Webcomic Wonder - Wastelanders Anonymous

Subject: Wastelanders Anonymous

Who makes this?
"Seabiscuit"

What does the creator say about their comic?
(from the comic's profile on Comic Fury)
"A scavenger, a zombie, and a plague doctor travel in a post apocalyptic world and have adventures and crap."

Wastelanders Anonymous takes place after the end, when mankind (and mutants, and zombies) have to eke out a living through scavenging and the like.  It's a mostly fun look at the world after.

As usual, I'm not going to go into some "rating" system, but let's see what Anne is going to send us to get.

Art:

Seabiscuit's style is distinctively her own, with a simple but vibrant construction of the characters and effective use of backgrounds.  Some people might find it a bit *too simple, but those people are joyless anyway.

Characters:

The main cast of Wastelanders is a motley bunch, though all connected through back-stories we are slowly learning more and more about.  Each has their quirks, and you will honestly find yourself falling in love with some or all of them.  Or else your heart is dead.

The Writey Bits:

The plot is a bit of a slow burn (as evidenced by the somewhat intimidating archive - which is worth binging), with fairly detailed looks into the daily lives of the characters filling chunks of time.  This is in no way a bad thing, as it helps to get to know not only the characters, but the world they live in.

Mostly, the comic is pretty light-hearted, which makes the not so light-hearted bits hit even harder.  There typically come in two flavors: "heart-breaking" and the much rarer "creepy".  Sometimes they are combined, and it hits even harder.

Update Schedule:

Seabiscuit has been updating every Monday and Friday for some time now (which dropped down from a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule due to the artist running herself ragged).  She occasionally misses an update, but the reasons are understandable, and she usually tries to warn the reader.

The Verdict:

Wastelanders Anonymous is clearly a labor of love for its creator.  The dedication she shows makes for an ultimately worthwhile read.  Highly recommended.

Webcomic Wonder: INTS: Black Gate

Subject: INTS: Black Gate

Who makes this?
Eleanor Gluck (aka "Spelledeg")



What does the creator say about their comic?
(from the comic's "About" page)
"If military means greatness, that's the best path to take in life, right? That's what Ryae believed when she enlisted for The Royal Atrum Academy of Defense. Unfortunately for her, it means she's signed fifty years of her life away to the service of the Crown. She's stuck in a contract she signed up for but no longer wants. Between her unwanted contract and the war that rages 7 sectors below, she's in for the ride of her life.

Black Gate is a sci-fi/fantasy 'coming of age' comic with drama overtones. It deals in relationships and culture clash. Rating is PG - PG13. While there is very little strong language, some of the content isn't suitable for younger audiances. Black Gate has war themes and they aren't minimized. There is 'onscreen' death among other violent themes that do occur in this comic."

I find there is very little more I could say by way of introduction.  As usual, we're not going to go into some "rating" system, but let's see what's in the various Sectors.

Art:
The art on INTS: Black Gate is done in a very expressive, dynamic style.  Eleanor is a whiz with the
lighting and it is rarely unclear what is going on.  She does a good job of bringing to life the details of a world very unlike Earth.

Characters:
INTS: Black Gate gives its readers a very tricky task in the character department: to remain sympathetic to a character that is, to put it simply, a bit horrific.  Thankfully, Ryae is lovingly horrific.  And there are other characters around who are much easier to like.  And they are all distinct.  It's actually very easy to find a favorite (and yes, it just might be Ryae).


The Writey Bits:
The plot is intriguing and the interplay of the characters (informed by the distinctive point-of-view each character brings) is absolutely stellar.  The reader finds themselves wanting to know the next bit now now now.

There is one small problem I have found, and that is a relative lack of information about this very alien world serving as the backdrop to the intrigues and action.  This is a comic that could very well use more in-your-face info, perhaps even a wiki.

This was not a deal breaker for me, but it could be for a less patient reader.


Update Schedule:
INTS: Black Gate updates very Friday.  Some updates get missed, but over all Ms. Gluck keeps her schedule.


The Verdict:
If you are looking for an obviously carefully laid out science-fiction world, well-represented characters, a long-form story carefully unfolded, and pleasing art, but aren't afraid to occasionally be perhaps a bit bewildered, look no further.  INTS: Black Gate, despite a few flaws, is an entertaining read and well worth adding to your list.

Webcomic Wonder: A Trip For Biscuits

Subject: A Trip For Biscuits

Who makes this?
Annika Raaen (aka "zaika")

What does the creator say about their comic?

(from the comic's profile on Comic Fury)
"I'm not really sure how to describe it. It's a little speculative fiction, a little pulp adventure...all set in the 1920's with an extraterrestrial twist. You'll just have to come along for the ride, I suppose!."

A Trip For Biscuits takes place in a 1920's that never was.  The first impression is that it could have been written at that time, as the art and writing are classic (a few anachronisms aside).

As usual, I'm not going to go into some "rating" system, but let's see what's in the oven.

Art:
Classic.

Annika renders her pages in a throwback style, incorporating black and white on colored/tinted paper.  The effect is to make the comic seem to be a product of the mythic 1920s.


Characters:
We have only met a few characters, but each of them is fully realized with engaging dynamics.  They are also visually distinctive, so there is literally no way to get them confused.

The Writey Bits:
The plot, which is long-form, is a slow builder.  We have seen a bit of what makes it different (the afforementioned "sci-fi twist"), and individual threads are beginning to cross.  The author has dropped enough crumbs to keep the reader engaged.


Update Schedule:
Here is where I have a small bone to pick.  The update schedule is listed as "Every Wednesday", but there has been a number of slips.  To be fair, however, the reader has been warned when this was going to happen in most cases.


The Verdict:
A Trip For Biscuits is shaping up to be a classic.  There are enough strips to get hooked, but not enough to overwhelm the new reader.  I highly recommend it.