Girl Genius

Weak technology, and even weaker flesh. Oh yeah, cyborg bodies all the way.

Zeetha's saying too much at tactically inappropriate moments is an established character trait on her part.

Comic for Monday, October 21, 2019

When a pawn reaches the end of the file...

And as usual someone beat me to the punch.

Taking all the time but I do wonder how long they will put the run on this part? At this rate I do wonder if the whole "cured from being dependent on Tweedle or the weasel is around.

Nice! At least now we have a better explanation for why after all this time, "super spark" Lukrezia never ascended to godhood - she's always been stuck in mechanical bodies. We can also expect Gil, Tarvek and Tweedle to act soon, because it doesn't seem likely they'll be given a second chance at this later on; once she's a queen Lugatha won't stay standing around that brain-zapping machine. Maybe Lu will try to hurt Gil or Tarvek and Agatha will step in again, like last time.

This makes me wonder - maybe *this* is what Klaus was after all this time; with his "investigating the spark"; he knew the Queen so he knew it was possible to reach a higher level, yet despite being one of the strongest sparks around he could never reach it; this could be because he is enough of a construct to make it impossible for him, for the same reasons as Lucrezia, no matter how many spark brains he takes apart.

Edited by Nomophilos on Oct 21st 2019 at 7:11:59 AM

Hmm, I think this is more than just "mech bodies can't Spark 2.0", but rather that they can't spark at all. Topic of why Lu-copies haven't built anything extra-insane-overpowered has been brought up and theorized that this could be the case. That Lu-hijacks can only use the spark to as much as the hijacked body had, not bringing to bear their full power.

But now, she is in mostly full control of Agatha, who has potential and already touched on it, and so she can use her knowledge of the method to engage that connection. And on the other hand, Klaus and Gil, for all their theorized enhancements, still have Spark, and could Super Spark, but it's just immensely difficult for all, even them.

Hasn't it been previously been mentioned that Agatha seems to be able to create clanks with the spark, though?

Edited by DrunkenNordmann on Oct 21st 2019 at 5:05:36 PM

Yes, as an unprecedented thing. For all other clanks featured in the comic, no spark.

So is no one else weirded out that the kamehameha prediction was closer to the truth than the self-hostage prediction?

Oh, I thought you were being serious that time.

That’s my secret, Marq. I’m always serious.

You're kidding, right?

Okay, you know what's bothering me about this arc? The rules of reality have been completely suspended and replaced by "sparks are weird". I have no way to make any expectations regarding what's going to happen next, which ruins all sense of suspense and, ironically, surprise. They just keep piling on more and more rule-crushing stuff in such a short frame of time, I have lost all connection to what's happening, and I want it to end.

So ... is this when Agatha regains enough control to keep Lu down, or is this the end of Albia's England?

I got thirty bucks on a giant space chicken killing Lu by dropping an egg on her head. Agatha then hatches from the egg so the comic can continue.

And you've been reading this comic for how long?

So ... do we cut away to Mr. Wooster and the rest?

Couple of years now, and I don't remember it being this bad.

I've been reading this comic since ... 2004 maybe? I still like it. Some plot points can feel a bit forced, but eh, I see that as both a consequence of the tone and universe (more funny than serious, despite the quality world-building), and of a tradeoff between moving the story along quickly vs. solving all subplots and details.

Rule of Funny is in full effect. If you are looking for strong continuity, this is the wrong webcomic. The Folios like twists and surprises. I imagine Lu is going to lose here, but in the craziest, least predictable manner possible.

The most obvious issue is... She doesn't seem to know much about Agatha's Spark (see making Sparky clanks). That's a massive blind spot to blow up on her.

Sure, Agatha is comfortable tweaking her mother's gear with and without her input, but I get the feeling that her Spark is well beyond what Lu can actually handle, despite what Lu thinks. Because Agatha isn't a baby and her Spark is unlikely to follow parameters Lu might have programmed into her little girl (see being an unpredictable Heterodyne + Dyne).

And, here Lu is, gloating at how wonderful getting hold of a real Spark with oomph is after all this time...

I expect somebody is in for a painful surprise, alright. One that might well get her smugness turfed out and wiped across space-time worse than she was before.

Edited by Euodiachloris on Oct 22nd 2019 at 8:24:51 PM

Page

Guess not.

Wonder what the monads are clews for?

Edited by GreybeardFan on Oct 22nd 2019 at 1:29:07 PM

"Monads"? Are you referring to the shapes around Lu/Agatha's head?

Violetta dosed herself with something, this is what Trelawney was asking Violetta about a few strips back.

Edited by Geoduck on Oct 22nd 2019 at 10:56:09 AM

Yes. Where we've seen that before it was linked to the character in some way. Note also that it's not the Heterodyne color (seen in the Great Movement Chamber) (where Agatha did this better). Now, if they do somehow win, will Agatha have access to The Other's memories? That leakage started back in the Great Movement Chamber.

Last panel: Has Tweedle been potioneering again? Or do we just not see this side that often?

Edited by GreybeardFan on Oct 22nd 2019 at 1:47:48 PM

I think that was Trelawney's work...