Grrl Power #992 – Infernal relationships be like…
Sure, “Fiend” is not a direct equivalent because “Baby Eater” is far too specific. Fiend is more of an umbrella catch-all for half and quarter demon/devil mixes, plus assorted other miscellaneous Infernals.
Demons, even during their wardeathdoom phase, are sociologically hierarchical, and have a need to fight their way as high as they can. It’s a critical survival skill for them to assess their chances of taking on the next higher guy though. Now that demons are coming out of this live and die by tooth claw and giant-metal-vaguely-sword-shaped-thing era into a more civilized society, there’s still an urge to establish your place in whatever hierarchy is prevalent. Of course, this is being twisted into trendy consumer… uh, trends. Like instead of a girl wearing her boyfriend’s letterman jacket or his class ring, a lot of demon girls like being collared. Or the other way around. An Erinyes isn’t going to let herself be seen in a Draegloth’s collar, after all. (Unless the Draegloth is like some nerd who is really good at Cthonic Lore and she needs a tutor and he’s like “Okay, but you have to go on a date with me in my collar… yes, to a different layer of the Abyss where no one will know us. I don’t know, I was thinking the Layer of the Flayed? Yeah, it’s all skin. Like, the ground, the clouds, street lights, rivers. I don’t know how it works. I thought it would be interesting… really? Willikers, that’s great! Hmm? Oh, I don’t know if I can afford a collar that nice… No no! I’ll figure something out!” And Devil Roger Ebert gave the movie a thumbs up.)
Dabbler’s face looks just a little too excited in that last panel. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going for when I started drawing it, maybe like she was trying to bite back a smile, but then just went with the full sadistic grin. She obviously knew what Maxima’s reaction was likely to be.
Tamer: Enhancer 2 – Progress Update:
About 3/4 done with my editing pass. The more recently written chapters need a bit more editing as I haven’t already gone through them a dozen times when I was reading instead of writing.
October’s vote incentive is up! This is a redraw of a comic I did in 2011 I think, but never published. I had originally pictured the comic going through an establishment phase, and then taking occasional breaks from the storylines for little one-off moments like these. Which I guess I could still do. I just got wrapped up in the story telling and forgot.
So Dabbler and Sydney are up late one evening on night watch but Dabbler has just discovered Cinemax…
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It was in that moment Tom knew he fucked up.
Wow I was thinking this exact phrase!
As was I. LOL
“You dun goofed.”
I think this was a common line of thought for the commentariat. Narrated in Waylon Jennings’ voice.
Ayup and it’s one of those things where them Duke Boys look at each other and “Nope, not getting involved and walk away”
p.s. dang, I’m old for a 1st year Xer.
This needs to be narrated by Angry Joe (Vargaz) :)
almost as requested
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0LzwnN_Xlk
It was also in that moment that Sydney knew to start recording.
Is Sydny being Maxes bad angel? ??? Dun Dun DUNNNNNNNN!
She’s providing menacing backlighting.
This just stopped being ‘cute’.
Max needs to rip his head off and send it back without his body.
Assuming Maxima is invulnerable to anything anyone in Thothogoth’s army can dish out….
Other people are not. She does that, many many humans will die, and probably many of her friends who are not as invulnerable as she is.
That being said, Thothogoth hasnt struck me as being particularly smart on strategy either.
Damned right.
This guy is a goof, trying to fill some kind of imagined role for himself that he’s not very good at. He doesn’t actually want to conquer Earth; He wants to be the guy who conquered Earth. Or at least the guy who gets the cool reputation for it. Or something like that.
But him being a goof doesn’t matter. I mean, it absolutely doesn’t. Goof or not he is in command of forces and is making an invasion threat, and his life was forfeit the instant his threat became credible. If he has no idea what game he’s playing or how serious it is, then it will be sad if he’s killed. But winning the game – meaning ending that credible threat by whatever means necessary – is absolutely the end game and if that means he winds up dead, tough toenails.
That said, invasion is a game where you don’t fuck around with not knowing what the hell you’re doing, you don’t fuck around with getting distracted, you don’t give the enemy access to your leader or their staff unnecessarily, and you don’t get delayed shagging your girlfriend after giving them enough of a headsup to call in an airstrike on your position.
And invasion is a game where if you fuck around doing those things, nobody misses you even a little bit, both before and after you get killed.
If he didn’t want to die he should not have stepped on the playing field and proceeded to make losing moves.
I don’t think there’s much evidence that his threat was credible. I think pretty much everything that’s followed his threat has demonstrated that it is not credible.
And when his idea of an invasion begins with showing his targets a presentation about the benefits of changing their system of government to one which involves him… It begins to sound a lot more like an election campaign than an invasion.
Though I begin to suspect people regard election campaigns with the same level of hostility, so maybe that’s a moot point.
I agree with everything you said :)
An invasion threat that can be completely stopped after a minute, a single bodyslam, and some sex does not seem like much of an invasion threat.
What about Sydney’s face in panels 5 & 6. I think she is eager to see Max unleash as well :)
Time to reinstate the force-field orb! Maybe grab flight as well.
I half expected Sydney to have her “Popcorn Emote” up for her background appearence XD
There is not enough popcorn in the universe for that level.
Of course Dabbler look exited in the last panel. Max and Tom fighting over her must be a dream come true for her.
What orb is Sydney using to backlight Max here?
Her phone.
She’s got a utility belt as well as her orbs, remember?
;-p
great photo,
and here is Maxima pulling an Empress of Darkness move on the demon lord by grabbing and slowly crushing his head with one hand.
*which come to think of it she did this to a mannekiller with a heated hand as well, now we wander how many living opponents she has ENDED fights with by crushing their heads.
What’s Sydney doing in panels 5 and 6?
Cellphone Video recording?
I hope she’s holding it sideways.
Mood Lighting, cant be hella scary without copious of backlighing making you look sinister as all hell.
RIGHT! looks like shes at lest getting a few good snapshots.
This is really Dabbler’s day, isn’t it?
You know, given Dabbler’s… willfulness? And the way the meeting with Tom has gone thusfar, you’d think max would recognize that that word probably means something different to them than it would on earth.
Granted max and thinking twice about such things don’t exactly go together, and I’m sure anyone on earth’s knee jerk reaction to that interplay would be “woah what?!” At the very least, but still.
Cultural relativism and all that, but at the same time It kinda gives me vibes of someone trying to white knight in an interaction that anyone who had seen the context for would realize was consensual, just kinky. Sure maybe the kinky stuff shouldn’t be happening in public, but it’s also not warranting your judge mental ass stepping in.
Not sure if that makes sense outside my own brain, but now I’m imagining Max ending up at a bondage club and treating the guys there as potential abusers despite it literally being a club for people who want the interactions they’re getting.
… now I want to see Max fight a bondage themed villain. Sorry, channeling Sydney
Do not ever be sorry for channeling Sydney.
White knighting would be in character for Maxima.
