on a whim (read: shared annoyance with DoA) I reread some Shortpacked! today and I think my main reasons for why I love it compared to DoA are the fact that it’s a lot more...naturally irreverent in tone due to its setting? so when things Happen it feels bigger?

doa feels like things are Happening for the sake of Happening, because willis chose to pace the series such that the MIDTERMS of FIRST SEMESTER happen TEN YEARS into the strip’s runtime...aka the END of shortpacked.

whereas shortpacked breathed a lot more, letting its character development happen when they needed to, not because those characters needed something to do. otherwise willis was able to make whatever jokes he wanted, and didn’t always have to tie it in with a Storyline

this also allows for the long running mysteries and plotlines to pay off better, cuz they’re years in the making both in terms of the real world AND the universe. it doesn’t make it as jarring as when DoA has So Much Happen in a small amount of time

idk I have more personal complaints about Willis, but when it comes to his actual storytelling techniques and being critical...I just kinda think at this point that DoA’s pacing was a mistake and now he’s grandfathered himself

@rhidaneelolivaw