Comments on: Important decision time

By: Joel

Joel — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 05:19:45 +0000

@AJ
Yeah the chinstrap is one of the real life details (including the glasses, and earings) that I omitted from myself to keep the characters distinct, and to not have to draw as much.

@Eli
Take out everything after “gay”. And thanks for the input. Now go do or say something funny so I can draw it.

@Chuck
They definitely conceal shivs.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:54:43 +0000

the bottom row looks like the bizzaro version, shifty buggers watch your back when they’re around.

By: eli

eli — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:19:02 +0000

i look gay in the bottom row so you need to keep that top row.

the most important thing is our expressions in the comics so you’d have to stay with the top row.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 04:16:46 +0000

Oh gotcha… in that case, I’m all for it. If Eli didn’t already have it, I’d tell you to give Joel the chinstrap that the more realistic drawing has.

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:49:33 +0000

@Michael
Im sort of coming from the opposite direction in that Im changing them slightly in every single comic and I want to establish (at least for a while) a permanent look for the characters. Definitely not looking for stagnation, just some uniformity.

@AJ
Check the update I just posted. I was getting the impression you guys thought I was going with the bottom row. Not the case. I am certainly striving for “easy to reproduce.” Since I draw them differently every time they are quite difficult to reproduce.

@Djibril
Yeah, I think I confused everyone. I reread that post and realized I didnt say which row I was going with. The top row is what I want to use. The bottom row are the more realistic ones I did for reference (placement of eyes and noses, etc). I like that you noticed they looked smug. Josh said the only difference is that they werent smiling. Hah! I guess we just look like a bunch of a-holes.

I really appreciate this being your favorite comic. That means a lot to me. Thanks.

By: Djibril

Djibril — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:58:00 +0000

I mildly prefer the cartoony Eli (you can see his eyes better), have no strong feelings about the two Joels, but would be very sorry to see the less cartoony Josh start to take over: for one thing, the cartoon Josh always looks a little shocked or outraged (which is both excellent and comicly ironic), whereas the more “realistic” one just looks smug.

In short, I think you’re going the right way with your recent handling of these caricatures.

Keep up the good work. You’re my fave webcomic at the moment.

By: AJ

AJ — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:56:13 +0000

I kind of agree with Michael on the change is good thing, but at the same time, I love the more cartoony look that you’ve been employing thus far. Maybe it’s just because the characters aren’t smiling in the newer style (save for maybe Josh), but I prefer the old style because it does seem to lend itself to a more comedic feel that the strip presents.

As far as using far more established examples, look at Mac Hall or MegaTokyo, or hell, even Penny Arcade. The respective artists didn’t tweak the look until years down the road (if at all). Even then, it was a more gradual evolution.

For my own character designs, I try to stick with what’s easy to reproduce one drawing to another, so simplicity reigns in that respect. But it’s up to you. While I mentioned my preference for the old style, the newer designs would definitely be an interesting implementation.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 22:16:48 +0000

I think it looks good. Change can be a good thing. Being stagnant is worse than death.