Girl Genius XXXII: The scientific method at work!

[geoduck]

Mr. Dog? I think he is the Knight of the Hunt who survived the attack on the Mopey Tortoise, but I didn't get his name.

Norville. It's a reference to the character of Shaggy on Scooby-Doo.

[Grim Portent]

I would have to spend more time digging then I honestly care for to say for sure, but I am pretty sure the Heterodynes chased outside church influence out with one of them building a church to himself as part of a bet with a pope or archbishop.

Here it is. Prince Vadim of Sturmhalten and the Heterodyne of the time made a wager during an argument, that the Heterodyne couldn't get a cathedral built in Mechanicsburg and if he could Vadim would eat his hat. So the Red Cathedral gets built and they start doing the whole blood sacrifice stuff. No mention of prior church involvement, except an implication that no church wanted to set foot in Mechanicsburg or try to establish holy grounds there.


I don't think it's ever specified what is worshipped in the Red Cathedral, but I don't think it's one of the 7+ flavours of Christianity that's running around Europa. Based on the dark rites, the demonic statues, the heterodyne trilobyte being used in place of any religious symbols, the talk of keeping 3 dimensional reality safe and so on I think the cathedral worships the Heterodynes and their terrible arts as some sort of barrier between eldritch horrors and mortal reality.

[Shining Wrath]

Here it is. Prince Vadim of Sturmhalten and the Heterodyne of the time made a wager during an argument, that the Heterodyne couldn't get a cathedral built in Mechanicsburg and if he could Vadim would eat his hat. So the Red Cathedral gets built and they start doing the whole blood sacrifice stuff. No mention of prior church involvement, except an implication that no church wanted to set foot in Mechanicsburg or try to establish holy grounds there.


I don't think it's ever specified what is worshipped in the Red Cathedral, but I don't think it's one of the 7+ flavours of Christianity that's running around Europa. Based on the dark rites, the demonic statues, the heterodyne trilobyte being used in place of any religious symbols, the talk of keeping 3 dimensional reality safe and so on I think the cathedral worships the Heterodynes and their terrible arts as some sort of barrier between eldritch horrors and mortal reality.

It was also where the key to the Monster's Guild chose to hide itself as it's the one place the Castle can't see or reach.

[Traab]

Old Man Death is still the best arc ever.

[Radar]

Old Man Death is still the best arc ever.

I think my personal favorite was The Infamous Falling Machine, but this one was great as well.

[St Fan]

Norville better hope that none of Krosp's bears are around... they wouldn't appreciate him snarling at their little master.

[Shining Wrath]

Norville better hope that none of Krosp's bears are around... they wouldn't appreciate him snarling at their little master.

"This bear does not like yappy little dogs".

[Scarlet Knight]

I absolutely hate that Tarvek and Gil came in at the same time, side by side and Agatha hugged both of them together. If you don't want her to pick one, draw a different scene. It reeks of tease.

[Adaon Nightwind]

..you.. do realise that there are different ways to live a live, right? The only qualifications should be to hurt no-one, then to seek happiness. Both are fullfilled here. (It does not count as "hurting someone" if someone says "I feel disturbed by your happiness. Change that.")


I mean, you write that, if she does not pick only one, the scene should be different. That is your critique. But how would you change it?


Personally, i found the scene beautifull. A rare Moment of Peace for three people who are good for each other on so many levels.

[Kardwill]

Yeah, it's consistent with the way she always refused to explicitly pick one over the other, doesn't try to hide her affection to both of them, and shuts them down when they're getting jealous or possessive. Gil and Tarvek even teased each other about it when they explored the Heterodyne harem chambers.

That page was a brief moment of peace, and companionship, and trust, and love in their hectic lives, and it was beautiful. :)

[Shining Wrath]

That first panel shot serves to remind us that Agatha is still a young woman. She's The Heterodyne, with all that implies; one of the most powerful Sparks in existence and a budding Queen; and the daughter of the Other and embedded deeply in the politics of Europa.

But first and foremost, a young woman who likes to tinker with clanks and has two young men she loves. If she was not powerful (both intrinsically and by title), this would make a fine comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan.

Oh and my goodness what a beautiful young woman she is, too. Those eyes .... swoons

[DaFlipp]

If she was not powerful (both intrinsically and by title), this would make a fine comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan.

Look, the comic's not over yet, there's still time for the entire plot to be resolved by some expertly-applied legal technicality and a brief but memorable full-chorus finale!

[Shining Wrath]

Look, the comic's not over yet, there's still time for the entire plot to be resolved by some expertly-applied legal technicality and a brief but memorable full-chorus finale!

We need to start writing this!

