I suppose this is just my problem, but I figure I should point it out.
Ever read a really good book? A page turner, one you can't put down until you've finished it? Of course you have, unless you despise reading, in which case you can leave now, this isn't for you.
Now, have you ever gone back and reread the book? Not often, I bet. The frenzy of that first read isn't there the second time through, and you start spotting the flaws in the story (unless it's really good, and that does happen). Your enjoyment of the book drops because now you see it for what it really is, and perhaps it isn't that much worse, really, but compared to the first time. . .
I suffer the same problem, all thanks to my method of comic reviewing: I read the ENTIRE archive, THEN review. I call it Archive Tunnel Vision, and it basically involves missing some important element that makes or breaks a comic, a failure to see what's going on with the comic and only focusing on getting through the story.
I've had it happen a few times, the most prominent being Jack, which is where I invented the term, and The Devine Dramady, which is an issue I'll get to when I post the review for it (it's kind of embarrassing, actually). I read those comics so hard, so fast, that I failed to grasp that they weren't as good as I thought.
Jack, I caught very early, as I had some time AFTER I read the archive before posting the review, so I actually reflected my sentiments of "it was better the first time." It remains a reminder that I do need to take a bit before I post an especially glowing review. My review of Girl Genius needed this, as it is a very manic comic and without the break, I might have gushed on it too much, though it did deserve a lot of gushing.
The other problem it creates is a false sense of speed. ZAP!, for example, is updated weekly and has been for years, but I clawed through the archives in about 3 days, so it FELT faster than it's published. Now the comic simply DRAGS (now a valid complaint about the comic, incidentally). Other comics face similar problems, the pacing of a comic is, if the comic isn't updated, feels right, but once it slows down to a regular update speed it doesn't feel right any more. This is a lot of the reason you'll see a lot of short comics, rather than the long, decade+ comics here, I don't want to be thrown off by the speed of the comic.
So why don't I read a comic at its own pace? Because reviews are already on average 6 months apart (not kidding about that, BTW) and I don't want to wait a year an half to decide if it's worth the effort.
The Wild Webcomic Review is supposed to be fast, a quick jaunt to decide the worth of a webcomic. Further down the line I might give a final verdict (and you'll see that in my updated thoughts for each of my older reviews), but the the initial review is just that, my initial review. Still, I always keep Archive Tunnel Vision in mind when reading a comic, and try, hard, not to let it interfere. I'm not trying to make excuses for giving positive reviews to mediocre comics, but I do hope you understand the reasons that created them, and avoid the same problems yourself.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wild Webcomic Reviews, 6 - 10
The original batch of reviews was far more than 5. My records say there were 7 comics. The number per date has varied quite a bit over the years, but I always aim for five, I just go over sometimes.
January 2, 2003
6. 8-Bit Theater - The single funniest comic of the ones that still update (can't beat PLiF, however). Better yet, it's consistent, and makes fun of a game I put far too many hours into (it's still better than any of the sequels). Why are you still standing around, read the damn thing already. You deserve it.
August 1, 2003 - Still the funniest comic on the net. If you're not reading it, what the hell are you waiting for?
October 11, 2006 - And I still stand by those statements. Despite everything that's happened to me in the last three years since I first started reading 8-Bit, it is STILL the most consistently funny comic on the internet. Only soulless dolls don't laugh at 8-Bit Theater.
TODAY - It's almost over. How many years has it been? So many now it's funny to think that this comic might actually, finally end. And I still get a chuckle out of it every strip. I shall miss it, I really will, but I'd have to say that without 8-Bit Theater, I doubt I would have ever gotten into webcomics beyond the handful that I began with.
7. Leisure Town - Now here's a comic that will warp your fragile little minds, and you'll love it, goddamn it! First of all, it isn't drawn, at all (well, a little, mostly for "special" effects), secondly, prepare for a great string of stories about the usual, death, violence, drugs, masturbation, insanity, and love. Yes, love somehow gets in this mess. There's so much there, it'll take a while to even get through it, but it also hasn't updated since April. Damn shame, I hope it comes back soon.
October 11, 2006 - Guess what? It didn't come back. But, the artist is selling the character models online, and the entire Leisure Town archive is available for viewing (it wasn't for a while). Do yourself a favor and go read at least some of them.
TODAY - It still remains one of those surreal gems most people never hear about. I still encourage people to read it and enjoy the ride, however strange.
January 3, 2003
8. Life of Riley - Paintball nuke. I'd stop there, but there's more. This comic is the reason I started doing reviews. Originally, I just wanted to find something new to read (being bored), instead I got a new hobby. Anyways, Life of Riley isn't a bad comic, but not a great one. Occasionally, there's a spark of incredible creativity (the paintball nuke was sheer genius), but the rest of the time it's a relatively flat comic about a bunch of people who play games. It's also deeply connected with its own community (which probably reduces the impact it should have on me, as I stay away from such groups). Frankly, the thing is a cult comic, worshiped by its own members, and it gives them exactly what they want. I read it in the hopes for another spark of greatness, but it's hard to match that first great one: paintball nuke.
August 1, 2003 - They've expanded to cover the whole week, but only the original storyline held the Mon, Wed, Fri schedule. I'll have to read the Tuesday and Thursday batch someday.
October 11, 2006 - It's gone. The old url no longer works, the story ground to a halt and everything went up in smoke. I actually managed to get caught up with it, and it targeted off into some flashback and then poof. Am I sad to see it go? Well, kind of. I want to read about the paintball nuke again.
March 8, 2007 - Someone went through and uploaded the archive again. Link updated.
TODAY - I keep meaning to reread this comic and see how it really holds up, but I just haven't. Maybe later. Still, it's nice the archives are available again, may they stay up for a while.
9. Jack - Oh boy, this is a hard one. On one hand, it's got an interesting premise, the afterlife and how people die and such, on the other hand, oh boy. Not for the kiddies, or possibly even the adults in the audience. The artist is what's called a Furry, people who get off on, well, just look at it and you can take a guess. It's a fetish, and I suppose that's okay, but as you read this comic, keep in mind what some people are doing to the same thing you're reading. Now you get the idea of the problem I face. It's got some great ideas, and occasionally pulls them off. The rest of the time it's, well, not quite right. It's also depressing as all hell (meant in every sense). It's also where I learned the horrors of "archive tunnel vision." Initially, I thought it was better than it is, then the site went down for a couple of weeks just after I completed the archive. With reflection, I don't need it, and don't have it on my "must visit" list. In fact, once I'm finished here, I'm deleting it from my bookmarks. If you can look past the art, you'll find something nice, otherwise, stay clear.
