Grrl Power #296 – Morning routing
It’s weird seeing Sydney in a different colored shirt, but this ain’t no Hanna Barbara cartoon. If you’re wondering where the orbs are in the first few panels, she stuffed them back in the tube.
I’d like to draw Sydney with different hairstyles every now and then, but braids are much more time consuming to draw and color than ponytails, and French Braids are a straight up pain in the ass. I got distracted with the braid step by step (there’s even an additional panel of that sequence I penciled but cut before I started inking) and meant to show Sydney covering up her bruise with cosplay supplies. Obviously her makeup box would be inadequate for the task. The only things in it are chapstick, which Sydney considers to be makeup, probably a light shade of lipstick, and only because it has sunblock built in, an eyeliner pencil that she used once but stabbed herself in the eye, and a bunch of different colored hair ties.
The disadvantage of working at 600 dpi is it’s sometimes hard to gauge how legible little details will be at web size, so here’s a closeup of the package on the counter.
If I was a girl and had a choice of birth control, I would definitely go with the one with the funny name. BTW this doesn’t imply Sydney has a boyfriend at the moment, a lot of women use the pill to moderate their symptoms and even control when they get their period to some degree.
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I completely agree with Sydney’s choice of swears. Also I thought she was given a uniform or at least a hat and jacket. Shouldn’t she be wearing them?
They are both still back at ArchonHQ
She is off-duty, so she should not. I expect she has some private time, to sort out her affairs. She need only get back in uniform when she is reporting in. She did not appear to have anything other than her pip-boy and tubey, when she went home. So that will have to wait until her return to Archon.
That’s it! Sidney should only refer to her wrist thingy as a pip-boy. She’s probably a fallout fan so this should be in the range of imagination
As awesome as that would be, making references to real-world intellectual property can cause some real problems when you try to go to print. Howard Tayler had this problem with his comic, Schlock Mercenary. His in-world self-help book called “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates” had to be retconned into “Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries” because FranklinCovey sent a cease-and-desist. Since it wasn’t Fair Use protected, there was no other option.
A casual reference to real-world IP doesn’t tend to cause problems, but if it becomes a comic-world regular thing to call the arm-brace a Pip Boy, then Bethesda could get lawyery about it. And arguing a Fair Use claim for a non-essential IP reference usually isn’t worth it in money or time.
Well, we have real lawyers as regular readers now, so I would value their input. But I do not see it being a problem myself. Firstly, would they object to what amounts to free, favourable, publicity? Especially when it is in a medium that is targeted at a suitable audience, such as ourselves.
Secondly, there is little which would throw their brand into disrepute. Barring Sydney’s swearing, and that is odd-ball and funny enough, that I, again would find it unlikely to trigger an action.
If Dave is pre-emptive, and puts up a disclaimer now, as part of his copyright message (eg “Any trademark likeness or name belongs to their respective owners”), then they would not have to enforce their obligatory requirement to protect their trademark. Dave will have acknowledged that such belongs to other folks. As such challenging it would probably be more counter-productive than letting it lie.
That said, I am just playing the devil’s advocate, to your comments. They are well made. I have raised similar precautionary words myself, in the past. My best advice being to avoid using any advertising material which contains a distinctive trademark. Because that would clearly violate any ‘fair use’ argument, as you are using the trademark to attract customers.
As such, yesterday’s shirt would be fine. Although it had associations with Wonder Woman, it was not, in itself, a trademarked image (to the best of my knowledge). Whereas DaveB should never use today’s shirt as part of one of his comic banners. Nor on the cover of Book 2. Well, not with the problematic part visible, anyhow.
Well, even if they have issue with DaveB calling it a pip-boy, they can’t do a damn thing about US. Don’t most websites also carry the disclaimer that “the statements and/or opinions expressed in user comments are not necessarily reflected or advocated by the website owners” or some other such similar drivel?
:P
Bethesda is known to be aggressively pro-lawyer, so avoiding it would be wisest.
I remember hearing that putting up that disclaimer could be used against you, in that you know you don’t have permission, you know it was copy right infringement, and you did it anyway.
If somebody puts up a copyright work, on YouTube, then yes. That work is owned by somebody else, you know it and saying it is owned by them does not mitigate your stealing it.
However, what I suggested (the way I phrased it), does not directly imply that he recognised any particular thing as being trademarked/copyright. So it would not be doing as you suggest.
Although, yes, it could be argued that he is aware of various, unspecific, violations, but are going ahead anyhow.
However I do not see that it would hold water, as DaveB is very clearly using items that we would see in the real world, in the kind of context you would expect to see them there. Note that this is very different to using a trademark character, in a way that implied the character was part of the story.
Showing a character putting on a Spider-Man outfit is simply representing typical usage of iconic items in everyday life. Contrast that to instead showing the likeness swinging by overhead, which is clearly implying that Spider-Man is in the story. That would require permission from the trademark character owners to be legal.
Also note that there is a massive difference between taking a whole work, such as with the YouTube poster, and thereby breaching copyright, compared to portraying an item, as a small part of a larger body of work.
If that really was a legal problem, then no TV or film footage we saw would ever show a trademarked item in it. Every logo would have to be pixelated, blurred or cut out in editing. That does not happen.
The fact that Dave is using drawings, as his medium, to portray a version of the real world, does not lessen my counter-argument. If you want to draw the stuff on your table, and it includes a Coke bottle, then you can do so. I bet Andy Warhol did not have to pay royalties to Campbell Soup, no matter how iconic his painting. Said with authority, hoping it will slip by, unnoticed, if not true.
That said, I know the laws can get very tricky in this area. An artist took a photo of Obama and made his own version. But the likeness was close enough, that it was deemed to be in breach of copyright. So he had to share royalties with them.
But trademarks and copyright are distinct, if related things. DaveB is using trademarks, not copyright material, which is incorporated into designs of his own making. So long as those designs remain in the story, and do not go on sale, in their own right, featuring the trademark, I think he is on fairly safe ground.
All this, in my personal opinion. And sorry for wall of text. I entered ramble mode.
Actually, you may want to look it up, Andy Warhol had checked to see if the Campbell’s logo was trademarked, etc. and, since it wasn’t, he trademarked it, and they ended up having to pay him.
(at least, this is the information I’ve found on the subject)
Heh. Interesting twist. No wonder companies make effort in these areas. *sigh*
I looked it up, and found no mention of that being the case.
No Yorp. Even if someone put it on Youtube they can’t be sued. Fair Use Doctrine.
Case in point. Nuka Break – a fan film series. Bethesda can’t sue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9UwlAAnlmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgxXnEVVyM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZS23Gntfys&list=PLrFaRFw9s4G44HYYtip2PRaijAVxMNcaM
Sorry, I knew I had a long argument, so shortened that non-integral part. Clearly too much. The comment I was replying to clearly alluded to a common practice, where whole movies, TV episodes etc. are posted (on YouTube, or elsewhere, for that matter), with the disclaimer “I do not own the rights to this” or “the rights to this are owned by…”.
These are not fair use. They are posted in their entirety, and in no context where any of the fair use provisions could be applied.
Note, that I am aware that some productions do make fake versions of bottles, and other items which bear trademarks. For instance, for use in cookery shows. But this is as much to do with avoiding giving them free publicity, as anything else.
Plus it avoids any chance of being sued for inadvertently saying something which portrays a branded product in a bad light. What may be fine, if you are slagging off a generic thing, becomes actionable, if a named product is involved.
Bethesda can and might object to the use. I’m pretty sure they have copyrighted the term pipboy in relation to a wrist-bracer type computer. If Dave contacts them and they agree to it he’d be alright but any other use that isn’t parody is trouble waiting to happen and parody use might have to be defended in court. A disclaimer helps only if Dave does not make money off of the use which a lawyer would argue he already is via patreon and donations. If Bethesda were smart they would agree to let him use it since it’s free marketing to a group who falls solidly within their potential customer base. I would still ask them first though. I agree that it’s worth it because that is exactly what Sydney would call it unless Ariana can come up with something cool first.
On the shirts, i don’t know if those are specifically ones that have been copyrighted or trademarked. I do know that Disney is the uber-protectionist when it comes to their money machine and they now own Marvel. When I was in college we had a student group for watching anime and tried to get permission to watch some…I think it was Studio Gibli…movies. Turned out Disney had bought the studio and would not give permission for free public viewing even though our group made no money and charged no dues whatsoever. I’m not sure what their stance would be on a T-shirt in a comic, but I would be pessimistic about guaging their response.
So long as ‘pip-boy’ is only Sydney’s pet way of describing it, and the comic never tries to say that it is actually a product called that, then there is a distinction. Especially if she is told the actual product name, or maker, at some point.
Even the big boys have the limits to what they can action successfully. We can refer to Googling something, even if we are using some other browser. Likewise vacuum cleaners are referred to as Hoovers, and mechanical diggers are referred to as JCBs.
And the world knows brown fizzy liquids as Colas. Despite Coke a Cola spending years and many millions of dollars, trying to block that.
It is the price to pay for being the leading brand in an emerging market. So long as it is clear that it is not meant to be a Bethselda Product, but an item produced by Machina Industries, I think Dave is even safe on that one.
Ok, that does not stop a big brand from bullying, even when they are in the wrong. But, that is a separate point.
“Cola” is the generic term for caramelised carbonated beverage, much like “lemonade” for a citrusy one. (When not limeade…)
The “wrong” term that you meant is “coke” :P
Darn it, I relied too much on not getting the wibbly wobbly orange line underneath a misspelt word. Which would not be there, for my weird construction, as the component parts are all valid.
‘Coke a cola’ is about as crap a spelling as I could have made for ‘Coca-Cola’. Thanks for pointing it out.
But you got the gist, anyhow. The corporation had a two-part brand name and objected to the fact that, the rest of the world, adopted part of it to refer to all products of the type. Contesting that each part was trademarked in itself. The courts disagreed, deciding that only the composite of the two words constituted the trademark.
Ultimately they were victims of their own success. Common usage of the term, by the general public, transcended the original meaning. Trademark law can’t legislate our use of language.
We just need to ensure we use the term ‘pip-boy’ generically, often enough, that the urban dictionary update their entry. ;-)
As a general rule a term that becomes common for something like xerox or saran wrap is free use, but that’s usually decided by a court and fought over pretty hard. Not the kind of thing Dave wants to deal with. I don’t think there are enough wrist mounted computer type devices to establish that pipboy has become a common term for them. The entire concept of such a device hasnt become a common thing, nor do i expect it to do so until they release the Apple Bracer, an upgrade of the Apple Watch with a bigger screen. :-)
Yea, my last line was said firmly tongue-in-cheek.
It is irrelevant anyhow, as ‘pip-boy’ is Sydney’s nickname for her Archon combat computer. Just like she calls her poster-tube ‘tubey’. As such it is a satire on geek behaviour, and falls under the fair use provisions, within intellectual copyright law.
Well, there’s also the blatant usage of Batman during “Super ADHD mode” too.
But if “Pip-boy” is used as an occasional nickname, and it’s usually referred to as the “ARC Wrist Attached Terminal Communications Hub” or something then can it be passed off as a casual pop-culture reference?
(e.g. does the Big Bang Theory have to pay Marvel/DC/Paramount/whoever for every T-Shirt they show Sheldon in? Other than buying it in the first place, I mean)
Distinctive likeness yes. Unfair usage no.
Batman is a culturally iconic image. As is Wolverine. Sydney is being portrayed as a character in the real world. One who has fantasies about super heroes. DaveB has not even used an image another source (directly copying them out of a movie, for instance). So he is not duplicating copyright material.
