Ménage à 3 III: 47 Seconds Later

[The Glyphstone]

Yuki is psychologically messed up. Like actually messed up. Gary, on the other hand, is just a spineless sack of crap for whom I have zero respect.

I don't usually view stage props, accessories, or furniture as being worthy or unworthy of respect. Gary falls into that category as well.

[Winter_Wolf]

I don't usually view stage props, accessories, or furniture as being worthy or unworthy of respect. Gary falls into that category as well.

I realized how dumb it was to get wound up about a fictional character shortly after I posted.

But you probably meant that Gary is about as functional and capable of making decisions as a stage prop, didn't you?

[The Glyphstone]

I realized how dumb it was to get wound up about a fictional character shortly after I posted.

But you probably meant that Gary is about as functional and capable of making decisions as a stage prop, didn't you?

Pretty much. I'm still being generous and assuming he's sentient, rather than being an extremely advanced blow-up doll with a leak that happens to sound like words.

[Kato]

Okay, I'm on my own but I wouldn't be tat hard on either. Yuki breaks up with Gary because she realizes she's a terrible girlfriend. Okay, she asks for swirly privileges which is selfish but... I guess they needed a punchline? I don't know. I wouldn't put it up as THE MOST HORRIBLE THING to do or anything.
And Gary... come on, as if anything about that is news. You act like he even behaved differently... Calling him a walking sex doll is pretty harsh when he is just... spineless. (Though we really could get reminiscence of the fact that it is not all about sex in Gary's life, even if it's just a nerd joke)

[Somebloke]

Okay, I'm on my own but I wouldn't be tat hard on either. Yuki breaks up with Gary because she realizes she's a terrible girlfriend. Okay, she asks for swirly privileges which is selfish but... I guess they needed a punchline? I don't know. I wouldn't put it up as THE MOST HORRIBLE THING to do or anything.
And Gary... come on, as if anything about that is news. You act like he even behaved differently... Calling him a walking sex doll is pretty harsh when he is just... spineless. (Though we really could get reminiscence of the fact that it is not all about sex in Gary's life, even if it's just a nerd joke)

I feel bad for them, but I also want to give both of them a sharp rap around the head.

Yuki at least seems to be attempting to deal with her issues (her phobia and self-centered-ness). She isn't really, but her 'breakup' with Gary is a big step down from when we originally saw her (utterly obsessed with Zii, unable to accept her relationship had ended, and blaming men for her condition rather than attempting to seek help). So a C for her efforts.

Gary...I feel sorry for him, but I will not deny that his problems are entirely his own. He has been holding himself back through fear, spinelessness and cowardice since the beginning...he is intelligent, attractive (especially once the trousers come off, apparently) and apparently amazing in bed...but he makes no effort to project himself or make a stand for what he wants. He really hasn't grown at all as a character, as opposed to Zii and Yuki.

I do feel sorry for him, but my first piece of advice to him is 'stand up for yourself, man.'

[Wraith]

Gary...I feel sorry for him, but I will not deny that his problems are entirely his own. He has been holding himself back through fear, spinelessness and cowardice since the beginning...he is intelligent, attractive (especially once the trousers come off, apparently) and apparently amazing in bed...but he makes no effort to project himself or make a stand for what he wants. He really hasn't grown at all as a character, as opposed to Zii and Yuki.

On the one hand, I agree with you - Gary as a character would benefit greatly from actively doing something to help himself out, be it something as simple as to just disagree with someone and stand up for himself. While the passive male role makes for a traditional anime harem story, I for one would hope for something more from and esteemed author like Giz.

On the other.... I don't really remember any point where Gary has said that he is unhappy in general.

Okay, he's just broken up with Yuki, who occasionally treated him badly and often didn't treat him as well as he deserved, but by most accounts he couldn't say out loud that he loved her and yet he hasn't actively stated that he DISlikes her or what few sexual antics they HAVE achieved so far.
By comic logic - if it doesn't happen in a panel then we must assume that it has not occurred - all we know is that he is being chased by several hot girls, several of whom he gets to perform oral sex upon, and even while he has complained about how those girls might have treated him meanwhile, he hasn't complained about it otherwise.

And forgive me for being shallow, but if that were the case - he dislikes being 'left out' but otherwise enjoys giving out swirleys - then I would have a hard time disagreeing with him in the same situation.

[North_Ranger]

Gary frakkin' better ask for a returned favor once Sonya comes down Cloud Nine. If he doesn't, I'm ready to join the choir in calling him gutless.

[Weimann]

I must say, it's interesting to see the reactions to a man getting sexually objectified. Funny how we get our heckles up when a male isn't realistic and well-rounded.

[Eldan]

I must say, it's interesting to see the reactions to a man getting sexually objectified. Funny how we get our heckles up when a male isn't realistic and well-rounded.

Uh... where was the female main character in the comic similarly objectified that I wasn't annoyed about?

[Avilan the Grey]

Yuki is psychologically messed up. Like actually messed up. Gary, on the other hand, is just a spineless sack of crap for whom I have zero respect.

Why does the author write so many mentally damaged women?

[Coidzor]

I must say, it's interesting to see the reactions to a man getting sexually objectified. Funny how we get our heckles up when a male isn't realistic and well-rounded.

Of course, most of us are men and the idea of putting one's self into the nearest surrogate's shoes is pretty old I'm given to understand.

Also, for all their craziness, most of the women in the cast feel more like characters than Gary, who, if we have to imagine him as a person breaks suspension of disbelief as far as I can tell, hence why he's been mentally reassigned to "prop."

Why does the author write so many mentally damaged women?

