Talking Letters

December 31, 2005 2:56 AM

Webctionary Using typography as comic art. Portuguese version by the same creator.
posted by divabat (10 comments total)

That was almost funny. Right on the edge.
posted by JeffK at 6:32 AM on December 31, 2005

In other news, the letter C can sound like a K or an S, but looks like an amputated O, much like the U does.

S, U, C, K, O

Now for sports. . .
posted by isopraxis at 9:50 AM on December 31, 2005

The sex comic is very cool...

There's some very good wit mixed in that site.
posted by Shane at 10:20 AM on December 31, 2005

Uneven, some made me laugh, some made it obvious that English is his second language; where is Miguel when we need him?
posted by wendell at 10:58 AM on December 31, 2005

The Portuguese ones are as uneven funny as the English ones.

The current first one: "Friend, I know you're new here, but I hope you behave better than the number before you."

Some of the ones I liked:
#531: "What are you in for?" "I'm your lawyer, stupid."

#530: "Oh, I know why you're hurting. You have something stuck in your throat."

#526: "I feel like I'm being watched. Ever get that feeling?"

#525: "Should I feel guilty about yesterday's results?! Of course not! Is it my fault they use me for voting?"

#522: "Winter's over, aren't you feeling hot?"
posted by whatzit at 11:36 AM on December 31, 2005

It's a neat idea, and some are worth a chuckle, like #42 and #7.

I can't help but think that it could be better, though. Certain MeFites who are into language/typography should get together and put this to shame.
posted by Gator at 12:48 PM on December 31, 2005

Webctionary is really, really hard to say out loud.
posted by rhiannon at 1:02 PM on December 31, 2005

Really nice
posted by zouhair at 1:11 PM on December 31, 2005

I think I remember a MAD Magazine feature along these lines once.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:35 PM on December 31, 2005

rhiannon: Webctionary is really, really hard to say out loud.

It's not even an accurate translation of the original Portuguese title. webecedarium is . . . (I wonder if he thought the word abecedarium didn't exist.)

Anyway, this is definitely cool in concept, although the execution is, like you said, rather hit-and-miss. Some are very clever, others are, as they say on the interwebs, "teh suck." The better ones are at the Portuguese site, and tend to be too language- or country-specific to work for a foreign audience without having to explain why they are (supposed to be) funny.
posted by Goblindegook at 3:29 PM on December 31, 2005