Archive for the ‘webcomics’ Category
The Order of the Stick: Dungeon Crawlin’ Fools (graphic novel type thing), written & Illustrated by Rich Burlew
where I got it: husband’s stack of webcomic goodies
why I read it: he kept laughing his head off. Redhead want to laugh head off too!
.
.
.
.
I follow a handful of webcomics, but when push comes to shove, I’d rather read them in book/graphic novel format. Good thing Rich Burlew, creator of Order of the Stick is just as cool for old skool.
Ahh yes, Order of the Stick, the webcomic that started in 2003 out as a dungeon crawling group of role playing adventurers, who broke rules, hated the new rules, forgot some really important rules, found an plot-arc, awkwardly flirted with each other, and slaughtered plenty of goblins in the meantime. This is a little like Looking for Group but with more seniority and farcicalness, and Dungeon Crawlin’ Fools is like the Directors Cut with commentary (literally) version of the webcomic. And did I mention it’s laugh out loud hilarious? Seriously, if you’ve ever been into role playing, or gaming, or D&D specifically, this is the comic for you.
The first few pages of Dungeon Crawlin’ Fools includes an introduction by RedCloak, and a few bonus pages that introduce the characters so you don’t go into the first strip deaf and blind. We’ve got Roy Greenhilt, the fighter and party leader who spends most of his time trying to keep the rest of the party under control; Haley Starshine the sexy (as sexy as a stick figure can be) rogue thief, who when she’s not stealing everything that’s not nailed down has a burgeoning crush on Elan the bard. Vaarsuvius the genderly ambiguous elf wizard, Durkon the dwarven cleric and Balkar the grumpy ranger halfling round out this team of treasure grabbing, dragon smashing, ogre killing player characters. Wait you say, I’m missing a dark elf? Bah, that’s not a player character race, is it?
What about Web Comics?
Posted on: November 26, 2010
- In: fun stuff | webcomics
- 11 Comments
Black Friday shopping spree? no f’ing way, says I. I’d rather sit home and read webcomics all day. and I think you should as well. and honestly, does anything go better with a turkey/stuffing/cranberry sauce/potato sandwich better than webcomics?
Yes, I said Webcomics. You know, those freebies offered a few times a week or weekly for your viewing pleasure, often available at a later date in graphic novels or trade collections. Even Cory Doctorow will tell ya the surest way to get someone to pay for something is to offer it online for free first.
Much of the graphic novels and comics I’ve come to enjoy were either webcomics first, or are pure webcomics, so we can’t finish out Graphic Novel November without a shoutout to some of my favorite webcomics.
in completely random order, here are some wonderful scifi/ fantasy/ gaming webcomics you should be reading right now:
Freakangels by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield – In a post apolcalyptic England, twelve special people tried to change the world and it went horribly wrong. Great art, snarky characters, goodies online dating back to 2008 and a handful of graphic novels available for purchase. I just recently started reading this (like, last week), and my work productivity has plummeted.
Girl Genius by Phil & Kaja Foglio – I talk about their graphic novels, but everything they print is first published online. It’s adventure! it’s romance! it’s mad science! it’s a sex comedy! there’s Jagermonsters!
Not Invented Here, by Bill Barnes and Paul Southworth – what happens behind the scenes at a software company – programing vs art dept vs marketing vs accounting vs playtesting vs the competition. They suffer so your game doesn’t freeze up.
Looking for Group by Ryan Sohmer and Lar DeSouza – What started out as a World of Warcraft parody took on epic proportions, making fun of everything pop culture. And then it took a serious turn. And then they released a Disney parody.
Order of the Stick by Rich Burlew- going back a gaming generation, Order of the Stick takes everything you loved about Dungeons and Dragons, and makes it wicked funny. Started in 2003, all those puns you’re laughing about on Looking for Group for the last two hours? Order of the Stick probably did it first. If Order of the Stick doesn’t make you giggle like a lunatic, there is something wrong with you.
xkcd by Randall Munroe. Subtitled “A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.” ‘Nuf said, just go read it.
there is a million more out there, but this is a good start. What are some of your favorites?
Fighting crazed Black Friday shoppers for the last parking spot at the mall, pushing your way through Hot Topic to get that Team Edward t-shirt your kid (or wife) has been asking for, waiting in line at the department stores just find out the early bird special on that beautiful wool jacket and KitchenAid mixer expired an hour ago. . . . or stay home and read webcomics. you shouldn’t even have to think about it.
the Little Red Reviewer 
Recent Comments