Girl Genius XXV: It needs work! BUT THE CONCEPT IS SOUND!

[Manga Shoggoth]

It is a world ruled by Mad Science! Things happen. Usually, they happen to other people. This is entertainment. That's when the front door gets blown in- And you belatedly realize that, once again, you are doomed to be the entertainment in another exciting installment of: GIRL GENIUS (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071228)!

Many elegant, finely-crafted, and vintage links follow:

Links to Previous Threads
Girl Genius! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4818) (thread)
Girl Genius II (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80718)
Girl Genius III: Nize Thread! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92541)
Girl Genius IV: Because SCIENCE! is my mistress (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102230)
Girl Genius V: Madre de Diodes! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112305)
Girl Genius VI: Der Pestle in Der Kestle (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128538)
Girl Genius VII: Get on the Slab, I Want to Get to Work! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143909)
Girl Genius: VIII Will Show Them All! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159600)
Girl Genius IX: The Unstoppable Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173582)
Girl Genius X: The Othar Shoe Drops (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=189632)
Girl Genius XI: Ding Dong, the Baron's Dead! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207223)
Girl Genius XII: For Doom The Bell Tolls (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227697)
Girl Genius XIII: "Gott's Leedle Feesh in Trousers!" (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245508)
Girl Genius XIV: A Lightning Arc in All But Speed! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266978)
Girl Genius XV: The Weasel, the Spark, and the Wardrobe (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=287759)
Girl Genius XVI: The Wrath of Klaus (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?322309)
Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?365866)
Girl Genius XVIII: Invisible Hand of the Legendary Smoke Knights (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?412897)
Girl Genius XIX: Worth a Third of Your Grade (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?458545)
Girl Genius XX: Endothermic Life Forms Are Inherently Heretical (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?488904)
Girl Genius XXI: Cancel the Jugglers (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?510316)
Girl Genius XXII: Paris Needs Pants (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?529521-Girl-Genius-XXII-Paris-Needs-Pants)
Girl Genius XXIII: Screaming, Ranting and Egregious Violence (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?554543-Girl-Genius-XXIII-Screaming-Ranting-and-Egregious-Violence)
Girl Genius XXIV: Ask Vit a Bit More Terror (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?567668-Girl-Genius-XXIV-Ask-Vit-a-Bit-More-Terror)


Comic Links
Link to current comic (http://girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php) and link to the beginning of the strip. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104) (Updates MWF, usually after Midnight [Eastern Time])
The Continuing Adventures of Othar Tryggvassen, Gentleman Adventurer! (http://twitter.com/Othar) (back on hiatus, may update in the future)
A compilation (and much easier to read if you're just catching up) of the first three chapters can be found here at the GG website (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/fun/twitter_othar_01.php).
And if one goes to snapbird.org (http://snapbird.org/) and types in "Othar" in the 'Who?' field, all of Othar's adventures can be read on one page (albiet in reverse order of posting - Now must have a Twitter account to use).
Mirror of the comic found on LiveJournal (http://girlgeniuscomic.livejournal.com/) (No longer being updated as of Mid-May, 2017)
Mirror of the comic found on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Genius-Webcomic/28371352860?ref=nf) (Will occasionally have Girl Genius related news)
And one can find mirrors of Girl Genius on deviantArt as well (http://girlgeniuscomic.deviantart.com/). (Occasionally Kaja will put up or link to interesting GG related art that is found on dA)

Reference Links
Wiki Project devoted to to Girl Genius (http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/The_Department_of_Almost_Certainly_True_History)
Wikipedia entry on Girl Genius. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Genius)
TV Tropes page on Girl Genius. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GirlGenius)
The Secret Blueprints (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4272360&postcount=1478) (NOTE: Contains background information on the GG Universe, so it should probably be read after "catching up" to the newest comic, as it contains many spoilers.)

Social Media and News Links
Phil Foglio's new Wordpress art, news, and blogging website. (http://girlgeniusadventures.com/)
Kaja Foglio's LJ Page (http://kajafoglio.livejournal.com/) and Studio Foglio News LJ Page (http://studiofoglio.livejournal.com/) (Not currently being updated)
Kaja & Phil's Personal Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaja-Phil-Foglio/196305144555) (Not currently being updated)
A twitter account that basically is a catch-all feed for Girl Genius related news. (http://twitter.com/girlgenius)
Cheyenne Wright's Twitter (http://twitter.com/CheyenneWright) and LiveJournal Accounts (http://cheyennewright.livejournal.com/) (The colorist's twitter and LJ pages)
And finally,
Phil's old LJ page. (http://philfoglio.livejournal.com/) (Occasionally contains crossposts from the Wordpress website)

====

Q: What is this "Sneaky Gate" y'alls go on about?

Sneaky gate: Named from this hidden gate in comic (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071219), it has become a name for viewing new comics early. Remember, if you're going to discuss the new comic, put it in spoiler boxes until the release time (12am EST).

Sneaky Gate 101:

Right click the comic image.
Select view image or copy paste the image location into the address bar.
Modify the date to be the day you're trying to look at. (ex. 20120111 -> 20120113)
Go to the modified url.
Be disappointed when there's no early comic to read.
Alternately, enjoy the comic!

[SZbNAhL]

I bet Klaus designed the overlay to rush blood to Gil's forehead whenever he takes over, just so that it looks like he has dramatic underlighting.

[Rockphed]

Which may very well be how any technology that is "throw a lightning bolt at your targer" affects the air near the user.


The description of the air around Past Albia and the description of the air around Gil's lightning wand were basically identical. Greasy, and then a bolt of lightning was thrown.

Which might mean that the Other had time to prepare the location in advance (Gil had set up generators all around the castle).

Which might mean that one of the queens was working WITH Lucrezia.


"So there was this one time Bill's daughter threw a carriage at me."
*Glares menacingly*
"You totally had just killed Lars!"
"Who is Lars?"
*Glares menacingly too*

The overlay can here when Gil is unconscious (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180312#.XEjbCWmNyGQ) and just remember whatever it was that Albia & co did to him.

Here are some posts that happened after the new thread started.

I do wonder if after removing Lu from Agatha's head they will figure out how to shut down slaver wasps permanently.

[Fyraltari]

I do wonder if after removing Lu from Agatha's head they will figure out how to shut down slaver wasps permanently.

I think killing them does the trick. Or do you mean curing the revenants? They'd probably need access to a Hive Engine('s blueprint) to crack that one.

[Traab]

I mean, they have step 1. Identifying the infected. Theoretically they should be able to trace it back through there to find how it works and from there work on stopping it from doing that.

[Fyraltari]

I mean, they have step 1. Identifying the infected. Theoretically they should be able to trace it back through there to find how it works and from there work on stopping it from doing that.

That depends: can they study the wasp itself without killing the revenant?

[Ailurus]

That depends: can they study the wasp itself without killing the revenant?

I don't see why not. Of course, to do it the way I'm thinking would mean you have to find and capture a live slaver engine to study under controlled circumstances without it spewing out the wasps to infect anyone around. But that's what Jagers are for. If anyone can capture an engine, it is them. And now that I think about it, have we had any recorded cases of Jagers getting wasped? I can't recall any at least.

[Fyraltari]

I don't see why not. Of course, to do it the way I'm thinking would mean you have to find and capture a live slaver engine to study under controlled circumstances without it spewing out the wasps to infect anyone around. But that's what Jagers are for. If anyone can capture an engine, it is them. And now that I think about it, have we had any recorded cases of Jagers getting wasped? I can't recall any at least.

Yes, that is why I was saying they'd need a Slaver Engine. Traab was saying they could just use the infected.

[geoduck]

I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out dosing wasp-victims with Dyne water cures them, or at least Dyne water gets used as part of a cure. (Water that normal Mechanicsburgers drink, not the insta-deadly stuff under the Castle.)

[Rogar Demonblud]

The description of the air around Past Albia and the description of the air around Gil's lightning wand were basically identical. Greasy, and then a bolt of lightning was thrown.

Actually, that's standard for any massive electric discharge. It's just how your brain processes the signals your nerves send in.

[Teln]

And now that I think about it, have we had any recorded cases of Jagers getting wasped? I can't recall any at least.
No, there haven't been any Jaeger revenants seen or even mentioned in the comic. Which could mean anything from "it's a patently absurd idea and the cast knows it" to "it's very possible but the Foglios haven't placed the idea on the audience's radar yet".

[lord_khaine]

Slaver wasps dont affect Jagers.
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060327#.XEmfVGkh1aQ

So if this changes, it would require a specially developed wasp.

[factotum]

Slaver wasps dont affect Jagers.
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060327#.XEmfVGkh1aQ

So if this changes, it would require a specially developed wasp.

You mean, like the specially developed one that will affect Sparks?

[Traab]

Yes, that is why I was saying they'd need a Slaver Engine. Traab was saying they could just use the infected.

Exactly, they have those weasels that can sense revenants even when they look totally normal. That means they can detect something changed on them. It should be possible to them examine one of these revenants with everything from standard tests to full scale vivisection to determine exactly what the slaver wasps DO to enslave them and from there come up with a way to block it. A vaccine, or a cure, something. Heck, an energy field that blocks the mind control effect over a city, whatever. What one scientist creates, another can defeat.

[halfeye]

What one scientist creates, another can defeat.

I think you mean technologist. It is mainly restricted to fiction anyway.

[SZbNAhL]

I believe it was stated at some point that the wasps are a vector for some sort of virus. At any rate, Tarvek's already invented an innoculation and Gil seems to have developed it into a full-blown cure (if it wasn't one already) (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20131206#.XEnxFM3grIU), so it's really just a case of distributing it.

[Fyraltari]

Exactly, they have those weasels that can sense revenants even when they look totally normal. That means they can detect something changed on them. It should be possible to them examine one of these revenants with everything from standard tests to full scale vivisection to determine exactly what the slaver wasps DO to enslave them and from there come up with a way to block it. A vaccine, or a cure, something. Heck, an energy field that blocks the mind control effect over a city, whatever. What one scientist creates, another can defeat.
It's the slaver wasp (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061103#.XEoFGGmNyGQ) they detect (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120613#.XEoF9WmNyGQ).

I believe it was stated at some point that the wasps are a vector for some sort of virus. At any rate, Tarvek's already invented an innoculation and Gil seems to have developed it into a full-blown cure (if it wasn't one already) (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20131206#.XEnxFM3grIU), so it's really just a case of distributing it.
Oh, I didn't remember that. Nevermind then.

[Rogar Demonblud]

They also ping on the warrior variant, as we see later in the second arc.

[RedScholarGypsy]

I believe it was stated at some point that the wasps are a vector for some sort of virus. At any rate, Tarvek's already invented an innoculation and Gil seems to have developed it into a full-blown cure (if it wasn't one already) (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20131206#.XEnxFM3grIU), so it's really just a case of distributing it.

Sadly it's still just a vaccine (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120316#.XEpCNu5Ok0N) and not a cure. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150610#.XEo_Bu5Ok0M)

[wingnutx]

New thread tag...

[BannedInSchool]

I do wonder how far Ms. Thorpe will go in conspiring with the baron against Gil. If she's actually started to like him, she should feel bad about that sort of thing. If it's all for queen and country, then who knows what these two will cook up.

