Each comic in our Fresh Friday Features weaves a mesmerizing tale, where characters grapple with the weight of promises and broken vows, and suffer the repercussions of ancient curses. From haunting mysteries to moral dilemmas, these comics offer an intriguing exploration of the human condition, reminding us of the power of our words and the ripple effects they can create. Explore the consequences of unfulfilled oaths and supernatural afflictions.
This week, ArtCrumbs picked four titles that'll give you a peak into the ordinary lives that maybe aren't so ordinary anymore!
- Comic - The Fairy's Curse & the Mage: Allie and Castio, are called to find the cause of the strange magic that is plaguing a remote village.
- Graphic Novel - Breezeburg: When a girl gets stranded on an island inhabited with monster people.
- Manga - Lilith was the only Arcana child who was deemed defective among her peers, so she looks to Alchemy for help.
- Webcomic - Villt is a boy raised by wild dogs after being lost as a baby, later he has to choose fight or flight and unravel mysteries around him.
The Fairy's Curse & the Mage, 16 pages - Published by Ananatze, (cc/ @ananatze)
Two adventurers, Allie and Castio, are called to find the cause of the strange magic that is plaguing a remote village and the disappearance of a child
Story and Art by Ananatze
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: It's dangerous to go alone, take this!
I love the artwork in this comic, it's full of small details that I found myself looking for, especially in the backgrounds! It's always awesome to see creators who aren't afraid of them. I'm curious what is stalking our main characters, though I can hesitate a guess. Also, what on earth is a young boy doing out alone like that? Super suspicious! I need to know, and can't wait for the next installment! Great paneling and set-ups for a great mystery story!
Breezeburg, 17 pages - Published by Breezeburg, (cc/ @wirdhere)
When a girl gets stranded on an island inhabited with monster people. She's got to work with the locals and uncover secrets to find a way home! A Comedy Adventure series, Featuring Cute monsters, laughs and a island mystery.
Story and Art by Breezeburg
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: If only I could find a mysterious island to go orienteering in!
Who told this creator they had the right to make something this adorable and funny? I have had this comic on my list to feature since it was uploaded, it was an instant read for me! I'm so in love with the art style, the humor, and the actual story that goes along with it. It's bright and colorful, easy to read, and clear paneling that's easy to follow. I'm always waiting for the next update, and if you like bright and colorful art with a pinch of snerky humor, this graphic novel is for you!
A Promise to Lilith, 10 pages - Published by BeaBrie, (cc/ @BeaBrie)
Lilith was the only Arcana child who was deemed defective among her peers. She struggles to prove her worth and to compensate what she lacks, she turns to Alchemy.
Story and Art by BeaBrie
Comments from @ArtCrumbs: Poor Lilith just wants to do her own thing, that's a mood!
It's really rough when you just want to do your own thing, your own way, and yet you constantly get interference from others. The story starts of with a very nice introduction of Lilith, I get the feeling she's quiet and reserved, and that's emphasized by the colors. I definitely felt like she was avoiding something for a reason. It's nice to see the atmosphere, colors, even dialogue really work so well together to emphasis this. Emotional context is so important and this manga handles it so well.
Even later on when the mood changes to something more pleasant, it's evident in the color choices. It feels like this would be an easy thing to accomplish, but it isn't. It takes a perfect blend of good paneling, good coloring, good dialogue, etc. They all have to be in perfect sync, and I think that this manga has so much potential once we get deeper into Lilith's past and her issues regarding her insecurities (mentioned in the description).
While I prefer BW manga, I'm extremely happy with this one, and I look forward to more. Great work, you've got a follower in me! Let's root for Lilith together!
Branches Entwined and Broken, 130 pages - Published by Burton Comics, (cc/ @RioBurton)
Villt is a boy raised by wild dogs after being lost as a baby. Brynja is the daughter of the King's Captain, training to follow in his footsteps. Their paths cross while Brynja is sent out on a mission that leads her into the forest. She introduces Villt to her world and the two form a close bond. When a tragic event causes their world to crumble around them, Villt and Brynja have to make a difficult decision. Choose to escape and start anew or go down the path of revenge? Their choices will affect not only their future but their relationship with each other.
Story and Art by Burton Comics
Comments from @ArtCrumbs:
Gaining everything, only to lose everything. Don't make promises you can't keep! One of the most striking things to me of this series was the consistency of the characters voices and appearance. Staying consistent with how characters look and act I find to be super challenging, and this does that really well. I love the dynamic expressions of the characters, and of course I'm gonna love the giant Shiba-like character. Adorable!
I'm curious how this will end, as it's clear there's a lot of back-stabbing going on!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. If you're looking for more recommendations, make sure to opt-in for our weekly reading list email! You can find that in your User Profile Notification settings. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section!
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