My review of several web comics
Michael Lehmeier
Here's a quick review of the strips I have discovered recently.
(in order of discovery)
Demonology 101
Before this month, Demonology 101 has been the only one I followed.
Although I was a little lost in this story about a demon girl, it was
interesting enough so that I kept reading.
But I still think that this is a story best read all at once.
Keeping up with the relationship between the friends and enemies can
be hard.
I recommend it to all people who love an ongoing story, not funny,
somewhat complicated, full of intrigues. Occasionally cute,
occasionally bloody.
Sinfest
I only heared that it is a strip dealing with sins, sex, god, the
devil and the like.
What can I say, it is nearly perfect for a funny daily strip. The art
is clear and very professional, the cast is simple but interesting
and the jokes never get boring.
In fact, this is the only strip I gave my mother for reading. She's
into that religious and moral stuff although I had translate most
of it for her.
(question: is there an official translation for the word "ho"? I can
only guess what it means)
Exploitation Now
Okay, this is what I call a weirdo strip. A comic that lives by main
characters that are so strange that you will never have the risk of
ever identifying with them. (contrary to Sinfest)
I must say that although the wit was not overly intelligent, I
enjoyed it quite a bit. But it also had (had because it is now
discontinued) serious problems. While it started out as a funny, it
got serious more and more. This problem of comedy turned tragedy is
not unique to EN, but here it is especially apparent since it was
obviously not intended. You could also say this is a strength. After
all, this could only happen if the characters got a life of their
own, which is usually desireable.
And indeed, even if the humor was gone, I would really like to know
what became of my favourite mad-scientist/terrorist/freckled
teenager.
Errant Story
By the same creator of EN, this ongoing fantasy story is clearly the
result of a matured EN.
It has a coherent story, a much more professional outlook, comedy and
tragedy working side-by-side. But it has also lost a little of EN's
youthful charm, although typical EN humore is shining through every
now and then.
I will definitely continue to read that one, a pretty regular
schedule helps keeping up with the story.
Chopping Block
Well, I am not really into daily, selfcontained strips, Sinfest being
the exception.
But once in a while I get sadistic and read Chopping Block, the
ultimate black humor.
I'll make this short: although it is amazing how many puns someone
can come up with concerning a serial murderer with his work, it does
not always work. The quality varies too much.
Sexy Losers
Okay, I admit it, I only checked it out because it was recommended as
humor for the sexually frustrated.
I read it, and I don't really know what to make of it. Some of the
jokes are just disgusting, others are really great, even if still
sick. I don't know, what does it say about your mental health if you
think the story about a necrophiliac and a suicide girl is actually
the best one?
TA Vision
If you want sex humor and be on the safe side, read TAVision. It's a
weekly with very clean drawing style, an interesting cast that you
can fall in love with and an ongoing story.
In fact it is so much ongoing that starting with the archives is more
recommended here than in other web comics.
Mind you, it's nothing for saturday morning television, but these
days a recommendation "above 18" is too high.
Elf Life
has become my instant favourite. There are two kinds of fantasy I am
interested in in comics. The more realistic and darker side. My
favourite there is Artesia.
And then the other kind, more lighter but still earnest, without
getting too realistic. Here, Elf Life has not quite pushed classic
Elfquest from the throne, but comes closer to that than I would have
imagined.
If I had to put my finger on it, I would say it is the
characterization that makes the story so great. Sure, they're
archtypes, but every one of them has enough depth in them to justify
a book. Considering that the story isn't even that long so far, this
is impressive.
The best example is my favourite evil naked faerie Glynhial. She is
totally unpredictable, (with one exception) scaring people half to
death in one moment, still loving them all. Being a force of nature
on the one hand, defeated in a fist fight on the other. It goes on
and on. And the best thing about it? It actually makes sense!
Tale of the Questor
Inspired by the discovery of Elf Life I asked here for other stories
to look out for.
I found that fantasy fairytale of an antropomorphic racoon who want's
to become some kind of hero by profession.
It's a very lovable comic, mostly light-hearted with a nice sense of
humor. Too bad it is only weekly.
Not my favourite, but I check it out every Sunday.
(I love that father! And the way magic is worked into everyday life.)
Clan of the Cats
It didn't look like much in the beginning, both the art and the
story. But it got better and better. This story about the hardships
of being a reluctant shapeshifter and witch. I is nice to see how the
main character evolves and gets more sure of herself despite all the
catastrophys that get thrown into her way.
