STARLIGHT TAVERN
(Post published 6/25/15)
Starlight Tavern is a enjoyable sci-fi comic strip created and Written by Bob Salley and Jason Sparich and illustrated by Juan Calle. This hilarious series of strips pokes fun at many archtypes and tropes in the plethora of science fiction franchises.
The Starlight Tavern is its own absurd restaurant at the end of the universe run by a plucky ragtag group of peoples who are just trying to keep service running smoothly despite inevitable chaos that often haunts their little deep space establishment. They are often visited by familiar denizens of the galaxy such as the Lost in Space crew, Mr. Spock or even Flash Gordan singing his own theme song to provide some entertainment (A comic that I had to share in this blog as it is my favorite as of yet!).
However, not all their patrons are as well behaved as those mentioned; like most drinking establishments its not without its bit of scum and villiany as monsters litter it's tables and restrooms as well.
Even with these recognizable guest stars the cast of Starlight holds its own, and refuses to be overshadowed by such well known faces. The colorful cast of the overworked and underpaid staff try to make it by interacting and flirting in a well executed sci-fi version of "Waiting." The wait staff are emotionally inviting providing more than just punchlines, as a welcoming lens of familiar in the midst of the strange intergalactic goings on that passes through their establishment.
They add to the a-list by adding their own new alien characters to the mix, exploring strange scifi what ifs. Like the more recent strip where they reenact elements of Deer Hunter in space. They also relive other famous movie moments often calling In its supporting cast whose unique hijinks keep things familiar and fresh. Such as its own Stormtrooper knockoffs that act as the Moe, Larry, and Curly of the group getting into trouble and sabotaging each other.
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| Flash Gordan serenades the bar |
Though a parody comic, they don't hold back on the art, which is well crafted using thick lines, bright colours and two-tone shading techniques to bring the book to life. One of my favorite things to see is watching artists expressing familar characters from popular series using their own style, and its exciting to consider who might show up next. I have been hoping to see a Farscape cameo, but none as of yet-which means I just have to keep reading.
But it doesn't start at Starlight Tavern as it seems to be its own spinoff of the creators comic series, Salvagers; a story that explores the dirty blue collared element of the galaxy. You don't have to read Salvagers to get Starlight as it holds its own even without a strong linear narrative. Instead I find myself curious about the comic from reading the webcomic. A humorous webcomic featuring much of the familiar in scifi is an innovative way to invite interested readers into a whole seperate series which features elements that are found in Starlight Tavern.
So i'd recommend giving Starlight Tavern a pour and then try out some Salvagers for the next round!
Sir Thomas J. Gryphon is a blue collared fellow, that is dead broke from illustrating books like WOW Signal for biscuits. You can see his work at Gryphon Knights Comics.
Bib
http://www.starlighttavern.com/salvagers.html
STARVEIL
(Post published 5/19/15)
David Rapoza is an artist that continues to grow in popularity and whose thoughts on the freelance industry are great to chew on. His artwork is gritty and detailed and fun to stare at, he even has instructionals on his process up on youtube. What gained him a lot of notice was the hi res, & detailed ninja turtles that he created over 4 years ago.
Its always interesting to see when an artists creates solo work, the piece he started a few years ago was a webcomic called Starveil. This webcomic kinda feels like an homage of everything that was awesome as an American boy growing up in the 90s. It seems to have elements of Dragon Ball Z, Mad Max, old anime, space operas all thrown in a blender. "Will it blend?" Hell yeah it does.
Along with his gritty style the book is fast paced and displays plentiful and powerful action. The palatte he chose for the backgrounds allow for his characters to pop off the page, and the faded pastel colors make the world he's crafted thus far seem truly alien. A feature that is emphasized by his use of negative space is sublime as certain elements spill out of the panels and into the gutters.
My only qualm artistically with the book is his lettering. While I still love his color choice in bubbles and have no issue with his decision in font, its the layout that bugs me. It seems to have many errors of a neophyte letterist, such as bubbles being to long, or dialogue not being centered and touching the bubble borders... Bubble Borders.
