heathen-1 Reviews 

The Webcomics Weekly #72: After the Big Game Edition (2/4/20)

By | February 4th, 2020
Posted in Reviews | % Comments

The Webcomics Weekly is back in your life. This week, continuing coverage of “Agents of the Realm” and a new entry in “Ryan Made Mistakes.” The big new entry for this week is a new-old comic “Heathen” by Natasha Alterici and Rachel Deering, originally published by Vault comics that lesbian viking comic is being re-syndicated on Tapas as part of a deal between the publisher and platform.

Agents of the Realm
Pages 199-210(Ch.4.5-5)
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays
By Mildred Louis
Reviewed by Michael Mazzacane

We finish off chapter 4.5 and begin chapter 5 in a batch of pages that mirror each other in a very pleasant manner. In the Other Realm Folami discovers her protégé, Lindi, is dabbling in dark forces and setting up one of them Anime Betrayals. In our Realm it’s Halloween season and the gang decides to go costume shopping for the big party. These two conversations are very different in terms of tone and presentations.

In the previous batch of pages it was all about showing the relationship between Folami and Camiel, which entailed picturing them together in mostly medium shots. It’s basic storytelling, this couple is symbolically becoming one hence both of them being pictured together. Folami’s conversation with their former pupil is the opposite, it is a parting of the ways. Lindi believes they are now controlling the Alchemist not the other way around. Louis visually establishes that separation by rarely showing them together, on page 199 the separation is emphasized by placing a gutter between them as Lindi seeks a handshake. The closest the former teacher and student get is when Folami pulls a knife to Lindi’s throat. Their paneling throughout the conversation is claustrophobic in how tightly Louis pulls in on their respective faces.

Jordan’s pitch to Norah about the costume party could not be more different. They are similarly separated visually, either through the staging of Norah standing in the door way or the shot reverse shot sequence but it isn’t tense or dramatic. It is instead comedic as Jordan’s exuberance about Halloween does not mesh with Norah’s disinterest and crankiness from being woken up. Louis works in some solid cartooning for Norah’s exasperation as Jordan explains how everyone else already said “yes.” Besides Jordan is right if they’re going to work together as a team they should get to know one another. Their scene was a nice example of basic comedy executed very well.

The store they costume shop at isn’t a direct Spirit Halloween parody, but Deja Boo is a good punny Halloween pop up store name.

Heathen
‘A Story’ – ‘Warriors Go Alone’
Updates: Tuesdays
By Natasha Alterici
Lettered by Rachel Deering
Reformatted by Alex Culang
Reviewed by Elias Rosner

We’ve all heard of webcomics becoming print comics. It’s a common trend in the industry, with books such as “The After Realm” by Michael Avon Oeming being a more apt comparison than, say, a print collection of a webcomic. The reverse, however, is rare.“Skullkickers” did this but I’d be hard pressed to find any others. But that’s exactly what Vault Comics is doing here with “Heathen.” Announced back in November, this decision seemed to be an odd one. On the one hand, traditional logic says that giving away a product for free makes people less likely to pay for it.

On the other hand, free samples are why I buy way too much shit at Costco.

I have previously read the two volumes of “Heathen” in print and, having compared the two, I find myself more drawn to this version. Yes, the free-ness is nice but my library has copies of the volumes both digitally and physically. Yes, the roughness of Alterici’s art is magnified thanks to the closeness of us to the panels. And yes, it seems that, at some point in the future, updates will be hidden behind a ticket wall like “The Witch’s Throne.” But! After having read the first four updates, it’s clear that this adaptation was a sound one.

For one thing, this choice is catering to a market that is HUGE and virtually untapped by the Big 2 and most, if not all, print comic publishers: mobile. Modern readers of comics, i.e. the kids. . .also me, the digital comics consumer, are on the go. It’s hard enough to get into comic stores and then drop $4 on a book, let alone find a book to scratch that viking itch left by “Vinland Saga” or the Magnus Chase series. Webcomics, specifically app-based Webtoon-style webcomics — single panels, vertical, large gutters, backgrounds that connect via gradients or morph with the scroll — these are becoming a new parlance of comics and brings the story to the readers, rather than asking the readers to come to the story. It’s smart and, if played right, can generate an audience that would not have been there otherwise.

Continued below

Furthermore, Alex Culang has done a fucking phenominal job of migrating Alterici’s original pages to fit a webtoons-like scroll rather than just posting pages. I love a good page by page webcomic but seeing it translated in this way enhances the inherent drama and tension of the original work, playing to the strengths of digital — and mobile — comics.

The story engulfs you in this way, dragging us into the rough, dirty, violent, but tender world of these vikings and their goddesses and gods. You can feel the bitter cold, hear armor clinking and snow crunching. You can see the heartache and, as the updates go on, you know you’re in for a hell of a tale. Give it a read, even if you’ve read it before. You just might find it a whole new experience.

Ryan Made Mistakes
Pages Chapter 2, 1-10
Updates: Every Monday
By Ryan Estrada
Reviewed by Gustavo S. Lodi

What is the best achievement of “Ryan Made Mistakes” is how the series is able to combined a quantum of biographical accuracy, with plenty of humor and, yes, endearing moments. Chapter 2 starts with the expansion of Ryan’s family with two siblings, and how he begins his journey as a little big brother.

This reviewer has mentioned in the past how the art style of “Ryan Made Mistakes” reaches a comfortable place in terms of its cartoony aesthetics, and yet unique an recognisable characters. It is the same balance seen on animated shows like The Simpsons, or Family Guy, where all characters look different enough, but seem cut from a similar mold, making their world consistent.

While surely visually appealing, it is on the honest plotting and sharp dialogue that “Ryan Made Mistakes” excels. Ryan is a lovable goof, who constantly means well and not always succeeds. This latest chapter with his younger brother and sister reinforces that notion, with the somewhat protective and proud brother not always reaches the mark on being a safe arbor.

All in all, “Ryan Made Mistakes” evokes a sense of familiarity and endearment without losing its comedic punch, which is great. Not often does series of this nature reach this balance, but it surely elevates the final product in this one.


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