Even throwaway gags become important

[JonahFalcon]

Looking back at some of the strips, I find it amazing that even throwaway gags can have massive import.

In #1112, Durkon subjects the High Priest of Hel to a workplace orientation to torture him. However, the priest giving the orientation points out Wall of Names Of Very Rich Donors, which Durkon seems to be interested in. We find out later Durkon saw his mother's name on the wall, and confronted her about it, which led to Durkon's epiphany about "worst days of one's life", which then led to him using his memories to defeat the High Priest of Hel!

[Keltest]

I rather suspect that was not meant to be a throwaway gag so much as Durkon disguising his intent behind showing that memory.

[JonahFalcon]

I rather suspect that was not meant to be a throwaway gag so much as Durkon disguising his intent behind showing that memory.

At the time, it was a throwaway gag... and it was written by Rich Burlew, not Durkon.

[Keltest]

At the time, it was a throwaway gag... and it was written by Rich Burlew, not Durkon.

It appeared to be a throwaway gag. That's not the same thing.

[Peelee]

At the time, it was a throwaway gag... and it was written by Rich Burlew, not Durkon.

At the time, it was foreshadowing. That you didn't see it that way until the hammer fell doesn't mean it wasn't. Also, how would Durkon write anything IRL?

[Caerulea]

That it was brought up again indicates that it was not just a throwaway gag. I agree that it was forshadowing.


At the time, it was foreshadowing. That you didn't see it that way until the hammer fell
doesn't mean it wasn't. Also, how would Durkon write anything IRL?

Ask Thor to bring it up when creating the next world (our world??).

[Peelee]

Ask Thor to bring it up when creating the next world (our world??).

Nah, we live in a different reality. We are an א quiddity world. As real as it gets, baby!

[Linneris]

At the time, it was a throwaway gag... and it was written by Rich Burlew, not Durkon.

One of the inscriptions on the wall reads "Sigdi Thundershield" if deciphered, so the twist was already planned when Rich produced that strip.

[Fyraltari]

It was foreshadowing disguised as a gag (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGag).
Better examples of gags becoming important would be Explosive Runes and Blackwing.

Nah, we live in a different reality. We are an א quiddity world. As real as it gets, baby!
Philip K. **** wants a word with you.
EDIT: Of course I can't write Horselover Fat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._****)'s actual name, why could I?

EDIT2: Wait, I can't even write it inside the links? I'm speaking about the guy who wrote Ubik (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubik).

[D.One]

It was foreshadowing disguised as a gag (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGag).
Better examples of gags becoming important would be Explosive Runes and Blackwing.

Philip K. **** wants a word with you.
EDIT: Of course I can't write Horselover Fat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._****)'s actual name, why could I?

EDIT2: Wait, I can't even write it inside the links? I'm speaking about the guy who wrote Ubik (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubik).

Shame on him for having such a name :smallbiggrin:

On a side note, you couldn't write first Robin's name (or nickname, to be precise) either...

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Philip K. **** wants a word with you.
EDIT: Of course I can't write Horselover Fat's actual name, why could I?


Yes, you can write Philip K. **** so long as you are talking about the author, and not the anatomical part. The mods allow bypassing the auto-filter in such occasions. Any misuse will of course be doubly-penalized: once for using words the forum doesn't want used, and once for deliberately breaking the rules.

As to the original post: I don't see how hiding away a piece of the puzzle inside a different puzzle is "a gag". It was not funny. it is, on the other hand, the kind of background detail that then turns out to be important. I.e. foreshadowing.

Grey Wolf

[Fyraltari]

Yes, you can write Philip K. **** so long as you are talking about the author

Ooh, that's a clever trick.

[NerdyKris]

At the time, it was a throwaway gag... and it was written by Rich Burlew, not Durkon.


One of the inscriptions on the wall reads "Sigdi Thundershield" if deciphered, so the twist was already planned when Rich produced that strip.

Do people really think Rich is just writing the story by the seat of his pants, with no planning, and just got lucky that there was a wall of donors already mentioned?

How do people think stories are written? Yes, all of the memories Durkon showed the vampire were intentionally chosen to build a specific narrative about Durkon's life that would allow him to overwhelm the vampire with the revelation about why Durkon grew up poor. Rich wasn't just showing random memories for the last couple years before deciding to tie them all together with a theme that just happened to be there by chance.

[Grey_Wolf_c]

Ooh, that's a clever trick.

Credit's where credit's due, the trick was taught to us by our resident mod/tech guru, Rawhide.

Grey Wolf

[Mad Humanist]

Do people really think Rich is just writing the story by the seat of his pants, with no planning, and just got lucky that there was a wall of donors already mentioned?

How do people think stories are written? Yes, all of the memories Durkon showed the vampire were intentionally chosen to build a specific narrative about Durkon's life that would allow him to overwhelm the vampire with the revelation about why Durkon grew up poor. Rich wasn't just showing random memories for the last couple years before deciding to tie them all together with a theme that just happened to be there by chance.


Sigdi's name on the wall was clearly and planned as foreshadowing (as Grey Wolf eloquently points out). It is much more amazing for us when sentient movie snacks turn out to be important or when there is a callback to the Thor helpline.

[D.One]

Sigdi's name on the wall was clearly and planned as foreshadowing (as Grey Wolf eloquently points out). It is much more amazing for us when sentient movie snacks turn out to be important or when there is a callback to the Thor helpline.

Which makes me think if Fruit Pie (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0091.html) will ever be remembered... :smallconfused:

[thelivingmonkey]

Which makes me think if Fruit Pie (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0091.html) will ever be remembered... :smallconfused:

He is remembered in our hearts!

[D.One]

He is remembered in our hearts!

And depending on how much sugar and cholesterol he had, he's remembered by our hearts... :smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

[xroads]

I suspect that sometimes it's foreshadowing.

And sometimes it's a callback. Rich has spent years developing an in depth story. And callbacks are a popular trope among fans. So why not take advantage of some of those "throw away gags?"

[KorvinStarmast]

Nah, we live in a different reality. We are an א quiddity world. That might explain my birthmark.

[Peelee]

That might explain my birthmark.

If you have a birthmark in that shape, you just became infinitely more cool. Countably!