First off, I'm an idiot. In my absence from writing these posts I stuck the review of Questionable Content into the Off-Topic Discussion forum. I'm not sure how to get it moved here and I don't really want to bother any Escapist staff to have it done, so I'm simply apologizing for being a dope.
Legend of Bill is a strange piece to talk about. For one thing, David Reddick actually hosts three comics from a shared universe on his website. Yes, I reviewed them all.
The first thing that caught my attention with this webcomic is something about comics as a whole, the three panel delivery system. Bill Watterson once cited when working on Calvin and Hobbes how the Sunday papers strict limits on space hurt what he felt he could do in the medium of comics. His point is well taken, and one of the things that webcomics allow artists to do now is expand beyond the limitations of the panel system to create something more original. Whether this is something like Looking for Group or Goblins having multi-panel strips with varying arrangements or if the panels exist and don't exist at the discretion of the artist.
This isn't to say I like or dislike the panel system. Three and four panel design creates a tightly organized presentation that challenges the artist and can lead to better material. Penny Arcade is definitely an example of this, Mike and Jerry deliberately work to keep within the three panels so the humor is nuanced. In the case of Legend of Bill I got the impression Reddick simply wanted to use an existing formula with a loose concept to generate a comic and see what happened from there.
Legend of Bill focuses on the titular hero who is a bumbling embarrassment to Conan assisted by his sarcastic and barely more competent dragon companion, Frank. They eventually meet and are persuaded (by boobs... you know... because he's a guy and guys like boobs, get it?!) to help Gina, a warrior princess. Supposedly, hilarity ensues.
It should be a pretty fair warning to most people that Reddick works for Paws Inc., the conglomerate behind Garfield. Garfield hasn't been funny for years, arguably decades, but for the depressingly hilarious online version, Garfield Minus Garfield. In other words, I don't find Legend of Bill an especially rewarding or funny read. The characters undergo almost no development, the plots are simple and don't really get me invested in what is happening. There's a good bit about dark lords and destinies and undoing the future, but that's relatively standard fantasy fare. It seems like Reddick tried to swing some more serious ideas into a goofy comic and it's not especially effective. Also, I like comics with sex and adult themes to them when done well, Menage a 3 is a great example of this, but with halfway hints towards these themes it just falls a bit bland and unfunny. There's ample shots of scantily clad fantasy women, but that's just an easy gag at a well-known fantasy trope.
The art is pretty, very colorful and expressive with a distinct blend of classic print comic style and original character looks, especially for Bill and Frank. The art doesn't raise the quality of the jokes though. I don't think it's a good sign that I found the homages/jabs at other fantasy webcomics the funniest of the bunch. Overall I can't say that I love Legend of Bill, but there's also nothing to really dislike about it, it's a passable comic.
And that's where I would have left it until I reached the 2011 comics. This is why I read every comic building up to the most recent ones. Suddenly, Reddick busted open his (extremely tedious and dull) world-building to a great expansive world. Or at least he tried to. Simultaneously his art started breaking out of three-panels at different points. It still doesn't really work, he's trying to keep the humor and provide a real, deep back story for his characters. The problem is it always happens with extensive back stories for every character and somehow everyone is related? Everybody met at one time or another? That's his sister? It's too coincidental and irritating. Still, I like the attempt at something a little more thoughtful than the early comics. As I always say, others may like this comic more than I do, but it just doesn't ever climb above mediocre for me.
The other comics on the site, Barwench Tales and The Gnome Syndicate, are off-shoots of Reddick's work with guest artists helping with strips on a semi-regular basis. The gnomes act as a sort of overlord watcher group that tries to prevent disaster through inept magical bureaucracy. In the main comic they, and Gnome 12, are usually more amusing than the main characters. In their standalone offering they are so-so, Kevin Vessey does the writing and artwork for this comic and it's a slight variation on Reddick's. The tone is also a bit more sexual, but nothing ever crosses into NSFW territory.
Barwench Tales is as straightforward as the title. There's a barwench. She works in a fantasy themed tavern. She's ornery. There are other characters and patrons, most comics usually end in violence. The art and writing is done by Jason Williams and it's on par with the main comic. Perfectly fine, cartoonish, and colorful. It's just not very funny.
