Girl Genius XXIV: Ask Vit a Bit More Terror

[PraetorDragoon]

So, I did a bit of re-reading. Albia requested the college of mysteries cook something up to hook Agatha's attention. What is the over/under on them being responsible for the murder and subsequent investigation?

I think they just a have a pile of "impossible" problems that they can hand out when needed.

[Traab]

I doubt very much that the Devil's Prize as advertised is a chance to bang Bang. First, that cuts out roughly 45% of the population that doesn't want to have sexual congress with a woman, which is inefficient. Secondly, there's plenty of people who do like boinking women who wouldn't consider it to be sufficient reward to risk being killed painfully if you're wrong. Speaking as someone who does in fact like women that way, I can't really think of anyone that I'd risk death to have once.

However, I think Bang may be excited enough by the news to throw in a little hanky-panky in addition to the presumably monetary "big score" the pirate came for.

I just hope she actually pays the guy rather than getting him drunk, pumping him for information, and then killing him so he can't spread the news.

And "This is going to be the best fight EVER!" suggests she does intend to call Zeetha out and fight her toe-to-toe rather than murdering her via treachery. Which might be smart, because if Zeetha agrees that means Higgs and Agatha won't kill Bang after. A duel is a duel, after all.

EDIT: The Shining. Find the reference yourself.

Bah, everyone wants Bang. Yes, even agatha. I have fanart that proves it. But seriously though it may just be as simple as a "I owe you one huge favor, so call on me if you need someone dead/not dead that you cant take care of yourself" or whatever. I will admit that its hardly in her displayed character to make such an offer. Aside from enjoying prancing around in skimpy clothes from time to time, and maybe enjoying the sado part of her relationship with tarvek a bit too much, she doesnt really display a lot of sexual behavior of any sort, vole excluded.

[datalaughing]

Random thought I had while re-reading just now. Where's Krosp? We haven't seen him since before the big meet and greet party. Is it more likely that he's being all sneaky and catlike gathering information on the current situation, or that he gorged himself on fish and has been asleep somewhere this whole time?

But back on the topic of Albia's distractions. How amusing would it be for some of her minions to show up with intricately-planned distractions, "emergencies," etc, for Agatha and co. only to discover that, because it's Agatha, they're already way too distracted by actual craziness to pay any attention at all to the pre-planned craziness?

[Traab]

Random thought I had while re-reading just now. Where's Krosp? We haven't seen him since before the big meet and greet party. Is it more likely that he's being all sneaky and catlike gathering information on the current situation, or that he gorged himself on fish and has been asleep somewhere this whole time?

But back on the topic of Albia's distractions. How amusing would it be for some of her minions to show up with intricately-planned distractions, "emergencies," etc, for Agatha and co. only to discover that, because it's Agatha, they're already way too distracted by actual craziness to pay any attention at all to the pre-planned craziness?

He is probably dealing with his bear troops atm. Possibly seeing if anything can be done for vapnoodle. That said, is it just me? Or is bang REALLY creepy looking in that last panel?

[Shining Wrath]

He is probably dealing with his bear troops atm. Possibly seeing if anything can be done for vapnoodle. That said, is it just me? Or is bang REALLY creepy looking in that last panel?

Krosp was inside the dome when it was sealed, so far as is known. The bears are not. Something obviously had to happen offscreen allowing for the disposition of Vapnoople and the bears. I would guess that the bears are keeping their creator safe in their usual quietly formidable way.

[eee]

Random thought I had while re-reading just now. Where's Krosp? We haven't seen him since before the big meet and greet party. Is it more likely that he's being all sneaky and catlike gathering information on the current situation, or that he gorged himself on fish and has been asleep somewhere this whole time?

Krosp is a cat. Asleep all this time is a definite possibility.

Beast-bot and Kestle-bot are missing, too. Violetta's disappeared, and Zeetha and the Boyz are off trying to find her. Wooster is running a murder investigation. All of Agatha's normal retainers and allies have been separated from her, except for Tarvek and Higgs. A suspicious man might regard that as... suspicious.

[gbs5009]

Interesting, Bang doesn't have a throat scar like she did back when she was blending in with the Mopey Tortoise's crew?

I guess it was part of her disguise after all... I had figured it was real (and the reason for her love of turtlenecks).

[Rogar Demonblud]

We've seen her bare throat plenty of times over the years. She never had a scar any other time except that one scene. I'm wondering if it wasn't meant to be a scar, but rather a not entirely healed cut from when she fought the Nightmaster.

[factotum]

I think "part of the disguise" is the most likely explanation, considering not enough time has passed between that strip and the current one for any wound to have fully healed.

[Rockphed]

Another shot of Bang in her underthings for comparison. Note panel 3 for lack of scar.

[keybounce]

Who knew our thread title would be this accurate.

You don't suppose that the Folios pay attention to our titling, do you?

[Shining Wrath]

You don't suppose that the Folios pay attention to our titling, do you?

THEY. HAD. BETTER.

I expect my toxic fandom to be rewarded.

[Rockphed]

THEY. HAD. BETTER.

