Gunnerkrigg Court#References

Gunnerkrigg Court was first posted online on 4 April 2005,[http://gunnerkrigg.com/archives Gunnerkrigg Court archive]. and was originally updated two days per week. The comic began updating three days per week on 25 December 2006.{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Author's Note, Chapter 10 Bonus Page | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=182 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=28 September 2008 | date=21 December 2006}} The end of the seventh chapter in May 2006 marked the end of the "first book,"See the author's comment on [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=120 Chapter 7, Page 23], in which he identifies that chapter at the end of the first book. [http://www.graphicsmash.com//comics/gunnerkrigg.php?view=single&ID=15043 Bonus Page 7] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711123405/http://www.graphicsmash.com//comics/gunnerkrigg.php?view=single&ID=15043 |date=11 July 2011 }}, the last page in that chapter, was posted on 22 May 2006. which Siddell published through Lulu.com in 2007;{{cite web

| url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17630 | title = Gunnerkrigg Court: The 'Harriet Potter' of Webcomics

| last = Tramountanas | first = George A. | date = 7 August 2008 | access-date= 13 September 2008 | series = CBR News | work= Comic Book Resources}}{{cite web | url = http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=1180 | last = Payton | first = Ross | date = 8 February 2008 | access-date= 13 September 2008

| title = School's In! | work = Broken Frontier|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080418094001/http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=1180 |archive-date = 18 April 2008}} that book is no longer in print.{{cite web|url=http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |title=Alpha Rant#292: Gunnerkrigg Court review |work=Alpha Shade |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115945/http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }} In August 2008, Tom Siddell explained that the comic had a standard "comic book format" which was useful when he had sufficient pages to print a hard copy.{{cite web |url=http://www.earthsmightiest.com/comics/news/?a=5303

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court Webcomic Goes Unplugged |last=Anthony |first=P. Ryan

|date=8 August 2008 |access-date=18 February 2011 |work=Earth's Mightiest}} The first fourteen chapters of the webcomic were printed as the first Archaia Studios Press edition of 296 pages bound in a hardcover collection titled "Orientation".{{cite web|url=http://www.archaia.com/blog/titles/gunnerkrigg-court|title=GUNNERKRIGG COURT|publisher=Archaia|access-date=19 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707155205/http://www.archaia.com/blog/titles/gunnerkrigg-court|archive-date=7 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}

In 2012 Siddell announced that he had quit his regular job to work on the comic full-time.{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/message.html | title=A message from Tom | date=19 March 2012 | access-date=16 July 2014 | author=Siddell, Tom}} In addition to books and merchandising the comic is supported through crowdfunding via Patreon since July 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.patreon.com/gunnerkrigg | title=Tom Siddell is creating Comics | publisher=Patreon | date=6 July 2014 | access-date=16 July 2014 | author=Siddell, Tom}}

In November 2021, Siddell announced that "Boom/Archaia will no longer be printing the Gunnerkrigg Court collections"Tom Siddell's [https://web.archive.org/web/20211104192841/https://twitter.com/gunnerkrigg/status/1456318468748464130 4 nov. 2021 post] (Wayback Machine archive) on Twitter: "Sadly, it looks like Boom/Archaia will no long be printing the Gunnerkrigg Court collections. If anyone knows of a publisher looking for a Reuben Award winning all ages sci-fi fantasy with an eager audience, let me know!" and was looking for a publisher for volume 9+. ({{As of|2023|09|post=,}} Vol. 9 and the softcover of Vol. 8 are still unannounced.) In October 2023, Siddell announced that "Gunnerkrigg Court is back in print",Siddell, Tom (18 October 2023). "[https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=2851 Chapter 91, Page 30]". Gunnerkrigg Court. Retrieved 20 December 2023. with Dark Horse Comics printing the comic "brand new with new artwork right from the beginning". On his Patreon page, Siddell explained that "the changes I'm making are really minor and will not change the look of the comic. It's just a few lines here and there that I felt brought things closer to what I thought I was doing at the time."Siddell, Tom (24 October 2023). "[https://www.patreon.com/posts/91587973 Gunnerkrigg at Dark Horse!]". Gunnerkrigg Court Patreon page. Retrieved 20 December 2023.