I reads more like several novels than an ongoing story, which is
probably good. Also, contrary to Demonology101 for example, although
the story, characters and their relations are sometimes quite
complicated, I found it actually easy enough to keep up with them.
Wandering Ones
You know, I like adventure stories. I found Wandering Ones, thinking
this is exactly what I am looking for. It is written and drawn in
exactly the same way as the b&w comics I loved back in the 80's.
The problem is: It looks like I don't love them anymore.
I don't think it's the fault of the strip, but maybe I have outgrown
my enthusiasm for this kind and style of stories.
Zebra Girl
My newest find. The story of an ordinary woman who is now turned into
a black demon with white stripes (or a white demon with black
stripes). Not good if you want to get out of the house.
It's another of those weirdo strips, and just like Exploitation Now
there seems some awkward mixture of utter sillyness and a quite
earnest story underneith. However, this story seems to cope with it
much better.
BTW, when I mean silly, I mean really silly. Up to the point where I
wonder if the point of it all was just to annoy the readers.
Merlin Haas
Michael Lehmeier <m_leh...@gmx.de> wrote:
> Hi!
>
> Here's a quick review of the strips I have discovered recently.
> (in order of discovery)
>
> Demonology 101
>
<snip reviews>
The reviews are fine, but this would be more useful if you'd include
the URLs for each strip.
best -- Merlin Haas
P.S. In rap music "ho" is apparently short for "whore" (prostitute).
(Those who are well-versed in hip-hop culture can correct or expand on
this definition.)
Michael Lehmeier
>
> The reviews are fine, but this would be more useful if you'd include
> the URLs for each strip.
You are right.
I already put them together, but it was late and hit the send button too
soon.
Here is the "linked" version.
I also made a list with a couple of favourites, but I don't have enought
time now.
Anyway, here it is:
Demonology 101
Before this month, Demonology 101 has been the only one I followed.
Although I was a little lost in this story about a demon girl, it was
interesting enough so that I kept reading.
But I still think that this is a story best read all at once.
Keeping up with the relationship between the friends and enemies can
be hard.
I recommend it to all people who love an ongoing story, not funny,
somewhat complicated, full of intrigues. Occasionally cute,
occasionally bloody.
http://faith.rydia.net/index.html
Sinfest
I only heared that it is a strip dealing with sins, sex, god, the
devil and the like.
What can I say, it is nearly perfect for a funny daily strip. The art
is clear and very professional, the cast is simple but interesting
and the jokes never get boring.
In fact, this is the only strip I gave my mother for reading. She's
into that religious and moral stuff although I had translate most
of it for her.
Exploitation Now
Okay, this is what I call a weirdo strip. A comic that lives by main
characters that are so strange that you will never have the risk of
ever identifying with them. (contrary to Sinfest)
I must say that although the wit was not overly intelligent, I
enjoyed it quite a bit. But it also had (had because it is now
discontinued) serious problems. While it started out as a funny, it
got serious more and more. This problem of comedy turned tragedy is
not unique to EN, but here it is especially apparent since it was
obviously not intended. You could also say this is a strength. After
all, this could only happen if the characters got a life of their
own, which is usually desireable.
And indeed, even if the humor was gone, I would really like to know
what became of my favourite mad-scientist/terrorist/freckled
teenager.
http://www.exploitationnow.com/
Errant Story
By the same creator of EN, this ongoing fantasy story is clearly the
result of a matured EN.
It has a coherent story, a much more professional outlook, comedy and
tragedy working side-by-side. But it has also lost a little of EN's
youthful charm, although typical EN humore is shining through every
now and then.
I will definitely continue to read that one, a pretty regular
schedule helps keeping up with the story.
Chopping Block
Well, I am not really into daily, selfcontained strips, Sinfest being
the exception.
But once in a while I get sadistic and read Chopping Block, the
ultimate black humor.
I'll make this short: although it is amazing how many puns someone
can come up with concerning a serial murderer with his work, it does
not always work. The quality varies too much.
Sexy Losers
Okay, I admit it, I only checked it out because it was recommended as
humor for the sexually frustrated.
I read it, and I don't really know what to make of it. Some of the
jokes are just disgusting, others are really great, even if still
sick. I don't know, what does it say about your mental health if you
think the story about a necrophiliac and a suicide girl is actually
the best one?
TA Vision
If you want sex humor and be on the safe side, read TAVision. It's a
weekly with very clean drawing style, an interesting cast that you
can fall in love with and an ongoing story.
