In Print: MegaTokyo 193
MartyJG writes "Freg Gallagher certainly has a talent for announcing things with a maximum of words - the summary of his latest rant on Megatokyo however, is that his webcomic is about to get a dead-tree hardcopy version produced by some nice people at Studio Ironcat. The first volume is going to be 120 pages, with additional off-line-only content. The announcement also includes a new webserver on order, and new merchandise soon to be available with the help of ThinkGeek. All the background on the announcement is in the current MT Piro rant and their very official-looking Press Release."
Webcomics suck without exception (Score:2, Funny)
Another recommendation (Score:1)
Unicorn Jelly [unicornjelly.com]
The comic is best described as a science-fiction/fantasy story, but that hardly scratches the surface of the alien physics that run the world, the believeable, well-fleshed out characters, and the just plain entertaining plot. Not to mention that it's drawn in a light-hearted, anime-influenced style. The fact that it is really obscure should also appeal to the average slashdotter.
So, you saw... (Score:1)
Freg Gallagher: Talented Artist, No Story Skillz (Score:1, Flamebait)
Faster story pace is not always better. (Score:1)
Re:Freg Gallagher: Talented Artist, No Story Skill (Score:2)
And in particular, Largo was morphed from a drunk weirdo back into an articulate, interesting character (with a cool thing!) that actually speaks to the other people around.
I look forward to buying lots of Megatokyo in print.
Re:Freg Gallagher: Talented Artist, No Story Skill (Score:2)
Re:Freg Gallagher: Talented Artist, No Story Skill (Score:2)
I guess that explains something (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:1)
I really like the idea of having this available in a collected paper version. That way people who enjoy slow progression can get their fix online, and easily frustrated people like myself can avoid it compleatly and simply buy the collected works.
Dreaming Away. (Score:2)
I, personally, have been reading EN since practically the beginning. It's been impressive to see Poe's style evolve, along with the EN characters and storyline. I was actually saddened by ****'s (in case anyone decides to start reading, I won't spoil it for ya) murder last week. I know that I'll be sad to see EN go, but Poe is, so far, doing an excellent job at bringing about the end.
I'll be one of the first to visit his new comic, Errant Story (domain already registered), when EN ends. I really hope that Poe puts all of EN into a book when the series ends. I'd be more than willing to lay down $20-$25 for a hardbacked EN collection.
More OnTopic, Congrats to Piro. I'll be buying a MT book when it's released. I certainly can't complain about the $8.95 price. I still want Gabe and Tycho to make a PA Year Two book. While MT is decidedly excellent PA is, IMHO, the best web comic out there.
Re:Dreaming Away. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Dreaming Away. (Score:2)
Mac Hall, OTOH, I agree, is better in both art and humor, but I was put off on it for a long time this year when it was updated once a week at best. I think it's great and all, and I appreciate all Ian does for it, but part of what I appreciate about PA is that without fail on MWF I get a new PA. I know Ian has the same problems that the rest of us do (like work and classes getting in the way), and I respect that, and I hope he can keep his new schedule into the next school year.
And who said we don't count rants for humor?
I almost always save PA for last when I read comics (and follow the link off RL), because they both almost always brighten my day. Lately, I'm saving Exploitation Now for last, since it is wraping up and, as I said before, Poe is doing a spectacular job.
Anyway, that's just my opinion(TM). You're entitled to your own, unless you live in China. Then you're part of the hive-mind.
Later.
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:1)
They always have a product or service you can buy to offset thier costs, but they never shove it down your throat.
any time piro isn't on time with a comic, it's because he's taking care of his wife or full time job. i'd much rather him complete one strip a week then sacrafice his 'real life'.
Re:I guess that explains something (Score:2)
Seriously, I don't see how people find the nerve to complain about the frequency of updates on something someone is doing for free. It irritates me to no end, and I'm not even the target of criticism. Give it a rest.
I wish you people would stop creating undue stress for webcomic artists like Piro. If you keep doing it they're going to pack it up and leave, which ruins it for people who don't mind taking 10 seconds out of their busy days to check for an update.
l33t (Score:1)
#9 - speak l33t [megatokyo.com]
Re:l33t (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re:If you lik (Score:1)
8-bit Theater [nuklearpower.com]
Movie Comics [movie-comics.com]
Kick ass.
