I Know I Shouldn’t Like This, But…
You’ll have to forgive me; I’ve been a little distracted this week, what with Passover, the upcoming PCA/ACA Conference (there are papers about webcomics…), and the ongoing job search. Sometimes I know what I’m going to write about ahead of time and sometimes I don’t plan. I have a general idea of what I like in webcomics and I have a list of recommendations.
But this week I’m going to deviate from all of those plans and plug Minimalist Stick Figure Theater by Thanatos Omega instead. Since I mentioned it two columns back, after reading last year’s Girlycon minicomic, I’ve been kind of sucked in despite wondering if maybe I should know better. But when I started thinking about it, Minimalist Stick Figure Theater (henceforth MSFT, ’cause I’m still a lazy academic!) kind of weirdly fits into some of the things I’ve been considering lately.
For starters, there’s some sneakily funny gender critiques in here. This strip about knitting actually made me laugh out loud, even though the joke basically telegraphs from the first panel. In truth, sometimes things are funny because they’re hitting a nerve. These strips don’t represent the whole of the different ongoing storylines (some are in a cafe, some are to do with a blender…), but it’s a decent mix of funny stuff, weird stuff, and geek stuff. (Actually, now that I think about it, those things aren’t mutually exclusive, but those three words sum the strip up fairly well.)
There’s also a bit of autobio going on with the notes underneath each of the strips. Part of the draw for me is that these places getting namechecked in the notes are places that I know because I live in the same town as this strip’s creator. But there’s interesting stuff in there past the name-checking; sometimes it’s about gender, sometimes it’s about programming, sometimes it’s about the composition or genesis of that day’s strip. They can actually be wickedly funny, even with bad puns. MSFT is one of those webcomics that’s quick to read but they’re not just one-note jokes, exactly. I found that while I was reading, the snappy punchline of the final panel would get me thinking, even if I was sometimes also groaning. I’m not sure I agree with some of it, but I’m enjoying reading it.
Even though MSFT is, you know, stick figures and all, there are some quirky features. Panels like the last one here–::awkward::– are, I think, really well done because of the way the creator uses the tools available. You can render what awkward looks like, but somehow “::awkward::” just fits perfectly in the context here. I guess what I mean is that even though it’s stick figures, it isn’t always simple, and I particularly like that about MSFT.
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptFor starters, there’s some sneakily funny gender critiques in here. This strip about knitting actually made me laugh out loud, even though the joke basically telegraphs from the first panel. In truth, sometimes things are funny because … […]
By quotes » I Know I Shouldn’t Like This, But… on 04.05.07 2:11 pm
[…] GiggleSugar wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptFor starters, there’s some sneakily funny gender critiques in here. This strip about knitting actually made me laugh out loud, even though the joke basically telegraphs from the first panel. In truth, sometimes things are funny because … […]
By movies » I Know I Shouldn’t Like This, But… on 04.05.07 2:46 pm
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