History Main / FillerStrips

* Chef Brian on ''Webcomic/CtrlAltDel'' was first posted as a filler strip when Tim was drunk and an hour away from a deadline. However, it proved popular with fans, and Brian now appears in a strip at the end of every story arc.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in 2000 in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's daughter Leah was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Ian [=McDonald=] to Creator/PhilFoglio. The circle comes to a close nicely with the 2016 filler strips ''by'' Leah Abrams ("[[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/160510 Justine Kasich Goes Terribly Wrong]]").

[[caption-width-right:350: Not to be confused with the [[http://www.firefox.com/ Mozilla Firefox]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firesheep add-on]].]]

* When Eitán Margalit can't update ''[[Webcomic/ZeroZeroZeroThisComicAppearsFirstAlphabetically 0 0 0 This Comic Appears First Alphabetically]]'', he updates a CutAndPasteComic called ''Webcomic/OnePhoneCall''.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in 2000 in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's daughter Leah was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Ian [=McDonald=] to Creator/PhilFoglio. The circle comes to a close nicely with the 2016 filler strips ''by'' a Leah Abrams ("[[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/160510 Justine Kasich Goes Terribly Wrong]]").

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in 2000 in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's daughter Leah was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Ian [=McDonald=] to Creator/PhilFoglio. The circle comes to a close nicely with the 2016 filler strips ''by'' an older Leah Abrams ("[[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/160510 Justine Kasich Goes Terribly Wrong]]").

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's daughter Leah was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Ian [=McDonald=] to Creator/PhilFoglio. The circle comes to a close nicely with the 2016 filler strips ''by'' an older Leah Abrams ("[[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/160510 Justine Kasich Goes Terribly Wrong]]").

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's child was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Ian [=McDonald=] to Creator/PhilFoglio.

** Finally, there has also been a variety of random odd things like photos of ''Sluggy'' characters as Legos, ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' screenshots, and ''Sluggy'' Mad Libs.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's child was born and a number of others, apparently led by Ian [=McDonald=], whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Creator/IanMcDonald to Creator/PhilFoglio.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's child was born and a number of others, apparently led by Creator/IanMcDonald, whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from Creator/IanMcDonald to Creator/PhilFoglio.

[[MostWritersAreHuman Webcomic artists are only human.]] Sometimes they're sick, sometimes they get swamped by their day job, sometimes they just want to [[SeriesHiatus take a break]], dammit! ...and they can't update the strip for a day or two or twenty. They might just leave a [[ScheduleSlip blank spot on the calendar]], or if things get drastic they might change their updating schedule permanently, but the more common solution is to just drop in some kind of non-continuity filler. Generally the filler takes one of three forms:

{{Websnark}} discusses the best kinds of original filler material [[http://www.websnark.com/archives/2004/08/zen_and_the_art.html here]].

* Perhaps the best-known example is from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', which, in spite of actually getting very close to not missing a day of updates in the early days, has gone through a huge variety of different sorts over the years. You name it, they've had it as filler. Even though the ones made by the author Pete Abrams himself were intended to conserve his effort, they still often turned up something clever and funny, though not by any means always.

* Perhaps the best-known example is from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', which has gone through a huge variety of different sorts over the years. You name it, they've had it as filler. Even though the ones made by the author Pete Abrams himself were intended to conserve his effort, they still often turned up something clever and funny, though not by any means always.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's child was born and a number of others, apparently led by IanMcDonald, whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from IanMcDonald to Creator/PhilFoglio.

* When Jon Rosenberg of ''{{Goats}}'' takes days off, he allows his friend Phillip to fill in with strips drawn incredibly poorly on post-it notes.

* ''{{Megatokyo}}'' went through a period where it was notorious for every second or third day being either a "Dead Piro Day", ie a day where artist Piro was only up to providing a sketch from his scrapbook, or a "Shirt Guy Dom" day, a "borrowing" of ''Sluggy Freelance'''s filler concept with considerably more crude stick figures. Recently, this hasn't happened that often - he just simply stopped updating regularly.
** Parodied in [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1463.html this strip]] of ''IrregularWebcomic''.
** As well as [[http://xkcd.com/157/ this]] ''{{xkcd}}'' strip, though a bit more self-mockingly. (The alternate caption reads "Maybe I should let up on Megatokyo a little?")

* Often when Gabe and Tycho of ''PennyArcade'' are traveling (which usually entails being away at a convention), they still update -- but with a less polished strip, usually a single roughly-sketched panel, based around the events at the con. (Example: a sketch submitted from Vegas, showing Tycho playing a slot machine called "Ding, And Then You Don't Get Any Money.")

* Adis of ''CountYourSheep'' insists on putting something up on the site every single day...even if that means he has to put up a rough sketch of something irrelevant, perhaps the same sketch he's used three times already but with slightly different coloring...it is more than a little frustrating.

* Same goes for ''UserFriendly''. Illiad noted this on the 10th anniversary of the strip (6 × 365 + 4 × 366 = 3,654 strips). He's never missed an update since.

* The creators of ''FauxPas'' have, on more than one occasion, posted a picture of one or two of the regular characters tending to an injured or sickly other character, with a notice explaining that the strip is on a brief hiatus due to cartoonist illness or injury. On a couple other occasions, a non-continuity strip appears during such a hiatus, following a formula of sorts: the foolish and self-absorbed Myrtle explains (utterly erroneously) some kind of "fun fact;" the artwork illustrating it is recycled from some earlier strip.

