Girl Genius XXXI: Let’s look at it from farther away!

[Adaon Nightwind]

Well, they certainly seem to work well together.

https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/com...?date=20170927

[theangelJean]

You know, I always thought the coffee machine was destroyed after making that perfect cup of coffee. Would have fit narratively, and all that.

Nope, can't find it. Agatha takes the perfect brew, Vanamonde sips from it and is transported, Captain Vole kicks in the door, Agatha gives him a few decent whacks, Agatha decides everyone's better off the sooner she gets to the Castle, and the townspeople prepare to face off against Vole. Scene change.

By the time Gil tastes it, it's been toned down. What happened?

[Rockphed]

You know, I always thought the coffee machine was destroyed after making that perfect cup of coffee. Would have fit narratively, and all that.

Nope, can't find it. Agatha takes the perfect brew, Vanamonde sips from it and is transported, Captain Vole kicks in the door, Agatha gives him a few decent whacks, Agatha decides everyone's better off the sooner she gets to the Castle, and the townspeople prepare to face off against Vole. Scene change.

By the time Gil tastes it, it's been toned down. What happened?

It got cold. It is no longer served in Van's personal cups. Without Agatha running the machine it makes good, but not perfect, coffee. Take your pick.

[Radar]

You know, I always thought the coffee machine was destroyed after making that perfect cup of coffee. Would have fit narratively, and all that.

Nope, can't find it. Agatha takes the perfect brew, Vanamonde sips from it and is transported, Captain Vole kicks in the door, Agatha gives him a few decent whacks, Agatha decides everyone's better off the sooner she gets to the Castle, and the townspeople prepare to face off against Vole. Scene change.

By the time Gil tastes it, it's been toned down. What happened?

I think it was purposefully detuned from the perfect setting or something along those lines. It was never said directly, but it would make sense.

[Gez]

By the time Gil tastes it, it's been toned down. What happened?

It's implied it's been fixed, cf. last panel here: https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/com...?date=20070625

Now Agatha herself doesn't seem to have taken the time to do it ("take me to the Castle now") but I figure anyone else could have messed a bit with the settings, starting with the cafe keeper. There's certainly no shortage of valves and knobs that could be tweaked ever-so-slightly differently on this machine: https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/com...?date=20070618

[eee]

Some sculptor had a death wish. The clock on the nose is a nice touch.

She IS in a hurry...

[Fyraltari]

What is up with Franz's face in panel 1?

[Divayth Fyr]

What is up with Franz's face in panel 1?

Looks like his eyes are closed for some reason? I'd assume an art error tbh.

[theangelJean]

I thought it was supposed to be Franz turning around looking backwards at the walls of the tunnel gate.

It's not the sculptor's fault. It's a very good likeness of Franz. It's on whoever named the gate... Or whoever failed to keep the records of what the gate was named, allowing it to be nicknamed while Franz slept.

[Gez]

I thought it was supposed to be Franz turning around looking backwards at the walls of the tunnel gate.

It's not the sculptor's fault. It's a very good likeness of Franz. It's on whoever named the gate... Or whoever failed to keep the records of what the gate was named, allowing it to be nicknamed while Franz slept.

The lack of teeth doesn't help. Of course it'd make the gate hard to cross if they were there...-

[theangelJean]

The lack of teeth doesn't help. Of course it'd make the gate hard to cross if they were there...-

Hmm. Yeah, the missing teeth does make it less dragon and more toad*. But they wouldn't be big enough to block the gate if they were correctly sized in proportion to, say, the nostrils. There's a decent gap above Franz's head, there. And if they did block the gate, well, this is Mechanicsburg!

*Had to double check, toads do not have teeth; one species of frog has true teeth, some others have tooth- or fang-like structures.

[Shining Wrath]

A gate usable only by pedestrians is still a gate.

Anyway, the party at Franz' place will be one for the ages.

[Ailurus]

Yay, amusing minor character is back! Glad to see the monks are letting him travel.

[Shining Wrath]

Since nothing that size sneaks up on Mechanicsburg, Humongulous must be part of the defensive equipment for the trains. I wonder if the Castle is going to interfere? Probably, though, this is going to be a conversation.

[Scarlet Knight]

Yay, amusing minor character is back! Glad to see the monks are letting him travel.

Yaaaay! Humongulous !

Franz's face shows the surprise that:
a) someone wants to try
b) the voice is happy about trying
c) the voice comes from above him!

[Zazu Yen]

Heh, Humongulous was fun.

