Today I'm going to do something shocking and revolutionary. Something that has played only the smallest of roles in the articles I've written for Sequential Arts. I'm going to write an article about comics.
An article about comics on a comics-oriented website? What is the world coming to.
I'm going to tell you about a couple of webcomics that you should be reading. Not Penny Arcade or Goats or their ilk, because if you're a dork, you probably are already reading those. Anyway, those are more the comic strip type of comics. The two works I'm pointing you at today are comic books, just without the added danger of staples.
First, there is Strings of Fate by Jen Wang. If either of those names sound familiar, it's obviously because you've been ogling my picture on the bios page, and have seen the artist credit on the drawing. From this you might guess that I'm a friend to Jen, and this is true, but I'm not plugging the hell out of her comic for that reason. I'm plugging the hell out of her comic because I love it.
What first drew me in to Strings of Fate were the characters and story; this is the tale of Tony, a young writer who finds himself drawn into a world -- and possible war -- between gods of the Chinese Zodiac (as seen on Chinese restaurant placemats). Oh, and also, it turns out that he's a god, too; specifically, he's the Rat. And due to some ancient legend-based animosity, a cute young girl named Mao, who just happens to be the Cat (never heard of a Chinese Zodiac sign for the cat, have you? Read the comic and see why), would like to possibly put a knife in his head. And also, there is an army of attack shrimp. A galaxy of prawns, all with tiny spears, and they've come for your wives.
Interesting and complex story aside, what will always keep me returning to Strings of Fate is the art. Jen has a style that has matured from a style in the earlier pages that borrowed more heavily from both anime influences and Disney to something uniquely her own that I just love looking at. She gives men big noses. I love men with big noses. But that's a personal problem. To read this comic is to see a comic artist growing up; whatever Jen goes on to after Strings of Fate is finished will be something great.
My second comic for the plugging is Return to Sender by Vera Brosgol. The appeal in this one came the other way around from Strings of Fate; I was drawn in by the unique art style - strong lines and shades of blue - and became involved in the story from there. When the first page involves someone getting hit by a car and the first line of dialogue doesn't come until four pages in ("I gots you a cat!" if you're wondering), you know you're dealing with something that knows how to make the visual medium its bitch.
The story is a mystery that has yet to unfold very far; a spunky girl named Colette and a not-so-spunky man named Often who finds a mail slot in his new apartment. Which is all well and good, except it's in the middle of the wall and not in the door at all. Of course, a mysterious mail slot is going to end up having mail delivered to it, and that leads to... well, you'll see if you read.
These comics are both wonderful, but due to the creators being hip young college girls who often want to spend their time living while they can instead of doodling, they are updated semi-sporadically. But you'll live. Just reread them over and over again. Do it.
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