WCT June 29-July 3, 2009

[plethora]

I haven't known a single female manga/anime fan who wasn't at least bisexual.

*raises hand*

[pwhodges]

an electrical device that leaks fluids would be a bad thing

[Manix]

Good god, the one character to proposition lesbian sex to Hanners has to be Marigold? Talk about fan disservice.

Well, I saw this coming th emoment I read this comic.


Look, please don't see this as rude, but DON'T, okay! Please do not start some bizarre lesbian ship for these two. The constant squeals of "Hantai" almost ruined both of those characters for me, and now we see the possibility of Hannelore making a new friend (yes FRIEND), and I really don't want to see it ruined by squealing Yaoi-ists.

Good lord people, it's possible for two people of the same gender to be friends without Gay sex being involved. The constant onset of Yaoi fan (usually female) into any fandom can easily ruin that fandom (because suddenly EVERYTHING must be viewed through the yaoi lenses), I can no longer even step onto certain forums, because the rapid overwhelming of other fans by Yaoi-ists has left me with nauseau. Because of this there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate as much in any fandom as non-canon slash, so

PLEASE ....DON'T....START!!!!!

[satsugaikaze]

Good god, the one character to proposition lesbian sex to Hanners has to be Marigold? Talk about fan disservice.

Well, I saw this coming th emoment I read this comic.


Look, please don't see this as rude, but DON'T, okay! Please do not start some bizarre lesbian ship for these two. The constant squeals of "Hantai" almost ruined both of those characters for me, and now we see the possibility of Hannelore making a new friend (yes FRIEND), and I really don't want to see it ruined by squealing Yaoi-ists.

Good lord people, it's possible for two people of the same gender to be friends without Gay sex being involved. The constant onset of Yaoi fan (usually female) into any fandom can easily ruin that fandom (because suddenly EVERYTHING must be viewed through the yaoi lenses), I can no longer even step onto certain forums, because the rapid overwhelming of other fans by Yaoi-ists has left me with nauseau. Because of this there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate as much in any fandom as non-canon slash, so

PLEASE ....DON'T....START!!!!!

I would agree with you wholeheartedly, but my dear child, this is the internet. Whereever there is the internet, there is Rule 34. And as much as I would love the wierd shippings to stop, someone will do it.

It is inevitable. Everything on the internet has an anus, if you can put it that way.

[philharmonic]

Um well uh... ...two straight dudes watching hardcore porn together does not make them "Gay". Granted there's a lot of "dude check out her tits" and "oh man i'd totally tap that" and other similar stuff. Until at some point buddy's "like um dude 'skuse me for a minute" and he goes to the bathroom for a few minutes. Then you holler at him "Hey dude just make sure you clean up after yourself" because you totally know what he's doing in there. Asking to watch might be kinda gay so its a no go. Sitting at the door listening to the fap fap fap might be kinda gay so that's a no go. Getting out the video camera and busting in on him doing it is totally awesome. Perfect ammo for the stag party or his wedding reception.

By now your wondering If I speak from experience, well no, not exactly but then again I'll never tell.

[Near Lurker]

Hantai is just ridiculous, but I'm sorry, the way Marigold's blushing and dodging in this strip definitely looks other than platonic to me.

[pwhodges]

It's called embarrassment.

[AngryCallCenterAgent]

Yay for more Marigold. And enough with the shipping already! Just enjoy the show!

(Geez, you think they'd have stopped with Xena/Gabrielle and Seven/Janeway...)

[AnotherQCaddict]

I think it's just a way to break out of the shell of isolation, no more than that. (If I'm wrong and certain people taking it too far are to be believed, it would certainly make for some strange bedfellows...)

[Juniper Jade]

Awww! Today's comic was adorableee. I knew Hannelore and Margold would become bff!

[Schmorgluck]

Hannelore and Marigold hanging out and possibly becoming friends is a pretty neat idea. They have both issues, but completely different ones (Hanners wins on the number of issues, but she seems less socially inept than Marigold).

It could do both of them good if they rub a little on each other.

And I mean that figuratively, you dirty-minded shippers.

[bicostp]

[LeeC]

I think it's just a way to break out of the shell of isolation, no more than that. (If I'm wrong and certain people taking it too far are to be believed, it would certainly make for some strange bedfellows...)

thats basically what I see.  This is the gateway for Marigold to get out of her isolation.  Perhaps it will lead her to joining the group through Hanners.

