Sometimes you have to break things down before you can rebuild. Our Fresh Friday Features this week captured the element of destruction with stories of those who suffer breakdowns, experience disorder or upheavals in their lives. Now they have to recover and begin life anew to find a new normal to live with. How would you react in these situations?
- Comic - Wifwulf: WIFWULF is an original folklore myth telling the story of Charity Bjornsdotter, a young woman in 1860s Montana who spends her days in the woods with her closest friend, a local wolf she calls Silver Slash.
- Comic - I'm a Mess: It humorously examines the characteristics and behaviors associated with different kinds of messy types and discusses the unexpected advantages that messy individuals may possess, such as enhanced visual memory.
- Manga - Ring Cats: When famous wildlife photographer Narumi comes to Hokkaido to take photos of the elusive "snow fairies," he ends up stranded in a snow storm. After being rescued, he takes up residence in local farmer Haruki's house for the winter.
- Webcomic - Adamant Heart: In the unassuming town of Wisteria, duty and desire collide for cocky knight Wolfgang (Wolfie) when he's suspended from his job for failing to protect a rare diamond stolen during a heated encounter with the alluring vampire Ciel, his one-night stand turned captive.
Wifwulf, 109 pages - Published by Vault Comics, (cc/ @VaultComics)
WIFWULF is an original folklore myth telling the story of Charity Bjornsdotter, a young woman in 1860s Montana who spends her days in the woods with her closest friend, a local wolf she calls Silver Slash. Charity is soon to marry the most handsome man in her small village, the mercurial-yet-beloved Paul Skeld. As her husband isolates her from Silver Slash, she begins to feel a call to the wilds...for it is there that her true destiny awaits.
Story and Art by Andworld Design, Collin Kelley, Dailen Ogden, Jackson Lanzing
A wild and fury-filled comic with a tragic and sorrowful undertone. Started with a tale of optimism, I couldn't help but beg Charity to leave, and she kept holding onto something. Her getting to narrate her own tale is done well. It's easy for narration to grow stale after large page counts. However, the effortlessly flowing and colorful artwork, and soul-snatching worry I felt for Charity, made it easy to keep reading. In the end, the recounting was very satisfying, but it's sad what had to be lost to hear it. Stunning work, team!
I'm a Mess, 115 pages - Published by Mad Cave Studios, (cc/ @chrisfernandez)
I’m A Mess is a funny and deep exploration of messiness in people’s lives. It invites readers into a world where messiness is not a flaw but a feature. It humorously examines the characteristics and behaviors associated with different kinds of messy types and discusses the unexpected advantages that messy individuals may possess, such as enhanced visual memory. The book also includes a section that provides practical advice on managing and organizing clutter in a non-traditional way. It reminds us that, within the chaos, lies creativity and resourcefulness.
Story and Art by Mad Cave Studios
To all the messy and "organized chaos" folks out there, this is a comic you need to read! Falling into the latter category, I find that sometimes, I can get overwhelmed in my office or home with just feeling too busy to clean and organize. This comic was a very lighthearted discussion on those things, in a way that was not shaming or blaming. It's a lovely read, and hope any of my fellow "chaotic organizers" can enjoy it too!
Ring Cats, 30 pages - Published by Steve ‘Stevesie’ Gregson, (cc/ @RoboticSteve)
Pumping Iron, Roaring like a LION! Welcome to the RCWF (Ring Cats Wrestling Federation) - the wildest squared-circled that ever showcased the king of sports. Join a bunch of new faces (and heels) as they try to prove that they have what it takes to become the 'Champion All-Timer' - the ultimate prize in the RCWF! To do that they'll have to beat Saber, the current champ... if they can even earn a shot at her in the first place! Ring the bell, this is going to be a real slobber-knocker!
Story and Art by Steve ‘Stevesie’ Gregson
Not normally a fan of wrestling, and completely oblivious to the sport in general, I was apt to give this one a try. The cover art is very eye-catching, and a limited color scheme fits it well. The manga feel is very apparent, and Steve has done a wonderful job of utilizing its aspects in this manga. The story is enticing, friends to enemies, but based on those last few pages, there's something sinister going on! I loved this first book, please continue! I look forward to it.
Adamant Heart, 6 pages - Published by fuwafawn, (cc/ @Fuwafawn)
In the unassuming town of Wisteria, duty and desire collide for cocky knight Wolfgang (Wolfie) when he's suspended from his job for failing to protect a rare diamond stolen during a heated encounter with the alluring vampire Ciel, his one-night stand turned captive. Forced into an uneasy alliance, they embark on a perilous journey to intercept the stolen jewel, facing bounty hunters, capital guards, and deep-seated family issues. As danger and deception lurk at every turn, Wolfie must learn to trust Ciel before the diamond falls into the wrong hands, threatening to shatter everything he’s trying to protect.
Story and Art by fuwafawn
After reading that last episode, all I could think about is "this is awkward"! In a most delicious, dramatic few releases, we've got some beautiful characters engaging in a one-night stand that comes back to haunt them based on the description. The artwork and environments/backgrounds are also well done, with obviously lots of care put into them. I'm definitely excited to see what trouble these characters get into and get more context around the main plot. It's new to GC, so jump on this now!
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section and add them to your Library for future reading!
Check out more amazing stuff from @ArtCrumbs below.
Did you get a chance to check out any of these fresh picks? If you enjoy any of these stories, don't forget to add them to your library, and share your thoughts in the comments below! You can also join our Discord server to talk with other readers and creators.
Headypidgeon4180 1 year ago
Well done everyone!