Still More Webcomics by Ladies to Enjoy!

March is Women's History Month in the US - a time that various government institutions "commemorate and encourage the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history." Here at the Ladies we encourage you to study, observe and celebrate women's contributions every day - particularly their contributions to comics and pop culture. One of the things I like about doing your periodic webcomics round ups is that not only is it a chance to share the sheer talent of so many lady artists and writers (of whom there are still fewer than I would prefer getting work in mainstream comics publishing), but it's also an opportunity to embrace a much wider scope of what storytelling in comics can be. Even though your average shop is offering far more than just superhero tales these days (and there's nothing wrong with superhero tales), it still feels like the web has some weirder, wilder offerings. Here are three I'm digging right now.

Monsterkind by Taylor C.

Updates: T, Fr

Plot:

Monsterkind is one of the first comics about social work I've ever seen. (Feel free to tell me if there are more in the comments!) It's the story of Wallace Foster, a young social worker who's recently been relocated to District C - a place where the inhabitants are mostly monsters. Wallace is human, and some of the residents of District C clearly don't trust him and his intentions. Somehow he's got to figure out a way to win over his clients - and figure out some of the deeper mysteries surrounding him, District C, and his new neighbors. What I really like about Monsterkind is that, even though it deals with some pretty deep and potentially sensitive topics - racism, segregation, and identity - it does so in a lighthearted and upbeat way that counterbalances the darkness of its subject matter while still taking it very seriously. It's also got some pretty great and innovative character designs for the monster residents of District C - some look human but have powers and abilities that seem supernatural, while others sport everything from tentacles to detachable eyes. The underlying mysteries unfold slowly, but steadily, and promise a worthwhile payoff. Content-wise, this is appropriate for all-ages, but many of the interactions will go over the heads of young kids - I think early teens up would be the most interested.

Bonus: Another comic! Taylor C.'s significant other, one Zack Morrison, also does a weird comic I love called Paranatural. Maybe one day I'll give it a whole review, because it's awesome, but as Zack's not a lady, it didn't fit here. It's fine as a bonus, right?

Not Drunk Enough by Tessa Stone

Updates: T, Th

Plot:

Logan Ibarra is a young repairman with a pretty normal life - until he's called out to do a nighttime service call at the local laboratory. When he gets there, it quickly becomes clear that the problem here is a lot worse than a faulty AC system. Reality itself has become warped, along with most of the lab's employees. Now Logan's got to figure out how to escaped before he's transformed, eaten, or his flask runs dry.

I've been a fan of Tessa Stone's work since her one of her earliest efforts, the dearly departed Hanna is Not a Boy's Name. That was a comedy about a paranormal investigator, full of whimsy, jokes, and sweet-hearted humor. Not Drunk Enough has a sense of humor, but it's a much more macabre one - the jokes of terrified people who know they're unlikely to survive the night. The art, in turn is dark and jagged, befitting the paranoia permeating the doomed lab. Like Monsterkind, there are deeper mysteries to be solved that Stone teases out slowly, and real human heartbreak driving the choices the characters make. The creature designs are killer, literally and figuratively - this is a great read for older teens, but a bit too mature for the younger crowd.

Bonus: Stone also collaborates with Ananth Hirsh of Johnny Wander and Sarah Stone (yes, related) of Monster Boys and Robots on Is This What You Wanted, a comic that is just starting about romance and illness and demons. So if you dig her character design here, check that out too.

Ava's Demon by Michelle Czajkowski

Updates: Th

Plot: Ava Ire is a total outcast at school - all of the other kids and even the teachers think she's totally crazy. Of course, since she's often talking to herself and prone to emotional outbursts, it's hard to blame them. What they don't know is that Ava is plagued by a very real demon - Wrathia Bellarmina, the ghost of a former warrior queen who wants to bond with Ava in order to get revenge on the person responsible for her demise. That person happens to be the ruler of the entire universe, Titan; part corporate overlord, part god. When a series of strange events cause Ava to flee her home, a deal is struck - but will either Ava or Wrathia really get what they want?

Ava's Demon combines fantasy and sci-fi elements into a powerful combination unlike anything I've quite seen before. The world-building is thorough but unforced - you learn about what's going on as the characters do. The art is complete gorgeous, with fully saturated color and light effects that give everything a dreamy quality. Czajkowski takes advantage of her storytelling medium completely as well - each weekly installment consists of several pages that the reader flips through, introducing an almost animated quality to the story. At the close of each chapter is an actually animated sequence, complete with music. It's frankly unlike anything else I've ever seen, and I can't wait to see where the story is headed. This is another one I'd pitch more towards teens - there's nothing too crazy but some of the violence might be a little much for a sensitive younger reader.

Bonus: If you follow the Ava's Demon Tumblr, Czajkowski shares the beautiful fanart folks do for the comic.

Are there any other comics by ladies I should check out? Let me know in the comments!