I love Gold Bug using a Wizard of Oz quote to make a point to Nick on the nature of his reality. The analogy is really cool, because, like Nick, the Emerald City’s residents and visitors are unable to take their glasses off and see things for what they really are. Of course, in later books the Emerald City really is made of emeralds… or at least emerald plated. Baum was never one for watertight continuity.
Or maybe someone took their spectacles off and was all, “OHSHIT! Someone swiped all the emerald! There’ll be a riot if this gets out!” and then personally coated the entire city in new sheets a little at a time so no-one would be any the wiser. Defacing public property and an act of purist heroism. It’s a match made in heaven.
Too bad the author died before writing that part of the story.
I always liked to believe that when Ozma rescued the Royal family of Ev, she raided the Nome Kings inventory. Ozma of Oz reads really well if you think the whole expenditure was really just a campaign to boost a new ruler’s public image domestically.
It’s not explicitly stated but it’s hinted Ozma replaced the fake emeralds with real.
Also, she had actual, it-just-works-because-magic at her disposal. Replacing all above-ground building materials with uber-strong glass (or transparent carbon crystal, if you prefer) that happens to be green would be a snap.
Others have pointed out that Sweetheart’s analogy is the Cowardly Lion, Unity has the Scarecrow, and Tip is Tip. I should be keeping track of the Wizard of Oz references in Skinhorse.
Does Nick actually see the quote? I can’t point to anything specific, but it feels like that pops up while his back is turned, and by the time he turns back it’s the fourth panel.
I think it’s just assumed that he actually reads everything on the screen before Goldbug changes the text. It’s kinda hard to illustrate full motion when you only have 4 panels.
And he DOES describe the hacker as hyper-literate, which wouldn’t make much sense without having seen the quote.
Don’t mind me, just passing through on yet another archive dive triggered this time by a link that poster “sheer_falacy” left on the 11/12/2019 strip…
I love Gold Bug using a Wizard of Oz quote to make a point to Nick on the nature of his reality. The analogy is really cool, because, like Nick, the Emerald City’s residents and visitors are unable to take their glasses off and see things for what they really are. Of course, in later books the Emerald City really is made of emeralds… or at least emerald plated. Baum was never one for watertight continuity.
Or maybe someone took their spectacles off and was all, “OHSHIT! Someone swiped all the emerald! There’ll be a riot if this gets out!” and then personally coated the entire city in new sheets a little at a time so no-one would be any the wiser. Defacing public property and an act of purist heroism. It’s a match made in heaven.
Too bad the author died before writing that part of the story.
It also makes a nice callback to Narbonic, where a quote from a different kids’ book prompted a life-changing realization in a different character. :3
I always liked to believe that when Ozma rescued the Royal family of Ev, she raided the Nome Kings inventory. Ozma of Oz reads really well if you think the whole expenditure was really just a campaign to boost a new ruler’s public image domestically.
It’s not explicitly stated but it’s hinted Ozma replaced the fake emeralds with real.
Also, she had actual, it-just-works-because-magic at her disposal. Replacing all above-ground building materials with uber-strong glass (or transparent carbon crystal, if you prefer) that happens to be green would be a snap.
Had to chuckle at the first panel, considering Goldbug was the only Transformer I had as a kid.
Others have pointed out that Sweetheart’s analogy is the Cowardly Lion, Unity has the Scarecrow, and Tip is Tip. I should be keeping track of the Wizard of Oz references in Skinhorse.
Does Nick actually see the quote? I can’t point to anything specific, but it feels like that pops up while his back is turned, and by the time he turns back it’s the fourth panel.
I think it’s just assumed that he actually reads everything on the screen before Goldbug changes the text. It’s kinda hard to illustrate full motion when you only have 4 panels.
And he DOES describe the hacker as hyper-literate, which wouldn’t make much sense without having seen the quote.
Don’t mind me, just passing through on yet another archive dive triggered this time by a link that poster “sheer_falacy” left on the 11/12/2019 strip…