Grrl Power IV: Constantly Expanded Universe

[Traab]

Which is a very natural reaction. While it most likely is not her first time, this is a very new situation for her and she does have body image issues when surrounded by all the perfect figure superheroes and aliens. Thus nervousness.

On the other hand, the guy is an eye-catcher, seems nice and is quite exotic to her which is its own appeal. Plus, you know. Thus extremely excited.

Oh I agree, totally natural reaction, were I in the reverse situation, me surrounded by sexy open to casual fun ladies, I would likely react exactly the same, nervous as heck as casual hookups arent a thing ive really been involved with. Especially not ones dropped on me right on the spot. "Oh btw, everyone here is dtf, have fun or not, your choice."

[Rogar Demonblud]

Well, different species, different cultures, different life experiences. Always best to check to make sure everyone's on the same page.

And I called it. And he really got her good in that last row of panels. Which seems to be a key ingredient in her bonding with someone (it's what got her bonding with Max).

[Dragonus45]

Yea I find it interesting that the that got her over the final hurdle was getting punked like that. She definitely seems to be most comfortable when someone is willing to put out some banter with a bit of bite.

[Radar]

Yea I find it interesting that the that got her over the final hurdle was getting punked like that. She definitely seems to be most comfortable when someone is willing to put out some banter with a bit of bite.

Maybe because this kind of verbal fencing is something she is more familiar with and she can connect to that person on that level easier. Measuring up against a genuine super hero (Maxima) or any of the improbably well chiseled people she feels inadequate. Going against witty jokers she feels equal even if those are the very same people.

[HMS Invincible]

Several panels devoted to furry softcore porn. I knew he was a fan of furry books(that tiger harem cameo is main character from a furry smut harem book) but I wasn't expecting awkward version of anime girl has attempts embarrassed sex with furry. Even if Dave cuts it off with an interruption or skips ahead, the previous panels are cringeworthy. I guess I'm not his target audience here.

[Dragonus45]

I think we are seeing some real character development and a couple of funny jokes. More then enough to justify the time spent, unlike the awful Deus stuff where he just pushed the joke to hard and it collapsed. That said there sure is plenty of time for Dave to screw this one up.

[Radar]

Several panels devoted to furry softcore porn. I knew he was a fan of furry books(that tiger harem cameo is main character from a furry smut harem book) but I wasn't expecting awkward version of anime girl has attempts embarrassed sex with furry. Even if Dave cuts it off with an interruption or skips ahead, the previous panels are cringeworthy. I guess I'm not his target audience here.

Frankly the level of fanservice is pretty much consistent with what we have already seen before in the comics. Even the previous page shows a lot more of Cora and one of her crew members doing a massage. Part of Grrl Power is a heap of cheescakes and beefcakes on every possible occasion and the only difference we have here is that there is a furry character - not even the first one going naked although that was in a different context. We also had interspecies carnal relations, so the fur is the only difference I guess.

If it crosses your threshold of squick or disgust, then it does and that is your right. In my opinion, this page focuses way more on Sydney's reactions then on Frix and doesn't stand out from the rest of the comic.

[Onyavar]

When you are more precise than Sydney about the scientific name of our species: We are of the species homo. Specifically, The thinking homo who thinks.

I can understand if even some people in our very own species believe this name is hilarious. And hearing from a canine that they call themselves "woof" shouldn't be any surprise for a dog owner.

[Sean Mirrsen]

When you are more precise than Sydney about the scientific name of our species: We are of the species homo. Specifically, The thinking homo who thinks.

I can understand if even some people in our very own species believe this name is hilarious. And hearing from a canine that they call themselves "woof" shouldn't be any surprise for a dog owner.

It's worth noting that "homo sapiens" is merely a designation given to our species by our own science. As such, "human" is just as valid a species designation when communicating with an alien. And I don't doubt that if the 'woofs' have a scientific field equivalent to our taxonomy/biology, they also have a slightly more accurate name for their own species than just "woof", but the short colloquial name works just as well.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Technically, we are Homo sapiens sapiens, so as to distinguish ourselves from H. sapiens neanderthalis and whatever other cousins would show up from various soon to be discovered Lost World scenarios.

Science can be weird on occasion.

[Onyavar]

I wasn't trying to be pedantic towards the comic, but trying to point out why the designation that our science has found for us, can even be mocked by ourselves.

