Bottom Line: In a world where everyone is a super hero, what is a normal guy to do? Defenders of Stan is a quirky exploration of what it would be like to try to live a normal life in a world where everyone can lift cars with their minds and fly faster than the speed of sound.

Stan is frustrated with being an everyman in a world full of supermen.

Details

Cast: Austin Bragg, Meredith Bragg, Hunter Christy
Website: The Defender of Stan (RSS)

YouTube: Watch Them On YouTube
Channel 101: Watch Them On Channel 101
Vote For It: The Defenders of Stan

Ratings

The super power effects are a treat to watch. They manage to be silly enough to match the theme without being so silly that they become unbelievable. (Style 5)

This is a very well edited show. At 5 minutes there isn’t a second the passes that feels wasted. (Pacing 4.5)

Defenders of Stan is funny, smart and maybe even a little bit deeper than it might first appear. It’s an entertaining look at dating, sibling rivalry, and how we deal with our insecurities. (Storytelling 4)

Polish 3.5

Watchability 4.5

Novelty 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.33 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: While the season is only three episodes old, Thwackers is a fun spin on the “pro gamer” sub-genre. It combines the usual caffeine fueled inside jokes with a developing subplot (why is Cat really staying at her cousins place) which has to potential to make it an entirely different animal altogether.

Best friends Jakob and Mikey dream of playing video games for a living but they’re nowhere near ready to face their nemesis at the upcoming City Gaming Championship. Enter Cat, Jakob’s mysterious and potentially dangerous cousin. Agreeing to coach them in exchange for a place to hideout, her unorthodox training methods are only the beginning of what it’s going to take to turn pro.

Details

Cast: Joshua Larsson, Quentin Grace, Shanae Tomasevich, Jodi Ward
Website: Thwackers

YouTube: Watch Them On YouTube
Twitter: Follow Them On Twitter
Facebook: Join Them On Facebook
Vote For It: Thwackers

Ratings

Thwackers earns some major bonus points for the in-game commentary. At points these are almost as entertaining as Pure Pwnage. (Style 4)

Pacing 3.5

The biggest downside to this show is that the delivery is a little stilted. The lines feel read in a lot of places, and that undermines what is otherwise a very entertaining show concept. There are still only three episodes in, so I expect this to get better as the show evolves. (Storytelling 3)

Polish 4

Thwackers is surprisingly entertaining for a show shot mostly on one set. The characters are fun to watch and the concept is clever even if the dialogue is sometimes a little heavy heavy-handed. I’m looking forward to seeing more of these. (Watchability 3.5)

Novelty 3

Overall Rating: 3.58 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: An occasionally uneven but always interesting super hero comedy, Captain Alpha Male is one of those shows that you wish could have been longer to give the writers more room to explore the cast of characters they had developed.

Meet Captain Alpha Male, the world’s first middle-management superhero! He’s a man’s man, a hero’s hero. And he’s about to get the promotion he’s worked his whole life for.

Details

Starring: Jay L. Lutsky
Website: Captain Alpha Male (RSS) (iTunes)

Funny or Die: Watch Them On Funny or Die
Twitter: Follow Them On Twitter
YouTube: Watch Them On YouTube
Vote For It: Captain Alpha Male

Ratings

Style 3

Pacing 3

There are a lot of potentially entertaining characters in this series, but you get to see them so rarely that it takes a away a lot of good sources for jokes. Even Super Sugar seems underutilized, spending a good part of the season saying almost nothing other than how important it is to “build the brand.” (Storytelling 3)

Polish 3.5

I think my biggest problem with the show is that I couldn’t always tell whether any of the “super heroes” were actually super, and I think that is because they spent so little time onscreen. The first time I figured out the Captain had any powers at all is in the episode where they showed him flying. I understand that they were supposed to be super-cliches but the idea could have been executed more clearly. (Watchability 3.5)

Captain Alpha Male takes a unique look at the life of a group of Super Heroes, if you can get past its flaws what you’ll find is a quirky show with an entertaining protagonist that is worth the price of admission. (Novelty 4)

Overall Rating: 3.33 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: It feels a little like a low budget version of Dr. Horrible, which is about the best compliment I can give a show. It’s still way to early in the series to even give it a complete review, but so far it has been an enjoyable ride.

