Tag Archives: webcomics

Digital Strips Podcast 271 – Review – Mohagen

Posted on by
5

So, Steve notes that the theme of this episode, the first recorded in 2012, is “True Facts” (I think it should be “Rear of the Dragon”, but you’ll understand why at about the 5:00 mark). While I didn’t even bother to correct his repetitive title, I can throw out some statements that I certainly believe to be true.

Antagonizing Steve over the airwaves week in and week out is a true joy that lights me up when the day comes. Appreciating and building up has long been part of our mission statement at Digital Strips and I can guarantee we’ll be checking out at least one of the “next big things” in 2012. As we mention early on in this episode, it’s our job to find the good stuff for you, the diamonds in the really, really rough. Also, for those of our listeners who also like to play video games, either casually or with a more invested interest, we’ll be putting something up later this week on this very front page that we hope you’ll enjoy.

But why waste time right now, gazing into crystal balls and guessing at the future when you can be sure that we’ve got an amazing review for you right now! But first, some news items:

Other comics mentioned, either in reference or as part of what we’re reading, in the first segment:

Mixed in with some Rambletron silliness is our music break, provided, appropriately enough, by another tale of underwater fish tank hijinx, Pixar’s Knick Knack (14:50).

There are lots of comics that attempt the cut-and-paste method of creating comics, but few pull it off to as impressive a degree as Mohagen (15:50), a gag-a-day story-ish comic about a foul-mouthed fish and his decorative skull buddy, Grady. There are other characters who make appearances here and there, but if these two buddies don’t keep putting food in the tank, this comic goes belly up. Luckily, creators Kennon James and John Kipling are more than up to the task of making sure the writing is sharp enough to slice and the art is expressive enough to make watching this fish anything but boring.

Some other comics mentioned in our discussion:

Various other bits to toss in the Rambletron at show’s end include being terrible role models, bus stop warnings, horrible haiku and limerick-esque rhyming schemes, and the fact that, for some reason, we once wanted to be known as the “Dark Windowless Van of the Internet”.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Podcast 269 – Review – Monster Pulse

Posted on by
4

The anklyosaurusIt’s (likely) the final episode of Digital Strips of 2011 and we’re going out with a bang! Or… at the very least, another episode, one that isn’t bad. Or even terrible. Sadly, it’s been a while since we’ve podcasted, so we’re spending a good amount of our time working on getting back to a plateau of consistency. Our news topics this time around certainly help us in that regard.

  • (6:25) Gareb Shamus can’t laugh at himself, gets canned
  • (8:23) Paul Southworth leaving Not Invented Here, Jeff Zugale in as artist
  • (10:23) Scott Kurtz, Brad Guigar offer services to assist struggling syndicates (EDITORIAL)

Comics mentioned in our news discussion:

Now that Steve has guided me in the ways of the fancy tool that allows for dynamic changes in the audio, you can enjoy some outtakes while rocking out to Turbopop’s “Adeste fideles” (15:58). It’s a Christmas miracle!

Our final review of the year is a comic that Herman Cain would gladly steal ideas from. Monster Pulse (by Magnolia Porter, 19:20) borrows bits from collect-them-all franchises like Pokémon and Digimon and tosses in dashes of properties like Pan’s Labrinyth and Where The Wild Things Are. Steve’s got some strong opinions about the comic, and all-in-all we turn in a lively discussion, involving these comics as well…

Other random topics to toss in the ol’ Rambletron: Law and Order: The Entity, the funerals that we hope to someday (no time soon) have, selling our services for money (in Steve’s words, “Call us up, bro. We’re not expensive mofos”), and the hilarity that is a urinary tract infection. Enjoy and thanks for listening in 2011! Here’s hoping we can do something to make 2012 the best year of Digital Strips ever!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Podcast 243 – Say Man One More Time And I Will Gut You (Review – Manly Guys Doing Manly Things)

Posted on by
Reply

Listening to this, the manliest episode of Digital Strips ever, is guaranteed to put hair on your palms. Or is it, if you listen to this while… you know what, just trust that this episode has more testosterone that fifty of Tim Allen’s grunts and we’ll be good.

