Comic Pimping: Gunnerkrigg Court
Nov. 13th, 2006 01:16 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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lkh_lashoutsThis time, it's a webcomic!
Gunnerkrigg Court, by Tom Siddell, is a comic that follows the adventures of Antimony Carver, a very strange young girl at a very strange boarding school. In the first chapter, she finds that she's acquired a second shadow. In the second chapter, she does a school report on the Minotaur - and included in that chapter is one of the funniest retellings of an ancient myth that I've ever read.
The art starts out as unique, but maybe a little unpolished. As the chapters progress you can definitely see the difference in the artist's style, especially when it comes to drawing the characters. The writing is solid and imaginative. The main conflict of the story has to do with the mystery of what Antimony's parents were involved in, where Antimony's father is now, and what exactly is going on at Gunnerkrigg Court.
Antimony, like Laurita, lost her mother at a young age. I may just be biased, but I prefer Tom Siddell's portrayal of Antimony's pain at losing her mother to Laurell's portayal of Anita's. The death of Surma Carver and Antimony's reaction to it is actually part of the unfolding story, rather than a wanky insert whenever the author wants the reader to feel sorry for the character, or a convenient plot device. It seems more realistic because you see Antimony's pain (especially in a Handful of Dirt), as opposed to being told "My mom died when I was little and I AM STILL SO SAD." Thankfully, Antimony's not the type to wank, anyway.
So in conclusion, go read Gunnerkrigg Court. And if you really like it, and you've got about $30 to spare, buy the book. I don't know him, but I'm sure he'd appreciate it!
Gunnerkrigg Court, by Tom Siddell, is a comic that follows the adventures of Antimony Carver, a very strange young girl at a very strange boarding school. In the first chapter, she finds that she's acquired a second shadow. In the second chapter, she does a school report on the Minotaur - and included in that chapter is one of the funniest retellings of an ancient myth that I've ever read.
The art starts out as unique, but maybe a little unpolished. As the chapters progress you can definitely see the difference in the artist's style, especially when it comes to drawing the characters. The writing is solid and imaginative. The main conflict of the story has to do with the mystery of what Antimony's parents were involved in, where Antimony's father is now, and what exactly is going on at Gunnerkrigg Court.
Antimony, like Laurita, lost her mother at a young age. I may just be biased, but I prefer Tom Siddell's portrayal of Antimony's pain at losing her mother to Laurell's portayal of Anita's. The death of Surma Carver and Antimony's reaction to it is actually part of the unfolding story, rather than a wanky insert whenever the author wants the reader to feel sorry for the character, or a convenient plot device. It seems more realistic because you see Antimony's pain (especially in a Handful of Dirt), as opposed to being told "My mom died when I was little and I AM STILL SO SAD." Thankfully, Antimony's not the type to wank, anyway.
So in conclusion, go read Gunnerkrigg Court. And if you really like it, and you've got about $30 to spare, buy the book. I don't know him, but I'm sure he'd appreciate it!
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Date: 2006-11-16 02:46 pm (UTC)