The thing about a nuclear device that media usually fails to mention is that unless it initiates in exactly the right way then you just get a fairly large explosion that scatters radioactive material around the area. Which is generally a bad thing yes, but not quite “chain reacting nuclear fission event” bad.
And the Biomass is perfectly capable of dealing with “just” a fairly large explosion and some radiation.
Well, I do hope that’s what is supposed to have happened. I have a healthy respect for atomic weapons, and frankly I feel my Inner Sergeant-Major [1] straining to get out. (The Biomass’s powers were, I thought, generally biological in nature. Has it absorbed enough mad scientists – high end ones – to mimic their reality-bending abilities?)
more’n half my training with nuclear weapons was about how to disable them, and “digestive acid bath in a monster’s tummy” seems like a better choice than the various dirty bomb techniques i learned.
…okay… I officially have no idea where this is going next.
Nothing wrong with such a silly method of eliminating a threat (particularly in the Narboniverse), but… it’s only been four strips since the stakes were raised massively (there are few tension-building dramatic tropes as overwhelming as the Nuclear Option) and now all that tension is wholly and instantly undone via Looney Tunes logic / physics. It’s just sort of extreme tonal and narrative whiplash, and I haven’t the foggiest what it portends…
Narrative whiplash happens fairly often in Skin Horse, actually. A lot of times you think some sort of terrible battle is going to happen and then you have Nick in an insult contest with a talking microphone stand.
Eh, it’s just a few kilos of uranium or plutonium, so turn it into a nice stable oxide. Pure heavy metals are not healthy to keep around, but really not as terrible as the alarmists would have you believe. All that “plutonium is the deadliest element in the world!!1!” bullshit. Reduced to a fine powder and spread around, yeah, very bad. Otherwise, not so much.
If only all nuclear devices could be disabled this way. The world would be so peaceful. But I have a feeling there is going to be some negative consequences with this, because Mr. Green is pretty good at out-smarting people/Monsters/Sapients.
You know I love this organic living.
I’m always after more
So they call me the Greater H. T.
No longer a carnivore.
I cultivate fine flora,
No pesticide on my clips.
And I’ve spread so far over Pennsylvania
As a plant-based dictatorship,
Yes, I have…
But sometimes I stake out devices,
That they use up against our tree.
Say, a thermonuclear weapon,
With the bad kind of beep, you see.
I look with extreme displeasure,
Give a glance from pole to pole.
Then I stretch out my jaw and body,
And I swallow it down whole.
Yeah, for the most part, I’m Greater H. T.,
Just as vegan as you can see.
But sometimes a good nuclear flukie,
Will do the dinner for me.
—from “Junk Food Junkie,” performed (and probably written) by Larry Groce.
We already knew HT is more plant matter than tiger now (and Nick demonstrating it by shooting him to pieces was hilarious), but this really drives it home.
The bad kind of beep can be heard. It’s beneath their concern, so observe! It seemed kind of dicey but was actually spicy. Now a mint instead of hors d’oevres.
It literally never occurred to me until this very moment that we might be building toward a happy ending. Now I’m burdened with hope. ;p
I. . . What?
The thing about a nuclear device that media usually fails to mention is that unless it initiates in exactly the right way then you just get a fairly large explosion that scatters radioactive material around the area. Which is generally a bad thing yes, but not quite “chain reacting nuclear fission event” bad.
And the Biomass is perfectly capable of dealing with “just” a fairly large explosion and some radiation.
Well, I do hope that’s what is supposed to have happened. I have a healthy respect for atomic weapons, and frankly I feel my Inner Sergeant-Major [1] straining to get out. (The Biomass’s powers were, I thought, generally biological in nature. Has it absorbed enough mad scientists – high end ones – to mimic their reality-bending abilities?)
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ANufwUPFm8&t=2s
more’n half my training with nuclear weapons was about how to disable them, and “digestive acid bath in a monster’s tummy” seems like a better choice than the various dirty bomb techniques i learned.
Respect!
This has got to be the silliest thing you’ve ever drawn
and I fucking love it!
Narbonic has many sillier situations, but it would ruin the experience to type about them.
They may be OK – unless Anasigma drops RoundUp on them.
The Biomass has undoubtedly assimilated many Roundup Ready crops, it would be no problem.
Good point!
Including pigweed (Palmer amaranth). https://www.farmprogress.com/management/herbicide-resistant-pigweed-real-nightmare
Part of what makes this comic so great is that it’s so close to real life.
Wait what?
Also, that second panel is really well done!
Well…. The biomass is virtually indestructable. Thats not good….HT is gonna use that.
Never would’ve guessed this resolution to the problem in a million years. What a set of panels. Amazing work.
