Monday, September 28

I Know A Little German. He's Right Over There

(Source)

I wonder if Germans make up names like "Xylophone Veröffentlichen" for American companies that want to translate and publish German gaming magazines. Nein? Well, even if they do then it's still silly (Which is not a bad thing. This is a comic strip, after all) to think Glockenspiels have anything to do with A) publishing, and B) PVP Magazine. It reinforces the "faking German" theme of this strip, at least.

Oh, right, point #1, panel #1: Is Cole standing? He can't possibly be only a little taller than a sitting Francis. He's not close enough to the table for his arm or loose sheaf of papers to overlap it, but the perspective of the foreground is such that Cole's supposed height must decrease as the supposed distance between himself and the table grows.

This is a strange, fish-eye view of Brent -- but it's growing on me. It makes him look very expressive and cartoony, which is a good thing. Even so, his chin (Which, more than anything else, made this panel look strange) probably angles upward (Back towards his neck) too sharply. If it weren't for that, after all, Brent would look more "posed dramatically" than "seen through fish-eye lens".

What is that little angled bit coming out the back of Francis' chair? If Francis just scooted all the way over to Brent's side (Yes, go check their relative positions again) -- which is a pretty funny idea -- there should be some action lines to indicate it, and maybe a little pseudo-onomatopoeia action as well.

The biggest problem is the table, and this problem is in nearly every panel: It comes up to armpit height. That's just crazy! Silliness I can handle, but not this. In the last panel, you could completely remove the table without removing the impression that the characters are still seated around one. The third panel is in a similar position. If it weren't for Brent's mighty fist (And the fact that we know better), we could start cracking jokes about how the all-concealing table is a result of the artist's poorly-disguised inability to draw hands and arms.

Thursday, September 24

No, Seriously, I Don't Get It

(Source)

What. What! What? What?!

I am doing what I can to keep my knee from jerking, but I don't know how long that can possibly last. So. One question:

What IS this strip about and why is SHECKY -- no, wait, that would be two questions.

Oh, to hell with it! More questions: Is this strip supposed to seem antagonistic towards Berkeley Breathed? What's the joke? What percentage of SK's readership is supposed to understand ANY of this strip? Why is there no editorial comment for this strip? Isn't this the kind of strip that needs an attached news post the MOST? Is there going to be an Opus movie? Is this supposed to be about Breathed's "Mars Needs Moms!" picture book that's being filmed as a movie? Is this just... I don't know, a "Poor Berkeley Breathed, I feel bad for him these days" strip? Why Shecky -- oh God, why? Is it irony? Is this strip funny (Or does it provide some kind of meaningful commentary) to anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Is Berkeley Breathed "on the rocks"? What comparison are we to assume SK is making by pairing Shecky with Opus?

That was not my knee jerking, that was me trying to keep it from doing so. Because I clearly have no idea what this strip is on about.

Tuesday, September 22

Batroom Humor

Bat-tastic! It's another Batman: Arkham Asylum strip!

(Source)

The thug's ear is a strange color, but this panel is arranged very well. Batman looks like he's sort of high up and a little ways off; the thug looks like a thug (Although he looks as if he may be wearing a medieval tunic). SK doesn't REALLY cut loose with posing Batman, however -- such as showing only his head in the frame (Rene Engström uses that sort of thing to tremendous effect), or showing him from different distances or angles ("Angles" is not much of a real suggestion, it's merely one of the possibilities. Repetition of the same angle can help to drive the jokes home, in much the same way as the repetition of Batman's stoic expression does). In fact, Batman is hanging so low in the 3rd and 4th panels that those jokes are vaguely diminished.

Seeing the earbuds set in the top of the bat-cowl really cracked me up! That was a lovely touch, even though it's pretty obvious that there's nowhere else to put them unless you want to slip them under the mask. The little musical notes have something odd going on with them, but it's probably just because they were drawn too small for the finished product's scale on the internet (So they'd look fine in the "buy a print" version or the eventual published book).

That is not mustard. I thought it was mustard when I saw it peripherally, and I think that helped ruin my taste for this joke. This might be a "less is more" occasion, where the less obvious the joke is the funnier it would be. Seeing pee rain down is not really quite as funny as imagining it (Yet you could remove either Batman or the urine from the panel to give it more punch), although mileage will vary from person to person. Personally, it reminds me of an awful scene from the movie Year One. I don't want to SEE people peeing -- not even Batman (And I think he'd have better aim!) -- but I think that the concept is really funny.

Still, we got three punchlines, good (And varied) scenery, solid artwork, and it was all video game-related! This was a fun strip, although the more I look at the urine (The way it's just being waved all around, augh) the grosser it seems.

Thursday, September 10

How to be Subversive

I just wanted to make a quick note about today's PVP guest strip by Paul Southworth. First off, the artwork was excellent. Southworth is able to fit a lot of expression into four small boxes, and the way he used background to convey mood while also setting up location was extremely effective.

