5 Things I HATE about WebComics

Summary

In this candid critique of web comics, the speaker expresses frustration with overused tropes like reincarnation stories, royalty themes, and the villainess trope. They argue that these often lack depth, with characters either being underdeveloped or misrepresented. The speaker also criticizes how many web comics fail to leverage the unique strengths of the medium, particularly in character design and visual storytelling. They emphasize that well-executed web comics should combine strong narrative and artistic elements to create a more engaging experience, rather than relying on tired formulas and shallow depictions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reincarnation stories are overused in webcomics and often fail to explore the potential of having knowledge from a past life.
• 😀 Many reincarnation stories use the trope as a way to introduce a clueless protagonist, which feels lazy and doesn't tap into the advantages of reincarnation.
• 😀 Royalty tropes in webcomics often focus on fantasy elements like pretty dresses, ignoring the deeper responsibilities of being royal, such as managing people and making difficult decisions.
• 😀 The 'villainess' trope is overdone and often misused, with characters who are supposed to be evil but end up being misunderstood and ultimately good.
• 😀 Stories that label characters as 'villainesses' should explore their dark and morally gray nature rather than turning them into characters who just need to be fixed.
• 😀 Enemies-to-lovers tropes often fail in webcomics when the 'enemy' character is just a bland jerk with no real reason for their animosity, leading to shallow relationships.
• 😀 Good enemies-to-lovers stories need real character development, banter, and tension, which are often lacking in many webcomics that use the trope.
• 😀 Webcomics should use their visual medium to its full advantage, with purposeful character design and composition that enhances storytelling.
• 😀 Webcomics that feature characters with indistinguishable designs, like brothers who look the same, confuse the reader and undermine the narrative.
• 😀 Art in webcomics should not just serve as decoration; it should help convey emotions, environments, and character traits, making the storytelling more immersive.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main frustration with reincarnation stories in webtoons?

The speaker is frustrated because reincarnation stories often fail to use the advantages of reincarnation, such as the knowledge from a previous life. Instead, the characters are portrayed as ignorant or passive, which wastes the potential for interesting storytelling. The reincarnation often becomes irrelevant as the story progresses, with the character adopting the identity of the person they reincarnated into.

How does the speaker view the portrayal of royalty in webcomics?

The speaker dislikes how webcomics often romanticize royalty without addressing the real responsibilities and consequences of being royal. Many stories focus on the aesthetic of royal attire and luxury, ignoring the complex duties and societal pressures that come with ruling, such as taxes, war, and governing the lower classes.

What does the speaker dislike about the 'villainess' trope in webtoons?

The speaker finds the 'villainess' trope uninteresting because many stories featuring villainous female characters reveal them to be misunderstood or not truly evil. The speaker believes that if a character is labeled as a 'villain,' they should actually embody that role with complexity, rather than being portrayed as a misunderstood character in need of redemption.

What issues does the speaker have with the 'enemies to lovers' trope in webcomics?

The speaker feels that many 'enemies to lovers' stories in webtoons fail to deliver engaging conflict or character growth. The male love interest is often portrayed as a one-dimensional jerk without a clear reason for disliking the female lead. As a result, the relationship feels forced, and the characters are not developed in a meaningful way.

What role does character design play in the speaker's critique of webcomics?

The speaker emphasizes that good character design is essential for storytelling in webcomics. They criticize stories where characters look too similar, making it difficult for readers to differentiate between them. The speaker appreciates webcomics where character designs are purposeful, using visual elements to convey emotion, identity, and personality.

How does the speaker feel about the use of the comic medium in webcomics?

The speaker believes that webcomic creators often misuse the unique strengths of the medium. They argue that comics should take advantage of visual elements such as composition, color, and character design to enhance the storytelling experience. When these elements are not used effectively, webcomics can feel like digital versions of novels rather than leveraging the full potential of the comic form.

What does the speaker think about webtoons that include reincarnated characters who are royalty?

The speaker finds reincarnated characters who are royalty unappealing because these stories often focus on the superficial aspects of royalty, like fancy dresses, without exploring the complexities of ruling a kingdom. The speaker argues that this trope is overused and doesn't provide a meaningful exploration of what it truly means to be royal.

Why does the speaker criticize the lack of world-building in many reincarnation stories?

The speaker criticizes reincarnation stories for failing to fully explore the world they are set in. Instead of using the character's knowledge from their previous life to understand and interact with the new world, many stories simplify the world-building by making the character clueless and relying on exposition. This leads to a lack of depth in both the world and the story.

What makes 'Game of Thrones' a more compelling portrayal of royalty, according to the speaker?

The speaker appreciates how 'Game of Thrones' acknowledges the existence of poor and working-class characters, showing the contrast between the wealthy elite and common people. While not deeply focused on the lives of peasants, the show still recognizes their role in the broader political landscape, which the speaker feels is often neglected in webcomics that feature royalty.

What does the speaker hope for in the future of webcomics?

The speaker hopes that webcomic creators will put more effort into crafting engaging stories, improving character design, and using the unique strengths of the medium, such as visual storytelling and world-building. They want webcomics to be more than just digital versions of novels and for creators to push the boundaries of the medium to deliver more thoughtful and original content.