Creator: Austen Marie
Publisher: Tapas MediaIf you asked me to choose my favorite webcomic of 2021 (please don’t, there’s too many options), “Ryder” would have to be among my picks. The titular character is a songwriter living the artist life in Los Angeles. When a mysterious woman leads her to a world of the supernatural, Ryder finds herself in a place that, for the first time, makes her feel like she’s finally home.
It was the art that first drew me in, but this series is far more than just amazing illustrations. The story of Ryder and her dreams of musical stardom is easily relatable, and there is much more to come. In the aforementioned supernatural world, she meets some unforgettable characters, including Landon Moon, a musician from (she thought) the human world that she’s a diehard fan of, along with Blithe, who’d also an artist with a complicated past.
The story touches on some serious topics, including relationships, mental health, and what it means to be truly happy. I really liked this aspect of the writing, and imagine some real-life elements have been woven into the story—it just seems the writer has a lot to say on these topics.
At the same time, there’s laughs aplenty, whether it’s Landon learning of the fan-fiction Ryder wrote about him or her conversations with Blithe as they discuss the rules of the supernatural world and explore a growing relationship. There’s a lot of depth here and the length of each episode means we get plenty of time to explore without feeling rushed.
But back to the art, which is absolutely stellar. The use of color is extraordinary, and really brings the story to vivid life, from the clothes to the buildings to the lighting. The scenes for the shows are very detailed and reminded me a lot of my time living in Boston. These scenes are among my favorite. I especially liked the varied outfits the characters wore, with each matching their personality.
The series appears to be taking a break. Whenever it comes back, you can bet I’ll be ready!
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