Oh, *Hqiz*! This is a most climactic, eyegasmic climax!
*gasp* *gasp*
Even if stabbed, I’m trusting that all of the Aztec, demonic mojo floating around here will somehow make Monica right. I’m pretty sure it won’t be a *deus ex machina* – that’s what they’re trying to kill!
I’m confused. If Shelly stabs Monica and Mo dies, then Monica will be a part of the Calendar machine and ripped from existence……… and since the GGG are already dead (from their creations as Golems) they’ll also suffer the same fate. If Monica isn’t killed, either by the stab or lack of Shelly’s willingness to stab, then she lives through this, but the machine isn’t fixed and the GGG are still gone?
And – would they really count as dead by a mystical creature/object? Someone or someones were used to make this. It has life, they had said – so it would see them as life too, imho.
“oh she doesn’t really need to stab her, she just needs her to panic enough to shine her eye/face/wtf lights” HHAAAAAAAA HAAA HAA HAA HAA HA HA HA HA HAAAaa!
Srsly, all this drama and setup just for 2 pages and pissy rage tantrum? For fucking out loud, give PT some credit!
ooh just had another thought..
if monica dies then her demons are released ya? or something like that. Think jin mentioned something bad happening if she dies.
Maybe thats what will happen but when they get released monica needs to come back alive so they cant get back in?
The demons take over her body, like Tina’s Demons took over hers… And they inherit the control of the chimera by extension of now being a Glyph Reader. So, That’s what can’t happen.
“Diahrrea is like a Temporal Anti-Causal Feedback Super Gold Star You Pay Up Joe Cross-Probability Loop in your body….”
Aren’t we all assuming that the pointy object is actually meant to harm our juggy main girl? It could just phase into Monica, and re-tune, extract, or delete whatever it needs to, without actually any damage at all. Of course, it could still involve pyrotechnics of many kinds and nations, because that would be cool.
Remember that both Bud and Shelly reacted negatively to the instructions in the last few pages of Brandi’s book about stabbing Monica before reading on to the explanation and calming down and realizing it makes sense. Could this be a bit of play-acting between the two? Maybe they do need to get and keep her riled up, and Monica only needs to be nicked. Aztecs believed a lot in blood in their ceremonies. Being one of the only two beings with blood and the only one capable of face-lights, it falls to Monica to be the donor.
or maybe you’re play-acting. … you know .. breaking the fourth wall intentionally so the audience that you’re somehow lucidly aware of doesn’t catch on. XD
You have a good point tho, that Bud and wrenchey both stop freaking out once they read the entirety of Brandi’s instructions.
However that does NOT mean that the instructions say “ok ok, I’m just messing with you, you’re not REEEEALY gonna stab Monica, you’re just gonna conspire to do it without actually closing the deal”
There is definitely something off here. If it is the way it sounds here then they could have just grabbed some poor schmuck off of the street and sacrificed them. Yes, granted, still not exactly kosher, but it’s better than back-stabbing your friend.
It’s pretty obvious (if anything at all is obvious in Pablo’s story ;-)) that it’s not just about “put an additional soul, *any* soul, into the machine”… it’s Monica’s. If that’s what this is about, that is. I mean, it very much sounds as if M must become part of the machine. But maybe not. Or… maybe only temporarily.
As TlalocW said, and many here seem to have overlooked in the past (reading the comments), both Bud and Shelly were outraged at the plan *at first*. So, I don’t think M will *permanently* die. OTOH, why Shelly’s reaction now… well, “I can’t do it”. She’s okay with the plan, but actually *killing* her best friend is too much for her, even though she knows it’s only temporary.
Or it could be that Shelly stabs Bud… I like that plan at this point. Or less likeable Shelly stabs herself. Or it has something to do with Monica’s demons fleeing from her (to keep from being sucked in with her) and that is what they are really after. Or he could really kill Monica… I mean its to try and prevent cycle from continuing and there is a long history of killing off main characters in literature, but that would totally piss me off.
Ok, I’m back to being confused again. Bud just said, “Anyone who’s dead will become a part of the calender.” How is Monica going to become a part of anything if she’s dead?
That turned out to just be Jin’ mother masquerading as Mon’s great grandmother. With the possible exception of Bud, Brandi and Jin, there haven’t been any times when someone living dies, then returns with all their memories intact.
My theory is that those three are reanimated constructs with the original girls’ memories to act out in their stead. The original three human girls have been dead for a long time now.
