We’ve seen Nick pull off a rescue by catching someone while they were falling, by flying sideways and then adjusting. Wasn’t it Jonah?
*checks*
yup: https://skin-horse.com/comic/in-inspiring/
Nick: Dammit, I was hoping to spend my wedding night alone with my wife!
Virginia: I think it would be a very bad omen for our bridesmaid to die on our wedding night.
Nick: Yeah, yeah. I would save his ass no matter what, but I think I have a constitutional right to kvetch about it.
*Later, Nick busts Tip’s chops*
Nick: So, what, you literally went flying after your girlfriend?
Tip: Nick, I think you of all people should be aware of the crazy things we do for love.
Nick: *looks a bit abashed*
Virginia: Yeah, but in Nick’s case, it actually had a chance of working.
Incidentally, I have the whack notion that the flying saucer will teleport to Lovetron, without even going so high that Tip would freeze and/or asphyxiate. So maybe Tip will get to Lovetron after all?
You meant the charismatic person who arrives out of nowhere in a novel flying machine and quickly convinces everyone to accept them as the legimitate ruler might be a humbug from Kansas??
This is exactly what I thought, too. Why would it be travelling over the ground and not heading into space? What’s really going on inside? Are they ‘seeing’ themselves in a ship flying through space right now?
That’s not a starship.
It’s a prison that flies.
And all the prisoners just walked into it
happily.
There’s no way to open the door from the inside.
Tip hain’t really one of you
he’s just an alien through and through
trying to make believe he’s you
trying to fit.
But he is where you need him now.
Lt. Tip is on the outside now.
ISTR someone from a few centuries ago saying that an ocean voyage was like being in prison except for the added hazard of drowning. I suppose a space voyage has some similarities.
“The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England”
(Not only do the English find the road back superior to anything in Scotland, but _the Scots themselves_ will find nothing in their country superior to a route out of it. Ouch.)
I can see The Authors doing that. I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow’s strip was a farewell message from Shaenon saying how much she’s enjoyed doing this for 10 years…
Well, with Narbonic, the final strip was a bunch of guest artists neatly tying up all the unfired Chekov’s Guns. This would be a fitting final authors’ strip, followed by a similar collage of guest art.
It feels extremely bookendy, of course, but there’s just TOO MANY loose ends to tie up. Ending here would be like ending with Helen arriving at the Arctic base; yes, it would nicely mirror Dave arriving at the bunker, but it wouldn’t have contained anything resembling a resolution.
“Have all the non-humans just walked into a trap?”, “Who gassed Team Irradiation, and why?”, and “What is A-Sig planning next?” feel like bigger questions than “How does Caliban’s barista career go?” or “Whatever happened to those Madblood robots, anyway?”
The crossdressing psychologist dangled for a saucer ride he has just wangled. “It’s under control,” he insists on the whole, but I wonder if he’ll wind up mangled.
But bees don’t eat people.
Or maybe _bees from Lovetron_ do. (We don’t have anything but their word that regular terrestrial bees are also from Lovetron, after all. It’s not like our protagonists have been talking to any terrestrial hives.)
I only know Wizard of Oz from the movie so this comic has taken turns in plots I never knew existed. But I feel this return to Kansas has significance.
I love how exactly one minute has passed since the first strip (not counting the opening quote).
Very observant, Justin!
With Sweetheart and Unity waiting to complete the field team inside.
They sure packed a lot into that minute.
Well, as long as the situation is under control! š
Every now and again we’re reminded that Tip is a badass.
Yeah – I love when Tip demonstrates that he is a bad ass.
Technically it’s not a UFO if you can identify it as a flying saucer from Planet Lovetron.
Artie would agree with you, John. š
Technically it depends on what the “U” stands for.
Ungulate Flying Object
Usurious Flying Object
Unconcious Flying Object
Uwu Flying Object
et cetera.
Excellent callback.
(It would be sort of hilarious if the comic actually ended with this panel.)
I agree, BMunro. Hilarious.
Cruel beyond Madness, but hilarious.
He’s even wearing pink again.
It would be kind of like the way season 3 of Twin Peaks ended.
We’ve seen Nick pull off a rescue by catching someone while they were falling, by flying sideways and then adjusting. Wasn’t it Jonah?
*checks*
yup:
https://skin-horse.com/comic/in-inspiring/
Nick: Dammit, I was hoping to spend my wedding night alone with my wife!
Virginia: I think it would be a very bad omen for our bridesmaid to die on our wedding night.
Nick: Yeah, yeah. I would save his ass no matter what, but I think I have a constitutional right to kvetch about it.
*Later, Nick busts Tip’s chops*
Nick: So, what, you literally went flying after your girlfriend?
Tip: Nick, I think you of all people should be aware of the crazy things we do for love.
Nick: *looks a bit abashed*
Virginia: Yeah, but in Nick’s case, it actually had a chance of working.
Nick: Ooh, solid burn Wilkin!
I have no accepted this as canon.
*now
Incidentally, I have the whack notion that the flying saucer will teleport to Lovetron, without even going so high that Tip would freeze and/or asphyxiate. So maybe Tip will get to Lovetron after all?
Unless it only teleports what’s inside, meaning tip will be left clinging to nothing and may fall
to his dand break every bone in his bodyWhat if Lovetron IS planet Earth, and the saucer just lands somewhere in Kansas
You meant the charismatic person who arrives out of nowhere in a novel flying machine and quickly convinces everyone to accept them as the legimitate ruler might be a humbug from Kansas??
