Manga Artists :: Part 3: Web Comics

What would my life be like without these web comics to amuse me? Pretty dull, that's what.

:: Megatokyo ::

This is probably at the top of everyone's list of fave web comics, and if not then they're just jealous. (If any haters actually exist, don't flame me!) It is about two crazy American fanboys who get stranded in Japan. Dream come true or hellish nightmare? It depends on how many messed up situations they can keep themselves out of (but ultimately fail at doing.) I'm so far behind on this, because it is updated so freaking often, but nonetheless I will do my best to catch up. And props to Piro for having his own style and way of doing the comic that is out of the norm, and getting published anyway! Smart writing and drawing trumps tradition every time. A poster boy for all Manga Artist wannabees everywhere (And yes, I'm somewhere on that list.)

:: Panda Xpress ::

Recommended to me in our college newspaper, of all places, but glad I didn't ignore their props or I'd be missing out. Cute, funny, and kick serious butt. Who knew you could combine a veddy proper british spy, roller disco samurai, evil talking goat, Boo-like little girl and cyborg panda and it would be awesome? Er, actually maybe that's a given. Anyway, the style is Japanese manga plus American comics plus Lisa Frank. And it works. Wikkity's flashback is one of the awesomest I've ever seen, no less for the context in which it is placed. If we can be this good, I will consider our work a job well done.

:: Van Von Hunter ::

Very funny comic. There is so much in the fantasy genres to spoof, and they do a smart job of it. Won Rising Stars of manga so they have a couple of actual volumes of this published, which adds to the web version already up. Plus, they are now going to be syndicated in national newspapers! Congrats to them and their lucrative contracts, they've earned it.

:: Strings of Fate ::

The greatest tragedy of this web comic is it has been taken off the web. =( I absolutely loved it. A version of the chinese zodiac myth that is completely her own, great characters, and a gorgeous style that is part manga, part modern Disney animation (think Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, Mulan.) However, a friend of mine gave me the full comic in pdf form to stem my tears, so I would recommend looking for it as a download online. Here are some reviews, comments, awards and some pics to tide you (and me) over, courtesy of Google:

http://www.damonk.com/review6.html
http://www.masterzdm.com/enter/webcomicbookclub/full.php?cid=27
http://www.masterzdm.com/enter/webcomicbookclub/summary.php?cid=27
http://aido.furvect.com/fall/images/art/fanart/maonyo.htm
http://www.ccawards.com/2003.htm
http://www.comixpedia.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=938
http://www.lambiek.net/artists/w/wang_jen.htm
http://www.sequentialtart.com/reports.php?ID=914&issue=2002-07-01

:: Demonology 101 ::

Interesting comic with cool characters and a very unique style. Another style that is not mine but I wouldn't mind claiming. One of the people who helped lead me to the magic and mystery of the Wacom. She has another comic, Ice, that I'm too lazy to subscribe to, so haven't read it yet. But industrious souls can find it here:

:: Tea Club ::

Just super super cute. The president bear rocks my world.

:: The Creatures in my Head ::

Okay, this isn't actuallly a web comic per se, but very cool nonetheless. I first got it as a widget on my Mac, but there is a real site too. He's been doing this for five years, impressive.

I will list other ones I like on a later post. I found a site last week that lists a lot of web comics, for anyone interested:

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Okay, the ones below are Flash-based comics that intrigue me:

:: Homestar Runner ::

The greatest Strong Bad e-mails, IMO, are the ones on Japanese Cartoons, Trogdor, Strongbadia National Anthem, and the Children's PBS-like show. I had the misfortune of watching the last one at work; big mistake, I couldn't stop laughing. And I love the Cheat's video character profile. The archives of the original drawings and flash files are also worth a look.

:: Broken Saints ::

One of the first to do a flash animated web comic, if I'm not mistaken. The mythology is interesting. The early episodes are slow but still interesting to see. Kudos for getting their dvd's made.

:: Ninjai the Littlest Ninja ::

I actually like this a ton more than Broken Saints, no offense to them. The cinematography is better, the animation is ten times better, like a low-budget animated film, and the action moves at a crisper pace.

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And these last two are just crack, but funny crack nonetheless:

:: The Sawyer Song ::

A parody of The Llama song. Not exactly a web comic, you say? Too bad, it's a funny Flash take on one of my fave shows and it's my blog, so I can post whatever I choose. ;)

:: The Moon Song ::

The Quizno's commercial featuring these things may have been a new low for TV ads, but it made me laugh every time I saw it. And I'd better stop adding links like this to this post before I start adding every odd thing I've ever seen on the web and lose all credibility with myself as to my blog's integrity. (Too late.)

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Well, that's it for now. Our friends show us awesome gag comics that I will probably eventually post links to, when I find out where they got them. (There are a bunch out there about Deathnote and L, which make my day.) A whole other genre that one day perhaps I'll tap into.