Examine individual changes

'{| style="color: White; background-color: #003366;" class="wikitable" |'''Original review author:''' |[[User:Kyrtuck|kyrtuck]] |- |'''Webcomic name:''' |''League of Super Redundant Heroes'' |- |'''Author:''' |<s>Sire Happy Pants</s>, <s>Sir Walrus,</s> <s>Mr. Dork</s>, Mr. Sausage |- |'''Start Date:''' |Feb 14, 2011 |- |'''End Date:''' |Ongoing. |- |'''Genre:''' |Superhero Comedy |- |'''Defining Flaw:''' |Middling humor giving away to unimpressive attempts at more serious plot. |} ------ '''Rating Summary'''<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wikitable" style="width:600px"> {| style="color: Black; background-color: #003366;" class="wikitable" |'''Art:''' |[[File:Wiki.png|70px]][[File:Wiki.png|70px]] Typical shiney cell shading. Once zany energetic expressions giving away to dulled down ones. |- |'''Storyline:''' |[[File:Wiki.png|70px]] Currently zigzags between story arcs and single gag strips. |- |'''Characters:''' |[[File:Wiki.png|70px]] A blind moron, a black lesbian voice of reason, and a city full of jerkholes. |- |'''Miscellaneous Details:''' |[[File:Wiki.png|70px]][[File:Wiki.png|70px]][[File:Wiki.png|70px]][[File:Wiki.png|70px]] This thing was originally made by four authors, but dwindled down to one. I have never seen that before in any webcomic. |- |'''Overall:''' |[[File:Wiki.png|70px]] The one author is inept at the direction he's trying to attempt. |} </div> ------ == Background == Was brought up on the BWW forums, and I thought I'd take a looksee, since I've liked lots of superhero satire. == Downfall == This webcomic started out as a moderately entertaining superhero comedy. But the downfall came when one of the two remaining remaining authors gradually tried putting in more semi serious story arcs and character development, as well as one-off gag strips less and less relevant to superheroes. The beginning of the Downfall can very well be pinpointed at [http://superredundant.com/?comic=319-epiphany #319] with the introduction of Alex. 2024 update: for a comic that is ostensibly "downfallen" it seems to be going strong, well over 1,000 strips. [Myke O'Nidd] == Writing Review == [[file:League-SliceofLife.jpg|600px|thumb|right|This Lesbian Slice of Life strip has been brought to you by Mr. Sausage, of the used to be about Superheroes webcomic.]] Early on, this webcomic was a comedy, plain and simple. It had [http://superredundant.com/?comic=008-evil-savant-origin silly characters], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=141-unexpected-meeting silly powers], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=131-physics silly consequences from silly powers], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=133-introductions calling out] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=134-his-and-hers superhero conventions], and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=142-charity superheroes acting unheroic] in a city called "Shitropolis." Sometimes there were funny story arcs, [http://superredundant.com/?comic=151-perfect-disguises like three villains capturing and impersonating] four of the protagonists with the remaining protagonist being oblivious to it. Maybe the humor was middling, but the series knew what it was about. Cut to the mid-300s and beyond where we're now starting to have some of the characters undergo bits of serious growth, development and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=476-bold-declarations drama], while facing more [http://superredundant.com/?comic=801-taxonomy genuine adventures] and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=706-growth-spurt threats]. None of this carries much weight precisely because hundreds of strips prior were spent on just being goofy and aimless. A better way of doing the Cerebus Effect in a superhero satire can be seen in Adam Warren's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empowered_(comics) Empowered] comic, which dropped hints of more serious material, like Emp's insecurity or the threat of Willy Pete early on. Or, going into a different form of media, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Powerpuff_Girls Powerpuff Girls]. It was a cartoon that was silly the majority of the time yet still had scary, emotional and intense moments dropped in season one, and pretty much maintained its balance for six seasons. Another major point to gripe about are the single gag strips being [http://superredundant.com/?comic=538-diet less] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=648-truth-in-advertising superhero] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=652-mob-rule related.] Aliens and magic may be relevant tangents, but not when its a [http://superredundant.com/?comic=389-wizardry parody of] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=633-hogsworths-finest Harry Potter], who is part of a different genre. And you should stay away from [http://superredundant.com/?comic=758-falling-skies ordinary civilian] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=672-rant-man social commentary], unless it is with the main characters on their downtime. == Characters == There are dozens of recurring characters in this webcomic, most of whom are either [http://superredundant.com/?comic=199-amazing direct] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=203-the-company-you-keep parodies] of famous characters, or [http://superredundant.com/?comic=058-teams exceedingly] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=063-pick-me-up one] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=123-perfect note] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=124-politics joke] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=186-old-dreams characters.] So I'm just going to focus on the main protagonists. [[file:League-LazerPony.png|100px|left]] '''Lazer Pony''' <br> A scrawny man who acquired [http://superredundant.com/?comic=527-armageddon absurdly powerful eye lasers] which burned out his eyeballs forever, and made him an endless generator of blind jokes. He may as well be mentally handicapped as well, [http://superredundant.com/?comic=093-the-plan with all his stupidity.] The man [http://superredundant.com/?comic=202-double-trouble can't even follow people's voices.] Daredevil or Dr. Midnite he is not. Lazer Pony is the [http://superredundant.com/?comic=500-bad-day one truly nice character] of this webcomic, and is casual buddies with a [http://superredundant.com/?comic=064-bar-of-justice few other superheroes] and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=033-join-the-bright-side one supervillain.] So its sad seeing him as [http://superredundant.com/?comic=478-immersion the] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=156-good-day most] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=135-retribution frequently] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=176-dangerous-lifestyle abused] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=129-the-attachment character] as well. He's still around, and the least changed. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-GoodGirl.png|100px|left]] '''Good Girl''' <br> With a name like Good Girl, you'd think she'd be a foil and straightman to the many douchecapes, putting in necessary perspective. But no, what we get instead is someone that's mind controlled into being good by the halo. When the halo [http://superredundant.com/?comic=036-battery-of-virtue is removed] or [http://superredundant.com/?comic=103-good-deeds-ahoy runs out of power,] she reverts to her default form, Bad Good Girl, a straight up mean bitch. And then even as Good Girl, she isn't that heroic, as she tends to be either [http://superredundant.com/?comic=294-decisions passive], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=272-priorities petty], or at times [http://superredundant.com/?comic=617-holiday-denial hinted to be psychotic in a different direction]...This character is depressing when you think about it. Later on, [http://superredundant.com/?comic=704-divide-and-conquer she got split into two]. One of them becomes a mostly Good Girl who can [http://superredundant.com/?comic=705-preconceptions transform into an angel]. And the other is a Bad Good Girl all the time. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Buckaress.png|100px|left]] '''Buckaress''' <br> Originally a non powered, unskilled woman [http://superredundant.com/?comic=041-choices forced to spy on the League wearing a cowgirl bikini], she decides to stay on, keeping the costume she hates...[http://superredundant.com/?comic=067-full-house just because]...She worked as a [http://superredundant.com/?comic=216-adventures-in-waitressing harassed waitress], and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=433-denial somehow] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=393-eat-phresh burns food][http://superredundant.com/?comic=504-meatballin just by thinking about it]...Yeah, she was a very "just because" piece of fanservice kind of character all around. But since the introduction of Alex, Buckaress has undergone lots of semi serious development, [http://superredundant.com/?comic=449-salacious-past realizing how mean she was in the past and trying to become nicer], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=429-workout physically training herself], equipping herself, and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=439-dissatisfaction getting a more practical costume]. Yet she's still used for [http://superredundant.com/?comic=632-jumping-the-roof occasional boob jokes], hers having suddenly become freaking H-Cups. Has also had a steady [http://superredundant.com/?comic=453-a-different-approach lesbian] (or Bisexual?) relationship with Alex, inserting lots of slice of life material. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Alex.png|100px|left]] '''Alex''' <br> Both the website's and TvTropes Cast pages list her as a "supporting character" but screw it. She's appearing very frequently, and is vital to the webcomic's changes, so I'm regarding her as a main protagonist! So Alex (no one can remember her superhero codename) [http://superredundant.com/?comic=319-epiphany randomly came in on a blind date with Buckaress]. [http://superredundant.com/?comic=323-exposure After they fight a villain], Alex gives tips for improvement to Buckaress who gobbles it all up without question. Since then, they are rarely seen apart, and fill up many strips doing slice of life things. While she is unpowered and can be beaten or captured, Alex seems very much a Mary Sue in terms of plot function. She is always a straightman, almost always correct. Is never an idiot or jerk, and in fact has no funny quirks of her own. [http://superredundant.com/?comic=683-utilitarian She makes decisions for the group, unchalleneged,] despite supposedly only being an ally. But on the plus side, she never rants about social problems of gays or blacks as a defining character trait, nor hates white men, so congrats, she isn't a [http://badwebcomicswiki.shoutwiki.com/wiki/Delta_Dawn Delta Dawn] antihero! Take your victories where you can, Super Redundants! <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Kieth.png|100px|left]] '''Keith''' <br> An unpowered, uncostumed frat boy douchebro completely uninvolved in any superheroics. Lives in their place [http://superredundant.com/?comic=013-keith-origin just because]. Aside from being yet another layer of [http://superredundant.com/?comic=648-puppet-master unwarranted] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=637-lp-tries punishment] for Lazer Pony, I don't know what the purpose of Keith's existence is supposed to be. I guess neither does Mr. Sausage, since Keith has been appearing less and less. