Web Comic Review: Eyes On Me

Eyes On Me
Writer and Artist: Loonytwin
Published at: tapas.io

A review by Christoph Staffl

Before we get to the review part, let me tell you about comments on the internet. Personally, I don’t spend a lot of time in comment sections. Mainly, because I want to maintain a peaceful state of mind. That being said, I always had the impression that the comic community is different from the rest – more understanding, reflective and supportive. I know that this is an idealistic point of view, but when you witness things, like the support Brian Michael Bendis got throughout his recent illness, I had hoped that we are better than the rest.

Websites like tapas.io, where I recently started to consume my web-comics, provides a comment section, which is very well received. Due to the, mostly, weekly or bi-weekly releases, it gives the readers an opportunity to talk to each other and with the creators. So far, so good. What I don’t understand is why some readers get upset with them as soon as an update is delayed or takes longer than expected. Plus: If you don’t like the story, don’t read it or at least provide a constructive critique. Why didn’t you like it? Start a conversation. And in case you did not realize this: You do not know the creator, and he/she does not know you. Nevertheless, this person gives you a gift – regularly. Be thankful!

Enough of that, let’s talk about “Eyes On Me”:

Our main character is Evan; he is a cute blond guy with a “girly” keychain, which also happens starts off this fantastic story. The infamous keychain is the basis of a potential relationship between Evan and Marcus. Marcus is the roommate of Evan’s friend Andrew, and he meets Marcus for the first time at the beginning of the story. It is hilarious, charming, and you instantly wish them the best.

Throughout the available pages, we don’t get to know Marcus very well. As far as I can tell, he is a stubborn, good-looking guy who does not own a lot of clothes. Evan, on the other hand, we get to know a little better. I will not spoil anything because it is a fun ride to discover his quirks, but the differences between the two of them make their story even more engaging. The artwork focuses primarily on the characters. This impression is supported by the fact, that the background seems to slowly fade away, once the place is established and the scene continues. This approach gives the characters enough space to act and puts the dialogue into the center of attention. It is awe-inspiring what Loonytwin can accomplish with just some body-language and a few lines of dialogue.

The everyday situations our characters go through seem authentic, and the only complaint I have are the looks of the characters. Evan, Andrew, and Marcus are at the center of the story, and while they have features and characteristics that are unique to them, they could be a bit more different from each other, regarding their looks. They are all tall, white, slim, muscular, males in their early twenties. But that’s just a minor thing and could be based on the fact, that I read a lot of those stories recently.

The Verdict:
Read it! Recently I am reading mostly comics and books which focus primarily on character development and Eyes On Me seems to be just like that. No distracting action or new worlds to discover – you can spend a lot of time reading the characters: Who are they? What is their goal? Why are they doing what they are doing? The different approaches to similar stories are fascinating, and you do not want to miss out on Eyes On Me.

You can find comic at tapas. And you can support the creator at Patreon.com