He is, rather, making a distinctive likeness of a trademark character. But clearly referring to it as a cultural icon. And, although it is not parodying the icon itself (given that Sydney clearly likes these things), it is part of a parody. What it is parodying is us. Geeks who fantasise about super heroes.
That is very much covered under the ‘fair use due to parody’ section of copyright law.
Note that, in all things, a line can be drawn. If the series hinged on Sydney fantasising about a specific trademark character, and he appeared frequently, then it could be argued that the hero was being portrayed as a central character, in it’s own right, fantasy or not.
But the isolated references, which we have seen to date, do not come anywhere near to supporting such an argument.
“would they object to what amounts to free, favourable, publicity?”
Yes they would, because they don’t have much legal choice in the matter. The more you allow infringement on your trademarks, the less you own them. It’s one of several inherent problems with intellectual property law.
There are always choices. It is a matter of whether they choose to implement them or not. And, whether there is anything which is infringing the trade mark. DaveB is not trading using that mark. Items are not changing hands, on the strength of that. Be it for money, or otherwise. And, contextually, the trademarks are only used in a fictional manner, and in a way which is not causing any harm to the integrity of the company.*
Just how is the trademark being infringed? I can say Coke a Cola, right here, despite that being a trademarked term. That is clearly not an infringement. Even if I had a blog, that I earnt advertising revenue on, and I said “I drank Coke a Cola today”, they would have no reasonable grounds to contest my use of that. It is just a part of the day.
How would Dave’s use be any different? The trademark words and the logos are just different ways of expressing the same trademark. One simply being a pictorial version of the other.
By the way, I do not pretend infallibility in these matters. I simply put the arguments as firmly as I can. If they are shaky, then they can be knocked down. I oft hear phrases like yours used. But have have a genuine reason to wonder if they are being used correctly for the trivial usage portrayed here. It feels wrong. **
* One of the perks of running a nice comic, with no disreputable stuff like porn. It is harder to claim that the usage is harming the image of the trademark or the company associated with it. Nothing derogatory has been said, or implied, about either.
** Not the usual ‘the law is an ass and we know it gets it wrong’ way, but in ‘I cannot see the basis for why the rules would, or could work, the way it is being argued when looking at this case’. It would simply inhibit the normal functioning of society too much.
Guys stop worrying. Its all covered under the fair use doctrine
Yay! Thanks. I knew you would be invaluable to the community. I was not just Pandering to you!
Perhaps you haven’t been observing Arianna closely enough to understand how things can be spun in any direction at all by any competent lawyer (or PR rep).
The objection would be to referencing their intellectual property in a work which has demons! And succubi! And violence! And villains! And property destruction! And military action! And a 5 girl incestuous and bisexual girl group! And inter-species sex! And undead! And scantily clad, green skinned, space alien slave girls! And lesbian, mind control kisses! And the list goes on and on and on…
Favorable publicity, your Honor? Hardly! That is an outrageous and utterly false claim by the defendant, whose single lawyer is obviously not wearing a $1,500 dollar suit as our group of five lawyers are and is therefore obviously not showing this court the proper respect. My clients intellectual property is being damaged beyond belief by this outrageous representation! We request an immediate injunction against any further publication until we are able to carefully (and at $750 per hour) examine the entire work for other violations, and only then might we withdraw our objections to the stop order on publication of future comics.
And of course here is our request for punitive damages based upon the damages already incurred to out clients intellectual property. Plus we request reimbursement for all costs, fees, and expenses incurred in the levying of this lawsuit, of course.
And now, your Honor, we request a recess for lunch. We’ll be at Che Money, dining on Kobe Chateaubriand, beluga caviar and white truffle martinis, which is of course only a small part of the expenses we are accruing as we slowly and carefully take this case through the evidentiary process.
I was not suggesting that as a legal defence. However, legal action does not start until one side decides that they have an issue. If they see that they are actually benefiting from a situation, then no problem need arise in the first place.
Which, incidentally, can and has happened in such situations. Checking out some of the stuff that Pander suggested, on YouTube, and beyond, I found that in one such case, where issues such as these were suggested as being a problem, the fans of the YouTube stories, in question, were two of the makers of the original content, that it was based on!
It is like finding out that Hugh Jackman (a.k.a. Wolverine) or Alan Davies (a.k.a. Jonathan Creek) are actually fans of this comic. Both have had cameo appearances, and wouldn’t it be awesome if one of them spoke out and said that they would like another?
In the case of the YouTube fan site, they actually endorsed them continuing (on a not-for-profit basis, which actually allowed them to use revenues to offset the production costs of the enterprise).
Where it does approach the legal side of the argument is that small fry, like fan-based sites and self-produced websites, such as Dave hosts, is that the big boys can try bully-boy tactics and force it to shut down, simply by threatening legal action. Regardless of whether they have a genuine legal case to substantiate their action.
This they are less likely to do if their intellectual property is shown in a favourable light. Hence, if the publicity they are getting from it is good (and I do bear in mind the negative points you highlighted mean that may not be how everyone views this comic), then they would be less likely to to even try those tactics.
And, big corporations are not always foolish. If they tried bully-boy tactics, on insubstantial grounds, the negative publicity they get could far outweigh all other considerations. Imagine if Marvel started swinging the big stick at Dave, and Hugh Jackman suddenly announced, “I am a fan and this is wrong!” It would be headline entertainment news, casting Marvel in a very bad light.
If they were foolish enough to continue, then they will suffer even more, when the court rules that the satirical use falls under the parody contingency of intellectual property law.
Look, I’m not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV. I was only trying to point out, in a hopefully humorous manner, how those with money can utterly destroy those without money, if only by forcing them to face a bankrupting amount of legal fees to defend themselves. No matter how frivolous the suit might be eventually ruled to be many small companies will simply fold if challenged by a large company, simply due to the raw economics of the situation. Being proven right 10 years later after going through multiple appeals isn’t something a small company can withstand. And without knowing anything at all about our author’s finances my guess would be that he is not in a position to put up such a fight.
We see this all the time, I shouldn’t even need to provide examples. But on a recent Daily Show there was a piece on the lawsuits which Philip Morris (owner of the Marlboro brand of cigarettes) has brought, not against another company, but against national governments. A key point was that although PM had lost a suit in Australia they issued the threat of a lawsuit, not even bothering to actually file the suit but simply threatening one, against a small African nation. In this threat they referenced “another lawsuit” which they had filed against national governments in the past, as though they already had a precedent in the courts to support their position. That suit they referenced was the one they lost against the Australian government. But this small nation with a GNP lower than that of the PM company was unwilling to fight the battle even though it was they who had the support of precedent, and struck down the law which PM wanted them to remove.
A classic case of big money beats little money, even when little money has all the chips in their own stack, legally, but lacks the money to support the cost necessary to even consider going through the process of being found to be in the right.
You are correct that parody use is protected, but there are limits to this. I’m not sure where the line is drawn but my guess would be that even a parody representation of Wolverine who is in every single comic might be across that line. And the pip-boy isn’t even a parody, it’s just an implement which bears a striking similarity to a piece of someone elses IP, and has been called by that name in a completely non-parodied manner. Using that name consistently for the item is also probably across that line and probably a few others.
All fair comment.
By the way, your previous comment was amusing. Sadly, as I could see it playing out in court similar to how you portrayed it, the edge was somewhat taken off the humour.
But should DaveB avoid any reference to real-world things, in a comedy comic based on the real world? That is the greatest absurdity in this situation.
I think he has the most healthy attitude. If they object, he can just replace their product with that of a competitor.
Which brings it back to my point. Who would they rather get free, favourable, publicity for? Themselves, or their rival?
The greatest absurdity might actually be your referencing the pip-boy as a “real world thing.” :-D
You must mean the hypothetical competitor who has exactly the same incentive to protect their IP, right?
There’s not a lot of win for DaveB here, assuming that C&D orders are issued or suits are actually filed. As I said previously, and again not being in any way aware of his financial position, I doubt that he has the resources to fight such a legal battle against a company of any reasonable size, and especially not one who already retains legal council and might simply have nothing more pressing on their plates at the time*. And he might simply have no desire to go down that road, either.
But I’m done here. I’m arguing from merely anecdotal knowledge/evidence, so I don’t see much value in continuing to dispute your views even if I don’t find them to have much merit given the small amount of knowledge which I do have on the subject.
* And this doesn’t take much of a company, either. I once worked for a 50 person company who had a full time lawyer on staff. I wasn’t privy to what she was working on, I was on the engineering staff and our job paths never crossed, but she never seemed to be harried or rushed in any way. Slapping a C&D order against some start-up company who just happened to use a name which had their same acronym, or other fairly trivial matter, might have been easily fit into her schedule. It might take a lawyer a whole entire hour of time to write up and post a C&D order from a boilerplate example, after all. And really, the lawyer isn’t even doing the posting. We dropped our outgoing mail into a basket at the reception desk and she handed things off to the USPS, UPS, and FedEx as needed.
‘Yes, that is a funny irony. Bear in mind a couple of points though, that we have been talking about a variety of things, other than just that. Albeit that is the one mainly under discussion.
The other thing being that it has got a registered trademark. Which makes it a real thing. Dante’s Inferno is a real thing. Regardless of whether you believe in Hell. It does not matter that it only appears on canvas and digital recreations of the same.
In the real world people play a game which has a pip-boy in it. They can interact with it. It is real, even if it only appears in digital form or in paper recreation.
I am perfectly happy to leave it there. Pander had set my mind at ease, days ago. I was not responding for the sake of keeping an argument going, but simply because you raised points in an interesting way, and it made good conversation.
Dave could possibly bypass all of the use of the term Pip Boy issues by simply asking permission. If they say yes (especially in written form) the whole problem goes away.
Always the best way to go.
Trademark and IP is a funny thing, and I like to think I’ve learned a little from the debacle that Games Workshop vs Chapterhouse Studios was, and the years-long thread following and dissecting it on DakkaDakka (note, I am not a Lawyer, just someone with a casual interest).
The things is, even if a use of IP would technically be ‘free advertising’, it still has to be defended against, to keep the legal ability to defend it against actual issues.
In other words, not defending IP that’s being used in a low-exposure, non-damaging way could severely impact the owning company’s ability to successfully defend it in a serious case later on. Chinks in armour and additive damage and all that.
Strong ring of truth there. But there are ways and means of defending, which do not involve banning.
He does not need to. Seriously guys. Check out nuka break on youtube. This is all covered under an exception to copyright/trademark law called fair use. Its being used in a satirical/parody use
Quite happy to take your word on it. I had tired of the subject. But wanted to persist, out of niggling concerns, for DaveB and the comic. I wanted to ensure there was no fire, beneath the smoke. Much appreciated.
Dear nonexistent deity! I had no idea about this, but did a Goggle search and found the Chapter House Facebook page. Here is an excerpt from one of the posts concerning this legal struggle:
It looks as thought Chapter House has won in the end, but they had a 5 year legal struggle before things were finally settled. And who knows if the exact terms of the ultimate ruling/settlement were completely favorable to Chapter House? They may have no recourse to ask for compensation for legal fees, they may have lost other rights, etc. They have not posted the details and they may not even have the right to share that information publicly.
Still think that the little guy has a fair fight against the big guy? GW lost and yet during the 5 year process were able to completely shut Chapter House down for a period of what looks like several months.
I’ve long since boycotted GW. I did so after they refused to allow me to play with miniatures I had bought from them and painted (over probably hundreds of hours) using their paints in their store hosted games. Why? Because they had released a new line of the exact same name units, just sculpted with better detail. I sold off all my GW stuff several years ago at a Cold Wars convention for over $500, and I’ll never spend a penny for any of their products again, or play any of their games again. They are the rat bastards of the gaming industry. I am reasonably close to the owners of a few gaming stors in my area, and none of them have anything good to say about GW. They are bullies to the people who are facilitating the sale of their products. But all of them carry the stuff because GW is so popular amongst the player base.
