PS 238

I'm pretty sure the colored pages mark the start of it catching up to the books and switching to webcomic only. Unfortunately, since the artist already has a lot on his plate, it's slowed down.

Speak of the Devil, a new update

I'm a tad confused... is The Headmaster seeing the "second Argos" scenario as a preferable one? Or is the idea that he's trying to forestall it by infiltrating the group?

The latter, I think. More like he wanted to find a way to quickly strike them all if they decided to pull a takeover.

Well, I guess the Headmaster could be trying to thread the needle, making sure Earth is guided toward a future where its supers can be controlled if need be. Or it could be that The Revenant got some bad information planted by the Headmaster because the latter realized that the former would try and is attempting to match him, Chessmaster for Chessmaster. Or, of course, the possibility that the Headmaster was just lying to Alex about what his goals were - we certainly know he isn't above any variety of deception to accomplish his aims.

There are too many plausible scenarios to be sure... though if I were to guess, he's specifically playing the long game so that he's in charge no matter what scenario plays out.

Huh. So it is a certificate for membership for being a Badass Normal, but she pegged him for a different sort.

That's really kind of cute. Other notes, USA Patriot Act looks weird in color today, love the elevated drinking fountain for fliers, and there appears to be an older (or at least a much taller) kid behind Tyler.

I know the strip is evolving, trying to add more shading, but Tyler still look awfully plastic to me the last few strips.

It was pointed out to me in the comic comments that USA Patriot Act has always been red, and in fact was depicted as such on one of the earlier comics. Still looks weird to me.

In other news, The Swap Shop is under new ownership.

Hmm... support group for people who've lost their powers after the last two strips engendered some speculation on whether the person seeking their lost powers was Ron.

Of course, there must be a price to be paid. And a few on the forums have pointed out cursed artifacts in this store from Nodwick and Use Sword On Monster.

More of the support group, also kids.

*shudder* Dynamode's depowering us creepy. Taking away her powers is one thing... changing her hair color feels like an intentional stripping of identity. And the new art design for Tyler is still a bit freaky for me. The eyes and the highlight on the hair... he looks like a plastic doll, especially compared to the others.

The Art Shift on Miss Kyle is what still throws me the most. I almost didn't realize it was her when I first saw her at the beginning of the previous arc.

But yeah, there's more than a little Nightmare Fuel about a villain basically using your own abilities to rewrite your whole life.

Group Therapy is breaking down

Well, the ex-supervillain is being a jerk. Strangely enough.

Although, as the comments indicate, he does have a point...

Losing your super power is a very crappy thing to happen to people. They probably need some help to focus their thoughts on the bright sides of life or spiral into depression.

edited 19th Apr '16 9:44:33 PM by Kayeka

@37 Yeah, but you can make that point without being a total asshole about it.

A few updates later, Flea still has a habit of finding things people were trying to hide...

Or, at the very least, finding out that there is something that they're hiding.

I love The Flea. He's so much fun.

Really powerful SEP field there...

Bug's tendency to notice things that are conspicuously not-there reminds me of Skitter in Worm and her tendency to notice when the insects were routing themselves around something.

edited 12th May '16 10:29:05 AM by FuzzyBoots

Based on Flea's reactions, I don't think Cecil walked past - "blip" sounds like he was suddenly spatially shifted.

Ron is learning something from those psych sessions... Also, confirmation that the superheroes are big nerds.

You know, I have to quote another superhero series... you don't become a superhero if you weren't at least a little into that stuff in the first place.

This is all so very Needful Things...

Heh, and they're self-aware about the nature of such deals.

Man, now I really want to see what it is she's buying and what she's paying for it.

And of course somebody already made the connection to Madoka.

edited 3rd Jun '16 11:30:34 PM by Kayeka

I'm not only thrilled at the idea of the Lovecraftian superhero, but also that the form of said hero looks to be a nod to Ningauble of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser fame.

Also, wow, that "compliment" that he gave Tyler... I want to say that it's along the lines of You Are a Credit to Your Race, but it's not quite that. It makes me appreciate 84 all the more.