Print

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

He's just a pervert but with more metal than most

He's a sort of troll who likes freaking out people by pretending to be transgressive

He's a weird kind of abstract archetype that Jeph created of the whole concept of an AI having any sexuality at all

He is actually one of the world's greatest behavioural psychologists trying to help Marten and Faye with a carefully-planned series of fake actions

He has impulse control problems, does stupid things on a whim and doesn't think about possible consequences

At first it was just curiosity and a one-off practical joke but it's become a bit of a habit he's never bothered to shake

He actually thinks that this is tremendeously funny and doesn't get everyone's reaction

Other reason (in-universe)

Other reason (real world)

[BenRG]

Okay, let's see what everyone thinks about our favourite infiltrator-chassis pervert! What exactly is Pintsize's deal? Why does he do what he does when he knows it will cause him harm? If there even a reason? Because of the nature of this debate, I have allowed in the poll in the possibility of a out-of-universe reason being the only one that actually matters.

Personally, I honestly wonder if this is all some kind of weird behavioural psychology trick and he is somehow trying to direct Marten and Faye down a certain path of personal development by certain finely-calculated actions. He just has worked out how to disguise this as a series of pranks and perverted acts to limit the push-back from them. In this scenario, Pintsize is a genius and a precision calculator who can finely judge the outcome of his actions with a startling level of accuracy.

Of course, I might be taking this too seriously and he might just be a one-note joke character that Jeph uses to lighten the tone occasionally.

[Kugai]

He is The One

[Case]

Comic's up!

Cute Overload ...

[Mehre]

There was that comic, where pintsize and momo were discussing companionship. So i would say that at least for a part its his way of "doing the job". Probably for a larger part its just his idea of fun. Few years back i was casually lying to people for fun, just to see how crazy thing it will take  to stupefy them(record probably is that my family has kind of zoo and this week we had baby hippos from Denmark). So i can relate.

By the way, have you noticed contrast between this strip and this one?

[Method of Madness]

The little girl is very nice, but I don't think the Bubbles of that strip would have been confident responding (and certainly not making a joke). Faye has been very good for Bubbles.

Also, I love that hat. DOGS. And I like to think the mom is more worried that Bubbles would take offense, and not actually scared of Bubbles.

This strip (with the extra joke at the end) is probably my favorite in quite some time.

[ANeM]

Something about the moms face in the last panel makes me worry that she'll show up at Martin's doorstep in week, accompanied by a mob with torches and pitchforks, hunting the Bubs.  I don't think she is certain about whether or not that was a joke.

[Renadt]

I see someone's been playing Persona 5. Those two look like deadringers for Sadayo Kawakami and Shinya Oda.

[Case]

Something about the moms face in the last panel makes me worry that she'll show up at Martin's doorstep in week, accompanied by a mob with torches and pitchforks, hunting the Bubs.  I don't think she is certain about whether or not that was a joke.

T'is OK - as long as she doesn't find out where Marten lives ...

[Storel]

High schools are usually much larger buildings than grade schools, too, with a lot more students per school. At least, that seemed to be the pattern when I was growing up here in San Francisco, that there were at least 4 elementary schools for every high school in the city.

[Is it cold in here?]

At least both are legal. Lifting a shop would make her a shoplifter.

[TheEvilDog]

Okay, but if Bubbles were able to carry, say a music school, would that mean that she could carry a tune?

[Storel]

Okay, but if Bubbles were able to carry, say a music school, would that mean that she could carry a tune?

That would depend on how advanced the students were. My junior high school band had a lot of enthusiasm, but... 

[oddtail]

High schools are usually much larger buildings than grade schools, too, with a lot more students per school. At least, that seemed to be the pattern when I was growing up here in San Francisco, that there were at least 4 elementary schools for every high school in the city.

"Why is this school so much lighter, Holmes?"
"Elementary, my dear Watson".

This joke is stupid and beneath me, but I had to.

[shanejayell]

That was cute.

I think Pintsize is more a troll than he lets on. Mind you he likes what he's doing or he'd stop, but it's not just him being a little perv.

[BenRG]

What is the best part of this strip? It's the way it tracks Bubbles' feelings. At first, she's nervous at everyone staring at her unique method of moving friend and furniture. When she realises that the little girl is genuinely excited to see her, it's a huge boost for her because it reminds her that, even outside her circle of friends, she isn't automatically seen as some kind of freak and she's suddenly in the slyly cheerful mode she normally only uses with Faye.

I also think that she genuinely wanted to reassure the mother, who did look scared at first whilst, in panel 4, she's very clearly thinking: "Wait, did that huge robot crack a joke at my kid's expense?"

[Tova]

Philosophy schools are pretty heavy.

[brasca]

There was that comic, where pintsize and momo were discussing companionship. So i would say that at least for a part its his way of "doing the job". Probably for a larger part its just his idea of fun. Few years back i was casually lying to people for fun, just to see how crazy thing it will take  to stupefy them(record probably is that my family has kind of zoo and this week we had baby hippos from Denmark). So i can relate.

By the way, have you noticed contrast between this strip and this one?

It helps that instead of 3 surly teenagers you have a girl who likes robots.  Additionally, Bubbles is accompanied by people so even if she ran into the same punks as before she's got back up, but not the kind that would likely leave one of those kids bleeding.  Faye is a good friend to have, but in that situation she'd make things worse. 

And I must commend Bubbles on her humor.  It's better than the one with the truck making back up noises and thankfully not a pun.   

[JoeCovenant]

What is Bubbles looking at in the 3rd panel?

[Zebediah]

I can't help but think that even in RL Northampton, a big red robot carrying a woman on a chest of drawers through the middle of town wouldn't attract too many stares.