Well, of course none of us would have guessed it in a million years. We’ll all be dead by then.
Like an Atomic Fireball, only a few thousand degrees hotter.
…okay… I officially have no idea where this is going next.
Nothing wrong with such a silly method of eliminating a threat (particularly in the Narboniverse), but… it’s only been four strips since the stakes were raised massively (there are few tension-building dramatic tropes as overwhelming as the Nuclear Option) and now all that tension is wholly and instantly undone via Looney Tunes logic / physics. It’s just sort of extreme tonal and narrative whiplash, and I haven’t the foggiest what it portends…
Narrative whiplash happens fairly often in Skin Horse, actually. A lot of times you think some sort of terrible battle is going to happen and then you have Nick in an insult contest with a talking microphone stand.
There is a fundamental reason for this, of course. Terrible battles are really, really hard to draw. (Also, less funny.)
Especially less funny.
Can’t you grow your own mint, fur(/fern)ball?
This is like Coyote-level shenanigans! And that’s a high bar.
Wile E.? Or the other guy hanging around Gunnerkrigg Court?
Feels like Mr. Green is left holding the umbrella.
Coyote is the stories we tell about him, so both.
A very Hungry Tiger indeed. I wonder what the resultant radioactivity will do to the Biomass, though…
Eh, it’s just a few kilos of uranium or plutonium, so turn it into a nice stable oxide. Pure heavy metals are not healthy to keep around, but really not as terrible as the alarmists would have you believe. All that “plutonium is the deadliest element in the world!!1!” bullshit. Reduced to a fine powder and spread around, yeah, very bad. Otherwise, not so much.
Indeed. The Patterson Power Cell was able to transmute nuclear waste.
Oh this, this is beautiful. I approve of this choice- and the gorgeous visualization of how it was handled- 100%.
“There was a bomb! He … ate it.”
If only all nuclear devices could be disabled this way. The world would be so peaceful. But I have a feeling there is going to be some negative consequences with this, because Mr. Green is pretty good at out-smarting people/Monsters/Sapients.
You’ll pay the price for that meal later, H. T…
You DO NOT want to be around HT when he burps!
Or farts
Or has “morning breath”
Or grows to Godzilla size
Or produces his next batch of droppings.
Then again, “China Syndrome Poop” would seem to be on-brand for this comic.
“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”
That second panel is everything I ever wanted in my comics thank you
I love this solution! And the idea of it being “spicy”. Do we think jalapeno spicy, or more like a vinegary flavor?
I’m thinking ghost peppers.
Oooooh. Valid.
I thought HT said “it’s beneath our concern *flow*”, not “it’s beneath our concern now.” Concern flow is a wonderful phrase.
It really is.
Every panel is brilliant. HT’s tail in panel 3 says so much. I love the way problems get resolved in Skin Horse.
Wow, BOB, wow.
Well, that’s… very Coyote-like
I would say Tasmanian Devil – like
Ever watched “The Mask” movie or cartoon series?
That’s a SPICY meatball!
A mint, not an antacid?
Tyger, Tyger glowing bright,
In the biomass tonight,
Radiation’s but a hint,
To soothe your stomach with a mint.
Perfection
+1
Very nice!
That . . . , was unexpected.
Seriously. Still sounds like Tony Jay.
That was a lovely and disarming moment. Especially panel 2.
I was expecting something along those lines, but the artwork in panel 2 really makes it. Hilariously and disturbing all at once!
You know I love this organic living.
I’m always after more
So they call me the Greater H. T.
No longer a carnivore.
I cultivate fine flora,
No pesticide on my clips.
And I’ve spread so far over Pennsylvania
As a plant-based dictatorship,
Yes, I have…
But sometimes I stake out devices,
That they use up against our tree.
Say, a thermonuclear weapon,
With the bad kind of beep, you see.
I look with extreme displeasure,
Give a glance from pole to pole.
Then I stretch out my jaw and body,
And I swallow it down whole.
Yeah, for the most part, I’m Greater H. T.,
Just as vegan as you can see.
But sometimes a good nuclear flukie,
Will do the dinner for me.
—from “Junk Food Junkie,” performed (and probably written) by Larry Groce.
Applause!
Much better than Jim Carrey, BZ for HT
Ear squiggles. Yay!
We already knew HT is more plant matter than tiger now (and Nick demonstrating it by shooting him to pieces was hilarious), but this really drives it home.
I’ve read this five times and I laugh every time I reach panel 2.
The bad kind of beep can be heard. It’s beneath their concern, so observe! It seemed kind of dicey but was actually spicy. Now a mint instead of hors d’oevres.
Very good!