I posted on the Penny Arcade Artist’s Corner Forum last week. Reporting back, I’d say you’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. I’d like to tell you that Don fought the good fight. I wish I could tell you that, but the Artist’s Corner is no fairy tale. Also, it was weird that they all had cenobite avatars. In spite of this we ventured forth. We were there on one mission: to get our lil webcomic critiqued. I’m happy to say that they were stern but fair. We received a lot of good feed back. For a bit it turned into a repetitive thrashing, but that didn’t make the points any less valid. It also didn’t make Don cry any less, but I held him and rocked him to sleep after he got done drawing so I think we’ll be ok.
I didn’t really have any answers for those that didn’t find our stuff funny. We got a much better response (in regards to the humor) over at the Hijinks Ensue boards a couple weeks ago. Tip of the hat and monocle to the Fancy Bastards over there as well. Joel Watson, Resident Hijinks Poobah in Chief, even took the time to Twitter about the thread so we could get a few more critiques–what a stand up guy. I know he’s doing a bit better than us at the moment, but I’d like to take the time to say if you like our comic you’ll probably like his as well.
From looking at the two boards, not a lot of people really got the Golden Girls Strip we did (I just typed golden girls strip…gross.) I guess if I’m going to joke around about people in their 70s and 80s I better stick to Ian Mckellan, Christopher Lee and Abe Vigoda (just kidding). In regards to the Van Damme comic from yesterday, a lot of people were of the ‘what’s with the random pop culture mish mash?’ opinion. To them I suppose I say: “You haven’t seen anything yet.” I really like talking about Back to the Future and adding JCVD as Timecop makes me giggle. I don’t think that it always has to go deeper than that.
Another common crit was the banner above the comic was unneeded on every webcomic considering we already had a title on the page itself. And I agree that it is unneeded, but I kind of liked it. I thought it really tied the room together, but over the next few days once we get some free time to resave the files for the webcomics we’ll be taking them down and putting up naked bannerless versions–like today’s strip. Thanks again to all of you that participated in the discussions on both boards; we learned a lot.
-Matt
‘what’s with the random pop culture mish mash?’ – The irony on this comment is that I bet they are all ‘Family Guy’ fans.
The new blond dude you guys introduced is dreamy and has front row seats to the gun show. I wonder how he would look in flesh (ponder).
I’m guessing his name starts with G, as evidenced by the G tattooed on his elbow. Or maybe it just stands for Gay. It does appear that he’s wearing hammer pants after all.
If you listen close you can hear Eli Roth masturbating to this torture porn comic. CD shooting Cenobite takes the gay cake. If I were you I would rip on that Cenobite even more by making him launch Celine Dion, Hanson, and Clay Aiken CD’s at people. Not only do the CD’s kill you but they poison your soul which is why you are hired as a Cenobite in the 1st place.
Our version of the CD Cenobite only shoots creed cds
This is why I don’t post there anymore. They’re evil. Skilled, but evil.
Due to the torture porn?
I have to agree with the design comments. Sure my lazy non-updating blog having ass hasn’t done shite for design myself, but I’ll get to that.. well.. I’ll get to that eventually.
Also, why do you have to make the CD Cenobite the essence of pure evil? I mean, Shooting Creed CD’s is a bit much. Not over kill bit much, but concentrated evil bit much.
This comic was hilarious. Tasteful, yet a good burn too
Don’t get too upset Matt, PA hasn’t been funny in years, so I would take their fanboy critics with a grain of salt.
Thanks, I had a lot of fun with this strip. I’d disagree with PA they have a really good one every couple of weeks, the Nirvana rockband comic and the Kenny rogers comic from Wed were pretty spot on. But I think all web comics miss a little more often than they hit. I figure if I’m batting anywhere above .350 I’m doing alright.
The last time I think I read PA was looking over my brother’s shoulder. That being said, I also don’t read their forums.
But I will say one thing. I think your comics are hilarious. And I think the art work is a little more fitting because I know you guys. Like I find it highly amusing that in most of the comics, Matt’s hands are on his stomach. Which is pretty much how he constantly sits when not typing.
Anywho. I think you guys are awesome… and should post more comics during the week. Kgo!
Pinhead has to be one of my top favourite evil buggers.
Humour varies for different people. I don't find all strips on all the webcomics I read funny (if they are meant to be funny, that is) but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the overall strip.