El Goonish Shive

I don't think that was just a fetish thing. It seemed more like just his regular fun with transformations, really, and it happened to coincide with a fetish or two.

I have to agree with you there, it wasn't presented erotically like alot of the other transformations.

honestly after the last np arc this is refreshingly tame

http://egscomics.com/sketchbook/2018-037

In other news, sketchbook is less fetishy and actually has a good joke.

It actually seems more fetish-y and less funny to me.

I'm not really picking up on the fetish thing. To me, it's indicative of That One Level where the puzzle game you were playing just got super weird

The impression I'm getting is that the "fetish thing" is assumed from Shive's tendency to use the comic to explore his main fetish/interest in Transformation and Gender Bending. Inflation may not be one of his, but the pattern works against him nonetheless.

Edited by sgamer82 on Nov 10th 2018 at 10:39:32 AM

Except, is it actually a fetish, or simply a fascination? I mean, we don't tend to theme it as a "fetish" when someone from Ohio starts talking about OSU games, right?

Inflation art, such as this, is a sexual fetish. If you don’t believe me, look it up at your own risk.

I thought the question was whether shive meant it as a fetish thing or not, not whether such a fetish exists in the first place.

Everything is a fetish to someone, that doesn't make every instance of something fetish material. Owning animal pajamas doesn't make you a furry, even if you have an S and M dungeon in your basement.

And I did look up inflation fetish after this whole thing kicked off, checked out many different forms, and what happened with Nanase was nothing like any of it.

As a personal note it turns out I had seen inflation before, it just wasn't something I noticed as a thing. I found the whole thing more baffling than disgusting or arousing, but I tend to be pretty inured to things that might be shocking to someone else.

I still don't think this was done with the intention of being fetishistic. There was no sexualization in the scene. It wasn't pictured as something sexy or attractive, the camera angle didn't focus on anything in particular, and the only "inflation" that can be seen is her turning round in order to hit the pins, with, for exaxmple, her arms being still completely normal. Every bit of inflation fetish art I've stumbled upon was far different from this depiction because of those things. This just feels like a silly "Nanase becomes the ball on a bowling game" gag.

If it helps, it's a play on this old comic where Mr. Tensaided's RPG-esque management style was introduced.

It's not something that's gotten a lot of focus since, but I've always had a special fondness for that system.

Comic The Secret of Sam (Tsos hereafter)

Previously on EGS...

Y'know what I'd completely forgotten about?

That Sam's defining characteristic was his love of pockets.

...I feel like this is arc is going to drunkwalk onto a half-dozen land mines.

Considering nowaday's plethora of multipahasic interdimensional Schrödinger's landmines, I'd say that's a safe bet.

Anyone can feel free to correct me on this, but I've a feeling that Sam's two pockets are placed where they are for a reason.

Also, I'm a little surprised we haven't gotten a Squee or two yet, as this date has been very hotly anticipated from what I recall.

I was actually right where Grace is now when this date was first proposed. Sarah always seemed uncomfortable whenever Elliot had girly-parts, which does not bode well for Sam.

I'm apprehensive about this date because I agree that there's a potential landmine here. Like, best case scenario, it just sorta doesn't click and they remain friends. But if it does click, then Sarah's going to find out about Sam eventually, whether verbally or physically.

And.

Like.

Given Sarah's past behavior about girly-parts on her S.O., that's going to be really hard to resolve without Sarah either

1. Coming across as transphobic.
2. Having to abruptly change her established sexuality to suit this new relationship.

Given Shive's track record, I'd assume it's this. He did literally just do this, after all.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Nov 12th 2018 at 12:25:59 PM

I’m just glad the dates are happening. I’ve been waiting so long.

It’s kind of funny, the length of time it took. When this was first introduced, I figured Justin would get a date before I did, and now I’ve found out I’m at least a little bi, and I’m set to move in with my girlfriend before this time next year.

It’s been years. I feel... nostalgic.

I hope it doesn’t get ruined. 🙂

Well, I'm going to grab the webcomic-time popcorn. Anybody want some?

Seriously though, yeah, this has a lot of potential to end up being nice and heartwarming, but given Shive's recent record, it has a lot more potential for him running full sprint into the usual "I didn't mean to write it like this, but that's how it came out sounding and that's a really bad implication". I think we'll be in luck if all we get out of this is another "90's christmas movie" moment like in Legend of Diane.

Edited by TheLovecraftian on Nov 12th 2018 at 7:12:16 AM

Would it be in this case, though? At least if it is, it's slow-burn - it's certainly not the first suggestion Sarah's into girls. It's definitely a stronger sell than Diane.

Sarah's sexuality has been on the slide for years now, saying it might suddenly change is like saying the crumbly crumbly pillar might suddenly fall down. The actual denouement might seem sudden, but calling it a surprise would be a stretch.

Hmmm. I'm. Hmmm. I am concerned about where this storyline might go and how much it'll stumble and crash into Unfortunate Implications. Hopefully it'll be handled okay...