NHS went through a lot of the same notes early one-page gag webcomics did about 15-20 years ago. Exploitation Now, Queen of Wands, etc., all went through the same stages that NHS pioneered - starting as a gag book and then growing more serious, with continuity sticking after a while.

It reflects more on the creator rather than the creation, people having the desire and urge to grow, and thus their stories grow with them.