October 11, 2006 - I still haven't read it again. I know it moved off of Keen, but I'll be damned if I know where it went. Life goes on, but without Jack.
TODAY - Found it, pretty easy to find, honestly, and I fixed the link. I still don't know what to think about the comic, but I'll probably stay away for now, I have other comics to read.
10. Megatokyo - I can see why people absolutely love this comic. Some of that, however, irks me, starting with the ieet speak. But let's get beyond my little pet peeves, shall we? It's not a bad comic at all, but it suffers from a kind of "split personality" disorder. You can even see the point where the split occurred, and it hasn't healed yet. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however I get a feeling that eventually one of the two lines will be forced to collapse into the other, removing my only reason for reading it (the Largo storyline is some much more interesting than Piro's girl problems). Maybe it can sustain it for a while, though, and maybe a re-merger can occur, if it does. I don't see it happening though. The end will be short and violent, and I'll stop reading it at that point. Until then, I'll have to suffer through one storyline so I can read the other.
August 1, 2003 - They finally merged the storylines, to no effect. So much so, I dumped it earlier today. It's just not interesting anymore.
October 11, 2006 - People still go gaga over this comic, or so I hear. I haven't read it in years, and have no plans to.
TODAY - Last thing I heard about this comic was something about Godzilla being turned into a zombie. Yeah, I'm not missing much, am I?
Again, only one of these comics remains on my active read list. I'd do the math, but I imagine that's probably par for me. Let's see if the next section has an birdie or two (Answer: A surprising yes!).
Until next time kiddies.
January 2, 2003
6. 8-Bit Theater - The single funniest comic of the ones that still update (can't beat PLiF, however). Better yet, it's consistent, and makes fun of a game I put far too many hours into (it's still better than any of the sequels). Why are you still standing around, read the damn thing already. You deserve it.
August 1, 2003 - Still the funniest comic on the net. If you're not reading it, what the hell are you waiting for?
October 11, 2006 - And I still stand by those statements. Despite everything that's happened to me in the last three years since I first started reading 8-Bit, it is STILL the most consistently funny comic on the internet. Only soulless dolls don't laugh at 8-Bit Theater.
TODAY - It's almost over. How many years has it been? So many now it's funny to think that this comic might actually, finally end. And I still get a chuckle out of it every strip. I shall miss it, I really will, but I'd have to say that without 8-Bit Theater, I doubt I would have ever gotten into webcomics beyond the handful that I began with.
7. Leisure Town - Now here's a comic that will warp your fragile little minds, and you'll love it, goddamn it! First of all, it isn't drawn, at all (well, a little, mostly for "special" effects), secondly, prepare for a great string of stories about the usual, death, violence, drugs, masturbation, insanity, and love. Yes, love somehow gets in this mess. There's so much there, it'll take a while to even get through it, but it also hasn't updated since April. Damn shame, I hope it comes back soon.
October 11, 2006 - Guess what? It didn't come back. But, the artist is selling the character models online, and the entire Leisure Town archive is available for viewing (it wasn't for a while). Do yourself a favor and go read at least some of them.
TODAY - It still remains one of those surreal gems most people never hear about. I still encourage people to read it and enjoy the ride, however strange.
January 3, 2003
8. Life of Riley - Paintball nuke. I'd stop there, but there's more. This comic is the reason I started doing reviews. Originally, I just wanted to find something new to read (being bored), instead I got a new hobby. Anyways, Life of Riley isn't a bad comic, but not a great one. Occasionally, there's a spark of incredible creativity (the paintball nuke was sheer genius), but the rest of the time it's a relatively flat comic about a bunch of people who play games. It's also deeply connected with its own community (which probably reduces the impact it should have on me, as I stay away from such groups). Frankly, the thing is a cult comic, worshiped by its own members, and it gives them exactly what they want. I read it in the hopes for another spark of greatness, but it's hard to match that first great one: paintball nuke.
August 1, 2003 - They've expanded to cover the whole week, but only the original storyline held the Mon, Wed, Fri schedule. I'll have to read the Tuesday and Thursday batch someday.
October 11, 2006 - It's gone. The old url no longer works, the story ground to a halt and everything went up in smoke. I actually managed to get caught up with it, and it targeted off into some flashback and then poof. Am I sad to see it go? Well, kind of. I want to read about the paintball nuke again.
March 8, 2007 - Someone went through and uploaded the archive again. Link updated.
TODAY - I keep meaning to reread this comic and see how it really holds up, but I just haven't. Maybe later. Still, it's nice the archives are available again, may they stay up for a while.
9. Jack - Oh boy, this is a hard one. On one hand, it's got an interesting premise, the afterlife and how people die and such, on the other hand, oh boy. Not for the kiddies, or possibly even the adults in the audience. The artist is what's called a Furry, people who get off on, well, just look at it and you can take a guess. It's a fetish, and I suppose that's okay, but as you read this comic, keep in mind what some people are doing to the same thing you're reading. Now you get the idea of the problem I face. It's got some great ideas, and occasionally pulls them off. The rest of the time it's, well, not quite right. It's also depressing as all hell (meant in every sense). It's also where I learned the horrors of "archive tunnel vision." Initially, I thought it was better than it is, then the site went down for a couple of weeks just after I completed the archive. With reflection, I don't need it, and don't have it on my "must visit" list. In fact, once I'm finished here, I'm deleting it from my bookmarks. If you can look past the art, you'll find something nice, otherwise, stay clear.
October 11, 2006 - I still haven't read it again. I know it moved off of Keen, but I'll be damned if I know where it went. Life goes on, but without Jack.
TODAY - Found it, pretty easy to find, honestly, and I fixed the link. I still don't know what to think about the comic, but I'll probably stay away for now, I have other comics to read.
10. Megatokyo - I can see why people absolutely love this comic. Some of that, however, irks me, starting with the ieet speak. But let's get beyond my little pet peeves, shall we? It's not a bad comic at all, but it suffers from a kind of "split personality" disorder. You can even see the point where the split occurred, and it hasn't healed yet. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however I get a feeling that eventually one of the two lines will be forced to collapse into the other, removing my only reason for reading it (the Largo storyline is some much more interesting than Piro's girl problems). Maybe it can sustain it for a while, though, and maybe a re-merger can occur, if it does. I don't see it happening though. The end will be short and violent, and I'll stop reading it at that point. Until then, I'll have to suffer through one storyline so I can read the other.