I think she has to give them back to Peggy after she washes them.
They probably have a laundry service for uniforms. Dump the uniform in the laundry bin in the locker room and it will be cleaned, then either delivered or available for pickup in a day or two.
I think Vehemence could create a new uniform to her measurements pretty fast.
(Although they would have to stir up a prison riot in his cell block to power the process)
He he. True, but funny.
Some of the best humor has the seed of truth within…
;)
Don’t forget the uniform is borrowed. It probably has Peggy’s information so it will be returned to her. Sydney should get her own uniforms quickly though, then again, this is the military. They will probably order the uniforms and get underwear. At least it’s in the same category.
You must have been in the navy. every other branch gets tents when requesting BDU’s.
I take it you saw my uniform tops then? My shelter half had less material in it.
Peggy loaned Sydney those clothes for the purpose of appearing at the press conference. She wasn’t wearing them at the restaurant after that.
I agree…Sydney swears a lot better than even Yosemite Sam does. Sydney enunciates better. Even an expert like Math judges her to be a 7th Dan Black Belt in swearing.
:)
Anything past 2nd Dan requires getting the point across without using any actual swear words.
Would Yosemite Sam even qualify for any level of Black Belt? He does express his anger & frustration without using actual swear words, but then he doesn’t even use any real words at all…He creates his own phraseology, which makes him completely unintelligible.
Nooo! Loose hair looked cuter :(
He he. Check out the comic title.
“routing” is an interesting choice, but it doesn’t help conjure the
Tried and failed to link to Strong Bad’s Morning Routine sbemail.
I used the wrong term. I meant the bit under the comic. I guess ‘strapline’ may be a better word? Sydney’s normal hairstyle is easier for Dave to draw, basically.
Personally I love it, so am happy that it is unchanged.
Panels 2-5 just emphasizes one of the reasons Sydney is still very much the tomboy…She can still get away with doing panel 5 & not look foolish doing it.
Panel 5 has happened to every grown woman at least once, tomboy or not, I assure you. There is nothing foolish about it.
When I was younger & let my hair grow that long (yes, I’m as much of an “80’s kid” as Achilles, but I can at least get a hair cut at my current age), I’ve done that gesture. I’m more of a tomboy than Sydney could ever be because I actually am a male. It actually feels good on the scalp to do that every once in a while…It does indeed look silly if I didn’t at least comb it out before going out to meet the world.
DEADPOOL SHIRT!!! :DDD
deeeeeeeadpool!!!! YEAH!!
Oh, not Spider Man. K. Thanks for that.
Man, Sydney would dis my lack of super nerd cred.
That’s Pew Pew Orb to you, Mr. Not Hip.
Burn! xD
*sniff*
But I haz other qualities! I like kids, and I can cook. My signature dish, and drink, for that matter, is loved by all who taste it. But, yea, my nerdism has it’s limits. I would fail the Sydney exam, if it required a high score.
What’s your thaco as a 10th level mage while wielding a ransur?
A 10th level mage could not even pick up a coach dealership! And would be squashed flat, if he somehow managed to do it. So he would have no THACO, seeing as how he would be squashed flat!
Slightly different if you are talking about the trident-like weapon, mind you. But THACO is obsolete, unless running under second edition rules. Under the core rules, there would be a -5 penalty for wielding such a weapon, as there would be no mechanism for a pure mage to obtain proficiency with such.
But I haz no opposable thumbs, so could not wield a ranseur! You iz mean!
“Adds 25pts to Yorps nerd score”
Whee!
*jumps a backflip*
Wow, at this rate you’ll earn your nerd card in no time! Just remember that you’re still loved here, nerd card or not.
:D
P.S. A dog performing a backflip is an impressive feat in itself.
How did that phrase go?…Oh yeah: “You’re so unhip, it’s a wonder that your bum doesn’t fall off.”
~Zaphod Beeblebrox
Aww, don’t be so down about it Yorp. You don’t need a nerd card around here to be loved, but it helps.
Hey, you sass that hoopy Sydney? There’s a frood who really knows where her towel is!
A new thing! You haz NEWNESS!!
Youre so cool i can hang a side of beef on you for a month. Youre so hip i bet you have trouble seeing past your pelvis
May I return the compliment by saying that not even Elvis “The Pelvis” Presley has anything over you?
:D
And you are cooler than the flip side of the pillow!
Well, to be fair EVERYBODY who sees/hears him would think he’s some kind of nega-universe Spiderman till he uses his powers (the ability to get hurt a lot and still make jokes? Well, one of his powers is probably being insane to the point of breaking the fourth wall)
I think that’s Spawn, actually.
If you were any more wrong, you’d be republican.
Wronger still, and you’d be Democrat!
Even more wrong, you’d be a career politician.
YOU won that one.
Even more wrong than any specific political category, is a Big Government Advocate/Activist.
The worst governments that have ever existed in history has always been the biggest governments in history.
I’m sure having a small goverment was a big comfort to crippled child laborers under Carnegie Steel in the 1800s, or the victims of the medieval Inquisition.
oh, about the same as being rushed off to a Gulag because you crossed a Communist party official.
Didn’t need Big Government intervention or government to grow any bigger over that…That’s why Unions came into existence. Problem with Unions today is that they’ve insinuated themselves into government & have made it even worse.
Far too much of what government does today isn’t even Lawfully authorized for government to do; Indeed, the Private Sector has a way of creating new ways to handle problems like that.
At this point, government keeps getting bigger because it’s absorbing Private Sector markets under its control…You know, Nationalizing Businesses, just like Hitler & Stalin did. History has borne witness…Numerous times.
The ACA (aka Obamacare) is in no way nationalizing anything.
It does add some state and Federal overhead, but in return it has provided the lowest rise in health care costs in its first year than in the prior decade (and maybe longer).
You might want to check those numbers again. When fully implemented, reports from the GAO indicate an average of a 40% increase in premiums & an actual reduction in effective service. Added to that are the number of doctors dropping any Medicare/Medicaid coverage for the first time in their careers.
No offense observer but it actually raised health care costs across the board between 40 and 100 percent. Some people just havent felt it yet because of the subsidies. Which will wind up failing and decreasing massively between 2015 and 2016. Assuming the courts dont tear it apart before then because of how it was not actually passed in qgat one would consider a completely ‘legal’ or ‘constitutional’ way, or because of the states that are refusing to fund it which requires the federal govt to instead. And we all have seen how well the federal govt handles… well… anything
There’s one worse than that: Retired Politician turned Fox Pundit.
Any wronger and you are an IRS agent.
Libertarian here
‘Big’ and ‘small’ are not useful identifiers, because governments can be big or small in different ways. Our government is huge and has been for decades (since the cold war, really), but because all of that ‘size’ is directed explicitly into our military system (which itself doesn’t do much more than create new enemies), our domestic government is small, and we consequently have all the problems of having a small domestic government (including the problem of the citizenry effectively having no advocate in the marketplace to shape their standard of living, hence why we have people having to hold down three jobs totaling 60-80 hours of work and still falling under the poverty line).
Imagine if we decided to keep our government the same size (draw in and spend roughly what we’re spending now), but shift that stance into more balance. All of our ‘underfunded’ domestic programs would suddenly find themselves with more than adequate funding. We’d even be able to pay back the Social Security trust fund for all the times that the government has illegally drawn on it.
Here is DP’s logo.
https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/deadpool/images/5/5e/2293-marvel-deadpool-simple-logo-wallpaper-1280×1024-customity.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110314222646
I guess this is spawns or fan interpretations of same?
https://www.wackystacker.com/images/SpawnLogo_thmb.jpg
And I had to share today’s comic with a friend just because of that shirt.
I’m not overly familiar with his mannerisms, but I imagine that is just what Deadpool would have done.
Assuming Sydney is of for chimichangas, I’d say it’s spot on.
In her reporter-induced rage Sydney seems to have forgotten that she’s going out in the evil sun! She’ll lose her jaundiced glow!
She’ll put up her sun-block shield shortly, she wanted to make sure they could hear her :D
It’s overcast, she’s safe… for now…
She better learn to moisturise a lot. Unless the Fly Ball’s mundane flight protection helps, of course. Otherwise she will get a well-weathered outdoorsman’s face at a young age.
It depends on whether or not the shield does, in fact, block harmful UV rays.
But would they also block the small amount that would give someone a tan?
Actually, people tan BECAUSE the UV rays are harmful. Your body starts producing melanin (the pigment that causes the tan) because it absorbs the UV rays, and so helps protect you from them.
Sure but small amounts don’t actually do damage, because the body naturally protects against it.
So what would the cutoff be? Where it starts to effect change, or where it starts to go over the body’s natural ability to protect against it
You need UV to synthesise Vitamin D. One of the daily parts of daycare in Siberia is everyone standing in their underwear around a powerful UV light for 5 minutes so they get enough to synthesise/use their D.
Wow, Siberian daycare found a way that even females can use their own D, in much the same way that the Greek island of Lesbos also allows for male Lesbians!
O.O
I must admit that being sent to a Siberian gulag sounds a bit less… no, no… on second thoughts.
Yorp, that’s daycare for little children, not the gulags.
Ahh, I am used to the term ‘kindergarten’. Even here in Bulgaria they use a word that is phonetically identical.
Of interest, even in the U.K. current medical advice is to get at least ten minutes of sunshine per day (weather permitting), during the winter, in order to remain healthy. For the same reason.
Somehow gulags do not seem quite so intimidating, if they are next door to kindergartens. “Stop complaining prisoner. It is barely -40 today. Look the little girls are playing with their skipping ropes just over there!”
“…gulags do not seem quite so intimidating, if they are next door to kindergartens.”
It’s even less intimidating for those who are imprisoned for pedophilia…
Those prisoners should be fitted with concrete galoshes & held in Davy Jone’s Locker.
The Fly Ball let her keep up with Maxima on the flight to the testing grounds. There was no windburn as Maxima kept speeding up. It must provide al least some protection. Then again, the node between the fly ball and the shield ball in the skill tree could be selected, allowing part of the shield power to work for that purpose without actually being held. That’s still just a guess though, from my post yesterday.
Actually she is just using the shield orb at the same time
DaveB has mentioned, in comments, that the Fly Ball does have basic protection versus wind buffering, and so on. But only up to a point. For high speed flight Sydney has to use the Forb too.
As regards the two-orb limit, I do not think there will be any functions which allow Halo to either use a third, or utilise the powers of a third. Which, although you may not have thought of it as being, is what you are suggesting would, in effect, become. The two powers maximum, at any one time, is a fundamental limit, built into the character. She has very few, but that is one that was stressed, from the outset, in the boardroom.
Although there are many ways we could hypothesise that she could work around the issue, I am certain the only ones we ever see will be one-off improvisations or work-arounds. The limit is simply very good for story telling purposes. It stops her from being too powerful, whilst simultaneously putting her in tricky situations at times.
Look at the dilemma she faced when wanting to block Vehemence’s aggro aura. Ok this is not quite the same issue, as it was not solely and specifically caused by this limit. But it shows how having limits stops some easy solutions to a problem, and requires the hero to come up with an innovative, or brave, solution to the situation.
Resulting in Sydney’s tactic of raising the shield, with her in it, unprotected from a psychotic madman. Which is a powerfully emotive, and an enduring, memory of her. The limits allow DaveB to create an interesting and memorable character.
The more we get to see of her, the more confident I am that Halo will pass beyond the niche webcomic market and, one day, will be a mainstream phenomenon. I just hope we will not see her language sanitised.
