Independent From the Web: The Precarious Adventures of Newton Von Brisby
From the Web: The Precarious Adventures of Newton Von Brisby
- Details
- Published on Monday, 21 February 2011 23:55
- Written by Brandon
I'm gonna start something a little different. It harkens back to my high school days. You see, there was a dark time for me as a comics reader. It happened at the end of the Spidey Clone Saga, and stretched all the way through the introduction of Ultimate Spider-Man. During this time, I didn't read any comics. Well, not the comics you normally think about. I did, however, read a huge amount of webcomics, which is what kept me interested in the medium. I don't read them as much anymore, but there are a few that I still try to keep up with. So I'm starting this column, From the Web, to showcase some of my favorites. I won't be using the standard review scoring system, because I don't feel it fits the format of webcomics very well, but will just voice an opinion. Which webcomic has the fortune of debuting this column? Hit the jump to find out!
First up on From the Web is a comic I actually discovered a bit of an odd way. I actually used to work with the writer's cousin, and she discovered my love for comics and pointed me in this direction. The comic is called The Precarious Adventures of Newton Von Brisby. It is both written and drawn by Nicholas P. Myers. It stars, obviously, a young boy named Newton Von Brisby. The story follows him on his quest to find out what happened to his parents after an attack by some very large, and very scary, beetles.
I'll be honest, I'm not up to date on this comic, because my time in front of a computer is very limited these days. However, what I have read of it I have really liked. It has an innocent feel to it, similar to the feeling a kid may have the first time they watch The Wizard of Oz (not me, because as a kid that movie scared the crap out of me) or perhaps Avatar: The Last Airbender. It feels like no matter what is going on in the world around them, the characters are able to view it with childlike wonder, like everything is bigger than life and astounding. This isn't to say that the comic is all giggles, however. The story takes some dark turns and isn't necessarily kid-friendly. Newton gets into some situations that no kid wants to live through.
I'm a big fan of the artwork. Myers' art has a childlike quality to it, and yet at times sucker-punches with incredible detail. One of the coolest things about webcomics, in my opinion, is that the reader gets to see the artist improve over time. I liked the art when I began, but Myers has continued to perfect it with each subsequent strip. The first few strips are monochrome, but later on they began to be colored by Meghan Wright. This creates what I like to call a “dream team,” as her colors complement the artwork perfectly. The art somehow manages to capture the childlike wonder while also encompassing the moodiness of certain scenes. I have a feeling that both Myers and Wright will go far.
My verdict on this comic is that you should read it now. Do so by going here. It won't take long to catch up, and you'll have a fun time doing so. I expect big things from Mr. Myers.