Need advice on setting up a webcomic

(Pardon if this isn't the correct section - I'm new to these forums, although I've been troping for months)

I've been running this sort of interactive webcomic (vaguely like MSPA) on a forum for a while. It was working out pretty well - had a few dedicated readers, and while there were some starting pains, things looked OK. Sure, compared to the size of the forum (30,000 active members) it wasn't that popular (about 6 people actively interacting, probably more reading in lurk mode), but it was growing, and it was fun to do.

I should probably mention that the webcomic was definitely adult-only content. Hell, it said as much in the title: "Pornography in Five Acts". At the time, the forum was OK with it.

Well, the problem is that the admin of those forums is going on a bit of a rampage right now. He's seriously angered a good deal of the community, and there's even been some talk of making a new replacement forum to get rid of him. One of the things he did was to remove custom subforums, which effectively blocked me not only from updating in-place, but the rules also banned it from other forums. Which is odd, because there's so much actual porn (including a lot of particularly freakish stuff) posted elsewhere, but like I said, the admin has gone arbitrarily postal.

So now I'm left with no place to continue it. I know I can't do it here (you all have a "no 18+ content rule", I'm fine with that), but I'm wondering if you all have any ideas as to where I *could* put it.

I've considered finding some other forum to put it on, but none of the ones I frequent are even remotely appropriate for it. And the "replacement forum" that another angered forum-dweller started is... amateurish to the point of comedy.

I've considered using one of the free webcomic hosts out there, but AFAIK none of them allow readers to post suggestions easily. Being a highly-interactive comic, that's crucial.

I've also considered starting my own forum, using some free vbulletin-type site, but that has the problem of requiring anyone who wants to give input to sign up and make a new login. Which would significantly impair readership - I'm going to have enough trouble just retaining my current readers.

Finally, I've considered making my own site for it (I'm majoring in web design, it's not a big deal for me) but I can't find a free web host that allows 18+ content. I looked through about two-score To S agreements, all of them prohibit adult content. And on my budget, I can't afford to pay for hosting.

Anybody have ideas?

Yeah, most webcomic aggregate sites are bad with allowing accessible viewer commentary. In fact, that's a problem with a lot of hosting sites in general...

I think you may have to just custom build your own website, which is what I think most of the truly adult-only webcomics end up doing sooner or later.

I would concentrate on a hosting gallery first, with a discussion forum as second priority.

I did see that Dilbert was doing some Flash something or other where people could edit their own text in the images, or maybe you could do some direct image comments, or wiki software?

Any chance you know of a free web host that allows 18+ content? I've been searching for hours, fruitlessly.

And I consider the discussion to be absolutely critical to it. It hasn't yet reached a point where I can continue on with the plot without people giving suggestions.

edited 16th May '11 3:36:25 PM by gman003

Well, it's not 18+(except in the members area) but www.afblues.com(Which won't fucking format no matter how I try to hotlink it..) this comic I read has a webcomic setup that I really like. Not sure what Farva uses though.

edited 16th May '11 3:58:10 PM by Barkey

I just thought of something else. Does anybody thing Blogger might be able to work for this? It would let me post everything, and it does have a comments system that would work. It's not perfect, but I think it could work.

comicdish and I think comicfury let you comment without registering. They should also be fine with adult content as long as you give your comic the NC-17 rating.

Comic Fury looks good. I'll check it out some more, see how it works.

(I'm also working on a TV Tropes Works page for the comic, just for some publicity. Is it considered bad form to have the author of a comic write most of the tropes page?)

So long as it remains at a neutral point of view, then There Is No Such Thing As Notability and Works Pages Are A Free Launch apply. Go crazy. Since the comic is considered "NSFG" (Not Safe for Google, see The Situation), it will be forced to stay on the moderated side of the Curtain.

edited 16th May '11 7:36:40 PM by VmKid

Will do, then. I'll ask if I run into any trouble (I haven't made a full page before, just a bunch of edits).

I think this would fare better in Writer's Block. Should we move this thread or just leave it here?

Sorry, I'm new here - if I used the wrong forum, go ahead and move it.

PS: Thanks for all the help, guys. Really useful.

edited 16th May '11 8:08:13 PM by gman003

Drunk Duck has a full range of ratings that include adult comics, but requires registration to certify you're 18 or older.

I read this as "Need advice on selling cocaine"

Yeah, I have nothing to contribute, but that was hilarious.

I've used Drunk Duck before. Did not like it at all.

I've signed up on Comic Fury, and am currently working on all the non-comic stuff necessary for a good webcomic (character page, info page, etc.) Should be up and running by Friday.

Thanks for all the help, guys.

Yeah don't use Drunk Duck I tried doing a comic on it once but the artwork and for writing were so lame I never added another strip.

Yes that's some how the website's fault, not my own.