Grrl Power #774 – Polymaybe
There’s probably a bit more to polyamory than what Harem says, but that’s got to be a pretty good starting point. Obviously things get more complicated when people start talking about marriage, but that’s almost entirely because the laws in most countries don’t deal with that sort of thing. Things get really bonkers when a marriage of 3, or more people breaks up and you have to start dividing assets. Image a five-way when three people stay in and two leave or something. Yikes.
Please ignore the weird, counter-high table that Harem is laying on. I may have messed up the framing a bit and even with how short Sydney is, I needed to elevate Harem so everyone fit in the frame along with the word bubbles.
Tables are supposed to be slightly lower than countertops. It’s one of those things we all know even if we don’t think about it. There’s actually a lot of things we “know” until it comes time to draw them. Like how high doorknobs are. Or how high the bottom part of cabinets are. Not the ones on the floor. Upper cabinets. The ones on the wall over the countertops. I don’t know if they have their own name. I’m sure they do, actually, but I don’t care enough about cabinets to google it.
So I said Michael-Scott Earle is back online. You can get his back catalog of books at his website, but now the Kickstarter for the next Tamer book is up. It’s doing okay – It got funded in under 3 hours, and as of when I’m writing this, it’s only $5K from the $50K stretch goal of increasing the word count of the story from 80K to 100K. (Most of the rest of his novels are around 80K for comparison.) The nutty thing about MSE is that’s like 2 extra days of writing for him.
Anyway, if you’re not familiar with Tamer yet and only listen to audiobooks, there’s good news. MSE has decided to redo the Tamer audiobooks because he’s thinking he probably can’t get back the guy who did the first few now a year later. The great thing about this is the new narrator is actually 2 narrators. There’s a guy doing narration and male dialog, and a woman doing all the female dialog, and man, is it so much better than listening to a guy read female dialog in falsetto. The other great thing is the first book is free, and the second book might be free, but they’re both pay what you like, and I chipped in a few bucks so I’m not sure. Actually I think the second book is $1 to download cause it costs him a little bit each time, but still free to stream, so check them out.
Double res version will be posted over at Patreon. Feel free to contribute as much as you like!
SuperheroThey're super, thanks for asking!
Meatspace ComicSeriously these are awesome. Check 'em out!
Not UpdatingNo longer updating or only updates sporadically, but definitely worth reading.
SeriouslySeriously you guys. If you like Grrl Power the check these out.
"Mature"Mature subject matter and occasionally something explicit but usually safe. Can't guarantee the ads are safe though.
Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
Figured Bodie was simply sitting on the table and leaning on her knees (which is what Leon is looking at in panel six) to bring her head down to Sydney’s level
OK I have a link for an ongoing discussion of poly and the difficulty in making it work, and the even greater difficulty of a poly person in a mono relationship (there is a character like that in the comic)
https://kimchicuddles.com/
Thank you thank you thank you!
I know this will sound foolish, but a year or so ago in a tabletop RPG I run, one of the Pc’s wanted to try to structure a polyamorous relationship, and I had -no- idea how to work it. It actually turned sort-of friction-ful and contentious, and I fear it was part of how the game eventually collapsed. Since then I’ve been trying to figure out how to portray it in a better way, and I think your link is very, very helpful towards my better understanding.
So far, Sydney seems to be on the right track for this kind of relationship. She knows and seems to respect both of the others in this potentials relationship, by she still needs to get to know them outside of work and in a more relaxed atmosphere. This all likely take a while to sort out, as they all three have their own personalities and quirks. Being that they’re all three nerds and each knows it, gives them a good starting point.
Perhaps living together in the same apartment, with three bedrooms, could be away to get to know each other’s good side and bad ones. Two and three way dates with each other, could also work towards a sable three way relationship.
But hey, what do I know? I’ve only lived in a few households with multiple women, (not related to me) off and on for twenty years. Not in a poly relationship, although I did have relationships with a few of these women, it wasn’t at the same time, and everyone knew about it.
No.