My newest headcanon is that the universal translator in the bathroom has a really deep understanding of the languages in play, and Frix was laughing because Sydneys mentioning of "human" triggered the underlying linguistical connection to "homo(sexual)" which Frix has to assume Sydney is not, and also not the entire species.
It's not really funny and surely not the joke that Dave was having in mind, but hey, these universal translators are bound to be weird stuff.

[Ibrinar]

That would be a poor understanding from the translator side though not a deep one? A translator that points out that a word sounds somewhat close to another word and that other word is part of quite a few words one of which is connected to sex... Unless it points out a pun this way the translator would probably be close to useless if it constantly gives irrelevant info.

[Traab]

That would be a poor understanding from the translator side though not a deep one? A translator that points out that a word sounds somewhat close to another word and that other word is part of quite a few words one of which is connected to sex... Unless it points out a pun this way the translator would probably be close to useless if it constantly gives irrelevant info.

Indeed, im more inclined to go with "That word is identical to one in our language with a very different meaning." Like the term in england for a bundle of sticks, or a cigarette. Ask for one in america and you will get a very different response.

[Rogar Demonblud]

And of course she wears that character's licensed briefs. Even though Pinkie Pie would be more apropos to Miss Spaz.

[Sean Mirrsen]

And of course she wears that character's licensed briefs. Even though Pinkie Pie would be more apropos to Miss Spaz.

Eh, character-wise she's a bit closer to Dash than to Pinkie. But I could definitely see traits of both. Plus a bit of Twilight.

She definitely has some functional traits of all three. Fast-flying while leaving rainbow streaks - check. Carries crafts supplies and weaponizes her silly tendencies in combat - check. Has shield bubble, powerful beam weapon, teleportation, generally tends to pull powers out of thin air if the plot demands it, and also owns more or less a book store - very much check.

[Traab]

Eh, character-wise she's a bit closer to Dash than to Pinkie. But I could definitely see traits of both. Plus a bit of Twilight.

She definitely has some functional traits of all three. Fast-flying while leaving rainbow streaks - check. Carries crafts supplies and weaponizes her silly tendencies in combat - check. Has shield bubble, powerful beam weapon, teleportation, generally tends to pull powers out of thin air if the plot demands it, and also owns more or less a book store - very much check.

Isnt weaponizing genre convention also a pinkie pie thing? Technically 4th wall breaking, though in sydneys case its more assuming (rightly more often than wrongly) that the real world functions on comic book logic.

[Yuki Akuma]

When you are more precise than Sydney about the scientific name of our species: We are of the species homo. Specifically, The thinking homo who thinks.

I can understand if even some people in our very own species believe this name is hilarious. And hearing from a canine that they call themselves "woof" shouldn't be any surprise for a dog owner.

Homo is our genus, not our species.

[Rogar Demonblud]

I was comparing more Dash's sense of 'humor' and Pinkie's sugar induced freak outs, but those are good points as well.

[Traab]

You know, the smart thing here would be to get info on what happened to the alari homeworld. If these refugees have any idea why they got attacked or by who. Not only to learn what went down but also because.... sydney just one woman armied their invasion forces. She casually obliterated armadas of fighters, took out I think three of the big boys, and was pretty comprehensively scanned by them before doing so. Might be nice to figure out if they are capable of or likely to seek out revenge. I mean sure in an MMO you can genocide the heck out of that night elf city all you like, then move along, no harm no foul. In reality, the night elf people are going to hunt you down and likely declare war on your people for this mass slaughter.

[Ibrinar]

Sidney, no, I agree with tying up lose ends but carpet bombing the refugees goes a bit far!

[Radar]

Sidney, no, I agree with tying up lose ends but carpet bombing the refugees goes a bit far!

Especially since it would quickly devolve into the kind of plan, where you kill people who have seen you killing people. And we all know, how those end.

[Rogar Demonblud]

And Sydney isn't even wearing a hat.

I honestly can't tell if she's derping right now or actually trying to be a hero.

[Keltest]

My guess is that she's going to try and figure out why a planet that was supposed to have been a significant population center a few days ago is suddenly a war-torn wasteland. She may or may not also be interested in helping the refugees, though how she would do that is beyond me.

[Dragonus45]

I’m certain this is her wanting to help those people, and it makes for a fairly good character moment all around. Bits like this are what give me hope for the comic in times of Deus.

[Rogar Demonblud]

Yeah. Deus is the single greatest argument in favor of dropping the comic.

[Traab]

Yeah. Deus is the single greatest argument in favor of dropping the comic.

