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Penny Arcade #3
Penny Arcade Volume 3: The Warsun Prophecies
In the third volume of the cultural and supernatural phenomenon, the dark secrets of the mad prophets, known as Gabe and Tycho, are unveiled and the great plan will now come to it's fruition!
136 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2007
1 person is currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Jerry Holkins
32 books112 followersKeith Gerald "Jerry" Holkins is the writer of the webcomic Penny Arcade. Holkins goes by the pseudonym "Tycho Brahe." This is also the name of one of the two main characters of Penny Arcade, who is a cartoonized self-insertion of Holkins. However, as the character of Tycho was not originally meant to represent Holkins, the two have few physical similarities; for example Holkins is bald, unlike Tycho. They are primarily similar in their various interests and attitudes.
Holkins writes news posts or rants which accompany each comic. These newsposts/rants generally take the form of computer and video game commentary. Jerry is also featured in the Dungeons and Dragons 4E podcast, playing the CEO of Acquisitions Incorporated, Omin Dran, a Cleric of the Goddess Avandra.
His style contrasts with that of Penny Arcade artist Mike Krahulik, with Holkins assuming the role of the lead and Krahulik the sidekick. However, it has been mutually agreed between the two that Penny Arcade wouldn't be the same with just one of them. The two have been said to give an indication of the diversity of styles among gamers, with Krahulik representing action-oriented gamers and Holkins representing the more cerebral players.
Holkins' other exploits include being a lead singer/guitarist in a band called The Fine Print, whose works are freely available over the internet and who have opened for Anal Cunt in the past.
Along with Krahulik, Holkins was included on the 2010 Time 100 for their work on Penny Arcade.
Holkins writes news posts or rants which accompany each comic. These newsposts/rants generally take the form of computer and video game commentary. Jerry is also featured in the Dungeons and Dragons 4E podcast, playing the CEO of Acquisitions Incorporated, Omin Dran, a Cleric of the Goddess Avandra.
His style contrasts with that of Penny Arcade artist Mike Krahulik, with Holkins assuming the role of the lead and Krahulik the sidekick. However, it has been mutually agreed between the two that Penny Arcade wouldn't be the same with just one of them. The two have been said to give an indication of the diversity of styles among gamers, with Krahulik representing action-oriented gamers and Holkins representing the more cerebral players.
Holkins' other exploits include being a lead singer/guitarist in a band called The Fine Print, whose works are freely available over the internet and who have opened for Anal Cunt in the past.
Along with Krahulik, Holkins was included on the 2010 Time 100 for their work on Penny Arcade.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 10, 2008
Unless you are a major geek like me, you have no idea what Penny Arcade is. If you do know what Penny Arcade is, you will have probably already read these four books. Penny Arcade is one of the most-read online comics, especially for video game enthusiasts. If you play videogames or even create videogames or work in an industry related to videogames, you read Penny Arcade as a matter of course. Where ESPN is the daily stop for sports fans, Penny Arcade is the daily stop for video game enthusiasts and nerds. These four books collect the online strips for the first four years of Penny Arcade’s humor (2000-2003); each strip is accompanied by commentaries from the author and artist. A must-read, obviously, for fans of the site, and a pass for all others. But you others don’t know what you’re missing.
October 17, 2009
This, I think, is where Mike/Gabe and Jerry/Tycho really hit their stride. Collecting strips from 2002, this third print volume of the brilliant web-comic dates to a time when readers had come to know fairly well what to expect each week from the duo, and you either loved it to death or it wasn't your thing. Gabe and Tycho's abilities were solidified, as was their presence - game publishers beware, because if they got lazy they were damn well going to hear about it. This is also the last of their print books (so far) that featured a title and cover art that directly parodied the overblown and way-too-serious nature of modern games.
July 7, 2013
2002 of the Penny Arcade strip. I think the year in games themselves may have been a bit less remarkable than year(s) before and years after. It was pre-current generation consoles. I think the humor tends to be more consistently funny and more sophisticated than the earlier years. Still a work, writing and art, in progress. For the curious, the cardboard samurai origins can be traced back to 2002.
