A Tiny Piece of Joy…

I’ve been following webcomics for a long, long time.

In fact, I think it’s safe to say that as far as webcomics go, I’m pretty well-read. I’ve followed some series for more than a decade. I read Penny Arcade before they were rockstars. I’ve seen comics I love die, and watched others flourish despite having no merit that could be detected with the naked eye.

That said, I can’t imagine how I’ve managed to miss Dresden Codak for so long. How could go for years without ever hearing about this comic?

Oh yeah. I suppose I’ve been distracted by book and baby. Still, I’m more than a little ashamed it’s taken me this long to read it.

Anyway, just in case any of you out there are afflicted with the same flavor of withering ignorance, I thought I’d bring it to your attention.

If you want a taste of the comic, I suggest reading this one and this one. Both very different from each other, both showcasing different pieces of the artist’s particular genius.

More later,

pat

This entry was posted in comics, cool thingsBy Pat66 Responses

66 Comments

  1. Tyson
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 12:51 AM | Permalink

    Apparently I’ve heard of them because I remember reading that second one you linked to before. I can’t remember where though. Probably some random friend on Facebook had linked to it. Do you read Sinfest? That’s probably my favorite online comic.

  2. MarinheiroTX
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 12:57 AM | Permalink

    I discovered that comic peeking over my girlfriend’s shoulder while she was reading it, and I’m glad I did. He can spin a good yarn with words and pictures, independent of each other. In a lot of webcomics you see one or the other being highly prevalent, but his comics excel at both.

    • Rupoe
      Posted June 3, 2010 at 12:28 AM | Permalink

      Wow! That’s a good girlfriend!

  3. Fattimus
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:10 AM | Permalink

    http://oglaf.com/

    This comic is very much NSFW. It’s one of my favorites, though — in fact, the SFW (or as close as it gets for this webcomic) comics are some of the funniest on the site.

    • dressner
      Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:13 AM | Permalink

      I’ll add this comic to my rotation. As I just informed my roomate (I insist on that spelling, it seems more correct to me), my favorite author has an abundance of good taste. You didn’t mention XKCD, my favorite webcomic though, I hope it is only because of the obvious popularity of it, and not because you don’t read it or don’t like it. XKCD is king of awesome webcomics.

      • Fattimus
        Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:20 AM | Permalink

        The sheer number of webcomics a single person can be following at once is astounding. I’ve got like 20 in my own separate bookmark folder on this laptop, way more on my main PC.

        http://gunshowcomic.com/
        is another great one, particularly the Anime Club comics. The creator of Gunshow has done tons of comics, if you like that, check out:
        http://www.kcgreendotcom.com/

        I could make a huge, long list of webcomics right here, but frankly I wouldn’t know where to stop.

        • PirateXxEsque
          Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:00 AM | Permalink

          Qustionable Content.

          That is all. (:

    • Tyson
      Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:19 AM | Permalink

      Haha! Thanks for that.

    • Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:20 PM | Permalink

      I’m a big fan of Oglaf too….

      • Fattimus
        Posted June 2, 2010 at 2:36 PM | Permalink

        I should have anticipated that, since it’s linked off of MSPA.

  4. Sykesnz
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:16 AM | Permalink

    I’ve been following Dresden for a long time, really love the off the wall stuff.

    Another you may be interested in (and she updates super frequently) is
    http://requiem.seraph-inn.com/ <– The Phoenix Requiem.. highly recommended for fantasy fans :D

    • Andrewc
      Posted June 7, 2010 at 6:01 PM | Permalink

      I just started reading it, and it’s awesome, thanks. (:

  5. Ludd
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:32 AM | Permalink

    Dresden Codak is fantastic, I also suggest you check out Happle Tea,

    http://happletea.com/

    It’s based on various myths and legends around the world in humourous ways.

  6. JennaPeterson88
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:44 AM | Permalink

    That definitely does look like a good one!
    My personal favourite is Penny Arcade.
    http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/

  7. NoirRosaleen
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:48 AM | Permalink

    Oh, the webcomics I could show you…Something Positive, Full Frontal Nerdity, Questionable Content, A Softer World, Three Panel Soul…and those are only some of the ones that are still going! I will forever mourn the mid-story death of Life of Riley, f’r instance…ah well.

