Posts Tagged webcomic
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Indie Comics Episode – March 2012
Posted by Cammy in Indie Comics Episode on March 27, 2012
Valkyrie Squadron – Anomaly
Written & Illustrated by Jules Rivera
52 Pages, $6.00
Strong female characters. That’s what we need more of in both comics, and webcomics. For too long has the fairer sex been nothing but the girlfriends to our superheroes, or the blonde bimbos that wear skimpy and revealing outfits. They’re never taken seriously, and if they are considered ‘strong’ or empowered, there’s always the one moment of weakness that makes them seem normal and not frightening to those readers who are used to the standard boys club mentality. How does a creator balance that fine line of Feminazi and floozy, creating an entertaining middle-ground? Simple; tell a good story with relatable characters, male or female be damned.
Spoiler warning; I may have a bit of a bias when it comes to Jules Rivera. I was a fan of her first webcomic Marsh Rocket, so obviously I’m going to follow her on whatever future projects she tackles. Was I extremely pleased that she’s doing more storytelling in the vein of science-fiction? Of course; it’s a no-brainer. If one is talented at telling exciting tales in a certain genre, and sticks to the same medium, what’s not to love? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Much like Marsh Rocket, Rivera stays the course with the format of collecting each chapter into an individual trade, making it easily accessible to those of us who still prefer paper to the high-tech touch-screen format. For sticking with the self-publishing route, Rivera still produces quite the quality product. She should be just as proud of the physical trade as she is the story inside.
So do you like gritty sci-fi action films like Starship Troopers, television shows like Battlestar Galactica, or video games like StarCraft? Those are some of the things I would put together in a blender just to get a slight taste and feel for what Valkyrie Squadron is like. Throw in some romance, a dash of mystery, and a good tablespoon of humor, and OH MY GOD HOW DID YOU JUST DO THAT?! Focusing on a crew of four women battling a war against the evil autodrones, we get introduced to the main players in this first volume collecting all of Chapter One. What seems like a routine rescue mission suddenly becomes something more as their newly acquired cargo seems to attract the attention of the higher-ups. Will everything remain hush-hush, or is the seeds to something bigger down the line? It doesn’t help that a pesky reporter is snooping around looking for “the truth” in this time of war and uncertainty.
As much as I enjoyed the story in this first trade, I went absolutely Ga-Ga over the art and colors. If it’s one thing that Rivera excels above all at, it’s the execution of the illustrations. The female form covered in body armor sends the overpowering message of, “I’m sexy, but I can and will kick your ass if needed.” If we were going to war with our robotic overlords, running around in a silver bikini while firing automatic weapons would not be the practical choice armor-wise, no matter how cool it may look to some. Rivera illustrates a sensible far-off future, where men and women are on a level playing field, and unfortunately Bros are still breeding. And I’m calling it now; hologram ear-pieces will be the must-have item next holiday season.
The great thing about collected webcomics is if you enjoyed what you read, you can go catch-up on the website for free. Same thing if you’re hesitant on purchasing the first volume; read it for free online, then support the creator by forking over some dough. It’s only $6, that’s about the same price as a Marvel comic, only you’re getting a helluva lot more bang for your buck with Valkyrie Squadron! The webcomic updates every Tuesday and Thursday, so there’s no reason to not have it bookmarked in your toolbar. Tell her that Cammy sent ya.
This episode has been brought to you by Crazy Mary!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Indie Comics Episode – January 2012
Posted by Cammy in Indie Comics Episode on January 30, 2012
Backwood Folk Volume 1: Greenville Is Forever
Written & Illustrated by Gustav Carlson
164 Pages, $24.99
When my friend Gustav Carlson and I were growing up on several different webcomic forums, he was the artsy type who would constantly be illustrating and posting his creations in his own art threads. Page after page of different drawings, sketches, and paintings could be viewed, and slowly over the years you would notice the change in his style and character designs. This guy lives to create, for you could definitely see his genius in its infant stages, slowly evolving over time.
Then comes along his baby, Backwood Folk, a new webcomic updating every Tuesday and Thursday, providing a plethora of new material for the internets to enjoy. The man had a plan, and was slowly building an audience who would appreciate his many talents. Things obviously have been working out well for Gus, for last December came the release of Backwood Folk Volume 1: Greenville Is Forever, a nifty little trade paperback collecting 164 pages of material, all colored, and HTML-free.
While the main character, Benedict Carpenter, may somewhat slightly resemble Gustav when it comes to appearance, he assures you it isn’t the case, but a mere fluke. That may be enough for the rest of the audience to brush-off and move along, but not this reviewer. I propose it was all planned from the very start, that Gustav Carlson is the type of mad genius with an ego bigger than Kanye West’s to allow this sort of thing to happen by mere coincidence. It wasn’t enough for him to create this whimsical watercolored wonderland, but he had to star in it as well! The nerve of this rapscallion.
