CUCUMBER QUEST by Gigi D.G
November 12, 2016
There are a lot of wonderful adventure-fantasy webcomics out there, both popular and obscure, and some of them are long-running series that stretched out for years already that keeping track of their multiple arcs can be a hassle especially if you are more of a casual reader (and more so if you barely get internet access). This ongoing fluff yet sublime webcomics story written and drawn by Gigi D.G is still in the earlier stages of its hopefully long run in years to come, so there is definitely more time to catch up and get yourselves invested in the amusingly enjoyable characters and the literal candy-colored worlds of Cucumber Quest.
The collected printed volumes for this webcomics has the Prologue and Chapter 0 as the first volume, Chapters 1 as its second, and Chapter 2 as its third. Currently, the fourth chapter online is about to be concluded. I managed to finish until the third chapter last night, and man it has been such an utter delight. The good thing about Cucumber Quest is that it's truly for light reading and very easy on the eyes. Gigi D.G's simplistic art style shines well because of her extravagant choices of colors. Bright and often with rainbow layers in coloring plus adorably draw bunny-eared characters being entertaining and funny, each page for this webcomics is a pleasant feast for the eyes, and it certainly did remind me of children's books in the best way possible. There is never a dull moment for the chapters of this series because Gigi D.G's enthusiasm and passion shows in the way she balances the pacing, humor and heartwarming moments of each arc, and hence she makes readers eager for more installments concerning Cucumber and the gang as they move forward to face their outlandish villains and visit/get stranded in various candy-colored landscapes that readers would squeal over because of how pretty they are. I know I sure did, and I guarantee that you will too!
In retrospect, Cucumber Quest can just be taken as a straightforward adventure story starring the bookish and socially reserved Cucumber who only wants to go to magic school but is plagued with the prophesy that he's supposed to be a legendary hero. He's neither outdoorsy or skilled in combat, but it's his 'destiny' to defeat the Disaster Masters and the infamous Nightmare Knight. It seems basic but the storytelling chops of Gigi D.G is anything but generic because, on the other hand, Cucumber Quest is also subversion of certain quest tropes with a minimalist approach that never dares to take itself seriously as a deconstruction, and that is what makes it fun and compelling to go through. It never had to be dark or radical that would border on pretentious; what you see is what you get, and what it offers are well-balanced elements of recognizable tropes coupled with fantastic chemistry among its chief cast. This series can be comparable and may have been inspired by Adventure Time animation series, but it's also entirely unique as its own brand of quirky self-awareness and shenanigans.
Joining Cucumber in his reluctant quest to save the kingdoms and put a stop to the evil queen Cordelia's master plan and also defeat the Nightmare Knight whom she summoned, are his sister Almond who is more or less the one who is more eager to become a monster-slaying adventurer; Sir Carrot, the often cowardly yet endearing knight who loves to do chores, and later by the frustratingly eternal optimist Princess Nautilus of the Ripple Kingdom. The villains they face are the ridiculous named trio of Sir Tomato, Bacon and Lettuce, the witch Peridot (who has a nemesis /girl-crush situation with Almond) and the array of Disaster Masters for each kingdom they visit. Fun times and hilarity ensue as Cucumber is still being forced to participate in all of this while making astute if not meta observations of how suspicious everything about the famed prophesy and the roles they must take to fulfill it.
Let's take a look of some lovely art so you guys will get a taste of what I mean when I said that it's literal candy. Here are some of the pages that I enjoyed both for art and content:
It's only by the second chapter (third volume) that things get more explored and given a heftier substance and depth. Cucumber's suspicions are slowly being confirmed the more evasive their supposedly appointed guide Dream Oracle becomes if not outright being aggressively dismissive of Cucumber's questions. The Big Bad villain Nightmare Knight also begins to show his true colors which may not be as vile or dark as everyone believes it to be especially the more he interacts with the captive princess Parfait. Even the Disaster Masters themselves don't seem that willing to keep fighting, and Almond is really the only one who is enjoying this quest while Sir Carrot is more concerned about getting back to his sweetheart Parfait. Still, the humor is entertaining particularly when it's centered around Princess Nautilus who really acts as the charming ditz of the narrative, that is until you get on her bad side. Other extra characters like the thief Saturday, the creepy inventor Cosmo , that alien caped crusader and the Limbo/Pizza gang also provide comic relief in small doses.
