Aftermath: web comics
Jacob W. Haller
feeling was that there would be an attempt to return to business as
usual but it was unclear to me how universal or successful this would
be.
One thing I wondered about is how people who have to be funny would
handle it. How easy is it to come up with something funny at a time
like this? How can the tragedy be acknowledged without killing any
chance of amusement? But how can it be ignored, either?
I read a lot of web comics. So as a corallary to the above I wondered
how the writers of these comics would deal with it. Here's what they
did.
I want to make it clear that I know that everyone is feeling great loss
today and that my intent is not to criticize anyone's expressions (or
lack thereof) of same.
It strikes me that seeing how other people are reacting may be a way to
avoid thinking about how I am reacting. Oh well.
* Absurd Notions <http://www.absurdnotions.org/>
Today's comic continues the previous storyline. At the bottom of the
page there's a black box which says, "My deepest condolences to
everybody. I mean everybody. Judging by the sheer numbers, odds are you
know somebody who was killed or injured on September 11. If you haven't
been directly affected, just wait a little longer."
* Bob the Angry Flower <http://angryflower.com/septem.gif>
No weblog. The cartoon shows Bob asleep. The phone rings; the person
at the other end says, "Turn on CNN RIGHT FUCKING NOW." Bob sees one of
the towers collapse and he, and the comic, dissolve in shock. The last
frame has the legend, "Good luck, everyone."
* Bruno <http://www.baldwinpage.com/bruno.html>
Continues the current storyline. No weblog.
* Framed <http://framed.keenspace.com/>
Continues the current storyline. There's a long rant at the top of the
screen which ends "We must think of the LIVING NOW. There will be time
to mourn those lost later. I WON'T forget them, and neither will you.
OUR ISLAND WILL NOT SINK. OUR HOPE MUST LIVE ON."
* Friend Bear <http://www.friendbear.com/>
There hasn't been a new comic in quite a while and today continues that
tradition.
* Sinfest <http://www.comicspage.com/helen/index.html>
Continues current story line. There's a pseudo-weblog thing but it
doesn't contain a reference to yesterday's events.
* Sluggy Freelance <http://www.comicspage.com/helen/index.html>
Continues current storyline. Above the comic it says, "Our prayers are
with the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks yesterday.
Living less than an hour away from thousands of people violently and
cruelly murdered is just too much for me to wrap my brain around now. I
don't know about you guys, but I feel shock, sorrow, and a building
anger." Then there are phone numbers for the Red Cross, Salvation Army,
and other organizations that are helping out in the aftermath.
* Suteki World <http://members.sockets.net/~requiem/index.html>
Where the comic would usually be is a white message on black in which
the author offers his condolences and suggests donating blood and money
to the Red Cross. The "weblog area" reiterates these sentiments.
* Help Desk/Ubersoft <http://www.ubersoft.net/>
Instead of a comic today, a few paragraphs beginning "I couldn't bring
myself to continue with my storyline today."
* User Friendly <http://www.userfriendly.org/>
UF has a weblog-type thing at the bottom of the main page. Today it
contains condolences to those affected by the attacks. The comic itself
shows one of the main characters hugging Dust Puppy, another character.
Dust Puppy asks what it's for and the other character, who is crying,
responds, "It's for all the people who can't do this anymore."
* Zwol <http://www.zwol.org/>
Zwol hadn't been updated with a new comic in a while, but today there
was a new one, showing one of the main characters reacting to the
collapse of the first World Trade Center tower. In the weblog the
author says, "Woke up this morning and could not believe the news. Spent
the day in front of CNN and that disbelief did not pass. Made the comic;
time for bed."
-jwgh
Special K
wrote:
<snip list of web comics>
I'd like to add a couple more to the list of those who have responded
to the disasters in NY and DC:
Dork Tower http://www.dorktower.com
Jackie's Fridge http://jackiesfridge.keenspace.com/
Sure, I'm a cynical and bitter person, but deep down, I love people,
and I'm still reeling from this wanton act of murder. I just got off
the phone, talking with Tamara, who is still in a state of shock over
yesterday's events. It warms my heart to know that people outside the
United States have such concern for us 'murrikans.
I'm going to be funny again by Friday. At least I'll attempt to be
funny...
Kenton "The Great Requiem" Cernea
President, Tri-State Anime Club
http://members.sockets.net/~requiem
WILL THE GODDESS OF FATE SMILE DOWN UPON HIM?