A History of Weekly Webcomic Wrapup
by Ross Miller 
{ Nov 24th 2007 at 4:15PM }
But first, the poll. You know the drill: here are our picks for the week's best webcomic, be sure to vote for your favorite!
The Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a weekly (obviously) feature that began in October 2005. Inspired by an overwhelming response to a post about a VG Cats comic strip (26 Sept 05), on October 5 we (and by "we" I mean me) asked the readers to name their favorite game-related webcomics.
The first webcomic roundup, then titled "Webcomic Roundup," was published on October 8. For the following weeks a time-span subtitle was added (e.g. "Webcomic Roundup: October 8 - 15, 2005"). After the break, take a gander at an extensive timeline of events.
- The change to a poll (from the original listing of highlighted webcomics), at the behest of then-editor Vladimir Cole (26 Nov 2005; the first "Readers pick best webcomic")
- The use of a image collage banner (4 Dec 2005)
- The change to its current name, "Weekly Webcomic Wrapup" - also note this is the first special edition, "Festivus," although we wouldn't return to that format for a long time. (24 Dec 2005)
- We stop writing the name with each entry (31 Dec 2005). Readers still cheat by reading the URL and picking their favorite webcomic series (as opposed to individual entry). The actual text adjacent to the voting button would change for awhile, from the first text line to a sound effect contained within to the present use of, simply, the webcomic's actual title (or one devised by us should a title be absent).
- For artsy-fartsy reasons (and to differentiate itself from the colored "Today in Joystiq" banners), we switch to black-and-white images (7 January 06)
- Joystiq commenter Bob suggests a new title for a Dueling Analogs strip, now called "So Dark the Contra of Man" (5 May 2006). Artist Steve Napierski likes it so much he changes the official name of his own comic.
- We get lazy, which conveniently coincides with webcomics referencing Joystiq. We drop the banner collages and our Photoshop usage drops 30% (15 July 2006).
- Readers pick best webcomic finally gets a subtitle (12 Sept 2006)
- Feeling envious by Ludwig Kietzmann's clever "Japanese Hardware Sales: ____ edition" posts, the webcomic wrapup starts doing its own "-edition" subtitles (14 October 2006).
- Lowly bloggers succumbs writer's block, commits career suicide by using a lolcat meme (10 Nov 2007)
- To make up for the one week we missed doing the webcomic wrapup (blame Tokyo Game Show 2006), we did a webcomic duo for each entry (30 Sept 06)
- Readers choice: One, Two
- Game-centric webcomic wrapups: Dead Rising, Civilization IV, BioShock
- Incidentally special, commenter Neebs uses the phrase "new and exciting" and discovers how the new reply system can spam your email. Inadvertent niche memes are new and exciting! (14 Aug 2007)
- An interview with Concerned creator Chis Livingston following the end of the webcomic series. (2 Nov 2006)
- Profiles of Dueling Analogs' Steve Napierski, Extra Life's Scott Johnson.
- Fueled by arguments ongoing since the inception of the webcomic wrapup and inspired by a conversation we had with the co-creator Gabe, we open the floor for readers to debate whether or not Penny Arcade should be excluded from the webcomic wraup. The end result: they're still included, and the whining has evolved into "PA sucks now, anyways." (6 Dec 2006)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan peters @ Nov 24th 2007 4:29PM
It's my birthday too.
Ross Miller @ Nov 24th 2007 4:56PM
Happy birthday to us :)
Dan peters @ Nov 24th 2007 5:01PM
huzzah!
Steven @ Nov 24th 2007 5:17PM
Whoh, Today, November 24, is your birthday too? This is a popular day for a birthday. We must just be cool like that.
Jordan @ Nov 24th 2007 6:08PM
Sweet! My birthday too!
Lanturn of Ash @ Nov 24th 2007 4:31PM
My god, the first one was horribly, incredibly long and boring as hell.
Slaziman @ Nov 24th 2007 5:33PM
I didn't even fully read it, just had to close it after it showed absolutely no funniez, and too many textz
ShortFuse @ Nov 24th 2007 4:35PM
PA's Mass Effect strip is so true! If I remember correctly, they don't tell you how to swap guns, run, or (as mentioned in the podcast) that the tank can shoot rockets. I too found that out halfway through the game.
But I had to pick Turkey's Creed because Assassin's Creed does get to you like that. It's so immersive.
Joe @ Nov 24th 2007 5:14PM
Why the hell would anyone pick the Control Alt Delete comic? It makes no goddman sense. Woo, he looks like Altair, and he stabbed a turkey.
Congratufuckinglations, Tim Buckely, your no-talent, all wall of text webcomic is winning for no apparent reason.
Josh Warner @ Nov 24th 2007 7:07PM
Did you read the CAD strip in question? There isn't a single spoken word in it, other than the "STAB" into the turkey.