This friggin' town. 

[Case]

Philosophy schools are pretty heavy.

Schools of fish, on the other hand ...

[JoeCovenant]

Philosophy schools are pretty heavy.

Schools of fish, on the other hand ...

School of whales...
Shoal of fish...
...
University of Wales...
 

[CasAttack]

I see someone's been playing Persona 5. Those two look like deadringers for Sadayo Kawakami and Shinya Oda.

This is the only reason I popped in haha. Beat me to it! Finished the game a week ago, it was incredible.

[Thrudd]

Philosophy schools are pretty heavy.

Schools of fish, on the other hand ...

So are you saying she could or could not carry a Tuna?

My guess would be from that islandy region of Florida.
Maybe plays the piano.
Then it would be a ..... ..... ..... ..... Piano Tuna from the Keys. 

[sarahel]

DOGS



 

[Kugai]

If it were a Flight School,then she'd get some lift     


Love Clares face in the first Panel, she's having FUN!!!

[Method of Madness]

"Wait, did that huge robot crack a joke at my kid's expense?"

I hardly think it was at the kid's expense.

[Gyrre]

In panel 4 the mother looks like she's uncertain as to whether or not she should laugh and is having trouble telling if Bubbles was in fact joking.
It's an expression I'm all too familiar with.

[blt]

And I must commend Bubbles on her humor.  It's better than the one with the truck making back up noises and thankfully not a pun.

The backing up sound joke is by far my favourite Bubbles moment.

[Method of Madness]

thankfully not a pun.

"Thankfully" and "not a pun" do not belong together.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

"And a middle school?'
"Well, some yes and some no."

[HeavyP]

New comic is up! 

I have been *waiting* for this - I'm almost as excited here as when Marten and Claire first made smoochies.

[Is it cold in here?]

Bubbles has the most expressive face I've ever seen on a robot.

[MrNumbers]

L-lewd

[TheEvilDog]

Bubbles has the most expressive face I've ever seen on a robot.

I would imagine that a combat chassis would have to be pretty emotive, especially if they have to deal with people in a tense situation. I mean, would you want the seven foot combat ready AI have a nice smile or one hell of a scary-ass game face doing the talking with people?

Regarding the comic, this is Bubbles beginning to take those first steps to her personal recovery. This is her stepping out from the role of the soldier, the follower and taking down the walls she's built up since she's lost her squad. This is Bubbles realising she doesn't need the armour anymore, that she isn't a monster in humanoid form.

[Isyrion]

Ok Bubbles is cute as all hell, but I have to admit I'm now a bit concerned about where the relationship is going.  I have a bad feeling Bubbles is on the way to getting hurt.

[shanejayell]

Oh wow. Huge step.

[Neko_Ali]

eeeee.. The moment we've been waiting for for months. This is going to be a long 24 hours to wait for the next page.

[jheartney]

Paging May. Bring your cell phone.

[Gyrre]

Scrap! I never got around to drawing either speculation!

[Is it cold in here?]

Ok Bubbles is cute as all hell, but I have to admit I'm now a bit concerned about where the relationship is going.  I have a bad feeling Bubbles is on the way to getting hurt.

The price of never getting hurt is exorbitant.

I have no need for friendship
Friendship causes pain
Its laughter and its loving I disdain

This time around Bubbles will have kick-ass friends to back her up when she does get hurt. Put Marten's steadiness and Faye's loyalty and Hannelore's insight together ...

[St.Clair]

I inhaled sharply at that last panel.

And now my eyes are distinctly wet.

[Mad Cat]

I think there's about to be some major Fayubbles shipping up in dis hizzouse!

First, Faye vertiably falls asleep in Bubbles' arms. Now, Bubbles essentially wants to get naked with Faye.

Tell me there isn't a deeply emotional and intimate relationship brewing here.

[SubaruStephen]

Don't get too excited guys, she's a combat chassis, she might have a second layer of armor underneath.

[jwhouk]

Or maybe she'll need a bigger crowbar.

[Skewbrow]

So Bubbles is coming out of her shell. Aww...

I guess she will appreciate Faye's help in washing her clothes. Massive amounts of dust and whatnot must be collecting underneath. 

[Rincewind]

I wonder if the armor is of the strength-amplifying type (like, say, Iron Man's).  Once out of it, Bubbles would be reduced to the (not inconsiderable) strength of an average AI.

[Nycticoraci]

Insert 60's porno riff.

[BenRG]

The thing is, in a very real way, Bubbles has already taken her armour off. We've seen it a lot in the last hundred strips or so. We see it in how she is at ease around her friends, trusts and even forgives after being hurt; every step has been a bit of plating coming off. It's been a hard journey for her but, at this stage, taking off her physical armour only symbolises something that has happened to her anyway in fact.

That aside, it's interesting that she's asked Faye to help her take it off. This has two possible explanations in my mind:

• It's a complicated bit of kit and really needs someone to help the wearer (preferably equipped with a socket wrench);
• This isn't something Bubbles wants to do alone.

I have to say that I think that it's the latter. It is in many ways an intimate act and she wants to share it with Faye as an act of absolute trust.

That said, yeah, if she hasn't taken it off in a while then the release points might need a little elbow grease, lube and someone attacking the bolts from an advantageous leverage angle!

[Nycticoraci]

That aside, it's interesting that she's asked may to help her take it off.

She asked Faye

If she asked May there'd really be a porno riff going on, knowing May.

[oeoek]

eeeee.. The moment we've been waiting for for months. This is going to be a long 24 hours to wait for the next page.

A long 24 hours? This is Questionable Content!

Be prepared for the slowest strip tease ever!