Author Archives: The_Best_Jason

Digital Strips Podcast 266 – Review – Unsounded

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Shortly after discussing the soundtrack to the hit iOS game, Robot Unicorn Attack, and the benefits to being a friend of a Disney character versus knowing one of the Looney Tunes gang, we roll right into the show!

Our Whatcha Been Readin’ segment finds me checking in with the latest PvP storyline (4:00) while Steve recommends both The Secret Knots (5:05) and Slow Wave (5:47) and reminds everyone to check in again with Atland (6:36).

News is populated with new projects or just simple some doodles that I particularly dug, along with a card game getting a welcome expansion and a brief discussion about what it takes to actually pirate a webcomic (they are typically free, you know).

Appropriately serving as our music break this episode, an 8-bit take on the aforementioned “Always” by Erasure, attributed to YouTube user Simetra666.

The review this week, an epic fantasy tale with a personal touch, is one that speaks largely for itself.

Luckily, even when a comic illustrates it’s tone and intention so clearly, we’re still there to muck it up with criticism and discussion. About the only comic to get brought up along the way (that wasn’t previously mentioned already)?

It’s all downhill in the aftershow, when the Rambletron rambles on (33:09)! On the menu: Steve’s delusions, goals in life with regards to reading, Jason’s proclivities towards lending things in odd places, a disturbing occurrence known only as the “Steve Bone”, the weirdness of using parent as a future tense verb, and Steve’s grasp of the English language (or lack thereof).

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Digital Strip Podcast 265 – Horizons Watch – Lady Sabre and the Pirates of the Ineffable Aether

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Did you know that turtles can’t breathe underwater? You learn something every day I guess, and now you can say the same with the news we’re bringing to you this week. Among other topics, we talk about comics that are calling it quits, genres Steve didn’t know existed, new projects, webcomics in print, and a new way to discover your next favorite piece of work.

After mentioning Battletoads in the open, I had to find a remix for this week’s music break based on that harder-than-nails franchise. And so, we have “BirdGuyJam” by Kumeelyun (13:24), for the Game Boy version of the series. After finding this gem, I realized I have no idea what the music from that game sounds like.

There are lots of creators working on comic books who are finding the web to be the perfect outlet for the creative imaginings that won’t fit into their current works. Joining these ranks with this week’s not-a-review, not-yet-a-Horizons-Watch is a steampunk western from Greg Rucka and Rick Burchett:

Given the pedigree of the creators involved, it’s no surprise that this story shows tremendous promise, and we mention some other comics residing on the web from other prolific creators, as well as some other examples in our discussion:

Finally, for Whatcha Been Readin’, we run down what plussed (or minused, as the case may very well be) us in the past week:

The Rambletron rolls on after the show proper, featuring NPR voices, new character Dr. Earl Poopenheimer, questions about accepted action movie conventions, and return of an old friend!

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Digital Strips Podcast 264 – Book Club – Order of the Stick – 5th Edition

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Jason here, back in the editor’s seat. Sure, I sit in on all of Steve’s posts to make sure they’re Internet-approved (and not regular Internet, but intelligent Internet), but now I’m here to make sure you get nothing but high-quality podcasting delivered directly to your earholes. And outside of the audio quality issues on Steve’s side towards the end of this episode (again I stress, on Steve’s side), I think this one fits the bill.

We kick things off by hearing about how awesome Steve’s life has been in his return to bachelorhood since his wife and kid went on vacation without him (listen in for a few minutes and trust me, you’ll need the same for yourself). D0 you like hearing about Motown on your webcomics podcasts? Hope so, ’cause we’ve got that, too! From there, it’s a hop, skip, and jump away from discussions about Trunk or Treat and an actual webcomic…

I love PvP, and I love Penny Arcade (I believe I’ve mentioned before that these two comics formed the tag-team tandem of my introduction to webcomics) but the team-up on the century just isn’t doing anything to blow up my skirt. It’s still really early in the life of this pre-destined-to-be-amazing comic, but I have yet to be impressed. The stories that accompany each update, however, serve as a great (and hopefully truthful) window into the truly horrific life of a game tester. Remember when you were young and you couldn’t imagine any job cooler than that? Read a few of these and you’ll quickly smarten up.

Rolling us into the main discussion, I hope you like Super Mario RPG and dubstep, because… well, that’s what I’ve got for you.

Rerecorded for your amusement (and because the first version sucked), this Book Club installment represents our deepest inspection upon any given section of Order of the Stick yet. Blame this on the fact that we decided to double the amount of comics included in each section from here to the end of the comic, but we encourage you to listen in so you can offer your own opinions based on this, what I consider to be the best storyline of the comic thus far. Of course, my final position as to the comicky comicness of this story might drive some to chime in as well. The more the merrier!

