Girl Genius XVII: And Then He Had Pie

[Radar]

I LOLed at the final panel, particularly when it said that was an actual quote from his son...

Well... he is right: if they lost to someone worse then them, it would be unfair.

[petersohn]

So they have a son who looks exactly like Phil.

Anyways, did you notice the similarity between Cheyenne and Bosewitche?

[stsasser]

Well... he is right: if they lost to someone worse then them, it would be unfair.

It seems wrong that two of the best webcomics are stick-figures, but there it is...

[HandofShadows]

It seems wrong that two of the best webcomics are stick-figures, but there it is...

Did you actually read Time? There is a LOT more to it than "Stick Figures".

[Southern Cross]

I haven't read "Time" either.

[The Glyphstone]

You don't read 'Time' so much as watch it, really. But it's a great story anyways.

[factotum]

You don't read 'Time' so much as watch it, really. But it's a great story anyways.

There's a website which collates all the images so you can read through the story in the normal way--I guess that does take away some of the uniqueness of the way it was presented in the first place, but at least you get to read the storyline.

And I just noticed that Phil drew the Union Flag wrong in the background of the first three panels...tch, tch!

[Rockphed]

There's a website which collates all the images so you can read through the story in the normal way--I guess that does take away some of the uniqueness of the way it was presented in the first place, but at least you get to read the storyline.

And I just noticed that Phil drew the Union Flag wrong in the background of the first three panels...tch, tch!

He's from the United States, which has a history of ignoring british politics when it suits them. Also, there is no communication between the old and new worlds in Girl Genius, so how would he know what a Union Jack looks like?

[Traab]

Fridays comic is up and hoo boy do things look interesting! The brothers are gearing up to go to war. Its a fight for survival, a fight for their reputation, a fight that will be remembered for years to come. One way, or another.

[wingnutx]

Interesting indeed. I very much approve of this new development.

[The Glyphstone]

Sweet power armor, there.

[Emperordaniel]

That's a pretty sweet death ray he's holding, too.

[factotum]

That's also the most creative ice bucket challenge video I've seen...

[Rodin]

Did...did the engineer just suggest rolling coal?

[Grif]

I'm actually excited to see the brothers in action.

[Rockphed]

Did...did the engineer just suggest rolling coal?

No, he is going to light the coal on fire and throw it at their enemies.

[BRC]

I was hoping we'd get to see the Ulstermen in action before the Bears got the upper hand.

Do you think the Brother is being serious? Why is he so determined to not let Agatha into the Fortress.

I wonder, are all the Monks Irish, or is it just the Crew of the Wyrm of Limmerick?

[Kislath]

My guess is that the Fortress is so full of really neat stuff that he's afraid he'll never be able to get RID of her again.

[ChowGuy]

My guess is that the Fortress is so full of really neat stuff that he's afraid he'll never be able to get RID of her again.

My guess is that "The Fortress" is so dangerously paranoid, it makes Der Kestle look sane, and that's why the Brothers won't take passangers there. No passenger goes there.

[eee]

I wonder where Krosp is? He's not riding on Agatha, as I would have expected. And he didn't go flying with Dimo.

I was hoping we'd get to see the Ulstermen in action before the Bears got the upper hand.

It will probably take a while to activate the Sanctuary Cars, whatever those do. We may get to see a Last Stand with the Ulstermen and the brother with the goggles and the death ray fighting to hold them back so the cars can move.

Do you think the Brother is being serious? Why is he so determined to not let Agatha into the Fortress.

I can't see Brother Ulm joking about something like that. Therefore, yes, he intends to kill Agatha; or at least some passenger on the train, and most probably Agatha. However, he may not be aware of just how much protection Agatha has...

As to why, it's just speculation, but Ulm seems focused on his passengers, train, and order. Therefore, there's something at the fortress that imperils one or all of those and perhaps the world besides, to the point he feels killing Agatha is the best and perhaps only solution. Ulm doesn't know Agatha well (although it should be pointed out, he's the only one who DOES know she's the Heterodyne, and the Seal of the Confessional keeps him from telling anyone else). So hopefully he's wrong about this...

I wonder, are all the Monks Irish, or is it just the Crew of the Wyrm of Limmerick?

Limerick IS an Irish town...

[Tectonic Robot]

I just marathoned all of Girl Genius over three days! Whoooooooooo.

[Persephone_Kore]

I just marathoned all of Girl Genius over three days! Whoooooooooo.

Yay!

As to why, it's just speculation, but Ulm seems focused on his passengers, train, and order. Therefore, there's something at the fortress that imperils one or all of those and perhaps the world besides, to the point he feels killing Agatha is the best and perhaps only solution. Ulm doesn't know Agatha well (although it should be pointed out, he's the only one who DOES know she's the Heterodyne, and the Seal of the Confessional keeps him from telling anyone else). So hopefully he's wrong about this...

