Editing Megatokyo (section)

== Reception ==
[[File:Mt-fredart-megatokyo.png|thumb|right|The grayscale artwork in ''Megatokyo'' has received praise from critics in ''[[The New York Times]]'' and elsewhere.]]
The artwork and characterizations of ''Megatokyo'' have received praise from such publications as ''[[The New York Times]]''<ref name="NYT">{{cite web|last= Hodgman|first= John|date= July 18, 2004|work= The New York Times|title= Chronicle Comics; No More Wascally Wabbits|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/books/chronicle-comics-no-more-wascally-wabbits.html|access-date= April 11, 2006|archive-date= April 15, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100415184734/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/books/chronicle-comics-no-more-wascally-wabbits.html|url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Comics Bulletin]].<ref name = "comicsbulletin"/>  Many critics praise ''Megatokyo''{{'}}s character designs and pencil work, rendered entirely in [[grayscale]];<ref name = "Anime_News_Network"/><ref name="animatedbliss">{{cite web| title= Manga Review: ''Megatokyo'' Volume 1 | url=http://www.animatedbliss.com/REVIEWS/review.asp?TID=2342| date= February 8, 2003 | access-date=July 23, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060422074118/http://www.animatedbliss.com/REVIEWS/review.asp?TID=2342 |archive-date = April 22, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=booklist>{{cite web|year=2005 |url=http://libraries.darkhorse.com/reviews/archive.php?theid=109 |title=''Megatokyo Volume 3'' Booklist review |access-date=November 7, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060904001403/http://libraries.darkhorse.com/reviews/archive.php?theid=109 |archive-date=September 4, 2006 }}</ref> conversely, it has been criticized for perceived uniformity and simplicity in the designs of its peripheral characters, which have been regarded as confusing and difficult to tell apart due to their similar appearances.<ref name="flipped">{{cite web|last=Welsh |first=David |title=Comic World News – Flipped |url=http://www.comicworldnews.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=flipped&page=76 |access-date=July 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060723131013/http://www.comicworldnews.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi?column=flipped&page=76 |archive-date=July 23, 2006 }}</ref>

Eric Burns, on his blog ''Websnark'', said that the comic suffered from "incredibly slow pacing" (from 2000&ndash;2009, only about two months of in-universe time elapsed),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.megatokyo.com/faq |title=FAQ – How much time has passed in the story? |publisher=MegaTokyo |access-date=2009-07-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322143841/http://www.megatokyo.com/faq |archive-date=March 22, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a lack of resolution for plot threads, and an erratic update schedule. He also complained that updates should have become more frequent and consistent after Gallagher took on ''Megatokyo'' as a full-time occupation, which did not happen.<ref name = "Websnark"/>

[[IGN]] called ''Megatokyo''{{'s}} fans "some of the most patient and forgiving in the webcomic world." During an interview, Gallagher stated that ''Megatokyo'' fans "always [tell him] they are patient and find that the final comics are always worth the wait," but he feels as though he "[has] a commitment to [his] readers and to [himself] to deliver the best comics [he] can, and to do it on schedule," finally saying that nothing would make him happier than "[getting] a better handle on the time it takes to create each page." Upon missing deadlines, Gallagher often makes self-disparaging comments.<ref name=IGNinterview /> Poking fun at this, [[Jerry Holkins|Jerry "Tycho" Holkins]] of ''[[Penny Arcade]]'' has claimed to have "gotten on famously" with Gallagher, ever since he "figured out that [Gallagher] legitimately detests himself and is not hoisting some kind of ''glamour''."<ref name="pennyarcade">{{cite web|last= Holkins|first= Jerry|date= March 27, 2006|work= [[Penny Arcade]]|title= The Doujinshi Code|url= https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/03/27/the-doujinshi-code|access-date= June 12, 2022|archive-date= August 18, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220818113156/https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/03/27/the-doujinshi-code|url-status= live}}</ref>

While ''Megatokyo'' was originally presented as a [[slapstick]] comedy, it began focusing more on the romantic relationships between its characters after Caston's departure from the project. As a result, some fans, preferring the comic's [[gag-a-day]] format, have claimed its quality was superior when Caston was writing it.<ref name="timewasters">{{cite web|last= Sanderson|first= Brandon|date= June 18, 2004|title= The Official Time-Waster's Guide v3.0|url= http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=182|access-date= July 19, 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050921180619/http://www.timewastersguide.com/view.php?id=182|archive-date= September 21, 2005|url-status= dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Additionally, it has been said that, without Caston's input, Largo's antics appear contrived.<ref name="Websnark">{{cite web|last= Burns|first= Eric|date= August 22, 2004|work= Websnark|title= You Had Me, And You Lost Me: Why I don't read ''Megatokyo''|url= http://www.websnark.com/archives/2004/08/you_had_me_and.html|access-date= August 27, 2005|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051103035006/http://www.websnark.com/archives/2004/08/you_had_me_and.html|archive-date= November 3, 2005|url-status= dead}}</ref> [[Comics Bulletin]] regards ''Megatokyo''{{'s}} characters as convincingly portrayed, commenting that "the reader truly feels connected to the characters, their romantic hijinks, and their wacky misadventures with the personal touches supplied by the author."<ref name="comicsbulletin">{{cite web|last=Murray |first=Robert |date=June 28, 2006 |work=[[Comics Bulletin]] |title=''Megatokyo'' v4 Review |url=http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/115147692667364.htm |access-date=July 18, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108154748/http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/115147692667364.htm |archive-date=November 8, 2006 }}</ref> Likewise, [[Anime News Network]] has praised the personal tone in which the comic is written, stating that much of its appeal is a result of the "friendly and casual feeling of a fan-made production."<ref name="Anime_News_Network">{{cite web| title= ''Megatokyo'' Volume 1 Special Review| work= [[Anime News Network]]| url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/reviews/display.php?id=418| date= February 8, 2003| access-date= April 16, 2020| archive-date= April 15, 2005| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050415225050/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/reviews/display.php?id=418| url-status= live}}</ref>

Gallagher states early in ''Megatokyo Volume 1'' that he and Caston "didn't want the humor ... to rely too heavily on what might be considered 'obscure knowledge.{{' "}} An article in ''The New York Times'' insists that such scenarios were unavoidable, commenting that the comic "sits at the intersection of several streams of obscure knowledge," including "gaming and hacking; manga ... the boom in Web comics over the past few years; and comics themselves." The article also held that "Gallagher doesn't mean to be exclusive ... he graciously offers translation of the strip's later occasional lapses into [[l33t]] ... [and] explains why the characters are occasionally dressed in knickers or as rabbits." The newspaper went on to argue that "The pleasure of a story like ''Megatokyo'' comes not in its novelistic coherence, but in its loose ranginess."<ref name="NYT"/>

''Megatokyo'' was nominated in at least one category of the [[Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards]] every year from 2001 through 2007. It won Best Comic in 2002, as well as Best Writing, Best Serial Comic, and Best Dramatic Comic. The largest number of nominations it has received in one year is 14 [[2003 Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards|in 2003]], when it won Outstanding Environment Design.<ref>{{cite web | title= Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards (official site) | url= http://www.ccawards.com/ | access-date= July 18, 2007 | archive-date= October 6, 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131006072922/http://www.ccawards.com/ | url-status= live }}</ref> The series tied with [[Svetlana Chmakova]]'s ''[[Dramacon]]'' for the 2007 Best Continuing OEL Manga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2007BestManga.htm|title=2007 Best Continuing Manga – Top 10 Current Manga Series of 2007|first=Deb|last=Aoki|publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=November 12, 2009|archive-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707075024/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2007BestManga.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>