Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 15-19 November 2010 (1796-1800)
Northeman:
Long time reader of the comic, first time actually making a post on these forums. So I'm largely unaware of the various tribes among fans; just reading this thread has been an education. Had no idea there was so much hate for Dora, for one thing. Anyway.
First off, I have to congratulate Jeph on spinning such an engrossing yarn. The narrative of QC is first rate, the characters are beautifully flawed and engrossing, really easy to identify with. The setting is delightful, with the little departures from reality that end up being incorporated into said reality (AnthroPCs, the fancy dresscode at the Horrible Revelation, etc.)
This turn of events is what prompted me to join the 'boards. Jeph must have been working on this setup for years. YEARS, people. This is heady stuff, the culmination of a lot of work. I'm really proud of Marten for finally finding the line. Honestly, the crap that he puts up with from the lady cadre with a shrug and a a smile is astounding; the long term effects of being raised by a Dominatrix and a closeted gay man (arguably the ultimate act of submission, subsuming one's self so completely for the ease of others). Marten's role models for the behavior of both men and women are painfully obvious in how he carries himself in his own life. His finally putting his foot down, saying 'This far, and no further' is an incredibly important step for him.
As for the action that prompted it, this is just the latest in a long long LONG line of casual disrespectful acts that Dora, Faye, Tai, Steve, his first girlfriend, hell, probably everyone who has ever known him. Particularly ladies, though, because that's what he expects ladies to be. Of course I'm not suggesting that Ms. Reed ever broke out the crop, so to speak, but she's a very strong, dominant woman, and you can't tell me that that wouldn't shape Marten's expectations of women. The only character he's had much facetime with that hasn't has been Hannelore, someone who is just as unassertive as he is, but for different reasons. If anything, Hanners' line is closer to the surface than Marty's is, witness her 'No more of your Bull$h!t!' moments on Faye and Marigold.
Don't believe me? Go hit Random on the QC mainpage. I bet you five bucks that you find a comic within ten or so pages involving Marten as the butt of a joke, the object of ridicule, or the punchline. Usually it's 'all in good fun', but those have a way of building up in a guy. Whether it's he's too weak to move his own furniture, getting punched by Faye for [insert meaningless 'reason' here], Dora walking all over him, Tai delighting in shockvaluing him or taking potshots at his relationship with Dora, etc. Marten's not a naturally assertive person, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to be. (And if you want to have some fun, do the random archive perusal with the Benny Hill themesong playing in the background. Hilarity!)
Hell, even this particular incident isn't Dora's fault alone. Or have we forgotten whose idea it was in the first place to ask Pintsize? That's the kind of behavior that is, in many ways, Marten's fault for encouraging by not standing up for himself. He lets people Dom him, so they have no reason to think that there'll be consequences when they finally find his line, perhaps thinking he doesn't even have one. Unfortunately, it looks like Marten's going be the kind of guy who gets all of his assertiveness out at once, probably taking out his frustration at all of the friendly BS he puts up with on Dora. Now, granted, Dora has it coming here, but so does Faye, Tai, on this particular occasion, which will be disproportionate and hurtful to Dora. And I like Dora. I think this is going to be what finally gets Dora to take a look at her past and current relationships side by side and realize how good this one is for her.
However, I think Marten's going to have his own 'No more of your bull$h!t!' moment, and it's going to be bigger than both of Hanners' combined, because it's been that long since he relieved the pressure. I really feel sorry for whoever ends up getting it, be it Dora, Faye, Sven, or Jeph forbid Hanners. No one person is going to deserve the yelling that Marten's going to deliver, because they've all put a straw in the bundle. It's just Dora that finally broke his back.
If they get through this, than they'll be in an incredibly strong relationship. *crosses fingers*
(EDIT: 30 new replies, cheese and rice. I'm not re-writing this thing, so I'll just have to post a follow-up)
(EDIT2: DAMMIT, another one...)
(EDIT3: I realize there's some spicy topics in teh above, and it's late so I probably put my foot in my mouth on at least one of them. I imagine I'll be doing my own song and dance to smooth things over. I really hope I don't spark a flame war, but this is a narrative nexus and I had to put my thought out there. *prepares to clarify and explain himself*)
Kugai:
Oh god no, not the Emergency Bourbon!!!!!
ChibiSoma:
Dora drops Marten.
Marten goes to attempt to 'fix' something that shouldn't be fixed.
Sven and Marten get into a fist fight.
Marten drags himself into the apartment late that night.
Faye, still buzzed, freaks out, asks what happens, Marten says Sven wrecked his shit.
Faye grabs the first aid kit and helps patch him up.
Marten has a complete breakdown about why everything's gone tits-up.
Faye comforts him, possibly he passes out from exhaustion.
Faye realizes he needs someone a bit more qualified to take care of him. Someone who has ADMITTED HER FLAWS AND HAS DONE THINGS ABOUT THEM INSTEAD OF PRETENDING THEY DO NOT FUCKING EXIST.
Marten stays home the next day, sleeping it off.
Faye goes to CoD, calls Dora a waffling hoebag, and punches her in the tits.
Faye meets up with Angus on the way home, lets him down gently, returns to the apartment.
Marten freaks out, possibly wondering if Sven went on a rampage and also beat HER up.
Meanwhile, Angus goes back, runs across Marigold, asks if she wants to go out drinking. Confused but generally pleased, she does so.
Dora, meanwhile, runs into Tai when she goes to the library to see if Marten's in, since she needs to get her shit from his apartment still. Tai gets the lowdown, promptly puts Dora in her place, then drags her off into the back room to fuck on the copier.
It all fucking woooooorks!
AngelofShadows:
Emergency Bourbon is the best bourbon. It has to be. It's a god damned emergency.
iduguphergrave:
--- Quote from: ChibiSoma on 16 Nov 2010, 22:34 ---
Faye goes to CoD, calls Dora a waffling hoebag, and punches her in the tits.
--- End quote ---
I disagree with every part of your post but this. This would be pretty entertaining. :evil:
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