Well...there we go. Kudos. :smallwink:

[Ellen]

There's nothing as bad as parents interfering in your love life, is there? I suppose this is another thing sparks overdo in ways that are a hundred times crazier than anything normal people could dream of.

Oh, wait, there's another terrifying thing about being a Heterodyne. You come from generations of sparks who've raised messing with their kids to an art form.

Although, being in your son's head and interrupting his conversation to tell the woman he was talking to you want her to marry him and get rid of the competition is worth a series of horror movies all its own.

[geoduck]

When we finally meet Klaus's wife, it will be interesting to see just how "likeable" she is.

[PraetorDragoon]

We have seen the Heterodyne's Child Rooms, and yet I still think they're better than certain parents I know.

[factotum]

Although, being in your son's head and interrupting his conversation to tell the woman he was talking to you want her to marry him and get rid of the competition is worth a series of horror movies all its own.

It's interesting that, when the Klaus gestalt is in control, Gil isn't aware of what he's saying or doing, but the reverse is definitely not true--Klaus is fully aware of what happened when Gil was in Albia's sanctuary. Does Lucrezia in Agatha work the same way? I can't remember.

[SZbNAhL]

Sadly it's still just a vaccine (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120316#.XEpCNu5Ok0N) and not a cure. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150610#.XEo_Bu5Ok0M)

Ah, you're right. Dimo must have been talking about people who were wasped after receiving the vaccine. Still, we never found a cure for smallpox or polio, and the vaccines cleared those up nicely.

[Fyraltari]

It's interesting that, when the Klaus gestalt is in control, Gil isn't aware of what he's saying or doing, but the reverse is definitely not true--Klaus is fully aware of what happened when Gil was in Albia's sanctuary. Does Lucrezia in Agatha work the same way? I can't remember.
Lucrezia didn't work that way at first when she kept switching with Agatha and Tarvek pretended to help both, neither could remember what the other was up to. Since Agatha has the locket it seems like Lu has gained some abitilty to percieve her surroundings as shown with the incident in Van rijn's lab.

Also a gestalt is a merger of several entities, so the Klaus overlay is not one.

[ProdigySorcerer]

I like Trelawney's comeback to Klaus.

I'm getting more and more intrigued about Klaus's wife and I hope we get sufficient pages to the whole reveal/reunion when it happens.

Also damnit Klaus don't you know the rules if you're against Gil marrying Agatha the probability of it happening approaches 100%.

[datalaughing]

When we finally meet Klaus's wife, it will be interesting to see just how "likeable" she is.

Anytime Zeetha talks about her mom, we get the impression that she's a strong queen and a great warrior, but I've never gotten any warm and fuzzies off of any of Zeetha's mentions of her.

[SZbNAhL]

I think Klaus is more making a self-deprecating joke "Gil must have got his likability from his mother because he sure as heck didn't get it from me" than specifically calling Queen ... do we know her name? I'll just call her The Queen of Skif ... than specifically calling The Queen of Skif likable.

[Traab]

I think Klaus is more making a self-deprecating joke "Gil must have got his likability from his mother because he sure as heck didn't get it from me" than specifically calling Queen ... do we know her name? I'll just call her The Queen of Skif ... than specifically calling The Queen of Skif likable.

Yeah thats the reading I got from it. And now I wonder, hmmmmm. Thorpe doesnt seem too happy about this. I get the feeling that while she was relatively happy using her own charms to woo gil, the idea of his dad basically forcing the issue disturbs her a bit. Enough to back off? Also, she got strangely unattractive in that last panel. Like she looks like a guy in a wig bad.

[lord_khaine]

Klaus himself were known as a flirt and a heartbreaker in his younger years.
Likely before the weight of the empire wore him down. The same likely applied to his wife. After all something must have drawn him to her.

[eee]

Give it up, Klaus. If you try to stand in the way of True Love, you'll just get flattened.

[HandofShadows]

Well that is Klaus, but his reasoning seems a little off here. Like he's making excuses. He certainly knows how to be intimidating though. :smalleek:

[RedScholarGypsy]

The question I'd ask Klaus in the shell is when exactly he plans on fully removing himself from Gil? If there is no exit clause he explicitly states with a clear delineation (Gil marries someone else / Agatha marries someone else being the best example) then I'd pressure him to make one. I'm not convinced he would give up control of the empire completely. Remember all villains are heroes of their own story.

[HandofShadows]

Klaus originally was supposed to be much more evil than he turned out to be. I am sure that Klaus put a "remove copy app" in Gil's head that can be triggered safely. It could be automatic when certain events occur, namely when the real one is free. While Klaus fights very hard for the Empire, if it came down to choice of Empire or Gil, the Empire will loose every time.

[xroads]

Lucrezia didn't work that way at first when she kept switching with Agatha and Tarvek pretended to help both, neither could remember what the other was up to. Since Agatha has the locket it seems like Lu has gained some abitilty to percieve her surroundings as shown with the incident in Van rijn's lab.

Also a gestalt is a merger of several entities, so the Klaus overlay is not one.

Another possibility is that Lucrezia actually was cognizant of her surroundings when Tarvek was trying to pull the wool over her eyes. She may have just pretended not to be. I wouldn't put it past her to play along, as long it benefited her. Especially if she figured she could manipulate him. And if she figured Tarvek was lying to Agatha about wanting to help her.

Who knows how many layers of deception (and self-deception), Lucrezia is capable of.

[lord_khaine]

Klaus originally was supposed to be much more evil than he turned out to be. I am sure that Klaus put a "remove copy app" in Gil's head that can be triggered safely. It could be automatic when certain events occur, namely when the real one is free. While Klaus fights very hard for the Empire, if it came down to choice of Empire or Gil, the Empire will loose every time.

Do we know that for certain?
Klaus does do a lot of things you could call evil. But unfortunately they also just sadly seems to be justified in a lot of cases.
(for most sparks, brain coring Other is a logical decision)

[eee]

Klaus originally was supposed to be much more evil than he turned out to be. I am sure that Klaus put a "remove copy app" in Gil's head that can be triggered safely. It could be automatic when certain events occur, namely when the real one is free. While Klaus fights very hard for the Empire, if it came down to choice of Empire or Gil, the Empire will loose every time.

It's also possible this is what Bohrlaikha is for. The copy malfunctions or begins a destructive course of action, our favorite giant female clank turns it off.

[Fyraltari]

Anytime Zeetha talks about her mom, we get the impression that she's a strong queen and a great warrior, but I've never gotten any warm and fuzzies off of any of Zeetha's mentions of her.
What about this (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120423#.XEs_qmmNyGQ)?

I think Klaus is more making a self-deprecating joke "Gil must have got his likability from his mother because he sure as heck didn't get it from me" than specifically calling Queen ... do we know her name? I'll just call her The Queen of Skif ... than specifically calling The Queen of Skif likable.
I'm sure Zeetha mentionned her name once, but I don't recall when.

The question I'd ask Klaus in the shell is when exactly he plans on fully removing himself from Gil? If there is no exit clause he explicitly states with a clear delineation (Gil marries someone else / Agatha marries someone else being the best example) then I'd pressure him to make one. I'm not convinced he would give up control of the empire completely. Remember all villains are heroes of their own story.
Once the Other is dealt with and the real Klaus is free is the plan, I think.

Another possibility is that Lucrezia actually was cognizant of her surroundings when Tarvek was trying to pull the wool over her eyes. She may have just pretended not to be. I wouldn't put it past her to play along, as long it benefited her. Especially if she figured she could manipulate him. And if she figured Tarvek was lying to Agatha about wanting to help her.

Who knows how many layers of deception (and self-deception), Lucrezia is capable of.
I doubt it (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061009#.XEtAlmmNyGQ).

[Narkis]

Queen Zantabraxus (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180608)

[SZbNAhL]

Queen Zantabraxus (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180608)

Ah, thank you.

[HandofShadows]

Ah, now I know why this seems a little false to me. This Page (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070709#.XEtVXuTsYdU). Klaus is worried about any woman who is a spark. And Thorpe is a spark so that makes it a little off that Klaus would be trying to set up Gil with her.

And doesn't Queen Zantabraxus seem unusually talk in that pick? :smallconfused:

[Fyraltari]

Ah, now I know why this seems a little false to me. This Page (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070709#.XEtVXuTsYdU). Klaus is worried about any woman who is a spark. And Thorpe is a spark so that makes it a little off that Klaus would be trying to set up Gil with her.

And doesn't Queen Zantabraxus seem unusually talk in that pick? :smallconfused:

Klaus stopping to think about it still makes me laugh.

[eee]

And doesn't Queen Zantabraxus seem unusually talk in that pick? :smallconfused:

Queen-sized. :smallbiggrin:

[Narkis]

Ah, now I know why this seems a little false to me. This Page (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070709#.XEtVXuTsYdU). Klaus is worried about any woman who is a spark. And Thorpe is a spark so that makes it a little off that Klaus would be trying to set up Gil with her.

And doesn't Queen Zantabraxus seem unusually talk in that pick? :smallconfused:

I think Klaus is rationalizing. If Agatha's mother was anyone else he wouldn't have as much of a problem with her. But Lucrezia bested him personally, even before she proved evil incarnate, and so he can neither accept her, nor can he ever admit that he is personally biased in this matter.

[Drascin]

Klaus originally was supposed to be much more evil than he turned out to be. I am sure that Klaus put a "remove copy app" in Gil's head that can be triggered safely. It could be automatic when certain events occur, namely when the real one is free. While Klaus fights very hard for the Empire, if it came down to choice of Empire or Gil, the Empire will loose every time.

Lots of things but this page in particular (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150427) does make me think that while Klaus cares a lot for peace and empire, he would probably raze half of Europa himself if it was necessary to save his son.

[wingnutx]

And doesn't Queen Zantabraxus seem unusually talk in that pick? :smallconfused:


Phil Foglio can't always be bothered with things like scale.

[Scarlet Knight]

Give it up, Klaus. If you try to stand in the way of True Love, you'll just get flattened.

I wonder; in this world, do people marry for love if you're part of the ruling class?

Plus I think both Gil and Thorpe are the type of people who would put duty above self. Miss Thorpe would obey her Queen & Gil would just take some convincing. Perhaps if Agatha was caught with Rakethorn or Tarvek, Gil's pride would drive him away.



Remember all villains are heroes of their own story.
Klaus was a hero with Bill and Barry. Bill named his son for him. I suspect it was Lucrezia who drove the wedge between them, possible fudging the timeline between her marriage and their affair.


I think Klaus is rationalizing. If Agatha's mother was anyone else he wouldn't have as much of a problem with her. But Lucrezia bested him personally, even before she proved evil incarnate, and so he can neither accept her, nor can he ever admit that he is personally biased in this matter.
I don't think it's bias as much as experience learned. A greyhound taken from its parents still runs, a retriever still swims. Mongfish are consistantly evil and Bill & Barry were outliers in their family. What circumstances might drive Agatha to form?

