Gunnerkrigg Court

stm177 wrote:

"What's going on in this comic? (linky)

There's a "Ha Ha Ha" scrawled on a column. The last panel focuses on an empty alcove with a spiderweb. It confuses me.

"Ha ha ha" is supposed to be a sound effect, not scenery. Some people in the crowd are laughing at the Headmaster's comment.

A silent scenery panel ending the page is Tom Siddell's signal of a scene change and/or timeskip on the next page. Note the evolution: Page 64 and 65, page 90, page 187, and page 268. I'm not sure why Tom gives notice for some scene changes but not for others.

Meta4 wrote:

[380] Cue the theme from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

I can only assume that Tom's comment means, "Don't try this at home. Don't deflect swords with your face."

Hmm, so Elgamore's sword grew and he shoved it in her face, but she was having none of that.

Back to the second most recent comic, anyone else think Parley said Eglamore's hot to try and make Smith jealous?

Could be. Or maybe she's trying to get a response for which she can tease Annie or Smith for weeks to come. Or maybe she thinks Smith is gay.

What's really interesting is that the gesture she's making in panel 5 is the American Sign Language sign for "lesbian". Seeing as she's a Brit, that's probably not intentional on her part, but whether Tom meant it or not it's really funny.

And back to the latest page: In panel 2, Annie is the only one of the Medium candidates who isn't rendered in monochrome. Then in the lower left panel, Eggers is still looking (or just glancing) to his left, towards the students, as he's attacking Jones. So why is he watching Annie? Is this entire skirmish a secret test to gauge Miss Carver somehow? Or is Eggers worried about getting his butt whupped in front of Surma's daughter?

Meta4 wrote:

" What's really interesting is that the gesture she's making in panel 5 is the American Sign Language sign for "lesbian". Seeing as she's a Brit, that's probably not intentional on her part, but whether Tom meant it or not it's really funny.

Yes, and rubbing your chin is a stock gesture for characters that are supposed to be contemplating anything. I think we can safely assume that Tom didn't deliberately have one of his characters sign "lesbian!" at us.

[381] I wonder how much of this is a stylized way of showing speed, and how much is honest-to-goodness reality bending.

Darn, it's still fiction.

Meta4 wrote:

"[381] I wonder how much of this is a stylized way of showing speed, and how much is honest-to-goodness reality bending.

Darn, it's still fiction.

Yeah it's always hard to tell in Gunnerkrigg Court. Everything normally looks nice, but foreshortening doesn't seem to be one of Tom Siddell's strong points.

[382] Looks like he was worried about getting his butt handed to him in front of Surma's daughter.

And Jones is saying that's a mistake.

Hey, do you think this can be not-a-work-of-fiction now?

[383] That Parley's a laugh and a half.

Considering the identical poses in panel 5 of this page and panel 7 of the previous page, I think these two pages are supposed to be happening simultaneously.

Parley is randy.

Antimony is jealous of Jones?

Alternatively, she still thinks of Eglamore as an enemy.

Regardless of her feelings towards Eglamore (whatever the heck they are), I bet she's feeling like a fifth wheel. Jo and Eggers and Parley and Smitty are all joshing with each other like old friends, and poor Annie is plunked in the middle and doesn't really know any of them.

EDIT: I just remembered the last panel of this page. Somehow I doubt the similarity is a coincidence.

[384] "Extra Normal", huh?

This card trick better be really good.

Better than seeing Psychopomps, and being really 700 years old?

stm177 wrote:

Are you talking about the way "time stood still" when Annie accompanied the Guides on their visits?

Well, I'm referring to the fact that she is preternaturally calm. I don't really think she's 700 years old. It's just that she acts like one of those calm, serene ancient elves from Lo TR.

[385] I can only imagine how many uses this must have in everyday life.

And it says something that Parley considers it boring.

I wonder what Parley's skill is.

The ability to steal attention? Zero inhibitions? Sheer force of personality?

EDIT: April Fool's Day comic◊, mirrored for posterity's sake.

I hope this isn't canon, otherwise it'll seriously mess up my Annie/Smitty fanfic.

It seems the comic's gone back to normal. What was the quote?

(linky)◊

Someone managed to save it before it was changed back.