You'll Love These NUTS

Webcomic of the Week. That is what this post is about and you will be reading about this week's Webcomic very shortly. Like right after you finish reading this sentence or start ignoring this sentence.


Assorted NUTS! is a comic created by Nick Barrameda. It follows the adventures of seven friends, each with their own personality and problems. While Mr. Barrameda has been drawing Assorted NUTS! since his high school days, it made its first official public appearance in the college paper, The Benildean, where it won Best Comic Strip of 2006. Mr. Barrameda attempted to sell issues of his comic at a Phillipine comic con, but sales were not as expected and, like the rest of us, turned to the internet. Assorted NUTS! will celebrate its one year anniversary as a webcomic this May.

Assorted NUTS! features wonderful art that is vaguely reminiscent of Anime and Manga, however, beneath the initial impression it is clear that there are many influences. Mr. Barrameda told me that others have pointed out that his art style is influenced by Sailormoon and Archie Comics. I don't know about that, but the art easily surpasses most comics, print, online, or otherwise. It is done in the familiar four-panel style, so the first three panels are generally set up for the punchline in the fourth. While I can't begrudge the choice to go with such a proven set-up, I would like to see someone try a different one. If nothing else, it is done in a vertical rather than a horizontal strip, eliminating the chance that a reader might read the punchline before the set-up because they simply glanced in the wrong spot on their screen.

Assorted NUTS!, like all Webcomic of the Week winner so far, is a comedy strip. Following the lives of seven friends, all with wildly different personalities, it isn't hard to imagine all the wacky situations that could come up. From sight gags to word play to characters that just don't get along, there is no shortage of comedy in Assorted NUTS! While some old jokes are used, they aren't beaten to death. In fact, with such a variety of characters, Mr. Barrameda could have several weeks of comics and not use the same joke in the same way twice (I'm looking at you Andy Capp and Marmaduke).

The main critizisms I have are that the backstory for the comic is very extensive and could be imposing to new readers. The individual comics usually have a stand-alone punchline that can be understood without knowing the history of all the characters, but to truely understand the entire comic, it is necessary to know each of the characters and their history. While this may not be a problem for readers that have been following the comic for a few months, it does to newer readers.

If you want a smart webcomic that has a cast of characters unlike most, start reading Assorted NUTS! Once you start reading, you won't want to stop.