[Narkis]

Plus I think both Gil and Thorpe are the type of people who would put duty above self.
Ms Thorpe may be, but Gil definitely isn't. Otherwise he would have married Tweedle's sister already.

Which makes me wonder, if Klaus has as much influence over Gil as it is now apparent, why the hell did he let him expend so much effort on Mechanicsburg during the timeskip instead of forcing him to take care of the rest of the empire?



Klaus was a hero with Bill and Barry. Bill named his son for him. I suspect it was Lucrezia who drove the wedge between them, possible fudging the timeline between her marriage and their affair.

Lucrezia was Klaus's lover before she was Bill's. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041206) She sent him off to Skifander, and he didn't return until everyone was gone. We don't know why Barry didn't trust him after he returned, but it can't have been Lucrezia. I suspect time travel shenanigans, and partial future knowledge concerning his wasped status.



I don't think it's bias as much as experience learned. A greyhound taken from its parents still runs, a retriever still swims. Mongfish are consistantly evil and Bill & Barry were outliers in their family. What circumstances might drive Agatha to form?

The Heterodyne boys themselves are arguments for nurture triumphing over nature. He should have been able to at least give her a chance to prove herself like her father and uncle. Everyone ruler who knew them was willing to give her that chance, other than Klaus.

[factotum]

About that...what is Klaus' opinion of the Heterodyne Boys right now? Obviously he worked with them before his enforced trip to Skifander, but when he got back he found Europa in chaos and the Boys gone. Not only had they apparently abandoned the place, but later on he found they'd left a powerful female Spark hidden away to really put the cat among the pigeons. I would be entirely fine with Klaus coming to the conclusion that the "good" Heterodyne Boys was all an act to lull everyone into a false sense of security before they could revert to type and start sowing chaos.

[memnarch]

Ms Thorpe may be, but Gil definitely isn't. Otherwise he would have married Tweedle's sister already.

Which makes me wonder, if Klaus has as much influence over Gil as it is now apparent, why the hell did he let him expend so much effort on Mechanicsburg during the timeskip instead of forcing him to take care of the rest of the empire?

...

Maybe it's a lot harder for the overlay to takeover when Gil's in the Spark state? If I remember right, this (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160311) is the first time post skip that we see him without the sparky voice bubble.

[lord_khaine]

Which makes me wonder, if Klaus has as much influence over Gil as it is now apparent, why the hell did he let him expend so much effort on Mechanicsburg during the timeskip instead of forcing him to take care of the rest of the empire?

Likely because he did not need to? Gil would newer learn to rule on his own if Klaus constantly held his hand.
And we have gotten signs that something important is still brewing in Mechanisburg.


About that...what is Klaus' opinion of the Heterodyne Boys right now? Obviously he worked with them before his enforced trip to Skifander, but when he got back he found Europa in chaos and the Boys gone. Not only had they apparently abandoned the place, but later on he found they'd left a powerful female Spark hidden away to really put the cat among the pigeons. I would be entirely fine with Klaus coming to the conclusion that the "good" Heterodyne Boys was all an act to lull everyone into a false sense of security before they could revert to type and start sowing chaos.

No.. just no.
They were his friends. He had known them for years. He would know it wasnt an act.
And they would also not need to lull anyone into any sort of false sense. We already saw the world was vulnerable enough to be taken over by Klaus when he came back.
They also did not hide a powerful female spark. They hid their daughter/niece with someone who could protect her at her most vulnerable state. Klaus of anyone would respect going to great lenght to care for your child.

[eee]

I wonder; in this world, do people marry for love if you're part of the ruling class?

Plus I think both Gil and Thorpe are the type of people who would put duty above self. Miss Thorpe would obey her Queen & Gil would just take some convincing. Perhaps if Agatha was caught with Rakethorn or Tarvek, Gil's pride would drive him away.

Seffie tried that argument with Gil, too. A union between the Houses Wulfenbach and Stromvaus/Blitzengaard would have tremendous advantages, strengthen the Empire, and give Gil opportunities to protect Agatha he doesn't have. Gil and/or the Klaus implant admitted her idea was sound.

It hasn't changed anything. Gil knows what he wants, and logic and political calculation have no place in this.

Also, while Trelawney may not be adverse to the idea of Gil as a mate, I'm not seeing the 'luv'luv' that would drive her to use every effort to make it real. Seffie has that, and that's why she's dangerous.

[HandofShadows]

Lucrezia was Klaus's lover before she was Bill's. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041206) She sent him off to Skifander, and he didn't return until everyone was gone. We don't know why Barry didn't trust him after he returned, but it can't have been Lucrezia. I suspect time travel shenanigans, and partial future knowledge concerning his wasped status.

I think the best theory of why Agatha was hidden (Beatle did know who she was though) was that Lu convinced the Boys (as well as Beatle, Adam and Lilith) that Klaus was the Other. He was conveniently gone at the time after all. The perfect fall guy for her plans.

[eee]

I think the best theory of why Agatha was hidden (Beatle did know who she was though) was that Lu convinced the Boys (as well as Beatle, Adam and Lilith) that Klaus was the Other. He was conveniently gone at the time after all. The perfect fall guy for her plans.

The sequence of events would seem to have been, Lu gave birth to Agatha and left her with the Geisters. Bill and Barry found out about this, raided and trashed the Geisters, and took Agatha and hid her away. This would suggest that, at that point, they knew who the Other was, unless Lu was using masterful misdirection to say she was just a tool and Klaus was the real mastermind. That, however, wouldn't have stood long after the Other attacks stopped, Klaus returned, and started using conventional warfare to slowly expand his empire when there were still Slaver Hives about to be activated.

IIRC, after Kalus took over Beetleburg and started going through Beetle's papers, he found notes from Beetle and Barry indicating why they didn't trust him anymore. And based on what was in those notes, he fully understood their position. He didn't seem happy about it, either.

[Fyraltari]

Which makes me wonder, if Klaus has as much influence over Gil as it is now apparent, why the hell did he let him expend so much effort on Mechanicsburg during the timeskip instead of forcing him to take care of the rest of the empire?

Because getting Tarvek out legitimely is the best thing he could do to stop the Other?

[slayerx]

The sequence of events would seem to have been, Lu gave birth to Agatha and left her with the Geisters. Bill and Barry found out about this, raided and trashed the Geisters, and took Agatha and hid her away. This would suggest that, at that point, they knew who the Other was, unless Lu was using masterful misdirection to say she was just a tool and Klaus was the real mastermind. That, however, wouldn't have stood long after the Other attacks stopped, Klaus returned, and started using conventional warfare to slowly expand his empire when there were still Slaver Hives about to be activated.

IIRC, after Kalus took over Beetleburg and started going through Beetle's papers, he found notes from Beetle and Barry indicating why they didn't trust him anymore. And based on what was in those notes, he fully understood their position. He didn't seem happy about it, either.


I think the best theory of why Agatha was hidden (Beatle did know who she was though) was that Lu convinced the Boys (as well as Beatle, Adam and Lilith) that Klaus was the Other. He was conveniently gone at the time after all. The perfect fall guy for her plans.

Actually what i think may have happened is that the Other may have used time travel to send a wasped Kluas back in time to attack castle heterodyne. Only the boys saw him during the attack, which is why no one else in mechanicsburg knows about it. This would explain why the boys no longer trusted klaus and why punch and judy were so antagonistic towards him; it was also said that after the attack on the castle, Barry had a very steely demeanor; it might suggest they did not see this as an ordinary attack by an enemy; if it was klaus then that would add an element of treason by a close friend to the attack.


Ms Thorpe may be, but Gil definitely isn't. Otherwise he would have married Tweedle's sister already.

Which makes me wonder, if Klaus has as much influence over Gil as it is now apparent, why the hell did he let him expend so much effort on Mechanicsburg during the timeskip instead of forcing him to take care of the rest of the empire?


Well one thing that has been suggested about klaus's overlay is that the strength may be dependent on Gil's condition. After the timeskip we found that Gil was trying his best to avoid sleep as much as possible. Klaus's influence may be related to just how much rest Gil gets

Also i think klau's influence is limited; like how long he can take over and such is limited. He can pop out to have a short conversation, but keeping gil out of mechanicsburg would require him to control Gil 24/7

[Fyraltari]

it was also said that after the attack on the castle, Barry had a very steely demeanor; it might suggest they did not see this as an ordinary attack by an enemy; if it was klaus then that would add an element of treason by a close friend to the attack.
I think it had more to do with the fact that his baby nephew was killed.

[Traab]

Remember klaus is caught in that time bubble as well. No reason not to encourage gil to free him. The time stop was basically meant as a stopgap measure to freeze everyone involved in the huge 15 front war taking place in and around mechanicsburg. The overlay was to make sure gil wasnt being controlled by the other and to calm his people down who were worried about that. I dont think it was meant to be permanent.

[Narkis]

Remember klaus is caught in that time bubble as well. No reason not to encourage gil to free him. The time stop was basically meant as a stopgap measure to freeze everyone involved in the huge 15 front war taking place in and around mechanicsburg. The overlay was to make sure gil wasnt being controlled by the other and to calm his people down who were worried about that. I dont think it was meant to be permanent.

I don't think Klaus had any intention of ever leaving the time stop, it was an elegant way of removing himself from the chessboard without going against the Other's orders.

[Radar]

Remember klaus is caught in that time bubble as well. No reason not to encourage gil to free him. The time stop was basically meant as a stopgap measure to freeze everyone involved in the huge 15 front war taking place in and around mechanicsburg. The overlay was to make sure gil wasnt being controlled by the other and to calm his people down who were worried about that. I dont think it was meant to be permanent.
It was also to break Klaus free of Other's control if only by means of being frozen in time. Klaus knew that Gil was not wasped, so he blocked himself in order to break Lucrezia's control over the Empire.

[SZbNAhL]

Actually what i think may have happened is that the Other may have used time travel to send a wasped Kluas back in time to attack castle heterodyne. Only the boys saw him during the attack, which is why no one else in mechanicsburg knows about it. This would explain why the boys no longer trusted klaus and why punch and judy were so antagonistic towards him; it was also said that after the attack on the castle, Barry had a very steely demeanor; it might suggest they did not see this as an ordinary attack by an enemy; if it was klaus then that would add an element of treason by a close friend to the attack.

The main problem with that theory is that the Boys couldn't have seen the attcker at all, Klaus of otherwise, because they weren't there (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070813#.XEywFM3grIU).


Well one thing that has been suggested about klaus's overlay is that the strength may be dependent on Gil's condition. After the timeskip we found that Gil was trying his best to avoid sleep as much as possible. Klaus's influence may be related to just how much rest Gil gets.

Possible, but it seems more likely that he was just working too hard. He did the same back when he thought Agatha had been killed by that spider clank (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060215#.XEyvk83grIU), and back then he didn't even have a proper objective.

[Rodin]

Remember klaus is caught in that time bubble as well. No reason not to encourage gil to free him. The time stop was basically meant as a stopgap measure to freeze everyone involved in the huge 15 front war taking place in and around mechanicsburg. The overlay was to make sure gil wasnt being controlled by the other and to calm his people down who were worried about that. I dont think it was meant to be permanent.