August 1, 2003 - They finally merged the storylines, to no effect. So much so, I dumped it earlier today. It's just not interesting anymore.
October 11, 2006 - People still go gaga over this comic, or so I hear. I haven't read it in years, and have no plans to.
TODAY - Last thing I heard about this comic was something about Godzilla being turned into a zombie. Yeah, I'm not missing much, am I?
Again, only one of these comics remains on my active read list. I'd do the math, but I imagine that's probably par for me. Let's see if the next section has an birdie or two (Answer: A surprising yes!).
Until next time kiddies.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Death By Hiatus
There is a disease that holds the entire webcomic community in fear. It could strike anytime, anywhere. Hundreds have fallen to it, and more likely will. You could be next, it is:
DEATH BY HIATUS!
Which is more dramatic sounding that it really is, sadly enough.
Webcomics, unlike their newspaper counterparts, die. They die in a number of ways, but the vast majority will go on for a few years, then pass away. This isn't a bad thing, how many of the comics in papers are over 50 years old? Yeah, that many. With webcomics generally being a very personal work, once the artist dies or grows bored with it, the comic is done.
Some comics die of "natural causes." AKA the artist ends them. Parking Lot is Full, the Call of Whatever and most recently Scary Go Round were ended by their respective artists for many reasons, but mostly because they wanted to move on to something else. Thus the comics end, usually wrapping up whatever plots they have in a nice, effective way.
Then there are some where the artist gives up on a comic. The result is similar to natural causes, but getting a text version of what happened is the best one can hope for. Timescapes, Return to Sender, and Avalon (the last one had a text completion) are examples here, and while it is sad, often this is the best thing for these comics.
But most comics, when they die, they are killed by hiatus. Hiatus means "taking a break," basically, which is fine. Many comics, even the most popular ones, take breaks that last a week or so, time to go to a convention or on a vacation trip or something like that. Often, however, the artist, claiming every intention of coming back, never does. There's no update on status, no "sorry," nothing. Daily checks slowly shift down to weekly and eventually no checks at all, and the comic basically ceases to be.
The number of comics that this has happened to is frightfully large, and infuriating. Yes, it pisses me off, as a great many of them are actually pretty good, and they simply stop. So why? Why does it happen? At least TELL us the comic isn't going to update any more, give us a reason, medical, insanity, you lost your arm in a bar fight, I don't care, just tell us why!
On rare, very rare, occasions, a comic does come back from hiatus death. Sea of Insanity was dead for almost 2 YEARS when it suddenly started updating again. It was shocking, but it happened. Some comics SEEM to go into hiatus, but really have just really long periods between updates like No Rest for the Wicked. These are exceptions that prove the rule though, when a comic goes into hiatus, it typically never comes back.
There are warning signs, though, and keep these in mind as you read your favorite comic:
1 - Missed updates. The comic is supposed to update M-W-F, but the artist starts missing updates, shifting them to Tuesday or Thursday, and never says exactly why.
2 - Complex art and frequent updates. They don't mix, the more detailed the art, especially in a young comic, the less likely they'll make their daily updates. And the more updates they miss, the more likely you'll be in number 1.
3 - Complaints about school. Most comics are started by students, college or high school, and as school gets harder and requires more work (and it does), the less likely the comic will update.
4 - Comments about mental disorders. I know artists have a tendency to be a little nuts, but when they start talking about it, expect an extended period of hiatus to strike, possibly a fatal one.
Even with these signs that something might be wrong, hiatus can strike at any time, because the law of the internet is this: Real Life comes first.
And now, a memorial to comics that hiatus has taken well before their times:
And these are only the ones I've read. There are more, many more.
Until next time kids.
DEATH BY HIATUS!
Which is more dramatic sounding that it really is, sadly enough.
Webcomics, unlike their newspaper counterparts, die. They die in a number of ways, but the vast majority will go on for a few years, then pass away. This isn't a bad thing, how many of the comics in papers are over 50 years old? Yeah, that many. With webcomics generally being a very personal work, once the artist dies or grows bored with it, the comic is done.
Some comics die of "natural causes." AKA the artist ends them. Parking Lot is Full, the Call of Whatever and most recently Scary Go Round were ended by their respective artists for many reasons, but mostly because they wanted to move on to something else. Thus the comics end, usually wrapping up whatever plots they have in a nice, effective way.
Then there are some where the artist gives up on a comic. The result is similar to natural causes, but getting a text version of what happened is the best one can hope for. Timescapes, Return to Sender, and Avalon (the last one had a text completion) are examples here, and while it is sad, often this is the best thing for these comics.
But most comics, when they die, they are killed by hiatus. Hiatus means "taking a break," basically, which is fine. Many comics, even the most popular ones, take breaks that last a week or so, time to go to a convention or on a vacation trip or something like that. Often, however, the artist, claiming every intention of coming back, never does. There's no update on status, no "sorry," nothing. Daily checks slowly shift down to weekly and eventually no checks at all, and the comic basically ceases to be.
The number of comics that this has happened to is frightfully large, and infuriating. Yes, it pisses me off, as a great many of them are actually pretty good, and they simply stop. So why? Why does it happen? At least TELL us the comic isn't going to update any more, give us a reason, medical, insanity, you lost your arm in a bar fight, I don't care, just tell us why!
On rare, very rare, occasions, a comic does come back from hiatus death. Sea of Insanity was dead for almost 2 YEARS when it suddenly started updating again. It was shocking, but it happened. Some comics SEEM to go into hiatus, but really have just really long periods between updates like No Rest for the Wicked. These are exceptions that prove the rule though, when a comic goes into hiatus, it typically never comes back.
There are warning signs, though, and keep these in mind as you read your favorite comic:
1 - Missed updates. The comic is supposed to update M-W-F, but the artist starts missing updates, shifting them to Tuesday or Thursday, and never says exactly why.
2 - Complex art and frequent updates. They don't mix, the more detailed the art, especially in a young comic, the less likely they'll make their daily updates. And the more updates they miss, the more likely you'll be in number 1.
