The world of webcomics is more or less a closed book to me, not as a matter of principle or snobbery, but simply because I've never had any particular interest in the field (I don't spend much time reading comics, and nor do I generally spend much time reading stuff on the web). That notwithstanding, though, last night I came across "Questionable Content" and ended up sitting up late to read it all the way through from the first strip through to the latest instalment (they go up on a daily basis).
Wherein lies the appeal? Well, a lot of it comes from the indie-kid characters, sarcastic, self-aware, impeccably hip, basically nice, definitively messed-up, who spend their lives talking about Sonic Youth, Pavement, Bright Eyes, Wilco, the Arcade Fire, etc, referencing websites like pitchfork and tinymixtapes, hating on emo, being ironic about the labels they wear (or don't wear), deconstructing what it is to be 'indie' and being all ambivalent about it and stuff, and engaging in other such quintessential activities...that's when they're not flirting with each other, getting drunk at bars and at each other's apartments, hanging around at the coffee shop where several of them work, talking random rubbish, and drowning in various slow-burn complicated varieties of sexual frustration born of their collective Issues. Central character Marten, a shy, skinny indie boy, sums it all up at one point when he self-deprecatingly refers to his habit of surrounding himself with sexy, intelligent girls with whom he has no chance as the 'indie-rock nerd's dream', or words to that effect.[*] (Ouch.)
Not to mention Pintsize, the cute AnthroPC who doubles as Marten's pet and sidekick, and also provides much of the humour.
So anyway, it's cute and slightly off the wall, and sometimes quite funny; the main appeal lies in the writing, but the art is colourful and engaging, too. Worth reading just because it so perfectly captures its subject - in which case, how could it fail to be entertaining and oddly truthful?
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[*] Although of course he does have a chance, which is kind of the rub.