The story isn't anything ground breaking, as of yet, as the "hero" of the book is trying to rescue a beautiful stowaway from his crashed vessel and encountering antagonists on the way. What is innovative is how Rapoza takes advantage of tumblrs' gif ability and uses short animations featured in certain panels that help bring the book to life. Action scenes come alive as characters walk toward you, or energy beems fly across the page and increase the already speedy pacing of the book and makes you feel like you should be listening to DragonForce while reading.
The dialogue tends to verge on being a little slow, and self aggrandizing. Though I feel like this element is homaging the taunts and challenges of characters from certain series like Dragon Ball Z or Conan the animated series. It could also be a nod to the silver age of comics as panels used to be densely packed with words and exposition.
What I've really enjoyed from the series isn't even in the book itself but in his extras, the portrait gallery. The character designs there are so eye catching and colorful as classic cartoon heroes used to be. Its even more enjoyable when a character from the gallary enters into the book and you can see them in action. Its kind of like when your favorite X-men was finally featured on an episode of that 90s X-men animated series.
The series so far has me wanting more but unfortunately there has not been an update in a while. Rapoza has a patreon running for the creation of this webcomic and has said that certain contractual obligations have forced him to keep it hush hush for now. He has also posted random images from the book on his tumblr showing that work is still continuing on it and it may yet still see print. However if you want more of his comic work now you can always check out his hilarious series Steve Lichman about a Lich trying to get by in these crazy modern times.
That guy Sir Thomas J. Gryphon is okay, but overhauling the Gryphon Knights website has driven him batty. You can see his own sci-fi work on series like FvD or WOW Signal.
DARTH DAYS
(Post published 5/5/15)
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| Escape from Mos Eisley |
I missed "May the 4th be With You" but while its still "Revenge of the 5th I wanted to share a Star Wars webcomic with you.
While not a webcomic in the traditional sense, nor holding an original narrative of its own George Jurard's A scene a day of the original Star Wars trilogy, or "Darth Days", acts as a countdown clock to the release of Episode VII.
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| Darth Vader in his Tie Fighter |
It captures all the pivitol scenes and dialogue of the original trilogy in beautifully rendered landscape panels. Each panel varies in its portayal, some with detailed colors while others use a monochromatic or limited color palatte. Seeing a new panel everyday will have your mind wandering back to your multiple viewings of the OT, and hungering for the newest chapter.
The below panel, a scene which portrays the first meeting of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in person, (that is outside of the new Star Wars comics continuity). This pane while my least favorite in the nostalgic inducing series still has some remarkable intuitiveness to it. In the films the scene was rich in color, powerful warm red reflections off of cold metal interrupted with pillars of blues; I still feel anticipation when rewatching the as Luke slowly walks into the room. Here its rendered almost as if those colors were inverted and desaturated. You would almost say that the image doesn't capture the elements of the original. That is also why I love this piece, because Jurard seems to do three things in creating these art pieces.
1) He never repeats a patter, if you look at the over 100 images he's created so far you'll notice not one is colored or rendered the same as another, and you can imagine the struggle it is to think outside of a linear pattern of production. Perhaps the reason this room isn't red and blue as image 19/365, which I've also included above in this blog, already has these color elements.
2) This is his own telling of the original series, in this way he's become the director, and created these thumbnails that are reminiscent of the film while unique in their presentation.
3) He captures the emotions of each scene plucking those most memorable instants to retell the whole of the trilogy in only 365 images!
These are not easy tasks as trying to create artwork that properly homages a creation that has become a classic and legendary in itself, bears with it a fear of misrepresenting that franchise and angering a ferocious fanbase. Something that this franchises own creator has encountered. Its been a work that I've thought about for a while, and how he overlays his own vision onto a scene without stealing that emotion you felt when first watching the films. If anything his portrayal is more accurate to how we see images in our memory, similar to what is but not clear or exact to what was.