For the foreseeable future, consider the first segment to be a a free-for-all session, not unlike… well, not unlike another mini-podcast we’re doing weekly on the Audioboo network called Put Up or Shut Up. Our topic this time around, if you can call it that, is the so-called Rapture that was scheduled for Saturday the 21st. We also delve a bit into the joys of CSI memes and random sound effects that Steve has always pined for.

We’ve also got recommendations for a couple other podcasts we think you’d like:

And we can’t talk movies and webcomics without mentioning my favorite movie-centered comic:

Taking us into the second segment is an Overclocked Remix courtesy of Sixto Sounds from the butchest of video game series, Double Dragon, titled, “The Streets of Sosetsuken” (8:38). And in that second segment, as always, is the Digital Strips News Minute!

In particular, I must speak to the shortest of short clips that we used to represent the new Scott and Kris show. I mentioned in the show that their brand of comedy is very hit-or-miss for me, but after seeing the entire clip they have posted at the Kickstarter site (basically a pilot for the coming series), I can safely say that this is something I’m greatly looking forward to.

Marching with manliness, we join Kill Me Tomorrow with their rhythmic groove, “Attendance” (17:20) as they carry us into the third segment, where we are pumped and primed to review the macho video game comic…

I admit upfront my bias towards video game webcomics, but with at least a few criticisms about this one, I think I found enough different tweaks to the formula to call this one worthy of our attention. Steve would certainly agree with that theory. Plus, a dude beats Pokemon to death with another Pokemon, thus leveling it up. After all the gaming comics I’ve read, that is one joke I’ve not seen before.

As always, this comic made us think of several others:

Not tired of us yet? Stick around after the close for some outtakes, featuring, among other things, eye boogers, Batman vs. The Sore Throat, and The Race Of The Centurrryyyyyyyyyyyy!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Podcast Episode 241 – Book of the Month Club Feat. Order of the Stick, Part 1

Posted on by
2

When we decided to start another show format with Book Club, we were hopeful that it would force us to either catch up and discover for the first time a multitude of webcomics that every fan should have on their virtual (or real, as the case may be) bookshelves. It’s Steve’s turn to pick again and his decision to delve into the deep catalog of Rich Burlew’s Order of the Stick is one that I’m already approving of.

But before we enjoy that, what good news is there on offer? Find out with the Digital Strips News Minute!

Mentioned but not featured in the News Minute are:

Whew! After that bloated first segment, why not let the light, bouncy techno sounds of Hot Fire’s, “Them Never Love No Bans – DnB Mix (Germany)” cut the load and prepare you for the morsel that is our Book of the Month Club pick, likely for the foreseeable future (and possibly the year after that).

As mentioned, we’re taking a good, hard, long look at the deep archives of Order of the Stick (18:45) for our third edition of Book Club. It’s great fun and takes on the genre comedy challenge in a unique and unexpected way, one that forces the reader to bring a little something extra to the experience. The subject matter at hand brings us to another webcomics that is both unsurprising in terms of its similarities and striking in its differences.

Steve also mentions an older show, the first-ever DS Livecast (short-lived but maybe returning someday?) which featured Order of the Stick, which neither of us had anything to do with.

Listen in for our thoughts on this long-running classic fantasy webcomic and let us know where you stand! Hunker in, because this Book Club is likely to carry us right into the holiday season! Good thing I’m already wearing my +9 Scaled Undergarments of Uncomfortable Warmth.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Episode 240 – Eisner Awards Nominees Specialtravaganza 2011!

Posted on by
2

It’s that time of year again! The trees are blooming, allergies are irritating, and it’s time once again for me to take over putting this show together!

