It’s a complex, It’s just that the museum owns the location, probably for “thinking/loose storage,” so there could well be over a dozen tenants, all with their meters there.
In something like the museum, the vaults, some refrigerated areas, and various wings might have their own branch circuits and meters. It’s the only way to track how much electricity individual wings or labs are using.
I think this could be good for Monica , having someone close but not in the magical loop , to keep her . . . grounded ? Someone not in the thick of the paranormal , that can give her some perspective , or something like that .
Hmm…interesting…Monica’s delayed reaction comments are backwards from how I say them. I’m more of a ‘Wait! What?!’ instead of a ‘What?! Wait!’ kind of girl.
To me, “Wait! What?” sounds as if you suddenly realized that you missed something important and want to know what it was or at least want to explore it more. I don’t think that’s what happened here.
I think Monica wasn’t giving the discussion her full attention at first and her reaction became stronger as she figured things out. It may have been because she was reading. It might have taken Monica a while to figure out that Amanda’s questions could lead to her asking about Phix, her library or the library annex. Monica definitely doesn’t want the conversation to go there.
I have a feeling that we are about to learn something BIG. I could be wrong but it seems like Amanda is about to either reveal something or is about to join in on all the fun.
She reveals that despite her imprisonment she never really killed her parents. She was wrongfully sent wizard parents and escaped by turning into a dog. She went to the school she is now a part and meets her werewolf buddy to prove she’s innocent! RIght?
Ah.. so no that we know M is in her office, and that she’s trying to NOT include Amanda in all the mystical hijinks (soon to ensue anyway, no doubt), me thinks it shall go down like this:
1. M and A sort out their feelings about the mystical and M is certain is doesn’t exist.
2/ Amanda doesn’t believe it for a second, but knows that M is up to something and plays along for the sake of her friend.
3. M & A head off to the Great Annex of Minneapolis for the research session they were planning anyway.
4. The door opens upon the most opulent, lavish, and glittering Annex any former warehouse has ever seen on this planet or any other.
5. Monica says: “On the other hand, Amanda, there are some things….”
The way I understand it, Monica was planning to go to Phix’s library alone (she didn’t know about the annex at the time). She doesn’t want Amanda to see either the library or the annex because they are supernatural and include things that contradict existing science. However, Amanda decided she wanted to spend the day with Monica, so Monica changed her plans and took Amanda to her office. Unfortunately, Amanda is figuring out that Monica isn’t telling her everything that’s going on and Monica seems to be starting to panic again.
In Thursday’s comments, Paul said that this was a corner of Monica’s office. Also, I put a link there to a strip where there were electrical things on the wall.
I think Monica’s office is more of a work room where she has a desk or possibly multiple desks. Katherine has been in there using a microscope before.
Monica continues to be dishonest. Amanda is in her way. Monica had planned to go to the library, but she can’t because Amanda has latched onto her.
I think Monica is getting defensive because Amanda is figuring out that Monica is lying again, so she’s lying more intensely now. This is not a good side of Monica.
But Phix basically just gave permission for M to take A to the Annex if she wants to do so. It’ll look like a library that’s under construction or something like that, and won’t appear to be extra-dimensional to ordinary people. M, however, might be able to access the whole thing if she wants to, without needing to Poit.
True, but Phix also seemed to be backing Monica’s decision about who to keep out. I don’t think Monica knows what will be there and if I were her I wouldn’t take anyone with me until I checked it out first. Monica can’t even be sure that it exists. After all, Phix misled her about her boss wanting to talk with her.
I don’t think Phix misled Monica. I think Dr. Fields did in fact say something to that effect to his secretary.
I think we misread Phix’s remark as her having stayed with Dr. Fields overnight. Moreover, all of the G³ and Phix herself have shown the ability to remotely monitor conversations.
I think Monica is merely annoyed that she cannot visit the annex as long as Amanda is there, she’s growing most impatient, and is trying to bore the daylights out of Amanda to get rid of her.
The fact that this is piquing Amanda’s curiosity, quite the opposite of what Monica wants, must be very irritating. Amanda is sensing monica’s impatience and wants to know what it is all about.
Actually, if you think about it, poor Monica must be feeling like she’s going rapidly backwards today. She started out hoping to make progress resolving Jin’s problem. Now she must have a bunch of new questions about Tina and Phix, too, but she can’t talk to either of them with Amanda around.
