What Did I Learn?

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Station V3 by Tom Truszkowski.

First of all, this comic has been going since early May 2003 updating every day with only a few lapses and some guest comics. That by itself is noteworthy and it seems a very difficult thing to accomplish.

Station V3 has a decidedly science fiction feel that you might not see at first. It has a certain quality that's sort of alien humor while at the same time very every-day happenings. It's not normal by any stretch of the imagination, but there's a real sense of place there. I read backward from the current strip and I have a very strong, unmistakable sense of the the Station V3 setting. Who doesn't like a sci-fi comic with a strong setting?

I don't know if I can convey how hard it would be to communicate that sense of strangeness and consistency at the same time. But you can see it right away in the first comics, so Tom T definitely has a unique vision that he is sharing with us. The concept is almost defining on its own but parts of it remind me of Mystery Science Theater mixed with Muppets in Space and ALL those other goofball science fiction shows from my childhood.

The concept is tied up and inextricably linked to the manner of how the comic is presented. This is an interesting choice that seems natural until you examine it. It's presented as this-is-what's-going-on-over-here and then meanwhile-over-here. Most web comics follow a cast member or two through a storyline and you get the story from their perspective. In Station V3, you get bits from opposing sides, switching back and forth. I realize that there are some comics (mostly manga) that do this, but it seems to be a tiny segment that chooses this presentation. Because it seems difficult to do well, I don't believe this is something that anyone else could or should try to duplicate without a real vision of purpose, but the example is outstanding and definitely worth emulating.

What did I learn?
Keep at making your comic and stick to it. Find a way to share your unique thoughts and viewpoint. Trust your instincts and push your storytelling. Head over to Station V3 and see what happens next.

Next week's review: Dr. Sheep and the Aardvark.

Previous Reviews

Battlegate| Butterfly| Good Ship Chronicles| Evil, Inc.| Madscott| Jefbot| Chronicle| Sheldon| Stardrop| Theater Hopper| Knave| Lullaby| High Moon| Metadawn| Dead Days| PC Weenies| Ask Maridee | Tiny Folk | Gordian Algebra | Starslip Crisis | The Front | Coffee Time Comics | Patches | Little Creature | The Horrible Pirates | Serenity Tales | Crashlander | Girl Genius | This Is Me | Handle With Care | SuperFogeys | Copper | Eskimo Dave | Real Life | Chateau Wonderful | Count Your Sheep | Breakpoint City | Eeekeemo | Boxcar Astronaut | Zip and Li'l Bit | Wally & Osborne | Jump Leads | Dr. Sheep and the Aardvark | Station V3 | Dresden Codak | Lab Ratz | Toyzville | The Boids | Cow and Buffalo | Casey and Scotty | Just Outside | The Pretentious History of Everything | Tia's World | Quirks | Patrick Grey | For What It's Worth | The Sixth Dimension | Max and the Gorilla Goon Squad | Rainbow Orchid | Neko and Neko | Lions, Tigers and Bears | Spacequint | Lessons In Fire Safety | Corrupt Hardware | Enker's Tale | The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo | A Rusty Life | You'll Have That | From the Margin | Jitterati

About These Reviews

I love comics and I'm always looking at how I can improve my own work by examining other creators' works. It's such a wildly diverse field that it's not advisable to make sweeping generalizations and ignore special circumstances and subjects.

There's a lot we can learn from one another. And while there are many forums where you might discuss this, I haven't found any lengthy discussion on what we can do to make our comics more successful. There are a few good books on the subject but the aspiring webcomic creator is forced to learn by sheer brute force practice how to adapt his/her personal style to the medium. This is not as efficient as it could be.

Also, there are literally thousands of webcomics but only a handful of places where you can find decent, regular reviews. The focus of my reviews will be on trying to determine what is positive, successful and worth emulating about each comic. You might even get hooked on a given comic you read about here.

You may also wonder where the 'criticism' is and where the negative things about the comics are pointed out. As a matter of fact, I did mention some dissappointing issues with layout and such in my initial reviews. I quickly came to the realization that it's easy for any viewer to know what they like and what they don't. I don't need to call extra attention to the negative. I have, on a few occasions, emailed a webcomic author with a few ideas for improvements but there's no need to make that information public.

I'm not trying to sugarcoat anything, mind you. I just wish to have an open discussion about what good comics do. Hopefully, more voices will join in.