Woop woop!

http://returntodonnelly.keenspace.com/

Okay. First of all, it isn't called Return To Donnelly anymore. It's something like Return To The Exiled Talisman Of The Jedi Phoenix Two: The Second Coming, or something like that. But still, confusing names aside...

Artwise, this is a spectacular comic. Every page could be framed on a wall as art, such is Barb Jacobs's deft manipulation of Adobe Illustrator (or Photoshop or OpenCanvas or whatever she uses). The lines and coloring are confident and eye-catching without being all "hey, look at how amazingly clever I am". The result is something that's beautiful to look at while still being functional. If only the Bauhaus had known about Jacobs, maybe they wouldn't have gotten so obsessed with turning every building on Earth into a grey concrete box.

Storywise, though... well, you have to understand, this comic is firmly in the fantasy canon, a genre that doesn't much cotton to experimenting. The story is what you'd expect at first glance: A guy from our world (military jarhead-turned-hostage Ollie) suddenly discovers a magical realm that, like our world, is fraught with battles between good and evil (though their battles are more black and white than ours-- like I said, this is fantasy), and realizes that he is an integral part to the salvation of this new land. It's a plot that we've read thousands of times. But to really appreciate the story of Donnelly, you have to sort of accept the bigger plotline for what it is and instead focus on the smaller, more finely tuned things-- the side subplots, the character development, and, more recently, the more and more frequent ties to Ollie's past. Still, something itched at my brain every time I read this comic. Hadn't I read something like this before in some thick compilation of sci-fi literature from my local public library? A short story involving four kids (one of them with a name that might have started with "O"), four weapon talisman things that were also acid papers or something, and a magical land called something close to "Donnelly"?

A quick Google search didn't answer my question, but opened another: This site revealed that what I originally thought to be a single project is actually a buttload (that is the actual scientific unit of measurement for art: the buttload) of stuff that Barb and the writer Steven P. Jones are putting out. Return of the Exile is only a spinoff series of a novel-slash-comic book called Talismen, in which Ollie is part of a group of four kids (aha!) who fight for Donnelly (aha again!). Only... it hasn't been made yet. Maybe. Or it isn't available. Or something. Obviously what I had originally thought was just a small yet inspired comic is actually a sprawling complex of plot, and you gotta give Steve P. props for that.

In conclusion, Return to Whatever is either a fine-looking fantasy comic with a big heart or a complex network of artistic potential waiting to burst forth and take the comics world by storm. I can't decide. Either way, good stuff!

~IJ

Dude, it rocks. What more can you say? I started out helping Barb build her site just because the whole premise was so damn cool IT DEMANDED IT. The characters all have reasons and motives for their actions, and like real people, I love a bunch of them, hate a few of them. There's a whole backstory that is slowly being told, and it's huge! I love backstories! I love to know the "why" behind everything, and RoTE certainly has enough story with absolutely wonderfuliffic art to keep anybody reading. Granted, I'm a little biased, but damn is it good!

Not to mention, Steve and Barb have created their own community that's growing daily. It's wonderful to actually be able to talk and discuss story/art with the actual creators, and they're always there to answer questions (not to mention tease us with tidbits of future storylines!)

To me, RoTE reads like a favorite fairytale, one of those ones held close and still remembered even when you're no longer a child, the one that part of you mind knows can't be real while at the same time, the other part knows that it should be, could be, somewhere--like one of those dreams kept close to the heart and cherished. It's not about making sense in this world, it's more about dreams and wishes and wants and well, fantasy! It's not about pragmatism and reality, it's about belief. That's why I read comics and books, because they'd never happen in this world.


...I also read it for the fanservice, but we don't need to go into that right now;)

Now there's a reason I didn't jump in and review this comic the second it came up on the reviewing plate. It's not because I don't find this comic awesome. I DO. But the thing is...this comic sort of intimidates me. The only other webcomic that approaches it art wise on the net these days is probably Alpha Shade. So where do I begin to review something like this? I can't exactly go through and critique it based on my own artistic knowledge, because my own artistic knowledge is quite limited in comparison. So I'll have to do what I'd do when I critique a pro comic; go through and review it based soley on opinion and storyline.

Here we go...

Okay, I finished the first chapter without writing anything. This is really really good! I think i'd read parts of it before, but now reading it all together...I really like it. I'm into the second chapter and the plot continues to be entertaining.

You know, screw the review. It's getting in the way of me really enjoying this comic. I might get back to you after I finish all that's here, but until then...

And keep it up! I really like what I've seen thus far.

Well I definitly enjoyed it. The art was a great treat, but also the story. Even the cliche's I enjoyed a lot because they were done well.

It's been so long since this comic was even able to be found online.  I was wondering if anyone had bought the epilogue way back when because I sadly did not and now I really wish I had.  This was the best comic, and I think about it every now and then and wish it were completed somewhere. 
So if anyone has the epilogue, hit me up, I'd love to read it.