Tracy Brady Cartoons

The other day I was in the forum of a popular webcomic listing site when another new cartoonist came asking for opinions on the quality and content of his new webcomic; and while a lot of the resulting critiques of the new webcomic were spot on, they were also (in my own opinion) cruelly worded and gratuitously unkind.

Now let me say that this post is not a commentary on what the social skills or conversational graces of reviewers and critics should be nor is it an appeal to them to be less caustic to people who apparently value what they think and have to say.

No, this post is a call to action for webcomickers like you to understand that although Harshness and Insensitivity disguised as Frankness and Candor seem to be features of most reviews these days, you have a responsibility to yourself (your growth as an artist and business person) to sift through the bile that is a ruthless review and take whatever good advice it has to, uhm, “offer”.

Here are 2 tips for webcomickers who are interested in getting reviews for their work:

1. Don’t ask for reviews too early. In fact, if you can help it, do not ask for reviews at all.

It’s not that you should not care what people think, but making a comic is a lot like cooking a fine stew. It needs to simmer to let the flavours develop. Your art skill and writing are those flavours. You need to let them build before you let people drool and gnaw on it. As your archive and reputation grow (due to your promotional efforts) reviewers will come to you.

2. If you simply must ask for a review, ask it of a reviewer in your own genre.

For example: If you do a stick-figure, gag-a-day, webcomic about physics and computer science, a reviewer of long-form, furry, manga comics about Middle Earth fantasies will probably think your stick man doing Linux jokes sucks; and vice versa.

That being said, this post is also a reminder to webcomickers to be gracious in the face of criticism. Your becoming defensive is not productive and should be avoided because it makes you look bad (read: “stupid”). If you get a bad review either say “Thanks” and then move on, or skip the “Thanks” and just move on. Your detractors will be inconsequential, if your loyal readers say they are. Work on getting loyal readers, not arguing.

So when a critic tells you that your art work or writing is unappealing, see it as an invitation to learn to draw better or write better and to be zen. When a critic mentions a specific issue they have with your work, like your lettering, or shading, or proportions, or site design, then by all means evaluate their comments and make adjustments if possible.

Simply put, look for the value in cruel reviews, apply it and let your resulting great work and good reputation speak for you.