Girl Genius XXVII: Hoy! Hennybody else not dead?

[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)!

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)
Girl Genius XXV: It needs work! BUT THE CONCEPT IS SOUND! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?579254-Girl-Genius-XXV-It-needs-work!-BUT-THE-CONCEPT-IS-SOUND!)
Girl Genius XXVI: Madness is the best possible response (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?593272-Girl-Genius-XXVI-Madness-is-the-best-possible-response)
Girl Genius XXVII: Hoy! Hennybody else not dead? (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?607417-Girl-Genius-XXVII-Hoy!-Hennybody-else-not-dead)


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!

[Rockphed]

Hoy, anybody else find the new thread?

Continuing recent conversation: is it a retcon that Zeetha got dosed with the Jagerdraught? Do we care? Does this make her a more or less suitable warrior princess? Will her family notice any change in her behavior when she gets back home?

[Rogar Demonblud]

She's been gone for years at this point. Maybe it would be better to ask if they'll even recognize her.

[HandofShadows]

While she had been gone for years she hasn't changed/aged that much since we first saw her. Visiting Skif will be interesting enough I think with Gil being there.

[tyckspoon]

Hoy, anybody else find the new thread?

Continuing recent conversation: is it a retcon that Zeetha got dosed with the Jagerdraught?

More of a confirmation, I think? There were always some implications that both Gil and Zeetha's miraculously fast recoveries involved some risky techniques, and it's pretty natural to assume that miracle cures in the place where the Jaegers go to get patched up probably involve the Jaegerdraught.. I think before I at least had assumed it was a derivative treatment or something developed from the draught and not the 'well it'll probably kill you but if not you get to be superhuman' draught itself.

[Vinyadan]

If the Baron is a Jäger now, that could be interesting.

[Rockphed]

If the Baron is a Jäger now, that could be interesting.

Wait, what? The baron only took the Jaegertroth in the mad rumors that Van's mother heard in the market.

[wingnutx]

Klaus loaded Gil up with all kinds of extras, including (probably, per Gkika) Jager tech.

[Agi Hammerthief]

so did Gil figure it out?

what’s with the Anima?

[Nahmer]

so did Gil figure it out?

what’s with the Anima?

He's referring to Lucrezia's anima, i.,e he's saying he groks why Higg's hadn't yet (to Gill's knowledge) revealed his true identity to Agatha (and confirming that he is aware that Higgs is a Jaegar).

[Agi Hammerthief]

He's referring to Lucrezia's anima, i.,e he's saying he groks why Higg's hadn't yet (to Gill's knowledge) revealed his true identity to Agatha (and confirming that he is aware that Higgs is a Jaegar).ok, thanks
then he‘s also saying that he knows exactly what they’re discussing without having listened.

[factotum]

Wait, what? The baron only took the Jaegertroth in the mad rumors that Van's mother heard in the market.

I think he means Gil, as in, if he was given the Jaegerdraught in Mama Gkika's, like Zeetha was, does that make him a Jaeger-in-waiting also?

[HandofShadows]

Poor Higgs. Gil had him "out spied". Of course Gil did the same thing to England's greatest spy as well. I think it's great that Agatha thought Gil would figure it out and is happy she was right.

[Willie the Duck]

Of course, other than the Doylist reason (to reveal it to the audience, and to take some air out of Higgs' sails), Gil did just reveal that he knew all along for no particularly clear gain (maybe he really does need to talk to Higgs about the details for as of yet unexplained reasons, or he's telegraphing to them all 'we're all on the same team here, look at me laying my cards on the table').

[Vinyadan]

Of course, other than the Doylist reason (to reveal it to the audience, and to take some air out of Higgs' sails), Gil did just reveal that he knew all along for no particularly clear gain (maybe he really does need to talk to Higgs about the details for as of yet unexplained reasons, or he's telegraphing to them all 'we're all on the same team here, look at me laying my cards on the table').

I think that the problem is that he now is a public figure and a ruler. As a ruler, it's best for him if people accept that he is an exceptional individual, so going against him is ill-advised. It also sends a message to Mr Spymaster: "you can't hide things from me, so you can save yourself the trouble and just tell me."

[HandofShadows]

Knowing Gil, he probably had a number of good reasons for doing what he did. Which is always a good way of doing things.

[Kantaki]

Heh. Gil is great at having knowledge he shouldn't have.
Or at least looking the part.

[Fyraltari]

Gil did just reveal that he knew all along for no particularly clear gain

Agatha's look and words in the last panel says otherwise.

I wonder of van Mekhan Jr is going to manage to keep track of these odds after all this time...

[wingnutx]

So when did Gil find out? You'd think that his Klaus overlay would have reacted badly to the knowledge, so perhaps he figured it out post-removal.

[Rinvak]

I think one of my favorite things about this is the degree to which Gil is "We can talk about this when you feel comfortable" vs Tarvek's needling Higgs over it to show he knows.


So when did Gil find out? You'd think that his Klaus overlay would have reacted badly to the knowledge, so perhaps he figured it out post-removal.

He had plenty of opportunities to pick up clues. Higgs was around him when he was messing around in the time-stopped Mechanicsburg, specifically when they pulled Vole out.

[Willie the Duck]

I think one of my favorite things about this is the degree to which Gil is "We can talk about this when you feel comfortable" vs Tarvek's needling Higgs over it to show he knows.

I find that Tarvek really doesn't make sense. He has a personality/informed attribute disparity. This kind of behavior (which is absolutely on-brand for the character we see) should have him dead a thousand times over as the 'weaselly little snake who just happens to be on the protagonist's team' character we're told he is.

[HandofShadows]

So when did Gil find out? You'd think that his Klaus overlay would have reacted badly to the knowledge, so perhaps he figured it out post-removal.

I think he knew since Der Kastel arc or at least suspected it strongly as on This Page (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110126#.Xla0CGhKgdU). And remember, he found Higgs is a Mamma's Bar so he had a lot more info than Tarvek. The Klaus overlay didn't know what Gil knows, so if Gil were careful (and you can bet he was) Klaus shouldn't have been able to figure it out. Would not surprise me if Gil wasn't making feeding info to Higgs to allow some supplies to "go missing" to the residents of Mechanicsburg in the tunnels.

[cptnspldng]

Hoy, anybody else find the new thread?

Continuing recent conversation: is it a retcon that Zeetha got dosed with the Jagerdraught? Do we care? Does this make her a more or less suitable warrior princess? Will her family notice any change in her behavior when she gets back home?

Well, first off she's gonna need a het.

[Grytorm]

One possibility I like is that he figured out that Higgs is something that works for the Heterodyne but he isn't fully confident that he knows what Higgs is. Thus the details. Mostly I like that so he actually doesn't know everything.

[sihnfahl]

One possibility I like is that he figured out that Higgs is something that works for the Heterodyne but he isn't fully confident that he knows what Higgs is. Thus the details. Mostly I like that so he actually doesn't know everything.
More than likely, since Higgs is, as he stated, an anomaly. He's the SOLE person to have drunk the jaegerdraught who didn't die OR visibly become a monster.

So everyone's thought would be that he's some sort of experiment, but not that he was a jaeger - cause jaeger = pointy teeth + claws, maybe horns...

[factotum]

More than likely, since Higgs is, as he stated, an anomaly. He's the SOLE person to have drunk the jaegerdraught who didn't die OR visibly become a monster.

Well, Mama Gkika is close--apart from the teeth and the colour-changing skin she looks fairly normal.

[The Patterner]

Well, Mama Gkika is close--apart from the teeth and the colour-changing skin she looks fairly normal.

Same with Jenka, she looks quite human exept for the unusual skin colour and eyes.

