Skullkickers

Image courtesy of
www.skullkickers.keenspot.com

Skullkickers
Jim Zub

The Summary
Although their names aren't actually known - they're occasionally referred to as "Baldy" and the "Dwarf" - these two men have begun making names for themselves as mercenaries.

Killing monsters, killing the undead, and, well, simply killing whatever strange or unusual things they come across as they unburden defenseless townsfolk of their gold, these two barrel their way through any situation and, ultimately, come out on the other side.

In short, it's a tale about how much trouble a man and a dwarf can get into without actually dying.

The Good
Honestly, "hero" is a term I would only loosely apply to the two protagonists of Jim Zub's Skullkickers.  They're rowdy, rambunctious, uncivilized, and violent - and, more often than not, cause more casualties than they prevent - but, regardless, the two mercenaries are sometimes accidental heroes, frequently accidental murderers, and preferably monster hunters.

To say the least, the semi-anonymous protagonists of Skullkickers are unusual characters.  Unusual in a good way, I might point out.

I mean, for all their grievous faults, they're fairly entertaining individuals.  Built up at the quintessential "dynamic duo" in heroic myth, these two actually defy all convention and make a mockery of it.  Truth be told, it's both fascinating and hilarious how they manage to embrace literary stereotypes while simultaneously breaking them.

Besides his characters, Jim Zub also helps create an intricate world full of strange and grotesque creatures and unusual characters with interesting stories that will keep you hooked from page one.  More to the point, however, Zub makes more than a few jabs at classic works of fantasy and he manages to turn the entire genre on its head while keeping true to its core ideals.

The Bad
Between the "fantasy factoids" and the evolving narration styles and the wild adventures of "Baldy" and his dwarf companion, Zub manages to poke a little fun at just about everything.  All in good fun, of course, but, if you're searching for a serious work of fiction or fantasy, I likely wouldn't recommend Skullkickers as a viable option.

The Ugly
It's violent.  Very, very violent.

Skullkickers is filled with vampires, pirates, necromancers, fairies, sea monsters, and other murderous creatures - in fact, you name it, and the boys in Zub's comic have probably killed it and managed to make it funny in the process.

But the merits of this comic don't outweigh the fact that it's a bit on the mature side and certainly not suitable for an audience of all ages.

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For more information on Skullkickers, check out www.skullkickers.com or click here to review some of Jim Zub's free online issues.

A Redtail's Dream

Image courtesy of
www.minnasundburg.fi

A Redtail's Dream
Minna Sundberg

The Summary
Thanks to the mistake of one very playful (and frighteningly mischievous) fox spirit called Puppy Fox, Hannu and his dog, Ville, are forced to travel through the different realms of the spirit world in search of the lost souls of his missing neighbors.

Updating every day, except Sunday, A Redtail's Dream tells the story of one very reclusive young man and his adorable shape-shifting dog as they attempt to recover their friends and neighbors before the Bird's Path takes them away to the land of the dead.

The Good
Full of humor, major misadventures, fantastic creations, and action, A Redtail's Dream is simultaneously complex for the artful craftsmanship of the story and pleasant for its beautiful use of color, line, and imagination.

Besides weaving an excellent tale full of myth and lore, Minna Sundberg depicts a fantastic world full of beautiful landscapes, terrible and fantastic creatures, and intriguing characters who always appear to take on a life of their own.

More to the point, I absolutely love how Sundberg themes each chapter by using a particular animal as something of a "guide."  Ville, Hannu's dog who has the surprising ability to speak and the inadvertent skill to change his shape, automatically mirrors the animal "guide" for which they are searching.

Whether it be a bear, or a snake, or a squirrel, or even a seal, Ville becomes the animal by with a rather adorable twist:  he still has some of the features of a dog.

Personally, I love it.

The Bad
Honestly, I have no real complaints about A Redtail's Dream.  Besides some unusual character development in one or two areas, some strange character eccentricities that don't always make sense, there are very few problems with Sundberg's work.

Overall, the web comic is fun, well-written, and well-drawn - and definitely worth taking the time to read.

The Ugly
In A Redtail's Dream, you will find some violence and some foul language, but very little of either.  Certain creations in the dreamscapes of Puppy Fox, however, are rather disturbing.  I wouldn't suggest such elements of horror act as a deterrent for readers, but I would suggest some supervision for an especially young audience.

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For more information on A Redtail's Dream and some of Minna Sundberg's other projects, check out her website at www.minnasundberg.fi or start here with the story.

Sarah and the Seed

Image courtesy of
www.ryan-a.com

Sarah and the Seed
Ryan Andrews

The Summary
For Aaron and his wife, Sarah, their one regret in life has been their empty house.  For years, they have struggled with their inability to have children; however, one day, Sarah learns she is pregnant.  But, rather than a baby, Sarah gives birth to a seed - and, in this completed five-part webcomic, Aaron's and Sarah's lives will never be the same.

One little seed makes all the difference.

The Good
Sarah and the Seed is an intriguing blend of emotion and imagination.  It's beautifully written - and beautifully drawn -  from Aaron's point of view, allowing him to share his joy when he learns of their long-awaited child and his doubts about Sarah's sanity and his fears of what the seed may one day become.

In fact, his voice becomes a critical part of the narrative, because he weaves an incredible tale that depicts his insecurities, his hopes, his fears, and his joy and sorrow.  He takes on alife of his own - real, flawed, honest - and his story, Sarah's story, becomes one we want to hear.

More than simply creating beautifully realistic characters in an strange and, sometimes, absurd situation, Ryan Andrews' story will manage to keep you hooked as well.  At times dark and horrible, but more often strange and heartwarming, Sarah and the Seed provides a well-rounded, well-written story that's simple, compelling, and beautiful.

