Grrl Power #311 – Succubi rarely diet (insert joke about juice cleanse)
Mr. Rogson doesn’t like people practicing casting in his Home Economics class. Save that for Mischievous Spellcraft 101. I love that bottom panel – so many unanswered questions. Is that succubus being nice to that guy and/or mean to the cheerleaders? Is she being mean to the guy? Is she being mean to someone who likes that guy? Why is the succubus not a cheerleader? You’d think she would be one. Is she messing with the cheerleaders cause she’s not on the team? Do demons even go to high school? Could I totally write a comic called Demon High? Ok that one isn’t unanswered. I totally could. Oh and the angel? She’s an exchange student. Daddy’s a progressive archangel and he thought it’d be a good idea, so naturally she made herself head cheerleader. The demonettes aren’t all that happy about it, but she has her halo already. Normally angels don’t get them that young, the have to choose a profession first and that determines the kind of halo you get and what powers come with it, but mom’s a Valkyrie and she pulled some strings. (Or threatened to garrote someone with their own harp strings.) No daughter of hers is going to the nether boroughs without protection. Apparently it does not protect her from succubus charm spells though. Geeze, this stuff writes itself.
Normally I wouldn’t point out Dabbler sitting in the back of the room, cause I like saving that sort of stuff for the more eagle eyed among you, but I will this time cause I wanted to say that while she’s obviously had a long and illustrious adventuring career, I wasn’t sure what her early childhood or adolescence was like. As I was drawing her in that panel I super fell in love with the idea of her being a gawky teenager. Especially considering her unusually mixed heritage, I can see her with big corrective lenses and one extra large horseshoe (or whatever you’d wear on a cloven hoof) to correct an uneven pigeon toe. Also the other succubi girls, who develop into insanely attractive if somewhat demony teenagers early on, making fun of her for being awkward and/or “too exotic.” In any case, I’m calling that bottom panel totally canon.
I’m actually not sure what early life is like for succubi. They’re not born sexually mature certainly – physically how would that even work? As I think about it, it makes sense that they’d be born normally and that their tantric energy needs are a fraction of what a mature succubi’s are. They start off supplementing from their mothers, (which invites all sorts of questions about family units and succubus/demon culture in general) and as they grow up they can absorb minimal ambient energy from others. While succubus sex ed is comprehensive, they still go through the usual teenage fumblings while they learn to draw energy directly from a partner.
Ok I’ll stop now, I could seriously come up with 50 pages for Demon High right now. Since people have noticed her, I’ll give a shoutout to the cameo by Ava’s Demon, (an enormously well drawn comic) who is resting on top of Dabbler’s head in the last panel.
#MakeComics: This page was one of the hardest pages to write to date in the comic. Besides trying to fit entirely too much dialog on the page, then editing and re-editing it all (I even did some editing right before the page went up.) a large part of it was trying dance around the word “rapey” without actually using it, but I couldn’t quite get Sydney’s point across well enough without it. Plus that’s just the way she talks. I do try and give each character their own voice. Sydney will be going to Archon finishing school here soon, but they won’t be able to iron all her wrinkles out I suspect. It’s telling that Sydney doesn’t even consider the issue of consent in the other direction, (something a lot of people commented on in the previous page) whereas Dabbler goes right there since Succubi are obviously equipped to… well, for them, the demarcation between seduction and… you know, seduction, is broad and blurry. Dabbler is down with all parties being copacetic. There are probably exceptions in her past but she’s behaved while being a guest here on Earth.
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So, if that bottom panel is canon, than that raises some VERY interesting implications about Dabbler’s demon friend (fiery return https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1145)
Why, every rivalry or enmity has to start somewhere and school is a good way to start these.
My guess : he’s an ex-boyfriend of Dabbler, maybe her first … ^_^
Nah, that’s graduation day – she pipped him to valedictorian. She’s just forgotten that it’s her year to host the reunion.
Well, I’m pretty sure he’s the guy in the white shirt next to Dabbler, so school would be a good guess for how they met and got to that point.
To me, the demon on the “Intergalactic Baggage” page looks more like the teacher with the flaming paddle here. Perhaps he’s trying to catch up with Dabbler about paying the overdue library books fee?
So, that’s Him from PowerPuff Girls, Wrathia from Ava’s Demon… Who’s the rest?
I recognize Cthulu as a nerd and Balrog from LotR as the Teacher. Also Screwball (possibly pre-urological issue) from page 176.
I think I see Deadshot from Batman there as well, behind Him.
I don’t think so… Everyone else has a demonic / otherworldly motif going for them, which just doesn’t sound like Deadshot.
I was thinking it could be rogue #6 from https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1189
incidentally, I noticed something – DaveB, did you re-draw Vehemence on that page?
Yeah, I’ve started doing some edits in preparation for the book, and that was one piece of art I couldn’t leave alone.
I am seriously picturing the “Cleansing is at hand” dude on that page with a name of “Coffee Enema Man!” he has the power to make you feel clean on the inside and out whether you want to or not that is.
Haha, I only noticed that change now! That’s so friggin’ cool!
Yeah, I thought I’ve seen HIM somewhere before…
Oh Yeah! Here! https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/thats-the-evilest-thing-i-can-imagine
Of course, it probably took some time for his beard to grow in since he isn’t sporting a beard on this page…
I’d already noticed Dabbler in the back reading your notes and did lime how she was taken aback by the activity of the other succubus back then (but as comical as it is, whatever the backstory, what the other succubus is doing is pretty rapey.
How is what theyre doing rapey?