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Gyrognome.png|100px|left]] '''Gyrognome''' <br> A [http://superredundant.com/?comic=020-bring-it vicious], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=026-gyrognome-origin centuries old gnome and former member of a major superhero group, now he's just the League's abusive landlord]. Lazer Pony is his usual target, but he can be mean to [http://superredundant.com/?comic=522-diagnosis anyone] [http://superredundant.com/?comic=510-gift-fallout that's not a hot chick]. I actually wish they expanded more on him being an older experienced superhero with [http://superredundant.com/?comic=037-dirty-hero unconventional tactics]. But alas, Gyrognome appears less and less now. <br clear="all"/> ------ == Art Review == Initially, this webcomic's art alternated between four artists, Mr. Sausage, Mr. Dork, Sir Walrus, and Sire Happypants. They frankly appeared pretty interchangeable, with all of them starting out with monochrome coloring, zany expressions, alright poses, shiny cell shading, and cheesecake. The latter two, Sire Walrus and Sire Happypants, dropped out early on. Mr. Dork stayed on a while longer, but screw it, I'll just focus on the one guy still drawing, Mr. Sausage. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Artists.png|800px|thumb|left|Revel in the vibrant, brilliant, distinct artistic masters!]] <br clear="all"/> ------ After initially being a clone to the other three, Mr. Sausage fell into an odd phase of drawing people in an [http://superredundant.com/?comic=090-doctors-appointment overly simple], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=205-moving-in minimally shaded], [http://superredundant.com/?comic=184-investigative-journalism babyish looking style] with [http://superredundant.com/?comic=078-gossip oval eyes], and [http://superredundant.com/?comic=084-crime-prevention round face shapes]. He was capable of drawing better styles if he wanted to, but for some reason, favored the babyish style for a while. Later on, the preferred style of Mr. Sausage evolved into better shaped, but still big eyes for the females, small eyes for the males, generally small noses, small mouths in dull underacting expressions, [http://superredundant.com/?comic=481-adventures-in-babysitting occasional copypasta], and character anatomy that's only about three and a half heads tall, lessening the attempted sexy by quite a bit. Once again, Mr. Sausage is [http://superredundant.com/?comic=525-viral-part-3 capable of other, better art styles], he's just choosing to stick with a more lazy style. <br clear="all"/> ------ [[file:League-Sausageart.png|800px|thumb|left|Feel that sweet, dynamic sausage energy!]] <br clear="all"/> ------ Two final things I'd like to gripe about regarding the artwork. One, as a strip of just three or four panels, the format does not work well for drama or action. There can't be much build up, you can't change the size or shape of the panels very much, you can't have any stunning splash pages. Two, all the women everywhere have hour glass figures with D-cups or bigger. Sure, it may be fitting for a power fantasy, but it also gets dull when you have women who all have the same body shape with little to no variation or contrast. I think there is also a loss of comedy potential. You could have a plain nerd girl who becomes a villain just to get attention. Or an ugly superheroine stuck with dull unrewarding missions. Or a fat villainess that not even the strongest heroes can budge. Or something! == Author Biography == The "About" section claims that all four artists had backgrounds in illustration but not comics, and I guess it shows. I could not find find anything at all on Sire Happypants. Mr. Dork, AKA Psycho Captain, is from Sweden, but I couldn't find out anything else on him. Sir Walrus, AKA Drunken Novice, AKA Rickard Jonassan, also from Sweden, is the author of [http://twogag.com/archives/4 Two Guys and Guy], another simplistic cell shaded comedy webcomic focused on idiots and jerks. I also couldn't find out much about Mr. Sausage. His Twitter is just an advertisement for ''League of Super Redundant Heroes'', plus a handful of fanarts. I get the feeling he's not all that invested on superheroes, and more of a nerd generalist. == Conclusion == As is, ''League of Super Redundant Heroes'' is akin to a dead squirrel floating in a swimming pool. Its still moving slowly, but lacks the energy and life it once had. Mr. Sausage either needs to up his game on the art, or end the series. == Links == * [http://superredundant.com/ ''League of Super Redundant Heroes''' official site] * [https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes Its TV Tropes page] * [https://twitter.com/korvmatron Mr. Sausage's Twitter, for whatever it's worth] [[Category:Webcomics]]'