El Goonish Shive

[Rappy]

Is there good humor?

Humor is rather subjective, is it not?

Is there intriguing/fulfilling character development?

Perhaps?

Is there intriguing/fulfilling plot development?

Not really.

If yes to any of the above, then it was a fine strip and I see no reason to complain.

I'm not complaining. I'm not even engaging in amused mockery, which is in and of itself different from complaints or hatred. I just found the page average compared to some of the recent pages.

[Yuki Akuma]

So. Statement in-comic that the superpowered form directly based on Elliot's fantasies that he wants to be Superman is stronger than Elliot's baseline form.

And some people on the official forums still refuse to believe that his physically strongest form could possibly be female.

What.

[Tono]

Well, are they considering the cat-form one of his forms? I could see that being argued as one of his 'strongest'. Probably not true, as of the moment, but not a totally unreasonable argument.

[Gez]

For raw muscle power, maybe. But! It does not have superhero enhancement. No super strength, no fly, no healing factor... Plus, the transformation is painful.

[Yuki Akuma]

His superhero form is explicitly based on Superman - he has super strength in that form.

His cat form is just him as a catboy. Cats are not, in fact, particularly strong for their size, so they're no real reason for that form to give him any extra strength.

[Gez]

Well he did deliberately turn into that form way back when he had to walk all the way back home from the dewitchery diamond warehouse, so I assume he had a reason to do so rather than simply the plot convenience of being taken for a shapeshifter by any of Grace's kind that would happen to be along the road.

[John Cribati]

Well he did deliberately turn into that form way back when he had to walk all the way back home from the dewitchery diamond warehouse, so I assume he had a reason to do so rather than simply the plot convenience of being taken for a shapeshifter by any of Grace's kind that would happen to be along the road.

Cat form can apparently run faster for a longer period of time. With Tedd on its back. So yeah, Cat Elliott is stronger.

[Gez]

It is highly, highly unlikely Cat!Elliot is stronger than Cheerleadra!Elliot.

Well,!nobody!claimed!so!here.

[Mystic Muse]

Well,!nobody!claimed!so!here.

Sorry. Misinterpretation I guess. It's late, and I think my comprehension went to sleep two hours ago.

And I need to not do that exclamation point thing in non-chats. *Deletes post*

[Yuki Akuma]

Cat form can apparently run faster for a longer period of time. With Tedd on its back. So yeah, Cat Elliott is stronger.

Or Cat Elliot has more stamina (which is also ridiculous because humans have much more stamina than cats). Or Cat Elliot is simply faster (which isn't out of the question, because cats have better reflexes and are faster than humans).

Elliot can carry Tedd in his human form and run at the same time, too!

Alternatively, Tedd is not a biologist and programs his forms what he intuitively thinks they should be like. Alas, intuition is often wrong.

[Gaius]

Alternatively, Tedd is not a biologist and programs his forms what he intuitively thinks they should be like. Alas, intuition is often wrong.

I like this explanation the most, with one caveat you kinda implied anyway. Regarding a cat-human hybrid's capabilities, Tedd's preferences and understanding are not mutually exclusive. He's perfectly capable of believing an actual human-cat hybrid wouldn't be physically superior across the board, and then just ignoring that if he likes the idea.

[Lateral]

Wow. That was a short arc.

[Weimann]

So, Sarah's actually arguing for the death of the author here? I'm not sure I like that. I find that if an author makes a statement which defines someithng previously undefined in his setting, then that is official canon.

[golentan]

I think that a middle ground is usually best. Yes, sometimes an author can clarify something that was unclear in an interesting way and that can be cited as clear evidence of the reasons in the work. Other times, some people should have a restraining order filed to keep them from tampering with their work once they're through with it the first time. Usually, Authorial intent should be considered but not taken as writ unless it's expressly included in the work in the first place.

[Gez]

How boaring. Yes, it's a pun.

[Mystic Muse]

Spoiler

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Catalina, that's a boar, not a donkey.

[Weimann]

That was actually pretty scary

[golentan]

Catalina/Rhoda FTW.

Didn't we have some previous hints that Rhoda swung that way as well? I seem to remember subtext with her and Diane, possibly more than subtext. I'm tired and not going to archive dive tonight, but I intend to look into this!

That said, pet peeve. Potential second lesbian relationship before Justin gets himself a hot guy?

It has hints of the wrong kind of fanservice/favoritism. Rubs me the wrong way. Now Justin... I'd let him rub me the right way.

[Mina Kobold]

She was quite a fan of Diane, I think, and the third part of their little group did find her admiration strange (indicating that she is not just acting like a fangirl).

Justin does indeed need a boyfriend, possibly one that nobody expects... Like Magus!

Probably won't happen, but I called it if it did!

An interesting note is that Justin seems to have a lot of female fans in the comic itself, possible foreshadowing of alternate universe romances or just dramady? I have no idea, but I bet the pamphlet guy will be the mastermind!

[Tono]

Or you know, George could grow up and admit he is gay and has a crush for Justin. At least at that point Justin couldn't use that stupid 'there are no gay guys around here' excuse.

[John Cribati]

... George is like thirty. Justin is still in high school.

[Gaius]

That's an assumption. We've had no mention of George's age. The only thing that might ballpark it is his mention that he attends night class, suggesting he's college age or older. It could be he's a freshman in college, which would make the guy's very likely crush far less squicky.

Not to say George couldn't be creepily older than Justin. The thought just honestly hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it.

On an unrelated note, yay giant piggy. I've always felt boars don't get used enough, given how dangerous they can be (flash photography notwithstanding), so I'm interested in seeing where that element goes.

Also, fun with Catalina and Rhoda~

[Tono]

Also, my point wasn't necessarily that Justin and George become a couple, but that if George came out to him, even if it doesn't work out, could cause Justin to reevaluate his surroundings. You know, get over his Eliot crush and find someone else. [Which is where I think the whole Party development will lead, Justin realizing part of his crush is that there is no one else he really wants]

I failed to bring that across though.

[golentan]

Justin needs a guy who isn't a consistently insulting sweaty neckbeard. Justin/George for the fail!

I'm kind of hoping Melissa will move on now and find someone she genuinely falls for rather than the current arrangement. That frees up Noah, who I like as an individual and moral voice and for his willingness to call Justin on his BS (I like Justin, but he needs to ditch some of his baggage).

Though Noah probably isn't masculine enough for Justin.

Umm... Maybe if Hedge moves to moperville? But I don't really like hedge, he was too tight with Damien and I've kind of tried to ignore painted black for a lot of reasons.

It's okay, he can go with... um...

THERE ARE TOO FEW MEN IN THIS COMIC!

Susan, make the switch permanently. You two had such a cute moment!

[Pie Guy]

A lot of foreshadowing: We've got a reputation to protect! We can only report on confirmed monsters, like mega hogs, or Bigfoot!

[Weimann]

Yay, more lesbians. I kind of agree on the Justin thing. That said, Catilina is a great character and more screen-time for her is good.

[Gaius]

I feel I'm more amused by Grace's letter than I should be. ^__^ Just so blunt, and complete with a smiley face...

[Mystic Muse]

Great comic.

Spoiler

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I Love Raven's "WHAT." Face.

[golentan]

Yeah. I'm not sure if raven's going to have an aneurysm from this whole scene though.

[Weimann]

Oookay, is there something I'm missing here? Is that boar one of Grace's brothers or something? Is there anything about it that's special at all? Because otherwise I fail to see why an age-old half-immortal would be so interested in a pig.