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[Kugai]

I think that Dora and Marten need to get past this.  They were friends before they became partners, and if anyone is to blame for the train wreck of their relationship it's Dora and her insecurities, something she readily admitted when she pulled the plug on their relationship and something she is finally getting some therapy over.

I think that them meeting again at CoD would be a good idea.




Just so long as it's Faye who has her hands on the Broadsword    

[Carl-E]

I tend to think it will be more awkward for Marten than for Dora.  She initiated the breakup, knowing full well that it was her problems causing it.  Add to that the fact that she was pretty self-unaware both in their relationship and in therapy ("So, tell me about your brother...").  I just think that, though she may be surprised when he shows up (or when she arrives and he's still there), she's not the type to be awkward about their past. 

Marten, on the other hand, is a guy.  We tend to be a little more clueless about emotional shit.  Well, at least Marten does.  So without any sense of Dora's reaction, he's gonna be nervous as hell until it happens. 

[Border Reiver]

Marten, on the other hand, is a guy.  We tend to be a little more clueless about emotional shit. 

Testify Brother Carl - tell it to the people.

[pwhodges]

No, not clueless - just "differently clued".

[Carl-E]

True enough, but most of us pick up the clues differently than women.  We usually know something's  up, but often can't quite put our fingers on it. 

It's like Holmes and Watson... 

Watson wuld say, "Look, Holmes!  Footprints!  Someone's been through here!" 

Holmes would say that the "someone" was about 6'3", and had injured his left leg ("Note the scraping around the left footprint, and its slight angle.")

Differently clued, indeed! 

[themacnut]

Nah Carl, you had it right the first time-when it comes to how women will react emotionally, most of us guys ARE clueless. Note how, from your link above, Marten COMPLETELELY missed that Dora had the hots for him before she kissed him.

To use your Holmes and Watson example, Watson would'nt even have seen the footprints, never mind been able to estimate the vital stats of the person who made them.

[Watched Pot]

but he does love jam.

[shiroihikari]

I think it would have been funny if Faye actually had drawn Dora's face on a bag of coffee beans and presented it to Marten.

[Method of Madness]

He didn't necessarily not realize that Dora liked him because he was clueless, he didn't realize it because whenever a guy thinks a girl is into him, he is always wrong.  Which after a while has him assuming that no girls are into him.

[cesariojpn]

Given the way Jeph likes to mess with his characters, the next time Marten meets Dora it may be when he's not prepared and in an awkward situation.

Dora's Diary, June 25th, 20XX: Today I saw Martin for the first time in as many months since the breakup. He was in a dressing room at Hot Topic....

[akronnick]

No, not clueless - just "differently clued".

....and that's my new avatar text!!!

[SirDudley]

Given the way Jeph likes to mess with his characters, the next time Marten meets Dora it may be when he's not prepared and in an awkward situation.

Dora's Diary, June 25th, 20XX: Today I saw Martin for the first time in as many months since the breakup. He was in a dressing room at Hot Topic....

Hmm...

"July 4th, 20XX: Saw Marten for the first time in a while at the local Independence Day celebration. He was drunk and had a small flag hanging from his crotch...."

[raoullefere]

True enough, but most of us pick up the clues differently than women.  We usually know something's  up, but often can't quite put our fingers on it. 

It's like Holmes and Watson... 

Watson wuld say, "Look, Holmes!  Footprints!  Someone's been through here!" 

Holmes would say that the "someone" was about 6'3", and had injured his left leg ("Note the scraping around the left footprint, and its slight angle.")

Differently clued, indeed! 

On the other hand, while they were thus engaged, Watson would notice the pretty lady that walked by. Holmes would simply see a woman, however many details he conjured up about her history. 'Different' is not necessarily worse.

If you really want to talk about such things, read "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane" and compare it to the Watson-narrated adventures to get an idea of what Doyle (not Watson) thought of Holmes.

[Carl-E]

On the other hand, while they were thus engaged, Watson would notice the pretty lady that walked by. Holmes would simply see a woman, however many details he conjured up about her history. 'Different' is not necessarily worse.