  8. Posted June 2, 2010 at 2:55 AM | Permalink

    I’ve never been a comic reader for one simple reason: It hurts my eyes. Yes, I confess, I am BAB (blind as a bat) and the tight writing and the pictures are really difficult for me to read–it makes my head hurt. I’m missing out on a whole genre. :-(

  9. Kyle F.
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 4:40 AM | Permalink

    Everyone deciding to link their own comics, eh?
    These comics really interest me, now that I look at them. Lots of curious, wonderful stories. The art style reminds me of another comic, and the story is one I think ALL of you could get into.
    http://hanna.aftertorque.com/?p=4

  10. Just_Jo
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:24 AM | Permalink

    Well if you like funny online comics (really funny with a sadistic touch) you should read Looking for group!
    http://www.lfgcomic.com/

  11. Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:52 AM | Permalink

    Aww man, Dresden Codak is one of those comics that are really worth waiting for, and the Hob storyline is one of the best arcs, heh. I feel like I should add a comic to the list others have put here, but my list of daylies is longer than my arm [literally] – it’s so hard to choose!

    The Phoenix Requiem [ http://requiem.seraph-inn.com/%5D by Sarah Ellerton always takes my breath away whilst supplying me with a weekly dose of intrigue and mysticism….maybe that?

  12. kraeman
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 6:37 AM | Permalink

    Dresden Codak is excellent.
    I’d post a few of my faves but there are too many.

    +1 for the Oglaf recommendation though.

  13. Harken
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 8:18 AM | Permalink

    Been reading web comics since my sophomore year of high school so what… 7, 8 years now? In fact I first became aware of Name of The Wind because of an add banner at Real Life Comics. Always happy to have more to read, my thanks for pointing out one I haven’t seen yet.

    On the off chance someone reading this hasn’t heard of Mac Hall, my all time favorite comic, I highly recommend giving it a read. Sadly it ended some years ago but it is still hilarious.
    http://www.machall.com/

    • Fattimus
      Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:07 AM | Permalink

      At least Matt and Ian still make a weekly ThreePanelSoul, except for this month which seems to be Guest Comic Month.

  14. Posted June 2, 2010 at 8:37 AM | Permalink

    Thank you. I was in need of a new distraction. And I don’t think I’ll ever get over Hob #20 utter adorableness: “I will do science to it” *dies of the cuteness*

    • Posted June 2, 2010 at 1:22 PM | Permalink

      Yeah. I think I’m going to get the t-shirt of that….

      • Posted June 7, 2010 at 2:27 PM | Permalink

        I’m seriously considering it, I admit. :)

  15. Mossy Toes
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 8:40 AM | Permalink

    There are some very, very good recommendations here. Penny Arcade is always good, of course, and I’m happy to see that one of my favorite authors has discovered Dresden Codak–but Sinfest (http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1), as previously mentioned, is incredible, as are others such as Questionable Content and Least I Could Do.

  16. Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:08 AM | Permalink

    Thanks for the recommendation, Pat. Dresden Codak is beautiful and the story is highly addictive.

  17. Shnargen
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 10:45 AM | Permalink

    My personal favorite is Johnny Wander: http://www.johnnywander.com/comics/1
    Its an autobio comic, with a few shorts thrown in, and it proves that anyone can find the fun in the small things in life.

  18. schmendrick
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 10:49 AM | Permalink

    This is utterly off topic (though I have a fondness for Hark! A Vagrant myself http://harkavagrant.com/), I have recently stumbled across a musician of Kvothe standard.
    James Blackshaw plays a 12-string acoustic guitar rather than a lute, but otherwise…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7C6YKyzjdo

  19. leitmotiv
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 11:47 AM | Permalink

    The Perry Bible Fellowship is really good too… different styles as well.

  20. leitmotiv
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 11:48 AM | Permalink
  21. davidstvz
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 12:01 PM | Permalink

    The art in the first comic is, of course, quite competent. However, the second one could have gotten by with no words it was so good looking. I’d read that for the art alone.

  22. Harvir
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 3:51 PM | Permalink

    I read Penny Arcade and xkcd and a few others, but my favourite is:

    blankitcomics.com

    It’s a very… surreal (?) webcomic. It’s around two guys that find themselves in what is at first an empty void with no clue about who they are or where they are. It just finished it’s first chapter of comics. Here’s one of the first ones:

    http://blankitcomics.com/bicomics/2008-06-16_blankit_0003.jpg

  23. Vincent
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 4:26 PM | Permalink

    I still love The Order of the Stick very very much. I’m surprised nobody else mentioned them before I did….