In May 2024, it was announced Dark Horse Comics will be publishing a limited-edition 1,000-copy hardcover edition of volume 1 in November.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2024-05-01 |title=Award-winning webcomic gets hardcover 'Gunnerkrigg Court' Volume 1 • AIPT |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2024/05/01/webcomic-hardcover-gunnerkrigg-court-volume-1/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=aiptcomics.com |language=en-us}}

The Gunnerkrigg Court webcomic is told in a series of episodic chapters such that each, while forming part of the overall storyline, also functions individually as a stand-alone story arc.{{cite web|url=http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |title=Alpha Rant#292: Gunnerkrigg Court review |work=Alpha Shade |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115945/http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}
"Each of the chapters individually is sort of a self-contained thing, so if you were to just read one of them it wouldn't be like you had no idea what was going on." The themes and topics of the chapters vary widely: as one reviewer describes, "You are also not subjected to 400-plus pages of intricate plot movement. While there is an overall story arc, there are also lighter chapters that focus on unusual classes ... or small moments that build the main characters." Each chapter begins with a title page and ends with one or more "bonus pages," which are not integral to the main storyline but often offer ancillary details about the world of Gunnerkrigg Court or about minor characters. The chapters have varied in length from one page to more than eighty. Each page is drawn in traditional (A4; 210 × 297 mm) page format{{cite web | url = http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| archive-url = https://archive.today/20090328172148/http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| url-status=dead| archive-date = 28 March 2009| last = Davies | first = Will | work = Fourth Panel Estate | publisher = Septagon Studios | title = All Star Demon Tea Party | date = 14 August 2008 | access-date = 13 September 2008 }}
Siddell: "All my pages are made in traditional page format form the start..." (p. 15). and divided arbitrarily into frames.See, for example, [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=456 Chapter 19, Page 14] and [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=90 Chapter 6, Page 5] for examples of different styles. At the bottom of the most recent page is a link to a comments thread for that page, in which readers may comment on and discuss that day's comic.

Siddell has stated that he enjoyed reading Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators as a child, and that it has heavily influenced the literary style of his comic.{{cite web |url=http://comixtalk.com/node/10122/ |title=An Interview with Tom Siddell, Creator of Gunnerkrigg Court |access-date=13 September 2008 |last=Schroeder |first=Al |date=December 2006 |work=Comixtalk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808220748/http://comixtalk.com/node/10122/ |archive-date=8 August 2008 |df=dmy-all }} His artistic style is influenced by many artists, among which he cites as his favorites Jamie Hewlett, Yukito Kishiro, and Mike Mignola, as well as the manga Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Dragon Ball.{{cite web | url = http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=848

| last = Burke | first = Jiffy | title = Holding Court with the Fantastic and the Mythological | work = Sequential Tart | date = 11 February 2008 | access-date=17 September 2008}}

One notable feature of the comic is the blending of mythological elements from many different cultural traditions, especially from the British Isles and Native American mythology.The comic contains characters such as the Black Dog and the Mallt-y-Nos of Welsh mythology, for example, as well as Muut (from Cahuilla) and Coyote (a legend shared by many Native American cultures). There are also characters based on Old French folklore, such as Reynard and Ysengrin. Siddell attributes this style to his experience as a child: "I moved about a lot when I was younger and had the opportunity to grow up hearing stories from different parts of the world and I've always been fascinated by them."{{cite web|url=http://www.wizarduniverse.com/082008wcotw.html |last=Sunu |first=Steve |author2=Kate Napolitano |date=18 August 2008 |access-date=10 September 2008 |title=Webcomics of the Week: Gunnerkrigg Court |work=WizardUniverse.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903081749/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/082008wcotw.html |archive-date=3 September 2008 }} In addition to mythology, Siddell makes heavy use of alchemical themes; for example, the main character is named Antimony, after a toxic chemical element,{{cite web | url = http://comicfencing.com/2008/08/08/gunnerkrigg-court/ | title = Gunnerkrigg Court | last = Woodruff | first = Delos | work = ComicFencing.com | access-date = 10 September 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080818113302/http://comicfencing.com/2008/08/08/gunnerkrigg-court/ | archive-date = 18 August 2008 | df = dmy-all }}
Woodruff: "Please note that there is an element named the same as the lead character Antimony. It is metal deathly toxic (like arsenic) and one of its poisoning symptoms is depression. The alchemical symbol for Antimony looks like an upside down version of the symbol for female, as well. There is more, but I'm pretty convinced that the name of the main character was no accident". (p. 12). and many pages feature artistic depictions of alchemical symbols.See, for example, [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=81 Chapter 5, Page 12]. The symbol for antimony appears frequently in Gunnerkrigg Court: the character Antimony wears a necklace shaped like that symbol,{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=37 | title=Chapter 3, Page 5 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=28 September 2008 | date=4 August 2005}} the character Reynardine has the symbol imprinted on his wolf body, and the symbol is used to mark the end of a chapter.

