WoW.com's Weekly Comic: Byron, the Tauren Rogue!
by Kelly Aarons 
Apr 20th 2010 at 11:00AM
We meet our esteemed security system in today's comic. Time for Byron to do a little bit of ... "evaluating" (if you catch my drift).
Check out the full version right here, and tune in next Tuesday morning for a new page. You can also see all the previous pages in the gallery below.
Filed under: WoW Insider's Weekly Comic
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Syme Apr 20th 2010 11:09AM
Byron seems to know his stuff, despite not being inconspicuous or very stealthy. Can't wait until next week!
Vogie Apr 20th 2010 11:12AM
First a Gnome, then a dwarf...
There's a joke in there somewhere. Give me a minute or 30...
Radioted Apr 20th 2010 11:21AM
Ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
/plays a dwarf hunter
Barinthos Apr 20th 2010 11:29AM
They loooooove animals.
holyhaberdashery Apr 20th 2010 11:51AM
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I find the concept itself to be rather weak. A lot of writers/artists “go to the well” on the concept of a large bumbling character who wants to do something ill suited to their bulk. It’s a very tired idea; that’s my first problem with Byron. My second is that you went to the well a second time and decided that Byron should be awkward and dare I say, lovable, even though he’s chosen a path in life that most would consider villainous. So, before you even *start* you’re working with a very clichéd concept. Also, dorky name juxtaposed with cool/intimidating/nasty profession--also yet another overdone comic trope.
I don’t know you or what the limits of your potential is as a writer, but even assuming a mediocre level of skill, I don’t see this concept pushing you to higher levels of your craft. Get off the well beaten path and try some things with Byron that don’t just “write themselves” as these clichés often do.
That being said, you’re doing *something* with your skills and that’s admirable. My advice would be to see this project through to the end, but don’t just feed off of the compliments-–take a long look at the criticism, try to separate yourself from your craft to see it from a more objective perspective and use it all to push yourself harder on your next endeavor.
cheers,
holyhaberdashery
(I had posted this on your site in response to you commentary on the trolls who do nothing but hate on your strip. I think it'll hurt you more than help you in the long run to dig your heels in and ignore 100% of the criticism coming your way--which is what it sounds like you want to do.)
Cross Apr 20th 2010 12:15PM
Telling someone that their writing has been overdone and doesn't 'push their limits' of what they can do is about as useful as telling a chef that his recipe for a particular dish has already been used in another restaurant. It doesn't particularly offer any useful insight, despite it being true.
Stories are birthed from the heart, born from what you love, and often what you love is something you have read before, that has certainly been done done before. If she wants to write about a big, stumbling rogue because the character came alive and breathed in her mind, poking her to be told, then so be it. There isn't any reason to be clinical about it, and I for one, would not tell Bryon 'Hey, your not original, can't use you, sorry'.
The passion in the art is there, if not the writing, and I fully commend the effort. Sometimes the old jokes are the best.
jishdefish Apr 20th 2010 12:14PM
"There is nothing new under the sun." Or in other words, there is no such thing as content that has not been used before.
Not to mention this kind of story unfolds slowly, and as such the direction isn't all that clear yet. She hasn't even finished the first story arch! It's much too soon to make such comments.
Chris Anthony Apr 20th 2010 12:18PM
Here's the problem: you seem to understand the concept of "overdone tropes", but you don't seem to understand that playing to stereotypes is even more overdone. There's a reason the tropes are so commonly subverted - people are sick of them. And, frankly, the subversion is still funnier than the stereotype, and this is supposed to be a funny comic.
Here's the second problem: you're lumping "criticism" into one big pot, when in fact it comes in two flavors: critique (commentary based on a genuine desire to inspire improvement) and flaming (commentary based on a desire to belittle the creator for perceived shortcomings). Kelly takes critique quite well and quite seriously. Nobody should have ANY patience for flaming, and I don't blame her at all for blocking it out.
