Right, but I just figured, it’s a comic. It’s exageration. Get over it. At least that’s the response I tend to get when I point out stuff like that. Apparently this one time, anyway, it’s not just comic exageration.
So, superpower status has just been conferred on Shelly. Now, lets see if she can leap tall buildings in a single bound.
You know, i remember seeing exactly that same expression at an SF convention in 1978 – four of us were playing Hearts in the convention Hospitality Suite, and a friend’s youngest kid (about six, i think) was bothering us.
Finally, one of the others pointed over on the other side of the suite, where there was a sunken conversation area, and a friend was sitting with his back to us.
Guy said “Eric? Do you see Mr Celko sitting over there? He just loves it when little boys come over and kiss him on top of his bald head.”
Eric gave him exactly the look Tina has in the final panel.
When i told his mother the story later, she said “Eric has two older brothers…”
This also indicates Tina knows much more than she lets on. Not unlike when Phix showed up to tell her the rogue demons had been delt with. She knew about it before the judging.
Heck, now I’ll be paranoid thinking every abnormal thing is not just comic exageration. Like Monica’s dog, for example. Even Amanda’s kitty who knows what to shred and not. Odd how it just showed up out of the blue like that. And there’s Katherine’s seemingly understanding fish. Is Monica’s boyfriend really as naive about all this as he seems? Is Jin’s boyfriend just a plant to help keep her calm? How can he take her power and survive? Maybe he’s actually a … a ROBOT!!? There! I said it! And what about that all-knowing bartender? Huh? HUH!?
“This also indicates Tina knows much more than she lets on. Not unlike when Phix showed up to tell her the rogue demons had been delt with. She knew about it before the judging.”
Well, not always. I think she knows more about what is happening in the demon realm, though. That’s one reason that I’m not sure that Tina is talking about specifically about Shelly’s physical strength. IIRC, Shelly told Tina about defeating her demons or talked to Monica about it in the coffee shop. She may be talking about the strength required to do that, which might also be manifested as physical strength, too.
I guess if you are going to come up with a mythical animal, you can do anything you want with it. I always wondered where dragons fit in the Reptilian group–Dinosaurs? Probably not. More like Postosuchus.
Oh yeah, and there was the bowling ball incident she survived by having a thick skull. Not to mention what it would do to her neck and spine bones. Perhaps she has super thick/strong bones all over, explaining how her small frame could withstand the counter force throwing an engine block would produce.
For some reason, my imagination wandered off on a Wolverine tangent. Shelly could have a really tough skeleton, be very strong, handle extremes of heat and cold well… and have a spiky personality she could extend or retract at will, potentially causing great havoc! 🙂
Well, yeah. There’s only so much that can be attributed by Comanche heritage. Shells has done things that prove a durability beyond just plain ol’ being hard-headed, as my grandma’s people are known to be. Or even being Ah-Day mah-tahn (only girl), with older brothers to make her tough and ornery. But, since she never found above average strength to be out of the ordinary, we may need to consider her life before we met her. Have any other family members displayed similar traits, and have they cropped up often enough to not seem unusual?
You’ve got a point. Her dad never seemed to overreact when she threw the V-8. Something tells me this kind of thing happens all the time at Shelly’s house…
I took that as the way girls will refer to each other as “the guys” as opposed to talking about their Guys. Around here at least, “Your guys’ abilities” could mean Shell and Monica’s abilities. Trying to get it through Shell’s head that -she- has abilities too other than just being a great canvas for a hugeass tattoo.
I agree. ‘your guys’ is not a gendered term and in this instance refers to the collection of ladies involved in saving the world, not the boys they’re romantically/sexually involved with.
I will confess however, that I never gave much thought to Shelly’s strength. I suppose too much time at the gym and assuming it’s just an exaggeration from some of the ladies I know.
It’s one of those few times in grammar when you use a hammer to turn a screw just coz everyone does it and it works.
Like when you say “they” to refer to one person because you either don’t know if it’s a he or she or noone exists in that context yet. We don’t have a Vosotros (or whatever the word is in Spanish).
I think another thing that could be creating confusion is the word “your”. Tina meant “Your (plural) abilities”, then added “guys'” to make it obvious that your wasn’t singular. It would have have been better as “You guys’ abilities,” (Shelly doesn’t own the people) but that’s a common mistake.
