Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!

[geoduck]

And. There. We. Go.
Well, maybe not, but I think those Dreen might not be there to help.
They worked for Klaus because he did something for them, some time in his future.
Well, "opening a rift to somewhere outside time (and space) certainly fits the bill.
Are we sure they want Mechanicsburg saved?

Just to note, Klaus evidently only had two Dreen working for/with him. No way of knowing if these are the same two plus a new one.

[Shining Wrath]

Agatha activated Prende's Lantern in the last panel. I don't think it will work on Dreen.

Remember, Dreen can even frighten Jagers, and essentially nothing frightens Jagers.

The Vozzler ought to be nearby. He may be able to help. Does he sleep? I don't think we've ever seen him tired.

[Gez]

For all the hype the Dreen have had, I do not believe they are a threat to Agatha. Not because she's a super-duper Spark, just because I don't think they'll act as antagonists here. They have never gone against any of the main cast -- they chose to serve Klaus, they gave a hint to Gil, they did kind of mess Martellus' ride but only because he was foolish enough to try to attack them... I just don't think they intend to do any harm to Agatha and co., if anything they're probably here to help her fix the time stop thing.

[Radar]

It is of note that they showed up as well when one of the old Heterodynes messed heavily with time. Importantly, he was very much alive afterwards as he had a pie and there were no time rifts to mend after his experiments. It kind of suggests that the Dreen are some kind of time police/fixers: stepped in, mended the space-time, went back.

[Manga Shoggoth]

Agatha activated Prende's Lantern in the last panel. I don't think it will work on Dreen.

Remember, Dreen can even frighten Jagers, and essentially nothing frightens Jagers.

The Vozzler ought to be nearby. He may be able to help. Does he sleep? I don't think we've ever seen him tired.

Oh, I don't know. Klaus and Bears come to mind, although granted that this is Gkika and Dimo we are talking about, so we might expect a little more sophistication.

[Shining Wrath]

Oh, I don't know. Klaus and Bears come to mind, although granted that this is Gkika and Dimo we are talking about, so we might expect a little more sophistication.

Being afraid of what a super-Spark is holding in their hand is just plain common sense - which, as you say, is usually is short supply among Jagers.
That bit with Dimo is actually one of the most heroic things in the strip: "Here come a dozen unstoppable killer bears. You run, I'll hold them off." Horatio held the bridge; Dimo, the tracks.

[HeeJay]

Mr. Kjarl Thotep is about to have a harem!

[Fyraltari]

No, wait, go back!

[DaFlipp]

Slowly, deliberately, the assassin hired by the Among Us developers began to pack up his rifle. The hit on the Foglios was officially off.

(Yes I know any similarity was almost assuredly pure coincidence since the Dreen long predate the Among Us dudes, and I might be the only one who even thought it, I just was struck by the resemblance while reading the last comic and then was amused to see it vanish this comic.)

[Rockphed]

Mr. Kjarl Thotep is about to have a harem!

I only see 2 possible females. The one on the left is almost certainly female. The one on the right is almost certainly male. The one in the middle, however, only gives me 75% female vibes. A harem really needs at least 3 members (like Von Zinzer, our resident ladies man.)

Also, I am concerned about the varied reactions the dreen are having to their new state.

[Anonymouswizard]

Mr. Kjarl Thotep is about to have a harem!

POLYCULE


P.S. what says Kjarl isn't pansexual?

[HeeJay]

I only see 2 possible females.

Sir, this is a forum that ships IMHO obviously heterosexual Gil and Tarvek together.

[Shining Wrath]

Are we now seeing the true form of the Dreen? Or did the lantern force them to assume these forms? I'm going with the former, mostly, but "rude" gives me pause, and "'bout time" could mean that right Dreen has wanted to assume corporal form for a while.

[Radar]

Are we now seeing the true form of the Dreen? Or did the lantern force them to assume these forms? I'm going with the former, mostly, but "rude" gives me pause, and "'bout time" could mean that right Dreen has wanted to assume corporal form for a while.

Not sure if those are their true forms in their own dimension, but I guess the lantern did to them what the whole gang did to Kjarl before - they are now fully aligned to this dimension. It will probably affect how they perceive time from that point on. Kjarl before he got re-aligned was also mixing past, present and future.

