Everything about this strip is so wonderful! The vantage points, dynamic transition effects, coloring, close-ups – just marvelous artwork that truly does Nick justice!
It’s a shame Dr. Lee isn’t present to witness this moment…
“You wretched, walking worms?” No, Nick, that’s Mad Scientist talk – you’re the Unnatural Creation of Science, remember? Something more along the line of “Now begins the end of mankind’s rule” or just a terrifying half-mechanical shriek would be more appropriate.
The perimeter searchlights are down. Nick’s cranky and wearing a frown. He’s here to pluck chickens so start to look stricken, so no funny business, you clowns.
Despite his rage, he is still a pacifist. So while I’m getting the impression that violence-adjacent options became available, I don’t think murder is on the list. Then again, he is the ultimate hacker, a fledgling hivemind, very creative, and very intelligent. Violence-adjacent is already quite terrifying.
If he truly believed Virginia’s life was in imminent danger, and he truly believed it was the only way to save her, I honestly think he could kill someone.
Of course, he’s already demonstrated the ability to use his guns to disarm someone without actually harming them.
Shaenon: I meant to tell you we got the drawing of the mommy, daddy, and baby snake. It’s adorable. It came out perfectly. Thank you for doing that for us. Once we have it framed and on the wall I’ll send you a photo.
It’s not as silly as you seem to think. Helen has to take some of the blame for not thinking ahead when she created Artie.
By the same token, yes, Virginia could be given partial credit for giving Nick the abilities he needed to get to this point. Yes, ultimately, he had to choose to get here, but he never could have if it weren’t for her preparations beforehand.
No, it doesn’t exactly “count as Virginia saving herself”, but she did play a very important part in it. It’s just that her part happened a long time ago.
Virginia’s life would have been completely different if she hadn’t become involved in the Homunculus programme. She’d probably still be happily working for Anasigma rather than being locked up by them, and the “new war” may never have started.
A lot of other decisions fed into all of this, most of them made by other characters. To say that this was Virginia’s doing is to diminish Nick, Ira and everyone else who contributed.
Everyone’s lives would be different if she hadn’t worked on the Whirligig project. Nick would probably still be holed up in his real apartment, in his original meat body, playing video games and eating ramen noodles. Without Nick to get them there quickly (and to later save their hides), Skin Horse would have failed to stop the werewolf apocalypse in Alaska. Who knows what else would be different.
But Virginia is a good-hearted woman. It was inevitable that she would choose to leave A-Sig. Working with Nick – and with Skin Horse – just accelerated her realization of how evil her job was.
Nick isn’t mad, but boy is he MAD, and slightly mad with power.
Honestly, after that second panel I feel like he could make a case that going Mad and I wouldn’t be able to argue– 😛
Go, nick, deliver some poetic justice!
Impressive, but Nick really needs a serape here for the full effect.
With or without the cast iron insert?
Depends on which movie he’s pulling from.
Keep plucking that chicken!
No! The CDC warned us about things like that causing salmonella!
But he’ll go blind!
I think he’s all out of bubblegum…
Tip, you are a national treasure.
He is indeed! Tip has supersoldier competence in combat.
And he’s just there to translate…
Be afraid, Anasigma.
https://youtu.be/i4vAZZ8iLGY?t=80
Everything about this strip is so wonderful! The vantage points, dynamic transition effects, coloring, close-ups – just marvelous artwork that truly does Nick justice!
It’s a shame Dr. Lee isn’t present to witness this moment…
Pancha did a beautiful job on the colors.
The glowing haze around the neon is a great touch.
But can Tip speak jive?
https://youtu.be/g0j2dVuhr6s
Given his history with Tigerlilly Jones, most likely.
He can, but with a bit of a Turkish accent. If I’ve understood Tigerlily correctly.
“Now spit.”
Well, ar least we won’t need a serape.
Tip: “And when i say he is cranky, its with capital letters. I’ve warned you all”
“You wretched, walking worms?” No, Nick, that’s Mad Scientist talk – you’re the Unnatural Creation of Science, remember? Something more along the line of “Now begins the end of mankind’s rule” or just a terrifying half-mechanical shriek would be more appropriate.
No, that’s him having gotten used to the profanity filter talk and possibly even liking the word alternatives it used to use more.
Scream, then leap.
