This is one of the few fics I'll read again and again. Might be about time for a reread, actually.

Did the 40 years later follow up ever happen?

 

Funny I just re read this last week on a flight.

And no it didn't happen, he retired from writing and the fandom.

 

Really? Huh. Always wanted to know what happened to him, if you don't want to derail the thread, mind pming me with the details? I'm just really curious.

 

No please, derail the thread. I'd like to know as well.

 

He wrote a rather bad fic a few years back. It wasn't great but a lot of people expected better from him I guess. He got a lot of flak for it and just left. He is still around a bit usually for Magic trades and games.

 

I think he may have gotten disenfranchised after how poorly his last story was received around here.

 

Disenchanted?

 

Is it confirmed that he left for this reason? I only ask because if it's the same story I'm thinking of (Whatever Happened to the Likely Lad), I read it as a goodbye note to the fandom.

 

It's a shame then that he's quit writing. Read a lot of his stories and found several of them entertaining.

As for Black Comedy, it's my favorite fic I've read so far (probably the only one I reread from time to time).

Really liked the writing style in the fic with the back and forth dialogue often describing what's going on in the surroundings and advances in the plot. Felt really natural, and I believe it kept the pace up.

Would definitely recommend, 5/5

 

I think this story is probably the best work there is in all of the fandom. I remembered loving it when it was originally posted so when I saw this thread today I decided to give it a reread since I didn't remember much about it. It blew me away. This story does everything right, from depicting compelling characters, using truly unique plot devices (the magical arms and "that fucker" are two things I'd never seen the likes of before), having great pacing/writing, and mixing side-splitting humor with action. The dialogue alone was at times stand-up comedy level. I particularly enjoyed the alternate universe interpretations of all the characters (the Hermione chapter was a hoot) and the ways they were similar, but slightly different. It was all very well done.

It's a magical piece, one that extends the HP-verse while still staying very true to the original work. Gosh I love this work.

 

Just came back and re-read this after a year, still hilarious!

 

Just read this for the first time myself. DAMN it's good, had me in stitches so much.

That's a shame he didn't do a short follow up. Would have been cool to see ~40 years later.

 

This is a great story with amazing twists on preconcieved opinions on things like the relationship of Harry and Sirius.
But my favourite thing is the interaction with Albus.

5/5 a great comedy

 

That akward feeling when you gasp and laugh out loud while sitting in a train. The most hilarious fic I have ever read!

 

A Black Comedy is one of the best stories I've read. I especially like the characterization of Harry and 'that fucker'. Harry is powerful and willing to use his power, but isn't almighty or studying some made-up ancient magic. The reveal of the identity of 'that fucker' was also well done, and provided an excellent twist without being totally out of left field.

On a more comedic level, however, I appreciated Black & Black trolling the rest of the world. Of note was their interactions with the Wizengamot, which I found hilarious. Their intentional offending of the Wizengamot just for the hell of it is always nice to go back to and laugh at again. The way they dealt with Death Eaters was also particularly inspired, and had me laughing out loud.

Overall, simply excellent. The best comedic story I've ever read.