Re:If you lik (Score:1)
Strange Candy: Okashina Okashi [keenspace.com]
Tsunami Channel [keenspace.com]
Re:If you lik (Score:1)
FOG Club Adventure - http://fogclub.keenspace.com/
Sinfest - http://www.sinfest.net/
Ozy and Millie - http://www.ozyandmillie.org/
Chopping Block - http://www.choppingblock.org/
Diesel Sweeties - http://www.dieselsweeties.com/
Help Desk - http://www.ubersoft.net/
Nukees - http://www.nukees.com/
Mac Hall - http://www.machall.com/
One thing to remember about webcomics however is that it's often helpful to read them from the beginning. Since they aren't constrained by the paper they can afford to not do one-shots every day. Luckily most of them haven't been around for more than a year or three.
Re:If you lik (Score:2)
nuff said.
Cool (Score:2)
I have not read the comic in around a year, (I left off in the point where the dude was just starting to working in the store as a mascot) but from what I remember it was Kick Ass.
Re:Cool (Score:1)
Re:Cool (Score:1)
Oh yes, and yaah! Cpt Kangarooski replied to me! I can remember reading your comments for years now!
Re:Cool (Score:1)
I suppose I may as well check out this journal thing, though I doubt that I'd be bothered to post to it. Partially because, kind of like Piro, I really am not that good at regularly updating things like that. But also because the reason I enjoy
Re:Cool (Score:1)
Also now I guess I know what that 'neutral' thingummy is for. I had assumed it was a filter to get rid of posts by users that one considered to be one's enemies, but I couldn't imagine wanting to do such a thing. I mean, at the very least, what if they're right?
I'm interested in talking about things, sure. But I'm not really enough of an, erm, exhibitionist, I guess, to want to talk about my day to the world, nor really enough of a voyeur to want to read about other people's, unless in either case if it somehow ties into something of more general interest. E.g. 'I had a crappy day going with someone to the INS office, why can't we fix the INS?' (I've seen a couple of threads like this before, and it came to mind as a good example)
I suppose I could use it to catalogue glaring user interface deficiencies in everything as I encounter them (like Windows/IE not making the I-beam mouse cursor in this textarea box vanish so that it doesn't obscure text as I write it) but then I fear I'd wind up a) looking like kind of a bore b) spending far too much time on Slashdot.
Hopefully this won't disappoint you.
But -- provided that there are interesting threads and posts -- I'll continue to post generally, I'm sure.
Sweet! (Score:1)
Dead trees? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Dead trees? (Score:1)
this is frontpage /. news? (Score:2, Insightful)
Because amongst other webcomics:
Goats [goats.com] Is currently at Comicon putting out a second book.
Achewood [achewood.com] is finishing up the polishing touches on a book.
Cat and Girl [catandgirl.com] has a book going out.
As do [dieselsweeties.com] a whole [penny-arcade.com] slew [fetusx.com] of others [pvponline.com]. Why don't they get mentioned??
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:2, Insightful)
Neither of which is nearly as adorable as MegaTokyo has been at times, nor nearly as empathetic to Nerds as a whole. I mean sure Penny Arcade is kick ass in a "Well FUCK them all!" kind of a way, but MegaTokyo captures the whole entire "Well gee that sucks" aspect of being a Nerd.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
You really don't get out much do you?
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
You've got to be kidding. com2kid's id number is about 150,000 which means its at least three years old.
I came aboard
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
Nope, don't get out much.
I do type fast though.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
Me : UID 11355 / 1075 comments.
Considering I've been reading
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
Altus, who has an account somewhere in the 1000's IIRC was rooming with me at approximately the same time to give an indication of when we were reading here. (having been turned on to the site by the then-somewhat more accurate MacOS Rumors site)
Oh well. Now there'll probably be a Chips 'N Dips era reader chiming in.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
I guess you mean, 'when it was no longer possible to post without an account, unless you wanted to post as an AC', but yeah. I chose to post as an AC for a while, and then caved in like the spineless weakling that I am.
