Category Archives: Reviews

Digital Strips Podcast 294 – Review – Fredo and Pid’jin

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This is going to be another post from me where I point out that I’m posting despite the fact that it’s a holiday over here and expect Internet cookies for my troubles.

Today we’re looking at quite possibly the most vulgar and violent comic starring birds that we’ve ever had the pleasure of bring before you. If you like your comics completely saccharine, you may want to skip this one (don’t skip the show of course, it’s actually one of our funniest ones).

This week, between evidences of Jason’s complete wankerness, we take a look at Fredo and Pid’jin, a comic about, you’ll never guess, Fredo and Pid’jin, two evil birds who just want what we all want sometimes, a little bit of love … followed by a whole lot of ending the world and killing our closest friends.

We also yammer on about deja-vu, the logistics of squirrel boobs, how tough Jason isn’t and what would happen if we both grew wings.

The following sites/comics also warrant mentioning:
Little Minsters 6:45
Shiver Bearua 7:30
Monster Pro Wrestling 8:15
Evil Inc 10:00

The music in the middle over the discovery of Jason’s true nature is ‘A Hint of Blue‘ by Gibs and Mordi.

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Digital Strips Podcast 293 – Book Club – The Rack, Second Edition

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This episode is all about standing tall! This could be in part because I was trying out a new standing recording station, or it could be … ok, it’s completely about that. Don’t worry, once the novelty wears off (I’m estimating somewhere around the halfway point between episodes 300 and 400) it won’t even come up.

Sticking to tradition, we both found something comics-y to talk about for our first segment:

The only news story that came to mind was one quickly alluded to on Twitter. Ryan Estrada announced there that the next collection for The Whole Story, the pay-what-you-want digital graphic novel collection that Estrada orchestrated and participated in (or single-handedly created, if Steve is to be believed) will launch on January 1 (13:22). You’ll want to put down as much as you can for this collection as indicated by The Whole Story’s Twitter account …

Our next bundle is going to be launched on January 1st, and it will be so amazing you will pee your pants with joy.

If there’s one game series that will empty your bladder before you’re quite ready, it’s Castlevania (and Steve says my segues are terrible). Playing Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest well into the evening used to make me an incredibly jumpy young lad, something about the change from day to night was just so foreboding and and disquieting. So what better to help us jump from segment to segment than a remix of some classic sounds from the series?

Genre comics are tough to review, let alone Book Club (yep, that’s a verb now around these parts) and The Rack is proving that fact I just made up true. Among our questions and discussions in this second edition of The Rack Book Club:

  • Have the characters developed in this passage of time compared with the first?
  • Can you tell the guys apart?
  • Noses: A sly commentary on the disfigured, gangly nature of our beloved sub-species, or just some oddly-shaped appendages?
  • Lydia looks to be much more thought out and stylized in her character design. Does this have anything to do with the spin-off which she received?
  • Pop-culture references are not jokes and serve as a common crutch for genre work. Has The Rack escaped this cliche yet?

We also ramble about …

  • Validating Steve’s delinquency
  • More vacations on the horizon?
  • xkcd as an M&M (or an Eminem)?
  • Steve wants to spank all the bad video game genre comics

Listen in and leave your comments on any topic as well as comics you’d like to see reviewed below!

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Digital Strips Podcast 292 – Review – Little League

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Most of my friends and coworkers know that I do this show. Generally they just let me go on living my strange man-child life and leave me be. Once in a while they’re ask for recommendation on what they should read. Once it a great while, they’ll have a recommendation for me. And exactly one time, they’ve suggested something so great that I couldn’t wait to do a show about it.

This is that one time.

This week we’re taking a look at Little League by Yale Steward. While the concept of young superheroes trying to make their way on the playground is nothing new, Jason and I both agree that the concept is handled here with such grace and respect for the source material that it actually feels brand new. And since I spent most of these formidable years running around the big toy pretending to be Batman, it only makes sense that Batman would to (because running around pretending to be me would be lame).

I also indulge on one of my most hate-filled rants, and with the poison still dripping off my maligned tongue, Jason steps in to say the day, like the true wanna be hero he is.

All this and the occult secret to getting free Whoppers, on the latest episode of Digital Strips.

Show Notes:
Prequeal 7:00
Street Figther Comics 9:45
Skull Kickers 10:00
Sailor Twain 10:30
Lovecraft is Missing 10:30
Nightmare Prowestling 10:45
Realm of Atland/Beserkers Daughter 11:15
Rock Manly Fist 12:00
SuperFogeys 19:45
Tiny Titans 23:45

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Digital Strips Podcast 290 – Review – Blue Yonder

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News tends to pile up when we don’t get around to a new episode for a couple of weeks. Case in point…

  • (11:30) Penny Arcade Kickstarter (I tried to keep it brief, horribly failed at that)
  • (14:22) The Oatmeal raises funds to fight FunnyJunk, says F-U in the process
  • (14:43) Ryan Estrada’s The Whole Story now truly pay-what-you-want
  • (15:37) Battlepug wins Best Digital Comic at the Eisners

So many big stories, and then we mentioned more comics. Suckers, we are. Giant suckers.