Even more interesting, however, was the way he subverted LOLbat's character. This LOLbat isn't a two-dimensional internet meme factory. No, this is a true crime fighter who has been pigeon-holed by his alter-ego; a two-dimensional internet meme factory. He doesn't want to put on the act anymore, he doesn't want to don the disguise...he just wants to go out and fight crime, but he can't...everybody wants their favorite meme.

Not only does this create a deeper character, but it cleverly satirizes how quickly we fall out of love with our own catch-phrases and pop-culture, and how some people hold onto it longer than others.

A very good job by Mr. Southworth, in my opinion.

Wednesday, September 9

For The Lulls

Join me, please, as we travel back through time. No, wait; sorry! I meant, "as we retread old ground." Or, maybe, "as we see that I apparently thought about updating within the past week, yet didn't." Exciting! Sorry for the long entry, but it's a numbered list -- if that helps.

I'm not even going to render more than a single sentence on my thoughts regarding September 3rd's strip. It was abominable, reveals that father and son are both shamelessly self-centered bastards, and finally destroys the last vestiges of any purpose behind their having actually gone to a convention.

(Source)

The next strip was emotionally-driven (I hope), so the lack of any actual joke is... well, it's something to read if learning more about the characters interests you. However, the dialog is boggling. Cole caves right in to his father's "TV is a time-waster" statement (Which is being used to support the fashion in which Cole dispatched a fan of Mr. Richards, as well as whatever unfathomable motive he had for doing so) with the supporting argument of "I guess it all does seem pointless on the surface." So, Cole's saying... what, exactly? He doesn't want to admit that the show his father was in was a waste of everyone's time, unless he couches it within the fuddy-duddy-honored tradition of declaring television to be devoid of intellectual stimulus? But, wait! He's couched even THAT admission behind an "I guess"! So what does Cole really think of the whole thing, what does he really want to say, and how has he forgotten so quickly that they're really talking about why it was justified for them to both lash out at a fan? We'll never know, so it's time to move on and conceal this part with a throw rug.

Next, the humorous reveal: Mr. Richards never misses an episode of Buffy.

Wait, what? Present tense?

Buffy hasn't been on the air in six years! Maybe we are going back in time? Did Mr. Richards mean that he never misses a repeat? Does he not know he's watching repeats, meaning we now have further evidence for the emotionally-scarring existence of his rapidly-deteriorating mind? Cole doesn't help us out by chasing this appealing rabbit, but he does seem surprised when he clarifies that Mr. Richards is talking about Buffy. We don't KNOW that his surprise isn't because there are no episodes of Buffy that Mr. Richards could "miss". Still (And I'm just joking; clearly Cole is just surprised that his father watches a popular and vapid television program), he leaves well enough alone and drops the subject.

And then they laugh. Oh, how they laugh! I've gotta say, the silhouette always proves to be visually appealing at the price of reduced artistic effort. It's a great tool among the arsenal of an artist.

I've also gotta say this: This was ABSOLUTELY the wrong panel to choose to silhouette. Of the five panels, only this one would have showcased the biggest possible emotional payoff in Cole and Mr. Richards' expressions. It's the dramatic equivalent of an action scene where two badasses harass each other until the situation escalates into a fight that you KNOW is gonna be sweet -- and then the big double doors slam shut in front of the camera, and you get to stare at a doorknob as you are treated to some interesting sound effects that teabag your ears with all of the glorious visual payoff that you were denied. Frustrating? You betcha.

And then, the final line: "We should do this again, sometime." It's baffling. It has nothing to do with their situation, because Mr. Richards can't possibly mean any such thing. Their experience was absolute hell for them both, apparently, right up until the previous ten seconds. Is it a form of the "Sure... I'll, uh, I'll write you" footnote to the typical ends-in-disappointment relationship? On the surface, it seems like a form of hope for their future. But it's impossible that the words genuinely mean, "We should spend time laughing together again, sometime" -- the words can only mean, "Well, enough of that." And Cole's expression, plus Mr. Richards' turned-away face, reinforce the tragic truth of their relationship. This is the worst happy ending ever. Is it supposed to be? I have no way of knowing! The events that just transpired are too subtle and too screwball for me to believe I really know how they were intended.

(Source)

The next strip is happier, even if you interpret the previous strip as happy. So, take a moment to ponder Cole's eyelids. It's an existential problem, so don't bother taking it too seriously.

When we see Cole's eyes from an angle that doesn't place his glasses between them and us, they are (And this is where the problems begin: They are not always) solid black ovals. Near-ovals, anyway; they tend to resemble the top bits of exclamation marks. No whites to them (Except when Cole's eyes are widened -- apparently, "wide, completely black eyes" was much too creepy). The frames of his glasses have traditionally stood in for his sclera, and when they aren't around his real eyes must fend for themselves. But to circle back to the point, what, then, is the meaning of the "eyelids" we see through his glasses? Will they show up without the glasses there? If they are squinched cheeks, why doesn't Cole have cheeks when he's seen from behind (And why do they... run directly into each other)? Your father is wise in the way of the cheeks, Cole. Learn much from him, you can.

