Can’t wait for the next two weeks worth of panels of awkward situationally comedic pratfalls. As amusing as this interlude is, am I the only one who wants to get back to the actual story? That sounds a bit harsh (sorry) but, come ON! This had better pay off, Jeff or I am docking you padding points.
Shaenon, I for one am delighted with this “interlude”. Not only is Artie a pivotal character in your Narbonverse but I (and many others) love it when other characters (such as Alfa and Echo) get their time in the sun!
The breadth as well as the depth of your storylines are phenomenal. And appreciated.
How can you best serve my comic strip reading needs? Oh my!
I want a storyline where Helen ends up sitting on a throne made of the skulls of everyone in Skin Horse, with HT’s ornamenting the top of the throne. She should be wearing her skimpy jungle outfit. Mell should be seen in the background stripping the flesh from additional skulls and grumbling about it.
Given the existence of cloning, that could happen without disrupting the rest of the SH-verse.
Of course, that begs the question of what Hitty’s skull is. Her entire outer body, except for her limbs? In that case, how would one even notice the rest of the skulls? Or worse yet, does Annex One now count as part of Skin Horse for these purposes, given that it’s bipedal and definitely has a “head” of sorts?
Well, I would suggest just everyone who currently works for Skin Horse (i.e. everyone who has not gone rogue) or A-Sig. So that rules out Hitty and any other non-humans. Except for H.T., of course. He definitely has earned his spot in the skull pile.
Consider me chagrined. I’ll stop with the criticism from now on. I did NOT mean to make Shaenon feel like she needed to defend Jeff or the comic. Also, I promise to never post at 2am while drunk ever again. Please except my humblest apologies.
It’s hard to tell in print, of course, but I suspect none of the real rats have a squeaky voice, and that’s just what Alfa and Echo think talking rats should sound like.
Echo Bravo isn’t the only one. I think Valiant is enjoying the “romantic swashbuckler” role a little too much to notice details, such as the screws in the “lady’s” shoulders and the metallic feel under his fingers. He’s going to feel very, very foolish when this arc has been completed.
Although in true swashbuckler fashion, he’ll use it to spur him on to greater heights. Ah, l’amour. Ah, l’guerre.
Artie’s expression in panel two nicely evokes his dismay when it dawns on him that he was seriously thinking of forgoing adventures like these to be tied down (only figuratively, regrettably) by Sergio for the rest of his life. Sergio is a nice guy, but Artie needs more. He needs this kind of excitement. Hopefully Sergio can be a part of his life, but not his whole life.
Or maybe Artie is just getting a headache trying to map the relationship dynamics among five partners, 31 nonempty subsets, 465 pairwise interrelationships between those subsets, et cetera.
No. That interpretation is wrong. Please don’t try to argue with me, because I would hate to have to call you names like a grade schooler, and it would not be rational for me to argue rationally with people less rational than me.
I’m still trying to figure out what you consider “rational”. Because it seems to fluctuate rather… irrationally.
But have no fear. I have no intention of arguing with you. I’d hate for you to call me names. It’d be so confusing, because that’s what we called one of my best friends in high school. No, really. We actually called him “Names”.
Good, because it would be foolhardy for you to argue rationality with the person who used the word three times in one sentence. I am 13.215 times more rational than the median person. And when I say that, I mean it as a moral imperative, not a boast. In fact, it can be more of a curse. I have so much to teach, but so few people truly appreciate the gift of being copiously corrected.
(One part of this bit rings particularly false. None of the people I have seen pull the “I could argue like an adult but you don’t deserve it” routine called themselves “rationalist.”)
Having no deadly instrument himself, i think that E.B.’s plan to have Valiant fall madly in love with Ms. Ratterson , defending her honor by dispatching the dastardly hamster is going quite well.
Won’t he notice the drone talking to itself?
I believe that is covered by Artie’s proclamation in the last panel of the previous comic.
Your ‘Hero’, ladies and gentlemen!
Can’t wait for the next two weeks worth of panels of awkward situationally comedic pratfalls. As amusing as this interlude is, am I the only one who wants to get back to the actual story? That sounds a bit harsh (sorry) but, come ON! This had better pay off, Jeff or I am docking you padding points.
This is mostly my storyline, so you can leave Jeff alone and let me know how I can best serve your comic-strip-reading needs.
I think we just assumed because, you know, animals in little hats.
Shaenon, I for one am delighted with this “interlude”. Not only is Artie a pivotal character in your Narbonverse but I (and many others) love it when other characters (such as Alfa and Echo) get their time in the sun!
