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...And then HE said "that's not a femtosecond initiation optical pulse, that's my WIFE!

4 (5.5%)

Enjoyin' the egghead jokes? I think I'm a few PhD's short.

1 (1.4%)

Wanna ditch?

0 (0%)

Let's get outta here before they start tryin' to arm-wrestle the hunter-killer droids.

1 (1.4%)

You turned down all that money? (Meh, no big deal)

0 (0%)

Floating in space: "Even if I am just a glorified TSA agent, I get to do it in SPACE..."

2 (2.7%)

Space Hooch Spit Take - "So, are you and the doc's kid ####in' or what?"

18 (24.7%)

We're just friends. (I assumed...)

0 (0%)

It's not all it's cracked up to be.... you bump into things too much... See this scar?

1 (1.4%)

Dunno if she was playin' you or what, but you coulda handled it a little better.

1 (1.4%)

Send her an e-mail or something! No sense leavin' it off on a sad note.

0 (0%)

No offense, buddy, but you're not my type.

1 (1.4%)

You were seriously gonna try and make a move on me when you don't even know my FIRST NAME?

11 (15.1%)

I like big guys, y'know? I want a man who can bench press me one handed.

2 (2.7%)

You can call me Abbie. And write that email!

2 (2.7%)

"...You wouldn't believe where I'm emailing you from..."

7 (9.6%)

Hannelore? Could you meet me on observation deck 3?

0 (0%)

Table, candlelight, nice view of Earth... and a dressed up Station!

6 (8.2%)

Do you have a DATE? Oh my gosh! Who is she? Is she nice?

1 (1.4%)

...She's VERY nice. Have a seat. Oh no, no, I wouldn't want to be a distraction.

11 (15.1%)

Enjoy your dinner! "W-wait!"

4 (5.5%)

Total Members Voted: 67

[jmucchiello]

Sure, he was shutdown, but he made a move!

"That's no move."

[Jabberwocky]

After more thought, I think it's obvious what her first name is.

Lieutenant.

Think about it: She could be a military brat, and her dad (old school Air Force all the way) named her that because that's what he wanted her to be. Even though she was probably being groomed for the USAFA from birth by dad, she rebelled once she got there (hence the FB photos and the "remote" placement).

Like Maj. Major Major?

Mr. Mister?
Señor Senior, Sr.?
Constable John Constable?

(Props to those who get the last reference.  Double props if you're non-Canadian.)

[Border Reiver]

Well, there was a Sgt. Major in the Canadian Artillery untill a few years ago - Then he was promoted to Warrant Officer, and I believe is now a Troop Sgt Major and is therefore Troop Sgt Major Major.

[idontunderstand]

If you can call that a move, then my baby cousin's footsteps must be long jumps.

In Space Romance, a little inertia takes you a long way.

So much meaning in this.

[Schmorgluck]

Foolish Lieutenant Potter! That is the BEST time to make a move on someone!

No shit. Since I got rid of my crippling anxieties, six weeks ago, I'm pretty much discovering the world of flirtation. One of my first findings is that I'm pretty apt at flirting without being creepy or obnoxious: I've always been turned down with friendly smiles. Which puts out of the equation the possibility of a negative outcome when wooing strangers: the result is either positive or null.
It's much more scary to make a move at someone who you start getting to know (I've been through this, too). Someone you know enough to appreciate, but not enough to be sure that making a move wouldn't make things weird and ruin your budding friendship.

[Milesb]

Everyone loves a catch-22 reference.

With that in mind has anyone read Closing Time?

[quix0te]

Sure, he was shutdown, but he made a move!

I think the phrase you're looking for was "Of course he was shutdown".  Because if Marten isn't an impotent manboy, the comic isn't FUNNY.

[Milesb]

Are you kidding? I would probably fall out of my chair with shock, glee and amusement to see Marten actually hand it on down to Faye for once.

though I see your point.

[not2b]

After more thought, I think it's obvious what her first name is.

Lieutenant.