So in the last shot she is flying away so fast that the wind buffering secondary effect of the Fly Ball fails and her hair gets blown extremely back? Surprised they would even here any of her cursing.
A convertible’s wind screen provides some protection from wind buffeting. But do not expect your hair to be unruffled.
On a long trip without the shield orb her eyes would be dry and burned…
Guys, seriously. How about allowing a little poetic/super-heroic license for hair/capes flapping in the breeze?
Also as an awesome one-off sometime I could see her somehow accessing 5 orbs at once which stick to her fingertips so she’s touching all five. Not sure how or under what circumstances that could happen but it would make a cool visual. Maybe it would have such a negative effect on her that she would only do it in the most dire of circumstances or something.
There is always scope for one-off really dramatic situations or striking imagery. That is part of good story telling. But to achieve that, to best effect, it must not be common place.
I did cater for such, within my post mind.
I think City of Heroes had it right. A cape is a privilege, to be earnt. Merely gaining super powers is not sufficient justification, for taking on the trappings of a super-hero. One must prove their worth first! Respect the uniform, and what it stands for.
A cape a tough look to pull off well though. Sydney… mmm, I really want to see her doing her cos-play stuff now!
“…that the Fly Ball does have basic protection versus wind buffering, and so on.”
Here’s my specific theory on how that might work, in context to what we already know about Sydney’s flight ability.
The Flight orb works on the basic principle that it manipulates gravity itself, in conjunction with Sydney’s physical form…This is why her hair doesn’t hang down when Sydney herself is upside down. This comes in handy, insofar that acceleration forces on her body will have little or no effect; she’ll never “black out” or “red out” no matter how much she accelerates or decelerates.
If that gravity manipulation also extends for a short distance away from her actual body, it would also be affecting the air immediately surrounding her…Acting as a sort of “aura of stabilized air” that would shied her from wind & small obstacles like bugs or even leaves that happen to be caught in the wind.
There may be a limit on that “stabilized air” effect, since Sydney also actively used her shield when following Max out to the testing field at high speeds.
Sounds solid to me.
Personally I would not fly without the shield if I could help it..don’t want all those bugs going squish on your face like in Me, Myself and Irene.
I would use the shield because of @!%ss Ho&^$ taking pot shots at me.
Exactly.
She should get serious body armor/helmet and pretty much wear it when ever on active duty as well as whenever she has reason to expect trouble at home.
Why anybody would want to be a super hero, or any difficult to replace asset in public, without a secret identity or security & armor up the whazoo is beyond me.
Sydney has a lot of balls to agree to this.
Whilst I very much agree, from a real-world perspective, it would be a very boring limiter artistically speaking. Not to mention from the point of view of story interest. It is nigh-on impregnable, after all.
So, for the sake of championing an argument that would allow artistic licence, without too much of a stretch, try comparing it to soldiers on active duty. Their helmets provide them vital protection. But, for public-relations purposes, they are issued with their berets, for use in civilian areas, when there is no active threat.
Keeping up the force field, at all times, in areas which are meant to be safe for everyday folks, sends a bad message, to them. Plus it also makes the individual look scared. Whereas removing the protection projects confidence to the public.
Of course nobody minds if there are bullets flying, or some indication that it is likely. They are at higher risk, and if there is a threat, they should defend themselves.
Aaaah she armors up in some slick looking outfit like say Samus and the marketing potential will go through the roof. Do YOU think Samus looks afraid in that armor?
If he keeps it simple this would mean that for a lot of events Dave would not have to worry about drawing her looking different.
Seven of them, in fact.
Hobos r taking pot shots at you? : O
A postal tramp, with a bum rep? Or did you pretend to give money, but actually take it out of his hat!
Or even when it happened to Dash, in The Incredibles. What surprised me was at the end of the movie, Dash hadn’t already gotten a full-face mask after he won the bug-easting contest in the jungle.
For that matter, Dash’s mask should include:
– clear lenses over the eye-holes
– a drop-down breath-able mesh to protect nose-&-mouth from airborne particles without impeding breath or speech.
Seriously – as your speed increases, even the smallest particles become deadly projectiles.
Even more, when you’re moving fast enough, you become a deadly projectile. Even without super-strength or invulnerability, the Flash can move his hand so fast that he can karate-chop through thick tree trunks!
O.o
Well, at least its nice to see I was right about the reporter-induced haze as soon as she opened the door.
Nothing like being verbally assaulted by a throng of reporters to get you motivated in the morning. I can only assume that the reason there are so FEW reporters is that the others are off trying to do the same thing to the other team members (or interview Arianna). Still, lots of fun. Glad to see she took her meds too. I am sure gamers everywhere are overjoyed (and some a little dismayed) to know that Sydney is there as a representative of gamers in such a public light. I mean, with a mouth like that, it makes it hard to want her to say anything regarding gaming, as she will inadvertently “spawn” a thousand new catch phrases. I think I will tell my neighbor something like this the next time she has her kids run on my lawn when I’m leaving for work (happens a lot) “Don’t camp my spawn you scum guzzlers!”
Yep, right in all respects. Mind you, I was only arguing that her privacy should be protected, because it was so obvious that this would happen. It is a sad reflection of our society, around the globe.
They need to build some security systems/spells into her home as well as some hidden agents in nearby stations. Just so she could sleep safely at night in an unbugged/boobytrapped house.
She would be the kind of person that would bobytrap her house… And make every singel trap against zombies.
Depending on if they are the modern zombies with super human strength, freaky speed and uncanny ability to sense warm human bodies at a distance some of that would work. Unless she is thinking they are the kind that are too stupid to open doors half the time.
Leon at least protected Sydney from Identity Hacks, but unfortunately that doesn’t protect her from Journalistic Hacks…
*Hands Sydney a hacksaw*
No edged weapons for her or she might slash some hacks.
She is a mistress of the razor tongue. Those hacks will be scarred for life.
And if it happens after lunch their wounds will be cauterized
Beyond the Ring of Fire is the Tongue of Fire.
Is one of the parasites (giving true parasites a bad name) too lazy to even get out of their car? o_O
Probably just standing this side of it. More than one too, I suspect. As for the parasite bit, yea. Even genuine parasites have some redeeming features. Christmas would not be the same without it, for example.
But, the paparazzi? Well, put it this way, they would be advised never to vote me into power as ‘absolute dictator’. Because I have a pretty harsh solution for the problem, which would be high on my agenda to implement. Mind you, guns and walls feature in a few of my solutions to social problems. But, I would make the world a better place. Here, have one of my badges, and paws for thought.
You are most likely correct, looked like the boom was coming from inside the red car :(
One problem with you running for ‘absolute dictator’: the post has already been filled, but you can be in charge of wall art, make sure you use plenty of lead ‘brushes’ and reds and greys :D
Parasites? Please. Any descriptor for a paparazzo would be an insult to the descriptor.
Only things lower are Lawyers and lower than that would be Politicians.
As for the lead painting? A waste of valuable resources. We still need people to unclog the sewers right?
Man, Atticus Finch is a lawyer, I’m pretty sure that bumps them up at least a few ranks. =P
In John Zakour’s Zach Taylor novels, the main character is the last licensed private investigator on Earth, the people got fed up with lawyers. They decided to limit the number of lawyers on Earth, I think it’s to 7000 max, in order to limit the stupid legal actions that make it through the courts. All the suddenly dispossessed Lawyers started calling themselves “Greeting Card Salesmen” but kept on trying to handle the non-court related legal matters. =)
BTW, Paparazzi fall below viruses on the evolutionary scale IMO
Quite a few politicians were lawyers before becoming politicians…Which just shows how quickly even lawyers can sink…
Hey, we have lawyers in our community now! Play nice.
*hands MidnightDStroyer a lead straitjacket*
[spoiler]For the politicians!
Hey, not all politicians were lawyers first, and not all lawyers eventually become politicians either. I’m not talking about an entire “demographic” here, I’m just talking about those who don’t manage to stop from sliding down further.
Papprasites, is how I’ve referred to them for years now.
The pain of that braid. It’s so familiar. Sydney, let me hug you so we can cry over that fucking hair together.
I am also tempted to make a SBaHJ joke over that last panel but I think people who would get it will get it just for mentioning that and the rest of the commenters are better off ignorant.
im teling you air like that is UNREAL, it doens’t even HAPPEN. dude come get the ruler check this out
no not that one
the piece of garbage one
I need to do something with my hair. Mostly I just comb it and rely on my hat to keep it in place. But I am gradually getting more of a panel 5 look.
I’d love to see that, better than a poodle cut.
Me as a pup with today’s hat.
Puppy is going Super Saiyan!
But then you end up with Hat Hair.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSp9EMWuA8PkPMgfp0qvFkfILqKoP-daNxY4NhF4NVGx9RrgYtyTw
Here’s a guy who managed to have hat hair even though he only rarely wore a hat:
https://media.photobucket.com/user/gabim_2006/media/einstein.jpg.html?filters%5Bterm%5D=einstein&filters%5Bprimary%5D=images&filters%5Bsecondary%5D=videos&sort=1&o=4
I fully admit that every time I try to braid my own hair, it comes out looking like Sydney’s…with the end result being that I put it in a ponytail and just go.
Same. Either it ends up in a ponytail, I leave it down, or I have a friend do my hair for me
So none of those gadgets and machines they keep advertising all the time help at all?
Regular, non-French braid is surprisingly easy to do, at least for me
but when I try to make two braids…
and I gave up after first minute trying on the French variation
After all this time of keeping her powers hidden, it’s got to be real nice for Sydney to be able to just step out her door, grab an orb, and fly.
Ain’t it just. Shame the paps had to be there, to spoil it!
If they weren’t there, she would have just taken her car, like she did back in ‘non flashback land’
is this the same car she left by the bank?
Ahh, but remember her comment to her folks on the phone last night? I think her car is going to be seeing less use. Perhaps limited to when she is taking passengers. The tentacle being a bit of an undignified way of being hauled around.
But, even for cargo, it has the same capacity as a car (more, given that she is strong enough to carry an entire car). And is way faster and far more convenient. Unless she has a bunch of loose items, or things that it is easier just to pop in the trunk or back seat, than to make into a secure load.
However, I do agree with you, in as much as it will help her, along with tubey, to give her some anonymity, in the crowd. So it could well see some use. But I suspect we will see her in the air far more often, than at the wheel.
I think she will still drive when not on duty. See https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/60
Touché.
a know? i just realized this… the comic book store in the strip you posted, is NOT the same store that she left Joel at when she went to the lunch and the bank, in the flashback!… in that one there are no stairs in the back corner. AND it’s NOT at Archon HQ in the public side of the bldg either… she wouldn’t need to DRIVE A CAR anywhere if it was. SO.. could part of that “condition” of her signing up for the super-hero be a new location for her and Joel’s shop?
We have long speculated such, on that evidence. But slack should be allowed for artistic licence. Dave was just getting his feet under him, so we should not take it as being incontrovertible proof.
We can always put it down to remodelling work done on the existing shop. And Sydney could be in the car purely as part of the montage, showing her day, rather than needing to be read in context.
But, that said, my money is on a shop in the Archon HQ mall. It just feels right. And I hope their neighbour is a hairdresser, of our acquaintance.
If Sydney forms her shield with her potential passengers inside, they might just get picked up on the inside surface of the shield & fly with her…For that matter, they could even stretch out & relax, just simply “chill out” by lounging on the bottom surface of the shield.
;)
Yeah, but since her shield is round either they’re going to end up in a pile at the bottom or she’s going to rip up a hemispherical chunk of ground every time she lifts someone else. Might be less property destructive to just drive. I imagine this will come up as part of her training to explore her powers.
