E.L.I.T.I.S.T. (O.R.) E-List of Interesting Things I Saw Today (Or Recently)| Vol. 1

Hello, and welcome to ELITIST(OR). I realized that I was coming across a whole lot of interesting things that I wanted to share with other people, but didn't want to write mails about continuously, and which I might not like enough to put on the sidebar. So I've put together a list of things that caught my eye, and have provided, when possible, the links. The list will be updated at random intervals, and things which I like a lot will eventually make their way to my sidebar. Other things will be discarded, so it's important that you check regularly to find out what's new (That another way of saying, "Read, darn you!"). Feel free to comment (Yet another way of saying the same thing, but more obliquely).

So, first up on the list: ....

....(roll of drums, sound of trumpets).....

.....web comics!

Once again, thanks to Adi, who brought Questionable Content to my notice. Apurva has described it as similar to Garfield - I see his point, but Marten is a bit better off than Jon, in my opinion :). Also, despite the strip criticising Friends, the artist himself acknowledges that the comic does seems like a sitcom at times. Anyhow, Questionable Content follows the life and adventures (?) of Marten Reed, his AnthroPC PintSize (kinda like a robot) and his various friends. One nice thing about web comics is that if a comic lasts long enough, you get to see the artist's style and art change and (hopefully) improve. Questionable Content is updated 3 times a week, so it's fairly regular.

Incidentally, can anyone fill me in on the meaning of the slang word 'emo' ? It's used quite a lot in QC, but I recently saw it used by a kid to describe Harry Potter!

But hold on, QC was just the tip of the iceberg! Following the links provided at the QC sidebars led me to other great artists and web comics. One of my favourites, which unfortunately is not being updated very regularly at the moment, is Fallen. This fantasy manga is set in a different world, and revolves around an extremely fascinating and diverse set of characters, including a Fallen Angel, a talking scythe and a Boa Constrictor (or is it a Coastal Carpet Python?). Though not too much has happened storywise, the artist (a Japanese female named Aido) has sketched out the characters really well (meaning she's fleshing them out, making them intriguing by dropping background info bit by bit) and has created an interesting mythology for her world. I wish she would update it more frequently, but she apparently broke her right hand recently. Ouch.

For those who are confused, like I was a few days ago, anime is Japanese style animation - think Robotech, Samurai X, Inu Yasha - and a manga is basically a Japanese comic - the different is animation vs still pics. For a list of apparently interesting anime, check out the discussion on the forums at Fallen. I haven't even heard of most of the stuff they mention. However, I have recently got hooked on to Animax, and whenever possible I watch these anime.

On with the web comics.

Little Gamers: This 'minimalist' comic is apparently accused of being a rip-off - I'm not sure of what, though there are a few South Park references (Check out the ninjas!). Regardless, I enjoy it, and I've collected here a few strips which I really liked, though you should really try reading the whole lot.

Kickass Intro

Lan-party in a nutshell

People

Truth of Life

Freak 2001

Computer Style

Hungry

Ninjas!, entrance stage right

Computer Style #3

Computer Style #4

Internet-less (mr.Madsen special)

Subtitled kung-fu style #2

Madsen Month #11

Phone home

Hopefully you enjoyed those. Now, take a look at Ctrl-Alt-Del:

Nice Melon

Bad call

Cool people stand

LAAAAAAAAG

Stop yelling at me!

Heheh.

Back to Fantasy web comics. Now that Fallen is currently in limbo, my current favourite fantasy manga is Wish 3. Thankfully, it is currently being updated regularly. A spin on the old idea of 3 wishes, the artwork is above average and improving, and the storyline is promising. The characters are slowly being fleshed out: over all, it's quite good.

For a rather well-drawn and extremely well-coloured fantasy comic, read Cascadia. However, I must confess that I haven't read this particular one very far as I wasn't particularly hooked on to it. Still, check out the graphics.