Oh, and it’s also time for the Eisners. Kind of a big deal too, I suppose.

This year’s nominees represent one of the strongest bunch since the category for Best Digital Comic was formed in 2005 (thanks, WikiPedia!). But before we break down that list, there’s another list to talk about: The Digital Strips News Minute!

Before we roll into the matter that brought us all here today, why not have a little fun with Higgins and their track, “There He Is”. As always, make sure to check out the entire track and possibly even a whole album, if you feel so inclined.

Without laying out our favorites, I’ll say now that there is very little criticism to be had in the second segment. These five comics represent some of the best talent that the world of digitally-presented comics has to offer.

In our discussion, we wouldn’t want to leave out two other comics who are nominated in other categories:

  • (29:37) Hereville (Best Publication for Teens, Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword)
  • (29:50) Sheldon (Best Humor Publication, Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing Against TV Since 1953)

Of course, we always mention numerous other comics in our journey to making a point, so here are those we utilized to that end.

Finally, it’s easy to forget that Digital Strips was the first webcomics podcast because we don’t tell you nearly enough. As a result, we have an extensive library of podcasts to draw from in our research (I finally stopped laughing enough that I could write that). So here are some of the shows that link with this one in one way or the other. Listen in and enjoy the rich history that webcomics have enjoyed so far!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Presents “Put Up or Shut Up: The Random Digital Strips Podcast” (A Digital Strips/Audioboo Production)

Posted on by
Reply

Steve and I decided that enough people have told us they love the podcast that we’re taking our interests and broadening things by introducing a new show! It’s called Put Up or Shut Up and it’s hosted exclusively on Audioboo. That service is perfect for mini-podcasts, so we’re tossing up our random thoughts, webcomics-related or otherwise, for your listening pleasure.

We’re not gumming up the works for our main podcast feed with this (or any other) new show(s), but Audioboo is so awesome that the basic feed options are already included right out of the box!

Have a listen to the first episode, “Mexican Food”, and stay tuned for more geeky goodness from this humble two-man wrecking crew!

Share

Digital Strips 234 – Horizons Watch: Corporate Skull and Kick Girl

Posted on by
3

UPDATED: Midnight here, filling in for Steve, who once again darted off to points unknown with nary a word beforehand. I’ll fill in the blanks for this episode via his hastily scrawled notes. Also, I promise not to sound so off-in-a-cave-somewhere-ish next time.

It’s only right to start this Horizons Watch episode with a comic that shows tremendous promise, despite only having one page posted thus far:

Next up, a mention of the perfect “WTF But This Is Awesome” comic on the web trifecta comprised of:

What is indie? What does this term mean for the various mediums it inhabits? Listen up in the first segment for our thoughts on the matter…

Definitely not in the WTF camp but certainly worth mentioning whenever possible:

This week’s Webcomics News Minute (10:45) has some great mentions, all in a neat, compact case you can carry in your pocket!

Other comics mentioned in our wake:

The music in the Music Break comes to us from the land of goodness that is Overclocked Remix. This particular remix is titled “Mega Man 2: QuickDraw” (17:36). I miss my arm cannon already…

Our Horizons picks this week are varied and awesome, as (nearly) always.

In our discussions we also bring up:

Finally, check the outtakes for that engaging conversation about the previously mentioned Messed Up Amish Guy.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Episode 232 – Review – RatFist w/ Guest Co-Host Lucas Turnbloom

Posted on by
Reply

The good thing about doing only largely positive critiques is that our address book is full to bursting with names of enormously talented creators who are extremely eager to chat about the world of comics on the Internet. This week, I dialed up Lucas Turnbloom, the man who has crafted memorable, whimsical characters for Imagine This and 4G. And, according to our chat, it sounds like he has at least approximately 32, 458 more ideas bouncing around in his head.

… nope, make that 32, 459.