Leon put up with it and likes her anyway, but there was zero respect coming from Sydney to be found in the whole discussion in episodes 734 and 735. She was out of line.
If we are being real about that conversation it was a train wreck on all accounts. If Krona is against the idea at all she should have squashed it immediately, so either she is actually thinking about it, or she is kicking herself for not squashing it. Leon didn’t understand what was happening the whole time, causing even more confusion for everyone. I don’t think that Sydney didn’t have respect for them, or for their relationship, but I definitely think that she jumped that gun far too fast. But considering the insanely harrowing circumstances she just escaped from, I think an extra dose of her meds were probably in order, and failed to be complied with. Not to say that she didn’t want to say any of that, but that it affected her ability to say it the way, or at the time she wanted to.
she initially was in shock at finding out and was confused and her experiences with cora probably gave her the wrong idea with how hard this kind of things are, to be fair cora is dabbler’s friend and probably an actual expert at this of stuff sydney, krona and leon obviously are noobies and are learning as they go, sydney has always been a “talk first ask questions later” and this kind of backfires constantly, its just that this time is a little bit more personal
she at least asked if such a thing was posible some people would try to take leon from krona behind her back
The “About” section of this webcomic needs to be updated. For the past year or so, a HUGE portion of the releases have been about free love and polyamorous relationships. … Like WAY more than you’d see anywhere. Crazy oversexed fraternities and sororities don’t focus on sex as much as this wecomic does.
I’m just saying that this comic is no longer a slice-o-life as much as it is 25% superhero – 15% space – 10% fantasy/horror, and 50% beefcake/cheesecake/sex-talk.
…
Which is fine, if you know what you’re getting into and/or are into that stuff. But, the following is no longer really accurate;
“A comic about super heroines. Well there are guys too but mostly it’s about the girls. Doing the things that super powered girls do. Fighting crime, saving the world, dating, shopping, etc. There’ll be explosions, cheesecake, beefcake, heroes and villains, angels and demons, cyborgs, probably ninjas.”
Which part of the description do you consider inaccurate? It’s very clear about the fact that there’s cheesecake, beefcake, and dating.
You should also consider that this section is only a few minutes long, read all together. It may SEEM to be focusing hard on this, but this is just a very small section in comparison to how long it’s been spread out due to the bi-weekly structure of the comic. That, and it’s called a “Character arc” They happen sometimes. We’re talking about a character who, until now, has only liked one guy at a time, suddenly being faced with the idea that she might legitimately want to be in a relationship with two people/three people at the same time. This… Is… HUGE for some people. It’s also a commitment that a character like Sydney would really have to think on. For the most part, Sydney is pretty white-bread as far as things like dating goes… So the idea of getting all poly-amorous is probably jarring for her.
So instead of jumping head long into something she has no idea how to work, she asks her friends who are in the unique position of not only knowing about that lifestyle, but have likely already experienced some of those pitfalls.
So yea, right now it’s focusing pretty hard on the relationship aspects of things, but not everything can be all action all the time. It’s kind of like how people complained about the Vehemence arc a couple years ago.
We just got out of a space battle. Did you forget that part?
im reading this stuff from the future, its not even close to 50%, just the last fight that hapened against the aliens is larger than all this whole section, the comic has a shit ton of fights, worldbuilding and stuff like that
As a mono in a poly relationship, it isn’t an easy thing to handle all the time. Communication, trust, and a large amount of personal responsibility is important towards making it work. Then again, those same qualities are important in a mono-mono relationship.
Missing a space, second bubble, line 6
You mean, ‘involvedis’ is not a word? o_O
Quick! Get Susie Dent on the line and check if that’s correct :P
Tables are supposed except when not. some people do have high tables with chairs to match. level with countertops. And I as a short guy have no idea why
Tall people, maybe? I have a friend who is 6’1″ and his wife is also tall. When they had their kitchen remodeled the had the countertops lifted a couple inches as the typical height was a bit to low for their comfort in food prep, etc.
