WoW.com's Weekly Comic: Byron, the Tauren Rogue!
by Kelly Aarons 
Mar 16th 2010 at 9:00AM
A quick break in the story to see what a few other people are up to. Wait, what's this? Is Gruuka...worried?
Naaaaahhhh.
Check out the full version right here, and tune in next Tuesday morning for a new page! You can also check out all the previous pages in the gallery below.
Filed under: WoW Insider's Weekly Comic
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Zair Mar 16th 2010 9:10AM
Hey, Guzuru knows quality cuisine when he sees it.
b. Mar 16th 2010 9:20AM
I hate sounding like I'm raining on someone's parade, but am I the only one thinking this comic is a waste of screen space ? I get the "cuteness" of the drawing, but cupcakes don't make a full meal.
Kilseker Mar 16th 2010 9:39AM
Yes, you are. It's not just about the pictures. The story is building up just like any good story so if you're still hungry, wait for the next course to come to the table.
Tainnym Mar 16th 2010 9:41AM
I actually like it, and a lot of people that come to this website do so too.
So, it must be you.
I still wonder why people take the time to criticize Ms. Aarons comics/drawing style/pacing/everything in general and go as far as commenting about it.
If I don't like something I just leave it alone. And I love cupcakes thank you very much.
b. Mar 16th 2010 9:46AM
"I still wonder why people take the time to criticize Ms. Aarons comics/drawing style/pacing/everything in general and go as far as commenting about it."
Maybe because they've been waiting for weeks to see if this comic was going somewhere and have come to realize it doesn't.
Please note that I'm only expressing a personal opinion, if you like it, good for you.
Kia Mar 16th 2010 9:50AM
Therein lies the problem with a strip that's only weekly. :|
Still waiting for any sign of a cute Belf girl, though Gruuka's a fine substitution, I suppose. xD
Etreya Mar 16th 2010 9:52AM
Such is the way with Weekly page comic. They take time to build up and really get going. Some really dedicated readers will be in week after week to catch the newest installment. The more patient will wait until there are a few pages to read and get the story larger chunks (but less frequently).
Take the LFG comic series. It's awesome, but you still have to wait for each page before the story progresses. Now that it's been going a while though, there's Plenty to read if you haven't already gotten to the end.
Frank Mar 16th 2010 9:53AM
it's called "patience,", b. you'll go further in life if you learn to cultivate it.
b. Mar 16th 2010 10:04AM
I don't know guys, I get the weekly thing but in my very humble opinion it shouldn't be a problem.
Let's take the example of a movie trilogy. It has to be coherent as a whole, but each movie has to offer proper characterization and story in itself.
The way I see it a weekly comic should provide the same thing, a "deep" story but also something of interest in every page.
@Frank
I am the patient kind actually, but to continue with the film metaphor I waited 25 years for a Star Wars sequel and when it came out it was still crap. Not to say patience isn't a virtue, but believing it's gonna solve everything is wishful thinking.
Chris Anthony Mar 16th 2010 10:23AM
@b., your "movie trilogy" example is a poor one. A single page of a weekly comic simply isn't comparable in scope to a feature-length film. It's more apt to compare it to a single scene within a movie (and even then it's not really a fair comparison, but it's MORE fair). Traditionally, a movie scene has to do at least one of three things:
* Establish setting, mood, and tone
* Advance characterization
* Advance at least one plot arc
(Even art-house and French movies, in their seemingly ubiquitous Scenes That Don't Do Anything, are using those scenes to establish mood and tone.)
Today's Byron the Tauren Rogue:
* Establishes setting and mood
* Advances characterization
* Advances the plot
In other words, it meets ALL of the criteria of a successful movie scene. So do, frankly, all of the rest of the pages of this comic. The problem is that it's not moving FAST enough for you, and I suspect that's because you're expecting each page to be a feature-length movie. And frankly, that ain't gonna happen.
