Don And Doll...

Don And Doll, created by Dolores Fogarty and Adrian Mee, involves a man with what seems to be social anxiety disorder and a emotionally handicapped doll named...well, Doll. Subtle humor coupled with Don's struggle with himself and the world around him play out every Monday.

The artwork here has a underlying creepiness to it which sets the tone of the comic. It's dark and sparse, a bed here, a cabinet there. Many times it's just Don and his doll sitting and having a conversation. It works, but Don seems a bit stiff and there isn't much variety from one comic to another. I liked the few where the characters were outside because they gave a change of scenery, but kept the mood intact. Doll's glassy eyed stare invokes a Bride of Chucky crossed with Strawberry Shortcake image in my head, sort of a feeling of danger behind that porcelain facade. I'm not sure what she's made out of, but that's just me. Also the coloring is cool because I don't see many webcomics that use this style. The reddish orange hue and dark tones help keep the mood somber, but it also just looks really nice.

Reading through the archive made me wonder what exactly the writer was going for here. Funny or serious? Depression or self consciousness? Maybe all of those. I didn't find myself laughing most times because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to. It felt a little like watching some emo guy with a web cam set up in his house. Don't get me wrong though, I felt for Don and his anxiety. I think we all feel like not going out into the world occasionally. And Doll. I'm not sure if she hates and just humors him or genuinely cares about him. This is an odd relationship to be sure. I would like to see more of Don's life and what makes him tick, maybe a little backstory on Doll, etc.

All in all I liked Don and Doll for not slapping me in the face with gag humor and giving me a unique reading experience with decent art perfectly suited for the writing. Not a bad way to spend a few minutes. Check it out.

I give this comic...