Imagine we live in a world where ordinary people strive to leave their mundane lives and accomplish extraordinary things. And within that world are six bumbling, wannabe superheroes who have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. This is our story. This is The Junior League of Superheroes.

Details

Cast: Teresa Reilly, Justin Davidson, Foster Wilson, Justin Fair, Julie Gearheard, Brian Leahy
YouTube Channel: Junior League Of Superheroes
Website: Junior League Of Super Heroes
Support the Show: Get Involved

Subscribe

Twitter Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Junior League Of Superheroes

Ratings

Style 3.5

Pacing 3.5

Storytelling 4

Polish 3.5

Watchability 4

Novelty 4

Overall Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: The more you know about comic book fandom, the more you will like this show. For casual observers, be sure to watch through episode four when the story arc starts into full swing.

Issues is a web program concept developed by New Jersey-native and self-proclaimed film junkie Scott Nap. As frustration with strikes, political decisions and industry woes became too much, the College of New Jersey graduate decided to take matters into his own hands and set to work on a script focusing on one of his favorite subjects: comic books. The ten minute webisodes, set to air on YouTube upon completion, focus on the misadventures of the strangest gaggle of geeks this side of cyberspace. When newcomer Zeke enters The Store, he enters a world that rivals the pages he loves to read. He quickly learns the ropes with the help of a unique fellowship of fanatics: a man named Leslie, a woman named Bobby, the enigmatic shelver “Mack” Riley, the silent store enforcer Edgar and his cheery goth cheerleader Madeline and the neurotic (or is it psychotic?) uber collector, Jackson.

But like the crises and invasions that rock the inked volumes on a weekly basis, a threat to the well-being of the “bookies” (comic book fans) will soon emerge. This media menace threatens to break the sanity of the weekly wanderers. Secrets will be revealed, hidden powers revealed and the struggle for balance has begun!

Details

Cast: Noah Rothman, Louise Flory, Kevin Sebastian, Autumn Weisz, Katie Ritz, CJ Maldonado, Daniel Halden, Tom Hanley, Sarah Croce, Sean Beattie, Joanne Colan
Libsyn Channel: Issues The Series
Website: Issues The Series
Support the Show: Donate To The Show (Left Sidebar)

Subscribe

Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Issues The Series

Ratings

I really dig the comicbook styled intros that they do with every episode, very slick. (Style 3.5)

Pacing 3.5

For the most part it is a solid like at life inside of a comic shop. At points, however, it might be a little too accurate. I found myself cringing once or twice at some of the store floor banter, not because it was bad perse but because it sounded like the awkward, half-funny pop culture references you might just hear if you were a fly on the wall of a comic shop. The situation gets a lot better starting in episode 4 when they add “Jared Sain” to the cast, the outside perspective really helps to break things up. (Storytelling 3.5)

Polish 3.5

Like Variants, Issues is probably a little too “insidery” for casual viewers. If you love comics and have deep knowledge of the minutiae of geek culture this one is right up your alley, but if you find yourself scratching your head every time someone mentions Green Lantern, you’re going to be spending a lot of time staring blankly at the screen. Though, if you’re going to give it a try I suggest sticking around through episode 4, the series really picks up steam after that point. (Watchability 3.5)

Novelty 3.5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: This is up there with the Guild as one of the best “Gamer Lifestyle” web series ever to be created. If you have a single geek bone in your body you owe it to yourself to give this series a chance.

Pure Pwnage is a globally popular online TV series that documents the life of Jeremy (teh_pwnerer), a pro gamer. Kyle, a filmmaker, also manages to capture the antics of Jeremy’s friends: FPS_Doug, Dave (Dawei), T-Bag and Anastasia.