Sounds like the kinky stuff I imagine Deus would like. Seems like a typical sub to me. You bet he would like to be in Toms shoes right now.
A crossover with Empowered perhaps?
Yup.
If it was a kink, Dabbler would have opened with that.
So would Tom, for that matter. I get the feeling it’s a bit more complex.
yes people that are aware that multiple kinds exist, tend to preface that they volunteered.
There is a comic series called “League of Super Redundant Heroes” and as the name might suggest, it is a very satirical view on the superhero troupe, with many strange and funny occurences. At some point, there comes “The Spank”, who gets invited to the best superhero group (like the Avengers). Imagine a guy dressed in a bdsm suit, constantly with a ball gag in his mouth and questionable in every sense, becoming the best hero in the group and defeating really powerful enemies…
Now i would love to see The Spank fight Max :3
Ooh yeah, me to! Both him and the Banana!
Dude just showed up, spouting off about invasion, subjugation, and now refering to someone as his chattel property.
Nope. It’s time to demonstrate that we speak the language: rip him apart, literally, and send his head back with nothing else attached to it.
channeling my sorceress queen Rhulan
*You come here demanding MY loyalty, threatening to invade MY lands, Subjugate MY people, and call MY subordinate YOUR slave? Pray now to whatever god you worship so I may know who else to kill for this insult.
Yes. SO YES!
It occurs to me I’m literally playing devil’s advocate here. Okay, Fiend’s advocate. Close enough.
But….
“You come here demanding MY loyalty,”
He didnt actually demand loyalty. He was making an offer given that Earth is now in the Xevoarchy’s crosshairs.
He might have eventually, but saying he already did is premature.
“spouting off about invasion”
He never said he was invading. The closest was his assistant asking if they were going to invade, then saying they were NOT invading, that this was a booty call instead.
“Subjugate MY people”
He literally said the opposite. That he was NOT offering subjugation.
“and call MY subordinate YOUR slave”
Dabbler literally said she IS his slave, and seems okay with it. In context, this sounds like something consentual or voluntary, so probably not the same as a plantation owner or pharoah of egypt sort of relationship. More like a dominatrix, or perhaps a Lord/Serf relationship. Tom also mentioned a pact, so in demon talk, it could refer to contractual obligations that Dabbler agreed to do in exchange for other goods or services or promises provided by Tom.
” Pray now to whatever god you worship so I may know who else to kill for this insult.”
Responding to words (and worse, words that he didn’t even say) with violence and attempted murder does not actually make Maxima the good guy in the scenario. And that’s saying a lot, given ‘the other guy’ is a literal Fiend.
Like I’ve said elsewhere… the ONLY person here who has engaged in violence has been Maxima. Multiple times. Everyone else has used words or, with Dabbler, lots and lots of consensual sex.
Also Dabbler is acting very relaxed and friendly (very ”friendly” indeed, hehehe) to Tom. Affectionate even. For all her flaws she is a intelligent and good person who wouldn’t take unnecessary risks with any potential threats to her friends or have sex with a evil slaver.
Yes, that’s true as well.
I am under the impression the collar and slave thing is the demon culture’s version of “marriage” or closest concept to it; with the hints being the whole arrangement thing, how she’s acted despite avoiding him, and the foreshadowing moment a few pages back where Sydney outright asked if they were married and Dabbler said its complicated.
These are all very good points, however situation wise you did miss one important thing
“channeling my sorceress queen Rhulan”
as in this was a mental character switching role play monologue, imagining this other character in the same situation (which they actually kind of have been once or twice, off the top of my head remembering one ending with a beheaded god and another a Cthulhu expy on the receiving end of a painful nut shot).
However only looking at dialogue I can see the confusion, personality wise these two aren’t too dissimilar as far as I can tell (I take it DaveB and I both were inspired by characters like Wonder Woman and Lina Inverse for that aspect among others),
now as far as I can tell so far comparing Rhulan and Maxima, they are both short tempered, have some trouble reading the room, super protective of their friends, if not for a morality chain (or politics) may resort to lethal force as an opening act, are used to violence solving their problems because as far as they know they are the most powerful being around and have had little experience with anyone stronger or not just blowing up or crushing the skull of their enemy with one hand…which Rhulan has done that too (for example in an erotic fanfic she did that to Dracula…not linking per comic rules),
Anywho, I could see Maxima when fighting an eldritch horror going for the “weak spot” upon realizing it has one and when it complains about heroes shouldn’t do that saying things like, “Who told you I was the hero?”
for Maxima I could see that line followed with “I’m a soldier”, (Who told you I’m a hero? I’m a soldier!) and then blast the human sacrifice demanding cuttlefish headed monster’s head off
“as in this was a mental character switching role play monologue,”
I understand. :) I’m just saying that mental character would be wrong in her reasoning, not that it wouldn’t be in character. :)
“(I take it DaveB and I both were inspired by characters like Wonder Woman and Lina Inverse for that aspect among others),”
I’ve honestly always found Wonder Woman to be one of the most boring characters because of her lack of any ‘kryptonite weakness’ equivalent and her arrogance. Especially in comic runoffs like Injustice, where her siding with Superman goes SO far against her character just so she can be on the winning side. But that is an alternate Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman of New Earth does defeat her in the video game. I just find other characters to be less one-dimensional, like Supergirl or Barda or Cassandra Cain. Or sometimes Power Girl if you use her Elseworlds origin story arc with Huntress.
“now as far as I can tell so far comparing Rhulan and Maxima, they are both short tempered, have some trouble reading the room, super protective of their friends, if not for a morality chain (or politics) may resort to lethal force as an opening act, are used to violence solving their problems because as far as they know they are the most powerful being around and have had little experience with anyone stronger or not just blowing up or crushing the skull of their enemy with one hand”
Not disagreeing with your assessment of the character. Just that it seems to make for a boring and somewhat annoying character if she bases her reasoning on something that’s not accurate, in order to have the audience or readership think that she’s doing something intelligent or correct in her violent act. Which Maxima sometimes is. She was best when she was fighting Sciona. She was vastly stronger than her as well, but Sciona at least had backup plans upon backup plans upon backup plans, and wasn’t made an ABSOLUTE pathetic fool of.
I honestly had higher hopes for Thothogoth, given he was on the boss level splash page, but so far he’s pretty much a pathetic lackey joke character with the sole purpose being to show how powerful Maxima is. It doesnt make for a good boss character.
Honestly it’s sort of like how Kylo Ren is a pathetic joke character as well, since every time he fights Rey, he loses, embarrassingly so, despite being set up to be a powerful force user. As a result, I am totally uninvested in looking at him as a dangerous opponent. Same as I am with Thothogoth now. Whereas with Sciona, I still see her as a brilliant villain who is still a dangerous threat, even though she has SOME level of sympathy now that she’s doing her actions for her people’s survival instead of just for power.