I'm seeing Tarvek as the tenor and Gil as a baritone so they can do duets together.
Agatha pretty much has to be a soprano lead. Zeetha is an alto, though.
Klaus is a rumbling bass, full of menace.
Krosp is a trouser role, have an alto sing him as a high tenor.
All Jagers except Higgs are basses. We can write the Jagers as the chorus commenting on the foibles of the lead parts.
Tweedle we cast a baritone and have him sing falsetto lines. The falsity, the strain of always faking it, is conveyed by his false voice.
Higgs we need a tenor for the duets with Zeetha.

[Anonymouswizard]

I absolutely hate that Tarvek and Gil came in at the same time, side by side and Agatha hugged both of them together. If you don't want her to pick one, draw a different scene. It reeks of tease.

Bah, the questionn isn't 'which is Agatha going to choose', the question is 'are Gil and Tarvek ever going to admit that they want to frot with each other'. Also whether the marriage is going to be bigamous or an official triad, but that's by far the less important question.

Spoiler

Show

I'm also not convinced that we won't see a political marriage between Gil and Tarvek to strengthen their claims to the Storm King's throne. Although honestly the only reason Tweedle has a strong position is probably how few people know that Gil is a descendant.

Actually has that been brought up in-comic? It's been foreshadowed, including Gil's choice of weapon and the implication that his titles aren't limited to (acting) Baron Wulfenbach and Prince of Skifander, but I think it's only been officially stated in the GURPS book.

[Kardwill]

Spoiler

Show

I'm also not convinced that we won't see a political marriage between Gil and Tarvek to strengthen their claims to the Storm King's throne. Although honestly the only reason Tweedle has a strong position is probably how few people know that Gil is a descendant.

Actually has that been brought up in-comic? It's been foreshadowed, including Gil's choice of weapon and the implication that his titles aren't limited to (acting) Baron Wulfenbach and Prince of Skifander, but I think it's only been officially stated in the GURPS book.

Wait, Gil is a What?
No, I don't remember it being brought up. Although the comic is such a long-lived convoluted mess that I may have forgotten it (along with half the characters and entire storylines. My recent reread of part of the archives was quite the rediscovery ^^)

[Anonymouswizard]

Wait, Gil is a What?
No, I don't remember it being brought up. Although the comic is such a long-lived convoluted mess that I may have forgotten it (along with half the characters and entire storylines. My recent reread of part of the archives was quite the rediscovery ^^)

Yeah, the GURPS book brings it up, and mentions that it is very unknown. As in it's not even certain that Klaus knows it. I suspect it's one of the reasons said book was delayed so long, alongside information on England I believe the Foglios wanted to be a surprise.

But I really couldn't remember if it had been stated in the comic, hence the spoiler tags.

[tyckspoon]

Yeah, the GURPS book brings it up, and mentions that it is very unknown. As in it's not even certain that Klaus knows it. I suspect it's one of the reasons said book was delayed so long, alongside information on England I believe the Foglios wanted to be a surprise.

But I really couldn't remember if it had been stated in the comic, hence the spoiler tags.

The Muse of Relationships states Martellus is a 'distant third' to claim the Storm King title, and back at the ball https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/com...?date=20200729 tells Gil they were made to 'advise the Storm King.. and would be happy to advise you.' So it's been alluded to, and in a fashion that is not terribly subtle although Gil was probably too busy worrying about who was currently doing better at courting Agatha to notice it.

[Shining Wrath]

The Muse of Relationships states Martellus is a 'distant third' to claim the Storm King title, and back at the ball https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/com...?date=20200729 tells Gil they were made to 'advise the Storm King.. and would be happy to advise you.' So it's been alluded to, and in a fashion that is not terribly subtle although Gil was probably too busy worrying about who was currently doing better at courting Agatha to notice it.

The Storm King needs to wed The Heterodyne to bring back the old stories.

One possible path is that Agatha will realize that whoever she chooses between Gil and Tarvek will become Emperor, and that the masses are unlikely to accept "both of them!" as an answer, so she'll have to marry the one she thinks will make the best Storm King, and keep the other one on as a boy-toy (presumably with the consent of the ruler).

[geoduck]

Boris does refer to Gil as "Your Highness" when the latter takes charge of the Empire, but that could be a reference to the Storm King linage, OR that his mother is Queen of Skifander.

[Radar]

We need to start writing this!

I'm seeing Tarvek as the tenor and Gil as a baritone so they can do duets together.
Agatha pretty much has to be a soprano lead. Zeetha is an alto, though.
Klaus is a rumbling bass, full of menace.
Krosp is a trouser role, have an alto sing him as a high tenor.
All Jagers except Higgs are basses. We can write the Jagers as the chorus commenting on the foibles of the lead parts.
Tweedle we cast a baritone and have him sing falsetto lines. The falsity, the strain of always faking it, is conveyed by his false voice.
Higgs we need a tenor for the duets with Zeetha.

