Webcomics and You (and Muffins)

Let's talk about webcomics. They've been present now for over 20 years, and there are quite a few out there now (and by a few, I mean thousands). As hopefully you are aware (and if you're not I'm not sure how you found this blog), there is quite a bit of crap floating in the big toilet that is the internet. Meaning, you're about as likely to find a good webcomic in the sea of bad ones as you are half a square mile of clean water in the Gulf of Mexico. Finding a good webcomic isn't the first step though, first you have to find out if you'll find entertainment in webcomics at all.

Ask yourself this question: Do you like to read? If the answer is anywhere north of "kinda", then, long story short, you will find entertainment out of webcomics. Moving on.

How then can you find a webcomic you will enjoy? Each person has their own personality (sometimes regretably, as this allows for things like communism and reality television to exist), but this means everyone will be looking for something different in their ideal webcomic. The good news is that there's a webcomic out there that caters to almost anything, the hard part is finding them.

So, where would you start looking? There are several "Top 10" lists available online, but remember that the people who rate webcomics are rating those they find enjoyable. Their number one may not even make your "Top 100." In my experience, the best way to begin is to ask your friends if they follow any webcomics. This generally results in you finding at least one comic you'll learn to love, as your friends interests are usually in line with your own (unless you're entirely shallow and superficial, one of those idiots with about 2,000 Facebook friends who enjoys getting plastered while watching your "STD's I've Aquired" list you keep by the toilet increase by a factor of three every Friday night).

If your friends don't follow any webcomics then your next step is probably Google. Search the words "webcomic" along with an interest you have or thing you're looking for in the comic. This can be an annoying and frustrating process, as previously stated the internet is a land fill the size of Canada. If you're not finding anything that interests you directly through search engines, pay attention to the adds on the sites of the webcomics you do come across. Many of them are adds for other comics that may end up interesting you.

Let's say you find a webcomic you believe interests you. Most likely you won't understand the current story arc or know any of the characters, so my best advice is to start at the beginning. Usually you'll take a hit in the art department doing this, but it's essential for getting to know the comic. If all goes well you'll do what any respectable webcomic reader will do, get hooked. By the time you catch up to the current comic you'll be enthusiastically checking on the update days for the next installment.

Now, I wouldn't take you through all that reading of mostly pictureless words unless I was going to provide you with some of my favorite webcomics (if you start following one, you'll most likely pick up more as time goes on):

Questionable Content

Questionable Content (QC) is one of the most popular comics on the web right now and also one of my personal favorites. Just under 2,000 strips strong, I've been following it since around 400 (so catching up is a little harder now, but completely worth it). The comic focuses around a group of young adults who love Indie rock and most geek culture. There is a good amount of drama between the characters, but it gets nicely balanced out by good humor and nonsense.

Bug Comic

Bug is the youngest of the comics I've been following, so it might be a good place for you "fresh out of the oven" muffins to get your start. Each strip is generally focused on its own seperate topic or joke, but they're refreshing and make me laugh almost every time. I highly recommend checking it out.

Least I Could Do

LICD has been going for awhile, so it'll take a bit to catch up. The basis is on the wild antics of the main character Rayne, but a host of interesting and funny support characters keep the comic going. LICD is also the most frequently updating comic I follow, with a new strip every day of the week.

Xkcd

Similar to Bug, but older and with a much larger fanbase, Xkcd is a comic for geeks about geek culture, science, and love on rare occaisions. The humor is usually pretty advanced, but if you get it it's the funniest thing you'll read all day.

Penny Arcade Considered the pioneer of the webcomic "industry", Penny Arcade is one of thousands of gaming-focused webcomics. The jokes are almost always focused on gaming culture so it is the place to start for all you game-aholics out there.

Other comics I enjoy include:

Ctrl+Alt+Del (gaming)

Dr. McNinja (ninjas, 'nuff said)

Looking For Group (from the LICD creator, gorgeous visuals in a unique fantasy universe)

Manly Guys Doing Manly Things (the title speaks for itself)

If you have access to the interweb, I highly endorse the idea of checking out the world of webcomics. Otherwise enjoy your boring Facebook life you useless mass of pubescent gunk.

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