Well, I kind of see what they’re getting at. Reverse the genders in that situation, and, well, uh…
That all depends on if the target likes it, and how society treats it.
This is in a demon society, where sex is the normallest thing ever. So at worst it compares to pulling a prank that embarasses the target
The way Dabbler described it, it sounds like incubus/succubus society (assuming she wasn’t generalizing demonkind) functions like bonobo tribes when it comes to sex. I’m also curious if the bottom panel is Halo’s imagination or a flashback from Dabby’s past.
DaveB said it was canon, so a real flashback
So much for stereotypes of fire, brimstone, pentagrams, and other forms of menacing architecture…
Also, is the troublemaker a typical example of what a “pure-blooded” succubus looks like, or are they known for differing widely in appearance regardless of how many of their fathers, grandfathers, etc. were inccubi?
I am glad that somebody else already picked up on the parallels to bonobo culture. Given that common chimps are the closest relatives to humans, and bonobos are the only other member of the chimp family, it is actually very pertinent too.
They are a species which is almost human, bar a few percent differences in DNA. Yet they have no sexual taboo whatsoever. Bonobo’s use sex as casually as humans might give a hug or shake hands. And with far less regard to incest or paedophile taboos for that matter. Almost any member of a troop may have sex with any other (bar grown male sons with their mothers).
Mind you, they are physiologically different to humans in that the females are only fertile at one time of year, so their birth rates are actually comparable to other primates, rather than breeding like rabbits.
They simply use sex as a social tool to ease tensions and promote bonds between the entire troop. Making them highly peaceful, especially when contrasted to their more aggressive common chimp relatives (not to mention humans!)
Succubus society, as described, might actually be a pacifist peace-loving society. Embracing the concept of ‘make love, not war’. And then having sex with it!
HUMAN adolescence is plenty crazy. Demonic adolescence doesn’t really bear thinking about.
It sounds like they treat sex the way humans treat eating. This would be the equivalent of waving a fresh pie in front of his face.
Has me wondering about food fights – and what the cafeteria is like. ;)
…And what the “food” actually is…
It’s not rapey for SO many reasons….
1) I have no idea where it’s implied in any way that there is or is not consent.
2) It’s not a human society – it’s a demonic society where social norms are completely different. Especially considering the entire POINT of the flashback is Dabbler explaining how her society has vastly different social norms and beliefs when it comes to sex.
3) I have no idea where it’s implied that he is not enjoying it a lot.
1) Um… It’s forcefully modifying at least the probability of “consent”, just the same as alcohol? The male’s surprised expression gives serious doubt as to whether anyone even ASKED him for consent, let alone obtained “Verbal, explicit and on-going consent” of the sort that’s now required of men in american colleges
2) I’ll grant you
3) Absolutely irrelevant. If a woman is drunk, and has ENJOYABLE drunken sex, but is deemed to have been too drunk to consent, it’s still considered rape.
Unless you think the basic concept of Rape = sex without consent” doesn’t apply to males?
1) Then every single woman or man who has ever gotten drunk at a bar or a frat party or ANYWHERE and had a one night fling has, by your definition, been raped. Or mutually raped if both sides are drunk. Not to mention there’s no sex happening. There’s boobs in face happening, which I suspect in demonic society is pretty much like a handshake. Though in human society it would be some aspect of criminal activity, like battery since the spell is like a drug to lower the angel’s inhibitions (but not rape). That’s assuming, however, that the spell is on the angel, rather than on the male guy to make him seem irresistable to women (which is possible, since there are three girls all over him). If there’s no spell on the angel, and it’s on the man…. I’m not sure it can be called battery even. There’s just no human equivalency though to use.
2) Thank you.
3) Getting drunk and having sex doesnt mean they have been raped. Turn the tables and switch the sex to men. If the man gets drunk, then has sex with a woman who isnt drunk, the woman hasnt raped him either. This isnt an opinion – it’s a matter of law. Which I sort of know since I’m a lawyer. The idea is they both consented to get drunk in the first place, and if they’re adults, they are responsible for everything that comes after that. Which means if they get into a car, they are responsible for their own actions. If they kill a person while drunk, they are responsible for their own actions. If they have sex with another person, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS.
Getting drunk is not the same as being slipped a roofie or date rape drug. THAT removes consent, because you were not consenting to the drug. No consent = rape. Consent = not rape.
1) Yep, that’s pretty much what the “affirmative consent” brigade are claiming. Note that that’s not what I believe, but it IS what’s becoming the legal reality, starting in Californian universities. Except that it only seems to apply to men. Also, actual sex doesn’t have to happen, the definition is widening to include a lot of things as “sexual assault”. Then again, many of them are claiming that any penetrative sex is also rape, since even women who consent are only doing it because they have been socially conditioned into doing so by the Patriarchy (TM)
2) It was a ell made and relevant point.
3) I agree with you. But it’s still happening
https://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2015/02/drunk_sex_on_campus_universities_are_struggling_to_determine_when_intoxicated.html
It’s so sad how over the deep end a lot of feminists have gone. Penetrative sex is not rape – it’s biology. Which they fail forever.
I’ll give you the point on sexual harassment, assuming a demonic school which teaches succubi and incubi has such a thing as sexual harassment. Which they probably don’t :)
“…but it IS what’s becoming the legal reality…”
Full disclosure (fully informed) & consent without cohersion have been a part of the “legal reality” since before the Uniform Commercial code was even written up. It’s been the basis of all commerce & enforcable agreements throughout the history of human civilization. It’s not just a “trend” happening now.
