How to find that special something

Me? I love stalling for things I want, like interviews! (Please email me back!!!) Believe it or not, if I didn’t have any readers, stalling would be a lot easier, but since they demand content from me, I can only oblige them as quickly as is humanly possible, juggling this alongside my many other responsibilities. (HA!) Anyway, enough random screaming! I actually have something to talk about today and that is:

Finding new webcomics! I can’t really drone on about this for too long because it’s really quite simple. It’s odd, when I first considered writing this post I thought: “Well gee, I’ll write about two things and that’ll be the end of it.” However, I’ve just realized that there’s more to it than I first thought, so here goes nothing.

1.) Your friends know what you like. It’s true. Always take the advice of your friends when it comes to webcomics. XKCD was the webcomic that opened my eyes to the world of webcomics, and I never would have found it except for a friend of mine that loves the Ender’s series quite a bit more than I do. A well placed email is often all it takes to find your new favorite thing.

2.) Guest comics. Don’t ignore them! Yes, other artists/writers tend to take your favorite characters and skew them in some sort of unfavorable light, and you may feel angry, but what you should be paying attention to is the humor in them. Most sites I know of have a guest comic week. How such things got started is something I do not know, but most artists feel that they are obligatory. (Especially Sam Logan) Now while I personally have not found any webcomics I actually liked using this method, it can still turn you on to some good art, and what the heck, you may even find new love.

3.) Links. Yes, I know it’s obvious, but it’s crazy how many people can forget about something like this! Pretty much every webcomic I read has a page that is just chock full of links to other comics. If you’ve got nothing better to do on a Saturday evening, just go ahead and click on a couple. Okay, so you hate everything you’ve seen so far. What does this mean for you? Don’t stop clicking. The internet is too huge to give up so fast.

4.) Read my blog of course! But I’m sure you saw that coming.

I hope that helps someone! Don’t feel overwhelmed if you’re looking for something new, just don’t give up.

Dave *_*

We can't pronounce this word

Well I guess it’s that time again. Time to chip away at the source of my material, time to write yet another article on one of many webcomics that everyone should be reading. I must stress though that you’re probably not the same as me. Everyone’s got different tastes, so maybe you just can’t dig whatever I tell you to read, and it’s cool, because that’s just how we are.

Anyway, that’s just me stalling for the purpose of being wordy. Today, I will discuss the uber-popular and uber-awesome xkcd. Is it silly to review a webcomic that everyone has heard of? Maybe, but it was this comic that got me into the whole scene in the first place, so it holds a place that is near and dear to my heart. The first page I ever viewed was this one, about Ender’s Game, and I thought, “Wow, it’s just so nerdy!”

That’s probably the thing about this comic that will slam you in the brain the moment you start reading: to get any enjoyment from it nerdiness is a strong prerequisite. I’ve heard mixed definitions of the word, but it makes me think of someone who loves sci fi and might just dabble in theoretical physics for kicks and giggles. I know that certainly describes me to a large extent, so anyone who reads the comic might feel like they’re coming home for the first time.

It’s a tough comic to classify. It’s not exactly a joke every four panels, because you’re not guaranteed four panels, much less even one. Not every comic is even funny for that matter, but oddly enough, you don’t feel like the comics need to be. Anyone who reads it looking for a real good “LAWL!” every day had better search elsewhere. My favorite comics are the ones that give away something about the writer as a person, for example, his endless obsession with Summer Glau and Firefly as a whole, or his adorable sense of what’s romantic on a nerd level. Gentlemen, take your cues from this guy. He probably has a girlfriend, which is more than a lot of us nerds can say.

