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Dr Ellicott-Chatham exposition strips plus reaction shots from main cast

It's harmless! Back to Faye and Bubbles!

"It's a surprise! See if you can work it out!" Experimentation follows

"Please... tell me that you didn't use that on anyone?"

"I'm glad you called! We've got over thirty clones maturing up here! What have you been up to?"

Dr Ellicott-Chatham merely does the 'Mad Scientist Laugh'

For maximum cliffhanger stress, Jeph goes on a two-week detour with other characters

Other (specify in comment)

[cesium133]

This is a conspiracy to get me playing Kerbal Space Program again so I can create an in-game pizza delivery company. 

[WareWolf]

It only stands  to reason that E-C would have dedicated repair and "reimbursal"  teams.

[Kugai]

Re: Last Panel


WHAT

THE

ACTUAL!?!

[chaospersonified]

Osaka, ya beat me to it. Ellicot-Chatham's incredible wealth is the ultimate explanation for their ability to get away with insane shit. I approve, not that my approval is at all important

[Omega Entity]

Actually, anyone noticed the face in the smoke?

Ah, but is it in the smoke, or in the supremely pissed off roof due to bombardment?

[SubaruStephen]

Either Claire is wearing a pair of magnifying glasses as spectacles, or her eyes are about to pop out of her head.

[QuestionableIntentions]

Are we sure Hannerdad isn't planning to conquer the world?

An orbital mass driver, disguised as a pizza delivery service. Millions of robotic minions, just waiting to have their hidden loyalty programming triggered. Nanomachines that can be used to destroy cells within the human body.

And then there's Hannermom who we know is an evil corporate monster and at some point the two of them were apparently in love.

It may be that the only reason he hasn't launched the takeover while sittng securely in his space station is the love for his daughter who lives on earth and would be in the crossfire.


EDIT: You guys. I forgot the Hunter killer drones on Station.

[BenRG]

... I want those rocket boots.

I want those rocket boots!

I WANT THOSE ROCKET BOOTS!!!

Either Claire is wearing a pair of magnifying glasses as spectacles, or her eyes are about to pop out of her head.

I very much think that it is the latter. Marten isn't doing much better; I think that they're both finally coming to realise just what Hannelore's life actually is, thanks to her mother being the Daughter of the Devil and her father apparently being the God of Technomagic.

[Nepiophage]

Either Claire is wearing a pair of magnifying glasses as spectacles, or her eyes are about to pop out of her head.

She's having one (possibly her first) of those moments where she realises how profoundly weird her life is since she met Marten

[DSL]

Rocket boots: because jetpacks are impractical and dangerous.

Well, they are. You've got to find a place to keep ypur jetpack after you've gotten to where you're flying, and if you don't and you walk around wearing it, it's always bumping into things, knocking things off shelves ... Boots, on the other hand, are on your feet. Though they do tend to mark up floors.

[Arancaytar]

... is he flying all the way back to the space station?

How does he breathe?

[jwhouk]

I have a nearly 100% suspicion that Bob is an AnthroPC.

[dexeron]

Claire lives in a world where her brother has a robot hand, and sentient self-aware robots are walking around, but space pizza is a little bit too much to swallow.

 

[Akima]

... is he flying all the way back to the space station? How does he breathe?

Probably just up to the stealth airship hovering over the town.

[Neko_Ali]

... is he flying all the way back to the space station? How does he breathe?

Probably just up to the stealth airship hovering over the town.

Well technically that belongs to her mother's company. But she may have sold some to Hannerdad. Even if Bob is an anthropc, I doubt those boots have enough lift to get him back into orbit. Or maybe he's just flying over to the Coffee of Doom to get a lift back with the Repair and Restitution team.

[gopher]

I don't know why, but the science breaking stuff in this story line is really pissing me off.

[Welu]

I'm really liking Jeph's simplified character designs for the long shots.

[Mr_Rose]

I don't know why, but the science breaking stuff in this story line is really pissing me off.

Yeah, Bob's boots are annoying me too…
That's what you were talking about, right?

[cesium133]

I am sort of wondering what kind of propulsion system his boots are using, where the fuel is apparently small enough to fit in them.

[BenRG]

I wonder if Jeph has plans for any more instances where Hanners gets to field-test some of her dad's prototypes? This could, potentially, lead to some interesting adventures!