Seriously? I find him endlessly entertaining. Dude is pure ham pressed into a lex luthor mold. Its hilarious! He is less evil and more true neutral. I mean yeah he violates laws like most people breath, but what has he done with those crimes? Created a nation that shot straight up from subsistence under a cruel tyrant warlord to a first world nation or nearly there. He has sex with any sexy woman he can find and is willing, apparently trying to create a bestiary with two backs book. (Word games are fun) And steals magical artifacts, but again, what has he done with those artifacts? He used a combo of them to create a portal to a space station but it doesnt seem like he is doing anything evil with it. He does what he wants to do and trolls everyone around him endlessly. But what he wants rarely seems to be actually evil, more questionable.

[Forum Explorer]

Seriously? I find him endlessly entertaining. Dude is pure ham pressed into a lex luthor mold. Its hilarious! He is less evil and more true neutral. I mean yeah he violates laws like most people breath, but what has he done with those crimes? Created a nation that shot straight up from subsistence under a cruel tyrant warlord to a first world nation or nearly there. He has sex with any sexy woman he can find and is willing, apparently trying to create a bestiary with two backs book. (Word games are fun) And steals magical artifacts, but again, what has he done with those artifacts? He used a combo of them to create a portal to a space station but it doesnt seem like he is doing anything evil with it. He does what he wants to do and trolls everyone around him endlessly. But what he wants rarely seems to be actually evil, more questionable.

The whole sex scene with Deus and Sciona was annoying, particularly since it followed right after him banging Harem. That whole sequence was pretty bad.

[Traab]

The whole sex scene with Deus and Sciona was annoying, particularly since it followed right after him banging Harem. That whole sequence was pretty bad.

I can see why the pacing of that would be a bit annoying, but to me it doesnt make the character himself any less entertaining. That entire segment where he is being interviewed on tv was just hilarious. Both what he said on camera, and what we saw was actually going on, from melodramatic coups followed by shooting the breeze with his goons about near speech gaffes and laughing about it, then switching back to showing the crown prince what kind of scum his dad really was. Watching him troll maxima was just freaking delightful to see. The way he clicked with sydney was also entertaining to watch. Honestly, at this point I would be more annoyed if he actually DID turn into some sort of lex luthor style bad guy, instead of just doing his own thing, and making a huge profit while not doing anything grotesquely evil. Like all the time archon is out there fighting crime, stopping evil, and being big dang heroes, here is deus just trolling his way through everything, getting richer and more powerful and never drawing direct notice to himself.

[Forum Explorer]

I can see why the pacing of that would be a bit annoying, but to me it doesnt make the character himself any less entertaining. That entire segment where he is being interviewed on tv was just hilarious. Both what he said on camera, and what we saw was actually going on, from melodramatic coups followed by shooting the breeze with his goons about near speech gaffes and laughing about it, then switching back to showing the crown prince what kind of scum his dad really was. Watching him troll maxima was just freaking delightful to see. The way he clicked with sydney was also entertaining to watch. Honestly, at this point I would be more annoyed if he actually DID turn into some sort of lex luthor style bad guy, instead of just doing his own thing, and making a huge profit while not doing anything grotesquely evil. Like all the time archon is out there fighting crime, stopping evil, and being big dang heroes, here is deus just trolling his way through everything, getting richer and more powerful and never drawing direct notice to himself.

Sure, Deus has had his moments. And strictly speaking, I don't mind them. So long as we don't get any more like the sex scene I mentioned.

[Traab]

Sure, Deus has had his moments. And strictly speaking, I don't mind them. So long as we don't get any more like the sex scene I mentioned.

I will admit the setup of the sciona sex scene came off badly, it felt a bit more coerced than I like, but combined with how the rest of the interaction went, primarily her reaction to his offer I think it was meant to come off as two powerful dangerous beings arranging a liaison while determined to keep the upper hand in some fashion. Like he made the offer because she is hot and its something he wants, she was interested but played it off as a "...Fine. Just dont disappoint me mortal." power game between them. I just went back and reread that section and wow, I didnt remember it was LITERALLY the next comic after harem. Yeah thats a bit much. I agree, so long as we dont get back to back conquest scenes of deus im good with that.

On a related note, wow, it seems like he knew exactly what she was planning on doing right from the start. He told her where to go then told vale he has no problem letting her do all the work for him to take advantage of. He let her go through all the trouble of forging the combined artifact he wanted to open portals with just so he couldnt be connected to it in any way when he had vale retrieve it from the wreckage which they will likely spend months combing through looking for it and then write it off when it doesnt turn up. "Guess we just couldnt locate it or it was destroyed by the blast."