But enough insults, let’s get back to the material! I highly recommend reading the comic from the very beginning. The about section of his (I keep using impersonal pronouns… His name is Randall Munroe) website tells us that random drawings from earlier days first inspired him to write the comic, and that a link to his server flooded him with a bunch of accidental readers, whom he of course had to keep happy. The early comics aren’t about much; they’re interesting drawings with even more interesting titles, a combination that drops an overwhelming sense of intrigue on your shoulders. As the works progress Randall leans towards characterization, which seems strange at first, considering that all stick figures look pretty much the same. After a while though, you’ll get the feeling that it’s the same three or four people every time, and you’ll grow to like them as if they were your friends.

What would a webcomic be without some ridiculousness? XKCD has its fair share, from presidential candidates traversing the country in giant blimps, to hoverboard races against Nathan Fillion. Does it have to make sense? It’s a much better comic for the madness, so don’t knock it until you try it!

XKCD is for the nerds among us who love to have our favorite things endlessly referenced and respectfully made fun of. (If that makes sense…)

XKCD gets a record high 9.9 out of 10.

I sure hope Mr. Munroe answers the email I’ll be sending! Until then I’ll try and stall for more related material. I guess this just means I need to read faster.

Dave *_*

PS: I can't believe I almost forgot this. Don't forget the alt-text in every image!!!

So Mr. Hastings emailed me back...

and he filled out the questionnaire I asked him to! So without further ado, this is the interview.


Q: We know from reading the "About" section of your website what gave you the idea for the comic's name and why you first drew it, but what influences the story's direction?

A: When I first started thinking about making this comic, my ideas came from the question, "What sort of world would allow for this doctor ninja character? What other characters could fit in that world?" Mostly the story is driven by ideas I just think are fun. And then I make those ideas work into a sort of twisted logic that is behind everything in the comic.

Q: Are any of your characters loosely or directly based on people you know in real life? Which, if any of the characters, reflects your personality on some level?

A: Frans Rayner is a mix of an old boss of mine, and Jean Claude Van Damme. Dan McNinja's look was very loosely based on my father. I honestly can't think of a character that really reflects me, which is silly because they have to in some way, right?

Q: It's obvious you like Batman. To what extent does Batman influence the comic? (Apart from the hilarious references) How long have you been reading Batman? Are there any other superheroes you follow?

A: Well originally, I was going to have Dr. McNinja ACTUALLY know Batman. Then it became clear I couldn't do that, so I just changed it up so that he was just a fan boy. Then I got some humor out of that. The "bat family" is a big influence on the cast of Dr. McNinja, the way a supporting cast takes their roles. I've been a fan of Batman since I was 14, I think. It was when Grant Morrison relaunched JLA, and I really saw how badass Batman was. I also recall reading the Robin comics too... But currently, no I don't have a "pull list" or anything like that. I wait and hear what's good, and then I buy them when collected in trades.

Q: What was your initial motivation for bringing the comic to the web? Were there any contributing factors to this decision?

A: I pitched Dr. McNinja to a few publishers, and hadn't heard back from them in months. I was tired of not doing anything, so I decided I would just make it as a webcomic, get it out to some people. I was a fan of a few webcomics already, so I took a closer look at how they did things, and adapted it for my purposes.

Q: How does a story arc come together for you? Do you script the entire thing before you begin drawing?

A: I've got a few story concepts floating around, waiting to get used, and as I find oppurtunites to use them, they'll get next in line for the comic. I will usually have a beginning and end in mind, and I'll write out a bunch of notes, and build on ideas, and when I start, I will have the opening scene of a story all scripted out. And then I just write more pages once a week, improvising the middle of the story.

Q: Any thoughts on why so many webcomic artists love velociraptors?

A: I think we all just love dinosaurs in general. They were dragons that were REAL.

Q: If you could collaborate with another artist on a webcomic, who might that be and why?

A: I would love for JH Williams III to draw something I wrote. He is an amazing artist, with awesome design skills.

Q: Have you got any advice for aspiring webcomic artists out there?

A: Why are you aspiring? It's easy to get a website and put pictures on it! Get started, and don't stop!

Q: What comics do you read on a regular basis?

