16/05/2008
25) THE WEB REPORT: Ann Coulter (04/06/2004)
Oh 2004. What a time to be alive. Back when Bush jokes were funny, complaints about FOX News were valid forms of outrage, and people actually cared about Ann Coulter. This comic was written in conjunction with the great Internet trend of “CoulterHate,” which was the style at the time. Albeit dated in some capacity (if not for the Ann Coulter mockings, the outdated comments made by WWE Superstar Edge), I still enjoy Gonzor The Destructor’s first interaction with Conky.
24) Episode 34: S&M With Donald Rumsfeld (25/05/2004)
Believe it or not, back in the early years of TCR, one of the biggest criticisms of my website was that some right wingers didn’t like the fact I put nipples on Donnie’s latex body suit. Nevermind the fact that he was, you know, IN A LATEX BODYSUIT, or the fact that his sidekick, General Ouchy, was wearing a Gimp outfit. The only thing I never liked about this comic was the ending. In retrospect, it seems painfully cheesy, in league with many editorial cartoons. I HATE editorial cartoons, by the way.
23) GONZOR THE DESTRUCTOR IV: THE WRATH OF KATANA (16/05/2007-25/09/2007)
While it should be no surprise to anyone who’s been a patron of this site throughout the past five years, Gonzor the Destructor makes several appearances on this list. This entry is the last (and my favourite) of the Gonzor Saga, a series of Gonzor Comics that have become one of the most beloved aspects of this site. I decided to end the Saga with The Wrath of Katana, because I felt that this was the natural ending for it. By that point in 2007, the Bush Administration had already become irrelevant. My favourite part of this comic was the one involving the Sasquatch.
22) Episode 41: Riding In An Elevator With Vlad The Impaler (14/11/2004)
Oh, how I wish I can take total credit for this one. I cannot, though. This comic was born out of a one-liner made by an old history teacher about how badly Vlad smelled of rotting corpses, being one hell of a tyrannical ruler and all. Vlad The Impaler is also one of the first characters that I have drawn that I took great pains to draw.
21) Episode 109: A Halloween Scare (31/10/2007)
Seriously, I don’t care who you are, or where your politics lay, NOTHING is more frightening than the idea of Hillary Clinton having sex. NOTHING. This was the cap of TCR’s most successful Halloween celebration to date.
20) Episode 119: SYSTEM ERROR 8 – NAFTAGate (07/03/2008)
SYSTEM ERROR! Has been very good to me. What started as a smart-assed, limp-wristed mocking of America’s media pundit culture, exploded into another of TCR’s perennial favourites. This entry, the first and only “SYSTEM ERROR!” comic to make the list, represents all SYSTEM ERROR! Comics as far as I’m concerned. This one has EVERY single aspect of the previous SYSTEM ERROR! Comics; bad robot jokes, black-and-white political dichotomy, and AmericaBot’s glowing red eyes when he is angry.
19) Episode 115: Bush Jokes Aren't Funny Anymore (26/01/2008)
Ain’t it the fucking truth. This comic sums up my whole opinion on Bush Jokes. When I started this website in 2003, there were only three guys, anywhere, who dared make Bush jokes: Jon Stewart, Bill Mahr and myself. Am I exaggerating? Probably. However, the fact of the matter was, Bush Jokes were pretty edgy way back when, basically because the jokes had substance to them. Today, any schmoe can be “LOL BUSH!!!” and fancy themselves a comedic genius.
18) Episode 37: Zoidberg '04! (10/10/2004)
On occasion, when I get lazy enough, I make comics purely out of things I find on Google Image Searches. This one I particularly like, because I love Futurama, and Dr. Zoidberg, and anyone who doesn’t like Futurama is a damned dirty, uncultured HEATHEN! Sadly, as revealed in a follow-up comic, Zoidberg was completely shut out of the 2004 Election, because he ate his own ballot.
17) Episode 111: LOLNEWS (06/12/2007)
Like I said, when I get real lazy, I make comics out of Google Image Search results. This one, though, is different. After weeks of being absolutely busy, I slapped this together both has a parody of LOLCats, and as a way to cover a whole bunch of stuff I had missed earlier. Somehow, it caught on for whatever reasons.
16) Episode 8: The West Wing Of The Asylum (Written By Matt Greening) (01/08/2004)
The only comic on this list that wasn’t written by me. It’s completely absurd, and now serves as a loving memorial to America’s greatest publication, the Weekly World News.
