Topic: Change in drawing style over time = BAD (Read 38125 times)

Creothcean · « **on:** 14 Mar 2008, 15:21 »

So, I recently decided to go back through the Questionable Content archives from the very beginning just to see how things have changed.

I will admit that Jeph's drawing style has improved, but there is still one major grievance that I have to raise:

The female characters are no longer very attractive.

Back in the day (particularly circa comic #300 or so) the female characters were attractive and it was possible to envision them as capable of attracting men (Marten in particular).

Now, they seem almost older and less "hot". Faye in particular now looks like she could be someone's mom or a middle-aged businesswoman.

No, I am not a hentai freak, but seriously, where's the sex appeal?

Spluff · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Mar 2008, 22:49 »

If you're reading QC for the sex appeal, there is something very, very wrong with you.

Also, sex appeal is a subjective thing. What is sexy to you may not be sexy to somebody else.

mooface · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Mar 2008, 05:45 »

what.

Emaline · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 Mar 2008, 08:05 »

I'm sorry you can't masturbate to cartoons anymore. There is some rule34 out there on QC characters, maybe that will help?

But seriously, dude, thats fucking creepy.

jeph · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 Mar 2008, 12:47 »

...

I will never understand people who prefer my earlier art style.

Cartilage Head · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Mar 2008, 17:15 »

I think the artwork is at its absolute best in comic 934.

..Wait.

edgewalker · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Mar 2008, 17:33 »

I think #760 is where Jeph reached his all-time peak.

jeph · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Mar 2008, 09:26 »

I was having a really "on" day that day.

Martelore · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Mar 2008, 19:27 »

I don't really trust comics where the art style doesn't change over time. If QC had stayed the same since the beginning, something would be very wrong with the process behind it.

frullic · « **Reply #9 on:** 17 Mar 2008, 19:50 »

Only sprite comics based on old games never change. QC is, thankfully, not a sprite comic.

jatoskep · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Mar 2008, 21:07 »

I disagree, the art at the beginning was decent, but I LOVE the current artwork. My favorite art of any webcomic.

Rigor_Mortis · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 13:02 »

The only thing that I find odd, is the first time we meet Faye, and for a while afterward, she is a skinny chick.

Somewhere along the way she turned into the aerodynamically curvacious hipster we all know and love. I just wonder if that was intentional or not.

Also, what ever happened to Sarah? She worked at Coffee of Doom for the first few strips, had a crush on Marten. Then after Faye admits to having been out to the bar with Marten, we never see/hear from Sarah again.

Just some observations....

Teh Geek Lord · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Mar 2008, 13:14 »

I like how the style of the characters change. Its a general improvement all around form character development to background development. The fact that Jeph can do these on a daily basis is confounding to the mind. I have issues just sketching, though I'm fairly sure Jeph uses a tablet of some sort. Either way, the art here changes like people do in life. It adds character to the comic.

Soulsynger · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Mar 2008, 08:42 »

Quote from: Rigor_Mortis on 18 Mar 2008, 13:02

Also, what ever happened to Sarah?

Horrible story, best read the cast's page...

@Geek Lord, Teh:
Yep, he does use a tablet. Without those things, he'd have at least arthritis, if not additionally also rheuma, in his wrist. ^^

@Topic:
Isn't improvement a signal for and a sign of devotion to the comic?
Martelore's diagnosis - if true, which I believe to be so - totally hit the spot, methinks.

frullic · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Mar 2008, 19:31 »

Rumors have it she was eaten by some large reptile...

TomW · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Mar 2008, 03:34 »

Quote from: Creothcean on 14 Mar 2008, 15:21

So, I recently decided to go back through the Questionable Content archives from the very beginning just to see how things have changed.

I will admit that Jeph's drawing style has improved, but there is still one major grievance that I have to raise:

The female characters are no longer very attractive.

Back in the day (particularly circa comic #300 or so) the female characters were attractive and it was possible to envision them as capable of attracting men (Marten in particular).

Now, they seem almost older and less "hot". Faye in particular now looks like she could be someone's mom or a middle-aged businesswoman.

No, I am not a hentai freak, but seriously, where's the sex appeal?

meh I wasn't a fan of the way Faye looked back in #300.
The very beginning was good art, very simplistic, I like that. I also like the current art.

Guy Jackson · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Mar 2008, 04:20 »

It's quite normal for comics to change in drawing style over-time without a change of artists. One example I can think of is Tintin (which started quite cartoony). Actually, many European (French, Belgian, Dutch) comics show progress in style. I think that when a cartoon artist draws the same characters over and over again, he is bound to improve on their looks. Maybe the characters become more like real people to the artist so he draws them better (more "realistic" and anatomically correct) as time progresses.

iconoclast · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Mar 2008, 08:41 »

Quote from: Martelore on 17 Mar 2008, 19:27

I don't really trust comics where the art style doesn't change over time. If QC had stayed the same since the beginning, something would be very wrong with the process behind it.

