Comic of the Week: Not a Villain by Aneeka Richins

Not A Villain
by Aneeka Richins

Comic of the Week picked by: @fesworks

This is one I had found, but didn’t really like at first. But it had several elements that kept me reading. The art itself is very simplified and pixelly, but from the context of the comic, it’s because it’s in a digital world. I could nit-pick several things more about the art style quality, but there is a sense of practiced structure to the character designs. Even if they proportionally off in one way or another. Still it was something that was still visually pondering to me that I kept reading.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic time… though we effectively see none of this, because the world’s survivors primarily gather online to… basically live life. We do get hints here and there about what people do offline, and how they survive, and a vague explanation of what cause the collapse of the world (it’s “hackers”). Though we mainly focus on the main character, Kleya, as we find out she’s a hacker in hiding. Again, vague back-story, and she’s trying to do good on her second chance.

Comic Website | WebcomicZ Entry
SFW*: Non-graphic violence. Dramatic contexts.

NotAVillain

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Crowdfunding Picks for the Week of June 23, 2013

Continuing with the experiment, we’re taking a look at a few more crowdfunding projects. Again, we mainly are picking projects we personally find interesting, or think that our audience would find interesting that…:

  • Could really use a boost.
  • We’d really like to see funded.
  • Are not already funded (at time of pick).
  • Are spectacular picks with great stretch goals.
  • Friends of the Webcast Beacon Network or Affiliates. (Yes, Bias.)

If you spot a Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or other pre-order campaign that seems awesome (of if YOU have a crowdfunding project), to be considered for a shout out, feel free to tweet at @webcastbeacon, or send a Press Release. You can also check out our new Frequently Asked Questions page to find out more about sending in promotional materials. Still, understand that we may not respond to or use things sent to us. But we are at least opening things up, officially, to try and plug things.

Well, we will probably look at doing these at least once a month, or every other week. Anyway, let’s take a look at a few more picks:

The Leaning Girl (Translation to English)
by Alaxis Press

Ava’s Demon: Book 1
by Michelle Czajkowski

Digger (Omnibus)
by Sofawolf Press, Inc. & Ursula Vernon
Also see Digger online.

Failing Sky
by Dax Tran-Caffee

Sarah’s Missing Shadow
by Eric Kimball

The Stonewall Riots
by Bluewater Productions

Vattu: the Name & the Mark
by Evan Dahm
Creator of Rice Boy

Webcomic Beacon #349: Penny Arcade’s Strip Search 2013 (Part 2)

Mary Cagle (Kiwi BlitzThe TrenchesTable Titans) returns to the show with Ben Carver, Terence MacManus, Monty Rohde, and Fes Works to discuss the final half and finalé of Penny Arcade’s Strip Search! We got a little off-topic here and there, but overall very fun episode; complete with thoughts and ideas of what we would like to see on a second Strip Search.

RELATED:
Webcomic Beacon #345: Strip Search 2013 (part 1)
Webcomic Beacon #348: Interview with Abby Howard

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Notes: Mary Cagle was on The Webcomic Beacon to talk about Star Trek on episode 215, in January 2012. Erika Moen was on episode 125 of The Webcomic Beacon.

Webcomic Beacon #348: Interview with Abby Howard of Strip Search

Abby Howard (Junior Scientist Power Hour, Strip Search) joins Fes Works for a one-on-one interview of her comic work and experience on Penny Arcade’s Strip Search! Also to plug her Kickstarter project: The Last Halloween!

RELATED:
Webcomic Beacon #345: Strip Search 2013 (part 1)
Webcomic Beacon #349: Strip Search 2013 (part 2)

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Notes: Erika Moen was on episode 125 of The Webcomic BeaconVoyage of the Rock Aliens, Abby’s Tumblr, Abby’s Twitter, You can also see the whole image Abby drew for this episode’s “cover”, as well as all past full “cover” images, on our guest and fan art page!

Now Accepting User Submitted Articles

We are going to open up the floor for user submitted content. Article posts in particular. This will be a trial and experiment moving forward.

We will be looking for original article submissions for tutorials, guides, event/convention reports, interviews, and editorials… perhaps other things as well.

Feel free to submit an article on our submission page. Not all submissions may be used.

Comic of the Week: Between Failures by Jackie Wohlenhaus

Between Failures
by Jackie Wohlenhaus

Comic of the Week picked by: @fesworks

I’ve been reading this comic for a long time. It was one of the first sorta “slice of life” comics (how ever some people define that genre), with characters with romantic interests that I actually liked reading. It was even in grayscale when I first started reading it, which was something that rarely turned my eye back then. Well, I gave it a “fair shake” and read through several pages, and before I knew it, I caught up to the most recent updates (this was years ago), and I wanted more. So into my bookmarks it went.

It’s really the characters that do the comic the most justice. The storylines… not as much. I mean… I’m not really sure it has storylines in the most clear-cut fashion. What you get are character dynamics and interactions, and that’s fun and enjoyable. Though sometimes I would like to see more of a structured, long-lasting storyline; it is still enjoying to follow.

The art has improved much over the years, but isn’t perfect. I am much a fan of the comic’s character styling. I could nit-pick about a few things, but this is a comic of the week, and not a full blown review. So just go check it out!