It’s interesting comparing Amanda saying that Monica has a jaded quality about her with the very first strip. That’s what close to nine years of character development will do to you, I guess. 😀
I’m sorry Paul, but I just can’t do this anymore. This is the first time I’ve had to give up reading a webcomic despite actually liking it. Wapsi Square really does stand proud and tall over other webcomics out there. I like the artistry, I like the characterization, I absolutely love the fact that it updates every day, and the parts of the story that I understand are really good. However, note the condition I gave on that final point.
Paul, it seems, is trying to filter out the readers in his fan base who aren’t willing to worship Wapsi Square as their new holy scripture, so to speak. I’m sure if I was willing to go back and reread massive sections over and over, make flowcharts, look up occasional obscure references now and then, or had advanced degrees in Literary Analysis, Psychology and about eight different ancient world mythologies from the University of Smartass, the story would make perfect sense to me. I’m sorry for being a layman, Paul.
I mean, really? Apotropaic Sphinxes? Chasing Hammer? Why did I have to go through page after page of archives just to look up what that friggin hammer was called and why do I still not have a clue how it actually related to the story? Why did Tina suddenly break her arm? Did Gregory actually have to see Monica about a project or not? Did Phix lie to Monica or just try to steer her in the right direction? What’s this about a fake doorway to the library? Why is everyone trying to keep Amanda out of the loop?
I know I’m not the only one here who is really bugged about stuff like this. Why couldn’t Bud have said to Brandi: “It was you who figured it all out Ms. Brainy Brain! Because of that big show we put on in the temple to lure that rogue demon out of the pocket space within Monica, it put a protective shield around her which means she didn’t have to die when we used the key on her to close the doorway to the demon realm.”
If you don’t want to start being overt like that, then maybe some kind of FAQs like someone else suggested? Some kind of Wapsi Square For Dummies; A Reference For The Rest Of Us?
The fact that I actually literally did not have any idea about the whole “Rogue demon protecting Monica” until recently when somebody just explained it to me shows how fried my brain has gotten from this. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t understand or even notice otherwise obvious hints now.
Most good mystery stories out there tend to follow certain important steps:
1. Introduce the setting and characters and set up the problem.
2. Have events happen and information come in for the readers to contemplate.
3. Have the story reach the climax of its plot.
4. Wind down and explain the details of what just happened and how to the readers.
Wapsi Square is great about steps one through three but never quite makes it to step four. The reason for this is because it’s a webcomic. Webcomics, unlike books, movies, mini series’ or even video games, do not end. When you have a definite start and a definite end then it’s easy to structure it in the way outlined above. Wapsi Square is quite happy to just have a bunch of weird stuff happen, make subtle hints here and there and just leave the readers to figure it all out on their own. It has a lot of other characters and alternate arcs to develop so it hasn’t got time for it.
I’ve quit other webcomics for just being extremely poorly written, but Wapsi Square has the opposite problem: It’s too well written. Amazingly well written, to the point that it’s not outright and obvious, but just enough information is there in the writing and events that you can figure it all out if you’re willing to put the work in. I guess I’m just lazy because I don’t want to have to put that work in and neither do a lot of people. Not everyone has time to read through all the comments for every strip or reread entire sections now and then and spend every free moment trying to figure out the plot.
Sequential Art is my new favorite webcomic now. Sure, it updates only once or twice a week on average, but at least it’s a fun and easy to follow little strip, and doesn’t have to cliffhanger every single plot point for anywhere between six months to six years.
Maybe I won’t abandon it all at once. Maybe I should just stop reading for a few months, then come back and catch up now and then? I honestly don’t know at this point. All I know is that I need to take a rest from this thing for now. Have a good one, guys.
I’ve always loved stories and movies that made me have to think or even have to go research something. 🙂 Not trying to exclude anyone, just writing what I love.
And I totally keep up with Sequential Art, it’s one of the very few comics that I’ve stuck with. 🙂
For what it’s worth, I have come to consider you a fabulist in a class approaching another Minneapolis resident — Lois McMaster Bujold. The frame around your creation is necessarily smaller, for the medium with which you paint constricts you in time and scope — but the genius is there.
