The link given for the next comic on the list, "Green Rain" goes nowhere, so I'm skipping it for the time being. If the author gets back to me it will be up next for review.

http://www.drunkduck.com/Zesty_Relations/

Actually, Green Rain's link works fine. But while we're here, I may as well review ZR.

Zesty Relations is one of my favorite comics on DD, but unfortunately, it has since gone on a hiatus. So, I'll just have to review what's there.

Art-
The art is very, very simplistic. It serves only to give a basic idea of who is who, and there is very little detailing. Heck, most characters are just floating torsos. However, the art doesn't detract too much from the writing- in fact, its simplicity helps drive jokes even further. (2.5/5)

Writing-
My favorite part of ZR. Jokes are sick, twisted, and delightfully hilarious, often involving sex and/or mutilation, and Penny's sadistic disposition only adds to the effect. There are few things in this world as funny as watching a woman get shot in her ovaries. However, some of the later strips seem to go for simply shock value, rather than humor and shock value. However, the awesomeness of the early strps compley mkepfor this. (4.5/5)

Overall-
Zesty Relations is awesome.What it lacks in art it makes up for in sick, twisted humor. And for that, I love it. Which is why it should totally make a comeback. (4.5/5)

Zesty Relations just simply isn't my cup of of soured milk.

Art-
As already stated, simplistic. I find the creative use of clip art & stripped down lineart appealing. It takes talent to render something so simplistically & have it easy to understand. I had no problem following the strips or getting what was intended as humor because the art & storytelling are deceptively simple but spot on.

Story-
Train-of-thought pointless and sadistic. It's the type of thing I used to come up with many, many moons ago when I was in highschool because it either grossed out the girls or made me seem cool to the other rebels (& turned on the blue-haired rebel chicks). As far as I can tell, there is no social commentary or political point to most if not all the strips. They all appear to be meandering exercises in sick humor.

I don't have any suggestions as I don't find my lack of appreciation of the strip to necessarily be a failing on the strip's part, but rather a matter of personal taste. I wouldn't recommend a soul to ZR, but I can remember a time long ago when I would have revelled in it's anti-social anger.

Later,
Chip

0_o .....um.... where to start....

Art:

I like the art. Very simplistic. Cute. Easy to look at. The style of the art is simply my favorite part of this comic. All the artwork is extremely well done and all the chracters are well drawn.
4.5/5

Writing:

It's a gag-a-day strip, so no real story. Continuity is just barely existant. Really, I'm just going to skip this section as the comic relies entirely on characters.

Characters:

As I said, the comic relies characters to deliver its jokes. It's two-dimensional characters. I'd hate to be so harsh, but the characters lack any real personality. Sure, Penny is a psychotic sicko, but that's all she is, there is nothing else. That other girl is just there to be mutilated over and over again.
1.5/5

Jokes:

The jokes are just... well... some are funny, in a twisted way. Darkly humorous and all that. And I like dark humor. But for the most part, they aren't funny. Every strip basically involves Penny torturing someone else, whether physically or mentally. Sometimes it's funny, but the dialogue just comes up lacking. Seriously, Random Vulgarities just get old after awhile.
1/5

Overall:
2.5/5

If you like sick, twisted, morally depraved humor that lacks wit, then this is for you. I suggest that the author try to put more effort into making the jokes witty, as opposed to just relying on shock value-something that ultimately fails to deliver laughs in the long run.

Well thanks for the reviews you guys I wish I was going to seriously continue the comic so that I might transfer some of your advice to paper.

I seems like the duck may not be the place to try and break the mold with deranged humor. For that I am momentarily saddened, I like this place.

Perhaps I shall make a comic about fuzzy anime bunnies that shout clever zingers to each other mid battle whilst fighting an evil overlord of some sort so they can save the ones they love... but perhaps not.

With all due respect, gigafelz, I don't think that's what anyone is suggesting. And I think you're missing the point.

From my interpretation of all the reviews, the joke just gets old. Pointless, cruel humor can be hilarious, but endlessly, pointless, cruel humor loses all it's impact. It becomes redundant, and loses all impact or relevence.

Masochism & sadism only have impact against the backdrop of their absence. Pain loses all it's impact (heh, pun unintended) when it's all we experience.

If we knew the characters... Saw more of them than just their endless anger & hatred of ALL things, maybe their actions would have more relevence.

But, hey, maybe you're right & all of us are just closed-minded prudes with no creative depth...

Later,
Chip

I wasnt really responding to anyone in particular (well the clever zimger part was directed at the lack of wit comment so thats not completely true). And my comic is more of a supplement than the only thing you read. Of course the jokes get old one after another especialy if the subject matter bothers you (not saying it does), its the nature of the beast. I've just been thinking a lot about different random ideas and that one sounded kind of funny in my head, especialy with the response to my comic I get from my mom. Twas a general response to all my thinking when considering the disney like atmosphere I often associate with the duck. Maybe I'm wrong.

Long story short I get what you are trying to say and I dont think you are closeminded but I do think 99% of people are prudes in one way or another, just a personal opinion.

And perhaps you miss the point. This comic wasnt for mass apeal its for people who like to see disgusting and horrible things. Most people dont want to see a horse make sweet love to a women but some cant look away, same deal. To apply the normal rules of goodness to something that relies on such a social faux pas would be pointless and I'm really not sure what I was thinking I would get putting it up for review. I think I'll revamp the whole thing with more fetishy stuff and take it over to the suicide girls forums or something... I wonder if there is a jthm forum out there somewhere... Theres a real market for senseless violence one just has to find it.

I still thank everyone a lot for the reviews it means a lot that you would care enough to read through the whole thing and share your opinion, this was really my first comic so I hope to improve on a lot of things in the future. Thanks again!

