Well, least I could do is a pile of self-indulgent bullshit. I read it these days to see what new depths the author will sink to. It used to be funny... *sniff*
Because the main character is used for the author to express his own views on the world on a regular basis, he's essentially a self-insert. And of course his views are so obviously right and always resolve the situation. Also many of the characters act in what the author seems to feel to be a funny, snappy manner but actually makes them complete arseholes. Case in point, current arc, where Rayne's brother is being brought up on criminal negiligence while doing surgery and is acting like it's all a joke. It's meant to be funny but it just makes him come across as a massive tosser.
Piro is probably the most unlikeable character in Mega Tokyo though. He's a whiny, unmotivated tosser with no redeeming qualities whatsoever who is nonetheless showered with attention and lusted after by like half the female cast.
I can't really say that's a "good self-insert" :?
Penny Arcade on the other hand regularly inflicts death and horrible trauma upon their "avatars".
Piro is probably the most unlikeable character in Mega Tokyo though. He's a whiny, unmotivated tosser with no redeeming qualities whatsoever who is nonetheless showered with attention and lusted after by like half the female cast.
I can't really say that's a "good self-insert" :?
Penny Arcade on the other hand regularly inflicts death and horrible trauma upon their "avatars".
So self-harm = goodness?
I'm just teasing you. I think there is no way to formulate an equation or set of cues for what a good webcomic requires.
Obviously not, but while there is no set equation the actions taken in regards to a self-insert give away a lot about the authors attitude towards/the purpose of said self-insert.
CAD and Megatokyo for example seem to be jerking their authors off. Penny Arcade is doing whatever happens to be amusing, even if it means making fun of themselves.
However, people being people means that most authors can't resist jerking their cartoon selves. Thus why self-inserts raise the probability of suck.
I've seen the same kind of thing in mainstream comics. I remember the Marvel Knight's "4" series, which I thought was pretty decent until they switched authors. The very first issue, the author, whom I have never heard of, does a self-insertion, and is the focus of the story. The whole thing was boring and made me want to wretch.
Self-insertion in comics has always taken me out of the story. An example of this was "The Trial of Galactus" trade, which was pretty good (Reed Richards put on trial for saving Galactus). But the addition of the author just took me out of the story every time he appeared.
Piro is probably the most unlikeable character in Mega Tokyo though. He's a whiny, unmotivated tosser with no redeeming qualities whatsoever who is nonetheless showered with attention and lusted after by like half the female cast.
You just described, almost perfectly, the premise of many harem manga/anime. MT has always been something of an homage\parody exploration of that particular anime trope. The fact that Piro happens to be very much like the creator isn't that odd, seeing how people like him gravitate towards that type of anime in the first place.
The author of Megatokyo acknowledges to a great extent that his fan base, otaku, are shy, unmotivated, whiny, and at times downright creepy.
And whats wrong with being showered with attention by the opposite sex? Seems to be a major theme in the more popular mangas (Ranma, Fruits Basket, Tenchi Muyo, etc.)
In both Ranma and Tenchi, the protagonist is at least neither whiny nor shy and are fairly awesome in their own right. They're more or less deserving of the attention they get from girls.
Yes, but he's also a bad ass and goes out of his way to save the girls when they're in trouble. He has some things going for him that girls might like.
TexiKenDammit!That fish really got me!Registered Userregular
edited January 2010
That's a good point that distinguishes PA from other author inserts. It could be any characters really (like the Bayonetta tits strip), it just allows for better flow having two characters (who just happen to be the creators) be the focal point for most strips.
Piro is probably the most unlikeable character in Mega Tokyo though. He's a whiny, unmotivated tosser with no redeeming qualities whatsoever who is nonetheless showered with attention and lusted after by like half the female cast.
You just described, almost perfectly, the premise of many harem manga/anime. MT has always been something of an homage\parody exploration of that particular anime trope. The fact that Piro happens to be very much like the creator isn't that odd, seeing how people like him gravitate towards that type of anime in the first place.
You'll notice that nowhere did I suggest that harem manga/anime is worthy of respect either.
In fact I'd say it's worthy of some mixture of disdain and pity.
Someone mentioned Giant in the Playground (Erfworld) and I'll second that one.
Its about a table top gaming nerd who ends up in a turn based strategy world. It started out being drawn, then it switched to text-based while in between chapters. Now it updates every couple of days, alternating between the two styles.
So, a friend of mine has launched a webcomic of his own: retailgods.net
Honestly? I don't get it. And all his characters' eyes look like...breasts. But..at least they're highly variable breasts...which, um...isn't exactly a great thing I suppose.
So, in the event that you click on it, can someone tell me if its good or not? Because when I look at it, I get the impression that its likability is on a different level than me...
It's pretty bad, but it looks like it could be one of those things where the artist starts out awful and steadily improves, which is always worthwhile. Of course, it could also be one of those things where the artist starts out awful and grows belligerent.
And the medium, due to the artistic portrayal of people and animals etc, creeps me out, with the big eyes and stuff. What's your problem dude?