I look forward to every new update and as George Jurard is almost 2/3rds into completion of his project I hope that he is able to encapsulate it into a book, that is simple to flip through, so that in a glance one can return to a galaxy far far away...
Sir Thomas J. Gryphon is no Padawan to Star Wars lore, he has enjoyed the EU and is looking forward to the retelling of the series including the prequel remakes Disney has planned. In the Meanwhile he is telling his own sci-fi on Gryphonknights called the WOW Signal!
BLACK MUDPUPPY
(Post published 4/18/15)
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| Face the god of death... I mean |
The Black Mudpuppy is a action comedy webcomic written by Ethan Kocak. The first question you might have when you read the title of this webcomic, is "what the hey is a black mudpuppy." Well a mudpuppy is a type of salamander. The same type of critter that the protagonist Xolotl, the crazy god of death, is imprisoned in by another god Quetzalcoatl, for blowing up goats and terrorizing villagers. Now imprisoned in that form he terrorizes local small wildlife for 500 years until Quetzalcoatl offers him an ultimatum, be good and slowly he can regain his godhood.
Now as the Black Mudpuppy, Xolotl muddies his way through trying to perform good deeds while accidentally destroying charity buildings. The book is filled with such amusing ADHD antics that might remind you of some gems in the 90s, like the Warner Brothers and Freakazoid. While it starts off slow investing in the book is well worth it as its curve balls are sure to make the sternest person chuckle. To give you an idea some of the highlights; there is a brawl between a couple of dinosaurs from hell Stego-Stalin fighting Hitlersaurus Rex. Another nemesis is the evil anti-Ghandi whose passive aggresivism will leave you very upset!
The book slowly evolves from a bunch of gags to a more meaty storyline that is seasoned with bits of Aztec mythology and characters from those same tales, and truly challenging the english speaker in pronouncing something wholly different.
Now as the Black Mudpuppy, Xolotl muddies his way through trying to perform good deeds while accidentally destroying charity buildings. The book is filled with such amusing ADHD antics that might remind you of some gems in the 90s, like the Warner Brothers and Freakazoid. While it starts off slow investing in the book is well worth it as its curve balls are sure to make the sternest person chuckle. To give you an idea some of the highlights; there is a brawl between a couple of dinosaurs from hell Stego-Stalin fighting Hitlersaurus Rex. Another nemesis is the evil anti-Ghandi whose passive aggresivism will leave you very upset! |
| Make my monster GROW!!! |
The artwork too takes a bit of warming up to. While rough at first the ink work begins to take on a liveliness and dynamism that resembles books like Bone and the colors go from a flat to dynamic lighting. Additionally the character designs, influenced again from Aztecian designs culture are refreshing and interesting. T
hey are so simple and visually inviting, as too often I think people think detail makes a dynamic and eyecatching spectacle.
The fresh injection of Aztec stylings and the clean cartoon asthetic make Black Mudpuppy a great tale to enjoy. My only regret is that there isn't an animated series yet...
Listen chumblenuts, Sir Thomas J. Griffin is a force to reckon with, as he is the god of gingers trapped in a speckled body creating work like Frankenstein vs. Dracula for Gryphon Knights Comics.
hey are so simple and visually inviting, as too often I think people think detail makes a dynamic and eyecatching spectacle.
The fresh injection of Aztec stylings and the clean cartoon asthetic make Black Mudpuppy a great tale to enjoy. My only regret is that there isn't an animated series yet...
Listen chumblenuts, Sir Thomas J. Griffin is a force to reckon with, as he is the god of gingers trapped in a speckled body creating work like Frankenstein vs. Dracula for Gryphon Knights Comics.
AVA's DEMON
(Post published 4/5/15)
Henchgirl is a webcomic, created by Kristen Gudsnuk. The main character Mary Posa is the black sheep of her family, lovelorn, and unable to get a legitimate job even at the dankest restaurant. These circumstances bring our... er... "hero, " into the sordid arms of a crime syndicate in a metropolis called Crepe City. Mary then becomes the ever adorable Henchgirl! Meanwhile she tries to bring resolution to her esoteric ails all while surviving and trying to be not too evil.