Okayyy… I’m reading that line by Bud one more time: the only one left who would be “alive” would be Shelly (Bud, Brandi and Jin already being dead, and Monica being stabby-stabbed). So all four would become “part of the machine”, and…
I can’t be the only one thinking that Monica’s endowments are going to save the day. Maybe the books said it needs Monica riled up and then stabbed to fix the machine, but that a stab into Mo’s chest won’t be anywhere near life threatening. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into that last panel.
If the end result of this ‘reboots’ the strip in some way, I have to say I’d be pleased with that result. The strip has wandered far afield from where it started, which is not a bad thing but it does mean there has been some wobbly continuity, neglected characters/storylines, etc. This would be the perfect way to clean up and tighten it all while still being firmly rooted in the story that’s grown up to this point.
Unfortunately for all these theories on how M can be spared, I have a sinking feeling that a sacrifice requires just that: a sacrifice, a giving up of what is dear to the giver. Which is why Shelly had to be M’s close friend – and if not her, Janet or Michelle. Give up a close friend, not knowing entirely what will ensue.
Think of Abraham offering Isaac, the child of the covenant.
Monica! Noooooooooooooooooooo! It cannot end this way!
I reallt don’t know what to say…its intense and enlightening. Oh, and Bud is one vicious sounding babe fin the last panel! Very good art
Oh.
OH.
dude this is by far the awesomeset page ever
I can’t wait till tomorrow to see the nest one
no really I can’t
SHOW IT TO ME NOW DAM YOU
Oh, *Hqiz*! This is a most climactic, eyegasmic climax!
*gasp* *gasp*
Even if stabbed, I’m trusting that all of the Aztec, demonic mojo floating around here will somehow make Monica right. I’m pretty sure it won’t be a *deus ex machina* – that’s what they’re trying to kill!
Don’t you mean a dues Ex-Monica?
A “deus ex-Monica” ending would be great, thankyouverymuch.
In this universe, a “dea ex Monica” would seem more likely.
Ummm?
I’m confused. If Shelly stabs Monica and Mo dies, then Monica will be a part of the Calendar machine and ripped from existence……… and since the GGG are already dead (from their creations as Golems) they’ll also suffer the same fate. If Monica isn’t killed, either by the stab or lack of Shelly’s willingness to stab, then she lives through this, but the machine isn’t fixed and the GGG are still gone?
You had me at “Mo dies”
Assuming the stabbing would fix the machine, not doing so would cause another time-loop. At least that’s my understanding of the situation.
As I am reading, her being seperated from existence doesnt mean what she did was gone. It means what she could have done from that point is gone.
Like an evolution, even if forced, if you will.
And – would they really count as dead by a mystical creature/object? Someone or someones were used to make this. It has life, they had said – so it would see them as life too, imho.
Oh poo-entering-air-circulator!. “Warrior is about to die…” o_O;;;
“oh she doesn’t really need to stab her, she just needs her to panic enough to shine her eye/face/wtf lights” HHAAAAAAAA HAAA HAA HAA HAA HA HA HA HA HAAAaa!
Srsly, all this drama and setup just for 2 pages and pissy rage tantrum? For fucking out loud, give PT some credit!
Just because you stab someone, it doesn’t mean they have to die. how about stabbing her in the leg? Bud’s directions aren’t exactly specific here…..
She likely got more explicit directions earlier on what was required. In light of just this sort of situation, where things need to be precisely done.
And where the situation is exceedingly noisy and confusing, what with the flashy lights and disco balls and all going on.
yknow. all the while theyve just said shelly needs to stab monica. not that she needs to kill her.
People do survive stabbings.
Least im hoping she will
ooh just had another thought..
if monica dies then her demons are released ya? or something like that. Think jin mentioned something bad happening if she dies.
Maybe thats what will happen but when they get released monica needs to come back alive so they cant get back in?
The demons take over her body, like Tina’s Demons took over hers… And they inherit the control of the chimera by extension of now being a Glyph Reader. So, That’s what can’t happen.
I sooooo want that this becomes a movie!…
Tomorrow things will get nasty.
Classic horror movie rule. The girl with the biggest boobs dies first.
“Diahrrea is like a Temporal Anti-Causal Feedback Super Gold Star You Pay Up Joe Cross-Probability Loop in your body….”
Aren’t we all assuming that the pointy object is actually meant to harm our juggy main girl? It could just phase into Monica, and re-tune, extract, or delete whatever it needs to, without actually any damage at all. Of course, it could still involve pyrotechnics of many kinds and nations, because that would be cool.
