Which comes first: the comic or the blog?
March 5, 2010 10:51 AM Subscribe
How would you recommend I structure a comic + blog, where the comic is the "main attraction" but the blog, which follows the comic's main theme, updates more frequently?
I'm currently working on a comic about a certain subject -- say simple home repairs, as a f'rinstance. The comic would integrate home repair tips and ideas directly in its content: the comic would be (hypothetically) about a jovial home repairman doing home repairs; an accompanying blog would be about other home repair subjects that may or may not dovetail with the comic's content. If Bob The Super Home Repair Guy is using a hammer in that day's comic page, the blog may well talk about hammer types and brands. But on "off" days, the blog might talk about rewiring switches or fixing a leaky faucet.
The high-minded goal is to get casual comics fans interested and enthusiastic about taking on home repair projects, while giving home repair enthusiasts a comic that speaks to their interests as well as the traditional comics crowd.
The comic is continuity-driven, with a story that continues from page to page, and doesn't have a "punchline" at the end of each entry; they will be eventually be printed and sold as standalone graphic novels.
The blog will be updated daily; the comic, three days a week. Blog updates won't necessarily be terribly sophisticated, but I'd like to have something new up every day.
Most comic + blog sites have the comic as primary content and the blog running under the comic; since this is a graphic novel format comic, the blog will always be below screen level. I'm not entirely sure that people will visit and scroll down past a comic they've already seen to get to a new blog entry. Conversely, having the blog on top won't do much for the comic (which is the central draw and concept), and having them on separate pages may just result in a blog, and a comic, instead of a comic + blog synergy.
I'm not an Internet design superstar, but am conversant in Wordpress + Comicpress, and can find my way around a basic CSS stylesheet.
What are your thoughts?
I'm currently working on a comic about a certain subject -- say simple home repairs, as a f'rinstance. The comic would integrate home repair tips and ideas directly in its content: the comic would be (hypothetically) about a jovial home repairman doing home repairs; an accompanying blog would be about other home repair subjects that may or may not dovetail with the comic's content. If Bob The Super Home Repair Guy is using a hammer in that day's comic page, the blog may well talk about hammer types and brands. But on "off" days, the blog might talk about rewiring switches or fixing a leaky faucet.
The high-minded goal is to get casual comics fans interested and enthusiastic about taking on home repair projects, while giving home repair enthusiasts a comic that speaks to their interests as well as the traditional comics crowd.
The comic is continuity-driven, with a story that continues from page to page, and doesn't have a "punchline" at the end of each entry; they will be eventually be printed and sold as standalone graphic novels.
The blog will be updated daily; the comic, three days a week. Blog updates won't necessarily be terribly sophisticated, but I'd like to have something new up every day.
Most comic + blog sites have the comic as primary content and the blog running under the comic; since this is a graphic novel format comic, the blog will always be below screen level. I'm not entirely sure that people will visit and scroll down past a comic they've already seen to get to a new blog entry. Conversely, having the blog on top won't do much for the comic (which is the central draw and concept), and having them on separate pages may just result in a blog, and a comic, instead of a comic + blog synergy.
I'm not an Internet design superstar, but am conversant in Wordpress + Comicpress, and can find my way around a basic CSS stylesheet.
What are your thoughts?
Might want to have a look at how Penny Arcade does it. The blog and the comic are on separate pages entirely.
This appears to work for them, but it should be noted that I actually have my favorites link pointing at their comic page, so I don't end up getting their blog unless I manually go and look.
posted by Pragmatica at 11:00 AM on March 5, 2010
This appears to work for them, but it should be noted that I actually have my favorites link pointing at their comic page, so I don't end up getting their blog unless I manually go and look.
posted by Pragmatica at 11:00 AM on March 5, 2010
I'd have a category in wordpress (comic) that doesn't post to the front page. In the Blog section, you can make a "New Comic" post, or, as is popular with webcomics, write a news/blog item at the same time as the comic and link to the comic in the subcategory there. Should be one comic per "page" (so 10 posts or so per page on the blog section, 1 on the comic section), because that's what I like.
Since you want to do something fancy though, you could make a page that has the most current comic with "sub-posts" of the blog posts since it posted below. Quick googling reveals: http://takien.com/550/wordpress-plugin-wp-sub-post.php may be another option.