February 3, 2021
I was reading these at the time and remember many pretty well, but so much of the comic is topical that it brought back memories I’d forgotten too. Overall a nice collection with some great strips and some duds but still worth revisiting, especially if you have any connection to it from back in the day.
August 13, 2008
The first appearances of Mr. Period, Frank the Gamestop Manager, the cardboard tube, the Fruit Fucker 2000, and we learn all about Claw Shrimp and how to make Carrot Cake Soup. Oh yeah, it was a good year for Penny Arcade.
December 18, 2007
I do love Gabe and Tycho. (But mostly Gabe.)
February 1, 2009
I continue to find this series amusing and entertaining.
June 13, 2013
Here I witnessed the birth of the Cardboard Tube Samurai. The Tube is Civilisation! Plus, I love Penny Arcade.
October 28, 2024
There is a joke in another web comic about Penny Arcade that is spot on, but it's been so long since I've seen that comic that I can't even begin to find it again, as it was a web comic I was aware of but didn't read. I could recreate it relatively accurately other than which characters were in it, though:
*Character A looks at a printed-out comic* Character A: What's this?
Character B: It's a comic I thought that was funny.
*A looks at a long sheet of paper beneath the comic* A: And this?
B: It's the news post that goes with it.
A: And what's that for?
B: Because if you know the game it's about and know the characters and read the comic and the news post, the joke is HILARIOUS.
...okay, maybe not *accurately*, but the gist of it. That is 99% Penny Arcade, though; only a handful of the comics would be understandable by a general audience. That's part of the reason why I used to read but ended up quitting after some time. The rest of the reason partly involves the fact I'm not as young as I used to be, so certain humour* isn't funny anymore, but mostly involves things I don't really want to get into at this point in time and, needless to say, is why I don't own the books anymore. (I came across this one again, though, and—in the interest of properly reviewing as many books I've read as possible—decided to give another go.) Maybe I'll go into it if I find a volume closer to the "event horizon" of where I stopped reading.
This volume isn't bad, on the whole: it's only "cringe" in a few places, such as where they use the slur for people with disabilities ("a product of its time", since this was all too commonplace in gaming) or, slightly less terribly, where they use the now-recognised slur for Inuit people. I guess there's also the odd homosexuality joke (also "a product of its time"). Only a few comics have particularly resonated with my spouse and me, but they're included in this volume, so that *sort of* averages out the cringe and the funny? (Also, props to Tycho's occasional grammar lessons.)
Most of the strips are about games I've never played, though, so that also contributes to the "meh" factor, which is why I'm not too particularly deprived at not reading since the point where I stopped. Mostly, this is where the series started to get really good, art-wise; Gabe's style took a particularly bizarre turn at some point and never recovered, and certainly the current strips look hideous (1.5 stars) by comparison to the ones in this volume (4 stars). I guess I'm also annoyed their countdown strips never made it to 1. Also vaguely annoyed the book titles never seemed to have anything to do with the content even in the slightest; comics like Calvin and Hobbes and Dumbing of Age use at least some phrase in one of the comics included in the book for the book title.
I probably would have rated the book more highly if I had reviewed it when I first read it. As is, the book didn't age that well (and, in fact, some of the jokes were stale fresh off the lot), so at *best* I can give a neutral opinion on the basis of "has a few winners but overall not worth the real estate of the print edition." Recommended for fans of the series only; complete newcomers will scratch their heads more often than not.
*A neutral analogy is like how "wedgies" were funny as a kid, but as an adult, they're gross and infantile.
*Character A looks at a printed-out comic* Character A: What's this?
Character B: It's a comic I thought that was funny.
*A looks at a long sheet of paper beneath the comic* A: And this?
B: It's the news post that goes with it.
A: And what's that for?
B: Because if you know the game it's about and know the characters and read the comic and the news post, the joke is HILARIOUS.