In a nutshell, Cucumber Quest is a worthy webcomics series that has enough mass appeal for even the most casual reader to get into and enjoy. Gigi D.G is also beginning to develop the characters in interesting ways as well as drop hints and bread crumbs every installment as to what is the real deal with this supposed 'hero quest' that Cucumber must keep enduring, and why the Dream Oracle is being curiously vague regarding what is going on. I will keep reading to find out and you should too!
"NIMONA" by Noelle Stevenson
June 18, 2016
One of my close guy friends encouraged me to buy a hard copy for this published webcomics series, and I obliged because I heard really good things about it, particularly since Felicia Day herself had recommended it in her The Flog vlog. I've been getting into webcomics lately for this year, and have found great ones so far, and it's safe to say that Noelle Stevenson's endearing series NIMONA is one of the better ones out there, which never ceased to be enjoyable in its 275-paged run, as well as able to possess flashes of brilliance alongside its emotional resonance. I could recommend this to most people because part of Nimona's charm is its niche setting that combines medieval fantasy and science fiction elements. It's essentially set in a land with both magic and science (read: technology). |
What made this webcomic such an instant hit, however, is its titular anti-heroine. In an interview online, author Stevenson herself confessed that she liked the idea of Magneto-Mystique villainous partnership in the X-Men movies, and Nimona was partly inspired of this concept. The titular spunky girl in question is also a shapeshifter but one who is not only limited to imitating the forms of humans but also a wide range of creatures both mundane and mythical. The most memorable of which was a panel sequence where she tried to convince the bad-guy genius Sir Ballister Blackheart to hire her as his personal lackey and sidekick:
Stevenson wrote a charming cast of characters who have enough quirks, insecurities and chemistry with each other that readers will definitely have fun going through each chapter breezily. I like everyone in the comics; from Nimona herself who is unique, balls-out insane at times, and intriguing to her boss Sir Blackheart who is such a fucking softie it's unbelievable at times, and may not be the bad guy everyone else in the kingdom had saddled him the role of; and even the literal golden-boy Sir Ambrosius Goldenlion who seemed vapid and conceited in the surface but who actually does posses a moral code and was merely blinded by ambition to be recognized as a hero that he betrayed his only friend.
This was no doubt an entertaining comics series you can buy a copy for yourself, and bring along during a vacation trip, or share among your friends and have an endless source of good times with. However, that's not to say that Nimona is perfect in every way; I do have a few noteworthy criticisms about its overall plot, narrative and conflict resolutions, but nitpicking it to death would be such a bore, wouldn't it? I know Nimona herself won't be so happy about being deconstructed and judged (which was what 90% of the people around her have done in this book), much like this book should not be taken for its flaws but rather more for its merits which is has a lot of that they may be enough to outweigh the not-so-impressive qualities. The selling point of this series is the nuanced relationships among the three:
I found that Nimona was at its finest in the later part of the series when things eventually did get gritty and high-stakes, and the core relationship between Nimona and Sir Blackheart was tested to its limits. There are certain issues and themes of trust and forgiveness that Stevenson tackled in these parts, and it was definitely resonant and meaningful. Once you've learned to enjoy and be invested in the dynamics between not only Nimona and Blackheart, but also Blackheart and his former friend-turned-enemy Sir Goldenlion, then it's easy to get swept away by the drama and action provided. I was also quite happy to learn that Stevenson confirmed herself that Blackheart and Goldenlion were childhood friends who had a romantic history. And here I thought I was just wearing ship goggles again!
That being said, I will admit that the criticisms some people may have who did not connect with this series do hold weight. I agree on their nitpicks, whether they're about the overall content of the story; the rushed arc and conflict; the lack of more world-building; or the ambiguous explanation of the origins of Nimona's power; and even the style of art for the illustrations. However, I would like to stress that these criticisms should be ignored unless you have read the book for yourself first. I certainly don't want to spoil whatever enjoyment you may find in reading Nimona if you so happen stumble upon this review and find yourself discouraged to pick it up just because of those flaws.
Of course not! Nimona is an enthralling webcomics series that have really relatable and endearing characters, and it's worth picking up and experiencing the magic yourself.