Yea, that's my general thought. Stuff like *shudder* CAD just makes you KNOW that he's copy-pasting everything. (Well, that, and the horrendously awful storylines and flat characters. But that's another rant.)

Spluff · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Mar 2008, 01:10 »

Quote from: iconoclast on 22 Mar 2008, 08:41

Quote from: Martelore on 17 Mar 2008, 19:27
I don't really trust comics where the art style doesn't change over time. If QC had stayed the same since the beginning, something would be very wrong with the process behind it.

Yea, that's my general thought. Stuff like *shudder* CAD just makes you KNOW that he's copy-pasting everything. (Well, that, and the horrendously awful storylines and flat characters. But that's another rant.)

Why the hell are you reading CAD for deep storylines and characters? That's like watching a porn film for excellent acting and production.

Commander Bob · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Mar 2008, 10:06 »

Quote from: iconoclast on 22 Mar 2008, 08:41

Quote from: Martelore on 17 Mar 2008, 19:27
I don't really trust comics where the art style doesn't change over time. If QC had stayed the same since the beginning, something would be very wrong with the process behind it.

Yea, that's my general thought. Stuff like *shudder* CAD just makes you KNOW that he's copy-pasting everything. (Well, that, and the horrendously awful storylines and flat characters. But that's another rant.)

That was the first webcomic that I read all the way through and checked regularly. Though it pales in comparison to QC or xkcd (the latter doesn't have a story, but damned if it isn't amazing), you have to admit the art has progressed well from comic #1.

tomselleck69 · « **Reply #20 on:** 24 Mar 2008, 15:27 »

Quote from: Commander Bob on 24 Mar 2008, 10:06

That was the first webcomic that I read all the way through and checked regularly. Though it pales in comparison to QC or xkcd (the latter doesn't have a story, but damned if it isn't amazing), you have to admit the art has progressed well from comic #1.

In five years, he went from thin outlines to thick outlines.

GenericName · « **Reply #21 on:** 24 Mar 2008, 18:10 »

Oh! Don't forget! Shading too!

tomselleck69 · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Mar 2008, 20:44 »

Shading too!

BUT most importantly: the evolution of the B^U face.

muteKi · « **Reply #23 on:** 25 Mar 2008, 13:17 »

I actually found this most recent one (flour with diaper) to be a bit amusing.

I've certainly lauged at this one more than, say, SMBC.

StreetSpirit · « **Reply #24 on:** 25 Mar 2008, 13:29 »

Buh?

The change in drawing style is wonderful, it gives the whole comic a sort of organic aspect since it is forever evolving. I, personally, think the growth in the art of the comic is spectacular - mass props to Jeph.

Spluff · « **Reply #25 on:** 25 Mar 2008, 19:00 »

Quote from: muteKi on 25 Mar 2008, 13:17

I've certainly lauged at this one more than, say, SMBC.

You don't like SMBC?

How is that possible?

muteKi · « **Reply #26 on:** 26 Mar 2008, 06:49 »

Well, some of it was funny, way back when.
Nowadays he seems to have fallen into some weird trap in between complaints one might have over CAD and C&H -- it almost feels like terse ranting trying to only offend.
For some reason I don't like it anywhere near as much as C&H, even though they both do the "let's be really offensive thing" fairly often. I'm still not sure why.

EDIT: I looked at today's SMBC. Not funny at all, maybe a little annoying more than anything, though a couple before that are pretty good.

Spluff · « **Reply #27 on:** 26 Mar 2008, 18:33 »

I agree that it isn't as good as it used to be, but even back then it varied a bit. I think the varying quality of the strips can be attributed to the one or more a day schedule - most strips that update that much tend to be hit or miss.

But when it's good, it's damn good.

Nw0428 · « **Reply #28 on:** 26 Mar 2008, 23:03 »

Wondermark is a comic that has always had great art in my opinion.
QC has definitely gotten better over time.
Although some of his one comic expirements with the hair weren't so great.

mrjoegangles · « **Reply #29 on:** 29 Mar 2008, 21:16 »

721 was his peak. Not that the artwork has gone downhill since, it just hard to beat blatent anime ripoff and Tequila Monster in the same comic.

GenericName · « **Reply #30 on:** 30 Mar 2008, 08:42 »

With all the people that read the comic, chances are high that there's at least one person who thinks each comic was his peak.

Let's try to find someone for comic 1!

Jb · « **Reply #31 on:** 30 Mar 2008, 10:30 »

Anyone notice that Jeph's been drawing the noses a bit different? Look closely at the latest comic. I think it looks fine on Faye but Hannelore just looks weird.

jesushitler · « **Reply #32 on:** 01 Apr 2008, 03:55 »

The artwork in Dinosaur Comics was better in the early days.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #33 on:** 02 Apr 2008, 06:07 »

This is the worst fucking thread.