That is a popular trend, but it hardly applies to all manga. There is good manga out there, but you probably won't find it in a bookstore. Pluto, for example, is really good. 20th Century Boys is really good. I've heard good things about Akira and Monster, but I haven't read those yet. Blame! and Biomega were really awesome and really uniquely styled. Sexy Voice and Robo is supposed to be really great too.
And the sort of manga Scott Pilgrim is one of the greatest things ever.
That is a popular trend, but it hardly applies to all manga. There is good manga out there, but you probably won't find it in a bookstore. Pluto, for example, is really good. 20th Century Boys is really good. I've heard good things about Akira and Monster, but I haven't read those yet. Blame! and Biomega were really awesome and really uniquely styled. Sexy Voice and Robo is supposed to be really great too.
I'm not saying that the stories etc are poor, though I dislike some Japanese storytelling conventions (how women are often represented especially) but that I don't at all like the art style which creeps me out. For example, Devil May Cry as a game series I loved, a bit over the top in places but DMC3 especially was great with cool cutscenes and characters. But when it came out as an anime I found the art style unpleasant to look at.
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Also, drawing garfield as an overrisen loaf of bread, with tiny peggles for legs, is awesome.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
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Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Also, basically all author-inserts are just complete dickbags.
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No, but the awful ones always do.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
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White FC: 0819 3350 1787
And yes, I would say Megatokyo does well even with self-insertions as well. Then again, I am a sucker for the manga style used therein.
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I can't really say that's a "good self-insert" :?
Penny Arcade on the other hand regularly inflicts death and horrible trauma upon their "avatars".
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
So self-harm = goodness?
I'm just teasing you. I think there is no way to formulate an equation or set of cues for what a good webcomic requires.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
CAD and Megatokyo for example seem to be jerking their authors off. Penny Arcade is doing whatever happens to be amusing, even if it means making fun of themselves.
However, people being people means that most authors can't resist jerking their cartoon selves. Thus why self-inserts raise the probability of suck.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Self-insertion in comics has always taken me out of the story. An example of this was "The Trial of Galactus" trade, which was pretty good (Reed Richards put on trial for saving Galactus). But the addition of the author just took me out of the story every time he appeared.
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
You just described, almost perfectly, the premise of many harem manga/anime. MT has always been something of an homage\parody exploration of that particular anime trope. The fact that Piro happens to be very much like the creator isn't that odd, seeing how people like him gravitate towards that type of anime in the first place.
And whats wrong with being showered with attention by the opposite sex? Seems to be a major theme in the more popular mangas (Ranma, Fruits Basket, Tenchi Muyo, etc.)
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
PA works because the author-inserts are only author-inserts in the vaguest of senses. They exist to tell jokes, not to reflect the authors.
You'll notice that nowhere did I suggest that harem manga/anime is worthy of respect either.
In fact I'd say it's worthy of some mixture of disdain and pity.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
Its about a table top gaming nerd who ends up in a turn based strategy world. It started out being drawn, then it switched to text-based while in between chapters. Now it updates every couple of days, alternating between the two styles.
Probably a good idea to lay down a tarp.
you have to bear in mind that the vast, vast majority of webcomics are absolutely terrible
if anything, being something that most webcomics do is enough reason not to do something, in and of itself
Heh, it'd be funny to see PA do a harem strip just for the fun of it
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
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White FC: 0819 3350 1787
retailgods.net
Honestly? I don't get it. And all his characters' eyes look like...breasts. But..at least they're highly variable breasts...which, um...isn't exactly a great thing I suppose.
So, in the event that you click on it, can someone tell me if its good or not? Because when I look at it, I get the impression that its likability is on a different level than me...
Diablo 3 - ArtfulDodger#1572
Minecraft - ArtfulDodger42
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
1. I red LFG for a good bit, but lost interest after I missed a few weeks worth of comics and the plot line became rather convoluted.
2. VGCats is amazing, when he actually updates it.
3. http://www.wtfcomics.com/ is one I don't see many people mentioning. It is a comic set in the Everquest universe, with a few twists.
Edit: And of course my webcomic, which is super amazing.
All anime is creepy.
This is a stupid thing to say. "Anime" is animation from Japan. It is a medium, not a genre. Dismissing an entire medium is beyond moronic.
That is a popular trend, but it hardly applies to all manga. There is good manga out there, but you probably won't find it in a bookstore. Pluto, for example, is really good. 20th Century Boys is really good. I've heard good things about Akira and Monster, but I haven't read those yet. Blame! and Biomega were really awesome and really uniquely styled. Sexy Voice and Robo is supposed to be really great too.
And the sort of manga Scott Pilgrim is one of the greatest things ever.
I may be a week late on this one, but my love for Beaton springs eternal.
How would this work with another great Garfield meme? I wonder...
I'm not saying that the stories etc are poor, though I dislike some Japanese storytelling conventions (how women are often represented especially) but that I don't at all like the art style which creeps me out. For example, Devil May Cry as a game series I loved, a bit over the top in places but DMC3 especially was great with cool cutscenes and characters. But when it came out as an anime I found the art style unpleasant to look at.