He gets basically zero appreciation for his contributions, which are pretty monumental to the success of the team.
On top of that, everyone’s constantly needling him and finding ways to make fun of him / make him uncomfortable, and they basically treat him more like a piece of hardware than a person, really only every talking to him when they want something from him.
It’s a strange counterpoint to Bubbles, and how everyone treats her. From the very start, even as a flesh and blood human, Nick was treated badly by basically everyone. But after he became a helicopter, it seems like people have progressively treated him more and more like an object that can talk.
Meanwhile, everyone loved Bubbles, even when she literally was just an object that could (barely) talk. And once she gained a human body, everyone just grew more and more fond of her, and treated her less and less like a machine.
You wanna talk about symbolism about the relationship between humans and non-humans, forget the whole Velveteen Rabbit parallel and look at these two.
Nick has such an abrasive personality that he invites needling. He’s never been much for direct interpersonal interaction, doesn’t invite small talk, it’s easier just to treat him as a piece of hardware.
The exception, of course, is Virginia, who loves him for his brain.
Nick, Sweetheart and Unity all view Tip as a self-absorbed clotheshorse. The actual skill he brings to the team is usually dismissed as meaningless psychobabble.
Nick, Tip and even Sweetheart see Unity as a weapon of mass destruction you point vaguely at the bad guys and hope. If there aren’t any bad guys to point her at, you just have to distract her with something and hope.
I think most of the team is fond of Sweetheart because she’s a cute dog, but as far as actual contribution goes, she’s seen as the one nagging everyone about paperwork, and that’s pretty much it.
Pardon me, Mr Walker, I didn’t see a reply link to Daibhid. Re Sweetheart, she contributes a fluffy belly that’s fun to rub, and an entertaining hind-leg kick. C’s F. V. Sweetheart still joneses for attention, despite the mind upgrade.
I was going to say that it’s the Emperor Norton Bridge, not the Golden Gate Bridge, and I correctly drew it passing through Treasure Island before continuing to Oakland. But “Magneto” is a much better answer.
Also, I’m going to start calling the Bay Bridge the Emperor Norton Bridge until the world goes along with it.
Well, obviously, the mad people can read the signs correctly and identify it by it’s proper name recognizing the True Undying Emperor of these United States, but the sane’s reality blindness cause them to view it by a much more prosaic name.
I smell an infomercial: “The amazing Unity sewer diet – you’ll watch those pounds flush away!” I hope Unity managed to chow down on some gators and CHUDs.
Like Davy Crockett’s coonskin, Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe, and Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox, Unity’s Bitey is a classic match made in hat heaven. Wear it in good, um…health?
Unity makes a valid point in that last panel, Nick.
Nick makes a somewhat more valid one, though.
He gets basically zero appreciation for his contributions, which are pretty monumental to the success of the team.
On top of that, everyone’s constantly needling him and finding ways to make fun of him / make him uncomfortable, and they basically treat him more like a piece of hardware than a person, really only every talking to him when they want something from him.
It’s a strange counterpoint to Bubbles, and how everyone treats her. From the very start, even as a flesh and blood human, Nick was treated badly by basically everyone. But after he became a helicopter, it seems like people have progressively treated him more and more like an object that can talk.
Meanwhile, everyone loved Bubbles, even when she literally was just an object that could (barely) talk. And once she gained a human body, everyone just grew more and more fond of her, and treated her less and less like a machine.
You wanna talk about symbolism about the relationship between humans and non-humans, forget the whole Velveteen Rabbit parallel and look at these two.
Nick has such an abrasive personality that he invites needling. He’s never been much for direct interpersonal interaction, doesn’t invite small talk, it’s easier just to treat him as a piece of hardware.
The exception, of course, is Virginia, who loves him for his brain.
Well, he IS a helicopter. And he still gets a lot more attention, appreciation, and human interaction than he ever did as a meatsack.
And really, how much appreciation do ANY of them get for what they do?
A fair deal from each other in many cases.
Nick, Sweetheart and Unity all view Tip as a self-absorbed clotheshorse. The actual skill he brings to the team is usually dismissed as meaningless psychobabble.
Nick, Tip and even Sweetheart see Unity as a weapon of mass destruction you point vaguely at the bad guys and hope. If there aren’t any bad guys to point her at, you just have to distract her with something and hope.
I think most of the team is fond of Sweetheart because she’s a cute dog, but as far as actual contribution goes, she’s seen as the one nagging everyone about paperwork, and that’s pretty much it.
Pardon me, Mr Walker, I didn’t see a reply link to Daibhid. Re Sweetheart, she contributes a fluffy belly that’s fun to rub, and an entertaining hind-leg kick. C’s F. V. Sweetheart still joneses for attention, despite the mind upgrade.
What happened to the rest of the bridge‽
Magneto
Makes sense.
I was going to say that it’s the Emperor Norton Bridge, not the Golden Gate Bridge, and I correctly drew it passing through Treasure Island before continuing to Oakland. But “Magneto” is a much better answer.
Also, I’m going to start calling the Bay Bridge the Emperor Norton Bridge until the world goes along with it.
“We’re having the usual delays on the Emperor Norton bridge this morning, so pack a lunch”
traffic is backed up to the metering gas-lights
Well, it does look like it goes to Alcatraz…
Love it. Emperor Norton it is.
Well, obviously, the mad people can read the signs correctly and identify it by it’s proper name recognizing the True Undying Emperor of these United States, but the sane’s reality blindness cause them to view it by a much more prosaic name.
Hey, if the author can’t be bothered to draw them, your side quests couldn’t have been that interesting.
just like the things unity ate?
No, those probably WERE interesting, but Shaenon was just being polite, since some people might be eating breakfast when they read this.
Now “Livin’ in the Fridge” is running through my head… and I’m about to have lunch!
Good point. *I* certainly don’t want to know what sewer-stuff Unity ate.
Bonus level story for the next Kickstarter.
I smell an infomercial: “The amazing Unity sewer diet – you’ll watch those pounds flush away!” I hope Unity managed to chow down on some gators and CHUDs.
“Thrilling” might be taken for another substitute from the swear filter.
Font doesn’t match the filter, as seen in the first panel
Maybe it’s getting more sophisticated.
Unity: “this looks like a job for the gorilla fists.”
The reward for hard work done well is more hard work – J.R.R. Tolkien
Boy, ain’t that the truth – Harry Dresden
Like Davy Crockett’s coonskin, Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe, and Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox, Unity’s Bitey is a classic match made in hat heaven. Wear it in good, um…health?
It’s okay Nick, I would love to hear about your zombie rescue mission