...okay, maybe not *accurately*, but the gist of it. That is 99% Penny Arcade, though; only a handful of the comics would be understandable by a general audience. That's part of the reason why I used to read but ended up quitting after some time. The rest of the reason partly involves the fact I'm not as young as I used to be, so certain humour* isn't funny anymore, but mostly involves things I don't really want to get into at this point in time and, needless to say, is why I don't own the books anymore. (I came across this one again, though, and—in the interest of properly reviewing as many books I've read as possible—decided to give another go.) Maybe I'll go into it if I find a volume closer to the "event horizon" of where I stopped reading.
This volume isn't bad, on the whole: it's only "cringe" in a few places, such as where they use the slur for people with disabilities ("a product of its time", since this was all too commonplace in gaming) or, slightly less terribly, where they use the now-recognised slur for Inuit people. I guess there's also the odd homosexuality joke (also "a product of its time"). Only a few comics have particularly resonated with my spouse and me, but they're included in this volume, so that *sort of* averages out the cringe and the funny? (Also, props to Tycho's occasional grammar lessons.)
Most of the strips are about games I've never played, though, so that also contributes to the "meh" factor, which is why I'm not too particularly deprived at not reading since the point where I stopped. Mostly, this is where the series started to get really good, art-wise; Gabe's style took a particularly bizarre turn at some point and never recovered, and certainly the current strips look hideous (1.5 stars) by comparison to the ones in this volume (4 stars). I guess I'm also annoyed their countdown strips never made it to 1. Also vaguely annoyed the book titles never seemed to have anything to do with the content even in the slightest; comics like Calvin and Hobbes and Dumbing of Age use at least some phrase in one of the comics included in the book for the book title.
I probably would have rated the book more highly if I had reviewed it when I first read it. As is, the book didn't age that well (and, in fact, some of the jokes were stale fresh off the lot), so at *best* I can give a neutral opinion on the basis of "has a few winners but overall not worth the real estate of the print edition." Recommended for fans of the series only; complete newcomers will scratch their heads more often than not.
*A neutral analogy is like how "wedgies" were funny as a kid, but as an adult, they're gross and infantile.
April 16, 2023
The Warsun Prophecies, the third volume in the Penny Arcade series, showcases the continued development of the iconic webcomic through the strips of 2002. This collection provides a balanced mix of humor, insight, and artistic growth while introducing new characters and themes that enrich the Penny Arcade universe. As with any creative endeavor, The Warsun Prophecies is not without its flaws, but it remains an essential read for fans of the series and gaming culture enthusiasts alike.
One of the most notable additions to the Penny Arcade cast is the Fruit Fucker, a small juicer robot with a mischievous and somewhat disturbing personality. First appearing in "Wow" (February 11, 2002), this bizarre yet endearing character quickly became a fan favorite, symbolizing the webcomic's willingness to push boundaries and venture into the realm of the absurd. The Warsun Prophecies also delves deeper into the creators' personal lives, offering readers glimpses into their relationships, hobbies, and experiences beyond the world of video games.
Thematically, The Warsun Prophecies continues to explore the gaming industry and culture while also branching out to address broader topics such as technology, film, and current events. This expanded focus demonstrates the creators' ability to adapt and evolve, ensuring that the webcomic remains relevant and engaging to a diverse audience.
Artistically, Krahulik's illustrations continue to mature, displaying greater attention to detail and a more refined style. However, some inconsistencies in character design and occasional lapses in the quality of the artwork can still be found, reminding readers that the creative process is always a work in progress. Holkins' writing in The Warsun Prophecies is generally sharp and witty. Still, certain jokes may feel dated or obscure to readers who are not intimately familiar with the gaming and pop culture landscape of the early 2000s.
In summary, The Warsun Prophecies offers a balanced perspective on Penny Arcade's growth and development during 2002. While the collection has its imperfections, it remains a valuable and entertaining read for fans of the series and those interested in gaming history. With the introduction of new characters and themes, The Warsun Prophecies demonstrates the enduring appeal and adaptability of the Penny Arcade webcomic, solidifying its place in the pantheon of digital art and gaming culture.