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| Those MEAN STREETS! |
Henchgirl is refreshingly not a "strong" female protagonist, at least not in the current traditional sense. In a world where female characters seem to have been homogenized into badass martial arts killing machines, absent of personality, Mary Posa is different. She is rich in character whose struggles are empathetic to both sexes. Her true strength is in her determination to move forward in spite of depressingly frustrated ideals. One of my favorite scenes of her trying to overcome, is when she discovered a super powered friend shattered. Taking each of their pieces she painstakingly puts them together with simple things like tape and super glue in hopes that it might restore them.
This scene is reminiscent of a few others throughout the book in a theme that seems to recur in people trying to put others, themselves or things back together; a hope to restore. A powerful inclination that echoes the original theme of persevering.
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| Well I think its adorable |
And while many parts of the book are dark for such a bright character there are many hilarious memorable moments. Such as Mary's roomate whose only ability is to create an army of carrots out of her skin. Not giant carrots, just regular sized carrots... out... of... her... skin...
While her influences are evident of certain anime influences her art style is reminiscent of Bryan Lee O'Malley's, while remaining distinctly her own. A feat she accomplishes through the diverse textures of color she uses throughout the book. However one of the things I feel was recently lost was the progression the creator made over the course of its creation, by beginning to remake the earlier pages of her story to be comparative of her current work.
While "Lucasing" has become more common in the arts, and while her newer pages look excellent, I almost wish that both versions of her vision was available. I myself am a victim of being dissatisfied with earlier work and trying to bring some sort of resolution to it by modifying or remaking it, but by doing so perhaps I am erasing something in the history of creation.
Creative politics aside the twisted tale of the Henchgirl is a great summary of our generation as we are all a bit lost looking for something meaningful, while we are rejected from large chains because our fancy degrees tend to make us unwanted in those positions. Its speckled with pertinent, and the bizarre; then perfectly balanced with a helping of conflict and puns that make this story claw its way into my brain, and heart.
Sir Thomas J. Gryphon is a bunny who has lost all his eggs working for Gryphon Knights Comics on wacky books like "Meanwhile..."
AVA's DEMON
When I review webcomics I try to see it from every sensory perspective, and I often relate experiences with consuming food. For example a good comic can linger in your mind, just as something flavorful might linger on your palate. I'm giving you a little bit of my insight because as a creator I believe in being open with my process, but I also have a challenging task ahead of me.
Have you read Michelle Czajkowski's Ava's Demon yet? If you haven't I am now going to try to convince you that if you consider yourself a webcomic reader than you must. The challenge I was talking about previously was that I need to convince you that this work is a webcomic masterpiece, if not a masterpiece in itself! I know those are strong words to just throw around, however, I hope from my other reviews that you understand I don't use them lightly.
I was originally told about Michelle's work from a friend who works at blue sky and might be known for his work called Dollar Store Combines.
Being very busy in illustrating a variety of comics I was hesitant to start reading another since taking time for entertainment can be risky. Either you've wasted time starting something that was a bust, or (and this is the scarier possibility) you may lose time by becoming absorbed in binge reading because you can't get enough.
Ava's Demon ended up being the latter. You are welcomed to this webcomic by an eerie tomb that seems to glow hauntingly red. Opening it you see just one panel of a girl scribbling in a book. Its counter to what many comics or even webcomics do with their formatting. Pages that are landscape or portrait containing anywhere from 3-12 panels on average. Instead Ava's Demon's panel by panel format is more cinematic and is refreshing because it allows you to appreciate the beautifully painted image as a single piece before moving on. Many other comics paneling pushes a reader forward where Ava's asks you to linger. And linger you should, each panel is beautifully digitally painted and rendered, capturing the mood with its intense lighting, and whose cartoonishly styled characters powerfully emote to further draw you in. All this added to Ava being artistically beautiful but at the end of the first chapter is what captured me as an Ava fan! Each chapter concludes with an animation accompanied by music that truly leaves Ava as not just an amazing webcomic, but an excellent multimedia creation!