It really isnt becoming the ‘legal reality’ – the rare university rules on sexual harassment put in place often get overruled as soon as they go to court (and they only go to court when someone actually gets in trouble for it – a law which is not used is a law which is not brought to court), and even if they were approved, the Ninth Circuit is THE most heavily overruled federal court in the country.
If anything, it’s the ‘social media’ reality and ‘talk show’ reality and ‘university brainwashing’ reality… not the legal reality.
Btw, the UCC is about buying and selling, and rules between businesspeople and contractual obligations – not about rape and sexual harassment. Not really sure why you brought up the UCC.
The rapey thing is the spell that the girl, that soon will be hit by the flaming paddle of education for disrupting the class, cast on them.Its as rapey as any mind or emotion control.
The way Dabbler words the very last bit ‘Mischief especially when younger’ would seem to indicate that that’s what’s going on in that specific picture. She does specifically mention power and control too but makes a distinction between power/control and mischief when younger.
Hmm maybe kinda like feeding someone and over feeding someone? Or addict/control?
Bascially yes, if the succubus did that to humans then yes, not so good (and succubi have a generally bad rep in mythology exactly because of the control thing) But in Dabblers case she behaves amongst humans and even supers, basically keeping with our societal norms. However it is very clear that where for humans/supers it would be ‘rapey’, with demons the specific case pictured in the last panel is strictly mischief (because of the setting) or simply enjoying a good meal again in a proper setting, sex cafeteria maybe? God Demon high DOES write itself haha!
It is super important to make that distinction that our societal norms are different than demon societal norms according to Dave and should not be forced on demons. That is something countries have had a very bad track record with within human cultures. Then again some of those societal norms are actually harmful, as in people die from them. Hard to convince me those are good :P In demon society this is a large part of how they ‘eat’ That’s like the opposite of harming.
Ok, but one of the targets is an Angel. So, how does a demon’s cultural reaction account for the (justifiable) wrath she will probably dispense for this? I doubt she would simply dismiss the assault.
If the rape whistles keep blowing for little reason, I’m pretty sure people will start ignoring them.
Ahh… I thought they meant the girls having their way with the demon guy.
I didnt see the spell the demon is doing to the angel as being rape mainly because… there’s no sex going on. There’s fondling and boobs in face going on, but no sex. No sex = no rape. Plus she’s about to get a-fire paddlin’.
https://youtu.be/ZXQR-cPXlmY
Again, it’s a different society with very different societal norms about sex. It’s the equivalent in their society of an italian mother saying ‘Eat, eat! You’re too thin!’
Okay, okay, points taken.
Also take a good look at that so called angel, isn’t she giving a boob job? So is she really an angel? Some succubi in old writings could look like angels so maybe she is also a succubi and not an angel. Especially since she is after all getting in on the action, heck for all we know she could be the head Cheerleader. Couldn’t you just die if that’s the truth, that and wish it was your high school memory…
She is an angel per Word of Dave.
I’ve noticed a lot of contributors raising concerns about Dabbler, and now this other character, acting “rapey,” while others are saying it’s a grey area. DaveB has even stated that Dabbler does believe in gaining consent. Frankly, I think it’s a bit red-herring-ish. Dabbler is a succubus. Succubi are rape personified – the legends all describe them as demons that drain life force whilst the victim sleeps, dreaming of having sex (sometimes pleasantly, sometimes not). It’s a defining characteristic, and shouldn’t be shied away from simply because it’s uncomfortable.
Anyway, just my 2cp
No, incubi and succubi are _sexual shame_ personified. Feel ooky because of that dream with the clown and plastic slide and woke up with stained sheets? Blame a demon.
So many people want to say “the devil made me do it” when things go wrong, forgetting that at best the devil offered only a choice and most of the time the devil had better (by some standards) things to do.
At a deeper psychological level, I agree with you. I was referring to the descriptions though, not the underlying motivations of the storytellers
Succubi and incubi are sex personified, not rape personified.
Not the same thing.
Sex is shamefully awesome! :)
I partially agree…I wouldn’t add “shamefully” to the statement. FREE SEX ALL AROUND!
The only thing I would consider “shameful” would be to ignore the consequences & repercussions while going about getting it on in the first place & the aftereffects. For instance, use of force is not acceptable to get it. Causing permanent damage during the act is also unacceptable. Not preparing to avoid an unwanted pregnancy would also be shameful.
Free sex, yes…Irresponsible sex, no.
Sex is awesomely shameful?
DEMON HIGH NEEDS TOO BE A THING NOW! sorry for the caps it was necessary.
I’d agree if I didn’t fear it would mean Dave cutting back on this comic to get Demon High up and running.
+1
Also, I remember the idea of “grrlpower after dark” being mentioned somewhere in the past… This whole this has a lot of spawn-off potential…
Hmmm… would “outsourcing” be an option, maybe? DaveB “just” writing it, someone else doing it?
We’ve already got Eerie Cuties.
And “Dangerously Chloe” as well. Was kind of surprised there wasn’t anyone from there in the last panel.
There is actually a book called Demon High (by Lori Devoti). And I have seen a number of TV shows, cartoons, and comics (School bites, Eerie Cuties) that have used the trope so Dave runs the risk of joining the herd on this one.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AllGhoulsSchool
Tropes are not a bad thing.
they are when overused.
Not necessarily
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OverusedSciFiStorylines
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OverusedSciFiPlotDevices
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/OverusedSciFiSillyScience
Think about how many great movies wouldnt be good if they didnt use tropes in these lists :)
Complete trope avoidance is almost impossible, especially since averting, subverting, and inverting tropes became tropes themselves.