[Vinyadan]

Weren't Jenka's fangs literally ripped out by the Storm King? I think she complained about it to his corpse.

[The Patterner]

Weren't Jenka's fangs literally ripped out by the Storm King? I think she complained about it to his corpse.

I had to go back and look, and yes, that is correct.

Altough I'd say that makes her and Mama Gkikka about equal in how human they look(ed).

[Felius]

One possibility I like is that he figured out that Higgs is something that works for the Heterodyne but he isn't fully confident that he knows what Higgs is. Thus the details. Mostly I like that so he actually doesn't know everything.

This might actually be closer to the truth than anyone realizes. Or hell, Gil might even actually suspect Higg's true nature, but decided it wasn't a problem, relevant or otherwise worth making a fuss or letting Higgs know that he knows, specially since it'd mean losing such competent minion.

Remember for a moment how he knew Wooster was British Intelligence: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060303

[HandofShadows]

Remember for a moment how he knew Wooster was British Intelligence: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060303

That page makes it clear Gil had known for a long time about Wooster. And Wooster was very good at his job.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Well, Mama Gkika is close--apart from the teeth and the colour-changing skin she looks fairly normal.

Well, she's also about a foot taller than normal.

[factotum]

Well, she's also about a foot taller than normal.

That's not something that's entirely out of the bounds of possibility for a regular human, though--the chameleon skin and the fangs realistically are.

[sihnfahl]

Same with Jenka, she looks quite human exept for the unusual skin colour and eyes.
And the ears. She has the pointed ears.

All of which can be explained away as being part of a costume.

[xroads]

I wonder if Tarvek and Gil are going to have a bit of a rivalry over who figured it our first? In the playful friendly way they've been doing for awhile now. :smallbiggrin:

[Ellen]

By "costume" I assume they mean Agatha as a mermaid. So, the plan was destined to fail, cause trouble with the cetaceans, keep the characters from defeating Lucy, and Lucy Victorius = End of All Life on Earth.

Like the alien time being said, they really shouldn't need Tarvek's imaginary friend to tell them this.

[memnarch]

Gotta say, even with the jaegerdraught needing a ritual probably being a retcon, there's a lot of Zeetha behavior after that moment that look a little different with that in mind. Like the end of this one (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140509).

[PraetorDragoon]

Who knew trying to trick the god-whales with a fish costume was a terrible plan. :smalltongue:

[factotum]

Who knew trying to trick the god-whales with a fish costume was a terrible plan. :smalltongue:

Apparently anyone with a brain should have known it, judging from what Tarvek's friend is saying!

[Kantaki]

To be absolutely fair, killing the entire planet over a costume sounds like a slight overreaction.

[PraetorDragoon]

To be absolutely fair, killing the entire planet over a costume sounds like a slight overreaction.

Considering those are god-whales, the others are sparks, and in real life a war has been fought over a bucket, it all sounds pretty plausible. :smallbiggrin:

[factotum]

To be absolutely fair, killing the entire planet over a costume sounds like a slight overreaction.

We don't know that's what would happen. For instance, when the subterfuge is discovered, the sea-dwellers might decide to have nothing more to do with the surface-dwellers--and that allows something else, that the two sets of people could have dealt with if they were working together, to wipe them out piecemeal. It doesn't require them to declare war on the surface because they were tricked.

[Druness]

Would the end of everything timeline happen because of the costume or because of the ridiculous supply of weaponry on the costume?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yes? Sparks, remember.

[Epinephrine_Syn]

Also on the previous matter of Higgs being found out by Gil, I thought it was kind of given that Higgs was found out. Specifically right here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140523). What I'm more surprised by is the Higgs didn't mark it as at least possible he blew his cover there.

[Douglas]

Would the end of everything timeline happen because of the costume or because of the ridiculous supply of weaponry on the costume?
I'm not quite sure, but Gil and Trelawney's lines in the last panel suggest that the ridiculous weapons arsenal would sabotage the effectiveness of the disguise.

[Agi Hammerthief]

will ya all stop posting links?
it aways gets me innan archive binge!!1! :smallbiggrin:

[Rockphed]

will ya all stop posting links?
it aways gets me innan archive binge!!1! :smallbiggrin:

How else are we supposed to have time to sort through the files? (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021218#.Xlm5gYrLdEU)

[Vinyadan]

A part of me wishes that the goldfish had had a larger part in the story.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Well if it's a normal goldfish it has succumbed to old age by now. If it's a Sparked up goldfish it's probably running a secret crime empire from its bowl in Gil's quarters on Castle Wulfenbach.

[Agi Hammerthief]

A part of me wishes that the goldfish had had a larger part in the story.
he‘ll be back in 2023

[wingnutx]

It really is a very stupid plan.

[keybounce]

It's a genius plan. Right up there with rigging a race to get enough money to buy weapons for a ship you traded to get the guns needed to rig the race.

Err ...

Also, where was the goldfish? (comic links?)

[factotum]

Also, where was the goldfish? (comic links?)

Er, do you mean the goldfish Maxim killed? Pretty sure that was sometime before the comic even started, given the comment that he was moping for 50 years after he did it.

[geoduck]

Waaay back at the start of the comic, one of the many things that came spilling out of Agatha's overpacked storeroom, half-burying Gil, was a goldfish in a bowl. (Gil caught it, keeping it from shattering.) After Dr. Beetle died, Gil evidently took the goldfish back to Castle Wulfenbach with him. Agatha actually mentioned it fairly recently, saying Dr. Beetle had her feed it. The GG Wiki has various links (https://girlgenius.fandom.com/wiki/The_Goldfish), if anyone is still curious.

[eee]

Apparently anyone with a brain should have known it, judging from what Tarvek's friend is saying!

To be fair, these ARE three Sparks, focusing on one idea...

[PraetorDragoon]

Er, do you mean the goldfish Maxim killed? Pretty sure that was sometime before the comic even started, given the comment that he was moping for 50 years after he did it.

I choose to believe it is the same goldfish as earlier in the comics, awakening its spark and time traveling back in time to meet up with Maxim and fight crime together.

[Kantaki]

Fifty years might sound long, but remember, in Jäger years that's about a week.:smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

[halfeye]

Fifty years might sound long, but remember, in Jäger years that's about a week.:smallbiggrin::smalltongue:

More like a year. They've lived about 500 so far I think?

[sihnfahl]

More like a year. They've lived about 500 so far I think?
Some of the oldest are, or older. Each Heterodyne since Vlad (save for Bill and Barry) had their own batches of Jaegermonsters, IIRC.

That's ... a lot of time.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Once again we see how quick Dimo thinks.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Some of the oldest are, or older. Each Heterodyne since Vlad (save for Bill and Barry) had their own batches of Jaegermonsters, IIRC.

That's ... a lot of time.

More to the point, that's a lot of Jagermonsters.


Once again we see how quick Dimo thinks.

Yup, he deserves his generalship, even if it is pro-tem.

[sihnfahl]

More to the point, that's a lot of Jagermonsters.
Potentially. Still has that 'kills most folks who drink it' aspect.

Going through the trial of grasses - er, drinking the Jaegerdraught - diminishes the potential number of resulting fighters...

[factotum]

Potentially. Still has that 'kills most folks who drink it' aspect.

Going through the trial of grasses - er, drinking the Jaegerdraught - diminishes the potential number of resulting fighters...

Well, either Jaegers are just *that good* that having one of them instead of a dozen regular soldiers is a benefit, *or* the Heterodynes just went with "Monsters are cool, m'kay?" and chose them over regular dudes for that reason. Assuming they even thought much about it at all, Sparks very rarely seem to sit down and consider if they *should* be doing something.