[Shok Xone Studios]

bicostp beat me to the Awkward Zone joke. Curses, foiled again!

[Border Reiver]

Damn that image isn't available to me at work - are the 2 in pseudo victorian garb?

[Zingoleb]

Look, please don't see this as rude, but DON'T, okay! Please do not start some bizarre lesbian ship for these two. The constant squeals of "Hantai" almost ruined both of those characters for me, and now we see the possibility of Hannelore making a new friend (yes FRIEND), and I really don't want to see it ruined by squealing Yaoi-ists.

Good lord people, it's possible for two people of the same gender to be friends without Gay sex being involved. The constant onset of Yaoi fan (usually female) into any fandom can easily ruin that fandom (because suddenly EVERYTHING must be viewed through the yaoi lenses), I can no longer even step onto certain forums, because the rapid overwhelming of other fans by Yaoi-ists has left me with nauseau. Because of this there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate as much in any fandom as non-canon slash, so

PLEASE ....DON'T....START!!!!!

I agree with you completely, but I still want to interject that it would technically be Yuri. Don't ask how I know.

[bicostp]

Damn that image isn't available to me at work - are the 2 in pseudo victorian garb?

No, just the second-to-last panel from today's strip with the "Awkward Zone: Initiated" text from yesterday's uStream warmup sketch added, and the text has a red glow.

I can't draw.

[helloandgoodbye]

Good god, the one character to proposition lesbian sex to Hanners has to be Marigold? Talk about fan disservice.

Well, I saw this coming th emoment I read this comic.


Look, please don't see this as rude, but DON'T, okay! Please do not start some bizarre lesbian ship for these two. The constant squeals of "Hantai" almost ruined both of those characters for me, and now we see the possibility of Hannelore making a new friend (yes FRIEND), and I really don't want to see it ruined by squealing Yaoi-ists.

Good lord people, it's possible for two people of the same gender to be friends without Gay sex being involved. The constant onset of Yaoi fan (usually female) into any fandom can easily ruin that fandom (because suddenly EVERYTHING must be viewed through the yaoi lenses), I can no longer even step onto certain forums, because the rapid overwhelming of other fans by Yaoi-ists has left me with nauseau. Because of this there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate as much in any fandom as non-canon slash, so

PLEASE ....DON'T....START!!!!!

  People are going to ship whether you like it or not, and, frankly, how does this affect you in any way?  I'm not big on slash, but I don't give shit.  You shouldn't either. 

[Kugai]

Whether or not Marigold and Hanners end up as partners is, in the end, up to the mighty god Jeph.  Yes their cute together, and both are a little socially awkward, especially with each other at this moment. (though I think Hanners interaction with the gang has made her a little less awkward than she used to be - her OCD aside), but time will tell whether they end up as just good friends or if their relationship goes further.

Whatever happens, I get the feeling that Hanners is gonna grow a bit more as a character.  After all, what better way to get over your own social issues than by helping a more socially awkward that you are come out of her shell?!

[Darke]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations? Last I checked, the girl still basically behaves like a five-year-old, and can't even smile at another human being without making a fool of herself. I really don't think it's possible to be more socially awkward than she is. Sure, she can get on well enough with the people who are kind enough to treat her like a child, but try to remember what happens if she's so much as touched, or someone mentions the word sex.

[LTK]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations? Last I checked, the girl still basically behaves like a five-year-old, and can't even smile at another human being without making a fool of herself. I really don't think it's possible to be more socially awkward than she is. Sure, she can get on well enough with the people who are kind enough to treat her like a child, but try to remember what happens if she's so much as touched, or someone mentions the word sex.

The keyword is 'stranger'.

[ysth]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations? Last I checked, the girl still basically behaves like a five-year-old, and can't even smile at another human being without making a fool of herself. I really don't think it's possible to be more socially awkward than she is. Sure, she can get on well enough with the people who are kind enough to treat her like a child, but try to remember what happens if she's so much as touched, or someone mentions the word sex.

She's been working on it.  For example, her tweets about her park struggles.

[Is it cold in here?]

Marigold and Hannelore watching yaoi together is like the way adolescent boys used to stare at issues of Playboy in groups.

[Border Reiver]

Damn that image isn't available to me at work - are the 2 in pseudo victorian garb?

No, just the second-to-last panel from today's strip with the "Awkward Zone: Initiated" text from yesterday's uStream warmup sketch added, and the text has a red glow.