Exactly. Point being, tropes are never a bad thing :)
yes, how can someone avoid the use of trope if everything is a trope?
Joining the herd you say? As opposed to the terribly underused* trope of a superhero team comic book**?
* That was sarcasm, son.
* Ok, technology has made the transition from flimsy book form to web site form a thing, but that does not change the trope one bit.
Lori Devoti’s book is not about a high school for demons but demons possessing students at a high school. Very different.
I know. My post contained two different points. What I’m saying in the first point is ‘the name, Demon High, has been used’ so if Dave does do a comic about a demon school he better come up with a different title.
Fair enough.
Actually if your going to get into this whole thing then start with the anime, Rosario + Vampire, in which you have a human in a school for monsters with a vampire girlfriend, a succubus girlfriend, a witch girlfriend, and a few others who are all technically sharing him while helping to hide the fact that he is human. Its a dang funny series that ran two seasons. Its well worth watching too. Rosario Vampire is great, funny, and just a little bit of everything else in some ways not to mention its all about a high school for monsters learning to hide that they are monsters in a human society.
Actually, instead of watching the anime, read the manga. It’s far superior, and not in that weeaboo sense either. The manga gets really awesome really fast, while the anime for the most part stays in its extremely ecchi bubble and doesn’t try to do too much besides titillate its viewers.
I feel like I’ve seen that Succubus at the front in the bottom panel before. Is that possible?
She looks not entirely unlike Harem, this page, last panel.
I always thought that face on Harem looked weird. Like, menacing, almost? That’s right before she spills the beans to scarface, right?
Yep. In fact, DaveB explains it in the commentary for the very next page:
She probably loses at poker all the time…
Well the more we learn about her the more powerful she seems, so I guess it’s fair that she has a few imperfections somewhere.
I think that face is the author’s general purpose version of “Grinch having evil idea”.
https://images.rapgenius.com/dc74f0fc51f178a12461529e83d7366a.720x544x27.gif
∑-⊃
So much going on in that last panel I don’t know where to start. Isn’t that guy on the far left the fire demon that Dabbler defeated in her flash back that vowed to return? If so that opens up even more questions.
And there is a cameo of Him, which makes me wonder if any of the others are there from other fictions that I just can’t place?
I love the idea of Dabbler being a little awkward teenager. It also amplifies the idea of Dabbler and Sydney relation as sisters (her being a super awkward teenager aswel)
I too enjoy the idea f a young startled Dabbler. It’s nice to see her before she became experienced and jaded.
Also, I absolutely LOVE her hair n panel #1. VERY sexy looking! I do so love that woman. And the thought of her mentoring Sydney…
Delightful. :-D
Her hair reminds me of Maxima’s hair from this comic (please don’t tell Max I compared her to Dabbler).
MAAAAX!
Kfox is making Dabbler comparisons with you.
hey, who put this red stain on the floor, what’s that thing that used to be maybe human and where’s Kfox? I thought he was supposed to be here?
I think that, in reference to Dabbler in particular and demony things in general, “awkward” is an extremely subjective concept.
Imagine if Dabbler is actually CONSERVATIVE by her societal standards. That could get pretty interesting. And I am pretty sure that’s the guy she beat. Guess he got upset that senpai didn’t notice him.
From the looks of it that is the teacher of classroom ready to give a spanking to naughty :P
I’m pretty sure @Neo meant the younger balrog to the left of the panel.
Is Sydney a virgin? How old is she anyway, 26, 28? Seems possible for her being a comic nerd.
(Question asked because of blush in panel 3.)
Probably not, but she is REALLY shy.
She’s going to be reacting that way all the time when talking about sex
I would say shy and had it less than a handful of times based on personal experience.
heh I really hope Dabbler isn’t going commando at the moment or there is a superb reason for Sydney’s blush and averted eyes, quite apart from the conversation that is.
Do you really think Dabs even owns any underwear? Besides “meant to be seen” lingerie, that is.
Especially with the way Dabbler’s leg is pointing yes
Oh, duh, cast page lists her as 21, so that makes her being a virgin even more likely.
I’m thinking that she might have tried to not be one, but somehow it got messed up in the process (possibly due to her own psychoses) and the blush is as much from embarrassing memories as anything else. So depending on just how far she got it might be a toss-up depending on how you define the term.
I love the bottom panel, especially “Him.”
and the lotr balrog as the teacher
then there is the grate burning guy was apparently a classmate
plues a geeky chathulu
The Nerd looks less like Cthulhu and more like a DnD type Mind-Flayer.
Except illithid don’t have wings and this guy (and Cthulhu) do.
Well, a classroom like this would be a good place for a paddlin’, but less so for a Paladin…
how about a padawan?
Okay so. I love how dabblers gone bug eyed…and theres a fire demon resting on her head.
We got him, plus whoever that dude with the half white and half black face/mask is behind “him”
Actually, the dude in purple looks kinda familiar to me also…. not sue why.
Also I LOVE the simpsons reference which can be seen in the hidden text (thats also posted on the page under the bottom panel): “horning up the cheerleaders? that’s a fire paddlin.”
On one more note there is actually a webcomic out (which may be NSFW IIRC) about a succubi and her adventures in the human world called “dangerously chloe” which im reading currently. Er if im allowed to advertise that is? ^_^’
It’s not like people only read a single Webcomic. Bring them on, the more the better
Chloe is a rather hard PG. Menage a 3 is the sometimes NSFW one, but no succubi, just some supremely hot humans and one nerd/geek. With a “twist”. :D
ah okay. Thanks for clarification.
