So I guess this'll be the "news post" for now. I gotta admit... I'm a little conflicted right now! Should I focus on trying to rebuild the old site, or focus on making THIS the default Zebra Girl page?

Lots of you seem to dig this comment system. It's sure surprised me, all this time I thought that the forum was so seldom used because the comic was just unpopular! But now... it's great getting so much immediate feedback.

I gotta think about this. Feel free to say which site you prefer.

Incidentally, I had a good time at the Big Apple Comic Con. I would've said "great" time, but, well, I got so little sleep the night before that I was unconscious half the time at my table.

Still. The waking hours were nice!

-Joe

forums are just sort of big and overwhelming and creaky in 2016! it's fun to be able to instantly comment. can't wait to see tomie in spikes!

Something tells me that vampires won't get the point of all those spikes.


ba dum-bum.

though I will give crystal credit for having SOMETHING covering the easy-to-get-to viens and arteries. Le'ts hope they don't go for the thighs. because a bunch of female vampires going for crystal's thighs...would...be....WRONG....


I'll be in my bunk.

Wood spikes. Extra edgy.

I'm all about comment systems, these days. Much easier than having to register for hundreds of forums on all the comics I read. Just gotta watch out for spam and such.

Liking the new site, my only complaint is that I don't see a vote button anywhere?

I tried to register for that forum once when I thought I had something clever to say and it took like a week or two for my acount to be approved. I'd forgotten about registering it took so long.

I really dig that news posts and comments stay with their associated comic on this site. The other site had the news posts get lost to the ages slowly over time.

Part of why your forum may be so empty is because the larger, general forum is being anally slow with new users. I made an account -MONTHS- ago, like back around... was it September? I got approved fairly quickly but then it gave me a message that I needed ADMINISTRATOR permission to actually make a topic or anything and to please email the forum admin. I did. Never heard anything and still can't say a word on the Zebra Girl forum.

Dude, this is awesome. Comments are quicker than forums that you have to register for, go to another page, etc.

I second the fact that you just had bad forums before. I tried to register a few times, but was never actually approved to post our anything like I guess I needed to be.

That said, I really like the comment section. It is fun to read people's comments on all the pages. Also it is fun to comment.

I like the new site.

A lot of sites I visit use Discus comments, which makes it easy to find other comics commented on by people with comments I like. That would be cool free advertising almost like word of mouth.

Of course, you already have a comment section, so setting that up might not actually be easier than this.

I'm a huge fan of this comic. I absolutely love the characters and the art. In my opinion too few artists really appreciate black and white art (in comics especially) and fewer still take the time to get really good at shading. I've seen plenty of good artists who seem to think that adding color will automatically improve the art, even if it doesn't, and many end up with lower quality art as the result.

Oh, and I for one like the comments as I rarely enter forums. Still I vote for whatever works best for you, so you can keep bringing us your awesome comic.

Also Tomie: the sexy spikey spellbook or goth girl grimoire?

Something odd I just noticed with the site styling-- none of the clickable links show a hand cursor when moused over. At first I thought all the navigation links were broken!

Right? Saying no one liked the comic? This one has been my favorite through 3 computers-- so not sure how many years. Always keep my bookmarks!! Love the look, the story-- always watching for the next page to appear!

Would having everyone wear plaid be a good idea?
Could Jack use them to support his allies?

And now you know better Joe.
I've learned form hard earned experience that users are lazy, we like things simple, and the simplest way to do things is when its right in front of you... heck, I didn't even know you had a forum!

I wonder if anyone else can hear Tomie's voice. There's no indication the same rules from before haven't changed.

I haven't looked at the comments so I haven't seen if this was addressed, but could there be a way to build a comment system in the old site, if it can be brought back up? I preferred the old site, but this works too.

There is at least one benefit to the forum now that I think about it. The forum is easier to discuss things from older pages or that span multiple pages or multiple story arcs. This comment system is nice, but most people don't look to older pages for in-depth discussion.
That's why I originally tried to get on the forum. I noticed some little details spanning several of the older pages (going all the way back to Sandra's dream of Kazandra!) and wanted to share them and a little theory I had, and wanted to see what other readers thought. Comments like we have here aren't the best medium for that sort of discussion.

Love the current layout & comment section, site looks real slick!

