Astray3 Review

Another Must Read Webcomic

I'm breaking a rule by reviewing this webcomic today. My standards for webcomic to receive a review is 100 strips and over one year old. I'm ignoring the second half of the criteria because I can already see the quality of 'Astray3' and it deserves props now while it's still growing in readership.

'Astray3' is a serial webcomic that follows Emily Hargrove, the stories lack-luster heroine. The first few strips follow her in what appears to be a modern earth as she sleeps in, talks about possibly finally going to college and arrives late at her job flipping burgers at the local Burgerville. Doesn't exactly scream "destined for greatness," does it?

Craziness starts after she is thrown into a stockroom at her job. Mysteriously, she is transported into a prison cell in some strange world filled with monsters. Originally thinking it a dream, things start to become more real as she finds she can not wake up. Her life is quickly thrust into danger and she begins to realize that just sitting by and doing nothing could get her killed.

The story has had some very intriguing elements that I won't do you the disservice of spoiling, but What follows is some exciting action sequences, fantastic artwork and amazing world-building. There have been some really shocking scenes and revelations that caught me off guard. These moments are peppered with some great bits of humor. It's not a punchline-per-comic webcomic, but I have laughed more than once.

Emily works well as a main character. She's fun, doesn't get too freaked out at the events happening around her and you begin to like her early on. She comes off as your typical non-hero. She has no great desire to be a hero, or to do great deeds; she just wants to get home... so far. She simply acts to survive, and occasionally to help her friends.

But what I find more interesting than the characters so far, is the world. Up until recently, no other characters spoke english in the alternate world, making any form of exposition impossible for those readers who didn't crack the comics alien language. So anything we determine about the world either be through Emily's commentary, or our own observation. Bit by bit the world to which she was transported is being revealed to the readers. It's like peeling an onion... but far less painful to the eyes.