DAMMIT!!!!
You had to go and come up with a comic idea that makes me want to have you stop this one and start on Demon High.
Instead, much like this comic when you were starting out you took some time to figure out what go’s where while still working on this comic. Maby you could do a once a week Demon High comic while still working on this great comic as well.
BTW great artwork. I see you continue to improve on your craft.
More like once a month.
I would be happy with once every two weeks, but hope for weekly updates.
So if Wrathia is a Wrath demon, and the succubi are Lust demons, I wonder what types of demons the others are? Normally I would say Rogson and Screwball are Wrath demons, but they are probably not unless the Wrath family has bizarre sexual dimorphism.
HIM is undoubtedly a Pride demon.
What would the Tentacle demons be? Assuming references to Cthulhu and Dagon, perhaps Sloth?
Not everyone there is a demon. Cthulhu is a Great Old One, which is closer to a god.
Probably not THE Cthulhu possibly a son or grandson. I mean really if you had enormous eldritch powers would you waste time in High School?
Everyone has to start somewhere.
He’s a Cthuling. I don’t know what that mean, I just like the word.
Half-human hybrid with that Universe-Destroying Elder God whom Must We Must Not Dare Speak His Name?
Cthulhu Lite. Just one calorie. Tastes great, less filling.
Nor would I think that every single demon has to be directly associated with one of the classic “big 7” deadly sins, especially since they haven’t always been the exact same seven: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins
For today’s culture I have determined that the next deadly sin shall be:
USING ALL CAPS WHEN WRITING SOMETHING ON THE INTERNET.
A sin it may be, but a DEADLY sin it isn’t…Unless someone dies as a direct result of it.
Anyway who knows, maybe Rogson and Screwball are Malumi.
Uh….well then….
Dave, on the matter of sucubbi tantric development, i guess that it would work in ways similar to digestive process – one is born extremely restricted (maternal milk), then “graduates” to some simple forms of food (“baby” food in general) and after a certain period of development, finally becomes fully equiped to deal with tantric energy in all its complexity and “flavors”.
So a underage succubus probably gets its tantric reserves in simpler forms like hugs, caressing, massages and such. Basically, i would extrapolate from this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_grooming
Is nobody gonna say it?
Dang, allright: I will.
That’s a paddlin’
Unlike a human school, where students may experiment with some BDSM in private, a demonic school makes it a required course with in-class demonstrations…
Comments are normally about the comic, but I see DaveB made a
Halo/CutieMark reference in the “About this comic” section.
So… Sydney got called in to work so that she can chat to Dabbler about how a Succubus recharges? Tough job, but someone’s got to do it! :D
I expect Maxima showing up soon to try and break up the party.
Queue hilarious entics between Dabbler and Maxima
“Dabbler! Put your toys away when you’re done with them!”
Then, on the gawky development side, of course there is Atsali from Wapsi Square (my other favorite comic), the child of a siren and an incubus, who in her human form was rail-thin and waif-like until one night, literally overnight, KA-BOOBS!
> while they learn to draw energy directly from a partner.
This reminds me of a vague thought I had last page already, but forgot over the while… illumination of the R-word:
Considering how Vehemence’s power works – AFAIU he does not draw energy from someone else, but feeds from the violence created by any means, especially without removing “the violence” from its source (a fight or whatnot) – transposing this to tantric energy: Why is the Barberian so exhausted?
1) Just because of the physical workout that occured during the act?
2) Or also because Dabbler drew some energy from him?
Option 2 would make me ask why, because the tantric energy should be created in a similar way like the vehemic energy: Through the act itself, not drawing it from her partner, the more “acting”, the more energy for Dabbler. So it would be in her interest to make the maximum out of it, just like Vehemence was interested in creating & fuelling as much violence as possible around him. Her partner would profit indirectly from that by his longing getting satisfied in the most satisfying manner. Being this way, it would fit to option 1, but not 2.
Just a thought.
Please read the “while…” as “whole…” in the above post.
It was mentioned somewhere (probably in the comments for the “porno sense” page?) that Dabbler has to actively participate in order to benefit. So that’s one way her powers definitely differ from Vehemence.
To be fair, the feedback inherent in “#1” there would probably push him to extremes of skill and enthusiasm, as well as endurance, that the human body (even the SUPERhuman body) was not meant to reach. Imagine some bed-liftin’ goings-on, literally breaking down walls, etc. etc.. And if she didn’t remember to bring some food and drink into the games, it’s quite possible he’s dehydrated and with low blood sugar. Not to mention the psychic whammy of the forget-me-hammer.
… Someone should probably get that man a gallon of Gatorade and some breakfast.
That’s… it’s… HIM!!
First HAH! I love the double blush from Sydney…first level has to be her dancing around her personal sex experiences (And Yes a succubi can tell visually and with other senses if someone is a “Virgin” aura flavors and all that if you remember- someone link please?) The heavier blush maybe because she actually”Peeked” up the skirt when she got hoof nudged- pair that with the “I have muscles humans don’t have…” and her imagination (ADD) will carry that to extremes all by itself. Somewhere inside her is a litle voice reminding her that she’s not a lesbian.
2nd – DaveB you just gave yourself the perfect VOTE incentive for APRIL MAY (springtime is in the air) A Class Portrait from Demon HIgh Class XXX-IV-B ? For normal incentive vote just show the front panel. For patreon/Deviant Art show the NSFW back panel kinda like that CHEERS poster with Sam Malone Rebecca and one of the other cast. (Sorry I can’t find it doing image searches) . You can then play with all sorts of expressions and hand games behind backs…plus show that there is that one “really really short demon” who only appears from the back shot of the class picture.
