Well, that was a nice break. This is why I like saying ‘weekly’ and not committing to bi-weekly. It’s good for all of us if I don’t force myself to churn out utter shit just to meet a quota. I got itchy fingers so let’s get to it.

Here we go: Debt On

Debt On is classic newspaper-style comic that follows three recent college graduates in the shenanigans that is entering the real-world job market. Witty and oozing with sarcasm, it’s a social satire on life after higher education.

This is a smart comic.

The art is bold black and white, with hand-drawn everything from panels to text. Don’t be afraid. It’s easy to read, easy on the eyes, and adds a lot of personality and emotion to the dialogue. While the character designs are simplistic, it’s a practiced, well-developed style that gets to the point while staying ten-feet-over less (and more) ambitious art.

As for the plot and dialogue itself, all I can say is it’s not hard jumping into the story, be it today’s strip, six months ago’s, or strip one. While not gag-a-day, the comic is divided into easily digestible mini-arcs, and the characterization of the leads and supporting cast is instant from strip to strip. We understand at a glance that mohawk-sporting Sid is more sympathetic than hardcore (though he does rock out). We understand that boonie-hat Bounty is too cynical to take life seriously, and that Philosophy-major Willow is utterly doomed.

I find the subtext and theme of Debt On completely honest and relatable, the title itself a dig at the price college students pay to end up as apartment-dwelling waiters as they await their ‘real-job.’ A person’s mid-20’s are a goldmine of irony that the comic never seems to run dry of.

My only issue is that the archives are near impossible to access, and with the volume of daily to bi-weekly strips over the span of years, Debt On’s history is hard to navigate. Hopefully Mr. Scott will clear that shit up sooner rather than later. A personable fellow, you can respond to each strip on its post page and he regularly replies.

I certainly recommend Debt On. It updates often, but not too often, and doesn’t take a minute to read a strip. The humor, character interaction, as well as the social subtext make this one of my new favs.

I know I just piggybacked ultra-positive reviews, but I still feel like I’m making up for Enchante. I still feel dirty inside. I promise to find something flawed soon–heaven knows it’s out there.