I don’t feel that way about Thothogoth anymore, since he’s basically been a buttmonkey of getting his butt kicked. It’s like Muhammed Ali fighting a disabled but bratty and mouthing-off teenager. Sure you might not like the teenager but it’s just not a fair or interesting contest, and it doesnt make me think Muhammed Ali is awesome. It just makes me think he’s punching down against someone who just says annoying things but is not a remotely serious threat to him.
Admittedly there’s the chance that there will be some sort of turnaround on this but I sincerely doubt it now.
“for Maxima I could see that line followed with “I’m a soldier”, (Who told you I’m a hero? I’m a soldier!)”
Yeah but there are two types of soldiers in this scenario. The Dolph Lundgren Universal Soldier who collects ears and just loves a-killin because he’s psycho, and the Jean Claude Van Damme Universal Soldier who will kill if he has to but not if the mission doesn’t require it. :)
If Thothogoth had actually at least ATTACKED first, I’d be like ‘Okay, everything Maxima is doing is justified.’
But he hasnt. In fact, since the initial flip by Maxima and following romp in the hay with Dabbler, he hasnt been even remotely violent at all. He hadnt been beforehand either but now there’s NO argument that he even might be in the future. The worst he did is use a word that Maxima did not like, where Maxima does not understand the context which is obviously different than what she’s taking offense at, to a DIFFERENT PERSON, who is NOT taking offense at the word. Which makes Maxima look like a bully, not a soldier.
Okay should probably bring this back to the main point.
That being, it’s pretty easy to argue that Maxima is NOT in the right in any way here to be using physical violence to this extent. Over a word. When the result of what she’s doing could result in a war in which many people DEFINITELY WILL DIE because she can’t keep ahold of her temper.
Again, over a single word being used to someone else who doesnt seem to mind the word that was used, when it’s clearly in a different context for infernals than for humans.
So if there’s a war and anyone was to die from it, I’d say it’s Maxima’s fault, because Maxima would have set off a war. And she should know better as a lieutenant colonel.
There would not be any good excuses. There was no invasion. There wasn’t even a threat of an invasion anymore. ANY potential danger of any significant chance had clearly already passed, and they were very clearly in the ‘talking’ stage instead.
On the creative process, I have to say this as you over emphasized Wonder Woman.
I can’t speak for DaveB, can’t even say if the character was an inspiration for him.
in my case Wonder Woman was like the fourth or fifth character I drew inspiration from, hell the original Rhulan was based on a dream I had that clearly merged Lina Inverse and Naga the White Serpent from the anime Slayers into a single character (in fact in the early stories; which none have survived save for one *The Dark World*, Rhulan was dressed very much like Naga including the shoulder pads (had so many accessories in mind on her too that got written out over time), took a page or two based on the evil queen from Battle Toads for outfit and some backstory roles, Maleficent, and Wonder Woman (based on the DCAU version such as Justice League and Justice League Unlimited), hell there is even some Scarlet Witch and Dragon Ball and various other anime references mixed in over time.
and being a fantasy based character and setting the exact circumstances are considerably different than the situations Maxima has to deal with, that and not exacting being a “good guy” in the strictest sense *hell half the time she’s basically a villain and her actions while explained through moments of insanity are not really excusable and can be downright horrific (I said Scarlet Witch was a partial inspiration after all),
that aside, I do mostly agree that Maxima is over reacting and despite her earlier attempts to handle this peacefully is letting her anger get the better of her; however I will argue that it isn’t unprecedented as we saw her yell at the guy who made the Burqa remark despite the implication he had done this multiple times so she should know he is doing it to get these reactions (which granted is still work place harassment),
but yes, this is why I said (reading the room), and used to violence being the answer. This alien stuff is new, and she clearly has had dealings with the Twilight Council, whom have clearly spelled out their own methods for dealing with supernatural beings who try to make trouble for them and humans like world domination or whatever has been very direct and violent (to say the least),
so this is her overreacting and the one she is overreacting to being a demonic fiend who has expressed intent to invade, incite treason, and rule over Earth. But yes, Dabbler has been playing peacemaker this whole time and Sydney about had this derailed, but Thothy Gothy triggered Maxima (there is a good reason she is not in public relations and Arianna was iffy about her having public appearances too often, heck she made a point of turning the dog and pony show reveal of supers into a direct threat to anyone who would challenge them. Add that she had zero emotional or any other kind of prep, this guy made his appearance by apparently zeroing in on Vehemence’s energy and punching his way into the Earth realm like he was the bastard son of Shao Khan and Trigon. So she has likely been amped for a fight this whole time and its just Dabbler and Sydney keeping this from turning into a interdimensional incident that gives whatever Hell or netherworld this is a bigger excuse to invade than they already had set up.
in short, Maxima not the talker type, she the punch till they stop moving type, Arianna and maybe General Faulk and/or Zephan would be a better fit for a sit down with the Infernal Courts, not the field commander of what is effectively Super Swat Team Alpha.
” I do mostly agree that Maxima is over reacting and despite her earlier attempts to handle this peacefully is letting her anger get the better of her; however I will argue that it isn’t unprecedented”
Yeah I know. I agree with all that. I’m not saying her temper is not unprecedented. I’m saying it makes her more annoying and less likeable as a character many people would want to root for in a narrative sense.
And btw, I do like Maxima as a flawed character because perfect characters are boring and Mary Sues/Gary Stus. Maxima is not a Mary Sue. She’s arrogant, but so are people like Tony Stark. She always thinks she’s right, but so do people like Steve Rogers. She does thinks without thinking, but so do people like the Hulk. So all that’s cool – it means she’s not the perfect person. And given that she has no real kryptonite weakness, the only thing we really have to rely on are her behavioral weaknesses. A lot of people have tried to compare her to Superman, but Superman has higher morals than Maxima, is more responsible, and has actual weaknesses to keep him in check… usually, unless you write for Injustice, in which case it’s a 50/50 shot of weaknesses actually working on him.
It’s just she becomes less and less likeable as a character the less she gets any sort of consequences for her temper-based actions. Also she becomes more boring and annoying when she ONLY punches down with zero chance of any risk to herself (much like Sentry, who is an AWFUL Marvel character), with the exception of Vehemence and Sciona (who was weaker but so much better at strategy that it made up for being weaker).
“This alien stuff is new, and she clearly has had dealings with the Twilight Council”
It’s NOT new though. She’s been going to Council meetings or been aware of the Council for a while BEFORE Archon went public. She should know better and behave better than a child having a tantrum and hurting others because they said a mean word (or at least mean as far as she knew). Especially when the result, to in anything remotely realistic, could be a situation where many people will die as a result of her actions, plunging Earth into war AFTER THE THREAT OF INVATION WAS ALREADY GONE. :)
“so this is her overreacting and the one she is overreacting to being a demonic fiend who has expressed intent to invade,”
He did not express an intent to invade. It was a booty call with his lady. :)
“incite treason,”
He was not inciting or saying he was going to incite treason. Maybe if Maxima would watch the powerpoint presentation she wouldnt jump to such conclusions. Then again, powerpoint presentations could just drive her insane and turn her into Dark Maxima as Sydney feared.
