Gunnerkrigg Court
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Gunnerkrigg Court - The Webcomic and the Books
Gunnerkrigg Court is one of my favourite webcomics out of the three or four dozen I read. It is now being released in graphic novel form - the first book, Orientation, won various awards in 2009. The second book Research came out in March, 2010 and the third book is coming out in 2011
Written and illustrated by Tom Siddell - a 3D artist from the British city of Birmingham - and slowly unfolded three times a week since April 2005, with never a missed update (a legendary feat among webcomics)
This sweet, mysterious, fantastical, ghostly, eerie and complicated storyline follows Annie as she discovers the secrets of her new school, Gunnerkrigg Court.
Inevitably compared to Harry Potter, due to it's temporal proximity to that other 'child at a mysterious magical school', I assure you it is quite unique, and adult enough to buy for father's day, silly enough for your children, and beautifully drawn enough for YOU.
Rife with symbolism, a mixture of science fiction, alchemical symbols, school outings, ghosts, faeries and mysticism, with every mthology from the Egyptians to the Celts woven together around Annie in a complex, haunting, and captivating story.
Also, rather legendary in webcomic forums - whenever talk turns to comparisons of the sacrifices of quality versus quantity, or 'immediate gratification from each new page' versus buildup... someone usually mentions Gunnerkrigg Court, and the response is often
"Oh, well, apart from Gunnerkrigg Court..."
Gunnerkrigg Court. A comic about which John Solomon of the appropriately named "Your Webcomic is Bad and You Should Feel Bad" said "has no place on this blog, because it is fantastic".
Click the icon to read from the first page.... 
Do YOU read Gunnerkrigg Court?
Who's Heard of Gunnerkrigg Court?
Some Background Music...
Orientation - The First Book
The beginning of the Gunnerkrigg Court story
Also was picked for one of the Top Ten 2010 Graphic Novels for Teens by the American Library Association.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This first on-paper collection of a comic that's won several Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards reads like a British boarding school version of Lost, in which each semiexplanation of one mystery leads to a new, larger one. The titular school looks more like a vast modern factory, while across the adjacent, forbidding Annan Waters is Gillitie Wood, home of fairies, gods, ghosts and sentient shadows. In her first school year, Antinomy Carver discovers that the two realms aren't absolutely separate; her little stuffed doggie, for example, soon houses a grouchy but rather protective demon, while the robot she builds out of spare parts lying around the school crosses the Water and comes back with a living wooden arm. Grownups are of little help to the young protagonists, but Antinomy faces difficulties with courage and self-possessed good manners. She and her friend Kat respond appropriately to each fresh bit of weirdness, sometimes taking part in sci-fi space adventures, sometimes coping with the loss of a friend who's changing into a bird. Siddell's stylized manga-like art suggests energy struggling against determined restraint. The result is uncanny, perplexing and oddly compelling. (Dec.)
Gunnerkrigg Court, Vol. 1: Orientation
Amazon Price: $17.56 (as of 02/15/2012)
List Price: $26.95
"Gunnerkrigg court is, in a word, AWESOME. It is hilarious. At times, it seems to be parody-esque. At others, it seems to be very serious. The main character, Antimony (Annie), is a clever, reserved girl who has just become a student at the truly spectacular Gunnerkrigg court. It is a tale of all the truly bizarre things she encounters there--shadow creatures, robots, minotaurs, ghosts, dragon-slaying teachers, visual reality rooms... The art is original and gorgeous, and I can't wait for the second book to be finished-- I want to know what happens next in Annie's life!"
"Why yes, this is a web comic artist that has printed his collected strips into a printed format. However, it is very much worth owning this volume. The art starts out odd and a bit rough but the story never falters. The setting is dark and very fantastic. The protagonist starts out a bit too cold if you ask me but the reasons for this are well explained and worth overlooking at the beginning just so one can find out what is going on at this strange boarding school.
Robots, forest gods, a trickster god, an extraordinarily complicated love story that involves dead parents instead of preteen girls leading to a complicated history, unexplained technology, a dragon, ghosts, possession, death, and friendship are common in this world. This really has something for everyone who wants more than bubblegum in their reading. Please read it. You won't be disappointed."
Research - The Second Book
The second book in the Gunnerkrigg Court series...
Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 2: Research
Amazon Price: $999.99 (as of 02/15/2012)
List Price: $26.95
Annie and Kat begin their second year at Gunnerkrigg Court! Parts of Annie's past are revealed, as well as mysteries that tie back to the origins of the Court itself. Finding a secret tomb of ancient robots beneath Kat's workshop leads the two friends to question how they are linked to the mysterious ghost that attacked Annie the year before. And as a new Medium-In-Training, Annie is able to visit the powerful trickster god Coyote in Gillitie Forest, a visit that reveals more than she ever imagined!
Hardcover: 296 pages
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Would You Buy Gunnerkrigg Court?
...assuming you had money!
Sketches of the Characters
From 'research' (book 2)
Antimony (Annie) Carver
The Artist on DeviantART!