That being said, I will admit that the criticisms some people may have who did not connect with this series do hold weight. I agree on their nitpicks, whether they're about the overall content of the story; the rushed arc and conflict; the lack of more world-building; or the ambiguous explanation of the origins of Nimona's power; and even the style of art for the illustrations. However, I would like to stress that these criticisms should be ignored unless you have read the book for yourself first. I certainly don't want to spoil whatever enjoyment you may find in reading Nimona if you so happen stumble upon this review and find yourself discouraged to pick it up just because of those flaws.
Of course not! Nimona is an enthralling webcomics series that have really relatable and endearing characters, and it's worth picking up and experiencing the magic yourself.
I especially like the relationship between Blackheart and Nimona. The development of their alliance and partnership had been bittersweet and memorable. I even mentioned that I've likened them to a villain version of Batman and Robin, and judging by that fan art I found online, I wasn't the only one who thought of the parallels. Their chemistry alone in this story is what made this series a worthwhile recommendation. Stevenson explained in the same interview I found online that she liked writing platonic connection and not merely fanservice romance. She believed companionship is a rare thing that must be treasured. This truly attest in the wonderful, hopeful message at the ending about the many ways friendship can change someone for the better, and give them a chance to be understood or even be saved.
In a nutshell, you can't go wrong with Nimona. Go and see for yourself!
The Collected Works of Emily Carroll
April 24, 2016
For my second choice of webcomics people should read, I selected the stories and illustrations by Emily Carroll whose ongoing works can be found in her official website as indicated. However, I found a soft copy of her collected works in a torrent site which compiled fifteen of her stories plus other drawings. What was so immensely enjoyable and riveting about Carroll's works is the metaphysical quality of her tales. Most are horrific while others are downright poignant albeit while still being creepy. I discovered her when I stumbled upon a best online short story horror list which I found one day, and it included her tale entitled His Face All Red. It was instantly unforgettable for me. My review will tackle the seven out of the fifteen stories present in this collected file that I consider to be my personal favorites. The rest are pretty great themselves too, however.
I also want to add that Emily Carroll does have a published anthology you can probably buy which is entitled Through the Woods and I could also readily recommend it. It's a great introduction to her art style and narrative and her entries for that collection have exciting and fresh concepts. I think I can describe Carroll's works in general as fairy-tales by themselves, and they mostly shine light on the tantalizingly terror we all get that often hypnotizes us into actively staring into the abyss, abandoning all reason and caution. A lot of her stories are ambiguous in delivery, although some of her climaxes have been certainly off-putting and yet impressive enough to keep you invested long enough after just reading them. Carroll is definitely a most promising cartoonist and storyteller.
She had also written her share of quirky love stories and the one I really liked was Anu-Anulan and Yir's Daughter which is a tale about a goddess falling in love with a beautiful girl with long locks of silver hair which she freely offered to the goddess and others who would kindly ask for it. It's such a nice queer fairy tale that reads as a simple myth.
The six other tales that I definitely love are the following:
In, MARGOT'S ROOM, readers would get an interactive story where they can click certain items in the room illustrated based on the clues given on the prose itself (the mirror, the window, the doll etc.). By clicking these objects, the reader is then taken to a series of panels varying in style. One page will have vertical panels which you scroll down to, while another has horizontal ones that you scroll right to. The experience is a unique one as a reader explores the deepening and troubling psychology of the narrator as she struggles to make sense of the tragedy of her daughters'd death. It's a visually entertaining and gripping down to the very last clever panel. THE PRINCE AND THE SEA applies the same visual structure minus the interactive stuff. It's an unsettling story about a mermaid whose devotion to a prince went beyond what was considered normal. And then there's HIS FACE ALL RED.
Chances are, this is the Carroll story which people would have first because it garnered fairly popular reception in a lot of online recommendation lists for short story horror. This was a really brilliant piece that has a slow build-up, maintaining the suspense all throughout. Carroll's visual tricks also make it so hard to stop scrolling down to, right at the harrowing revelation itself. It's disturbing, much like the next two.
These are OUT OF SKIN, and ALONG THE WALL. Both stories are impressively rendered with stylistic panels that create a tension and atmosphere as their respective narrators reel us. For the former, the point-of-view is that of a female recluse who is being haunted by voices and images that seek her assistance to fulfill a vengeful task. For the latter, two girls were in a dark corner of the room, talking about seemingly innocent things first until they gradually prove to be otherwise. Along the Wall is somewhat tied to another multi-part story found in Carroll's published anthology Through the Woods so readers who have read that book first may be familiar with these characters presented already, while others would no doubt be left baffled until they also read said tale that was featured in Through the Woods.