“and rule over Earth.”
He was claiming he would want it to be more of being in an advisory position, in order to give Earth a clean slate with the Xevoarchy. Which is apparently true because the Earth is in the Xevoarchy’s crosshairs because of the immense danger they pose to the rest of the galaxy, given humanity’s warlike nature and primitive technology which they use to kill each other with alarming frequency.
Fortunately we have Deus, who is the shining beacon of hope for the galaxy and the one person who can show the Xevoarchy that humanity is not a danger, and is in fact an advanced and noble species, all praise Deus amen.
Where was I? Oh yes…
“But yes, Dabbler has been playing peacemaker this whole time”
Correct- which means any sort of danger was already OVER, not that there was much danger in the first place.
“and Sydney about had this derailed,”
It wasnt that derailed. Tom was mostly pouting and having his feelings hurt by unfairly implied racism, not being physically attacked.
“but Thothy Gothy triggered Maxima”
I don’t care if he even started spouting off Yo Mama jokes. Words should not result in crushing people’s skulls. Especially not a single word, said to someone ELSE, who did not take offense to it, of which Maxima clearly did not have full context. Especially for a Lt. Colonel who is supposed to be representing the United States.
“Add that she had zero emotional or any other kind of prep,”
Then she shouldn’t be a Lt. Colonel. :) If her only reason for being a Lt. Colonel is her superpower level, and not any actual skills in leading and setting an example, then she can be a major or sergeant instead. Something where someone else who has more of a cooled head can make better decisions, like Hiro.
“this guy made his appearance by apparently zeroing in on Vehemence’s energy and punching his way into the Earth realm”
Doesn’t matter. Any danger from Thothogoth had already passed. There was no longer any danger, and therefore no reason for physical force.
“So she has likely been amped for a fight this whole time”
Then she should excuse herself and let Hiro or someone handle it if she’s just ITCHING for a fight when one isnt needed. Especially if war can occur if she starts killing other beings because they piss her off with words. Or get Arianna on the phone.
“in short, Maxima not the talker type, she the punch till they stop moving type, Arianna and maybe General Faulk and/or Zephan would be a better fit for a sit down with the Infernal Courts, not the field commander of what is effectively Super Swat Team Alpha.”
Correct. Which is why anything negative that would happen as a result of this would be Maxima’s fault. If a war was to break out, even if she started by crushing Tom’s head, and anyone who isnt utterly invulnerable like she is, got so much as injured as a result, it’s Maxima’s fault. She put Harem through boot again because she had a discipline problem. But lets be honest. Pot calling the kettle black. :)
PS, I liked the visual of ‘The bastard love child of Shao Khan and Trigon,’ Rhuen. :)
+1 internet for that hilarity.
I will add also about the splash page of villains.
I feel you and others have taken that page and over hyped its importance. We don’t even know if half of those were even planned characters or random inserts. So no nothing is explicitly stated (as far as I know) that everyone of them is or was ever intended to be a “Boss” character. hell the one old guy just looked like a generic cultist nut believing the appearance of supers implied the rapture or something and ends up getting arrested by local authorities or something. (Hey, maybe he will be plot relevant), but as some may say, not every chekov’s gun is loaded and not ever foreshadow has depth.
“I feel you and others have taken that page and over hyped its importance.”
Only because DaveB has listed the people on that page as ‘boss level’ characters.
And with the exception of the brave and noble and paragon of virtue, Deus (praise be upon him, amen), they are all villains. Boss level villains mean they’re supposed to be important and more dangerous adversaries than your standard villain. But this guy gives Maxima less trouble than Hench Wench. This guy gives Maxima A LOT less trouble than the Super Mannekiller. Heck, even Brut gave her more trouble than this ‘boss level character.’ At least with Brut he managed to mildly inconvenience her a bit by ruining her clothes.
“So no nothing is explicitly stated (as far as I know) that everyone of them is or was ever intended to be a “Boss” character.”
1) I think it has been stated, actually. More like ‘real threats’ than ‘boss level’ but I think the word boss has been used as well. Not sure where but probably in one of DaveB’s blurbs. Plus just from a Chekov’s Gun storytelling motif, you don’t generally make a splash page like that for no reason.
When the people on that page are not boss characters-level threats, they’ve been working FOR a boss character (like the vampires with Sciona). The only way Thothogoth has left to be relevant as a threat is to be boss character adjacent, like the vampires were. And honestly I am not sure that will happen because it doesnt seem to be leading in that direction. It seems to be more leading into Maxima being a power fantasy sort of deal. Which has it’s place, admittedly, as fun in the short term, but is not that fun for a long term narrative with as much build-up as thothogoth has gotten to his debut.
2) Look who else is in the list.
(a) Vehemence… who almost killed Maxima.
(b) The vampires, who work for Sciona who has managed to escape Maxima multiple times, who has creations which were able to match up with Maxima, and who actually did succeed in her ultimate plan to get back to Alar (although she didnt plan on the Squidwards wiping her planet out before she got there).
(c) Some arabic guy who is likely the only other person (before Sciona and Vehemence) to ever fight Maxima to a standstill, who Maxima thinks is dead
And two other people who have not made an appearance yet, along with Thothogoth.
So the ones we DO know anything about seem to be genuine threats to Maxima where she wouldnt be punching DOWN. Except for Thothogoth, who is pretty pathetic so far as a villain.
“but as some may say, not every chekov’s gun is loaded and not ever foreshadow has depth.”
Then not sure of the point of having the chekov’s gun in the first place. It makes it feel like filler instead of part of the narrative. And in a webcomic setting where we see one page every few days, that makes the pace slow to a glacial pass if we waste months or longer reading something that ultimately has no point to the story. And from what I’ve seen, DaveB tends to not do that. He seems very focused usually on each character having a point to being in the story for narrative reasons (except for Hench Wench, who was there well past a good exit point for patreon reasons :) ).
But I can obviously be wrong. Maybe only three of the six villains are actual threats or actual threat-adjacent, and the other three are pathetic scrubs as red herrings to make us think they’ll be cool and instead be Thothogoths.
> Only because DaveB has listed the people on that page as ‘boss level’ characters.
[Citation Needed]
Read further on in my post.
No link.
So you admit that you’re making things up in your own head with that statement?
Cool Beans.
“No link.”
Start reading my posts before you comment to me. It’s annoying, and you’re annoying when you don’t.
“So you admit that you’re making things up in your own head with that statement?”
No, I made up nothing. Read my entire post or don’t comment to my posts. It’s annoying and you’re annoying when you don’t.
“Cool Beans.”
You’re not witty, and neither is your catch phrase.
An argument isn’t a citation.
You do not have a link to DaveB stating anything about that page.
Therefore you do not have a citation, and your statement that they are all “boss level threats” is pure conjecture on your part.
“Therefore you do not have a citation, and your statement that they are all “boss level threats” is pure conjecture on your part.”
