The Order of the Stick

Since 2005, Rich Burlew has been writing and drawing The Order of the Stick for Giant in the Playground, a delightfully clever fantasy webcomic that parodies Dungeons & Dragons conventions. The series follows a ragtag party of adventurers—including the stoic dwarf Durkon Thundershield, the bard Elan, and the chaotic halfling Belkar Bitterleaf—as they navigate a sprawling, stick-figure epic that blends sharp humor with surprisingly deep character development. Across its nine issues, Burlew’s distinct art and witty storytelling have made it a beloved cornerstone of independent webcomics, proving that simple stick figures can carry a rich, long-running narrative.