Webcomic Pick - Questionable Content
Add comment February 28th, 2008
Have you ever been told about a really great TV show that’s been running for years by a friend with excellent taste, rented the DVD of the first season and found yourself sitting on the couch in the grips of one great episode after another? Discovering a long-standing story-based webcomic can be just as satisfying and every bit as entertaining.
This past week, I’ve become introduced to and subsequently addicted to a romantic sitcom style webcomic named Questionable Content written by Jeph Jacques. QC is a serial comic strip about a group of 20-somethings dealing with romance, jobs, anxiety and little talking robots. The cast features Marten, a wry indie-rock guitarist who works in a library, his cynical roomate Faye and his girlfriend Dora who both work in a coffee shop. If the setup sounds a little too familiar, the writing far exceeds what could be a heavily cliched and bland comic in the wrong writer’s hands. J. Jacques adeptly handles the complex neuroses of the various characters in an honest way - while Marten’s personality always seems to be wishy washy, we watch Dora’s insecurities emerge, and Faye deal with an underlying depression behind her snarky remarks. Secondary characters are well fleshed out too, whether it’s neighbor Hannelore’s OCD, Raven’s search for her own identity, or any of a number of other character’s subtle flaws.
Bringing comic relief to this bunch is the tiny robot Pintsize, an “AnthroPC” whose duty it is to annoy the guests and tenants of Marten and Faye’s apartment through wacky hijinks and goofy costumes. A Pintsize strip is always a nice interlude between storylines.
What makes QC an addictive read is that the strips are written to occur over a short period of time. Many times 50 or more comics are committed to one day in the lives of these characters. It’s a bit like reading an amusing but moving comic strip verson of 24 only with the terror bits replaced with general coffee shop sharp-tongued wit.
Questionable Content is updated 5 times a week.
The premise of a comedy set within a carpool may have raised a lot of eyes during its first debut, but lately the results are nowhere near as eye-raising. Though it might be unrealistic to expect entire episodes to sustain themselves within a single carpool, the plot of Carpoolers interferes so much the eponymous carpool is reduced to a glorified book-end. Everything from the cast to the comedy itself is a well-oiled machine, but plot keeps moving so much, none of these elements are able to effectively burn rubber. Carpoolers air on ABC Tuesdays at 8:30 PM.
The latest in a long line of vintage remakes, Knight Rider is actually unique in that it is a continuation of the 1980’s David Hasselhoff series as opposed to a re-imagining like Bionic Woman. This time, Mike Tracer (Justin Bruening) is behind the wheel of the artificially-intelligent supercar KITT (Val Kilmer), out to protect KITT’s creator and his daughter from danger. The new Knight Rider might be incessantly predictable, but it’s also slick and insanely enjoyable. The biggest let-down is this is only a “back-door pilot”: a movie-of-the-week which could lead to a full series. This means the show isn’t even green lit at a time when prime-time television needs KITT the most. You can still watch the pilot again on Saturday on NBC at 8:00 P.M.
Kyle XY kicks off with an enigmatic premise, as a mysterious youth named Kyle (Matt Dallas) is adopted by a psychiatrist and her family, and discover to have no memories, no language and no belly button. Kyle assimilates to normal life with superhuman ease while attempting to discover clues to his strange existence. Despite lacking the intensity of Lost or specials effects of Smallville, Kyle XY is simply a good show. Though super-intelligent, Kyle is out of his depth with regards to relationships, and Dallas’ innocent and beleaguered expression reinforces the character’s almost child-like persona. Good writing keeps the premise fresh while effectively balancing character over plot. Overall, Kyle XY is a good, teen-friendly win for ABC Family’s lineup. Kyle XY airs on ABC Family at 7:00 PM on Monday.
It’s hard to believe Smallville has been on for seven seasons. It seemed like only yesterday the once-teenaged Clark Kent (Tom Welling) was taking baby steps towards cape, cowl and spit curl. Unfortunately, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The doomed romance between Clark and first love Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) has grown tired and tedious six years later. More and more, it seems time for Clark to pack up, move to Metropolis (half the action takes place there anyway) and start seeing Lois Lane who, played by Erica Durance, is tons more spunky, vibrant and interesting than Lana. Clark doesn’t have it much better than Lana though. One of the founding problems of Smallville was that young Lex Luthor (played perfectly by Michael Rosenbaum) is more compelling than Clark Kent. Over seven seasons, Lex has all but finished his path to the dark side and remains tons more likeable than Clark Kent, who has become plainclothes paragon. Where once Clark was an angst-ridden teen facing alienation with burgeoning superpowers, he has now become self-righteous and stagnant – and even visiting superheroes like Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and the Flash (Kyle Gallner) know it. This is the brick wall Smallville has hit. With dazzling special effects and an ensemble cast, supporting characters like sidekick Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack) and Lionel Luthor (John Glover) have come to shine while the show’s leads have started to dim. With the young Superman ever soar to the heights of its first season? Tune in on Thursday at 7:00 on the CW to find out.
Like Lost, Prison Break is a show of a limited premise, and like Lost, Prison Break has shattered its limitations. The problem with Prison Break is the question of what happens after inevitable jailhouse rock. Season Two answered sending the framed Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and ingenious escape master brother Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) on a cross-country chase. The current seasons lands Michael in a far worst foreign prison, along with ex-prison guard Brad Bellick (Wade Williams), former Fed Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner) and creepy killer T-Bag (Robert Knepper). One of the most addicting shows on television, Prison Break is a must for prison film fans as well as anyone looking for a suspenseful series to tune into week after week. Prison Break airs Monday on Fox at 7:00 P.M.
My own Lost watching is spotty at best, but I’ve never missed a season premiere or a season finale. Though ABC powerhouse is controversial for keeping its viewers in the dark, the season bookends always illuminate the show - to an extent. With the show’s last season set for 2010, the end has come and gone for the castaways. The fourth season introduces a new vantage point, as “the Oceananic Six”, the six castaways who made it off the island, adjust to normal life while dealing with the choices made on the island. Just who the six are, how they got off the island and what happened to everyone else will be covered in the current storyline. Though Lost may revel in its mysteries too much, it’s still a good show with simple heart and real characters. Lost airs on ABC with back-to-back episodes 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
With entire seasons looking rather scuttled due the writer’s strike, mid-season replacements are more crucial than ever. Eli Stone fills out the writer’s block with a premise of epic proportions squeezed into a standard legal drama. Jonny Lee Miller (Hackers) is the titular Eli Stone, a corporate lawyer whose life is turned upside down when visions of George Michael randomly appears singing in his living room. Stone is diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneurism. Stone uses these visions to make better choices on his cases, which have varying effects on his co-workers and family, including his boss and future father-in-law, played by Victor Garber. With unpredictable plot twists, colorful visions and a solid lead in the role of Eli, Stone may just be what TV needs to warm up a winter chilled by a drought of new episodes. Eli Stone airs on ABC Thursdays at 9:00 PM.
