The Guild Volume 1

If you know me, I love me some “Guild” action, and I’ve always kind of mourned the fact that each episode is so short (well, yeah, it’s a web series, but still…). But now that we have another season being filmed at the moment AND the comics coming out each month, my Codex craving has been satisfied — for now.

I’ll admit it: I totally have a girl crush on the awesome Felicia Day. But not only does she act well, but she writes well, too – which has only been proven repeatedly throughout “The Guild” show, and now the comics. Rugg really captures her movement really well in the art for the comic, to the point where it’s almost as if Cyd is leaping off of the page. As if it were any other (filmed) episode.

Cyd’s show more backstory is the story of so many gamers out there (hell, any kid who was born in the late 70s/80s who’s currently unemployed and looking for work, too) – I know that I identified with her becoming Codex through trying to escape her various neuroses and sucky circumstances. And this is what I love about “The Guild” – it does make fun of the traditional “basement troll” figure that parents have worried about since the 90s and Generation X just kind of went “whatever” to everything, but at the same time, it shows that the circumstances that make up these characters is very real. The uncertainty and anxiety that one experiences during their 20s (and 30s, apparently), the fear of ‘growing up’, the ‘what the hell should I do with my life?’ circular thought that just pounds through one’s brain (especially in this economy). Because Day uses self-effacing comedy, she also gives Cyd a life that’s realer than most characters that are of the same genre – thereby soothing me, at least, by basically telling me that I wasn’t alone in all of this uncertainty and anxiety and what the hell, I don’t want to grow up-ness of my now late 20s. For that, I thank her.

All seriousness aside, at the end of the day, “The Guild” is a tragicomedy about everyday life and what makes us who we are, and how that makes us who we are. I don’t think that’s really emphasized enough by reviewers when talking about it. Because the basement troll so real, it can be made fun of, but also appreciated. Of course, it would be nice to live away from my mother like I used to, but until that day comes (and a better, more stable job with it), I’ll be content to continue what I’m doing now with a little less shame thanks to Cyd and company.

“When does one get to reinvent oneself as an adult?”, Cyd/Codex asks early in this first volume of the comic series. The answer? Now.

(crossposted to shelfari, goodreads, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com) show less

I enjoyed Felicia Day's translation of her web series "The Guild" into the comics medium a lot. I think "The Guild" has made a smoother transition into the graphic novel format than has Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Season 8, which seems the appropriate comparison. I would have liked the story taken a little further, though - it appears that there is material between the end of the comic and the start of the web series that could have been explored; but that's a very minor quibble.

I should probably give this a three, but it makes me geeky heart happy.

I really don't like the art for real life, but I do like how it shifts between the art (I don't like) for Real Life and this completely different, idyllic art style for the gaming world. That it's so far apart, even the style needs to convey it. I like that the main character remains the same, and that we're seeing how this all came together for her, before the parts of the show we all got to love and giggle at.

Although the book description/blurb calls The Guild an "Internet phenomenon", I was not aware of it prior to finding it on Goodreads. Glad I didn't miss out!

Cyd is having some personal issues. Her boyfriend is a selfish douchebag and she's currently in therapy. She turns to an online game (similar to World of Warcraft maybe?) for an escape. But she finds so much more: a means of expression, friendship, and self-confidence.

Even if you're not a gamer, I feel that us Internet nerds can relate. The Guild really captures the fun of making online friends for the first time.

I loved this, and I hope to check out more of "The Guild phenomenon" soon!

"... Overall, 'The Guild' is aces. If you're a fan of the web series, and you haven't picked this up yet, DO IT. It was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed seeing how The Knights of Good Guild got together and to see how Cyd started playing. This book not only does justice to the series, it enhances the experience - for example, we find out what the heck Zaboo was talking about in the sixth episode of season 1, when he mentions an incident where Cyd set a boyfriend's cello on fire. Cello'd. ..."

For full review, please visit me at Here Be Bookwyrms on Blogger:

http://herebebookwyrms.blogspot.com/2011/09/guild.html

I decided on 3 stars because, while I liked the story, it definitely didn't seem to flow well as a comic. I haven't seen the show (nor realized it came first until I picked this up) but I can only assume that it all flows a lot better on screen. 3 stars not because it was bad, 3 stars because it was just okay.

I very much enjoy "The Guild" and Felicia Day, and this graphic novel is wonderful. I have the three issues that make up this collection, but couldn't resist buying this book when I saw it by itself at a Borders closing sale.