Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT: 2811-2815 (13-17 October 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Aziraphale:
--- Quote from: Rghfrgl on 14 Oct 2014, 11:41 ---
--- Quote from: Aziraphale on 14 Oct 2014, 10:48 ---There are also a lot of characters whose back stories haven't really been explored, or have only been briefly alluded to. We know Faye's "origin story," but we've only gotten bits and pieces for Marten, Hannelore, Claire, and Dora/Sven, each of which have plenty more room for development.
--- End quote ---
Part of me thinks Claire backstory could be a really interesting look into the character.
And another part of me doesn't want to see her as anyone except who she's worked hard to be.
Even if I already know she just looked like Clinton with twice the hands.
--- End quote ---
Maybe it's just me, but for one thing, I like knowing characters' back stories and origins. For another, I think Claire's always been who she is, but the journey to allowing herself to be that -- to shed the old identity that didn't fit her at all, and the conscious choice to embrace herself as herself -- doesn't in any way diminish who she is, and is still in the process of becoming. One part of that, at least, is common to all of us; nobody's born fully-formed in terms of their identity. We're always growing and always becoming. The fact that she's trans (and all that goes with that) certainly adds another layer of complexity to that process, but to my mind at least, it's a difference of degree as much as kind. All of us, if we're lucky -- sometimes with a great support system, other times with nothing to go on but grit, stubbornness, and a patient ear for our inner voice -- give ourselves permission to become what we are.
(hopefully that makes as much sense typed out as it did in my head)
AprilArcus:
What would we gain from it? Our flash back to young Hanners locked up in her room during the station arc was disturbing, but was a great counterpoint to her breakthrough birthday hug. The graphic flashback to Faye's dad's death was the right choice to visualize an otherwise abstract trauma that shaped her personality for hundreds of strips. Claire's transition arc is over and done years before we meet her. What value would we get out of seeing her as an awkward and miserable not-a-boy besides scratching a voyeuristic itch? The visual scars of her transition are all over her (brilliant) character design and there to appreciate in every panel she's in.
Kugai:
Have we considered the possibility that Angus may be going the way of Wil?
Think about it, Wil was introduced and became a fairly regular character - especially with his relationship with Penelope - then he got that job at the Bar and slowly became less and less of a regular. I mean, how often have we actually seen Wil since he got the job and, to a certain extent, had his 'Happy Ending' with Penelope.
Now Angus has got this job out of town, and he's been more of a regular character than Wil was. I can see Jeph moving ahead with some 'Settling Down Drama' as the two of them get used to the nature of the change of their relationship, but i can also see Angus moving back to a semi-regular basis, mentioned but rarely seen.
Aziraphale:
--- Quote from: AprilArcus on 14 Oct 2014, 14:22 ---What would we gain from it? Our flash back to young Hanners locked up in her room during the station arc was disturbing, but was a great counterpoint to her breakthrough birthday hug. The graphic flashback to Faye's dad's death was the right choice to visualize an otherwise abstract trauma that shaped her personality for hundreds of strips. Claire's transition arc is over and done years before we meet her. What value would we get out of seeing her as an awkward and miserable not-a-boy besides scratching a voyeuristic itch? The visual scars of her transition are all over her (brilliant) character design and there to appreciate in every panel she's in.
--- End quote ---
Valid points, all. I should probably have clarified that I'm not interested in it either as voyeurism or as a plot point for the sake of it. But if -- as with Faye and Hanners' storylines -- it serves to illuminate or set up further character development, I'd be for it, for the same reason that I'd be in favor of exploring Dora and Sven's backstory further (since their actions, especially lately, don't really make much sense on the evidence we've been given in-comic so far).
BenRG:
One thought that occurs to me is that Angus's gig may crash-and-burn. Just because the producers liked him doesn't mean he'll be a hit! He's good, but is he good enough to stand out from the crowd? Few are. He might get a few weeks and then someone else gets rotated in and he gets "We'll call you sometime". Faye then finds herself in the unaccustomed role of comforter; it could take her story in a whole new direction!
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