Good point.  And it would be Watson who would note that she was "distressed"!

If you really want to talk about such things, ...

Naah, I was just trawling for a literary example of the different levels of cluelessness between men and women.  I read the whole canon when I was much younger, but can't place the one you mention.  Time to dig out the annotated collection, I guess...

But your point is well taken - my wife, when seeing that I'm not my usual smiling self, will oftern launch into an "Omigod, what's wrong?" reaction when it's usually just me being tired at the end of a day.  Her emotional radar can be oversensitive!

[SJCrew]

I just keep thinking about how happy Hanners was to see Marten come in. She's just the best.

'tis why she's my favorite character.

[jwhouk]

And Faye is about to defenestrate him into the dumpster in back.

Wouldn't it be funny, though, if Faye strikes out and the white Knight who subdues Creepy Clinton...


...is Sven? 

[Skewbrow]

I guess we all saw this coming. Clinton has not shown a capacity for learning (to wait for Hanner's consent to take that pic). Go get the broadsword, Marten/Faye. unless for some strange reason Hannelore wants to give him a third chance

[knucklesandgyros]

Cue the Marten/Hanners shippers in 3..2..1..

*pauses* Okay it'll be a little longer than that

But yeah, Clinton is massive creepers. Dude doesn't seem to be an a-hole...just naturally tending towards the creepers. Some folks just are creepy that way. However, I do wanna see Marten try to beat him up. It would be pretty awesome to see.

[akronnick]

Dead man walking!!!!

Clinton has no idea how much peril he is in.

If that picture makes it to the internet his life is forfeit!!!














Wait...were Marten's CoD murderin' privileges revoked along with his free coffee privileges?


I think in this case, since he's being overseen by Faye, Dora will make an exception...

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

I like how Clinton can be construed as Jeph's in-comic avatar for his fans/this forum with very little brain work.

[Is it cold in here?]

Remember the description of the Malaysian Battle Spatula as "You could lop off a hand with that thing!".

[Tergon]

You know what, I'm calling it first - if Faye tries to beat up Clinton, she's in trouble.  You do not attack a guy with a robot hand and come out okay.  Clinton probably has at least a taser in there, probably all kinds of stuff.

Oh, and to close the loophole:  He was technically working when Marten drove him off with a sword, so he didn't argue then in case he made his company liable.  I imagine a company that builds AnthroPCs has its lawyers kept busy enough.

[westrim]

Asking for permission and then doing it before a response has a chance to be communicated is generally pretty douchy. And he didn't even apologize for his conduct at their first encounter.

Also, it looks someone's jealous and it's not the guys at the message board! I was joking please don't hurt me...

Is it just me or does he seem to make a point of doing things with his metal hand?

You know what, I'm calling it first - if Faye tries to beat up Clinton, she's in trouble.  You do not attack a guy with a robot hand and come out okay.  Clinton probably has at least a taser in there, probably all kinds of stuff.

Oh, and to close the loophole:  He was technically working when Marten drove him off with a sword, so he didn't argue then in case he made his company liable.  I imagine a company that builds AnthroPCs has its lawyers kept busy enough.

He could have a fully loaded pistol in there even, if Jeph reads the Honor Harrington series and coil guns have been miniaturized in the QCverse.

Clinton is from the University of Massive Chewing Sets, not a company. Where did you get the idea that he works for an AnthroPC manufacturer?

[Kazukagii]

So..... does this comic clear up the whole "Nerdgasming geek vs creepy stalker" debate?

  Please come this way, Clinton. We need to have a few words with you.  

On a side note, I think Faye is giving Marten too little credit. Sure he's a non-combatant most of the time, but fuck with his friends (See: Vespa girl / Clinton) and he'll find an object off panel to swing at you.

[Tergon]

Actually I just forgot that.  But still!  In that case, the University probably wouldn't want him to get sued anyway.  My bad, but the point remains valid.

[pwhodges]

does he seem to make a point of doing things with his metal hand?

Metal or not, he's simply right-handed.  But he did say he preferred not to cover it like some other people, so I guess that's  making a point.

