Welcome back to the Web Comic Spotlight where we take a look at a piece of the comic book world that keeps us entertained on a daily basis. Last week, we took a look at a Corsage Man, a comic created by one of my friends as a belated birthday present. Gee, I sure am a supportive friend! This week, we finally take a look at the juggernaut of web comics, Penny Arcade.
Penny Arcade is one of the longest running web comics on the internet. This gem hit the net back in late 1998, before the concept of web comics was truly a thing. Penny Arcade was created by writer Jerry Holkins and artist Mark Krahulik.The strip comes out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and since its inception, it has become more than just a web comic. There is also a whole section on video game news called The PA Report, online shows, and even a convention.
Penny Arcade, the web comic, focuses mainly on the world of video games and those who play video games. Each strip usually features the characters Gabe and Tycho (or John and Jack as they're jokingly referred to in one of the earlier strips), and each strip usually goes over something incredibly topic within the industry. It's nice to go back through earlier strips and see the two guys talking about Nintendo 64's Super Smash Brothers.
This was a tougher site to give the award to because simply, the vast majority of people on the net know about Penny Arcade or at least have heard of it. What's great about this strip is that it's actually funny. There's lots of web comics out there that try but fail miserably. Penny Arcade is humorous and if you're a gamer, you may find yourselves laughing at your own pain, like the scene above.
The strip is simple and has a great art style to it as well. It's distinct and stands out. It has a great cartoon style to it, and you could totally see this as an animated series. It's a strip a lot of gamers can relate to and it's an incredible fun read. Aside from that, the site has grown with the internet, and there's tons of things to do on it.
Make sure you check out the Penny Arcade website, and as always, I'll leave you with one more strip featuring something I never stop thinking about while playing Angry Birds Space.
If you think there's a web comic that needs a spotlight, please e-mail us at comicvinespotlight@gmail.com. I really do read all these emails, so send them.
Mat "Inferiorego" Elfring is a comedian, writer, and host of the internet show no one watches, Barely Watchable. Follow him on Twitter: @inferiorego
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