puppetmaker | More fun for the Internet

I am going to talk a bit about online comics. There are a number of comics that I started read on the net. If I continue to read them, I buy the comics if they are printed to support the artists and writers that have given me so much enjoyment.

The first one I “found” was Player vs. Player ( www.pvponline.com ) because of an e-mail that came through the Del Rey offices about Star Wars of all things. I found Scott Kurtz comic sharp, funny and entertaining. Most of the characters reminded me of people I know in the “business”. It is on my must read list of web comics. As soon as Scott announced that PvP was going to be published in comic form, I made sure I would get a copy. Now he is with Image and you can get collections of the early PvP comics.

From that comic I found one of my all time favorite web comics Dork Tower ( www.dorktower.com ). John Kolvalic just has a way of making the world I grew up in so funny. I am a gamer. I have been since I was a teen (almost a preteen). I played “Chainmail” and “Car Wars” and the original pamphlet sized Dungeons and Dragons. I have that lovely copy of Deities and Demi gods before they changed it. John’s characters run the spectrum of individuals I have met at conventions and good friends I still have both fan and pro. He now has a live journal that is very active and interesting to read. Again, I have bought all the Dork Tower comics and collections to support John and his work.

I had read Nodwick in Dragon and enjoyed it. I was glad to find his web site through Scott’s site so I could reacquaint myself with the characters.
( archive.gamespy.com/comics/nodwick/index.htm )
I also enjoy ps238 and Full Frontal Nerdity. I buy Nodwick and ps238 and will buy FFN if he publishes it. Nodwick appeals to the schlepper in me. As a stage manager, I so feel for Nodwick.

Now for a few that haven’t seen print yet, but I hope should eventually.

Oh My Gods by Shivian Montar Balaris
ohmygods.timerift.net
It bills itself as “The Pagan Comic Strip for the Polytheistic Masses” He has a very funny sense of humor and sticks it to both Pagans and Christians. He brings into focus some of the absurdities of religion and new age feel good attitude.

Queen of Wands by Aeire
www.queenofwands.net
She has a good group of characters and I love her art style. Her strips on working retail ring so true to me. This is one that works better if you can take the time to start from the beginning and read your way through.
Something Positive by R.K. Milholland
I found this through ‘Queen of Wands’. It’s another comic that is richer if you can read from the beginning. This is what I would call a “realistic” comic in that just about everything that has happened to the characters could happen. Solid writing and a good story with fine art brings me back to this one.

So what’s your favorite web comic? Anything I am not reading and I should be?