Seven sweet Web comics for geeks
The mere fact that web comics exist imbues them with a slight sense of geekiness, the fact that you can get your daily comic hit online is almost absurd with someone who grew up in the era of weekly strips and mags, and I still remember Bunty with a certain nostalgia. There are a lot of really intelligent and funny web comics out there, and these are a few of my favourites for you to enjoy. They all have their own brand of geekiness, from the web comics that revolve around computer hackers and their exploits to those that mock the latest gadgets, from iPhones to E3 escapades.
Heidi, Geek Girl Detective
This comic has been going for a number of years and stars Heidi, a web expert with a complex past and a fondness for khaki colours. She uses her computer skills to solve crimes and her adventures tend to involve a lot of processing and downloading, with the odd break in. She’s smart, sassy and sarcastic and you’ll love the dry humour and the way all her hacker friends have pseudonyms, e.g., Fruit Cup Boy. I also love how you’ll actually learn about tech whilst reading it, as the author doesn’t shy away from descriptions of web proxies etc in the text,
(pictured above).
Check out Heidi, Geek Girl Detective here.
Diesel Sweeties
This is an amusing pixelated comic that originated in the year 2000. It’s written by Richard Stevens the Third (I know, eye roll) and is highly entertaining. It revolves around the awkward relationship between Maura and Clango (an ex porn star and a robot) with a cast of interesting characters, from morose indie boys to goth kids and the dynamic and the one liners are always spot on. It takes a while to get used to the graphical style, but once you’ve stopped squinting you’ll really enjoy it.
The Oatmeal
I’m a huge fan of this website and have written about it before. Created by Matthew Inman, it features cute kooky comics with an infographic feel and fun quizzes and commentary. It’s not a traditional long form comic, but the fact that it’s bite size makes it easy to dip in and out of. Great stories include why Printers were sent from hell , The C Word and Why some Emails go unanswered.
The Joy of Tech
The Joy of Tech webcomic is much loved in the technology industry for managing to pertinently mock whatever is the latest topic of the moment, be it eBooks, Internet dating or the latest Apple release. Created by two Canadians (Liza Schmalcel and Bruce Evans) it publishes three times a week. It has been going from 1999, and if you check out the back issues you really get a sense of how tech has evolved over time. Smart and sharp- this is the comic for tech-heads.
Check out the Joy of Tech here.
Questionable Content
This comic updates daily, and has been going for a seriously long time, with the first strip going live on the 1st August 2003. I know, unbelievable huh? It revolves around a couple of main characters with occasional bit players making an appearance for a few strips. The plot revolves around Marten Reed, a miserable indie boy who is hopeless with girls and awkward with people. His best friend is called Pintsize and is an actual COMPUTER (or Anthro PC as they call him in the script). Marten lives with Dora, a girl with major issues, who hates her job working in a coffee shop. Major angst and the stress of quarter life crisis’ are evident in the text and there is something really familiar about their situations as it mirrors the darker side of adult life- when things are OK, but not quite living the dream. It’s written by Jeph Jacques, a 31 year old with a love for sarcasm and web interaction, and hopefully will go on forever!
Check out Questionable Content here.
HiJinks Ensue
Hijinks Ensue is written by Joel Watson, and follows a non linear format. There is no continuing storyline, just lots of entertaining strips with a geek themed, from gaming issues to television references. If you’re a fan of technology, sci-fi, 80’s TV and cartoons you’ll get the gist pretty quickly, otherwise it may not be for you. I like how it addresses modern day issues with its own slant, and how Joel captures the issues everyday people have with their tech.
This comic was created in 2002 by Tim Buckley and is updated throughout the working week. It’s amazing to think this has existed for so long- and to look back at old issues when technology was much slower and less developed. It focuses on gamer interactions and their relationships both on and off line. Later issues focus on events such as the E3 gaming expo, the latest Medal of Honor, etc. Ethan MacManus is the main character and has grown from a teen into a reasonably adjusted twenty something who is often carried away in his own world. Supported by a cast of quirky friends, the story progresses towards his awakening into real life- whatever that may be.
Check out Ctrl Alt Delete out here.
What web comics do you like to read?
