ONE OF THE great things about web comics is the fact that, unlike their newspaper-bound cousins in syndication, they have an incredible amount of freedom. The panel display, art, layout, and overall size and presentation of a comic can change from strip to strip, allowing cartoonists to really do whatever they want with their strip. But at times, going back to basics can be the best formula for success, and it certainly seems to be working so far for the seven-month-old Out There.
Out There is the story of Miriam, a young woman who is driving across the country to pursue a potential relationship with a man named Chuck whom she knows online. Along the way, she picks up John, a mysterious man walking from town to town, who eventually agrees to travel with Miriam to her final destination.
It's the interaction between Miriam and John that forms the backbone of the initial part of the comic, and while this may not seem like a very exciting concept at first, it turns out to be well worth reading. Miriam is very candid, something of an alcoholic, occasionally stuck up on herself, talkative, and has a wild past. John, on the other hand, is stoic, reveals little about his past, and seemingly has no vices outside of a love for food. The two contrast so well that every conversation between the two of them is entertaining, with Miriam usually providing most of the dialogue and John providing punchlines in the form of dry, witty remarks.
Of course, this can't last forever; the strip is just now entering a transition phase to Miriam's arrival, so it remains to be seen how well the comic's carefully set-up character relations change, but if the first part of the comic's run is any indication, it will be handled well.
The comic has an engaging art style as well. It may not be flashy, but the black-and-white, hand-drawn, inked art lends itself very well to the tone of the comic. Detailed without being cluttered, the art is highly recognizable and easy to read.
Out There is not the sort of comic that jumps up and down and shouts, grabbing your attention; instead, it sucks you in slowly, teasing out character traits and details about their pasts. With a small but growing readership, Out There stands out as a shining example that you don't need to be flashy to succeed in the world of web comics.
This review was originally published in The Fulcrum.
