OOTS #959 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

New comic is up.

[An Enemy Spy]

Do I sense some regret over past representation of female characters? Or is it just self deprecating humor?

[NotBambi]

Wow, that was quick to appear.

[redzimmer]

What was that Bechdel test rule?

[Lanaya]

I would buy every single one of those action figures.

[With a box]

It's good to look old outpits in new style

[Crazyterran]

Does her action figures bust seem bigger than her stick figures?

Just me?

[Rick_DW]

I would buy every single one of those action figures.

Seconded, though I'd get the one with the bare midriff first.

Wonder who'd win the fight between Haley and Bandanna?

[Blisstake]

Huh, for some reason I just thought that's what her outfit looked like in the new art style. This makes a lot more sense. Hopefully the armor value's just as good.

[With a box]

Seconded, though I'd get the one with the bare midriff first.

Wonder who'd win the fight between Haley and Bandanna?

I don't think that Banana has more level then 10. do Haley might win.

[ORione]

What was that Bechdel test rule?

- There must be at least two female characters...
- ... who talk to each other...
- ... about something other than a man.

[Arkhaic]

So...is this a hint at future merchandise?

Edit: The Bechdel Test makes me want to write something horrifyingly, eye-gougingly sexist with a 100% Bechdel Test pass rate for every scene.

[Morgan Wick]

So is Bandanna the first unambiguously gay named character in the comic?

[Angelalex242]

Heh. Well, they're talking about clothes, not men, so they pass.

Merchandising, huh?

Ah well. But yes, she is contractually required to get more outfits as time goes on.

[Killer Angel]

it was not... or maybe yes. (at least, from the watchers Pov )

[Inevitability]

So is Bandanna the first unambiguously gay named character in the comic?

Guess so. I was surprised by reading that too.

[Gift Jeraff]

So is Bandanna the first unambiguously gay named character in the comic?

Spoiler: Haleo and Julelan "spoiler"

Show

Phil Rodriguez the lawyer

[BeethroBudkin07]

Ooh! That a quick update!

A bit more on the dialogue-y side this time, but that's not a bad thing! Loved the little poke at Haley's constantly changing costume.

Can't wait for more!

[ORione]

So is Bandanna the first unambiguously gay named character in the comic?

She could be bi- or pansexual.

[Tris]

It's weird to see the hands on those things.

[DaggerPen]

... hahhahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Okay, not the Belkar update I was expecting, but damn if I'm not laughing here. A very nice send-up of some old tropes, with a nice little touch of self-parody. I love it.

Also, so that's where she got that armor from! I was wondering.

[Starwulf]

Wow, they've definitely acquired quite a good deal of loot over their adventures, and to think it isn't even counting the magical stuff. Though, I can't imagine they'll let any of the stuff that's really worth anything go, since it'll have to much use, especially since 3 out of 5 members can use them(bard, rogue, wizard).

[Keldon]

I´ve been a lurker around here for many years, but i simply HAD to come here and comment after the last comic. It´s amazing how you managed to deal with so many important themes in a single page: (i) homosexuality; (ii) weight/beauty issues ("curvy"); (iii) women that always dreamed to fit in positions of authority; (iv) the stereotype that tells that girls are either sister-like friends or enemies that tell each other gender-oriented offenses (you b****, etc); (v) the "chainmail bikini" stereotype ("bare midriff"). I doubt those are mere coincidences. Congrats!

[Nibelung]

Somehow, knowing Bandana's mother is a blonde, make me think if Julio giving her the captain position is not simply heritage.

And yes, I want to buy action figures of OotS as well. Will we have a kickstarter for it?

Spoiler: Bechdel Test stuff, to avoid derailing

Show

The Bechdel Test makes me want to write something horrifyingly, eye-gougingly sexist with a 100% Bechdel Test pass rate for every scene.

The Bechdel Test is not a test to see if the artwork is favorable to gender equality. Neither a test to check its quality. Or even its association on gender issues.

Just that it has women represented. The women in question can be as bad or as good as a character than any other in the work. Or the work itself.

If the test sounds to you like a pretty easy standard to meet, it is. That's the whole point: To shock you that too many loved movies and series fail on this simple test.

[Yendor]

Gods, those action figures look weird.

[Finagle]

Ah, rather sad to see modern-day politics invading a D&D comic. Oh well, I guess it had to happen eventually. As long as the characters don't start quoting Marx and engaging in contrived, inflammatory storylines carefully calculated to score points in contemporary political debates (topics that will be outdated in six months), we'll just have to live with it.

[Ruduen]

After that line, I'm reminded of the Belkar hate/lust chart.

I'm not sure if a bond/murder chart would be a whole lot better.

[Pokonic]

The fact that Low Self-Esteem Haley gets her own figure just kinda sells the whole joke for me.

[Aquillion]

Do I sense some regret over past representation of female characters? Or is it just self deprecating humor?

I assume it's a touch of both, given the blushing icon for this thread and the "it seemed like a good idea at the time" bit at the end (which can be taken both in and out of character.)

[Bird]

I´ve been a lurker around here for many years, but i simply HAD to come here and comment after the last comic. It´s amazing how you managed to deal with so many important themes in a single page: (i) homosexuality; (ii) weight/beauty issues ("curvy"); (iii) women that always dreamed to fit in positions of authority; (iv) the stereotype that tells that girls are either sister-like friends or enemies that tell each other gender-oriented offenses (you b****, etc); (v) the "chainmail bikini" stereotype ("bare midriff"). I doubt those are mere coincidences. Congrats!

Plus (vi) mixed-race persons. (Though, leaving aside half-orcs, half-elves and the like, this has come up at least once before with Jiminy.)

Even if it's all self-consciously crammed into one strip, it's nice to see this stuff addressed. A lot of writers wouldn't acknowledge their own deficiencies in the representation of females, as the the Giant does here.