[Blackjoker]

Remember the description of the Malaysian Battle Spatula as "You could lop off a hand with that thing!".

So THAT'S what happened to his original hand...

[The Seldom Killer]

I realise that there are rules against this sort of thing but I'm tempted to ship Clinton.

A big viking ship, on fire and floating out to sea.

[iduguphergrave]

Asking for permission and then doing it before a response has a chance to be communicated is generally pretty douchy. And he didn't even apologize for his conduct at their first encounter.

Also, it looks someone's jealous and it's not the guys at the message board! I was joking please don't hurt me...

Is it just me or does he seem to make a point of doing things with his metal hand?

Yeah not apologizing for what happened last time annoyed me too. Marten's not jealous, he just doesn't want anybody triple h.*

The metal hand doesn't have to have weapons in it; it as it is is a pretty good weapon. His arm is pretty much a blunt weapon now. One good punch in the right spot and he could knock someone the fuck out.

*Triple h meaning, of course, hurting his Hannelore 

[WaffleIron]

"Oh Clinton. You're kind of a douche!" - Mr Jacques: Master of understatement

Didn't the farewell he received last time tip him off just slightly?

[Tergon]

To quote Aaron from Sam And Fuzzy:  "Dude!  Robot hand, not robot arm and torso."

Clinton's hand may be made of metal, but he has the proportional strength of, well, himself.  A short, skinny guy who doesn't exactly look like a member of the local branch of Fight Club.  If he can one-hit-KO anyone, it's either through blind luck or because he's secretly a ninja, and in either case he doesn't need the metal hand in the first place.  At most, if he swings a punch now, it's more likely to hurt the target than himself, and that's about the only improvement I can see.  If he has a need to defend himself against Faye, either that hand has serious hardware upgrades, or he's in for a world of hurt.

[Kazukagii]

I just had this image of Dora walking into CoD just as Marten punches a customer in the face.

Awkward...

[Delator]

On a side note, I think Faye is giving Marten too little credit.

...this is surprising? It's practically par for the course.

Asking for permission and then doing it before a response has a chance to be communicated is generally pretty douchy fucking rude.

Fixed that for ya. 

Seriously. I have no phobias about having my picture taken (like a few people I know), and I have no particular self-image issues that make me averse to having my picture taken...

...but if you ask permission, and then don't wait for my answer, you might be leaving the room intact, but your electronic device won't be. Especially if you've announced an intention to make the photo public.

Either wait for me to answer, or just surprise me...either is less likely to get your camera smashed.

[tomart]

"Let me handle this, cupcake."

Favorite Faye is  BACK!    

[iduguphergrave]

Alternate last line for Marten: "You said you wouldn't use my pet name in public!"

[akronnick]

Alternate last line for Faye: You get the door, I'll get the spatula.

[kiss-o-kill]

A douche harrassing a barista on a coffee shop? Hanners showing clear disdain at said douche's persistence?

Calling it now, Hanners and Clinton get into a relationship 300 strips later.

[J]

oooh! are we gonna see the rocket punch now?

is he gonna rocket punch faye??


rocket puuuuuuunch!!1!

[akronnick]

A douche harrassing a barista on a coffee shop? Hanners showing clear disdain at said douche's persistence?

Calling it now, Hanners and Clinton get into a relationship 300 strips later.

Oh it'll take longer than that. It took Angus over 1000 strips to finally wear Faye down (and they both had other relationships in the meantime.)

With Hanners, it'll be more like 3000.

I doubt Faye will allow Clinton's continued existence for that long.

[SJCrew]

Whoa, what the hell. Why is Marten taking another level in badass all of a sudden? I didn't even get time to recover from the last one. And since Marten already got his shine in the 'protect Hanners' spotlight, I think it's reasonable to expect some Faye on Clinton action...

[Mr_Rose]

oooh! are we gonna see the rocket punch now?

is he gonna rocket punch faye??


rocket puuuuuuunch!!1!

Not rocket punch!

Rocket dinosaur-head!


Also, have we really forgotten that Marten, the darling little cupcake, stone cold KO'd an experienced battle-monk with a souffle pan?