Exactly. I don’t think Lovetron exists.
This is exactly what I thought, too. Why would it be travelling over the ground and not heading into space? What’s really going on inside? Are they ‘seeing’ themselves in a ship flying through space right now?
I was thinking it would land somewhere closer to Groom Lake.
Tip? I have to remind you you’re not a Waste Allocation Load Lifter and cannot breathe in space
Maybe he can mojo himself inside if he gets desperate enough.
… this is going to turn into a Drei-Wetter-Taft ad, isn’t it?
And the circle is complete
I am going to miss this strip SO much.
That’s gotta be close to the end.
That’s not a starship.
It’s a prison that flies.
And all the prisoners just walked into it
happily.
There’s no way to open the door from the inside.
Tip hain’t really one of you
he’s just an alien through and through
trying to make believe he’s you
trying to fit.
But he is where you need him now.
Lt. Tip is on the outside now.
Looking and not seeing a “To Serve Man” (It’s a Cook Book!) reference.
Was there and I missed it?
ISTR someone from a few centuries ago saying that an ocean voyage was like being in prison except for the added hazard of drowning. I suppose a space voyage has some similarities.
Samuel Johnson, I think. (Who also observed that the finest sight that a visitor to Scotland will see is the road back to England.)
The version I know is even more condescending:
“The noblest prospect which a Scotchman ever sees, is the high road that leads him to England”
(Not only do the English find the road back superior to anything in Scotland, but _the Scots themselves_ will find nothing in their country superior to a route out of it. Ouch.)
True, but after forced union it wasn’t long before the Scots ran the show. (I’m gonna miss these little intellectual diversions.)
Could this be IT?
It strangely feels like a proper end.
I can see The Authors doing that. I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow’s strip was a farewell message from Shaenon saying how much she’s enjoyed doing this for 10 years…
Is Jeff still wearing his “Lawful Good” T-shirt?
I mean…I don’t want it to be, but it fits.
Well, with Narbonic, the final strip was a bunch of guest artists neatly tying up all the unfired Chekov’s Guns. This would be a fitting final authors’ strip, followed by a similar collage of guest art.
But the file name story would end mid-sentence if there aren’t a few more strips.
It feels extremely bookendy, of course, but there’s just TOO MANY loose ends to tie up. Ending here would be like ending with Helen arriving at the Arctic base; yes, it would nicely mirror Dave arriving at the bunker, but it wouldn’t have contained anything resembling a resolution.
“Have all the non-humans just walked into a trap?”, “Who gassed Team Irradiation, and why?”, and “What is A-Sig planning next?” feel like bigger questions than “How does Caliban’s barista career go?” or “Whatever happened to those Madblood robots, anyway?”
We know the answer to your second question, at least. Alpha Alpha and Valiant gassed them. They were guarding Echo Bravo.
Some of the Madblood robots were floating around here and there: there were three (and then two) at the “Green Noah” Iron Robot contest.
<3
Love the panel with him just hanging on by one arm without any sign of strain, like a badass.
And I’m also concerned, as this flying saucer doesn’t appear to be leaving the planet’s atmosphere….
Um… where’s Toto?
Blessing the rains down in Africa, I expect.
Still? They’ve been working on that for 40 years!
They know how to hold the line…
*golf clap*
As Phil Ehart said when the band was breaking up “Well, Kansas, I don’t think we’re in toto anymore.”
Oh lord, I so want that to be a true quote! Absolutely brilliant.
Sorry for the late reply. Actually, this is a joke that a SF comedy writer I know, Brian Westley, came up with back in the 80’s.
The crossdressing psychologist dangled for a saucer ride he has just wangled. “It’s under control,” he insists on the whole, but I wonder if he’ll wind up mangled.
The law of Unity of Rings takes effect here. This is the beginning of the end, and perhaps the end of a new beginning.
Iām sorry if someone else has already said this, but
ITS A COOKBOOK!
“Anyone Can Cook” by Auguste Gusteau?
“You can cook Anyone” by Gus Gus?
Mr. Chambers, don’t get on that ship!!
But bees don’t eat people.
Or maybe _bees from Lovetron_ do. (We don’t have anything but their word that regular terrestrial bees are also from Lovetron, after all. It’s not like our protagonists have been talking to any terrestrial hives.)
I only know Wizard of Oz from the movie so this comic has taken turns in plots I never knew existed. But I feel this return to Kansas has significance.
I read the book and summaries of the sequels and it still took turns in plots I never knew existed
Ooooo, shivers. That is an -excellent- “we’re in the end-stage now” setup.
“and I _always_ wear nice underwear.”
Isn’t “always make sure you have clean underwear” something your mother is supposed to tell you?
Other psychiatrist: “Let’s begin with your mother, Mr. Wilkin.”
Wasn’t that a Far Side cartoon?
Now that’s one hell of a callback š
Okay, but I’m not sure I follow the chronology here.
1. Chris and Marcie are “guarding” Alph and Echo by watching Babylon 5 with them.
2. Chris and Marcie stop doing that and go back to their motel to pack, at which point they’re gassed.
3. While Sweetheart is complaining about this, Alpha, Echo and Valiant announce they’re also leaving.
I guess they could have gone to the motel, gassed the nerds, and got back before anyone noticed, I’m just not sure why.
This.^
This was meant to be a reply to 5 tons of flax’s reply to me.