Some people like to sit on the other side of the food-prep counter and talk to the person preparing the food
Have seen a number of, basically, open-plan kitchen areas with a work-area with a higher-placed counter behind it, and people like to sit at the counter and talk, requiring fancy bar-stools (usually costing more than an actual bar is worth :P )
A previous rent had those tall chairs and they worked fine because the countertop had no overhang. Then the kitchen got remodeled so the countertop was recessed. The chairs no longer fit properly… Your legs would just barely fit if you squashed them against underside of the counter. More than one drunk person got their leg jammed and fell over. A later rent had the same chairs but the countertop was raised so you could sit comfortably with your drinks.
I think it’s not always intentional.
Sydney, you are not THAT cute, stop with your shit comments like your last one
Also, if you are surrounded by male friends, why would you want female friends who “aren’t into a bunch of girly things”?
Goodness. You seem awfully upset about a fictional woman online having preferences you personally disagree with.
Umm, what? o_O
The first part was referring to Sydney calling Bodie ‘sexist’
The second part was about how Sydney said she wanted more female friends, who, basically, weren’t feminine
Pretty sure she was joking with Harem. She does consider her a friend, and Harem considers her a friend. But Harem’s a friend with whom Sydney does not share almost anything in common (case in point – the nightclub).
It’s not the first time she has said stuff like that, and it was mostly a callback to Leon saying that it is just as well she is cute on the last page
And Bodie was simply confirming the things Sydney doesn’t want from a female friend (ie ‘the girly things’)
Guesticus, take it within context. She’s clearly joking here. It’s being absurdly telegraphed by their facial expressions and Harem is taking it with an amused grin on her face as well.
Yes, which is what the comment was intended as well
It’s still not the first time she has made similar comments (the first panel is a prime example, until Bodie called her out on her preconceptions, which lead directly to the next three panels)
Honestly a bit confused on what we’re arguing about now :)
Presumably to get a different perspective on things she’s interested in, rather than things she’s not.
Except, if she currently only has male friends, guessing they wouldn’t be into a bunch of girly things
We already know that Sydney is more of a Tomboy, and not much into ‘girly things’
First, it seems that most of Sydney’s friends are girls, and especially Max, who isn’t into girly things. She also is friends of sorts with Dabbler, who isn’t into “girly” so much as Sexy Things.
Second, forget all that. Picture instead, Dabbler and Sydney making cookies together in apron and panties, and Sydney telling the gathered audience, “Avert your eyes!”
No, Sydney knows a lot of girls (only because Archon is full of them), that doesn’t mean Sydney is friends with any of them, or she wouldn’t make that comment in panel five
Right. As far as friends, she has the co-owner of her comic shop, and … who else? She is potentially a friend to anyone in archon, but ACTUALLY? Like, which ones would know anything personal about her that we haven’t seen on screen?
Sciona knows stuff…
what we all ASSUME was Sydney getting Capri-Sun’ed and that triggered Krona’s Save-Point…. NOPE… that’s just what she TOLD everybody…
it was ACTUALLY her and Sciona having a good ‘ole fashioned Heart-to-Heart conversation about BOYS and Sydney was mortified that she slip about her crush on Tony (Olivia’s half-brother and cousin) and THAT’S what REALLY set off the Save-Point… so she had to play it off somehow that still let her save face what with her going all wobbly-kneed over him and all…
:D
“…there’s a bit more…. but it’s a good start…”
She is talking to Sydney, and her ADHD has reached mythical gossip levels in ARC.
She knew she had to keep the summary short and simple.
Harems face at side view doesn’t seem to match her front view. Everything below her nose is too far forward. Maybe it’s just me.