One of the most notable additions to the Penny Arcade cast is the Fruit Fucker, a small juicer robot with a mischievous and somewhat disturbing personality. First appearing in "Wow" (February 11, 2002), this bizarre yet endearing character quickly became a fan favorite, symbolizing the webcomic's willingness to push boundaries and venture into the realm of the absurd. The Warsun Prophecies also delves deeper into the creators' personal lives, offering readers glimpses into their relationships, hobbies, and experiences beyond the world of video games.
Thematically, The Warsun Prophecies continues to explore the gaming industry and culture while also branching out to address broader topics such as technology, film, and current events. This expanded focus demonstrates the creators' ability to adapt and evolve, ensuring that the webcomic remains relevant and engaging to a diverse audience.
Artistically, Krahulik's illustrations continue to mature, displaying greater attention to detail and a more refined style. However, some inconsistencies in character design and occasional lapses in the quality of the artwork can still be found, reminding readers that the creative process is always a work in progress. Holkins' writing in The Warsun Prophecies is generally sharp and witty. Still, certain jokes may feel dated or obscure to readers who are not intimately familiar with the gaming and pop culture landscape of the early 2000s.
In summary, The Warsun Prophecies offers a balanced perspective on Penny Arcade's growth and development during 2002. While the collection has its imperfections, it remains a valuable and entertaining read for fans of the series and those interested in gaming history. With the introduction of new characters and themes, The Warsun Prophecies demonstrates the enduring appeal and adaptability of the Penny Arcade webcomic, solidifying its place in the pantheon of digital art and gaming culture.
October 6, 2008
A charming collection of the penny arcade comics from 2002. I suppose with "all new commentary!". which is kind of odd. i prefer the extended current(original) commentaries. but i love them both.
the agony of too much love!
ahhhhhh!
i was hoping the alternate commentaries might hit the nail more directly on the head for some of the stranger jokes. ie, spell-it-out. pain-full-y. but no suck luck.
... i meant to type "such" in last sentence. but the typo has become too powerful to edit.
anywho. i maintain my own semiweekly web comic, and worship these guys, so i'd also kind of hoped for more insightful something-or-other.
but whatever. it was fun. the comics and commentaries were tasty. there were indeed a few things thrown in that i was not expecting. super fun time. The only thing holding me back from 5/5 stars is the weird fact that it just felt kind of small, and i doubt i'll buy. it's the kind of book that makes me want to buy a complete collection that contains it.
the agony of too much love!
ahhhhhh!
i was hoping the alternate commentaries might hit the nail more directly on the head for some of the stranger jokes. ie, spell-it-out. pain-full-y. but no suck luck.
... i meant to type "such" in last sentence. but the typo has become too powerful to edit.
anywho. i maintain my own semiweekly web comic, and worship these guys, so i'd also kind of hoped for more insightful something-or-other.
but whatever. it was fun. the comics and commentaries were tasty. there were indeed a few things thrown in that i was not expecting. super fun time. The only thing holding me back from 5/5 stars is the weird fact that it just felt kind of small, and i doubt i'll buy. it's the kind of book that makes me want to buy a complete collection that contains it.
August 18, 2007
Truly a good vintage. Fantastic year for PA. Great commentary and additional artwork.
Carrot cake soup is like the taste of watching girls make out.
You want to get some hard cocks? I mean, dinner?
Claw-Shrimp.
And Inexpressibly hardcore badgers.
Carrot cake soup is like the taste of watching girls make out.
You want to get some hard cocks? I mean, dinner?
Claw-Shrimp.
And Inexpressibly hardcore badgers.
July 3, 2017
You read the other two reviews already, didn't you? Go back to the review for The Attack of the Bacon Robots, it says it all. Meh.
October 25, 2007
Great webcomic about the big inside joke that is the world of video games. Each book in this series is better than the last.
January 9, 2008
The origins of the Cardboard Tube Samurai are so humble. Guys, who would win in a fight: Cardboard Tube Samurai or a Claw Shrimp?
February 19, 2010
I always enjoy these collections. It's fun to revisit the old comics, and Tycho's commentary makes it feel a bit like he's reading them with you.
September 2, 2018
Year three! Still weird to read webcomics in physical form. Still brilliant.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews