Number of Character Appearances VI - Wrecan: "I like counting things"

[Gift Jeraff]

I was rereading SS&DT and 4e!Elan actually appears on 16 pages, 4e!Roy Greenhilt 15 pages, 4e!Haley Starshine 15 pages, 4e!Vaarsuvius 13 pages, 4e!Belkar Bitterleaf 12 pages, and 4e!Durkon Thundershield 11 pages. I'm guessing whoever originally counted missed the chapter title page (in which the tips of everyone but 4e!Belkar's heads can be seen) and Page 1 (where the silhouettes of 4e!Roy, 4e!Haley, 4e!Elan, and 4e!Belkar can be seen).

Also, I suppose 4e!Durkon Thundershield should be renamed 4e!Durkon Allotrope Thundershield.

[Chronos]

The count for "Scruff and Tumble" needs the addition of two appearances of an unnamed giant rat (pgs. 26 and 27).

And on a completely different note, it occurs to me that we don't have a listing for Hello Kitty, as seen repeatedly on Monster-San's umbrella.

[martianmister]

Updated through 1138
Durkon (+1), Minrah (+1), Thor (+1)

[martianmister]

Updated through 1139
Durkon (+1), Minrah (+1), Thor (+1)

[knag]

1140: The triumphant return of Pizza and Soda!

[martianmister]

Updated through 1140
Durkon, Minrah, Pizza, Soda, Thor

[Flame of Anor]

1140: The triumphant return of Pizza and Soda!

Well, triumphant in Soda's case at least.

Anyway, does that edge out Zz'dtri for the longest hiatus?

[Emanick]

Well, triumphant in Soda's case at least.

Anyway, does that edge out Zz'dtri for the longest hiatus?

I don’t think so. They appear in a halftime show during a BRitF bonus strip.

[Yendor]

Anyway, does that edge out Zz'dtri for the longest hiatus?

Pretty sure Ivan wins that easily.

[knag]

Pretty sure Ivan wins that easily.

Yeah Ivan is the longest, and technically his brother too. Surtur gets honorable mention for appearing in #40 and #1012 (voice only). Soda beats out Elan's mother and Soul Muncher though.

[Flame of Anor]

Wow, I totally forgot about Ivan.

[Fawkes]

Hilgya's husband? When did we see him again?

[5a Violista]

Hilgya's husband? When did we see him again?

Ivan shows up in 1114.

[martianmister]

Shirra's surname is added, according to this:

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showt...uot-translated

[Mad Humanist]

Yeah Ivan is the longest, and technically his brother too. Surtur gets honorable mention for appearing in #40 and #1012 (voice only). Soda beats out Elan's mother and Soul Muncher though.

Do you mean Hilgya's brother rather than Ivan's brother?

[martianmister]

Updated through 1141
Dark One, Demeter, Dragon, Durkon (+1), Frigg, Goddess of Western Pantheon, Loki, Marduk, Minrah (+1), Odin, Ox, Poseidon, Rabbit, Thor (+1), Zeus

Goddess beside Marduk (who appeared in strip 273) is probably Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte. Anyone know who is the winged one supposed to be?

[Flame of Anor]

Updated through 1141
Dark One, Demeter, Dragon, Durkon (+1), Frigg, Goddess of Western Pantheon, Loki, Marduk, Minrah (+1), Odin, Ox, Poseidon, Rabbit, Thor (+1), Zeus

Goddess beside Marduk (who appeared in strip 273) is probably Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte. Anyone know who is the winged one supposed to be?

I propose that he is Ninurta. Observe the wings, kilt, beard, and round cap.

[ti'esar]

Updated through 1141
Dark One, Demeter, Dragon, Durkon (+1), Frigg, Goddess of Western Pantheon, Loki, Marduk, Minrah (+1), Odin, Ox, Poseidon, Rabbit, Thor (+1), Zeus

Goddess beside Marduk (who appeared in strip 273) is probably Inanna/Ishtar/Astarte.

Laurin used "Ishtar's Crown" as an exclamation at least once, FWIW.

[Zyzzyva]

I propose that he is Ninurta. Observe the wings, kilt, beard, and round cap.

Laurin used "Ishtar's Crown" as an exclamation at least once, FWIW.

I will second declaring the gods to be Ishtar and Ninurta, then. Nice research skills!

[Flame of Anor]

Okay, new question: who's the fertility goddess that Thor knocks up in 501? She has the yellow quiddity of the northern pantheon, but she's a brunette, and blonde Freya is the northern fertility goddess. I suppose she could be a demigoddess, Sigrun or Iounn, but neither of them is specifically fertility-oriented. Sigrun especially.

