Two Webcomic Recommendations

Been actually reading a couple of webcomics outside my usual haunts, both of which are bit outside the usual venue of either Slice of Life or Sci-Fi/Fantasy.


First off is The Last Mechanical Monster, an Eisner nominated strip written and drawn by Brian Fies, creator of "Mom's Cancer" and "Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow." The premise is simple: The unnamed, tuxedo wearing villain of the classic Fleischer Studios Superman cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters" is finally out of prison after serving a 72 year sentence for creating an army of flying robots to... rob jewelry stores.

It's 2013, he's 99 years old, and most of his robots are still sitting in a ball of metal in his old lair, but he's got just enough parts to recreate one more...

Assuming he can purchase antique vacuum tubes on store credit.

This is a fascinating comic, riffing off a classic cartoon, which fortunately is in the public domain. It's low on action (especially given that "Sparky" is too old for gymanstics these days) but it's a well written character piece that I've been enjoying, and builds on the Sensawunder that old sci-fi and comic books could bring.



The second comic I've been reading is the recently concluded Alone Together, written and drawn by Steven Gallacci, most widely known for his classic sci-fi comic Erma Felna EDF. This time around the story revolves around two soldiers, Cadet Danni, a first year Imperial Army officer cadet, and Sgt. Jerom, a veteran Flight Sergeant from the opposing side. Danni finds herself trapped on a desert island when her training unit is attacked and retreats hastily, leaving her behind, presumed dead.

A year later during an extended ceasefire, Jerom lands his plane on the island after experiencing mechanical trouble, and finds Danni much the worse for wear psychologically for her long isolation. Together the young cadet and the grizzled sergeant, not knowing each other's language, must find common ground and survive against threats on the island and from outside. Because the cease fire is on shaky ground and Danni's empire may be about to undergo a revolution...

Gallacci is a pilot and a Vietnam veteran, and uses his experience to provide a realistic portrait of two soldiers with vastly different life experiences trying to find common ground and peace in their lives.

The fact that one is a female rabbit and the other a sawed off mouse is pretty much secondary...

Both Highly Recommended.