3) once you get a colorist settled upon and working, maybe you can start to pencil Demon High basic images and save them so you can get to them when you can. I suggest going to a solid 3-4 panel comic for that and build up a HUGE buffer before starting to post it. Maybe you can kickstarter that and go straight to print with it instead of posting online.
Eerie Cuties, Vampire Cheerleaders, paranormal mystery squad etc all crossover somewhere so when you have time to read em you can. I’m looking forward to their next series “Frankenbitches”
I hesitate to imagine what this class would do to the human classic “Romeo and Juliet.” The sword fights alone would go to the level of “Frogs” the greek play and Skin Deep the movie. And I’m sure the class director might make a note to self, “Hmm I don’t remember writing in an Orgy scene here…” -shrug- and the audience reaction.
Heck you might get the chance to show Dabbler’s Mom, meeting w/principal who’s desk panel by panel slowly rises almost to eye level. Embarrassing her daughter (who can’t use her aura that way or that well just yet. )
That would be cool, but it would take a lot of work to draw. I’ll keep it in mind.
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/641
However be aware that Dabbler described her “porno sense” as related to sexual excitation (“sex, lust, even arousal”) nor physical states or pass experience.
While I can imagine a succubus being able to separate the “flavor” of the arousal of a very experienced person from the one of a not experienced person, that would be more like a personal acquired skill (same as a professional wine taster). Anyway it’s yet to be proven if it is actually possible, if could be accurate enough, and also if Dabbler could reach that level of skill herself.
Where to start, Sydney a virgin? Demon High (start writing) Dabbler a geeky teen girl at said demon High, or Her from the power puff girls attending the same class? All sorts of awesome rolled into one page.
…just had an epiphany about the barberian, I remember where I know him from: it’s one of the cover characters of the old “Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay” book…! :-)
You mean the Trollslayer?
The hair at least is very similar. Trollslayer was a Dwarf with lots more tattoos than Barber, but they have the same hair.
Okay a stray thought here but this kinda explains V. He’s a half breed probably conceived by actual rape (rape is more about violence and power than sex) that went undetected. This also brings up the question of the predominance of Demonic Or Angelic ?DNA? in this world. Superpowers might be a result of the intermixing of these factors. Concretia’s powers could stem from elemental origins for example and the good looks would come with the territory of course being useful for all interactions with humans. Hell in Storm of X-men was called a “Goddess” which kinda points to this. What if all supernatural beings are just another branch on the tree of evolution.
I kind of like the idea of Him and Dabbler going to school together… I don’t know why that makes sense to me but it does.
So many hidden jokes on tbat last panel!
so who do we have in the background… some floaty person, the foreshadowed “bringer of doom”, dabbler, catchulu (how am is supposed to spell it?), someone with a mask, and a devil from a certain cartoon for small kids…
hmmm a vampire cheerleader, is that a reference? or coincidence?
Just had to mention that when I clicked on ‘Comments’ it read 69. :D
OMG IT”S “HIM” FROM PPG!
AND YOU ADDED WRATHIA FROM “EVA’S DEMON”!!!
SO! HAPPY!
/facepalm It was bugging the crap out of me why I recognized but didn’t recognize that character. I read Eva’s Demon just enough that I remember her.
AND YOU ADDED WRATHIA FROM “EVA’S DEMON”!!!
Dave stick to one comic for now till you get a full time colorist as good as you. Your color work is top notch even if your out put is painfully slow.. (as apposed to say https://www.misfile.com/)
Given ‘teen Dabbler’s high school experiences, not that any of the ARC team could probably EVER picture her as less than confident sexually, she may actually empathize with Sydney and her awkwardness and never having had an intimate encounter that qualified as ‘the best thing ever’.
Please, oh please, let Dabbler decide to take Sydney under her wing re the joys of sex. Hilarity and embarrassment will ensue.
Not that I want to create a fuss, but I think the rape question which has been brought up is… well… perhaps more of an issue that it would look on the surface.
Some people are trying to equate rape with violence and/or power, which is a stereotypical goal of the “serial rapist”, but that is hardly the limit, much less the definition, of rape.
What decides if a situation is rape, is voluntary consent or the lack thereof.
It does not matter if “they like it”. Unfortunately, there are a lot of women who have been date raped because they “liked it” before and their boyfriend assumed that they should like it again.
Regardless… it does bring up a very interesting question. Dabbler has powers that remove voluntary consent. It does not matter if we think the victim “liked it” or not, nor does it really matter if Dabbler needs it to survive. It still ends up being rape.
Being an alien species, perhaps humans are really nothing more than prey for Dabbler. Which is fine if that is what it is, but I would think that it does add a new dynamic to any relationships. I suppose that a pig has a tolerance, if not affection, for the farmer who feeds it and fattens it up for slaughter (in an old world farm), and perhaps the farmer even has some affection back? (I am currently reading Charlotte’s Web to my daughter, so this is a handy analogy for me) But underlying everything else, there is still predator and prey. Instead of killing, it is raping, but the concept is still the same.
To put it into context – if Dabbler was a man, and the victim was a woman, how would the rape question be dealt with by Sydney? Perhaps this bad guy barbarian is devoutly monogamous with his wife? his boyfriend because perhaps he could be homosexual? The assumption that because he is a big, strong bad guy and would love being with a sexy succubi is just as bad as the assumption that some girl who wears a tight top and a miniskirt wouldnt dress like that if she didnt want to provoke someone to rape her.
