Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Narbonic
I have many different favorite comics, for various different reasons. I like the tangy cynicism from Penny Arcade, with it's dash of non-sequitur for flavour. I like the colourful lunacy of Wigu and Overcompensating. I like the quirky hipster vibes of Questionable Content. I like the inky blackness of Something Positive's sense of humor. Until now, Sluggy has filled the void when it comes to good old fashioned story, but lately it's been in a bit of a slump. I fear not, however, for I have found another.
The strip is about a mad scientist, Helen B. Narbon, her evil intern, Mell, and her henchman, Dave. It involves gerbils, death rays, moon bases, mad science conventions, intrigue and romance. The plot twists and turns, leaving tantalizing loose ends scattered about that eventually get resolved. The strips have innumerable references to sci-fi and comicry from all over the past century or two (yeah, that's a lot!). Narbonic has immaculate pacing, on the level of each strip, at the level of the current story arc, and as a multi-year saga. The characters are unique, expressive and distinctive, and above all, the whole kitten-caboodle remains constantly funny, touching and sympathetic. I'm addicted hook, line and sinker.
Eric Burns drank the Kool-Aid way before I have, and has talked about Narbonic much more. I've never read anything but glowing praise for the strip, and he's basically right about it all the time. Shaenon Garrity is producing one of the finest runs of serial fiction I have ever read, and ranks right up with the best of the medium. I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who likes awesome things.
I suppose it's purely fitting that I haven't bothered to mention this until Modern Tales' free access to the archives has run out, and I spent all of Sunday afternoon desperately cramming this strip down, racing to get caught up. (See, the strip of the day is free, but the archives need an MT subscription. I suspect I will get one the first time I miss a strip.) The only negative I have about Narbonic is that I wasn't reading it daily from the beginning, and all the impact of the strip's pivotal moments were lessened by my breakneck reading. I hope it continues for a long time to come, because I will be there, every day.
Narbonic: An example of creating brand new stratospheres of awesomeness.
¶ 7:08 p.m. 
I have many different favorite comics, for various different reasons. I like the tangy cynicism from Penny Arcade, with it's dash of non-sequitur for flavour. I like the colourful lunacy of Wigu and Overcompensating. I like the quirky hipster vibes of Questionable Content. I like the inky blackness of Something Positive's sense of humor. Until now, Sluggy has filled the void when it comes to good old fashioned story, but lately it's been in a bit of a slump. I fear not, however, for I have found another.
The strip is about a mad scientist, Helen B. Narbon, her evil intern, Mell, and her henchman, Dave. It involves gerbils, death rays, moon bases, mad science conventions, intrigue and romance. The plot twists and turns, leaving tantalizing loose ends scattered about that eventually get resolved. The strips have innumerable references to sci-fi and comicry from all over the past century or two (yeah, that's a lot!). Narbonic has immaculate pacing, on the level of each strip, at the level of the current story arc, and as a multi-year saga. The characters are unique, expressive and distinctive, and above all, the whole kitten-caboodle remains constantly funny, touching and sympathetic. I'm addicted hook, line and sinker.
Eric Burns drank the Kool-Aid way before I have, and has talked about Narbonic much more. I've never read anything but glowing praise for the strip, and he's basically right about it all the time. Shaenon Garrity is producing one of the finest runs of serial fiction I have ever read, and ranks right up with the best of the medium. I whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone who likes awesome things.
I suppose it's purely fitting that I haven't bothered to mention this until Modern Tales' free access to the archives has run out, and I spent all of Sunday afternoon desperately cramming this strip down, racing to get caught up. (See, the strip of the day is free, but the archives need an MT subscription. I suspect I will get one the first time I miss a strip.) The only negative I have about Narbonic is that I wasn't reading it daily from the beginning, and all the impact of the strip's pivotal moments were lessened by my breakneck reading. I hope it continues for a long time to come, because I will be there, every day.
Narbonic: An example of creating brand new stratospheres of awesomeness.
¶ 7:08 p.m.
