Impressions: InkTank

Spoilers: This is a fantastic comic.

'InkTank', a webcomic by cartoonist Barry T. Smith, is, to quote the british, bloody brilliant. And now that I've used up my comma quota for this article... moving on.

Just to give you an idea, this article took twice as long to write than usual. I typically browse the webcomic I'm writing about shortly before I begin my reviews or impressions. This time, however, browsing turned into me completely re-read the entire things again because I couldn't stop laughing. I can honestly say that so many strips had me laughing out loud that I have a headache now. Yes, 'InkTank' will cause you pain when reading. But, you know, the good kind of pain; the kind of pain that lets you know you're alive!

'InkTank' is a somewhat biographical slice of life webcomic. On the about page, Barry says that much of the comic is factual and loosely follows the current events of his life. The first comic even has him writing and drawing the webcomic. Still, that doesn't keep the creator from taking the webcomic in crazy directions. I doubt I.T. at his job were actually dressed as ninjas, but I lack the proof to say so for certain.

What makes 'InkTank' work so well for me is that it is a great mix of both high-geek humor as well as family-oriented humor. One joke may make reference to Next Generation's Battle Bridge, while the next is simply Barry's daughter doing those hilarious things that children do each day. I found the combination of the two styles to be a near-perfect mix. In addition, Barry's wife, while not as geeky as Barry, understands his hobbies and doesn't belittle him for them. A number of other comics (as well as TV shows) tend to do this and it irritates me. 'InkTank's' approach is a welcome change.

Be warned however, there are a number of comics where you WILL need a good deal of geek knowledge in order to get the reference. This is not a negative, simply an indication of the target audience. Luckily, I am a member of that target and the humor hits home on a number of levels. Being a nerd, a web developer, a parent and someone who is trying to make a living doing something I enjoy, there wasn't much I couldn't relate to in this particular webcomic.

'InkTank' is meant for adults, and occasionally the content reflects that. While generally tame, there is the occasional sexual reference or crude language. So don't be completely caught off guard when those moments occur.

The art of 'InkTank' is pretty standard comic strip style. Barry is a talented cartoonist and does a good job of drawing his characters and scenes. Judging from the few examples I've seen on the site, I would really love to see a full color strip thrown in from time to time. However, as always, time is obviously an issue and coloring can be a major commitment that is not available to everyone.

Site = ComicPress = Ugh.

Go... read... now. If you don't find this webcomic funny I will hate you just a little bit.