I can't draw.

s'all right, neither can I.  I can paint minis but generally not freehand.

[Kugai]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations?

No you didn't.  My point is that compared to Marigold at this stage, Hanners is a Rave Kitty.

[Is it cold in here?]

Hannelore is good enough to make friends. We haven't seen that of Marigold. Yet, anyway.

[Manix]

Good god, the one character to proposition lesbian sex to Hanners has to be Marigold? Talk about fan disservice.

Well, I saw this coming th emoment I read this comic.


Look, please don't see this as rude, but DON'T, okay! Please do not start some bizarre lesbian ship for these two. The constant squeals of "Hantai" almost ruined both of those characters for me, and now we see the possibility of Hannelore making a new friend (yes FRIEND), and I really don't want to see it ruined by squealing Yaoi-ists.

Good lord people, it's possible for two people of the same gender to be friends without Gay sex being involved. The constant onset of Yaoi fan (usually female) into any fandom can easily ruin that fandom (because suddenly EVERYTHING must be viewed through the yaoi lenses), I can no longer even step onto certain forums, because the rapid overwhelming of other fans by Yaoi-ists has left me with nauseau. Because of this there is nothing, NOTHING, I hate as much in any fandom as non-canon slash, so

PLEASE ....DON'T....START!!!!!

  People are going to ship whether you like it or not, and, frankly, how does this affect you in any way?  I'm not big on slash, but I don't give shit.  You shouldn't either.  

I explained above. When a new fandom comes up and the Slashers begin rolling in (you'll notice, that slashers will always be among the first fans of any new series/Game/Movie/Book) they will often overwhelm everything! They're less people and more like locusts. Everything that happens, everything that the characters do, must be seen through the lenses of Slash. A good example? An old anime series named Gundam Wing springs to mind.

Back in the days of Toonami, Gundam wing was one of their biggest shows, it gained notiriety for both itself and CN for being the first real Gundam series given mass exposure in the USA. But the thing is, you go anywhere on the net and look for sites or info ont he series (it was several years old at the time it was brought over), and you would be overwhelmed with Yaoi. All 5 main boys were gay and in love with each other, all the main supporting cast were gay and in love with one another (and then of course, one of the boys would get pregnant, don't make me start on that). Non-slashers or people who just wanted info on the series had to create or join sites or webrings that were specifically labeled "non-yaoi" and put up such signs on there own websites.

non-canon yaoi and yuri just upsets me, cause it's clear these people have completely missed whatever the creators were trying to do.

In my opinion, most of these slashers fit into this page well.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MisaimedFandom

I'm sure there are sane and normal slashers out there, but I haven't met any, and they would probably be overwhelmed by their less sane bretheren as well.

[Mojo]

Marigold looks so horrified in that last panel.

 

[Trollstormur]

i cannot wait to watch hanners freak out about that 70s bush.

[Kugai]

Manx, as with anything like that, there will always be a 'Feeding Frenzy' in the beginning but it does settle down eventually.  Slash, whether Yuri or Yaoi has probably been going on for years (the legendary Kirk/Spock slash comes to mind) but the net has allowed it to explode like a Borg invasion.

Eventually, this does settle down and, in some cases, dies away.  There is always going to be stuff out there that will make you want to either ask the Author "What the hell were you thinking?!" or even form a lynch mob! (Believe me, I know from personal experience   ), but there is good stuff out there.

Of course, as with all things, it's a matter of taste.  I am not a fan of Shonen-Ai/Yaoi, but I am a fan of Shojou-Ai/Yuri (probably stating the obvious here   ) and I know it's not to everyone's taste.  All I can say to that is that you're welcome to your opinion and belief on it, and I would never try to force you to read it - seriously, despite the silly HanTai business (and I have to admit that that did get a little out of hand) - I wouldn't expect you to agree with me about it, just so long as you respected my right to enjoy it.

[Manix]

Manx, as with anything like that, there will always be a 'Feeding Frenzy' in the beginning but it does settle down eventually.  Slash, whether Yuri or Yaoi has probably been going on for years (the legendary Kirk/Spock slash comes to mind) but the net has allowed it to explode like a Borg invasion.

Eventually, this does settle down and, in some cases, dies away.  There is always going to be stuff out there that will make you want to either ask the Author "What the hell were you thinking?!" or even form a lynch mob! (Believe me, I know from personal experience   ), but there is good stuff out there.