[Willie the Duck]

Well, either Jaegers are just *that good* that having one of them instead of a dozen regular soldiers is a benefit, *or* the Heterodynes just went with "Monsters are cool, m'kay?" and chose them over regular dudes for that reason. Assuming they even thought much about it at all, Sparks very rarely seem to sit down and consider if they *should* be doing something.

I also deeply suspect that it's not the kind of thing you just give to your whole army or the like, so you aren't trading a dozen regular soldiers for a Jaeger, you are trading specific individual soldiers for a 1-in-X chance of a Jaeger. The types of soldiers who would take the drought aren't the types of soldiers who last forever without massive survivability upgrades. At least it's implied that people who 'ride with the Jaegers' or the like already have a touch of reckless abandon or the like.

[Fyraltari]

Frankly between the backstory of Old Man Death and Maxim’s sorrow over a goldfish I’m starting to wonder how murderous it really was to ride with the Hererodynes.

[Rogar Demonblud]

You missed the point in OMD's story where all the rest of the guys with him died, I take it?

I suspect the Jaeger effect slows down how someone changes. They've been noted as being a bit slow on the uptake and not likely to change, so it's possible that you're getting in effect some form of time dilation effect. 50 years of grieving for a pet seems long to us, to a Jaeger it may be the equivalent of moping for a few months.

[Fyraltari]

You missed the point in OMD's story where all the rest of the guys with him died, I take it?
I meant this backstory (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100602#.Xl6j4EpCfIU).


I suspect the Jaeger effect slows down how someone changes. They've been noted as being a bit slow on the uptake and not likely to change, so it's possible that you're getting in effect some form of time dilation effect. 50 years of grieving for a pet seems long to us, to a Jaeger it may be the equivalent of moping for a few months.

Except that going by the way Dimo tells it it wasn't even his goldfish, also there is no indication whatsoever that they perceive time any differently.


But most importantly I was making a joke!

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yup. And two pages (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100528#.Xl7QFEp7ncs) before that, we saw what happened to his pals (bottom corners).

[Rogar Demonblud]

I've had trips booked by that gate agent.

[Manga Shoggoth]

It's a hell of a lot more believable than the excuses we get from National Rail...

[Rogar Demonblud]

National Rail comes up with something less believable than a rampaging giant monstrous crab?

[Manga Shoggoth]

Oh yes... Remember, these are the people who came up with delays due to "the wrong kind of snow..."

[Kantaki]

Heh. That complication should've been expected.:smallamused:

[Rockphed]

Jaegers? Impressive diplomats? I'm not sure I buy it.

[geoduck]

Jaegers? Impressive diplomats? I'm not sure I buy it.

Why not? We just saw first-hand that Dimo can do it.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Jaegers? Impressive diplomats? I'm not sure I buy it.


Why not? We just saw first-hand that Dimo can do it.

There's two things here.

First, we know that Oggie, Maxim and especially Dimo are not typical Jaegers. They have spent a long period out in the field on their own, and have ... matured ... somewhat, to the extent that in the absence of the other Generals Dimo is even operating as a reluctant brevet General.

The second is that I suspect that the "dumb battle-happy Jaeger" is something of a facade. Not a big facade - Jorgi (our rank-and-file closet intellectual) goes into some detail here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120627), and Dimo has something to say about it here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160704).

Yes, most of the Jaegers joined up to be, well, Jaegers, but there is more to them than just that. Over time they mature and - if they survive long enough - become Generals.

[Agi Hammerthief]

Who knew trying to trick the god-whales with a fish costume was a terrible plan. :smalltongue:
so the objection was more against the weapons than the costume?

[Rogar Demonblud]

First, the colored pages for the 14th (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200214) and 17th (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200217) are now up.

Second, get the popcorn, y'all.

[Kantaki]

Uh, Tarvek? Thin ice. Very thin ice.

[otakuryoga]

ooooo, somebody is about to get punched in the face REALLY hard

[PraetorDragoon]

ooooo, somebody is about to get punched in the face REALLY hard

Do you think the mermaid outfit comes with a mechanic punching fist? :smallwink:

[Vinyadan]

Uh, Tarvek? Thin ice. Very thin ice.

I don't know, I mean, she is only holding the bathrobe at the top. It's open at the bottom.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Which matters how to the fact that Tarvek is offering Agatha her choice in stripper pasties for when she goes topless?

[Fyraltari]

Do you think the mermaid outfit comes with a mechanic punching fist? :smallwink:

This is rhetorical right?

[uncool]

Do you think the mermaid outfit comes with a mechanic punching fist? :smallwink:

Grammar question: do you mean punching fists that are mechanical, or fists that punch the mechanic? :smallwink:

[Manga Shoggoth]

Do you think the mermaid outfit comes with a mechanic punching fist? :smallwink:

Don't be silly! Trelawney Thorpe helped build it, and wouldn't allow anything so gauche. Twin rocket Launchers.

[wingnutx]

she is only holding the bathrobe at the top. It's open at the bottom.

She's wearing it vato-style.

[Scarlet Knight]

Which matters how to the fact that Tarvek is offering Agatha her choice in stripper pasties for when she goes topless?

"Are you suggesting that I wear seashells?"
" I would never insult you that way! These are 'D' shells..."

[PraetorDragoon]

Grammar question: do you mean punching fists that are mechanical, or fists that punch the mechanic? :smallwink:

yes. :smallbiggrin:

[Rogar Demonblud]

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Well, just one tiiiiny thing..."



It's already too late to start running.

[factotum]

I thought we'd established a few strips ago that what they're doing is a terrible idea, why are they still doing it?

[PraetorDragoon]

i thought we'd established a few strips ago that what they're doing is a terrible idea, why are they still doing it?

mad science!

[petersohn]

"We don't expect you to be in it for very long."

Oh no, we are doomed. Agatha will be stuck in it for the next couple of chapters.

[PraetorDragoon]

"We don't expect you to be in it for very long."

Oh no, we are doomed. Agatha will be stuck in it for the next couple of chapters.

At least there is no current doom hanging over them... yet.

[Vinyadan]

Am I the only one who's having problems loading the page? It's impossibly slow, and it never loaded the new comic.

[xroads]

"We don't expect you to be in it for very long."

Oh no, we are doomed. Agatha will be stuck in it for the next couple of chapters.

Lol! Odds are she'll still be in the suit this time next year. It's probably why the Foglios are taking pains to limit the weapons she has available in it.

If we learn she can breath underwater in it, then their is definitely an extended underwater adventure planned for her.

[Willie the Duck]

Lol! Odds are she'll still be in the suit this time next year. It's probably why the Foglios are taking pains to limit the weapons she has available in it.

If we learn she can breath underwater in it, then their is definitely an extended underwater adventure planned for her.

And if they say in the first chapter that there is a speargun hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off.

[PraetorDragoon]

So they're screwed either way, unless something incredibly improbable happens.

Luckily for them, one in a million chances show up nine times out of then. :smallcool:

[Agi Hammerthief]

Luckily for them, one in a million chances show up nine times out of then. :smallcool:Thank you Sir Pterry

[Rogar Demonblud]

Incredibly improbable? Have Violetta be nice to Martellus.

[Kantaki]

Incredibly improbable? Have Violetta be nice to Martellus.

Improbable. Not impossible.:smalltongue:

[otakuryoga]

lol
they are sparks..they just couldn't help themselves

[JavaScribe]

Agatha's sense of self-preservation actually managed to override her enthusiasm for SCIENCE!!! But that's only mildly improbable. Probably not what saves them.

[Douglas]

I imagine the weapons would have been noticed, and would have provoked a very bad reaction. It could be because of bringing weapons to negotiations, bringing many weapons to negotiations, bringing hidden weapons, or drawing attention to the tail's artificial nature, just for possible reasons I can think of.

