I assumed that “molly-cuddling” was Frank’s version of a swear filter, and like Nick’s occasionally did, it sounded almost as bad as if he had simply said the swear.
So everyone has been twaddling on about “when is Virginia going to go Mad?” (which is pointless, since she was already Mad when we met her – she just refuses to admit it), but all this time, it’s been Nick who has been progressing toward a breakthrough? I like this idea!
I was going to say that Nick’s journey has been the best thing about SH, but then I realised he was really always like this once he realised what was going on, way back in his first appearance. He has been the moral core of the strip all along, which ultimately *was* the secret of the tin woodsman. He always had his heart, just like the scarecrow had his brains and the lion had his courage.
It was made clear some time ago that each SH character does not necessarily correlate to only one Oz character, and vice versa. So yes, Unity is both the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl.
“Nick’s journey” – interesting. Typically, the “hero’s journey” starts with someone who’s village/home/world is in peril. The hero leaves home, had adventures, gains skills/personal awareness, and returns home to save the day. Nick, on the other hand, was only in peril of being lost forever in video games (and being a generally unpleasant person – thus upsetting pretty much everyone around him). To himself and others, he was the peril. In Nick’s journey, he is abducted from home, rather than leaving voluntarily. Instead of earning new powers, he is given them in the form of an Osprey. Because he is surrounded (and to some extent controlled) by good people, his new powers are channeled towards helping others (and his unpleasantness is reduced with a swear filter). Now, having lost his powers (and the related limitations) he is returning “home” to save others from destroying themselves as they destroy each other in the arena. its really touching/ heroic in its own convoluted way.
Just here to say Nick’s journey maps to the monomyth pretty well!
The call: Probably unseen (whenever he “signed up” for “video game testing”)
Refusal of the call: Explicit, even profane
The mentor: Either Lee or the 1st appearance of the SH crew in his arc (Lee is, of course, going to play multiple roles here)
Crossing the Threshold: The boot from his simulated apartment and discovery of his aviation-capable body
Belly of the Whale: Simultaneously the danger of the Whirligig program being dismantled / Being accepted into SH and the start of a very eventful career
Road of Trials: The entire comic run, or at least any arcs featuring Nick
The Goddess: Lee, definitely
The Temptation: Possibly his superhero gig?
Atonement the Father: Finding out Ira was Goldbug (aka the “messenger” who freed him from the simulation in the beginning)… but also we’re hitting notes of this here, where Nick is reassessing his identity when he no longer his real body
Apotheosis: We might be hitting this… now-ish.
Wait, wait, wait… has this entire comic been building up to the first good, non-transphobic instance of “I identify as an attack helicopter” in comedic history???
I’ve worried, over those ten years, about how it’s non-transphobic status would hold up.
There are a lot of jokes that used to not be seen as homophobic (or racist, or sexist, ect) which now look problematic at best.
So far, it seems, so good.
So he’s going to get in the contest in spite of not currently being a machine by claiming he _identifies_ as a helicopter? Or is he just going to claim he’s being _remote controlled_ by a helicopter?
Internalized swear filters: the new hawtness.
He’s being a molly-cuddling gentleman
I’m sure Molly appreciates it, but wouldn’t Dr. Lee get jealous?
Just for clarity, Frank presumably meant “mollycoddling”, which is another thing entirely.
I assumed that “molly-cuddling” was Frank’s version of a swear filter, and like Nick’s occasionally did, it sounded almost as bad as if he had simply said the swear.
Freudian slip, petticoat, skirt and bustle!
The expression of lovestruck awe on Ginny’s face in the fourth panel is priceless!
I would say that is good news for people who sexually identify as attack helicopters, but I’m too high class to be aware of that meme.
Good Gracious! Not a mad scientist, my maple-glazed Fontina!
http://narbonic.com/comic/september-4-9-2006/
So everyone has been twaddling on about “when is Virginia going to go Mad?” (which is pointless, since she was already Mad when we met her – she just refuses to admit it), but all this time, it’s been Nick who has been progressing toward a breakthrough? I like this idea!
Lovelace would think it was hot too.
The story would be over if she saw that. She WOULD FIND A WAY to get Nick into VR…just him, tho….
Nick’s duplicate is already in the VR. And he already turned Lovelace down.
We’ll take your word for it Ginny.
While checking if any of the robots got that nothing on recording, for posterity.
I was going to say that Nick’s journey has been the best thing about SH, but then I realised he was really always like this once he realised what was going on, way back in his first appearance. He has been the moral core of the strip all along, which ultimately *was* the secret of the tin woodsman. He always had his heart, just like the scarecrow had his brains and the lion had his courage.
Who’s the Scarecrow and Lion?