Some parting thoughts: the status of Steve’s bachelor pad, McRib , the variety of douches in any given high school, the genius of Google + Circles, and remembering fondly MTV’s Daria.

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Digital Strips Podcast 257 – Book Club – Order of the Stick – 4th Edition

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The Disney Princesses, not excepting Mulan, of courseDo you, our valued listeners, believe it is ok for Steve to have a strong interest in the goings-on of the world of Disney princesses? Neither do I, and that argument is the crux of our first segment. Oh, and Steve is nice enough to keep us relatively on track with a comic recommendation as well:

We also squeak in a few news items before lacing up for the Book Club brawl:

Alright, it’s time for the fight. What better fight anthem to roll us into the fracas than the theme to Mortal Kombat 3, remixed by The Dual Dragon (Mortal Konfrontation, 11:15). Of course, if you want to just get back to the action, the second segment starts at 12:52.

If you’ve been checking out this Book Club, you know that Steve is the veteran with Order of the Stick and also the bigger fan of the two of us. I am excited to finally be reading this long-running, very popular webcomic for myself, if only to form my opinion about it based on actually experiencing the story. That said, Steve and I rarely agree on anything this comic does, which makes for an interesting conversation. Listen in, won’t you?

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Digital Strips Podcast 256 – Review – Max Overacts (DO NOT PANIC)

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08/23/2011: Never ForgetEarthquakes! Hurricanes! These are the natural disasters that I, your intrepid East Coast webcomics correspondent, endured this week to bring you this, our finest episode ever! Yep, that is a bit of hyperbole I’m throwing your way, but it was fun nonetheless.

We’ve got Legend of Zelda naughty bits euphemisms, why it’s no longer funny to say use Google in a sexual context, and Who You Diggin’, a sub-segment where we try to save the first segment from ridiculousness and insanity by actually talking about what webcomics we’re enjoying for the week. These comics are:

And what better game remix and help redeem the podcast that one of the best video games of the last decade, possibly century, Super Mario Galaxy. This mix, titled, “Fill Me Up With Snacky Happiness” (9:34), is much, much less dirty than it sounds. This first sound break ends at (11:59), for those that care to skip right to the talking.

News Minute! Not a terrible amount of stuff to talk about, much two comics are coming back after hiatus/season finale (your definition of these breaks will depend on whether or not you agree comics can run in a seasonal update pattern) and Kate Beaton picked up her first Harvey Award.

Our music break comes to us courtesy of Memotone’s “Fractal” (16:48). Given all the natural occurrences surrounding me lately and this artist’s propensity for using nature to create beautiful music, it seemed apt. Again, (18:48) is the target if you’re looking to get right back to the action.

Back during the Eisners Award season, we took a quick look at Canaan Grall’s Max Overacts as one of five nominees (ok, to be fair, I took a quick look at it, Steve apparently read the entire archives then and there). We’re now taking on the entire series, both of us, together, and it’s a good thing too because it turns out this is quite the amazing comic. I just hope that, after listening to our review, people stop comparing it to Calvin and Hobbes as the only thing the two works have in common is the high quality exhibited therein.

Finally, after the show proper, we have another chatty segment, which Steve is thus far titling, “Rambletron” (35:08). If you like more quality Arnold Schwarzanegger impersonations, information about Steve’s friend’s poo that you probably didn’t need, and the idea that Virginian’s could save the planet after a 5.8 earthquake by jumping on a big pile of humpin’, that you’ve come to the right place. If not, I’ve provided you with the time stamp so you know what to avoid. We did, however, manage to work in a couple of webcomics amongst the rambling.

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Lovecraft Is Missing Book 5 Begins September 2nd

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I have watched TV shows for so long that the concept of seasonly delivered content is nothing new to me. And if comics want to be thought of in that same manner, so be it. I consume so much content online that I am never left wanting for something to read, watch, or experience. Combine that with the fact that Lovecraft Is Missing, the terrific occult suspense webcomic from Larry Latham, is returning next Friday after a summer hiatus and I have no reason not to shout this information from the rooftops.

Sure, Larry was kind enough to set this date in stone the moment the previous “season” ended, but time is a harsh mistress in the world of the Web so consider this your official reminder. The full rundown of what’s in store, straight from Larry himself, can be found below the image.

The mysteries begin to unfold as Nan Mercy, Win Battler and Father Munsford Jackey delve deeper into the disappearance of an obscure pulp fiction writer in 1926. Cosmic horror and pulse-pounding adventure swirl around the multiple factions moving towards an as-yet unknown goal, with the only certainty being that the result is not in the best interests of humanity. Is Lovecraft the key to defeating the evil, or is he merely a pawn in a larger game that somehow centers around his creations? Or is there a more terrible truth waiting to be uncovered?

