Murgatroyd & Nepenthe is a request from River Donkey Adventures cartoonist D.S. Barrick. This graphic novel is an unforgettable experience up for pre-order on FundRazr on March 21.
Who, What?
Murgatroyd & Nepenthe is a very surreal experience to say the least. A number of readers could get confused on what’s going on. The plot can go off on its own direction and we don’t even know what our title characters’ deal is. Thankfully despite being oddities, there’s a lot of room for interpretation.
Murgatroyd looks like a zombie but he’s an everyman trying to get a handle on things. With how strange things get, his best friend Nepenthe helps him stay sane. Also Nepenthe is some “Early Monster” with vast magic/psychic powers. She’s a smart aleck but she genuinely cares about Murgatroyd’s well being. Which is why she goes out of her way to give him a period of relaxation after a stressful adventure. Even when they’re separated for a time, she and Murgatroyd still have a lot of faith and trust in one another. Nepenthe for one is hoping for Murgatroyd to develop self-confidence in the Hinterlands.
What’s Murgatroyd & Nepenthe All About?
So yeah that’s the outline of events in the graphic novel. I put that up because you’re going to have to use your imagination on what the story’s all about. That’s a controversial move if it feels like too much effort. Thankfully Barrick’s surreal art allows for the avante-garde discipline dada. Anyone familiar with the Bonecheck post will know how random things can go together. It gives a whimsical effect that feels impossible to forget. That way coming back to these scenes doesn’t feel like a chore.
So what did I get rereading this again and again? Nothing concrete, just things I like such as foes that feel uncomfortable with how uncanny they look. That’s especially the case in how they interact with Murgatroyd. In my best guess, Nepenthe is guiding Murgatroyd to a final rest. The monstrosities they meet feel like fears or unresolved traumas manifesting. Nepenthe can certainly keep them at bay, but she needs Murgatroyd to get a handle on them. Only then can he be ready to pass on.
But that’s mainly me. So when you read through, find your own conclusions.
Murgatroyd & Nepenthe – Best At Rolling With The Punches
What happens when classic comic strips, surreal animation, and oblique art combine? An absurdly comforting adventure where going with the flow gets easier. You might find meaning in things you miss or feel satisfied with the whimsy. Plus the chemistry between the title characters feels pretty good. So this gets 8.5/10.
Feel like pre-ordering on FundRazr?
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.