It was also a ploy to remove himself from the game. He knew he was Wasped and was trying to get the knowledge of that fact out via the storyteller. He then needs a way to remove himself as a threat while not doing so in a way that the Wasp will prevent. So, he puts the overlay into Gil in order to have a "clean" copy of his mind running around, then activates the stasis bomb to disable the Wasped version of himself.

Freeing Klaus now relies on two things - whether Gil has an actual cure (and whether that cure works on the special spark variant), and whether Gil can actual tunnel close enough to the Baron in the time field to get him out.

Oh, and they need to sort out that whole "aging hundreds of years in a few minutes" thing. They got Tarvek out though, so that should be sorted.

[The Glyphstone]

Now I'm wondering if anything will ever become of that clone.

Or, for that matter, what happened to the revived Princess Zulenna? Did she get a reappearance in the novels, maybe?

[Rodin]

Now I'm wondering if anything will ever become of that clone.

Or, for that matter, what happened to the revived Princess Zulenna? Did she get a reappearance in the novels, maybe?

For the clone, I assume you're referring to the cloned Madame Olga that the Baron thought was Agatha? I doubt it. The clone was only useful to the Baron because having an empty Heterodyne shell was more useful than having nothing at all. It's likely he planned to use this "overlay" technology to put a fake Heterodyne girl together, which might have allowed him to use her popularity to quell rebellions. Have her make a few public appearances (with the public kept far enough away to not notice the fakery) and then marry "her" off to Gil and have the body live isolated on Castle Wulfenbach.

Since it wasn't actually Agatha, the clone is useless and was likely destroyed shortly after the Baron realized his mistake.

[Agi Hammerthief]

bookmarking

[SZbNAhL]

For the clone, I assume you're referring to the cloned Madame Olga that the Baron thought was Agatha? I doubt it. The clone was only useful to the Baron because having an empty Heterodyne shell was more useful than having nothing at all. It's likely he planned to use this "overlay" technology to put a fake Heterodyne girl together, which might have allowed him to use her popularity to quell rebellions. Have her make a few public appearances (with the public kept far enough away to not notice the fakery) and then marry "her" off to Gil and have the body live isolated on Castle Wulfenbach.

Since it wasn't actually Agatha, the clone is useless and was likely destroyed shortly after the Baron realized his mistake.

The clone was brain-dead, so I doubt he could have installed an ovrlay on it. He probably just wanted a corpse so that he could prove she was dead (people who die without leaving bodies have a tendancy to start folk-tales).

[lord_khaine]

The clone was brain-dead, so I doubt he could have installed an ovrlay on it. He probably just wanted a corpse so that he could prove she was dead (people who die without leaving bodies have a tendancy to start folk-tales).

Im quite certain that the clone being brain dead makes it easier to install a new conciousness into it. Not harder.
After all it suddenly mean you dont need to be as careful to avoid damage to the original concious. And wont need to deal with it fighting back either.

[Rodin]

The Baron also explicitly mentions putting a substitute brain into the clone.

[Fyraltari]

I'm not sure the clone was brain-dead, all Klaus said is that she wouldn't have the original's brain.

If she is brain-dead, they probably disposed of the body in one way or another (never too much raw material, after all), if not, they probably set her free or offered her a janitor's job or something.

Looking back (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060224#.XEzfwWmNyGQ), it's not a clone but a revival, so probably Olga's original body with the missing bits regrown, "the brain was a total loss" could either mean that for some reason Klaus couldn't regrow the brain despite regrowing the rest or that he could but it isn't the same brain, and unlike arms that makes a difference.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Or, for that matter, what happened to the revived Princess Zulenna? Did she get a reappearance in the novels, maybe?

Doesn't reappear in the novels either - all we get is the same mention as in the comic that she will be revived.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Oh, and they need to sort out that whole "aging hundreds of years in a few minutes" thing. They got Tarvek out though, so that should be sorted.

That is well and truly sorted out. They've recovered dozens of people, including the Storyteller, Van Mekkan, Tarvek and Othar Trygvassen, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!

[geoduck]

For the clone, I assume you're referring to the cloned Madame Olga that the Baron thought was Agatha? I doubt it. The clone was only useful to the Baron because having an empty Heterodyne shell was more useful than having nothing at all. It's likely he planned to use this "overlay" technology to put a fake Heterodyne girl together, which might have allowed him to use her popularity to quell rebellions. Have her make a few public appearances (with the public kept far enough away to not notice the fakery) and then marry "her" off to Gil and have the body live isolated on Castle Wulfenbach.

Since it wasn't actually Agatha, the clone is useless and was likely destroyed shortly after the Baron realized his mistake.

He might have also hoped to use a genuine Heterodyne body with a tractable brain installed to control Castle Heterodyne.

[eee]

For the clone, I assume you're referring to the cloned Madame Olga that the Baron thought was Agatha? I doubt it. The clone was only useful to the Baron because having an empty Heterodyne shell was more useful than having nothing at all. It's likely he planned to use this "overlay" technology to put a fake Heterodyne girl together, which might have allowed him to use her popularity to quell rebellions. Have her make a few public appearances (with the public kept far enough away to not notice the fakery) and then marry "her" off to Gil and have the body live isolated on Castle Wulfenbach.

Since it wasn't actually Agatha, the clone is useless and was likely destroyed shortly after the Baron realized his mistake.

This is Klaus. Destroy something that could be useful, especially since he spent all this time bringing her back to life? Ha. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a spare brain or disembodied intelligence he could put in there and put to work.

It would be a shock to Agatha, to run into 'Madame Ogla" again.

[Rogar Demonblud]

He might have also hoped to use a genuine Heterodyne body with a tractable brain installed to control Castle Heterodyne.

That...would be interesting to watch. While orbiting Venus.

[Fyraltari]

"False men-puppet things of shadow and dead meat (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080709#.XE44aGmNyGR)" don't work.

[eee]

That...would be interesting to watch. While orbiting Venus.

Actually, it WOULD be interesting. The body, the genes, the blood would tell der Kestle this WAS a Heterodyne. A bit of observation would show the mind was not. How to deal with such a dilemma??? Especially in the splintered, weakened, half insane state it was in back then.

I suspect, being the Castle, it would take the rebuilt Agatha captive and try to get a new generation of Heterodynes. And that it would not end well...

[The Glyphstone]

I'm guessing this is where Violetta re-enters the scene. Either that, or it's Othar Trygvasson, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!

[factotum]

I'm guessing this is where Violetta re-enters the scene. Either that, or it's Othar Trygvasson, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!

Too subtle for Othar, I think it's definitely Violetta.

[geoduck]

She's the most likely candidate by far, unless Rakethorn decided to interfere on the side of the Good Guys.

[PraetorDragoon]

Violetta returning seems likely. I doubt it is Othar Trygvasson, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER! for as far as we know he is back in Mechanicsburg and any appearance would be heralded by explosions, not bolts.

There is also a chance of Bang showing up, but again, lack of explosions.

[HandofShadows]

There is also a chance of Bang showing up, but again, lack of explosions.

And she would be using knives.

[Kareasint]

Too subtle for Othar, I think it's definitely Violetta.

She also likes to attack from above whenever possible.

[Agi Hammerthief]

are the cliff hangers still out of sync?
I‘d have expected something like this on a Friday.

[SZbNAhL]

are the cliff hangers still out of sync?
I‘d have expected something like this on a Friday.

Watch as we cut away to Tarvek and Higgs for the next five updates.

[Rogar Demonblud]

The Heterodyne is not amused. Time to unleash the carnage!

[Marcelinari]

It’s possible that the mystery saviour is Dimo, who does not appear to be with this party?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Possible, but Dimo tends to fight on the ground, given his digitigrade legs aren't the best at climbing. We'll probably find out in a couple hours.

[Grif]

Sometimes I swear the Foglios read this thread and decide to subvert everyone's expectations.

[geoduck]

Heh. Look at that. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190130)

I was half-right. So.. there's no way this was an accidental encounter. The only question now is, is this whole conspiracy-thing a setup to lure Agatha to Rakethorn, or is he just taking advantage of the situation?

[Ellen]

So, is he the real leader of the bad guys or just following orders to get on Agatha's good side?

[Narkis]

I'd guess he's just exploiting the situation, but if you'd asked me yesterday I'd never have expected Rakethorn. Who am I to guess?

Man, he is good at this though.

[factotum]

Well, that was unexpected, to say the least. Real question now is, what's left of Agatha's party after that BOOM?

[PraetorDragoon]

Oh right. That guy, forgot he's still around.

[SZbNAhL]

Well he was hired to be "clever, dashing and competent".

[lord_khaine]

A funny detail i noticed about Tarvek.
It newer seems like he is really in the madness place.
Or at least when it takes place. He still seems to be completely in control.

[Fyraltari]

I love Agatha's face in the last panel. Rakethorn is trying to look heroic and she's just confused.

[Traab]

Put on a shirt man!!!!

[HandofShadows]

A funny detail i noticed about Tarvek.
It newer seems like he is really in the madness place.
Or at least when it takes place. He still seems to be completely in control.

There has been a few times when Tarvek has gone into the madness place and lost it. It was mostly in Der Kastel though.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Anybody wanna place a bet on who kills Rakethorn for being presumptuous?

[PraetorDragoon]

Anybody wanna place a bet on who kills Rakethorn for being presumptuous?

Nobody. Travek will convert him.

[HandofShadows]

Nobody. Travek will convert him.

Convert him into what? A hamster maybe?

[SZbNAhL]

Personally I'm hoping Wooster gets to kill him. There's clearly bad blood between the two of them and Wooster hasn't really had a win since he crashed Boris's meeting with the Generals (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100827#.XFIDG83grIU) way back in 2010.

[Rogar Demonblud]

What about when he and Miss Thorpe went to town on the pumps at the sub dock?

[Scarlet Knight]

Nobody. Travek will convert him.

I suspect we have another addition to the Heterodyne seraglio...



What about when he and Miss Thorpe went to town on the pumps at the sub dock?

Sadly for poor Wooster, I suspect Miss Thorpe is that way with any everybody...

[eee]

Well, that was unexpected, to say the least. Real question now is, what's left of Agatha's party after that BOOM?

Zeetha leaped away when the ants attacked; I suspect she's out of the blast zone. The Jagers probably weren't much hurt, although maybe singed. That leaves Wooster and Not-Tobber who are questionable. If Trogulus IS Tobber in disguise in disguise, the blast might reveal that...

[Rockphed]

Zeetha leaped away when the ants attacked; I suspect she's out of the blast zone. The Jagers probably weren't much hurt, although maybe singed. That leaves Wooster and Not-Tobber who are questionable. If Trogulus IS Tobber in disguise in disguise, the blast might reveal that...

... I hadn't considered that possibility. I had suspected that Trogulus was always Tobbler. I think we need more tin-foil hats.

[Scarlet Knight]

It may be my imagination, but did Rakethorn not only rescue Agatha but switch her into a thong while doing so?

[Fyraltari]

It may be my imagination, but did Rakethorn not only rescue Agatha but switch her into a thong while doing so?

Very, very form fitting skin-colored pants.

[factotum]

Very, very form fitting skin-colored pants.