The first page of this dynamic sci-fi introduces us to Ava, a girl we quickly find is highly disturbed, and her demon who seems to be a hidden personality that wants to snuff out the young girls life. It seems like a complex thing to convey but this aspect of the story isn't unfurled in the first five issues, or even the first five pages, but within the first five panels. This is typical of Ava's storytelling, as it conveys seamless storytelling that with its magnificent imagery, and as the story progresses we are found in a postwar universe whose conqueror is heralded as a god. Just the information I shared makes the story address issues of a person resolving their inner demons as well as bringing up the concept that our history and our gods tend to be those of our conquerors.
With two books already published and a third on the way, Ava's Demon seems to be on the crux of being the next legendary space opera! You can help her continue to create by donating to her Patreon!
Ava's Demon ended up being the latter. You are welcomed to this webcomic by an eerie tomb that seems to glow hauntingly red. Opening it you see just one panel of a girl scribbling in a book. Its counter to what many comics or even webcomics do with their formatting. Pages that are landscape or portrait containing anywhere from 3-12 panels on average. Instead Ava's Demon's panel by panel format is more cinematic and is refreshing because it allows you to appreciate the beautifully painted image as a single piece before moving on. Many other comics paneling pushes a reader forward where Ava's asks you to linger. And linger you should, each panel is beautifully digitally painted and rendered, capturing the mood with its intense lighting, and whose cartoonishly styled characters powerfully emote to further draw you in. All this added to Ava being artistically beautiful but at the end of the first chapter is what captured me as an Ava fan! Each chapter concludes with an animation accompanied by music that truly leaves Ava as not just an amazing webcomic, but an excellent multimedia creation!
The first page of this dynamic sci-fi introduces us to Ava, a girl we quickly find is highly disturbed, and her demon who seems to be a hidden personality that wants to snuff out the young girls life. It seems like a complex thing to convey but this aspect of the story isn't unfurled in the first five issues, or even the first five pages, but within the first five panels. This is typical of Ava's storytelling, as it conveys seamless storytelling that with its magnificent imagery, and as the story progresses we are found in a postwar universe whose conqueror is heralded as a god. Just the information I shared makes the story address issues of a person resolving their inner demons as well as bringing up the concept that our history and our gods tend to be those of our conquerors.
With two books already published and a third on the way, Ava's Demon seems to be on the crux of being the next legendary space opera! You can help her continue to create by donating to her Patreon!
WISH 3
Wish³, by Sylvia T. Leung, is a 400+ page complete webcomic manga. That's right, you could sit down right now and read the book from start to finish! Heck, you can even order the volumes online right now from the same place we sell Greasers, on Lulu.com!
I started reading the book after I graduated high school and it wasn't finished until I had graduated college. I'd check back religiously because there weren't too many cheap sources of entertainment for a student in New York other than Web-comics.
This book starts off with Basil Toback, who is turning 18, eavesdropping on his family. He finds out the 3rd born of any generation of his lineage is cursed to be the wielder of three wishes. It is a curse because after the 3rd wish is made the wielder goes insane and dies. Unfortunately, Basil also finds out his family intends to use the wishes themselves with no regards to Basil. Eluding his family he begins a long quest to bring an end to this curse. His journey pulls him through other dimensions and peering back in time to the wishers of ages passed, finding allies, and strange enemies alike.
I really enjoyed Wish³; it captures the feeling of any one who just turns 18. That age brings with it a lot of harsh realities. like the struggle for independence, and finding a purpose. Watching Basil work through these struggles was reflective and cathartic for me. It also encapsulates a lot of interesting aspects of Japanese style and culture.
The supporting cast really stand on there own. Many times the supporting cast become so overshadowed by a lead that they become little more than plot devices, something I like to call "Goku Syndrome." Wish's cast really works, because, while the focus is on breaking Basil's curse, they have their own dilemma's they are facing.