No need to dumb down for those who find the plot above their level. The artists who construct their tales as skillfully as you do are damned thin upon the ground. For God’s sake, tell your tale, and let those who can’t follow fall by the wayside!
SleepyJohn introduced me to Bujold with a gift of the Chalion trilogy. Captivating, and entirely fresh. Ganthan, If you like Wapsi but have a hard time keeping up with the intricacies on a daily basis, perhaps you could buy the dead-tree editions as they come out. I love Wapsi but have a much better grasp of the “huh?” moments when I can flip around. That said, there’s no right or wrong about taste…
Like a wise man said, so take this advice,
Pull down you pants, and slide on the ice.
Too bad one can’t enjoy the ride without scrutinizing any and all details. It is not really required to dig up any details to read this, but hey, good luck, good life, and better luck next time, kid.
I stopped reading Sequential Art (for entirely different reasons), though I really liked it and it’s cute and funny characters, so I understand giving up on something you like. I also understand what you’re saying. But, then, how many mystery books could you open at the middle, read some of from there and understand what’s going on? You would have to go back to the beginning and read through and pick up clues as you go. The extra complication here is that you are trying to understand a book AS it is being written, again by opening it at some random point and reading from there.
With Waspi, it’s not the destination, or even the understanding that is important and fun, it’s the journey and it’s accompaning speculation. It’s the fun of discovery. Paul has opened vast avenues of discovery for us here, Firing the imagination of more than one. He totally throws us a curve time and again without being gimicky about it. Maybe that’s why it helps to be a geek to enjoy this work.
What we do here is much like a book club in how it’s members discuss and analyze the book they are all reading. Just that here we discuss it while it is being written. Heck, one could say what we do is like a paper written on any novel out there for the same reasons.
I also agree an outline of the plot to date would be helpful. But if that’s all you read, you would miss wonderful humor and amazing artwork. You must see it all to understand the characters and gain some ‘feelings” for them.
I view Wapsi as an ongoing journey, much like life. You don’t always know everything that’s going on, and there’s no real ending until you’re gone. I enjoy being presented with concepts and object I’ve never encountered before. It expands my possibilities as much as it expands the stories. I hope that Wapsi keeps up the good work for years to come. It’ll take a lot to get me to stop reading.
I vaguely remember Ganthan having issues with WS previously, so I understand his frustration.
Truth is, we’re on to a new storyline, new arc, new “segment” of a novella series. So, in reality, we’re back to steps one and two of the four-step process.
Yes, this new storyline appears to be building on the old one, but then again Chamber of Secrets built on Sorcerer’s Stone, and Prisoner of Azkaban built on Chamber, and so on. If you truly think about it, we’re just starting the equivalent of Book Four of Monica Villareal and the Golem Girls. (Book One would be The Demons In My Back Pocket, two would be The Timekeeper’s Daughter, and three would be the just-finished In The Shadow Of Doubt.)
I’d say that if you don’t want to keep reading after the equivalent of The Goblet Of Fire, then so be it. You’re gonna be missing out on an interesting turn of events, IMNSHO.
All those things you are complaining about are what I actually like about Wapsi Square (and Pibgorn, too, thanx for the shout out from Fairportfan2). So I guess I must be the target audience…
For what it’s worth, Ganthan, I had plenty of WTF moments in the final scene of the Calendar Machine story; but I trusted that whatever I didn’t understand would make sense once I worked it out, and sure enough, it did. I didn’t spend every minute of every day on it, either. And, to return to two things you said in your post:
I never felt the need to look up what a chasing hammer was. I figured it was probably some fairly common tool of the ancient world, and if I’d needed to know more, there would have been more detail about what one was. I assumed that whatever made this one special would be something Paul made up anyway, and wouldn’t even be in the literature. I was right, too.
When I encountered the word “Apotropaic,” the context and Monica’s sudden fear for Tina told me as much as I needed to know about what it meant. I never did bother to look it up; it never became necessary.
I’ve been following Wapsi Square for a long time now, and I’ve come to trust that its author knows what he’s doing. If something seems to come out of left field, my first thought isn’t “Jesus, that was a complete ass pull!” It’s “Damn, I must have forgotten when this was foreshadowed!”