[Yanisa]

Okay, new question: who's the fertility goddess that Thor knocks up in 501? She has the yellow quiddity of the northern pantheon, but she's a brunette, and blonde Freya is the northern fertility goddess. I suppose she could be a demigoddess, Sigrun or Iounn, but neither of them is specifically fertility-oriented. Sigrun especially.

Why couldn't that one be Freya? I see "a" Freya (Last panel) mentioned in the appearances, but I don't see the reason why she is labeled as Freya. I don't think there is an "official" hair color for Freya, as different interpretations either paint her a brunette or blonde, so that alone shouldn't be the reason.

But say she couldn't be Freya. Norse myth has a couple of other goddesses with fertility as one of their traits:

Frigg, but she is Odin's wife and just got portrayed in the comic.
Sif, but she the one that makes much more sense as blonde as she is described with golden hair. Then again her high priest is a brunette and high priests tend to look like their god(dess). Also she is Thor's wife in Norse myth.
Gefjon, but she isn't named in the comic as either major or demi goddess.

Personally I would go with Sif. Because it makes a nice parallel between the wedding on the boat, and the scenario in the "flashback". Assuming stickverse Sif is also Thor's wife.

[Flame of Anor]

Good point about the uncertain ground on which the blonde is identified as Freya.

[knag]

Why couldn't that one be Freya? I see "a" Freya (Last panel) mentioned in the appearances, but I don't see the reason why she is labeled as Freya. I don't think there is an "official" hair color for Freya, as different interpretations either paint her a brunette or blonde, so that alone shouldn't be the reason.

But say she couldn't be Freya. Norse myth has a couple of other goddesses with fertility as one of their traits:

Frigg, but she is Odin's wife and just got portrayed in the comic.
Sif, but she the one that makes much more sense as blonde as she is described with golden hair. Then again her high priest is a brunette and high priests tend to look like their god(dess). Also she is Thor's wife in Norse myth.
Gefjon, but she isn't named in the comic as either major or demi goddess.

Personally I would go with Sif. Because it makes a nice parallel between the wedding on the boat, and the scenario in the "flashback". Assuming stickverse Sif is also Thor's wife.

I feel strongly that the goddess from #73 and #273 is not Freya, but almost certainly Sif. She is portrayed as consorting with Thor, and with golden hair, both of which point to Sif rather than Freya. Wrecan and co made an assumption that she was Freya, but there's no in-comic evidence to support this. I think the brunette "fertility goddess" in #501 almost certainly has to be Freya, given that she identifies herself as goddess of fertility in #999, which eliminates her as a possibility of also being the blonde goddess. Sif identifies herself as goddess of earth. So neither Sif nor Frigg can be the goddess from 501, and Gefjon doesn't exist in OOTS.

[Yanisa]

Wrecan and co made an assumption that she was Freya, but there's no in-comic evidence to support this.

I check the records, but this happened before the purge of the first thread, so I cannot check any discussion of that time. Maybe someone handier with the way-back machine check this?

Also there is a red +1, indicating there is a bonus appearance, which might explain their naming of Freya. Sadly these things are untracked as far as I can tell, but it must have happened during the first or second book (before #367). If I got time I will check to see if i can find it. Or perhaps someone else is faster then me?

There might still be a reason why they named this blonde goddess Freya.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

I feel strongly that the goddess from #73 and #273 is not Freya, but almost certainly Sif. She is portrayed as consorting with Thor, and with golden hair, both of which point to Sif rather than Freya. Wrecan and co made an assumption that she was Freya, but there's no in-comic evidence to support this. I think the brunette "fertility goddess" in #501 almost certainly has to be Freya, given that she identifies herself as goddess of fertility in #999, which eliminates her as a possibility of also being the blonde goddess. Sif identifies herself as goddess of earth. So neither Sif nor Frigg can be the goddess from 501, and Gefjon doesn't exist in OOTS.

You mean 274 correct? Additionally, in my Transcription, the one that transcribed 274 labeled her as Frigga, not Freya. Could that be the correct name? Ah, I see that wouldn't be because Frigg was just shown this past comic holding Odin's hand. Alright.

[knag]

You mean 274 correct?