A: Nedroid, Hark! A Vagrant, Scary Go Round, Overcompensating, the list goes on. That's just what I think I read in the last hour.

Q: Final thoughts?

A: Live your dreams. I am Galatron. (I wrote this in a notebook I had where there was a robot on the bottom of each page, so I made him say that. I lost this notebook and I miss it dearly.)

Cons, Cons, Everywhere are Cons...

You know, right now I’m so excited about everything that’s been happening that I don’t really have a witty way to begin this blog post, so I’ll just go right at it! It’s totally late at night, and I had hoped that this post would be up by Monday but instead it’s early Tuesday!

Anyway, I’ve just spent the last four (soon to be five) days of my life at conventions! First I spent Friday at SpoCon, Spokane’s only science fiction and fantasy convention. It’s hard to put this down in words, how much fun I’ve had the past couple of days, but everything has been amazing. My difficulty in articulation might also be due to a lack of sleep, but excitement is probably the main reason. The convention was amazing. There were a great many panels between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, when the con sadly came to a close.

I won’t go into too much detail, because honestly, who does that? Let’s just say that if you ever want a good time in a good city, come visit us! There’s lots of gaming and vendors and all kinds of interesting things to learn about. Starting yesterday at ten in the morning was Otaku-Con, Spokane’s first anime convention. I had the grand privilege of conducting the opening ceremony, and really, to hear two hundred people scream for you when you walk onto the stage is one of the most amazing feelings you can ever experience. It reminded me of the Miller Lite commercial, “This is what greatness tastes like!” It was a very special nerd moment for me.

I suppose the only reason I mention any of this is because Lars Brown was at Otaku-Con on Monday. He writes North World, a fun comic in a modern day fantasy setting. I haven’t reviewed it yet because I haven’t read all of it, but I’m for sure partway there. I bought a book off of him and co-hosted a panel on webcomics. If you ever get the chance just listen to him talk about the comics he writes or just being a comicker in general, the man really knows his stuff. I didn’t have to fill in a whole lot of info, just bits and pieces to advance what he said. Read his work! You’ll like it.

Well that’s that for now. I have to be up early tomorrow. More screaming awaits. ‘Night y’all!

Doctors aren't played out.

Where do I begin? There are so many wonderful comics out there. I love so many of them so dearly. My feelings for these webcomics makes it difficult to decide which one to write about first. Two things have since convinced me to write about this particular comic to start things off. First of all, he’s the only writer who’s emailed me back thus far, and secondly, it seems to me that it is vastly under appreciated. I say this because I don’t personally know anyone who reads it, though I do know people who read just about everything else.

I’m going to talk about… (drum roll, applause, etc…) DR. MCNINJA! This is a comic that absolutely everyone should be reading, including your grandmother. It’s the epitome of delightfulness, with new comics every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Why do I love it so much? The real question should be, what sort of person doesn’t love it? Okay I suppose I ought to be serious. Chris Hastings (the writer) doesn’t draw four panels and throw in a punch line. He has highly detailed and lengthy story arcs in which something meaningful actually happens. Sometimes there are villains, sometimes there are evil corporations, and sometimes there are men with muscles that frighten people!

Despite all of these serious happenings, it’s quite possibly one of the most hilarious things you will ever read. It’s off the wall and ridiculous in a highly plausible sort of way. For example if you knew an archaeologist who had cloned some velociraptors and had a girlfriend on Myspace, it would follow that if she dumped him, he might just become a bandito and ride velociraptors everywhere while trying to exact his revenge. When you first begin reading the comic you’re struck by the overwhelming insanity that dominates the world in which Doctor McNinja lives. After issue #½ however, you suddenly realize that this stuff is normal. Suddenly, hiring a gorilla named Judy as your receptionist at the doctor’s office doesn’t seem so strange.