15) GONZOR THE DESTRUCTOR II: THE SWORD OF MARS (16/05/2005-03/09/2005)
I enjoy this one. Mostly because it gave me the opportunity to be all “HISTORY NERD.” I also really enjoyed the last fight scene at the end of the comic. In retrospect, however, I think that I went overboard with the Animated GIFS. What can I say? I had JUST gotten my GIF maker, and was a little too into it.
14) Episode 80: Vlad The Impaler Encounters Jehovah's Witnesses (06/05/2006)
Ok, be honest, you. You KNOW you hate Jehovah’s Witnesses. HATE THEM. They stalk your neighbourhoods at the crack of dawn on the weekends, disturb you while you’re sleeping, just to blitzkrieg you with pamphlets and such. And be honest, the reason why you enjoyed this comic is because Vlad The Impaler gave those assholes what they so rightfully deserve!
13) Episode 4: World Power Hotline - Adolf Hitler (04/06/2003)
I’m glad this comic made the list. I really am. This comic is really special, because it was the first of several collaborative efforts between myself and my fiancée Corey, who wrote the dialogue. I’ve always enjoyed the World Power Hotline as well.
12) Episode 24: Breasts (07/02/2004)
I don’t know how this made the list. I never liked it, I’ve kind of always regretted doing it (except the end panel), and it’s just plain bad. Yet, it seems that it has a cult following. I, personally, will never speak of it again.
11) Episode 113: Americabot's Pathetic Human Winter Holiday 2007 (18/12/2008)
Unlike Halloween, I tend not to make a huge deal about Christmas on my website. Why? Well, to be honest, Christmas isn’t anywhere near as cool as Halloween. However, I have managed to make it cool, by giving beloved archconservative pundit robot AmericaBot his own Christmas special! 2007’s edition was a parody/throwback to the Christmas specials of the 1980’s, with special guests dropping by, low-budget cartoons, and the Mothman destroying bridges to make himself happy!
10) GONZOR THE DESTRUCTOR AND THE QUEST FOR THE COMPUTING MACHINE (10/07/2004-10/10/2004)
Early in the history of TCR, I took a chance, and made a multi-page story on now-TCR Icon Gonzor the Destructor. It became a smash hit, warranted three sequels, and can be considered one of best parts of this Web Site. From a creative point of view, in retrospect, I am not a fan of its ham-fisted political humour, but hey, you have to start somewhere, right?
9) Episode 73: Manson & Reznor, "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" (01/03/2006)
Another comic inspired by my fiancée Corey, it came just after both she and I had finished reading Marilyn Manson’s autobiography. I like this one because it’s simple fun. Seriously, Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor writing a Children’s Album? Would that not be fucking awesome? Hey, it’d be a LOT edgier than his last album, that’s for damn sure.
8) Episode 108: ATTACK OF THE SPAMBOTS! (24/10/2008)
This comic was also a part of TCR’s Halloween celebration from 2007. Taking the premise of a 1960’s horror movie, and combining it with the perennial terror of Internet messageboards everywhere, The Spam Bot (at the time, TCR Land was experiencing SERIOUS issues with Spam Bots), it makes for an awesome Halloween comic. I also like how the Spam Bot turned out.
7) Episode 96: Hulk Hogan Teaches US History (28/02/2007)
Representing TCR’s dark, seedy underbelly, wrestling humour, is Hulk Hogan Teaches US History! At the time, Hogan was making news on Internet Wrestling Sites for his absolutely uninformed opinion on the Montreal Screwjob of 1997. With this in mind, and considering that Hogan is one of modern America’s greatest icons, I created this comic. The History Nerd and the Wrestling Fan in me loved making this, because I could go absolutely batshit insane in making up the “facts” I used.
6) Episode 94: The Sting Of Heartbreak (14/02/2007)
The debut of another TCR favourite, and one of my most favourite cryptozoological creatures, the Mothman. Personally, I HATE Valentine’s Day, and every year, I find some sick, unsettling and unusual way to say “FUCK YOU!” to this so-called “holiday.’ Thankfully, this resulted in what I have come to refer to as “The Mothman Trilogy.” And on top of it all, I managed to turn a horrible monster who is famous for destroying a bridge in a misterable town in the miserable state of West Virginia, into a sympathetic character. Seriously, try and read the comic and NOT feel bad for the poor Mothman.