If they really are concerned about being unarmed rather than just indulging sparky tendencies, they could try having Agatha openly carry a single obvious weapon, separate from the costume and clearly not ready to use, similar to a sheathed sword or holstered gun. Bringing a disguised arsenal capable of leveling a city would naturally provoke suspicion that she intends to use them. Bringing one weapon openly, acting like it's just something she brings with her everywhere by default, is more likely to be seen as just a sensible practice for someone who regularly faces danger as much as she does.

[PraetorDragoon]

What is this? Self-awareness and sensibility? This truly is the improbable path.

[Ailurus]

Wait, so the ambassador suit not being outfitted with huge piles of weaponry increases everyone's chance of survival? Remarkable!

[Rogar Demonblud]

Somehow, I think these people would right there with Iki Piki and his "I pack mining explosives for our trip to the seedy part of town."

[Kantaki]

Somehow, I think these people would right there with Iki Piki and his "I pack mining explosives for our trip to the seedy part of town."

That's entirely reasonable.
Or would you go unarmed?

[Rogar Demonblud]

There are steps between unarmed and high explosives.

[Kantaki]

There are steps between unarmed and high explosives.

"There is no Overkill. There's only "open fire" and "reload.":smalltongue:

[Rogar Demonblud]

I love idiots who think that. It's very easy to gank their characters while they're all busy reloading.

[Kantaki]

I love idiots who think that. It's very easy to gank their characters while they're all busy reloading.

If you're still around to gank me it clearly wasn't overkill.
Quite the opposite actually.

[Scarlet Knight]

*Sigh* Sparks.

I miss Von Zinzer so much.

[Kelenius]

Sparks: "What do you mean, bringing a ton of hidden weapons to a diplomatic mission is not a good idea?!"

[Kantaki]

Sparks: "What do you mean, bringing a ton of hidden weapons to a diplomatic mission is not a good idea?!"

Also Sparks:"So should we just carry them openly then?"

[Rodin]

If you're still around to gank me it clearly wasn't overkill.
Quite the opposite actually.

Clearly you didn't bring enough dakka.

[The Glyphstone]

Clearly you didn't bring enough dakka.

There is no such thing as enuff dakka.

[Rogar Demonblud]

If you're still around to gank me it clearly wasn't overkill.
Quite the opposite actually.

You are assuming you can actually hit something while blazing away with your entire ammo loadout. You can't. And that's assuming you're shooting in the right place and not at some decoy.

[Kantaki]

You are assuming you can actually hit something while blazing away with your entire ammo loadout. You can't. And that's assuming you're shooting in the right place and not at some decoy.

All I'm hearing is "If you're leaving scorch marks you need a bigger gun."
But considering Agatha wants to try that diplomacy thing discussing how big a boom is to big might be slightly misplaced.
On the other hand "Speak gently and carry a big stick." Just not concealed. That's stupid.

[Willie the Duck]

You are assuming you can actually hit something while blazing away with your entire ammo loadout. You can't. And that's assuming you're shooting in the right place and not at some decoy.

Before we keep going down this pointless road (and I'll remind you that you were the one to start calling others idiots), exactly what point are you actually trying to make? That IRL overkill isn't actually a universal solution to problems? Because I think everyone knows that.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Kantaki quoted one of the Maxims to snark me. I snarked back. We had a fun time busting each other's chops. Would you rather we had a pun off?

[uncool]

Kantaki quoted one of the Maxims to snark me. I snarked back. We had a fun time busting each other's chops. Would you rather we had a pun off?

Tbh it read more like Kantaki snarking and you "internet tough guy"-ing; not knowing either of you (but knowing Schlock), I thought you didn't recognize the maxims at all. If it's all in good fun, though, I say carry on.

[Kantaki]

Kantaki quoted one of the Maxims to snark me. I snarked back. We had a fun time busting each other's chops. Would you rather we had a pun off?

No one wants a pun off.
The SAN-damage would be too high.:smalltongue:

But yeah, just having fun there.
I just had to comment on the mining explosives.:smallamused:
(Irregular Webcomics is awesome by the way )

[Rogar Demonblud]

Pretty much everything the Irregulars do is awesome. The rest are merely superb.

[PraetorDragoon]

So, how many pages do people think it will take before chaos happens? My bet is three.

[Kantaki]

So far everything seems fine.
And as long as the ruse keeps working and no one messes up or interferes...
Yeah, three pages sounds about right.

[Agi Hammerthief]

So far everything seems fine.
And as long as the ruse keeps working and no one messes up or interferes...
Yeah, three pages sounds about right.
four pages gives us a nice cliff hanger next friday :smalltongue:

[Kantaki]

four pages gives us a nice cliff hanger next friday :smalltongue:

So would one page.:smallamused:
Also, there might be a double page.
Those only count once:smalltongue:

[Rogar Demonblud]

I'm going to take the long shot and say seven, since I'm pretty sure we'll have more of the larger crowd-shot panels for a bit.

[Manga Shoggoth]

If they are deep sea how does he know what a grunion is? And he's already been for a run.

[Fyraltari]

If they are deep sea how does he know what a grunion is?
The same way he speaks the language of the protagonists I would imagine.

[TaRix]

Hey, whales gotta breathe too. Eventually. Unless they've scienced that away somehow.

[Kantaki]

Hey, whales gotta breathe too. Eventually. Unless they've scienced that away somehow.

Is it bad that I immediatly thought about the how?

Maybe a garden in/around the lungs (or whatever leviathanian Horrors from the stygian depths use to breath)?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Still need a source of insolation, since the sunlight can't penetrate the whale's skin.

[SZbNAhL]

Still need a source of insolation, since the sunlight can't penetrate the whale's skin.

If they go deep enough, they could use heat from volcanic vents.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Still going to have a problem getting through the whale.

[PraetorDragoon]

Still going to have a problem getting through the whale.

Leaving through the blowhole is a time-honored tradition.

[PraetorDragoon]

I am surprised as well. I had fully expected there to be one weapon hidden "just in case". :smallwink:

[Kantaki]

I am surprised as well. I had fully expected there to be one weapon hidden "just in case". :smallwink:

I want to point out that it would have been a Darwin-Award worthy idiocy, but well... Sparks.

Edit: Also, the merfolk can't tell the landlubbers apart.
I feel with them.:smallbiggrin:

[HandofShadows]

There probably is a weapon there, but isn't a fancy sparky weapon. Something simple like a knife.

[ChowGuy]

There probably is a weapon there, but isn't a fancy sparky weapon. Something simple like a knife.
Knife?? Why, when a fork is So much more versatile (http:\\www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160713#.XnTE84FOlNolS[/url)

[DavidSh]

Knife?? Why, when a fork is So much more versatile (http:\\www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160713#.XnTE84FOlNolS[/url)

All Agatha really needs is a wrench.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Well, we just had proof the Deepfolk are familiar with Sparks. And are surprisingly practical. They must meet Von Zinzer.

[Rockphed]

Well, we just had proof the Deepfolk are familiar with Sparks. And are surprisingly practical. They must meet Von Zinzer.

Von Zinzer somehow went back in time and became their god.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Von Zinzer somehow went back in time and became their god.

Naah. We know they worship Whales, and Moloch is from the wrong part of Europa.

[PraetorDragoon]

No flaming ball of fire and exposition time! Things are going well.

... too well...

[Traab]

No flaming ball of fire and exposition time! Things are going well.

... too well...

I expect we will next discover that they are well aware that she isnt a fish woman. This was all a setup for some reason to meet the heterodyne and also to test her a bit.

[Kantaki]

I expect we will next discover that they are well aware that she isnt a fish woman. This was all a setup for some reason to meet the heterodyne and also to test her a bit.

I think they know (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200320#.XniVlUBFweE).

