Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

Angus

Hannelore

Steve

Pintsize

Dora

Tai

Faye

Marten

Cosette

Sven

Marigold

Some other minor character like Penelope who is almost gone as it is.

[bunnyThor]

Some folks will call this heresy. I call it character discussion.

From time to time, Jeph runs out of things he wants to do with a character and they go away. Some, like Raven, leave with an explanation of where they have gone and why. Others like Amir or Sarah, just disappear one day and never show up again.

From the current cast, which character do you most hope Jeph will weary of and put on the shelf for an indeterminate period of time? Feel free to explain the merits of your choice, that's what the thread is for. And don't worry about potential problems with "group dynamics" or "focus of the strip" or "plot consequences". Go with your heart instead. Who do you want to see erased?

(And no saying "I love love love them all!" One of them has to bug you more than the others. Be honest.)

[foolsguinea]

I don't really like this business of writing out characters.

Pintsize is the character I dislike the most, but I guess he gives Jeph a break from human drama now & again.

[Is it cold in here?]

Closely related thread from a while back.

[Carl-E]

Unfortunately, the person I was going to vote for here has her name misspelled...

Cosette (not Collette) is currently my least favorite character.  Not so much for her "fundamental characteristics", whatever those may be (the "cursed" gag seems to have run its course) but more because of her most recent appearances.  Her possessiveness of Steve while concurrently cowing him just hit too close to home - one of my first girlfriends in college, and we'll just leave it at that.   

Edit: After posting I finished reading that other thread, and noticed that Jeph locked it.  I guess we need to tread here with care - there were a few people who were pretty flippant in that other thread.  Now, BunnyThor likes being contrarian, but he makes a good point - and I think giving your reasons (without being nasty for the sake of nastiness) may keep this thread from lockdown. 

Maybe not. 

We'll see, I'm gonna leave this up. 

[TRVA123]

I'd honestly rather see some characters on the bus back into town. I really liked Dale and Amir, and I want an update on Deathmole (maybe see them jam w/ Sven?)

But, to actually answer your question: Probably Martins Mom. For some reason this recent visit from Ms. Reed just rubbed me the wrong way, which is funny, as the first time she visited I liked her a lot.

[Skewbrow]

You forgot the "Luv 'em all" option.

Obviously I don't like all of them equally, but I will not vote for a removal of any of them.

[Mr_Rose]

I chose Colette because I have no idea who she is, so I doubt I'd miss her even if she were written out....

[pwhodges]

As can be seen from the previous time it ran, this thread is likely to end up simply as a recitation of all the characters being disliked in turn.  The former thread happened to get locked when it descended to mild sexual innuendo, but my guess is that Jeph was going to lock it anyway because of the accumulation of negativity towards each of his creations.

[Is it cold in here?]

Edit: After posting I finished reading that other thread, and noticed that Jeph locked it.  I guess we need to tread here with care - there were a few people who were pretty flippant in that other thread.  Now, BunnyThor likes being contrarian, but he makes a good point - and I think giving your reasons (without being nasty for the sake of nastiness) may keep this thread from lockdown. 

(moderator)
One thing I'd advise is keeping the discussion in terms of what the readers prefer, as BunnyThor started the thread. Changing that into telling Jeph what to do would be a clear foul.
(/moderator)

[Odal]

As characters by themselves, I'd say Steve and/or Cosette.  But as they are in the storyline, they're all pretty vital at the moment.  And Steve has gone through his disappearance(s) and reappearance(s).  Since the comic of Cosette's introduction she has been pretty creepy overall in my opinion.  But there needs to be more development in her before I could really decide that for sure.

So, for now... none.

[techkid]

I would probably say Steve, myself. After he got dumped and disappeared for god-knows-how-many comics, I can't say I really missed him.

I wouldn't mind actually seeing Raven make a comeback, though. She was cool.

[JackFaerie]

Cosette was the easy choice just cause she's new and I'm not attached to her yet--I wouldn't care too much if she were written off.

I personally am bored by Pintsize's antics most of the time (my reaction whenever there's a robot-only update is "oh dammit, a filler comic"), but I don't think he could go without QC losing a rather major part of what it is. So I wouldn't really go that route.

I would actually.... kind of like it if Hannelore or Angus were to disappear. I'm very nonchalantly disposed towards Hannelore--I don't dislike her, but don't particularly care about her either, and all the adoration of her on the forums (and the way the comic itself seems to demand that we LOVE HER) kind of pushes me the other way. I'm not saying I'd want her spitefully gone, but I might well find QC refreshing without her and the by-now predictable "Hanners-is-creepily-cute" stories.