3 - Complaints about school. Most comics are started by students, college or high school, and as school gets harder and requires more work (and it does), the less likely the comic will update.
4 - Comments about mental disorders. I know artists have a tendency to be a little nuts, but when they start talking about it, expect an extended period of hiatus to strike, possibly a fatal one.
Even with these signs that something might be wrong, hiatus can strike at any time, because the law of the internet is this: Real Life comes first.
And now, a memorial to comics that hiatus has taken well before their times:
Anne Frank Conquers the Moon Nazis
Ashita and Yesterday
Firstborn
Gin and the Devil
girl/robot
I Am Rocket Builder
Life of Riley
Mad About U.
No 4th Wall to Break
One-Liners
Ordinary Day
Panel One
Porridge Cooling Darkly
Road Waffles
Rugg
Schoolbooks and Brimstone
Strange Case
Spamusement
The Broken Mirror
The Pretentious History of Everything
Too Late to Run
Voices in My Hand
Ashita and Yesterday
Firstborn
Gin and the Devil
girl/robot
I Am Rocket Builder
Life of Riley
Mad About U.
No 4th Wall to Break
One-Liners
Ordinary Day
Panel One
Porridge Cooling Darkly
Road Waffles
Rugg
Schoolbooks and Brimstone
Strange Case
Spamusement
The Broken Mirror
The Pretentious History of Everything
Too Late to Run
Voices in My Hand
And these are only the ones I've read. There are more, many more.
Until next time kids.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
300 Wild Webcomic Review
"You're seriously using that tired old meme? This is madness."
"No, this is
THE WILD WEBCOMIC REVIEW!
And luckily, you don't have to die for it."
Yes, here I am with another 5 (see, no 7 this time) webcomic reviews. I probably should do 6 next time, just so I can end on a 5 or 0, but eh. Anyway, here we go:
180. Worst of the Time Lords - Yeah, those Time Lords. It's one part parody, one part primer, and one part homage to the entire Doctor Who franchise, though most of the focus is on the most recent series. So that means if you haven't seen it yet (and if you're a fan, why wouldn't you?) then you probably should avoid it for all the spoilers contained therein. If you have seen it, or have no intention of doing so, then by all means, go for it. It's only 260 strips long (they ended it after a year) so it's a relatively quick read. Nothing wrong with that, it's still fun, especially if you are a fan. So go on already.
181. Return to Green Hollow - This is a short, fairy tale comic. Short as in it's done, fairy tale as in, well, some kind of fairy tale. My only complaint is that when I reached the end (which was a natural end, BTW), I was pissed that it didn't keep going. Still, I understand WHY it stopped, I just kind of which it hadn't. Still, for a short comic, it's very well drawn, the story is compelling and I was interested enough to want it to keep going, so it has all that. Short, sweet, and worth the small amount of effort needed to go through it.
182. Conny Van Ehlsing, Monster Hunter - A while ago, I did a review for a comic called Kristy Vs the Zombie Army which was a fun comic with a great name. Well, that's been on hiatus since last year (meaning it's probably dead), so Conny here has stepped up to the plate. I think it's more interesting than Kristy, but Kristy was more fun, which honestly hurts neither comic. The art doesn't feel as "clean" as other comics, but it fits the tone of the strip much more than it would probably in others. The story is a little girl challenging the monsters no one else can see (or wants to see). I enjoyed it, though I'm not sure everyone else will, for one reason or another. Give it a try at least.
183. Aptitude Test - This comic started as a 3 chapter novel comic about one of those aptitude tests that they sometimes give in school (I never actually took one, probably would have said "internet dork" if I had) and the things that happened afterwards. Then it kept on going. The initial comic is actually very good, well thought out and writen, probably an ideal one shot comic. And it really doesn't quite let up despite continuing beyond the original finish point. Yes, there are more characters and new stories have to be generated with them, but I think it's quite fitting and doesn't break the original characters at all, which is something that could have happened. Fun and worth the time.
184. Girl Genius - Girl Genius has been in my Future Reads folder for a long, long time. Why did it take so long to get to? Lenght. The comic is HUGE, and if you hadn't noticed, the other 4 in just this review set probably doesn't have more than 500 strips between them. Girl Genius has strips from as far back as 2002, 3 times a week, meaning well over 1000 strips, and big ones too. So it took longer, and it is worth it. It's manic, funny, and has a epic storyline that practically defines the term. My only problem is the characters. Oh, they're fine, it's just there's no concept of "subtle character development" in this comic. Hell, I don't think there's a subtle moment in the entire comic, it is VERY manic with just about everything it does (of course, it is a world run by mad science, so I suppose that makes sense). The thing is, you never get any quiet, or low key at least, moments when characters can show that they've changed or grown in some subtle way. It's not necessary, honestly, and the comic is just fine without it, but I'd love to see a bit of it. Which is probably impossible because of my other problem with the characters: There are so damn many. There's at least 100 or more named characters (or it feels like it at least), all of which play their roles, but keeping track of them is a pain in the ass. Near the end of the archives, I couldn't remember who one character, that suddenly showed up out of nowhere, actually was, or where he came from. Once it was explained, I was fine with it (didn't help they implied he was dead), but until then, I was confused. Still, it's a good, fun read and worth the time it took to read the damn thing.
Well, that's it for this week. There will probably be a lull in new comic updates for a bit, but in the meantime I will continue to post old updates with my current thoughts. Until then kiddies.
"No, this is
THE WILD WEBCOMIC REVIEW!
And luckily, you don't have to die for it."
Yes, here I am with another 5 (see, no 7 this time) webcomic reviews. I probably should do 6 next time, just so I can end on a 5 or 0, but eh. Anyway, here we go:
180. Worst of the Time Lords - Yeah, those Time Lords. It's one part parody, one part primer, and one part homage to the entire Doctor Who franchise, though most of the focus is on the most recent series. So that means if you haven't seen it yet (and if you're a fan, why wouldn't you?) then you probably should avoid it for all the spoilers contained therein. If you have seen it, or have no intention of doing so, then by all means, go for it. It's only 260 strips long (they ended it after a year) so it's a relatively quick read. Nothing wrong with that, it's still fun, especially if you are a fan. So go on already.
