Wapsi Square

I wrote this some time last year for my webcomic column.  I recently reread the strip and remembered why I love it so much.

Somewhere between marriage and raising his young son, Paul Taylor, of Minneapolis, still finds time to write and regularly update his comic, Wapsi Square.  Mr. Taylor updates five times a week, and doesn't miss a day, which is quite a rarity in the world of webcomics.
 
Wapsi Square is an archaeological whodunit.  The main character is Monica Villarreal, an art history and anthropology major working for the university museum, and her own antique shop.  While working at the museum, Monica accidentally releases Tepoztecal, the Aztec god of alcohol.  The weird takes a turn for the weirder when Tepoztecal summons into her life a chimera in the form of three drunken college girls.  Slowly a story unfolds in front of her involving the pasts of these “golem girls”, Tepoztecal, and Monica's friend, Shelly Wahnee. 

The story progresses slowly, and Mr. Taylor devotes a lot of time to character development.  Each character has their own story that is both separate and entwined with the main plot.  Monica is my favorite character.  She is cute and a little naïve, but intelligent, a dedicated friend, and easygoing.  One of the most memorable moments in the comic comes from her walking into a dangerous looking bikers joint, and becoming friends with everyone there because her grandfather was some kind of Harley legend.  The only character more lovable than Monica is her dog, Dietzel.

The story can often be cute, and sometimes funny.  However, it is not all fun and games.  The three golem girls that make up the chimera are very powerful and something terrible happened to create them.  Should they remember, they may massacre everything surrounding them.  Add an evil spirit that seems to be trying to twist their emotions, and the strip can actually get quite creepy.
 
When I looked back at the beginning of the strip, I realized I had forgotten how long it has been going.  There is plenty of back reading, and Mr. Taylor's art goes through some interesting changes along the way.  Wapsi Square is best suited for readers who are looking for a character centered plot line.  The humor is subtle, but a dedicated reader will find it there, hiding within a compelling story.  Anyone who starts this will be hooked, I promise.  Everyone, go read Wapsi Square, support Paul Taylor, and enjoy his wonderful story.  http://www.wapsisquare.com/index.html