Good morning, angels. Now that I've referenced a show that I've never watched, I can start with my column.
This month, I felt that we'd take another look at some webcomics. It has been quite a while, hasn't it? It feels like we've been missing the Internet for quite some time. Well, it's about to change. This month, we'll be reviewing "Dawn of Time," "Antihero for Hire," and "A Softer World."
Let's start with
"Dawn of Time,"
www.dawnoftimecomics.com, by Michael Sterns. This comic revolves around a girl by the name of Dawn, and her adventures in a prehistoric world. What's most interesting about this world is that it's combining many different phases of human development, stating that not only did humans and dinosaurs live amongst each other, they did so civilized, and almost modernly.
The principal is quite humorous for the fact that you learn more about the world in certain jokes. This forms an ironic humor, drawing from the unexpected, rather than the clichéd. The artistry is aesthetically pleasing, feeling almost reminiscent to cartoons that we grew up on. Perhaps it's this nostalgic style that draws people into this comic. I give "Dawn of Time" 8 out of 10 for its enjoyable nature, as well as its strange sense of humor.
Onward, we march to the sound of "Antihero for Hire," antiheroforhire.com, by Mark Shallow.
I love comics about superheroes. I don't know why. It could be that I haven't grown out of that youthful mind-set where those with great power actually use it responsibly. Of course, that comment's a little off-topic, so I must return. This comic focuses on a hero named Shadehawk, and his struggles to take down an evil corporation and keep a city clean. All the while, we see a great deal of parody, poking fun at the superhero genre and its many clichés.
It's interesting to see this style of humor that almost breaks the fourth wall, but will remain in the storyline. It's almost as if the characters know that they are just characters. This, and the fact that the main character has a very large gun, causes addiction to the comic faster than a random analogy. The artwork is tolerable, though not what many would enjoy or consider pleasing. Sometimes the style is conflicting, with some aspects resembling comic books, while some hold similarities to manga. It's annoying, but it's easy to overlook if you enjoy the story enough to get used to the style. I give "Antihero for Hire" 7 out of 10, for its great humor, but lack of artistry.
Finally, we look at "A Softer World,"
www.asofterworld.com, by Emily Horne and Joey Comeau.
This is the first webcomic I've read where the artwork is photography, rather than anything drawn. It's quite an odd transition, going from seeing the products of somebody's visualization in reality, to seeing the metaphorical visualization.
This comic has no plot, but is philosophical, using a few sentences over a few panels of pictures to create a full message. The pictures are quite beautiful, especially when emphasized with the words, and vice versa. While this comic is not as immediately humorous to those who would read it, one can find humor in the quotes, and the deeper meanings each have. Really, I cannot give a great review of this comic because there is just so much that words cannot describe when reading this comic. Each comic can invoke different memories, or different reactions. Very poetic, but not in the forced high school nature that infuriates so many children. For being quite intelligent, while remaining humorous, and unique, I give "A Softer World" 9 out of 10.
Well, that's enough for this month. I'll be back next month with something new. If you have any requests, feel free to e-mail me. Until then, I bid you all long days and pleasant nights.
Adam Munio is a 2009 graduate of Unadilla Valley Central School. He can be reached at pentwarrior@yahoo.com.