If you’re looking for something game-related to groove to through the break that relates to a comic called Blue Yonder, what goes better than any of the thousands of remixes based on Capcom’s iconic blue bomber? This one is by Jakesnke17 and it’s called “Switchblade Fangs” (18:00).

American comic books (graphic novels?) have long been chastised for a look and feel that echoes everything that’s come before. Sure, if one were to stick to only the superhero, big tentpole books, that would likely be true. But there is so much available out there these days, such an assumption is, at worst, presumptuous. At best, it’s dangerous. Blue Yonder takes a look that not only harkens back to previous works, but does so all the way back to the early Marvel style started, and still emulated, by Jack Kirby.

But the story diverges from there, offering family drama and zeroes trying to become heroes. Is it enough to make the bright superheroics worth your time? Listen in and tell us what you think! If that doesn’t strike your fancy, then let me know what you think of Steve’s singing! Yeah, I’m… I’m sorry for that.

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Digital Strips Podcast 289 – Review – Super Brophy Bros.

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The KindThis week, we’re holding nothing back. The kid gloves are off, all our cards are on the table, and we’re telling the whole story. And I mean The Whole Story (5:40).

So just what is The Whole Story? If you’re a gamer of any shape, size, or color, you know that there are various indie game bundles available now (examples of which you can find here and here), bundles that ask you to pay a price you determine. In return, you get access to DRM-free games. Simple as that, you pay more, you might get more, but mostly you’re just helping out a great cause (supporting the developers as well as giving to a number of gaming-centered charities).

All-star comicker and just all-around-awesome-dude Ryan Estrada has gotten together arguably the most illustrious group of comics people and put together seven books, all of which can be yours for various amounts of your generous giving. The names include (but are not limited to…)

We’ve got previews of all of the books on offer in our possession and will be bringing you our thoughts in the shows to come. In the meantime, stop by the site and get them for yourself. This would be a great thing to see continue for the good work that these creators have done.

Other comics mentioned in our first segment (because Steve didn’t already hate me enough…)

Our break ramblings consist of a sophisticated, detailed breakdown of the importance of giant, swinging robot testicles in Michael Bay’s filmography. I can think of nothing more fitting than a remix from the NES-born, classic Contra series to guide us through. This offering is Feeding Frenzy by goat (14:46).

Reviewing gag-a-day comics tends to be a task which hinges on one question: are the jokes funny? Without daily guffaws, tee-hees, and LOLs, a comic that relies on a punchline for entertainment will land flat and limp, no question. So what is the verdict for THIS buddy gag-a-day comic?

Our discussion yields a mixed bag, as well as a discussion of non sequiturs and why they sometimes just don’t work out. Also in our discussion, a comic is mentioned!

As always, we want to know what you thought about this comic. Did the jokes hit every time for you? Were you left wanting more? Leave a comment and find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Soundcloud, and Audioboo. The conversation about webcomics never stops!

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Digital Strips Podcast 288 – Review – Epicsplosion

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If you need THE highest webcomics authority with regards to the entire lyrical composition of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme as well as the answer to the group what performed Funkytown, then you’ve come to the right podcast! As a bonus for our paid members, we also run down a webcomic news item or two and take a look at a comic.

Ok, since you refuse to pay for it, we talked about some comics …

… and took a brief look at the possible kerfuffle forming on account of Seth MacFarlane’s new talking teddy bear vehicle, Ted, looking and feeling an awful lot like Lucas Turnbloom’s imaginary but still incredibly lewd and crude teddy bear tale, Imagine This (10:42).

Our halftime break conversation about poo (shocker, I know) is accopanied by the frenzied sounds of DaMonz’s Star King (16:13), remixing a classic Star Fox track with bits and pieces from within the game. If you didn’t know, a lot of our break music comes from the fines, hard-working creatives posting their stuff at Overclocked Remix. You are highly encouraged to scope all the wicked remixes based on your favorite video game franchises.

It is with great pleasure and privilege that we are able to bring you another of Tauhid Bondia’s works. Previously, we looked at Goodship Chronicles (23:18, show linked here), and this time, we run through another space-faring adventure, but this time, with a sweet twist.

