Over the past week, I have had an unbelievable number of friends tell me that I should read Penny Arcade. I don’t know where this is coming from. Are they having a readership drive over there?
It’s not that I’ve never heard of Penny Arcade. I am well aware that it’s been a popular webcomic since pretty much the beginning of webcomics. I have read it on multiple occasions, trying to understand the humor, trying to laugh. It hasn’t worked. In fact, it’s had the exact opposite impression. I’m pretty much getting tired of hearing about it.
This last trip, I’ve found out that you don’t even get the comic on the homepage anymore when you visit the site. Now you get their BLOG, and you can click to the comic at the top. Maybe the blog is more interesting. Maybe more people laugh at it. I don’t know, because I am none of those people.
Yes, I did rent Boom Blox because of Penny Arcade, and yes, it was fun. But the comic itself is not. Even when I feel I should get the humor, I don’t. On the occasion that I at least understand why it was funny, I still don’t laugh, or just feel that the delivery is horrible, or some such thing that wretches my stomach.
So please stop recommending this atrocity to me. I’m not sure at all how it’s lasted this long. I don’t find it funny at all.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Penny Arcade, like all comedic webcomics are hit and miss. There’s a lot of crappy strips, then a really good one comes up to remind you just why the one you’re reading is as popular as it is.
The latest strip you need to listen to their podcast to really understand. I’m not trying to be an apologists for it, I didn’t find the strip funny either until I listened to it.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Funny, I was thinking this must be the worst blog ever, lol.
I guess it’s all a matter of opinion.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Don’t take it so personally, just because the comic sucks.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Read the blogposts, though, they make the strips much better.
Penny Arcade falls in the “worth checking out” category of webcomics, not the “Must read every single one” category.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Penny arcade is interesting and unique because the comic is only half the experience, there is often just as much humor or at least intrigue in the post, and if the post was not the home page people would likely skip it. Moreover, along with Sluggy Freelance, Penny Arcade is one of the first major webcomics still around, and having the post as the homepage is convention. Tycho will often make interesting points about the comic that reading beforehand helps you to enjoy the comic, and moreover the comics are not always meant to be “HAHA, I’m using the interwebs” funny, but rather often raise points about the industry / games in general in a humorous fashion.
Judging by your response to it though I’m not sure you’re capable of enjoyment of things on that level though, or anything more refined.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Agreed. PennyArcade is the shittiest thing. Ugh. Those two are so smug and think that they have the best opinions about everything of all time. What gets me is that so many people lap it up. Maybe that’s because they’re two big douches and the world is filled with big douches – it’s a large demographic.
August 11th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Jesse Donat, PennyArcade is not “refined.” It’s very base “humor” that makes obvious points about the industry and then pats itself on the back for how “deep” it is.
I’m plenty refined, bitch ;~)