    They started out by making fun of all the D&D rules as all the characters are aware of the game rules. Now it’s an ongoing epic fantasy story. Still going strong since 2003.

  24. kharrisbob
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 4:28 PM | Permalink

    Penny Arcade, LFG and LeastICouldDO are all good ones. I also read MacHall and 3PS. One of my current favorites is

    http://www.yehudamoon.com/

    Cool little bike shop comic.

  25. stillbourne
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:22 PM | Permalink
  26. Brianna
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:25 PM | Permalink

    Girl Genius is my favorite. I really don’t know how to give an explanation that does it justice, but it’s set in a parallel world where Europe is run by mad scientists called Sparks. The main character is one, too. This is the website: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com
    I also like Happle Tea and Head Trip.

  27. stillbourne
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:29 PM | Permalink

    Also a lesser known web comic with a good story even if the artist is not the best would be Dominic Deegan Oracle for Hire http://www.dominic-deegan.com/ Most people I know won’t read it because the art is not very compelling, and is poor in the beginning. If you like a good dose of the absurd then I would also like to recommend Dr. McNinja. http://drmcninja.com/

  28. Kalef
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:47 PM | Permalink

    It’s an interesting occurence that Jeffbot here …
    http://www.jeffschuetze.com/
    …shows at least your Name on a book on his actual comic from jesterday… looks somehow like wise man’s fear.^^

    • Kalef
      Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:49 PM | Permalink

      hmmm… but somehow I think he did not read it jet

  29. Chaosinamber
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 5:54 PM | Permalink

    Must second that Girl Genius (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com) recommendation, discovered it a few days ago, have already read my way almost up to date from the very first page. Totally addictive, and a great story line ( if you like “Adventure, Romance, Mad Science! “). And was wondering if you knew the artist, as there is a character that looks very like you in it, Mr Payne the leader of a travelling Circus http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041110 .

    • Matt
      Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:35 PM | Permalink

      Speaking of Girl Genius, I’ve been meaning to ask…

      At one point, the protagonist of GG joins up with a traveling circus and theater troupe for mutual protection on a dangerous road. The troupe is led by a husband and wife team; by birth, he is a commoner and she is nobility. And as Chaosinamber mentioned, Master Payne does look kind of familiar.

      Pat, are these coincidences? Maybe both you and the creators of Girl Genius are referencing another work that I’m not familiar with?

      I bet you’re both tipping your hats to some stupendous classic that I never got around to reading.

  30. Arke
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 7:37 PM | Permalink

    I suppose I can throw my hat into the webcomic-off. I met one comic artist as No Brand Con, Michael Terracciano aka Mookie, who turned me onto his comic Dominic Deegan: Oracle for Hire

    http://www.dominic-deegan.com/

    It’s not much to look at for what I consider the “exposition arc”, but once the first actual crisis comes along, it just gets addicting. Fortunately, it’s pretty far along considering Mookie does near daily updates, so there’s plenty there to keep a new reader interested without the disappointment of only getting a few comics in before reaching the current one.

  31. Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:05 PM | Permalink

    http://www.sluggy.com
    Sluggy Freelance by far the best continuous story comic I’ve ever read. Been reading it since the late 90’s. College Roomies from Hell (http://crfh.net/) is one I haven’t read in awhile, but used to a lot. If you haven’t read Sluggy then you really are missing something special.

  32. Naznarreb
    Posted June 2, 2010 at 9:41 PM | Permalink

    As one who is into world building, you most rewarded to consider Robert Balder’s Erfworld

    http://www.erfworld.com/

  33. quixthejester
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 12:47 AM | Permalink

    I read lots of webcomics and plenty of the ones mentioned above. So here is my recommendation (signed up for an account just to share this) if you like Dresden Codak. Give “Subnormality” a try.

    http://www.viruscomix.com/subnormality.html

    Huge amounts of text that discuss social ideas, philosophy, discuss historical dates that are pertinent to today’s values, and anything else the author wants to talk about. It’s absolutely brilliant and fantastic!

    Here is one of my favorites: http://www.viruscomix.com/page500.html

  34. Korjik
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 1:46 AM | Permalink

    These are a few good ones-

    http://www.gunnerkrigg.com
    http://www.meekcomic.com
    http://www.platinumgrit.com/index.htm

    Not webcomics, but the Flight comic book series, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, is definately worth checking out. A lot of different artists coming together and putting short comics into one book.