Anyways, I do like the comic and the storyline overall. Not trying to trash on things really, but the rape issue I think is a bigger one. Yes, I know men can be raped too (and are almost universally looked down on in disgust if they admit it to anyone) but I do think that the female perspective (which is all the more important in a comic strip featuring so many female lead characters) would have a very different view on what constitutes rape.
you are searching EXTREMLY far there mate…
Unfortunately, I have personally known too many women who have been raped. Even one is too many, but I have had five of them who have confessed about it to me, as someone to talk with. I am reasonably confident that at least those five women would share that perspective. Its not that far a search at all unfortunately.
And obviously the correct place to talk about this is on the forum of a webcomic about empowered superheroines….
There’s no rape in the comic. DaveB has gone out of his way to spell that out in very blunt, in-your-face terms. The situations in the comic are not rape. They arent even close to rape. There was consent. He’s spelled out that there was consent. Dabbler’s stated that there was consent, and that succubi never have a problem getting consent. Because they are hot, and because the guys they approach for sex want to have sex. Especially in Dabbler’s case, since she is under scrutiny anyway and behaves in that respect. It -is- a stretch to somehow turn what’s happening in the comic into rape, given all the explanations and descriptions of what Dabbler does, and author commentary about it. And by trying to make a comparison to rape despite the author’s repeated descriptions of how it’s not rape (consent means not rape, there’s no wiggle room about THAT), you’re actually diminishing cases of actual rape.
Stop it, please. It’s gone beyond being just repetitive and gotten to the point of being annoying.
i feel your pain and i agree it’s not nice for them
but STILL this is a webcomic
it’s like you go on an horror or killer webcomic and you go tell them murder is not good.
because okay it fully isn’t but still this is odd to mention on a webcomic
I want to keep in mind that we are discussing fantasy species in a comic-book setting, so that all of this stuff is basically just theoretical anyway. It’s kind of like discussing the ethics cloning or health-care based immortality. Interesting in a way, but lets keep our SJW righteousness in check.
That being said, I agree that the issues of mind-control, seduction, and consent could be a thorny one. Most people would probably think of a lust-aura as mind control, but what about pheromones that just make people horny? What about skimpy-clothing and makeup? How about just a LITTLE aura to make things more exciting? Where do we draw the line?
I think it’s entirely possible that demon’s have their own set of laws, rules, stigmas, and/or taboos that humans would find completely abhorrent, but that make their society work for them. Furthermore, Dabbler may or may not agree with all of humanities laws/rules/taboos/etc but could just be playing nice and imitating what she sees the human’s doing because she know that its necessary for getting along with them, and if she acted like a real demon she’d probably end up fighting with Maxima (which would make it that much harder to get into Maxima’s pants).
Anyway, back to the A-plot; is it POSSIBLE to resist Dabbler’s aura? If she walked into the Vatican could she get the pope to break his vows? What about if the situation where reversed WITH DABBLER, i.e. there is some kind of super-succubus who could override Dabbler’s aura with her own aura, and how would she feel about that? If it makes her stronger, is there any kind of sex that Dabbler would think is truly bad?
This is why I lead with that comment about fantasy-beings and how this is all-theoretical; because it’s very easy to raise scenarios that have no grounding in reality. Suppose you had a baby succubus (since DaveB said that in his reality they aren’t born fully mature) that was, for whatever reason, raised by nuns and has taken a vow of chastity, and is essentially starving herself to death. What’s the proper response here?
It’s probably just as possible to resist Dabbler’s lust aura is it was to resist Vehemence’s aggro aura.
That is, Sydney knew about it and was able to resist (atleast for a time) through willpower. No doubt more disciplined people would be able to resist for longer.
But the effect was so subtle that the rest of Archon didn’t know they WERE being effected, and thus didn’t have a chance to resist
The surprise factor has a LOT to do with a person’s ability to resist. When Dabbler came into the boardroom as Sydney was being interviewed, everyone was able to resist (albeit with some difficulty)…Even Sydney who didn’t know anything about Dabbler at the time was caught by surprise & resisted.
But during the superbattle, Jabberwocky had no idea & was caught by surprise by Dabbler’s Aura power & succumbed to it. Even so, it didn’t turn Jabber into an uncontrollable rape machine either.
Surprise & acting unpredictably is how Vehemence was distracted by Dabbler, even though she didn’t use her Aura power…Just the natural effect that boobs have on guys. I can confess that it wouldn’t take “literally hypnotic boobs” to distract me the same way, just an attractive set of normal human boobs would get my eyes to bounce the same way V’s did.
If you want to get into the whole idea of “consent is not rape,” we also have to be able to define exactly what “consent” means: So far, in the course of this comic, the only people who didn’t give “consent” were capable of resisting. Active resistance is lack of consent. In the context of Barberian, he didn’t resist…During the superbattle, Jabberwocky did not resist. They BOTH gave “consent” to continue.
Of course it’s possible to resist the lust aura. They’ve shown multiple times people actively resisting the lust aura. Even people who don’t know about the lust aura have been able to resist the lust aura. Sydney resisted the lust aura by repeating ‘Not a lesbian.’ in her head, before she had any idea of who or what Dabbler was. The rest of the people in the room also resisted the lust aura, and Maxima gibbs smacked Dabbler to make her stop. She also got Gibbs smacked during the press conference when she started with the lust aura and made some of the men have to cross their legs to hide the effect it was having on them. Prompting another gibbs smack by Anvil at the behest of Arianna.