If I can’t figure out the reason for something, I don’t assume there’s no reason. Wapsi Square doesn’t spoonfeed you all the answers, but when all is said and done you don’t need all the answers.
The really cool thing? The more completely I embrace this attitude, the easier it becomes to figure stuff out. I don’t think there’s one part of the Calendar Machine arc that I still don’t understand, and if there is, it simply isn’t significant enough to bother me.
And by the way, I wish to state for the record that Sucker Punch is one of the most complex and deeply philosophical movies I’ve ever seen, and it sailed right over the heads of nearly every movie critic in the country.
Silly Monica, you can poit any time you like. That is enough evidence for science. It’s your own insecurities that are screwing with you. If someone says you are crazy, poit them to Abu Dhabi. Let them re-evaluate their belief structure while they make there own way home.
That gives me an idea of how she could deal with her parents (I’m assuming that her parents live in a different State):
Step 1: Poit directly to her parents’ home.
Step 2: Advise them that she could prove that she’s not crazy but they would have to have access to $1,000 or so.
If they agree:
Step 3: Poit one of them to her home.
Step 4: Take the one with her to the airport by every day means and get them to buy a ticket on the next flight home.
Step 5: After the parent who was with her has checked in, leave the airport and find somewhere discrete (home if necessary).
Step 6: Poit back to her parents home and inform the other parent that the travelling parent is making their own way home.
Step 7: Send text message advising travelling parent to call their home number.
Step 8: Join in phone conversation.
Step 9: Be there when the travelling parent arrives home.
Step 10: Poit to her own home.
If they ever doubt her again, she can point to their debit/credit card bill, their phone log, etc. The great thing is that there’s nothing there that’s conclusive so the press won’t believe it
It’s probably best if she gets the other parent to send the text and, if she knows what’s good for her she’ll make aure that her mobile is switched off before she poits. The reason being that, even if her phone doesn’t have a GPS chip, mobile phone operators are likely to notice if someone is connected to one set of masts/towers on second and a completely different set a second later.
The way I read this strip, it’s not that Monica’s parents wouldn’t believer her now; she didn’t want to make them feel bad for what they did earlier.
Regarding your questions about “Tina’s game” in your other comment, those are good questions, but I don’t know if they will ever be answered. I think Monica and Amanda’s conversation will continue and we may get some insight then, but it could be that Tina just thought that having one more person would be even better.
I don’t think Phix would have wanted Monica to bring Amanda to the bibliothiki, but annex may be different.
I’m trying figure out what Tina’s game is. Why did she want Amanda and Monica to spend the day together. Does Phix agree? Why was she hinting that Amanda should accompany her to the library?
To put a nice little bow on this present: I think a lot of the questions we have as to “why include Amanda”, “why did Tina break her arm intentionally”, “what’s up with Phix and the annex”, and “what’s with the doll in the basement” are all part of the next chapter of the journey.
Though personally, Pablo, I’d like this wrapped up in less than five years, thanks. 😉
Oh dear — the truth will out…
Where on earth is this going?
It’s going (leading) to the weekend cliff-hanger, of course.
Oh wait … this IS Friday already. There is no cliff-hanger to speak of. Nevermind. Must keep better track of the days.
Amanda’s comment puzzled me, so I looked up jaded; turns out there is another meaning other than the one that first came to mind: exhausted.
Quick! Look over there!
*poit*
“Is that some kind of demonic duck?”
You mean, like the Aflac duck?
No – more like this.
And this one and the one following.
EGS has its own page on TVTropes.
I don’t understand why there are so many watt-hour meters, unless there are other tenants of some sort in that building?
It’s a complex, It’s just that the museum owns the location, probably for “thinking/loose storage,” so there could well be over a dozen tenants, all with their meters there.
So this isn’t the actual museum, but a complex of storage facilities and offices?
In something like the museum, the vaults, some refrigerated areas, and various wings might have their own branch circuits and meters. It’s the only way to track how much electricity individual wings or labs are using.
I have a feeling that Amanda is bored.
What gives you that feeling? She just said she’s curious.
Really likin’ Amanda’s gams .
I think this could be good for Monica , having someone close but not in the magical loop , to keep her . . . grounded ? Someone not in the thick of the paranormal , that can give her some perspective , or something like that .
