This is a little bit different than the wonderful websites portion, because it focuses on comics, found on-line that are updated very regularly. They form a story together, but each little three frame strip (the standard) has a pretty good punch line too. Each has it's full archive on the site to be read by anyone, so you can catch up fully on the story. Also, each site listed isn't ranked, but if it is listed here, I give it my full recommendation. Therefore, please go and read all of each of these. You'll find yourself ROTFLYAO. For those less web literate, that is Rolling On The Floor Laughing Your Ass Off. Enjoy!
Absurd
Notions - http://www.absurdnotions.org/
This comic has had
its ups and down, but now that it is back on a predictable Monday/ Wednesday/
Friday schedule, it's back to being a great read. It's a group of old college
friends who live together and play together (they playtest some RPGs and
the GM is as sadistic as I am!). It's a fun read, and has irony as a major
component. Take the time to get some absurd notions about this web comic.
Angst
Technology - http://www.inktank.com/AT/index.cfm
This strip is much
like a depressed PVP (see below). It follows the lives of designers
at a software company that makes some games, among other things.
This daily strip is also very similar to User Friendly (again, see below)
in it's mood and programming type jobs. I can't say exactly what
it is truly like, as it is still a puzzle to me and most of its readers.
However, it is usually fun to try to figure it out!
Bruno
the Bandit - http://www.brunothebandit.com/
This wonderful strip
has had a few set backs, and since the beginning of December 2001, has
been reduced to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday strip from it's previous daily
level. However, this hasn't reduced it's funniness. This strip is set in
your standard midieval-esq world with magic. It follows Bruno, a passable
thief, and his sidekick Fiona, the microdragon. It's lively cast of characters,
interwoven story lines, and wonderful tongue in cheek approach to the gaming
setting it wonderful. Definitely a must read!
College
Roommates From Hell - http://www.crfh.net
Strictly speaking,
this isn't a gamer comic, as gaming never actually comes up. However, any
strip where they a student with Cyclops-like (X-men) power, the destruction
of Cthulu's dog, a tentacle arm, and subliminal message T-shirts, you get
a comic that looks like like it actually a role-playing game with a sadistic
DM. It is very engrossing, especially after the first few months of archives,
and now even has an RPG based on it available. Definitely worth reading
the whole thing in its daily segments.
Dork
Tower - http://www.gamespy.com/comics/dorktower/
This is another
comic that finds itself moving to the electronic format while continuing
print magazines. These strips all are one strip laughs (it seems
outside the normal story lines) that sometimes follow themes, but gaming
dorks everywhere will love these strips. I hope they soon make them
available for print versions for off-line viewing, but right now, this
is the only way for these particular timely strips.
Faans
- http://www.faans.com
This fast paced,
often confusing comic was originally a print comic that died. Following
a science fiction and gaming club, it has the heroes live the odd lives
they love to play and read about. It's not nearly a funny as some
of the other comics on this list, but it often gives smiles and more often
pulls you in to follow the action. This is a good daily to read everyday.
The
Forge - http://www.swords-online.com/website/navigator.cgi?type=content&language=english&uid=Edi7y7383t&refid=None&from=index&goto=comic&level=user
This is something
I found recently surfing around on weapons website. Set in a fantasy world,
it focuses on the life of Jacob Smythe, son of a world's best blacksmith
who forged the legendary sword Robert. Of course, Jacob stinks as a smith,
so there is lots of potential with him and the always sarcastic Bob, er,
Robert. This is only a weekly strip updated on Wednesdays, but definitely
worth the time to read (plus, being on swords-online, you have a chance
to win the sword of your dreams!).
Foxtrot
- http://www.ucomics.com/foxtrot/viewft.htm<
Foxtrot comes from
the daily comics pages of many newspapers, and the gamer's angle comes
in through Jason, the "nerd", who plays many games, including computer
games arguments with the family's "iFruit". It's found off of uComics.com
and it's affiliates (like Dilbert.com). Good stuff.
Gaming
Guardians - http://www.gamingguardians.com/
This strip features
Graveyard Greg, and his "sidekicks" EDG and Radical, out there protecting
game systems and gamers at large. Definitely written by someone who lives
and loves gaming, and is very current (the first story dealt with is the
transition of Dungeons and Dragons to third edition). While it can be sometimes
very difficult to follow, if you keep with it, it has a definite "Sluggy"
feel to it in its insanity. The stories have become more cohesive later
on, so keep your eye on this one to keep getting better and better. Greg,
the author, looks at what the fans have said and responds. This kind of
dedication is not often found, and can only make the strip better!
General
Protection Fault (GPF) - http://www.gpf-comics.com/
GPF isn't really
gamer focused. It's "Geek" focused. Gaming does get talked
about, as do Trekkies, but this daily strip (except Sundays) is well worth
the leisurely read. Especially as the plot is really moving now! Get to
it and read from the beginning before this weird futuristic story line
ends!
