March 31st, 2011 
Robert Iveniuk Good day,
The fellow who runs this page took a look at my Blogspot account (promotepromote) and
had inkling that I know something about webcomics. I apparently do, if my Bookmarks in
Firefox are any indication. Hence, he’s called me in to do monthly contributions to this particular
sector on the internet.
Let’s get this ball rolling. Allow me to tell you about an online comic I happen to have a
positive albeit strenuous relationship with, a comic that latched itself to my heart from page one
and gives me warm and fuzzy feelings inside while also draining me of all my blood on random
occasions. This is Gunnerkrigg Court.
Artist-writer Tom Siddel’s story tells of a young red-head named Antimony Carver
attending the titular Gunnerkrigg Court, an academic fortress where mad science and dark magic
roam freely. The school lies on the edge of an enchanted forest, colonies of robots stomp the
halls, and ancient spirits and gods fraternize with the locals freely.
What’s that? Sounds standard? I haven’t told you about the clockwork birds or the
haunted bridge or the laser cows. And now I won’t, not until you learn some manners, young
man.
I’m going to come right out and rain on this parade before I let the sunshine in. My
problem with G.C. (abbreviations ahoy) is that the writing has developed a tendency to trip over
itself and fall down a cliff named Exposition into a mud pile named Melodrama. This bothers me
because it’s a path I’ve seen other webcomics go down before, where the focus of humour and
quirkiness gets replaced with characters speaking woodenly and awkwardly about their feelings
and painful pasts.
Balls to that, I say. I remember the days when Gunnerkrigg was all about this:
Nowadays, though, I’m seeing more of this:
It burns my ass. Tone shifts only work well if they feel organic, like if there was an
intention to do so. I’m not sure how far ahead Tom’s planned, but I do hope this was part of the
plan. Otherwise it just feels like I’ve been here before.
I’m being mean. I enjoy Gunnerkrigg Court. The characters are fun and some of them
develop really well, and the stories that don’t mutate into Melrose Place meets American Gods
are a joy to read. As bog-standard as the idea of “a weird school” goes, G.C. is separate from
its contemporaries in terms of tone. Even when the writing takes a left turn, it doesn’t always
remove the reader from this elaborate and bizarre world.
On top of that, Tom Siddel’s quirky-gothic aesthetic is unique, and his art style has
grown. Characters no longer look like they evolved from a cubist painting; depth and dimension
is given, while also keeping its weirdness and cartoony feel.
I can criticize the way the comic twists and turns now and then until I’m red in the
fingers, but I can’t do it for long. Gunnerkrigg Court is fun; it’s strange, it’s cute, and any
reservations I have are immediately blown aside by the presence of Doctor Disaster.
See you next time.
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