I’m with Chris on this one. Tip is insufferable. It’s not funny or cute or endearing that he’s basically a self-obsessed egotist. It’s disgusting.
Here his female friends are genuinely happy for him, and he can’t possibly conceive of their actions as being anything other than some sort of sexual advance forced out of them by his “Adonis-like irresistability”. It’s not just insane arrogance, it’s also astoundingly shallow and borderline psychopathic behavior.
In our world sure, but the two hugging him are a nanoinfected corpse and a woman who can make things get superpowers by exposing them to radiation. He can literally teleport as long as its to a date or romantic location. He’s got some rational cause to think the way he does.
None of which excuses Tip’s lack of human empathy and emotional intelligence.
I don’t like Unity either, since she’s a terrifying weapon of mass destruction, but she at least has the excuse of being a swarm of nanobots created by a near-mad scientist specifically TO BE a terrifying weapon of mass destruction. Her inclination toward violence is the product of her creation as a tool of violence.
But Tip? He’s just some crossdresser who was in the army and then became a psychologist (or so he claims, anyway – we’ve never seen proof he’s got a degree). He doesn’t have any inherent reason to treat other people like garbage – he just does it because he randomly doesn’t give a damn about anyone other than himself.
Unity is monstrous because she was built to be a monster. But Tip? He’s monstrous just because he can be. He has no excuse.
You despise Tip and Unity – two of the three major characters who have been around since day one – and yet here you are. If you truly dislike them so much, why didn’t you just quit reading the comic ages ago? It’s not like anyone’s forcing you to do it. And if don’t hate them quite that much, then at the very least, tolerate them in silence, so the rest of us can enjoy the story.
Really, you don’t have to like all the characters to like the story. My wife and I gobble up Game of Thrones, but Joffrey Lannister, Circe Lannister, and Ramsay Bolton are about the most despicable characters ever written. Noting that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of the series a whit.
Putting in my two cents, I actually like reading people providing criticism in the comment thread. Maybe this isn’t the place for it, but I do like having reviews – including negative ones – attached to things, where I can read them or not as I please.
You’re .. not entirely wrong. If it comes to that Sweetheart’s pretty screwed up and petty as well. That’s … kind of what the strip’s about?
Also, Frasier Crane is an insufferably pompous ass, Basil Fawlty is not a fit person to run a hotel, the Blackadder family is just a long line of sociopaths, and don’t even get me started on the Gellers and their Friends. That’s comedy, folks.
Fundamentally, I have to agree — but isn’t both this strip *and* Narbonic in part about the humour value of dissonance between characters who are fundamentally awful people you’d hate spending any time around *but yet* who are amusing to read about?
It takes considerable skill to produce people who commit mass murder and laugh about it but who are also endearingly cute and feel like the best boss ever, even though they fairly routinely e.g. kill or massively abuse their staff (Helen), people whose only response to anything is to kill it with fire or, if you’re really unlucky, hit it with the law (Mell), or people who are basically a parody of every dreadful boss ever (Sweetheart)… but who are *nonetheless somehow likeable people*.
This sort of balancing act is fundamental to a lot of “semirealistic” comic strip comedy, particularly in the mad science zone, where you’re never quite sure whether a given thing is satire, social commentary, just intentionally ridiculous, or presented straight. For me, this balancing act works. It sounds like it doesn’t for you.
I was hoping for something less elegant and more vulnerable. But the big problem is that he missed his mark. His foot sticks out past the edge of panel two. Completely unprofessional.
When did last time we see Tip in dresses?
I mean, I just get too used with Tip wearing hobo outfits that seeing him get fabulous again kinda take me off-guard.
“There you goes, thinking you’re all that. But you are not as charming as you think you are, sir.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Them big old Dumbo ears.”
“Look at you with them chicken legs…B-bawk!”
This makes me wonder (more) when we’ll see the Abbess, if at all. Between Captain Beyond, Tip, and then Unity’s induction into the Notaries Public, the power of Funk may compel it.
Mind, I’d also like to see more of Sweetheart’s superpowers in action. They’re pawsome!
Theory: Tip’s lack of understanding has something to do with his being tied to The Man, while being an agent of Funk.
My heart leapt to see Tip back to, err, normal. I hope we get a few flashbacks of hot, funky lovin’ in the nearish future!
My real question is, how do you clean zombie drippings out of that dress so quicly and well, and can their technique take out chablis and taco sauce stains on a wedding dress that belonged to uhh, a friend’s mom, who may or may not be me?
I think it’s just the aftershave.
Hai Karate! Gotta admit, it answers a whole lot of nagging questions…
…..and the winner of today’s comments is…..Moe Lane!
No better way of putting it. I have never been so glad to see a man in a dress.
Funk power makeup!
Saiii-looor Tiiiip!
He’s back baby!
Oh, lighten up, Chris, or Tip will give you another makeover.
Good idea! The Return of Captain Beyond would prepare everyone for the Funkadelic Tornado about to appear!
I’m with Chris on this one. Tip is insufferable. It’s not funny or cute or endearing that he’s basically a self-obsessed egotist. It’s disgusting.
Here his female friends are genuinely happy for him, and he can’t possibly conceive of their actions as being anything other than some sort of sexual advance forced out of them by his “Adonis-like irresistability”. It’s not just insane arrogance, it’s also astoundingly shallow and borderline psychopathic behavior.