I'm hoping he's wrong or this doesn't mean precisely what it looks like at first -- I like Ulm. He's certainly serious about the situation without wanting to have to kill Agatha: his first suggestion is to stand and fight, putting himself and every passenger on the train at additional risk, as a preferable alternative to either taking Agatha to the fortress or abandoning a passenger.

(I am wondering if he fibbed to Krosp and Dimo about "no passenger" going to the fortress. Piling all the passengers into the sanctuary cars, here, tells him immediately that they're meant to go to the fortress, which is clearly an emergency measure though I think it could go either way whether it's a standard or unprecedented one, but he only objects to Agatha.)

[Math_Mage]

I can't see Brother Ulm joking about something like that. Therefore, yes, he intends to kill Agatha; or at least some passenger on the train, and most probably Agatha. However, he may not be aware of just how much protection Agatha has...

I can't see the writers using Ulm's statement in the last panel if they mean for him to actually intend harm at this point. I think it's more likely that he's expressing slightly hyperbolic dread towards the thought of Agatha in the Fortress. That may or may not develop into actually intending harm, depending on what happens at the Fortress.

[BRC]

I can't see the writers using Ulm's statement in the last panel if they mean for him to actually intend harm at this point. I think it's more likely that he's expressing slightly hyperbolic dread towards the thought of Agatha in the Fortress. That may or may not develop into actually intending harm, depending on what happens at the Fortress.

Yeah, I don't see Ulm as literally deciding to Kill Agatha.

If Agatha can't enter the fortress for some reason, he can just keep her out of the Fortress. He's sworn to protect his passengers, but surely "Leave the highly capable spark and her very dangerous bodyguards to fend for themselves" is less of a violation than "Try to kill the highly capable spark with a very dangerous bodyguards"

It's more likely that he believes that when Agatha enters the fortress, something will happen which will endanger the order/the passengers enough to force his hand and make him kill her. But it's not guaranteed (hence he can't just lock her outside).

There's something about Ulm's body language and word choices that make me think this set up is comedic, rather than Dramatic. Something about words like "The Mind Boggles" and "Ugh" make me think that Ulm fears a massive headache more than any real danger. Especially because the other, Younger Monks don't seem to be bothered by the thought. Only Ulm (with his considerable experience, and knowledge that Agatha is not just a Spark but a Heterodyne) is objecting.
Perhaps the Depot contains broken trains, condemned for being Late in clear defiance of the Schedule, and upon seeing them Agatha would feel compelled to try to fix and/or improve them.

[Kislath]

I just marathoned all of Girl Genius over three days! Whoooooooooo.

Acheivement unlocked!

I also think it's supposed to be more funny than foreboding.

[NEO|Phyte]

Assuming he isn't for some unfathomable reason only joking about killing Agatha, the only things I can think of that would warrant his reaction is figuring letting a Heterodyne into the sanctuary would be a very bad idea in general (which is sensible, considering the older Heterodynes), or they've got something there that a Heterodyne (or possibly just Agatha specifically) would take severe offense to. Difficult to speculate on what that something might be. Secretly being pawns of the Other seems rather unlikely, as Agatha's weasel hasn't been screeching at anyone.

[scienceguy8]

My guess is the monks and their railroad operate primarily in neutrality, and only survive because they are neutral. Nobody actively destroys their railroad in times of war because the railroad serves all regardless of alliances. Taking Agatha into one of their strongholds could be seen, from the outside, as a sign of loyalty or alliance to House Heterodyne, which would result in an open season on all railway activities and interests by the enemies of House Heterodyne (of which there are a few), or anyone cheesed off to have not become an ally of the railway first (of which there are many more).

[stsasser]

I'm curious about the sanctuary cars. Are they merely heavily armored with perhaps alternate motive power? Or are they ridiculously heavily armored with powerful active defense systems to protect the passengers? Could Brother Ulm attempt to expel or kill Agatha, only to be stopped by his own train?

[factotum]

Taking Agatha into one of their strongholds could be seen, from the outside, as a sign of loyalty or alliance to House Heterodyne, which would result in an open season on all railway activities and interests by the enemies of House Heterodyne (of which there are a few), or anyone cheesed off to have not become an ally of the railway first (of which there are many more).

Except that seems to have already happened--as the engineer guy said last strip, there's trouble all up and down the line. Whatever immunity from attack the railway monks had is now gone regardless.

[With a box]

Except that seems to have already happened--as the engineer guy said last strip, there's trouble all up and down the line. Whatever immunity from attack the railway monks had is now gone regardless.

maybe he thinks that if He induce Agatha to death secretly and confirm her death to them, then they will not interfere with others