Semi-decent, and with a somewhat intriguing storyline, Nine Swords involves humans, vampires, and these wolfy type chaps who are not werewolves, but do have bushy tails.....

You could check out Arcana, but my gripe about this is that despite being called Arcana, we only find that (Arcana) mentioned in the comic after about 50-70 strips.... and I still don't know what it is. Maybe I wasn't paying attention. Also, it features gay vampires, so... well, whatever. Not my thing :).

Demonology 101 as far as I have read it, seems quite decent, and one BIG thing in its favour is that the main story is apparently complete, and there is currently a spin-off going on.

One nutty but extremely imaginative comic is 9th Elsewhere. In its own words, "Since Jan '03, the webcomic '9th Elsewhere' has shared the story of an unhappy girl and her oddball muses trapped together in a dream. The entire comic is free to read online; updates on Monday and Wednesday."

That about covers it. For a lot of links to some pretty decent web comics, check out the links page at www.fallencomic.com .

And finally, for those of you who despair at your artistic ability, check out White Ninja. Beware though.... the humour is .... a leeettle strange.

White Ninja finds a severed head

White Ninja and the bucket of eyes

White Ninja and the growling pirate

White Ninja and the spiders that got him at last

White Ninja to the rescue

Salut!

Rare Hand Axe.

Anime

For those who are confused, like I was a few days ago, anime is Japanese style animation think Robotech, Samurai X, Inu Yasha, and a manga is basically a Japanese comic - the different is animation vs still pics. For a list of apparently interesting anime, check out the discussion on the forums at Fallen. I haven't even heard of most of the stuff they mention. However, I have recently got hooked on to Animax, and whenever possible I watch these anime:

The Vision of Escaflowne: Fantasy, swords, machines, kings and princes, Atlantis - aaaaah (sigh of content). Do not be deceived by the first episode - it simply provides a little background on one of the main characters, but after that the action shifts to a different world. Whopee!

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex: Having enjoyed the movie greatly, I was extremely eager to catch this series once Issac told me about it. I was not disappointed. GitShell looks at a future where man and machine are integrated to an incredible level. Very few people are 100% natural - most have cyber implants of one kind or another. The series has great action and plots, but also deals with philosophical questions about the mind and soul and what it means to be human. Most (though not all) of the episodes are stand alone in the sense that they can be viewed independently. Those of you who have seen the movie will notice that the Major is different: she's still hot, though not as much :). And she is still very cool :).

Inu Yasha: Fantasy again, with a motley group of characters (once again including a girl from the modern world, though in this case, she can return home nearly whenever she wants) who include a schoolgirl, a woman with a giant boomerang, a half-dog-half-demon title character, a little demon with a bushy tail, and a lecherous monk, who are currently searching for a big evil thingy. Characters aren't very deep, but are very funny.

Samurai X: Possibly my favourite. Set in the Meiji Restoration after the Tokugawa regime, the story follows the adventures of Kenchi/Batusai Himora, the greatest swordsman of that time. Having discarded the life of extreme violence that he lived when he was the slasher Batusai, the most deadly and famous assassin who worked for the Royalists, Kenchi now stays with a group of friends and tries to protect his community from villains who try to harass people or upset the Restoration. He has sworn never to kill again, and whenever possible tries to resolve matters by talking, but thankfully for the viewers, every now and then he has to draw his sword. And when he does! Amazing action. Check it out: now showing Monday to Friday at 8.30pm and again at 11.30pm on Animax.

Now and then I also watch Clamp School and Alien 9 (which is very weird). More about those later.

Back to the web comics!

The Traveller's Song (1992)

I am a traveller, on my own,
I have no companions; I'm all alone
Except for my cane and faithful dog,
My only other friend is God.

I walk on and on on roads unknwon to ye
Until I spy a shady tree.
And beneath the shade, while I rest,
I think of the home which I have left,
But I cannot stop! It must be.
for a lone traveller - that is me.