Noooooooo!!! Only Yankees misuse “y’all” as a singular pronoun. Y’all is never plural when used by a Southerner.
For example, when a Southerner says to an individual “Y’all come over for dinner sometime,” Yankees will misinterpret that as the singular. The invitation is being extended to you, your family (aka “mommernim”), or whomever else you might bring. For Spanish speakers, “y’all” is exactly analogous to “vosotros.”
I really love today’s comic. That was quite unexpected. Like a few other people I always chalked Shelly’s strength up to simple, over-the-top cartoon humor. Quite interesting to find that she’s actually got some sort of powers.
So, what does Tina’s look mean? “Yeah, right!” or “That’s not what I meant and you know that.” or “You are clueless.”
I’m not sure that Tina was talking about Shelly’s physical strength. Tepoz didn’t mean that when he talked about Shelly being too strong for her own good. Shelly defeated her demons and cut off communication to the demon realm and that required a different kind of strength.
How would Tina know about Shelly’s physical strength? Monica (or less likely one of the GGGs) might have told her, but as far as I know, neither Monica nor Tina have seen Shelly lift anything a normal person couldn’t lift. That doesn’t sound like something Tina would pick up from Shelly’s aura, either. Then again, perhaps word is getting around that Shelly is impossibly strong. That would tie in with Tina’s comments yesterday, but today Tina said “If” as if that hadn’t happened yet.
Hey, remember waaaay back when Shelly hurled that engine block like it was a toy? (And almost took someone’s head off in the process) Even a Honda Civic’s 4-banger block weighs in at 500-600 pounds!!! Even her old man agreed she’s one step down from She-Hulk; “DAMMIT SHELLY; THOSE ENGINES COST MONEY!!!”
Actually Page-Mistress, After her break-up with Whatsizname, Her adrenaline level was throught the roof and into the ionosphere; when that happens, you’d be DAMN shocked at what people can do… 😉
Hmmmmm .
And Oh?
And Uhhhhhh……
FINALLY someone acknowledges that Shelly’s strength is freakish!
I <3 her look in panel 3
Yes, she is quite beautiful right there…
Ditto. Paul’s ability to draw excellent facial expressions is one of the major draws to this comic for me.
Yup – I’m still working my way through what is my first re-read, and I remember this one vividly…
I knew it but never voiced it. I don’t care how much you lift weights, you can’t toss V-8 engine blocks.
Or lift large weight-set plates with a string tied to your big toe… (Haven’t got the reference handy, but…)
Or survive a close-proximity propane gas tank explosion?
It wasn’t the tank that exploded – it was a small quantity of it trapped under the grill hood.
And i seem to recall that Paul said it was based on something he’d done (and, i assume) survived himself.
Plus, it was specifically shown that she poked the start switch from a safe distance with a stick or something.
Yeah, I recall that one, now…
Well she wasnt standing that close to the propane gas altrough it is still quite dangerous
Right, but I just figured, it’s a comic. It’s exageration. Get over it. At least that’s the response I tend to get when I point out stuff like that. Apparently this one time, anyway, it’s not just comic exageration.
So, superpower status has just been conferred on Shelly. Now, lets see if she can leap tall buildings in a single bound.
Or jump Justin’s bones in a single – eh, perhaps NSFW. Fill in the blank, make up your own joke. 😉
LOL! I’m glad I am not the only one who thought that!
or break Justin’s bones in a fit of wrongly placed anger.
EPIC REVEAL!!!!
Yeah, I figured it was the ‘if it’s funny it’s not dangerous’ clause, too.
So, do we chip in and get her the bullet-deflecting wristbands for Christmas?
You know, i remember seeing exactly that same expression at an SF convention in 1978 – four of us were playing Hearts in the convention Hospitality Suite, and a friend’s youngest kid (about six, i think) was bothering us.
Finally, one of the others pointed over on the other side of the suite, where there was a sunken conversation area, and a friend was sitting with his back to us.
Guy said “Eric? Do you see Mr Celko sitting over there? He just loves it when little boys come over and kiss him on top of his bald head.”
Eric gave him exactly the look Tina has in the final panel.
When i told his mother the story later, she said “Eric has two older brothers…”
1. That look is both annoying and precious at once.
2. That look also reminds me way too much of Phix.
3. Or Monica.
There’s lifting weights, and there’s being close to, if not already superhumanly strong…
I can’t look at the last frame without chuckling. I love her expression. Classic!