My suggestion is to lasso the group with LightHook & lift them just high enough to keep the Shield above-ground when it forms around them, then un-lasso them & use the “Shield+Flight”-combo as usual.
Hmm-m-m…
After writing the above, it occurs to me that we’ve never seen the full details of Sydney shifting from a standing start to full-on flight. If the Shield penetrates the ground where she stands (& scoops it up when she flies), then the above strategy still works, but with an extra step. The “Flight + LightHook”-combo will have to lift both Syd & her passengers high enough so that they can safely free-fall for as long as it takes Syd to switch one hand from LightHook to Shield.
Of course, she should definitely practice this trick on Anvil &/or Achilles before trying it with “squishier” passengers.
As long as Sydney sees you as a friend the hentacle will carry you nicely.
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1242
Upright, or not, skirts are undignified, when flying overhead!
Tell that to Supergirl, for most of her costume variations!
Actually, don’t tell her that. If you do I’ll have to hurt you. :-P
Not really. Now she has something to fly past. Which is arguably cooler than just flying
Well, maybe not “arguably”…It’s definitely cooler.
So in this one story I read a while back all the supers had to register flight plans if they got more than some arbitrary distance from the ground. At the speeds they are going and as hard as they are to see I would think something similar will happen here if they get above the smaller buildings heights.
Yeah, it’s a great way to avoid morning rush hour traffic. The only thing Sydney would have to watch out for are low-flying planes or helicopters (which are noisy enough to be easy to notice), birds, bugs & other flying supers.
And garottes. Aka clothes lines, telephone cables, aerials, suspension cables, tripwires, monowire filaments etc.
Don’t forget the drones.
Its always sad when a heron hits the cable with their neck and their head and body proceed to wrap around it like a bolas. Very difficult to get to and it isn’t really anybodies local’s job so it stays there like a hang mans tree fruit for the longest time. So your comment about Sydney makes sad imagery. :(
A powerful image is worth an entire dry lecture on safety protocols. But, it is not one that you need. Here, have some brain bleach.
As Sydney Swear-storms go, this was a pretty mild one. More like a swear-shower.
There are actually no swear words in that cursing. What she’s saying can go in a “G” rated comic with ease.
‘Rectum dating’ may not be a swear word, but I doubt mums would want their kids running around the house shouting it.
I for one would love for them to run that on the news.
They wouldn’t have to bleep even one word, and it would be hilarious.
Sydney now is a very public person. As in SUPER celebrity.
While she was known to have a very high dan in swearing from
daymoment one, can she really afford to express herself running that kind of mouth ?Unless it can be ruled that anyone seeking her out should know whats coming and therefore can’t really complain, she might have just a little probleme here …
I also foresee a “Halo certificate” for censor beepers as a base requirement for anybody attempting a live with her. Only Diabolo players may enlist themselves for the tryouts.
Eh … “afford” to? I’m not entirely sure what you’re trying to say here.
I foresee a ban on live interviews with Halo. Or at least, Arianna will attempt to only schedule Sydney for taped events unless it’s absolutely necessary for her to do a live event. Also … they’ll no doubt try to limit her exposure as a testifying witness for anything.
To be fair, though, anything “live” with Sydney would probably really be on a few seconds delay. And the censor would mostly be holding the button down, instead of trying to push it rapidly.
Button? What button? They’d do to Sydney, what Lucas did to David Prowse. Only without David Earl Jones (or in Sydney’s case the “Chocolate Rain” guy). And that lasts until Dabbler / Leon makes it malfunction for the lols.
Or they’d do what they do on Reality TV. And Frankenbite the stuffing out of her interviews.
James.
Damn it! Thanks for the catch. *headdesks*
Actually the one writer, that did the scroll for her first Interview, was so good he might be assigned to Sydney event on a permanent basis.
If you want to see someone who by his own admission is “very cussy” and how they deal with it watch episodes of The Late Late Show with Craig Fergusson. They would bleep him with something innocuous he said like “tutti frutti” and put a flag over his mouth. Sometimes I think it’s why he quit. They had a running joke that it was his native language and the stage manager was a “racist”.
“Afford to” as in getting suit on a regular bank account sucking and public image shredding basis.
You could be right about the censor though: Rather than beeping something out, they`ll probably un-beep something in. ;-)
TV Reporter: Arc-Swat thwarted another attempted bank robbery today, capturing the notorious Oklahoma Runner gang. Let’s get a statement from a spokeswoman for Arc-Swat.
Maxima: What? Sorry, I can’t do interviews right now. Talk to the blonde over there. Now, where was I? Oh yes, You have the right to an attorney and to have them present during any questioning. If you can not afford … [ Fades out as the reporter walks away. ]
Reporter: Excuse me; could I get a statement about this bank robbery?
Suzie Wen: [ Stage whisper ] No! Wrong one.
Halo: [ Turns around to face the reporter ] Hunh? Sure! So the bank had tripped their silent alarm and the local cops responded, but the #^@#^%!@## bank @#%$^ robbers pulled a hostage situation. The fuzz realized one of the *^@#$^rs had super-powers so the cops called us to help with this situation. When we got here, the ^$@$%!@s had …
Ariana: [ From 20 metres away ] Sydney! You do not talk with the press! Get back to doing your paperwork!
Halo: [ Dejected ] Ahh! (in a voice similar to “But Mom, do I have to?”)
Ariana: Now, how can I help you?
Only some blondes have more fun.
Well, you got to at least give Sydney credit for trying to censor herself after that first bank robbery. They still had that censor-guy keeping his finger ready on the button anyway…
;)
i believe the relevant portion of her interview was the statement of ” Historically that hasn’t worked out very well…”
Most Morse code operators have been replaced with faster/more reliable communication methods, so one of those people could get a job operating the censor button during Sydney’s interviews. Or maybe during a court case:
Bailiff: Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Sydney: I do.
Bailiff: State your name and occupation.
Sydney: Private Sydney Scoville Jr. and I am a superhero!. [ A little sheepish] Umm, I work for Arc-Swat as a field operative.
Bailiff: Thank you.
Prosecutor: We have already heard from Major Hiro how your team had to deal with the woman calling herself “Fast-Lane”. He said that you came up with the plan to stop her. Could you please tell the court what your thinking process was for this plan?
Ariana: [ Sitting second chair for the prosecution; Stage whisper ] No! Don’t make it so open-ended!
Sydney: <Expletives Deleted>! [ Audio recording sounds like it was corrupted, over-written with Morse code for 25 seconds ]
Judge: [ Shocked, Outraged ] Young lady! The court takes a very dim view on the use of such language. If you are going to testify in this court, you must keep a civil tongue in that mouth.
Sydney: I don’t know the civil language. Is it related to civil engineering jargon? I know some of that.
Judge: <Unintelligible> [ Audio level was too high and the recording is totally distorted. ]
Sydney: 15 days! But it was just a joke. Oh, man. That’s <Expletive Deleted>! [ More Morse code on the audio recording ]
Judge: Bailiff, escort the witness to holding.
“Most Morse code operators…could get a job operating the censor button during Sydney’s interviews.”
Interviewing Sydney would definitely require more “dah’s” than “dit’s.” A lot of those dah’s would also need to have hyper-extended duration too.
Also to point out she has yet to actually swear apparently she doesn’t. I know people like this it is actually funny to watch I try to do it myself as well gets a much better reaction out of mundanes.
I think Arianna is going to move the shock controller she used with Dabbler in the press conference into Sydney’s collar in an attempt to control her outbursts at press conferences. Although, that might just start a feedback loop where every time she is shocked she starts a new verbal tirade complaining about the #@#$&%&*! collar.
i got one better…a collar that stimulates pleasure instead of pain…that would get her to blush and shut up real quick.
Actually I can see a lot of former korean Starcraft 2 players getting hired since they have to do more APM (actions per minute) than even the most intense Diablo player.
Actually, I see this as a very satisfying way of countering the paparazzi. If she is constantly swearing it would severely restrict the amount of usable sound bites/footage they could extract. You can only bleep so much before it becomes annoying and pointless. Probably won’t work at the comic book shop though.
btw… if there is ever a Halo action figure, could she just spout random curse words whenever you push her button? I’d buy it.
He he. Just have a chip in there that randomly assembles phrases in sentence-like order, with every fourth or fifth word being a swear word, or a spin on one (using Sydneyese construction). With an entire dictionary library to draw from, but edited down to just the words with flavour.
Or, for more fun, have it REALLY go off when it gets bopped on the head.
I don’t know how much this would cost to make, but I would certainly stare at it in a webstore longingly!
Haha! The problem is it would need to be one of those that have to be plugged into the wall. Otherwise the battery wears down. Sydney already has a ton of catch-phrases since starting the comic. The list below is only up to page 32, right before entering the bank:
Sydney catch-phrases: Page 1- 32
My real power is dice karma!
Is murder still illegal?
Effing doy!
The perception of new is the same thing as new.
Location cubed my ass.
BUY COMICS!
Let’s get this I.U.D. up in this bitch.
Random filler: My fathers ashes! My grandfather’s ashes! Rocks! I mean WMD’s! I mean…not WMDS! It’s full of…ancient artifacts that give me super powers? It’s a dialysis machine! A portable one!
WOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO
WOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO BWOO
Son of a horse dick!
I’m gonna lose my jaundicy glow!
Eat it nature!
Ooh, legal warnings!
Here she comes here comes speed racer!
“bag of distneded sphincter donkey wrangling pile of yeast infested cock munching pole smoking butt pirate monkey grooming sonofa bagel baking dolphin blowhole molesting foreskin collecting smurf asphyxiating garlic sniffing armpit stained foot blue cheese fucking klingon raping scat munching goat shaving mousketeer poking steaming pike of chupacabra jizz drinking retard herding grandmother fucking atomic scheibe pipe eating pussy slurping prolapsed fuck”
(spelling left as Dave wrote it)
Just that last one would wear down any batteries and require numerous warnings “Adult supervision required” or “Must be 18 or older”. hahah
Yeah, only sold online, or in the adult section at Spencer’s Gifts…
Actually, every time they have to go in and beep something out it costs more money. Thus, having Sydney on TV is too expensive to be worth it, unless you can find a way to prevent her from cursing.
“…find a way to prevent her from cursing.”
Good luck with that. Let us know how it works out.
“Sydney you are going on national television. You will get a $1000 bonus if you can make it through without swearing. But every time ever you do you will lose $10 of it. Prolonged bursts will drain $10 per second. Just remember only you can prevent wallet drain.”
Half of it would be gone in just protesting, at the restrictions, before she even realised that!
I saw a cartoon of Bugs Bunny & Yosemite Sam that worked on the same premise…By the time Sam got his cursing under control, he got nothing at all. I think Sydney would wind up the same way.
:)
Also, shouldn’t the title on the page be “Morning routine“, not “routing”?
Routing could be referencing her choice to fly instead of drive, because of the media and paparazzi camped outside.
Flight is an effective means of ditching the media – after all, unless they’re willing to task a chopper with following her, or have lunatic drivers willing to go nuts, it’s unlikely that they can keep up with even a moderate speed flier.
The media has been known to do just that, several times in fact.
Both actually. Ask poor Princess Dianne’s father-in-law.
Prince Phillip?
Routing is also a term often used in video games when determining an optimal path for certain task.
It’s probably a pun on “morning routine”, I’d say.
+1 for each of the replies, above, to date.
So, does that mean +1/2 to each of them?
;)
I sense somebody was a probate lawyer, in a past life. I hope you figured a way to ensure you got to inherit the lot, in this?
