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Post by Max on May 7, 2009 0:33:42 GMT
I was thinking a while back about how I could introduce my friends to Gunnerkrigg Court. I can describe the comic all I want, but nothing beats actually checking out the comic for themselves. The question I have is where to start new readers. The most obvious choice is to start them at page 1. This is how I started after reading a few pages of Chapter 19, and I got hooked pretty quickly. However, Tom's artwork and storytelling have changed significantly, transitioning from short, lighthearted introductory chapters, to the more serious, longer chapters, and I wondering if it would be better to introduce new readers to a later chapter, so they could get a feel for the current style. I was thinking Chapter 16: A Ghost Story would be good place to start, since most of the necessary back story is contained within the chapter, and it's a beautifully drawn and well-written story. However, it is kind of depressing, and I don't want to turn readers off that way. Does anyone else have any ideas? |
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Dentrala
Full Member
"I absolutely did not expect thiiiissss!!"
Posts: 156
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Post by Dentrala on May 7, 2009 0:45:38 GMT
I've had the same dilemma, but typically the humour and wit of the first chapter is more than enough, and their expectations get surpassed by the later chapters as they read. Well, that's what's happened to the two people I've referred to Gunnerkrigg Court.
I think A Ghost Story is a good one - It doesn't need too much previous understanding for it, and it doesn't give all too much away. The next chapter is also a good one, as well. Show off some of the wit and wisdom.
I suggest, if you're suggesting the comic to people who read other comics as well, just use comparisons. For instance, I usually quote another guy who said, "GKC is like Niel Gaiman writing Azumanga Daioh".
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Post by Synesthetic Soul on May 7, 2009 0:56:29 GMT
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Post by Babble-jargon Bill on May 7, 2009 3:56:38 GMT
I'm sure whoever you introduce it to will like at least some part of it. The great thing about GKC is that it has something for everyone; action, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, good dialogue, art, all that jazz. Heck, in a world plagued by the insufferable atrocity known as the "romantic comedy", anything that has a love story that is written well and believable must be special. And that it has a boy who gets turned into a bird? Well that's just icing on the cake.
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Post by Ulysses on May 7, 2009 12:00:39 GMT
I'd suggest Ch.14 to get people into it. It has pretty much all of the recurring characters, plus it has a fair bit of the earlier story in it (rather than backstory, I mean). Also the art is definitely amazing by this point. It also has parts that will intrigue people and make them want to start from the beginning e.g. "Wait, why is there a robot in the flashback?".
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Post by Casey on May 7, 2009 15:15:13 GMT
Personally...
I think that when a lot of us are big fans of the comic, we have the perspective to look at the current level of artistry and we feel a little sheepish--in retrospect--about the quality of the art in the beginning, when suggesting it to others, because it's so different.
But honestly, to that I say Poppycock. Did someone introduce US to the comic by telling us to start in the middle of the story? Most likely not. So if we were able to "play through" the first several chapters, why do we think our friends can't do the same? Let's remember that those first few chapters intrigued us enough to keep reading to the more evolved art. It's only in hindsight that we begin to think that it won't.
When I started reading it, it was by a suggestion of a friend who simply said "It's one of the best stories out there, and the art improves over time too." It was left up to me to get hooked on the story and understand that the art would change... but honestly, honestly now, if the art had NEVER changed, who among you would not still think that it's one of the best stories out there?
So in summary, don't let your perspective cause you to lose your perspective. We don't have to apologize for the art at the beginning of the story... This is not a situation where it starts bad and gets good. This is a situation where it starts great and gets even better. Apologizing for, and especially recommending avoidance of, the first few chapters, in my personal opinion, is selling the comic short.
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Post by todd on May 7, 2009 22:21:16 GMT
I also believe that the first chapter is the best place to start. Not only is it the logical place to begin, but it makes such a good introduction to "Gunnerkrigg Court", establishing the basics: Gunnerkrigg Court is a bizarre school where strange things - like sprouting an extra shadow takes place. Antimony is a resourceful girl, unfazed by the paranormal. (Not to mention that her sending Robot across the bridge is what sets so much of the story after that in motion.)
Of course, many popular characters (such as Kat) haven't shown up yet in that chapter, but what we get in it is still good. I haven't regretted starting there when I began reading "Gunnerkrigg Court".
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Post by chelonianmonk on May 8, 2009 6:15:42 GMT
I just wanted to say that I actually think the art in the first chapters is pretty great. The character designs are less pretty, but the angles and colors and style in general still make my day. There's humor in it too, what with all the long shadows and annie's stiff poses.
But if you don't want to start there, I'd also say 14 (The Fangs of Summertime.)
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Post by Aricos on May 8, 2009 7:10:39 GMT
I just direct everyone to the start and tell them to read on. The moment they read the line 'I must construct a robotic walking device', they're usually sold anyway  . |
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Post by chiparoo on May 8, 2009 8:28:50 GMT
It took me a while, but I finally got a handful of my friends reading GKC.
Now, every time we are gifted with a new page we talk loudly and obnoxiously about the contents therein.
Then, my other friends start reading it just to know what the hell we're talking about.
And that's how I pass on GKC <3
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Post by Max on May 9, 2009 0:58:29 GMT
Thanks for all the replies. I think Casey was probably right that I am losing a bit of perspective having read the entire series. I also tend to worry about presentation when introducing new things, so this is probably partly that.
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