Ah, webcomics. I've enjoyed wasting many an hour at college by attempting to work my way through the archives of several of them: mostly game-related ones like the ever-infamous Penny Arcade and Crtl-Alt-Del. Well, today I'm here to share one that I believe SURPASSES them. That's right, I dare to say that this comic SURPASSES THE GRANDDADDY OF GAMING WEBCOMICS. Which is funny really, because the author keeps telling everyone that she sucks at making them.
Meet Awkward Zombie, one of the best things that I've read in recent times. Awkward Zombie is a gaming webcomic, though it tends to feature the characters IN the games rather than characters in real life. The art style is fresh and unique, with thick lines and vibrant colors that draw in the eyes of the reader nicely. The author's takes on various gaming personas are also interesting: for instance, Marth is a stuck-up royal, and Link is cast as a lovable doofus.
The true strength of the comic though lies in the fact that it doesn't throw incredible amounts of dialouge in your face, which allows you to focus on looking at the art rather than what the characters are saying to one another. Even when there's lots of speech bubbles, the amount of text tends to be on the light side, which is a good thing since it keeps the comic from the pitfall others fall into: being bogged down with words. To sum it up, the comic is succinct, something rarely appreciated in the medium.
If there is something I CAN criticize about Awkward Zombie, it's that there are several comics that include "in-jokes": jokes that people need to have played the games mentioned to understand. For instance, someone who hasn't played Advance Wars (SHAME ON YOU) wouldn't get the joke from my first example. Thankfully, whenever this happens, the author tends to leave a well-written explanation at the bottom. As icing on the cake, this is one of the few webcomics where I'm actually eager to read the author's commentary: sometimes it can be just as amusing as the comic itself. However, the few times where there ISN'T an explanation, and the comic is an in-joke, it can be a little confusing.
The other thing that draws mild frustration from me at times is when the author insists that her comic isn't that good. She tends to be self-depreciating a lot... though thankfully this seems to be on the decline a little. [http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-090108.php] Other than this and the odd unexplained in-joke, I loved Awkward Zombie: the excellent art style and great sense of humor had me hooked from the very start. I heartily recommend it.
Meet Awkward Zombie, one of the best things that I've read in recent times. Awkward Zombie is a gaming webcomic, though it tends to feature the characters IN the games rather than characters in real life. The art style is fresh and unique, with thick lines and vibrant colors that draw in the eyes of the reader nicely. The author's takes on various gaming personas are also interesting: for instance, Marth is a stuck-up royal, and Link is cast as a lovable doofus.
The true strength of the comic though lies in the fact that it doesn't throw incredible amounts of dialouge in your face, which allows you to focus on looking at the art rather than what the characters are saying to one another. Even when there's lots of speech bubbles, the amount of text tends to be on the light side, which is a good thing since it keeps the comic from the pitfall others fall into: being bogged down with words. To sum it up, the comic is succinct, something rarely appreciated in the medium.
If there is something I CAN criticize about Awkward Zombie, it's that there are several comics that include "in-jokes": jokes that people need to have played the games mentioned to understand. For instance, someone who hasn't played Advance Wars (SHAME ON YOU) wouldn't get the joke from my first example. Thankfully, whenever this happens, the author tends to leave a well-written explanation at the bottom. As icing on the cake, this is one of the few webcomics where I'm actually eager to read the author's commentary: sometimes it can be just as amusing as the comic itself. However, the few times where there ISN'T an explanation, and the comic is an in-joke, it can be a little confusing.
The other thing that draws mild frustration from me at times is when the author insists that her comic isn't that good. She tends to be self-depreciating a lot... though thankfully this seems to be on the decline a little. [http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic1-090108.php] Other than this and the odd unexplained in-joke, I loved Awkward Zombie: the excellent art style and great sense of humor had me hooked from the very start. I heartily recommend it.
[HEADING=3]Editor's Notes:[/HEADING]
HEY ITS BEEN A WHILE
I WAS DOING STUFF
I STILL HAVE MORE STUFF TO DO
A TORNADO HIT NOT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE
AND I WAS REEEEEALLY LAZY
And that's the reason for the sudden insane lack of reviews from me! Also, you might notice that this is the shortest review I've pumped out in a while. I'm not being accustomed to writing webcomic reviews: I do games most of the time, so whenever I step out of that medium I have to re-think how my review will play out. Also, this is my first review in freaking forever, so I need to get my critic muscles back in shape.
I also didn't write a real conclusion, because CONCLUSIONS SUCK AND I HATE THEM. Not to mention I'm tired as hell.
But yeah, once college kicks in you'll see me surfing this section a lot more. For some reason, when I have all the time in the world to play games, I can't focus on them. So once school starts back up, you'll see me pumping out reviews like mad. I might do a review of the entire "Super Mario Advance" franchise if I can find the fourth one.... bastard keeps eluding me.
I did write half a review for Infamous a long ways back, but alas there was a GODDAMN SWARM of reviews for that game, so I never finished it because people wouldn't have cared. I'll just summarize it right now: the game was excellent, though the moral choice things in it sucked.
HEY ITS BEEN A WHILE
I WAS DOING STUFF
I STILL HAVE MORE STUFF TO DO
A TORNADO HIT NOT A MILE FROM MY HOUSE
AND I WAS REEEEEALLY LAZY
And that's the reason for the sudden insane lack of reviews from me! Also, you might notice that this is the shortest review I've pumped out in a while. I'm not being accustomed to writing webcomic reviews: I do games most of the time, so whenever I step out of that medium I have to re-think how my review will play out. Also, this is my first review in freaking forever, so I need to get my critic muscles back in shape.
I also didn't write a real conclusion, because CONCLUSIONS SUCK AND I HATE THEM. Not to mention I'm tired as hell.
But yeah, once college kicks in you'll see me surfing this section a lot more. For some reason, when I have all the time in the world to play games, I can't focus on them. So once school starts back up, you'll see me pumping out reviews like mad. I might do a review of the entire "Super Mario Advance" franchise if I can find the fourth one.... bastard keeps eluding me.
I did write half a review for Infamous a long ways back, but alas there was a GODDAMN SWARM of reviews for that game, so I never finished it because people wouldn't have cared. I'll just summarize it right now: the game was excellent, though the moral choice things in it sucked.
Jade Empire [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.119321]
Mega Man 9 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.119167]
Deja Vu [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.117801]
Hooray For the New Blood: An Unofficial Article. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.117338]
Manga Mashup #2: Prepared to be Schooled. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.115803]
Manga Mashup #1: Attack of the A's [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.111313]
Braid [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.110777]
Max Payne [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.110027#1897580]
Indigo Prophecy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.108202#1817369]
WarCraft 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.107685]
Fallout 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.105151#1683250]
Mirror's Edge [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.102291#1586312]
Mega Man 9 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.119167]
Deja Vu [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.117801]
Hooray For the New Blood: An Unofficial Article. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.117338]
Manga Mashup #2: Prepared to be Schooled. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.115803]
Manga Mashup #1: Attack of the A's [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.111313]
Braid [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.110777]
Max Payne [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.110027#1897580]
Indigo Prophecy [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.108202#1817369]
WarCraft 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.107685]
Fallout 3 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.105151#1683250]
Mirror's Edge [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.102291#1586312]
