In the last few years, webcomics have become much more prolific as creators are discovering the worth of putting up their original stories online and gaining an audience that appreciates their own unique style and story to tell. Sometimes there is a strange stigma that webcomics are somehow a lesser form of media or not worthwhile as art. This is definitely not the case with Minna Sundberg’s magnificent visual storytelling in A Redtail’s Dream.
Available online for free in its entirety, this webcomic updated daily with full-color pages and an intriguing storyline, gathering thousands of readers before it finished. The creator used Indiegogo to fund the printing of the entire thing as a single book, and the hard copy is a visual and tactile treat. From the metal-embossed, intricately detailed cover through over 600 pages of material in full, glorious, mouth-watering color, both the tactile and the visual will keep you engaged and delighted.
The story follows Hannu and his originally-a-dog companion Ville as they are thrust into a world of Finnish mythology. Forced to fix the mistake of the capricious Puppy-fox, they face many challenges on their way to restore the world to what it should be. If they fail, their souls and those of the others caught up in this mess will be lost to the afterlife.
Not your typical brave, cheerful protagonist, Hannu is lazy, grumpy, self-centered and irritated. He’ll help to fix this, but only because there’s no other way to get back to their world. Ville, in contrast, is a cheerful, happy, upbeat friend. He gains the means to speak in the wake of Puppy-fox’s meddling, and uses his positive attitude and faithfulness to Hannu to help. He supports and at times drags Hannu along on their journey, offering invaluable assistance and a hefty dose of comic relief.
The pacing of the story is good, with just enough exposition to get you interested and caught up in the story without it feeling over-heavy. There is more information on the mythology behind the story in the backmatter of the book if you want to pursue further learning, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy the story.
Creative paneling and impressive double-page spreads sweep you along and make for an exciting tale. Hannu and Ville face a variety of unpredictable setbacks and surprising moments that keep the story fresh all the way to its conclusion. My only complaint is that in the beginning Hannu seems so relatively immature and unlikable I found him difficult to relate to – and yet his personality and reactions help carry the story along in a fresh and interesting way, and actually prove to be necessary at several points.
If you would like to read A Redtail’s Dream for free online, you can do that here. If you’re interested in purchasing a physical copy, Minna Sundberg has more information about when they will be available here. She has also started a new webcomic, Stand Still Stay Silent, which you can find here. The extras contained within the book make it worth purchasing, as well, since there are exclusives available only in dead tree format.
From the first page to the last, A Redtail’s Dream is a journey worth taking.
