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Please take some time to check out the random webcomic of the current page load! PLEASE BE AWARE OF HEAVY CONSTRUCTION!
There are very few comics out there where the single biggest complaint I can come up with is that there is just not nearly enough of the comic.
On Writing:
Drawing it's inspiration from classic chinese history, the story (as much of it as has been released, anyway) is both well-played and very compelling. The presentation and the pacing are both spot-on, and the intricate weaving of the character's personal history has the timing and precision of a well-written television show or movie. The cast has, in a short amount of time, been very well characterized both through words and through actions, and while they're all a little on the shallow side, given this type of story and the era it's set in, they're all very believable and honest portrayals.
On Art:
Here's where the real wow factor is. The artwork for this is fantastic. Matching a historical Chinese story with a historical Chinese art style is an obvious decision, but unlike many who attempt this, Kaod has nailed this in form and presentation... from the first comic through current, there isn't any really obvious weak spot or falter.
I have a lot of respect for those who can do with actual pencil and pen, or in this case a single chinese brush. Koad does things with this comic that the best Photoshop user out there weilding the highest level of tablet technology could never hope to reproduce. I look at the pictures on screen and fear that if I touch my monitor, I might accidentally smudge the still-wet ink.
On Website:
Ok... maybe there is something to be said that's sort of negative here. The website is very basic, but has all the features one would expect from a webcomic and in all the right places. About page is well-written, with actual "about" information that a lot of About pages lack. The archive is a nicely laid out calendar - it doesn't really matter, since Koad only updates once a week, and has never missed an update, but the links all work.
Also, with something as amazingly styled as the comic itself, the site could use being a little... prettier. Right now, the site does not detract or distract from the comic (which is good), but it doesn't really add to it either. You know, a more historical-themed background, maybe side bars done up in his art style... something.
I guess my biggest beef would be that Tales from the Middle Kingdom lives on Comicgenesis... and honestly, it could (and should) do much better. I know the community there is strong, but a comic this good deserves it's own .com address and it's own setup.
Overall:
There is nothing wrong with this comic. In addition, there are an amazingly large number of things right with this comic. In fact, the only things "wrong" with it are simply things that could be more right, but aren't. And I understand that quality of this sort can't be rushed... it's just that only getting one new comic a week sort of sucks. The fact that it's updated regularly and hasn't missed a beat in 8+ months (and that's no filler material, no guest comics, nothing but pure beauty) is a strong plus. While this art style may not be for everyone, if you have any interest in history or in asian cultures, you'll know from the word go you're looking at quality.
Tales from the Middle Kingdom - http://comic.artfulnerd.com
Reviews
User: kallistiThere are very few comics out there where the single biggest complaint I can come up with is that there is just not nearly enough of the comic.
On Writing:
Drawing it's inspiration from classic chinese history, the story (as much of it as has been released, anyway) is both well-played and very compelling. The presentation and the pacing are both spot-on, and the intricate weaving of the character's personal history has the timing and precision of a well-written television show or movie. The cast has, in a short amount of time, been very well characterized both through words and through actions, and while they're all a little on the shallow side, given this type of story and the era it's set in, they're all very believable and honest portrayals.
On Art:
Here's where the real wow factor is. The artwork for this is fantastic. Matching a historical Chinese story with a historical Chinese art style is an obvious decision, but unlike many who attempt this, Kaod has nailed this in form and presentation... from the first comic through current, there isn't any really obvious weak spot or falter.
I have a lot of respect for those who can do with actual pencil and pen, or in this case a single chinese brush. Koad does things with this comic that the best Photoshop user out there weilding the highest level of tablet technology could never hope to reproduce. I look at the pictures on screen and fear that if I touch my monitor, I might accidentally smudge the still-wet ink.
On Website:
Ok... maybe there is something to be said that's sort of negative here. The website is very basic, but has all the features one would expect from a webcomic and in all the right places. About page is well-written, with actual "about" information that a lot of About pages lack. The archive is a nicely laid out calendar - it doesn't really matter, since Koad only updates once a week, and has never missed an update, but the links all work.
Also, with something as amazingly styled as the comic itself, the site could use being a little... prettier. Right now, the site does not detract or distract from the comic (which is good), but it doesn't really add to it either. You know, a more historical-themed background, maybe side bars done up in his art style... something.
I guess my biggest beef would be that Tales from the Middle Kingdom lives on Comicgenesis... and honestly, it could (and should) do much better. I know the community there is strong, but a comic this good deserves it's own .com address and it's own setup.
Overall:
There is nothing wrong with this comic. In addition, there are an amazingly large number of things right with this comic. In fact, the only things "wrong" with it are simply things that could be more right, but aren't. And I understand that quality of this sort can't be rushed... it's just that only getting one new comic a week sort of sucks. The fact that it's updated regularly and hasn't missed a beat in 8+ months (and that's no filler material, no guest comics, nothing but pure beauty) is a strong plus. While this art style may not be for everyone, if you have any interest in history or in asian cultures, you'll know from the word go you're looking at quality.