The New Belfry WebComics Index

This long running, regularly updated comic, has been giving a little dose of light humoured science fiction story telling every other week day, with occasional breaks, since 1998. In it's ten year run, it has only ever improved.

It combines good clear art work, with strong story telling, and a gentle sense of humour that will appeal to almost anyone. It is one of finest examples of furry comics, online or otherwise.

With just 3 main characters, you would think there are only so many ways to get into trouble, but you would be wrong. Sam survives only because his enemies fight over how to get rid of him and encompass just about every party of the 40k human residents on the planet. Well worth the read, and the archives fly by.

I've been reading Freefall, going through the archive, and I can't think of another comic that's ever charmed me more. For me, the initial hook was Florence, the Bowman's Wolf girl engineer who's the star of the show- I know now that I'm an abject furry because I am just like the robots in the strip and can't help but throw my arms wide with cries of DOGGY! Florence is adorable, and also drawn with marvelous appeal, an exercise in iconic masterfulness. There are so few lines, but they're so perfect at times that you don't want more.
But there's another side that's hugely important, but so subtle that I feel it takes an experienced writer to spot. Freefall is brilliantly written. It has a tone that's as well established and dedicated as, say, 'Sheldon', though not identical to Sheldon- Freefall's tone is warm and appealing, thoughtful and often a bit nerdy and innocent. It's utterly family friendly, but furries will get a huge kick out of how wolflike Florence 'feels' as a character- she really is spot-on and thinks like a wolf, albeit an affectionate one.
The thing is, the dialogue is deceptively simple- so is haiku poetry- Freefall occupies a tidy, friendly little comic strip place and the dialogue walks that line with exuberant poise. It owes more to Asimov or Clarke than to 'Blade Runner', and even when it takes a topical shot it refuses to be 'dark' or 'edgy'.
It's like Florence herself- charming, uncomplicated, kind, trustworthy- and if you as a reader can be equally open-hearted, you may find yourself crying DOGGY! too :)

Few cartoonists can highlight the lighter side of science and social studies, but Mark Stanley conquers the challenge in the sci-fi epic Freefall. How -do- you terraform a planet? Will an A.I. abide by Asimov's Three Laws? Can you jump a cliff with a JATO rocket strapped to your truck? These and many other questions are explored with real science, mixed with the madcap antics of Captain Sam Starfall. Dedicated science fiction fans will enjoy cameo appearances by robots from other famous sci-fi shows and films.

For readers who can tolerate a slower pace of plot, Freefall offers a new stage for the old philosophers.