A Stray to Botaram is extraordinary in the original sense of the word: there’s really nothing entirely like it.
A Stray to Botaram is the story of two beings from entirely different (and opposed) cultures that begin a journey of discovery and friendship which goes both against the odds and against everything they’ve been taught. It’s the story of a strange world full of mysteries and ancient powers. It’s about philosophy, about religion, about faith and about doubt. It can be very funny. It can be very sad. And it can be very beautiful.
A Stray to Botaram reminds of the medium’s capacity for telling serious stories in an interesting way. The strange, abstract and quite excellent visuals emphasize that this story does not take place in our world, while allowing us insights into what the characters are thinking and feeling. Joseph J. Anthony’s writing hits exactly the right tone, somewhere between the archaic and the contemporary, and he knows how to use the strengths of the visual medium to create a more powerful reading experience. The characters are loveable and the setting is enthralling. And, more importantly, Anthony uses these characters and this setting to tell a story that is worth telling.
In other words: it’s fantastic, so read it.
(Read Jonas’s other review at his blog.)
I just wanted to let you know that I stumbled on this comic through Jonas Kyratzes’ site yesterday and am glad I did; I couldn’t even stop reading until I got to the current page.
Looking it up online, I barely found anyone mention it, which is a pity. In my opinion it definitely deserves way more praise than a lot of popular webcomics coming up recently. Thanks for writing this story. The complex characters and their inner turmoil, the bleak surroundings they find themselves in, the intriguing storyline… I love all of it! =)
Stevie, via email
“A Stray to Botaram” works. Botaram has the oddness of a dream. I’m eager to see what happens next.
Mark Irons, via email
“Tangram drama.”
I recently discovered that the person who created the Church Of Sisyphus* has been doing a webcomic. Interesting stuff, and he’s definitely going somewhere with it — you could just use a lot of hours speculating on where… (Give it about twenty strips to find its pace: after that, the thing moves under its own power.)
Good luck trying to categorize it. Right now, all I’ve got is ‘mythic religious allegory’. And that can’t be right.
Estee
* Note – The Church of Sisyphus was a collaboration with my friend Charles Hardin. I certainly won’t take all the blame. – JJA
…I’d like to say that I absolutely love your comic. It’s surprisingly deep and thought-provoking. It started out as a strange flight of fancy, but later started hinting at the existence of actual reasons for why things are the way they are. And, of course, I love the emotions Aun has been showing as he leaves his comfort zone and starts finding out the truths behind his world.
John Wallace, via email