The artwork of Gunnerkrigg Court has been described as "stylized," with simple character designs.{{cite web|url=http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |title=Alpha Rant#292: Gunnerkrigg Court review |work=Alpha Shade |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115945/http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}
"What he did was make an intentional choice to make his characters very cartoony." At least one reviewer, on the other hand, has noticed that the backgrounds, in contrast to the characters, are often very elaborate.{{cite web|url=http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |title=Alpha Rant#292: Gunnerkrigg Court review |work=Alpha Shade |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115945/http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}
"His characters are really simple, and some of his backgrounds are really complicated." The comic has also been described as having a "rich" look in spite of its limited color palette,{{cite web|url=http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |title=Alpha Rant#292: Gunnerkrigg Court review |work=Alpha Shade |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=13 September 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707115945/http://www.alpha-shade.com/GAudio/Feb08/Rant2-24-08.mp3 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}
"I love his use of color, too, in particular, because he never has more than like ten colors on the average page, but it looks really really rich." and Siddell himself has stated that he first developed the idea for the comic using only a limited number of colors.{{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17630 | title = Gunnerkrigg Court: The 'Harriet Potter' of Webcomics | last = Tramountanas

| first = George A. | date = 7 August 2008 | access-date=13 September 2008 | work = CBR News | publisher = Comic Book Resources}}
Siddell: "I did another sketch right after that of the same girl and, wanting to color it but only having a very limited selection of marker pens, put her in an ugly school uniform with some crazy makeup." The pieces of artwork that Siddell has posted at the end of each printed book, entitled "Treatise"(s), demonstrate many such of Siddell's artistic and storytelling motifs: they integrate alchemical symbols, mythological figures, nature, and technology.

File:Gunnerkrigg SecondTreatise.jpg

Gunnerkrigg Court is set somewhere in the United Kingdom or a country that resembles it. The titular institution functions as a boarding school, but also occupies a vast area, some of it seemingly uninhabited, some used as industrial or research facilities, and some occupied by students and staff.{{cite web | url = http://webcomicoverlook.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/the-webcomic-overlook-25-gunnerkrigg-court/ | work = The Webcomic Overlook | title = #25: Gunnerkrigg Court | date = 10 January 2008 | last=Cruz | first=Larry | access-date=10 September 2008 | quote = The Gunnerkrigg Court complex, it turns out, resembles a giant factory. It houses more than just a school. Take a wrong turn, for example, and you may find yourself in a world populated by robots.}} The Annan Waters separate the Court from Gillitie Wood, which is inhabited by "etheric" or magical creatures.{{cite web | url = http://webcomicoverlook.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/the-webcomic-overlook-25-gunnerkrigg-court/ | work= The Webcomic Overlook | title = #25: Gunnerkrigg Court | date = 10 January 2008 | last=Cruz | first=Larry | access-date=10 September 2008}}
"The technological world of Gunnerkrigg Court and the mystical world of Gillitie Woods co-exist uneasily."{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=373 | title=Chapter 17, Page 11 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=28 September 2008 | date=3 March 2008}}
Jones: "There was a great division which saw the Court and the Wood separated. Nature on one side. Technology on the other."{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=491 | date=3 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 17 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
Coyote: "With my mighty paw I scored the earth and so the court and the forest were divided!" Chief among them are Coyote and Ysengrin, along with populations of forest animals, elves, fairies, and others. At the time the story begins, both sides enforce a kind of truce and strict separation between the Court and Forest,{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=226 | title=Chapter 12, Page 25 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=28 September 2008 | date=4 April 2007}}
Reynardine: "The people of the forest will be wanting answers! They detest all forms of technology. Why do you think there is such a divide between the Court and that damned place?!"{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=6 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=28 September 2008 | title=Chapter 1, Page 6 | date=19 April 2005}}
Antimony: "As I was forbidden from setting foot off school grounds, I could not walk Shadow 2 to the Gillitie Wood myself. There was only one sensible resolution to this problem. I must construct a robotic walking device which will provide you with transit across the bridge!" although there is an established tradition of some forest creatures transferring into human bodies to attend the Court, and a few Court denizens – notably an ambassador called the medium – are allowed to enter the Forest.

Many characters suspect that the Court is much more than just a school.See [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=149 Chapter 8, Page 27] (Antimony: "This isn't just a school, is it?") and [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=450 Chapter 19, Page 8] of Gunnerkrigg Court. The school appears to actively recruit many talented or extraordinary students.The characters Zimmy and Gamma, for example, were approached before the opening of the main story by mysterious men who offered to take them to the school. See Siddell, Tom. [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=193 Chapter 11, Page 11]. Gunnerkrigg Court. As the story progresses, it is soon revealed that the school is inhabited by a wide variety of both supernatural creatures – many of which become characters involved in the story's plot – and ultra-modern technology.{{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17630 | title = Gunnerkrigg Court: The 'Harriet Potter' of Webcomics | last = Tramountanas | first = George A. | date = 7 August 2008 | access-date=13 September 2008 | work = CBR News | publisher = Comic Book Resources}}
Tramountanas: "This place of higher learning has robots that run around alongside body-snatching demons, forest gods, and the odd mythical creature." One character explains that "the Court was founded on a union between technological and etheric design."{{cite web | last=Siddell | first=Tom | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=372 | title=Chapter 17, Page 10 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=13 September 2008 | date=29 February 2008}} Another describes it as "man's endeavor to become god."{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=499 | date=22 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 25 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}} The house system described at the end of the first chapter is similar to that used by many UK schools, including the one the author attended;{{cite web |url=http://comixtalk.com/node/10122/ |title=An Interview with Tom Siddell, Creator of Gunnerkrigg Court |access-date=13 September 2008 |last=Schroeder |first=Al |date=December 2006 |work=Comixtalk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080808220748/http://comixtalk.com/node/10122/ |archive-date=8 August 2008 |df=dmy-all }}
Siddell: "I used to be in Queslett North, the same class Carver is in, and the other House names at the Court are the same as they were in my old school" (p. 6). Siddell has even stated that the school in which Gunnerkrigg Court takes place is modeled after his own secondary school.{{cite web | url = http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| archive-url = https://archive.today/20090328172148/http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| url-status=dead| archive-date = 28 March 2009| last = Davies | first = Will | work = Fourth Panel Estate | publisher = Septagon Studios | title = All Star Demon Tea Party | date = 14 August 2008 | access-date = 13 September 2008 }}
Siddell: "The school side of the Court is very much based on my Secondary school, right down to the names of the houses and various other aspects" (p. 11).

The main story of Gunnerkrigg Court revolves around Antimony "Annie" Carver, a student at the Court. Annie's parents, Surma and Anthony Carver, were also students there decades earlier, and Surma became the Court's medium to the Forest. Surma died after a long illness and Anthony disappeared, leaving Annie in the Court's care. Early in the comic, Annie befriends several supernatural beings, including a sentient shadow, a robot, and a ghost named Mort. Though initially not well liked by most of her fellow students, she becomes best friends with Katerina “Kat” Donlan, a classmate and robotics prodigy, and eventually also befriends older students Parley and Smitty.

Annie meets a creature called Reynardine, who tries to take over her body but, by accident, instead becomes trapped in the body of a stuffed animal she carries{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=54 | title=Chapter 3, Page 20 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court | access-date=1 February 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | date=6 October 2005}} and becomes subject to her command. She gradually learns from various characters the history of the Forest and its connection to her own family. In the past, Coyote had granted some of his powers to Reynardine and Ysengrin:{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=490 | date=1 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 18 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=495 | date=12 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 21 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
Antimony: "Why were you looking for Renard in the first place? Why bring him here?"
Coyote: "I sought to make him into a powerful being such as myself!" he had given Ysengrin "power over the trees"{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=498 | date=19 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 24 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}} and Reynardine the power to take bodies.{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=497 | date=17 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 23 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}} Reynardine had been in love with Surma{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=496 | date=15 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 22 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
Coyote: "I wouldn't be surprised if he cared very deeply about you, [Antimony]! You see, Renard fell desperately in love with Surma!" and had used his power to steal a young man's body and woo Surma; the man died, however, and Reynardine was imprisoned in the Court until Annie encountered him.{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=497 | date=17 December 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 20, Page 23 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
Coyote: "[Reynardine] soon runs away! He steals the body of a young man and disappears into the Court, looking to woo the fiery Surma. We heard he was captured, tricked! ... and I did not see him again until last summer." Surma was a psychopomp and the descendant of a fire spirit: she had an etheric power over fire, which is passed from mother to daughter at the cost of the mother's life.