If you read my post, it relates to your query despite not giving a citation.
Now… read my entire post or don’t comment to the post. It’s annoying, and you’re annoying when you don’t.
I asked for a citation from the Author.
You continue to fail to provide one.
Instead you provide an argument that supports your point.
Why do you have a problem with me pointing this out?
My post answers your question. Read my entire post or don’t comment to the post. It’s annoying, and you’re annoying when you don’t read it.
Also GrrlPower #982.
> Also GrrlPower #982.
Finally a citation. Was that so hard?
> Huh, we’ve actually met over half the players on that page now. Might have to come up with another gallery of villains soon.
Oh, wait. It doesn’t say anything about them being “boss level”, or even all villians. Just “players”.
Nevermind.
“Finally a citation. Was that so hard?”
You do realize when you ask for citations in between calling me names and insulting me, I’m not as likely to want to go searching for them through 8 years worth of webcomic references, right?
“Oh, wait. It doesn’t say anything about them being “boss level”, or even all villians. Just “players”.”
There were earlier references as well to them being main players’ and ‘main threats’ but you’re literally asking m to go through hundreds of thousands of quotes written in the comments, not just the top blurbs by DaveB, not just what’s written in the comic itself.
#982 shows that there is a special intent meant for that particular page. Why are they the ‘players’ as opposed to all the other characters in the comic? Why is Hench Wench or Brut not in there? Why are the Squidwards not in there? Why is Cora not in there? Why are Lapha and Garamm not in there? Why are the Fel not in there? Why is the spider lady hunter not in there? Why is Chunky McSplatterwall and his robed helpers from the swan yacht not in there?
Because they’re not the main threats for the story arcs.
Because these players hold a special narrative place as particular threats.
Except for Deus who is the light of the world and paragon of humanity and obviously there only because he’s Earth’s only true hope against the other nefarious dangers. All praise Deus, amen.
There are aliens called Baby Eaters in the story “Three Worlds Collide” by Eliezer Yudkowsky. To them “eating babies” and “being a good person” are the same words. Good story with two endings where, if you just tell people about the death toll in both endings people go “wait, you mean the good ending is the one with all those deaths?”. :D
Also maybe I should add that just because they eat babies doesn’t mean they are evil. Don’t be so narrow minded! :-P
After all, some Humans eat babies every day. ‘Baby chickens’ = eggs, ‘baby plants’ = nuts, seeds, beansprouts, etc.
you forgot baby carrots, it’s even right in the name
Those aren’t actual babies is any biological sense. They are just carrots that have been cut and peeled In a certain way because they looked too gross
Dangit you beat me to this. I was going to add something about that. :)
honestly, i just wanted to see what type of responses that would get (if any)
:)
It’s something I found out from watching Binging with Babish. :)
Baby carrots are genuinely very small. It’s not just how they’re cut after picking or peeled during preparation.
Also baby spinach, baby corn, …
That said, it’s my understanding that *most* of the eggs humans eat weren’t fertilized, so they’re not technically baby chickens. But the way the egg industry is run these days, you’d probably never know, as the egg’s basically immediately taken from the mother and subjected to temperature that would kill the baby chick before it grew large enough to see.
Eggs arent really baby chickens since we only eat the unfertilized ones. Same goes for caviar. Caviar that humans eat is not fertilized either. It would drastically change the flavor, not to mention be just gross in general.
Lambchops, however, are definitely delicious babies. Which I don’t eat btw.
Veal, suckling pig, and whatever you call that duckling still in the egg, also meal worms and grubs are larva so also babies
That duckling fetus still in the egg is called balut.
And it’s REALLY gross.
Fermented duck fetus.
You forgot the best(?) part.
…and yes, I have had the requisite experience, and no I will never repeat it.
Bleh, I say. BLEH!
You are a braver woman than I if you’ve had balut.
Reminds me of the Cardassian delicacy of live ‘Taspar.’ Except it’s real, god help me….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X-2d4COiKs
Patrick Stewart was always a great actor, and that is a great scene.
the torture thing is funny because the most recent episode of Helluva Boss even brought that up, and you look at the witch trials, torture is something you do to get the information you already believe, the confession of witchcraft, anything to make the pain stop; not to get information you can actually use.
It’s one of my favorite episodes, aside from the two part ‘Best of Both Worlds’ episodes. The Inner Light was also excellent (the one where Picard had an entire lifetime in 30 seconds from that probe).
And yeah, that’s why torture tends to be a bad method of getting information unless you are in a time crunch and can verify the information quickly. Because it’s highly likely that you will wind up getting the torture victim just admitting to anything to stop the torture, rather than because it’s necessarily the truth.
In my own setting the aliens called, Croon, actually could regard “demon” to mean baby eater as their first encounter with demons (which was also their first encounter with humanoids) was an invasion from Hell that also included demons eating their babies (which are basically giant maggots).
re-reading I only implied it and chose not back then to explicitly write it out.
(story was based on a dream so it reads a tad weird)
https://www.deviantart.com/rhuen1/art/We-are-the-Shoggoths-493351553
On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there are a type of demon called Lurconis… who do eat babies.
I remember them on the show Angel, it was an episode in the bar, which had neglected to include humans in the cannot be violent spell placed on it, so a group of demon hunters who didn’t care if the demons were good or bad raided and tortured those in the bar. One of the demons I believe was one of those, and described in great detail how they eat babies to antagonize one of the hunters.
Yeah, they were in that show as well! I remember that episode.
“Yeah, I eat babies, whattabout it?”
Heh, I had a scene in my head ages ago that just never made sense to work into a story.
A Croon delegatio0n *think wingless centaur crickets but both halves are crickets for quick visualization*, has gone to try and make peace with hell and are before a Hell Walker *hundred foot tall demon queen*, however their peace talks are difficult as she has a bowl of fried Croon Larva on her throne she is eating like popcorn and off handedly mentions the Croon farms in Hell they harvest for this “snack”.
annd gut instinct says shes gonna say its their version of saying been married. even though its more open due to succubus rules type thing. so were eather gonna see max go chibi mode and appologize for the mis understanding then go back into serius mode “your still not going to invade” XD
There is a certain point where the pain and impending doom just makes you scream “Fix it!”
Who knew? Maxima’s a distant member of the Von Erich wrestling family!
I mean, she’s got “The Claw” down PAT!
That’s a trip in the wayback machine.
Hey, who parked a Delorean out front?
and why did they chain it to that phone booth?
“It came out of nowhere…“
totally awesome, brichins
Wait, which one? The pay phone, or the police box?
Thothy-boy is really not having a good day, is he. course, getting humiliated as much as he HAS by Maxima, he is likely to try and toss that demonic invasion at Earth. Maybe not now, but very likely when he sees an opening, i.e. if ARC-SWAT is distracted by something else (like, say, a certain Alari Ghost Horde possessing recently-deceased humans).
Not a that bad day. He had a nice reunion with his highschool sweetheart.
True, but he’s also had his ass handed to him. Twice. By the same woman. With little to no effort.