I can very much see this. Some scenes like the battle between Agatha and Klaus at Sturmhalten would be so natural as an opera. Frankly, the scope and grandeur of the story fits perfectly.

As for Tweedle singing in falsetto, it reminds me of Prince Charming from Shrek 2.

[Gez]

Regardless of lineage, Gil is a Storm King, he demonstrated it.

[The Patterner]

We need to start writing this!

I'm seeing Tarvek as the tenor and Gil as a baritone so they can do duets together.
Agatha pretty much has to be a soprano lead. Zeetha is an alto, though.
Klaus is a rumbling bass, full of menace.
Krosp is a trouser role, have an alto sing him as a high tenor.
All Jagers except Higgs are basses. We can write the Jagers as the chorus commenting on the foibles of the lead parts.
Tweedle we cast a baritone and have him sing falsetto lines. The falsity, the strain of always faking it, is conveyed by his false voice.
Higgs we need a tenor for the duets with Zeetha.

I think Tarja Turunen of Nightwish fame would be a great Agatha.

I'm guessing the muses should be very, very light sopranos.

[Shining Wrath]

I think Tarja Turunen of Nightwish fame would be a great Agatha.

I'm guessing the muses should be very, very light sopranos.

That's the right ballpark.

Maybe Florence Welch for Zeetha, I think she's got Warrior Princess Lungs.

Renee Fleming for Grandmother Sturmvarius.

[Mordar]

New to the comic.

Did a binge read-through, then started reading the dailies last week.

I was struck by how different the color/lighting looked in the recent dailies...I spun back a few and it doesn't seem like there was a recent change...but did something new happen? Change in how the colorist colors and lights? A little more "polish" to the look?

Or is it just me, and maybe perception is off because of the bingeing through over a decade of strips in a week?

- M

[Mordar]

There may have been some stylistic drift over the years, but I think a lot of the color shifts are deliberate and reflect Agatha's state of mind and perception of the world.

The closeup of the faces in the most recent strip really seemed to pop and look a little more 3D...hard to explain how it looks differently to me...

- M

[Mordar]

There may have been some stylistic drift over the years, but I think a lot of the color shifts are deliberate and reflect Agatha's state of mind and perception of the world.

The closeup of the faces in the most recent strip really seemed to pop and look a little more 3D...hard to explain how it looks differently to me...lighting style, maybe? And it is really not the pencils, but the color (so not Foglio impacted).

- M

[Shining Wrath]

So today we get an advertisement? Disappointing.

[HeeJay]

OK people, time for guesses! Where has Krosp ended up?

1) Skifander
2) Castle Heterodyne Fun Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers scratch post and oil litter room
3) The dark future of Othar's Twitter
4) Past, Mechanicsburg six seconds before The Other attacks
5) Mars (without a rowboat)
6) The Awful Tower seraglio
7) Castle Wulfenbach, central vault, black-level item storage
8) The Queen's Henge
9) In the buoyancy chamber of the corrupted Song Keeper
10) To his poppa in another dimension

Feel free to add more

[Shining Wrath]

OK people, time for guesses! Where has Krosp ended up?

1) Skifander
2) Castle Heterodyne Fun Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers scratch post and oil litter room
3) The dark future of Othar's Twitter
4) Past, Mechanicsburg six seconds before The Other attacks
5) Mars (without a rowboat)
6) The Awful Tower seraglio
7) Castle Wulfenbach, central vault, black-level item storage
8) The Queen's Henge
9) In the buoyancy chamber of the corrupted Song Keeper
10) To his poppa in another dimension

Feel free to add more

Othar and Thotep were working on devices to help with the investigation / freeing of Mechanicsburg. I think Krosp and Norville are inside the time stop, and Agatha is going to have to save them along with everyone else.

[MPHJack7]

OK people, time for guesses! Where has Krosp ended up?

1) Skifander
2) Castle Heterodyne Fun Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers scratch post and oil litter room
3) The dark future of Othar's Twitter
4) Past, Mechanicsburg six seconds before The Other attacks
5) Mars (without a rowboat)
6) The Awful Tower seraglio
7) Castle Wulfenbach, central vault, black-level item storage
8) The Queen's Henge
9) In the buoyancy chamber of the corrupted Song Keeper
10) To his poppa in another dimension

Feel free to add more

11) Inside a machine being powered by Krosp and Norville's fighting of one another.