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

[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!

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

Links to Previous Threads

Spoiler

Show

Girl Genius! (thread)
Girl Genius II
Girl Genius III: Nize Thread!
Girl Genius IV: Because SCIENCE! is my mistress
Girl Genius V: Madre de Diodes!
Girl Genius VI: Der Pestle in Der Kestle
Girl Genius VII: Get on the Slab, I Want to Get to Work!
Girl Genius: VIII Will Show Them All!
Girl Genius IX: The Unstoppable Thread
Girl Genius X: The Othar Shoe Drops
Girl Genius XI: Ding Dong, the Baron's Dead!
Girl Genius XII: For Doom The Bell Tolls
Girl Genius XIII: "Gott's Leedle Feesh in Trousers!"
Girl Genius XIV: A Lightning Arc in All But Speed!
Girl Genius XV: The Weasel, the Spark, and the Wardrobe
Girl Genius XVI: The Wrath of Klaus
Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie
Girl Genius XVIII: Invisible Hand of the Legendary Smoke Knights
Girl Genius XIX: Worth a Third of Your Grade
Girl Genius XX: Endothermic Life Forms Are Inherently Heretical
Girl Genius XXI: Cancel the Jugglers
Girl Genius XXII: Paris Needs Pants
Girl Genius XXIII: Screaming, Ranting and Egregious Violence
Girl Genius XXIV: Ask Vit a Bit More Terror
Girl Genius XXV: It needs work! BUT THE CONCEPT IS SOUND!
Girl Genius XXVI: Madness is the best possible response
Girl Genius XXVII: Hoy! Hennybody else not dead?
Girl Genius XXVIII: Dancink! Ve is here for de dancink!
Girl Genius XXIX: A giant corkboard of continuity madness
Girl Genius: XXXenophile Edition
Girl Genius XXXI: Let’s look at it from farther away!

Comic Links
Link to current comic and link to the beginning of the strip. (Updates MWF, usually after Midnight [Eastern Time])
The Continuing Adventures of Othar Tryggvassen, Gentleman Adventurer! (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.
And if one goes to 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Mirror of the comic found on LiveJournal (No longer being updated as of Mid-May, 2017)
Mirror of the comic found on Facebook (Will occasionally have Girl Genius related news)
And one can find mirrors of Girl Genius on deviantArt as well. (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
Wikipedia entry on Girl Genius.
TV Tropes page on Girl Genius.
The Secret Blueprints (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
(The Goglios also provide some links at the bottom of the comic pages)
Phil Foglio's new Wordpress art, news, and blogging website.
Kaja Foglio's LJ Page and Studio Foglio News LJ Page (Not currently being updated)
Kaja & Phil's Personal Facebook Page (Not currently being updated)
A twitter account that basically is a catch-all feed for Girl Genius related news.
Cheyenne Wright's Twitter and LiveJournal Accounts (The colorist's twitter and LJ pages)

And finally,
Phil's old LJ page. (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, 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:

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

[Shining Wrath]

Continuing discussions:

1. I have my doubts about Othar's sanity.
2. I still expect Bang & sire to appear with an airship and evacuate Team Agatha.
3. I was betting on Clankrezia to win the Princess battle, but now it appears that's impossible, and she's playing spoiler to Monahan.
4. Where are Castle and Train?

And a sorta-new topic: did Agatha "solve" the problem of the corrupted waters when she redirected all the corruption onto the battling Princesses?
And a topic I don't think we've mooted sufficiently: who corrupted the waters in the first place? Are they still around?

[InvisibleBison]

And a topic I don't think we've mooted sufficiently: who corrupted the waters in the first place? Are they still around?

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?

[geoduck]

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?

Agatha says at one point that she believes Monahan's experiments have been causing the corruption.

[wingnutx]

Sucks to be those guys.

[Shining Wrath]

Has it been demonstrated that the corruption of the waters was the result of someone's action, as opposed to some sort of natural process?