If there’s a game called “Make Max Murderously Angry” Bingo he just won. and it’s gonna be a stupid prize.
I would say by the expression on Dabbler’s face that she just won it.
Playing stupid games tends to win stupid prizes.
maybe it’ll be a booby prize
In a way he have already claimed a booby prize.
Been a while since I’ve commented, but I love seeing Sydney in the background of panels 5 and 6. Between her mischievous grin, her pose, and being prepared enough to provide ominous back-lighting to Maxima, she’s currently at peak Sydney. :)
You know, if I was in his invasion force and seeing this, I would slowly step away from the invasion portal.
Somewhere even Deus is like “holy shit.”
Is anyone at all surprised that Tom and Dabbler’s “arraingment” involves consentual non-consent?
Also, go back far enough in human history, and wivers were slaves by another name.
“… and wivers were slaves by another name.”
You don’t have to go far back at all. Dog-faced baboons and Pan troglodytes both treat females as personal property. Baboons are far more savage, to the point we wonder what ever were early naturalists were thinking when they were included as Primates.
However, looking at some human societies — some are much closer than you think, both geographically and temporally — we can understand how baboons and chimps got to be classed as First Animals.
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=wife has a good overview of the word “wife”. Chasing the clues, we also learn that “queen” and “quean” (which are/were pronounced differently) have the same root: one is derogatory.
It will be a long, long time before we get off this planet, if ever.
Along the same lines, you’d never have guessed that ‘mercy’ and ‘mercenary’ come from the same root word.
Just, you know, it seems like one might have nothing to do with the other doesn’t it?
And then we go to “market”… :)
Not me, I stay home and have roast beef.
Whee! Whee! Wheeeeee!
You do not have to go all that far back in history really.
It was not until the 1960 that marriage laws were changed that, among other things, declared that upon marriage all a woman’s possessions fell to her husband and came under his sole and exclusive control (and she did not get it back in a divorce either). And that stripped women of their agency the moment they said ‘I do’ (or the quaint little stipulation that said that her legal guardian (father, oldest brother, you know that Saudi Arabia guardianship thing) could say those words for her. Being beaten senseless was no reason for divorce either (the husband could expect the pastor or priest to pay a visit to tell him to tone down a the ‘disciplining’ to the level where no hospital got involved). And of course legally the man could do whatever he wanted to his wife, he consent was not required (though it could not involve other men or women legally. Laws had improved at least that little bit over Leviticus)
And even today hundreds of women are murdered every year by men who consider them their property and will not accept their attempts to gain greater independence.
Legally women may no longer be property of their husbands, but the attitudes (and remnants of legislation) linger on today.
Sydneyesque random question: Does Max paint her nails, or are they just naturally red like her lips?
I guess they’re stained with the blood of those who have made her angry.
There certainly a trigger phase to cause someone’s demise. “She my slave” that certainty it.
“A woman is not property, and men who think otherwise are living in a dreamland.” – Robert A. Heinlein.
I first read Heinlein as a preteenager, “The Star Beast” I believe, then every book and collective stories of his I could find in the library. His philosophy shaped my own as I grew into adulthood. Words mean things. The terms “Slave and Slavery” are very much distinctive and unambiguous. They are kind of like trigger words for me and so it seems for Max. There is a passage from “Time Enough For Love” where the protagonist, Lazarus Long, upon recovering his impounded starship from a slaver planet and escaping with his family, remarks on what he did to the local slave proctor who insisted on accompanying him on his ‘inspection’ of his recovered starship.
“I spaced the bastard! Sent him that away, out the airlock, pissing blood.” Might have misquoted but you get the idea.
I’ll bet real money that Max is a Heinlein aficionado. I’m a bit surprised at Dab’s not taking this a bit more seriously considering the culture in which she’s immersed herself. Fuckin’ Ay, better “fix it”.
Nicely said. Heinlein had many good ideas, and I loved reading his works. Like any person, he wasn’t perfect, but he WAS entertaining, and could write a righteous line for a righteous character.
We’re probably lucky we’re not living his Future History story line today, but I’d love to hang out with Jubal and Deety and Oscar & Star and Lazarus & Dora, not to mention his red-headed twin clone sisters. Just keep me away from Mr. Hoag’s dream state, while keeping the clock running on the Martian Old Ones’ judgement about turning the Earth, and I’ll be cool.
Lazarus Long? Wasn’t he the guy who slept with his own mother?
he must have changed a lot from when he wrote A stranger in a strange land considering everything that is in that book and pro feminist he was not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ysEq8TFA0
Heinlein was one of the first ‘profeminist’ authors in the genre although he would never promote himself as such. If you really read and understand his works and underlying philosophy, he always presented women characters in a strong role unless they were villainous and even then they were pretty competent. That said, he was a product of his time and was greatly influenced by and he did indeed promote female characters far ahead of his peers. You reference “Stranger In A Strange Land” and I’ll tell you that Jillian was an absolute bad ass, intelligent and incredibly brave female protagonist, far ahead of any other authors of the time. James H. Schmitt was a close second, loved his Telzey Amberdon character.
nnnnnnyeeaaaaah,
Heinlein was very much a product of his time, and as such had outspoken, and deeply traditional ideas of what constituted ‘proper’ masculinity and femininity. In that he was as conservative as the time he grew up in. You can see this in his treatment of any non-binary character that may show up in his work.
He probably did not talk too much with women about what /they/ wanted (his female characters feel just shade too flat, too stereotypical of ingained notions of the first half of the 20th century, to appear based on real women. But to be fair, if he had, few women could have told them anything meaningful since they too had grown up only knowing those stereotypes of what they /should/ do and want and having no frame of reference of what else could be possible for them)
He also was indeed one of the earliest proto feminist authors who actually created female /characters/ in his stories. Which at that time was a pretty brave move that could have destroyed his career if a morality crusader had decided to make an issue out of it. A writer like Andre Norton had to deeply hide her gender in the same period to even have a chance at getting published and getting her books in the stores.
So, his works are a mixed bag when it comes to gender representation and inclusion. No single statement about Heinlein can be the ‘right’ one in this regard. As usual when dealing with people the ‘yes/no’ question needs a third option of ‘it is complicated’
Also referenced your link which is a total bullshit opinionated take on Heinlein and was a waste of my time to watch. If you have a gripe against Heinlein then spell it out in your own words with proper references to his specific works. Don’t waste our time with third party hit pieces.
Not sure why Coolbond used this 1 minute outtake and did not refer to the 18 minute long original by Overly Sarcastic Productions, as that goes into much more detail on where the story works, where it gets problematic and where it goes completely off the rails.
But I will not offend your sensibilities by linking to that episode.
I will just say that Heinlein is justifiably regarded as one of the great icons of science fiction, but that he was not without his problems and controversies.