This comic, featuring the brave, Han Solo-esque Tripp Rougestar, is a Choose Your Own Adventure-type (trademark?) story where you determine what happens to our dashing hero. Want to toss a grenade out of the ship’s hatch, trying to catch the bad guys unawares? Or would you rather send your shrimpy, frumpy sidekick out to clean things up? You make the decisions! And, if you’re like me, you can go back and start over if things don’t work out!

Also, Steve had never heard of “Mark Wahlberg Talk To Animals.” Shame on you if you haven’t, either.

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Digital Strips Podcast 287 – Review – The Trouble And Dangerous

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Unsolved Mysteries logoSo many, multiple mysteries to solve with this show. First and foremost, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE NEWS SEGMENT IN THE FIRST PART OF THE SHOW?!? For the answers to these, and other questions… ask Steve.

Seriously though, we ramble on for three minutes plus about The Golden Girls, and then POOF! The show just kind of vanished. Files were corrupted, jokes were ruined, and someone WILL be held accountable. But until then, here’s the links to the stories we talked about, as promised:

  • Cameron Stewart’s Sin Titulo is back! There’s really nothing more that needs to be said, just go read it already!
  • Starslip, Kris Straub’s epic space comedy, has come to a conclusion. There’s a very good chance we’ll revisit this comic as a Book Club edition somewhere down the line.
  • F@NB0Y$ is… still a thing! That updates and which you should read.
  • Scott Kurtz and Frumph (PvP and the man currently behind Comicpress, respectively) had a spirited discussion about the banality of using the beloved webcomic WordPress skin as it comes out of the box and arrived at something resembling an understanding of one another’s positions. And to drive home this point of actually showing an effort with the small corner of the web that you decide to carve out for your online-hosted comic…
  • … The System, by Ross Nover, has a new site. It is custom and features gorgeous design and navigation and takes to heart the modern web techniques and is everything we’ve ever wanted in a webcomic site and make us drool at it’s awesome abiliaggggaggghhhhhhhhh

We managed to retain every precious second of the review for The Trouble and Dangerous by Matt Zimmerman (until proven otherwise). For the first time in a while, we have no notes to accompany this review, as no other comics came into the discussion. I guess it speaks for itself!

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Digital Strips Podcast 286 – Review – Plume

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Let’s be mature here, no Brokeback Mountain jokes, OK?

I love cowboy. I love them like I love chocolate. Meaning while I love them a lot on their own, I love them more when they are in things.

For example, Cowboy Bebop and Firefly are awesome because they put cowboys in space. Blazing Saddles and City Slickers are great because the take comedy and add cowboy.

Today’s comic, Plume, does just that. Take something good – supernatural adventure – and pour in the cowboy. It can’t lose.

Just how much it doesn’t lose by, however, is up to debate and therefore the topic of today’s show. We talk about what we like, what we didn’t and all those other things that you expect from an episode of Digital Strips. In addition, Jason has a special lead on a place where – according to his sources – naked ladies dance (spoiler warning: it’s in France).

Show Notes
Chainsawsuit
VG Cats
LAWLS
Alt Comic
Lackadaisy
Bundlr
Adam Warrock
MC Frontalot
Scenes from a Multiverse
The Meek
Deliah Dirk
The Rack

Music by Level 99

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Digital Strips Podcast 285 – Book Club – The Rack, First Edition

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So despite my moniker of “The Geek”, I’m actually super cool. Well, I mean, I’m not cool now, I do a webcomics podcast and occasionally wear black socks with shorts, however I was super cool growing up. Well, actually not so much super cool, but I was cool enough to not have any friends. A fact that prevented me from getting into Dungeons & Dragons, comics, and Magic the Gathering until much later in life.

As such, my experience with the nerd-mini-Mecca that is the comic book shop is one completely untainted by nostalgia and it’s cousin, whimsy. This makes me probably the worst person ever to review a comic like The Rack, which takes place almost exclusively in a comic shop and with comic shop people (on the other hand, I still totally love Our Valued Customers, so go figure).

Jason, on the other hand, is a jerk and a bully and was never cool so he knows comic shops like the back of his hand so he was all for this little foray down memory lane. We talk about where the comic works and about the dangers of such a niche comic. We speak of the importance of character development and how it related to comics and sitcoms. We yammer on about states and pricesses and parenting and race relations (trust me it makes sense in the moment).

Join us, please.

Show Notes:

Joe Love Crappy Movies
Another Video Game Web comic
Mercworks (the decison)
SnowFlame
The Loneliest Astronauts

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Digital Strips Podcast 284 – Review – Eleanor

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Hey Digital Strippers! Consider this to be a placeholder post until Steve has time to work up some proper notes. In the meantime, though, enjoy the show, where we review Eleanor: The Girl Who Never Stopped Falling by Jason Gurley.

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