181. Return to Green Hollow - This is a short, fairy tale comic. Short as in it's done, fairy tale as in, well, some kind of fairy tale. My only complaint is that when I reached the end (which was a natural end, BTW), I was pissed that it didn't keep going. Still, I understand WHY it stopped, I just kind of which it hadn't. Still, for a short comic, it's very well drawn, the story is compelling and I was interested enough to want it to keep going, so it has all that. Short, sweet, and worth the small amount of effort needed to go through it.
182. Conny Van Ehlsing, Monster Hunter - A while ago, I did a review for a comic called Kristy Vs the Zombie Army which was a fun comic with a great name. Well, that's been on hiatus since last year (meaning it's probably dead), so Conny here has stepped up to the plate. I think it's more interesting than Kristy, but Kristy was more fun, which honestly hurts neither comic. The art doesn't feel as "clean" as other comics, but it fits the tone of the strip much more than it would probably in others. The story is a little girl challenging the monsters no one else can see (or wants to see). I enjoyed it, though I'm not sure everyone else will, for one reason or another. Give it a try at least.
183. Aptitude Test - This comic started as a 3 chapter novel comic about one of those aptitude tests that they sometimes give in school (I never actually took one, probably would have said "internet dork" if I had) and the things that happened afterwards. Then it kept on going. The initial comic is actually very good, well thought out and writen, probably an ideal one shot comic. And it really doesn't quite let up despite continuing beyond the original finish point. Yes, there are more characters and new stories have to be generated with them, but I think it's quite fitting and doesn't break the original characters at all, which is something that could have happened. Fun and worth the time.
184. Girl Genius - Girl Genius has been in my Future Reads folder for a long, long time. Why did it take so long to get to? Lenght. The comic is HUGE, and if you hadn't noticed, the other 4 in just this review set probably doesn't have more than 500 strips between them. Girl Genius has strips from as far back as 2002, 3 times a week, meaning well over 1000 strips, and big ones too. So it took longer, and it is worth it. It's manic, funny, and has a epic storyline that practically defines the term. My only problem is the characters. Oh, they're fine, it's just there's no concept of "subtle character development" in this comic. Hell, I don't think there's a subtle moment in the entire comic, it is VERY manic with just about everything it does (of course, it is a world run by mad science, so I suppose that makes sense). The thing is, you never get any quiet, or low key at least, moments when characters can show that they've changed or grown in some subtle way. It's not necessary, honestly, and the comic is just fine without it, but I'd love to see a bit of it. Which is probably impossible because of my other problem with the characters: There are so damn many. There's at least 100 or more named characters (or it feels like it at least), all of which play their roles, but keeping track of them is a pain in the ass. Near the end of the archives, I couldn't remember who one character, that suddenly showed up out of nowhere, actually was, or where he came from. Once it was explained, I was fine with it (didn't help they implied he was dead), but until then, I was confused. Still, it's a good, fun read and worth the time it took to read the damn thing.
Well, that's it for this week. There will probably be a lull in new comic updates for a bit, but in the meantime I will continue to post old updates with my current thoughts. Until then kiddies.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The List to Your Right
If you haven't noticed it by now, please direct your attention to the list of comics on your right.
This is my list of my "current reads." I review all the comics I read regularly, and so each of these has "survived" my review process and have found themselves in one of these honored categories in my bookmarks.
Which basically means I like reading these and still do.
That said, don't trust the subtitles there. M-W-F does indeed mean Monday-Wednesday-Friday, but that's not necessarily when the comic updates. Those headings generally just mean when I check those comics.
For example, Wapsi Square and Book of Biff don't update everyday, but only on Monday-Friday, but that's more frequent than the other three categories, so they get put under daily. But comics like Achewood, which actually only seems to update once a week, still sit in the Daily spot because I'm to lazy to move them. Others, like The Meek have varying update schedules (was three times a week for a while and now is back to once a week) so they are in places that don't even match their actual update schedules.
And let's not get into some of the weekly comics, madness lies there.
The vast majority of comics I read do, eventually, find a spot in my current read list, at least for a little while. Some even leave the list only to return later as the comics status (and possibly style) changes.
The rest of the comics end up in one of three categories:
Hiatus: Which is another way of saying "they haven't updated in forever, but I haven't given up on them yet."
Dead Comics: Which means "I have given up on them," or "they were like that when I got here." Damn, I seem to say that too often.
And finally, Non-Reads: Comics I don't read for one reason or another.
Most comics end up in the Dead category, but Non-Reads can also be dead ones, I just don't read them so I don't know.
There are two other categories, and they happen to be my favorites: Future Reads and TBReviwed. These are where the new comics come from. I spot a link or an ad, look over the initial strip and then bookmark them if it looks like I might be interested. Right now there are about 20 strips in my Future Read folder, and I usually add one every couple of weeks, so I'm not without comics to read, but I always take recommendations (unless you ask for Penny Arcade).
So I won't be posting those comics on part of my current read list as it would just make that sidebar far more cluttered than I would like. In any case, I do read THESE comics, so I have to recommend each and every one of them, at least a little. As I post the reviews, you'll see my specific opinions on each one, but please feel free to form your own with my token recommendation.
Well anyway, I know I should post something more substantial for my weekly examination, but since I often use my current reads as my references for things. . .
Ah, who am I kidding, I'm just showing off all the comics I read. Anyway, next week will likely have 5 new reviews and an actual decent article, with the ominous title "Death by Hiatus." Until then kiddies.
This is my list of my "current reads." I review all the comics I read regularly, and so each of these has "survived" my review process and have found themselves in one of these honored categories in my bookmarks.
Which basically means I like reading these and still do.
That said, don't trust the subtitles there. M-W-F does indeed mean Monday-Wednesday-Friday, but that's not necessarily when the comic updates. Those headings generally just mean when I check those comics.
For example, Wapsi Square and Book of Biff don't update everyday, but only on Monday-Friday, but that's more frequent than the other three categories, so they get put under daily. But comics like Achewood, which actually only seems to update once a week, still sit in the Daily spot because I'm to lazy to move them. Others, like The Meek have varying update schedules (was three times a week for a while and now is back to once a week) so they are in places that don't even match their actual update schedules.
And let's not get into some of the weekly comics, madness lies there.
The vast majority of comics I read do, eventually, find a spot in my current read list, at least for a little while. Some even leave the list only to return later as the comics status (and possibly style) changes.
The rest of the comics end up in one of three categories:
Hiatus: Which is another way of saying "they haven't updated in forever, but I haven't given up on them yet."
