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Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#15001: Apr 26th 2017 at 5:53:12 AM

I was looking at some older comics and I suddenly noticed there seem to be far less slice of life comics for the characters in favor of more general science jokes. Any reason why?

Optimism is a duty.
frosty from You'll mispronounce it Since: Jan, 2013
#15002: Apr 26th 2017 at 5:56:37 AM

He was 21 when he launched the comic; he's now 32. I'm guessing he's gotten better at slice-of-life jokes as he's grown

petersohn from Earth, Solar System (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Hiding
#15003: Apr 26th 2017 at 6:20:32 AM

[up][up]Do you mean that he had more general science jokes in the old comic, or that there is more now? Today's comic is definitely a science joke.

The universe is under no obligation to make sense to us.
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#15004: Apr 26th 2017 at 5:48:38 PM

I never thought there were any slice of life jokes, and I think it's an exaggeration to say that this comic has "characters".

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#15005: Apr 26th 2017 at 5:51:47 PM

[up]Well, Black Hat and Beret have very defined personalities and characteristics in each of their appearances, so they can be considered "characters".

Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#15006: Apr 26th 2017 at 7:06:15 PM

Personally, I've always thought of them as "archetypes". The loony one, the cruel one, etc. There isn't really enough continuity from strip to strip to call them characters, imo.

danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#15007: Apr 26th 2017 at 11:02:55 PM

[up]That could indeed be the case with Beret, but Black Hat was established as a character early on with that whole stealing-his-hat-back arc and the comics where he continued to have a relationship with Megan (who could also be considered a character, but her look isn't distinctive and is used for other characters occasionally).

Incognitoburrito Eater of gummy bears from ??? Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Eater of gummy bears
#15008: Apr 27th 2017 at 3:42:59 AM

[up]That's actually Danish. Her hair is longer than Megan's, which is more or less the only physical difference.

It was going so well until it exploded.
petersohn from Earth, Solar System (Long Runner) Relationship Status: Hiding
#15009: Apr 27th 2017 at 12:39:17 PM

Danish? Well, Black Hat's Girlfriend is definitely a character, which is different from the more generic Megan. There is also Mrs. Roberts, who not only is a recurring character, but she also has a name. There is also her daughter, Elaine, though she only appeared in the 1337 series IRC.

The universe is under no obligation to make sense to us.
Incognitoburrito Eater of gummy bears from ??? Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Eater of gummy bears
#15010: Apr 27th 2017 at 3:21:57 PM

[up]I believe she got nicknamed from this comic.

It was going so well until it exploded.
Zizoz Since: Feb, 2010
#15011: Apr 28th 2017 at 2:03:36 AM

ISS Solar Transit 2.

explainxkcd notes that the title text is "clearly implausible, as the costs (of lives and money) would be astronomical."

Incognitoburrito Eater of gummy bears from ??? Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Eater of gummy bears
#15012: Apr 28th 2017 at 4:03:12 AM

Apparently the sun is a ball of orange juice?

It was going so well until it exploded.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#15013: Apr 28th 2017 at 4:58:24 AM

And Explainxkcd wins the award for most blatantly obvious "whooshing" of joke over head.

Is this one of the rare times that Randall has had direct continuity between consecutive comics?

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
BestOf FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC! from Finland Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: Falling within your bell curve
FABRICATI DIEM, PVNC!
#15014: Apr 28th 2017 at 5:49:17 AM

There's a series of strips with the title "Barrel" very early in the comic's run.

EDIT: Nevermind, somehow I read your post as saying he's never done it, when you clearly said it's only rare.

edited 28th Apr '17 5:49:51 AM by BestOf

Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur.
danime91 Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#15015: Apr 28th 2017 at 7:24:02 AM

Wow, uhh... that took a bit of a dark turn...

ShadowHog from Earth Since: May, 2009 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
#15016: Apr 28th 2017 at 9:22:50 AM

[up][up][up] Technically not consecutive, since "Geochronology" is in-between.

Moon
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#15017: Apr 28th 2017 at 4:32:35 PM

Another one of these, and we have another XKCD arc.

Optimism is a duty.
Incognitoburrito Eater of gummy bears from ??? Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Eater of gummy bears
#15018: Apr 28th 2017 at 5:43:09 PM

[up]What would the next one be about? Somebody The moon eating the sun in some strange sort of cosmic Pac Man game?

If I turn out to be right on this I'm pulling a "I had this idea before you made it" and suing Randall for like a gajillion dollars or something.

It was going so well until it exploded.
Incognitoburrito Eater of gummy bears from ??? Since: Jan, 2017 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
Eater of gummy bears
#15019: May 1st 2017 at 12:30:29 PM

#1831 - Here to Help

So far so wrong, but I remain hopeful!

It was going so well until it exploded.
EpicBleye drunk bunny from her bed being very eepy Since: Sep, 2014 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
drunk bunny
#15020: May 1st 2017 at 12:33:13 PM

i love the implication that they just stood and watched for six months

"There's not a girl alive who wouldn't be happy being called cute." ~Tamamo-no-Mae
Brickman Gentleman Adventurer! from wherever adventure takes me Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: My own grandpa
Gentleman Adventurer!
#15021: May 1st 2017 at 3:10:08 PM

Oh I'm sure that this is just a purely hypothetical scenario that has never, ever played out to the tune of billions of dollars and years wasted. No siree, our academics would never fall into such a foolish trap.

Your funny quote here! (Maybe)
Michael So that's what this does Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
So that's what this does
#15022: May 1st 2017 at 3:12:54 PM

Of course not.

This is every Ph D's first postdoc. While he was doing that everybody else was carrying on as normal.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
EpicBleye drunk bunny from her bed being very eepy Since: Sep, 2014 Relationship Status: In Lesbians with you
drunk bunny
#15024: May 3rd 2017 at 11:28:47 AM

i have the same issue but with memes

"There's not a girl alive who wouldn't be happy being called cute." ~Tamamo-no-Mae
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life

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