

By the way, anyone here know of any other webcomic listings/ratings like Belfry (maybe with less of a bias toward furry comics) ?

The Webcomic List
TopWebComics
BuzzComix
Comixpedia

Handy for finding new drugs. I mean new comics. (But don't take the rankings too seriously. They're decided by votes, which doesn't reflect actual readers numbers.)

EDIT: Oh, right: Webcomics hosting sites ComicGenesis and DrunkDuck have listings, too.

[Kenji]

Dominic Deegan does the dandiest little puns this playful pony could possibly find. ^-^

[Azlan]

Dominic Deegan does the dandiest little puns this playful pony could possibly find. ^-^

Yes, they do horse around eh?

[Aleolus]

I like 2kinds, myself.  That and Yosh, at www.yoshsaga.com

[Alondro]

I read Sluggy Freelance!

Any comic that can do this:

http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=001107

is worthy.   

*re-reads.. and still ends up 

[BeckyW]

Part of the problem with being newer on a forum is that you miss stuff that happened before.  There are new people that show up all the time as a comic gets more popular, and though some people might get annoyed when things are repeated, it's really nice for people like me.  Rafe writes about a lot of cartoons and comics, and it's because of him that I found DMFA.  I'm sure a lot of you have heard it before, and sorry if it's annoying, but it makes a lot of us newer types feel more informed and welcome.   

And thanks to Amber too.  Hope we didn't get too out of hand and cause trouble.

[Netrogo]

Hope we didn't get too out of hand and cause trouble.

Says you. Getting out of hand and causing trouble is just a friendly way of letting the admins know they're useful

[Turnsky]

Well, his style used to be a lot better...and by better, I mean you'd hate it even more.

that's a distinct possibility, i think the last 'big' issue with DD was the recent 'supergreg' plot. which some say it was jumping the shark, somewhat.

[superluser]

the recent 'supergreg' plot. which some say it was jumping the shark, somewhat.

Quite possible.  I'm still holding out hope that the main characters will be a little less bulletproof in the not too distant future.

[Alondro]

Bah!  Sluggy has jumped the shark in virtually every strip since day 1!  Sluugy is the awesome!  Sluggy... is it not nifty?  Worship the comic!   

Simply put, if your webcomic is going to be absurd, make sure it's consistently so.  Then you have a hit!   

Ooooorrrr, you could just make it about graphic sexx0rz and be guaranteed lots of hits from pervs.   

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Says you. Getting out of hand and causing trouble is just a friendly way of letting the admins know they're useful

Heh. Would you like me to be useful to your account? ;-]

[Netrogo]

Ah heh heh... I'll be good... for now >.>

[nikename2]

So yea....spent pretty much 10 hours last night up till 5am reading through the entire Jack archive from strip 1 to the latest for pretty much the first time. It was worth it.

To be honest it reminded me ALOT more of Sin City then it did of Amber's comic. I can see where you'd draw parallels between the two, but really I don't think they could be more apart, and I mean that in a good way. One of the parallels though I think that stood out the most is that both of them have really compelling main characters. I want to know what happens to them. That's probably the most important goal for any story, giving a reason to come back.

[BeckyW]

"Jack" isn't really like anything else if you ask me, but you're right about the characters.  I don't know how many times I've seen people admit that there were parts of "Jack" that made them care so much about a character that they were crying ("...and that NEVER happened to me before..."  they usually say.)  Also, a lot of them start reading and have to do the whole thing like you did because it grabs them so much.  Also, you can find similar things in any two comics.  If you ask me, I  think Manawolf and Rafe and the other assorted "Jack" fans know how different  DMFA is, and they do this comparison stuff just to be entertaining and to fill in when things get slow.  They don't write like fanboy maniacs like that usually.

I wanted to mention another comic,  (no comparisons - let's just say it's something in between DMFA and "Jack").  It's "Gene Catlow" by Albert Temple.  It has some implied sex and violence, and "blanked out" profanity, but nothing anyone would object to.  It's really an adventure comic, like an old-fashioned newspaper serial comic.  The only thing is, like a lot of the concepts in DMFA, you kind of have to read from the beginning and pick them up.  It is worth it, of course.  Albert Temple is a good writer, and the comic is a lot wordier than most - almost like an illustrated novel.  Just a suggestion - try it out.  It's here - http://genecatlow.com/

[superluser]

(no comparisons - let's just say it's something in between DMFA and "Jack").  It's "Gene Catlow"

This will not end well.

(not because it's wrong, but because I don't think this forum can come to a consensus on whether Gene Catlow is any good)

[Illusionist]

I hate Gene Catlow more than words could ever say.

[Rafe]

Wow, I never heard anyone say they "hated" Gene Catlow.  I can't wait to see what other people say.  It isn't as "shiny" artwise as DMFA, and it is more on the literary side, but I do like it in general.    Anyone else have any comics they hate out there?  I'm starting to enjoy this discussion.   

...I  think Manawolf and Rafe and the other assorted "Jack" fans know how different  DMFA is, and they do this comparison stuff just to be entertaining and to fill in when things get slow.  They don't write like fanboy maniacs like that usually...

I'm glad at least some people could see that.  No, I'm not the "fanboy maniac" type, but I do write like that when I'm bored and trying to be funny.  Not everyone picks up on that, apparently.  I really wasn't trying to be annoying (well, not THAT annoying).

[DarkAudit]

Wow, I never heard anyone say they "hated" Gene Catlow.  I can't wait to see what other people say.

Ok...

Um, who?

[Alondro]

I've read Gene Catlow for years.  It sometimes has its slow points, but I think it's interesting for the perspectives on racism and power struggles that it presents.

I've also met Albert and chatted with him.   

[Zina]

Gene Catlow kinda annoys me. If only for the parts where there's some guy who's going on some tirade about something, and all the main character has to do is say a few words in rebuttal or give them some sort of stern 'look', and the other guy is at a complete loss for words while the main character has a smug look on their face.
I don't think I've ever groaned or rolled my eyes so much while reading a webcomic.