In our world sure, but the two hugging him are a nanoinfected corpse and a woman who can make things get superpowers by exposing them to radiation. He can literally teleport as long as its to a date or romantic location. He’s got some rational cause to think the way he does.
None of which excuses Tip’s lack of human empathy and emotional intelligence.
I don’t like Unity either, since she’s a terrifying weapon of mass destruction, but she at least has the excuse of being a swarm of nanobots created by a near-mad scientist specifically TO BE a terrifying weapon of mass destruction. Her inclination toward violence is the product of her creation as a tool of violence.
But Tip? He’s just some crossdresser who was in the army and then became a psychologist (or so he claims, anyway – we’ve never seen proof he’s got a degree). He doesn’t have any inherent reason to treat other people like garbage – he just does it because he randomly doesn’t give a damn about anyone other than himself.
Unity is monstrous because she was built to be a monster. But Tip? He’s monstrous just because he can be. He has no excuse.
well… he IS a psychologist.
You despise Tip and Unity – two of the three major characters who have been around since day one – and yet here you are. If you truly dislike them so much, why didn’t you just quit reading the comic ages ago? It’s not like anyone’s forcing you to do it. And if don’t hate them quite that much, then at the very least, tolerate them in silence, so the rest of us can enjoy the story.
Really, you don’t have to like all the characters to like the story. My wife and I gobble up Game of Thrones, but Joffrey Lannister, Circe Lannister, and Ramsay Bolton are about the most despicable characters ever written. Noting that doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of the series a whit.
Putting in my two cents, I actually like reading people providing criticism in the comment thread. Maybe this isn’t the place for it, but I do like having reviews – including negative ones – attached to things, where I can read them or not as I please.
You’re .. not entirely wrong. If it comes to that Sweetheart’s pretty screwed up and petty as well. That’s … kind of what the strip’s about?
Also, Frasier Crane is an insufferably pompous ass, Basil Fawlty is not a fit person to run a hotel, the Blackadder family is just a long line of sociopaths, and don’t even get me started on the Gellers and their Friends. That’s comedy, folks.
Fundamentally, I have to agree — but isn’t both this strip *and* Narbonic in part about the humour value of dissonance between characters who are fundamentally awful people you’d hate spending any time around *but yet* who are amusing to read about?
It takes considerable skill to produce people who commit mass murder and laugh about it but who are also endearingly cute and feel like the best boss ever, even though they fairly routinely e.g. kill or massively abuse their staff (Helen), people whose only response to anything is to kill it with fire or, if you’re really unlucky, hit it with the law (Mell), or people who are basically a parody of every dreadful boss ever (Sweetheart)… but who are *nonetheless somehow likeable people*.
This sort of balancing act is fundamental to a lot of “semirealistic” comic strip comedy, particularly in the mad science zone, where you’re never quite sure whether a given thing is satire, social commentary, just intentionally ridiculous, or presented straight. For me, this balancing act works. It sounds like it doesn’t for you.
Ooooh..Jealousy is painful, isn’t it?
This makes me happy and relieves a tension I’ve been feeling for quite a while in this series.
True! It very much fits in plot-arc terms, I guess – but after the first few weeks, the continuing no-mojo Tip always felt a bit wrong.
Can we all agree to the fact that Tip absolutely ROCKS in that outfit? I mean, wow!
Agreed! And if the understated elegance of panel two is any indication of the understatement in panel one…
He looks amazing in it! Very elegant and fashionable. It’s good to see a sign that he is back to being him again.
I was hoping for something less elegant and more vulnerable. But the big problem is that he missed his mark. His foot sticks out past the edge of panel two. Completely unprofessional.
When did last time we see Tip in dresses?
I mean, I just get too used with Tip wearing hobo outfits that seeing him get fabulous again kinda take me off-guard.
2017-09-07, right before the court scene.
It’s been over a *year*?!
Dunno exactly why, but I’m getting kinda Ozma vibes off of Tip this strip.
Yeah. me too. Flower and necklace mostly. Good place for it too.
https://vovatia.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/the-rare-beauty-of-ozma/
What, offscreen? Shaenon, you monster!
Well if she ever starts a Slipshine….
Aye, this!
Argh. Meant to be a reply to fcdesjardins.
Oh, yeah, he’s back.
“There you goes, thinking you’re all that. But you are not as charming as you think you are, sir.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Them big old Dumbo ears.”
“Look at you with them chicken legs…B-bawk!”
This makes me wonder (more) when we’ll see the Abbess, if at all. Between Captain Beyond, Tip, and then Unity’s induction into the Notaries Public, the power of Funk may compel it.
Mind, I’d also like to see more of Sweetheart’s superpowers in action. They’re pawsome!
Theory: Tip’s lack of understanding has something to do with his being tied to The Man, while being an agent of Funk.
UNITY in panel three: “Tip, you look so good I could just eat you!”
Tip subconscious in panel three: “Oh, I hope she’s speaking metaphorically.”
He’s lucky the Emperor Norton gave his royal audience dress back.
Yay! Tip in drag is MUCH better than Tip-the-drag.
Capt. Wilkins, presenting for duty, in local mufti, for going undercover as only he can.
My heart leapt to see Tip back to, err, normal. I hope we get a few flashbacks of hot, funky lovin’ in the nearish future!
My real question is, how do you clean zombie drippings out of that dress so quicly and well, and can their technique take out chablis and taco sauce stains on a wedding dress that belonged to uhh, a friend’s mom, who may or may not be me?