Webcomics: Funny vs. Plot
 

So, what's more important to you in a webcomic? Do you like funny webcomics, like Penny Arcade, or comics with a story, like Megatokyo? (Just for example)

I like a combination of both. A comic that's always funny is entertaining to read, but it can be just as, if not more fun to read something creative and interesting. Although, pure serious stories tend to get a little boring to read.

I like a combination of story with some original humor. Sadly, a lot of new webcomics that try a story/humor combo lack the skill to do this, but at least there are some classic funnies that still have original humor.

I guess my favorite comic was the old-school MT, before and a little bit after Largo left. Not to put down Piro, but those comics were original, funny, and cool to look at and read. Nowadays, the drawings are still excellent but both the story and humor are lacking.

What's your preference? :bmage:

To appease Brian's ego and to speak the truth, 8-Bit Theater combines both quite well.

Applegeeks and PVP also are good, although Applegeek's 'plot' is somewhat disjointed and PVP has a new storyline every week or so.

Order of the Stick is good, and I don't even like DnD.

Preferences on just one (plot vs. straight up humor) lean toward humor. I like to just be able to look at one strip as an indicator and whatnot, and its a lot easier to read randomly through PA's archive than, say, that one samurai webcomic shiney mentioned.

It's best to have a blend of both, though if pressed, I suppose I would give "plot" more weight.

8-Bit has managed to balance them fairly well, especially in the recent storylines. A nice mix of seriousness and roflmao humor.

MT has been a lot more focussed on plot than humor since "Largo" left, but it's still a good comic, at least to me. It fits a genre I call "unreal realism" (extraordinary things happening in everyday life with almost NO ONE taking notice) very nicely.

A Modest Destiny has also been more plot-oriented since the beginning of the "Fluffy" arc, but it still manages enough humor to relieve at least some of the tension.

Bob and George takes the opposite direction, focussing more on humor than on plot. The plot is decent, but without the jokes it probably wouldn't hold up.

damnit, squidi.net is downright funny AND has a decent plot, do not mock them!

that aside, I enjoy plots better than comedy, though I got hooked onto 8-bit because of its humour :D

I read VG Cats so I happen to really like humor. Still, plot is very important. comics like Errant Story, Megatokyo and Rpg World are very plot heavy and are some of the best cmics out there

You can really write a comic strip completely composed of either of the two. Take Annie for example. That strip has zero humor in it and still manages to draw readers. Then you have one-panel comics like Closer to Home and The Far Side that manage to pack in the funny, but have no continuity. Both instances work.

In terms of preference, if I want plot I'll read a book.

Me, I'm currently making my third episode of Series 1 of Comic Stix (my comic). My style also combines a good story with humor. I try to make a good plot, as well as consistently implementing humor into the layout. I think a good trait to have is the ability to turn something serious into something funny. For example: war is serious, but when you put somebody who says something like "Well, at least when we go to war we might not have to pay any more taxes again", it becomes funny. Ok, maybe that didn't turn out so good...
Alright, I'm done.

I think for a good combination of plot/humor you should see Shiney's suggestions of Building 12 and Misfile. Lots of commedy but with a continuous and interesting comic.

Personally I have to lean toward humor, plut is important but if I start reading a comic from the begining I want to be hooked, and comedy is effective at doing that for me.

I'm going for plot. Simply because most of the comics I read are plot based... which is a good indication of which one I like. I prefer ones that have both though, for obvious reasons...

Sluggy Freelance to me is a near-perfect blend of humour and plot. Both are great in their own right, and Sluggy would be fine with only either the humour or the plot, but the combination is what makes it my all-time favourite. That also means I don't have a preference in the matter. Either of the two works for a comic that's "merely" really awesome.