  35. Mickey
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 6:06 AM | Permalink

    I don’t have anyting against web comics, quite the contrary, but you guys are still reading the old fashioned paper type ones as well right ? Or is that just for the old fossils like me….?

    There is a great deal to be said for hanging out in a comic book shop for a few hours meeting all the other nutballs who inhabit the dark side.

  36. Adaephon
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 8:53 AM | Permalink

    I have to admit that i had no idea that i could read quality comics online. I’ve only dabbled in reading comics. Most of the ones i’ve read my friend had but i have to say i really enjoy reading them. I’ve just made a list of all the suggestions thus far and can’t wait to check them all out. I feel like i’ve been sorely missing out on some great entertainment.

  37. erikharrison
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 12:39 PM | Permalink

    This comic is beautiful, compelling, original and very very smart. I hate it a little.

  38. aeryn
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 12:53 PM | Permalink

    Doesn’t help that they only update once every third blue moon.

  39. Chrysophrase
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 6:17 PM | Permalink

    My turn :)

    My favorite comic that a friend of mine did.

    http://www.akimbocomics.com/?cat=9

    It’s a bit adult (not like Olgaf though)

  40. Ryan Cain
    Posted June 3, 2010 at 9:59 PM | Permalink

    seeing as this is a blog about webcomics, one of my favorites is Goblins, and im rereading it again, and i mustve missed this, because its awesome, anyway, http://goblins.keenspot.com/d/20080516.html hint, it referances NoTW and therefor rocks, quit being lazy and goooo

  41. UnderTheDark
    Posted June 4, 2010 at 12:48 AM | Permalink

    Wow. I see a lot of comics that are on my checklist (I’ve also got ~20), but there are a few glaring omissions… I guess that my sense of humor is a little more sardonic than most. All of the ones I really enjoy are often overflowing with sarcasm and geekitude.

    My faves that haven’t been mentioned?

    HijiNKS ENSUE! http://hijinksensue.com/
    Every time I read one of these, I hear Phil Sebben-Sebben going “HaHAAA, INAPPROPRIATE!” There’s also an archive of hilarious podcasts.

    Overcompensating! http://overcompensating.com/
    So many delicious flavors of Wrong :>

    Basic Instructions! http://basicinstructions.net/
    Really, I’ve started living my life by these (when applicable).

    Girls With Slingshots! http://www.daniellecorsetto.com/gws.html
    Jamie’s boobs aren’t legendary… she considers them each a separate legend ;)

    And I must say, I’m slightly shocked and appalled that no one reads Dinosaur Comics. http://www.qwantz.com/index.php

    Enjoy!

  42. Terry
    Posted June 4, 2010 at 8:26 AM | Permalink

    Skadi on Dumm Comics is pretty fantastic. Also she’s a barbarian so the whole fantasy thing is there too.

    Btw, i have no idea how to tag this to make it an active link. Sorry.
    http://dummcomics.com/index?sid=710

    • Terry
      Posted June 4, 2010 at 8:28 AM | Permalink

      Ah, it seems to make the link work on its own. That’s convenient.

  43. Bobert
    Posted June 4, 2010 at 11:59 PM | Permalink

    Wow! Ok, I’ve never read online comics before, but based on your suggestion I checked out Dresden Codak. It was good. I really enjoyed it. The art style and humor were right up my ally, and reminded me a little of Sqee and JTHM. So, I’m sitting here, having a beer , finishing the comic, and thinking to myself, “If one author I really enjoy (you) can lead me to another that was pretty good, maybe I should follow this path and see how far it takes me?” Now I’m reading through some of the suggested comics on the list and I come across THE MEEK by Der-shing Helmer, aka Alexds1. Wow! Its not complete yet but so far it is amazing. I particularly enjoyed the second chapter! If you’re in need of a break or just want to read something short and awesome I totally recommend checking it out.

    http://www.meekcomic.com/

    P.S. – It’s not about the boobs. There are none in the second chapter, my favorite. I even appreciated the fact that the artist drew the boobs in a more natural way (not always perky and up like in most comics).

    Note: I’m sorry for sentence structure and spelling. Please don’t judge me by my poor grammatical skills.

    P.P.S. – The boobs don’t hurt.

    • Matt
      Posted June 8, 2010 at 9:23 PM | Permalink

      Thanks. I like this one.