Fairly sure those three panels are deliberate, and not how she normally looks
I’m kinda amazed how the fanbase is passionnate about table height
The fanbase is passionate about many things :D
Clearly you’ve never been stuck with the wrong chair and desk/table/counter combination – it’s extremely awkward and uncomfortable. Everyone, especially those with a desk job, should take a moment to learn about ergonomics and get the right setup, being misaligned will mess you up long term.
what happens when a person with one consciousness and 5 brains starts breathing manually.
they start making silly fart noises with their hands
You are correct about the complexities of dissolution of a committed poly relationship. I was in a circle of 5 for twenty years: I’ll call myself 1, male married to female 2, 1 also in love with female 3 who is married to male 4, 4 also in love with female 2, 1 also in love with female 5 who is also in love with female 3.(I don’t know how clear the numerical description turned out to be – it was two couples in a quad, overlapping a triad with female 5 + one member of each couple). 1-4 owned a house together, each couple had two kids, 5 had her own house. Four years ago 2 asked for a divorce (remarried immediately to another male when 4 decided not to run off with her, as she’d expected), none of us could afford to buy the others out so we had to sell the giant house, 1 3 4 and 5 moved to a smaller one. Figuring out what to do with twenty years of accumulated crap, plus our childrens’ crap, was an endless headache. Fine now, though.
I feel like I need a scorecard to keep up. :)
Diagrams help…
A scorecard might help. Here’s a diagram:
5f
/ \
1m — 3f
|| ||
2f —- 4m
I feel like I’m in Organic Chemistry again.
…..5(f)…….
…/……\……
1(m)—3(f)
||………||…
2(f)…..4(m)
(spaces weren’t conserved in the original version, here it is again with a matrix of periods to maintain spacing…)
Harem, stretching your face forward like that is not your best look.
It’s… supposed to be an exaggerated expression
Sure, but it almost looks like she has a muzzle. No amount of overdoing your expressions is going to give you a baboon’s skull.
Just remember: this, is a comic, it’s not real (and some people can jut their lower out for a similar look, Jim Carry for a start)
First Leon isn’t worth the trouble. Second Sydney is just being a jerk inserting herself unasked for in another’s relationship. Third where are the superhero groupies. Fourth I hope we can back to the funny stuff or the violent stuff instead of this wish fulfillment stuff.
“where are the superhero groupies” So far we have only seen one, Suzie Wen. :)
You forgot the crowd at the comic shop (specially the girl who Sydney marked)
Groupies, not fans! :)
What’s the difference? o_O
The restraining order?
the restraining order comes later…after the fling with wish fulfillment/worship. except stalkers.. they get the restraining order first.
Followed by the #METOO claims thirty years later, after the grandkids start asking question granny doesn’t feel comfortable with (after twenty years of teaching their kids to be celibate and not even to look at another person without a chaperone)
Thanks for making Harem so hot in the first frame. I needed to be incapable of focus or work today.
Is Leon supposed to be cross-eyed?
Read panel four again, pay special attention to what Sydney was implying and how she viewed what ever she was planning with Leon and Kronachrome
I was really expecting Deus to make an appearance.
That or the crew disposing of the dead bodies.
Maybe in the next installment.
LOVE how you read through your fans comments and took the time to learn more about poly and put it into the comments…. we have enough misinformation out there with reality TV shows, we don’t need it in our comics too! Sure, it’s not comprehensive or perfect but I’m not sure Harem would have a “normal” poly lifestyle considering she’s not one person.
She is one person, with 5 bodies.
why does leo look like he’s been useing trumps taning booth?
Is there, like, a line to date Harem or an application or something? XDD
Sooooo… As much as I enjoy this comic, the way you drew Harem in side profile is incredibly off-putting. Like, if you took her hands away, her jaw would be about a foot long. That’s too much jaw for one face.
Unless this is your first page, then you should know that that is not how she is normally portrayed
actually not all quadruped can swim. Cows for example will sink no matter how much they doggy paddle, because their anuses can’t fully close and they just fill with water.
I think Harem’s profile in these panels didn’t quite match her facial structure when drawn from other angles. For instance the skeletal structure, the relative size and position of her facial features, these seem to have changed when seen from the side.
Y’know, Harem does make a remarkably committed friend for Sydney, even if their interests are drastically divergent.
I’d kinda love to see a Recruits Only kinda buddy adventure at some point.
If the psychopath test can be so easily (and obviously) falsified, is it really a legitimate test?