They're not form fitting, though? :smallconfused: In both panels where we can see Agatha's legs clearly you can see the creases in the trouser material!

[Radar]

They're not form fitting, though? :smallconfused: In both panels where we can see Agatha's legs clearly you can see the creases in the trouser material!
True, but her posterior does fill them up quite fully just as her front does.

[PraetorDragoon]

Didn't consider Tobber disguising himself as Trogulus disguising himself as Tobber. That would be a bit too mad, even for this comic.


True, but her posterior does fill them up quite fully just as her front does.

Agatha does have a lot of Heterodyne ham after all. ;)

[factotum]

True, but her posterior does fill them up quite fully just as her front does.

Maybe, but they still don't look anything like naked legs, is the point I was making.

[keybounce]

Didn't consider Tobber disguising himself as Trogulus disguising himself as Tobber. That would be a bit too mad, even for this comic.

Sigh.
"You all mistake what you assume
They never left the dining room"

After Murder by Death, nothing like that is too ridiculous anymore.

[datalaughing]

"You all mistake what you assume
They never left the dining room"

Man who argue with cow on wall like train with no wheels, very soon get nowhere.

[Radar]

Man who argue with cow on wall like train with no wheels, very soon get nowhere.
Is confusing.

[Onyavar]

Man who argue with cow on wall like train with no wheels, very soon get nowhere.


Is confusing.
The simile is obvious.

Man and cow are both posters, and the "wall like train with no wheels" is the forum.

And now all makes sense, right?

[Radar]

The simile is obvious.

Man and cow are both posters, and the "wall like train with no wheels" is the forum.

And now all makes sense, right?
It! Now It all makes sense. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne9hTr5jwB4&t=1m30s) :smalltongue:

[Scarlet Knight]

I love Agatha's face in the last panel. Rakethorn is trying to look heroic and she's just confused.

"How did I get on the cover of a Harlequin romance?"

"Why do I feel an strangely exhilarating breeze?"

"Why isn't there a talking cow clank on the wall ?"

[otakuryoga]

Good Vork..now hands off der Lady

[eee]

Rakethorn is obviously not used to working with Jagers...

I wonder where Zeetha is. I would have thought she'd be the one coming to Agatha's aid, or reining Rakethorn in.

[SZbNAhL]

I wonder where Zeetha is. I would have thought she'd be the one coming to Agatha's aid, or reining Rakethorn in.

This being Zeetha, she's probably making popcorn. I mean, she's seen maybe four hunky shirtless men in the whole run of the comic and one was her brother.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Nice work Oggie, reminding Mister Show Off that the lady is part of a package deal.

[Radar]

Nice work Oggie, reminding Mister Show Off that the lady is part of a package deal.
Besides, he should be reminded that some of the rooms (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100924) are already taken. :smalltongue:

[sihnfahl]

Nice work Oggie, reminding Mister Show Off that the lady is part of a package deal.
I think his reaction is more 'owowowowow....' when Oggie smacks his injured back, despite him trying to hide the fact it HURTS LIKE HECK acting as a human shield.

[Narkis]

I think his reaction is more 'owowowowow....' when Oggie smacks his injured back, despite him trying to hide the fact it HURTS LIKE HECK acting as a human shield.

That's how I read it as well. His back just got done getting dragged through the floor, after taking the brunt of an explosion. Oggie's smack was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

[sihnfahl]

That's how I read it as well. His back just got done getting dragged through the floor, after taking the brunt of an explosion. Oggie's smack was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Two explosions. And that's not even mentioning whatever he went through that relieved him of his shirt.

[PraetorDragoon]

Two explosions. And that's not even mentioning whatever he went through that relieved him of his shirt.

Being shirtless is a natural reaction for him.

[Scarlet Knight]

I once said that nobody in Girl Genius is who they appear to be, but this story arc has got me feeling like I'm playing Paranoia again!

I keep asking things like:
"Why is Trog/Topper smiling at this juncture?"
"What deal was Tarvek going to offer Snackleford before he was interrupted?"
"Where did Rakethorn come from and who was he referring to when he said 'That should be of all of them'?"
"What traitor dare imprison Friend Computer Kestle-bot?"

[geoduck]

Two explosions. And that's not even mentioning whatever he went through that relieved him of his shirt.

As PraetorDragoon says, he took it off deliberately in a (doomed) attempt to impress/attract Agatha.

[slayerx]

Seems Rakethorn overplayed the stoic hero card; Agatha hears that the injury to his back is "nothing" and is happy to leave it to that and quickly move on. He might have gotten more attention if he actually played up that Pain in his back

[Radar]

Seems Rakethorn overplayed the stoic hero card; Agatha hears that the injury to his back is "nothing" and is happy to leave it to that and quickly move on. He might have gotten more attention if he actually played up that Pain in his back
Yeah, I love his expression in the second panel: but... my back IS on fire.

On the other hand, such a cold treatment should have put the fire down. :smallwink:

[Rockphed]

Topless Lucrezia was distracting enough that I didn't notice the knife until the 3rd time I looked at the panel. Good job Phil. Good Job.

[HandofShadows]

Topless Lucrezia was distracting enough that I didn't notice the knife until the 3rd time I looked at the panel. Good job Phil. Good Job.

Knife? What knife? (Oh, the one in my back).

[PraetorDragoon]

Topless Lucrezia was distracting enough that I didn't notice the knife until the 3rd time I looked at the panel. Good job Phil. Good Job.

The trick is that there is another knife.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Maxim...makes sense.

I need to sit down for a moment.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Maxim...makes sense.

I need to sit down for a moment.

I don't know... He's been hanging around Oggie (Mr "That's why I has descendants") for a long time, and is also something of a ladies Jager himself.

And I think most of the Jagers are smarter than they let on...

[Rockphed]

And I think most of the Jagers are smarter than they let on...

You mean they aren't too dumb to live? I suspect most of them could have discoursed on duality and the politics of nonbeing (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120627#.XFiTTYq1vCM), if they felt so inclined. Behaving like big idiots is just so much more fun.

[xroads]

I'm surprised Zeetha is being so obtuse this time. Of course Agatha isn't going to waste time fawning over Rakethorn.

Agatha's got to...

Free herself form Marstellus's chemical curse.
Shake off Lucrezia's possession.
Save Mechanisburg from monsters from beyond time itself.
Sort out the affections of two potential heirs of empires.
And let's face it, is probably more impressed by someone's ability to rebuild a Lagâri Hasan Çelebi rocket than how they look without a shirt own.

Who has the time to oggle a man who frankly, seems like an obvious plant?

I guess Phil & Kaja though the audience needed reminding of why Agatha isn't wasting much time with Rakethorn.

[Fyraltari]

Seems Rakethorn overplayed the stoic hero card; Agatha hears that the injury to his back is "nothing" and is happy to leave it to that and quickly move on. He might have gotten more attention if he actually played up that Pain in his back
Agatha is used to her boys needing rescuing not the other way around so she doesn't know how a proper damsel in distress behaves (or she knows and wants nothing to do with it).

Maxim...makes sense.

I need to sit down for a moment.
Da Boys are schmott guys. Dimo is the smartest that's why he's a general but the other two are colonel material. Remember Maxim's new hat (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519#.XFiYT2mNyGR)?

I'm surprised Zeetha is being so obtuse this time. Of course Agatha isn't going to waste time fawning over Rakethorn.

Agatha's got to...

Free herself form Marstellus chemical curse.
Shake off Lucrezia's possession.
Save Mechanisburg from monsters from beyond time itself.
Sort out the affections of two potential heirs of empires.
And let's face it, is probably more impressed by someone's ability to rebuild a Lagâri Hasan Çelebi rocket than how they look without a shirt own.

Who has the time to oggle a man who frankly, seems like an obvious plant?

I guess Phil & Kaja though the audience needed reminding of why Agatha isn't wasting much time with Rakethorn.

Hey none of that is an emergency, she can have fun, and just because he's a plant doesn't mean you can't have fun, has James Bond Trelawney Thorpe taught us nothing?

[Ailurus]

Da Boys are schmott guys. Dimo is the smartest that's why he's a general but the other two are colonel material. Remember Maxim's new hat (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519#.XFiYT2mNyGR)?


Speaking of, he obviously doesn't have that hat anymore (if anything, his current hat looks similar to what Higgs is wearing just in a different color) and hasn't had it since they reached the underwater lab (at an absolute minimum, since that's as far back as I feel like archive-trawling atm). I do recall the other Jagers queuing up to fight him to get it, but did we ever get confirmation on when he lost it, and how he got the new hat and from whom?

[Rogar Demonblud]

I don't think we've seen the Ol' Man Death hat since before the timeskip.

[geoduck]

I don't think we've seen the Ol' Man Death hat since before the timeskip.

He's wearing it here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20131202), which is post-Timeskip, but when he turns up in Paris he's lost it.

[HandofShadows]

He's wearing it here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20131202), which is post-Timeskip, but when he turns up in Paris he's lost it.

I don't think he lost it. I think he just left it someplace safe while he went to Paris since he realized that wearing it there would cause trouble.

[xroads]

I don't think he lost it. I think he just left it someplace safe while he went to Paris since he realized that wearing it there would cause trouble.

Why would it cause trouble in Paris?

I'm not saying it's not a reason. It certainly can be. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Paris has actual fashion police that would consider the hat gauche. But I don't remember there being a particular reason that was mentioned.

The presence of jagermonsters in Paris is discouraged. But he could easily store his hat in whatever he qualifies as luggage while he is in disguise.

[wingnutx]

Topless Lucrezia was distracting enough that I didn't notice the knife until the 3rd time I looked at the panel. Good job Phil. Good Job.

I didn't notice until you told me.

[wingnutx]

True, but her posterior does fill them up quite fully just as her front does.

I suspect that Phil Foglio may be Robert Crumb's bastard son.

He like 'em sturdy.

[SZbNAhL]

I suspect that Phil Foglio may be Robert Crumb's bastard son.

He like 'em sturdy.

The age difference is 13 years. Possible, but unlikely.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Nothing is impossible for SCIENCE!

[Radar]

He like 'em sturdy.
The official term is callipygian. :smalltongue:

[geoduck]

The official term is callipygian. :smalltongue:

"Rubenesque" might be more accurate. "Callipygian" only covers one specific portion of anatomy, rather than the gestalt.

[tonberrian]

Aww, issa Dingbot Prime! Let's let it loose and see what happens!

[geoduck]

Aww, issa Dingbot Prime! Let's let it loose and see what happens!

It's more than that.

It's the dingbot that Agatha made in Sturmhalten, loaded with an anti-Other message and sent off without telling Tarvek. It got away from the Geister guards but disappeared until now.

[PraetorDragoon]

I like little Kestlebot and Trainbot's interactions. "Let me teach you about sematics" indeed. :smallbiggrin:

[eee]

Yay, the little guy is still alive!!

Stop talking, you two yahoos, and let it out.

[Grif]

Never thought the little thing would resurface again.