Seeing this work come together before my eyes was really invigorating for my own creativity. I watched the artwork evolve from inks with pencil shading, to grayscale, to full color. It was really remarkable to see Leung's improvement over time, and how the layout and details in her work became more polished. Watching the production and how it comes together is like a bonus form of entertainment for following webcomics.
This style of artwork is a bit underwhelming as it is similar to many other artists who have had manga influences on their work. Even still the story is really beautifully rendered, and action is conveyed creatively. At times, you can get lost in the panels and feel like you need to reread a page to take it all in. Additionally, Sylvia proves herself a master of Prismacolor, her marker brand of choice that is infamous for bleeding a lot. In the age of the web-comics, most done digitally, it is impressive she crafted this book with analog tools like pen, ink, marker, and watercolor.
Sylvia herself was always quick and open to questions, and sharing her methods. The website is full of concept art and behind the scenes information. She seemed to network very well as we see covers by guest artists like Christopher Berkeley, who worked in the animation departments on the animated Green Lantern, and BATMAN: Under the Red Hood.
I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to fans of anime like Blue Seed, or books like Harry Potter!
Sir Thomas J. Griffin is an artist and anime caricature working for GryphonKnights Comics. He's illustrated books like Greasers in Geese , Hero, and The Only Choice.
For any who enjoyed Wish³ I'd recommend reading GryphonKnights's own coming of age story, Greasers in GREECE!
CALACHURRAS
Jesus and Angel Delgado understatingly summarize their webcomic Calachurras as "a few three-arm guys, a beach and a very strange battle."
You are welcomed into this world in a first person POV through the eyes of a churra. The plot is cleanly laid out by one of the leaders of the clan (or Misters) that their clan's purpose is to battle a rival clan, and defeat them before the great wave comes and destroys them all.
You quickly garner the concepts in this society by their castes and jobs. Following two of the Misters, Mr. Future and Mr. Maker you become drawn into the urgency and the innovation they are trying to execute so that their tribe may survive.
Things aren't easy though as they quickly encounter red tape, and taboos which pepper this culture and makes for amazing parody & commentary on religion & politics. This satire while silly strikes very close to home for anyone who has dealt with a system.
The art captures one's attention right away. It has beautiful simple landscapes and in its simplicity immediately reminds me of the works of Jeff Smith (the creator of Bone) or Lewis Trondheim. The Brothers Delgado allow the time of day to affect their characters, fully immersing them into this world, a detail which many forget to do. The lighting plays off their civilization indicating the passage of time, as well as ticking down to the oncoming battle, and creating a sense of urgency that continues to draw the reader in.
In most webcomics you see the art evolving or improving over time, but this book has a consistent look throughout its first arc, a nice feature (although I do find see the evolution of an artist's style entertaining.)
The pacing in this book is amazing, the art and dialogue work in tandem to create a time bubble that races you through this story, but leave you wishing for another tome in this epic.
I would encourage anyone to step into the... grabbers of these churras, and experience the difficult battle and complex war they are engaged in.
Sir Thomas J. Griffin is an artist and acloyte of Chaos Magick working for GryphonKnights Comics. He's illustrated books like Greasers in Geese , Hero, and The Only Choice.
For readers who enjoyed Calachurras I'd recommend reading GryphonKnights's Frankenstein Vs. Dracula!
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.
Religious webcomics aren't new, and it can be really challenging to
stand apart from the mass of artwork that is out there. When Dave
contacted me the other day to check out his Jesus Comics (www.jesuschristcomics.com),
I thought it was funny because before I did comics I was pretty
religious. I attended church regularly, studied Greek, Hebrew, Biblical
Archaeology etc... Yes, comics have taken me off the path of
righteousness, that or helped me realize that religions can be a little
nuts!
