I agree with the 'stick to your genre' rule, it doesn't mean that you can't explore other things from time to time, Kern at Drowtales has humorous bits in an otherwise serious plot from time to time, but what Akira says holds true IMO.

I remember a story I followed a few years back, it started as humor and was pretty funny and interesting, with a PG rating. Then after the first 3 chapters, for some unexplained reason, the author turned it into a dark tale, that IMO and that of others did deserve an R rating. Some even wrote the author, who replied that it was her story and she could do what she pleased with it. I never saw the ending, it turned into something that wasn't my thing, and I just didn't bother.

I think that rule goes with all the 'respect your audience' rules, otherwise one might end up losing those who took an interest in one's work at first.

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Beauty In Diversity

If you look at a lot of Anime's they go from a really crazy and awesome show to a twisted messed up brain mess-er-upper(Evangelion, trigun etc...). They do the funny/cool stuff to get people hooked and then they change and screw people's brains up. People will keep watching because they think it'll get funny again, but we all know it won't.

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http://www.ele-mentalfury.com/ - The way comics used to be.

Aka, screw the viewer...

(I added in another don't)

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...wee?

Not chasing too many hares at one time is also pertinent advice. It seems that there are those who get exited at a new idea, start work on it, then loose interest and it shows in their work. From experience, many heed the sound advice 'know how the story begings, how it will end, and fill between', but they forget the 'fill between' part and loose steam there.

I think another point would be 'finish what you start', but 'finish it well' and not just to get it over with. I personally wouldn't waste time on a story I know won't deliver a good development and ending, and it's safe to suppose that most wouldn't either.

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Beauty In Diversity

...being critiqued or being told anything seems to be well detailed and just plainout goodness when it comes from Vic...strange...yet delightful...*gives Vic a pie award*
(note: it was added)

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...wee?

Even though Trigun, Evangelion etc... had screwy plot changes I still really enjoyed them. I think screw with the viewers mind should be a top priority. I enjoy using odd word combinations and new words. In more recent comics I've started a thing where if I mispell something on the first shot I don't fix it, in fact I make the mistake in bold to accentuate the error. Tralkring with freet(using many r's) and other somewhat a-musing ent-ert-ain-ing(----) things, are common place these days.

btw, Akira could you add to the thing to the list that there are always exceptions to every single rule but to use them as more of a guideline than a bold truth/law to uphold.

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http://www.ele-mentalfury.com/ - The way comics used to be.

I've been reading Pastel Defender Heliotrope lately (http://jenniverse.com/pastel/) and it's got me to thinking of something for the don'ts.  If you're trying to get a message across, be a little more subtle than simply making a cookie cutter stereotype of something which decidedly shows nothing but evil/stupidity/weakness one sidedly.  Ironically, PDH sort of reminds me of CHICK comics (http://www.chick.com/catalog/tractlist.asp)

Pathetic one sided stereotypes are all well and good (FOR HUMOR) but it feels like I'm being called a moron when someone thinks a cartoon featuring Jews "The Poisonous Mushroom" style is going to win me over to anti-semitism or something.

Added two things...

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...wee?

Yeah I hate villains with no motivation other than "being evil". I want to see the villain's motivations (even if it's just megalomania) at least briefly to make me believe in the story.

As you say, being evil for the sake of evilness is an old cliche, people are more discerning now, and request motivation for actions. The trend also holds true for heroes, they are good at heart, but an overly 'sanctified' hero that only has qualities gets tiring.

On the topic of the rules:

quote: 'Should they actually say something about "you" though. Ignore them, they are merely the lower chain of the internet dogs that constantly drag the rest of the world down.'

That is great advice, there are people who lash out either to get a reaction, or simply out of envy. They are immature, have nothing constructive to say, and trying to reason with such individuals is an exercise in futility. In short, flamers are better off ignored.

I'd also add: know your characters well. I mean make a list of their characteristics, likes, dislikes, history, friends, enemies - but remain flexible. I made a file for each character in my comic, but as my skills improve, they are also evolving. The basic make of the character has to remain constant, but little bits can be added as the comic progresses in time, and I think it makes it the more rich and enjoyable.

And thanks for the 'pie award', I love pie

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Beauty In Diversity

Another day of addin', another day of...wow...more bad sprite comics...><!!!

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...wee?

this is a very good topic, and seems that i've learn many unnoticed things today..

thanks for bringing up this topic..

Your wheel cam, that's what the wcn (webcomic network) is all about.

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...wee?

I think the point about respecting your audience is valid, but you have to be careful not to pander to them.  Just because you've developed a loyal fan base with certain expectations does not mean you should box yourself in to what they want from you.  It's always important to try and keep things fresh, expand your creative boundaries, and even just plain f*** with the people every once and a while.

A bunch of excellent points, Vick. If you want your characters to believable, and not just props for jokes, you should ask yourself who they are, and how they would really act in the situations you put them in.

If you do want your characters to be props for jokes, that's fine too. But not really good for serious epics.