Gypsy is a web comic running on Girlamatic, and it is free to read. On full screen on Kidjutsu, here:
First impression: professional, playfully drawn. Attractive use of lines, planes and hachure. The puppet troupe introduction worked very well for me. The mood was funny, surreal, silly on the surface. The heroine, Gypsy, is very anti-heroic, and portraits apathy and hopelessness in the complex world today, a world craving for us to participate in a number of ways, school, job, family relationships. When she lies down watching the puppet troupe performing the same show over and over again, it reminds me of watching TV just to escape from boredom and pressure to participate. Her mum looks upon her daughter as a burden, and is trying to get rid of her by leaving her with a doctor, Ziggy.
Gypsy was destined by the gods to be a traveller, but is totally passive. The doctor tries to take her journey with her, but fails.
The puppet troupe are also a symbol of artists and media people, they are rewriting the story in their way, struggling with their equipment, people reacts to them either giving them praise and money, or kicking their behinds.
My last impression: This is a very satirical story, telling something about the world and reality we live in. A quality comic with several layers.
From the cast: Gypsy is the daughter of the CEO and founder of the world's largest entertainment corporation, and the actual creator of the Gypsygirl doll that empire is based on. In the last segment of her 10th Educatorial, her brain filled to capacity causing a waking coma-like state.
Ziggy has finally gotten her private practice off the ground when Mama Rose shows up and leaves Gypsy behind. To make good on her advertised promise for a speedy cure, the good doctor is forced to take Gypsy wherever she needs to go to complete her Post-Educatorial Service.
This particular puppet troupe was hired by Mama Rose as part of the Broadway Cure prescribed to the catatonic Gypsy. The group consists of: 2 Producers, 1 Director, 1 Stage Manager, 2 Stagehands, 3 Spear Carriers, 3 Principal Performers, 1 Understudy, 1 Conductor, and 12 Orchestra Members.
Mama Rose parlayed her daughter's one and only creative impulse into a multi-billion dollar corporation. Per tradition, when the last or only child completes the Primary Educatorial, they are sent away from the home with noting more than the clothes on their backs. The Parent[s] may begin their Retirement. Unfortunately for Mama, Gypsy is afflicted with Brain Freeze, effectively blocking the execution of this tradition.
A serious case of Brain Freeze can't keep Gypsy from having a globe-spanning adventure. Updates weekly.
John Peters has been bouncing around the outer rim of the comics industry since 1997 with Forty Winks and other comic projects, including Pretty Female Assassin Pixie [also with Vincent Sneed] and Crazy Asian Girl [with Lonnie Allen]. Gypsy! is his first major solo project. He likes sushi, and has a large collection of tree branches.
Christopher Schultz has written a very good Gypsy! rewiev.
Posts