Perish forbid that I ever submit to obtaining a business license for NOT operating a business…That’s all a Law License is, ya’ know, a business license to make a business from practicing law. It doesn’t mean that you have to be ignorant of law & it doesn’t mean you can’t represent yourself or others, as long as you do NOT charge any fees for services.
I refuse to stick my head up my probate just to earn a source of living.
Short answer is No.
The long answer is that this comic provides several layers of meaning revolving around the definition of routing.
“defeat and cause to retreat in disorder.”
The reporters defeated her attempt to drive to work normally.
She flew away. I’ve seen Fly used to mean “run away”, retreat, etc…
She attempted a braid and failed, was defeated in her attempt and her hair was in disorder for a bit. Since she eventually ordered it into her usual “look” that isn’t perfect but it adds to the layers of meaning to this.
Lots of lovely details in this one. The difference in sizes between “Makeup” and “Cosplay” boxes, for example.
And the hairdo scene reminds me of another superheroine (almost NSFW): https://barbarianprincess.com/?comic=page-93-4
I know girls like this, that’s barely noteworthy.
It does explain why Sydney found it amusing to cosplay as Halo. We have seen a recent cosplayesque image. But I see a lot of scope for future fun with Sydney’s looks. Be it for conventions, or otherwise.
if she didn’t go fly off in the last panel, she could of used the Carrie Fisher answer “Halo is the super hero, I just happen to look like her”
Or, in conjunction with the pic that Yorp mentioned, “Halo is the super hero. I’m just cosplaying.”
How’d they find out where she lives so quickly? Is her street adress public news?
Everything is public news to the journo vultures.
She’s part owner in a local business. A simple public record search will, give them a lot of information. There’s probably several journalists waiting at the comic shop. Fact is, unless someone goes through some effort to keep their information hidden, public records can tell a lot.
Plus the press will have been hounding anybody who knows her. People who went to school with her will be yacking on social media, and being interviewed for their opinions and tittle tattle. Just asking a few questions would find her in no time. And loads and loads of other ways.
The only surprise is that they were not at her door last night.
That was probably sheer animal self-preservation. Running up to a super with a floodlight and pointing a metal stick in their face while yelling at her, while she is clearly exhausted, would invite a big badda-boom from her. Her reflexes were jumpy enough earlier (though she showed a good start of control at the end.) without adding the extra jumping so of her first experience in real deadly combat.
That was supposed to be jumpiness, not jumping so.
What’s really surprising is that her phone didn’t ring itself into a meltdown, or explosion. The press HAS been known to do that.
Joel took care of that at the dinner, which to be fair must have been 8-9 months ago our time but was only last night for her.
Leon not Joel
Its possible Leon put something on her phone to prevent that, you know since he is generic computer genius who might as well have computer super powers
“She’s part owner in a local business.”
…Of which Sydney herself advertised during the press conference & even included a website address…
:D
Which of course leads to the following conversation:
Joel: Event Horizon Comics. How can I help you?
Terry: Joel, this is Terry, your webmaster over at TexasBizHosting. Well, your website got hammered last night starting about 4 pm. At first I thought it was a distributed denial of service attack, but the traffic all looked legitimate, from news people, government agencies and the general public from around the world by the looks of it. It didn’t let up until after midnight. Did you guys do some sort of international ad campaign?
Joel: Sydney! What did you do?
Sydney: I just unpacked Justice League. Why?
+1
It is a power that ambulance chaser also have. There are lots of ways to find someone if you know what you are doing.
Uhm, phone book? It’s right there next to your name…
Not everyone has their phone number in the book, typically, in cases where people share a house, only one person per house is in the phone book
Some people don’t even have a land-line, I don’t, I have a pay as go mobile and i got that of my EX
Lots of people these days that don’t have a landline though.
Are those still in the phone book?
Your mailing address IS public information. A simple google search will list your house, may even include a photo.
Unless you put out misinformation on the internet. Heh. Actually, if you give your personal info to any of the major banks, they then submit that info to the Major Credit Bureaus, which have no problem putting your information out there. Also, if you use a web service like “Linked In”, your info is all over the internet. Again, this is useful for dispensing misinformation.
Probably someone had the bright idea of looking it up in the phone book. Until now, she had no reason to have an unlisted number
Hmm… What Deadpool would do would probably be one of his patented “Ninja Flips” off the building, invite every single woman(and a few of the men too) back up into his apartment, sign his name on a grenade for someone and then rant about something nonsensical; Like his origin story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVfvTsIWkow
I doubt he’d be anywhere near as upset as Sydney, but if so, he’d likely just remove his mask to scare them off. But really, Deadpool would just be happy they weren’t mistaking him for Spiderman. Again.
Deadpool. Oh, is he the one they sing that little ditty about?
The only thing we can be sure about in Deadpool’s actions is that it would involve A LOT of talking. Everything else… Yeah, even HE doesn’t know how he’d act in any given situation.
Indeed. Just ask his brain.
Yeah, Deadpool’s brain is always betraying him at one time or another…
And today Sydney will learn that you never talk to or even in the general direction of “The Press”. For any reason. Without a lawyer or PR spin-doctor in attendance. Even a “no comment” can be spun, folded, and mutilated in ways that would make any respectable person of ethics consider ritual sudoku.
That said, DaveB, the “don’t camp my spawn” line was absolutely hysterical. Along with the borderline PG epithet stream. If I was a shadowy unethical editor mining for sound bites “rectum” and “guzzlers” are about the worst of the lot I can pick out to try and abuse.”Super-powered Military recruit verbally abuses reporters, calling them rat rectum guzzlers.” That’s about the right amount of click bait.
Wait, isn’t that what she actually called them? Where is the editing required? o_O
And they can’t sue for defamation of character but the rats might.
This is why this comments section needs an upvote button on comments. It would reduce the number of comments like this.
For some reason, I’m picturing some dark priest standing over an altar drenched in viscera, calmly finger painting in all the blocks while chanting a prayer to some obscure Asian mathematical god. Or maybe an elder horror.
Ooooh! Imagine having to fill out some non-euclidean based sudoku in order to summon whatever beastie you were trying for. :)
” mathematical god. Or maybe an elder horror.”
There’s a difference?
Checkout the “Laundry” novels by Charles Stross.
Commit Sudoku? Solving math problems as punishment? Perhaps you meant seppuku.
P.S. If you are in restaurant, be careful between ordering a bowl of hummus or humus.
That could be humorous.
thatsthejoke.jpg
Or to put it another way. Then again.
The linking for it didn’t work. KYM
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/commit-sudoku
Eh, I’ve been called worse than that before. Exactly when or how many times, I don’t rightly recall.
I have to say that I’ve always felt the journalistic tactic of waiting outside someone’s house to ambush them with questions is particularly offensive, so I don’t blame Sydney for going off on them here. Besides, as she said, they should be talking to Arianna. The group has a PR person for a reason, and if the press wants interviews with anyone on the team they should be going through her first
Very true. Plus the fact that she is now attached to a military organization, you want to be really careful of anything that can be construed as harassment. They have an answer to the “you and what army” question you really wont like.
That whole treason thing just gets in the way sometimes though.
not really. the first ammendment doesn’t protect against a rational response to agression.(although the UCMJ has a few choice things to say about how most rational people would respond to spawn camping vultures.)
Sydney? Rational ?
What universe are you living in?
Cool icon!
Thanks.
He he. Now that is the diplomatic Sydney that we know and love. With a very tastefully done shower scene.
I very much approve that Susie News does not appear to be amongst the paparazzi pack. Conclusion aided by her non-appearance in the Who’s Who. She exemplifies the good side of the press. And there, we see the forces of darkness, at work. Well done Sydney. PR be damned.
What shower scene? o_O
The first pannel, where she sings about being in the shower
That’s because Ms News has already been hired (over breakfast coffee ;) ) by Ari to be their official news reporter representative type person
Or the multi party negotiations are still on going.
“Impregnable”? Inconceivable! At least it’s not unbearable :-)
unbearable? isn’t that the morning after pill by the same pharma company?
https://instantrimshot.com/classic/?sound=rimshot
“…you keep using that word…”
…I don’t think it means what you think it means.
Then I shall use a plethora of words!
To get the proper “sound bite,” one must include onomatopoeias.
I told y’all before that bringing dinosaurs in to solve problems only creates bigger problems!
Dinosaurs eat the problem-makers…So what’s the problem?
Bigger problems, with claws and sharp teeth, that can open doors!
Not all dinosaurs might have been smart enough to open doors. But there were some that were big enough to make their own doors…
We have reached the Godzilla threshold!
The downside to birth control pills is that they heavily increase the risk of miscarriage in the future, even when none have been taken for a long time. Also, they make it hard to convenience when you want to conceive.
Still, there are some advantages to keeping on trying.
You dog you
My wife & I never wanted to have kids, but we had a lot of fun in practice…
;)
Not really…
https://miscarriage.about.com/od/riskfactors/f/birthcontrol.htm
https://mommydocs.com/2011/12/the-truths-and-myths-about-birth-control-pills/
Please don’t spread misinformation it only hurts people. BC is a commonly used drug for several actual medical issues one of which is menstrual cramps. Though that isn’t how it works what it does is makes it regular and can lessen the pain a woman experiences with them. So if you are going to spread false information please understand there are folks out there that will correct you and slap you for trying to do so.
While you are correct that there is no increased chance of miscarriage, there are multiple types of pills. The original pill was developed by a christian (Catholic IIRC) who didn’t want to go against the church’s teachings on birth control, so he made the 4th week of pills placebos, so that it was basically just an enhanced version of the rhythm method (only form of BC condoned by the church). That would give you a monthly menstrual cycle. Nowadays there are varieties that only have the last 4 pills as placebo (vs. 7) or that have you taking active pills consistently, which halts the menstrual cycle completely. As for how they work, they produce a hormonal response similar to that found in pregnant women (without the wild swings) so the body thinks it’s pregnant
Thanks for the update on that my info is about 20 years out of date I don’t really keep up on it since I’m male I do however track the whole male birth control research and we keep getting closer to the man pill.
We have had effective male pills for more than 40 years now, they just have the unfortunate side effect of the chemically induced sterility being made redundant by the complete impotence.
Yeah the thing if they are actually working around that about 15 years ago the University of Washington was part of a program to test the last one I looked into and it didn’t cause that um side effect.
I don’t know about the original pills, but these days, even though most hormonal BC still has the placebo pills, they do, in fact, offer protection the full month, IIRC. ( IIRC, it can actually cause a woman’s body some harm if the cycle is stopped completely- which is why you normally get the ones with the placebo pills, allowing you to have the cycle. I’m not 100% sure, though)
Mostly, it’s to keep the “pill a day” habit. If you stop for 7 days, you may not remember to start up again right away, leading to a bad case of the 9 month bloat.
The problem with the 9-month bloat is that, even after you get rid of the bloat, you still have to deal with the growing tumor for the next 18 years…
Sorry about the mislead guys. Didn’t realise what was true until I saw the links. I was always told by my Mum that when I have a family “to never take the pills”. Guess it just sort of got engraved into my mind.
And hey cool, I’m finally a victim of old wives tales.
No harm done, you repeated it in all innocence, and it got picked up quickly enough. We all learn stuff, in these comments, frequently. I had a misconception about nuns myself, that was picked up here, just the other day.
Other than that, it shows that DaveB has done a good job in bringing up these issues though, as they are clearly under-discussed, under normal circumstances.
Thanks. :) *feels better*
And nifty – I learn about nuns just now. Oh and also about the Narwhals way back in the archives. Woot! :)
How about the maximum flight speed of an unladen swallow? Have you learned about that yet?
;)
In an amazing burst of irony, not taking birth control also makes it “hard to convenience” when you want to conceive.
