Took a moment to close extra Firefox tabs, close and open the browser, and close and open ecto. Get some nice, cool breezes blowing through my computer’s RAM. Helped a lot.
And back on the TPB bus, just to keep things moving.
Review code format (ranked 1-5, blah to faboo): [writing / art / new reader? / non-comics reader?]
Nodwick Chronicles: Tour of Doodie (Vol. 5) (Dorkstorm) [4/4/3/4] (collects #25-30)
w/a. Aaron Williams
Typical D&D-style jollity with Nodwick & Co. If you like humorous fantasy of a gaming bent, you’ll enjoy it (and probably already do).
In this volume, the Clerics in Black explain to Piffany why her companions have been erased from Reality; the party protects a critical weapons cache supposedly stored in safety in an inaccessible mountaintop monastary; all the henchmen are vanishing, and when will Nodwick may be next; the reason why people are so dumb compared to the gods is examined, with object lessons of what happens when they’re not; Nodick and Co. have to go on the Game Grid, when bits are being solen from the universe’s resolution; and
the comparative advantages and disadvantages owning a dragon are determined.
Williams’ art varies in quality oddly between installments, as though he’s either experimenting with styles or else has varying access to different tools. But despite the constraints of the genre, he actually manages fairly sophisticated renditions, not to mention stories, even if they have the standard slapstick.
Penny Arcade: Attack of the Bacon Robots (Vol. 1) (Dark Horse) [4/3/4/4]
Jerry Holkins & Mike Krahulik
In many ways, the same as Nodwick — geeky genre jokes (though the genre here is mostly computer gaming) — and in more ways the opposite (foul humor, non-sequitur humor, mean-spirited humor). Still, ton o’ chuckles amid the head-scratching and the rolled eyes. This volume includes all the installments of this web comic from 1998-2000, and as with all such efforts, the story-telling and graphics are a work in progress. Those who like computer games, or Penny Arcade, will enjoy this volume.
The rest will probably quickly throw it away before your child or parent see it.
(listening to: Stevens, Leith, “Toss Me a Scalpel” from Crime Jazz (Music in The Second Degree))
(listening to: McKennitt, Loreena, “Between the Shadows” from Visit, The)
(listening to: Briggs, E. Power, Gregg Smith Singers, Edward Tarr Brass, “Beata es, virgo Maria” from Gabrieli in San Marco)
(listening to: Giacchino, Michael and Tim Simonec, “The Glory Days” from Incredibles)
(listening to: “Stingray” from Television’s Greatest Hits – V)
(listening to: Motels, The, “Suddenly Last Summer” from Greatest Hits of the 80s)
(listening to: Symphonic Cast, “The Runaway Cart” from Les Misérables (Symphonic))
(listening to: Washington, Dinah , “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby” from Classic Jazz Cocktail Hour)