So a while ago, Mike and I thought it might be good if we started hearing about what webcomics you all were reading, and we got some great suggestions (FYI: we’re always looking for more; click the previous link to go to the Forum). One in particular piqued my interest, MS Paint Adventures. Suggested by user Tillie, Mike confirmed that it was indeed something worth checking out. Combined with those recommendations and the fact that one of my friends here tends to send us her own MS Paint adventures, I decided to check it out.
The art, as you might expect, isn’t very good–
–it’s done on MS Paint, remember?*
But it’s part of the charm. Bad (but, really, not so bad) art, plus the writing make it a highly amusing (if sometimes confusing) webcomic.
So let’s talk about the writing first. MS Paint Adventures is set up almost like a text-based computer game, but you never get to type in your actions, and you’re limited to one choice. I find that hilarious.
Furthermore, when you do make your “choice,” your choice is almost invariable wrong. Take the following two panels.
In the first you’re asked if you want to open the safe, but you don’t know the combo:
After a few attempts (that all fail), you finally try again, only to find that the safe isn’t really a safe:
It’s childish, and yet brilliant. Unlike another great stick-figure webcomic, xkcd, there’s no deep or “smart” message. It’s just purely fun–a little clever, a lot wacky, and very weird.
Which gets to my one problem: at times, I like that we’re being manipulated, but it can also be tiresome, too. It’s one thing to be jerked around a few times–I think that is funny–but, like any good story, there eventually needs to be something happening.
At least, that’s my definition of a “good story.”
Overall, though, I think it’s worth checking out. I did as the creator, Andrew, suggested and started with “Problem Sleuth”, and I think it’s as good as any to see if you’re going to like it. I think you will, but if you don’t, let me know.
*As one commenter pointed out (and as I read in the FAQ after I posted this), MS Paint Adventures is actually done in PhotoShop. I think this makes me like the comic even more.
Don’t forget–we’re always looking for new and exciting (or, really, just new) webcomics to explore and talk about for the FUNN-e-PAGES, so make sure to drop us a line in the Forum.
I can’t take credit for the webcomic suggestion this time, dp. I think it was Requiem who mentioned it. I am going to take it for a spin, though, now that I have some free time!
You are right! (Obviously you’re right, because you know what you said). Apologies, Requiem–thanks for the recommendation!
Okay, these are officially awesome.
I like that it’s official.
The credit doesn’t matter, just the comic
Something readers should keep in mind is that all the “commands” in Problem Sleuth are user submitted, so while it feels like a set path you have to follow it was anything but when the story was being made. If you catch up to the current story and go on the forums your input (either in the “Suggestion Box” or one of the general comic threads) can be incorporated into the current story.
Also, the art is always only as good as the author wants it to be. If you look at some of his non-comic work you can see he’s a great artist but intentionally roughs it up to suit the theme of the comic. About 1/3rd of the way through Problem Sleuth pages like this start showing up and you get a glimpse of just what he is capable of: http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=000927
Then, in Homestuck you get to see this sort of thing, and it blows your mind: http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=002657
(both links contain minimal spoilers)
Probably the best thing about MSPA though is that it tends to update multiple times per day, seven days a week.
Hey… Uh… You may want to read through the entire archives before writing articles next time. I find it hard to believe you did with MSPA, because the art later on in Problem Sleuth is not even jokingly bad, but rather intricate and downright awesome, even if aliased.
Also, it was made in Photoshop, not MS Paint.
MSPA today is also a highly different creature, with the current story (Homestuck) featuring music and Flash animations, and even more detailed and, frankly, beautiful art.
As for “eventually something needs to happen”… Shit happens. Trust me. The entire universe is at stake in Problem Sleuth, and we suspect the same is true of Homestuck.
I’m sorry if I made it sound like I had read the whole comic–I haven’t, and I didn’t mean to imply I had. I’m just saying that, from what I’ve read, I do enjoy it–foibles and all–and I think even part of the charm are the things that “annoy” me about the comic.
I also did know it was done in Photoshop, but only realized that after I had posted. I’m adjusting the post to reflect that now. Thanks.