I was a little worried about the author's comments but that seems to be working alright, so count this as a vote for the current look!

I dislike forums because of the necessity of making an account for each one. Having a quick and simple comment system makes it so much easier to give feedback.

I'm pretty much on board with the comments.

I actually thought the lack of comments was because you generally didn't even want them for whatever reason, and I was likely deterred from trying out the forums by how empty they were in the first place.

Joe- been reading for nearly ten years now. This new site is worth it. :-)

Simply put, the easier it is to communicate, the more communication will happen. And this is so easy it's ridiculous. It's lovely. It's fantastic. It's awesome. It is that, and many other words that mean we (or at least I) like it.

Your comic rules.

Honestly, I think an open comment section trailing below your comic might need to be moderated, Joe. God knows you'll get people who post some nasty shit on here in the inevitable future.

Comment systems are fantastic. You might want to look into a system like Gunnerkrigg Court's, where comments need to be approved before being posted, though. Just seems classier or something.

@Comic: Tomie with spikes will be the most adorable thing ever, I guarantee it.

The peanut gallery was there all along, Joe. You just had to let the voices in.

Test.

Can you post anonymously? I don't care to have an online identity or to be identified.

I miss the Forum I could make more uncensored jokes about paper-cuts.

I like being able to comment per comic.

I LOVE that you put your own commentary section back in, my weekend Zebragirl fix is now complete again.

and... poor Wally.

I'm liking the new site. Feels a bit more finished.

I too was rebuffed by the forum the last time I tried, you may try disqus when you/if you get back to the old site. Comments are a bit of a mixed bag, it seems you inevitably end up with some gasbag quasi troll who annoys everyone, but on the other hand it's nice to know people are paying attention

If you were feeling particularly motivated and preferred the old site, I don't see why you couldn't manage to set up a commenting system there as well.

I wanted to say you are absolutely my favorite comic artist as well. I just can't get enough of your art style.

Of course, the vampires might think she is a spiked drink...

I agree with the others, a direct comment system is easier to use. The only thing I'd miss is something to notify me that someone's replied to one of my comments - and you can handle that with a cookie.

I notice a few people have avatars. How does one go about doing that?

I apologise for being blind if I'm missing something obvious.

Crystal is giving me Mad Max vibes.
Really dig the Mike Mignola-esque filler panels.
And yeah, immediate posting without registering and stuff is nice.

Yep this new site is great! Enjoying the comments. People were just too lazy to go to the forum before, true fans like myself showed up to post every now and again.

People love instant gratification. After a while, you'll have a hard core of regulars, you can start pushing them to a forum system... but you really don't need to do that if you're just wanting feedback on the comic.

There's a couple of comic forums I have accounts on, but mostly I prefer it if they have something like this. Or Disqus.

Something that supports Gravatars would be good.

There were forums? *checks header* Oh wow, there were forums. All these years I presumed you were just one of those artists who doesn't like talking to people.

I like this site design, it's purty.

Joe,
Personally, I prefer the old layout, but with the addition of this comment section. As to Crystal's new Spikey Goth look, I think I'll refrain from any pointed remarks, but she does look sharp...

I am seeing lots of people in support of the comment system, but I'd like to repeat that I feel it would also be nice to have somewhere that we can discuss the comic over longer-term rather than just what's relevant to the current page. Discussions like character motivations over several arcs (Mr. Chalk or Black Betty anyone?) or trying to find hidden symbolism or make up crazy theories about what might happen next. It was a discussion such as that which prompted me to try and join the Zebra Girl forum, and I'd still like to share some of my ideas if given a chance.

And I mean "share" in a way that won't be totally buried and mostly ignored after a few new pages, the way comments like these tend to end up.

Digging the new comment system Much easier to respond rather than going through endless approvals. Might want to switch to "moderated/approved comments" in the long run however Where someone vets them, communities can turn toxic/flood with spam otherwise.

I like the comments. I registered on the forum, but there didn't seem to be any conversation there. I like this because there is clearly conversation here.

Great comic, btw

Like a big, angsty porcupine...

If possible, definitely keep the comments *and* forums around. It satisfies the most, I'd think. Been a fan for more than 10 years, myself. Keep going, Joe!

As a fan for 13 years, I say that I like the new layout. MY WORD IS LAW

Wally got swole