Penny Arcade Volume 4: Birds Are Weird

Penny Arcade #4

by Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik (Artist)

Published online in 2003, this is a smorgasbord of commentary courtesy of Gabe and Tycho.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Fiction, Webcomic, Comedy, Gaming

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2007

About the author

Keith 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.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pulled this off the shelf because I was going to bed and needing something to read before I fell asleep.

I've been reading PA since back in the day. WAY back in the day. That means I read these strips when they were originally posted. Or during one of my occasional trawls back through their archive.

I own these books primarily out of loyalty to the Mike and Jerry. I like their art, so I bought their book to support them. Plus I just like owning books.

This means that I've flipped through the PA books before, but I've never actually sat town and read them. And I was surprised at how much I was pulled in by it. They're like little time capsules of geek culture, and reading them reminds me what was going on back in the beforetimes. Back in the long long ago of 2003.

But truthfully, they're even cooler than that. They're like a time capsule wrapped in another, different time capsule. Because Jerry does a little commentary and retrospective of each strip. That gives an interesting take not only as to his opinion on his art, but as to where geekdom was in 2008, when he wrote the commentary for the book.

The result? I ended up reading the whole damn book even thought I was tired at it was 4:00 AM.

Still, I consider it time well spent.

[Wreade1872 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this more than the previous volume. I mean the last one was still entertaining but didn’t have as many straight up funny comics. The notes are often more entertaining than the strips themselves.

Anyway i certainly don’t regret buying any of these, i have vol3,4 &5 . Of course i did buy them second hand during a closing down sale... so... still worth every penny :P .

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Krahulik/John Gabriel is probably my favorite artist in webcomics. His drawings are both funny and weirdly realistic as far as facial expressions/mannerisms go. (here are some of my favorite examples: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/200... and http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/200... The dialog is great as always, but in these cases I think the drawings are actually funnier.) So I especially enjoyed the newest Penny Arcade book for showcasing Gabe's early efforts in comics and super hero character designs. Like Armageddon: "Those are nunchucks... Or dynamite. I don't remember."

[Tung · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jeremy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Birds are Weird” is their fourth book and contains all of their comics from 2003. In addition to having all of their comics, they provide a little commentary about the purpose of each comic. Having read the previous three volumes I can honestly say that Penny Arcade creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik really start to show their talent as artists in this volume. Some of the comics go beyond the typical off the wall video game news and can start to provide a real artistic story. For example, in this volume they create a whole series following one of their most famous creations, “The Cardboard Tube Samurai”. The artwork during this series is impeccable and the story is worthy of a full length comic.

Click on the link to read the full review.


[http://www.thefantasyreview.com/2007/...]

[Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that all of these strips are free online, the commentary makes these volumes worthwhile.

I'm not immersed into the culture that Penny Arcade writes about. I dabble. I stick my toe in. Enough so that I get most of the jokes, but they don't resonate the same way for me, I suppose.

That's why it always pains me a little when I read that Gabe gave up his new art style because the readers didn't like it, or that they keep the Cardboard Tube Samurai or Catsby stories limited to once a year. On the one hand I understand that the Penny Arcade strip has a pretty specific mandate and that the support of the readers have allowed Gabe and Tycho to become the all-powerful barons that we know today. On the other hand, I wish there was some outlet in which they could explore their non-PA work.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

These collections are a total guilty pleasure. The wit of the writing, and the crisp simplicity of the artwork bring out my inner geek, making me snort unabashedly through my nose. From the recurring cast of fornicating juicers, surly, bigoted electronics equipment, and Mac-loving frienemies, the laughs are fast and furious. At the same time, the judiciously sprinkled social commentary is as sharp as a cut from the "Cardboard Tube Samurai"

[terpkristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Penny Arcade. This is a collection of the strips from 2003, along with commentary from Jerry Holkins ("Tycho"). I bought it to pass the time on the plane when I couldn't read my Kindle. Even though I've probably read most of these strips before, I had a good time re-visiting them.

[I.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flashbacks galore here as I was reading these all at the time of release. Lots of minor topical outrages that have been long since forgotten strips here but it’s fun to see petty gamer grievances, rumours, etc come back years later. I doubt this would win over anyone, but for an original fan it’s a trip back in time.

[Schnaucl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I was highly amused. The commentaries are at least as amusing as the comics, if not more so. I particularly appreciated the European travelogue portion.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this strip, and this collection includes some of my favorites they've done. The commentary for each strip is worth the asking price by itself.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

more penny arcade goodness :)

[Dale Furutani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find book 4 is where they really begin to find their stride and become the Penny Arcade I know and love!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume includes Mike's brief but impressive sketch-line art switch, which is neat; the extras (past sketches) are funny in a "Dang, you did not like school much, huh?" way.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarity aplenty from the interwebs' finest critics of gaming and nerd culture.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The travelogue is my favorite part.

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth collection of the Penny Arcade back catalogue, which oddly enough has been printed and more oddly, I've paid money for, even though they're available free online. Odd. But worth it.

[Chris Seltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birds are Weird, the fourth installment in the Penny Arcade series, delivers another compelling collection of webcomics that encapsulate the gaming culture and broader societal topics of 2003. This volume stands out not only for its blend of humor and insightful commentary but also for the unique writing style of Jerry Holkins, which is showcased through various strips that exemplify his distinctive voice.

Holkins' writing in Birds are Weird is characterized by his ability to mix the absurd and the profound, often weaving intricate layers of humor, metaphor, and observation that reward attentive readers. Another notable aspect of Holkins' writing is his skill in crafting biting satire that exposes the absurdities and contradictions of the gaming industry, popular culture, and society at large. In "The Promise," he takes aim at the marketing tactics of major gaming companies, cleverly using a fictional game called "Phantom Hour" as a stand-in for the myriad vaporware projects that were announced with great fanfare only to vanish without a trace. Holkins also excels at creating memorable characters who resonate with readers, often through their relatable struggles and endearing quirks.

Despite the many strengths of Holkins' writing, Birds are Weird is not without its flaws. Some strips may feel overly reliant on obscure references or inside jokes, potentially alienating readers who are not well-versed in the cultural touchstones of the time. Additionally, while Holkins' penchant for complex sentence structures and verbose language can be delightful, it occasionally veers into the realm of the convoluted, making certain passages difficult to parse.

In conclusion, Birds are Weird is a captivating entry in the Penny Arcade series that showcases the unique writing style of Jerry Holkins. Through a combination of absurdist humor, biting satire, and memorable characters, Holkins delivers a collection that resonates with fans of the series and offers a fascinating snapshot of gaming culture and society in 2003. Despite some minor shortcomings, Birds are Weird remains an engaging and thought-provoking read that exemplifies the enduring appeal of Penny Arcade.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great collection of books to read on the john.

[Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

More shammy gear. Read the review for The Attack of the Bacon Robots (which ironically contains no bacon - the bacon is a lie).

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great webcomic about the big inside joke that is the world of video games. Each book in this series is better than the last.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

PA is awesome!

[Amy]

Penny Arcade Volume 4: Birds Are Weird by Jerry Holkins (2007)