Because of her relationship with Reynardine, Coyote, and Ysengrin, Annie is nominated to receive training as a medium, developing her etheric abilities including fire manipulation and astral projection. In the end, the position is given to Smitty instead, but Coyote designates her as the Forest's medium to the Court. She begins training under Ysengrin, who she learns is in a constant state of anger towards the Court but is partially brainwashed and kept in check by Coyote. Meanwhile, Anthony suddenly returns to the Court as a professor, and behaves coldly toward his daughter, moving her to a separate residence and making her repeat a school year. Annie later learns that the court is displeased by her closeness with the forest creatures and brought him back in an attempt to control her. Trying to control her rage at these events, she severs the link to her emotions and fire powers.

Annie and Kat investigate a powerful presence that guards the Annan Waters between the Court and the Forest. It turns out to be the ghost of a woman named Jeanne, one of the founders of the Court. Another founder named Diego created an arrow that killed Jeanne's lover and trapped her soul in the river, where she resisted attempts from the psychopomps to collect her soul and kills all who attempt to cross the river without the bridge. Annie, Kat, and several friends mount an expedition to recover the arrow and free the souls of Jeanne and her lover; they succeed, but Smitty is mortally wounded by Jeanne. Annie strikes a deal with the psychopomps in which they spare Smitty's life in exchange for her commitment to become a psychopomp in the future. As preparation, Annie and Kat help Mort finally pass into the ether.

Coyote, aware that the river can now be crossed freely, cedes his strength to Ysengrin, who is suddenly overwhelmed by rage and devours Coyote, becoming a creature named Loup. Loup destroys the Annan Waters, creates a duplicate version of Annie, and attacks the Court, which temporarily fends him off while preparing evacuation plans. Annie meets with Loup several times, while the Court attempts to capture him; Coyote appears several times during these encounters and suggests that all of Loup's actions were part of his plan, and that he will eventually return after Loup is killed by Annie.

In addition to Annie's central story, the story includes several additional plot arcs interspersed with the main story. One concerns two girls from the Court, Zimmy and Gamma, who communicate with one another telepathically. Zimmy sees hallucinations of monsters that her etheric abilities turn into reality, which she relies on Gamma to dispel.{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=461 | date=24 September 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 19, Page 19 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}}
Zimmy: "Yer gonna have ta take Gamma's place.... Gettin' ridda these guys." Kat has her own storylines, including her romance with a fellow student named Paz, and experiments in robotics inspired by natural bodies and the highly complex robots created by Diego.{{cite web | url=http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=434 | date=23 July 2008 | access-date=16 January 2009 | last=Siddell | first=Tom | title=Chapter 18, Page 38 | work=Gunnerkrigg Court}} Kat is eventually able to create full organic bodies for robots that make them capable of sensation, and a faction of robots seemingly starts a religion centered on the belief that she is an angel with the gift of giving robots life.

In addition to being officially recognized at the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards, Gunnerkrigg Court has been critically acclaimed in a number of online reviews, and has a large readership and an active forum.{{cite web | url = http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| archive-url = https://archive.today/20090328172148/http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| url-status=dead| archive-date = 28 March 2009| last = Davies | first = Will | work = Fourth Panel Estate | publisher = Septagon Studios | title = All Star Demon Tea Party | date = 14 August 2008 | access-date = 13 September 2008 }}
Davies: "It's certainly performing well here and plot speculation is rife on the Gunnerkrigg forums proving the maxim of which the Big Two survive: the most important thing is that people talk." Author Tom Siddell has been interviewed about his work numerous times, mostly by non-mainstream online magazines such as ComixTalk. Kevin Powers of the Comics Bulletin and Graphic Smash listed Gunnerkrigg Court as one of the series he "respect[s],"{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/11945718656398.htm |title=Lien, Howe return to Graphic Smash with 'Gun Street Girl Presents' |date=8 November 2007 |access-date=22 October 2008 |last=Powers |first=Kevin |work=Comics Bulletin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523072008/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/11945718656398.htm |archive-date=23 May 2011 }} and ComixTalk (then called Comixpedia) listed Siddell as one of the twenty-five "People of Webcomics" in 2006.{{cite web | url=http://comixtalk.com/index.php?q=people_of_webcomics_list_for_2006 | title=Comixpedia's People of Webcomics List for 2006 | work=ComixTalk | date=December 2006 | access-date=22 October 2008}}