Angus? I LIKE him. I really do. But not as much as I liked Sven. So I want more Sven. And I find that as a couple, Faye and Angus...don't interest me as much as they did before they were a couple. I found Angus more fun before, when he was pestering Faye than being smoochy with her. (And I cringe saying that because I'm against the idea that you must maintain UST in fiction and that happy couples can't be fun to watch/read about.)

I might not mind if Tai disappeared, either. She's fun and I actually would LOVE to see her pursue Dora (and have that be more of a storyline than Dora just saying "thanks but no thanks"), but she's enough of a tertiary character that if she were written off, I wouldn't be particularly heartbroken.

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

I am surprised at the backlash against Cosette; I find her charming! Perhaps she just hasn't worn out her welcome with me yet.

Penelope, on the other hand? Oh, please, yes. I have never liked her. She's like Faye without the charm or the essential violence, the "hot-blooded" aspect Faye pulls off so well. Instead, she's just abrasive, demanding, seems mean-spirited when she's interacting with almost anyone but Wil, and has the whole anti-theistic "I will tell you what is right to believe!" attitude on top of it all. Ew. GTFO.

Wil can go too. He's nowhere near as bad, but...Eh. Just don't care about him that much.

Oh, and Dale. One-note gag characters get old quick.

[Loki]

Pintsize, mainly for the dick move on Marten regarding his porn folder and him being a dick  afterwards and generally ratherdispleasant.

[Odin]

Originally voted for Marten to get kicked off the island, but would like to change that to Marigold.

Marten because, well, it would probably be the best thing that could happen to him as long as he's in the strip. Marigold because... you ever watch a show or movie where a character is in a situation/talking on a subject in a very stupid manner and you start feeling this "Oh fuck, shut the hell up you idiot! Jesus Christ what the fuck were you thinking?!" feeling (it was a staple of the show Friends)? That's the feeling I get whenever Marigold does anything in the comic.

[Carl-E]

I usually change the channel when it reaches that point on TV. 

Never really had that feeling with the comic, though. 

[dragontart]

Angus maybe. I don't mind him as a character, but it seems like he put an end to Faye messing around with her relationships to other people, especially guys. At the moment, my impression is that they live happily ever after. "That was it". But who knows what's yet to come.

Also Cosette, each time she pops up I can't help but just think "god, woman" without being amused like I usually was when I thought that about Faye, for example. But since she's not around that often she doesn't really annoy me (yet).

I find Pintsize to be the most unpleasant character by far and wouldn't want him around me or anyone I love...or maybe not even around anyone at all. But I also found his cruel jokes and random actions simply hilarious on many occasions, so I really don't want him to be gone from the comic.

Actually I don't have an incredible urge to make any of the characters vanish. And I like Penelope. She's so misguided in her belief to know everything. I smiled really hard at this.
Also, more Sven, please.

[Akima]

I don't think there's anyone in the QC cast I'd really want to give the bullet. But if you backed me into a corner and made me choose, it would be Cosette.

[jwhouk]

Collette, since I have no idea who she is.

And if you meant Cosette, I'd still buy her a bus ticket.

Before she burns the town down.

[Mr_Rose]

And if you meant Cosette, I'd still buy her a bus ticket.

Before she burns the town down.

Isn't a bus company in the state that'll take her anywhere. Not after last time.

Goddamn unions and their "reasonable expectation of safety at work" rules.

[bunnyThor]

I may have a bit of a contrarian streak in me, but I started this thread with good intentions. After all, it gives a chance to talk about the characters that provoke us, who are just as valuable as the characters that please us. Besides, any thread about favorite characters just ends up as a Hannelore love-fest.

Unfortunately, the person I was going to vote for here has her name misspelled...

Yah. My bad. Fixed.

You forgot the "Luv 'em all" option.

Nope. Didn't forget. Left it out on purpose. These aren't your kids. You don't have to pretend you love them all equally. Jeph obviously doesn't love all his characters equally, or else some of them wouldn't have disappeared.

But for those who want to avoid even the false implication of negativity, let me rephrase:

"Which character would you prefer to see removed to allow more screen time for the other (slightly more excellent) characters?"

[Carl-E]

Well played, sir!