Remember that both Bud and Shelly reacted negatively to the instructions in the last few pages of Brandi’s book about stabbing Monica before reading on to the explanation and calming down and realizing it makes sense. Could this be a bit of play-acting between the two? Maybe they do need to get and keep her riled up, and Monica only needs to be nicked. Aztecs believed a lot in blood in their ceremonies. Being one of the only two beings with blood and the only one capable of face-lights, it falls to Monica to be the donor.
Or I could just be BS’ing.
or maybe you’re play-acting. … you know .. breaking the fourth wall intentionally so the audience that you’re somehow lucidly aware of doesn’t catch on. XD
You have a good point tho, that Bud and wrenchey both stop freaking out once they read the entirety of Brandi’s instructions.
However that does NOT mean that the instructions say “ok ok, I’m just messing with you, you’re not REEEEALY gonna stab Monica, you’re just gonna conspire to do it without actually closing the deal”
There is definitely something off here. If it is the way it sounds here then they could have just grabbed some poor schmuck off of the street and sacrificed them. Yes, granted, still not exactly kosher, but it’s better than back-stabbing your friend.
Hm, well, unless Bud means anyone connected to the machine.
It’s pretty obvious (if anything at all is obvious in Pablo’s story ;-)) that it’s not just about “put an additional soul, *any* soul, into the machine”… it’s Monica’s. If that’s what this is about, that is. I mean, it very much sounds as if M must become part of the machine. But maybe not. Or… maybe only temporarily.
As TlalocW said, and many here seem to have overlooked in the past (reading the comments), both Bud and Shelly were outraged at the plan *at first*. So, I don’t think M will *permanently* die. OTOH, why Shelly’s reaction now… well, “I can’t do it”. She’s okay with the plan, but actually *killing* her best friend is too much for her, even though she knows it’s only temporary.
Those thoughts are mine, and what they are, too.
Or it could be that Shelly stabs Bud… I like that plan at this point. Or less likeable Shelly stabs herself. Or it has something to do with Monica’s demons fleeing from her (to keep from being sucked in with her) and that is what they are really after. Or he could really kill Monica… I mean its to try and prevent cycle from continuing and there is a long history of killing off main characters in literature, but that would totally piss me off.
Kelly
Less talky and make with the stabby!
Great, no new strip til next year. Darn it.
Ok, I’m back to being confused again. Bud just said, “Anyone who’s dead will become a part of the calender.” How is Monica going to become a part of anything if she’s dead?
Dead = still a spirit, but not connected to any form.
Perhaps, but Wapsi Square hasn’t established the existence of any kind of spirit form yet and I’m not about to just automatically assume so.
I thought there was a comic early on that said she thought she had been taken care of her Grandmother for quite awhile but she had never been there?
That turned out to just be Jin’ mother masquerading as Mon’s great grandmother. With the possible exception of Bud, Brandi and Jin, there haven’t been any times when someone living dies, then returns with all their memories intact.
My theory is that those three are reanimated constructs with the original girls’ memories to act out in their stead. The original three human girls have been dead for a long time now.
So help me, Pablo, if you go through with your threat…
…what?
Okayyy… I’m reading that line by Bud one more time: the only one left who would be “alive” would be Shelly (Bud, Brandi and Jin already being dead, and Monica being stabby-stabbed). So all four would become “part of the machine”, and…
(looks back at previous comment)
OH.
You’re evil, Pablo.
Pablo? Don’t you mean Paul T?
Maybe a specific event needs to be undone, but it has to be known of, and only Monica would know?
I can’t be the only one thinking that Monica’s endowments are going to save the day. Maybe the books said it needs Monica riled up and then stabbed to fix the machine, but that a stab into Mo’s chest won’t be anywhere near life threatening. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into that last panel.
If the end result of this ‘reboots’ the strip in some way, I have to say I’d be pleased with that result. The strip has wandered far afield from where it started, which is not a bad thing but it does mean there has been some wobbly continuity, neglected characters/storylines, etc. This would be the perfect way to clean up and tighten it all while still being firmly rooted in the story that’s grown up to this point.
Well, I guess the most important question is if Monica does become part of the calendar machine, will it have really big boobs?
No, M’s boobs would be reduced to her 2001 size.
A fate worse than death.
Unfortunately for all these theories on how M can be spared, I have a sinking feeling that a sacrifice requires just that: a sacrifice, a giving up of what is dear to the giver. Which is why Shelly had to be M’s close friend – and if not her, Janet or Michelle. Give up a close friend, not knowing entirely what will ensue.
Think of Abraham offering Isaac, the child of the covenant.