The comic has received praise for its artwork and use of color, dark mood, slowly revealed mysteries, and pacing.{{cite web | url = http://comicfencing.com/tag/gunnerkrigg-court/ | last = Cardno | first = Anthony R. | title = Where Wolf? There Wolf... | work = ComicFencing.com | date = 8 August 2008 | access-date = 10 September 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080905190034/http://comicfencing.com/tag/gunnerkrigg-court/ | archive-date = 5 September 2008 | df = dmy-all }}{{cite web | url = http://webcomicoverlook.wordpress.com/2008/01/10/the-webcomic-overlook-25-gunnerkrigg-court/ | work = The Webcomic Overlook | title = #25: Gunnerkrigg Court | last=Cruz

| first=Larry | date = 10 January 2008 | access-date=10 September 2008}} Al Schroeder of ComixTalk has called Gunnerkrigg Court's setting "marvelous" and "unique," and said the comic is "delightfully fun" in spite of its moody backdrop. Along with the evolution in art style since the start of the comic,{{cite web | url = http://www.wineandpop.com/2013/03/webcomic-spotlight-gunnerkrigg-court.html | last = Krueger | first = Paul | date = 28 March 2013

| access-date=10 January 2015 | title = Webcomic Spotlight: Gunnerkrigg Court|website=Wine & Pop}} many reviewers have praised the age progression of the protagonists and their maturation with the plot, likening it to that of Harry Potter.{{cite web | url = http://www.mk1.co.nz/blog/review-gunnerkrigg-court-volume-3-reason/ | last = Drummond | first = Joshua | date = 13 May 2013 | access-date = 10 January 2015 | title = Webcomics of the Week: Gunnerkrigg Court | work = mk1 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150110040811/http://www.mk1.co.nz/blog/review-gunnerkrigg-court-volume-3-reason/ | archive-date = 10 January 2015 | df = dmy-all }}

Some reviewers, on the other hand, have criticized its, at times, dark and sad tone{{cite web | url = http://webcomics.morganwick.com/2012/04/for-this-review-i-think-im-going-to-try-to-put-on-my-best-robert-a-tangents-howard-impression-and-overanalyze-everything/#sthash.bLbSwWug.dpbs | last = Wick | first = Morgan | date = 23 April 2012

| access-date=10 January 2015 | title = For this review, I think I'm going to try to put on my best Robert A. 'Tangents' Howard impression and overanalyze everything}} as potentially being frightening for younger audiences, also noting that there can be "lots [of information] to take in at times."{{cite web | url = http://webcomicsworthwreading.blogspot.ca/2013/06/Entry9.html| last = Blume | first = Robynne | date = 18 June 2013 | access-date=10 January 2015 | title = Entry Nine: Gunnerkrigg Court | website = Webcomics Worth Wreading}}

In 2006, science fiction author Neil Gaiman praised Gunnerkrigg Court in his blog,{{cite web | url = http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2006/06/sunday-tabs-etc.html | last = Gaiman | first = Neil | author-link = Neil Gaiman | date = 11 June 2006 | access-date=13 September 2008 | title = Sunday tabs etc...}}
Gaiman: "I got to read what's out there so far of Gunnerkrigg Court, a really enjoyable webcomic.... Lots of different flavours in there – it's a semi-gothic funny-sweet school story with mysteries and robots and so forth.... Nice stuff." which brought the comic to the attention of many more readers.{{cite web | url = http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| archive-url = https://archive.today/20090328172148/http://www.virb.com/septagonstudios/blog/880373| url-status=dead| archive-date = 28 March 2009| last = Davies | first = Will | work = Fourth Panel Estate | publisher = Septagon Studios | title = All Star Demon Tea Party | date = 14 August 2008 | access-date = 13 September 2008 }}

