Gamer Comics

Webcomics are all over the internet, if you're the kind of person inclined to search for them. Which I am, so it's just as well that I'm the one presenting this information. However, since we're on about gaming culture lately, webcomics that are part of the gaming culture might help some of us gain a perspective.

First and foremost, there is Penny Arcade. It's one of the most popular webcomics on the net, if it's not the most popular. It's not really for the layman: one of the more recent comics relies heavily on understanding the concept of Super Smash Bros. (specifically that a number of mostly Nintendo-based video game characters are selectable in a fighting game) and that, for some gamers, Pikachu is a vile choice, akin to picking Satan the Deceiver over Jesus, who is the Christ. It's worth noting that Penny Arcade features graphic violence, cursing, and blasphemy: Jesus is a recurring character.

PvP Online is also a gamer comic, but far more accessible to someone unfamiliar with gaming. It might be more appropriately called a geek comic. While Penny Arcade has the occasional comic book reference or even linguistic joke in favor of its gaming reference of the day, PvP might well go for months without even referencing video games. Penny Arcade is more of a gag-a-day strip, while PvP relies heavily on continuity. It's often called (and calls itself) a sitcom. Its humor is also far more family-friendly; characters swear, but not in the excess that Penny Arcade's Gabe and Tycho do.

Ctrl-Alt-Del is somewhat of a medium between PvP and Penny Arcade. There are the regular gaming references, but there are also regular storylines. There's continuity, but it doesn't rely on it. And of all the comics it's the most accessible for either gamer or layman: PvP's character-driven narrative is difficult for someone to just jump into, Penny Arcade's frequent reliance on the minutiae of games can be distracting for someone who's never played them.

8-Bit Theatre is a gaming comic in a different fashion: it's a retelling of the very first Final Fantasy game in comic format. A sprite comic, it uses the actual images from the game in its presentation. If tragedy is getting a papercut and comedy is falling into an open manhole to die, 8-Bit Theatre is burning down a senior citizen's center and dancing in the ashes. Literally. This is something that happens. And it's hilarious.

VG Cats is a webcomic about cats who play video games, watch anime, and enjoy running jokes. Trying to summarize something like that is a bit like trying to summarize the original Mario game. "Well, you're a plumber, and you save a bunch of mushroom men from fire-spitting turtle monsters, and you also eat mushrooms, and you jump on them sometimes. If you're lucky, you get a flower, and it gives you fire powers too, but if you're unlucky you get the giant turtle monster throwing hammers. Oh, and a magic star makes you into a flashing god for about ten seconds."

Enjoy.