Hey new readers (last 6 months) – win some original art!
By Major Tom on February 3rd, 2010Posted In: Blog
Every once in awhile I try to take stock of my readership, who you are, how it’s growing, what I’m doing right and wrong, etc. Well it’s about that time again.
Let’s hear from the new readers!
I’d really like to hear from my newer readers this time. I consider a “new reader” is someone who began reading Marooned around the Fall of 2009 – say around September until now. If you fall into that category, I’ve got a few short questions below.
I really enjoy hearing from folks who have never commented before, so I’d love to hear from you folks.
What do you need to do to win?
All you need to do is add a comment with your answers to the short questions below. They can be simple answers, just make them truthful please.
What can you win?
By the end of next week, I will randomly select someone from this list and send them a package of original artwork which will include some Marooned art and one of the pages from my upcoming Rag the Viking minicomic.
Here’s the short questions:
- How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
- What was your first impression when you got here?
- What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
- Who is your favorite character?
That’s all, pretty simple right? Just leave your answers below as a comment to win! I promise you I will be stuffing the package with some pretty neat stuff. So make sure you join in on the fun. I’d also like to hear anything else you have to share 
How did you find out about Marooned?
It was a banner ad. I usually don’t click them but yours caught my eye.
What was your first impression when you got here?
The website looked GREAT and easy to navigate. The style and the humor just seemed to mesh really well. When I started from the beginning I really liked the gag-a-day, 3-4 panel comic and missed them when you switched to the larger format. But I have really grown to love the story and characters even more.
What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
Well, I started at a bad time, it was June and you were running old comics. I saw that the comic had a fairly detailed story going so I just bookmarked it and decided to start from the beginning when I had the chance. I finally started reading from the beginning around Thanksgiving and am finally up to speed on everything!
Who is your favorite character?
Well, I have 2. Asimov just because his just too much of a smart alec to not like.
Second is Ugo. This is more of being curious now of just what is he and how is this story going to unfold.
Keep up the great work! I look forward to every Monday and Thursday now.
Hey Jim! Thanks for the detailed response, this is exactly the type response for which I always hope, it really helps me out.
Can you recall at all which banner ad it was? It’s always good to know which ones work.
It’s an interesting comment you make about liking the gags, but growing to love the story even more. That’s what I hope for when people go through the archive. The humor is still there, it’s just woven into the story.
Thanks for reading and for your comments, Jim.
Tom, I can’t remember where I saw the banner, MAYBE Calamities of Nature, though I’m not sure.
I’ve really enjoyed the larger format and how you weave in your humor. Most strips are humorous and don’t depend of the last panel punchline. I’m really liking the “richness” of the story and the apparent backstory that’s still uncovered.
Oh, I also liked seeing the sculpting of the Dark Ones you did some time ago. Any chance we might see more sculpts of characters?
Marooned is a great comic. The RSS feed for Marooned in my menubar is between Atland and The Abominable Charles Christopher. Keep going and I’ll keep reading!
Kind words, Jim. To me, the bigger story is what it’s ALL about, so I’m glad you appreciate the richness, as you kindly put it.
On the sculpture, I was planning on doing more but there just not enough time to fit it in. It was going to be an aid for me to draw the characters at different angles. But really a static figure wouldn’t really be that much help.
I will let you in on a secret though. SOMEONE is working on a couple sculpting ideas for me for Marooned. It’s way too early to say any more yet, but I hope they will eventually see the light of day.
And I’m between Atland and Charles Christopher?! Good heavens! I’m not worthy!
How did you find out about Marooned?
I read Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic. I NEVER click on the banner ads, but a week or two ago I saw yours on there. I hadn’t seen it before but its name caught my attention. Not “Marooned” but more the “Space opera” part that was written on the banner. I love sci-fi things so I clicked on it.
What was your first impression when you got here?
I thought it was really funny. I loved the “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down” reference, especially. I thought that was hilarious.
What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
The whole storyline and attitude made me keep reading. Once it caught my attention, I had read every single comic within a few days. I think it’s great! I think you add some great humor to the comic.
Who is your favorite character?
Definitely ASIMOV. I love his non-robotic attitude. He’s way more of a smart-alecky companion than an artificial intelligence thing. He’s hilarious and I love what you’ve done with his character.
You do a GREAT job on Marooned and you should TOTALLY make it a daily comic! Two days a week just isn’t enough!
Thanks for the great responses, Blobert! (I thought your name looked new in the comments).
I sure do wish I could do Marooned daily, but I would soon be dead!
Seriously, I work full time, this is something I do on the side because I love to do it. It’s actually quite a bit of work and 2x a week is all I can handle right now.
Maybe someday in the future I can work out a way to do more with some help or something, only time will tell. Thanks for reading and participating!
You’re quite welcome
I hope I get your prize, it sounds great!
By the way, what’s this new character being named, the DOCTOR, who would be proud of Ugo? Any particular Doctor???
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site. from mike maihack’s twitter, webcomic of the day
2. What was your first impression when you got here? because of your numbering system, i knew you have been doing this for awhile. but when i started reading, i was afraid i would get lost because of the complex continuous story. your short explanation below def helps. characters seem kind of flat. personalities are expected to a point. good attention to detail in the artwork.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading? have to be honest, not a fan yet and i’ve only ready several back strips, to get a flavor of the writing and art.