Tea-san's gallery
Please do visit it, as that's where I collect and showcase some of the most amazing artists and their webcomics!
In the meantime, here's some of his Gunnerkrigg Court artwork:
Books in print - or webcomics on the screen!
Why buy the book?
Because it's almost always easier and more enjoyable to read the book in your hands rather than online, and often more convenient. Because you'll want to read and re-read it. Because the book is beautiful. Because you'll want to share it with your niece, your uncle, your colleague, your mother. Do you agree?
Why NOT buy the book?
Because it's cheaper? You can't lose it? I'm... floundering a bit here, what do YOU think?
Is it worth buying the book, if the content is free online?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes
Krechnov says:
I have bought the book, it's a very nice edition and is quite well put together. The story works just as well in print as it does online. There is a cost factor here but frankly I just like supporting the artist and the books are quite thick
Posted September 13, 2011
johnbrinerart says:
Sometimes it worth buying a book because you can keep them and share it with the children in the near future, yes it could also be good to buy book if we can read it online but sometimes online stories does not exist forever.
Posted May 13, 2011
Seratonation says:
yup, easier to read when you dont have a computer and/or powersource with you, and easier on the eyes. and you never have to worry about internet connection either, or if the page goes down, or gets deleted.
maybe im just oldfashioned, but i always prefer the book over other types of media.
also if you like it so much, it might be worth supporting the auther/artist, so thy can continue the awesome :D
Posted February 10, 2010
amy1980 says:
I've bought several webcomic books. There's just something about seeing the art on paper that I value buying the books.
Posted October 20, 2009
No
Gunnerkrigg Court: Awards, Reviews and Praise!
"There is only one sensible resolution to this problem. I must construct a robotic walking device!"
- An Interview with Tom Siddell, Creator of Gunnerkrigg Court | COMIXTALK
- With its marvelously moody school setting and low-key heroine, Antimoney, Tom Siddell's Gunnerkrigg Court is a delightfully fun webcomic that still manages to pack in hints of danger and adventure. At last year's WCCAs, Gunnerkrigg Court was nominated for four awards and took home the WCCA Award for Best Newcomer. Even bigger for Siddell, however, may have been gaining noted author Neil Gaiman as a reader along with a mention on his well-read blog. We caught up with him on the edge of 2007 to see what's in store for the new year.
- Neil Gaiman's Journal: Sunday tabs etc....
- "I got to read what's out there so far of Gunnerkrigg Court, a really enjoyable webcomic.... Lots of different flavours in there -- it's a semi-gothic funny-sweet school story with mysteries and robots and so forth.... Nice stuff."
- The Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
- Welcome to the 2008 Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards!
Who are 2008's outstanding webcomics? It's time for YOU to tell us!
The Webcartoonists' Choice Awards (WCCA) are back for an unprecedented 8th installment, and with the registration gates opening up, it's time to sign up and start thinking...
2006- Outstanding Newcomer
- Outstanding Use of Color
- Outstanding Long Form Comic
- Outstanding Story Concept
- Outstanding Environment Design
(tie with Inverloch)
- Outstanding Comic
- Outstanding Long Form Comic
- International Clickie nominees: Allison, E-Merl, Gurewitch, Mudron and Siddell | COMIXTALK
- .
- Comicbase
- .
- ForeWord Magazine :: Reviews of Good Books, Independently Published
- .
- ALA | 2010 Top Ten Graphic Novels for Teens
- Including: Siddell, Tom. Gunnerkrigg Court, vol 1: Orientation.
Who's Your Favourite Student From Gunnerkrigg Court?
Fanart, Fan Projects and the Characters of Gunnerkrigg Court
Part Two
Antimony Carver
The main character
A silent, stubborn, inscrutable child, with little experience of other people, she must learn her way around the mysterious Court, with its rules and secrets, and history - links to her mother's past, the uneasy balance with the mechanical, scientific Court's antithesis - Gillitie Wood and its animal gods... as well as cope with schoolwork, and the other children.
Katerina
Kat
Luckily for both girls, they found each other and became fast friends - science-whiz Katerina and quiet Annie.
Reynardine
A Wolf in Demon Form
Ah, Reynardine - one of the earliest characters to join Annie and her most faithful - or treacherous - companion. A shapeshifting wolf-demon, a trickster animal spirit from the Forest, he inhabits other beings, leaving havoc in his wake... until he jumps into Annie's toy wolf, and is trapped.
As time goes by, his past connections to Surma and the Court emerge, and he grows fonder of Antimony - his captor and his protector, and more protective in his turn.
<
Reynardine - Monster or Tragic Hero?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byMonster - he deserved it all, and is bound to betray her
Hero - faithful to Annie, he didn't mean to do harm
Melpomene Black says:
Misunderstood, as we are all.
Posted January 05, 2011
Zimmy and Gamma
Two very strange girls...
Zimmy (never Zeta!), the strange, fierce demonic child who everyone fears, with black gunk over her eyes, never sleeps and has terrible waking dreams...
...and Gamma Czarnecki, the sweet polish girl who cares for her, shares some form of telepathy, and keeps the monsters away while she's awake.