Dead Comics: Which means "I have given up on them," or "they were like that when I got here." Damn, I seem to say that too often.
And finally, Non-Reads: Comics I don't read for one reason or another.
Most comics end up in the Dead category, but Non-Reads can also be dead ones, I just don't read them so I don't know.
There are two other categories, and they happen to be my favorites: Future Reads and TBReviwed. These are where the new comics come from. I spot a link or an ad, look over the initial strip and then bookmark them if it looks like I might be interested. Right now there are about 20 strips in my Future Read folder, and I usually add one every couple of weeks, so I'm not without comics to read, but I always take recommendations (unless you ask for Penny Arcade).
So I won't be posting those comics on part of my current read list as it would just make that sidebar far more cluttered than I would like. In any case, I do read THESE comics, so I have to recommend each and every one of them, at least a little. As I post the reviews, you'll see my specific opinions on each one, but please feel free to form your own with my token recommendation.
Well anyway, I know I should post something more substantial for my weekly examination, but since I often use my current reads as my references for things. . .
Ah, who am I kidding, I'm just showing off all the comics I read. Anyway, next week will likely have 5 new reviews and an actual decent article, with the ominous title "Death by Hiatus." Until then kiddies.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wild Webcoimc Reviews, 1 - 5
It all started more than 6 years ago now. For this blog, I shall be adding some extra comments, and considering how long these "extra" comments are getting, it'll probably be the last time for many of these.
January 2, 2003
1. The Parking Lot is Full - Expect to see a few dead comics on this list, some of these are the best of the batch. And PLiF is my all time favorite. Not a pure webcomic (it was actually published in a periodical for a while), but it blows most of ones I'll review out of the water. The only comic I've ever found that can truly fill the shoes of the Far Side. They stopped making it about a year or two ago, but the archives are still there in all their glory. Read this comic, or die without truly ever living.
October 11, 2006 - Still one of the best. Has there been any comic that has even come close? No, not at all. But there is some good news, they've actually added older comics to the archive. That's right, there are sort of new strips. It's from the early days, but you might as well go enjoy them, it might make up for the complete lack of PLiF over the last few years.
TODAY - There really isn't much to add. There have been pretenders to the throne of PLiF, but none have ever actually taken the crown.
2. Sluggy Freelance - Did you honestly believe this wouldn't be on here? You poor deluded fools. Probably the first true webcomic I had the pleasure (and insanity) to read, in a virtual marathon 4 day session. Was it worth it? Hell yes! The granddaddy of comics, it's got something for nearly everybody, and if doesn't have it yet, it will. My only issue is that I think that its time for Pete to start thinking about ending the thing. It's a great comic, but going out on top is the only way to go. I don't want to see it crumble too much before it dies.
August 1, 2003 - All round, probably the best comic on the internet. Like 8-Bit and Errant Story, a must read.
October 11, 2006 - Four years on and it's still in production. So much for trying to convince him to end it without him knowing who I am. My tastes in webcomics have changed slightly, so I wouldn't say Sluggy is the best any more, but it is the quintessential webcomic. Everything that a webcomic is or can be is more or less wrapped up inside of Sluggy Freelance, from the greatest heights to the most spectacular of failures. If you want to know what webcomics really are, just read this one. Hell, it's actually enjoyable too.
TODAY - And it still remains that. As I write my examinations, I have a feeling I'll often point to Sluggy Freelance for examples of what to do, and what not to do, with a webcomic.
3. Jerkcity - This is a stupid comic, it even admits it. But it's also strangely alluring, especially after you're an avid reader of Old Man Murray forums (before it closed, now go to Caltrops). It's not nice, but it isn't explicitly vulgar, and one has to wonder if there's something in them that you're not getting. Don't bother with the archive, most of the jokes are the same comic to comic, but are occasionally useful during a flame war.
August 1, 2003 - Still stupid, yet I continue to read it. I don't know why.
October 11, 2006 - Still stupid, not reading it. It's not that the comic got bad, it's just that it's the same joke told every day. It does get old. I've moved on to better comics, but Jerkcity will always be one of those comics I remember.
TODAY - Again, not much to say, I will remember the comic, but only as it really didn't change much over the course of its continued existance. Don't expect much from it, but it is what it is, and let us leave it at that.
4. General Protection Fault - It started as a pure hearted geek comic, evolved into something more, screwed that up, and fell back to where it belonged. Fun to read early on (with far too many geek jokes that I got, and that scares me), then he went and did his big story, which sucked! Jeff, my friend, DON'T DO IT AGAIN! Not like that anyway. I nearly stopped reading it over that thing. GPF's still not back up to where it was, but I'll stick with it for a while longer. For now.
August 1, 2003 - Gone. During and after Serendipitous Machines, the whole strip took a nose dive in humor and story. All the fun that was there early on disappeared in a flash of time travel. Even the Matrix/Tron/Reboot parody couldn't save it.
October 11, 2006 - Still haven't gone back to read it. I see ads for it once in a while, but I've never gone back. I hear he's doing a sequel to Serendipitous Machines, maybe he learned his lesson. Probably not.
TODAY - Jerkcity I stopped reading because there was nothing new. PLiF just died. But GPF is the first comic (as these reviews are generally in order of when I read them) that ever turned me away from it. I could, perhaps, give it another chance, but I probably won't. I've got enough comics on my plate, I don't need to worry about another one.
5. exploding dog - i wouldn't call this a comic, but i'm not sure if it's art either. the premise is simple, you send in a phrase or word, and the guy draws it. sort of. kind of. just go look at it, you'll understand. be ready for some strange things though (including a joke i've used in this entire review, see if you can guess it).
august 1, 2003 - riding the line between art and, er, something.
october 11, 2006 - i don't know why, but i just stopped reading it. probably the same reason jerkcity flee off my daily radar. it's just the same thing over and over again. doesn't make it any less surreal, but i moved on.
today - it is the same reason as i stopped reading jerkcity, nothing new. that's nothing against the comic, it is what it is, but i just don't have the time or enegry to spend on it any more. also, do you see the joke in the review for it?
Out of the first five comics, only one remains on my read list. Considering I've read about 180 comics, and there's no way I can follow them all forever, I suppose that's quite alright.
Well, that's it for this. I need to go read some more comics for a proper update in the future (as in, whenever I get done reading them), so see you next time.
