Pure (Girl) Genius

I still haven't written about Girl Genius, and that omission has to come to an end *now*.  This is a brilliant comic with wit, art, and plotting to die for.  I actually first came across "girl genius" years ago because of the Cheapass Game, but didn't really start following the comic until a friend mentioned "Studio Foglio" in passing last year and I thought, "Foglio, where have I heard that name?  Oh, right, that Cheapass card game!"  and remembered that I hadn't really looked up the comic at the time, and as it turns out, it's now a webcomic, so I could get caught up without plunking down a lot of money on the print versions (though acquiring all the print comics is now a solemn vow). At any rate:

Plotting.  Kaja and Phil Foglio did years of research and plotting before starting the series.  Things that happen in one Volume crop up later on as important in later Volumes, and upon rereading, you see things that you didn't notice the first time around... but *most importantly* the characters and main plots all make sense the first time through.  The "extras" add layers to your experience without obscuring the primary action.  This is truly a rare accomplishment.

Art.  The backgrounds give you an immediate sense of setting; they are very detailed and also often contain sight gags.

Wit.  During the 2008/9 winter "break" from the main story to re-tell Cinderella with the GG characters, Agatha shouts, "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" as a twist to Clarke's third law.  Hee-hee-hee!  Okay, it's funnier if you've read it.

All three converge in the best panels, and today's was pure genius, with great faces on Gil and Zola (not much background to see, but I love the purple on the ceiling and the changes in what little background you see to give the illusion of movement through the castle), with a reference to an earlier page to show us the difference between Zola and Agatha, and ending with a twist on what we thought to be true!  They aren't who we thought they were!

True, the series can move a little slowly at times (though Volume I is better on the second time through) and doesn't really get going IMO until Agatha's line: "It's a falling machine.  I'm so impressed."  (it's on the next page; reading this one helps set the scene)  But it's so worth it.