Of course, as with all things, it's a matter of taste.  I am not a fan of Shonen-Ai/Yaoi, but I am a fan of Shojou-Ai/Yuri (probably stating the obvious here   ) and I know it's not to everyone's taste.  All I can say to that is that you're welcome to your opinion and belief on it, and I would never try to force you to read it - seriously, despite the silly HanTai business (and I have to admit that that did get a little out of hand) - I wouldn't expect you to agree with me about it, just so long as you respected my right to enjoy it.

Hey, I believe that people whould be allowed to make there own decisions, and that includes what your kind of entertainment is, it's when others don't accept my choice of entertainment (Many slashers despise canon pairings, I've noticed, especially if it includes a man and a woman) that I get upset.

As I said, when it comes to in series romance, I usually prefer canon couples (not always, I do have a bit of a crack-shipper in me. for some reason I always liked Naruto/Ino in Naruto), but I can accept others don't feel the same way. I would go one, but i've already stated my feelings on the more maniac slashers above.

[raoullefere]

Why does Momo-tan sweat?  I would think that an electrical device that leaks fluids would be a bad thing....

She sweats because the character type she's emulating sweats. And...

I'm wondering if Momo-tan has tiny nozzles installed in her head to do the 'sweat' effects.

Jeph: "Chibi style AnthroPCs have an internal reservoir full of a viscous, opaque liquid they can exude through their hair follicles in order to simulate the Nervous Anime Sweatdrop. It's kind of gross, actually."

In other words, I totally called that one. A whole month ago.

As for all the shipping, it's been made very clear that Marigold is completely inept, socially. The blushes at this point are nerves and fear. Not that such emotions don't lead to romance, but I think both these two are not quite to that point.

Also, since shippers use couple portmanteaus, they are by definition evil. I know this because couple portmanteaus are the signature of evil, the embodiment of the creeping darkness of ignorance that threatens to overwhelm us all and hurl us into the dreary inept hell-world of Jeet-Djue-Seat. Stop while there's still time.

Anyway,

I love it how Hanners randomly loses the bottom of her lip in 2 of the panels.

I think she's sucking her lips in and out the way Nero Wolfe did when he was working out a case. With Hanners, it's nerves, though.

[Compellor]

an anthropomorphic electrical device that leaks fluids would be a bad thing

It's kind of gross, actually.

[Delirium]

Look, it's just not realistic for Marigold not to be sexually attracted to Hanners, for the following reasons:

1. Marigold is a regular visitor of 4chan. On 4chan there are traps. It is impossible to look at a hot trap and remain completely heterosexual.

2. She is a fan of Yaoi, as well as anime/manga in general. As I stated earlier, this makes it extremely unlikely for her to be straight.

3. She is viewing yaoi with Hanners. As someone else stated earlier, this is equivlant to two adolescent boys viewing porn together. If they're straight, they're not likely to experiment with each other. If they're not straight, (which, as I've established already, Marigold is astronomically unlikely to be), however, then they are almost certain to sexually experiment.

4. Angus is a horrible, horrible, smarmy dick, so Marigold is seeking comfort in another female. This is likely to lead to sexual activity with her.

5. Hanners can't handle semen, so if she has sex, it's with a girl.

I'm sure there are other factors I'm neglecting to mention, but they all lead to one inevitable conclusion. It would be more likely for a tornado to rip through a junkyard and leave in its wake a fully assembled 747 than for Hanners and Marigold not to make love.

[Manix]

Look, it's just not realistic for Marigold not to be sexually attracted to Hanners, for the following reasons:

1. Marigold is a regular visitor of 4chan. On 4chan there are traps. It is impossible to look at a hot trap and remain completely heterosexual.

2. She is a fan of Yaoi, as well as anime/manga in general. As I stated earlier, this makes it extremely unlikely for her to be straight.

3. She is viewing yaoi with Hanners. As someone else stated earlier, this is equivlant to two adolescent boys viewing porn together. If they're straight, they're not likely to experiment with each other. If they're not straight, (which, as I've established already, Marigold is astronomically unlikely to be), however, then they are almost certain to sexually experiment.

4. Angus is a horrible, horrible, smarmy dick, so Marigold is seeking comfort in another female. This is likely to lead to sexual activity with her.