So yeah…. lust auras can be resisted. Just like a really, really, REALLY good flirter can be resisted. There’s probably different ‘levels’ of lust auras, just like there were different levels of violence auras that Vehemence could use. The subtle one, then the REALLY in your face one. And even the latter one, Sydney was able to resist that (mainly because she knew about it), and Maxima seemed able to resist it as well (though she had less choice, since she needed to stay on defensive of full armor to stay alive).
Going with the analogy used by dabbler with food and needing to eat, most people do not like All kinds of food even if they are capable of digesting it. Moreover if she was the geeky, awkward type in school, odds are she has at least Some experience with being the victim of other people abusing these types of powers. This does not even touch on the things she apparently went through in the other comic Dave loaned her out to but, if it is cannon then that means Dabbler has spent a significant portion of her life being the slave-mercenary for alien overlords and robbed of her free will for that same period of time.
Ergo, if any succubus is capable of understanding and respecting the need for consent, it would be Dabbler.
As for resisting her powers, it probably works similar to when Dabbler used her sleep spell on Vehemence, if you resist the ability may not work at all if you are powerful enough in the appropriate way, ie mystic/magic terms, just mundane willpower is probably only going to buy you time, but will fail you eventually if you cant get out of the aura, much like how superman can hold out for a while and maybe still pull off a heroic effort while in proximity to kryptonite, but Will keel under sooner or later if he and the source of the effect are not separated.
In fact, I would say that dabbler’s recognition of consent is evident with people like Max, who show obvious and clear disdain for dabbler because of what and who she is, yet she quite clearly Could use one of her many, many little tricks, spells, natural powers or gadgets to help soften their attitude over time, instead she’s playing the patient game and letting them be who they are while trying to win them over with good old fashioned personality and charm (again, not the magic kind).
I would imagine different metaphysical beings have different base values and taboos based in part on the needs of their species or culture and in part the necessity of dealing with other species or cultures. Beyond that values and taboos evolve based on intelligence, personality, and experiences.
To put it simply, I think you have a point there mate, I’ve been thinking the same thing but decided to actually read before I commented and see if anyone else made the point first.
classes must have been interesting for her hehe
Don’t tell Math about any of this…He would find it “interesting” enough to try enrolling in that class.
Dave, if I remember correctly Dabbler is a succubus/alien cross with some other stuff thrown in. Have you actually parsed out her family tree? Is her mom a succubus who seduced an alien, or is her dad an Incubus who seduced an alien? Is she a freak, one off test tube baby grown in a vat with multiple doner parents? Since she is part alien, what did that part of her education look like? She is, obviously, very familiar with advanced technology.
Since she’s a halfbreed, would the other, pure succubi be more powerful? How does galactic civilization interact with demonic/holy forces? Are they mythical like ours, or does *everyone* know about them, and they are just part of the landscape, so to speak?
I know what her father is, if not who, but that reveal… if I could put out a page a day I’d give it a good chance of actually showing up in the comic. :P
If you were eventually able to increase to 3 days a week it’d be a huge speed boost but I do understand any increase will have to be at a time when you are able and comfortable else things suffer.
I would also have to add that I wouldn’t want to see a sacrifice in the the quality of this comic just to add something else on your platter. Better to get good nutrition from a the right foods on a plate than to stuff yourself silly on junk food.
;)
I have a feeling that some process like this was involved. https://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=415
It sounds like something Tedd would do. But since Dabbler is over 180 and EGS states that they do not allow time travel, then it may have been his great grandfather or something.
Ugh sorry but “halfbreed” is a fairly ugly term. I’m not huge on the political correctness correctness bandwagon (I honestly feel they go too far and contribute to the problem in other ways) that said some words never should have come into being and/or have been used so inappropriately they need to go away. This is one of those terms and in this case fairly inaccurate as well. She isn’t exactly half of something and half of something else. She is also a hybrid of multiple species rather than breed/races/cultivars of the same species.
I think the term is only as ugly as the attitude of the person using it. As a word, in & of itself, there’s nothing wrong with it.
Funny story, as a huge Mass Effect and someone who consistently romances Liara, I now give anyone using pureblood/purebreed a bit of side eye. Usually its a compliment, but now I don’t see it the same way.
More generally, I need to stop posing questions to Dave. He usually picks one of the many questions I ask, give a tantalizing answer, which just leaves me with more questions. I hardly expect him to just give away major plot points. I just don’t know what would be an interesting bit of trivia, and what would be a plot point.
Confound Dave and his well thought out, highly planned, intricate, interesting universe. He found my weakness, and I need answers!
*goes back to wall covered in speculative scribblings linked with strings*
Use the term mutt instead.
As said by Bill Murray in Stripes….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXjqTyQuq4w
Is it bad that I kinda want Dabbler’s dress from panel 1?
Would probably wear black boyshorts underneath, but past that, it’s a pretty awesome dress.
You could probably make it. I based it almost entirely on this design: https://www.costumebox.com.au/brown-steampunk-womens-corset.html since I usually need some sort of reference for more intricate women’s clothing. Obviously I made it black, added some utility pouches and the skirt attachment.
That’s very good to know. I will definitely try that out once I fix m stupid uncompliant machinery.
Too bad I don’t have the cleavage to actually pull off a Dabbler cosplay, otherwise that’d be awesome.
Or the extra arms.
so,, how many people think Halo is inexperienced?
She’s about this experienced: “You know how when you grab a woman’s breast… it feels like… a bag of sand. ” (only half the age)
Someone’s been watching Wild Wild West.