It is updated online three days a week, and eight volumes of the still continuing comic have been published in print format by Archaia Studios Press and Titan Books (in the United Kingdom and Ireland).

The comic has been critically acclaimed and has won numerous Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards, as well as receiving positive reviews for its artwork and storytelling.

[2][5] The first fourteen chapters of the webcomic were printed as the first Archaia Studios Press edition[2][5] of 296 pages bound in a hardcover collection titled "Orientation".

[12] 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.

[13] 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.

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.

[notes 3] 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.

Early in the comic, Annie befriends several supernatural beings, including a sentient shadow, a robot, and a ghost named Mort.

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.

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.

Loup destroys the Annan Waters, creates a duplicate version of Annie, and attacks the Court, which temporarily fends him off while preparing evacuation plans.

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.

[14][33] 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.

[16] Along with the evolution in art style since the start of the comic,[34] many reviewers have praised the age progression of the protagonists and their maturation with the plot, likening it to that of Harry Potter.

"[37] In 2006, science fiction author Neil Gaiman praised Gunnerkrigg Court in his blog,[38] which brought the comic to the attention of many more readers.

[43][44] Gunnerkrigg Court: Orientation won a 2008 gold Book of the Year Award from ForeWord magazine in their graphic novel category.