His glasses are also better. And his collars. Sorry, Cole, your dad is just cooler than you.

I've wanted to point out this aspect of Cole's design for a while, now, so here it is: The shots of Cole's collar that make it look like he has a stiff, white rectangle jutting into midair above his shoulder are not good. Sometimes it only barely juts out, in which case I can easily imagine that there's a barely-hidden curve to it that goes behind Cole's neck. Sometimes it's a plank hanging over an abyss that Cole's tie could go take a long walk off of, and it's way too obvious that there is no curve hidden behind its structure. Nothing new, but it helps get the mind off of his tie.

Now, Cole is surprised and dismayed to see that Bill Amend (<3) has written "Colt". Oh, Cole, you inattentive gadabout!

Plus, I don't think he really looks like a horse.

Don't worry, though, Cole! I'll fix that right up for you! Trust me, this is even better than if Amend hadn't misinterpreted your very-normal name as a fairly-unusual name:

No, nothing serious here. Just some bad jokes.

(Source)

On a final note, here's the first of several (?) guest strips. How do you hide a ponytail? It's very interesting to see Brent without one, though (And that it's for a video game! Lots of video game references when the guest artists come out, it seems. Are they trying to send a message?).

Also, how is the blind guy (Reggie) going to be the drummer (Ringo) for Rock Band? I think that they're setting themselves up for disappointment, there.

PAX Plague!

Sooo...it looks like this week is going to be guest strip heavy for a bunch of different web comics. My best wishes for a speedy recovery to all those afflicted by the PAX Pandemic.

Tuesday, September 8

LOLbat!

Hey folks, sorry about the lull in coverage. I have to admit that I sort of checked out of the strip while Scott reiterated the same exact joke about Cole Sr. being a cantankerous old guy three times running. Hey, I liked Buffy the Vampire Slayer too...but I don't think such an extended build up was required to pay off that joke.

I will give Mr. Kurtz the benefit of the doubt because it was PAX week(end) and I imagine he had a few extra balls to juggle...and also because his "You caused my father to quit drinking!" line in the PA/PVP/WW podcast was comedy gold. (MORE OF THAT IN COMIC STRIP, PLEASE.) Overall, however, last week seemed uninspired.

Tuesday's strip is a nice treat, the LOLbat art is always good, and Kurtz did a nice job drawing Croc Pot. When it comes to mouths, strangely, I think the hinged jaw of the crocodile is more in Kurtz' wheelhouse than the human jaw. The last panel of the strip provides a nice contrast; which do you think looks more realistic?

I'm assuming this will be a one-off, so there should be a new storyline this Wednesday to follow, and hopefully that will give Jai and me (<--correctly used, shouldn't be I, look it up.) a little more meat to sink our teeth into.

Until then.

Tuesday, September 1

Con-stipated

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This week is really washing the taste of last week out of my mouth... although, it simultaneously has affirmed that last week was a lot of nonsense, story-wise. Cole (And he doesn't seem to have fallen far from the Richards tree, judging by last week) is not a smart man -- but, hey, neither was Forrest Gump.

The story this week picks up an ambiguous period of time later than last week. The devil is in the details, and they've been awfully sparse: Seemingly, Mr. Richards has literally no idea as to what's going on. But for them to have a booth and to have booked his appearance (Both at what seems like a really fair-sized, if not huge, convention. And he's the top draw, according to last week's flyer! Was that a home-brewed ad from Cole?), Cole has had plenty of time to teach his father about the pros of cons. And hasn't -- or else he has, but his dad has Alzheimer's (Which would explain a lot, but would also suck the humor right out of everything). I don't really want either of those to be the case.

Panel 2: "heh! They saw you coming from a mile away." -- I'm stumped. I have no idea what Mr. Richards is talking about, which enforces the impression of senility I'm getting from him.

Panel 4: "This is why were [sic] here." The emphasis is odd and the sentence makes it seem like Cole took Mr. Richards to the con without any kind of warning or explanation (Yet he seems exasperated, so that's doubtful). Why not, "This is why we're here, remember?" Also, Mr. Richards' cheek lines don't look as good when they're seen from the side and go all the way down to the collar -- it makes his mouth look like a marionette's, or a nutcracker's.

So, right, my point is that the jokes are really decent this week... but the setup is lacking something. A little half-flashback-of-advice and half-current-disregarding-of-said-advice would have made Cole look more sympathetic, for instance. This week is bringing good ideas (Unless you are really tired of "let's imagine an old guy who doesn't 'get it' talking about nerd stuff" scenarios. That does bring a certain PVP "character" to mind), but they're not flowing smoothly.