[sub]Ok, lets see if I can talk about something for 5 minutes while staying coherent...[/sub]
I'm not really sure what to say about Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal that won't be covered in the following sections. It is a humor webcomic, based around random, unconnected jokes. It generally covers mature topics, but can range into science and nerd humor. As an added bonus, they have a side video started in the same vein as Cyanide and Happiness' occasional videos (although these are made IRL). And to end this section before it sounds even more like a mediocre English report, here are some sections to help you on your way.
(I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put pictures from the webcomic here, and some of the ones I'd put are... questionable. Therefore, I'll just put links to comics. CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK.)
Most of SMBC's humor is set up as classic misdirection, [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1336#comic] showing a picture or 2 that seem obvious or normal, then there's an added caption that completely changes the context to something strange. That said, the webcomic also uses the traditional sequential panel style to make jokes. Shock humor [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1728#comic] also makes a few appearances, many times combining with the misdirection. On the other hand, random humor is largely absent from the comic, but considering everyone's stance on it that might be points in SMBC's favor.
When considering topics, SMBC prefers to use adult humor in the majority of comics. This can be sex related or parody relationships themselves. There are also quite a few other topics, however. Science is a major topic parodied in it, mostly the culture surrounding it rather than the concepts themselves. This has the bonus of being easily understood by people that aren't as into the subject. Other topics include (but are not limited to): aliens, drugs/drinking, and exploiting the classic target of nerds.
There are also bonus comics called voteys when you hold the mouse over the red button.
The art is more similar to traditional comics than many other webcomics, being simplistic, yet somewhat realistic. Humans are generally shown as is, with all of their fingers and facial features. Colors are frequently used, which adds to the overall quality. The pictures normally use borders, which give it a traditional panel feel and separate the caption from the picture. The objects usually have defined outlines as well.
The art is also generally better than some of its contemporaries such as XKCD and Cyanide and Happiness. Shading [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1906#comic] even comes into play when it's needed.
Nevertheless, it still isn't among the best, remaining around the middle due to its lack of details when compared to several other webcomics. This is fine, however, as the art is still average or above, and wouldn't matter anyways if it was worse. Generally, the art doesn't get in the way of understanding what is occuring.
SMBC is second only to Drowtales in respect to impressiveness when it comes to updates (look at Drowtales' art style. Even with a team of people, how the fuck do they update that every day?). SMBC updates daily, which is surprising considering the artwork is good and the jokes are normally good. On top of that, it's all made by one guy.
If there were any missed updates, it probably isn't noticable due to the massive amount of comics already out and frequency in which they are added. And the side video, SMBC Theatre, doesn't take away updates either, being its own side project.
As a heads up in case I do more reviews, this section is where I try to cover the personal tastes of people by posting things in the comic people might not like.
Anyways, as previously stated, some parts of SMBC gets NSFW. Sex scenes are shown several times, and the period afterwards is shown even more frequently, but the pictures are, for the most part, clean (AKA no private parts are shown aside from the butt), although they do show a lot of skin.
The comic strays into being political sometimes, but since the majority of time it's at the expense of creationists (who probably Waldo aren't reading this review), there's probably no one who cares. Some groups do get parodied, such as Buddists, [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1357#comic] but for the most part they seem tame.
There are exceptions [http://www.smbc-comics.com/?db=comics&id=1345#comic], however.
That said, the juvenile humor can offend people if they find it too juvenile. On the other end of the spectrum, suicide, death, and sex as topics could offend people as well. Keep in mind taste is subjective.
Language could be an issue if you have a problem with it, I guess. There doesn't seem to be a lot of the bad stuff, but it probably will show up at some point.
Humor: ****
Plot:
Art: **
Updates: ****
Overall, I'd recommend this comic to anyone that's old enough for it. I consider it to be my favorite humor comic overall, and tied with several of the plot webcomics I read for first. It has a strong humor style and a strong update schedule.
