Life Is About Taking Things in and Putting Things Out

Author notes

Chapter 2: level 256.

Terminal

on March 1, 2007

Hmmm…I haven't updated my blog in a while lately. Could it be lack of things to talk about? Lack of interest on both sides? Eh, you tell me. It's not like my secret ramblings are read by many people aside some webcomic friends and that Google spambot that visits my site (I made that up, no such thing exists.) It's been a long time since I updated this obviously inferior better version of my old blogger site, so much that I forgot the password. Does it matter? Not really, because I'm feeling better than ever felt before today, yesterday and maybe tomorrow.

Oh, yeah. Go check out Somewhere in San Fransisco!

On Friday, I asked lefarce for help. I asked him to put aside our friendship and to give me the perfectly honest review of LAX. Saturday came, and I got a review where LAX did better than I would ever think. That made me realize two things, I have a shit-load of useless fillers and two, I realized why it is I feel bad about my webcomic. Simple answer, I'm an idiot. Long answer, I'm an idiot. Let me clarify, I expect too much from a webcomic that is pretty hard to get into. I want to become popular, and I know that I never will happen, which drives me insane whenever a new comic comes along and reaches the metaphorical top faster than me. Somewhere along the line I forgot why I do LAX, to be different it is. Excuse me, I sorry if I bore you, it must be tiring to have to waddle through my pretentious bullshit every time, right? (I'll clean your feet, come here.)

Here, without further adieu, I present the LAX review, as written by lefarce:

1= BAD
2= Below average
3= Average
4= Entertaining
5= If god himself made a comic… blah blah blah…

Course this is all probably obvious to you. I'm just saying that in REAL reviews, I hold a 5 in only the highest regards, and I take 3's as being very flattering. Cause I'm a dick.

LAX: Light Motion Dreams is one of the most interesting web comics I've read, due to it's extreme commitment to character development. Much of the first chapter was spent with Chris prattling on about robots and Windows Vista, which really helps you understand what kind of guy he is. Laid back, slackerism, and hip on pop culture. His boss is one of his close friends, and even goes so far as to defend his position at LAX even though she knows it could cost her's. Their bond helps set the stage for character development later.

Story: The pacing, as I said, is almost perfect. There are some filler issues that really really disrupt the reading process that are strewn throughout most of the issues, but even then they're entertaining enough to read. The story is really gripping and makes great use of the concept of character development. In the matter of two chapters Chris goes from being a laid back pop culture squawk box to a melodramatic depressive recluse. And the bet part of this is that it didn't happen in ten pages like most comics would have. LAX doesn't push it's self to get to one point. It will get there when it gets there, and that's such a fresh change from the norm.

Artwork: The art work is wonky yet detailed. The anatomy of the characters is a bit sloppy. Super thin arms and diamond shaped heads… I suppose one could just call this the style of LAX, but in early issues it can be bothersome. The only major downfall is the facial expressions. The mouths are too far down on the face, making you wonder if it's even moving when they talk. The eyes are also huge and bug like. Overall the characters are just stiff and show little emotion. The backgrounds melt into the characters at other times. It seems to be caused by a lack of true contrast. Maybe if they were done in a different ink, or in pencil while the characters are in ink, etc.

However, the backgrounds and planes are a beauty to behold. LAX is so detailed and full of life, and it really tells me that a lot of time was spent into research. This comic is taken very seriously, and tons of time and effort goes into the art from what I can tell. It pays off. But in the end, it feels like the buildings and planes have more life than the characters.