Mob Ties

Just in time for Halloween, I present to you Mob Ties! Mind you, I originally felt that line was going to be a complete farce. After all, there isn't anything terribly terrifying about most Manga and with only a passing knowledge of the comic before I sat down to read through the archives I had no reason to believe this one would be any different. There's plenty of tension here though, and now I'm hooked on the damn thing. Yeesh.

Mob Ties starts off a bit slowly, but once the main plot is established it takes off at an engaging pace. A large part of the story is tied up in the reveal of various twists and turns so I'm not going to say much about it - no point in spoiling it for the sake of a review. I will say that the writing is a balanced blend of light and darkness that keeps you clicking on the next link. It seems awfully tempting for Manga writers to bog their plots down with so much overly emotional trauma that the entire story sinks in a mire of angst; happily, this is a temptation the creator avoids by utilizing a zany sense of humor to meter the punch of more dramatic moments. Another temptation that was happily avoided - displaying the comic in traditional Japanese Manga format. Writing a comic in English assumes the comic will be read by a primarily English speaking audience. As such, it should be written left to right and top to bottom. Yes, it may seem authentic to write it right to left and bottom to top - but you're far more likely to confuse your intended audience than intrigue them. No such confusion here - saving the creator a tongue lashing. Oooo... scary.

The artwork is mostly in simple black and white with the occasional use of full color panels or effect colors. Chapter titles are also done in color and serve to give the comic more of a print feel. Emotions are displayed in both facial expressions and in perspective and character size in classic Manga fashion and I admire the artist's ability to use those visual effects without relying on them for pacing. Each comic page has an easy flow, excepting, of course, those that are specifically created to give the feel of either confusion or jumbled memory. There's been a steady progression in artistic skill and staging; a clear indication that there are even better things to come.

Mob Ties is hosted on Drunk Duck... which means I would have critical things to say about the website if I actually knew what was in the creator's power to change. Though you do have the option to email individual comics to your friends and pin it to various services like Digg and Reddit, I'd love to see those elements I so love in self hosted comics. The author does do a decent job of communicating with the comic's audience in the blog beneath the comic, allowing the readers a peek into motivations and news. The archive exists as a drop down menu which lists issue and page - certainly not enough to go on if you're looking for a specific comic, but helpful if you're reading it issue by issue.

Personally, I suggest you start with issue number one. Now. Go.

Goblins

A little question for the RPGers among you - ever feel sorry for the NPCs? I mean, seriously - ever felt a twinge of guilt as you walk through the blood of that kobold family you just slaughtered around their own hearth? Ever wonder if there was a family at home waiting for that wandering villager you just speared and relieved of his belongings? Ever wish you could give them a little of the power you hold? Watch them kick some ruthless newbs ass and steal his shit? Revel in your humanity, what shreds are left in your gamer soul, and head on over to Goblins.

Goblins is an epic tale of a small group of... well... Goblins that have declared themselves player characters. The premise may seem simplistic, but creator Tarol Hunt has written a deep and affecting plot that pulls the reader though the full range of emotions. A careful construction of character first plays on the reader's sense of empathy and justice while tying them to the individuals they'll follow throughout the story. There are certainly some touching moments along the way, but I've never found the comic cloying. The humor is genuine, the plot engaging, and the action easy to follow - in fact, I don't believe there's any writing aspect in which the comic falters.

Originally drawn in simple black-and-white outlines, the comic quickly progressed to full color. Characters are easily differentiated, and body postures and structures are consistent. The backgrounds are varied and quite complete, giving a full sense of scene without being over bearing. It's difficult to say if the colors are realistic, considering the completely fictional nature of most characters, but they are pleasant and easily accepted - not a single Muppet poser in play. Facial expressions display emotion and personality with ease even when accompanied by scars and other obstructions. Clothing has been styled with a variety of textures and matched nicely to each character.

The website has displayed an under construction banner for some time now, but it's still mostly functional. (Only the Languages and Creators links seem dead.) While there is a FAQ section I still feel the site could use some kind of about page as I couldn't readily find mention of an update schedule. There are a number of backgrounds available for fans, and a couple of items available for sale as well as links and additional artwork. An extra feature, Tempts Fate, is probably the most ingenious donation drive I've ever seen. Goblin adventurer Tempts Fate is faced with a new series of challenges each month. Written in D&D crawl style, each obstacle is linked to a donation amount - if the amount is reached, Tempts Fate clears the obstacle and comes closer to the dungeon reward. Should the donation goal fail to be met, Tempts Fate will die. A tribute to both creator and gimmick - he's still alive and going strong.

Though D&Ders may have a larger spot in their hearts for the comic, the overall plot isn't dependant on specific RPG knowledge and I highly recommend the read. Head on over and cheer for the underdog.