I don't think Legend of Bill will hold the interest of most readers for long, but it's got some decent, old school print funny humor at times and some of the characters, especially in the more recent comics, might grab a reader. Check it out at www.legendofbill.com if you are interested.
Legend of Bill is a strange piece to talk about. For one thing, David Reddick actually hosts three comics from a shared universe on his website. Yes, I reviewed them all.
The first thing that caught my attention with this webcomic is something about comics as a whole, the three panel delivery system. Bill Watterson once cited when working on Calvin and Hobbes how the Sunday papers strict limits on space hurt what he felt he could do in the medium of comics. His point is well taken, and one of the things that webcomics allow artists to do now is expand beyond the limitations of the panel system to create something more original. Whether this is something like Looking for Group or Goblins having multi-panel strips with varying arrangements or if the panels exist and don't exist at the discretion of the artist.
This isn't to say I like or dislike the panel system. Three and four panel design creates a tightly organized presentation that challenges the artist and can lead to better material. Penny Arcade is definitely an example of this, Mike and Jerry deliberately work to keep within the three panels so the humor is nuanced. In the case of Legend of Bill I got the impression Reddick simply wanted to use an existing formula with a loose concept to generate a comic and see what happened from there.
Legend of Bill focuses on the titular hero who is a bumbling embarrassment to Conan assisted by his sarcastic and barely more competent dragon companion, Frank. They eventually meet and are persuaded (by boobs... you know... because he's a guy and guys like boobs, get it?!) to help Gina, a warrior princess. Supposedly, hilarity ensues.
It should be a pretty fair warning to most people that Reddick works for Paws Inc., the conglomerate behind Garfield. Garfield hasn't been funny for years, arguably decades, but for the depressingly hilarious online version, Garfield Minus Garfield. In other words, I don't find Legend of Bill an especially rewarding or funny read. The characters undergo almost no development, the plots are simple and don't really get me invested in what is happening. There's a good bit about dark lords and destinies and undoing the future, but that's relatively standard fantasy fare. It seems like Reddick tried to swing some more serious ideas into a goofy comic and it's not especially effective. Also, I like comics with sex and adult themes to them when done well, Menage a 3 is a great example of this, but with halfway hints towards these themes it just falls a bit bland and unfunny. There's ample shots of scantily clad fantasy women, but that's just an easy gag at a well-known fantasy trope.
The art is pretty, very colorful and expressive with a distinct blend of classic print comic style and original character looks, especially for Bill and Frank. The art doesn't raise the quality of the jokes though. I don't think it's a good sign that I found the homages/jabs at other fantasy webcomics the funniest of the bunch. Overall I can't say that I love Legend of Bill, but there's also nothing to really dislike about it, it's a passable comic.
And that's where I would have left it until I reached the 2011 comics. This is why I read every comic building up to the most recent ones. Suddenly, Reddick busted open his (extremely tedious and dull) world-building to a great expansive world. Or at least he tried to. Simultaneously his art started breaking out of three-panels at different points. It still doesn't really work, he's trying to keep the humor and provide a real, deep back story for his characters. The problem is it always happens with extensive back stories for every character and somehow everyone is related? Everybody met at one time or another? That's his sister? It's too coincidental and irritating. Still, I like the attempt at something a little more thoughtful than the early comics. As I always say, others may like this comic more than I do, but it just doesn't ever climb above mediocre for me.
The other comics on the site, Barwench Tales and The Gnome Syndicate, are off-shoots of Reddick's work with guest artists helping with strips on a semi-regular basis. The gnomes act as a sort of overlord watcher group that tries to prevent disaster through inept magical bureaucracy. In the main comic they, and Gnome 12, are usually more amusing than the main characters. In their standalone offering they are so-so, Kevin Vessey does the writing and artwork for this comic and it's a slight variation on Reddick's. The tone is also a bit more sexual, but nothing ever crosses into NSFW territory.
Barwench Tales is as straightforward as the title. There's a barwench. She works in a fantasy themed tavern. She's ornery. There are other characters and patrons, most comics usually end in violence. The art and writing is done by Jason Williams and it's on par with the main comic. Perfectly fine, cartoonish, and colorful. It's just not very funny.
I don't think Legend of Bill will hold the interest of most readers for long, but it's got some decent, old school print funny humor at times and some of the characters, especially in the more recent comics, might grab a reader. Check it out at www.legendofbill.com if you are interested.