I'm fine with people disliking certain strips, but posting a lot of hate referencing a mythical "Wall of text" which does not apply to that comic whatsoever, tells me you are simply trolling.
Sometimes you might have been right, but you slipped up and let the troll show through.
Slaziman @ Nov 24th 2007 5:20PM
One billion props for the Neebs reply chain reference.
Neebs @ Nov 24th 2007 5:57PM
One billion props for acknowledging my little bit of e-fame on a game news site that is more often used as second perspective.
But it's my primary.
Thierry @ Nov 24th 2007 5:43PM
LOL, some of them were pretty funny, the reginator and the Assassin breaking his neck.
Neebs @ Nov 24th 2007 5:48PM
I'm mentioned in a webcomic wrap up special edition! New and exciting!
Neebs @ Nov 24th 2007 6:07PM
By the way, some joker occasionally decides to go back and post on that thread. Every 2 weeks.
That percent is 23.66% percent now guys.
hvnlysoldr @ Nov 24th 2007 6:46PM
I noticed a little. NEEDS MOAR REPLIES!
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 25th 2007 12:10AM
Looks like it's time for a new and exciting episode of my favorite sitcom: Everyone Loves Neebs!
:D?
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 25th 2007 12:10AM
Looks like it's time for a new and exciting episode of my favorite sitcom: Everyone Loves Neebs!
:D?
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 25th 2007 12:10AM
Looks like it's time for a new and exciting episode of my favorite sitcom: Everyone Loves Neebs!
:D?
Blast Processing Megadrive @ Nov 25th 2007 12:12AM
WTF, mate? I clicked "Add Your Comments" once, and it tells me "Try again soon!" so I figured the post failed. I go back to post it again, and now there's THREE copies?! Where did the third one come from?!
samfish @ Nov 25th 2007 1:13AM
Mysterious multi-posts are new and exciting?
Slaziman @ Nov 25th 2007 7:47AM
New and exciting!
fightinfilipino @ Nov 24th 2007 6:13PM
dammit who is voting for C-A-D and what is wrong with you? :|
Platy @ Nov 24th 2007 6:50PM
about the digital unrest .... the protein known before as pokemon is responsible for the evolution of cancer =P
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbtb7
Mr Khan @ Nov 24th 2007 7:04PM
Penny Arcade seems to have broken their too-long suck streak, their comics have been good the past few weeks, and i actually voted this time, it made me laugh more than the others
I found CAD and Monday Night Crew a bit too trite, but i liked everything else
Steve @ Nov 24th 2007 9:54PM
This is the first time I've ever voted for Penny Arcade. Unlike all of the other comics, it doesn't require you to have played the game already to get the joke.
80% of these comics, every single week, are moronic fish-out-of-water gimmick tripe. See for example the Assassin's Creed turkey comic, the quintessence of suck, and a virtual generating function for most other lame gaming webcomics.
Probot @ Nov 24th 2007 8:56PM
I meant to suggest the Wed. XKCD comic, but I forgot.
http://xkcd.com/347/
I voted for PA.
Shane @ Nov 25th 2007 12:05AM
Man I love xkcd. So simple and so complex at the same time. Well, not all that complex, but funny.
Grey Fox @ Nov 24th 2007 11:12PM
Without a doubt Pups wins this week. pointient and funny!
Tim Harding @ Nov 25th 2007 12:42AM
Well, we weren't going to have a new comic this week, and then we ended up having one, so if you guys want to check it out, I think it's worthy: http://www.2pstart.com/2007/11/21/pac-flak/
Also, we redesigned our site and we're proud of it, so come on over!
NvM @ Nov 25th 2007 12:44AM
Super Jerk Returns.
MNC Dover @ Nov 25th 2007 2:49AM
It's good to see we made the poll, but it was with a comic from two weeks ago. I wasn't to happy with how that one turned out, but oh well. Our Contra one this week was better.
ronald.raygun @ Nov 25th 2007 3:29AM
the only one i laughed at was extralife. the pixelated pups sucked and CAD did again as usual.
AnonyMack @ Nov 25th 2007 4:29AM
dude what the hell my bday was the 24th too! I got Mass Effect! Lolz.
Ziano @ Nov 25th 2007 11:07AM
http://myextralife.com/archive.php?date=2007-11-19 is VERY similar to http://fanboys-online.com/index.php?cid=246
mcdeath ob @ Nov 25th 2007 11:21AM
How could you miss out the Ctrl Alt Del comic on mass effect. Made me laugh out loud: "hehe, blue boobies"
http://ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20071119
WiNG @ Nov 25th 2007 2:08PM
Ass to ass!
Haha, man funny strip about one of the most depressing movies ever made.
Requiem for a Dream is my anti drug. Dead Serious.
Judd @ Nov 25th 2007 2:20PM
Requiem for a Dream references FTW.
Jonah Falcon @ Nov 25th 2007 5:55PM
Ugh. I vote for none of them. Not even a chuckle.