I still get a kick dealing with the topic. For example The Book of Genesis illustrated by R. Crumb is one of my favorite things ever. It's page after page of detailed illustrations interpreting passages of Genesis. Its a massive, beautiful book, and contains all 50 chapters.
In this case, however I was confused with Dave's introduction. "...The subject matter is [too] controversial," he said. referring to the story of the birth of Jesus, one of the most retold stories of all.
But I dove in! It was a pretty quick read; 4 parts, 11 pages each. It's a bare bones retelling of the greatest story of all, but Dave's imagery seems to stand out in certain points, where the pictures end up being accidentally hilarious. For example, there is these gory images of a Rabbi standing over John and Jesus with a pair of sharp, bloody scissors.... post-circumcision. A panel with the caption "King Herod was also upset." has the image of a man clutching at his sliced throat while an interesting combination of Hades from the Disney's Hercules and ZigZag, glares in the foreground.
Herod,
actually is my favorite things about this comic; his design and the
creepy way he carries himself stands out. He isn't the only character in
the book who has a face-lift; the angels look more like the common
interpretation of Djinn from Islamic mythology.
Over-saturation of this type of comic makes it tough to compete in the market. Even though it isn't the strongest book I've seen there is a lot of potential and while needing refinement the artwork stands out as stylistically memorable. The coloring is also good for a webcomic made by only one guy. Dave shows some competence in lighting and storyboarding which other neophytes lack.
Jesus Christ Comics has the potential to be something really awesome if he allows more character exaggeration like he does in Herod.
Again thanks to Dave for showing me his book!
Sir Thomas J. Griffin is a poor artist and carpenter working for GryphonKnights Comics. He's illustrated books like Greasers in Geese , Hero, The Only Choice, Meanwhile, and others.
He also wonders if Herod is worse than Emperor Septimus from Greasers in Greece
I draw a lot of webcomics for GryphonKnights Studios but on my down time I also like reading and discovering new webcomics. Sometimes they really pull me in and I find myself waiting for the next update. Usually it's only a one page update; the story doesn't progress much. But once in a while that one page changes everything.
Fighting Stranger written by Adam J. Monetta & Illustrated by Juan Romera, starts off with a beautiful splash page; A man in a cloak finds himself standing over a city remembering no more than the city's name. He wanders into the tiny cramped metropolis, and finds it to be a mostly, deserted wasteland. He's tries to kill a fugitive mutant and is led out of the city towards another.
A man in a cloak finds himself standing over a city remembering no more than the city's name, This purposeful repetition and mimicry of the event that starts the book is what immediately sets Fighting Stranger apart from any other dystopian sci-fi. When I came to this point, I wondered if I accidentally started the comic over, and my sense of disorientation and uncertainty at this moment made me realize that I was sharing the feeling of the main character of the series. Arriving at a similar point, not sure exactly if we've been here before. It's this ability to allow the reader to empathize with it's protagonist that made the series go from entertaining to riveting, as you begin to wonder and read as the mystery of these cities and the stranger slowly unravel.
The Stranger isn't a very compelling character. He is a worn rugged mercenary archetype. The supporting cast, however, kicks ass! The citizens of this world are constantly trying to manipulate the stranger for their own ends. The Strangers stoic persona, is countered by these characters from C4D to Lacey, whose rough existence creates entertaining, dark humor which immerses me in their world.
The art and coloring of this gritty, arid planet draws you in. The colorist is excellent at conveying texture on every element of the set, from the cold metal of a gun to the rocks to the red sky. I am also a fan of the lettering, particularly the robots' font.
I would be loath to forget mentioning the action sequences. They are amazingly story-boarded! The fights with the mutants each is laid out like a video game boss-fight, as certain mutants only have a couple of weaknesses.
So step into the rough world of The Fighting Stranger and then let me know what you think of the series, and we can theorize together!
Signing off!
T Griffin would also be remiss to forget to mention his own sci-fi, non-dystopian works WOW! Signal and Felix and Saw
JESUS CHRIST COMICS
I still get a kick dealing with the topic. For example The Book of Genesis illustrated by R. Crumb is one of my favorite things ever. It's page after page of detailed illustrations interpreting passages of Genesis. Its a massive, beautiful book, and contains all 50 chapters.
