Agatha Heterodyne - Girl Genius!
Once upon a time, when I was doing research online, I stumbled across a link to the Girl Genius webcomic. (Anything that is available through an “elegant and finely crafted link” merits clicking, dontcha think?) I decided to take one day off on a weekend and read it. I wouldn't exactly say it's riveting entertainment, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it - especially when I got to the stuff that had been published within the last year or so.
What's it about, you ask? Well, to quote one of the lesser-serious (though it's all pretty tongue-in-cheek stuff), non-canonical short stories...”It is a world ruled by mad science! Philosophers have told us that, in an infinite universe, anything is possible (Cue panel with a sign that says “Free Beer”). Thus, somewhere out there is a reality where you - the listener - are actually a crazed mad scientist (or, to be more polite, a “Spark!”) You rule with an iron hand from your lonely mountaintop castle” - ah, just read the rest of the page for yourself. You just can't convey “dancing upon the bones of your enemies” without a good visual. :P
I'll admit that the character's aren't terribly original and that the plot is rife with cliches, but the fun part is that I believe they're mostly intentional cliches. Here are a few reasons to read the comic:
Reason #1: The comic is a variation of steampunk called “gaslamp fantasy.” Steampunk, in case you didn't know, is a genre that gives us such fantastic-looking ray guns as this and this. It's like the Victorian-era sci-fi history that never actually happened.
Reason #2: It's dang funny on various occasions. Proof in the form of quotes:
Master Payne: You can't possibly be as stupid as you look.
Oggie: I ken if I wants to be!
Agatha: But I squashed him with a chicken house!! (Not sure why that's funny, but I keep laughing.)
Reason #3: Bangladesh DuPree, who enjoys nothing more than a good town-burning. See her introduction and this comparatively recent panel for insight into her funny (in a violent way) character.
Reason #4: There is a talking cat. A megalomaniacal and perpetually hungry cat, of course. That can't hunt.
Reason #5: The best part in the comic so far is the hilariously evil talking castle. It has fallen into ruin, thus splintering its consciousness and making various “rogue” semi-intelligent security systems that will spring booby traps on anyone that happens along - even the people the traps were designed to protect. But...it's a talking castle. A talking, snarky, morally-lacking castle. It's just funny. :P
Reason #6: Floating zeppelin cities. How cool is that?!
So...Girl Genius is plain, brainless, somewhat juvenile fun for those of us who like Rube Goldberg coffee machines, Victorian-style death rays, fake German accents, and think mad scientists are totally awesome. However, I wouldn't recommend starting on the whole series unless you have a lot of time to kill (the comic started in 2002, after all). The short story “Personal Trainer” is a good example of the humor you'll find in the comic if you want to test-drive before you dive in.
Farewell to my charming readers (all two of you, if I'm lucky!), and may the Spark be with you!