The breadth as well as the depth of your storylines are phenomenal. And appreciated.
I for another, an delighted with everything you do! Follow your own muse!
How can you best serve my comic strip reading needs? Oh my!
I want a storyline where Helen ends up sitting on a throne made of the skulls of everyone in Skin Horse, with HT’s ornamenting the top of the throne. She should be wearing her skimpy jungle outfit. Mell should be seen in the background stripping the flesh from additional skulls and grumbling about it.
THE READER HAS SPOKEN!
You neglected to mention that Mell should also be in her skimpy jungle outfit.
Traditionalist! 😉
That’s a bit more anatomy than i’m willing for from my daily comic strip
Given the existence of cloning, that could happen without disrupting the rest of the SH-verse.
Of course, that begs the question of what Hitty’s skull is. Her entire outer body, except for her limbs? In that case, how would one even notice the rest of the skulls? Or worse yet, does Annex One now count as part of Skin Horse for these purposes, given that it’s bipedal and definitely has a “head” of sorts?
Well, I would suggest just everyone who currently works for Skin Horse (i.e. everyone who has not gone rogue) or A-Sig. So that rules out Hitty and any other non-humans. Except for H.T., of course. He definitely has earned his spot in the skull pile.
It remains true, however, that I cannot be trusted with an animals-in-hats-centric storyline, and require Shaenon’s steady hand on the editing pen.
What about animals wearing goggles?
I knew it! Artie’s storyline had to be a Narbonic original
Consider me chagrined. I’ll stop with the criticism from now on. I did NOT mean to make Shaenon feel like she needed to defend Jeff or the comic. Also, I promise to never post at 2am while drunk ever again. Please except my humblest apologies.
It’s hard to tell in print, of course, but I suspect none of the real rats have a squeaky voice, and that’s just what Alfa and Echo think talking rats should sound like.
Hard to have a doo-wop group without someone singing bass…rats must feel the same way.
I thought the rats version of the Toreador Song in Babe went rather well.
I keep hearing Errol Flynn’s voice for Valiant…
In the (approximate) words of Pavane, “You people are barely an improvement over your creators!”
Honestly, i really feel for Artie.
If i were him i will cut my losses and just left this rat colony to their fate.
Echo Bravo isn’t the only one. I think Valiant is enjoying the “romantic swashbuckler” role a little too much to notice details, such as the screws in the “lady’s” shoulders and the metallic feel under his fingers. He’s going to feel very, very foolish when this arc has been completed.
Although in true swashbuckler fashion, he’ll use it to spur him on to greater heights. Ah, l’amour. Ah, l’guerre.
You’re assuming that Echo Bravo isn’t going to fall in love with Valiant at some point during the arc
Artie’s expression in panel two nicely evokes his dismay when it dawns on him that he was seriously thinking of forgoing adventures like these to be tied down (only figuratively, regrettably) by Sergio for the rest of his life. Sergio is a nice guy, but Artie needs more. He needs this kind of excitement. Hopefully Sergio can be a part of his life, but not his whole life.
Or maybe Artie is just getting a headache trying to map the relationship dynamics among five partners, 31 nonempty subsets, 465 pairwise interrelationships between those subsets, et cetera.
Or his expression is saying “these people are all idiots. I’m getting Sergio and Cinnamon, and we’re getting out of here.”
No. That interpretation is wrong. Please don’t try to argue with me, because I would hate to have to call you names like a grade schooler, and it would not be rational for me to argue rationally with people less rational than me.
I’m still trying to figure out what you consider “rational”. Because it seems to fluctuate rather… irrationally.
But have no fear. I have no intention of arguing with you. I’d hate for you to call me names. It’d be so confusing, because that’s what we called one of my best friends in high school. No, really. We actually called him “Names”.
Good, because it would be foolhardy for you to argue rationality with the person who used the word three times in one sentence. I am 13.215 times more rational than the median person. And when I say that, I mean it as a moral imperative, not a boast. In fact, it can be more of a curse. I have so much to teach, but so few people truly appreciate the gift of being copiously corrected.
(One part of this bit rings particularly false. None of the people I have seen pull the “I could argue like an adult but you don’t deserve it” routine called themselves “rationalist.”)
Or maybe he’s just tired of being called a hamster.
Having no deadly instrument himself, i think that E.B.’s plan to have Valiant fall madly in love with Ms. Ratterson , defending her honor by dispatching the dastardly hamster is going quite well.
…even if he hasn’t thought of it yet.
ROFL!
It’s very important to do the voices.