So I read alot of webcomics.  I don’t know what the normal amount is, but I have over twenty loaded for daily consumption (thanks to the awesome Morning Coffee plugin for Firefox).  I like to talk about them, but no one really likes to listen, so I thought I’d post that stuff here.  Just in case the Comittee of Geeks calls upon me, I will have thorough proof of my geekiness.

First up in this ’series’ is inkdick.  Normally I would say that autobiographical comics hold zero interest for me, and in the past this has been true.  I actually came across this comic while looking for places to advertise Vlad on Project Wonderful.  Maybe I liked it because Pranas, the creator, is going to the school I want to go to, doing the things I want to do (attending cons and making comics).  For whatever reason, I dug it, and read the entire archive in a single day.

What he does right:

• The art is cool and charming.  I grew up loving super hero books, but over the last five years I have really come to enjoy a much broader range of styles.
• The stories are short intimate glances at a relatively normal life. He keeps them short and to the point, so its an easy quick read that keeps you interested.

What he does wrong:

• I read the entire archive in essentially one sitting, so this wasn’t apparent to me, however reading the story it becomes clear that there has been issues with keeping a regular posting schedule. On this site I consider that sin numero uno; however I don’t doubt I will keep coming back for more.

By Moon Alone is a clearly Japanese influenced webcomic that updates once a week.  The art is amazing, at least if you have aquired the taste for the Japanese influence, and technically speaking very well put together.  At times it feels a bit slow in pacing as it jumps back and fourth between two storylines.  Storyline A is the tale of a wheel chair bound girl and her buddy that may or may not be imaginary.  It is ‘cute’, and the sort of story I consider ‘for girls’.  I’m not really into sweet and cute that much, but I read it patiently because it ties into Storyline B about some awesome armored fighting going on in a forgotten mystical realm. If you enjoy well rendered art and a carefully crafted (albeit sometimes slow) story, I would definetly reccommend checking it out!

Just found this one today, and I have been steadily working my way through the months of archived strips. Monster Commute is a cute and simple little strip that updates week daily (that’s Monday through Friday).

The premise appears to be that Hell is traffic, and your morning commute is your own personal Hell. Having worked from home for the last half of a year, I can say with all certainty that this premise is correct. Anyway, Machine and Beastio are trapped in the car together on their way to work, for what appears to be eternity. Its fun. The writing is super awesome, and I’m LOL’ing at every strip, but I am certainly amused. The art is drop dead gorgeous, and I am fully envious. I wouldn’t want to abstract the Vlad cast quite as much as they have here, but the colors/textures are exactly what I am trying to learn to do.

I give Monster Commute two thumbs horns up, and suggest you give it a read.

It’s been awhile since I did a Webcomics Other Than Us (WOTU), but I came across a comic that I thought would be worth sharing.

Today’s comic is Matter of Fact, a week daily single panel satire strip. This is the type of thing that Larson made famous with Far Side, so I’m sure you are all familiar with the format. Quick and easy reads, and you can jump in anywhere (even less character development than we do!). That being the case there isn’t much of a summary to provide, so just go and enjoy it.

EDIT: I particularly like this one and this one.  — Xeno

Vlad made a cameo today in another comic called Dressed in Black.  He’s hanging out with Death playing video games, very appropriate.

Thanks to Jan for that and for the link!  You should check out his comic.  It really is quite funny and dark.  Here’s a couple of favorites: #286 and #287.  Not particularly safe for work…

And it’s available in German and in English.   Good for practicing your German.  We should start writing Vlad in German.

Unfortunately, here’s the extent of my German:

Wo ist der Käse?
In meine Hose.

And my French:

Où est le fromage?
Dans mon pantalon.

And my Spanish:

Dónde está el queso?
En mis pantalones.

Yep.  Comes in handy throughout Europe.