I’ll say XD
Is that a crap load of washing hanging on a bunch of lines behind Shelly?
No, those are called Papel Picado – normally large sheets of tissue with holes cut out of them to make designs. Most commonly found in Mexico. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/4617294473_9f777f8dda_o.jpg
Huh. I guess that makes more sense then the Tibeten Prayer Flags that I was thinking they were…
She has a point you know. 😛
HA. Tina’s “oh, please” expression is perfect.
This also indicates Tina knows much more than she lets on. Not unlike when Phix showed up to tell her the rogue demons had been delt with. She knew about it before the judging.
Heck, now I’ll be paranoid thinking every abnormal thing is not just comic exageration. Like Monica’s dog, for example. Even Amanda’s kitty who knows what to shred and not. Odd how it just showed up out of the blue like that. And there’s Katherine’s seemingly understanding fish. Is Monica’s boyfriend really as naive about all this as he seems? Is Jin’s boyfriend just a plant to help keep her calm? How can he take her power and survive? Maybe he’s actually a … a ROBOT!!? There! I said it! And what about that all-knowing bartender? Huh? HUH!?
I think Shelly needs to talk to a little floaty girl that hangs around the boiler room – and also search her memories of her Vision Quest.
ahhhh… only pablo knows….. 🙂
YEEE!! THE POSSIBILITIES!!
I love this comic…
What about Katherine’s hands and many things like that?
“This also indicates Tina knows much more than she lets on. Not unlike when Phix showed up to tell her the rogue demons had been delt with. She knew about it before the judging.”
Well, not always. I think she knows more about what is happening in the demon realm, though. That’s one reason that I’m not sure that Tina is talking about specifically about Shelly’s physical strength. IIRC, Shelly told Tina about defeating her demons or talked to Monica about it in the coffee shop. She may be talking about the strength required to do that, which might also be manifested as physical strength, too.
So does this mean that Monica’s dog is something supernatural, too?
He opens the fridge to get water, calls the pizza joint, uses proper saftey equipment when using a pickaxe. I gotta vote Yes on this one.
Meh…probably only as supernatural as Snoopy. 😛
That look in the last panel…
Mommy!
That IS the mommy look–the one I give my daughter when she says she can’t read because she wants out of her homework.
he he.. If you had mischievous sisters when young, you will know the ‘I have a wicked plan’ look… 😀
Huh…I see the “I call BS” look. Then again, I’m an only child.
It seems no one noticed the images of (what appear to be) Dietzel all along the room where the calendar was… http://wapsisquare.com/comic/look-at-the-time/
Actually, someone did mention it, but it kinda died there.
Kinda look like lions or some other big cat to me…
Meso-American art, I believe it would be jaguars.
It still looks more like Dietzel to me than any feline.
Oh no, it’s the ‘Look that means so much it would take four panels to say it so we’ll just do The Look’ look.
Y’know, i always didnt think that her abilioty to lift engines and bench press heavy machinery was a thing for her, guess I was wrong! 😀
Did anyone else see Unbreakable?
“How much weight is that, son?”
“… all of it.”
LoL – great analogy. Tina’s look screams, “Riiiiighhtt….”
Ooo…I’d forgotten about that scene. 🙂
I love the way Shelly’s hair looks in that 3rd panel.
And that look from Tina is absolute gold
Shelly’s not living up to her potential level???
By the look Tina is giving Shel … it’s going to be A LOT!!!
Dragon Ball-Z, Super Saiyan transformation!!
She’s already got Dragon Ball hair…
This is true.
Dragon balls have hair?
Sorry…I had to…
grrrrrrrrrr
😀
Of course not!
Dragons aren’t mammals.
Some people aren’t too clear on the dragons are not mammals concept. People really do refer to bearded dragons (a type of lizard) as hairy dragons.
I guess if you are going to come up with a mythical animal, you can do anything you want with it. I always wondered where dragons fit in the Reptilian group–Dinosaurs? Probably not. More like Postosuchus.
Over 9000!?
Oh yeah, and there was the bowling ball incident she survived by having a thick skull. Not to mention what it would do to her neck and spine bones. Perhaps she has super thick/strong bones all over, explaining how her small frame could withstand the counter force throwing an engine block would produce.