(p.s. Extra Credits in their series on the history of science fiction pointed out similar problems with Heinlein’s writing where he found himself steering away from the then traditional Practical Man pushed by Campbell into something more modern without fully being able to let go of his roots)
Is “slave” the equivalent of “fiancee” or “wife” to demons? If so they REALLY need to rebrand themselves when talking to the most powerful humans alive on earth.
I feel like the most powerful humans on earth would be into that. The problem are the masses.
She DID say that her relationship with Thomth was “complicated”. Being in some sort of a formalized master-slave relationship would certainly qualify – and she’d likely be into it.
Seems likely to be a “BDSM Slave” kind of thing, as in a sexy roleplay thing rather than literal slavery.
From the few scenes we have seen of Tom (the introductory foreshadowing of some of the super powered opponents that would show up, two of which I think have made their move so far?) He started with ‘I found you’.
Dabbler dreamed of where she dissed Tom and kicked him (back) into the pit. And in this arc twice now he has been dismissive of Dabbler and told her she must obey him and come back with him.
That does not come across as roleplaying to be honest. It may well be that Dave develops it in that direction, but at best Tom comes across as a jealous stalker at this point.
If Dave develops it more along the lines of how demons are traditionally imagined in literature it would be more like a ‘demons have a need for a strict chain of authority where everybody below them is their slave and property to be used in whatever way they want’. That would still not make it an owner-slave relation like Maxima is currently hearing, but a lot closer to one than the charitable BDSM roleplay that is floated around this forum.
Tomorrow, of course, we will know more.
“and told her she must obey him and come back with him.”
Where did he say she must come back with him?
What he said was ‘they have a pact.’ And that Dabbler ‘was overdue honoring her side’ of the pact. Dabbler called it an ‘arrangement.’
Also, they might be sorta kinda married in a very open relationship that’s ‘complicated’ as Dabbler put it.
For all we know, the pact/arrangement was a conjugal one, for sexual relations. Which would make sense since after they had sex five times, he did not seem interested in threats anymore, and in fact became a lot more sociable, although that was obviously ALSO because Maxima laid him out with a single bodyslam earlier.
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-983-business-or-pleasure/
God I love the setup Dave makes to deliver these scenes.
You follow the story, it makes a few winding turns and you’re thinking “where is this going?”
And then WHAMMO, this is why we took a few bends in the story.
jummynummy demonic overlord whimpering not to break his faceplate.
I knew a couple who used “slave” as a pet name, but they sure as heck didn’t use it around strangers and it sure as heck didn’t have the connotation Max is likely assuming here. Can’t say I was all that comfortable being included in their “not-stranger” group for that purpose either, the word’s got way too many barbs for use in playful sexy times stuff for my tastes. One of those things best kept private for the sake of other people’s comfort, maybe – or perhaps I’m being judgmental
Yeah, context is everything. And trigger words should not be bandied about casually.
Your pet name story reminds me of a somewhat similar occasion. My wife & I were at a party with close friends, and she and I had just returned from a fun day at a Renaissance Festival–where old-style terms were common, and all present enjoyed a bold knave and a lusty wench, simply because that was the vernacular.
She asked me if I’d like her to bring me a second helping of supper and a drink, since she was on her way to the kitchen. I responded in bold knavish “Verily, bring me a joint of beef and a drink fit for a knight, WENCH!”
And all our friends became quiet, their eyes grew large, and there was many an “OH!” on their silent lips.
My wife grinned and laughed, as did I. And when we looked at our shocked friends, realizing they thought I was a truly unpleasant fellow at home with my spouse, we both stumbled over each other explaining I’d not intended harm, and that she readily appreciated my words as those of a fun friend freshly returned from enjoying the antics of comics & actors at the RenFest.
Our friends sighed in relief, readily accepting I was not being Thothogoth-o-nous.
Dabbler’s backstory,next on Grrl Power…!!!!
This page all but requires that the next one starts with:
“No, there is too much. Let me sum it up.”
So, that big fight scene everyone was expecting when “Tom Thumb” here showed up?
What are the odds it’s Max vs Dabbler?
did he say “collared”? is Dabbler into the willing slave/pet fetish too? XD
Considering Dabber, I think this would be even a little vanilla for her
It was probably a phase that she outgrew, hence why she isn’t with Tom these days. But the question is flawed. “Is Dabbler into the willing slave/pet fetish, too?” should really just be “What fetish ISN’T Dabbler into?”
What fetish is Dabbler not into?
Snuff. Probably.
I’m not so sure, she basically just killed Thothogoth by confirming she is a slave.
I think Max is in protective leader mode. Hearing Tom call Dabb a slave triggered it harder. However, with what we know about Dabb it is probably the consensual kind of slavery (you know BDSM kind).
I expect a succubus to know how to play both the sub and dom roles.
Let’s be reasonable. Tom comes in declaring that he is going to conquer the earth (or drag Dabbler back home by her hair). Max was justifiably already in hair-trigger protective mode here before Tom triggered local sensibilities like a professional…
Oh yeah, Max is behaving reasonably according to the information available to her, both as Dabbler’s CO and friend, and as LEO investigating one of the few crimes explicitly forbidden in the US Constitution (as amended).
Dabbler just didn’t get around to telling her about the (assumed) BDSM relationship yet. This is probably just an oversight, but she might be playing it for amusement.
Contrary to popular belief, the US Constitution does not prohibit slavery.
Go read it carefully, then think about what for-profit prisions get their prisioners to do.
Well it actually does – but perhaps your point is that for-profit prisons have questionable practices, which may be subject to court challenge. Here in Washington State, GEO was just ordered to pay minimum wage to prisoners (this is very recent so news may not have gotten about – and no doubt GEO may appeal).
The text is clear: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”.
For-profit prisons are bad for more reasons than anyone might want to read here, and their habit of coercing labor from prisoners who have not been convicted of any crime is near the top of the list – but the Constitution forbids the practice – not the 1st time our Government authorizes unconstitutional behavior, I’m afraid
> except as a punishment for crime
You said it yourself. Slavery as punishment for a crime is legal.
I don’t know why you’re quibbling about involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.
Are you saying that a lawful arrest is kidnapping?
Is towing a car that is illegally parked theft?
Lawful arrest or towing is one thing, but there are several lawsuits going at any given time opposing municipal (and/or civilian) towing or clamping of vehicles, the argument being that it is explicitly unconstitutional. Seizure of a vehicle without a warrant violates the 5th amendment in that it “deprive[s] of […] property, without due process of law.” A court order or warrant to seize a vehicle results from due process, but a city, business or other property owner who has a vehicle removed and held ransom is (arguably) involved in simple extortion.
> I don’t know why you’re quibbling about involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime.
Because it’s a form of slavery that is legal in the USA.
You American’s don’t even know your own constitution. You keep saying that slavery is illegal in your country, and you’re just flat out wrong when you say it.
Your constitution explicitly lays out exactly when slavery is legal in the USA. And it’s not “never”.