Help me to remember... when did CT and Hemos get their photos in Wired?
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
I remember they got their photos in Wired (along with all the Taco looks like Crusher jokes), but I don't remember when.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
I would like to mention that, even though I've been here for some number of years, I do actually still have something that could be called a life.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
I really like Diesel Sweeties (I did buy the book after all), but when I think 'book' I think of something that wouldn't flutter in the breeze and has a spine with the title printed on it. The Diesel Sweeties thing is more like a CD insert.
The first ExplodingDog book was actually a book, and it's really nice. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes ExplodingDog. Hopefully rstevens will make a second book that's more expansive than the first.
Re:this is frontpage /. news? (Score:1)
Hah! You want me to click a link labelled "Goats"? Not bloody likely.
Two thoughts on this (Score:1)
PVP [pvponline.com]
and possibly 8-bit Theatre [nuklearpower.com]
Numerous comics have print versions out, though. Aside from PVP and Penny Arcade above, GPF [gpf-comics.com] and I think Diesel Sweeties [dieselsweeties.com] both have offline versions. So I ought congratulate Megatokyo.
Secondly, I thought I could add to the list of worthwhile webcomics to read: :)
Penny Arcade (above)
Res Life [reslifecomics.com]
Mac Hall [machall.com]
Angst Technology [angsttechnology.com]
Zeek V2.0 [zeekonline.net]
I'll avoid the urge to shamelessly promote my own new comic
Re:Two thoughts on this (Score:1)
What's the URL?
Re:Two thoughts on this (Score:2)
Bruno [baldwinpage.com] and Sexy Losers [sexylosers.com] (talk about opposites) and User Friendly [userfriendly.org]. Bruno in particular has several "dead trees" editions available at the moody cow cafe (link on page), and definitely tells a story better paced than MT (not to diss Piro too much, I like MT just fine). Chris Baldwin is a hella nice guy to boot.
Re:Two thoughts on this (Score:2)
For the superhero in all of us.
On a side note, first time I read Megatokyo, I came in on one of their "Nani Naze Megatokyo" days.
Talk about confusing.
Re:Two thoughts on this (Score:2)
I really liked it back when I could read it, but now I check it like once every three weeks and always "No response from www.nuklearpower.com". Very sad.
Doesn't respond to pings or anything. If anybody knows what's up, could you let me know?
Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Sadly, I have seen this happening to other comics as well. Anyone remember GPF? (The comic, that is. Put down that Windows developer right now before you break something!) It used to be funny, I read it all the way from the start to the end and then religious started following it because it too had loads of simple jokes. Look [gpf-comics.com] at it right now, it's nothing but pure and utter online filth that ended up in a overdrawn B-moviesque storyline. And I'm not even going to mention the total irrelevance of MT to Slashdot or question why it ended up on the front page.
And this is a call to comic artists: Notice the ARTIST bit. It means you can draw better then most of us, it doesn't mean that you can also think up of a decent storyline. Don't get illusions of grandeur, fooling yourself that you're capable of writing a novel in comic form. Thank you.
Steps of his soapbox...
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:1)
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:5, Insightful)
But don't act all surprised about it... it's normal for the style of comic Piro is creating.
As for its relevance... webcomics are a geek thing. Megatokyo is one of THE biggest webcomics, period. He is just as relevant as news about a new anime release by a popular anime director or something... it is news for nerds.
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:1)
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:1)
It's seinen manga, for older teens (generally college age people), and targeted towards men.
Now then, I do think the original poster is being a little bit of an ass, as though he feels he is owed something by Piro.
First off, his art is several times better (and larger) than many other webcomics out there. He's also trying to build up a larger story. If he could focus on it totally like the mangaka do in Japan (where they turn out a new chapter (15-25 pages) a WEEK, then maybe you'd have a lot more of a story. But since piro is limited to the time he has, and the resources available to him, there's not much that can be done.
Personally I think the line now is great, and since it's been Piro alone, it's moved a _lot_ faster. Where you got this "Does she love me/Will I be able to bone her eventually?" being the plotline from I haven't a damn clue.
Maybe you need to stop watching cheapass daytime soaps with 50 year old cyclical plots and start exploring other stuff out there.