[factotum]

Yeah, their wording in that strip heavily implied they knew the tail was a device, not part of Agatha.

[InvisibleBison]

Yeah, their wording in that strip heavily implied they knew the tail was a device, not part of Agatha.

No it doesn't. Remember, Agatha's in a giant mobile fishbowl - that could very well be the device they're talking about.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Are we finally going to get a lore dump to answer some of our pages of questions?

[halfeye]

Are we finally going to get a lore dump to answer some of our pages of questions?

When has that ever happened? If an info dump begins, it will be interrupted.

[PraetorDragoon]

Are we finally going to get a lore dump to answer some of our pages of questions?

Fool! Infodumps are to raise more questions!

[Manga Shoggoth]

Besides, they probably disapprove of dumping in the oceans.

[FLHerne]

No it doesn't. Remember, Agatha's in a giant mobile fishbowl - that could very well be the device they're talking about.

The weapons were in the tail, and we know fourth-dimensionally that they would have been discovered.

Given that he examined the tail, it's conspicuously made of brass with fancy greebles -- I can't imagine they could possibly scan with confidence for concealed weapons and not pick up on that.

[Kantaki]

New page.

If that is how this works the guy is actually remarkable calm and sane.

[PraetorDragoon]

New page.

If that is how this works the guy is actually remarkable calm and sane.

Yeah, I don't think this counts as chaos. (There go my quatloos)

[HandofShadows]

Seems rather similar in a way to the "brain" interface used by Carson. :smalleek:

[Rockphed]

Seems rather similar in a way to the "brain" interface used by Carson. :smalleek:

Only he doesn't need to plug in.

[Kantaki]

What the SCIENCE! did Vapnoodle do?:smalleek:
No, seriously.
This starts sounding like high end Other stuff.
Sure, part of it might be the idiot cultists, but the way it sounds this isn't the first time beardude is involved with this stuff.

Whatever crimes against everything the man committed it sounds like he went way beyond experimenting on/enslaving those giant guppies.

[HandofShadows]

Vapnoodle was nuts even by Madboy standards. Why do you think it is that off all the sparks Klaus had around him that guy is the only one he destroyed the spark on?

[Vinyadan]

I think that this is a very good moment for the comic. We are in a new setting, whose rules and problems still need be explored, as much as this new villain. It's a bit like back in Castle Wulfenbach, a part I liked a lot.

That that sclerotised bit of plot (the possession) is over is also good. Too much author-fiat in how it worked, too little to see, too good an excuse to overextend other plot points (Higg's "secret", Agatha's romance). The possession had ran its course once Zola had bottled it up. And compare it to the possession of Durkon's body in OotS, how much conflict it created, how good it was to see Roy understand the truth, and how clear-cut the rules were.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Vapnoodle was nuts even by Madboy standards. Why do you think it is that off all the sparks Klaus had around him that guy is the only one he destroyed the spark on?

I doubt this very much - he was setting up to do the exact same thing on Othar Tryggvassen, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER! as well. From the comments here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040107) and here (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040109) it sounds like Othar and Vapnoodle are hardly the first.

That said, it is clear from the third panel in the second link that Vapnoodle went on the fast track because he was so dangerous.

EDIT: Also, volume 4 of the prose edition has just arrived. I'm having to force myself to keep typing rather than grabbing the book and reading the spark out of it.

[PraetorDragoon]

I bet this has either to do with the Other or with those who set up the mirrors.

EDIT: Would the original Dyne be considered a cursed water? :smalleek:

[Traab]

Well vapnoodle explicitly was messing with the deep sea creatures back in his heyday. Albia went into full on amazon rage mode upon seeing him still existing, even if mentally broken at the time. So its not exactly surprising these deep creatures would be aware of him somehow. And from his rantings when he was restored, he didnt waste time building clanks or death rays, he violated higher and lower dimensions for his personal spark direction. So yeah, dude is hardcore bad news, and its probably a very bad thing he went to the other dimension. Because if anyone could come back, its him, and if he DOES come back, it will be far more dangerous than ever.

[Vinyadan]

Oh oh oh, now I see it... master of animal engineering + cetaceans + dead water = Jäger Deep Cetaceans!

[Traab]

Oh oh oh, now I see it... master of animal engineering + cetaceans + dead water = Jäger Deep Cetaceans!

Why am I thinking Pacific Rim?

[Manga Shoggoth]

EDIT: Would the original Dyne be considered a cursed water? :smalleek:

Well, when you think about it, a river has to flow somewhere...

[SZbNAhL]

That said, it is clear from the third panel in the second link that Vapnoodle went on the fast track because he was so dangerous.

On the contrary, he went through the normal track of working for the Baron and being tested (that's when he made Krosp) before being lobotomised. Othar was on the fast track.

[Manga Shoggoth]

On the contrary, he went through the normal track of working for the Baron and being tested (that's when he made Krosp) before being lobotomised. Othar was on the fast track.

Othar was certianly on the very fast track. I don't think there is anything to say how long Vapnoople was working for the Baron rather than being cored. Given how dangerous Albia believes Vapnoople to be, I doubt whether it was very long.

Do we know exactly when Krosp was created? The Bears were looking for him, which could imply that it was pre-Castle Wulfenbach.

It is also possible (but unlikley) that Krosp was created towards the end or after the coring process - while Vapnoople had just enough spark to do it (or with the dying flickers of his spark). Remember, by his own admission, Krosp the King of Cats, is a really stupid idea.

[Vinyadan]

Beetle probably was scheduled for lobotomy, too. http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030115#.Xn-YAohKiUk

[HandofShadows]

Beetle probably was scheduled for lobotomy, too. http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030115#.Xn-YAohKiUk

No, Beetle THOUGHT he was scheduled. He's wasn't http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030127#.Xn-jcIhKgdU Klaus was trying to talk Beetle down.

[SZbNAhL]

Othar was certianly on the very fast track. I don't think there is anything to say how long Vapnoople was working for the Baron rather than being cored. Given how dangerous Albia believes Vapnoople to be, I doubt whether it was very long.

Von Pinn, the Jagers and the Dreen were also all notoriously dangerous. Herr Baron has something of a tendency to think he can control dangerous beings. The scary thing about him is how often he's right.


Do we know exactly when Krosp was created? The Bears were looking for him, which could imply that it was pre-Castle Wulfenbach.

Martellus claims (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150223#.Xn_bpHLgrIU) it was after the Baron captured him. Besides, why would Krosp be on Castle Wulfenbach unless he was created there? Vapnoople's plan was for him to lead the bear army, after all.


It is also possible (but unlikley) that Krosp was created towards the end or after the coring process - while Vapnoople had just enough spark to do it (or with the dying flickers of his spark). Remember, by his own admission, Krosp the King of Cats, is a really stupid idea.

Ah, but that wasn't the real reason he was created (see above paragraph). It's just what Vapnoople told the Baron.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Von Pinn, the Jagers and the Dreen were also all notoriously dangerous. Herr Baron has something of a tendency to think he can control dangerous beings. The scary thing about him is how often he's right.

He has had a reputation for this for a long time - "Klaus always did know the right monster for the right job (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070820)"

But there's dangerous and there is Dangerous.

Von Pinn was apparantly "built", or at least used, as a nursemaid. Undoubtedly a dangerous person, but very, very good at her job. I do wonder if Klaus knew that she was originally a muse.
The introduction to volume 4 of the print novels is the creation of von Pinn - Lucrezia certianly knew.

The Jagers are an interesting one - According to the print novels (it is briefly mentioned in the comcs) Klaus has a policy of absorbing conquered troops into his army. The Jagers used this policy to their advantage (and to be fair, played the game - Gil says as much to Mamma Gkikka). Again, dangerous, but safe enough when used correctly.