Check out your bottle of headache pills. Depending on the active ingredients, one of the listed side-effects may well be “can cause headaches”. And that is not an isolated example. There are other classes of medicine where that same irony happens.
It is all down to likelihood, severity and so on. Something that cures a problem most of the time, but in rare circumstances can create the same problem, but hopefully to a lesser extent, can be licensed because it is mostly good, most of the time.
Or listen to any pharma commercial. You’ll hear some happy, smiling person describing how awful things were for them (even if that awful thing is something many of us might never even think about taking a pill for), and then describing how utterly fantastically wonderful things are for them now, after they started using Brand X pill.
Than listen to the low volume list of disclaimers. Most include things like “May cause cancer”, “may cause migraines”, “may cause feelings of suicide”, etc., etc. Often the list is quite long, and spoken in such a low monotone that it’s difficult to hear, but up the volume and really listen: Quite often there is a “may cause death” disclaimer amongst the batch.
Modern day FDA is seems less concerned than they used to be about such matters of life & death. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them pass Decapitation Procedures as an effective cure for brain tumors…
Sensible procedure. Saves the body for transplant or organ donation. And, if you attach the head to the body of a creature with a natural resistance to, or means of retarding tumors, then that may well be passed onto the head. Assuming rejection issues can be handled.
Good idea. I suggest you outline a proposal and pass it over to them. The trick is finding a suitably resistant critter. Especially as the majority of likely candidates would be too small. If you were thinking ‘aha now we have a use for those frogs’, just think how silly you would look with your head sown onto a teeny frog body!
Now if her partner would say “If you’re not buying anything, you must get out” The press alone with this statement, would keep there comic business afloat now.
It looks like Suzie News is down there. She’s not so bad, but I must say I expected better.
Well I did reply to this, but it created its own entirely new comment instead. So.. go looking.. down there somewheres, I guess.
So, the entire press corp is left handed eh?
Either that or they have found that pointing a microphone towards a person helps pick up the sound better. And that blocking their own view and face, by crossing their arm over it, in order to do that, has disadvantages.
Not all of them. Check out the right hand… er… hand in the last panel.
Also, you can see it in the group shot too.
She may have been the one asking if Sydney was single.
Wink.
Okay Suzie we know you had some luck on that super fight last night but you’re still low on the totem right now. Gossip! That’s what keeps butts in chairs! Who’s she dating? Guy, girl, or alien from the fifth dimension? What’s she eating? Where does she get her hair done? What brand toilet paper does she use? Why are you just standing there? You wanted a real news story!? This is real news!
I hope she isn’t down there. I could not make out her face anyhow. I did not look for her outfit though, on two grounds. One being that it is the next day, and she is likely to have a new outfit.* And the other is the simple speculation that other wannabe interns or bottom-feeding paps might choose to emulate her, clearly successful, image.
* It has been shown (unscientifically) by genuine experiment, that male newsreaders can wear the same outfit for a year, without a problem. Whereas female reporters get criticised mercilessly, in that regard.
It is actually too blurred to tell, but one of them does at least have a resemblance I think.
Well, even though she has broken into the big-time, she was only an intern yesterday. If the editor sends her somewhere, it would be risking her new position to refuse point blank. But, hopefully she will be able to use her good relations with Sydney/Archon to strengthen her position, enough to resist any bottom feeding.
It is like the relationship that the UK press have now gotten into with the royal family. Those who respect the privacy of, for example, the children, and turn down the photos offered by bottom-feeders, get the invites to the official photo shoots.
And the public can do their bit by boycotting the gutter press, when they break such practices.*
* Ok, the tabloids will prefer the massive revenues from those who want gossip and/or scandal, to the loss from those who prefer everybody’s privacy to be respected. But then we get back to the firing squad solution. That one gets rid of the loop holes nicely.
One day one day… Bankers, paparazzi, politicians,
lawyers… Oh happy day.Nonsense. The results of that experiment were completely skewed by the fact that he changed his tie each day, completely violating the “exact same outfit” rule.
But yeah, I can easily see it. I own about 15 suits but could easily get by with 5 and just wear the same one on the same M-F weekday forever. I do have probably more than 50 ties, which helps me do the same thing Mr. Stefanovic did to vary his appearance enough to avoid the attention of the fashion police. And since I don’t do a lot of perspiring (none, aside from whatever small amount people just do regardless of the temperature or their physical exertion level) at the office I can also do the Mr. Rogers routine when I get home and hang up my suit to be worn again ~2 times before it goes to the dry cleaner. But I digress, I think women have to have a more varied wardrobe in order to avoid people actually noticing that they are repeating outfits. Which may be one reason why a lot of women’s clothing is able to be mixed and matched to create different looking outfits. Which doesn’t help women who wear pant suits, but pant suits are not the typical female attire in any office I’ve worked in, and as a contractor I probably move between work environments more frequently than the typical person does.
Sydney showing off her black belt in swearing again.
Seventh Dang?
+1
She shall swear to remain unbeaten.
Seventh Dang or Seventh Damn…Different styles of the discipline pronounce it one way or the other.
Looks like she’s forgotten her wrist thing. I hope she doesn’t get in trouble with air traffic control for forgetting her transponder.
Hm, not sure, but it looks like there could be a bulge under her sleeve that may be hiding it.
“Is that a pip-boy under your sleeve or are you just happy to see me?”
;)
Izz nod a toomah.
The strap across her hand (in Panels 6-&-8) suggests that she’s switched it from her right arm to her left arm. Since she’s in civvies it makes sense that she wears it under her sleeve.
D’OH!!!?!
I answered this before looking below!
P)
Sorry for being redundant!
“Your application to work for The Department of Redundancy Department has been accepted”
the transponder is under her sleeve, you can see that cable around her thumb part in panel 6
D’oh, yeah you’re right. Well spotted >_<
and panel 8
At least now she can be picked up by local air traffic control, and not be shot down by ARC air defense systems.
Actually on the note of her wrist communicator, I guess she opted to wear it on her other arm this time. It was on right arm for the fight, but it’s on her left arm this time. I wonder if there is a reason for that. Maybe Sydney is ambidextrous? Maybe he right arm is bruised?
If you are physically active, it behooves you to wear electronics on your off wrist, to limit chance of damage as much as possible. I learned this on the farm and it was reinforced in the military.
Maxima slapped it on Sydney’s right wrist when she held up her arm during the press conference. Today, she’s got a better opportunity to switch wrists.
Somehow, I sense a dirty joke in that last sentence…
If they’re anything like RL Paparazzi she REALLY needs the Fort Knox security system upgrade on her place, otherwise there’s going to be a lot of work keeping spycam footage of her in her shower and the like from showing up on the web and everywhere else.
She already has the fort Knox security upgrade. A cam of her in the shower shows up, Leon traces the signal, Maxima goes out to “educate” someone about the objectivication of women. Only one or two lessons should be sufficient to keep her privates private.
That’s not security, that’s cleaning up after the fact. Security is it never happens in the first place, and Maxima can’t go around threatening anyone without generating lawsuits and charges of extortion and terroristic threats. Which is why you want it where it can’t get made in the first place, otherwise it’s nearly impossible to remove something like that once it makes it onto the web (just look at the failure to successfully remove various ‘private’ videos and pictures uploaded by various exs people have had). The most you can do at that point is try and limit the exposure.
No but when you turn your back for a second and your recording equipment, computer etc implodes and nobody saw anybody or how it happened…
Max would be far too gentle – Arianna would (legally) bitch-slap them all the way back into the Stone Age!
Actually, I’m thinking that considering she’s a member of a military organization, if they did spy-cams on her, there’s all sorts of laws they could prosecute them under. Espionage comes to mind.
Any sane country has laws against that kind of thing. And in those, the press do not get a free pass to break the law, just because they feel like it. Not even with a public interest excuse.
Sadly it is a downside of freedom of the press.
UK/European press have freedom to report. But they go to jail, if they break the law, in how they go about that.
Be it in sexually-deviant matters, such as cameras in a shower, using telephoto lenses to shoot into private property (even from public areas) or intercepting private communications, in an illegal manner. Thank godess.
To true I’m still waiting for them to nail Murdoch and kin. Sigh apologies didn’t get enough sleep last night miss read.
I wouldn’t worry about Maxima.
Imagine Sydney’s reaction.
Oh….the horror……
“…keeping spycam footage of her in her shower and the like from showing up on the web…”
If such footage does wind up on the ‘Net, I’d wager Yorp would be one of the first to find it.
I hope he’d be willing to share the web address with his buds & pals here…
(wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
If it did, then she would, presumably, be real. So I most definitely would not. I would, however, tip off her intermediary, Dave. Hopefully his link would be two-way, rather than just receiving inspiration, from an unknown, or uncontactable source. With luck, the perpetrator would get the punishment they deserve.
I would also ask him to extend my apologies about suggesting portraying a shower scene. That is very different, if a real person is involved.
After that, seeking an introduction would be rather high on my list of priorities. :)
“OK, the line forms here for giving Sydney snuggly-glomps…
…& keep it under 1 minute each, or you’ll get HentOrb’d with the LightHook!”
Somebody please tell me that Sydney’s shirt is for sale somewhere.
Probably not in the GrrlPower shop, with a distinctive trademark likeness on it, sadly.
W.W.O.D. anybody? Wonderful World of Disney and Winged Warriors of Death neither seem to fit the bill.
(What would Deadpool do?)
What would Oscar (Wilde) do?
What would Oprah do?
What would Obama do?
etc…
Every order of the stick fan knows it’s What Would Odin Do?
In OOTS it’s “What would Thor do?” (including “What would Hel do?” at present)
As for WWOD
“What would Oscar (the grouch) do?”
“What would Oscar (Zeta Acosta) do?” (Hunter S Thompson’s infamous lawyer from ‘Fear and loathing in Las Vegas” and real life attorney/activist)
Ta folks.
Note to self, for next re-read: It is not “What Would Spider-Man Do?”
What Would Overlord Do?
Closest thing I could find is: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/what+would+deadpool+do+t-shirts
Unfortunately, it’s different from Dave’s version, which I think is better than the actual shirt at that link.
Way better. Ok, I was neither familiar with the character, nor the ‘What Would X Do’ meme. But I was not exactly the target audience for such an in-joke. However, the Deadpool movie is going to make him mainstream. And the meme is doubtless a well known one in the States. So Dave was not playing to a small niche audience, with his shirt.
I hope that, if an executive, with the right-holding corporation, spots Dave’s shirt, he will have the decency to both give him an acknowledgement and some royalty fee, for having had a good idea, and making a great implementation of it.
The shirt really does deserve to go into production!
It may even be worth Dave’s while emailing a copy of it, to the appropriate company. Either offering it to them, under whatever terms garment designers normally get. Or requesting permission to produce it himself, under licence, and providing suitable royalties to them.
Time for Sydney to invest in that greatest of luxuries for flying superheros, a remote operated skylight.
They make artificial skylights now, suitable for basements.
Many kilobucks.
(Not suitable as an exit.)
Spawn rhymes with “Get off my lawn”?
I read that as Sydney referring to her “spawn point” where she exits her Safe Zone & enters the Game of Reality.
I agree entirely with her, the news needs to go get a life.
Well that’s part of the problem with the 24 hour news cycle. They constantly need crap to report on so they’re not just spewing out the same thing day in and day out. Fox news for example makes up a large chunk of their “news” or just makes minor things into GIGANTIC CIVILIZATION ENDING FUCKERIES! Take the “black panther” guys from when Obama got elected. It was just 2 guys, probably higher than fucking kites, saying they were the new black panther party. Fox news carried that bright blazing torch of idiocy for almost 2 weeks while the more legitimate news outlets were going “What the fuck is in Fox News’ Kool-Aid?” I remember laughing my ass off at Keith Olberman ripping a hole into one of their morning anchors for just being a humongous buffoon (which, he totally was, and still is). And don’t get me started on the right wing media on the radio, I’ll be ranting all damn day.