I am sort of wondering what kind of propulsion system his boots are using, where the fuel is apparently small enough to fit in them.

It's probably something exotic and they may not be 'rockets' in the traditional sense of the word but some strange kind of electric drive like a stationary plasma arc or ion jet. In the real world, they produce only tiny amounts of thrust (about equivalent to the weight of a piece of paper). However, QC isn't set in the real world and, apparently, doesn't have some of its physical limits!

[Kugai]

I am sort of wondering what kind of propulsion system his boots are using, where the fuel is apparently small enough to fit in them.

I'm thinking Hannerdad saw Spocks boots in that movie and said "Hmmmm, I think I can make those."

[Penquin47]

I am sort of wondering what kind of propulsion system his boots are using, where the fuel is apparently small enough to fit in them.

I'm thinking Hannerdad saw Spocks boots in that movie and said "Hmmmm, I think I can make those."

You mean there are redeeming qualities to Star Trek V?

(For the record, it is my favorite Star Trek movie.  BECAUSE of how terrible it is.)

[Zebediah]

It's the one where Captain Kirk is climbing a mountain.

While really, really stoned.

[ankhtahr]

No. Oh no. Oh god, now I have this song stuck in my head for a week again.

This ran looped for 2.5 hours in the lounge of a hacker conference I helped organise. It is burned into my memory.

[Undrneath]

Claire lives in a world where her brother has a robot hand, and sentient self-aware robots are walking around, but space pizza is a little bit too much to swallow.

 

The more I look at it the more I imagine Bob dropping down out of nowhere to administer the survey thus the surprised looks on Clairten.

[DSL]

I am sort of wondering what kind of propulsion system his boots are using, where the fuel is apparently small enough to fit in them.

I'm thinking Hannerdad saw Spocks boots in that movie and said "Hmmmm, I think I can make those."

Pretty sure that's how we got the flip phone.

[Zebediah]

And the iPad.

[Gladstone]

I don't know why, but the science breaking stuff in this story line is really pissing me off.

Ugh, tell me about it.  And they were right there in Coffee of Doom with Dora, who's had almost zero interaction with the main cast for the past several hundred strips, but nope, she's just there to provide a helpful tip in their Quest To Find Out What The Hell This Throwaway Joke Device That We'll Never See Again Does before vanishing again for several hundred more strips.  And now, back to Faye and her fighting robot friends!

[Omega Entity]

Comic.

Man, I was pretty ambivalent about the septum piercing before. But the more I seeit, the more I dislike it. It's like my eyes focus on that instead of Claire's face now.

[Method of Madness]

Honestly, complete opposite for me. I really like it in this comic. I was ok with it before but now I think it looks particularly cute.

[Tova]

And just to muddy the waters further, I'm going to admit that I've more or less stopped noticing it.

[BenRG]

Ah! It wouldn't be Claire if her first focus wasn't on tweaking Clinton's nose!

Seriously, I'm glad that Jeph has decided to at least make a reference to the fact that Marten has a seriously weird life and have Claire, who is, after all, an outsider, acknowledge this.

I've noticed that he's started to introduce a definite speaking pattern for Claire. She'll make a introductory statement like "I have a concern" and then wait to be asked to elaborate. I'm not sure if it's a sign of politeness or if she is nervous in social interactions and feels that she needs permission to be involved.

Continuity Note: Claire still has her hair down. So, it looks like she totally lost her hair scrunchie to the shock-wave when the Pizza Pod made its hard landing.

Man, I was pretty ambivalent about the septum piercing before. But the more I seeit, the more I dislike it. It's like my eyes focus on that instead of Claire's face now.

In truth, I barely notice it! Maybe I'm looking at the comic at too low a resolution but it isn't actually easily visible to me; it just looks like an art error!

[Undrneath]

Is it just me or does Marten sometimes come across as less boyfriend and more parent?

[DSL]

Is it just me or does Marten sometimes come across as less boyfriend and more parent?

I'd say "older brother." Something he's done before, around young ladies with childlike aspects to their personalities (such as a certain skinny, other-worldly blonde). When he's not being discombobulated, that is.

[BenRG]

Is it just me or does Marten sometimes come across as less boyfriend and more parent?

