The Guild #1

In case you've missed it, The Guild is based on a web show (video? movie?) created by Felicia Day. It's about a young woman who gets hooked on an M.M.O.R.P.G. (think World of Warcraft), and how her experiences there relate to her (sometimes strange) friends in the real world.

It's a funny show and worth tracking down. Felicia is probably best known for her role in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and now she's expanded her range into writing a comic book.

The comic is actually a prequel, taking place before the first episode of the web show. Here we see how Cyd (who looks remarkably like Felicia) first gets involved in the world of online gaming, and we see the beginning of her new alliance.

At the same time, we see her less-than-stellar existence in the real world, as she struggles with her career as a musician, a jerk for a boyfriend and assorted other insecurities.

The story rolls out with lots of humor and heart, and while it may not be for everyone, I enjoyed it. The writing is clever and it conveys a realistic sense about it, with sympathetic characters, jerks and everything in between.

The artwork by Jim Rugg offers an interesting style, with the real-world events being a bit plain and flat, while the on-line adventures are more lush and vibrant. The art is attractive and the likeness of Felicia pretty good without being too glamorous.

I should also mention that this isn't a comic for kids. There's some computer game-type violence, and it also makes reference to some real-world nastiness (such as Cyd's possible reaction to medication) that might be a bit rough for young readers.

But anyone who's been hooked on video games - or in a bad relationship - will be able to relate.

Grade: B+