Why I want to learn to draw
Penny Arcade is one of a long list of comic strips I read with a dedication that approaches the fanatical. I don’t really remember when I started – though I do know User Friendly was my first – but I do remember that Penny Arcade was one I picked up rather late. I believe it was because it had always been billed as a “gaming” comic strip and, though I may wish to, I don’t “game”. I don’t have the time for it, I don’t wish to spend my disposable income on it (for the most part…there are a few exceptions) And I don’t have the skill to make it enjoyable over long periods. I’d say that I don’t have the ability to obsess to that extent, but anyone that knows me would know I’m lying. I FULLY have the ability to obsess – frighteningly so. I just can’t concentrate on video games that much. But, quite frankly, you don’t need a video-game-centric view of the world to enjoy Penny Arcade. You just need to have a completely and utterly twisted sense of humor. A tendency towards obsession does help.
They’ve come a long way since their first few strips – not only has their artwork evolved and shown an impressive refinement of skill, the writing has grown stronger and the jokes, while still twisted more often than not, have become exceedingly well crafted, like being slowly asphyxiated with a fine cheese.
It’s the art, though, that really inspires me – makes me want to learn to draw, too. One in particular, the first appearance of Twisp and Catsby, really exemplifies why they make me want to do this so much – the facial expression on Gabe (the one in the Pac-Man shirt) in the last panel is just perfect. It doesn’t hurt that this is humor that just hits me in exactly the right spot, but a lot of that humor is delivered through that last facial expression. “It’s not for you!” just rings funny bells inside my head until the vibrations make me have to go have a lie down.
Gabe and Tycho get a great big thank you from me. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring my own “mad skillz” to a point where I can look back and say “they were my influences. Part of why I started doing this”, instead of “they’re why I want to start doing this”. Go on. Watch me.