Hmm…interesting…Monica’s delayed reaction comments are backwards from how I say them. I’m more of a ‘Wait! What?!’ instead of a ‘What?! Wait!’ kind of girl.
To me, “Wait! What?” sounds as if you suddenly realized that you missed something important and want to know what it was or at least want to explore it more. I don’t think that’s what happened here.
I think Monica wasn’t giving the discussion her full attention at first and her reaction became stronger as she figured things out. It may have been because she was reading. It might have taken Monica a while to figure out that Amanda’s questions could lead to her asking about Phix, her library or the library annex. Monica definitely doesn’t want the conversation to go there.
Good weekend, everyone! 😀
I have a feeling that we are about to learn something BIG. I could be wrong but it seems like Amanda is about to either reveal something or is about to join in on all the fun.
She reveals that despite her imprisonment she never really killed her parents. She was wrongfully sent wizard parents and escaped by turning into a dog. She went to the school she is now a part and meets her werewolf buddy to prove she’s innocent! RIght?
I think there are some words missing in this.
Also, what’s this “Influence Project”?
Ah.. so no that we know M is in her office, and that she’s trying to NOT include Amanda in all the mystical hijinks (soon to ensue anyway, no doubt), me thinks it shall go down like this:
1. M and A sort out their feelings about the mystical and M is certain is doesn’t exist.
2/ Amanda doesn’t believe it for a second, but knows that M is up to something and plays along for the sake of her friend.
3. M & A head off to the Great Annex of Minneapolis for the research session they were planning anyway.
4. The door opens upon the most opulent, lavish, and glittering Annex any former warehouse has ever seen on this planet or any other.
5. Monica says: “On the other hand, Amanda, there are some things….”
And just in time for next Friday, too!
The way I understand it, Monica was planning to go to Phix’s library alone (she didn’t know about the annex at the time). She doesn’t want Amanda to see either the library or the annex because they are supernatural and include things that contradict existing science. However, Amanda decided she wanted to spend the day with Monica, so Monica changed her plans and took Amanda to her office. Unfortunately, Amanda is figuring out that Monica isn’t telling her everything that’s going on and Monica seems to be starting to panic again.
I don’t think we are in Monica’s office. It has never had the rack of meters in it, and the furniture looks different. To me, anyway.
In Thursday’s comments, Paul said that this was a corner of Monica’s office. Also, I put a link there to a strip where there were electrical things on the wall.
I think Monica’s office is more of a work room where she has a desk or possibly multiple desks. Katherine has been in there using a microscope before.
PS – and speaking of Sphinxes and their riddles — This! (next page too)
Tense much, Moni?
Monica continues to be dishonest. Amanda is in her way. Monica had planned to go to the library, but she can’t because Amanda has latched onto her.
I think Monica is getting defensive because Amanda is figuring out that Monica is lying again, so she’s lying more intensely now. This is not a good side of Monica.
But Phix basically just gave permission for M to take A to the Annex if she wants to do so. It’ll look like a library that’s under construction or something like that, and won’t appear to be extra-dimensional to ordinary people. M, however, might be able to access the whole thing if she wants to, without needing to Poit.
True, but Phix also seemed to be backing Monica’s decision about who to keep out. I don’t think Monica knows what will be there and if I were her I wouldn’t take anyone with me until I checked it out first. Monica can’t even be sure that it exists. After all, Phix misled her about her boss wanting to talk with her.
I don’t think Phix misled Monica. I think Dr. Fields did in fact say something to that effect to his secretary.
I think we misread Phix’s remark as her having stayed with Dr. Fields overnight. Moreover, all of the G³ and Phix herself have shown the ability to remotely monitor conversations.
I think we were supposed to assume exactly what Monica assumed.
Well, I wouldn’t put it past Paul to have Dr. Fields remember that he actually did want to talk to Monica, but leave the rest of it very vague.
Still, even if Dr. Fields was just talking to his secretary, I would say that she misled Monica.
I think Monica is merely annoyed that she cannot visit the annex as long as Amanda is there, she’s growing most impatient, and is trying to bore the daylights out of Amanda to get rid of her.
The fact that this is piquing Amanda’s curiosity, quite the opposite of what Monica wants, must be very irritating. Amanda is sensing monica’s impatience and wants to know what it is all about.
