BlackMage slipping?

[Fifthfiend]

I just want to know where's my goddamn Bruce Willis cameo.

[Ori Klein]

Originally Posted by Devildog

Au contraire mon fraire! They did indeed find the Cave of No Return here.

Ah, well...I sort of stopped reading the comic somewhere and came back about 100 strips later.

[Brainmeats]

I must admit, I haven't almost died from side splitting laughter in a while... but I don't love it any less. I'm sure it'll pick up with some really funny punchlines soon enough.
Maybe Brian was afraid he had beat some of the jokes into the ground or something...?

[Flay Crimsonwind]

Originally Posted by Silver Rose

A lot of people are complaining because the characters aren't just changing, but because these changes coincide with a decline in this comic's quality. I don't mind change when it makes the comic better, but a lot of these changes make the comic worse. Even if we naysayers disagree as to the nature of these changes, most of us have come to the same conclusion.

There's something off about 8-Bit these days. It's not as entertaining as it used to be, and as fans, we don't like it.

I'm sorry to say, this has happened with X-men, with Spiderman, with almost any comic I can think of. Sudden changes occur, and some fans dislike it. Then sometimes they change back, sometimes not. I'm also sorry to say, if you don't like it, all you can really do is chose not to suffer through it, as there's really nothing that will come of it. Again, sorry, but Brian's (as far as I know) not paid to do this, and with at least some fan support, it's really not gonna change, that's the reality of it....... Someone's gonna get on my case for this........

Personally I like it more now. I liked it then too. It's still comical and entertaining, and I think its commendable that it's gone on this long. Good job, and keep up the good work!

[Death by Stabbing]

Originally Posted by Flay Crimsonwind

I'm sorry to say, this has happened with X-men, with Spiderman, with almost any comic I can think of.

Spider-Man is coming back to awesome with J. Michael not going down...it's just all of these other things that are happening in the Marvel that make our favorite comics really weird. I mean House of M? what the hell where they thinking...I assume it made more sense in Bendis' mind before he verbally crapped all over the Marvel universe...Civil War...some good some bad...I missed most of the end...it's hard to find a comic book store in these parts...

In any case...I enjoy where the story is going and what it has become (I was distressed to read the front page of Nuklear Power today to find out 8 bit is almost over). I've been reading this comic for a long long long time since around comic 60. I've loved every last minute of it. 3 days a week isn't enough for me. I stopped reading at one point (due to many internet problems and just forgetting to come back and catch up) and missed about 150 episodes and a gobbled the ones I missed up like a wildfire in California burns down people's homes and livelyhood.

The changes show the characters evolve just like us. When I started reading I was a different person. Just like me all of our heroes have changed over time. It's been a fun journey that everyone should embark on. 8 bit has helped me realize my own web comic (coming soon!) and has been with me for a while...something I could depend on for a good time.

I won't pretend to understand why people are upset by the changes to the characters (changes that really show just how good a writer Brian really is). Most of the reasoning is just people being stubborn is seems like...they don't really explain why it's bad for the characters to change just that it is...


Keep on truckin' Brian! I know I'm going to like where the story ends up.

Until Next Time,
As Maximus says in Gladiator: "Are you not entertained?"
Love,
Death By Stabbing

[Ori Klein]

Well, we did had an intermission with those army-guys concept he had running in mind, I found it quite hillarious.
Perhaps he continues with it after 8bit.

[Number 81]

Ok, people here need to face facts. Whether we like it or not, 8-bit Theater is going down in history, and as such, we need to think about how we want it remembered. Do we want it to be remembered as a silly comic with quick gags, or something more? In my opinion, sacrificing cheap jokes for good writing is worth it. Remember: This is Brian's reputation we're dealing with.
Another possibility is that we have all become desensitized to Black Mage's evil. Things that would have had us on the floor laughing may now just give us a small smile.

[Meister]

This whole "we as fans don't like it" "argument" leaves a really stale taste in my mouth. Evidence says it's not true as the vast majority of people here like the comic, although that's a biased and nonrepresentative statement in itself - very few people who don't like a comic are likely to join its forums. As someone who doesn't, you're expressly welcome to complain and offer ideas and such, but please speak for yourself only. Others will voice their opinion on their own.

Also, everyone, it's still Brian writing the comic and any and all story elements are subject to his whims. We're so screwed.

[Number 81]

In short: it's his comic, we don't pay him to write it, let him do it the way he wants.

[Nique]

Originally Posted by Silver Rose

That being said, you're right about one thing. Speaking my mind isn't going to change things either. The only problem is that by taking your advice, and cutting out any complaints is going to make me even less likely to post here than how little I do. Then again, a series of comics that are frustrating will lead me to only complain and nothing else whereas a series of better comics will give me incentive to look around the forums. Either way a reader reacts to it, a deterioration in comic quality results in the community suffering, not the author.

Maybe the problem is that your critisism isn't very constructive, as it was pretty vague. And further, it sounded rude.

Disscussion is healthy, opinion is healthy. But if you're going to say something controversal; 1) don't speak for everyone by using words like 'we' and 2) don't be overly negative...

Here's your post

A lot of people are complaining because the characters aren't just changing, but because these changes coincide with a decline in this comic's quality. I don't mind change when it makes the comic better, but a lot of these changes make the comic worse. Even if we naysayers disagree as to the nature of these changes, most of us have come to the same conclusion.

There's something off about 8-Bit these days. It's not as entertaining as it used to be, and as fans, we don't like it.

You, firstly, fail to explain why they make the comic worse. Maybe everyone is being slightly 'unfair' in their response and seem to be attacking you for expressing yourself, but just remember that you opened the can of worms.

How about something more like; "I really liked 8-Bit a lot better around issues ### through ### (insert whichever 8-bit issue numbers you like there) after that I didn't really care for the changes Brian started making. Myself, and a lot of other people enjoyed it more when Black Mage was more ____, and when red mage did _____ more often. Or when the story seemed to _____ then it would ______ and that was really exciting/ funny/ whatever"

I mean, just make it more palatable? If you can't be bothered to make us understand your opinion better, I don't really see where you get to be so defensive about it when we say 'hey, that was kind of rude'.

I mean, I'm sure Brian has a thick enough skin. But since this is kind of a unique case where we actually get to be sort-of friends with the author of our entertainment, being cordial about our comments is kind of cool.