[HandofShadows]

That is one long callback and I am sure it was planned. I think this raises some scary implications. These guys had agents in the Empire before everything went pear shaped and clearly know more than we thought they knew. Also since that bot had a lot of info on the Other it raises the possibility that the monster these people are trying to summon may be Lucrezia. :smalleek::smalleek::smalleek:

[Traab]

That is one long callback and I am sure it was planned. I think this raises some scary implications. These guys had agents in the Empire before everything went pear shaped and clearly know more than we thought they knew. Also since that bot had a lot of info on the Other it raises the possibility that the monster these people are trying to summon may be Lucrezia. :smalleek::smalleek::smalleek:

Considering the situation in paris it would only make sense that england as well as a lucrezia problem that agatha will bring to light. Immortal beings who are sure of their omnipotence tend to start missing things because of their assumed superiority. Of course this applies to lucrezia as well most likely. I honestly wonder if this is going to end up forming a new version of the cabal we learned about in paris where everyone unites to face down the other this time. I mean, albia already has learned, holy crud, this may be the same being that murdered my fellow queens, learning that she managed to infiltrate her kingdom for lord knows how long may also persuade her that she has to move directly to destroy lucrezia, and do so as part of a group effort. Im sure the mistress of paris will agree as well once she has had some time to get her house in order. And of course gil is already fighting her. Even martellus, if tarvek doesnt somehow supplant him, would probably be willing to work with them on this.

[SZbNAhL]

Considering the situation in paris it would only make sense that england as well as a lucrezia problem that agatha will bring to light. Immortal beings who are sure of their omnipotence tend to start missing things because of their assumed superiority. Of course this applies to lucrezia as well most likely. I honestly wonder if this is going to end up forming a new version of the cabal we learned about in paris where everyone unites to face down the other this time. I mean, albia already has learned, holy crud, this may be the same being that murdered my fellow queens, learning that she managed to infiltrate her kingdom for lord knows how long may also persuade her that she has to move directly to destroy lucrezia, and do so as part of a group effort. Im sure the mistress of paris will agree as well once she has had some time to get her house in order. And of course gil is already fighting her. Even martellus, if tarvek doesnt somehow supplant him, would probably be willing to work with them on this.

Martellus has shown himself more than happy to work with Agatha in the past (cf. The Beast, Andronicus Valois), but I can't see him working with Gil willingly, much less Tarvek. Also, Colette's very emphatically the Master (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20170717#.XFsF97jgrIU).

[HandofShadows]

I don't think it's arrogance on Albia's part. She does rule a might nation as well as being immortal. She just didn't remember who had killed the other queens because she hadn't looked at her memories from that time. If you had several thousand years of memories you would miss a lot as well. Especially from a thousand of years ago. On the other hand with Lucrezia I think you are correct. She is arrogant to the extreme and apparently it's already come back to bit her a bunch of times, but she doesn't learn.

[Agi Hammerthief]

could be Lucratia got stuck in time back when she tried to kill Albia?

anyone got a link to when Fly Dingbot last came up?

[Narkis]

could be Lucratia got stuck in time back when she tried to kill Albia?

anyone got a link to when Fly Dingbot last came up?

That would be here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060616), with the chase sequence beginning here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060605)

And I'm pretty sure Lucrezia got stuck in time when Van Rijn captured her. (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160302)

[Onyavar]

anyone got a link to when Fly Dingbot last came up?
That would be here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060616), with the chase sequence beginning here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060605)[/URL]

Tiny correction, it's very few comics later, here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060623).

And soon afterwards, Wooster (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061002) showed up in the circus. I assume that it was him who found the Dingbot and that it gave him the first hints towards Agatha in Sturmhalten. And that's how the Dingbot wound up in Britain. Not sure if Albia had discarded the bot as unimportant, so her researchers could have it? And also not sure, if said researchers have already understood that the Dingbots are little sparks.

[Traab]

I don't think it's arrogance on Albia's part. She does rule a might nation as well as being immortal. She just didn't remember who had killed the other queens because she hadn't looked at her memories from that time. If you had several thousand years of memories you would miss a lot as well. Especially from a thousand of years ago. On the other hand with Lucrezia I think you are correct. She is arrogant to the extreme and apparently it's already come back to bit her a bunch of times, but she doesn't learn.

The arrogance is in assuming that because you have always been so far above the common rabble you always will be and dont have to keep pushing. The master as an example was basically the god of paris. You couldnt litter without him knowing about it. In his case though it was less arrogance and more the sheer march of time forcing his omnipotence to wane. For albia, to go against her has been literally unthinkable for a very long time. How long has it been since she had to enforce that reality last? When she was last tested not by an army of invading mutant squid, but by secret agents moving in shadow and silence? Carefully obscured plots that in turn even more carefully hide the real goals?

[Agi Hammerthief]

great thanks for the link. damn long time ago.

[Rogar Demonblud]

12 years 7 months and 14 days. That's got to be in the Top Ten.

[Narkis]

12 years 7 months and 14 days. That's got to be in the Top Ten.

We'll see Zulenna again some day, and that's gonna beat all records.

[Gez]

The official term is callipygian. :smalltongue:

That just means "beautifully buttocked", without defining what beautiful buttocks exactly are, so it's subjective. Some like big butts (and cannot lie, yes), others prefer slim butts.


"Rubenesque" might be more accurate. "Callipygian" only covers one specific portion of anatomy, rather than the gestalt.

Doesn't fit either. Phil Foglio's cartoon women have cartoony hourglass figures, so they're curvy yet slim at the same time. Rubens' women don't have a thin waist.
E.g. look here at Agatha's prone figure; she's wasp-waisted.
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030421

[Radar]

That just means "beautifully buttocked", without defining what beautiful buttocks exactly are, so it's subjective. Some like big butts (and cannot lie, yes), others prefer slim butts.
I used that one, since Agatha said so herself in the Cinderella side-story. But I have to admit, it was mostly about her buttocks.

[Traab]

That just means "beautifully buttocked", without defining what beautiful buttocks exactly are, so it's subjective. Some like big butts (and cannot lie, yes), others prefer slim butts.



Doesn't fit either. Phil Foglio's cartoon women have cartoony hourglass figures, so they're curvy yet slim at the same time. Rubens' women don't have a thin waist.
E.g. look here at Agatha's prone figure; she's wasp-waisted.
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030421

Foglio women are THICC. "When a person has fat in the right places, creating sexy curves." According to urban dictionary at least :smallbiggrin:

[Mechalich]

Doesn't fit either. Phil Foglio's cartoon women have cartoony hourglass figures, so they're curvy yet slim at the same time. Rubens' women don't have a thin waist.

Girl Genius has a neo-Victorian design aesthetic in many ways. Ergo, most of the female characters look as if they've been wearing corsets their entire lives even when they haven't.

[wingnutx]

I wonder who was at Sturmhalten capturing dingbots, and writing "Sturmhalten" on the blackboard.

[otakuryoga]

damnit Krosp!

[Ellen]

And, by the horrified look on his face, I think Tarvek is going to try to find Violetta and revive her. Hope it works.

Question: Is Tarvek realizing he thinks of Violetta as a non-psychotic, non-homicidal, non-meglomaniac, and a few other nons sister? Or are they far enough apart on their family tree for him to be realizing something else without it being kind of disturbing?

[SZbNAhL]

Zeetha, Wooster and the other Jagers went with her.

So Krosp knows Higgs is a Jager?

[Rockphed]

So Krosp knows Higgs is a Jager?

And has not noticed that it isn't obvious to everyone else.

[PraetorDragoon]

I do like how Higgs first instinct is that Agatha wanted to see the extra-dimensional horror. :smallbiggrin:


So Krosp knows Higgs is a Jager?

He can probably tell by smell.

[Agi Hammerthief]

is there a way to turm off the whiny „this site is run by ads“
because I can see the ads quite all right.

[Willie the Duck]

And, by the horrified look on his face, I think Tarvek is going to try to find Violetta and revive her. Hope it works.

Question: Is Tarvek realizing he thinks of Violetta as a non-psychotic, non-homicidal, non-meglomaniac, and a few other nons sister? Or are they far enough apart on their family tree for him to be realizing something else without it being kind of disturbing?

A little verisimilitude-breaking for me.
First panel: This place is dangerous and trying to kill us!
Last panel: Whaaaaaaat? People I know and care about (who are here where everything is trying to kill us) might die? Whaaaaa???
Does Tarvek know that Violetta (and he) are main characters, and thus shouldn't just die? No. He knows that the two of them are adventurers in an extremely dangerous place. I get being upset. Maybe even surprised that he is so upset. Surprised in general? Shouldn't be.

[Traab]

A little verisimilitude-breaking for me.
First panel: This place is dangerous and trying to kill us!
Last panel: Whaaaaaaat? People I know and care about (who are here where everything is trying to kill us) might die? Whaaaaa???
Does Tarvek know that Violetta (and he) are main characters, and thus shouldn't just die? No. He knows that the two of them are adventurers in an extremely dangerous place. I get being upset. Maybe even surprised that he is so upset. Surprised in general? Shouldn't be.

There is a difference between "Its dangerous" and "Oh btw your cousin died" He has been facing dangerous for all his life in one form or another so tarvek is kinda used to it. The one family member he actually likes dying is a far less common experience.

[xroads]

Does Tarvek know that Violetta (and he) are main characters, and thus shouldn't just die?

Actually, I'm not so sure about that anymore. :smalleek: After all, this is a universe in which people can be brought back from the dead.

Punch & Judy were completely reassembled. The Baron was shown cloning Olga. Heck even Agatha, Gil, & Tarvek all technically died during the whole chromatic disease ordeal.

I'm still 90% sure Violetta is still alive. But there is that possibility...

[Willie the Duck]

Actually, I'm not so sure about that anymore. :smalleek: After all, this is a universe in which people can be brought back from the dead.

Punch & Judy were completely reassembled. The Baron was shown cloning Olga. Heck even Agatha, Gil, & Tarvek all technically died during the whole chromatic disease ordeal.

I'm still 90% sure Violetta is still alive. But there is that possibility...

I'm more finding disbelief with his disbelief that one of his close circle could die in the first place, regardless of people coming back. People he knows and are interacting with on a regular basis are constantly in dangerous situations. Almost all of them are built such that a bullet between the eyes or claw across the throat will kill them (people like Higgs being kind of like 'oh, ho-hum, this monster isn't that threatening, I'll not take it too seriously and let is smack me around a bit.' is itself a little odd, as kind of supposed to be an exception, because he's supposed to be near-invulnerable, like Othar).

It's a little like a WWI trench warfare narrative. Major Jones might come back to the line and find out the Corporal Froofram bit the dust in the last artillery bombardment. Sure, Froofram might have been like a son to him. He could be mad. It could lead him to the pits of despair, heights of anguish, or anything in-between. But surprised? I guess I'm talking myself out of it, because now I'm picturing Major Jones blue-screen-of-deathing and mumbling to himself 'I never really imagined, amongst all this carnage, that you'd be the one to go...' Okay, that's kind of catchy. So maybe it's realistic irrationality.