Details

Cast: Jarett Cale, Geoff Lapaire, Joel Gardiner, Miranda Plant, Dawei, Troy Dixon
Blip.tv Channel: Pure Pwnage
Website: Pure Pwnage
Support the Show: Buy Something From The Pure Pwnage Store

Subscribe

Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Pure Pwnage

Ratings

Style 4.5

For a lot comedy series I talk about the “joke ratio” I’d like to change it up a little for Pure Pwnage and mention the “awkward ratio.” What makes this series work is the sheer number of cringe worthy moments in it. It’s long, it’s dense but every 30 seconds or so you find yourself brought back into it by the sheer majesty of the geekiness. (Pacing 4)

This is the quintessential “life of a pro gamer” story on the Internet today. Brilliant parody that touches on just about every cliche you can think of. Once they start building out the meta-story involving Jeremy’s training it starts shifting into territory usually reserved for the best TV. (Storytelling 5)

Polish 4

Each of these episodes are television length and sometimes longer. Most clock in at over 20 minutes and a few at 40. That being said, I only wish there was a way of watching this without being in front of the monitor because it’s fun in that awkward, mockumentary sort of way. (Watchability 5)

Novelty 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: This is sketch comedy at its geekiest, because of the ensemble cast you’ll need to get through the first few episodes before you really understand the characters.

A web series about the creators of a web series… Wait, what?

In the harshly competitive world of internet video, one team of sketch comedians tries to make a difference.

In this case however, the difference is somehow getting paid for doing what they do. The Crew of LoadingReadyRun.com has been making the funny for over five years, but the time has come to buckle up, knuckle down and roll out. Can this group of friends overcome the challenges of self-funding, online competition and not killing each other? Well… two-out-of-three isn’t bad.

Details

Cast: Graham Stark, Paul Saunders, Jeremy Petter, James Turner, Bill Watt, Matt Wiggins, Morgan vanHumbeck, Kathleen De Vere
Blip.tv Channel: Chronicles of Humanity
Website: Chronicles of Humanity
Support the Show: Watch LoadingReadyRun’s Other Films

Subscribe

Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Commodore Hustle

Ratings

Style 3

Pacing 3

It’s Geeky sketch comedy. Sometimes it’s awkward, sometimes it’s hamfisted but in truth it feels a lot like what would happen if you sat a bunch of the buddies you used to play Counter Strike with in a room and asked them to act. That is not a bad thing. (Storytelling 3)

Good directing, solid transitions and some nice effects make this an above average comedy web series in terms of polish. (Polish 4)

Here is the problem with having an ensemble cast as large as you do in Commodore Hustle, you have to write everyone into the script which means that for the audience you never really feel attached to any particular person. Especially when every episode comes in at over 10 minutes, things would go a lot more smoothly if they focused on a handful of characters per show instead of trying to get everyone on screen regardless of whether they add to the plot. This is one of those shows that you’ll start to dig about three episodes in when you finally see enough of each character to start understanding their quirks. (Watchability 3)

Novelty 3

Overall Rating: 3.08 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: A great series for comic book fans, with enough laughs to keep more mainstream viewers coming back. It feels like the characters are growing into their roles and I’m looking forward to seeing how this develops.

Hi. My name’s Joe Cucinotti.

Formerly a radio DJ in Dallas/Fort Worth and a host of the short-lived (but soon to rise again like a phoenix from the ashes) podcast JOE VS KEN that I produced with long time friend Ken Lowery.