Movi
ng on, the story follows Benedict as he escapes life in the big city to take care of some land that was left to him in his hometown of Po’Dunk, Arkansas. Upon arriving in his Prius, he’s reunited with childhood friends, and feels somewhat out of place in his once familiar surroundings. Things change, people change, but Greenville is forever. Some beings, once thought of as mere myths, slowly creep their way into Ben’s reality, making him realize that perhaps he has been away for too long. Impromptu concerts being erected on his property, offers for the purchase of his land, and near-death experiences start to become apart of his new life in the Ozarks, and the first volume leaves us questioning what will Ben decide to do in regards to these new challenges.
I’ve obviously conveyed my appreciation of Gustav’s art in the first paragraph, but I almost feel that words cannot do this first collection justice. His style is very reminiscent of Jeff Lemire, and the beautiful watercolors just explode off the pages and bathe the readers eyes in a concoction of liquid happiness and pure joy. The characters are spectacularly brought to life, and the Pink Eye monsters will make you want to keep a light on at night (just in case). The panel layouts also impressed me immensely, for Gus isn’t going with the traditional format throughout, but rather having fun creating his own borders when deemed appropriate. One of my favorite parts in the book is when a character is subjected to toxic chemicals, which causes his experience to transform into a psychedelic one, completely blowing your mind with the color schemes.
So if you’re looking for something new to enjoy (and support with your monies), I highly recommend you give Backwood Folk Volume 1: Greenville Is Forever a try. You’ll become captivated by the art and story, and who knows; maybe it’ll convince you to move to Arkansas and herd goats for the rest of your life. Or just follow the webcomic every Tuesday and Thursday. Or perhaps both!
Click here for my interview with Gustav Carlson!
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Geeky Talky – Episode 108
Posted by Cammy in Geeky Talky on January 25, 2012
In this special episode I interview webcomic superstar Gustav Carlson (Backwood Folk). Join us as we fondly discuss growing up on internet message boards, raising goats in Arkansas, and the release of his first volume of Backwood Folk.
Cammy’s Comic Corner – Book Of The Month – Hark! A Vagrant
Posted by Cammy in Book Of The Month on October 1, 2011
Book Of The Month – October 2011
Hark! A Vagrant
Written & Illustrated by Kate Beaton
I have a confession to make; I came late to the Hark! A Vagrant party. My friends always talked about the webcomic with high praise, and how funny and genius it was. In my defense there are hundreds upon hundreds of great webcomics out there nowadays, and it’s so hard to remember to bookmark them all. Of the regular ones I visit, I know their schedules like the back of my hand (Penny Arcade and Gunshow Monday, Wednesday, Friday; Questionable Content and Our Valuable Customers Monday through Friday), but if you’re rather forgetful like I am, you tend to visit a new series if you suddenly remember and are near a computer, or if you’re bored at work and have a smart phone handy. My love of Hark! A Vagrant! blossomed after Comic-Con this past summer.
Jeremy Awesome (cameraman, cool dude) was picking up an advanced copy of the book (signed, limited to 300 mind you) for a friend who wasn’t able to make it. While lugging our camera equipment and spoils of the convention around throughout the weekend, I had a chance every now and then to sneak a peek at the book and see what all the fuss was about. Little did I know, but Kate Beaton would soon become one of those beautiful Geeky Goddesses that I worship (alongside Blair Butler and Felicia Day).
Just like xkcd is a webcomic for the nerds and science types to enjoy, Hark! A Vagrant is the same brand of catnip for the history and literature buffs. Myself being an English major, I was laughing my rump off comic after comic, and much like xkcd you don’t have to be a scholar of any sort to still have an enjoyable experience when reading it (but it certainly does amplify the effects).
The majority of the strips are in the standard three-panel format, with an extended six-panel layout sprinkled in here and there when required. The subject matter jumps from period to period, century to century without a linear timeline. Sporadic keeps things lively and interesting, and doesn’t feel like Beaton is only focusing on one period in time to find humor in. The humor in the strips ranges from sophisticated to just plain silly, with some slightly bizarre thrown in for good measure. There is also some superheroes present, and I must say Sexy Batman had me rolling on the floor for several minutes.
So whether you’re a fan of Shakespearean plays or ever wondered if it was possible to make jokes regarding The Great Gatsby, I highly recommend you check this collection out, then afterward go to her website and bookmark it for your viewing pleasure. It’s such a great looking hardcover, and to think this doesn’t even collect the entire archive! Leaves it open for much more goodness in another thick collection in the future, and I’ll definitely be picking up that one as well.
Click here for past Book Of The Month selections!
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