They should definitely have separate RSS feeds, with one that's a feed for both.
posted by JeremiahBritt at 11:06 AM on March 5, 2010
Since you want to do something fancy though, you could make a page that has the most current comic with "sub-posts" of the blog posts since it posted below. Quick googling reveals: http://takien.com/550/wordpress-plugin-wp-sub-post.php may be another option.
They should definitely have separate RSS feeds, with one that's a feed for both.
posted by JeremiahBritt at 11:06 AM on March 5, 2010
I came here to say look at how Penny Arcade does it as well.
posted by Nattie at 11:07 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by Nattie at 11:07 AM on March 5, 2010
What if the top of the page contained links to your three most recent blog posts with the latest comic immediately below them, still visible above the fold? And then the content of the blog would go below the comic? In this case, the links at the top would jump down to anchors on the same page. I made a (really quick and dirty) mockup here.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 11:09 AM on March 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 11:09 AM on March 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: http://www.cad-comic.com/ runs kind of parrallel.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:10 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:10 AM on March 5, 2010
Best answer: I would keep it simple and just have each blog post be a different thing - comic or text. The comic posts should be visually striking and the text posts should be kept fairly short, with not too many extras (e.g. embedded photos or videos).
Maybe each comic post could have a heading with a number to signal that it's just a small part of an ongoing series. For instance:
Now, the downside is that this will mean sometimes text will be at the top of your blog. Well, you should have a banner with some kind of illustration that signals that it's a comics-based blog. Also, if your goal is to have people read both, it seems like the best thing to do is use the conventional blog format people that people are used to (i.e. what I described). There's a reason this format has become so popular: linear, chronological posts are engaging and make people want to keep scrolling down for more.
You could have two different sites that link to each other, but that would probably deemphasize one of them more than you want.
If I saw a blog like the one I described, I'd think: "hey, cool, it's a synergistic combination comic strip and blog." If I saw a purely comic blog with a sidebar link to a text blog, I'd think: "oh, this person happens to have two different websites."
You could use columns, but that would probably be too wide. Also, there wouldn't be much room if you wanted any kind of sidebar with links and stuff.
posted by Jaltcoh at 11:14 AM on March 5, 2010
Maybe each comic post could have a heading with a number to signal that it's just a small part of an ongoing series. For instance:
3/5/10
[heading:] The Adventures of Joe V.L. Repairmen (day 93)*
[big comic strip embedded in the post]
[at the bottom, in inconspicuous but readable text:] (Click here for the previous installment of The Adventures of Joe V.L. Repairmen.)**
* [Of course, use whatever word is appropriate instead of "day" - "entry," "installment," "part," etc. If you wanted to make it even more obvious you could explicitly state: "part 93 of an ongoing series." If the text is going to be that wordy, you could put it at the beginning of the body of the post in smaller text, maybe greyed out, so it'll look to readers like a subtitle. I use Blogger, which lets you enter a bunch of HTML to always appear by default when you're writing a new post, and I'd imagine other blogging services also have this.]
** [When the next strip is posted, you can go back and add another link: "Click here for the next installment..."]
3/5/11
[heading:] Home Repair Tips
[text, maybe with some kind of integration into the plot]
3/5/12
[another comic post, etc.]
Now, the downside is that this will mean sometimes text will be at the top of your blog. Well, you should have a banner with some kind of illustration that signals that it's a comics-based blog. Also, if your goal is to have people read both, it seems like the best thing to do is use the conventional blog format people that people are used to (i.e. what I described). There's a reason this format has become so popular: linear, chronological posts are engaging and make people want to keep scrolling down for more.
You could have two different sites that link to each other, but that would probably deemphasize one of them more than you want.
If I saw a blog like the one I described, I'd think: "hey, cool, it's a synergistic combination comic strip and blog." If I saw a purely comic blog with a sidebar link to a text blog, I'd think: "oh, this person happens to have two different websites."
You could use columns, but that would probably be too wide. Also, there wouldn't be much room if you wanted any kind of sidebar with links and stuff.
posted by Jaltcoh at 11:14 AM on March 5, 2010
On second thought, I kind of like The Winsome Parker Lewis's idea. But I'd put it in the sidebar in a narrow column on the right side of the page (just below the banner). There are widgets that let you automatically show the first X characters of the latest X posts from a certain RSS feed. Blogger has a built-in widget for this, and I'm sure other services let you do it too.
posted by Jaltcoh at 11:17 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by Jaltcoh at 11:17 AM on March 5, 2010
Apologies for the link on my answer; apparently my html blows. This is where the link should have gone.
posted by Pragmatica at 11:18 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by Pragmatica at 11:18 AM on March 5, 2010
I read a lot of webcomics, but only by RSS feed. Include both in your feed and I think you'll get a lot of people already.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:26 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by blue_beetle at 11:26 AM on March 5, 2010
Check out Penny Arcade. They've been doing exactly what you describe for, oh, ten years now.
posted by InsanePenguin at 11:37 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by InsanePenguin at 11:37 AM on March 5, 2010
I think Penny Arcade has the wrong idea - although obviously it's working for them! But for us mortals, I would recommend that your comic be at your main URL.