  44. D. M. Domini
    Posted June 6, 2010 at 12:49 AM | Permalink

    Here’s three I follow that aren’t mentioned yet…

    http://www.lutherlevy.com/ – Family Man, by Dylan Meconis. Because you all love Bavarian Werewolves, right?

    http://templaraz.com/ – Templar, AZ by Spike. Because you also love…you know, I don’t know how to categorize this. Multi-ethnic, pan-American, very, very human and insightful…something. Full of *character*, I suppose you could say.

    http://www.dicebox.net – Dicebox, by Jenn Manley Lee. Sci-fi about everyday folks a few centuries in the future. Lovely colors and art.

  45. KJP
    Posted June 7, 2010 at 1:33 AM | Permalink

    I love web comics and Dresden Codak is excellent (I saw your ads on Real Life Comics and Goblins)

    Thank you for showing me Oglaf! There are so many other good comics here… Penny Arcade, Hanna is Not a Boy’s Name, ManHall, Sinfest, PBF, Goblins, The Meek. Allow me to mention

    A new one: Supernormal Step is just over a year old and it’s quickly becoming a favorite of mine. It has excellent art that’s still improving, a lively story, and great characters.

    An old one: Errant Story has an 8-year history, great art, lots of characters, and lots of unexpected plot twists.

  46. hbdraug
    Posted June 7, 2010 at 2:41 AM | Permalink

    What? No Wise Man’s Fear shirts?

    I’d probably buy quite a few in a men’s medium– so that I can wear them to the gym and feel fueled by some pseudo-transference of your overabundant masculinity that should come packaged with every order.

  47. gaross
    Posted June 9, 2010 at 10:43 AM | Permalink

    This shouldn’t even be a close call.

    It’s gotta be a paraphrase from perhaps the best blog posting in the history (albiet short history) of blog postings . . .

    (From your October 2009 post titled “Everybody Hates Their Job Sometimes)

    “It doesn’t matter what you do for a living. Ron Jeremy probably calls in sick some days because he just can’t stand the thought of getting another blowjob. I don’t doubt that Mike and Jerry over at Penny Arcade occasionally wake up in the morning and think, “Fuck, I’ve got to play more fucking video games today.”

    That’s just the way of the world. Everyone hates their own job sometimes. It’s an inalienable right, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of property.

    People want to believe that the act of creation is a magical thing. When I write, I am like some beardy old-world god, hewing the book from some raw piece of literary firmament. When I write, the muse is like a lithe, naked woman, sitting on my lap with her tongue in my ear.

    And you want to know the truth? Sometimes it’s exactly like that. Sometimes when I write, I’m so full of adrenaline that I could lift up a truck. I can feel my my tripartite soul burning in my chest like molten gold.

    But sometimes it sucks. Just like any job. The truth is, sometimes I’m so sick of sitting in front of this computer I could shit bile.

    There. That’s all. I’m not quitting. I’m not even taking the night off. I just needed to vent.”

    This is chock full of quoty goodness . . .

    “I wonder if Ron Jeremy called in sick some days because he couldn’t stand the thought of getting another blowjob”

    “Fuck, I’ve got to play more fucking video games today”

    “Sometimes I’m soo sick of sitting in front of a computer that I could shit bile”

    “Sometimes when I write, I can feel my my tripartite soul burning in my chest like molten gold . . . but other times I could shit bile”

    Soo many options . . .
    Any one of these

  48. Truth
    Posted June 9, 2010 at 4:04 PM | Permalink

    Unfortunately I forgot to wake up to see you at the Ramada in Stevens Point. Looks like I’ve got to wait a while before you come around again :p

    And, even more unfortunately, your talent has failed to leak through UWSP into myself and my own story, however, I lack the confidence necessary to complete my work anyway.

    Got my girlfriend to read your book and she loved it.

    Yet another gets into line awaiting the announcement of book two, eh? Good luck!

  49. theLuth
    Posted August 12, 2010 at 3:32 PM | Permalink

    Pat thanks for the tip about Dresden Codak…it opened up the whole world of webcomics to me for the first time…so thanks!!

    I got a tip from the DC site to check out Riceboy, and it’s an AMAZING world…some dude from NC just created an entire universe of the coolest and most bizarre creatures/setting/history — you might like it!

    Thanks Again Pat!

    –Luther Wilson

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