Katie’s cat is ready for the upcoming War of the Webcomics. ARE YOU?

This episode of Strip Search is nuts, y’all. I was expecting another social challenge, like maybe they would have to play Scrabble really aggressively or something, then Mike and Jerry are suddenly in the house (WHAT?), there’s a two-month time skip (WHAT?), there are cats everywhere and people are producing mountains and mountains of art like it’s just pouring out of their faces. This is like the Red Wedding episode of Strip Search, except instead of getting married people are drawing comics and instead of getting murdered they are getting even more internet-famous.

Does that metaphor work? No? Sorry, I don’t watch Game of Thrones, I’m just trying to keep up with the zeitgeist and whatnot. Continue reading Strip Search #29: Webcomics Are Coming →

It was with no small amount of trepidation that Penny Arcade announced their latest Kickstarter: raising money to help confused lumberjack art critics get the counseling they desperately need.

For Elimination #9, the artists get a tough set of topics and both kind of choke a little; fortunately, one of them chokes a little less than the other. More importantly, we learn that Lexxy is a total pro, Maki is as sexy as a walking pineapple man can be, and there is at least one joke that even Mike finds inappropriate; a good time was had by all. Continue reading Strip Search #28: Shove It Up Your Monochromatic *$$ →

This episode was about as interesting as an episode about contract negotiation could be…which usually would be followed by a comment like “Which, sadly, wasn’t very interesting,” but it actually was fairly interesting. That said, I feel like recapping stuff about “licensee and licensor” about as much as I feel like cleaning the bathroom, so it’s a pretty shallow recap this time. Continue reading Strip Search #27: Move That Tin →

Somewhere on the Internet, a hilarious .gif is being made. “.gif” can be pronounced in one of two ways, have you heard?

In a downtown Seattle scavenger hunt that showcases the area’s beautiful weather (snort), Lexxy and Maki try to be all organized and end up going on a wild goose chase that costs them mucho time and points. Katie and Abby pretty much just bumble around and hit all the landmarks partially by chance, because they are gorgeous fae creatures who run on pure chaos magic. In Lexxy and Maki’s defense, they are hilarious together. Continue reading Strip Search #26: The Lexxy and Maki Comedy Hour →

How did this elimination go down this way? I mean, out of all the possible topics in all the possible Wastebaskets of Broken Dreams, how did Abby manage to pull “Cats” as her topic? She couldn’t have been any more in her comfort zone if she were receiving a foot massage at the drawing desk while a half-dozen semi-nude Hugh Jackman clones dropped Raisonets into her mouth while she drew. What were the chances of her getting the best topic for her right off the bat, without even needing the Redraw Ticket?

Guys, I’m afraid I’m going to have to call it: This is The Great Abby Conspiracy. She must have known just where the cat-paper was in the basket before she even got to the studio. Before the competition even began. Perhaps, she knew even before she was born— which, since she’s a college kid, was only like five minutes ago anyway. Continue reading Strip Search #25: Cartoonist Man Harem →

In a particularly strange challenge, the Strippers must compete to forge President Obama’s signature over and over again, because that’s the foremost skill that today’s webcomic artist really needs to survive in this economy. No, seriously, I get the point of this challenge (and why it would have been somewhat unfair to have everyone use their real signatures, which vary in length and complexity), but, I mean, it’s just…really? President Obama? That’s where your minds went when designing this challenge? Continue reading Strip Search #24: Thanks, Obama →

The Strip Search screenshot by which all future Strip Search screenshots will be judged.

It was the best of episodes, it was the worst of episodes. On the side of the angels, we get to hear everyone’s thoughts on both the last elimination and what to expect during the final leg of the competition, and it’s a nice change. On the minus side, this game they play should not be played in a house with so much furniture, and it’s darn lucky that everyone escaped sans concussion. Continue reading Strip Search #23: It Was The Best of Times →

For Elimination #7 in the Comic Battle Dome, it’s the epic battle of The Great Lexxy Conspiracy Versus The Great Monica Conspiracy. For those that don’t already know, The Great Lexxy Conspiracy is the idea that the entire competition is rigged in favor of Lexxy, because Penny Arcade would totally stage an entire reality show competition to invent an excuse to hire someone they could hire any time they felt like it. The Great Monica Conspiracy is the idea that everything is rigged in favor of giving Monica the opportunity to counter-troll the internet’s most accomplished trolls like a tiny, trash-talking steamroller, and get free Sour Patch Kids at the same time

I think it’s safe to say that of the two, the Monica Conspiracy is the one with real merit, because at least we have video evidence of Monica downing some Sour Patch Kids. Oh, and some comics were drawn. Continue reading Strip Search #22: Dino Skates Smackdown →

They actually did it: two ping pong episodes in a row. Really, Penny Arcade? Are you trying to make me watch actual sports now? No way am I recapping this nonsense! *stomps away*

*stomps back*

Goddammit. Continue reading Strip Search #21: Pong Squared →

Maki: Well done, good sir and madam.

Lexxy: I respectfully acknowledge your ping pong skills, but never forget that I can draw circles around you. CIRCLES.

Monica: Elimination. Tonight. FUCK.

Graham: Well, that was …respectable?

Abby: I pull off a great upset and you make me play SPORTS? FUCK.

The inevitable Ping-Pong Challenge finally happens, and the dirty secret of Strip Search is revealed: Robert Khoo has just been using this whole competition as a ruse to recruit another talented table tennis player to his team, in order to continue Penny Arcade’s dominance of the sport(?) in the greater Seattle area. Unfortunately for him, none of the Strippers are all that great at it: Katie is the best, and even she calls topspin a “spinny-thingy.” Continue reading Strip Search #20: Show Me Your Spinny-Thing →