Comments on: Why Captain Nihilist reviews the “big” webcomics

By: Robert A. Howard

Robert A. Howard — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:33:13 +0000

I do a mixture of reviews, both large and small. Part of this is to gain readership. When a webcomic links one of my reviews, I will get a short-term boost of readers that has exceeded a thousand new readers at times. While this may not seem like a lot, it allows for my other motive to come about: to expand readership to other comics.

See, of those thousand readers (in theory), maybe a hundred or so will read beyond the one review I wrote. They will skim through the other reviews and maybe they’ll find another comic they are interested in. In doing so, they have expanded their reading, and I’ve managed to increase the readership of another comic.

Reviewers write for two groups: readers, and cartoonists. Being linked allows reviewers such as yourself to show those readers that there are other comics they may enjoy… and tell them a little of that comic ahead of time.

In essence, we’re salesmen (and women). And webcomics? They’re the product we love and try to sell.

Rob H.

By: Koltreg

Koltreg — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:48:38 +0000

I’d originally commented on one of the other half a dozen sites that reposts your blog (which is pretty awesome) but I figure posting here where you might actually see it could work as well. Thanks for the link and the quoting of my blog and such. Besides helping to give me ideas of credibility, you also inadvertently caused a link to my page appear at the site of my enemy, thewebcomiclist.com, which is like an early Christmas. I have major problems with the site from function and design standpoints but that is another issue.
I mostly stick with smaller comics because of the fact that they are appreciative of the feedback and that somebody actually cares. They want to find guidance or at least feedback. Plus being the socially deprived blogger that I am, working on my own webcomic, I find that building community and notoriety helps a lot. While one does not need to start a team of webcomic artists, having friends or colleagues is incredibly important. I’d personally love to see this more in webcomic review authors and such since there is such a diverse group
I do sometimes review big webcomics though but recently it is mostly at the bequest of friends/readers wanting me to reconsider or as a way to improve upon former views which is important especially in a fluid medium.
I do also agree that the entire underlying point for reviewing has to be about love and not for fame. Your Webcomic Is Bad flamed out because it was done as a shock feature and something to troll people with or at least I can think that way. What will happen otherwise? I get thousands of page views for free?
I do need to read this blog more often though. Thanks again for the link as well.

By: Big Webcomics, Zuda views, and a shopping guide | Paperless Comics

Big Webcomics, Zuda views, and a shopping guide | Paperless Comics — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:00:46 +0000

[...] the world really need another review of PvP? Larry “El Santo” Cruz thinks there is value to reviewing the large as well as the small webcomics, and he explains why at The Webcomic Overlook. At Digital Strips, The Midnight Cartooner responds [...]

By: The Geek

The Geek — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:29:36 +0000

I agree about the value reviewing larger strips. I think its a great way to present yourself as a reviewer, practice your skills and create a dialog with your readers.

Over at Digital Strips though, we seem to get more readers from the smaller strips (although granted, that’s all we podcast about, leaving bigger strips for occasional blog posts). Smaller creators are thrilled to be spotlighted and send there readers our way. A few seem to stick around each time. Big names folk hardly ever link to us anymore.

By: Angelina F

Angelina F — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:06:21 +0000

Definitely agree. I read all of your reviews on the comics that I had read already to see what I agreed with and what I didn’t. I judge if I like something you review later on down the line. For example, my tastes don’t usually align with yours in the funnier comics, but we usually agree with the longer storyline ones. And webcomics are still small.

Generally because most webcomics are pretty damn terrible.

But there are good ones. And that’s what you’re here for. To point us in the direction of THOSE! yayyy.

By: El Santo

El Santo — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:36:09 +0000

I’d played around with changing the name of this site just because I didn’t want people to get the wrong impression that I was only reviewing “overlooked webcomics,” by the way. (Though… humm… “Overlooked Webcomics” might be a rather cheeky title to use for a feature. Must mentally file that away.) But I guess I’m stuck with it for the time being since I re-upped the domain name and all.

By: Digital Strips: The Webcomics Podcast : The Webcomic Overlook Evaluates The Biz ~OF~ Reviewing Webcomics

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:56:25 +0000

[...] The Webcomic Overlook: Why Captain Nihilist reviews the “big” webcomics (El Santo, 2009) [...]

By: El Santo

El Santo — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:01:19 +0000

Just to clear things up, I didn’t mean to imply that you shouldn’t review “small” webcomics. I, too, am in favor of a mix between “big” and “small” webcomics. I’m mainly arguing that there is a very large benefit in reviewing the “big” webcomics.

By: algeya

algeya — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:51:07 +0000

I love your reviews , all the new comics I read is because of guest strips and online reviews

By: Greg Carter

Greg Carter — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:27:40 +0000

When the Who toured with a new record they would divide the set list into thirds – the big classic hits, the new album, and obscure stuff for the die-hard fans.

Variety is good. Your site is called “The Webcomic Overlook” and not “The Overlooked Webcomic”. There’s no reason to ignore a popular comic just because it’s popular. If you feel a comic is worth talking about then it shouldn’t matter if it’s big or small, new or old, bad or good. Ya got something to say – say it.