That’s probably the most impressive thing about the comic, the level that it operates on. Most readers demand some sensibility in what they read, and oddly enough Dr. McNinja's followers say things like, “There’s no sound in space!” while forgetting that he’s surfing a robot-Dracula to the Earth’s surface. That’s like waking up in the morning with your house underwater and complaining that you’ve run out of butter. It’s a complete brain buster. Zombie ninjas are normal, but the laws of physics should be obeyed.

I mustn’t forget the thing that makes this comic so enjoyable within all of its quirks: artwork. Not only is Mr. Hastings a creative genius in the writing department, his drawings are also amazing. Not all comics call for dynamic paneling, in fact, the majority of webcomics don’t, but the action packed issues of Dr. McNinja need something to encourage the thrill of the storyline, and Chris has nailed it down. The panels have very clean edges and lend a lot to the art contained within.

Let’s not forget the team that supports the artwork either! Kent Archer, Carly Monardo, the puppet, and Anthony Clark, who is incidentally one of the most handsome individuals you will ever see. Anyway, these wonderful people are responsible for the other stuff, like color and ink, things that matter. Without them the comic would be less wonderful than it is.

EDIT: As suggested by one of my readers (OMG a reader!!!) I should probably mention some stuff about what kind of readers it might pull and attach a numerical rating to it, so here goes: This is a comic for escapists who happen to like Ninja doctors that reside in a world where anything can and does happen.

Dr. McNinja gets a screaming 9.7 out of 10.

Chris is filling out a questionnaire for me, so I’ll post again when he’s done!

Dave *_*

Hi! Here are my goals.

Hi! Welcome to the first post of what I hope will be a very ongoing project. I like to read webcomics, and if you’re reading this, I’m sure it’s something you enjoy too. Everyone is looking for something different in a webcomic, so it’s hard to gauge how to recommend them to other people. Some are about superheroes, some are adventure stories, some focus on that last panel to bring the joke home. No comic author or artist can survive if he/she wants to be all things to all people. It’s just not possible. The best writers base their stories on what they know. Any artist that makes it past number fifty has probably got a great thing going. Those who drop off prior to that usually feel frustrated, because, let’s face it, some people just aren’t funny, or they’re not great story tellers, and all artists know that their readers will tell them if they suck.

I’m not here to complain about bad webcomics. I’m here to tell you what you should read, who’s a genius, who’s not. I promise to never pass judgment on a comic that I’ve never read in its entirety. That’s a big responsibility, but lucky for me, the old ones are usually good ones. If you’ve got a story to tell, and you’re still telling it with five times weekly updates ever since 2006, it sounds like something I should pay attention to.

I’m sure we’ve all noticed this independently of one another, but the world of webcomics is a huge place! I always feel that if there’s something good out there, I want to be reading it. It’s almost a condition I have, like this uncontrollable urge to know everything about the largest things there are, for example the Marvel Universe. Knowing everything is unrealistic, but it doesn’t stop me from trying. And for the record, I won’t be blogging about paper comics here. That’s why we have Angela Valenti at Girls Don’t Read Comics. Go check it out. I laugh as I write this because I say it like I have more than two readers right now, but I also know that I’ll probably mention that blog again, especially if I ever develop any kind of readership as time goes on. Here’s hoping right?

Anyway, back to the topic before I talk myself into the ground here. I’m going to start off my career as a blogger with the wonderful people who belong to Dayfree Press. I make no claim to have read every comic that belongs to Dayfree Press, however, I am working on it. I’ve read XKCD, Dr. McNinja, and Questionable Content. I’m more than halfway through Kristy vs. the Zombie Army, and am about halfway through Sam and Fuzzy. I love all of them so far, so you can expect to hear a great deal about them as time goes on. I may also complain about the site and its lack of updates since 2007, but we’ll talk about that another day.

I’ll leave this as an intro post. I’m waiting for some writers to email me back about interviews and such, that way I can include more fascinating content for my readers, or lack thereof, whom I already love so dearly. Thanks for reading! More content is on its way!

Dave *_*