[The Glyphstone]

Plus, Smoke Knight. I can imagine Tarvek conceiving a fight Violetta couldn't win, but something capable of preventing her from running away under stealth if she was outmatched? His family practically mythologizes the skill of their pet assassins, and she's the best of them he's ever known. It's not just the loss of his best friend for who knows how long, but specifically the overthrow of a facet of his worldview he's never really had challenged (leaving aside the assorted smoke knights who the protagonists have defeated).

[Rogar Demonblud]

You're forgetting Violetta is a Spark Knight who survived Castle Heterodyne. That definitely raises expectations.

edit: also, there's Krosp's ice cold dismissal, which is shocking for someone who provides the second most important feature of a cat's life (Food Lady beats Comfy Lap every time).

[Fyraltari]

Krosp is making some big assumptions here. She could have been captured for one.

It's a little like a WWI trench warfare narrative. Major Jones might come back to the line and find out the Corporal Froofram bit the dust in the last artillery bombardment. Sure, Froofram might have been like a son to him. He could be mad. It could lead him to the pits of despair, heights of anguish, or anything in-between. But surprised?
The thing is in WWI narratives (and you know the real deal) people weren't just in constant danger of dying. people constantly died. Our motly band of heroes however has a ridiculously high survival rate. It kind of lower expectations of them dying. Plus his facial expression in the last panel reads less as surprise and more as shock/grief to me.

Plus, Smoke Knight. I can imagine Tarvek conceiving a fight Violetta couldn't win, but something capable of preventing her from running away under stealth if she was outmatched? His family practically mythologizes the skill of their pet assassins, and she's the best of them he's ever known. It's not just the loss of his best friend for who knows how long, but specifically the overthrow of a facet of his worldview he's never really had challenged (leaving aside the assorted smoke knights who the protagonists have defeated).

Wouldn't that be Veilchen or Martellus' assassin from the dirigble? Violetta isn't that good a Smoke Knight even if she does not give herself enough credit.

[Traab]

I'm more finding disbelief with his disbelief that one of his close circle could die in the first place, regardless of people coming back. People he knows and are interacting with on a regular basis are constantly in dangerous situations. Almost all of them are built such that a bullet between the eyes or claw across the throat will kill them (people like Higgs being kind of like 'oh, ho-hum, this monster isn't that threatening, I'll not take it too seriously and let is smack me around a bit.' is itself a little odd, as kind of supposed to be an exception, because he's supposed to be near-invulnerable, like Othar).

It's a little like a WWI trench warfare narrative. Major Jones might come back to the line and find out the Corporal Froofram bit the dust in the last artillery bombardment. Sure, Froofram might have been like a son to him. He could be mad. It could lead him to the pits of despair, heights of anguish, or anything in-between. But surprised? I guess I'm talking myself out of it, because now I'm picturing Major Jones blue-screen-of-deathing and mumbling to himself 'I never really imagined, amongst all this carnage, that you'd be the one to go...' Okay, that's kind of catchy. So maybe it's realistic irrationality.

But again, tarvek and violetta have lived their entire life as part of a family where backstabbery and assassination are such normal parts of life that they train themselves to be smoke knights just to survive family reunions. They have been in life threatening danger forever, and up till now, have survived. Lets take your WW1 narrative. Now make WW1 be twenty five years of combat. Twenty five years your major has been working alongside the corporal. Twenty five years of not dying. Only to be told "Yep, he died" Thats going to be a shock.

[sherlock]

So Krosp knows Higgs is a Jager?

At first I thought the same thing, maybe Krosp had "smelled" him.
But Dimo came to give him the instructions from Agatha and probably is still near, so Krosp may simply refer to Maxim and Oggie.

[Traab]

Besides, higgs is right there with tarvek. That doesnt preclude him knowing higgs is a jaeger, but I have to think with all the sparky detection and constructs and such that higgs has had to hide his scent before. I mean heck, we have weasels sniffing out revenants as a primary plot point right now.

[Divayth Fyr]

Besides, higgs is right there with tarvek. That doesnt preclude him knowing higgs is a jaeger, but I have to think with all the sparky detection and constructs and such that higgs has had to hide his scent before. I mean heck, we have weasels sniffing out revenants as a primary plot point right now.
While I agree it is likely he had masked his scent (or lost it as one of his "gifts"), I don't imagine anyone would ever think detecting jaegers by smell is neccessary - most people would assume they're kinda obvious at a glance (much like they thought about revenants for a very long time).

[wingnutx]

A little verisimilitude-breaking for me.
First panel: This place is dangerous and trying to kill us!
Last panel: Whaaaaaaat? People I know and care about (who are here where everything is trying to kill us) might die? Whaaaaa???
Does Tarvek know that Violetta (and he) are main characters, and thus shouldn't just die? No. He knows that the two of them are adventurers in an extremely dangerous place. I get being upset. Maybe even surprised that he is so upset. Surprised in general? Shouldn't be.

I go to a lot of death scenes to deal with victims. People routinely freak out in surprise even when their loved one has been circling the drain for years.

Violetta is the closest thing to real family ( friend) that he has.

[wingnutx]

But Dimo came to give him the instructions from Agatha and probably is still near, so Krosp may simply refer to Maxim and Oggie.

I'm going with this.

[Scarlet Knight]

I took this comic as a way to show how Krosp is basically a cat by running the joke that cats have limited amounts of caring.

Tarvek is shocked to demonstrate how callous Krosp is. True, Violetta is the only family member who looked out for him. If he got word Martellus died suddenly, Tarvek would say "Good Riddance". If Grandma died, he would say, "Huh? I guess the years finally caught up with her. My family will miss her". If Steffi buys it, it would be " Huh? Well, she wasn't as bad as most; I guess that's what cost her in the end."

Earlier Krosp was a contributing member of the party , even willing to go down a sewer to help. Now that he has an army and is independent, his caring levels have dropped. He loves Papa Dim, is somewhat fond of the Lady Who Fed Him, but not enough to remember her name & Comfy Lap Lady is just a replacible human.

[wingnutx]

Yup, Krosp is acting like a cat.

[Grif]

Yup, Krosp is acting like a cat.

More than that, I think it also showcases his ruthlessness, and how he views Agatha's entourage as expendable. Only the Mistress is indispensible, because she's the One.

[eee]

Krosk is being Pragmatic Cat.

Or Violetta got in touch with him, let him know she's still alive but in deep cover, and not to tell anybody. So he's not.

(It is also possible the cultists need a human sacrifice to summon their creature, and they've got Violetta. That would seem pretty stupid; but then, they appear to be.)


More than that, I think it also showcases his ruthlessness, and how he views Agatha's entourage as expendable. Only the Mistress is indispensible, because she's the One.

Agatha is his only real subject. Can't be a king without subjects...

[Fyraltari]

Krosk is being Pragmatic Cat.

Or Violetta got in touch with him, let him know she's still alive but in deep cover, and not to tell anybody. So he's not.

(It is also possible the cultists need a human sacrifice to summon their creature, and they've got Violetta. That would seem pretty stupid; but then, they appear to be.)



Agatha is his only real subject. Can't be a king without subjects...

He has the bears now.

[Rogar Demonblud]

That's an army, not subjects. An army is people you get killed for your glory. Subjects are people you tax for your power.

[Fyraltari]

That's an army, not subjects. An army is people you get killed for your glory. Subjects are people you tax for your power.

What do you think an army is made of? And no the bears aren’t mercenaries.

[dps]

Tarvek is shocked to demonstrate how callous Krosp is.

Yeah, that's how I read it. He's not shocked that a member of the party might have died, he's shocked at how dismissive of it Krosp is.

[wingnutx]

Papa > Agatha

[factotum]

Papa > Agatha

If it was that simple Krosp would have left in the sub with Papa already.

[lord_khaine]

If it was that simple Krosp would have left in the sub with Papa already.

Its not like Papa isnt in a relative high degree of safety.
So it can easily be that simply. Just because he cares more for Papa, does not mean he does not also still care for Agatha.

[Ellen]

Trying to get Agatha to do what you want, when she's up and going, is like herding cats. Krosp is a cat. He gets it and isn't even going to try.

[Ellen]

Going to double post since these are on different comics and were done hours apart:

I like how Tarvek deals with grief, though it seems wrong to be enjoying it.

Higgs is always laid back (well, almost always) but he seems pretty calm given his reactions to the near deaths of people he cares about. After all, he's also been pretty good at empathy for a Jaeger. Maybe he understands what Tarvek needs, right now--or maybe he's going to let Tarvek calm down before giving his opinion of Krosp's analysis.

At least :smalleek:, I'm hoping he'll point out why Krosp might be wrong.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yeah, I think that comes under the heading of work therapy.

[PraetorDragoon]

Hmm. This might be the first time Travek has to deal with actual loss of a person he cares about.

[SZbNAhL]

Hmm. This might be the first time Travek has to deal with actual loss of a person he cares about.

What about Anveka?

[Fyraltari]

Didn't that gun use to need time to reload? Is it powered by anger, or what?

[Traab]

I think this is going to cause problems, like tarvek may go a bit out of control and do something he shouldnt. I mean, we already know gil is half jaeger when he gets upset but we havent seen tarvek truly lose control except against zola.

[xroads]

Interesting. I totally expected a different reaction from Tarvek. I figured he would peel away from the rest to try and find Violetta. But it sounds like he's already accepting her death as fact and is starting the grieving process.


Didn't that gun use to need time to reload? Is it powered by anger, or what?

I just assume time passed between panels. Either that, or he's been tinkering with it as he goes along.

[SZbNAhL]

Didn't that gun use to need time to reload? Is it powered by anger, or what?

He's a spark. He upgrades his weapons off-panel.

[Manga Shoggoth]

What about Anveka?

True, but he had time to come to terms with Anveka. They had the initial accident, and then the amount of time it took Anveka to die and the clank to take over.

On the other hand, this was dropped on him out of nowhere, and after he has gone to considerable trouble to keep Violetta alive.

[Mobius Twist]

Didn't that gun use to need time to reload? Is it powered by anger, or what?

The first time we see it used, it's fired twice prior to reloading. It's also been fired twice now.

[Shining Wrath]

Tarvek's shock may because someone killed Violetta and he, Tarvek, didn't smell the bad guy out in time to stop it. He's pretty sure he's the best spy / spy catcher there is, and someone was a Violetta - level assassin without him spotting them.

[Fyraltari]

Hey, Zulenna and Tarvek liked each other! Wait, when did he learn she died?


Also, still not buying that Violetta is dead.

[petersohn]

Violetta died off-screen. No body was ever found. Therefore, she is alive.

[PraetorDragoon]

Violetta died off-screen. No body was ever found. Therefore, she is alive.

Yup. I have consumed too much media to buy her being dead.

[Onyavar]

12 years 7 months and 14 days. That's got to be in the Top Ten.We'll see Zulenna again some day, and that's gonna beat all records.

Does a flashback without her face count?

If yes, is Dimtree still record-holder? (or did he also have flashbacks?)

Oh the questions that can only be asked in a forum where there exist competing fan counting projects of character appearances.

[RedScholarGypsy]

Yay Zulenna was mentioned! And was a cousin of Tarvek's? I wonder where Gil has been keeping her and General Selnikov all this time?