In this case, however I was confused with Dave's introduction. "...The subject matter is [too] controversial," he said. referring to the story of the birth of Jesus, one of the most retold stories of all.
But I dove in! It was a pretty quick read; 4 parts, 11 pages each. It's a bare bones retelling of the greatest story of all, but Dave's imagery seems to stand out in certain points, where the pictures end up being accidentally hilarious. For example, there is these gory images of a Rabbi standing over John and Jesus with a pair of sharp, bloody scissors.... post-circumcision. A panel with the caption "King Herod was also upset." has the image of a man clutching at his sliced throat while an interesting combination of Hades from the Disney's Hercules and ZigZag, glares in the foreground.
Herod,
actually is my favorite things about this comic; his design and the
creepy way he carries himself stands out. He isn't the only character in
the book who has a face-lift; the angels look more like the common
interpretation of Djinn from Islamic mythology.Over-saturation of this type of comic makes it tough to compete in the market. Even though it isn't the strongest book I've seen there is a lot of potential and while needing refinement the artwork stands out as stylistically memorable. The coloring is also good for a webcomic made by only one guy. Dave shows some competence in lighting and storyboarding which other neophytes lack.
Jesus Christ Comics has the potential to be something really awesome if he allows more character exaggeration like he does in Herod.
Again thanks to Dave for showing me his book!
Sir Thomas J. Griffin is a poor artist and carpenter working for GryphonKnights Comics. He's illustrated books like Greasers in Geese , Hero, The Only Choice, Meanwhile, and others.
He also wonders if Herod is worse than Emperor Septimus from Greasers in Greece
THE FIGHTING STRANGER
I draw a lot of webcomics for GryphonKnights Studios but on my down time I also like reading and discovering new webcomics. Sometimes they really pull me in and I find myself waiting for the next update. Usually it's only a one page update; the story doesn't progress much. But once in a while that one page changes everything.
Fighting Stranger written by Adam J. Monetta & Illustrated by Juan Romera, starts off with a beautiful splash page; A man in a cloak finds himself standing over a city remembering no more than the city's name. He wanders into the tiny cramped metropolis, and finds it to be a mostly, deserted wasteland. He's tries to kill a fugitive mutant and is led out of the city towards another.
A man in a cloak finds himself standing over a city remembering no more than the city's name, This purposeful repetition and mimicry of the event that starts the book is what immediately sets Fighting Stranger apart from any other dystopian sci-fi. When I came to this point, I wondered if I accidentally started the comic over, and my sense of disorientation and uncertainty at this moment made me realize that I was sharing the feeling of the main character of the series. Arriving at a similar point, not sure exactly if we've been here before. It's this ability to allow the reader to empathize with it's protagonist that made the series go from entertaining to riveting, as you begin to wonder and read as the mystery of these cities and the stranger slowly unravel.
The Stranger isn't a very compelling character. He is a worn rugged mercenary archetype. The supporting cast, however, kicks ass! The citizens of this world are constantly trying to manipulate the stranger for their own ends. The Strangers stoic persona, is countered by these characters from C4D to Lacey, whose rough existence creates entertaining, dark humor which immerses me in their world.
The art and coloring of this gritty, arid planet draws you in. The colorist is excellent at conveying texture on every element of the set, from the cold metal of a gun to the rocks to the red sky. I am also a fan of the lettering, particularly the robots' font.
I would be loath to forget mentioning the action sequences. They are amazingly story-boarded! The fights with the mutants each is laid out like a video game boss-fight, as certain mutants only have a couple of weaknesses.
So step into the rough world of The Fighting Stranger and then let me know what you think of the series, and we can theorize together!
Signing off!
T Griffin would also be remiss to forget to mention his own sci-fi, non-dystopian works WOW! Signal and Felix and Saw
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