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Digital Strips Podcast 255 – Horizons Watch – Space Pest Removal and Power Nap (Looney Tunes Is Racist And We Love It Anyways)

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Pepe Le PewThis is one of the least-focused shows we’ve done in a while, and the energy benefits from that scatter-brained-ness. Example? We talk about sports, and neither of us particularly like sports, or at least not typical, America sports. The closest thing to a fight song that Steve had heard at a live sporting event is circa 1953. So yeah, we know our stuff. That, plus Steve, despite arguments to the contrary, can’t seem to shake Brendan Fraser off his brain.

But hey, we actually manage to mention some webcomics amongst the insanity!

I have a propensity for leading us into the second segment with a game remix courtesy of the amazing remixers hanging around Overclocked Remix, and today’s pick is yet another that proves the music of the 8-bit era far eclipses that of the current generation in terms of depth and simplicity. That tune is from the Metroid series, entitled, “Suite for Violin and Piano”, and I encourage you to go check out the entire piece on the OCRemix site. Incredible stuff.

News Minute! Stuff is happening, though not a ton, really. Most of these can be found, oddly enough, on our site!

As part of the JManga conversation, I must also mention a ridiculously popular bit of oddness titled Crayon Shin-chan (15:05). The only comic I checked out on the JManga service, Shin-chan appears to center upon a five-year old who uses his naughty bits as a punchline. A lot. Moving right along…

The next rock break is brought to us via some rockin’ and a squealin’, courtesy of the band Pierced Arrows and their song, “Guns of Thunder” (18:08).

Finally, we come to our Horizons segment, where this time we’re checking out two comics that, while wildly different in tone, both offer some interesting new reading experiences.

It should be noted that Space Pest Removal came to us from the creator, straight to our inbox, so writing in with your comic and a pleasant request to be reviewed can work (as many of you have already discovered, and thank you for that!). Power Nap, on the other hand, exploded on the Web a couple of weeks ago, so many already know of its potential and incredibleness. Some other comics mentioned in our discussions:

If you choose, we’ve also got a lengthy outtakes section after the brief outro, where it is posited that Pepe Le Pew was not only a rapist, but a terrible one at that. Enjoy!

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SMBC Theater Proves The Internet Is An Awesome Place To Be, Fully Funded Kickstarter Project Is A Go

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But you know what’s not awesome about the Internet? Fleen. But it is Fleen we have to thank for news that the Kickstarter project for SMBC Theater Goes To SPACE! has not only achieved funding five times over for the upcoming webseries, but celebrated doing so by putting the entire first DVD’s worth of content up on YouTube for everyone to enjoy, cheapskate and gracious contributor alike.

If only Congress could work together on this level and get something done, we wouldn’t have to rely on geniuses like Weiner and his crew to lampoon political snafus like that and…

Wait, on second thought… Congress! Keep on screwin’ that pooch!

Slackers Rewarded, Exchange High-Fives; Gary Tyrrell (Fleen)

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WHY AREN’T YOU READING CHICKENHARE YET?

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This post is ostensibly about the Original Art Contest that Chris Grine is running to help drive traffic to his most excellent webcomic, Chickenhare, but really, if you aren’t already assisting in this effort, you’re missing out on one of the most unique, well-crafted stories I’ve read in years.

The deets, courtesy of Chris himself:

Post a blurb on your site along with a sample page from Chickenhare. Help spread the good word to the masses.

The site that drives the most traffic to Chickenhare.com will get a personalized 5×7 original Inked and signed artwork with the 2-3 characters from the world of Chickenhare of your choosing. Sound fair?

When does the contest start? NOW!

When does it end? SEPTEMBER 15th at 11:59 PM central time

*Please email me with a link to the post so I can keep track of the websites in the running.

We’re not saying this is what will happen to you if you don’t read Chickenhare… but wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?

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Trenches Comic By Super Team Kurtz, Holkins, and Krahulik Launches

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It was just this past episode of the Digital Strips Podcast (or the one before that, can’t specifically recall which) that Steve and I were wondering what had happened to this instant homerun of a comic concept. The man behind PvP, originally a gaming-centered gag comic, and the creators of Penny Arcade, itself a comic about video games and the culture they encourage, got together (i.e. walked down the hall to one another) and came up with another gaming comic idea, this time chronicling the depressing life of a video game tester, and it’s called The Trenches.

Remember, that profession that everyone wanted as a kid? Yeah, you don’t want this. It also looks like the blog will feature true horror stories from actual, former testers, so there’s even more to come to the site for than the regular comic update.

The Trenches

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