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telthor's review
2.0
It's sort of like leaping back in a time warp to early YouTube days and seeing weird old crushes again.
It's weird.
The artwork is middling to bad--especially in real life settings, although sometimes the soft brushstrokes of the fantasy landscape are charming. The plot...um. Feels like a sillier Scott Pilgrim? Huh. Characters are tropes, but they are in the original show so it's not like that's a breaking point.
Basically, if you didn't like The Guild already, this probably won't be what pulls you into it. I barely remember the show, so this was sort of a "Ohhh yeah that was a thing once!" moment.
Sure is a thing, man. Sure is a thing.
It's weird.
The artwork is middling to bad--especially in real life settings, although sometimes the soft brushstrokes of the fantasy landscape are charming. The plot...um. Feels like a sillier Scott Pilgrim? Huh. Characters are tropes, but they are in the original show so it's not like that's a breaking point.
Basically, if you didn't like The Guild already, this probably won't be what pulls you into it. I barely remember the show, so this was sort of a "Ohhh yeah that was a thing once!" moment.
Sure is a thing, man. Sure is a thing.
sparkleplenty's review
3.0
I like the Web series. The graphic novel is well illustrated and I think shows even more of what Cyd is going through. It's a fun, quirky storyline, with lots of pop culture. At times captures poignant moments of trying to understanding who you are.
reader44ever's review
3.0
I liked this story okay, though the artwork was somewhat more enjoyable than the story-line for me. Graphic novels aren't really my thing, and my understanding of this one is that it's actually a comic based on a web series. I'm not familiar with the series; perhaps if I was, I'd have enjoyed this prequel more? Who knows, but I found the story weird. I suffer from depression, so this might just be because my depression manifests differently than the main character's does. However, the story would have been strange even without this comparison - Characters who want to kill children in the role-playing game? Killing kittens? Too off for my tastes.
meepelous's review
4.0
Picking up this comic I was a bit torn. While I was a pretty die hard fan of the web series back in the day, the art in this book did not look very good. I mean no disrespect Mr. Rugg, lord knows I can't draw, but your sense of proportion kept breaking me out of the story.
That said, there were a number visual things I did really appreciate. I thought the panels in this comic were really good. Lots of dynamic angles and good text placement. I also liked how he switched back and forth between two styles depending on whether he was showing in game or real life scenes.
And of course the story I discovered was awesome! It definitely took me back to the days of the original web series. Felicia's writing is fast paced and overflowing with strong personalities. No space is wasted at all. I whizzed right through it and was left with that love/hate feeling of suddenly finding yourself back in the real world again.
For those of you who have somehow managed to exist without hearing about this series. The Guild was a web series that debuted on youtube in 2007. While the later seasons were released on windows platforms, they are now all available on youtube, hulu and netflix. The series follows the lives of Cyd Sherman (AKA Codex)and her guild The knights Of Good as they balanced their real lives and their MMORPG lives.
I would highly recommend both the web series and this comic to anyone who identifies with gamer culture in the least. Each of the characters is just so unique and funny, and the pacing is just so tight - I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this, unless they are completely cut off from gaming of any kind.
One final plug for the comic in particular, I can't close this review out without pointing out one amazing plot point. Cyd Sherman is not always the strongest female character, especially to start out with, but at the start of the comic she is in a really bad relationship, and rather then romanticize the guy who is just using her she ends up dumping his ass and burning all the music she wrote for his band. Which accidentally leads to his cello catching on fire!
I can't count how many times I've started reading a book only to realize that the leading man is a complete jerk and often emotionally abusive to boot. It a serious cultural problem that we romanticize these horrible people and it was such a breath of fresh air for one of them to finally be called out for their shit!
That said, there were a number visual things I did really appreciate. I thought the panels in this comic were really good. Lots of dynamic angles and good text placement. I also liked how he switched back and forth between two styles depending on whether he was showing in game or real life scenes.
And of course the story I discovered was awesome! It definitely took me back to the days of the original web series. Felicia's writing is fast paced and overflowing with strong personalities. No space is wasted at all. I whizzed right through it and was left with that love/hate feeling of suddenly finding yourself back in the real world again.
For those of you who have somehow managed to exist without hearing about this series. The Guild was a web series that debuted on youtube in 2007. While the later seasons were released on windows platforms, they are now all available on youtube, hulu and netflix. The series follows the lives of Cyd Sherman (AKA Codex)and her guild The knights Of Good as they balanced their real lives and their MMORPG lives.
I would highly recommend both the web series and this comic to anyone who identifies with gamer culture in the least. Each of the characters is just so unique and funny, and the pacing is just so tight - I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this, unless they are completely cut off from gaming of any kind.
One final plug for the comic in particular, I can't close this review out without pointing out one amazing plot point. Cyd Sherman is not always the strongest female character, especially to start out with, but at the start of the comic she is in a really bad relationship, and rather then romanticize the guy who is just using her she ends up dumping his ass and burning all the music she wrote for his band. Which accidentally leads to his cello catching on fire!
I can't count how many times I've started reading a book only to realize that the leading man is a complete jerk and often emotionally abusive to boot. It a serious cultural problem that we romanticize these horrible people and it was such a breath of fresh air for one of them to finally be called out for their shit!
ultrabookgeek's review
5.0
If you loved the webseries, you'll love the comics! Pick up the comics if you have never read a comic before, it's a great way to enter the comic book world.
aconfundityofcrows's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
elliempatten's review
5.0
From the fortuitous moment I found whilst tidying up the graphic novels section at the bookstore I work in, I knew I would love The Guild in graphic novel format.
Despite only recently getting into the web series (how many years late?!), I'm hooked on the characters Felicia Day has created in The Guild. And I'm so happy to say that all of the passion and ingenuity and honesty of the series is echoed within the pages of this graphic novel. Right down to the facial expressions of Codex and Zaboo's speech, the graphic novel reflects the series perfectly.
As a prequel to the web series, The Guild #1 is at once hilarious, touching and engrossing and answers all the little questions about just how the Knights of Good came together.
My only complaint, as ever with graphic novels, is that I wish it had been longer. (I also wish work had the second volume, as I'm now going to have to wait to read more.)
Despite only recently getting into the web series (how many years late?!), I'm hooked on the characters Felicia Day has created in The Guild. And I'm so happy to say that all of the passion and ingenuity and honesty of the series is echoed within the pages of this graphic novel. Right down to the facial expressions of Codex and Zaboo's speech, the graphic novel reflects the series perfectly.
As a prequel to the web series, The Guild #1 is at once hilarious, touching and engrossing and answers all the little questions about just how the Knights of Good came together.
My only complaint, as ever with graphic novels, is that I wish it had been longer. (I also wish work had the second volume, as I'm now going to have to wait to read more.)