Pibgorn (comic)
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Pibgorn is a webcomic by Brooke McEldowney that started March 11 2002. The title character is a fairy whose adventures span the fantasy and real worlds. McEldowney also creates the syndicated comic strip 9 Chickweed Lane.
Format
Pibgorn is published on the World Wide Web by United Feature Syndicate (an unusual move by the syndicate) but does not appear in printed form, although McEldowney has repeatedly said he would like to eventually publish Pibgorn as a book. Possibly because of that, Pibgorn is characterized by involved story arcs which may seem better suited to a graphic novel than a daily comic, and it is also notable for its creative use of color and large format, together with strong themes of violence (explicit) and sexuality (generally implicit), attributes not usually associated with daily print comics. The artist has made the point that he wants to create a story without worrying about the editors of family newspapers, and he is making the most of that freedom.Pibgorn originally ran daily Monday through Saturday, but on February 8 2006, it was announced that beginning on February 13, the strip would run only on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. McEldowney stated the burden of writing two daily strips concurrently as the reason for the cutback.
Present story arc
Since this change in delivery of the webcomic, the story has thus far been an adaptation of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, set during the 1920s or 1930s in metropolitan Athens City. Many cast members from 9 Chickweed Lane seem to be playing parts in the adaptation, including Thorax as Broadway producer Theseus and Gran as Egea (a female version of Egeus, an increasingly common practice by modern productions). The role of Hermia is apparently played by Isabel, although it is possible that she is portrayed by McEldowney's version of Anna Gottlieb, who appeared during a late 2005 adventure of Pibgorn. Helena is a blonde with glasses and short hair who strongly resembles Edda. Lysander strongly resembles Edda's roommate Seth, while a female version of Puck is apparently (and appropriately) played by Pib herself. Fitting matches to Pib's Puck are Drusilla as Titania, and, of course, Geoff as Oberon. The Indian boy who is the subject of the dispute between Oberon and Titania is a strapping young man, while the 'mechanicals' who will be putting on a show have been replaced by an all-female chorus. Incidentally, McEldowney has used Shakespeare's original dialogue, slightly abridged but otherwise little-changed, during this story, although the characters deliver the lines with a more modern form of delivery, with changes in emphasis and tone, such as Theseus and Hippolyta's discussion of "solemnities" following their wedding (and a strong hint that the Indian boy is Titania's illicit lover). This storyline is still in play, so who else from McEldowney's stable of characters will appear, and how this ties into Pibgorn’s continuity, has yet to be seen.Characters
- Pibgorn
- The title character, a fairy who is not satisfied flitting around when she could be getting in trouble instead. She's sweet, effervescent, charming and flighty, with a succubus for a best friend and a human for a sweetheart. She has a talent for trouble, a knack for friendship, and a magical kiss which can effect miraculous healing.
- Drusilla
- A rather manipulative succubus who is used to getting what she wants, she seems to have resigned herself to the fact that Geoff genuinely loves Pib rather than her. Granted, this is after murdering Pib when she first decided she was a rival, but since it didn't stick, well, if you can't beat them, join them. She has made it exquisitely clear, though, that if Pib hurts Geoff, Dru will make her very sorry. They now seem somewhere between a wary alliance and a developing friendship.
- Geoff
- Pib's slightly geeky sweetheart, he's a former church organist and now Pib's and Drusilla's accompanist. He is loyal and affectionate, and protective of those he cares about.
- Oognat
- The hair fairy -- not as bold or adventurous as Pibgorn, Oognat nonetheless ends up in many of the same difficulties as her companion fairy.
- Thorax
- Is he a visitor from another galaxy? He's at least a visitor from another comic strip
- Maurice
- A field mouse, he's been a friend of Pib's from the very beginning, and he tries valiantly to keep up and help where he can.
- Prince Crewth
- The fairy monarch who was exasperated enough by Pib's flouting of the rules to order her assassination.
- Gaggot
- Prince Crewth's oily lawyer/doctor, who seems to fancy himself as something of a power behind the throne.
- Luciano
- Prince Crewth's consultant and sometime court assassin, whose only weakness appears to be Pib. He proves to be completely unable to bring himself to hurt her, and instead falls head over heels.
External links
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