Great without context?

[Qwertystop]

I have to bring in part of a comic strip for my English class at the beginning of January, and I was thinking of bringing a bit of OotS, but I want it to be a part that is great even without context. My 3 possibilities are:
Bring in one strip that works well as stand-alone.
or
Bring a few strips that work well with just the context from each other.
or
Bring in one of the books that has a lot of such moments, again with only the context contained in that book.

Can people give me some possibilities for the above 3 options?
EDIT: 5 was just a rough estimate, "a few" would be a better way to put it.

[veti]

Books: the first book (Dungeon Crawlin' Fools) works best on its own. None of the others, including prequels, makes much sense without context.

Individual strips: there are quite a few of these that work just fine as standalone jokes. A small selection:

0003 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0003.html)
0029 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0029.html)
0122 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0122.html)
0140 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0140.html)
0199 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0199.html)
0327 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0327.html)
0713 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0713.html)


Which ones work best will depend largely on your audience's level of familiarity with D&D and fantasy in general.

[mucat]

If your audience is familiar with storytelling tropes, even if not with D&D, then Daigo and Kazimu's name-revelation (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0472.html) strip is a great one.

EDIT: For a set of five that work well together without much outside context, a great choice might be #492 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0492.html) through #496 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html), starting with Roy's entry through the gates of Celestia, and ending with his reunion with his little brother.

They do reference outside events, but the reader should be able to pick up from context that Roy is dead and is newly arrived to the afterlife, and that he has a contentious relationship with his father. The most jarring bit of information for someone without a D&D background might be the fact that he seems to expect to return to life soon.

[suszterpatt]

#301 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0301.html), of course.

[Dr.Epic]

I have to bring in part of a comic strip for my English class at the beginning of January, and I was thinking of bringing a bit of OotS, but I want it to be a part that is great even without context.

Wait, just a comic? Is the class just an English class? Are you in high school because none of my high school classes told me to bring in a comic. Is the point to look at plot and characters in different mediums? And if you're just supposed to pick a comic, despite the fact half the class will probably show up with this, bring in Watchmen.

[NerfTW]

We'd probably need some more context of WHY you're bringing in the comic. What are you trying to show, exactly?

Humor? Drama? Plot? Show and tell?


There's no one strip that personifies everything about the comic.

[Qwertystop]

Here is the assignment, exact words:

Understanding Comics
Please bring a favorite cartoon, comic strip, or comic book with you to class on Tuesday, January 4th.

My English teacher has a tendency to give vague assignments like this, without telling us what we will do with what we {bring, use for outside reading, etc.}, to reduce the amount of people bringing something specifically because it will make the assignment easier.

[Zmflavius]

To be honest, if that's the case, you really should just trawl through the series yourself, saving any comics or which you feel you really like. Then go through these, eliminating until you have one left.

[Pyron]

Bring up to 5 strips that work well with just the context from each other.

Can people give me some possibilities for the above 3 options?

If you ask me, five strips that works is the battle between the 636 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0636.html) to 641 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0641.html) (you can ignore 637, this will give you five pages - although I wish I could add 642 for closure). And, what we have are 5 strips that work well enough with the context of each other

Sure, we're missing details, but we what the conflict is, what's at stake and and exciting action sequence.

[factotum]

None of the others, including prequels, makes much sense without context.


I disagree-I think Start of Darkness works just fine as a standalone story. You don't need to know or care what Redcloak and Xykon get up to later on to appreciate it.

[LuPuWei]

Well the Evil V arc, starting with the aquisition of powers till his escape with O-Chul was what got me to start reading OotS, so that I can personally vouch for.

Similarly if there are any sections you particularly like, you could take it all, choose 5 representative strips to show, and have the rest ready with you in case your teacher (or someone in your class, if its show and tell) is interested in seeing more...

[ref]

A classic standalone is #12 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0012.html) but there are several nice moments to bring. Paraphrasing Vaarsuvius, a grave conundrum you face here.