January 2, 2003
1. The Parking Lot is Full - Expect to see a few dead comics on this list, some of these are the best of the batch. And PLiF is my all time favorite. Not a pure webcomic (it was actually published in a periodical for a while), but it blows most of ones I'll review out of the water. The only comic I've ever found that can truly fill the shoes of the Far Side. They stopped making it about a year or two ago, but the archives are still there in all their glory. Read this comic, or die without truly ever living.
October 11, 2006 - Still one of the best. Has there been any comic that has even come close? No, not at all. But there is some good news, they've actually added older comics to the archive. That's right, there are sort of new strips. It's from the early days, but you might as well go enjoy them, it might make up for the complete lack of PLiF over the last few years.
TODAY - There really isn't much to add. There have been pretenders to the throne of PLiF, but none have ever actually taken the crown.
2. Sluggy Freelance - Did you honestly believe this wouldn't be on here? You poor deluded fools. Probably the first true webcomic I had the pleasure (and insanity) to read, in a virtual marathon 4 day session. Was it worth it? Hell yes! The granddaddy of comics, it's got something for nearly everybody, and if doesn't have it yet, it will. My only issue is that I think that its time for Pete to start thinking about ending the thing. It's a great comic, but going out on top is the only way to go. I don't want to see it crumble too much before it dies.
August 1, 2003 - All round, probably the best comic on the internet. Like 8-Bit and Errant Story, a must read.
October 11, 2006 - Four years on and it's still in production. So much for trying to convince him to end it without him knowing who I am. My tastes in webcomics have changed slightly, so I wouldn't say Sluggy is the best any more, but it is the quintessential webcomic. Everything that a webcomic is or can be is more or less wrapped up inside of Sluggy Freelance, from the greatest heights to the most spectacular of failures. If you want to know what webcomics really are, just read this one. Hell, it's actually enjoyable too.
TODAY - And it still remains that. As I write my examinations, I have a feeling I'll often point to Sluggy Freelance for examples of what to do, and what not to do, with a webcomic.
3. Jerkcity - This is a stupid comic, it even admits it. But it's also strangely alluring, especially after you're an avid reader of Old Man Murray forums (before it closed, now go to Caltrops). It's not nice, but it isn't explicitly vulgar, and one has to wonder if there's something in them that you're not getting. Don't bother with the archive, most of the jokes are the same comic to comic, but are occasionally useful during a flame war.
August 1, 2003 - Still stupid, yet I continue to read it. I don't know why.
October 11, 2006 - Still stupid, not reading it. It's not that the comic got bad, it's just that it's the same joke told every day. It does get old. I've moved on to better comics, but Jerkcity will always be one of those comics I remember.
TODAY - Again, not much to say, I will remember the comic, but only as it really didn't change much over the course of its continued existance. Don't expect much from it, but it is what it is, and let us leave it at that.
4. General Protection Fault - It started as a pure hearted geek comic, evolved into something more, screwed that up, and fell back to where it belonged. Fun to read early on (with far too many geek jokes that I got, and that scares me), then he went and did his big story, which sucked! Jeff, my friend, DON'T DO IT AGAIN! Not like that anyway. I nearly stopped reading it over that thing. GPF's still not back up to where it was, but I'll stick with it for a while longer. For now.
August 1, 2003 - Gone. During and after Serendipitous Machines, the whole strip took a nose dive in humor and story. All the fun that was there early on disappeared in a flash of time travel. Even the Matrix/Tron/Reboot parody couldn't save it.
October 11, 2006 - Still haven't gone back to read it. I see ads for it once in a while, but I've never gone back. I hear he's doing a sequel to Serendipitous Machines, maybe he learned his lesson. Probably not.
TODAY - Jerkcity I stopped reading because there was nothing new. PLiF just died. But GPF is the first comic (as these reviews are generally in order of when I read them) that ever turned me away from it. I could, perhaps, give it another chance, but I probably won't. I've got enough comics on my plate, I don't need to worry about another one.
5. exploding dog - i wouldn't call this a comic, but i'm not sure if it's art either. the premise is simple, you send in a phrase or word, and the guy draws it. sort of. kind of. just go look at it, you'll understand. be ready for some strange things though (including a joke i've used in this entire review, see if you can guess it).
august 1, 2003 - riding the line between art and, er, something.
october 11, 2006 - i don't know why, but i just stopped reading it. probably the same reason jerkcity flee off my daily radar. it's just the same thing over and over again. doesn't make it any less surreal, but i moved on.
today - it is the same reason as i stopped reading jerkcity, nothing new. that's nothing against the comic, it is what it is, but i just don't have the time or enegry to spend on it any more. also, do you see the joke in the review for it?
Out of the first five comics, only one remains on my read list. Considering I've read about 180 comics, and there's no way I can follow them all forever, I suppose that's quite alright.
Well, that's it for this. I need to go read some more comics for a proper update in the future (as in, whenever I get done reading them), so see you next time.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Webcomic Catagories
As my first examination article on webcomics, I'm going to divide them into catagories. Four catagories to be exact. Before I go much further, please keep in mind that not all comics will fit neatly into any one of these catagories, and several cross or straddle the lines between them. But that's alright, because they do fit there in one way or the other.
So without further adu:
Classic Comics
The most basic and common comic is the Classic Comic. These are basically the strips you find in the funny pages of your local newspaper, only posted on the internet. Typically these comics tell a joke within 1-4 panels, each time, everytime. If there are 'stories' they are usually limited to short one or two week arcs and when they're over, they rearly, if ever, have any continued effect on the comic.
And this is probably the most common of all comics. When a person starts doing webcomics, they generally want to do comics that appear in papers, so these are everywhere, and they often die first. It really is hard to come up with a good joke everyday. Just read the comics page, and you'll see what I mean.
Probably the best example is Sinfest, which at one point advertised how many times it had been rejected by the Syndcates (companies that run the comics page). There are many, many others, of course, and to list them all would take a while, so I won't.
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics are like Classic Comics, only with much longer story arcs and are far less likely to have daily jokes. Typically the focus on a group of friends, relations or whatnot that go on, well, adventures through their world. Maybe they'll be fighting demons with puns, sealing vortecies of evil or racing cross country. Usually there's some "weird" element either within the group or in the world that dictates the play of events. The arcs aren't terribly long (a few months worth, depending on the update schedule of the comic) but certianly not short and quick.
