Girl Genius XXVI: Madness is the best possible response

[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

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Mirror of the comic found on LiveJournal (No longer being updated as of Mid-May, 2017)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
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)

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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!

[Traab]

Ello ello ello! Wuts all this then? Just gotta make my mark so I can avoid losing track of the new thread.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Ello ello ello! Wuts all this then?

Actually, that reminds me. The story is in England in the (sort of) Victorian era, and we've seen plenty of guards in busbys (and similar), but not seen anything like the traditional policeman in any of the backgrounds (including the street scenes). Obviously not an absolute requirement of course, but an odd omission.

[Wayson]

Actually, that reminds me. The story is in England in the (sort of) Victorian era, and we've seen plenty of guards in busbys (and similar), but not seen anything like the traditional policeman in any of the backgrounds (including the street scenes). Obviously not an absolute requirement of course, but an odd omission.

Presumably there are all manner of sparky surveillance devices lurking unseen. Not to mention whatever quasi-omniscience Albia has.

[Agi Hammerthief]

are we there yet?

[SZbNAhL]

Actually, that reminds me. The story is in England in the (sort of) Victorian era, and we've seen plenty of guards in busbys (and similar), but not seen anything like the traditional policeman in any of the backgrounds (including the street scenes). Obviously not an absolute requirement of course, but an odd omission.

Maybe we'll see them if we keep our eyes Peelered.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Maybe we'll see them if we keep our eyes Peelered.

Nice one - I've never Met a pun I didn't like.

[SZbNAhL]

Nice one - I've never Met a pun I didn't like.

Thanks, it's been bobbying around in the back of my mind for some time.

[Rockphed]

Thanks, it's been bobbying around in the back of my mind for some time.

Just don't try to take that one to Scotland. It will get dirty in the Yard.

[PraetorDragoon]

Tweedle telling the truth? What is this madness!?

[Kantaki]

I think the explanation is swamp gas induced hallucinations.

[Ailurus]

Tweedle telling the truth? What is this madness!?

I think he's been talking to the Ferengi. Rule of Acquisition #76 - Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

[HandofShadows]

Even "this bear" who has had almost no contact with Tweedle, doesn't buy it. His rep is that bad I guess.

[sihnfahl]

I think he's been talking to the Ferengi. Rule of Acquisition #76 - Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

#100 works better. "When it's good for business, tell the truth."

[Kantaki]

I think he's been talking to the Ferengi. Rule of Acquisition #76 - Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

#100 works better. "When it's good for business, tell the truth."

That is a insult.
To the Ferengi.

[Squire Doodad]

"This Bear" is actually speaking in a manner that is appropriate in the vernacular; his middle name is "This Bear".

[Rogar Demonblud]

So, what's the over-under on this previous student of Vapnoople's being one of the charred corpses in the basement?

[HandofShadows]

So, what's the over-under on this previous student of Vapnoople's being one of the charred corpses in the basement?

Doubt it. It's probably the "eye" person we saw.

[SZbNAhL]

Even "this bear" who has had almost no contact with Tweedle, doesn't buy it. His rep is that bad I guess.

Didn't the bears work for Martellus during the years between Vapnoople being captured and Krosp reclaiming them? My guess is he's met him previously.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Or heard stories from those who have.

[geoduck]

Or heard stories from those who have.

No, SZbNAhL is right, it was explicitly established that the Bears were working with Tweedle, if only because he was in possession of "the Shiny Thing", which he was forced to return to them when Krosp took over. Whatever the ST is, we never got to see it.

[keybounce]

#100 works better. "When it's good for business, tell the truth."

War is good for business.
Peace is good for business.

It's easy to mix those two up.

Meanwhile, I've just done a 2 month catchup. How did I let this get out of date for so long?

[Rogar Demonblud]

No, SZbNAhL is right, it was explicitly established that the Bears were working with Tweedle, if only because he was in possession of "the Shiny Thing", which he was forced to return to them when Krosp took over. Whatever the ST is, we never got to see it.

I know. But that doesn't mean this This Bear has worked with Tweedle. Somehow, I doubt Tweedle bothers interacting with anyone but the top layer of underlings.

[SZbNAhL]

I know. But that doesn't mean this This Bear has worked with Tweedle. Somehow, I doubt Tweedle bothers interacting with anyone but the top layer of underlings.

One of his few redeeming qualities seems to be that he genuinely cares about his people. Case in point.

[geoduck]

I know. But that doesn't mean this This Bear has worked with Tweedle. Somehow, I doubt Tweedle bothers interacting with anyone but the top layer of underlings.

If he's personally assisting Krosp, he's probably in the top layer of the Bear hierarchy, whatever form that takes...

[Squire Doodad]

If he's personally assisting Krosp, he's probably in the top layer of the Bear hierarchy, whatever form that takes...

It's complete and utter Anarchy most of the time. They're such Barbearians.

One of his few redeeming qualities seems to be that he genuinely cares about his people. Case in point.

He is, unfortunately, the third best candidate for the Storm King's crown we've seen after Seffie and Tarvek, if only because he's vaguely sane in the "would not kill everyone for minor issues that should be resolved diplomatically" department and has periodic bouts of decency.

[Ellen]

Going to point out the obvious that Martellus could have been telling the literal truth (that Krosp knows he can't control him) and still be trying to deceive him (he may know that Krosp is wrong).

[HandofShadows]

Spoiler

Show

Gil and Tarvek show up. And they are great.

[PraetorDragoon]

This is wonderfully satisfying.

[Kantaki]

Gil and Tarvek are great.
Gil and Tarvek working together are perfect.
The Heterodyne has the best underlings.