Webcomic Review: Erfworld and Order of the Stick

[vultureX21]

Are you talking about Hamleto the Hamster, or the old ones published by Zach Stroum called Shaw Island?

He might be talking about Hamstard. Who is the logo on Parson's armour in Erf (and occasionally shows up to make snarky comments).

The Hamstard strips should be up somewhere still.

Those were the ones, pretty funny one shots I definitely enjoyed.

 

[kaiser_what]

I OOTS was turned into an RPG, I would definitely buy it.

...
Despite the huge irony of that statement (It's based on D&D 3rd Ed), there is a board game out available from the store.

Oh sorry, I know that. I mean, if the comic was turned into a video game.

 

[coldfrog]

You know, a lot of people push Order of the Stick on me, having played D&D games and such, and while it got a few chuckles out of me, I never got much past the first 20 or 30 comics before losing interest. I felt that he would often use endless panels not as a way to continue to tell a story like a great comic would do, but instead to meander around the comic and add a bunch of filler before he got to the punchline. It was OK, but I couldn't get more out of it. I'm tempted to read more in case it gets a little tighter later, but I always felt it was a little weak.

The other one, though, I've never read, and considering I am a huge fan of Achewood which uses similar offbeat, non-final punchlines and awkward pauses to great effect, not to mention constructing a deep, outrageous universe that is so convincing you forget all the characters are animals, stuffed or otherwise. That is my number 1 online comic.

 

[vultureX21]

You know, a lot of people push Order of the Stick on me, having played D&D games and such, and while it got a few chuckles out of me, I never got much past the first 20 or 30 comics before losing interest. I felt that he would often use endless panels not as a way to continue to tell a story like a great comic would do, but instead to meander around the comic and add a bunch of filler before he got to the punchline. It was OK, but I couldn't get more out of it. I'm tempted to read more in case it gets a little tighter later, but I always felt it was a little weak.

The other one, though, I've never read, and considering I am a huge fan of Achewood which uses similar offbeat, non-final punchlines and awkward pauses to great effect, not to mention constructing a deep, outrageous universe that is so convincing you forget all the characters are animals, stuffed or otherwise. That is my number 1 online comic.

Coldfrog,

The comments about the first 20-30 strips are justified, because Burlew never really considered making a full-length comic with a plot line and deep character development when he first wrote the beginning of the story. I sort of alluded to that in the review, but it really was a fun side-project to Burlew's real job, which was crafting game manuals and testing games. Once he got more invested in it (might have been after he stopped working on gaming manuals... I believe it's on his site somewhere, I remember reading it at some point) he started fleshing things out. Definitely worth pushing through to the fight with Xykon at least, after that things get more complicated and substantially funnier.

Within the next couple days the Jack review will be up along with Inverloch. I tried to make myself sit on them and make some notes before I wrote the reviews, even though I really wanted to write them, because I want to craft a better review for everyone who is reading. Hope that doesn't put anyone's panties in a twist.

 

[Jandau]

Good reviews. I'd just like to add something regarding the art of OOTS: Rich isn't a bad artist. I've seen some of his sketches and they aren't bad at all. Had he chosen to draw OOTS in a more realistic fashion, it would look good and get better with time (as most artist do). However, he chose to work with stick figures on purpose, so he could focus on the story and dialogue instead of drawing, inking and such things.

Also, just saying the comic uses stick figures is a bit misleading. XKCD uses stick figures. OOTS uses the best damn stick figures I've ever seen. The characters are quite expressive and emote amazingly well. The entire art style is pleasant to look at and well done in all its simplicity, and even the action scenes are enjoyable.

Granted, I'm a OOTS fanboy, so my objectivity is a bit clouded, but I still think that OOTS has better artwork than a majority of "realistic" comics...

 

[MrSnugglesworth]

So I recently finished the whole OoTS up to the recentest. Needless to say, it was no where near as funny as you guys seem to think it is. Its good, and I'll stand by for more, but I only "Laughed" aloud like twice. Out of 642 or soemthing.

 

[vultureX21]

So I recently finished the whole OoTS up to the recentest. Needless to say, it was no where near as funny as you guys seem to think it is. Its good, and I'll stand by for more, but I only "Laughed" aloud like twice. Out of 642 or soemthing.

I don't laugh out loud at many of the comics I read. The fact you said you're going to "stand by for more" is enough of a testament to the comic's quality. If you're looking for end over end hilarity I would recommend PVP for now, maybe others later (after I officially review them).

 

[vultureX21]

UPDATE - After a long hiatus I will be returning in the next week with the following reviews:
Goblins
Menage a 3
Get Medieval
Penny Arcade
Kevin and Kell

I apologize for my prolonged absence, expect the reviews up periodically for the next week, no set schedule nailed down at this time.