Think about it: She could be a military brat, and her dad (old school Air Force all the way) named her that because that's what he wanted her to be. Even though she was probably being groomed for the USAFA from birth by dad, she rebelled once she got there (hence the FB photos and the "remote" placement).

Like Maj. Major Major?

Mr. Mister?
Señor Senior, Sr.?
Constable John Constable?

(Props to those who get the last reference.  Double props if you're non-Canadian.)

Perhaps it is something really embarrassing, so she does her best to avoid using it.  Normally, you would think she would have introduced herself to the guests by now, but maybe she doesn't want to 'fess up to being  Lieutenant Petunia Potter, USAF.

[Sorflakne]

After more thought, I think it's obvious what her first name is.

Lieutenant.

Think about it: She could be a military brat, and her dad (old school Air Force all the way) named her that because that's what he wanted her to be. Even though she was probably being groomed for the USAFA from birth by dad, she rebelled once she got there (hence the FB photos and the "remote" placement).

Like Maj. Major Major?

Mr. Mister?
Señor Senior, Sr.?
Constable John Constable?

(Props to those who get the last reference.  Double props if you're non-Canadian.)

Perhaps it is something really embarrassing, so she does her best to avoid using it.  Normally, you would think she would have introduced herself to the guests by now, but maybe she doesn't want to 'fess up to being  Lieutenant Petunia Potter, USAF.

$10 says her first name is Harriet.

[jwhouk]

No, nothing on any take on the "Harry" theme.

Good lord, she's gotta be at least 23 or something; she's not OLD enough to have been named by someone who was a HP fan!

[jwhouk]

Who's going to be the Adorable One this week?

Hannelore (As always)    18 (19.4%)
Marigold (The Adorkable One)    14 (15.1%)
Marten (even if he's had his happiness surgically removed by Jeph)    9 (9.7%)
Francis (because he'll get the girl in the end)    6 (6.5%)
Lt. Potter (How, I have no idea.)    28 (30.1%) (maybe in a "boot to the head" kind of way?)
Dr. Ellicott-Chatham (He'll so something so endearing we'll all need insulin.)    2 (2.2%)
Station (Ditto except virtual insulin.)    0 (0%)
Dr. Case (Who will give Marbear some permanent space sickness meds)    1 (1.1%)
The Singing Scientists (Who will hit the big time with their "Good Morning" song)    5 (5.4%)
Dr. Hakase (Who will stalk Marten all the way to Northampton!)    3 (3.2%)
Faye (Because she fell in. Again.)    1 (1.1%)
Spathe Ham (Because it's SPACE HAM. C'mon!)    2 (2.2%)
Padma Punched First!    4 (4.3%)

Total Members Voted: 93

[Walter S]

Marten may not know Lt. Potter's first name, but I'll bet it's Marygay, assuming the same alt universe as The Forever War.  Any takers?

[themacnut]

I figured Marten wasn't getting any play whichever way this went - it would be too easy after his so-recent experience with Padma. It's really about time he got shot down again (hasn't happened since the time he tried to talk to Padma at the bar, and since she didn't even seem to be aware Marten was trying to hit on her I'm not sure that even counts). Most guys get shot down by multiple women before they even get so much as a phone number out of one, never mind a date or even makeouts.

Still, it seems to me like Marten was just barely starting to make a move, if indeed he was intending to make a move at all. My first thought was that Lt. Potter seems to have jumped the gun a bit there, and Marten just seemed to go along with it. In any case, this is one reason why Marten's so passive, apparently even thinking about doing something more aggressive results in fail for him. He's apparently better off just sitting around waiting for a woman to come to him, even if he's got to wait months or years.

[Madmartigan]

Darn.

Sometimes Marten just can't seem to catch a break



But at least he's consistent.     

I've come to the conclusion the poor feller is cursed with the ladies right now.  The curse of the passive ponce I shall call it.

[Near Lurker]

Good lord, she's gotta be at least 23 or something; she's not OLD enough to have been named by someone who was a HP fan!

I figured she was nearing or into her thirties, but for the life of me I have no idea why.  She's young enough that she posted her graduation photos on Facebook...

