What keeps you coming back?
 

I'll admit, this thread isn't a question in a vacuum. I used to draw web comics but had to stop because of my schedule, but there will be a time when I WILL have time again and I want to know what catches your attention and keeps you coming back for more in your favorite web comics?

Probably a decent story or joke theme...

Like the random ones I like the jokes they make me smile and such.

The storyline ones. Well the characters have to be consistent, the story has to flow... pretty much it has to be rather perfect... but hey... I'm picky XD

(On that note where am I? *wanders off*)

Frequent updates are probably key.
When it comes to webcomics, I tend to read in bursts. Read, a year later come back later and catch up. Manga kinda spoils me. Lots of webcomics do one page a week/month thingy and it just doesn't... hold my attention. I actually rather have a monthly update of like 18 pages (like a monthly manga) then one page a week.
I know it's more work for the artist who doesn't have time and extremely selfish but I don't remember the storyline when that happens. : /

Storyline is another and style of art. There were a couple webcomics I use to follow cause they sounded interesting but the style of art wasn't my cup of tea so I forgot about it. Others it's the other way around. Art was beautiful but I didn't like the story. But those are two subjective opinions. :3

The only webcomic I keep coming back to read (and still keep up with to this day) is Bleedman's PPG doujinshi and his Grim Tales. Part of the reason why I keep up with it is one, I recognize all the characters and because he announces new updates through his DA account (which I keep track of otherwise his comic would easily slip back into the whole Read, come back three months later and catch up).

That's quite true I'm very guilty of that XD

Maybe if Menewsha did a contest of sorts to... I dunno... compete for the best comic artist storyline and art?

I guess in the end they would have to probably spend a year or so writing up a bunch in order to always have comics to post on time

Ooh, tough question. There are so many comics out there, and I'm constantly being told 'ya gotta read this one!!' that I simply can't get to them all and still have time for the ones I've already chosen to follow.

Things that capture me are a matter of personal taste, I'd assume. I'd put 'good style' up at the top, but... there's more than one comic I follow based on stick figures, so.... I guess it isn't as important as long as the art is consistent and fits the subject matter-ish?

Funny. They are called 'comics' for a reason. The story can be great, but if the one-liners fall flat, .... eh, no.

Story. Second after the humor, since it's well established for many comics to sort of wander all over the place in randomly connected lines, sort of forming a story by accident if the author didn't have one in mind. Although if there is an ongoing 'arc' or over-story, it had better be told well. Second after a badly timed or flat joke is a lame story.

Quantity. I'm also one of those readers who gets in the habit of letting the updates build up and then reading in bursts.... except for Girl Genius. I can't stop myself from checking every other day on that one. I know that actually making the comic isn't something that can be done on a daily or even bi-weekly thing for most people. That's fine, I understand. But.... if the comic doesn't update regularly, once a week at least - it's simply not going to have enough to me to 'read' to keep me going.


.... hm. TL:DR version - Consistency. Quality. Quantity. >.>'

I don't know if that's going to help much, but good luck!