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:2, Informative)
Love Hina is actually a shounen manga, aimed at young males between the ages of 12 and 18.
Seinen manga would be series from magazines such as 'Young Magazine' or 'Young Jump'.
(Clue: Love Hina is currently running in Shounen Magazine.)
Re:Megatokyo? Nah.... (Score:2)
if you can't say anything nice... (Score:2)
Just imagine if ungrateful assholes like you had as open a forum as
That's the whole point of the net, it's NOT as much of a meritocracy, you don't have to already be a master in order to put something out there, hell, as you've proven so very well, anyone that can string a sentence together (and even some that can't) can inflict their literary diarrhea on the unsuspecting masses.
That you've not found the humour in the recent stories doesn't suprise me. Fortunately not all the readers of MT are at your level, and even more fortunately, Fred understands this.
Re:if you can't say anything nice... (Score:1)
Re:if you can't say anything nice... (Score:1)
Re:if you can't say anything nice... (Score:1)
Critics are nescesarry. We've got millions of critics who bother themselves with an equal ammount of topics and they are great. Why? Because they keep people on their toes and often the good critics can give you the critical advice you need to make things better. Now, you can listen to critics and try to improve things like they suggest, or you can just ignore them and do things like you want anyways. What would you choose? Would you ignore every bit of critique you receive or would you actually pay attention to serious critique and try to figure out why?
Lastly, I'd just like to point out that it's just my huble opinion on MT, as I stated. If you are so far above me according to your own post, then why can't you realize the simple fact every person got his own opinion and that you should respect other people, hmm?
That's a rhetorical question, don't asnwer it, please.
Webcomics I read (Score:2, Informative)
I still like MegaTokyo... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I still like MegaTokyo... (Score:1)
Re:I still like MegaTokyo... (Score:1)
On a related note I wonder if he will be getting any of the cash from this? it is chapter 0 which he was very involved with but he apparently has given up all rights to MT. We are talking about a man that nearly lost his job because he was hosting MT from work without their knowledge.
Re:I still like MegaTokyo... (Score:1)
-largo
thinkgeek (Score:2)
Re:thinkgeek (Score:2)
"...and new merchandise soon to be available with the help of ThinkGeek."
Re:thinkgeek (Score:2)
Re:thinkgeek (Score:2)
The internet is so old-skool! Try dead trees! (Score:1)
Err. (Score:1)
As with most webcomics, it has started to go slack a bit, but a lot of it is top-notch.
At Otakon (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re:At Otakon (Score:2)
I have to say (Score:2)
But seriously, can we mod this story down as Offtopic?
Re:I have to say (Score:2)
Because it's a difficult and laborous task to parse the subject line of each article for your own personal interest, or because you aren't aware that you aren't the center of the universe? In what way is this article offtopic?
Re:I have to say (Score:1)
My point was that it strikes me that, as was brought up my others, many web comics that deal with "News for nerds, stuff that matters" like PA and PVP (gaming) have had books published, and no story on
I don't mind getting the announcement here, in fact it's nice to have it on my home page, but I just don't see why MT get's this kind of special treatment. That's all.
For the record, the subject does personally interst me, and I am the center of the universe.
Re:I have to say (Score:2)
head won't stop shaking. (Score:2)
Support (Score:2, Insightful)
Too Little Time (Score:2)
In the past few months he's done maybe FIVE...
Re:Too Little Time (Score:1)
Will the book be annotated? (Score:1)
The main reason I don't read MegaTokyo, for all its fans and recommendations, is that I don't generally feel like translating "1337" to English. When 1337-speak shows up in the archive headings about half the time, it's probably a comic not worth my time.
That said, I don't suppose the book is going to have translations? Or is that supposed to be what makes it funny?
Would be more official if it had... (Score:2)
####
Which end EVERY press release it seems. (I dunno, there must be some method to the madness, maybe some ancient press software/hardware recognizes #### as the end of the story..)
(This wasn't as funny as I'd thought it would be.)