I'd like to nominate: "Finding new ways to stay un-squished!" as a thread name. A long shot but I think it's worth nominating

[Radar]

Heh, Humongulous was fun.

I'd like to nominate: "Finding new ways to stay un-squished!" as a thread name. A long shot but I think it's worth nominating

From the depths of my heart I cast my vote at thee.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Heh, Humongulous was fun.

I'd like to nominate: "Finding new ways to stay un-squished!" as a thread name. A long shot but I think it's worth nominating

Duly noted.

And of course Humongulous is working with the Railway... I wonder if he's joing the party? We have a thief and a dragonborn fighter - a tank wouldn't go amiss...

[Fyraltari]

Duly noted.

And of course Humongulous is working with the Railway... I wonder if he's joing the party? We have a thief and a dragonborn fighter - a tank wouldn't go amiss...

I suppose a dragon technically qualifies as "dragonborn" but that feels like a very misleading label. Like if I were calling myself a half-human, when both of my halves are human.

[HeeJay]

I'd like to nominate: "Finding new ways to stay un-squished!" as a thread name. A long shot but I think it's worth nominating

"Finding CLEVER new ways to stay un-squished." (It's better when quoted verbatim)

But of course I have to vote for it, this is a brilliant title, kudos.

[PraetorDragoon]

HOMUNGULUS! Still the primary clank at this location!

[wingnutx]

Dost thou even lyft?

[Manga Shoggoth]

I suppose a dragon technically qualifies as "dragonborn" but that feels like a very misleading label. Like if I were calling myself a half-human, when both of my halves are human.

I cite precident: If it works for half-orcs...

[theangelJean]

I suppose a dragon technically qualifies as "dragonborn" but that feels like a very misleading label. Like if I were calling myself a half-human, when both of my halves are human.

Might even depend if you define "Dragonborn" as "descendant of dragon". If, as speculated, Franz was the first dragon, then he might not be!

[Traab]

I think franz might be in a bit of trouble. He seems to me to be the type of guy who talks a good game but cant really follow up on it against real threats. Remember his time during the castle siege? That other dragon was running franz's pockets until he got that super charge. Hes kinda like the local tough. Yeah he can handle himself against the other locals or regular guys, but put him up against someone trained and he is getting the roadhouse treatment.

[tyckspoon]

I think franz might be in a bit of trouble. He seems to me to be the type of guy who talks a good game but cant really follow up on it against real threats. Remember his time during the castle siege? That other dragon was running franz's pockets until he got that super charge. Hes kinda like the local tough. Yeah he can handle himself against the other locals or regular guys, but put him up against someone trained and he is getting the roadhouse treatment.

While I suspect there'll be a little bit of humbling related to this (being The Dragon of Mechanicsburg doesn't carry as much weight when you aren't in reach of Der Kestle and roving bands of Jaegers showing up to back you up within minutes of a fight starting) I think you're also short selling our big green buddy quite a bit. During the siege he was running on reserve power, nearly empty. Just like the Castle. He destroyed his opponent quite handily after being charged.. and this story is with Agatha in residence as The Heterodyne and the Guild of Monsters around again to look after their members. Franz can get charged up any time he likes and his default state is likely much closer to 'overcharged' than 'empty.' (..and looking at the art, the gauges on him are pretty much all over on the Full side than the Empty side compared to the Siege of Mechanicsburg sequence.)

(..also hey found a neat bit of foreshadowing while trying to verify those pages. One of the ingredients in the wasp proofing formula Monahan's Venefirous Mus Elixir.)

[Wayson]

Heh, Humongulous was fun.

I'd like to nominate: "Finding new ways to stay un-squished!" as a thread name. A long shot but I think it's worth nominating

You have my sword! But perhaps more importantly, also my vote.

[Zazu Yen]

"Finding CLEVER new ways to stay un-squished." (It's better when quoted verbatim)

But of course I have to vote for it, this is a brilliant title, kudos.

Ah! Yes, the original "Finding clever new ways to stay un-squished." was intended. My ancient brain can't keep a quote straight for the length of a post

[theangelJean]

From where is this quote?

Current comic (Wednesday 5 October). Will link once it has a number attached.

[Shining Wrath]

I rise to the defense of Franz Scorchmaw and point out that even during the years when there was no Heterodyne in residence, the Castle was crippled, the Jagers were absent, and the Baron was responsible for town security - the very considerable and quite legendary hoard of the Heterodynes remained untouched. And given the Baron's opinions of Clan Heterodyne, I'm a little surprised he didn't loot it himself, as a means of weakening the power of any future heir.

No, Franz is actually All That.