Gunnerkrigg Court

[MathGirl277]

Annie's expression in the last panel is pretty much the best thing ever. Storytelling and unbelievably good art aside, I feel that expressions are Gunnerkrigg Court's best point, or close to it. I mean, even a well-written story is only moderately entertaining if you aren't invested in the characters, and Tom's skill with facial expression goes a long way towards developing that investment. It gives you a better sense of each character than dialogue alone.

Also those expressions are hilarious.

He is also very good at leading the reader to completely misinterpret events and characters. For example, there was a point where I despised Reynard, and now I think that he is ADORABL-E. Tom's skill has only improved with time, and I cannot wait to see what comes up next.

[GrisHarlequin]

Me too! I'm up to date with every mon/wed/fri!!!! I love his styl! I read it even before homestuck and I don't know how one lead me to the other! Both homestuck and Gunnerkrigg court made reading! webcomics my biggest hobby!

And about the coyote issue, isn't he drawn taht way in reference to some native-american cultures? I always liked the way it was colored!

[-Benedict]

Oh man, yes, dat Annie face. I love how both her real and ethereal faces grimace in that last panel, it makes it that much more perfect. End a chapter with a derpface, win forever.

[Lord Ascapelion]

GC is one of the 3 webcomics I follow. The others being Order of the Stick and... well, take a guess.

I have been in love with this comic since I started reading. The art is fantastic and the characters are incredibly well done. The only thing I could fault it for is the rather low-key plot (seeds of conflict are planted everywhere, but none of them have really germinated into a full on conflict that needs to be resolved) and the relatively slow pacing.

[Dentrala]

I disagree with both of those faults - For relatively slow pacing, I would like to refer you to Hussie's formspring for the many replies on "serial vs binge readers". If you get the book, it feels much more organic. In terms of low-key plot, there are obviously some chapters more "exciting" than others, but I find the plot bursting even if an entire chapter is about Annie coming home and trying to make amends with her best friend.

[ragmaan]

^I don't know if you're saying that the pacing seems less slow in binge reading or more slow in serial reading. Or what you're saying honestly on that issue, as finding AH's formspring post would be a modicum of effort when I should be doing some French Hw. But I read it in burst and felt there was slow (plot) pacing of sorts. I enjoyed all the chapters but not all seemed tangentially quick compared to the others.

[GrisHarlequin]

I read it as a burst too and the pacing didn't seem slow either! It is true that at the beginning it seemed like tom didn't have a clear direction for the story rather than paranormal events,but it has evolved rather nicely. He has also informed frequently that he has great parts of the story already planned out and that despite the triweekly update he still has an advantage of at least two months worth of comics.

It might be true that conflict is planted everywhere but I expect them to be resolved before the last year of Annie at the court.

[MathGirl277]

At my school, there are vocabulary tests on which there is a section that you must construct sentences. This first time, I wrote the sentences about Jack Noir. The second time (today), I wrote the sentences about Coyote's tricksterness.

[-Benedict]

Unless you have a clueless and/or totally rad vocab teacher, you may lose points for using the word "tricksterness" there.

[MathGirl277]

I didn't use that word for word. I tend to be more careful about word usage on tests/quizzes than on internet forums. Making up words is fun, hence I posted that, but I agree, my English teacher would be quite disappointed in me if I used the word "tricksterness."

[Drillgorg]

Personally, I would have gone with tricksterosity or tricksteritude.

[Lord Ascapelion]

I disagree with both of those faults - For relatively slow pacing, I would like to refer you to Hussie's formspring for the many replies on "serial vs binge readers". If you get the book, it feels much more organic. In terms of low-key plot, there are obviously some chapters more "exciting" than others, but I find the plot bursting even if an entire chapter is about Annie coming home and trying to make amends with her best friend.

Actually, I think I've said nearly the exact same thing before, so I agree 100%. GC is MUCH better read archivally. When I think about it again, the pace probably isn't all that bad, but the way the comic flows makes archive reading much better than serial, at least in my experience.

And I never said I needed tons of action, or anything and there's plenty of plot there, but we're over 30 chapters in and the conflict remains somewhat nebulous. I suppose that's part of what the comic is trying to accomplish and I really do enjoy it, but sometimes I wonder "okay, so when's the REAL conflict going to start?"

[GrisHarlequin]

Why not whimsy? Simpler and less elaborate...

[MathGirl277]

... We're over 30 chapters in and the conflict remains somewhat nebulous. I suppose that's part of what the comic is trying to accomplish and I really do enjoy it, but sometimes I wonder "okay, so when's the REAL conflict going to start?"

I agree with this observation, but I feel that the time spent in character development was truly time well spent. Even if the plot is lagging behind a bit, Gunnerkrigg Court is still an enjoyable read.

[Qiam]

It is true that at the beginning it seemed like tom didn't have a clear direction for the story rather than paranormal events, but it has evolved rather nicely.

The reason the comic is slower at the beginning is because it reflects how Annie is emotionally closed-off, cold, and distant to her classmates. She's still traumatized by

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her mother's death and how Annie had to escort her as a medium to the other side

and all the supernatural phenomena which would normally make for an exciting story simply doesn't surprise our protagonist at all. She's simply seen it all.

As Annie opens up, things become new and interesting. Robots get added to the mix, Annie learns to behave socially, Reynardine is introduced, and the plot speeds up a little. I like to think that the art style shift is partly because Tom tightened up his style and also because as Annie matured, so did the style (intentionally).

I like the "real conflict" is on the horizon and isn't in the forefront of the comic. Eventually things like

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mediating between Gillitie and the Court, the arrival of her father, Coyote's sword, and saving the ghost of Annan Waters

will become plot points, but I kind of like that not all of Annie's problems are these big supernatural events and are sometimes as simple as petty disputes among classmates or sneaking out of bed at night.

edit: Do you think Surma (and Anthony) gave Antimony her name partly because of this? Surma calls Anja "Anny" and Antimony is also reminiscent of Anthony.... not to mention all the other symbolism behind Antimony's name. @_@

[-Benedict]

Oh hey, Parley and Smitty are in this one.

[Nightcastle]

I mainly heard about this comic through the TVTropes page for Noodle Incident, Kat and Antimony were talking about the cursed teapot as the header picture. After jumping into it, it's one of the most unique comics I believe I have ever read.

Not sure if I should have said that, but y'know, just thought I could point that out.

[illisid]

hey guys, I think I have some insight into this chapter's name. I could be wrong, but do you think parley and smitty are in it? The title seems to suggest it.

[kickan]

I just realized what that title image reminds me of. Anyone remember The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy?

[Qiam]

I wonder if this chapter will involve Smitty, Parley, Annie, and Kat trying to help Jeanne or if it'll just be a cute chapter about Smitty and Parley.

I'm thinking the former, because that seems like something Tom would do. Making kind of an understatement to the point of trickery.

There's a good chance I'm wrong, too. I hope that he does make some progress on the Jeanne plotline, though. The last chapter was slow and nice and now it would be nice to visit some of these loose ends.

[NullEntropy]

Hopefully, some kind of limitation to Smitty's power will be revealed. Otherwise, the other characters could get him to make all their problems boring.

[kickan]

Well he basically makes things incline towards order, right? How would that affect, say, the Jeanne situation? I don't really see how it would apply in a situation like that.

[Crazy-8]

So I just got completely caught up with Gunnerkrigg court, and I really started getting hooked at chapter 6

[rj lake]

clearly the current chapter is about boxbot

[Triangle Man]

clearly the current chapter is about boxbot

Ugh, BOXBOT!

Okay, but if it's too long I'm dropping the comic.