Never made it up to Minnesota, but I did make it to Smackjeeves!
Rereading Honeydew Syndrome has me all nostalgic, not to mention realizing how far behind I am on Red Dog Venue. I have to go catch up now!
By the way, in case I haven't recced RDV in here before - and I have this heart-sinking feeling that I haven't - it is fantastic. The art is fairly consistent, though not quite as consistent when colored inserts are involved, I think, but that isn't what's most important to me. I tend to prefer webcomics without color anyway, maybe because I'm unaccustomed to reading comics in color, thanks to manga. And I tend not to worry about inserts. Well, that isn't the point. Anyway, beyond art, RDV has a fascinating story as well as great characters, particularly the more "viewpoint" character, Connor, who has a fucked up past that he doesn't allow to ruin his life...most of the time. Hell, he's turned around and said fuck the world for what happened to him, and it's a realistic reaction that also makes his interactions with the other lead, Noel, fascinating. Even the occasions when Connor relives his traumatic moments, which normally would annoy me, is great with him because the trauma comes through as bad attitude, cockiness, and a sense of invincibility that gets him in a shit-ton of trouble, and which doesn't always endear him to Noel. But it works out because Noel is willing to put up with a lot, and willing to risk even more. I love them together. This is the opinion of someone who has been out of the loop for a while, so although they haven't hooked up yet where I last was, it may be clear that they can help each other out and would make a good couple, but not with Connor as effed as he is and Noel as affected by it. Noel falls for every trick and Connor is still worked up about people from the past who taint his opinion of Noel. They need to grow more...and I like that. I do not like cardboard cutouts with no growing to do.
The same could be said of the story, though, too. It starts in a dystopian future with a military corps that no one in their right mind would want anything to do with, at least not the way these guys - especially the higher-ups and genetic engineers - are portrayed, and the author skillfully expands the setting and the cast as Connor travels and has new miserable experiences. I give huge props to Bella Roi (the author/artist) for continually growing and changing the game, keeping surprises coming, and generally improving. That doesn't always happen. I have seen so many stories go downhill as the author's interest waned or as it became time-consuming to create the webcomic, but that doesn't happen here. The author only seems to grow more interested (ignore the hiatus between Phases 1 and 2; after that, she is consistent and gets even more consistently better).
Go read it! Especially if you like horror elements, realistic snarky dialogue, consequences for mistakes and character flaws, and characters who work well together and aren't just "meant to be" arbitrarily. Seriously, you'll enjoy it. Provided you don't mind gay sex and lots of drawings of naked asses. But I think you'll enjoy it. ♥ And that said, I am going to catch up on it and probably update again to give impressions of what I've just read. ^__^
Smell ya later!
"Art is made by the alone for the alone."
By the way, in case I haven't recced RDV in here before - and I have this heart-sinking feeling that I haven't - it is fantastic. The art is fairly consistent, though not quite as consistent when colored inserts are involved, I think, but that isn't what's most important to me. I tend to prefer webcomics without color anyway, maybe because I'm unaccustomed to reading comics in color, thanks to manga. And I tend not to worry about inserts. Well, that isn't the point. Anyway, beyond art, RDV has a fascinating story as well as great characters, particularly the more "viewpoint" character, Connor, who has a fucked up past that he doesn't allow to ruin his life...most of the time. Hell, he's turned around and said fuck the world for what happened to him, and it's a realistic reaction that also makes his interactions with the other lead, Noel, fascinating. Even the occasions when Connor relives his traumatic moments, which normally would annoy me, is great with him because the trauma comes through as bad attitude, cockiness, and a sense of invincibility that gets him in a shit-ton of trouble, and which doesn't always endear him to Noel. But it works out because Noel is willing to put up with a lot, and willing to risk even more. I love them together. This is the opinion of someone who has been out of the loop for a while, so although they haven't hooked up yet where I last was, it may be clear that they can help each other out and would make a good couple, but not with Connor as effed as he is and Noel as affected by it. Noel falls for every trick and Connor is still worked up about people from the past who taint his opinion of Noel. They need to grow more...and I like that. I do not like cardboard cutouts with no growing to do.
The same could be said of the story, though, too. It starts in a dystopian future with a military corps that no one in their right mind would want anything to do with, at least not the way these guys - especially the higher-ups and genetic engineers - are portrayed, and the author skillfully expands the setting and the cast as Connor travels and has new miserable experiences. I give huge props to Bella Roi (the author/artist) for continually growing and changing the game, keeping surprises coming, and generally improving. That doesn't always happen. I have seen so many stories go downhill as the author's interest waned or as it became time-consuming to create the webcomic, but that doesn't happen here. The author only seems to grow more interested (ignore the hiatus between Phases 1 and 2; after that, she is consistent and gets even more consistently better).
Go read it! Especially if you like horror elements, realistic snarky dialogue, consequences for mistakes and character flaws, and characters who work well together and aren't just "meant to be" arbitrarily. Seriously, you'll enjoy it. Provided you don't mind gay sex and lots of drawings of naked asses. But I think you'll enjoy it. ♥ And that said, I am going to catch up on it and probably update again to give impressions of what I've just read. ^__^
Smell ya later!
"Art is made by the alone for the alone."