Before we proceed with the Top 5 TCR Comics, I want to take a moment and honour some of the “runners-up” to the TCR25 List! These comics, for whatever reason, are liked, but not liked enough to make the final list. However, I still want to talk about them, and it’s MY website, damnit!
-Episode 65: Soda Is Stupid And So Are Baseball Jokes (23/12/2005): You know, there’s absolutely no reason why this comic should be a part of TCR Lore. The comic is simplistic, and not really good. However, as a result of a terrible PARODY of this comic by a couple of pasty suburbanite baseball fans, it will be forever remembered in TCR Land as the reason why Egg Nog is so totally better than Soda Pop.
-Episode 15: Cardinal ND Nyal Lectures On The History Of Catholicism (17/20/2003): Cardinal ND Nyal is one of the few characters on TCR that I wished caught on, but never did. I could have had so much fun with him.
-Episode 48: The Worst Comic Ever. (24/02/2008): For the longest time, this comic was in the Top 25. I wish I knew why. Perhaps you people enjoy laughing at my misery? Or maybe there are more GameCube fans out there than I thought?
-Episode 1: God The Comedian (16/05/2003): On this, the Fifth Birthday of TCR, I have to mention the comic that started it all. From humble, and pretty ugly, beginnings, has come something that has become a very important part of my life, and something I honestly love. Hell, one of the deciding factors for me getting a credit card was so that I could buy TCRComix.com. And it all began with Episode One.
-The Mothman Bridge Collapse (03/08/2007): This was not, nor was it EVER a comic. I feel obligated to mention this, because so many of you asked, “Which Comic Had Mothman Destroying That Bridge?” However, I am happy that you people liked it so much.
Alright, still with me? Good. I know it’s a long list, but now we’re heading into the home stretch! THE TOP FIVE TCR COMIX!!
5) Episode 117: The Hopeless Romantic (14/02/2008)
The third part of the Mothman Trilogy, this is my most favourite comic to date. I think it’s absolutely GOREGEOUS to look at, and the story it’s conveying is strong. The comic is dynamic, full of action, and just… will you look at me weird if I call it “Sexy?” Because I think it’s damn sexy.
4) Episode 106: It Came From… The Senate! (03/10/2007)
Statistically speaking, in the short history of TCRComix.com, this is the most read comic of all time. And for good reason, it’s fucking awesome! In my political maturity, I shed my formerly partisan tactics for more neutral ones, becoming an equal-opportunity offender, and this comic best illustrates this, I think. I should also note that this comic also received the greatest amount of negative feedback I have ever received on the progressive blog hub, Daily KOS.
3) Episode 26: The Passion Of The Christ (Feat. Gonzor The Destructor) (23/02/2004)
This is where it all began for Gonzor. In what started as a nonsensical way to end this comic, mushroomed into all the things I’ve said about Gonzor before. However, there’s much more to this comic. Namely, the awesome mocking of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” Seriously, how does the star of Lethal Weapon get to make a movie about the Bible?
2) Episode 88: Americabot's Pathetic Human Winter Holiday 2006 (19/12/2006)
I’m really glad this comic made it this high, as I really put a lot of effort into it! Seriously, it took a LOT of work to translate “The Night Before Christmas” into emotionless robot speak, AND find corresponding pictures to match the words! On top of all this, AmericaBot also got to murder some children! Lil’ bastards.
And finally…
1) Episode 81: Emo Elmo (16/09/2006)
This is the living definition of the word “Dark Horse Candidate.” Honestly, for me, this came completely out of left field. I had NO idea how popular this comic apparently was. And it’s not like someone skewed the vote, a LOT of people voted for this comic. In any event, this is the best comic of the first five years of TCR, and it’s proof of one fact: My best ideas come out of pure spontaneity. This was born out of one boring night at work a few years ago, and to be honest, it’s not one of my most pretty works. I guess you guys just love the combination of Muppets and Making Fun of Emo Kids.
And there you have it! Five years of TCR Comics! It’s been a GREAT Five years, filled with ups and downs, new friends and enemies, and a growing sense of self-satisfaction. Thanks to ALL of you who put up with the “Mathy” ballot, and voted for the TCR25. And Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported and patroned my little, Green piece of the Internet! Here’s to Five More Years!!