Agatha says at one point that she believes Monahan's experiments have been causing the corruption.

My recollection is that Clankrezia didn't know who had caused the corruption, but said that it wasn't her. Monahan's ascension to Queenhood was delayed by the corruption, and once Clankrezia showed her how to remove it, that's when the Ascension Wars began. That makes me think it's unlikely that Monahan put the corruption in intentionally.

I'm thinking it's a Vapnoodle thing, but time will tell.

[Divayth Fyr]

My recollection is that Clankrezia didn't know who had caused the corruption, but said that it wasn't her. Monahan's ascension to Queenhood was delayed by the corruption, and once Clankrezia showed her how to remove it, that's when the Ascension Wars began. That makes me think it's unlikely that Monahan put the corruption in intentionally.

But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?

[tyckspoon]

But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?

This is what I took from it - Monahan thought the effluvia was missing something, and was trying to process it by adding supplements or otherwise 'enhancing' it. While some of those attempts probably did nothing notable, I'm sure at least some of it made the corruption worse. Lucrezia showed her she was starting from bad assumptions - it was already tainted and needed to have the existing contaminants removed.

Although I doubt Monahan's experiments were fully responsible for the corruption; assuming the runoff from this spring/Flame is similar in nature to the Dyne even the 'pure' stuff would have interesting effects on the surrounding waters. The initial corruption is likely because the constructions that were supposed to contain/redirect/extract the energies from the runoff had broken down and allowed the spring to leak out into the surrounding waters.

[Shining Wrath]

But what about Monahan causing the corruption unintentionally?

This is what I took from it - Monahan thought the effluvia was missing something, and was trying to process it by adding supplements or otherwise 'enhancing' it. While some of those attempts probably did nothing notable, I'm sure at least some of it made the corruption worse. Lucrezia showed her she was starting from bad assumptions - it was already tainted and needed to have the existing contaminants removed.

Although I doubt Monahan's experiments were fully responsible for the corruption; assuming the runoff from this spring/Flame is similar in nature to the Dyne even the 'pure' stuff would have interesting effects on the surrounding waters. The initial corruption is likely because the constructions that were supposed to contain/redirect/extract the energies from the runoff had broken down and allowed the spring to leak out into the surrounding waters.

Castle and Train found corruption upstream from the point where Monahan could reach. Unless she was lying to Clankrezia, I think the corruption is ancient, and the erstwhile Queen of this island installed the purification devices.

Which, come to think of it, means it predates Vapnoodle, unless he too is a time traveler.

[Wayson]

Castle and Train found corruption upstream from the point where Monahan could reach. Unless she was lying to Clankrezia, I think the corruption is ancient, and the erstwhile Queen of this island installed the purification devices.

Which, come to think of it, means it predates Vapnoodle, unless he too is a time traveler.

I mean, he could be? He's (still?) off in another dimension (for the moment) and there are no indications of when or where he'll pop out.

[Agi Hammerthief]

And Lucrezia must realize this. But she has plans to rule all of Europe. The slaver wasps will help, of course, but what level of power does Lucrezia think she's going to have to rule an area 5x or 10x that controlled by the legendarily powerful Albia?

Perhaps she intends to kill all other Sparks. In which case someone better keep an eye on Othar being a double-agent (or triple, as he'd likely kill Lucrezia given half a chance).

I think once she stand going after the queens the plan was to rule the world using every flame and the gates.

[Mechalich]

I think once she stand going after the queens the plan was to rule the world using every flame and the gates.

One important thing is that Clankrezia, so far as we know, believes that Zola is actually Lucrezia, not an independent entity and that everything being done by the Queen of the Dawn is part of her plan (that she was unaware that Monahan could block her is evidence of this gap).

Clankrezia's lack of awareness on this subject seems to have influenced her failure to properly update her plans. She may even have been, in Paris, inadvertently working to further the goals of Zola's faction (assuming she was the one who sent the Geisters into Paris).