Chris Anthony Mar 16th 2010 10:27AM
Off-topic: Also, to be clear, you waited 16 years for a new Star Wars movie (1983's Return of the Jedi to 1999's The Phantom Menace). Unless you're ignoring Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and The Phantom Menace, in which case, yes, it was 25 years between Star Wars (1977) and Attack of the Clones (2002).
b. Mar 16th 2010 10:44AM
"your "movie trilogy" example is a poor one."
@Chris
You can take pretty much every example used in pretty much every discussion and declare it "poor" just because. No offense but playing fractals with the concept of movies and scenes just doesn't change the meaning of the metaphor. A scene indeed has to be both something interesting in its own and a part of something bigger called a movie. It's the very point I made using films and trilogies, thanks for confirming it.
As already stated it's just my opinion but in the case of Byron it still leaves us with rather boring films/scenes/pages and an uncertain trilogy/film/comic in the making depending on the scale you choose to use.
Phil Mar 16th 2010 10:48AM
I find your lack of faith disturbing
b. Mar 16th 2010 10:53AM
@Phil
Thing is my sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped me ... at all.
^^
marijke Mar 16th 2010 11:06AM
Hi b.
1)I like cupcakes
2)I like Byron
3)I like woweh.com too
4)I even like trolls (although tauren and nelfs rock :) )
all can make a day at work a lil brighter for a moment
If u dont like Byron that's ok too, I'm sure there is something more your speed out there on the internet. May you find your full meal someday.
/bye
Chris Anthony Mar 16th 2010 11:08AM
@b., it's not just a matter of scale or "playing fractals". A scene within a movie has a different function from a movie within a series.
But then, I'm arguing film theory and you're basically saying "I don't find this interesting because it doesn't move quickly enough", so it's little wonder that we're at loggerheads. You're completely entitled to your opinion, and it's your prerogative to try to justify it. I'm just pointing out that your justification leaves something to be desired. You'd probably be better off just saying "I don't like it" and leaving it at that.
b. Mar 16th 2010 11:20AM
@Chris
"You'd probably be better off just saying "I don't like it" and leaving it at that."
I know I would be better off, but to tell you the truth I would be lying since what I actually think is this comic is bad.
Besides, you're the one assuming I think quick is good. I don't. I like slow. But slow and boring are 2 different concepts and here we're deep in boring territory.
Anyway, this was just a random opinion on a random comic. If we continue it's gonna be only rhetorical (I can see you ;-)).
Take care.
Syme Mar 16th 2010 11:32AM
Actually, your phrase was "waste of screen space," which goes a bit beyond "I think this comic is bad." Anyway, you are bored by the comic. Others are not. "We" are not "deep in boring territory;" you are. I am enjoying watching the characters develop and the scenes play out. Certainly that requires a certain persistence of imagination in a weekly format.
This comic lacks whatever it takes to tickle your fancy. I will not criticize you or cast aspersions at you for that. I will cast aspersions at your apparent conviction that it represents some objective assessment.
b. Mar 16th 2010 12:17PM
@Syme
"Actually, your phrase was "waste of screen space," which goes a bit beyond "I think this comic is bad.""
No, Syme, actually my phrase was "am I the only one thinking this comic is a waste of screen space ?". The part you seem to have missed is "thinking".
But anyway, to be honest when I made the first comment I never thought I would hurt people's feelings, which is obviously the case.
Seeing obviously educated adults being that invested emotionally in a web comic is somehow disturbing, but I never meant to hurt anyone's feelings and I apologize for this.
Why so serious ?
/back to work. Peace out.
JC_Icefox Mar 16th 2010 2:37PM
Actually in regards to the speed of a comic, I think Tim Buckley (of all people) said it best.
-paraphrase-
People are complaining about the speed of the story line and too much filler. I can only produce the comics at a rate reasonable to myself, and that is the speed that curremt readers are seeing the arc develop. However, once the storyline is complete, those readers that come along at a later date to see the arc for the first time will read through at a speed -they- decide. It's all a matter of perception.
-/paraphrase-
Basically, if it isn't moving fast enough for you, tough. If you're so obliged, stop reading and come back once it's finished. Then it can go as fast as you want.