Frequently, they evolve from a Classic Comic. This is more the result of the artist discovering that doing a Classic Comic is very hard, but they still want to keep going with something similar but more involved. Longer stories usually result with deeper characters and generally a much more fullfilling comic develops. They seem to reflect television shows of various degrees and even comic books at this point, and often can get just as convoluted and unfollowable if the artist isn't careful.
Sluggy Freelance is pretty much a classic example of this, though it's been changing recently. Many of the comics on my lists are adventure strips and they are generally my favorite type as they often provide the best balance between story telling and humor. Of course, it's also easier to screw it up as well.
Epic Comics
The evolutionary process usually starts with the Classic Comic, then changes into an Adventure Comic, and finally into an Epic Comic. Epic Comics usually mean there is a major story arc behind all the minor arcs of an Adventure Comic, a "big bad" that is the driving force for all the adventures our gang of heroes has been exposed to until now. Often it is more an afterthought rather than a planned event by the artist, which is why Adventure Comics can turn into Epic Comics.
Epic also means that the comics become very, VERY long lived as the artist tries to tell some grand, sweeping story. And it is also the most prone to both failure, death by hiatus, and just plain disappointment. Often in pursuit of the epic story, the comic shifts it's focus from the old core cast and moves to other characters that may or may not be more interesting.
Examples of Epic Comics include Wasapi Square, Parallel Dementia, and The Wotch, all of which feature some major force behind the many and varied adventures.
Novel Comics
Finally there are Novel Comics, which are different from the others as they are meant to have a beginning and an ending (even if it takes a long time). The other three often have no set "ending," though they might do so anyway given enough time.
Novel Comics are usually planned out fairly well from the beginning and are written as a single story. Typically they are done in larger pages and are less likely to have random stories or odd events running through them. The downside is that it is rare that these comics actually finish, often because they are so long and detailed, the artist either can't find the time or will to complete them.
Broken Mirror (no link, comic is MIA), Our Time in Eden, and Hopscotch (which is very short compared to other Epic Comics) are examples of this style.
Now do all comics fit neatly into these catagories? Hell no. Errant Story is, at its core, a Novel Comic, but the exact direction was never really established so it's really kind of an Epic Comic, whereas comics like Sluggy Freelance are slowly pushing more towards epic status while still being very much an Adventure comic. There are also a few weird comics, like Apophenia 357 and exploding dog which ride the line of actually being comics at all.
In general though, comics can pretty easily be dropped into these four catagories, and I'll probably use these titles when I refer to them in future posts.
Enough of this, next week comics 1 - 5. Until then.
So without further adu:
Classic Comics
The most basic and common comic is the Classic Comic. These are basically the strips you find in the funny pages of your local newspaper, only posted on the internet. Typically these comics tell a joke within 1-4 panels, each time, everytime. If there are 'stories' they are usually limited to short one or two week arcs and when they're over, they rearly, if ever, have any continued effect on the comic.
And this is probably the most common of all comics. When a person starts doing webcomics, they generally want to do comics that appear in papers, so these are everywhere, and they often die first. It really is hard to come up with a good joke everyday. Just read the comics page, and you'll see what I mean.
Probably the best example is Sinfest, which at one point advertised how many times it had been rejected by the Syndcates (companies that run the comics page). There are many, many others, of course, and to list them all would take a while, so I won't.
Adventure Comics
Adventure Comics are like Classic Comics, only with much longer story arcs and are far less likely to have daily jokes. Typically the focus on a group of friends, relations or whatnot that go on, well, adventures through their world. Maybe they'll be fighting demons with puns, sealing vortecies of evil or racing cross country. Usually there's some "weird" element either within the group or in the world that dictates the play of events. The arcs aren't terribly long (a few months worth, depending on the update schedule of the comic) but certianly not short and quick.
Frequently, they evolve from a Classic Comic. This is more the result of the artist discovering that doing a Classic Comic is very hard, but they still want to keep going with something similar but more involved. Longer stories usually result with deeper characters and generally a much more fullfilling comic develops. They seem to reflect television shows of various degrees and even comic books at this point, and often can get just as convoluted and unfollowable if the artist isn't careful.
Sluggy Freelance is pretty much a classic example of this, though it's been changing recently. Many of the comics on my lists are adventure strips and they are generally my favorite type as they often provide the best balance between story telling and humor. Of course, it's also easier to screw it up as well.
Epic Comics
The evolutionary process usually starts with the Classic Comic, then changes into an Adventure Comic, and finally into an Epic Comic. Epic Comics usually mean there is a major story arc behind all the minor arcs of an Adventure Comic, a "big bad" that is the driving force for all the adventures our gang of heroes has been exposed to until now. Often it is more an afterthought rather than a planned event by the artist, which is why Adventure Comics can turn into Epic Comics.
Epic also means that the comics become very, VERY long lived as the artist tries to tell some grand, sweeping story. And it is also the most prone to both failure, death by hiatus, and just plain disappointment. Often in pursuit of the epic story, the comic shifts it's focus from the old core cast and moves to other characters that may or may not be more interesting.
Examples of Epic Comics include Wasapi Square, Parallel Dementia, and The Wotch, all of which feature some major force behind the many and varied adventures.
Novel Comics
Finally there are Novel Comics, which are different from the others as they are meant to have a beginning and an ending (even if it takes a long time). The other three often have no set "ending," though they might do so anyway given enough time.
Novel Comics are usually planned out fairly well from the beginning and are written as a single story. Typically they are done in larger pages and are less likely to have random stories or odd events running through them. The downside is that it is rare that these comics actually finish, often because they are so long and detailed, the artist either can't find the time or will to complete them.
Broken Mirror (no link, comic is MIA), Our Time in Eden, and Hopscotch (which is very short compared to other Epic Comics) are examples of this style.
Now do all comics fit neatly into these catagories? Hell no. Errant Story is, at its core, a Novel Comic, but the exact direction was never really established so it's really kind of an Epic Comic, whereas comics like Sluggy Freelance are slowly pushing more towards epic status while still being very much an Adventure comic. There are also a few weird comics, like Apophenia 357 and exploding dog which ride the line of actually being comics at all.
In general though, comics can pretty easily be dropped into these four catagories, and I'll probably use these titles when I refer to them in future posts.
Enough of this, next week comics 1 - 5. Until then.
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