Sorry, yeah, 274, last panel, arguing with Monkey. Looking at the list, I guess the blonde goddess from 73 isn't attributed to Freya (or any goddess) anyway, but I've always thought of them as the same goddess. So maybe there's yet a third Northern goddess, but with no name, she could easily be any of the Northern goddesses with no depictions: Sif, Sunna, Skadi, Iounn, and Sigrun. I think 999 and 1012 establishes the complete list of Northern deities and demi-gods (so glad I got to use that phrase in a sentence), and drawing on any other Old Norse gods is not possible, unlike with the Western pantheon where we do not know the full roster.

Based on the fact that the goddess in 73 is being "wooed" by Thor, and her blonde hair, I associate her with Sif. Then the goddess in 274 could also be Sif, or could be any other those goddesses. But notice that the blonde goddess in 274 is wearing a green crop-top and a see-through skirt, and the blonde goddess in 73 is wearing a white crop-top and see-through skirt. I think this is evidence that they're the same goddess.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Sorry, yeah, 274, last panel, arguing with Monkey. Looking at the list, I guess the blonde goddess from 73 isn't attributed to Freya (or any goddess) anyway, but I've always thought of them as the same goddess. So maybe there's yet a third Northern goddess, but with no name, she could easily be any of the Northern goddesses with no depictions: Sif, Sunna, Skadi, Iounn, and Sigrun. I think 999 and 1012 establishes the complete list of Northern deities and demi-gods (so glad I got to use that phrase in a sentence), and drawing on any other Old Norse gods is not possible, unlike with the Western pantheon where we do not know the full roster.

Based on the fact that the goddess in 73 is being "wooed" by Thor, and her blonde hair, I associate her with Sif. Then the goddess in 274 could also be Sif, or could be any other those goddesses. But notice that the blonde goddess in 274 is wearing a green crop-top and a see-through skirt, and the blonde goddess in 73 is wearing a white crop-top and see-through skirt. I think this is evidence that they're the same goddess.

I agree with that assumption. We just need to look at the bonus depiction from one of the books for her last appearance to see if it confirms any thing or makes the snag even worse.

Also, I just want to point out through my searching of the story, it's interesting how arguing amongst the group also was the downfall of the linear guild just like the gods. Interesting. Anyway, back on topic.

[knag]

I agree with that assumption. We just need to look at the bonus depiction from one of the books for her last appearance to see if it confirms any thing or makes the snag even worse.

Also, I just want to point out through my searching of the story, it's interesting how arguing amongst the group also was the downfall of the linear guild just like the gods. Interesting. Anyway, back on topic.

I feel like the whole plot of OOTS is driving towards a very meta commentary on D&D role playing groups and comic book art, which would be so satisfying for me.

I check the records, but this happened before the purge of the first thread, so I cannot check any discussion of that time. Maybe someone handier with the way-back machine check this?

Also there is a red +1, indicating there is a bonus appearance, which might explain their naming of Freya. Sadly these things are untracked as far as I can tell, but it must have happened during the first or second book (before #367). If I got time I will check to see if i can find it. Or perhaps someone else is faster then me?

There might still be a reason why they named this blonde goddess Freya.

I agree that any discussion of Freya needs to look at that bonus appearance. I don't know where it is either. It might also be in OtOoPC, since that was published before 367 as well.

Edit: Just checked DCF and NCftPB and she's not in the bonus material there. I don't have SoD or OtOoPC handy.

[knag]

Freya's bonus appearance is from Start of Darkness, p. 37. It's a crayon drawing, the same goddess as from 274, same hair and outfit. There is no further identification of her, no name given in the dialog or in Redcloak's voiceover. So it's correct that the goddess from 274 gets a +1, whoever she is, but it sheds no additional light on this conversation.

[Yanisa]

Freya's bonus appearance is from Start of Darkness, p. 37. It's a crayon drawing, the same goddess as from 274, same hair and outfit. There is no further identification of her, no name given in the dialog or in Redcloak's voiceover. So it's correct that the goddess from 274 gets a +1, whoever she is, but it sheds no additional light on this conversation.

Good find, I went with the start date of the second thread, so I kinda shot myself (and others) in the foot.

Anyhow, because of that I find I can now pinpoint dates and found the places were Freya got name dropped:
Here she is named for the first time. I am unsure what she was listed at before that (probably not). Also no reason given.
And here she is counted in start of darkness.. Again no reason given. Also no discussion about her (but there is discussion about Tyr).
Here is the third mention of Freya. Which also means the current count of 1+1 can't be right.

Not sure how you guys wanna count it then. Most neutral would be to put Freya and Sif at 1 and add an unnamed blonde Norse goddess at 1+1. Ignoring both #73 and #274 because 1 appearance without a name.

Otherwise, I would say Freya at 2, and Sif at 3+1.