The Variants Explained

Genre:Comedy
Runtime:8 to 10 minutes/ep.
Creator:Richard Neal
Ken Lowery
Joe Cucinotti
Director:Joe Cucinotti
Jason Chinnock
Producer:Richard Neal
Ken Lowery
Joe Cucinotti
Camera:Garrett Dollar
Nathan J Harris
Luke Hawkins
Starring:Richard Neal
Barry Fuhrman
Keli Wolfe
Ken Lowery
Joe Cucinotti
Curt Franklin
Chris Haley
Opentheme:The FarStar
Adam WarRock
Country:United States
Language:English
Network:youtube.com
Num Episodes:28
Num Seasons:3

The Variants is an American web series comedy about four employees who work in comic retail. This scripted comedy has completed 28 episodes comprising three seasons. The Variants aired its first episode August 4, 2009[1] and wrapped season one in May 2010.[2] Its second season began May 3 of 2011[3] and completed in February 2012.[4] The Variants completed a successful Kickstarter campaign on May 29, 2012 to fund a season three.[5] [6] A promo teaser was released on August 8, 2012 to Comics Alliance in advance of the new season.[7] Season three launched weekly on September 3, 2012.[8] The show is filmed on location at Zeus Comics in Dallas Texas.[9] [10]

While the series is available free on YouTube, Season One of The Variants was compiled on DVD in June 2011.[11]

Plot

Richard and his employees handle the ins and outs of a struggling comic shop and its particular customers. While working retail in a unique market may offer bizarre situations, the employees have to work out a way to keep the store open through sales gimmicks and comic book artist signings.[12]

Awards

The Variants received a Dallas Observer "Best of" award for its Dallas based production.[13]

Reviews and Criticisms

Early criticism of The Variants include comparisons to Kevin Smith and his film Clerks.[14] [15] [16] [17] However reviewers have called The Variants "a sharply written and produced series"[18] and noted positively the Variants strong LGBT and female characters in a medium dominated by men.[19] [20] [21] [22]

Guest Stars

Notable comic celebrity guest stars have include cartoonist Scott Kurtz of PVPonline,[23] artist Dave Crosland,[24] artist and creator of the Crow James O'Barr, artist Ben Templesmith,[25] writer Mark Waid (as Richard's brother William),[26] R. K. Milholland and Curt Franklin and Chris Haley of the Let's Be Friends Again web comic.[27]

Cast

Episodes

No.Title Release date

Season 2

No.Title Release date

Season 3

No.Title Release date

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'The Variants' debuts . . 2009-08-07 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171004214834/https://www.dallasvoice.com/the-variants-debuts-106276.html . October 4, 2017 . dead . mdy-all .
  2. Web site: 'The Variants' caps 1st season with 2-parter . . 2010-05-13 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626013834/http://www.dallasvoice.com/the-variants-caps-1st-season-with-2-parter-1015860.html . June 26, 2015 . dead . mdy-all .
  3. Web site: Get into Free Comic Book Day spirit with 'The Variants' . . 2011-05-01 .
  4. Web site: 'The Variants' wraps up its second season . . 2012-02-03.
  5. Web site: THE VARIANTS web series shows comics shops in a different light . . 2012-05-12 . dead . https://archive.today/20130119160621/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/05/25/comic-book-people-the-variants-web-series-shows-comics-shops-in-a-different-light/ . January 19, 2013 . mdy-all .
  6. Web site: THE VARIANTS season 3 0 . . 2012-05-29.
  7. Web site: Link Ink: 'The Variants' Season Three, More Mickey Rourke As Marv And Custom Baz . . August 8, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120811001304/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/08/08/link-ink-the-variants-season-three-sin-city-2-baz-custom-action-figure . August 11, 2012 . mdy-all .
  8. Web site: Link Ink: 'The Variants' launches third season . . September 5, 2012 . October 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192552/http://www.dallasvoice.com/the-variants-launches-season-10125190.html . March 4, 2016 . dead . mdy-all .
  9. Web site: 'Variants' Brings Guild-esque Charm to the Comic Book World . gigaom . 2010-05-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012064458/http://gigaom.com/video/varients-brings-guild-esque-charm-to-the-comic-book-world/ . October 12, 2012 . mdy-all .
  10. Web site: Watch 'THE VARIANTS' The New Comic Book Show . . 2009-10-09.
  11. Web site: Watch 'The Variants' season 1 on DVD . . 2010-05-30 . May 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160801155813/http://www.dallasvoice.com/%e2%80%98the-variants%e2%80%99-season-1-dvd-1081784.html . August 1, 2016 . dead . mdy-all .
  12. Web site: 'The Variants', Dallas Comic Book Shop Turned Web Series . . 2009-09-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606050947/http://news.tubefilter.tv/category/web-series/the-variants/ . June 6, 2011 . mdy-all .
  13. Web site: Best Clerks Ripoff/Marketing Ploy - 2009 'The Variants' . . 2009-10-11.
  14. Web site: 'The Variants' debuts . . 2009-08-07 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171004214834/https://www.dallasvoice.com/the-variants-debuts-106276.html . October 4, 2017 . dead . mdy-all .
  15. Web site: 'Variants' Brings Guild-esque Charm to the Comic Book World . gigaom . 2010-05-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012064458/http://gigaom.com/video/varients-brings-guild-esque-charm-to-the-comic-book-world/ . October 12, 2012 . mdy-all .
  16. Web site: Nerd vs. nerd . . 2009-07-30 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120105104939/http://www.dallasvoice.com/nerd-vs-nerd-1019672.html . January 5, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  17. Web site: Wherein We Connect John Hughes to Kevin Smith to Zeus Comics' New Web Series . . 2009-08-06.
  18. Web site: Get into Free Comic Book Day spirit with 'The Variants' . . 2011-05-01 .
  19. Web site: Watch 'THE VARIANTS' The New Comic Book Show . . 2009-10-09.
  20. Web site: Web show "The Variants" deals in Comic books and comic laughs . . 2012-01-11.
  21. Web site: The Variants Web Series Gets More Fabulous With Episode 6 . Queer Me Up . 2011-11-06.
  22. Web site: ARE YOU WATCHING VARIANTS? . Geeks Out . 2011-06-05 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310210909/http://www.geeksout.org/blogs/are-you-watching-variants . March 10, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  23. Web site: Watch 'New Variants' Episode arrives, PvP's Scott Kurtz guest stars . Major Spoilers . 2009-12-09.
  24. Web site: Watch 'New Variants' Episode arrives, PvP's Scott Kurtz guest stars . Major Spoilers . 2009-12-09.
  25. Web site: 'The Variants' caps 1st season with 2-parter . . 2010-05-13 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626013834/http://www.dallasvoice.com/the-variants-caps-1st-season-with-2-parter-1015860.html . June 26, 2015 . dead . mdy-all .
  26. Web site: 'Variants' scores coup with guest actor: Comic writer Mark Waid . . 2011-12-21 . February 10, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120129112940/http://www.dallasvoice.com/variants-scores-coup-guest-actor-comic-writer-mark-waid-1097244.html . January 29, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  27. Web site: 'The Variants' wraps up its second season . . 2012-02-03.

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