Everstreets

[dog$]

Welcome to Everstreets

protip: Look under the "Timeline" to see the main strips for the storyline.

This is something that we've been working on since the new year and finally we have a handful of pages up, enough to get a small sense of how the storylines are presented and some of the characters, etc.

I know there isn't much anything else here, but this is still in mostly the preliminary phases and I figured I'd like to have some more opinions on the strip. And I know if I want a tough crowd to judge the work, it's you guys

So lemme hear your comments and bitchings, please.

Hope y'all like it.

[Mman]

The art is awesome, but it is hard to read it the way you have it layed out. And the website is confusing in general to navigate.

[Kidnemo]

Just a couple off the cuff comments:

strip -

Great art/use of color. The premise seems unique also. I don't like the font you use for the text. Maybe try having her handwrite the text, or try a different font.

What I mean is the art is very airy/smooth...like everything is saturated in natural light. Then you have that bold chunky font.

site -

Could use alot of work. Very hard to find anything. The first time I clicked the site (before I read your post) I couldn't find the strips, then after reading your post I found the correct link. You never want people to get confused with navigation.

Maybe try putting the newest strip up on the main page. People come for the comic, not to read news updates. On that same note, get rid of the splash page. Just another useless page that serves no purpose.

So yea, thats just a couple of things off the top of my head. Everything is just my opinion of course, so if you like it how it is, do it how you like.

But overall, a good start and I look foward to seeing you two work out some of the kinks.

[dAMON]

The art is cool!!
The style you draw in is unique and likable.

[dog$]

Thanks for the posts~

Now, the site isn't going to provide a huge amount of functionality so I didn't know if it was going to need a lot of explaining (on site) or what ~ in terms of presentation I'm trying to provide something like Jerkcity in that there's a minimal amount of actual links but with enough content it all functions as needed. Other than that I'm not entirely sure how different I can make the HTML layout.

Would a FAQ help, for the site and/or story?

I've also contemplated the possibility of adding a "newspaper" with every date on the timeline to get a sense of how the events in the strip all sorta make a difference to the whole city.

dAMON - she's doing the art, I'm just providing the script She'll be pleased to read it.

[Rumpy]

Everything Nemo said. I'd like to have a change of font too, and sometimes it can get a little confusing to figure out what frame to look at next.

For layout, make the comic the center piece. The latest comic should be right there when you open it, no link necessary. The idea is there, it just needs to be straightened out a bit. Excellent stuff though.

[arjue]

Great stuff, though with how its currently set out its a bit hard to tell whats going on.

[negitoro]

Here's my 2 cents.

I LOVE the updating concept. The fact it isn't updated chronologically is awesome... especially if there's a particular reason to it. What I mean is, there's a huge potential for a unique and interesting narrative serialized in a way that builds upon the story and leads the reader into a discovery of the events in a nearly organic fashion.

Of course, this is all moot if the reason is "coz I feel like drawing certain parts first"

The theme of the world and the story is kind of interesting. Thus far it seems like a "WWII Ninja Euro" type setting. The setting has great potential although I feel like it's a little quirky, as it's set in an era with modern weaponary. I think I need to see something more substantial to justify them being swordfighters... like skill above what they could achieve with a gun and such.

As for the art... I'm going to say, I enjoy the use of color and the color pallettes you're using. However saying that, I do feel that the coloring is too 'soft'. It seems like the shading is a tad blurry and too soft. Some places would benefit from more dramatic shadows and more defined shading I think.

Composition is good, but I feel it's inconsistent. There's so great dramatic camera angles and some good composition in some frames and then it's followed by a series of flat, static panels where I feel the visual storytelling could be a little stronger.

The layout of the comic is my biggest complaint. As it is, it seems very blocky and static. The story doesn't flow well due the layout you have and is easy to get lost in, especially in the "big panel flanked by small panel" type layouts. To me, given the webcomic format and the unique premise of the narrative, you could expand the space and use a lot more empty space and a more unique layout to guide the reader and to provide the time and pacing illusions and to provide the comic with the 'oomph' it deserves.

Dang... I've said too much I'm afraid. In any case, I'm sorry to criticize so much. I just got carried away by my excitement over your concept potential, that's all.

[Drewbacca]

I like it but the copy is really hard to follow.

All I knew was that someones hand got chopped off. I'm also not a big fan of scarfs. But that's just personal preference. The art is really good though.

Gritty and stylized.

[dog$]

All right, got more things to reply to here *laughs*

- The reason why you don't see any guns is because, at least in this point of the world here, guns do not exist. There was no Civil War, no WW1 or 2. All technology research in this world goes towards electronics, medicine, and weapon concealment. Not only does this eliminate petty thugs from suddenly having power, it brings combatants together (or in the same panel, if you will) and it is the reason why murder is still shocking.

- The panel layout is just trying to balance frames of different size (since I really am trying to have something break out of three-square-panel hell) on a symmetric axis of some sort. Every page you see is symmetircal along either axis, and I figured that with the timestamp appearing on the corner of every panel it wouldn't be difficult to get lost. I also figured the timestamp would give the impression of what time is elapsed with every interval.

- The update style was enabled so that I can write wherever I deem fit. Negitoro, your first paragraph is pretty much exactly what I'm going for. Again to cite Jerkcity, when you get there all you see is a few links, a comic, and that's it. Everything else you have to figure out by yourself, and that's what I wanted to create with ES here. I wanted to create a looooooooooong timeline list so that people can view it as they see fit and draw their own inferences from the way the story unfolds.

- Kedzie wears a scarf so that people don't see his face. He doesn't want people to see his face so that way he can attend the funerals of the people he kills. Not only does he enjoy watching his victims suffer, but he also enjoys watching their families suffer.

Overall I know that the layout might be confusing but I wanted to make a comic that you could come back and read multiple times and figure something different out each time. I'm trying to reward people that are paying attention to all the details.

Again, all of your comments are highly appreciated.