Are really large archives a turn-off to new readership?

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 8:57 pm

Just out of curiosity, when you come across a new comic, and it's obviously fairly important that you read the archives to really understand what's going on..... does a large archive make you less likely to want to start reading that comic?

I ask, because new readership is slower now than it was a year ago, and my comic is much better now than it was a year before, and slower still than two years before.

Of course, I went from a daily to a 3 days a week (currently) schedule, so that may have something to do with it, but still..... are those big ass archives intimidating? I know I haven't started Nukees yet because I haven't had the time to dedicate to getting through his archives......

Of course... if your comic is beautiful from the beginning (like sluggy) the archives might be a bonus.

It's pretty painful reading my early stuff.

Patach · Post by **Patach** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:02 pm

I was never bugged with webcomics with huge archives. My webcomic used to have a daily 12 visit average. And now it's grown (and still growing) with a 110-120 visit average. I don't think large archives is a problem for most people.

Friend · Post by **Friend** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:02 pm

Big archives are a major turn off for me because I have hefty traffic limits from my ISP, so if I download two hundred comics within the space of a few days... yikes.

ZOMBIE USER 8296 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 8296** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:04 pm

yeah, i think it depends on whether or not the person likes your comic from the beginning few strips, otherwise it'd be a pain for them to mush thru in the hopes that the comic gets better.

I'd have to say that mine would also be an example of that, which is why i've seriously considered either starting over or ending T.N.B. for a new comic so i could start out strong... either unfortunately or not, i've managed to convince myself not to several times

Krazy Krow · Post by **Krazy Krow** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:09 pm

I think if it's the kind of comic where you must read every strip beforehand to understand what's going on... it can be an obstacle.

Of course, I've had some people read through my entire archives in a day and complain there's not enough.

Wiebe · Post by **Wiebe** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:17 pm

For those of you who find big archives a turn-off, go visit Mystery Castle while the number of strips still number in the 50s!

Wiebe · Post by **Wiebe** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:18 pm

Krazy Krow wrote: Of course, I've had some people read through my entire archives in a day and complain there's not enough.

Yeah, that would be me. Although I've never said it out loud.

Careksims · Post by **Careksims** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:28 pm

I had a couple who read all of the archive twice. I think they are crazy! No a big archive is not a bad thing. I think its good if the comic is good ^^

Wiebe · Post by **Wiebe** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:40 pm

careksims wrote:I had a couple who read all of the archive twice. I think they are crazy! No a big archive is not a bad thing. I think its good if the comic is good ^^

Haven't read it twice, but I have read it in one sitting.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:45 pm

Wiebe wrote:For those of you who find big archives a turn-off, go visit Mystery Castle while the number of strips still number in the 50s!

Dude! You need to update more often! You've been around forever and you're still in the 50's?

Saganaki · Post by **Saganaki** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:47 pm

Wiebe wrote:For those of you who find big archives a turn-off, go visit Mystery Castle while the number of strips still number in the 50s!

Yeah, and then you can hit Kari & Doug, but you'd better hurry before I hit 70!

ZOMBIE USER 8124 · Post by **ZOMBIE USER 8124** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:52 pm

Finding a webcomic with a huge archive is <i>wonderful</i>!
*drools*

I remember when I first started reading <a href="http://www.kevinandkell.com">Kevin and Kell</a>, and I had 3 years of daily strips to catch up on! *sighs dreamily*
I love archives, especially big ones, because it's the closest thing you can get to a "endless supply of comic" if you get my drift. Sure, hasn't anyone been involved in a storyline just to find out they actually have to wait until the next update to find out what happens? With archives, it's "click read click read" in happy blissfulness. For me, anyway. ^^

Saganaki · Post by **Saganaki** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:53 pm

Seriously though, I like having a big archive to read through. It give me a way to escape the tedium of between-calls time at work...

Though I did give Silly Cone V a try a few weeks back and it didn't really resonate with me, even after about a year of archives.

Wiebe · Post by **Wiebe** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 9:53 pm

scrubbo wrote:
Wiebe wrote:For those of you who find big archives a turn-off, go visit Mystery Castle while the number of strips still number in the 50s!
Dude! You need to update more often! You've been around forever and you're still in the 50's?

Have I really been around that long?

OK, I guess I did start the comic in February but only put out a few comics until I swtiched to the MWF schedule in August.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:02 pm

saganaki wrote:Seriously though, I like having a big archive to read through. It give me a way to escape the tedium of between-calls time at work...

Though I did give Silly Cone V a try a few weeks back and it didn't really resonate with me, even after about a year of archives.

Yah, SCV is pretty damn geeky. And I do mean WAY geeky. And excessively verbose. Truth be told, I cringe at some of the earlier strips.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:05 pm

Wiebe wrote: Have I really been around that long?

You know you're old when I start saying "Dude! You've been around forever!"

Hmmmm...... I may have the oldest comic of the "active posters" around here. Anybody got Sept 25th, 2000 beat? I know I'm over 600 comics, but under 700. Too lazy to count, eh?

Jamie! · Post by **Jamie!** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:18 pm

I hope not. i reach 300 comics tomorrow.

Sortelli · Post by **Sortelli** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:24 pm

The guide counts 'em for you!

Big archives can be an obstacle. There are certain comics I'm not keeping up with because I haven't spent the time to swim through the huge archives yet.

But what does it take to have a big archive? A dedicated artist and a big enough audience to help keep that artist dedicated, which means the comic itself has to be something special to be holding the attention of both the artist and the readers. That's a good thing, I'd think that a long-running comic would have more going for it than a tiny one.

Scrubbo · Post by **Scrubbo** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 10:43 pm

Sortelli wrote:I'd think that a long*snippity* comic would have more going for it than a tiny one.

Size queen!

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Mon Nov 18, 2002 11:22 pm

Yeah, the first couple comics and the current one that's up are what get ME hooked. To tell the truth, though, I look at a webcomic's large archive and say to myself, "Score! Hours of entertainment for me!" I'm one of those people who dives in head first when it comes to reading something. Come to think of it, it's the same when I play video games...I just don't come up for air. Of course afterwards I suffer the terrible withdrawl of having to wait a whole day for the comic to update. ;}

Come to think of it, I think Mixed Myth passed the 300 comic mark last weekend.