* Chef Brian on ''CtrlAltDel'' was first posted as a filler strip when Tim was drunk and an hour away from a deadline. However, it proved popular with fans, and Brian now appears in a strip at the end of every story arc.
* Michael "Mookie" Terriano, writer of ''[[DominicDeegan Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire]]'' does the "standard" filler comic from time to time. However, he often fills in the space with brief previews of upcoming story arcs.

* ''BobAndGeorge'' is an interesting example...the "filler" sprite comics ended up becoming the actual strip rather than the (originally intended) hand-drawn comics.
* ''PennyAndAggie'' has become particularly notorious of late for completely halting the plotline for filler strips with no explanation as to why. While the strips are supposedly canonical, they have become further and further removed from the plot, culminating in the month long "Min Jung" which was set in Korea and starred a completely new set of characters that were guarenteed by the author to never have any plot impact. The extremely negative reaction to Min Jung caused the filler strips to at least star characters from the comic again when they ran as well as better timing on their runs.

* ''QuestionableContent'' has parody filler strip/CutAndPasteComic "series" featuring a bird [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1140 yelling obscenities at the comic artist]]. The character is known as none other than Yelling Bird.
** At one point, Jeph tried something different, and added an uncolored woman to the cast, who was only known as "Sweet Tits." She showed up twice, before disapearing for a long while until the week before new year [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 Here]], where Yelling Bird throws a party at her apartment against her will, causing her to eventually throw everbody out in a fit of rage, including [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1545 Randy]]

* ''MSFHigh'': A 'lorecrackers' parody arc was done by Wraith and luckybucket.

* ''PicturesOfYou'' does that in an interesting way. During the hiatus that occurs after every book, the readership is rewarded with original scenes drawn by Guest Artists as well as the original draft of the comic.
* ''TheLifeOfNobTMouse'' filler strips tend to be jokes about why there's no comic on that particular day; like [[http://www.nobmouse.net/2009/11/23/why-the-long-pause/ this strip]]:

* ''RedString'' actually has a StripBuffer and filler, it updates every weekday; however, every week has a Sketch Friday. Between Chapters 43 and the upcoming Chapter 44, it is playing host to some guest strips while Gina Biggs moves again, and gets ahead on the comic.
* ''TodayNothingHappened'', when a comic is late, will update with a "fat animal" (exclusive to those who check for a new strip early enough) until the comic is ready. [[WhoseLineIsItAnyway It all started with]] a one-time joke about a fat dragon that escalated.
* ''VenusEnvy'' has fallen prey to this at many times throughout the comic's history, but the artist eventually became so obviously bad at maintaining her schedule that she gave up and stopped posting anything unless it was a new comic. After its triumphant 2009 return and semi-consistent updates, it's now fallen back on hiatus since March 2010.

* ''{{Sinfest}}'' often has these. They can be one-shot GenreRoulette strips, or [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=2723 a gag featuring one-shot characters]], or [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=3891 a calligraphy gag]], or even a gag-a-day strip in the middle of a story arc. (The last can be hard to tell. Story arcs are jumped from and to quite frequently.)
* ''TheLawOfPurple'' has these semi-frequently due to the author having real life interfere with her comics.

* ''ArthurKingOfTimeAndSpace'' has filler using clip-art of the characters making FourthWallBreaking observations (usually a topical comment, an explanation for the lack of a strip, or some variant on how much Gadzikowski hates having to make "can't think of a joke" jokes) against the green background of the website. This is now considered a setting of its own - the "[[AnimatedActors green room]]" arc.
* ''MythTickle'' has been putting up almost nothing but reruns for months.

* ''{{Achewood}}'' has a few forms of filler: guest strips, which are considered to be of varying quality depending on the artist; photo collages, sometimes even from different locales (such as a trip to Europe, [[http://achewood.com/index.php?date=07042003 complete with stuffed Philippe]]); and reruns of older, popular strips, which seems to be the method Onstad is sticking with nowadays.

** Then there are the numerous [[GuestStrip filler stories by other actual comic artists]], notably "Sluggy Freelance, where are you?" in the middle of "Love Potion" when Pete's child was born and a number of others, apparently led by IanMcDonald, whipped up a story that involved the [[AnimatedActors "cast"]] of ''Sluggy Freelance'' going missing and characters from other comics trying to substitute and looking for them. [[spoiler: It turned out Shirt-Guy Tom had kidnapped them.]] There are a whole number of others scattered around the comic, with authors ranging from IanMcDonald to PhilFoglio.

** Finally, there has also been a variety of random odd things like photos of ''Sluggy'' characters as Legos, ''Sluggy''-related ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' screenshots, and ''Sluggy'' Mad Libs.

* When ''DreamCatcher'' doesn't update on time, it sometimes has one of these.

** As well as [[http://xkcd.com/157/ this]] ''XKCD'' strip, though a bit more self-mockingly. (The alternate caption reads "Maybe I should let up on Megatokyo a little?")

* ''WebComic/{{XKCD}}'' parodied this once, Randall posting 'concept art' instead. The 'concept art' is a stick figure without even facial features, [[StickFigureComic just like all his other stick figures]].

* Same goes for''UserFriendly''. Illiad noted this on the 10th anniversary of the strip (6 × 365 + 4 × 366 = 3,654 strips). He's never missed an update since.

** ''Irregular Webcomic'' itself is another notable aversion, having updated consistently for more than 6 years. Although some sequences and strips have been canon, but fairly filler-ish in nature, notably the recent 'blowing up of the universe', which featured around a week of blank coloured panels, graduating from pure white through red to black.

* ''TwoLumps'' will throw in the occasional "Eben and Snooch drawn chibi-style" whenever the human creators go to an anime convention. And then there was the special one-panel filler for a [[http://www.twolumps.net/d/20060318.html special occasion]] ....