I’ve recently discovered the web comic Girl Genius, by Phil and Kaja Foglio. Most of the web comics I read are more like daily comic strips; Girl Genius is more like a comic that’s released a page a time, three pages a week. And it’s both beautifully drawn and hysterical.

It takes place in a steampunk world where a small fraction of the population are “sparks”: people with the gift of mad science. They can build incredible devices, to do amazing, destructive things…and in consequence Europe’s in a bit of shambles. We’re dropped right into the middle of it on Agatha Clay’s last day as a student at Transylvania Polygnostic University. Agatha’s never been all that good at mad science…but all that’s going to change.

If you have any interest in steampunk, or simply in glorious foolishness, you should check it out.