Man Tarvek must have really cared about her to not be thinking clearly. There are at least a dozen plausible explanations why she hasn't been around recently that involve her still being alive. My money is on Violetta sneaking onto the sub with Lady Steelgarter and following her to discover more of her plan after faking her death (granted he can't know this one, but I did say at least).

Also, where do you think Vole is in all this? Higgs did say "we" last time he was seen in comic.

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20161102

[xroads]

I don't think Violetta is dead either. I think she is spying on Steelgarter's mysterious partner (possibly Madwa?).


Hey, Zulenna and Tarvek liked each other! Wait, when did he learn she died?


It doesn't sound like the Baron was planning on keeping her death as well as her resurrection a secret. So Tarvek might have learned it through his normal network of informants. Or, possibly from Otilia/Von Pinn.

[xroads]

My money is on Violetta sneaking onto the sub with Lady Steelgarter and following her to discover more of her plan after faking her death (granted he can't know this one, but I did say at least).
http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20161102

Definitely a possibility.

Looking back, it is interesting that Steelgarter herself doesn't seem to use her lower arms after the fight. Now they very easily could be broken.

But maybe, she's not the real Steelgarter? Maybe Violetta interrogated her for information, and then disguised herself as Steelgarter.

Seems a bit of a stretch. But anything is possible. After all, there is currently an amphibian man pretending to be a human spark in the comic. So why can't a ninja pretend to be a four armed construct?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Oh. Oh my.

Notice the speech bubbles in the last panel?

Tarvek's gone Mad.

Who has the popcorn machine this time?

[tyckspoon]

Is this the first time Tarvek has admitted to actually liking Gilgamesh? I mean, it's been obvious before, the whole 'we're grudging rivals' thing is a really thin disguise, but is this the first time he's stated it on-page?

[SZbNAhL]

Is this the first time Tarvek has admitted to actually liking Gilgamesh? I mean, it's been obvious before, the whole 'we're grudging rivals' thing is a really thin disguise, but is this the first time he's stated it on-page?

He expressed a fairly strong desire to keep him safe after Gil and Agatha's rooftop encounter during the siege of Mechanicsburg (if I have time later I'll go and find the exact page).

[Scarlet Knight]

Is this the first time Tarvek has admitted to actually liking Gilgamesh? I mean, it's been obvious before, the whole 'we're grudging rivals' thing is a really thin disguise, but is this the first time he's stated it on-page?

DON'T BELIEVE HIM HIGGS! Tarvek is lying! He doesn't care for anyone! Yes, he built a clank for Anevka, but he also shut her down. He cares for Agatha but shut her locket so Lucrezia could take over! He has said over & over how he plans to defeat Gil!

Tarvek is the villian! The villian! :smallfurious:

[Fyraltari]

DON'T BELIEVE HIM HIGGS! Tarvek is lying! He doesn't care for anyone! Yes, he built a clank for Anevka, but he also shut her down. He cares for Agatha but shut her locket so Lucrezia could take over! He has said over & over how he plans to defeat Gil!

Tarvek is the villian! The villian! :smallfurious:

Well as long as he isn't the villain...

[eee]

Also, where do you think Vole is in all this? Higgs did say "we" last time he was seen in comic.

http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20161102

The trouble with Vole is, as he is now, he's too big and stands out too much. In Paris he'd be an oddity; in England he'd be a red flag. If there's something else he could be doing - maintaining an emergency escape vehicle in case the crew has to leave England fast, for instance - I think Higgs would have him do that. Otherwise, it's hard to say.

(One place Higgs could 'park' Vole AND Bohrlaikha without attracted unwanted attention would be, Master Payne's Circus of Adventure. They'd fit right in. Heck, they'd be featured attractions! And that would provide yet another reason for a reunion between the Circus and Agatha, beyond just friendship.)

[xroads]

I wonder if Tarvek knows that Bang killed his cousin Zulenna? If he does, he certainly doesn't show it.

He has no real love for Bang. So if he does know, I wonder if he has anything planned for her? Or is he biding his time til the day Bang is no longer in Gil's service (which is conveniently now)?

[keybounce]

I find myself thinking of HP:MoR, when Harry realizes that Hermione is dead and the seer gives a prophecy of the one that will destroy the stars is now here.

[slayerx]

I wonder if Tarvek knows that Bang killed his cousin Zulenna? If he does, he certainly doesn't show it.

He has no real love for Bang. So if he does know, I wonder if he has anything planned for her? Or is he biding his time til the day Bang is no longer in Gil's service (which is conveniently now)?

I would imagine that Klaus would report her death to her family but he would leave out the fact that she was killed by someone working for him

[Rogar Demonblud]

Klaus wasn't going to tell anyone. His plan was to just reanimate her and let her make her own choice if that would disqualify her from inheriting the family kingdom. No idea if that went through, what with the slaver wasp incursion, Agatha escaping, Sturmhalten, Mechanicsburg, etc.

[Rockphed]

New Strip (Friday). (www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190215) Only the inks right now, but it is pretty legible.

Well, if anyone didn't believe that Higgs was a Jaeger General, I think this scuppers that. Also, Castle Heterodyne is awesome. On the other hand, I'm surprised the train isn't commenting on how much he looks like squashy.

[Fyraltari]

Intersting. The little Castle isn't aware that Higgs is undercover while the real deal knew better than reveal his secret (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130201#.XGbT7KCNyGQ). So it seems that was a decision taken sometime after the destruction of the Castle (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150810#.XGbTx6CNyGS).

[HandofShadows]

Intersting. The little Castle isn't aware that Higgs is undercover while the real deal knew better than reveal his secret (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130201#.XGbT7KCNyGQ). So it seems that was a decision taken sometime after the destruction of the Castle (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150810#.XGbTx6CNyGS).

Well, this piece of the Castel seems to have been separated from the main part for a long period of time. It also does not seem to realize that Higgs is perfectly willing to tell the Castel to &^%$% off if he feels like it. Course I think the main Castle may not realize it either.

[SZbNAhL]

I believe Higgs is in hiding because of Lucrezia's possession of Agatha.Other-attack-era Castle therefore wouldn't have any way of knowing about it.

[halfeye]

It's the first five posts, right?

In one of the other threads three was agreed on. Dunno whether there's a different rule in this one, rules per thread generally aren't held to anyway.

[Traab]

Honestly, for comics like this one, that update like clockwork, I find it less important to spoiler reactions than for say, the goblins comic which updates completely randomly so there is no telling if a new post is a furtherance of the discussion of the last update, or if there is a new update to talk about. You KNOW that its m/w/f and so the comic is updated, so you should have already read the comic before coming to the thread. It was one thing with the sneaky gate or whatever it was called for an early release of the comic.

[Rockphed]

Honestly, for comics like this one, that update like clockwork, I find it less important to spoiler reactions than for say, the goblins comic which updates completely randomly so there is no telling if a new post is a furtherance of the discussion of the last update, or if there is a new update to talk about. You KNOW that its m/w/f and so the comic is updated, so you should have already read the comic before coming to the thread. It was one thing with the sneaky gate or whatever it was called for an early release of the comic.

My personal feeling is that you should include a new comic warning and spoil the first couple posts. Or at least make non-spoilery comments. Sometimes I come back after a couple days away from the internet and manage to get a dozen pages of thread to read through and forget that there were new comics along the way.

That said, I love the castle and train bots. They bring a dynamic relationship that allows for comic relief, "accidental" exposition, and the occasional bit of slapstick.

And I just noticed that Tarvek has exactly 3 people he cares about: Agatha, Violetta, and Wulfenbach. Bromance confirmed?

[eee]

Intersting. The little Castle isn't aware that Higgs is undercover while the real deal knew better than reveal his secret (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20130201#.XGbT7KCNyGQ). So it seems that was a decision taken sometime after the destruction of the Castle (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150810#.XGbTx6CNyGS).

The Kestle in Otilia was going to blab it, too, before Higgs 'suggested' quiet by cutting the robotic body in two.

If Higgs follows the protocol der Kestle has hinted he does, he'll now have to kill Krosp, the bear, and Beast-Bot to keep his secret, secret.

[Rogar Demonblud]

That's one way to prove your identity. And a pretty reliable one.

[Fyraltari]

If Higgs follows the protocol der Kestle has hinted he does, he'll now have to kill Krosp, the bear, and Beast-Bot to keep his secret, secret.
He clearly doesn’t else he would have killed Tarvek.

[Divayth Fyr]

The Kestle in Otilia was going to blab it, too, before Higgs 'suggested' quiet by cutting the robotic body in two
Otilia Kestle would reveal Higgs generalship, but we don't know if it was a secret at the point the identity transfer took place. It just took a while for it to recognize him and try to access the momery.


If Higgs follows the protocol der Kestle has hinted he does, he'll now have to kill Krosp, the bear, and Beast-Bot to keep his secret, secret.
And Tarvek would have never left the sub.

[halfeye]

If Higgs follows the protocol der Kestle has hinted he does, he'll now have to kill Krosp, the bear, and Beast-Bot to keep his secret, secret.
"General" could be (mis)understood as a reference to Krosp.

[eee]

He clearly doesn’t else he would have killed Tarvek.

It was der Kestle's assessment that if it told Zeetha who Higgs was, Higgs would have to kill her to protect his secret. Given how close Higgs knew Zeetha was to Agatha, either Kestle was overstating things or it was that very closeness and the risk Lu might find out that would have been fatal. Higgs has apparently decided the risk of Tarvek passing on his knowledge is low enough to allow him to live. Whether he feels the same about Krosp, bear, and Beast-bot is unknown at this time.

[Brance_a_Lot]

One could say that the cat's out of the bag? :smalltongue:

[Scarlet Knight]

I'm not surprised that der Kestle didn't recognize Tarvek...you know how many red-heads he tries to kill in a day?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Obviously not enough, since the Storm King line isn't extinct.

[lord_khaine]

It was der Kestle's assessment that if it told Zeetha who Higgs was, Higgs would have to kill her to protect his secret. Given how close Higgs knew Zeetha was to Agatha, either Kestle was overstating things or it was that very closeness and the risk Lu might find out that would have been fatal. Higgs has apparently decided the risk of Tarvek passing on his knowledge is low enough to allow him to live. Whether he feels the same about Krosp, bear, and Beast-bot is unknown at this time.

The Castle has been wrong on a lot of other things. Its a mad thing, even after being repaired.
Higgs cared a lot about Zeetha. Agatha cares about her a lot. He would kill Zeetha to protect Agatha, but its unlikely less would do.


Obviously not enough, since the Storm King line isn't extinct.

For most people the difference between the Castle trying to kill you, and you dying, is nonexistant.
But it is there for skilled or powerful people, especially those who are not smart enough to step inside the castle.

[SZbNAhL]

For those not following the Facebook page, a mistake in the post timer has given us this single panel teaser for tomorrow's strip:
https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/52255770_10156247466492861_6081521529034637312_n.j pg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-lht6-1.xx&oh=1b0b94d889be54a0fb8291ac2a87bf48&oe=5CDAADF9

A female person who's still in France and another person who's looking for them? I suppose Madwa could have faked her passage to England, but who'd know where she was? Or is it somebody who's recently arrived from England, perhaps Lady Steelgarter?