5. Hanners can't handle semen, so if she has sex, it's with a girl.

I'm sure there are other factors I'm neglecting to mention, but they all lead to one inevitable conclusion. It would be more likely for a tornado to rip through a junkyard and leave in its wake a fully assembled 747 than for Hanners and Marigold not to make love.

There are SO many holes in that argument it's stunning! You obviously have very litle experience with actual Yaoi fans.

Don't try to inject your hatred over the fact that Angus isn't Sven into this, I'm willing to bet that outside of his issues with her cleanlines, Angus and Marigold are probably friends.

Hannelore's issues are at least partially about cleanliness, and this includes all sex. Where you got the idea it was about male semen over girl mucus, I don't know. But Hanners has shwon the ability to be physically attracted in the past. Can anyone here tell me who to? For the love of God people, Hannelore is attracted to Firemen and Indiana Jones! She's STRAIGHT! Straight as an arrow! She borrowed the Yaoi because it has picturesd of two hot GUYS involved. If it was two hot women, I might agree with you, but it wasn't.

I'm starting to figure out why Jeph hates these forums.

[kurzon]

Discovering enjoyment in watching guys making out is not likely to overcome Hanner's issues with bodiily fluids.  And, frankly, Marigold would need to be disinfected for a month straight before Hanners was even willing to shake her hand.

Nor does watching yaoi turn you into a lesbian.  Possibly watching lots of yuri would indicate lesbian tendancies (or that you're twelve, or a guy, or a twelve year-old guy).  The people I've encountered who ship yaoi and yuri pairings also seem to ship het pairings - they just think the non-straight pairings are hot.

And it rarely, if ever, appears to have any real correlation with real-world sexual proclivities.

At any rate, Hanners and Marigold don't seem to be giving off yuri vibtes to me, but I guess time will tell.

[Somebody]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations... try to remember what happens if... someone mentions sex.

What, like this?: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1395

[Headwoünd]

Suddenly, facepalms.

[Halloween Jack]

Isn't it possible that they, you know, just jill off together without touching? Maybe with a discreet blanket thrown over their laps? Of course, Hanners would have to bring her own...


oookay, thinking this through too much. Que sera, sera.

[Delirium]

You obviously have very litle experience with actual Yaoi fans.

I was a member of the damn anime club back in high school!

[Zingoleb]

Isn't it possible that they, you know, just jill off together without touching? Maybe with a discreet blanket thrown over their laps? Of course, Hanners would have to bring her own...


oookay, thinking this through too much. Que sera, sera.

Are the mods still banning people for being creepshow?

[Kugai]

est is the Banner-In-Chief for that Zingoleb, so it's gonna be up to him if/when he sees it.

   

[Delirium]

I... wasn't being creepy, was I?

[Manix]

Why are so many people so desperate for Hannelore to be gay? Why? What can possibly be gained from this? What possible development can actually be brought about from this? How can this possibly help Hannelore's issues out at all?

Somebody please explain this to me.

[Is it cold in here?]

When Jeph makes a gay character, he doesn't seem to go for misdirection and sly hints. Marten's bosses are good examples, and his bi character was always pretty open about it.

[Delirium]

probably to prevent stupid fucking arguments on the forums about whether or not such characters are, in fact, gay.

[Darke]

Did I miss the part where Hannelore became good in social situations... try to remember what happens if... someone mentions sex.

What, like this?: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1395

drunken behaviour != normal behaviour

[raoullefere]

Why are so many people so desperate for Hannelore to be gay?

Me, too. In fact, why does Hannelore have to be sexually active (with a partner) at all?  Given what we've seen of her state of, well, development, for lack of a better word, any sexual relation right now would probably be the equivalent of running a train full-out over a three hundred foot deep gorge spanned by a new bridge that's, say, four-fifths finished. The train engine might make it across through momentum and actually land on the rails on the other side, but there's an almighty crash coming if it doesn't. And even if it does make it, there's all the cars it's pulling behind it there to pull it back into said plummet. And what's saddest is this: if you'd wait a little while, the bridge might be finished.

Hanners can wait.
(Hey, somebody wanna create some lyrics for that and set 'em old Jim Steinman tune "Heaven Can Wait"? No? Oh well.)

[Delirium]

Ugh. WHY is this discussion even necessary? Do we need to discuss whether or not the speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792,458 m/s second, as well?

[Zingoleb]

Because people are veritably shouting from their rooftops that Marigold and Hannelore need to fuck each other.