Claire basically did the same thing to Marten when they were talking to Veronica in the library a few dozen strips back. I just think it's part of their dynamic that they like taking on an ultra-mature posture and tease each other with 'sage advice'.

[Rghfrgl]

I think the dear punchline could have just as easily been dropped by Dora or pre breakup Angus, but it's certainly core to the relationship that Claire's the younger one and still growing up a bit/coming out of her shell and that Marten's support is helping her do that.

Father's a bit much though. Marten doesn't have the authority figure aura for that, even if he was technically her boss.

[BenRG]

Am I the only one who thinks that this mini-arc has a televisual 'three-act' feel to it? You could divide it into a standard sitcom episode format? Something like this:

Pre-Credits Teaser - Strip 3037
Act 1 - Strips 3038 to 3041 - 'Poof' makes a lovely segment ender and has a The Simpsons bait-and-switch feel to it;
Act 2 - Strips 3042 to 3045 - Dora's intervention of common sense is another perfect act ending moment;
Act 3 - Strips 3046 to 3048 - Resolution in act 3, as always;
Epilogue - Strip 3049 - Nice closing or post-credits joke scene.

[A Duck]

This mini-arc felt like QC in the 1000s. I liked it. Maybe it's Canada?

(Not to say I don't like the usual style of writing now)

[Undrneath]

Is it just me or does Marten sometimes come across as less boyfriend and more parent?

Claire basically did the same thing to Marten when they were talking to Veronica in the library a few dozen strips back. I just think it's part of their dynamic that they like taking on an ultra-mature posture and tease each other with 'sage advice'.

It just always reminds me of Clairemom.

[Kugai]

Clinton would definitely have a seizure.

[mustang6172]

It recently occurred to me that if one of those pizza pods collides with a aircraft, Hannerdad will probably have to move in with Hanners.

Also, you have to be in the exact spot you want your pizza to arrive in 25 minutes before hand.  That's a problem.

[osaka]

I'm assuming that aircrafts are AI-piloted in QCverse and probably can get the memo from Station that there's a pizza drop happening. Same as the orbital railgun app.

(click to show/hide)

@EC-Station: Hannelore has requested an orbital pizza delivery on the coordinates 42.3183, -72.6310. I suggest whoever crosses that zone corrects about 20 metres to the left.
+Delta_John_A380: EVERY SINGLE TUESDAY AT 7PM THERE'S A PIZZA DROP ON MY ROUTE. IT'S GETTING ON MY NERVES.
+Iberia_Ana_747: It's not worth it John. Don't cross the way of the pizza.
(Quit: Delta_John_A380: "I'M TIRED OF THESE MUTHAFUCKIN PIZZAS ON THIS MUTHAFUCKIN PLANE)
@EC-Station: Oh dear. I hope he's alright.

[jwhouk]

Psst, Osaka? Wrong Northampton.

(click to show/hide)

More appropriate coordinates: 42.3183, -72.6310

[SubaruStephen]

"I want multiple pizzas."

My life philosophy in 3 words (and a letter).

[mustang6172]

Seems like a pilot's union would have fought the AI aircraft.  That's before we consider small, hobby aircraft.

How is the issue of sonic booms from pizza pods resolved?

[Method of Madness]

PEPPERONI PLZ

[SubaruStephen]

How is the issue of sonic booms from pizza pods resolved?

We stop using glass in buildings and use Lexan instead, and we just get use to the booms (they become like the DING of a microwave)

[Case]

Is it just me or does Marten sometimes come across as less boyfriend and more parent?

I'd say "older brother." Something he's done before, around young ladies with childlike aspects to their personalities (such as a certain skinny, other-worldly blonde). When he's not being discombobulated, that is.

Funny - to me, it actually feels like he's 'younger' somehow. More at ease with himself and the relationship. I think he takes pleasure in Claire 'learning relationships' & while helping her on the way, he can re-discover that for himself.
Hmmmmh ... actually that is pretty much a parent thing.

Anyhow, I like their couple dynamics - it's simultaneously innocent and very earnest. They are a nice couple. I like seeing them together.

[mustang6172]

How is the issue of sonic booms from pizza pods resolved?

We stop using glass in buildings and use Lexan instead, and we just get use to the booms (they become like the DING of a microwave)

If more people thought like you, the Concorde could still be flying.

[Neko_Ali]

It looks like Hannerdad is going to be paying for a lot of roof repairs...