The Dreen, we know very little of, except that everyone is scared of them - According to the books even the Slaver Wasps give them a wide margin. We also don't know why they agreed to join the Baron.

Vapnoople is in a whole different class of Dangerous.


Martellus claims (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150223#.Xn_bpHLgrIU) it was after the Baron captured him. Besides, why would Krosp be on Castle Wulfenbach unless he was created there? Vapnoople's plan was for him to lead the bear army, after all.

Ah, but that wasn't the real reason he was created (see above paragraph). It's just what Vapnoople told the Baron.

Oh, I agree that he was likley created on Castle Wulfenbach (in fact I think the print novel suggests that he has never set foot on the ground). I recall Krosp describes himself as a failed experiment slated for destruction. I suppose the question is was he created by the Vapnoople who had a hidden Bear army, or the one who was hiding an army of plushies.

In fact, now that I think about it, I suspect designed by the first and built by the second.

[HandofShadows]

Von Pinn was apparantly "built", or at least used, as a nursemaid. Undoubtedly a dangerous person, but very, very good at her job. I do wonder if Klaus knew that she was originally a muse.

If he didn't know he would certainly should have. He put her in charge of the children of many of the most powerful people in Europe. He would need to be dead certain she would do the job correctly. No room for a mistake. Klaus acquired Von Pinn when he took over Mechanicsburg some time after the Boys vanished. At the time she was insane but Klaus managed to fix that. He needed to know a great deal about her to do something like that.

[geoduck]

The Dreen, we know very little of, except that everyone is scared of them - According to the books even the Slaver Wasps give them a wide margin. We also don't know why they agreed to join the Baron.


The new novel actually gives a hint about that...

With the scene where the Dreen briefly menaces Agatha on the walls of Mechanicsburg: we get a glimpse of its thoughts, and it is doing what it does because history requires it.

[Kantaki]

The new novel actually gives a hint about that...

With the scene where the Dreen briefly menaces Agatha on the walls of Mechanicsburg: we get a glimpse of its thoughts, and it is doing what it does because history requires it.


So they're in the past from their point of view?
Or just so unattached to the normal flow of time that its all the same to them.

[HandofShadows]

So they're in the past from their point of view?
Or just so unattached to the normal flow of time that its all the same to them.

Choice #2. Shown HERE (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150515#.XoDdQYhKgdU) :smallcool:

[theangelJean]

i'm already dead

Probably not what you meant, but the Deepspeaker's dreaming contented face in panel 3 today, with his jowl-spikes relaxed, the little tongue poking out!!! yeah I'm dead too.

[PraetorDragoon]

A mad song keeper? Has it been heterodyning? :smallbiggrin:

And the Deepspeaker has developed a taste for marmite? Clearly these are the end of days. :smalleek:

[HandofShadows]

These over-sized fish REALLY like to jump to idiotic conclusions. I don't buy Albia as being a real good gal, but there is zero evidence she's to blame here. AND she kicked their tails last time. Hmm. Wonder if this situation is connected to why the British Isle are sinking? :smallconfused:

[Manga Shoggoth]

The Deepspeaker likes Marmite! I knew there was another civilized person somewhere.

Hmmm. Is the Songkeeper the person guarding Albia's memories, I wonder.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Given the context, the Songkeeper sounds like the equivalent of the Deep Ones' reference librarian.

[Vinyadan]

Maybe he actually has to keep the songs from escaping.

Or maybe they have a prison called Song Song.

[Fyraltari]

These over-sized fish REALLY like to jump to idiotic conclusions. I don't buy Albia as being a real good gal, but there is zero evidence she's to blame here. AND she kicked their tails last time. Hmm. Wonder if this situation is connected to why the British Isle are sinking? :smallconfused:

We don’t know the history between the fishes and Albia and there have been several hints to her not being as benevolent as she presents herself.

Besides not trusting a spark around stuff you can’t afford to see broken is just common sense.

[Kantaki]

These over-sized fish REALLY like to jump to idiotic conclusions. I don't buy Albia as being a real good gal, but there is zero evidence she's to blame here. AND she kicked their tails last time. Hmm. Wonder if this situation is connected to why the British Isle are sinking? :smallconfused:

The Great Ceteatans and Albia having had beef with each other is exactly why she's their first suspect for weird going ons from her domain that affect them.
That they discarded those suspicions pretty much as soon as they found out Vapnoodle was involved shows they're actually quite reasonable.

[Vinyadan]

In the meantime, are the Baron, the Heterodyne, and both Storm Kings presumed dead? That would be... a hell of an ad for Albia's hospitality. And not good for Europa's stability, either.

[Rockphed]

In the meantime, are the Baron, the Heterodyne, and both Storm Kings presumed dead? That would be... a hell of an ad for Albia's hospitality. And not good for Europa's stability, either.

Well, there is "presumed dead" and then there is "presumed dead". When high-power sparks are involved, nobody really accepts a diagnosis of "dead" until they see reports of a body, preferably followed by an autopsy report.

[Kantaki]

Well, there is "presumed dead" and then there is "presumed dead". When high-power sparks are involved, nobody really accepts a diagnosis of "dead" until they see reports of a body, preferably followed by an autopsy report.

"Don't presume anyone dead until you put their brain through a blender.
And even then you should consider it a unconfirmed rumor at best."
Sounds like good advise. And not just when dealing with Sparks.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Says the resident Post Mortem Activity Specialist.

[Kantaki]

Says the resident Post Mortem Activity Specialist.

It is the kind of work that comes with a very specific brand of wisdom.:smallamused:

[HandofShadows]

The Great Ceteatans and Albia having had beef with each other is exactly why she's their first suspect for weird going ons from her domain that affect them.
That they discarded those suspicions pretty much as soon as they found out Vapnoodle was involved shows they're actually quite reasonable.

From all the info we have the Great Ceteatans started it by attacking England because of Vapnoople. And as I said I don't trust Albia that far but going and starting a war for no reason is utterly stupid. And one thing we know is that Albia is NOT stupid.

[PraetorDragoon]

In the meantime, are the Baron, the Heterodyne, and both Storm Kings presumed dead? That would be... a hell of an ad for Albia's hospitality. And not good for Europa's stability, either.

Only the Heterodyne is there on invitation. Both Storm Kings are incognito, and the Baron will not be mentioned "out of fear of severe diplomatic repercussions".

[TaRix]

Only the Heterodyne is there on invitation. Both Storm Kings are incognito, and the Baron will not be mentioned "out of fear of severe diplomatic repercussions".

Well, Gil and Thorpe's exploits in Moonbark's (and Lady Ariadne's) museum landed him on the front page of the news, but I suppose Albia can make them forget if They must.

[PraetorDragoon]

Well, Gil and Thorpe's exploits in Moonbark's (and Lady Ariadne's) museum landed him on the front page of the news, but I suppose Albia can make them forget if They must.

I kinda forgot about that, so..... :smallbiggrin:

[FLHerne]

A bit late, but I've not seen panel 3 of this strip (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180831) mentioned in the discussion about Zeetha's Jagerdraught.

It seems obvious the Foglios had it in mind by that point at least.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Do we know exactly when Krosp was created? The Bears were looking for him, which could imply that it was pre-Castle Wulfenbach.

Martellus claims (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150223#.Xn_bpHLgrIU) it was after the Baron captured him. Besides, why would Krosp be on Castle Wulfenbach unless he was created there? Vapnoople's plan was for him to lead the bear army, after all.

Oh, I agree that he was likley created on Castle Wulfenbach (in fact I think the print novel suggests that he has never set foot on the ground). I recall Krosp describes himself as a failed experiment slated for destruction. I suppose the question is was he created by the Vapnoople who had a hidden Bear army, or the one who was hiding an army of plushies.

