Category: Editorials

Comic Strips on the Internet! How Novel!

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hisuiconWhile I was at work today a thought suddenly dawned on me. Everyday after I clock the first thing I do is read my daily web comics. It is a ritualized activity for me that I do like most people have breakfast or a cup of coffee to start the work day.  But I realized a very important fact I never thought about before. I don’t really know anything about the web comics community nor have I ever really participated in that community despite reading web comics quite religiously.

hisuiconIt is odd because even if I do not immerse myself in a hobby I usually have some idea of the inner politics of a fandom due to nerd osmosis. (Nerd osmosis being the process in which you just passively pick up information about other nerd hobbies without much effort due to nerd interests intersecting on a fairly regular basis). But despite reading Sluggy Freelance for over a decade I don’t really participate in comic forums or even follow any of the artists of comics I read on twitter. I do follow several web comic artists like Kara Dennison, Magical Emi, and Anatole_serial but never because they are web comic artists. What about webcomics let me be so cursory about them when I usually get into the meta details of any fandom I am a part of?

hisuiconUsually when I enter a fandom I go to research the heck out of it. I look at the history of the hobby, what people like and dislike about various titles, who are the king makers and the pariahs, and what trends shape up the medium. But for some reason I log in every day with my web comics, enjoy what I read, and then think no more on it. Is it because web comics are just a diverse medium that I don’t see it as a monolithic fandom, is web comic fandom just a quiet fandom in general, is my daily time with each strip so short that I don’t feel the need to dig deeper, or is it something else? There has to be a difference but I just can’t put my finger on it. If any one has a clue please let me know.

hisuiconBefore anyone asks I will say that the web comics I regularly read are:

hisuiconBy the way if you want to plug your own comic, recommend me something, or just talk about the web comic community then leave me a comment below.

Completing a Series

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Everyone has their own various ways of watching anime and mine have changed over the years. Since I was introduced to it through a friend, I originally tended to watch in a group. But as my fandom grew I started to also watch things on my own. Up until perhaps the 2000s, in either of these scenarios I would watch anything and everything to the (sometimes bitter) end as long as I could find it. But I am not a completionist at heart.

So, as the availability of anime has grown, my tolerance for watching things that I’m not enjoying has dropped close to zero. That isn’t to say I won’t give a show a fair shake or the minute a show steps out of line I forget about it immediately, no, I’ve hung on from time to time. But my point is the minute I find myself complaining about a series too much, I let go. I’ve even been known to do this near the end. Afterall, the likelihood of someone else (whose opinion I trust) finishing it nowadays is great so I can find out if I should continue or not.

This is my entertainment after all, it seems silly to go too far in misery! The only real exception is if I’m watching with someone else, this can account for why I watched all of Banner of the Stars II and Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory among others.

So in general, when I finish a show it has a lot of meaning, personally. Something about the show was compelling enough to want to know how it ends; not merely want to say I finished it. With so many options, it only seems sensible for me.

What are your viewing habits?

The Speakeasy #020: The GaoGaiGar, Learning to Love Robots

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Anime 3000 presents The Speakeasy Podcast:
Drink #020: The GaoGaiGar, Learning to Love Robots

With our special guest Carl from Ogiue Maniax, we look at one of the most off-putting genres in anime. Mecha is one of the few not phonographic genres that people easily decide they despise. At the same time, it is a genre that has a fanatical base of fans that can turn away anyone who is not  predisposed to liking robot shows. This is the podcast for anyone who has tried a mecha anime and decided they do not go together. This is also for anyone who is trying to get their more skittish friends to watch robots. We present a selection of shows that have enough robots to qualify as mecha while not being too down the rabbit hole. You might not find yourself building Gundam models while watching Mazinkaiser SKL but you might also not run away any time you see Valkyrie on the screen.

(Listen)

And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:

GaoGaiGar

First, separately mix each of these:
Robot
Orange Lion
Bullet Train
Drill
Stealth Bomber

Simultaneously pour the robot and Orange Lion into a large glass while shouting FUUUUSIOOOON!!!
Once the pouring is complete shout the name of your new drink: Gai! Gar!
Then wait for Final Fusion to be approved.
Once Final Fusion is approved and the Program Drive has been activated shout FINAL! FUUUSIOOOON! and pour the Drill, Bullet Train, and Stealth Bomber into the GaiGar as heroic music swells in the background. Once this is complete loudly shout to the heavens the name of your King of Drinks: GAO! GAI! GAAAAARRRR!