City Face: A pigeon love story
Animated voiceover of the filler comic 'City Face'
Gunnerkrigg Court: Fanart and videos
More art and videos about Gunnerkrigg Court
Gunnerkrigg Court - The Puppet Show!
Chapter One comes to LIFE! Learning From Webcomics - an ESL Exercise
Webcomics can be an excellent way to improve the reading and conversation skills of young "English as a Foreign Language" (EFL) learners (Of course, native-speaking and ESL students can also benefit from fun and engaging lessons themed around a high-quality webcomic).
TopatoCo: Treatise Prints from Gunnerkrigg Court! and other sites...
Links for Gunnerkrigg Court!
- TopatoCo: Treatise Prints from Gunnerkrigg Court!
- Topatoco is where you go to get merchandise from good webcomics! All original ideas. Helping advance the quality of humor in our society by selling you things.
This site sells a whole bunch of weird and wacky webcomic art and t-shirts. From Gunnerkrigg Court are three beautiful posters... the first two are pages in the first book and the third... is probably from the second!
Alchemical treatises were visual depictions of formulas and methods loaded with hidden meaning used to pass secrets to other alchemists. This print first appeared at the end of Chapter 7 as a hint of things to come.
The second treatise summarises the first book in a single picture. Carver is lead towards the Court while Coyote and Renard circle overhead
The third treatise summarises the second book. Carver is being lead deeper into the Court while Ysengrin watches from the trees. Kat stares into the electric lights of the Court. - Gunnerkrigg Court Info | Facebook
- Welcome to the official Facebook Page of Gunnerkrigg Court. Get exclusive content and interact with Gunnerkrigg Court right from Facebook. Join Facebook to create your own Page or to start connecting with friends.
- Gunnerkrigg Court on USTREAM: . Drawing
- Gunnerkrigg Court @ USTREAM: . Drawing
- Gunnerkrigg Court Forums - Home
- The 'official' Gunnerkrigg Court forums.
- Gunnerkrigg Court Wiki
- Gunnerkrigg Court Wiki is a database that anyone can edit.
- Gunnerkrigg Court - Television Tropes & Idioms
- The 'Main Gunnerkrigg Court' trope as used in popular culture, with a list of examples from all media.
Yes. I linked to TVTropes. CLICK THROUGH AND HAVE YOUR SOUL EATEN. - Your Webcomic is Bad and You Should Feel Bad (no longer online)
- One of the highest of accolades, from the author himself: Gunnerkrigg Court has no place on this blog, because it is fantastic and Tom Siddell is a very nice man.
John Solomon has since deleted his blog.
Tom Siddell on Twitter!
The artist online
Your Favourite Webcomics
Add your favourite links, and vote!
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Finished? If you want, you can nip back up and look at the books!
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Reply
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rcassady
Nov 3, 2009 @ 11:39 pm | delete
- Wow - I like the page - something to aspire to!
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Reply
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amy1980
Oct 20, 2009 @ 10:24 am | delete
- I've never heard of this webcomic. I'm not sure how I haven't happened upon it. There is beautiful artwork in it! Great lens on a great topic!
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Reply
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skiesgreen
Oct 6, 2009 @ 5:00 pm | delete
- Great lens for anyone into comics. Well presented with passion for the subject 5* and fav
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spunkyduckling
Oct 5, 2009 @ 9:38 pm | delete
- Haven't heard of this comic book. Sounds okay.
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The Latest From Gunnerkrigg Court!
Follow the comic...
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAbout Me
Final Table of Contents
Find it again!
- Do YOU read Gunnerkrigg Court?
- Some Background Music...
- Orientation - The First Book
- Research - The Second Book
- Would You Buy Gunnerkrigg Court?
- Sketches of the Characters
- The Artist on DeviantART!
- Books in print - or webcomics on the screen!
- Gunnerkrigg Court: Awards, Reviews and Praise!
- Who's Your Favourite Student From Gunnerkrigg Court?
- Antimony Carver
- Katerina
- Reynardine
- Zimmy and Gamma
- City Face: A pigeon love story
- Gunnerkrigg Court: Fanart and videos
- Gunnerkrigg Court - The Puppet Show!
- TopatoCo: Treatise Prints from Gunnerkrigg Court! and other sites...
- Tom Siddell on Twitter!
- Your Favourite Webcomics
- Other Webcomic Lenses
- Do you know of a good webcomics lens?
- More Book Reviews
- Reader Feedback
- The Latest From Gunnerkrigg Court!
- About Me
by Flynn_the_Cat
Join me on Squidoo!
I'm a Ruler of the World in training - I hope to create a world of slave-minions. Also Marine Biology post-graduate student digital...
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Buy Book One - Orientation
Gunnerkrigg Court, Vol. 1: Orientation
Amazon Price: $17.56 (as of 02/15/2012)
I love this book - I bought it when it was first released, in 2009. I get to lend it to people (and hover over it protectively) and then I can take it away and they are sad and then I tell them it's a Free Webcomic and they get excited. But they still want the book back,
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