Rubitard Apr 20th 2010 12:20PM
I'm never sure what to make of people who criticize stories, particularly this type of story, for being unoriginal or cliché. On the one hand, the desire to see new and original works by talented people seen as merely going through the motions is a strong one. It is a feeling I've shared every time I hear a gnome punting joke, or someone trots out a line about how male blood elfs are of uncertain sexual orientation. All very, very tired.
On the other hand, this is a comic that is based on a game with more than its fair share of well-worn tropes, clichés and anachronisms. WoW is almost enjoyable based solely on the sheer amount of derivatives it's built upon! The WoW comic is a cultural campfire for those of us in the community to gather around and hear those stories we've all heard before. I don't deride anyone following a formula to tell a story, when those formulas are made up of ingredients which have been tested by time. Delivery and context play a greater role in the storytelling here than something as bothersome as originality. I'd even argue that an original concept would be well out of place in a WoW setting.
Cadychan Apr 20th 2010 1:21PM
I would like to think I don't ignore criticism. If it's told well, I'll listen to everything you have to say. If people tell me 'constructive criticism,' and they're dicks about it, I won't give them the time of day.
With Byron being my first professional, flagship project, I will totally admit there are a few pitfalls. Actually, a LOT of pitfalls. The art style and art pipeline have changed, and you'll even see Byron's character change up to the end. That being said, I recognize what my strengths are, and am currently teaming up with a friend for the next comic project for WoW.com.
At the end of the day, while Byron is struggling as a story, you can either read it, or not. I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I just want those few to know that yes, I am listening, and yes, I am trying to make it better.
So yeah. :)
Tirrimas Apr 20th 2010 11:58AM
It's Frostheim!
PictoKong Apr 20th 2010 12:22PM
Hoping for a "back in my days..." speech next week!!
Foxtrot_rjz Apr 20th 2010 12:43PM
I know you can't draw a new page every day, but waiting so long between each page kills me inside T_T, I wish I would have never noticed this article until it was finished. Each page each week seems lackluster because i'm hoping for so much.
Does anyone else understand how I feel?
Otherwise, I love your story, it keeps me waiting every day.
mariodcole Apr 20th 2010 1:19PM
I like watching TV series on DVD rather than a week at a time for the same reason.
I loved the Wire and I love Treme but I got to catch the WIRE 4 or 5 episodes at a time on DVD and now Treme one little hour long dribble at a time.
W.Watumez Apr 20th 2010 1:44PM
Wholly underwhelming, as usual.
Agony Apr 20th 2010 3:52PM
As is your continuing train of insults:
Apr 20th 2010 1:43PM Wholly underwhelming, as usual.
Feb 22nd 2010 2:57PM Good grief, these are horrible!
Oct 5th 2009 1:57AM So, Colin, did you get a sex-chage or are you just pretentious?
Shoo, troll. Go away.
Boho Slavik Apr 20th 2010 2:24PM
Meh... Each time I hope for some humor or interest.
Tokkar Apr 20th 2010 3:54PM
You know, you DO have a choice of not viewing specific articles when they are presented on WoW.com, simply by not clicking on the article in question.
Just sayin'...
Boho Slavik Apr 20th 2010 4:37PM
So then you must also realize I did make the choice TO input my comments as opinion here?
Just saying'...
Sryii Apr 20th 2010 2:58PM
Why? WHY!? Why must you toy with my emotions like this Kelly? Always leave us hanging.
There are a few major problems with technicality of your characters. First, the hunter popped flares and put down a trap to guard something. Hunters simply don't do this because it makes sense. Second, its a dwarf. Its a well known fact that all alliance hunters are night elves. ALL.
Finally, he did not let autoshot and his pet accidentally aggro Byron.
Well now for some serious criticism. I love the expression of the dwarf, first pane. Try not to let this scathing review cripple your morale. It may hurt but the pain will lift and you will eventually learn to ignore all of my comments.