That being said, I think All Along the Wall can still stand by itself because the ending of this piece was frustratingly creepy that even with the knowledge of the other story it is tied to, the effect of those last two panels really resonate well as its own horror.
Finally, we have the twofold tale of THE 3 SNAKE LEAVES which present the readers with two separate endings which depend on their choice of character to click. We have a prince and a princess who are trapped inside a room. They are bound to stay there together until a miracle happens that sets them free. The reader then finds out what happens to these lovers' relationship after they were both set free from the curse...but things do not become as happily-ever-after as it seems. It is worth mentioning that there are two runner-up stories that I'd consider to belong to the eighth and ninth places of favorites, and they were When Darkness Presses and The Hole the Fox Did Make because they are also scary enough to hold one's imagination. The first one has a combination of several approaches in visual narrative while the latter was drawn as a horizontal comic strip in black and white.
Other amusing contributions have to be the author's personal Dream Comics whose visual interpretations were interesting to look at, as well as The Grave of the Lizard Queen which was a work that was strictly told in a series of panels without any words. Finally, we have the final entry The Neighbor's House which actually made it to Carroll's published anthology.
Emily Carroll has three recent stories that were not included in this collection and they are Wild Creatures, The Groom and Some Other Animal's Meat. They're more well-rounded than most of her previous works which I think also showcased that her style and voice have evolved for the best. You are all free to check them out yourselves in her official site.
'Nothing is Forgotten' by Ryan Andrews -
April 19, 2016
I've been an avid fan of the sequential art of storytelling for a good fifteen years now and though my foremost love are superhero comics, I do enjoy other genres of the medium, as well as other forms such as manga and webcomics. This year, I decided to devote some time reviewing the latter because there are so many outstanding webcomics out there that are actually worth publishing in print. The best thing about webcomics, however, is how accessible it is since they are posted and updated online, so anyone around the world with internet connection can read them. My first pick of this year belongs to the anthology written and illustrated by Ryan Andrews. Thanks to a kickstarter campaign, his four unique comics were published, and I want to talk about them. Nothing is Forgotten collects only four stories but these are stories that truly stay with you, and therefore fulfilling its titular quality of being unforgettable. You don't have to worry about the fact that you can't read this for yourself because these stories are all available here. I'm going to discuss each one from the least to my most favorite story, without revealing too much about their endings. Still, this review might not be that spoiler-free, so if you are interested to read the stories themselves, then I suggest you click the link for them, and then just come back to this review if you still feel like it. With a short list of tales, it's quite easy to pick favorites and the truth for the matter is that I enjoyed all of them but if I had to pick based on personal preferences, I'll categorize them like this: my two least favorite stories are The Tunnel and Our Bloodstained Roof. These tales are the most visually striking of all the tales, however, and also the most horrific. |
You would think that I would choose them as my most faves, but the reason I didn't was simple. The completely imaginative The Tunnel whose illustrations were really creepy, and whose story operated on a metaphysical level, paled in comparison with Nothing is Forgotten, which is one of my two most faves. Both stories have a Twilight Zone vibe to them, especially The Tunnel which I think would translate so well in a five-minute short film. Both stories are also comparable because there are no narrative or dialogue boxes to read at all, and the images alone tell the story. I thought The Tunnel was brilliant and creepy, but Nothing is Forgotten had a more emotional resonance and heartfelt symbolism for me about grief and childhood trauma. The final scenes of both tales remain ambiguous, however.
My second least fave Our Bloodstained Roof is comparable to my first most fave Sarah and the Seed. These stories finally have words to them, and they move with a languid pace that slowly build up a suspenseful climax. They're also stories that center on family drama. In Our Bloodstained Roof, three brothers become fascinated with the death of several geese in their roof much to the chagrin of the father who suspiciously wanted them to think no more of it. For Sara and the Seed, an elderly couple's relationship was put the test when the wife started to display early signs of dementia because of her pathological fixation on a seed. Both tales unfolded like basic horror stories, only that Sara and the Seed had a happier and more satisfying conclusion. Our Bloodstained Roof had a perplexing ending that felt unresolved, making it quite frustrating to figure out.
I heartily recommend this anthology webcomic collection by Ryan Andrews. The tales are exquisitely rendered visually, and the framework of the storytelling itself for each is searing and memorable, both uplifting for some, and baffling for others.