Nope. It wasn’t “just two guys high as a kite.” It was AN ACTUAL GANG, and yes, they went to MANY polling places and made actual threats of bodily harm if the voter didn’t “do the right thing.” Eric Holder decided to ignore it because it might upset his boss to find out that his delusions are wrong.
If you want to be less of an arsehole political speaker, try this. “Or its like reading yahoo news after a shooting. Article 1: “Shots were fired at (location) more details as it develops” 20 minutes later, Article 2: “At least a dozen shots were fired, reports of injuries. More as it develops. 20 minutes later Article 3: “Over 24 shots fired, and at least 13 people injured, unknown if anyone is dead. Shooter is unknown. More as it develops.” etc etc etc. ” And for the next 24 hours you will get regular tiny little tidbits of information, and best of all, half of it contradicts earlier articles because they are so desperate to cover the story first they will print the first rumor they hear without even trying to confirm it first.
This kind of left wing hate and reflexive attacks on Fox News are some of the main reasons I rarely read the comments anymore. Well at least it wasn’t Fox, but CNN or MSNBC where somebody suggested, in all seriousness as I understand it, that a missing airliner might have been swallowed by a black hole.
Personally I just skip past it. There is far too much interesting stuff being talked about, in this community, to let it get to you.
As a kid, I can remember my gran used to read the Sun. Which surprised me. Aside from the page 3 girls, so may of the articles were clearly bogus. For instance one was talking about a woman who had grown a huge plant. But the photo they used was of a different species, and far smaller than described, but photoshopped into the picture, as if it were the same size as her.
As it (and many other instances) were frequently done. So much, that I just took at as being their journalistic style. “Yea, we base our articles on genuine news, but don’t be too fussed about us treating it realistically”. My gran clearly liked that style, and found it refreshing, when compared to the stuffy style of the broadsheets. So, I was happy rationalising her choice that way.
That said, the different styles also have differing political viewpoints associated with them. Personally I think we should steer clear of comments which draw folks into real world party-political issues. For the sake of harmony, staying on topic and to avoid putting of readers such as yourself.
Putting aside the actual politics involved, I feel that all press, throughout our society, should have a number of, legally enforceable, obligations placed on them. One of which would be to clearly separate their news reporting, from any conclusions they draw from it, or opinions they voice. That would allow people to choose to access the style of reporting they enjoy, but not have to endure the political indoctrination that goes with it.
And, yes, there is a lot of overlap in those two aspects. But there are ways to ensure they are separated, in all media. And judgement calls would need to be made to assess where there were infringements. But it could easily be done.
Over here in the US, the black-and-white supermarket-checkout-line tabloid Weekly World News used to (until 2007) report on the cover, 3-4 times a year, “Satan escapes from Hell” with pictures.
https://pixdaus.com/satan-escapes-from-hell-satan-escapes-cloud-oil-fire/items/view/19491/
“There is far too much interesting stuff being talked about, in this community, to let it get to you.”
That’s very much like the way I treat WWE & Professional Wrestling, for the most part. It comes off like a “male-oreiented dayshow,” in that it’s like a soap opera that’s been hosed down with testosterone.
“…the news needs to go get a life.”
Well, that’s their jobs…The job just happens to be getting someone else’s life.
Another good reason why she’d take birth control pills even if she’s single is like a guy carrying condoms in his backpack at all times. You never know when a fun opportunity might come along!
Also, I absolutely love how hew cosplay makeup box is several sizes larger than her day to day makeup box.
Heh, that latter point is a nice observation, and a lovely character point, that is very much in keeping with what we know of Sydney.
It’s disappointing that people feel the need to justify birth control as not being for sex. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, fine, but that doesn’t imply she doesn’t want to have the potential to get laid.
Indeed, Sydney does look for potential opportunities to get laid: https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/153 for definitely looking
And: https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/672 for a more “daydreaming wish-fulfillment” way of looking.
I don’t understand why people feel the need to point out that the cosplay box is larger than the makeup box… it’s like pointing out that the theatrical wardrobe for different roles (ugh not native English speaker sorry hope you get my point) is larger than a regular person’s day-to-day wardrobe… NO SHIT SHERLOCK
you don’t often need to look like an entirely different person that is possibly an alien with your day to day makeup
nor paint realistic wounds on your skin
where does the comparison even come from, those are different kits for entirely different purposes???
I have got to be honest here, and say that I simply had not given it any thought. I have never used make-up, for any purpose. Now that you have stepped us through it though, it does make perfect sense. Thanks for pointing it out.
But, even in light of that, I still find it amusing that Sydney’s make-up box appears to be almost empty (and is confirmed as such by DaveB. So, despite there being a good real-life reason, for such disparity in the two kits size, we were right in noting that it matched Sydney’s tomboy character.
However, we should just have been focussing more on the contents, rather than just the box sizes.
No worries about your language skills. You got the message across very clearly. You are obviously far better at your second language, than I am at mine.
I am happily imagining Arianna’s head doing The Full Exorcist Spin (and possibly exploding) when she sees Sydney’s latest press encounter.
Actually, I do not see her being too bothered. Sydney’s very extremeness actually makes it easy to spin for her. Arianna will just brush it off as ‘Sydney being Sydney, you will get used to her’. Charismatic, colourful clowns can get away with a lot of things.
Historically it is part and parcel of why jesters could say practically anything, with near impunity. And, even today, in high-level politics, there is a British politician who uses the effect. Boris Johnson, the mayor of London. He has a Hugh Grant floppy haired look going (sans the good looks), and is quite happy to play the bumbling fool image that goes along with it.
Using that as a clever tool to deflect any gaffs he makes. Laughing off or making a self-depreciating joke or comment, then moving on to other issues. Helped by the fact that he has a sharp wit, and is quite intelligent, despite the image. Regardless of his politics (and the fact that the technique probably winds some people up), it is actually a very effective style.
As evidenced by his continuing popularity, despite quite frequent gaffs. He is a prolific Twitter user and is prone to speaking first and thinking second. Something which may ring a bell, for our readership.
Here in America, we got Joe Biden to fill that role…
Allow me some illusions, guys?
Sydney moments that make Arianna headdesk, go Exorcist or Scanner, or otherwise exhibit psychological trauma is something I greatly look forward to. ;)
He he. There is entertainment to be had there indeed. I think Maxima is with you, on that one.
But then the reverse is true too…Arianna enjoys those moments when Sydney gives Maxima those “headdesk” moments as well.
And we, the lucky readers, get to enjoy ALL of those moments.
:)
Actually Arianna would be somewhat pleased that Sydney told the press to go through her for any interviews .
As it would make damage control a little easier for her.
Or buns. Buns are even easier.
Also, I want that wwdd shirt.
Max tends to wear her hair back like that. If you ever meet her and want to compliment her on her hairstyle I suggest avoiding the phrase “I like your buns.”
A what would Deadpool do? Shirt. Perfect for Sydney.
Gotta love that her Cosplay box is bigger than her makeup box :P
Also that she said “Don’t camp my SPAWN“, not “LAWN“, because any gamer who hears that broadcast is going to instantly be a supporter :D
Unless they support “ethics” in “gaming journalism”, that is…
I did cosplay precisely one time in my life and my cosplay kit is already bigger than my makeup kit
your statement is like “gotta love how her car is larger than her bike”
like… yes
I could see the press discovering that any time they try to contact her outside of an official release, they only get cursed at and threatened.
Better manners when she’s on script and in uniform I hope…
note that she didn’t threaten them at all. Her profanity is enough of a weapon as it is.
Nice composition in the final panel. Including the speech bubble above, and the void below her feet. It speaks on many levels. Movement, emotional, implications and so on. But I will not iterate them all, to avoid a wall of text. But nice job DaveB.
And the orbs trailing behind, as Halo flies off, is a cute touch.
Can i just say, Sydney’s statement of “Go talk to Arianna!” is for here, a pleasingly mature and welcome response, with the cursing a funny afterthought. it’s nice to see sensible Syd through the funny stuff.
Wow, I kinda forgot that Sydney could give cursing-lessons to sailors. I guess that’s the sort of thing I would EXPECT to come out during a fight, but she drops the bombs way more during her regular day.
Speaking of which, I wonder if she’s off to work or Archon headquarters?
Her first demonstration was during her regular day, when telling off tubey.
I have my fingers crossed that she is on her way to see Joel. Whether she will be able to work, is another matter. I am guessing that Maxima will have provided some leeway here, to allow Sydney to arrange cover in her absence.
Cost analysis wise, it would actually be sensible for Uncle Sam to re-assign a quartermaster, to assist in the transition, until a replacement can be found or trained for her. Not that I am suggesting that will happen. But just noting it would be cheaper, than the delay caused otherwise, resulting in America’s latest flying weapons platform being off duty.
Well last night she did talk to Dabbler about something she needed to ask her.
During a fight, Sydney’s more open for using other means to release her anger & frustrations. Under normal circumstances (& where Sydney’s concerned, I use that term loosely), she has to rely on her verbiage.
SYDNEY! Always fly with your shield up. Trust me. Shields are much better at preventing sneak attacks than are flying skills.
Sage advice. Likewise she suffers a real risk from power cables. The Fly Ball has basic wind-buffering resistance, which would help with a low-speed impact (such as she could sustain in this scene), that would mitigate a bird strike. But power lines, and other, similar, city clutter is a major hazard for anyone who can take off from unprepared sites.
Sydney is going to need proper flying training and practice in safe protocols. Artistic licence wise, I think we would not see it. But, for most other purposes, I agree.
The one caveat being that it is hard to hold something in your hand all the time. I carry a quarterstaff, and periodically swap paws, to avoid it becoming numb or uncomfortable. If I have a load in my other paw though, it causes discomfort for any long trip. I can see that there would be issues for Sydney, in that regard, too.
How do you know the fly ball has buffering abilities at all? Wasnt she using her shield the last time she flew any real distance?
Nothing in-comic, but the author mentioned it specifically, at some point. Be that in his main comments, or in a reply, in the general comments section.
A long time ago. But in this galaxy.
In today’s media world we also have random video drones to deal with. Not fun to fly into at 100 mph.
Quad copter + C4 = “have a bad day”.
4 quad copters + jet airliner, on take off = “have a very bad day”.
Skip the C4. Just fly one near enough to an engine intake to get sucked in. On approach or takeoff that should at least lock up some sphincters.
My latter line did. But an airliner can fly with more than one engine disabled. Hence the “4”, in the equation. And if a flight path that goes over a city is chosen (like the plane, which crashed, the other day, was on), then it will do more than just sphincter-locking.
I hope that security personnel, at sensitive sites, counter-terrorism planners and airport defence engineers get their heads out of their collective butts, and realise the potential dangers drones pose. Before there is a major incident, rather than after!
Those microphones in last picture, I am so calling it that someone is making a lottery or somesuch about what cursewords she’s going to say to reporters! guess them all and win 1 million!
:D
Lottery? Which dictionary are we going to use though?
Well she mainly swears in English…..so far…but yeah I wouldn’t exclude other languages either.
“Lottery”?
Never mind that.
I say, we need a “Sydney Swears”-version of Bingo!
Given her vocabulary, I say the grid needs to be 15-by-15 (or at least 9-by-9), with a single “free”-space in the center!
That is a great idea :)
Everything about this comic is fantastic, esepcially the “What Would Deadpool Do” t-shirt.
Camping my spawn? This comic is gold! XD