Comic Website | WebcomicZ Entry
SFW*: Some visually saucy moments, but nothing usually cautionary.

BetweenFailures

 * MORE ON RATINGS

Webcomic Beacon #347: Screen Tablet Reviews, and What May Be Best For You

This episode took a few months to put together for several screen tablet reviews. We finally snagged a wide variety of artists for their impressions and experiences with various screen tablets for drawing digitally.

We welcomed the opinions and experiences of Peter Stormageddon, Chris Howard (Dressed for Success), Thom Pratt (Shadowbinders), Tiffany Ross (Shivae Studios), Ben Carver (Majestic Knight), Kittyhawk (Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki); Experiences span the Wacom CintiqMotion ComputingLenovo ThinkPad ConvertablesYiynovaGTCO CalCompSamsung Galaxy NoteMicrosoft Surface Pro.

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Notes: DIY Cintiq / DIY MacBook ModGainSaver for refurbished Motion Computing models, ModBook Pro, Virtual Button Bar (for Photoshop and Painter Tool Sai), Leap Motion,

Also know that Wacom released (finally) an updated tablet driver for use with various tablets (and laptops) that used Wacom technology. So if you had issues with your tablet in the past, this driver may help fix things. There was a discussion initially on the Facebook group Webcomic Creators, and someone mentioned Ray Frenden’s reviews on such tablets, particularly the Yiynova). So these links and this episode should help many artists in trying to decide in want screen tablet to invest in. There are still other options out there, like the HP Elite Books and Fujitsu convertible laptops, but did not have anyone experienced with them, or did not discuss them much. If you have, please let us know of your experiences in the comments!

Some of our guests also talked about various software applications for arting, but we’ll do another episode on just software in the coming months. Even though we did talk a little bit about Manga Studio and Sketchbook Pro.

First Issue Review #69: Zenoscope’s Alice in Wonderland #1 (2012)



Alice in Wonderland #1 (2012)

This is not your father’s Alice in Wonderland… Well… actually… it might be…. Hoo boy…. We asked for a proper Zenoscope, and Zenoscope did not disappoint…. or does it? Ellipsis.

Written by Raven Gregory | Pencils by Robert Gill
Colors by Jason Embury | Lettering by Jim Campbell
Editor: Ralph Tedesco

Published by Zenoscope

Outro Music: Heartwarm by Adrean (LapFox Trax)
Reviewed by: Fes WorksMelissa Kaercher, and Marcus A.

View our episode update schedule and more!

Remember that we abridge the comics we review, and the show is by no means a substitute for reading it yourself. If any comics we review pique your interest, there are MANY places to pick these up! We highly recommend you check out your local comic book shop first, as that is the BEST experience for reading comic books. Otherwise there are many sources online to read and buy comic books in a digital format: Marvel Digital ComicsDark Horse Digital, IDW, DC ComicsImage and more on ComixologyDrive-Thru Comics, and Graphicly.

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Comic of the Week: Simply Sarah by Sarah Skye

Simply Sarah
by Sarah Skye

Comic of the Week picked by: @fesworks

Something I randomly came across. This comic is centered around Sarah and her girlfriend Janey at the time I started reading the comic. Things were also getting a fair drama potent and too spoilery to mention here. Now I’m not typically one for slice of life style comics, or anything that deals with relationships or drama, but the art helped pulled me in for a closer look. I ended up reading back to a truth or dare party, where things became a bit more drama filled once it was revealed that one of the characters, Nikki, had been putting a comic online based off of her friends! Without all of them them knowing about it (let alone being online)!

I like a lot of things about the art. Good line work and facial expression; good sense of proportion. Coloring could use a bit of work though. I’m still reading through the archives, but it has found its way into my webcomic bookmarks.

At the time of this post, the comic has “more or less” ended; but is open enough for the author to come back to it in the future, if she can.

Comic Website | WebcomicZ Entry
NSFW*: Occasional Nudity and Some Sexual Acts, but not the majority of the comic.

 * MORE ON RATINGS

Crowdfunding Picks for the Week of June 9, 2013

Let’s try something a little different here on The Webcast Beacon Network. Let’s take a look at a few crowdfunding projects going on, to give you a heads up on, a direct you to some projects we have an eye on.

This will likely be an experiment, so feedback is much welcome, as well as posting your own Kickstarter and Indie Go-Go recommendations in the comments below. The comments, and the main websites, is where we will likely look for the next week’s picks. How will projects be picked? Well, mainly that they are projects we personally would find interesting, or think that our audience would find interesting that…:

  • Could really use a boost.
  • We’d really like to see funded.
  • Are not already funded (at time of pick).
  • Are spectacular picks with great stretch goals.
  • Friends of the Webcast Beacon Network or Affiliates. (Yes, Bias.)

With that, let’s take a look at a few picks:

The Sleep of Reason: An Anthology of Horror
From IronSpike.
Creator of Templar, AZ; organizer of Smut Peddler; creator of Poorcraft.

BAAKO
by Joshua Covey

RGB
by Manny Trembley

Galaxion – Volume 3
by Tara Tallan
Creator of Galaxion

Little Person Among Media Giants
by Kurt Sasso
Creator of TGT Media


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