In fact, now that I think about it, I suspect designed by the first and built by the second.

And Krosp confirms it (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20181116) (last panel) - built on Castle Wulfenbach, after the coring.

[Vinyadan]

Moldovian Puff -- that breed is going to turn on you. No kidding (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190531#.XoZVy4gzaUk)!

[HandofShadows]

It just dawned on me "Song Keeper". Music. And what does Agatha do all the time when she sparks out? She sings.

[PraetorDragoon]

This does sound similiar to how Albia stores her memories.


It just dawned on me "Song Keeper". Music. And what does Agatha do all the time when she sparks out? She sings.

I did notice that as well.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Moldovian Puff -- that breed is going to turn on you. No kidding (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190531#.XoZVy4gzaUk)!

It's only when you start reading the old stuff that you see how many little call-backs they are.

[Divayth Fyr]

It's only when you start reading the old stuff that you see how many little call-backs they are.
This one is even better, since at the time everyone assumed Higgs referenced his own status/condition...

[Rogar Demonblud]

Okay, further proof that whatever it was that caused the islands to sink was catastrophic, even for Sparks.

[Nahmer]

Who else thinks that there is such a strong resemblance between Agatha's mer-suit design and the Cetacean's recollections because Agatha and/or crew will eventually travel back in time and be involved in England's sinking? The beard of the 'mer-man' in Panel 3 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php#.Xoy0_4hJGbg) really puts me in mind of Martellus's postiche (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160613#.Xoy7GohJGbh)beard.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Who else thinks that there is such a strong resemblance between Agatha's mer-suit design and the Cetacean's recollections because Agatha and/or crew will eventually travel back in time and be involved in England's sinking? The beard of the 'mer-man' in Panel 3 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php#.Xoy0_4hJGbg) really puts me in mind of Martellus's postiche (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160613#.Xoy7GohJGbh)beard.

He looks a bit slim for Tweedle, though. A crash diet, perhaps?

[InvisibleBison]

Who else thinks that there is such a strong resemblance between Agatha's mer-suit design and the Cetacean's recollections because Agatha and/or crew will eventually travel back in time and be involved in England's sinking? The beard of the 'mer-man' in Panel 3 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php#.Xoy0_4hJGbg) really puts me in mind of Martellus's postiche (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160613#.Xoy7GohJGbh)beard.

That seems pretty far-fetched, since Martellus had that fake beard on for a costume party, not as part of a normal outfit, and he says that he doesn't like it. I see no reason why he'd ever wear it again.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Let me just say I love Da Bearz, and would like to see more of them.

[Rogar Demonblud]

That little smile Higgs has in that last panel tells me he's enjoying this. Back to the line about anything new being more precious than gold to a Jaeger.

[theangelJean]

Off-topic thoughts from today's comic:

What the **** is Oggie's hand doing in the first panel?

Oh, he's sewing. With a frame and everything. My sewing never looked like that...

What's he sewing?

[PhantomFox]

Off-topic thoughts from today's comic:

What the **** is Oggie's hand doing in the first panel?

Oh, he's sewing. With a frame and everything. My sewing never looked like that...

What's he sewing?

His shirt, by the looks of it.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Oh, he's sewing. With a frame and everything. My sewing never looked like that...

What's he sewing?


His shirt, by the looks of it.

Yup - He's not doing embroidery with a frame (I can't see a frame anywhere), he's reparing his shirt - probably stitching up where it got in the way of a stab wound. You can't look sharp if your shirt is in ribbons.

I like the interplay here - Oggie is old enough that the attractive marriage option was the girl who could carry two pigs under her arms rather than the pretty one. And he very obviously cared about her.

[Rockphed]

Yup - He's not doing embroidery with a frame (I can't see a frame anywhere), he's reparing his shirt - probably stitching up where it got in the way of a stab wound. You can't look sharp if your shirt is in ribbons.

I like the interplay here - Oggie is old enough that the attractive marriage option was the girl who could carry two pigs under her arms rather than the pretty one. And he very obviously cared about her.

Standards of beauty also change with time, so his wife might have been considered pretty when he married her but would be considered ugly by the current standards. Or his wife was decently attractive when they met and she got ugly later in life.

[Willie the Duck]

Standards of beauty also change with time, so his wife might have been considered pretty when he married her but would be considered ugly by the current standards. Or his wife was decently attractive when they met and she got ugly later in life.

Or for that matter it could be his now-Jaeger standards at work. She could be ugly because she doesn't have fangs.

[Agi Hammerthief]

... the girl who could carry two pigs under her arms rather than the pretty one. ...
Discworld reference, or is that a common meme?

[Rogar Demonblud]

Fairly common. For a large chunk of human history, being able to do the work was more important than appearances. Modern Beauty Culture is a pretty late development.

[Traab]

Im betting she is stunning but only according to human tastes. Not enough fangs and claws for a proper sexy jaeger bride.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Discworld reference, or is that a common meme?


Fairly common. For a large chunk of human history, being able to do the work was more important than appearances. Modern Beauty Culture is a pretty late development.

It is in fact both: I am very aware of the principle, but I think Pratchett managed to encapsulate it nicely in words.


Im betting she is stunning but only according to human tastes. Not enough fangs and claws for a proper sexy jaeger bride.

And lest we forget who the typical Jager pin-up girl is : 1 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031105), 2 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031107).


Im betting she is stunning but only according to human tastes. Not enough fangs and claws for a proper sexy jaeger bride.

Andre doesn't seem to be caught up in appearances here. Now that I think of it, reading Andre's list of attributes, I do wonder why Madame Von Pinn has the Jager seal of approval, while none of them seem to be interested in Bang. Perhaps because they know her from their time in the castle and recognise her as (at least in part) a girl from home.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Jaegers were nuts even back then.

[Traab]

They like incredibly lethal and violent ladies, fangs and claws included. So I could see him hooking up with a relatively normal lady and this was him admitting that she isnt a jaeger 10, but she was sweet enough for him. We have seen them flirting with normal looking ladies, but they tend to really lose it for the scary ones.

[PraetorDragoon]

For some strange reason I am imagining her like Oggie with a beard.

[Fyraltari]

An ugly woman in Girl Genius? Is that even allowed?

[tyckspoon]

An ugly woman in Girl Genius? Is that even allowed?

If it's just an informed attribute and we never actually see the picture in the locket sure, but I'm going with 'this is a humorously ironic situation created by different standards of attractiveness.'

[Manga Shoggoth]

An ugly woman in Girl Genius? Is that even allowed?

Looking through the back issues, the art style doesn't really lend itself to "ugly", so it's hard to tell, but there's the young Albia (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20181214); I suspect that Mistress Spudna (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160330) is not conventually attractive; Lillith (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030212) is supposed to have asymmetric features (especially mismatched eyes); Da Gurls (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080421) aren't exactly lookers, but with them it's hard to tell what is make-up.

Also the early drawings of Sanna (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080215) and some of Zola (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013) (admittedly while on drugs) look somewhat off.

[tyckspoon]

Looking through the back issues, the art style doesn't really lend itself to "ugly", so it's hard to tell, but there's the young Albia (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20181214); I suspect that Mistress Spudna (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160330) is not conventually attractive; Lillith (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030212) is supposed to have asymmetric features (especially mismatched eyes); Da Gurls (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080421) aren't exactly lookers, but with them it's hard to tell what is make-up.

Also the early drawings of Sanna (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080215) and some of Zola (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013) (admittedly while on drugs) look somewhat off.

Phil's always had kind of a ... flexible approach to model consistency, and there's more than a few pages where characters are kind of deformed even when they're not being cartoonishly exaggerated in the middle of a fit of anger or yelling. Not sure how much any single page can be taken as a representative of what a character 'should' like like for this particular artist. (Although yeah mistress Spudna appears to basically be a football with a toothy mouth and is probably not many people's choice of beauty ideal.)