[Qwertystop]

Thanks for the suggestions. When I said 5, I should have said "a few". Also, when I talked about bringing a book I meant a book that contains standalone moments, not a book that will altogether be standalone. (I need to think of a better word than Standalone, don't I)

[suszterpatt]

Thanks for the suggestions. When I said 5, I should have said "a few". Also, when I talked about bringing a book I meant a book that contains standalone moments, not a book that will altogether be standalone. (I need to think of a better word than Standalone, don't I)
Perhaps the episode where V gets turned into a lizard? You can leave a couple of them out too, about 7 strips total (until V disintegrates the dragon).

[headmonkeyboy]

You have to bring in the Fruit Pie the sorcerer strip :) :elan:

[KillItWithFire]

I vote for the entire Darth V bit, starting when Quarr fins V on the islan uptill he and O-Chul are teleporked out of the tower. I'm sure you can fin a bunch of strips that you can cut out for length such as a few with the fiends and the reuniteing of the party.

[JonestheSpy]

teleporked

That spell was from the Book of Erotic Fantasy, wasn't it..?

[littlekKID]

That spell was from the Book of Erotic Fantasy, wasn't it..?

I think the demon roached already copyrighted that

[arpin]

I, for one, would go with something from 224-228, preferably 226.

[Obs]

How about 301 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0301.html)?

[Occasional Sage]

So, have you made a choice? And when in January is the big day? I'm curious what this finally looks like in class.

[Qwertystop]

January 4th, and I will probably bring either the Challenges on the Way to the Oracle set, or 226 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0226.html).
If I can, I'll try to get a summary of it up here. He says it is a minor project, and not worth all the consideration, but I don't really mind, and will use it as an excuse to get another compilation (I only have the 2 prequels, and I only paid for one :smallwink:)(Actually, I ordered SoD, and they sent me OtOoPC, so they said they would let me keep it no charge and sent the other one)

[Occasional Sage]

January 4th, and I will probably bring either the Challenges on the Way to the Oracle set, or 226 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0226.html).

With 226 you're prepared to discuss its roots in Abbott and Costello's comedy routine, yes?

[TimelordSimone]

I quite like the New Year Dinners. Roy and Celia. Ninja waitress. The imaginary personification of Haley's self-loathing. I think they work quite well.

[Alagaesian]

For New Years Eve, you can actually break it up into many small sections, depending on which characters you want to follow.

Haley and Elan: 303, 307, 309, 311, 314, 316
Roy and Celia: 307, 308, 310, 313, 315, 316
Belkar and Vaarsuvius: 307, 312, 316, 317

[Qwertystop]

Thank you very much for your advice everyone. I don't personally like the New Years ones for this purpose, because they are character-interaction-focused and require a bit of context. I am expanding my list of possibilities to:
Oracle Challenges (funny)
763 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0763.html) (I know there's a lot of context behind it, but I really notice the meaning of the conversation more than the specific Elan-Tarquin interactions.
226 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0226.html) (funny)

Still open to suggestions until January 1st, at which point I will need to decide.

[Zmflavius]

I'm going to have to go with 226. The less context, the better, and it's Rich's better Who's on First parody.

[Alagaesian]

If you're a fan of comic 200, then 199-202 works well.

[BarroomBard]

I'd go with #750 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0750.html), if only because it is a great example of the art of comic storytelling.

[ref]

That's a good point, other examples are Roy's fall down to his death, or the side-by-side double feature when the Azurite War is ready to begin.

[Jingo]

My advice is to pick a less nerdy comic. I love the Order of The Stick too, but it's not the kind of thing you show to someone who doesn't at least play video games.

[Qwertystop]

I'm doing 763, as I have just found out that the assignment does not require anyone else to get the context.

[Strife Warzeal]

I see you already made your choice, but what do you think of Mace-y's (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0755.html)?

[raisethearmy]

I would second Jingo on this. OotS is a great comic, but I don't think that everyone in your class will like it.

[MoonCat]

Does enough of your class know Monty Python? If so, then I would suggest this one. All they need to know is his swords broken.
http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0136.html

[Gnoman]

Maybe not like it, but it's an excellent strip for an english class.