Actually, if you think about it, poor Monica must be feeling like she’s going rapidly backwards today. She started out hoping to make progress resolving Jin’s problem. Now she must have a bunch of new questions about Tina and Phix, too, but she can’t talk to either of them with Amanda around.
It’s interesting comparing Amanda saying that Monica has a jaded quality about her with the very first strip. That’s what close to nine years of character development will do to you, I guess. 😀
Interesting that in that first strip it was Amanda who said “What? No!”…Monica should have totally said “That’s…not making you feel any better is it?”
Hm, and they used to be so close. Careers get in the way. Still, Monica admits this is one friend she can’t lie to.
If she updated Amanda to recent events, would she get this reaction? http://wapsisquare.com/comic/10052001
And wouldn’t you know it, Monica’s reality would probably respond:
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/10172001/
I’m sorry Paul, but I just can’t do this anymore. This is the first time I’ve had to give up reading a webcomic despite actually liking it. Wapsi Square really does stand proud and tall over other webcomics out there. I like the artistry, I like the characterization, I absolutely love the fact that it updates every day, and the parts of the story that I understand are really good. However, note the condition I gave on that final point.
Paul, it seems, is trying to filter out the readers in his fan base who aren’t willing to worship Wapsi Square as their new holy scripture, so to speak. I’m sure if I was willing to go back and reread massive sections over and over, make flowcharts, look up occasional obscure references now and then, or had advanced degrees in Literary Analysis, Psychology and about eight different ancient world mythologies from the University of Smartass, the story would make perfect sense to me. I’m sorry for being a layman, Paul.
I mean, really? Apotropaic Sphinxes? Chasing Hammer? Why did I have to go through page after page of archives just to look up what that friggin hammer was called and why do I still not have a clue how it actually related to the story? Why did Tina suddenly break her arm? Did Gregory actually have to see Monica about a project or not? Did Phix lie to Monica or just try to steer her in the right direction? What’s this about a fake doorway to the library? Why is everyone trying to keep Amanda out of the loop?
I know I’m not the only one here who is really bugged about stuff like this. Why couldn’t Bud have said to Brandi: “It was you who figured it all out Ms. Brainy Brain! Because of that big show we put on in the temple to lure that rogue demon out of the pocket space within Monica, it put a protective shield around her which means she didn’t have to die when we used the key on her to close the doorway to the demon realm.”
If you don’t want to start being overt like that, then maybe some kind of FAQs like someone else suggested? Some kind of Wapsi Square For Dummies; A Reference For The Rest Of Us?
The fact that I actually literally did not have any idea about the whole “Rogue demon protecting Monica” until recently when somebody just explained it to me shows how fried my brain has gotten from this. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t understand or even notice otherwise obvious hints now.
Most good mystery stories out there tend to follow certain important steps:
1. Introduce the setting and characters and set up the problem.
2. Have events happen and information come in for the readers to contemplate.
3. Have the story reach the climax of its plot.
4. Wind down and explain the details of what just happened and how to the readers.
Wapsi Square is great about steps one through three but never quite makes it to step four. The reason for this is because it’s a webcomic. Webcomics, unlike books, movies, mini series’ or even video games, do not end. When you have a definite start and a definite end then it’s easy to structure it in the way outlined above. Wapsi Square is quite happy to just have a bunch of weird stuff happen, make subtle hints here and there and just leave the readers to figure it all out on their own. It has a lot of other characters and alternate arcs to develop so it hasn’t got time for it.
I’ve quit other webcomics for just being extremely poorly written, but Wapsi Square has the opposite problem: It’s too well written. Amazingly well written, to the point that it’s not outright and obvious, but just enough information is there in the writing and events that you can figure it all out if you’re willing to put the work in. I guess I’m just lazy because I don’t want to have to put that work in and neither do a lot of people. Not everyone has time to read through all the comments for every strip or reread entire sections now and then and spend every free moment trying to figure out the plot.
Sequential Art is my new favorite webcomic now. Sure, it updates only once or twice a week on average, but at least it’s a fun and easy to follow little strip, and doesn’t have to cliffhanger every single plot point for anywhere between six months to six years.
Maybe I won’t abandon it all at once. Maybe I should just stop reading for a few months, then come back and catch up now and then? I honestly don’t know at this point. All I know is that I need to take a rest from this thing for now. Have a good one, guys.
