Fan Service in comics: How much to give?

[Tentoumushi]

What are your feelings on fan service in comics. The Term fan service is pretty broad in my mind and can include the usual hanky panky of popular characters, or increasing a character's screen time simply becuase you know they're popular. Does anyone do this, and if so how much?

I tend to link to keep things in cannon and yes, I like fan service. I try to stick "to the plot" and keep it in moderation though, how about you all as both readers and comic artists?

[Joel Fagin]

It's a personal thing and basically comes down to whether you want popularity more than you want to tell a story. (And I know that sounds negative on popularity but I have no problem with popularity and fans - we're social animals, after all, and fans keep you motivated too.)

However, fan service is also a kind of... cheap way of getting fans. I prefer the story to be entertaining in itself, to gather fans for it's strengths as a story. As such, I would not consciously add in fan service myself.

- Joel Fagin

[Warofwinds]

I tease. I'm not all too fond of out-right fan service. Occasionally, to placate the masses, I'll do something extra though, non-cannon, and NOT in the archives. Bottom line, if it messes with the story or doesn't belong, it doesn't happen in the comic, regardless of how much people want it. It may happen elsewhere, but not in the comic

[Jim North]

All the comics I read that don't have fanservice in them, I just go ahead and imagine that they do. Sometimes I make little fanservice bodies for the characters on post-it notes and put them up on the monitor.

[Dr Neo Lao]

I've done a bit of fan service in my comic, but I'm not a big fan of it.

Like Joel said - it's like a cheap gimmick. Although it does have it's place, such as using it in vote incentives.

But a lot of it will depend on the tone of the comic. And as far as I know, almost nobody ever complains that there's too much in the comic. Until your parents or grandparents read the comic that is...

[Jim North]

*starts putting sexy post-it bodies on all of Neo's characters*

[Keffria]

Ankles and exposed necks everywhere!

[Jim North]

*puts a sexy post-it body on Lady Keff*





. . . I think it may be time to admit I have a problem.

[Jekkal]

I at least try to keep my fanservice related to the plot.

Don't go out of your way to make it, really. If you can get away with doing it in downloadable wallpapers or something similar, more power to you, but if you ever feel yourself having to 'force' fanservice into the comic, you're doing it wrong.

[Pimpette]

Personally I like inserting fanservice in my comic anywhere I can.
But considering what the main characters do for a living, that's probably not a surprise.

[Jeffy]

zero!

[Yeahduff]

Canon. </spelling nazi>

Know your comic. Don't be distracting.

[Warofwinds]

Canon. </spelling nazi>

Know your comic. Don't be distracting.

Funny thing is I spelled it that way in my head. My fingers just didn't get the memo. ><

/issues.

[Fishies]

Well, I tend to get a bit put out if every girl in a comic has giant boobs and little clothes, but if fanservice isn't too distracting I don't mind.

In Pumpkin Flower I mainly do fanservicey things outside the comic. Like on DA or y!gallery, or my livejournal. It's not canon and can be ignored by those not interested. Of course that doesn't mean there isn't some nakedness. But it's not out of character or randomly put in there. (Everyone's waking up. Ane and Edgar are waking up naked after implied activities.)

[VinnieD]

Considering my characters short of using a sheep shear can't get naked, there's no real fan service in my comic. Doesn't stop me from doing it outside the comic.

[Jessi_B]

Considering that I draw an autobiographical comic? It'd be awkward and a little weird/gross to do fanservice of myself, Matt, or my sister. (She has naturally big breasts - she says she gets enough attention from just that.)

About the closest I would get is Barry in a corset and cat ears. I'd like to think it's more of a fan dis-service, though. Barry's icky.

It depends on what you're comfortable with drawing, what your primary audience is, and why you'd be doing it. I mean, besides getting popularity, is it in character? A story device to the plot? Or is it because you feel like it? If you're doing it for the hell of it, maybe put it in your personal gallery instead of your main page and link to it. It's really up to the artist/editor's discretion.

[Phact0rri]

I never really give it to much thought. maybe I out to throw some in. how hawt a shirtless Joe would be. *dreams*

[Tentoumushi]

Heee I'm not above admitting I want to be popular xD and in business sex sells (sad but apparently true. Since the special "scene" I did in my comic I've gained a bunch more readers xD. they say the love the plot...sure they do ). But I do try and keep my fan service within plot or character parameters (if a character wouldn't do it then it's not happening) Luckily I have characters pervy enough to grab a little butt, but at the same time I have characters that would never do it, so meh. It feels natural to me. I agree forced fan service is cheap and it seems random to me.

[Yeahduff]

(sad but apparently true. Since the special "scene" I did in my comic I've gained a bunch more readers xD. they say the love the plot...sure they do )

*Mushian jumps to page one of the guide as entire forum rifles through archives*

[TheSuburbanLetdown]

I put out for no one.