Webcomic; GastroPhobia: First Two Months: 3

 This Webcomic Wednesday or W.W. I went on The Webcomic List closed my eyes, scrolled up and down real fast and at random, clicked and came across this comic: Gastro Phobia. At first I was hesitant because of the art. It's childish as well as being somewhat undeveloped but it works with the actual mood of the comic. I wasn’t hooked right out of the gate nor was I hooked at any point while reading it but I was still happy with the random luck of the click.

            The comic is loosely based on Greek Mythology as well as being set in Ancient Greek. I was actually really happy about that fact since I am re-watching Xena and Hercules right now. Ancient Greece is my ‘now-crack.’ One thing that I like and dislike about this comic is that the cast is so small. I like it since it’s easier to keep track of everyone and dislike it because after a while 2-3 characters gets boring. Honestly have no idea how Supernatural is still entertaining and actually good. So we have two main characters Phobia: a single mother who was raised Amazonian and Gastro: her weird seven year old son. After I believe it’s the third chapter a new character called Klepto shows up as a slave to Phobia.

            The dynamic between all three characters is pretty interesting and some times down right hilarious. Klepto keeps teaching Gastro how to bullshit and steal which annoys the crap out of Phobia. It’s probably the only thing she’s actually on top of. She’s a stereotypical dumbass barbarian but with no skill. Half the time when she wins fights it’s pure dumb luck. Seriously, this webcomic is not for anyone who likes a true hero and Gastro will never be the hero of the group, ever. The kid likes music over swords, which annoys his mother like crazy. Also Gastro: extremely weird kid. His little child adventures are bizarre which leads to a good amount of funny one-liners from Phobia.

            I think they are also trying to suggest a love story about to start with Phobia and the Slave but honestly if it’s kept to them just fighting and her by accidently calling him ‘The Slave’ it will be ten times better.

            There are also a lot of really great usages of mythology. One example: the Sphinx. Every single traveler knows the answer to her riddle. Mostly this character comes back often trying to figure out a new riddle and is used mostly as funny little fillers. Another one is a story arc where Phobia has to fight the miniature. Some of the pages are really funny since we have the mix of dumb unskilled barbarian and big mean monster guy.

            Over all this webcomic is really funny and entertaining but it doesn’t have a very interesting plotline as well as the fact that the art STILL bugs me. I might finish reading the archives but I really can’t see myself adding it to my bookmark bar so I could check it every day. After a while it does get kind of repetitive and not quite dry but definitely in the same ballpark.

            GastroPhobia: 3 out of 5. I do know that some would really get into this while others would like it but not add it to their daily webcomic checks. I really would not expect anyone to outright hate it, at most feel absolutely neutral on it but it’s cute enough that it’s good for light entertainment. If you are into this kind of style and storylines than in it’s category it is really good but they are definitely not for me. Kind of a drag since at times it is really cute. 


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