In my country France
Slavery was first abolished in 1315 on the French realm – France don’t had colonies in 1315- « selon le droit de nature, chacun doit naître franc » and « par tout notre royaume les serviteurs seront amenés à franchise » if a slave take foot on French realm he was imediately affranchised.
But in 1642 Louis XIII allowed slave trade in French colonies , but slavery remains unalowde in metropolitan France.
On the 4 of February 1794 slavery was unallowed in French colonies whith lax enforcement , the 20 may 1802 Napoleon allows slavery in Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues, Martinique, Tobago and Saint Martin (island).
In 1815 slave trade was outlawed in Europe but undercover slave trade continues.
In 1848it was officialy and efinitively abolished in all french collonies , and was inconstitutional on 3rd , 4th and 5th republic constitution – France is since 1958 in the 5th republic –
In my country it’s unconstitutional but our constitution dates back to 1958
It does, and it sort of doesn’t, and that is (another) one of the great shames of the USA.
May I say that I am very surprised about this discourse we are having about this. Mature and rational.
Heh, rereading Dave’s comments regard demonic hierarchies and power plays, I wonder about Tom getting collared by Max. Bwahahah!
OK… For some reason, I think we are getting on the NC-17/18+/R part of invasion
I get going for that “dark glare” look from Max as she questions the slave comment, but really… with light literally emanating from Tom’s eyes (and some teal glow from his chest), should we not see some of that light reflected on Max’s very shiny face considering we’ve had it explained more than once just how reflective her skin can be?
Sydney’s backlighting her.
Sydney genre-forcing always prevails when its for dramatic effect.
And then, Thoggy asked to wear Max’s collar..
Knowing demons, it’s probably just a term of hierarchy. KNOWING DABBLER, it’s certainly a sexual thing. Who am I to judge? We’ve all been there. Sorry if you haven’t been, you really missed out. If it’s not your thing you missed out on something that would have made you really uncomfortable, so don’t worry about missing out, I guess.
Maybe I should stop channelling the Mighty Halo, here.
Anyway I’m assuming a mix of fiendish social relationship/hierarchy thing, and Dabbler’s lecherous proclivities. It’s clear she doesn’t mind talking back to him and putting him down, so it’s nowhere near the upper stages of either I suppose. She’s neither supposed to entirely obey him (at least according to the both of them, or he’d have said something like that much earlier), nor expected to be all deference and servitude in a typical D/s play.
I suppose there’s another explanation, like she’s technically legally his slave because he bought her from terrible people but wanted to set her free and there’s no legal recourse for just emancipating a slave where they’re from, and he’s really a nice guy who has a taste for drama, etc? But I deem that unlikely. At any rate that would be an excellent way to go for Dabbler backstory and turn all expectations about this guy on their head :p
Ooooooh dear. Explaining MaleDom BDSM to Maxima? Yeah good luck there, Dabbler. Hope you’ve got a female Dom hidden around somewhere to explain the other side of the coin.
I think, given Dabbler’s aggressive stance on sex in general, that she would be more than well versed in all sides of BDSM, both MaleDom & FemaleDomme (sorry for nitpicking, but that is the correct spelling for a female Domme, vs. a male Dom).
Having said that, a full Sub may not have the mental proclivity or experience to understand a Dom/me’s side of a D/S relationship, but (s)he would definitely be familiar enough with said relationship to explain both sides to a reasonable degree. After all, BDSM requires a great deal of interaction & trust to be in a healthy relationship.
&, regardless of the form these relationships take, it also requires a little bit of roleplay. In 99.9% of healthy S&M relationships, it is still a relationship. The sub does still have the right to argue & disagree & have input, unless they are actively playing their roles as Master/Mistress & Slave. Most of the time, those roles only exist in private, during sexy fun times.
It would be ***EXTREMELY*** rare to find a Dom/me & Sub who live their roles 24/7.
I would expect anyone in the ‘sub’ part of the relationship to have the mental proclivity and experience to explain, even if bound and naked, clearly and convincingly exactly what is going on specifically in terms that will calm and de-escalate freaked-out police officers.
Because it is always at least a little bit possible that that sort of thing will actually happen, and the police are not going to be listening – AT ALL – to the ‘threatening’ partner who tied them up or who has a whip in hand.
Thog, dude, you really needed to study earth before coming here. You are fucking around but clearly did not come prepared to find out.
I think it’s clear it’s not just the “slave” that triggered Max into “Rip off someone’s face” mode, it’s the sexalised nature of his entire conversation with someone (1) notionally under her command, as (2) he violates Dabbler’s personal space in a manner humans would assess as menacing while (3) accuses her of being [an] uppity [woman who doesn’t know her place], and then [4] finally implies a relationship where he’s taking unfair sexual advantage of her. After having [0] threatened invasion.
It’s like a perfect storm of things designed to set Max off like an over tensioned mousetrap.
I can only imagine the utterly huge rage boner Kevin must be sporting right now given the look on Dabbler’s face
I’m with you on this. this may be a misunderstanding, but in the larger context its reasonable that Tom gets an attitude adjustment. I think tom would be well served to go back through the portal and let pretty boy negotiate a more respectful entrance.
Invasions of Earth now have a common facet:
Brevity.
In panels 5/6, Sydney’s orbs aren’t visible. I know, she’s just there to keep us in context (and apparently to provide the dramatic backlighting), and she might have sent the orbs up out of frame to keep them from distracting us (as part of the latter), but it’s a minor continuity waffle.
If you squint at the tiny image Sydney is in panels 5 & 6 you -can- see the orbs as a extremely small rainbow of color that – focusing in on – are orb shaped. How Dave was able to get that -fine- a detail is dang impressive.
The usual trick I’ve seen for getting such fine detail is to draw it normal size and then scale it down.
If it was actually *drawn* that size, that is impressive.
I’m guessing “slave” as in a BDSM sub. As in a willing relationship that ends the second it’s no longer willing.
It’s possible, but i suspect its more complicated than that. (though that kind of relationship can get pretty complicated).
We have seen repeatedly that dabbler doesn’t want to be in the relationship anymore while Tom is trying to enforce it, at which point it transitions from “consensual kink” to “actual full on sex slavery”
I don’t read it that simple.
“It was *your* actions that distanced us”
I read that as he could have done something that put their lives on different paths. Probably him joining the bringers of order when she wanted to stay adventuring.
Or he fucked up bad with interpersonal stuff and she left him. But that doesn’t seem to track with both their last meeting at the portal, and how this conversation started. She’s being too friendly and relaxed for it to be something she seriously objects to.
She isn’t treating him like a stalker ex. She’s treating him like an old friend.
If things with Tom weren’t consentual then why does she keep intervening rather than letting Max vent her frustrations?
Unless the relationship is *really* fucked up and she is still suffering from metal abuse/control. But there’s basically no way to dectect that for Max is magic is involved.
When was the last time Syd used her truesight orb? Looking for a magic link between Xurial and Tom would at least be useful information.
Also, she’s referred to Tom as “my guy” which I think is stating more of a persistant relationship than anyone else she’s had sex with?