Link: http://www.smbc-comics.com/#comic
[sub]Ok, I feel like that went well...[/sub]
I'm not really sure what to say about Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal that won't be covered in the following sections. It is a humor webcomic, based around random, unconnected jokes. It generally covers mature topics, but can range into science and nerd humor. As an added bonus, they have a side video started in the same vein as Cyanide and Happiness' occasional videos (although these are made IRL). And to end this section before it sounds even more like a mediocre English report, here are some sections to help you on your way.
(I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put pictures from the webcomic here, and some of the ones I'd put are... questionable. Therefore, I'll just put links to comics. CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK.)
Humor
Most of SMBC's humor is set up as classic misdirection, [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1336#comic] showing a picture or 2 that seem obvious or normal, then there's an added caption that completely changes the context to something strange. That said, the webcomic also uses the traditional sequential panel style to make jokes. Shock humor [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1728#comic] also makes a few appearances, many times combining with the misdirection. On the other hand, random humor is largely absent from the comic, but considering everyone's stance on it that might be points in SMBC's favor.
When considering topics, SMBC prefers to use adult humor in the majority of comics. This can be sex related or parody relationships themselves. There are also quite a few other topics, however. Science is a major topic parodied in it, mostly the culture surrounding it rather than the concepts themselves. This has the bonus of being easily understood by people that aren't as into the subject. Other topics include (but are not limited to): aliens, drugs/drinking, and exploiting the classic target of nerds.
There are also bonus comics called voteys when you hold the mouse over the red button.
Plot and Story
SMBC is unconnected from comic to comic, moreso than any other I have read. There aren't even reoccuring characters. If you want a storyline, this isn't for you.Art Style
The art is more similar to traditional comics than many other webcomics, being simplistic, yet somewhat realistic. Humans are generally shown as is, with all of their fingers and facial features. Colors are frequently used, which adds to the overall quality. The pictures normally use borders, which give it a traditional panel feel and separate the caption from the picture. The objects usually have defined outlines as well.
The art is also generally better than some of its contemporaries such as XKCD and Cyanide and Happiness. Shading [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1906#comic] even comes into play when it's needed.
Nevertheless, it still isn't among the best, remaining around the middle due to its lack of details when compared to several other webcomics. This is fine, however, as the art is still average or above, and wouldn't matter anyways if it was worse. Generally, the art doesn't get in the way of understanding what is occuring.
Updates
SMBC is second only to Drowtales in respect to impressiveness when it comes to updates (look at Drowtales' art style. Even with a team of people, how the fuck do they update that every day?). SMBC updates daily, which is surprising considering the artwork is good and the jokes are normally good. On top of that, it's all made by one guy.
If there were any missed updates, it probably isn't noticable due to the massive amount of comics already out and frequency in which they are added. And the side video, SMBC Theatre, doesn't take away updates either, being its own side project.
Taste and Controversy
As a heads up in case I do more reviews, this section is where I try to cover the personal tastes of people by posting things in the comic people might not like.
Anyways, as previously stated, some parts of SMBC gets NSFW. Sex scenes are shown several times, and the period afterwards is shown even more frequently, but the pictures are, for the most part, clean (AKA no private parts are shown aside from the butt), although they do show a lot of skin.
The comic strays into being political sometimes, but since the majority of time it's at the expense of creationists (who probably Waldo aren't reading this review), there's probably no one who cares. Some groups do get parodied, such as Buddists, [http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1357#comic] but for the most part they seem tame.
There are exceptions [http://www.smbc-comics.com/?db=comics&id=1345#comic], however.
That said, the juvenile humor can offend people if they find it too juvenile. On the other end of the spectrum, suicide, death, and sex as topics could offend people as well. Keep in mind taste is subjective.
Language could be an issue if you have a problem with it, I guess. There doesn't seem to be a lot of the bad stuff, but it probably will show up at some point.
Summary + Notes
Humor: ****
Plot:
Art: **
Updates: ****
Overall, I'd recommend this comic to anyone that's old enough for it. I consider it to be my favorite humor comic overall, and tied with several of the plot webcomics I read for first. It has a strong humor style and a strong update schedule.
Link: http://www.smbc-comics.com/#comic
[sub]Ok, I feel like that went well...[/sub]