[Shining Wrath]

One important thing is that Clankrezia, so far as we know, believes that Zola is actually Lucrezia, not an independent entity and that everything being done by the Queen of the Dawn is part of her plan (that she was unaware that Monahan could block her is evidence of this gap).

Clankrezia's lack of awareness on this subject seems to have influenced her failure to properly update her plans. She may even have been, in Paris, inadvertently working to further the goals of Zola's faction (assuming she was the one who sent the Geisters into Paris).

Grandma seemed to think that Zola had sent the Geisters - and Grandma is usually well-informed.

Bang has appeared sans papa. I expect papa to decide he cares about his daughter enough to bring the airship.

[wingnutx]

I'm lost. Who is Bang's papa?

[sihnfahl]

I'm lost. Who is Bang's papa?

This guy.

He has a huge 'don't care' attitude...

But he IS how the others got on the island...

[wingnutx]

This guy.

He has a huge 'don't care' attitude...

But he IS how the others got on the island...

I don't know how I missed that.

Thanks!

[otakuryoga]

engines in pieces?
hours to put back together but you need to leave RIGHT NOW?
good thing there are some sparkies around(*NOTE* i did NOT say safe..just good)

[Agi Hammerthief]

engines in pieces?
hours to put back together but you need to leave RIGHT NOW?
good thing there are some sparkies around(*NOTE* i did NOT say safe..just good)

an opportunity to play with the lamp and find the „accelerate“ setting.

[Scarlet Knight]

I predict:

Spoiler

Show

"We need to fly now!" "Well, if we can gather a lot of those rats onto this giant wheel & attach it to the propeller..."

[Shining Wrath]

What would take one ordinary mechanic with a, shall we say, lackadaisical altitude a couple of hours will take panicked Sparks about 5 minutes.

[sihnfahl]

What would take one ordinary mechanic with a, shall we say, lackadaisical altitude a couple of hours will take panicked Sparks about 5 minutes.

If you can keep them from making 'improvements'.

And you don't mind the lack of something called 'safety'.

[Shining Wrath]

If you can keep them from making 'improvements'.

And you don't mind the lack of something called 'safety'.

Improvements are part of the Madness Place, deal with it.

I didn't mention safety, this thing will get airborne and then veer off toward Africa.

[Kantaki]

Well, if we let the Sparks handle this the airship will definitely go up.
Most likely in flames, but let's not sweat the details,

[sihnfahl]

Well, if we let the Sparks handle this the airship will definitely go up.
Most likely in flames, but let's not sweat the details,

How else are they supposed to get up quickly? That's what the rockets are for. They just need to repurpose the heating element of a toaster, a few teapots, and the funky sludge the airmen use to keep the airbag supple.

[Shining Wrath]

How else are they supposed to get up quickly? That's what the rockets are for. They just need to repurpose the heating element of a toaster, a few teapots, and the funky sludge the airmen use to keep the airbag supple.

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.

[Squire Doodad]

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.

A: "Do you two know there's a temple filled with ancient artifacts forgotten for 20,000 years under the island you're destroying"
M: "THERE'S WHAT?"

[Radar]

I would not be surprised if they explode a large part of the island in search of a JATO-like effect.

I'm going to be somewhat disappointed if a lot of valuable artifacts get destroyed by the Princess Temper Tantrums.

I just remembered that multi-cultural vault and all those priceless vases predating queens.

[Kantaki]

New comic

Can't disagree with Bang's logic here.
The risk of getting Agatha or Gil into the Madness Place is definitely lower than that of sitting on the exploding island hoping things'll work out.
Mind you, with other Sparks things might look different, but most of those I wouldn't trust anyway.

[Radar]

Now I see Bang and von Zinzer as the best duo to control (for the lack of a better word) sparks: Bang to motivate them and von Zinzer to reel them in and keep them focused.

[Shining Wrath]

Bangladesh Dupree: life coach for Sparks.