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[spencersage]

Hey guys, n00b here.  Avid Achewood reader, read the whole archive about a year ago, have started re-reading, and I'm thinking about just buying in print form instead.  I'm having some trouble deciding what to get/which editions, what have you, and I'm looking for a little guidance from the pros.  (I promise, I've already scoured the forum/achewood shop/amazon and can't seem to find the information I need)

I know that Dark hoss has published TGOF and Vol. II.  I know that TGOF doesn't include the alt-texts or Chris' commentary (bummer).  I know that Vol. II includes both.  What I would like to know is:

What are the differences between the original Vol. II and the Dark hoss Vol. II?  (Besides the cover, etc.)

Do the original compilations available through the Achewood site contain alt-texts? commentary?  Do they contain every comic? (are they "complete," essentially)

If I'm looking for the complete experience in print, do I want the originals, or do I want to wait as Dark hoss slowly anthologizes each one into a sleek collector's edition?

Does Dark hoss even plan to do so?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I've looked absolutely EVERYWHERE and can't find the answers.  Thanks in advance for the help, guys!

Spence

[wombat]

I was going to say no one could answer your question about the differences in Vol II because no one has seen the Dark hoss volume, it was supposed to come out on the 14th or something like that, but I just looked at Amazon and they say it is in stock now. So maybe someone else who actually pre-ordered instead of leaving it sitting on their wish list can answer.

But in any case - isn't the obvious answer that the complete experience means owning them in both versions?

Really, I am surprised that he is still selling his vol II compilation - he must have gotten a really great contract with Dark hoss. I would snap them all up in case Vol II doesn't sell as well as GOF and Dark hoss doesn't want to publish any more volumes unless he stops selling his own compilations. But that's just me. You don't want the answer from a fanatic, go ask somewhere else.

[CortJstr]

1st important point: The DH GOF book is the only place to get the GOF strips in print form. The self-published books skip over the GOF entirely. This is why the description for Volume 8 says "selected strips from December 23, 2005 to September 19, 2006" instead of "all strips." He did this to help drive sales of the DH book so they'd be more likely to publish future editions. Can't say I blame him.

2nd important point: no books to date include the alt-text. I think Onstad said in an interview that the new DH Vol. 2 will, however.

Wombat is right, the professionally printed DH Vol. 2 was supposed to come out next week. I got an e-mail from Amazon saying it would be ready early and the expected delivery is now today. Also, despite the Vol. 2 name this book supposedly starts at strip 1. I think the implication is that GOF was Vol. 1. Which makes no sense, but whatever.

My guess is depending on sales DH will indeed publish the entire archive but only time will tell.

Oh, and the self-published books do occasionally skip a strip. At least volume 1 did, but Onstad said that was by mistake, not design. I've never compared the latter editions to see if they are missing any content.

[CortJstr]

OK, I received the DH book and read it today. Here are my thoughts from my Visual Bookshelf review:

Don't let the "Volume 2" fool you, this is the beginning strips of Achewood.  Apparently it's called that since the Great Outdoor Fight book was released first even though it takes place much later.

This is the first Achewood book to include the strip titles and alt text (or title text, if you want to be picky) which really adds to the experience. Many of the strips also feature commentary from Onstad, with varying levels of usefulness. We do find out what Teodor is saying when he's with the Dirtiest Dudes in Town but some of the commentary boils down to "boy, I sucked at drawing back then" and "the strip sure sucked before Ray came along, huh?"

In fact, all the pre-Ray strips are relegated to an appendix and lack any commentary at all other than a a short introduction apologizing for them existing. This section appears to be "selected strips" as there are several obvious omissions. I'm not sure if the main section of the book also skips strips as I didn't check the archive one-by-one but I wouldn't be surprised to find some gaps. As an anal-retentive completist this bothers me.

Also included is "A History of Achewood" explaining in-universe how Philippe, Teodor, Cornelius, and Lie Bot came to live w/ Chris and his wife.

So, this or the self-published volumes? If forced to choose I'd say this. Those volumes are also known to skip strips as well and I feel the bonus content in this book is much, much stronger. It's also much less likely to fall apart in your hands.

All it needs is a personalization option like the self-published books used to have back in the day.

[Mr Trout]

Dammit, why'd you have to go and post that great review. Now I have to spend more money I should be saving on another Achewood book. I have most of self-published books, but the inclusion of the alt-text plus commentary (even if it's mediocre, I'm a sucker for that stuff) sold me.

[pmcd9]

Huh, Onstad thinks that some of his greatest work is so horrible he feels he needs to apologize for it's existence.

[Doc]

Onstad's perception of his own work is the saddest thing.

[AugustWest]

Onstad's perception of his own work is the saddest thing.

This.

The pre-Cat strips are different from what Achewood became.  But they had a gentle absurdity to them that was so appealing.  Phillippe is standing on it, people.  He's standing on it.

[CortJstr]

Onstad's perception of his own work is the saddest thing.

You get an extra can because the first Saddest Thing strip is actually in the Apology Appendix.

The reasoning he gave for putting these at the end was that if somebody new picked up the book, turned to page 1 and saw Philippe is Standing on It they'd turn away in disgust and never look at Achewood again. Or something like that.

The first strip in the book is now The Dirtiest Dudes in Town.

[wombat]

You know, that seems fair. They might not turn away in disgust, but they'd be surprised at most of the rest of the book. The first few pages ought to give a good idea of what the person who buys the book is in for. The early strips, the sensibility is the same but it's more like a different book from the same author. 

[greenkoolayd]

Huh, Onstad thinks that some of his greatest work is so horrible he feels he needs to apologize for it's existence.

creative people are insecure attention whores.

[littlefallsmets]

ALSO: water wet, sky blue, sex awesome.

[Mr Trout]

Apology Appendix.

This made me laugh. I like that concept.

[ananke]

It makes sense. Some of those original strips were neat, but not in a way that held at all a candle to the rest of the first few years.

And somewhere out there, someone saw http://achewood.com/index.php?date=08252005 and closed the window without ever looking back.

[jaydub]

The best thing about that strip is its the preceding one to this strip.

_{Ray's short?}