Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT: 2826-2830 (03 - 07 November 2014) Weekly Comic Discussion Thread
Rghfrgl:
--- Quote from: eschaton on 04 Nov 2014, 19:51 ---There's something very creepy about Martin's face in panel three.
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Marten is happy and it's been so long his face doesn't know what to do about it.
lot_jockey:
--- Quote from: Natswash on 04 Nov 2014, 20:54 ---
--- Quote from: eschaton on 04 Nov 2014, 19:51 ---There's something very creepy about Martin's face in panel three.
I'm not sure if it's actually seeing a character's face dead on (which Jeph seldom does) or actually having a first-person look out of Claire's eyes (which I don't think Jeph has ever done before).
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It's a little uncanny valley to me
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I agree -- it's a really creepy expression. I know the expression is intended to show that Marten is happy about dating Claire, but it comes off poorly.
I find it puzzling that Marten would want to date Claire. Today's comic reaffirmed this feeling. For one thing, Marten is 25 or 26 and Claire is 24. However, Marten has much more romantic experience than Claire. Marten has had four or five girlfriends. In contrast, Claire has kissed one person. I guess Marten is that uncommon 26 year-old who is willing to date someone with essentially no romantic experience.
Marten's paternalism towards Claire also baffles me. If you have to protect and advise someone in a paternal way, to me, that person would not feel like an equal partner. When Marten advised Claire that she "might wanna change out of that dress... so you won't be heartbroken when someone spills a shitty beer on it", it came across like she, a 24 year old, had never been to a bar and didn't know how to dress herself. Marten also had to comfort Claire after she freaked out about harmless snuggling. Today, he told her she can wear whatever she wants on a date. Again, I don't get how one could be attracted to someone when he has to hold her hand through so many scenarios.
Now, the heart wants what it wants. That's why Marten and Claire are "kind of a thing." But I imagine trouble must be on the horizon.
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As a side note, the way Jeph has been drawing eyes recently has bugged me. Whenever he draws someone close up, the eyes and pupils are way too big. It is too much like anime. I miss the more realistic style from 1600 to 1800.
BenRG:
I get the impression that the reason why early Claire's personality was so abrasive was because she's been socially excluded by choice during her transition. She's probably never had any serious adult relationships other than very limited academic ones during her studies; she really didn't know how to relate to people properly. She really doesn't know how to do this. All she's got are the influences of literature and media. Consequently, she probably thinks that there is always more to dating than there is in this case (going out for an informal meal).
This is another area where Marten's niceness helps: He is willing to walk her through her questions and nervousness without getting impatient. That said, I think that Claire would enjoy going on a fancy, formal date with all the trimmings. I hope Marten thinks to do that for her one day!
I think that Jeph is deliberately comparing Claire to Marigold here. Both are somewhat inexperienced at adult relationships and the requirements of life, if for different reasons. Both need guidance from wise figures; Hanners and Marten are unlikely candidates but are doing the job.
Rghfrgl:
--- Quote ---I find it puzzling that Marten would want to date Claire.
--- End quote ---
Marten gets to take the lead with Claire and I think that's the appeal, for him and the readers. Marten likes strong women and I'd say Claire is a strong woman, she's going after her dreams and just being herself must have taken a lot of courage. But compared to other strong women Martens shown interest in like Dora and Faye she's not a aggressive woman. Marten can't keep up with a Faye or Dora and I think he's figured that out.
Well, that and Claire is super cute.
Natswash:
Cute is frequently a factor
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