[Blood-Tree]

!

I really thought Clinton was a one-time-only character (like Sven's intern...)

Any bets that CoD gets flooded by iFanboys thereby forcing Hanners to invent a time machine and destroy Clinton at birth retire?

[akronnick]

Also, have we really forgotten that Marten, the darling little cupcake, stone cold KO'd an experienced battle-monk with a souffle pan?

To be fair, the battle-monk in question was waiting in line for his post-rumble latte when Marten took a cheap shot from behind.

Any battle-monk worth his salt would guard against potential enemies taking advantage of a lowering of his defenses like that.

[Odin]

Whoa, what the hell. Why is Marten taking another level in badass all of a sudden? I didn't even get time to recover from the last one. And since Marten already got his shine in the 'protect Hanners' spotlight, I think it's reasonable to expect some Faye on Clinton action...

Pretty sure it is far less "taking another level in badass" and more "having a convenient outlet for venting all of his frustrations" or "projecting all of his built up anger on the easy target".

[Akima]

On a side note, I think Faye is giving Marten too little credit. Sure he's a non-combatant most of the time, but fuck with his friends (See: Vespa girl / Clinton) and he'll find an object off panel to swing at you.

Swing and miss, and later his entire contribution to defeating the Vespavenger was stopping her robot's foot with his groin. Give the boy a souflé-pan though and he's dangerous.

Clinton has definitely slipped into creepy stalker territory. This needs to be nipped in the bud, or he'll build some kind of shrine to Hanners in his bedroom.

[akronnick]

Either that or interupt her drunkenly trying to take a piss in the men's room sink.

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

A douche harrassing a barista on a coffee shop? Hanners showing clear disdain at said douche's persistence?

Calling it now, Hanners and Clinton get into a relationship 300 strips later.

I think you are trying to imply that Angus has a message board.

That is disgraceful slander. Angus is a pundit; forums are amateur hour, and other people set them up for him. Angus has a blog, thank you very much. And not one of those cheap Blogspot ones. One he PAYS for.

[cesariojpn]

This needs to be nipped in the bud, or he'll build some kind of shrine to Hanners in his bedroom.

And how do we know he hasn't done it already? I mean, with the Internet and it's fast pace of dissecting information, for all we know, he already did it (and it's all Pintsize's fault).

[Zwiebel]

I think the thing is- shippers gon' hate- we all have a friend like Hanners who is a little more vulnerable and a little more in need of defense than others. I oscillate between Faye and Hanners as my favorite character, because they are so similar and yet so different. Both have crippling personal issues tempered by a steely strength that comes out when needed. They have both overcome some of their issues, making them a better/happier person. Faye happens to be a hardass on the outside, whereas Hanners is more reserved about it- and vice versa regarding the issues.

I feel this has a part in why Marten feels so protective- he knows what Faye went through to come up to the surface, and wants to make it easier for Hanners than he was able to for Faye. It's not about romantic interest or anything, it's about being a friend and using your prior experiences to make things easier for others. Hanners is still struggling with her OCD, her asocial tendencies, and her other issues to become what she wants to be- normal with a normal life. For someone doing that, the interference of the likes of Clinton can be destructive. What better way to bolster social anxiety than to force someone to be afraid of going about their day because of YOUR lack of social boundaries? Who the heck takes a picture without waiting for permission? Worse, who plans on putting up a picture like this on a message board without even asking permission? I don't have near as many social anxieties as Hannelore has, and I would freak out about that. It's called basic respect- and Clint ain't givin' it.

Also, where does everyone in this comic get their swords? Is it a Terry Pratchett thing where they make them themselves? Also, I don't think Faye would have an issue with this guy, robotic hand or not. Marten... well, all bets are off when someone scares that vulnerable friend I mentioned earlier.
 

[Border Reiver]

Whoa, what the hell. Why is Marten taking another level in badass all of a sudden? I didn't even get time to recover from the last one. And since Marten already got his shine in the 'protect Hanners' spotlight, I think it's reasonable to expect some Faye on Clinton action...

You see, Marten's been taking lessons from Neville Longbottom...