I’ve always loved stories and movies that made me have to think or even have to go research something. 🙂 Not trying to exclude anyone, just writing what I love.
And I totally keep up with Sequential Art, it’s one of the very few comics that I’ve stuck with. 🙂
For what it’s worth, I have come to consider you a fabulist in a class approaching another Minneapolis resident — Lois McMaster Bujold. The frame around your creation is necessarily smaller, for the medium with which you paint constricts you in time and scope — but the genius is there.
No need to dumb down for those who find the plot above their level. The artists who construct their tales as skillfully as you do are damned thin upon the ground. For God’s sake, tell your tale, and let those who can’t follow fall by the wayside!
SleepyJohn introduced me to Bujold with a gift of the Chalion trilogy. Captivating, and entirely fresh. Ganthan, If you like Wapsi but have a hard time keeping up with the intricacies on a daily basis, perhaps you could buy the dead-tree editions as they come out. I love Wapsi but have a much better grasp of the “huh?” moments when I can flip around. That said, there’s no right or wrong about taste…
Like a wise man said, so take this advice,
Pull down you pants, and slide on the ice.
Too bad one can’t enjoy the ride without scrutinizing any and all details. It is not really required to dig up any details to read this, but hey, good luck, good life, and better luck next time, kid.
If that sort of thing is bothering you, it’s probably a good thing you’re not trying to follow Pibgorn.
The sorts of things you are complaining about have been the deafult state of that strip almost since its inception.
I stopped reading Sequential Art (for entirely different reasons), though I really liked it and it’s cute and funny characters, so I understand giving up on something you like. I also understand what you’re saying. But, then, how many mystery books could you open at the middle, read some of from there and understand what’s going on? You would have to go back to the beginning and read through and pick up clues as you go. The extra complication here is that you are trying to understand a book AS it is being written, again by opening it at some random point and reading from there.
With Waspi, it’s not the destination, or even the understanding that is important and fun, it’s the journey and it’s accompaning speculation. It’s the fun of discovery. Paul has opened vast avenues of discovery for us here, Firing the imagination of more than one. He totally throws us a curve time and again without being gimicky about it. Maybe that’s why it helps to be a geek to enjoy this work.
What we do here is much like a book club in how it’s members discuss and analyze the book they are all reading. Just that here we discuss it while it is being written. Heck, one could say what we do is like a paper written on any novel out there for the same reasons.
I also agree an outline of the plot to date would be helpful. But if that’s all you read, you would miss wonderful humor and amazing artwork. You must see it all to understand the characters and gain some ‘feelings” for them.
I view Wapsi as an ongoing journey, much like life. You don’t always know everything that’s going on, and there’s no real ending until you’re gone. I enjoy being presented with concepts and object I’ve never encountered before. It expands my possibilities as much as it expands the stories. I hope that Wapsi keeps up the good work for years to come. It’ll take a lot to get me to stop reading.
I vaguely remember Ganthan having issues with WS previously, so I understand his frustration.
Truth is, we’re on to a new storyline, new arc, new “segment” of a novella series. So, in reality, we’re back to steps one and two of the four-step process.
Yes, this new storyline appears to be building on the old one, but then again Chamber of Secrets built on Sorcerer’s Stone, and Prisoner of Azkaban built on Chamber, and so on. If you truly think about it, we’re just starting the equivalent of Book Four of Monica Villareal and the Golem Girls. (Book One would be The Demons In My Back Pocket, two would be The Timekeeper’s Daughter, and three would be the just-finished In The Shadow Of Doubt.)
I’d say that if you don’t want to keep reading after the equivalent of The Goblet Of Fire, then so be it. You’re gonna be missing out on an interesting turn of events, IMNSHO.
All those things you are complaining about are what I actually like about Wapsi Square (and Pibgorn, too, thanx for the shout out from Fairportfan2). So I guess I must be the target audience…
Ditto. I Like to puzzle about the plot.
For what it’s worth, Ganthan, I had plenty of WTF moments in the final scene of the Calendar Machine story; but I trusted that whatever I didn’t understand would make sense once I worked it out, and sure enough, it did. I didn’t spend every minute of every day on it, either. And, to return to two things you said in your post:
I never felt the need to look up what a chasing hammer was. I figured it was probably some fairly common tool of the ancient world, and if I’d needed to know more, there would have been more detail about what one was. I assumed that whatever made this one special would be something Paul made up anyway, and wouldn’t even be in the literature. I was right, too.