GenericName · « **Reply #34 on:** 02 Apr 2008, 06:21 »

Khar, this thread has nothing to do with fucking. Try this one.

ImRonBurgundy? · « **Reply #35 on:** 05 Apr 2008, 07:07 »

Quote from: Nw0428 on 26 Mar 2008, 23:03

Although some of his one comic expirements with the hair weren't so great.

Marten should bring back the Morrissey mating plumage.

Just One More... · « **Reply #36 on:** 11 Apr 2008, 21:25 »

Quote from: Rigor_Mortis on 18 Mar 2008, 13:02

Also, what ever happened to Sarah? She worked at Coffee of Doom for the first few strips, had a crush on Marten. Then after Faye admits to having been out to the bar with Marten, we never see/hear from Sarah again.

Eaten by allosaurs. DURR didn't you read?? Haha, oh I only found out what was more to the comic today... I'm totally buying some of the original QC shirts this weekend.

Jeph, you blow my mind. One night, I couldn't sleep because I was like, "How could Faye be such a prick?? She should totally be with Marten!! OH MY GOD I'M FRETTING OVER QC!!

Dora you slut..

Oh my god I'm still going it"

This went on for like an hour, and Jeph, it's hours like those that I remember why I love my waking life.

KTHX

ALoveSupreme · « **Reply #37 on:** 12 Apr 2008, 13:18 »

The early 200s comics were always my favorite period, just cause the characters had a more comic-y, cute-sy look to them. The artwork has definitely improved, and I think from about 300-700 the artwork was a little awkward. kudos!

squawk · « **Reply #38 on:** 13 Apr 2008, 00:02 »

My favorite is the artwork from about 300-400. I think it is the awesome.

Evander · « **Reply #39 on:** 14 Apr 2008, 07:53 »

I remember a time when I had trouble telling Faye and Dora apart (Raven was only easily because of her airheaded dialogue.

The art progression on the strip has been great.

ALoveSupreme · « **Reply #40 on:** 14 Apr 2008, 12:57 »

Quote from: squawk on 13 Apr 2008, 00:02

My favorite is the artwork from about 300-400. I think it is the awesome.

Reviewing these strips I totally agree. Although I still stand by my previous comment.

nopointoforigin · « **Reply #41 on:** 14 Apr 2008, 20:20 »

I love the new stuff!!
Love.

SleeperCylon · « **Reply #42 on:** 14 Apr 2008, 20:22 »

I like it better when the female characters aren't just drawn as total hotties. It gives more a sense of realism to have women of a realistic standard of attractiveness.

In real life, I'm sure most men would only go for hotties given the choice. Failing that, they go for average/normal looking women they get along with well.

Thaes · « **Reply #43 on:** 15 Apr 2008, 00:08 »

Having reviewed some of the earlier strips (mostly due to that "Your favourite QC-strip" -thread), I have to say that I actually preferred the way Faye looked in those earlier strips.

Ã¶de · « **Reply #44 on:** 15 Apr 2008, 08:52 »

Quote from: SleeperCylon on 14 Apr 2008, 20:22

In real life, I'm sure most men would only go for hotties given the choice.

Based on the standard scale of hotness or...?

addicted2QCandcoffee · « **Reply #45 on:** 16 Apr 2008, 05:02 »

I like where the art has gone, but 753 is my fave, the style is cute and the last block is just funny.

Cartilage Head · « **Reply #46 on:** 16 Apr 2008, 10:07 »

Quote from: SleeperCylon on 14 Apr 2008, 20:22

I like it better when the female characters aren't just drawn as total hotties. It gives more a sense of realism to have women of a realistic standard of attractiveness.

In real life, I'm sure most men would only go for hotties given the choice. Failing that, they go for average/normal looking women they get along with well.

Yeah man we are just dicks.

Liz · « **Reply #47 on:** 16 Apr 2008, 11:10 »

Pretty much yeah. You're all disgusting.

tomselleck69 · « **Reply #48 on:** 16 Apr 2008, 11:13 »

Men! C'mon people am I right or am I right??

danjc2 · « **Reply #49 on:** 16 Apr 2008, 12:53 »

i dunno, i'm kinda on the fence here
i think that the new drawing style has kinda made it clear the differences between Dora and Faye and Raven, and how Faye is slightly larger then both of them.

But wtf you on about 'wheres the sex appeal'???

Dora man. I'd totally wreck that chick.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Change in drawing style over time = BAD (Read 38125 times)

Creothcean

mooface

edgewalker

Martelore

jatoskep

TomW

Guy Jackson

Commander Bob

muteKi

muteKi

Nw0428

Jb

jesushitler

Just One More...

nopointoforigin

addicted2QCandcoffee

danjc2