But before we explore these ideas, there are some news items, some Herdy Gerdy, if you will (and you will, at least until Steve gets back and tells me we can’t). Among the news items I’m cleaning up:

Once the business side is tended to, I take a few moments to ask Lucas about his beginnings in the biz, as well as his take on the convention-going side of being a responsible, responsive comics creator. We also delve into the divide between the new guard and the old, the differences that separate traditional creators from those who more readily embrace change and go with the Interflow. Sadly, we stop just short of solving the whole crisis. Ah well, maybe next time.

During our chat, we mention the following comics:

Leading us between segments is none other than Lucas’ own brother, whose band, Mrs. Magician, has a new 7″ dropping on March 1. This song, “The Spells” (31:28), is one of two songs on that record, so enjoy it more than once and stop by the band’s site to pre-order your copy to have forever and ever.

On the other side, Lucas and I peek into the shallow but rich waters of a comic that has blown up across the Web these last few weeks:

Also mentioned:

Like Molly and the Bear before it, this comic comes to us from one of the aforementioned old guard, or at least, older guard, a man whose portfolio more than speaks for itself. With credentials this solid, it’s hard to really critique the work before us, but with coloring this horrid and a story this agonizingly trite, you have to say something.

No, not really. This is a great start to yet another exciting comic, and it’s on the web, so it’s free! You can’t ask for more than that, but we’re also throwing in some conversation about that very comic, also, for free. All because we love our Digital Strippers.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

Digital Strips Episode 230 – Review – Molly and the Bear w/ Guest Co-Host Brock Heasley

Posted on by
3

We’re kicking off Digital Strips Guest Co-Host Week with a man who needs no introduction, but gets one anyways: Brock Heasley!

Though I do a terrible job of it on the podcast, I will gladly link to all of Brock’s online work, a portfolio that is sure to grow exponentially over the next few years. Watching his depth and creativity emerge since The Superfogeys began has been a joy, one that is now quickly and easily possible through the joy of delivering comics via the Internet.

If you like introspective thoughts behind the creation of a work of art and conversations with those who craft these stories, I hope you will at least be entertained by my attempt. After Thee Oh Sees take us to the break with their guitar-riffin’ romp, “Crack In Your Eye” (23:00), it’s time to get to what Digital Strips does best: a review.

The strip, and yes, it is very much a comic strip, that Brock and I took a look at exudes a timeless feel that is as deceptively simple as it is intelligent in the way it appeals to the kid in all of us.

Comic strips rarely have the life that Molly and the Bear does, but coming from a seasoned professional who has worked on the very best that Pixar (culling from our childhood dreams since Toy Story first dropped into our laps) has to offer, we’d expect nothing less. Truly, the characters in this strip look like they’ve jumped right off of a storyboard sequence for their next animated short.

Along the way, Brock mentions another children’s comic artist that brings incredible life to everything he touches, Mike Kunkel, most specifically his childhood daydream adventure:

It’s interesting having two artists of the visual leaning working on the critique and Brock comes up with some insights which are details that I wouldn’t have given a second thought about. It’s deep, it’s fun, and it’s well worth a listen or two.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Share

McCloud Demands Bigger Online Presence For “His Face All Red” Creator Carroll

Posted on by
Reply

In lieu of more talky-talky this week, we’ll try to bring you some news the old-school DS way, via short, succinct, savory blog posts. And what better way to kick off the week than with an amazing comic from a new face.

Scott McCloud, finder of all things amazing and new, blogs briefly about Emily Carroll, the creator behind the overnight success that is His Face All Red. Steve mentioned in our (now lost to the Interether) most recent episode that I probably recognized her name from combining poet Emily Dickinson and author Lewis Carroll, which is entirely possible. The entire comic, all ten, infinitely-canvassed pages of it, is incredibly haunting and does a great job of evoking that classic horror style in the vein of Edgar Allan Poe.

Do as the McCloud commands and demand a larger, more consolidated presence for this next up-and-coming webcomics star!

Share