When I encountered the word “Apotropaic,” the context and Monica’s sudden fear for Tina told me as much as I needed to know about what it meant. I never did bother to look it up; it never became necessary.
I’ve been following Wapsi Square for a long time now, and I’ve come to trust that its author knows what he’s doing. If something seems to come out of left field, my first thought isn’t “Jesus, that was a complete ass pull!” It’s “Damn, I must have forgotten when this was foreshadowed!”
If I can’t figure out the reason for something, I don’t assume there’s no reason. Wapsi Square doesn’t spoonfeed you all the answers, but when all is said and done you don’t need all the answers.
The really cool thing? The more completely I embrace this attitude, the easier it becomes to figure stuff out. I don’t think there’s one part of the Calendar Machine arc that I still don’t understand, and if there is, it simply isn’t significant enough to bother me.
And by the way, I wish to state for the record that Sucker Punch is one of the most complex and deeply philosophical movies I’ve ever seen, and it sailed right over the heads of nearly every movie critic in the country.
Silly Monica, you can poit any time you like. That is enough evidence for science. It’s your own insecurities that are screwing with you. If someone says you are crazy, poit them to Abu Dhabi. Let them re-evaluate their belief structure while they make there own way home.
That gives me an idea of how she could deal with her parents (I’m assuming that her parents live in a different State):
Step 1: Poit directly to her parents’ home.
Step 2: Advise them that she could prove that she’s not crazy but they would have to have access to $1,000 or so.
If they agree:
Step 3: Poit one of them to her home.
Step 4: Take the one with her to the airport by every day means and get them to buy a ticket on the next flight home.
Step 5: After the parent who was with her has checked in, leave the airport and find somewhere discrete (home if necessary).
Step 6: Poit back to her parents home and inform the other parent that the travelling parent is making their own way home.
Step 7: Send text message advising travelling parent to call their home number.
Step 8: Join in phone conversation.
Step 9: Be there when the travelling parent arrives home.
Step 10: Poit to her own home.
If they ever doubt her again, she can point to their debit/credit card bill, their phone log, etc. The great thing is that there’s nothing there that’s conclusive so the press won’t believe it
It’s probably best if she gets the other parent to send the text and, if she knows what’s good for her she’ll make aure that her mobile is switched off before she poits. The reason being that, even if her phone doesn’t have a GPS chip, mobile phone operators are likely to notice if someone is connected to one set of masts/towers on second and a completely different set a second later.
Hi.
The way I read this strip, it’s not that Monica’s parents wouldn’t believer her now; she didn’t want to make them feel bad for what they did earlier.
Regarding your questions about “Tina’s game” in your other comment, those are good questions, but I don’t know if they will ever be answered. I think Monica and Amanda’s conversation will continue and we may get some insight then, but it could be that Tina just thought that having one more person would be even better.
I don’t think Phix would have wanted Monica to bring Amanda to the bibliothiki, but annex may be different.
Reading that strip — is what we see here as simple as Monica attempting to protect Amanda?
I just caught up on the archives.
I’m trying figure out what Tina’s game is. Why did she want Amanda and Monica to spend the day together. Does Phix agree? Why was she hinting that Amanda should accompany her to the library?
I don’t know either, but Tina is suddenly much more complex than I had thought she was.
To put a nice little bow on this present: I think a lot of the questions we have as to “why include Amanda”, “why did Tina break her arm intentionally”, “what’s up with Phix and the annex”, and “what’s with the doll in the basement” are all part of the next chapter of the journey.
Though personally, Pablo, I’d like this wrapped up in less than five years, thanks. 😉
Well , Wapsi Square is still working for me , Mr . Taylor . Keep up the good work .
I can’t wait till it gets optioned and made into a movie version . Hey . It can happen .
Now who could play Monica , in the movie version ?
A young Dolly Parton.
Or any one of a number of porn stars, given the industry’s propensity for extremely top-heavy girls with long tongues.
snerk
always a fan, but i’m just curious as to what is on the wall behind amanda; looks like electrical meters under a row of PO boxes