Things like Dr. McNinja?
April 22, 2014 10:00 AM Subscribe
I'm enjoying the breathlessly ridiculous tone and pace of Dr. McNinja, which I think does a great job of avoiding the unstoppable-force vs. unmovable-wall dynamic of mainstream superhero comics. It plays fast and loose with everything, and has a fine sense of the absurd. It is only occasionally problematic (racist, homophobic) in its juvenile sensibilities, which is way better than most of its competition. What movies, books, and comics are comparable?
JL8 is delightful and hilarious and nearly perfect.
The Non-Adventures of Wonderella isn't a serial comic, but it's hilarious and brilliantly deconstructive.
Schlock Mercenary is consistently funny and well-plotted, if you also like science fiction.
Order of the Stick is also consistently funny and well-plotted, if you like role-playing games.
Strong Female Protagonist isn't as funny as those others, but it's a damn good story told well.
Manly Guys Doing Manly Things isn't very serialized, but it's pretty funny and well-done.
Nimona is just a fantastic mashup of fantasy, sci-fi and superhero stuff.
posted by Etrigan at 10:18 AM on April 22, 2014
The Non-Adventures of Wonderella isn't a serial comic, but it's hilarious and brilliantly deconstructive.
Schlock Mercenary is consistently funny and well-plotted, if you also like science fiction.
Order of the Stick is also consistently funny and well-plotted, if you like role-playing games.
Strong Female Protagonist isn't as funny as those others, but it's a damn good story told well.
Manly Guys Doing Manly Things isn't very serialized, but it's pretty funny and well-done.
Nimona is just a fantastic mashup of fantasy, sci-fi and superhero stuff.
posted by Etrigan at 10:18 AM on April 22, 2014
The adventures of Argon Zark
The first plotline starts here and that story was completed.
The sequel starts here, and it's hanging half-done. Even so it's worth reading.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:24 AM on April 22, 2014
The first plotline starts here and that story was completed.
The sequel starts here, and it's hanging half-done. Even so it's worth reading.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:24 AM on April 22, 2014
Warren Ellis' Nextwave series is pretty good at the things you're looking for.
posted by mikurski at 10:54 AM on April 22, 2014
posted by mikurski at 10:54 AM on April 22, 2014
The Middleman, a TV series that was cancelled way too soon.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:39 PM on April 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 12:39 PM on April 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
The webcomics Narbonic (completed story; read the version w/o commentary first) by Shaenon K. Garrity and Skin Horse (ongoing), by Garrity and Jeffery Channing Wells, are both pretty absurd. Narbonic is just plain mad scientists and their minions. Skin Horse is about the government department that provides social services for non-human sapients.
They're definitely willing to play fast-and-loose with any rules they can invent. They tend to be a little cutesy-er, but less problematic than McNinja.
posted by sibilatorix at 3:25 PM on April 22, 2014
They're definitely willing to play fast-and-loose with any rules they can invent. They tend to be a little cutesy-er, but less problematic than McNinja.
posted by sibilatorix at 3:25 PM on April 22, 2014
These comics may not all be exactly what you're looking for, but I think they're in the neighborhood, or just plain awesome.
Webcomics:
Grrl Power
League Of Super Redundant Heroes
Spinnerette
Superbitch
Serenity Rose
Derelict
Fey Winds
Flaky Pastry
Girl Genius
Power Nap
reMIND
FreakAngels
Movies:
Super
Kick-Ass
Green Hornet
Mystery Men
The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto (you did say "juvenile sensibilities")
posted by the big lizard at 4:36 PM on April 22, 2014
Webcomics:
Grrl Power
League Of Super Redundant Heroes
Spinnerette
Superbitch
Serenity Rose
Derelict
Fey Winds
Flaky Pastry
Girl Genius
Power Nap
reMIND
FreakAngels
Movies:
Super
Kick-Ass
Green Hornet
Mystery Men
The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto (you did say "juvenile sensibilities")
posted by the big lizard at 4:36 PM on April 22, 2014
Buck Godot: The Gallimaufrey
It was originally an 8-issue BW comic done by Phil Foglio. Eventually someone spent a huge amount of time colorizing it, and then Foglio posted it to his web site for free reading.
"Breathlessly ridiculous" describes it perfectly.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:37 PM on April 22, 2014
It was originally an 8-issue BW comic done by Phil Foglio. Eventually someone spent a huge amount of time colorizing it, and then Foglio posted it to his web site for free reading.
"Breathlessly ridiculous" describes it perfectly.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 4:37 PM on April 22, 2014
Yes, yes, yes, Narbonic! Shaenon Garrity is brilliant, and I'm only a little biased because my husband commissioned her to produce the comic he used to propose. Very clever world, and I find the fact that it is completed and can be consumed entirely very satisfying. You may also enjoy Gunnerkrigg Court, Girl Genius, and A Girl and Her Fed.
Apparently, what I'm saying is that you should read these things with interesting female protagonists. (Well, Narbonic has a female mad scientist, but whatever. I'm fond of her.)
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:27 AM on April 23, 2014
Apparently, what I'm saying is that you should read these things with interesting female protagonists. (Well, Narbonic has a female mad scientist, but whatever. I'm fond of her.)
posted by bowtiesarecool at 5:27 AM on April 23, 2014
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