The Bad
Sarah and the Seed uses maturer themes that may not be suitable for a very young audience; however, it's a fairly mild story that can appeal to a range of ages and interests.

The Ugly
Sometimes, doubt and fear can be a very ugly things - and they can often force a typically nice individual to make rash, foolish decisions, even against the people they love most.

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For more information on Sarah and the Seed and some of Ryan Andrews' other artistic projects, check out www.ryan-a.com or, more specifically, http://www.ryan-a.com/comics/sarahandtheseed01.htm.

Flying Sparks

Image courtesy of
flyingsparkscomic.com

Flying Sparks
Jon Del Arroz

The Summary

Flying Sparks recounts the lives of Johnny and Chloe, respectively a blackmarket fence (and, sometimes, dealer) and a college student superhero (who goes by the name "Meta-Girl"), and tells their story as they struggle with their own private worries and fears and, more importantly, try hide their secret lives from one another.

The comic typically updates on a weekly basis (every Wednesday), but, occasionally, the creators provide other story updates or offer special character chapters on other days of the week.

The Good

Flying Sparks is an interesting story full of action and suspense and superheroes.  Sometimes romantic, but more often action-packed, it's both entertaining and exciting to read.  It has many of the qualities which make Spider-man endearing, like regular human problems, emotional turmoil, and mysterious villains, but it retains a distinctly unique edge to it.

Ultimately, you'll be intrigued by the secrets of the mysterious Meta-Man (the local superhero and Chloe's mentor), Johnny's mob dealings and "family connections," and Chloe's struggle to balance her life as a college student and her obligations as the city's heroine.

And that's only the beginning.

The Bad

While Flying Sparks often feels like a real superhero comic, there are some earlier chapters - or issues - that don't exactly have the same quality.  Personally, the art doesn't always appeal to me on an aesthetic level.  It appears rougher, less refined than later chapters with garbled character details that I simply can't appreciate.

Moreover, the story doesn't always keep me hooked from page to page.  Admittedly, there are certain chapters that keep me glued to the pages, but there are others that fall flat.  Over all, Flying Sparks has a decent plot, but, sometimes, certain aspects of Johnny and Chloe's story - and their relationship - borders on being a cliché.

The Ugly

Well, to be honest, as a comic that tends to lean toward action and adventure and superheroic deeds, Flying Sparks does have some violence, a little strong language, and mature themes and ideas.  It's fun to read and not bad for a younger audience, but I might recommend some parental supervision for especially young children.

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For more information about the comic, check out flyingsparkscomic.com.

Nimona

Image courtesy of
www.gingerhaze.com/nimona

Nimona
Noelle Stevenson

The Summary

Nimona is a webcomic that publishes twice weekly (Tuesday and Thursday) and tells the story of Ballister Blackheart - what one might consider a mad scientist and evil genius - who spends his days battling against the Institution (i.e. the government) and dueling with his nemesis.

Nimona also tells the story of, you guessed it, Nimona, a magical shapeshifting teenager with some vague moral boundaries and an ambition to be an assitant to the kingdom's most infamous villain, Ballister Blackheart.  Together, this dynamic duo takes on the seemingly corrupted Institution and robs the occasional bank.

The Good

Nimona is a clever, well-written comic that simultaneously creates a new and exciting environment, in which complex characters and promising villainous plots develop, and fabricates an intriguing story about a pair of social outcasts - well, villains - bent on discrediting the local government.  It's bound to catch and hold your attention.

Although full of villainous endeavors, political intrigue, science, and genetically engineered dragons, the story of Ballister and Nimona is also heartwarming and deep.  Their relationship is priceless, because it appears to rest on a mutual understanding of what it means to be cast aside and feared by the rest of society - and an unbreakable love for hatching plots.  They are, more importantly, a perfect duo that manages to wreak the utmost havoc.

Noelle Stevenson's comic, moreover, is incredibly detailed with recurring characters, fun background details, and occasional references to Star Wars and the Lord of the Rings, among others.  It's a fun comic developed around a beautifully complex world of science and medieval chivalry and magic.

In short, Nimona is a fantastic webcomic.

The Bad

You will find some language and some violence.  While Ballister Blackheart isn't exactly what one would qualify as "wholly and soullessly evil," he is still a villain - and Nimona is a shapeshifter without too many moral qualms.

When you get right down to it, they're a dynamic duo working on some pretty ambiguous ethical grounds.

The Ugly

As you read, you will have glimpses into Nimona's past, little insights that will shed light on her memories and, more importantly, her fears.  Her past - and, yes, even Ballister Blackheart's past - is a heartbreaking thing to witness as it unfolds.  Nimona, for all her depth and delightful qualities as a character, is a bit of an unfinished tragedy.

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For more on Nimona, check out www.gingerhaze.com/nimona.

Something new

As I might have mentioned before, I've decided to try something new with Reader's Reach.

This month, instead of reviewing books in the traditional medium (i.e. paper), I will be reading and reviewing graphic novels - from the Internet.  Web comics will be my focus for five full weeks, allowing for the discussion of something new and, I hope, just as exciting for avid fans of all forms of literature.

Here's what I anticipate reading this month:

• Flying Sparks
• Nimona
• Skullkickers
• A Redtail's Dream
• Sarah and the Seed

Check it out, see what you think, and chime in with your own views for or against these reviews I have planned.  And, considering most of these web comics are still ongoing, let their readers know what you think and consider making them a daily part of your reading prerogative.

- The Scrivener