If you go to http://penny-arcade.com what you get is their blog. You have to click the Comic link to go to the Comic page to read the comic.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think for most people, the comic is the main attraction! It should be the first thing people see when they hit your site.
I like the Real Life Comics site as an example of layout. The comic is always at the top, and the bloggy bit is always at the bottom.
posted by ErikaB at 11:40 AM on March 5, 2010
If you go to http://penny-arcade.com what you get is their blog. You have to click the Comic link to go to the Comic page to read the comic.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think for most people, the comic is the main attraction! It should be the first thing people see when they hit your site.
I like the Real Life Comics site as an example of layout. The comic is always at the top, and the bloggy bit is always at the bottom.
posted by ErikaB at 11:40 AM on March 5, 2010
Best answer: It sounds like your real subject is 'home repairs', explored in two parallel ways? I'd lean towards two columns-- This is quite a nice design that would work just as well as two slightly wider scrolling columns. With a big 'home repairs' banner to tie the whole thing together, with links to lead to 'resources' sections etc. instead of a sidebar. So the nature of your content is clear to a casual visitor.
The 'blog' sections of most comics are much more subsidiary than it sounds like yours would be-- with two columns a visitor would always be able to see- 'oh it's a comic! here is the latest episode, and I can easily scroll down a column uncluttered with text to catch up' AND, 'gosh, home repair tips, what fun!' A 'new page!' annoucement in the 'blog' section could include an even smaller thumbnail which would take care of your RSS crowd.
If the comic is formatted for print you may be looking at a pop-up larger image that clicks through from a thumbnail anyways (with Lightbox for back and next?), in which case column width is less of a concern.
posted by Erasmouse at 12:12 PM on March 5, 2010
The 'blog' sections of most comics are much more subsidiary than it sounds like yours would be-- with two columns a visitor would always be able to see- 'oh it's a comic! here is the latest episode, and I can easily scroll down a column uncluttered with text to catch up' AND, 'gosh, home repair tips, what fun!' A 'new page!' annoucement in the 'blog' section could include an even smaller thumbnail which would take care of your RSS crowd.
If the comic is formatted for print you may be looking at a pop-up larger image that clicks through from a thumbnail anyways (with Lightbox for back and next?), in which case column width is less of a concern.
posted by Erasmouse at 12:12 PM on March 5, 2010
Response by poster: Holding back to avoid steering my own thread -- thanks for the comments so far.
I'm a PA reader, and also bookmark the comic link, which is exactly why I'm afraid of that model -- the situation described above as "and having them on separate pages may just result in a blog, and a comic, instead of a comic + blog synergy".
I haven't read Ctrl-Alt-Del in years, and really like that design; especially if the comic could "pop out" or something similar, which is beyond my current capabilities but could, I'm sure, be learned.
The two-column idea is also really cool. Please keep the conversation going if you have something to add!
posted by Shepherd at 1:47 PM on March 5, 2010
I'm a PA reader, and also bookmark the comic link, which is exactly why I'm afraid of that model -- the situation described above as "and having them on separate pages may just result in a blog, and a comic, instead of a comic + blog synergy".
I haven't read Ctrl-Alt-Del in years, and really like that design; especially if the comic could "pop out" or something similar, which is beyond my current capabilities but could, I'm sure, be learned.
The two-column idea is also really cool. Please keep the conversation going if you have something to add!
posted by Shepherd at 1:47 PM on March 5, 2010
>especially if the comic could "pop out" or something similar
Lightbox!
posted by Erasmouse at 5:12 AM on March 6, 2010
Lightbox!
posted by Erasmouse at 5:12 AM on March 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
One difference, I guess, is that I use the blog side mostly to provide RSS feeds for new comic updates; but that's not that big a difference.
posted by COBRA! at 10:59 AM on March 5, 2010