Why I Read: Starpunch Girl
Another guest fan review, this one by Rulopótamo, creator of the teenage superheroine team webcomic M9 Girls.
Hello folks, this is Rulopótamo. Today I want to share with you a gem of a webcomic I found on the internet realms. Without further ado, let me tell you about Starpunch Girl, by the amazing writer duo S + D Lockhart, and the equally talented artist Patibut Narm Preeyawongsakul. I keep some contact with Narm and he is cool with the review, so let’s go to business!
Synopsis:
(Minor spoiler alert) Starpunch Girl (SPG) is a cosmic entity with god-like powers, who creates a race of human beings with the purpose of using them in her quest to free her world from her nemesis, Blackhole Boy. She is depicted as a cute anime young girl with huge mechanical gloves, though it is soon evident that she has the power of the stars, and that time does not have the same meaning for her than for mere mortals.
The first story arc introduces SPG as she terraforms a primitive planet, effectively ending the dinosaur era in order to seed it and evolve her own race of humans. She then must confront Dinostaur, the last surviving member of the dinosaurs, who is comprehensibly enraged after witnessing the destruction of his kind at the hands of SPG.
The second story arc has Starpunch Girl training to improve her Defense score, as her fight with Dinostaur almost proves to be too much for her.
By means of dream sequences (which rather are nightmarish visions) we learn about the past of Starpunch Girl: we get to know that she really has a score to settle with Blackhole Boy.
After her training sessions, SPG visits the world she created, apparently in preparations for the impending war…
How I Found It:
I found Starpunch Girl from the introductory post by its writer on the Webcomic Underdogs forum. I was hooked from page one. Seth is not very talkative, but Narm is quick with small talk and advice.
Why I Like It:
Where do we start? Starpunch Girl is one of those serendipitous collaborations between writer and artist where the sum of their talents create something memorable. You see, Starpunch Girl is a silent comic. Apart from the occasional exclamation mark, there is no dialogue whatsoever on the story. “Show and Don’t Tell” takes a whole new perspective in this comic. A feat in itself, this silent storyline is enhanced by the colorful art by Narm: he renders the panels with vibrant colors, expert traces and wonderful character design. Whatever exposition is needed is cleverly inserted into the story by means of computer notes, advertisements and product labels. SPG is an avid consumer of the interstellar version of Acme products, and the packaging in which the products come is witty and hilarious.
I really like the gamer motif that permeates the comic, which Starpunch Girl shamelessly embraces. You can see her playing videogames on her little planet home, or see her fighting skills improvement displayed on her very own trading card. But don’t be mistaken, despite all its cuteness and manga-influenced art, Starpunch Girl has some dark undertones, starting with the still unclear morality of its main character. So far the story has some hints at deep themes behind its currently straightforward plot.
And, did I mention the comic has an original soundtrack?
What Could Be Done Better:
Starpunch Girl is hosted in several sites. I find the most reliable and easy to navigate is the one hosted in Comic Fury. The official site, maintained by S.D. Lockhart (the pen name of which Seth is a half) is IMO a bit too overloaded with ads and buttons and not as easily navigated. I would seriously invest some time in making the official site top notch.
The linking page at sphinxscribble is also a little cluttered.
Final Thoughts:
If you are going to read only one webcomic this month, it should be this one. The integration between script and visuals is superb; the authors have managed a high level of empathy and I really know what is going to happen next. On an extra note, the current postcards from Starpunch Girl’s visit to her Earth are simply delicious and have to be seen. Not that we don’t want to continue with the storyline soon!