On a side note, I look forward to a hard copy of the comic-- I just recently began reading it, and have become quite impressed (the story just moves along a lot slower than I wish it would, heh). =)
I'll show it to you when we get back. . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Webcomics do not suck, nor are they only for "geeks with no lives and losers". In fact, I'm finding that lately print comics are starting to suck. I rarely laugh anymore if I even bother to read the comics in the paper. Any AC who disagrees can get the balls to identify themselves or shut the hell up.
Megatokyo is updated fairly regularly. I think Fred's doing the best he can manage what with working as much as he seems to do. Congratulations for making such a successful go of it this far, keep it up.
I will be buying the book, as well as some merchandise, and I hope that many of the rest of the fans will as well. If MT has been nice enough not to go banner-happy or "beg for donations" as IIRC Fred said back in the day, then the least we could do is buy some stuff. 3v1l/l337 shirt? Sure!
This is justifiably newsworthy, considering how many non-keenspot comics do something like this. It's news for nerds. How many nerds don't read at least one webcomic? How many don't read MT?
MT has always had a fairly excellent storyline, and unless the latest comics were written before Rodney left, then you can't really say that it was funnier before he did leave. Lately, every comic with Largo in it has been, IMO, hilariously funny, especially the comic about his "special thing" that "does cool stuff". I'm still laughing at that one.
If you don't like the update schedule, do what many people I know do and read it monthly.
That's enough ranting for today, I'm here all week. Try the veal, it's delicious.
Re:I'll show it to you when we get back. . . (Score:2)
I've been pleasantly surprised by two print comics though.
First and foremost: Thieves and Kings by Mark Oakley (M'Oak). I give it 10 stars out of five
Order the first four trade paperbacks from marsimports.com now now now!! (it's self-published, so give the guy your support!)
The plot is *killer*. I especially like the fact that there's one or two pages in almost every issue that are text only (with a little bit of art around the edge), so you really get your money's worth in plot development. Especially when it's stuff that can't really be described well in comic format. (like one text block that goes into describing the background of a dragon to explain his psychological development. That would have suffered in comic form - it would have been like "just get back to the story!", but as a text insert it adds considerably to the flavor and impact of the character)
Secondly... you've probably had other people recommend it to you already, but they're actually right in this case: Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez. It takes a little while to get into the main plot, but it creeps me out like an H.P. Lovecraft story when the doughboys start seriously talking and stuff. The advantage of this one is that the story is finished and you can buy it all in one trade paperback (the "Director's Cut").
Looks like there'll be a third print comic I like once dead-tree-MT comes out
DIE (Score:1)
More webcomics ^_^ (Score:1)
Ghastly's [keenspace.com] Annie the hardcore gamer [keenspace.com]
T.A.Vision [keenspace.com]
Tangs Comics [keenspace.com]
Sunday Morning Coffee [keenspace.com](on hold)
Well, if everybody else is pimpin their faves... (Score:1)
Well, admitting to being a PA [penny-arcade.com] fan is absolutely pointless in this list, but I for one would like to mention www.sluggy.com [sluggy.com] as my other major favorite webcomic. This guy has an incredible amount of content: Ongoing storylines, good funny content, changing cast of characters. Sure, you can bash my opinion all you want, but this is a guy who's been seriously paying the bills for a while as a webcomic. He's got 7 books of it selling on Amazon!
So if you're willing to lose days to something other than Nethack [nethack.org], try reading Sluggy from the beginning [sluggy.com]
Just Kidding... here is my comment... (Score:1)
Re:Karma Burn... (Score:1)
Re:Karma Burn... (Score:2)
Re:Karma Burn... (Score:2, Insightful)
I disagree. It may not be "news for linux geeks", but most of Megatokyo's fans are nerds. Thus, news regarding Megatokyo is "news for nerds".
Re:Lame (Score:1)
My address is:
417 S. Manning
Munice IN.
I await your judgment.
Re:Lame (Score:1)
Re:Ahh, Megatokyo (Score:1)
To put in MTS (my two cents), MegaTokyo is a great webcomic and yes, the plot is taking a little while to unfold but if it didn't you'd all bitch (those who are bitching) about "no character development" or some such shite. Either you like the comic or you don't. End of story. Critique it if you must but get over the "NERD MAD, BASH TOPIC" syndrome.