[tonberrian]

They're silly now, they must be allies.

[geoduck]

They're silly now, they must be allies.

Yeah. This reveal was really disappointing to me. Would it have killed the Foglios to keep the Dreen alien and mysterious instead of re-running the Kjarl schtick?

[Agi Hammerthief]

They're silly now, they must be allies.

They have Jäger vibes, maybe they are back to normal?

[Kardwill]

Yeah. This reveal was really disappointing to me. Would it have killed the Foglios to keep the Dreen alien and mysterious instead of re-running the Kjarl schtick?

Yeah, I like the "otherworldly Dreen" look too (and the fact they all looked alike, while even clanks of the same model show small differences, adds to the alien feel).

Those are just "blue guys/gals". (Although seing the way the middle dreen is slightly weyrded out by his own hand, it may not be their true form). That kinda sucks the mystery right out of them.

That whiplash from "weird and alien" to "familiar, relatable and kinda mundane" is probably the intention of the strip, though.

[Anonymouswizard]

Honestly I'm more bothered about the complete change in outfit. I liked those hats!

[Radar]

Honestly I'm more bothered about the complete change in outfit. I liked those hats!

Between the cloak and the visors they looked as if they were wearing some form of hazmat suits, which was quite fitting for a time crisis response team.

[Shining Wrath]

I suspect that learning the true nature of the Dreen is going to be a major plot point. Like I said, we don't know if these are true forms revealed, or a form they are forced into by the power of the lantern.

Also, while these people look very "ordinary people but blue", we know that one Dreen took out Martellus' Imperial Battle Clank, casually. And they are armed - there are hilts visible above shoulders. I think we're talking "goofy looking mighty warriors".

[Kardwill]

Honestly, who cannot take on a battleclank or two in this comic?

[Radar]

Honestly, who cannot take on a battleclank or two in this comic?

One of the funniest scenes involving manual dismantling of a battle clank was IMO that time in Mechanicsburg, when Othar helped Agatha with upgrading the lightning stick.

[Shining Wrath]

Honestly, who cannot take on a battleclank or two in this comic?

And all battle clanks are identical in form and function, am I right?
One of the earliest scenes in the story was Klaus telling Dr. Beetle that his clanks used to be the best in world, but were now outdated. And Gil discussing how Beetle was fixated on size, which was why his mega-clank was vulnerable.

One of the funniest scenes involving manual dismantling of a battle clank was IMO that time in Mechanicsburg, when Othar helped Agatha with upgrading the lightning stick.

"I keep forgetting he's a Spark, too".

[geoduck]

And the disappointment continues, for me at least.

Spoiler

Show

Having the Dreen lounging and eating snacks?

Blegh.

[Agi Hammerthief]

And the disappointment continues, for me at least.

Spoiler

Show

Having the Dreen lounging and eating snacks?

Blegh.

I guess this is what it feels like to buy a million dollar house a week before the housing market crashes.

[Kardwill]

And all battle clanks are identical in form and function, am I right?

Yeah, that may have been a sweeping statement from my part, sorry.

Yet, I think "being crazy dangerous in direct combat" isn't what contributes most to their aura of menace. Many other characters show incredible feats of martial prowess. The Dreen were more of a muted, background, mysterious menace. They are just there, doing their thing without caring that people like Dupree panicked at the simple thought of having to face them.

[Radar]

And the disappointment continues, for me at least.

Spoiler

Show

Having the Dreen lounging and eating snacks?

Blegh.

This part maybe. They seem to be simply waiting for something. Probably for Agatha to fix the time stop in Mechanicsburg. The most important thing about this page is that the Dreen completely ignore the effects of Prende's Lantern - not even needing to make an effort.

[Agi Hammerthief]

When time stops are really bad you get Dreen.

Probably in the same way you get Fire Fighters when fire gets out of control.

[Mobius Twist]

The pith-helmet analogue makes me think of safari big-game hunters. The thing that Klaus would supposedly do for the Dreen that led to their service sure seems like the "bait your reality with enough tasty things that a giant time beasty comes running" level of favor.