And that is the subject of this article; Deciding whether or not your new web comic will be continuous or episodic.

All web comics have a story to tell. How long that story is depends on the format. Gag comics tend to be episodic. There is no plot line that advances, there is just a string of unrelated but hopefully hilarious jokes. The television show 'The Simpsons' is an example of an episodic story line. Yes there are main characters whom the show revolves around but none of the events are tied together except for rare occasions like when Mr. Burns was shot. Think of how many times he Simpsons have celebrated Christmas and yet everyone is the same age. That is Episodic.

Continuous web comics have a story to tell that uses each issue to tie the story together. Each new comic means advancement in plot line that will eventually lead to a climax and conclusion. The sitcom 'Scrubs' is an example of a continuous story line. In the first season we watched the characters finish their residency and become doctors, in the second season we watched them gain new responsibilities as full residences. The story is much more complicated then this but I am simply explaining that it is all connected.

Now that you understand the difference between episodic and continuous you can make a slightly more educated decision on what style of story telling you want. Now this requires some thought, both styles have their advantages and disadvantages. Episodic comics require little long term planning. There is no story to think about, just the jokes. However, coming up with a new joke for every comic can get difficult. I should know, my gag comic Wordz of Wizdum stopped being funny shortly after creation. An episodic comic must stay creative and fresh with its jokes or it will die a slow and painfully unfunny death.

Continuous comics are a lot of work as well. You need to think about how it is going to end, not necessary when, but rather what is the ultimate goal of the comic. If you try to string a story together that even even leaves you wondering where it is going the audience will figure it out and possibly lose interest. The conclusion of my web comic Anywho… is when Jade ends college and finally gets a job in the film industry. Ending your first storyline doesn’t mean the end of the comic, it just means the end of the chapter. One good thing about Continuous comics is that you can continue the story of the characters after the conclusion is done…as long as everyone is still standing.

You need to decide what style to write in before you start writing. Remember that episodic is unconnected, there can be a series of regular characters but the events in each comic are simply the event of the comic and have nothing to do with any comic before or after it. Continuous is connected; each comic advances the plot line.

Next Month we’ll tackle writing your web comic.

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