<!--
	Title: Beyond Beyond Zork
	Subtitle: The Infocomics Approach to Computer Fiction
	Author: Charles Adai
	Source: Computer Gaming World, v8(7)
	Date: July 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

I used to get comic books for free -- sort of. Years ago, **Tru-Tred Shoes**
had a racket going which involved giving gifts to kids who got shoes in
their stores. The idea was that the kids would then pester their parents to return
to the store to get more "free" gifts. It worked, and until my feet could
no longer be crammed into child-sized shoes, I built up a sizable collection
of whistles, animal-shaped erasers and *Archie comics*.

Since then, getting comics has become more expensive. The
new issue of *Flash* costs seventy-five cents, the new *Joker* graphic
novel runs $3.50, and the *Dark Knight* graphic omnibus will set you
back $12.95. I'm not complaining. You also get more than you used
to, which usually includes better writing, art and packaging, and
more adult themes. All in all, you get what you pay for —- though I'm still
waiting for **DC** (National Periodicals) to start giving away free shoes.

Now there are *Infocomics*, **Infocom's** newest and most daring
venture. Where some had feared that Infocom would one day start illustrating
its stories, few dreamt that the company that made its
fame with text adventures would ever work in an almost purely
graphic medium. Nevertheless, this is what Infocom has done. As represented
by the first three stories (*Gamma Force* #1: "Pit of a
Thousand Screams;" *Lane Mastodon* #1: "Lane Mastodon Vs. The Blubbermen;"
and *Zorkquest* #1: "Assault on Egreth Castle"), Infocomics are an attempt
to bring comic books to life. Except for a little space reserved for text
and dialogue, Infocomics tell their tales through pictures and animated scenes.
There are even sound effects, though on the IBM the less that's said about
them, the better.

<img style="max-width: 80%; display: block; margin: auto;" src="/public/img/articles/cgw-infocomics-review/lane-mastodon-packaging.png" alt="Lane Mastodon packaging">

Infocomics cost twelve dollars each. There are two ways of looking at this.
Either they should be asked to deliver more than your average comic book, to
justify the higher price, or they can be allowed a little leeway to be less lasting
and to have less depth than their higher-priced software counterparts. Both
perspectives are crucial to appreciating Infocomics. On one hand, twelve dollars
isn't peanuts; readers deserve something for their investment. Infocomics deliver
on this obligation with dynamic animation, interesting visual conflicts and fairly
good graphics. The graphics are the weakest point —- it would have been nice
if the line drawings had been slightly more polished and colorful, especially in
Lane Mastodon's nude scenes —- but it is to their credit that what could have been
bland comes across as exciting and fresh.

The stories also deliver freshness with a new Infogimmick. So, when two
characters' paths cross in a story, the reader can switch from following one
character to following the other. There are problems with the way this is implemented,
since too often the branches don't offer new paths so much as fill in
backstory, but the idea is a good one. Once Infocom's writers have
more experience, they will surely put it to good use.

Then, there's the other hand. When you buy an Infocomic, you are not
shelling out the price of a ticket to a Broadway show (with some
software you are!). For the lower price, players must be prepared not
to play. Infocomics are not games. There is no challenge. Just boot the
story, sit back and watch. Except for jumping into different
characters' heads (accomplished with a push of the Enter key) there
is no interaction. Because of the different paths, the stories can
be read more than once without too much repetition, but you are
not going to labor for months over a puzzle in an Infocomic. This is
painless entertainment. It's called reading.

Not to worry, though. The reading is a pleasure. Though there
is much too *much* reliance on one of the oldest saws in the
comic writer's toolchest —- the family reunion (Old man: "I
lost a daughter once, years ago; I suppose she's dead now." Young woman: "Can it
be? Daddy!"), which crops up in one form or another in all three stories, the
stories are great entertainment.

Not surprisingly, Steve Meretzky's Lane Mastodon is the best of the three. It
doesn't take itself seriously (halfway through it cuts to a parody of Siskel and
Ebert, complete with theme music), and it has the best story. Lane, the hero
from the package of *Leather Goddesses of Phobos*, must turn off a Jovian Enlarger
Ray that is making giants of earth animals.

<img class="float-right" src="/public/img/articles/cgw-infocomics-review/zorkquest-packaging.jpg" alt="ZorkQuest packaging">

Zorkquest and Gamma Force are pretty standard battles against evil, and they
will have most appeal to young readers. Still, the stories are well told and the action -—
which includes such cinematic techniques as pans, zooms and dissolves -—
will keep all but the most jaded adventurers glued to their monitors. Needless
to say, Infocomics are not above reproach. There are flaws, among them
the generally awkward introduction of opportunities to switch characters (although
Amy Briggs does this the best, in Gamma Force, by being more subtle
than "If you want to follow Elana, push Enter . . . "); the way in which
characters' magic is largely depicted by a limited format of shooting smoke rings
from their eyes and forming protective force bubbles; and the "To Be Continued"
endings, especially in Gamma Force. Even more important is the issue
of how appealing Infocomics will be once the novelty wears off.

Frankly, the price may have to come down. Infocomics won't have to be
given away in shoestores, but twelve dollars is a bit much to pay for each installment
in what might well be very long series. Infocom will also have to buckle
down and devise stories sophisticated enough to attract the Dark Knight crowd
or, at least, the usual Infocom audience. I have no doubt that they can do it,
though, and I urge them to get on the ball. Infocom has a potential goldmine
in its hands and computer garners have a real treat in store.