Culture

( Webcomics to

Colin Slark
Team Member

omic books can be expensive. The four dollar books look thick, but every fourth page

has an ad, and the first couple of pages are usually a recap from the previous issue.
Fortunately, there are many long-form webcomics that are as good as the big name
comics, but available at no cost to the reader. Here is a list of seven webcomics with great
ongoing stories to help keep you from getting bored.

Cucumber Quest by Gigi D.G.: This twice-weekly comic is about two siblings seeking
magical items that can help them defeat the ultimate evil that has taken over
their kingdom. Yes, it sounds cliché, but Cucumber Quest delights in making

fun of common adventure genre tropes. The writing is whimsical and funny,

and the art looks spectacular, looking like a digital watercolour painting.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson: Ballister Blackheart was a mediocre supervillain until
the day when a shape-shifting teenage girl named Nimona offered to become his
new sidekick. Together, they are a powerful force working to show the people of
the world that their benevolent rulers aren’t so benevolent, all the while collecting
buckets of loot. Now if only Nimona would stop causing so much collateral damage.

Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddell: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a bunch of kids
go to a secret school to learn about the hidden magic inherent in the world.

Yes, Gunnerkrigg Court is similar to Harry Potter on a surface level, but is

radically different once you delve into it. The Court in which the

kids live is one part boarding school, and one part embassy

to the creatures of the magical world. The art in the
series visibly improves as the artist develops his style,
and the adventures of protagonists Antimony and
Kat are fascinating, dealing with things like magical
creatures, trickster gods, and sentient robots.

Broodhollow by Kris Straub: This horror comic is
more than meets the eye. This comic does horror
right. The humans in the strip are drawn very
simplistically, and thing seem somewhat

cute, soft and, harmless. However,

when Lovecraftian monsters emerge

to torment Zane, they are creepy

and disturbing. The monsters are

not ever present, but menace is a

constant threat. When the creepy

crawlies emerge, they leave a lasting
impression in the mind of the reader.

Power Nap by Maritza Campos and

Bachan: In the world of Power Nap, the problem of sleep has been solved. Citizens
are given “Z Supplements,” which give the user’s body the benefit of a good night’s
sleep without actually having to take the time out of their day. This allows people
to work 16 hours workdays for massive corporations. Unluckily for the main
character, Drew, he is one of a small number of people who are allergic to these
supplements, which makes him very valuable to certain people who study dreams.

Octopus Pie by Meredith Gran: Unlike the rest of the webcomics I have recommended
on this list, there is nothing fantastical about Octopus Pie. Instead, it is a slice-of-

life comic featuring a bunch of twenty-somethings living in New York and coming
to grips with having to be adults. It’s funny, sometimes sad, and touching.

Camp Weedonwantcha by Katie Rice: In Camp Weedonwantcha, kids are sent to a summer
camp that, as far as the kids can tell, does not actually have an exit. This comic is

like a much friendlier version of Lord of the Flies. There are no deaths or severed

pig heads here, as we are given a dramedy, where there are jokes about kids being
left to their own devices, but also sad moments where the kids realize that they

miss the structure and guidance that having adults around provided them.

Nimona
Noelle Stevenson