Comic Review for 2009. Better stand back a bit...

I just can't put them in solid numerical order. Those near the top are better than those near the bottom. It's hard to even pick a top three. I have all sorts of points to grade on, but the trouble with web comics is that they are so vastly different. Some have pretty lame art but are amazingly funny, others have mind-blowing art and aren't funny at all. There's too many ranges to race up and down, and I've yet to figure out a good system to compare them all.

So, here they are, arranged in the purely subjective ranking of my random desires.

EXCELLENT:

Five stars
- Warning. Some adult content, or worse! [Which I love. Art should be independent of offensiveness.]

http://zebragirl.keenspot.com/
http://www.freakangels.com/
http://platinumgrit.com/
http://www.oglaf.com/
http://www.viruscomix.com/

Best:
Four stars

http://www.threepanelsoul.com/
http://schlockmercenary.com/index.html
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/
http://www.illwillpress.com/
http://www.baldwinpage.com/bruno.html

Very Good:
Three stars

http://www.errantstory.com/
http://sharingauniverse.comicgenesis.com/
http://jessemoynihan.com/
http://www.drunkduck.com/Charby_the_Vampirate/
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/

Above Good:
Two stars

http://xkcd.com/
http://www.supermegatopia.com/comics.htm
http://www.megatokyo.com/
http://www.sabrina-online.com/
http://faith.rydia.net/101.html
http://www.poisonedminds.com/
http://www.choppingblock.org/
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/

...
To be honest, there should probably be about twenty to thirty more links with 'one star' but I just have a hard time adding any of them. I have a huge list of bookmarks that I've read before, or still read, and none of them are begging me to add them.

They're "Okay", not "Good." I don't feel driven to sort them.

Complaints:

"What? Foglio on the last link? WTF?" Okay, no matter what you like, there's somebody who won't agree with you.

Personally, while I like Phil and have always loved his art, he's somewhat sexist in a backhanded way in my opinion. His art is phenomenal, but the stories fall flat. If I were editing a 2010 version of "Heavy Metal" magazine full of webcomics - I don't think I'd include Phil. The male characters are laughable, the females overblown, etc. And, it's just not that funny.

Freakangels is far more artistic, has a better story line, and is more amusing. I don't think I'd even like the author, given some of the expressed views therein, and the excessive use of violence to resolve issues, but still. I put it up there at #1 or damn close.

Zebragirl is just mind-blowing with art, story, and humor that keeps you begging for more. Don't start reading this one in the middle of cooking. You'll be burning the house down before you know it.

Virus Comics has a few comics, and all of them are awesome. I sat there reading while my tummy was growling for hours. Feed me! No. Feed me. Shut up! I didn't want to get up and eat until I'd finished the next storyline.

Platinum Grit is another mega-art dream of a comic. If I had wet dreams about comics, this would be it.

The others all have great things to be said about them, but the best thing you can do is just read them. Art is best supported by donating to the artist. Buy some of their junk and don't worry too much about my review. Send me a tee shirt if you care that much.

~D