Web comics
Aug. 4th, 2003 11:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
avramHere’s a list of all the ongoing web comics I read frequently, with short descriptions and reviews. This is just the net-only comics, not the paper comics that also show up on the web.
As If!, by Mimi and Jet Wolf
Teen hijinks strip set in the 1980s. Engaging characters, nice artwork, some good extended plotlines. If I’d gone to high school with Hunter, I’d have developed a massive unrequited crush on her. The archives page lets you download past strips in 25-strip chunks, zipped.
(Updated on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)
Bruno, by Christopher Baldwin
Long-running strip about a young woman suffering from depression, low self-esteem, and talent. Usually single-panel. Beautifully drawn, especially the backgrounds. Baldwin makes extensive use of photo reference, so a lot of the panels are set in surroundings that should be recognizable to readers who live in the area. Not often funny, but it’s not trying to be. Unfortunately, Bruno is on hiatus till September 1st, while Baldwin runs Little Dee, a strip he’s hoping will get picked up by newspaper cartoon syndicates. It’s his third or fourth attempt along these lines, and not one of them has been anywhere near as good as Bruno. He’d probably be better off trying a large-format weekly strip in alternative newspapers; it’d let him do the large, detailed backgrounds that are one of his strengths.
(Updated daily, except Sundays.)
Butternut Squash, by Rob Coughler and Ramón Pérez
A recent addition. Gag strip with very good color artwork. Only been running a dozen weeks, and already two lame fill-in items. I may give it a few months.
(Updated Wednesdays.)
Ice, by Faith Erin Hicks
Science fiction strip, with good art and a continuing story, too early to really know what it’s about.
(Updated Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a Modern Tales title, so you’ll only be able to see the most recent strip for free.)
Mac Hall, by Matt Boyd and Ian McConville
College gag strip, with (I think) some autobio content. Start with the first and then jump ahead by fifty strips at a time to really see the art take off.
(I haven’t figured out the schedule for this one.)
MegaTokyo, by Fred Gallagher (and sometimes Rodney Caston)
One of the most popular strips on the Net. Good manga-influenced art that manages to be distinctive. High-continuity character-driven plot, starring two American gamers stuck in Tokyo, and a cast that expands out from there, and includes a cute robot, a couple of consciences, and someone who may just be an ordinary girl, or may be a necromancer. You’re really best off starting from the beginning.
(Updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.)
Miracle of Science, by Jon Kilgannon and Mark Sachs
Continuing science-fiction strip about a cop and his Martian partner, who hunts down mad scientists — er, I mean, victims of Science Related Memetic Disorder. Art’s a bit weak, but the story’s pretty good.
(Updated Mondays and Thursdays.)
PvP (Player vs. Player), by Scott Kurtz
The only long-running gag strip I can think of on the Net that’s both well-drawn and consistently funny. Set in the office of a gaming magazine.
(Updated daily, usually late in the day.)
Return to Sender, by V. Brosgol
Mysterious supernatural doings. Really nice art. Story moves very slowly, though.
(Supposedly updated every Sunday.)
Scary Go Round, by John Allison
Supernatural comedy. Allison’s art is good and distinctive, but it’s the writing — particularly the dialog — that makes this worth reading.
(Updated not quite daily.)
Demonology 101, by Faith Erin Hicks
Supernatural story centring around a high school student who’s a demon. Clearly drawing upon Buffy for inspiration, but going off in its own direction. Good characterization, and anime-inspired art that’s steadily improving. A really good villain.
(Updated in big chunks every one or two Sundays, but not so much recently.)
Sinfest, by Tatsuya Ishida
Gag strip. Manages to be quite funny when his game is on, though sometimes too willing to resort to obvious humor or recycle punchlines. Very well-drawn.
(Updated daily.)
As If!, by Mimi and Jet Wolf
Teen hijinks strip set in the 1980s. Engaging characters, nice artwork, some good extended plotlines. If I’d gone to high school with Hunter, I’d have developed a massive unrequited crush on her. The archives page lets you download past strips in 25-strip chunks, zipped.
(Updated on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)
Bruno, by Christopher Baldwin
Long-running strip about a young woman suffering from depression, low self-esteem, and talent. Usually single-panel. Beautifully drawn, especially the backgrounds. Baldwin makes extensive use of photo reference, so a lot of the panels are set in surroundings that should be recognizable to readers who live in the area. Not often funny, but it’s not trying to be. Unfortunately, Bruno is on hiatus till September 1st, while Baldwin runs Little Dee, a strip he’s hoping will get picked up by newspaper cartoon syndicates. It’s his third or fourth attempt along these lines, and not one of them has been anywhere near as good as Bruno. He’d probably be better off trying a large-format weekly strip in alternative newspapers; it’d let him do the large, detailed backgrounds that are one of his strengths.
(Updated daily, except Sundays.)
Butternut Squash, by Rob Coughler and Ramón Pérez
A recent addition. Gag strip with very good color artwork. Only been running a dozen weeks, and already two lame fill-in items. I may give it a few months.
(Updated Wednesdays.)
Ice, by Faith Erin Hicks
Science fiction strip, with good art and a continuing story, too early to really know what it’s about.
(Updated Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is a Modern Tales title, so you’ll only be able to see the most recent strip for free.)
Mac Hall, by Matt Boyd and Ian McConville
College gag strip, with (I think) some autobio content. Start with the first and then jump ahead by fifty strips at a time to really see the art take off.
(I haven’t figured out the schedule for this one.)
MegaTokyo, by Fred Gallagher (and sometimes Rodney Caston)
One of the most popular strips on the Net. Good manga-influenced art that manages to be distinctive. High-continuity character-driven plot, starring two American gamers stuck in Tokyo, and a cast that expands out from there, and includes a cute robot, a couple of consciences, and someone who may just be an ordinary girl, or may be a necromancer. You’re really best off starting from the beginning.
(Updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.)
Miracle of Science, by Jon Kilgannon and Mark Sachs
Continuing science-fiction strip about a cop and his Martian partner, who hunts down mad scientists — er, I mean, victims of Science Related Memetic Disorder. Art’s a bit weak, but the story’s pretty good.
(Updated Mondays and Thursdays.)
PvP (Player vs. Player), by Scott Kurtz
The only long-running gag strip I can think of on the Net that’s both well-drawn and consistently funny. Set in the office of a gaming magazine.
(Updated daily, usually late in the day.)
Return to Sender, by V. Brosgol
Mysterious supernatural doings. Really nice art. Story moves very slowly, though.
(Supposedly updated every Sunday.)
Scary Go Round, by John Allison
Supernatural comedy. Allison’s art is good and distinctive, but it’s the writing — particularly the dialog — that makes this worth reading.
(Updated not quite daily.)
Demonology 101, by Faith Erin Hicks
Supernatural story centring around a high school student who’s a demon. Clearly drawing upon Buffy for inspiration, but going off in its own direction. Good characterization, and anime-inspired art that’s steadily improving. A really good villain.
(Updated in big chunks every one or two Sundays, but not so much recently.)
Sinfest, by Tatsuya Ishida
Gag strip. Manages to be quite funny when his game is on, though sometimes too willing to resort to obvious humor or recycle punchlines. Very well-drawn.
(Updated daily.)