In early 2009 Ken and I were approached by Richard Neal – the Eisner award winning owner and operator of Zeus Comics in Dallas TX. (4411 Lemmon Ave… come visit!) He expressed a desire to develop a web series that would appeal to fans of something like Felicia Day’s THE GUILD but fused with the comic/dramatic style that you might see in something like THE OFFICE or 30 ROCK.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Details

Creators: Joe Cucinotti, Ken Lowery, Richard Neal
YouTube Channel: The Variants
Website: The Variants
Support the Show: Visit The Variant’s Store

Subscribe

RSS Feed: Feed
Facebook Page The Variants

Ratings

It’s shot inside of a real comic book store with real comic books, that alone will earn you a few credibility points. (Style 3.5)

Pacing 3

This show is the show about what it’s like to be inside of a comic book shop. If you listen closely you will be treated to the dulcet tones of people waxing poetic about all manner of geekery. For people like me, this is great but like French films and John Malkovich movies a lot of people will feel like there is a distinct lack of forward momentum in some of the plots. (Storytelling 3.5)

Polish 4

For better or for worse it feels like you’re watching Clerks, the animated series, not the movie. You are treated to obscure pop culture reference after obscure pop culture reference, and unless you are deeply infatuated with film and comic culture it can be a little too “insidery” (Watchability 3)

Novelty 3

Overall Rating: 3.33 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: If you have the slightest inkling what Yu-Gi-Oh is then you are doing yourself a disservice by not watching this series.

Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series (often abbreviated to Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged or simply YGOTAS) is a popular fan parody of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime as dubbed by 4Kids Entertainment. It is created by Martin Billany, better known by his screen name LittleKuriboh, who originally strived to update the series weekly, although this has not always been possible.[8] The series has become incredibly popular with the number of visits to the main site ranking over 30 million. The show’s increasing popularity has shown, with several new Abridged Series’ being created for other shows, following the precedent set by LittleKuriboh.

Each “episode” of the Abridged Series parodies the original Yu-Gi-Oh! equivalent and is typically four to six minutes per episode (though episode length has steadily increased with time). The series is made using clips from the original series while voicing most of the characters and placing in sound effects, music clips, and other references to popular culture. LittleKuriboh voices all of the Abridged Series characters with the exception of Rebecca Hawkins and various other bit characters, who are voiced by his wife Abigail (”Abi”), better known by her screen name Safty.

Details

Cast: Martin Billany
YouTube Channel: Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series
Website: Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series
Support the Show: Visit The Store

Subscribe

Revver Page: YGOTAS

Ratings

Style 4

Pacing 4.5

I’ve never seen a television parody this well executed. Every single episode manages to hit the mark, which is almost unheard of in the uneven world of web series. (Storytelling 5)

Polish 4

This series is geektastic, in fact, it is even more insidery than that it is anime geektastic. If you don’t care enough about anime to sit around laughing at it for a while then you probably won’t be able to sit through more than a few episodes of this. However, if you do this is an absolute masterpiece and you should probably be watching this right now. (Watchability 4.5)

Novelty 4

Overall Rating: 4.33 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: Michael is a fantastic voice actor and he brings more life to these iconic characters than you’ll see outside of the pages of the comics.

ItsJustSomeRandomGuy is the alias of Michael Agrusso, an American voice acting teacher, writer, and performer working and living in Los Angeles, California. He currently hosts the channel of the same name with Brinna Li. The channel is the source of the YouTube video parody series “Hi, I’m a Marvel…and I’m a DC”, which spoofs the Macintosh “Hi, I’m a Mac…and I’m a PC” Get a Mac television commercials.

Details

Creators: Michael Agrusso, Brinna Li
YouTube Channel: Marvel / DC
Website: Marvel / DC
Support the Show: Buy Audio Commentaries From The Store

Subscribe

Twitter Feed: Feed
Watch Them Live: BlogTV

Ratings

The things they do with action figures. This is one of the most entertaining films shot entirely with toys I’ve ever seen. (Style 4.5)

Pacing 4

For what amounts to a sketch show they have developed a really solid world for the characters to exist in. Whether it’s Spiderman and Batman chatting at the bar, or Deadpool serving up the snark the characters really start to grow on you. (Storytelling 3.5)

Polish 4

Even if you aren’t a comic book fan, after a few episodes you will “get” most of the characters. That being said, there are still some times when it feels a little bit too “insidery.” (Watchability 4)

Novelty 4.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: Although I would have loved if the film makers had spent more time with each of the people highlighted in these videos, it doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a clever, fun and strangely sentimental web project. I only wish others would take time to understand culture in such a creative way.