Kevin
& Kell - http://www.kevinandkell.com/
Kevin and Kell is
the oldest of the web comics I have ever known. Therefore, their archives
are huge and EVERY story is worth reading. It is now a daily strip, but
previously was only M-F. The gaming is on-line role-playing, and this is
explored very well, especially with Lindesfarne's creation of "Humans".
Definitely great!
Knights
of the Dinner Table - http://www.kenzerco.com/periodicals/kodt/kodtonline_current.php
Yes, this is the
same Knights known for the great print strip. In an effort to get
to do other ideas with the Knights, they are now posting three times a
week another page of a continuing story line, which, while funny, requires
reading everything. However, if this first Hacknoia story line is
any indicator, we will be laughing many more body parts off even before
we get our monthly comics/
Little
Gamers - http://www.little-gamers.com
This strip is really
a pure mix of Penny Arcade, Sinfest, and the South Park TV Show.
Very focused on video game systems and ripping each other down, this silly
strip even mocks other strips on this page. No set storyline, but
for this kind of junk, who needs in. Appears Monday through Friday.
Nodwick
- http://www.gaamespy.com/comics/nodwick/gamespyarchive/newnodwick.html
Our favorite henchman
has made the jump to the world wide web. Follow him and his inept
masters as they go around their world and almost destroy it! This
has the great color art we've come to know from Aaron Williams, and thus
can sometimes be long loading. But trust me, it is worth the wait.
Nukees
- http://www.nukees.com/
Nukees follows a
group of students in the physics department of a large university. The
go and have fun as physics students are want to do: Games and building/blowing-up
stuff. Only 3 times a week, but once you get to "Teri", you'll see why
I recommend this. I feel like I've been in this story. Look for you friends
here.
Penny
Arcade - http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3
When I first heard
about this Monday/Wednesday/Friday comic, I thought it would be a silly
little cartoon about arcades. Oh, how wrong I was! This vicious
and volitile comic has a deep hate for many things, and the artist often
uses it to display his personal opinions, especially about home video game
systems (PS2, Gamecube, etc.). The punch lines often don't often
follow from the rest of the strip, but as it is all about taking bits of
sense from a truly senseless (and humorous) world, it is appropriate.
P
V P - http://www.pvponline.com/
This daily comic
was a great discovery. It focuses around the office of the true gamers'
dream job: a game review magazine. The comic is heavily focused on electronic
games, but it also focuses a lot on the relationships of gamers (toward
other gamers, best friend gamers, and S.O. gamer relationships). I laugh
too hard with each one I read. Plus, it even mocks another comic on this
page (usually they refer to each other with some reverence, but this comic
actually dedicates a little room to mock, and I love it!). Heck, it's popular
enough now that it is published as a bi-monthly comic book from Dork Storm
Presses, which should say something about it's quality. Please read Player
Versus Player (what PVP is short for), because it you do, Skull promises
to loan me the gaming fez. Oh, the power...
Real
Life Comics - http://www.reallifecomics.com
This amusing comic
looks closely at us gamers and our facination with the games we love.
This often sobering look at ourselves pulls sarcastic wit and confusion
to make its point while keeping us smiling. This daily is yet another
good Keenspot comic.
RPG
World - http://www.rpgworldcomic.com
Anyone who has played
or seen the Final Fantasy series of games (especially VII and earlier)
will love how this series loves to look at the lack of logic of the games
and similar one. From the character's viewpoint, this is funny.
From the perspective of someone who hasn't played them much, it's even
better! Enjoy Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday!
Sinfest
- http://www.sinfest.net
No, it's not just
a random porno site. Another "psuedo-game" comic, this one is like mixing
gangster personas into Inomine games, and adding some very edgy ethical
views, raunchy topics, and cute dog and cat sketches. Not for everyone,
and the later stuff is some of the best, but worth the quick look at least...
Sluggy
Freelance - http://www.sluggy.com/
This is the web
comic to measure all other web comics against! Pete Abrams created this
little odd strip and since then the cult following has been stupendous.
Starting with the devil getting summoned into a computer, it allows all
sorts of play that only a truly evil storyteller can come up with. Follow
Torg, Riff, Zoe, Bun-Bun (the switchblade wielding mini-lop), Kiki (the
ADHD ferret), and others through this bizzar little trip. Trust me, you'll
like it (or Ay-lee will eat you, let me check my notes...).
User
Friendly - http://www.userfriendly.org/static/
User Friendly us
a strip for the Unix geek. If you love computers, and know computers, and
find Unix and Doom jokes funny, then this is the strip for you. If you're
not a computer peson, then skip this one. It's a great strip, but background
in LINUX REALLY does help. Enjoy!
These are strips
I'm thinking about adding to this page. Let me know what you think!
To keep track of when to read each of these, here is a chart showing when to read new strips.
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Also, as always, I'm looking at new strips for possible addition to this list. Please let me know what you think of these:
http://www.i-mockery.com/PixelPals/
http://www.dieselsweeties.com/
These are only the strips I read that really relate to gaming. I read more. If you agree with me on these strips, e-mail me and I'll send you more great strips!