I've just got done reading Zesty, and I have to say, I'm pretty damn impressed. Sure I may fall into the category of comics that the author hates, ones that just involve obscure non-ground breaking humor, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy this comic for what it is. What is it?

Why probably the most crude and intentionally offensive comic on Drunk Duck, and I likes it. This manages to beat out Penis for "what the fuck" moments, and for me that's a good thing. I like the humor for it's lewd and low down nature, as it generates less of a normal laugh, and more of the kind where you're laughing, but also saying "oh no" at the same time. Don't know if many people have though, but I had my fair share during this comic.

Art: Terrific line art. While some parts of the characters are disconnected, or out of proportion, it gets the point across just fine. The comic's simple artwork lends it's self to the humor very well. Major props for the "high five!" panel, and literally shitting on some one's parade.

Writing: The only main fault with the writing is that the lack of word balloons makes it kinda' hard to see who is saying what, but over all you get the idea. There's some pretty witty stuff here (such as the male birth control, or the compromise to cater to DrunkDuck's comedic standard), and some not so witty stuff. It's a very good balance of "haha, they just said shit" and "did you see the way they said shit?".

Comic Page: Standard page layout. Black borders and off center panels. Nothing outrageously jaw dropping, but it does hold your attention. Gets the job done.

Overall: Terrific. I would suggest this comic to anyone who is willing to stomach it. Certainly not the most kind among DD comics, but that's whats so great about it. It's a fresh taste, and I love it.

Zesty Relations gets four bathaws out of five.

I must say firstly that overall Zesty Relations is very hit and miss for me. The first few strips I thought were very funny, then there was a bit of a lull, then more funny ones... etc etc.

I do like the art a lot.. I'm a sucker for traditionally drawn comics, and I love how misleadingly innocent the illustration is. A lot of people bash simplicity, but I feel that some people can make it work very well, and that is definitely the case here.

The sense of humor behind the comic is very very random, and I love that. Unfortunately with that comes a lot of filler (of which I myself am guilty from time to time) and a lot of unfunny jokes. When it is funny though, gigafelz frickin' nails it. The gags can range from traditional humor to mildly offensive, and I also love the self-depreciating strips; an artist who can poke fun at themselves is a wonderful thing.

All in all, I have to say I liked Zesty Relations a lot. Good diversity, charming art, and I think the bursts of good material more than make up for the slight lulls in between. 3.5/5.

Ahaa, a strange one!

The consensus on the artwork would be that it's simple style works well for it... and considering the nature of the beast, I'd definitely agree on that. Comics taking this darker approach to humour work well when visually simplistic... and including random clipart kinda seems to add to the effect in a strange way.

I've read a few really good comics that take this approach, designed to piss off some people, and amuse the hell out of others... and while there are some amusing pages in this comic, there are also some that just don't work. It's not so much a matter of taste... more of the fact that you can have funny-disgusting, and just plain disgusting... I didn't find the latter occurring too often in this comic but it still detracts from the thing overall, especially when there are some really funny moments to be found here.

I guess the important thing with a comic like this is that you just go with the strange ideas in your head, but perhaps also try to keep your audience in mind and pick what you reckon would be the better choice when you've got a number of weird ideas floating around!

Oh, and don't let the reviews deter yah from using Drunk Duck as your comic platform of choice, you'd be surprised at the large number of non-'prudish' people around. Always try to make good use of critique... it's useful stuff!

I agree with a lot of what has been said here.

Zesty Relations is not for everybody, clearly. Easily offended or disgusted people need not apply. I mean, we're talking about a comic where one of the characters is forced to live in a giraffe's anus and the same character is gang raped by God, Jesus, and Santa. If this type of thing wont phase you, and if the idea makes you chuckle (and in my case, slightly aroused) then Zesty Relations is worth checking out.

Art:
Mercifully sketchy and simple. Thank god this comic isnt done in a hyper-realistic style. The character designs are memorable and you wont have any trouble knowing who's who or what the artist is trying to convey.

Writing:
Writing is hit and miss. The earlier strips really shine. The later strips have some that fall flat, but still many that are right on the mark. I don't agree with any of the people that say that "this type of humor just gets old". The third to latest strip, for example, is just as hilarious and fresh as when the comic first began. You can't always hit home runs when doing a gag strip, and any strip is going to have it's peaks and troughs. For me, the highs outnumber the lows.

Art: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Art: The art the simple, cartoony style I love so much! Rather than being hardly worked on or cheap, it's very humble drawing stlye and I suppose it suits this wacky comic.

Humor: Gags galore. It's blatant, straightforward, yet hilarious. I find myself laughing at almost every page. It's properly rated Mature, but well worth the read as it kept me giggling. A point said earlier is true that the styles changed and the later comics seem to lack the input the earlier ones had.

Overall, I love it.

I want to write something encouraging to the writer of Zesty Relations. It goes a lot of places for humour that a lot of comics wouldn't, and I find that admirable. It made me laugh a lot at its attempts at shock value. It's so extreme sometimes, but so friendly and well-meaning, I sense, that you can't help but laugh. For instance, a woman has sex with a piano and has to deal with an unfortunate aftermath.

I don't suspect is aspires to be great or revolutionary, but a really weird and cool extension of the worthwhile trend of searching for new ways to test people. And if it's not going on anymore, then that's a shame, because this is a comic with the balls to say what it wants and pull it off, coming off as clean and clear rather than sloppy dick and fart jokes.

Is it always amusing? Maybe not, but I got a great deal of amusement out of it when I needed to, which makes it aces in my book. The artwork is appropriately simple for its subversive nature. If it ever comes back, I'll read it more.

I'll drop a B+ on it, because quitters don't get A's.