GOLD is a comedy series about Professional Role Playing Gamers, written and produced for the web.

The World Goblins & Gold Role Playing Game Championship is only a few short weeks away. The perennial second-place American team has undergone an upheaval: their longtime team leader, Jonathan Drake, has suffered a tragic gaming-related accident. Maverick player and loose cannon Richard Wright takes the reigns and tries to wrestle his new team into shape before the competition, while despondent Jonathan battles his personal demons. Meanwhile, the World Champion British team, led by the crafty Oliver Crane and sultry Martha Thistlethwait, prepare for the Championship by enlisting a gaming legend as their new coach.

As the two factions battle internal and external strife, another threat rears its head: despite a fervent European following, in the U.S., Goblins & Gold is on the decline. Fewer and fewer players are picking up the dice in pursuit of this proud but aging sport, opting instead for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games and the seductive simplicity of console gaming.

Can Richard whip his new team into shape in time for the championships? Will Crane’s Britons continue to dominate? And, if G&G loses its audience, will it all even matter in the end?

Join us for the web series that dares to ask the question, “Can you take the hits?”

Details

Cast: Rick Robinson,David Nett,Nathan Mobley,James Paul,Xavier,Gary Karp,Robert Brewer,Alan Loayza,Shannon Nelson,Jeremy Guskin,Shannon Ivey,Angela Schnaible,Chuck Raucci,Frederick Snyder,Jessica Pennington,Justin Waggle,Sasha Harris,James Ellis Lane,Brett Nichols,Jeanette Scherrer,Andrew R. Deutsch,JoAnna Senatore,Michael Miranda,Torrance Jordan
Blip.tv Channel: GOLD: The Series
Website: GOLD: The Series
Support the Show: Make A Donation

Subscribe

RSS Feed: Feed
iTunes Feed: GOLD: The Series

Ratings

It feels like a television sitcom without too many stylistic flourishes thrown in to distract from the overall story (Style 2.5)

Pacing 4

Good characterization, solid directing and a storyline that takes you along for a ride. Of course there are a few bits of overacting in there but not enough to detract from a stellar overall performance. (Storytelling 4.5)

Polish 4.5

At about ten minutes per episode it’s long enough to introduce a story arc without being so long that you have a hard time getting through it. (Watchability 4)

It’s a story about a group of table top RPG players that actually tugs at your heart strings. I don’t know how they did it, but I am happy that they did. (Novelty 4.5)

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: Keeping up on the wonderful world of web series is hard and sifting through the muck to find the good ones is even harder, The Clip Show does a lot of that heavy lifting for you and does it with wit and style.

The Clip Show is a once a week video podcast reviewing an assortment of Cast and Casters, some of which are entertaining, inventive, funny, nasty, terrible, boring however all of which leave us wondering why we are still watching. Watch The Clip show every Tuesday as host Jim Kirks reviews and rates new shows using the patented cogdn system to guide your way.

Details

Creators: Jim Kirks, Charlie Baker
Blip.tv Channel: The Clip Show
Website: The Clip Show
Support the Show: Make a Donation

Subscribe

RSS Feed: Feed
iTunes: The Clip Show

Ratings

They “patented” their own rating system, that alone earns you some style points in my book. (Style 4)

Pacing 3

It’s a clip show, they show clips and make funny. This is not Citizen Kane by a stretch. (Storytelling 2.5)

Polish 4

This is incredibly fun to watch of you like the Internet and the wonderful, wonderful videos it produces. (Watchability 4.5)

Did I mention it’s a clip show? (Novelty 3)

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars