One of the reasons we haven’t updated this in so long is because it takes a while to read a webcomic enough to feel like we have a good handle on it.
Another reason is because we don’t necessarily want to be critical of webcomics without having done our due diligence.
So one of the new comics I decided to check out recently has been White Ninja Comics…and I’m really torn about this one.
Right off the bat, the art isn’t very good. This isn’t a shock, as one of the great democratizing features of webcomics is the fact that you don’t, in fact, have to be a good artist to publish your comic. The art, though, isn’t without it’s charm, and I actually find it pretty funny the way things are labeled (because otherwise you probably wouldn’t know what they are). I’m sort of reminded of a stripped-down S.C.U.D.: The Disposable Assassin—but without the story.
Because art aside, though, it’s the writing that would have to make or break a strip like this, and unfortunately, it’s often not there.
Literally—there’s often no story or dialogue whatsoever.
What you end up with, then, are strips that are essentially nonsensical. Take this one, for example:
Now, I think this is actually pretty funny—the last panel in particular. But what the hell does it mean?
No clue.
Or how about this one?
Again, I find this amusing, and the last panel reminds me of Gary Larson at his best (the idea, mind you, not the art), but again the humor is in the absurdity.
Regrettably, the whole point of the strip seems to be absurdity for absurdity’s sake.
Now don’t get me wrong—I think that can have a place. Sometimes you just need a little bit of whimsy in your life.
But rather a lot like The Book of Biff, the whimsy gets in the way of regular reading. The absurdity isn’t consistently funny.
For me, then, White Ninja Comic just isn’t a priority; it’s not “must-read” webcomicry. I’d rather get excited about the latest Dr. McNinja and be on my way.
What do you think?
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