Gunnerkrigg Court has been nominated for and has won a number of Web Cartoonist's Choice Awards,{{cite web | title = WCCA Awards | access-date=13 September 2008 | url = http://www.ccawards.com/}} shown in the table below. When the Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards were discontinued in 2008 and replaced by The Webcomic List Awards (run by The Webcomic List Community) in 2009,{{cite web | url=http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2010/02/07/gunnerkrigg-court-and-the-webcomic-list-awards-2009/ | title=Gunnerkrigg Court and The Webcomic List Awards 2009 | last=Knörzer | first=Oliver | work=Sandra and Woo | date=7 February 2010 | access-date=4 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://forum.deviantart.com/galleries/cartoons/1378376/ |title=The Webcomic List Awards 2009 |last=Wood |first=Wendy |date=1 November 2009 |access-date=4 April 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} it won several of those as well. It was also nominated in 2006 for a Clickie award in the "International Clickie" category at Stripdagen Haarlem, a webcomics festival in the Netherlands.{{cite web | url = http://comixtalk.com/node/8416 | title = International Clickie nominees: Allison, E-Merl, Gurewitch, Mudron and Siddell | work = ComixTalk | date = 4 May 2006 | access-date = 17 September 2008 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081123071032/http://comixtalk.com/node/8416 | archive-date = 23 November 2008 | df = dmy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbase.nl/nieuws.php?ID=510 |language=nl |title=Nominaties Clickies 2006 bekend |date=2 May 2006 |access-date=17 September 2008 |work=Comicbase.nl |last=Mirck |first=Jeroen Mirck |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621053849/http://www.comicbase.nl/nieuws.php?ID=510 |archive-date=21 June 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }} Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation won a 2008 gold Book of the Year Award from ForeWord magazine in their graphic novel category.{{cite web |title=2008 Foreword INDIES Winners in Graphic Novels & Comics (Adult Nonfiction) |url=https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/winners/2008/graphic-novels-and-comics/ |publisher=Foreword Reviews |access-date=30 October 2018 |language=en}} Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation won a 2009 Cybils Award in the graphic novel category.{{cite web |url=http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2009-finalists-graphic-novels.html |title=Cybils: 2009 Finalists Graphic Novels |publisher=Cybils Award |access-date=6 January 2010}}{{cite web|title=The 2009 Cybils Winners|url=http://www.cybils.com/2010/02/the-2009-cybils-winners.html|website=Cybils Awards|date=February 14, 2010}} Gunnerkrigg Court was nominated for the 2014 Harvey Award for Best Online Comics Work.{{cite web | url=http://www.harveyawards.org/2014-final-ballot/ | title=2014 Final Ballot | publisher=The Harvey Awards | date=16 July 2014 | access-date=17 July 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720033303/http://www.harveyawards.org/2014-final-ballot/ | archive-date=20 July 2014 | df=dmy-all }}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation

|url=http://www.archaia.com/blog/titles/gunnerkrigg-court

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501192502/http://www.archaia.com/blog/titles/gunnerkrigg-court

|archive-date=1 May 2010

|year=2008

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|location=Kearny

|isbn=978-1932386349

|id= Diamond Code: FEB08 3463}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation

|year=2008

|publisher=Titan Books

|isbn=978-1848561755}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 2: Research

|year=2010

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|isbn=978-1932386776}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 3: Reason

|year=2011

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|isbn=978-1-936393-23-7}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 4: Materia

|year=2013

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|isbn=978-1936393992}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 5: Refine

|year=2015

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|isbn=978-1608866915}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Gunnerkrigg Court Volume 6: Dissolve

|year=2018

|publisher=Archaia Entertainment

|isbn=978-1608868308}}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Annie in the Forest Part One

|series=Beyond The Walls

|year=2013

|publisher=Robot Voice Comics }}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Annie in the Forest Part Two

|series=Beyond The Walls

|year=2013

|publisher=Robot Voice Comics }}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Traveller

|series=Beyond The Walls

|year=2015

|publisher=Robot Voice Comics }}

• {{cite book

|last=Siddell

|first=Tom

|title=Coyote!

|series=Beyond The Walls

|year=2018

|publisher=Robot Voice Comics }}

{{Reflist|group="notes"}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Reflist|30em|group="#"}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/ Gunnerkrigg Court]
• [http://gunnerkrigg.proboards.com/ Gunnerkrigg Court official forum]

{{s-start}}

{{succession box|title=Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards: Outstanding Newcomer|before=Beaver and Steve|years=2006|after=Lackadaisy}}

{{succession box|title=Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards: Outstanding Environment Design|after=Girl Genius|years=2007|before=Copper}}

{{succession box|title=Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards: Outstanding Dramatic Comic|before=Questionable Content |years=2008 |after=none}}

{{end}}

{{Good article}}

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