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One of the recent trends in comics is the return to humor as a viable category. Since the success of The Tick Animated series, other creators have unleashed their comedic genius on the unwitting public. Most of the humor titles are getting pretty large followings from people who don't normally read comics and are usually aimed at one specific group of people.
First, we have the classic Tick. This comic a spoof of the Super-Hero genre with characters such as American Maid and Chairface Chippendale. It's one of the few comics that came out during the black and white glut of the eighties that's still in print today. The early issues are timeless classics.
The next genre of humor comics that gained a huge following was the Gothic Humor comic. These comics aren't for the easily offended and sometimes, aren't even funny. Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and Squee are creations of aritst/writer Jhonen Vasquez and have gained national attention. Johnny is quite literally what the title says, and follows his adventures in killing. The dark art of the series really adds to the comedic tales of killing that the demented mind of Jhonen thinks up.
Knights of the Dinner Table (KoDT) follows a group of role players during their weekly gaming sessions. Quick to kill and a little slow on the uptake, this group gets into lots of trouble, like the time they attacked a wild Gazebo. Recently the popularity of the comic has brought about two upcoming spin-offs, Hackmasters and Knights of the Dinner Table Illustrated. KoDT Illustrated will retell early KoDT adventures from the point of view of the characters themselves, not the gamers. The first issue of this series will feature art by Aaron Williams of Nodwick. Aaron's comic strip Nodwick was originally featured in Dragon Magazine and has since moved on to the comic book format to allow longer stories. KoDT also started as a strip in the now defunct Magazine Shadis. And in the long list of series that started as strips, is Dork Tower from John Kovalic. Dork Tower, like KoDT, follows a group of gamers in their lives. Unlike KoDT, Dork Tower follows the gamers into their lives and interactions with other people. In one issue, a character displays his vast knowledge of Medieval Combat in a book store and gets quite a lot of people listening to him, astonished at his knowledge, only to be scoffed at when they learn that his knowledge comes from gaming. But beware a scorned gamer... and NEVER TOUCH HIS DICE!!!
Also on the list of comic books that originated from strips, is fan favorite Liberty Meadows. Liberty Meadows started off as a college strip called University 2. The artist/writer, Frank Cho, then went on to get the whole shebang collected into an oversized collection which got lots of attention, and also got him a syndicated strip. Liberty Meadows collects his new syndicated strip into comic format until a book deal can be made. Liberty Meadows follows Frank and Brandy, who work in a sanctuary for animals who lost their natural habitat to man. Frank is sort of a geeky animal doctor who has fallen in love with the beautiful animal psychiatrist Brandy. Their patients Ralph, a midget circus bear, and Leslie, a bullfrog, are two practical jokers whose idea of a fun day is sitting on the couch and watching monster movies. Dean rounds out the trio, Dean is a pig that's in Liberty Meadows for detox. This great strip has been running for about 3 years now and has lots of good material that will produce tons of comics to come.
So, now that you know that comics aren't just superheros in spandex, go get some funny books. Laugh, cry, be merry. Here's a list of some of the better humor comics, not all of which were covered in this article, but are all enjoyable in their own unique way.
Super-Hero Humor
- "Tick" - New England Comics
Super-Hero Bathroom Humor
- "Captain Dingleberry" - Slave Labor Graphics
Gamer Humor
- "Dork Tower" - Corsair Publishing
- "Knights of the Dinner Table" - Kenzer & Company
Medieval Humor
- "Nodwick" - Henchmen Publishing
Comic Strip Humor
- "Liberty Meadows" - Insight Studio Group
Fanboy Humor
- "Geeksville" - Image
Movie Humor
- "Jay & Silent Bob" - Oni Press
Sick and Twisted/Goth Humor
- "Johnny The Homicidal Maniac" - Slave Labor Graphics
- "Squee" - Slave Labor Graphics
- "Lenore" - Slave Labor Graphics
Amazing Stories - GamersSolution.com
- 2101 E Fourth Plain Blvd - Vancouver, Wa 98661 - 360.735.9336
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