I expect my toxic fandom to be rewarded.

Considering how salty we got about the castle arc in our titles, I think they don't pay us much mind.

[gbs5009]

I think "part of the disguise" is the most likely explanation, considering not enough time has passed between that strip and the current one for any wound to have fully healed.

Wulfenbach has some pretty fancy healing tech... it's not impossible she actually DID fully heal that quickly.

[factotum]

Wulfenbach has some pretty fancy healing tech... it's not impossible she actually DID fully heal that quickly.

She hasn't been with Gil since the strip with the scar. Anyway, what's easier and more logical: that she temporarily drew on a scar as part of a disguise, or that she received a wound in her fight with the Night Master which is not shown or even hinted at on panel and then used some magic Sparky tech we've never seen before to heal it?

[eee]

She hasn't been with Gil since the strip with the scar. Anyway, what's easier and more logical: that she temporarily drew on a scar as part of a disguise, or that she received a wound in her fight with the Night Master which is not shown or even hinted at on panel and then used some magic Sparky tech we've never seen before to heal it?

The thing is, why a fake scar on the throat? If it were on the face and distorted her features so she'd be harder to recognize, yes, that would make sense. But since her standard garb is a turtleneck, most people wouldn't know if Captain Dupree has a scar there or not. It's not a disguise at all. And if she had gotten cut during the fight, I'd expect more would have been made of it. I think the Foglios mean for Bang to have the scar, but keep forgetting to draw it in.

[Celestia]

The thing is, why a fake scar on the throat?

It's a distinctive and eye-catching feature that draws attention away from the face while a facial scar will draw attention to the face.

[Ellen]

Another shot of Bang in her underthings for comparison. Note panel 3 for lack of scar.

Relatively tame, considering.

I expect she realized Gil would be seeing it when he woke up and took mercy on him. Who knew she had it in her?

Of course, she probably had to mug somebody for underthings that wouldn't cause Gil a heart attack (I'd guess worse than mugging, but there are no red stains or tears. She must have really restrained herself).

[factotum]

It's a distinctive and eye-catching feature that draws attention away from the face while a facial scar will draw attention to the face.

Yeah, this. Anything that draws attention away from the face is a good thing when you're in disguise.

[eee]

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam... "

[Traab]

"Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam... "

"Stand your ground men! STAND YOUR GROUND!"

[Rogar Demonblud]

Man, I would have liked to be at that blast to observe the mayhem.

Unless the 'Norwegian' cuisine is code for lutefisk, because that stuff can burn in hell.

[Mando Knight]

Man, I would have liked to be at that blast to observe the mayhem.

Unless the 'Norwegian' cuisine is code for lutefisk, because that stuff can burn in hell.

It's the most infamous dish, but it's not the only thing. Beyond "seafood, game, and various desserts," it (together with the church that held the ceremony) is probably more of a "We have relatives/friends from Minnesota" term.

[jwhouk]

Ring cake is pretty good. Had that when my cousin got married to a man from Norway.

[Scarlet Knight]

Relatively tame, considering.

I expect she realized Gil would be seeing it when he woke up and took mercy on him. Who knew she had it in her?

I think Gil has seen plenty with Bang... a friend with benefits?

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http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comi...8#.W7n4JmhKiUk

[Fyraltari]

I think Gil has seen plenty with Bang... a friend with benefits?

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http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comi...8#.W7n4JmhKiUk

Nah they're like siblings.

[halfeye]

I think Gil has seen plenty with Bang... a friend with benefits?

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http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comi...8#.W7n4JmhKiUk

Nah they're like siblings.

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Ooh, that sort of makes sense, she's his foster sister. She's the daughter of Petrus Telfel, and Gil was brought up with her, neither of them using their real names for fear of attack while they were kids, and when her father was killed, the baron took them in, without initially renaming Gil, and without renaming Bang at all. Obviously Bang had a period as a pirate queen between the death of her father and her employment by Klaus, but that could be before or after being taken in by Klaus.

[Rogar Demonblud]

"Klaus always did know the right monster for the job."

[geoduck]

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Ooh, that sort of makes sense, she's his foster sister. She's the daughter of Petrus Telfel, and Gil was brought up with her, neither of them using their real names for fear of attack while they were kids, and when her father was killed, the baron took them in, without initially renaming Gil, and without renaming Bang at all. Obviously Bang had a period as a pirate queen between the death of her father and her employment by Klaus, but that could be before or after being taken in by Klaus.

No. It hasn't been stated in-comic, but in various character guides and the print novels, the Foglios have said

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..that Bang knows full well who her parents were. They were rulers of a Lost Civilization somewhere, but were overthrown. The whole reason she built up that fleet and base was that she was preparing an assault to reclaim her kingdom. After Zeetha's rampage, Bang signed up with the Baron because she had to start over from scratch, and then the Baron sent her to spend time in Paris with Gil as one of his endless tests/forced improvements.

[keybounce]

Did they actually leave us alone for a week, with nothing to do but take the panels from their comics and turned them into some sort of wedding anniversary present?

Anyone feel up to writing a "guest comic" to honor them?