[Penquin47]

Angus never has been interesting to me.  Not saying he's a bad character, just that I've never really been interested.  I don't care about him with Faye, and that's kind of his only hook into the story.  If that were to disappear or even just happen offscreen while Faye's story became about the espressauri and reconnecting with art?  Wouldn't miss it a bit.

Before the breakup, I'd have quite possibly gone with Dora.  Now, though, it would feel like she only got half her arc: her defenses and false security have been totally stripped away so she's a bit of a neurotic wreck, and she's beginning the process of building herself back up to be a stronger, healthier person.  She can't leave until she's built herself back up.

I can agree with writing out Cosette and/or Steve (although if Steve goes, there's no reason to keep Cosette).

Writing out Hanners means probably writing out Marigold - without Hanners, Marigold doesn't really have any connection to the rest of the cast but Angus.  I want to see more of Marigold's growth away from being a friendless reclusive shut-in - I don't want to see her quit WoW or suddenly prefer to spend every night at the bar with friends or anything that would represent a radical personality shift, but I would like to see her gain some self-confidence and become happier.

[Odin]

I don't want to see her quit WoW or suddenly prefer to spend every night at the bar with friends or anything that would represent a radical personality shift, but I would like to see her gain some self-confidence and become happier.

One of those things will not happen without the other (namely gaining self confidence and becoming happier not happening without at least quitting WoW).

[Armadillo]

I'd like to see Hannelore put on a bus, with an Airbus A380 hitting said bus right as it reaches the city limits.

I've explained myself before.

[IanClark]

I'd have to say Penelope, and probably for the same reason everyone thinks.

[Delator]

Wil is essentially useless, both as comedy, and in relation to the other characters.

Marigold is a close second, but at least she has interactions with Hannelore and Sven that move things forward for all three as characters.

Wil hasn't done shit since he got hired at the bar.

[jwhouk]

I'd still say Cosette, but Wil and Penelope are a close second. With a return by Raven, I think Dora, Faye, Hanners and her could run CoD just as well as the current staff does.

[bunnyThor]

Wil hasn't done shit since he got hired at the bar.

That's why he wasn't on the list. Like Penelope, he's practically gone.

I personally would like to see the departure of Angus. He's elbowed his way into a lot of screen time, and he's done very little with it.

Of course if he's gone, then Marigold needs a new roommate. Maybe have Lydia come back and move in instead. Or even Raven. Or Jimbo! That might be an interesting dynamic. 

[Skewbrow]

Hey? I voted for Collette. Now you changed the name without resetting the vote count. That's cheating   

[Boomslang]

Huh. Faye and Sven are least disliked characters right now, according to the poll.

Would not have guessed that would be the case a year ago.

[sterlingdragon]

Cosette.
ELLEN WAS PERFECT FOR YOU STEVE YOU DIRTY ASSHOLE

[TheEvilDog]

ELLEN WAS PERFECT FOR YOU STEVE YOU DIRTY ASSHOLE

No, no, just no.

[Spectreofwar]

Fascinating. (I couldn't actually see the poll until I registered, and I did not expect to see the results that appeared!)

I'm actually quite fond of Cosette, but probably because she has a sort of endearing insecurity - as opposed to Marigold, whose self-defeating low self esteem I can only handle so much of. That said, Marigold doesn't earn my vote to go away... that was actually Tai, who despite having a pleasant personality is someone I have the greatest difficulty relating to.

I actually really like Penelope as a counter to both Faye and Dora at CoD, and would love to see more interactions with her now that Hanners and Cosette are in the mix.

[Skelepunk]

Wil. I despise people like him, who think hard work is something that "other" people do. Mommy and Daddy probably paid for his schooling too, the putz.
Ahem. Sorry. I think I may have violated a rule there.
I also wouldn't miss Cosette much, like many others.
 

[akronnick]

I don't think it will happen, and I would have been sad if it did, but when Marten and Dora broke up, I thought there might be a possibility that Marten would leave the comic.

The scenario I thought about involved Marten re-evaluating his situation in Massachusetts, finding that he was not happy with his situation, and without his relationship with Dora, he had no real reason not to go back to California, leaving the comic to focus on the progress of the ever expanding secondary characters.

With the inclusion of the Secret Bakery story, I don't think that is what Jeph has planned.


(And without Marten, there would be no Pintsize, so what would be the point?)

[bekachan]

I don't think it will happen, and I would have been sad if it did, but when Marten and Dora broke up, I thought there might be a possibility that Marten would leave the comic.