Unity is scarecrow and Sweetheart is the lion
I thought maybe the Tiger was the Lion?
I thought the lion was the Lion
HT is the most direct Oz reference: Hungry Tiger is a character in many of the Oz books. And he doesn’t map at all to the Lion.
Gimme the knuckles of Frisco.
Leo is only an incidental character. So while he is indeed a cowardly lion, he is not The Cowardly Lion.
Unity isn’t the Patchwork Girl?
It was made clear some time ago that each SH character does not necessarily correlate to only one Oz character, and vice versa. So yes, Unity is both the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl.
“Nick’s journey” – interesting. Typically, the “hero’s journey” starts with someone who’s village/home/world is in peril. The hero leaves home, had adventures, gains skills/personal awareness, and returns home to save the day. Nick, on the other hand, was only in peril of being lost forever in video games (and being a generally unpleasant person – thus upsetting pretty much everyone around him). To himself and others, he was the peril. In Nick’s journey, he is abducted from home, rather than leaving voluntarily. Instead of earning new powers, he is given them in the form of an Osprey. Because he is surrounded (and to some extent controlled) by good people, his new powers are channeled towards helping others (and his unpleasantness is reduced with a swear filter). Now, having lost his powers (and the related limitations) he is returning “home” to save others from destroying themselves as they destroy each other in the arena. its really touching/ heroic in its own convoluted way.
Just here to say Nick’s journey maps to the monomyth pretty well!
The call: Probably unseen (whenever he “signed up” for “video game testing”)
Refusal of the call: Explicit, even profane
The mentor: Either Lee or the 1st appearance of the SH crew in his arc (Lee is, of course, going to play multiple roles here)
Crossing the Threshold: The boot from his simulated apartment and discovery of his aviation-capable body
Belly of the Whale: Simultaneously the danger of the Whirligig program being dismantled / Being accepted into SH and the start of a very eventful career
Road of Trials: The entire comic run, or at least any arcs featuring Nick
The Goddess: Lee, definitely
The Temptation: Possibly his superhero gig?
Atonement the Father: Finding out Ira was Goldbug (aka the “messenger” who freed him from the simulation in the beginning)… but also we’re hitting notes of this here, where Nick is reassessing his identity when he no longer his real body
Apotheosis: We might be hitting this… now-ish.
I’d have mapped the Goddess to Aimee. She’s literally his feminine side given an identity separate from him.
Ooh, excellent addition. A better interpretation than the old romantic subplot, definitely!
It would seem Nick has retained his ability to infiltrate and become the game.
Either that, or I’m misinterpreting that third panel.
Ahm not sure… but that looks like it could be early-onset of mojo!?
Nerd mojo
Could Nick be making ng the other contestants see him as the attack Osprey?
Mmmm…he lost me at maple-glazed.
Wait, wait, wait… has this entire comic been building up to the first good, non-transphobic instance of “I identify as an attack helicopter” in comedic history???
They did that one like ten years ago in his intro storyline.
I’ve worried, over those ten years, about how it’s non-transphobic status would hold up.
There are a lot of jokes that used to not be seen as homophobic (or racist, or sexist, ect) which now look problematic at best.
So far, it seems, so good.
Also I asked that question in this space, like, ten strips ago.
Shaenon’s own response to that question can be found here.
(And it was a little more than just ten strips ago)
I hope he knows where all their ‘on-off’ switches are….
Isn’t Nick a pacifist? I thought that disqualified him from being an attack helicopter.
He’s an attack helicopter, not an attacking helicopter.
One can be a pacifist, and still posses – and know how to use – weapons with which to defend oneself, and even to defend one’s friends.
Nick has demonstrated in the past he’s capable of violence, he just doesn’t like KILLING, and likes to avoid harming sapient individuals.
One can be a pacifist without being a doormat.
Bonus points for the 8-bit dramatic reveal… colored thingy.
Agreed. You could almost hear the anime soundtrack just looking at it.
That was hot.
So Nick’s finally integrated his swear-filter with his brain. Darn.
If it’s properly integrated, he has an on-off switch for that featherduster.
I get the feeling Dr. Lee could hard boil an egg in her hand right now.
So he’s going to get in the contest in spite of not currently being a machine by claiming he _identifies_ as a helicopter? Or is he just going to claim he’s being _remote controlled_ by a helicopter?
He’s going to get into the contest because he has a current Union membership card. Remember, logic bows to paperwork.
Maybe Nick could enter the NASCAR Xfinity race—at least one guy there is from a family of melonfarmers.
Not “nerf herders”?
Wrong universe.
Although Ginny’s lovely check is coloured, it’s not a bluish as such.
Is Dr. Lee saying she’d like to cover Nick in maple syrup?
…well I have heard strange things..