Art Style

Much like his other up-to-date comic, Shorpacked, Willis’ art style is clear and sharp, with the use of colors and detailed settings making it more than just a dialogue comic.  I enjoy the fact that it isn’t computer-generated—as I sometimes have a very hard time finding such artwork to be fun—and I know that he puts a lot of time and effort into his artwork, so I give him a huge thumbs-up for all the work that he does.  I especially like the in-jokes that he sometimes puts in a panel, with a character from one of his previous comics shown in the background in a hilarious fashion that has not yet (if at all) been revealed in the main continuity of the comic itself; it is very much a nod to the fans that he’s had over the years (such as myself) who are probably the only ones who can make out such appearances.  The best part of the artwork is that it is really easy to follow, not distracting from the dialogue or progression of the comic itself, and therefore not only complements the comic, but also makes it.


Writing and Dialogue



The stories are very involving and creative, focusing on several characters and the life at college in the Mid-West; characters are interactive with one another, the events of one person’s life having a minor to profound impact on another’s, and they all work towards a collective progression of the story.  The plot is well thought out, and the dialogue between the characters is both funny and informative on certain subjects. Despite being a comedy comic, there are semi-dramatic events that happen that bring up important topics for the characters and the readers.


Appeal

The comic is designed to appeal to fans of Willis’ previous work while bringing new readers who enjoy comedy, semi-drama, and the changing ways of life that college students tend to have.  While it is funny, it is also very much involving, and it is hard for new readers to pick up the comic except from the beginning; that’s not to say that starting from the beginning is a bad thing, especially since it isn’t as long-running as some other webcomics by comparison, but a casual observer who stumbles upon it would have a hard time understanding what’s going on immediately.  I’d certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a laugh without it becoming too serious, as well as anyone who just enjoys David Willis’ creative endeavors. He really is a humorous person.