That's funny, because when I first read the Dora/Marten break-up, I saw it as the first step in Dora's quiet exit from the strip.  I wasn't sure how it would work with her owning CoD, but it's always seemed to me that Marten and Faye were the core of the strip, and everyone else was peripheral. 

[jwhouk]

Realistically, I'd see Dora fading into the background more than I would Marten.

I still say Cosette's got a long way to go before she can be considered a solid cast member. I mean, "Steve's Girlfriend" is the kiss-of-death for cast members in this strip.

[TheEvilDog]

I don't think it will happen, and I would have been sad if it did, but when Marten and Dora broke up, I thought there might be a possibility that Marten would leave the comic.

The scenario I thought about involved Marten re-evaluating his situation in Massachusetts, finding that he was not happy with his situation, and without his relationship with Dora, he had no real reason not to go back to California, leaving the comic to focus on the progress of the ever expanding secondary characters.

With the inclusion of the Secret Bakery story, I don't think that is what Jeph has planned.


(And without Marten, there would be no Pintsize, so what would be the point?)

That's pretty much what I thought, that Marten would leave for a while and try to think about what it was he wanted. He might have returned, but then again, the thought of seeing Dora could have just resulted in him going "Fuck it! I'm staying in California" and there could have been something of a reboot for Marten and Pintsize.

[bunnyThor]

I still say Cosette's got a long way to go before she can be considered a solid cast member. I mean, "Steve's Girlfriend" is the kiss-of-death for cast members in this strip.

Which is sad, because I always prefer Steve's girlfriends myself. 

[tomart]

Of course if [Angus] is gone, then Marigold needs a new roommate. Maybe have Lydia come back and move in instead. Or even Raven.

Perhaps Raven and her little black book could help Marigold come out of her shell. . .  

On-topic:  Vespavenger or Pizza Girl.

[Carl-E]

I still say Cosette's got a long way to go before she can be considered a solid cast member. I mean, "Steve's Girlfriend" is the kiss-of-death for cast members in this strip.

Which is sad, because I always prefer Steve's girlfriends myself. 

I was never really thrilled with Ellen, although she could keep up wit hthe rest of them fine.  But I really liked Meenah - at first.  She really could've developed into a solid part of the cast.  It still feels weird how that whole arc-ending just got thrown up after a long absence.  Sure, it made sense and worked, but it was really kinda dissatisfying. 

[/two cents]

[Jace]

I feel like we should get rid of Marten, he is the most shallow character of them all, having no real depth or emotion to his character and really is just a crutch holding jeph back.

[snubnose]

Hmmmmmmm.

I want Raven back.

Weird poll. No waffles. But I really cant think of any character I would like to throw out of the Comic, so it would be Waffles for me.

Cosette (not Collette) is currently my least favorite character.

Cosette is nothing short the ideal girlfriend for Steve. They have both funny shortcomings.

Penelope, on the other hand? Oh, please, yes. I have never liked her.

Penpen is the ideal girlfriend for Wil. That works so well because they are so opposed to each other.

[Blood-Tree]

I feel like we should get rid of Marten...

He is kinda the Zeppo isn't he?

(Although the the thing about Zeppo is that the movies without him were never quite as good.)

I was hoping that when the Secret Bakery was introduced we were going to see the focus of the comic move away from CoD (and effectively Dora, Fangus, Penelope, Sven, Wil) and onto Marten, Steve, Ms Tapiruphobe, Marigold and Shiny New Secret Bakery People.

That being said, I totally voted for Pintsize. I get that people like different things and it's impossible to please everyone, but the robot/roomba stuff always feels like filler to me, although I recognise that it's really a necessity to have that option in order to  update every weekday.

[Method of Madness]

Weird poll. No waffles.

For the same reason there's no Randy.  THEY ARE BOTH ETERNAL.

[Near Lurker]

What the hell does everyone have against Cosette?

Honestly, I love all these characters too much.  Even Dora.  Cosette... I guess she does seem kind of one-note, but Hannelore would be my first pick rather than Cosette, except that it would torpedo a lot of the cast.

[Method of Madness]

None of the characters are boring, I'll say that much.  Although I don't think I'd really care to see Cosette become a main cast, I can hardly say she's worn out her welcome.

[TheEvilDog]

The thing is, Marten is one of the main lynchpins of the comic. Compared to everyone, he is the everyman, the balance for all the wackiness. If he were to go, there would still need to be a "Marten"-esque character needed to help even out the likes of Hanners, Marigold, even Faye.

[Method of Madness]

Ahh, so he's the Forman.