UPDATE EDIT: This is far too serious a missive to be typed with thumbs.

[Near Lurker]

Most people in real life like "scrawny"/trim men, though... I hate being told my elephantine skeleton is a good thing.  It's nasty...

(I'm not blaming it for my sex life, but it's just... ew.  I want to cut my own bones out sometimes.)

[nonethousand]

...and then the meteor swarm hits the station.
 

[pwhodges]

A decent wifi signal is only to be expected, but the strong phone signal surprised me.  Still, we can get mobile phone repeaters here (in the UK, these are very highly regulated), even VOIP ones that link over the Internet, so I guess that's what they have.

Now, is Marten being passive because he's doing what he's told, or is he being decisive because he's actually doing it?

And what will come of it?  Oh, the angst as we wait for the outcome!

[idontunderstand]

UGH. Clueless messages from exes... nothing worse.

[cpflux]

"How are you? I am fine."

Something about this amuses me...

[Sidhekin]

In microgravity, anyone can bench press you one handed.

... unless you resist, I suppose ...

[calmcalamity]

I guess the spoiler comic i saw yesterday is Friday's, which I suspected when I noticed that Jeph had just wrote on twitter that he'd finished it just before he posted. Must have accidentally still had it selected while loading the comic.

[Kugai]

This could be the best move Marten has made in months



Or the beginning of a beautiful disaster

[Truec]

Somebody's going to be talking to Abbie about those buttprints on the window, I'm sure.

I kind of don't want this storyline to end.  Can the space station land downtown and become another apartment building, thus adding all the Space! characters to the regular cast?

[Is it cold in here?]

Now, is Marten being passive because he's doing what he's told, or is he being decisive because he's actually doing it?

And what will come of it?  Oh, the angst as we wait for the outcome!

Well, this is Marten we're talking about.

Why would Padma answer at all?

[Skewbrow]

In microgravity, anyone can bench press you one handed.

... unless you resist, I suppose ...

Surely others here have also seen the Skylab Strong Man Video. First the astronaut bench presses a mass that would weigh 1000 lbs (IIRC) on Earth. The difficulties are, of course, that you have to draw that mass down yourself AND slow it down so that it won't crush you chest. In the same video they also do push ups. First two handed, then one handed, then without using hands at all.

[Nathanyel]

Real smooth Marten, starting that email with "you wouldn't believe how great my life is after our breakup"

[WAYF]

I find the fact that her name in his Contact List is still "Padma_Pants" hilarious.

Which begs the question: overly suggestive pet name, or actual last name?

[Is it cold in here?]

Wonder if he ever knew her last name.

[TinPenguin]

Real smooth Marten, starting that email with "you wouldn't believe how great my life is after our breakup"

Well, it's not like they were together for ages and now he's free of her shackles he's all "hell yeah I can go to space now that bitch ain't draggin' me down"

If anything, "I'm in space" is a pretty good ice-breaker, as they go.

[VonKleist]

Padma_Pants is indeed hilarious


I hope she does answer him back in a timely manner.
Look at that glint of hope in old MArtypants' eyes.

[Blackjoker]

I wonder if I am unique in thinking that Marten might want to try to find a way to introduce Elliot to the lovely lieutenant. When she mentioned she liked big guys suddenly I thought of the grand loomer.

[Sidhekin]

Nah, you're not alone.  However, aside from the logistical difficulties, I don't really see Elliot going for Abbie.  Except possibly to evict her, should she celebrate her resolve too hard where he's on duty ...

[bhtooefr]

Hmm. Steve, maybe? Not as big as the loomer, but the desired effect of bench pressing Abbie (in 1 G) could likely be achieved, and Steve has a government background (and may be able to use some of those connections?)

Of course, he's with Cosette now, but...

[Madmartigan]

UGH. Clueless messages from exes... nothing worse.

Nothing more awkward either....Potter said some good things Marty.  That advice wasn't one of them, bro.

[Black Sword]

This could be the best move Marten has made in months



Or the beginning of a beautiful disaster

The latter, of course. This IS Marten we're speaking of.

