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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!
On Writing: This comic is remarkably simple; it reminds me incessantly of news paper "funnies". The story bounces a long an only slightly chronological story line, focussing more of each individual strip than the over all plot.
On Art: The art is a step down from "Kathy", at best. Though perhaps on the road to improvement, the characters are only slightly glorified stick figures.
On Website: Cute, amusing, and efficient.
Overall:
Nothing remarkable, but potentially on the road to improvement.
User: kallisti
This is one of those comics that I read and go "why isn't this huge?" It's got a great mix of a lot of things right with webcomics in general, and I figure all it needs is a little more exposure to push it over the edge and into critical acclaim. Anyway, here's my nudge:
On Writing: The characters are a little stereotypical, but the funny thing about stereotypes is that they're more often true than not. Janet's a refreshingly honest main character - smart enough that she wanted to (and ought to have been) a science major, yet still practical enough to willingly take the free ride in a degree she doesn't fully comprehend. The rest of the cast hasn't filled out yet... Tabitha's developing nicely, but she still lacks a believable dimension. Kai is, however, just fine... but then again, that's exactly how an artsy guy like him would be - cool.
On Art: The art really sells this comic. Granted, I wouldn't expect less from a comic *about* art being written/drawn by an art student. The character designs aren't ultra-realistic, but they fit the tone and style of the comic well. The colors are especially potent - they range from a water-colory ness to almost airbrushed, and while I don't know his methods, I know the effect they have - lively, wonderful color leaps from every page, both in the comic itself and in the surrounding website.
On Website: Still very basic, but certainly not bad. Has all the usual frills in the right place - about page and cast page are informative without being overlong. The site has a good strong navigation system, both with a centrally located drop-down and well-placed standard buttons. There's also a number of artisticaly-themed mouse-over treats, especially in the main menu up top, and the site design reflects the artistic nature (paint dribbles at the bottom, etc).
Overall: I was attracted to this comic instantly when Frumph featured it on his main page... at first look, I thought Janet was going to be like one of my favorite cartoon characters ever, Daria... green jacket, glasses, geekish aspirations, etc... but after reading it a bit, I think I really like the actual Janet a lot better. She's a really real character, something you don't find often in any comic medium, webcomics or other. I totally get her motivation, "settling" on a free ride through art school... but the irony that fuels this comic is that she's so out of touch with her inner artist that what should have been a cake-walk for most people presents a genuine challenge to her.
This cross-conflict of interests and genres is the fuel for countless potential plots and ideas, and I can see this comic going on as long as it's creator wants. Maybe it's because one of my own characters is a former fine art major who's sold his soul to "the company" in order to pay his bills, or the fact that I myself am not all that terribly artistic and lack a great deal of self-confidence when it comes to my own artistic abilities... but this comic and the plight of Janet really speak to me.
You should let it speak to you too.
The Artiste Manquee - http://www.the-artiste.net
DescriptionAt the dawn of her college years, Janet can't imagine doing anything with the rest of her but living and breathing science... pure, concrete, rational science. She is, after all, a living nerd stereotype. But she has no way of hypothesizing a clerical error that will turn all her career plans completely upside down and, worse yet, dump her smack in the middle of a department where folks don't take too kindly to those down-to-earth, reality-loving types. Indeed, these are dark days for dorks. Can she just grin and bear it? Or will all hilarious hell break loose? Tagsart school artist college nerd science Related Webcomics |
Reviews
User: spellbound55On Writing: This comic is remarkably simple; it reminds me incessantly of news paper "funnies". The story bounces a long an only slightly chronological story line, focussing more of each individual strip than the over all plot.
On Art: The art is a step down from "Kathy", at best. Though perhaps on the road to improvement, the characters are only slightly glorified stick figures.
On Website: Cute, amusing, and efficient.
Overall:
Nothing remarkable, but potentially on the road to improvement.
User: kallisti
This is one of those comics that I read and go "why isn't this huge?" It's got a great mix of a lot of things right with webcomics in general, and I figure all it needs is a little more exposure to push it over the edge and into critical acclaim. Anyway, here's my nudge:
On Writing: The characters are a little stereotypical, but the funny thing about stereotypes is that they're more often true than not. Janet's a refreshingly honest main character - smart enough that she wanted to (and ought to have been) a science major, yet still practical enough to willingly take the free ride in a degree she doesn't fully comprehend. The rest of the cast hasn't filled out yet... Tabitha's developing nicely, but she still lacks a believable dimension. Kai is, however, just fine... but then again, that's exactly how an artsy guy like him would be - cool.
On Art: The art really sells this comic. Granted, I wouldn't expect less from a comic *about* art being written/drawn by an art student. The character designs aren't ultra-realistic, but they fit the tone and style of the comic well. The colors are especially potent - they range from a water-colory ness to almost airbrushed, and while I don't know his methods, I know the effect they have - lively, wonderful color leaps from every page, both in the comic itself and in the surrounding website.
On Website: Still very basic, but certainly not bad. Has all the usual frills in the right place - about page and cast page are informative without being overlong. The site has a good strong navigation system, both with a centrally located drop-down and well-placed standard buttons. There's also a number of artisticaly-themed mouse-over treats, especially in the main menu up top, and the site design reflects the artistic nature (paint dribbles at the bottom, etc).
Overall: I was attracted to this comic instantly when Frumph featured it on his main page... at first look, I thought Janet was going to be like one of my favorite cartoon characters ever, Daria... green jacket, glasses, geekish aspirations, etc... but after reading it a bit, I think I really like the actual Janet a lot better. She's a really real character, something you don't find often in any comic medium, webcomics or other. I totally get her motivation, "settling" on a free ride through art school... but the irony that fuels this comic is that she's so out of touch with her inner artist that what should have been a cake-walk for most people presents a genuine challenge to her.
This cross-conflict of interests and genres is the fuel for countless potential plots and ideas, and I can see this comic going on as long as it's creator wants. Maybe it's because one of my own characters is a former fine art major who's sold his soul to "the company" in order to pay his bills, or the fact that I myself am not all that terribly artistic and lack a great deal of self-confidence when it comes to my own artistic abilities... but this comic and the plight of Janet really speak to me.
You should let it speak to you too.