Tuning in the Toons
by Scott Bass for Digital Living Today

Do you have fond childhood memories of waking up early on Saturday mornings to watch your favorite cartoons on TV? Today's Generation Digital won't necessarily be thinking about television when they reminisce about favorite toons from their youth. Although the Internet has yet to spawn its first major cartoon superstar, it's only a matter of time. There are some serious contenders already. Here are a few webtoons we waste our workdays watching:

[Note: Most of the toons below are targeted at adults, so they may not be suitable for kids.]

Radiskull He's a giant floating skull with evil intent and a third grade vocabulary. His sidekick is a teddy-bearish little demon named Devil Doll. Every adventure they embark on ends with a rap ditty. Sounds preposterous? It is, but it's also really funny. Watch out Eminem, Devil Doll's got the skillz to pay the billz.

Bulbo He looks like Mickey Mouse after a three-day binger and walks with classic '30s cartoon swagger. This black and white retro toon with a twist is très hip. Please put me down for a Bulbo lunchbox!

Thugs on Film Check out movie reviews with the brutally honesty, brutish (and British) critics Cecil and Stubby. This one has been around the Web for years (Web years, anyway) and was recently picked up by the "real" TV network BBC America.

Lil' Pimp Join the baddest lil' six-year-old on the block, along with his trusty cohorts Fruitjuice and Nagchampa, for continuing street corner adventures. This show has been on hold while the creators work on a feature length Lil' Pimp film. New initiates will be pleased to discover a large archive of past episodes on the site. This toon is currently enjoying a big buzz on and off the Web.

Joe Paradise World famous secret agent Joe Paradise fights crime and acts cool amidst '50s-ish industrial backdrops and switchblade-sharp spy dialog. One of the smartest series on the Web.

Rock School Longtime Boston artist Crispin Wood has been doing this strip about the day-to-day trials of struggling musicians for underground magazines for years. Now that he's on the Web, his strips have come to life. Anyone who's ever flirted with rock star aspirations will appreciate the spot-on humor.

Chilly Beach Step onto Chilly Beach, a little slice of Canada where only three things are important: hockey, hockey and beer. The town is pleased to report that they've endured a record forty days without a polar bear attack, so now's the perfect time to stop by.



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