I don't think it's so much that it's the women as it is everyone. None of the characters I've seen from either Gizelle or T Campbell have been what I'd call sane, the ones that appear sane only appear so because they're either characters in passing or we just haven't gotten to know them well enough for the crazy to come out.

And I'm sure it's as much due to the eccentricity of the writer as it is due to a belief that such is their established niche in the market as it were and that's what is wanted from them and what they're delivering.

[Ravens_cry]

Eh, because screwed up people create more fun stories. OK, it fails here, but look at, say, Questionable Content. The whole cast has issues on some level or the other, some more than others, yet, with a few hiccups, still remains an enjoyable read with characters worth caring about.

[Morph Bark]

Eh, because screwed up people create more fun stories. OK, it fails here, but look at, say, Questionable Content. The whole cast has issues on some level or the other, some more than others, yet, with a few hiccups, still remains an enjoyable read with characters worth caring about.

Basically, yeah. I was prettymuch going to say the exact same thing, but considering the last time I drew a comparison between the two it didn't go over well, I left it out.

But yes, people who aren't "screwed up" in some way create for stories that are more boring. People without issues (mental, physical, sexual or otherwise) who communicate well are the epitome of stories where nothing narratively exciting happens.

[Weimann]

But yes, people who aren't "screwed up" in some way create for stories that are more boring. People without issues (mental, physical, sexual or otherwise) who communicate well are the epitome of stories where nothing narratively exciting happens.

The thing to realise as a writer is that screwed up people who don't communicate well include the majority of human society. Making people crazy does not exclude making them realistic. That is where Ma3 has a way to go.

[Antonok]

Well. I had to see it to believe it. Gary got lucky.

Taking bets which region explodes first, north or south?

[Kato]

Well. I had to see it to believe it. Gary got lucky.

Taking bets which region explodes first, north or south?

? Montreal is in the Northern hemisphere, what is there to wonder about?


But seriously, I'm VERY curious what's going to happen next.

[Ravens_cry]

Last time it happened, the character involved, besides the Spineless Wonder, was quickly evicted from the comic.

[Traab]

Gahoy indeed gary, Gahoy indeed. Heh, I wonder if after this he will remember that amber and her friend also wanted a piece of his swirly skills and the benefits that will come from that?

[Kato]

Gahoy indeed gary, Gahoy indeed. Heh, I wonder if after this he will remember that amber and her friend also wanted a piece of his swirly skills and the benefits that will come from that?

Traab wants the world to implode, it seems...

[Morph Bark]

I wonder how much Amber and Dillon will be appearing in Ma3 now that they've got a comic of their own, really.

[Traab]

Traab wants the world to implode, it seems...

Well if sex with gary is the way to get rid of characters fastest, this seems like a clever way to end things. Have gary swirly and bone his way through the entire cast. The last panel is him turning away from that comic book store guy in bed, turning out the light, and saying, "Goodnight everybody!"

[Kato]

Well if sex with gary is the way to get rid of characters fastest, this seems like a clever way to end things. Have gary swirly and bone his way through the entire cast. The last panel is him turning away from that comic book store guy in bed, turning out the light, and saying, "Goodnight everybody!"

But Yuki can't have sex with him... and possibly other characters won't... like Eric. Or comic store guy. So we are stuck with all heterosexual guys and homosexual girls for the rest of the comic? (Or phallo-phobic girls (is that a word?))

Still, if Sonya vanishes after this you are probably up to something.

[Traab]

But Yuki can't have sex with him... and possibly other characters won't... like Eric. Or comic store guy. So we are stuck with all heterosexual guys and homosexual girls for the rest of the comic? (Or phallo-phobic girls (is that a word?))

Still, if Sonya vanishes after this you are probably up to something.

Nope, he has a threesome with yuki and zii. Just by proxy yuki vanishes. Or, she sees zii go head over heels for garys, by now, expert lovemaking skills, and is able to give it a try.

[teratorn]

I won't be too harsh on Gary, he had a pretty serious case of blue-balls and no wonder he's not thinking properly. He's bound to reevaluate what he wants to do after the novelty of this thing goes away. He was having good moments with Yuki, sex excluded, he'll want to go back to that.

[leakingpen]

There was originally going to be a sex contest, so the idea of sex with Sonya isn't new. Gary got bounced around by Yuki, forced into a relationship he really didn't want. He just got released from the relationship, and, ohh, here's another hot woman who's into you. Have fun.

I think he should have at least waited till Yuki left the room, but hey. And it looks like Sonya is indeed reciprocating.

[The Glyphstone]

Still no spine, but at least he's getting something from it now.

[Wraith]

Ménage à 3 IV: Ga-HOY!!!

Like the setting of the sun and the turning of he tides; it must be so.

Also, I feel slightly ashamed that my earlier, quite shallow, evaluation of sexual relationships (referring to it as an 'investment' and playing the odds to get what you want without.... y'know.... all that 'romance' stuff) has turned out to be mostly correct.
And yet, the only thing that springs to mind when I think about it?

"Quid pro quo, Clarice; quid pro quo!"

[Traab]

I won't be too harsh on Gary, he had a pretty serious case of blue-balls and no wonder he's not thinking properly. He's bound to reevaluate what he wants to do after the novelty of this thing goes away. He was having good moments with Yuki, sex excluded, he'll want to go back to that.

The only good moments he had that I can think of are the ones he had when they werent dating, like working together on their manga and such.

[Cikomyr]

I do hope they have protection tho

[snoopy13a]

I do hope they have protection tho

I don't think unwanted pregnancies and STIs exist in this universe.