Yes, I found Nick’s challenge verbose
That line reminded me of this:
https://youtu.be/fg1OTnb1mgY
I’m into it. I’m extremely into it.
Cue the Ennio Morricone soundtrack for panel two.
Either that, or Jason’s theme from Friday the 13th. Depending on how “cranky” he really is at this point.
Is “He’s cranky” the reason he needs translation or the first line of said translation? I can’t tell.
I’m waiting for his plane body to fly up, show off its guns, and DARE them to make him wait.
Now, Nick, try and remember this lack-of-fear when you propose to Dr. Lee.
(Squeaky, cracking voice) “MARRIED??!!??!!
(Nick faints)
Nick is going to rampage. There will be more damage than when Sweetheart rampages but less than when Unity does.
Not much help.
That’s an extremely wide range of rampage.
Then again, in this context both quantity and quality count.
“Makes Popcorn”
The perimeter searchlights are down. Nick’s cranky and wearing a frown. He’s here to pluck chickens so start to look stricken, so no funny business, you clowns.
*Applause*
You tell ’em, Nick!
I don’t think he even needs his other body at this point.
Comments reply system broken today?
Huge missed opportunity to go: “My name is Nicholas Zerhakker. You kidnapped my girlfriend. Prepare to die!”
Repeated at ten-second intervals.
Despite his rage, he is still a pacifist. So while I’m getting the impression that violence-adjacent options became available, I don’t think murder is on the list. Then again, he is the ultimate hacker, a fledgling hivemind, very creative, and very intelligent. Violence-adjacent is already quite terrifying.
If he truly believed Virginia’s life was in imminent danger, and he truly believed it was the only way to save her, I honestly think he could kill someone.
Of course, he’s already demonstrated the ability to use his guns to disarm someone without actually harming them.
Zoë: “Preacher, don’t the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killin’?”
Book: “Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.”
— Firefly, episode 9 “War Stories”
I AM THE DREAD HELICOPTER ZERHAKKER AND THERE WILL BE NO SURVIVORS! THE DREAD COPTER ZERHAKKER IS HERE FOR YOUR SOULS!
As long as the translator does not get so far behind they need to bring out the puppets for additional visual aids
He’s not a pheasant plucker, he’s a pheasant plucker’s friend. He’s only plucking pheasants because they kidnapped his girlfriend and he’s pissed.
Or something like that.
Shaenon: I meant to tell you we got the drawing of the mommy, daddy, and baby snake. It’s adorable. It came out perfectly. Thank you for doing that for us. Once we have it framed and on the wall I’ll send you a photo.
Oh, wonderful! I’m glad it reached you safely.
If Nick saves Virginia does that count as Virginia saving herself as she empowered Nick to do so and also gave him the motivation?
caelomius: That would be like saying that Helen did this to herself, which would be silly.
(if the link doesn’t work, it should be narbonic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/060301.jpg)
It’s not as silly as you seem to think. Helen has to take some of the blame for not thinking ahead when she created Artie.
By the same token, yes, Virginia could be given partial credit for giving Nick the abilities he needed to get to this point. Yes, ultimately, he had to choose to get here, but he never could have if it weren’t for her preparations beforehand.
No, it doesn’t exactly “count as Virginia saving herself”, but she did play a very important part in it. It’s just that her part happened a long time ago.
Virginia’s life would have been completely different if she hadn’t become involved in the Homunculus programme. She’d probably still be happily working for Anasigma rather than being locked up by them, and the “new war” may never have started.
A lot of other decisions fed into all of this, most of them made by other characters. To say that this was Virginia’s doing is to diminish Nick, Ira and everyone else who contributed.
Everyone’s lives would be different if she hadn’t worked on the Whirligig project. Nick would probably still be holed up in his real apartment, in his original meat body, playing video games and eating ramen noodles. Without Nick to get them there quickly (and to later save their hides), Skin Horse would have failed to stop the werewolf apocalypse in Alaska. Who knows what else would be different.
But Virginia is a good-hearted woman. It was inevitable that she would choose to leave A-Sig. Working with Nick – and with Skin Horse – just accelerated her realization of how evil her job was.
I was think more along the lines of that time arty jumped off a flying ship to save helens life.
“You wretched walking worms” is pretty damn good.
They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
But they forgot to mention, the fury of a boyfriend can be quite fierce too.