In fact it is so much ongoing that starting with the archives is more
recommended here than in other web comics.
Mind you, it's nothing for saturday morning television, but these
days a recommendation "above 18" is too high.
Elf Life
has become my instant favourite. There are two kinds of fantasy I am
interested in in comics. The more realistic and darker side. My
favourite there is Artesia.
And then the other kind, more lighter but still earnest, without
getting too realistic. Here, Elf Life has not quite pushed classic
Elfquest from the throne, but comes closer to that than I would have
imagined.
If I had to put my finger on it, I would say it is the
characterization that makes the story so great. Sure, they're
archtypes, but every one of them has enough depth in them to justify
a book. Considering that the story isn't even that long so far, this
is impressive.
The best example is my favourite evil naked faerie Glynhial. She is
totally unpredictable, (with one exception) scaring people half to
death in one moment, still loving them all. Being a force of nature
on the one hand, defeated in a fist fight on the other. It goes on
and on. And the best thing about it? It actually makes sense!
Tale of the Questor
Inspired by the discovery of Elf Life I asked here for other stories
to look out for.
I found that fantasy fairytale of an antropomorphic racoon who want's
to become some kind of hero by profession.
It's a very lovable comic, mostly light-hearted with a nice sense of
humor. Too bad it is only weekly.
Not my favourite, but I check it out every Sunday.
(I love that father! And the way magic is worked into everyday life.)
Clan of the Cats
It didn't look like much in the beginning, both the art and the
story. But it got better and better. This story about the hardships
of being a reluctant shapeshifter and witch. I is nice to see how the
main character evolves and gets more sure of herself despite all the
catastrophys that get thrown into her way.
I reads more like several novels than an ongoing story, which is
probably good. Also, contrary to Demonology101 for example, although
the story, characters and their relations are sometimes quite
complicated, I found it actually easy enough to keep up with them.
Wandering Ones
You know, I like adventure stories. I found Wandering Ones, thinking
this is exactly what I am looking for. It is written and drawn in
exactly the same way as the b&w comics I loved back in the 80's.
The problem is: It looks like I don't love them anymore.
I don't think it's the fault of the strip, but maybe I have outgrown
my enthusiasm for this kind and style of stories.
Zebra Girl
My newest find. The story of an ordinary woman who is now turned into
a black demon with white stripes (or a white demon with black
stripes). Not good if you want to get out of the house.
It's another of those weirdo strips, and just like Exploitation Now
there seems some awkward mixture of utter sillyness and a quite
earnest story underneith. However, this story seems to cope with it
much better.
BTW, when I mean silly, I mean really silly. Up to the point where I
wonder if the point of it all was just to annoy the readers.
Mike Marshall
>Sinfest
OK. I went over to take a look at Sinfest. I have a question: how
is one supposed to read through them? I mean - is there a handy
mechanism for reading a few, and then picking up where you left
off next time? I resorted to making a book-mark, and it got me
back to where I left off. But next time, I'll have to make
another book-mark and delete the last one.
-Mike
W. Blaine Dowler
> OK. I went over to take a look at Sinfest. I have a question: how
> is one supposed to read through them? I mean - is there a handy
> mechanism for reading a few, and then picking up where you left
> off next time? I resorted to making a book-mark, and it got me
> back to where I left off. But next time, I'll have to make
> another book-mark and delete the last one.
Very few web comics seem to offer any type of "I last read this page" cookie
or feature. That's why I've got a text file where I copy the URL of the
last strip I've viewed. It's a bit more efficient than the "new bookmark,
delete bookmark" method,
--
- Blaine
http://www.bureau42.com
ICQ: 24893016
"It was mentioned on CNN that the new prime number discovered recently
is four times bigger than the previous record."
- John Blasik.
Mike Marshall
>Very few web comics seem to offer any type of "I last read this page" cookie
>or feature. That's why I've got a text file where I copy the URL of the
>last strip I've viewed. It's a bit more efficient than the "new bookmark,
>delete bookmark" method,
Shoot. My crummy old home-made cgi remembers what comics you read.
When you get there, it always shows you the current comic. If you
press the forward or back button, it picks up where you left off.
It doesn't use cookies, but gets confused if two people hit it
from the same IP address. When I get a chance to work on it more,
I'll give users the option of using cookies to store state information,
but I don't want it to force cookies on anyone.
If you see flaws in it, remember its status: "crummy old home-made"... <g>
http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~hubcap and click on hubcap comics
-Mike