[Ellen]

New comic is up.

I'm not crying. You're crying!

[factotum]

I kind of had flashbacks to the first ten minutes of Up! there...and one wonders just how long it's been since that last panel, given how long Jaegers live?

[Fyraltari]

Oggie's wife died 74 years after conceiving their child. That's a long life there.


I kind of had flashbacks to the first ten minutes of Up! there...and one wonders just how long it's been since that last panel, given how long Jaegers live?

Given that the stroyteller is only Oggie's great-great grandson (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726#.XpbShs3gqUk), I'd say fifty years-ish.

[factotum]

Oggie's wife died 74 years after conceiving their child. That's a long life there.

Not an infeasibly long one, though--she could have been as young as 90 or thereabouts when she died.

[Rockphed]

Not an infeasibly long one, though--she could have been as young as 90 or thereabouts when she died.

And if the Heterodynes remember you as someone who tells good jokes and sings good songs it is possible that they actually gave you the good medicine when you got sick. I personally guessed 94 for his wife's age at death, but anything between 90 and 120 is possible (albeit, having a child at 46 is unlikely).

As for how long it has been since his wife died, my mother's great, great, great, great grandfather died about 140 years ago, but she is the same age as someone who is 2 generations closer to him (i.e. he is her great, great grandfather). If Oggie and his wife had children after he took the Jaegerdraught or his descendents had children late in life it could push his age out by a fair bit.

[Rogar Demonblud]

It's also a question of birth order. One of my parents was the youngest of the youngest, the other was the eldest of the eldest, so there was a full generation age gap between those great-grandparents.

[Rockphed]

It's also a question of birth order. One of my parents was the youngest of the youngest, the other was the eldest of the eldest, so there was a full generation age gap between those great-grandparents.

I think in the case I listed a large part of the generation gap was because my ancestor was one of the first kids (so born when 5-great grandpa was ~25) and the nth-cousin was a product of his old age (when 5-great grandpa was 70 or so and had just married a 20-year old).

[Fyraltari]

And if the Heterodynes remember you as someone who tells good jokes and sings good songs it is possible that they actually gave you the good medicine when you got sick. I personally guessed 94 for his wife's age at death, but anything between 90 and 120 is possible (albeit, having a child at 46 is unlikely).

As for how long it has been since his wife died, my mother's great, great, great, great grandfather died about 140 years ago, but she is the same age as someone who is 2 generations closer to him (i.e. he is her great, great grandfather).

Great-great-great-uncle right?

[Rockphed]

Great-great-great-uncle right?

To make this simpler I will assign names to the people involved. My 5th-great-grandfather is John. He had 2 sons (well, 2 that matter in this case), named Fred (who he had at 25) and George (who he had at 70). Fred is my 4th-great-grandfather. George is my 4th-great-uncle and is the ancestor of my cousin-a-couple-times-removed who is my mother's age. I am not actually sure how many greats back it is, nor how many generations different it is, but the difference in generations is at least 2 and John is at least 7 generations back from me.

[Rogar Demonblud]

At that level of genetic drift, they essentially aren't related to you at all. But I think the term would be first cousin X times removed.

[Rockphed]

At that level of genetic drift, they essentially aren't related to you at all. But I think the term would be first cousin X times removed.

My mother's brother and, let's call her Sue, Sue's brother would have almost identical Y-chromosomes, but otherwise relatedness is indeed rather low. And technically for a y-cousin z-times removed y is the minimum generations back to siblings and z is the difference between the generations to siblings. So my uncle's children are my first cousins, their children are my 1st-cousins once-removed, and my great-uncle's grandchildren are my second cousins. My great-uncle's children are also my first cousins once removed.

[Fyraltari]

To make this simpler I will assign names to the people involved. My 5th-great-grandfather is John. He had 2 sons (well, 2 that matter in this case), named Fred (who he had at 25) and George (who he had at 70). Fred is my 4th-great-grandfather. George is my 4th-great-uncle and is the ancestor of my cousin-a-couple-times-removed who is my mother's age. I am not actually sure how many greats back it is, nor how many generations different it is, but the difference in generations is at least 2 and John is at least 7 generations back from me.

Ah okay, I thought the ‘her’ in your previous post was still your mother.

[Kantaki]

Oggie gives good advice.
Okay, the specifics might be a bit odd, but, well, Jägermonster.
And in general it still applies.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Ah, good old Oggie - not so much the wrong end of the stick as the wrong end of the forest.

Interestingly, he refers to Higgs as "De kid", which suggests that Higgs is younger than him - but Higgs is a General, which seems to be a function of age.

And there is the suggestion that he is disappointed in him (for not growing horns and stuff).

[Kantaki]

Maybe Higgs is "de kid" because he looks like one by Jäger standards.
I mean, all those features come with time, don't they?
Either that or he matured faster/was less wild from the start than the usual Jäger.

[SZbNAhL]

I assumed that Higgs was given an early promotion to the "spymaster" position on the generals' council because he was the best suited, what with being the only non-obviously-a-Jager Jager.

[geoduck]

Higgs explicitly said he became a Jager under Vlad Heterodyne, who was the one who came up with the Jagerdraught in the first place. So, yeah, he's older than Da Boyz. As for why Oggie still calls him "the kid", that currently can only be speculated about.

[Ellen]

Maybe calling him "the kid" is like calling someone who looks younger than their real age "babyface"?

[halfeye]

Higgs explicitly said he became a Jager under Vlad Heterodyne, who was the one who came up with the Jagerdraught in the first place. So, yeah, he's older than Da Boyz. As for why Oggie still calls him "the kid", that currently can only be speculated about.
I'm still guessing that Oggie is Vlad Heterodyne. Which would give him the right to call any Jager "kid".

[InvisibleBison]

I'm still guessing that Oggie is Vlad Heterodyne. Which would give him the right to call any Jager "kid".

I'm pretty sure that this comic (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200415) contradicts that theory. We see the Heterodyne in panel 2 and pre-Jagerdraught Oggie in panel 4, and they're clearly not the same person.

[Willie the Duck]

Maybe calling him "the kid" is like calling someone who looks younger than their real age "babyface"?

He previously called him "kid" in (to be added when I can do an archive trawl) his 'go to her' speech giving him romance advice. I think "kid" is that he and Zeetha are young at this love thing compared to Oggie.

[geoduck]

He previously called him "kid" in (to be added when I can do an archive trawl) his 'go to her' speech giving him romance advice. I think "kid" is that he and Zeetha are young at this love thing compared to Oggie.

I do have to wonder if Oggie doesn't actually know that Higgs is a General. Has he ever explicitly acknowledged that fact?

[Rogar Demonblud]

He immediately panics when it looks like somebody has realized Higgs is a Jaeger, so no, no explicit acknowledgements of anything.

[Vinyadan]

He previously called him "kid" in (to be added when I can do an archive trawl) his 'go to her' speech giving him romance advice. I think "kid" is that he and Zeetha are young at this love thing compared to Oggie.
Yes, I see it in a similar way, to express Higg's vulnerability in this matter.

[Traab]

Ah, good old Oggie - not so much the wrong end of the stick as the wrong end of the forest.

Interestingly, he refers to Higgs as "De kid", which suggests that Higgs is younger than him - but Higgs is a General, which seems to be a function of age.

And there is the suggestion that he is disappointed in him (for not growing horns and stuff).

Its not that oggie is disappointed its that its considered kinda embarrassing to be a jaeger without those things. Like jenka as an example. She is NOT happy that her fangs were pulled by the original storm king iirc how that part of the story went in paris.