4. Who is your favorite character? gotta be asimov, his sarcastic and pesty humor is still light enough that’s it’s very enjoyable.
@Blobert – Doctor – well, you’ll just have to hang around and find out
But there are some obvious clues in the Archive!
@Johnny – well welcome aboard – hope you stick around. Thanks for the info!
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site. – I followed a link that Ramon Perez made in a newspost on Kukuburi. I was rereading the archives, happened to see the link, and decided to check it out.
2. What was your first impression when you got here? – Huh, the art isn’t my usual style, but i’ll give it a read and see if i like it.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading? – I love scifi, I love webcomics, and the silly humor is cute.
4. Who is your favorite character? – Probably Ugo.
Thanks Kate
1- I don´t exactly remeber, I think it was through a banner on evil inc.
2- I liked it, it was funny, I tried other webcomics, that in the end i stoped reading.
3- It has a cool story, I like the humor, I even like the parts with no humor, ha! And I like that you update more than once a week.
4-asimov, he may be unlikeable sometimes, but in the end he delivers.
Thanks Argentino! If you like the parts without humor, then I’m doing my job
1. I discovered Marooned through Steve Ogden’s blog.
2. I’m afraid I don’t really remember. Must have been okay, as I read the archive in a few days!
3. I kept reading as I was intrigued by the story, and I wanted to know what would happen next. The expanded panels and the improving art help, too.
4. My favourite character is John. He is self-centred but means well.
Great info, thanks for sharing Marty
I actually started following around April, so I’m not eligible for anything, but I found you via sidebar ad on Legend of Bill, if memory serves. Just wanted to toss in my two cents, in case it helped. Looking forward to tomorrow’s installment!
Thanks 3D! It does help.
I’ve been reading Marooned since October-ish. I found out about it from an ad on either Gene’s Journal or the Legend of Bill (I think it was the former).
I always go to the first page of a webcomic and continue through the next few pages before I make a judgment. I’m very picky about when it comes to art styles, but I liked your’s. I also didn’t realize at first how well thought-out the story arcs were.
As for why I keep reading… Well, I like the comic =). I love science fiction more than any other setting, but the only other sci-fi webcomic I read is Starslip. I enjoy the humour, and as I said I’m fond of the art style. Your characters and the whole “world/history” are developing nicely too.
Favourite character? I like how Captain John’s character has developed so-far.
I’d just like to say keep up the good work!
Thanks Bend! Very helpful
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
I found it via the cameo appearance of Lian in LegendOfBill
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
Wasn’t too sure about the art, but enjoyed it enough to read through the backlog and get up to date
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
I like the story and script so far.
4. Who is your favorite character?
I’d say Ugo so far
Thanks Johan!
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
Friend of mine mentioned it, and I did a search on Google
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
The art style threw me at first, but then I started enjoying it more and more
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
The story pulled me in even though I didn’t care much for the art style.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Ugo seems more interesting than any other so far.
Thanks Jenga! If you wouldn’t mind being more specific – what is it about the art that isn’t quite jiving with you? Has it helped that there has been improvement along the way?
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
I also found it via the cameo appearance of Lian in LegendOfBill which I found from a link on another writer’s blog
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
Wondered why there were Oscar Myer weiners with arms on Mars … so I went to the beginning and read it through that night.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
The story had some interest and my sarcasm meter shot up nicely when Asimov had “to power down”
4. Who is your favorite character?
Ugo, there are unaswered questions and a little more depth it seems to me so far. He does something new and it “feels like something Ugo would do” without being boringly predictable.
Wieners, LOL. Thanks mirth!
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
I got to Marooned from reddit. One of your comics was linked to from the comics subreddit on the site.
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
The comic looked great and was definitely funny.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
I really enjoyed the wit and sarcasm. The obscured little mysteries throughout the comic held my interested and kept me reading.
Who is your favorite character?
Ugo, definitely.
Thanks Conor – I always wonder how many Reddit readers are around. I think it’s tough to make an impression on that group since they are generally surfing for one-shot stuff and Marooned is longform. So I’m glad you stuck around
im too old a fan.
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
I believe i got to marooned from a twitter linkie and recomendation, posted by another comic artist. I’ve found a few good comics that way recently.
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
i liked the art, I likes the characters, and I liked the subtle(ish) humor. Basically, I liked the first few comics I read enough that i went back to the beginning and read through.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
The combination of art, humor and storyline worked for me.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Azimov and Ugo
Great, thanks Myka!
1. How did you find out about Marooned? Please be as specific as possible as to HOW you got to the site.
As I recall, I was reading the webcomic Zap In Space about a month ago and saw a banner ad. The line “a space opera in the wrong key” intrigued me and made me laugh, so I decided to click the ad and see what the comic was like.
2. What was your first impression when you got here?
I wasn’t sure what to think at first. The art style put me off a bit, because the heavily retro vibe is very different from anything else that I read, but I grew accustomed to it as I read through the archives from the beginning.
3. What made you decide to become a fan – why did you keep reading?
I’ve found that I really enjoy the humor and characterization. The plot is, thus far, not really a selling point for me, but it’s growing more interesting as things continue.
4. Who is your favorite character?
Captain John. So far, he’s shown the most development and growth as a character, but at the same time he hasn’t lost the bumbling everyman qualities that make him likable.