Webcomic Review: Dark River

I used to hate twitter, I didn't understand its purpose at all. However, once I started gryphonknights.com with Sean, & D, it was evident that social media was going to be an extremely important. Since starting our Twitter account (gryphonknights, naturally), I've discovered more and more webcomics.

A couple of months ago, I tripped over digital rock and stumbled across a book called Dark River. Popping open the page, I was met with text. In our image saturated world, the written word has become cheap, and can often alienate visitors. However, these words were bright green,eye-catching, and strewn across a painted starscape; an excellent choice for luring in readers.

The crew of a ship sucked into a Plodt Hole tries to ground themselves and find their way home while navigating misguided scientists and an endangered race of cyborgs. It is a sci-fi adventure similar in tone to Star Trek: Voyager, but peppered with Douglas Adams humor. The panel per page layout, that seems to be becoming more popular with webcomics, makes the story move quickly. It is easy to become immersed, as the layout leads for quick pacing that at times seems like an animated experience.

I can't really criticize the storytelling it, as I along with others helped craft it. In fact, you too could help continue creating this book. Occasionally the book will come to a point where it asks readers how the story should continue. As entertainment becomes more realistic, it still seems to be lacking in interactivity. While the homages and parodies to Star Trek are fun, the humor and ability to make choices keep things entertaining.  I only wish  that the story  branched off into multiple directions like a "Choose Your Own Adventure."

Dark River is a great example where accepting a set of limitations can set you apart and help create a solid work of art. While the artwork seems like it is created on paint and is really rough, the artist makes it work by embracing his limitations and being consistent. His green overlay and color scheme really engages the eye. The pages where you have to choose is the treat, as you are greeted by a panel that almost seems painted, really visually rewarding. I am looking forward to continuing to contribute and seeing how this book evolves over time.

Sir Thomas J. Griffin is an artist and space alien working for GryphonKnights Comics. He's illustrated books like Greasers in Geese , Hero, The Only Choice, Meanwhile, and others.

He wonders if his own crew in The WOW Signal! will ever find their own way home.