Also getting a hugely hostile vibe around here about him messaging her. What's the big deal, exactly? It's not like they ended on bad terms, eager to rip out each other's intestines and use them as Christmas tree decorations.

[jwhouk]

Wonder if he ever knew her last name.

...Ask Carrie Underwood. 

[jwhouk]

Oh, and on an aside... Does anyone think Jeph may have subconsciously modeled the Lieutenant after another famous, fictional "Abby" who also wears her hair in tails?

[SomeCanadianWeirdo]

Constable John Constable?

He got promoted to Corporal eventually.

It's getting long enough since the original ended that we're probably due for a new version with an all new cast.(Especially since Gerussi and Clothier are gone.)  Which will be made by someone besides CBC and probably be awful.

[squab]

I'm flustered. I see nothing in the art or dialog that indicates he was hitting on her. His statement of moving on is barely even flirty. In my mind, this is Marten, he might apologize for "hitting on her" even if he wasn't just because he accepts her perception of what happened over his.

And the proper response to "you were going to hit on me without knowing my first name" is "What IS your first name?"

I don't think Marten's that smooth. Anyways, I figure it would probably be more obvious if you were actually there. I imagine a subtle enough look on his face suggesting interest, a look that isn't possible to really draw on a webcomic, combined with HOW Marten said it. Which we can't completely tell just by reading.

Most people in real life like "scrawny"/trim men, though... I hate being told my elephantine skeleton is a good thing.  It's nasty...

(I'm not blaming it for my sex life, but it's just... ew.  I want to cut my own bones out sometimes.)

What the fuck? This sounds kinda wrong and probably needs more context.

[DSL]

This could be the best move Marten has made in months



Or the beginning of a beautiful disaster

The latter, of course. This IS Marten we're speaking of.


Also getting a hugely hostile vibe around here about him messaging her. What's the big deal, exactly? It's not like they ended on bad terms, eager to rip out each other's intestines and use them as Christmas tree decorations.

Exactly. So far it's nothing more than taking Potter's advice to not let it end on a sad note. As long as Marten doesn't read too much into any positive response from Padma. Which he might. He's good at that, is our Marty.

[Carl-E]

Padma Pantnagari. 

Shortened by her classmates at school...



No, you haven't missed anything in-comic.  This is wild speculation on my part using an Indian city-based surname. 

[ink slinger]

If you can call that a move, then my baby cousin's footsteps must be long jumps.

I didn't say it was a good move. But, as others have said, I'm not even sure it was a move, in retrospect. I wonder if Lt. Potter may have jumped the gun a bit.

Now, if Marten had really wanted to make a move, he would have mentioned that he is the kind of guy who can bench press her one-handed, and then offer to prove it. As long as the relationship remains a short-term fling that happens entirely within a zero-G environment, he won't be lying!

[Lubricus]

Everyone loves a catch-22 reference.

With that in mind has anyone read Closing Time?

I have. I didn't like it anywhere near as much as I liked Catch-22, though.

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

I am predicting the email will not matter because we will not see Padma again, ever. Comic be movin' on, son. Like a bus. Space bus. Goin' on to the Separate Ways Nebula.

[iduguphergrave]

I think he's going about it fine; though personally I would make the subject "Please don't delete this"

[eurydice23]

I never really got the vibe they were dating.  I know I'm gonna get a storm of "you act like we don't know what dating is!" But weren't they just having sex? I mean, did they call them selves boyfriend/girlfriend? I feel like Padma might have been sad that Marty couldn't hang out, but I don't think she knew he did it becuase he was pissed off at her. I think the email is gonna go over just fine.

[Earin]

I am predicting the email will not matter because we will not see Padma again, ever. Comic be movin' on, son. Like a bus. Space bus. Goin' on to the Separate Ways Nebula.

Do we have to make a stop at the Room With A Moose?

[Evilproduct]

Oh come on! I thought we were done with this Padma crap! I really hope she give Marten what for and she never comes back. Plus, I love these space panels! Weeeeeee!


btw.............MartenxHanners forever!