Things I Like Month: Webcomics Part I Edition
First off, happy birthday Dad. Thanks for being my Dad. I think you’re pretty great and will tell you that in person as well but thought I’d hype you up to the internet as well. Hey, that’s like my gift to you! Guess I can return this book with a clear conscience now!
Anyway…webcomics, am I right?
Standard disclaimers apply. This is not comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. I’ll probably write about some webcomics you wouldn’t give the time of day too and ignore ones you think are the greatest of all time. If I do, feel free to tell me because I’m open to reading more than I do. Of course, I might read it and you just don’t know it. That’s the beauty of me…I’m wildly unpredictable.
A hint of what you are in for here. I’m a bit of the opposite in my webcomic following v. comic following. In webcomics I tend to gravitate towards more slice of life stories; no adventure stories, no superheroes, etc. There are exceptions, of course, but that is the basic, I don’t know, lean of what I like to read on the internet.
ADDENDUM: After writing this, I realized it is unfairly long to ask you, the people, to read through all at once, so I’ll be spreading it out a bit. Not sure how long. I’ll keep you informed though.
Alright…let’s get started, with the…
NARRATIVES
The comics featured here have some sort of narrative structure between installments. It doesn’t have to mean long-running storylines, just that story started in one day’s offering might be continued in the next. Often, this does mean longform, but like newspaper comic strips, it might just be a brief couple of days storyline or a set of characters that appear in each or nearly each strip (a la Family Circus) and thus there is some idea of history, relationships, and so on, even if continuity is pretty damn loose.
Gordon McAlpin’s comic nicely hits my sweet spot of a.) talking about movies and b.) being about being a (essentially) retail employee on the brink of doing something else or more. I, like so many before me, worked retail from 16 through my mid-twenties and have a certain fondness for the rhythm of the work and the people you meet. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be heading towards being a psychologist. I truly do enjoying doing therapy. But I have a certain nostalgia for that sort of work (which is probably tied up in nostalgia for that point in my life, but who can say?).
In MULTIPLEX, friends and co-worker Kurt and Jason spend their early lives working in a multiplex, talking movies, and stumbling towards maturity. Along for the ride are Melissa, Kurt’s girlfriend; Becky, Melissa’s roommate and on-again/off-again/on-again crush for Jason; and the various co-workers and customers that flit through the movie theatre or work at the video store down the street. They prank on another, make out with one another, fight, question each other’s morals, decisions, religious beliefs, fight some more, make up, make movies, and so on and such of.
It’s great fun to start with the very beginning and watch as both McAlpin’s approach to storytelling and his art evolves. As the series begins to become more complex and less gag-strippy so too does his style grow and streamline. Not afraid to be fantastical (a toy speaks to a character and is often less than friendly) or emotional (the aforementioned fighting, break-ups), the comic moves along to its own rhythm, but feels, to me, to be fairly reader friendly for people looking to come aboard.
Released: Twice Weekly (occasionally thrice)
Twitter handles associated with the comic:
First off, the title has nothing to do with the comics. Yes there are girls (well, women) in the strip, but they don’t actually wield slingshots. A sketch of the two leads inspired the name and even after creator Danielle Corsetto chose a path for them devoid of slingshots, she liked the title too much to ditch.
What the comic is about is somewhat introverted, somewhat bitter, possibly alcoholic (it’s a popular debate amongst fans) Hazel and bubbly, curvy, and nearly always friendly Jamie, longtime friends. They live, love, drink, work, and break up in a town that Corsetto has described as her West Virginian real-life home by way of New Jersey and progressive (so, for instance, gay marriage is legal). Also, there is a talking potted cactus, a ghost kitty fond of predicting doom, restless leg syndrome as an STI, sex toys a-plenty, roller derby, and well…that’s just the beginning.
Corsetto confidently storytells, meaning she doesn’t worry about letting her characters act like people. They make mistakes, they do bad things, they say mean or dumb things. But they also love their friends, try to do right, and get their hearts broken. By trusting the readers to accept the characters with their flaws, the strip has a breezy, quick feel that nonetheless allows it to veer into the bizarre or sad without it straining the “rules.”
It should also be noted that the strip has a frank, nonjudgmental approach to sexual relations that just feels, I don’t know…right, I guess? Characters’ sexuality evolves, partners couple and break-up, STIs happen but don’t mean that the person with them is bad or dirty, same sex relations are treated are relationships, nothing more or less, even asexuality gets some love. It’s all the more impressive for the fact that the strip is largely untouched by politics or grand statements on the topics…things just are.
Released: Daily, Monday through Friday
Twitter handles associated with the comic:
Marten Reed moved to Massachusetts to be with his girlfriend. She dumped him but he stayed anyway, trying to figure out exactly what it is he wanted to do and be. Years into the strip, he still hasn’t found his way, but he has more than built a support system to aid him along the way.
Which is good, because otherwise, it’d just be him and his robot Pintsize and Pintsize is a bad, bad influence.
Oh, right. There are robots in the world of QUESTIONABLE CONTENT. Walking, talking, fully AI’ed up robots.
Like Corsetto, creator Jeph Jacques has made an effort to make his comic inclusive. Of particular note and applause worthy was the recent introduction of a transgender character that was handled with impressive grace and ease. It hasn’t hurt that the character is question is just a ton of fun regardless of whether the gender he or she (I’m not being flip about transgender here, I’m just trying to keep this spoiler free) was born with matches the gender that he or she really is.
Also, much like McAlpin, it is a lot of fun to see how Jacques works his style until he finds where he wants it to be. It gives you an appreciation for an artist’s evolution.
Released: Daily, Monday through Friday
Twitter handles associated with the comic:
And here we are, back to the wonderful world of retail. Comic book retail to be specific!
Jason owns a comic store. His, seemingly, only employee is Todd, a Lobster Boy obsessed man-child (it’s a clichéd term, but it applies). Jason’s best friend is Robyn. Todd’s best friend is masked wrestler Gavin. Todd’s ex and Gavin’s current girlfriend is Desiree. They’re all struggling to keep their heads above water, they’re all, perhaps, a bit immature.
What’s interesting about ALL NEW ISSUES, besides it just being good, is that it has evolved into being more about Todd, whereas it seemed clear early on Jason was the lead. The transition was smooth enough I didn’t really even give it much thought until I revisited some of the very early strips and compared them to where the strip is now.
It is also worth noting, I think, that O’Brien and Ellis are the first writer-artist team we’ve come across. Additionally, if I’m not mistaken, O’Brien came on after the strip was already running, and did so without the strip’s “voice” changing.
Released: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Twitter handles associated with the comic:
Tomorrow: Webcomics Day 2! More Narratives including Agreeable ones, one with prehistoric thunder lizards, and dots of various colors!