Labyrinths and Lizards is a webcomic about characters in a Dungeon and Dragons-esque setting. You may and hopefully notice that it IS a sprite comic. I've been around the net a few times, I like to read webcomics a lot when I get bored. Ive seen the criticism from all sorts of sources about the use of sprites in comics. People say its lazy, too easy, or even tacky and lame. Lazy, maybe. In fact, I'd even say yes. Dont get me wrong, I love handdrawn comics. I'd love to do one myself, actually. But between a full-time job (that I really hate) and attending night classes at the local university, I don't have the time to sit down and draw out a comic. This doesnt mean that handdrawn webcomic artists are lazy or have no lives. Theyre talented, Ill give them that, but somewhere they find the time to do what they do. I once emailed Tauhid Bondia, the extremely talented artist behind Spells and Whistles about their work and was informed it took between 6 to 8 hours to create each strip. WOW. That is really great.
Unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time. Sprites easier? Yeah, thats why I use them. They are nothing more than Final Fantasy Sprites that I recolored and reshaped. But is that so bad? There are a ton of webcomics that have sprites from games out there doing the exact same thing. Same characters, but the artist's own take on the matter. All done in the sake of comedy. How many TV shows are there out there now that are about a family and each family members hilarious hijynx on the adventure through life. Strip away the different actors and its the same thing. There are tons of television shows that are the same flippin scenario with different faces. But why do some shows do better than others? The humor? The characters? Perhaps. Each comic is great because it is the author's unique perspective on the world of comedy. Yeah, Im using the same figures everyone else has in the same cliched storyline in the same cliched way that every other person around this world has done.
Consider this then: so many artists have characters have reformed after a certain style of art? How is using sprites of something else any different than all those people who draw anime style art? I can't go around and accuse everyone who draws shiny eyes or certain faces of being just another "anime-comic". Its just a style. Its kinda the same thing, right? "Go create your own style!" No. People draw with a hint of anime in their wrist because they like it, and they create original characters and hopefully, an original plot. That's all I'm doing here, using a style to create my own characters with a plot that I certainly hope is my own. I do it cuz I like it. Sprites are easy to reproduce and fun to work with. Brian Clevinger of 8-bit Theatre is a prime example. He's using sprites from one of the oldest and greatest RPGs to date and that webcomic is extremely funny. "But the sprites are old, and 8-bit..." Yeah they are. Thats partially what makes them so funny. 8-bit proves you can take something like that and make it funny through your own views. Certain webcomics have bashed sprites in the past. Well, they're entitled to their beliefs. I do think its rather narrow-minded of them to skip over JUST BECAUSE its a sprite comic. You never know whats in store unless ya read it. Labyrinths and Lizards is just another sprite comic in a different wrapper. It's nothing you haven't seen before.
Of course, if you just plain think the jokes are lame and unfunny in a serious manner, then sure. It probably sucks.
"Don't hate me because I'm lazy"