For some reason, my imagination wandered off on a Wolverine tangent. Shelly could have a really tough skeleton, be very strong, handle extremes of heat and cold well… and have a spiky personality she could extend or retract at will, potentially causing great havoc! 🙂
Well, yeah. There’s only so much that can be attributed by Comanche heritage. Shells has done things that prove a durability beyond just plain ol’ being hard-headed, as my grandma’s people are known to be. Or even being Ah-Day mah-tahn (only girl), with older brothers to make her tough and ornery. But, since she never found above average strength to be out of the ordinary, we may need to consider her life before we met her. Have any other family members displayed similar traits, and have they cropped up often enough to not seem unusual?
You’ve got a point. Her dad never seemed to overreact when she threw the V-8. Something tells me this kind of thing happens all the time at Shelly’s house…
Shelly never mentioned siblings. I think it’s just Shelly.
Her dad did overreact at the time, just for different reasons.
She has seven older brothers. 🙂 http://wapsisquare.com/about/cast/attachment/shelly-wahnee/
😳
Wow. I only thought she had one older brother.
Oh. Oh. Oh.
Oh.
No one else noticed it?
“…Your Guy’s abilities…”
Tina trying to clue Shelly in on something?
(in other words, is she equating sergeant sexxor’s abilities with the current paranormal party girl brigade? if not, then what is she hinting at?)
She said guys’, the plural possessive. At least two of the guys. We have a lot to learn about these male characters.
I took that as the way girls will refer to each other as “the guys” as opposed to talking about their Guys. Around here at least, “Your guys’ abilities” could mean Shell and Monica’s abilities. Trying to get it through Shell’s head that -she- has abilities too other than just being a great canvas for a hugeass tattoo.
That’s the impression I got from it too…
I agree. ‘your guys’ is not a gendered term and in this instance refers to the collection of ladies involved in saving the world, not the boys they’re romantically/sexually involved with.
I will confess however, that I never gave much thought to Shelly’s strength. I suppose too much time at the gym and assuming it’s just an exaggeration from some of the ladies I know.
It’s one of those few times in grammar when you use a hammer to turn a screw just coz everyone does it and it works.
Like when you say “they” to refer to one person because you either don’t know if it’s a he or she or noone exists in that context yet. We don’t have a Vosotros (or whatever the word is in Spanish).
If Tina had been from Jersey she’d have said ‘yoose guys’…
I think another thing that could be creating confusion is the word “your”. Tina meant “Your (plural) abilities”, then added “guys'” to make it obvious that your wasn’t singular. It would have have been better as “You guys’ abilities,” (Shelly doesn’t own the people) but that’s a common mistake.
If Tina had been from down south, she would have said, “Ya’ll’s abilities.” But that can be singular, so it wouldn’t help. “Ya’ll’s guys’ abilities?”
If she was from down south it would have been “All y’all’s abilities.” “Y’all” is singular.” 🙂
Noooooooo!!! Only Yankees misuse “y’all” as a singular pronoun. Y’all is never plural when used by a Southerner.
For example, when a Southerner says to an individual “Y’all come over for dinner sometime,” Yankees will misinterpret that as the singular. The invitation is being extended to you, your family (aka “mommernim”), or whomever else you might bring. For Spanish speakers, “y’all” is exactly analogous to “vosotros.”
I’d like to point out that it makes me happy to see people put the apostrophe in the right place in the word “y’all.” 🙂
I hope Paul does a tribute to the first Action Comics cover from 1938 where Superman has lifted a car over his head but with Shelly in Supe’s place.
SuperShelley FTW!
I really love today’s comic. That was quite unexpected. Like a few other people I always chalked Shelly’s strength up to simple, over-the-top cartoon humor. Quite interesting to find that she’s actually got some sort of powers.
So, what does Tina’s look mean? “Yeah, right!” or “That’s not what I meant and you know that.” or “You are clueless.”
I’m not sure that Tina was talking about Shelly’s physical strength. Tepoz didn’t mean that when he talked about Shelly being too strong for her own good. Shelly defeated her demons and cut off communication to the demon realm and that required a different kind of strength.
How would Tina know about Shelly’s physical strength? Monica (or less likely one of the GGGs) might have told her, but as far as I know, neither Monica nor Tina have seen Shelly lift anything a normal person couldn’t lift. That doesn’t sound like something Tina would pick up from Shelly’s aura, either. Then again, perhaps word is getting around that Shelly is impossibly strong. That would tie in with Tina’s comments yesterday, but today Tina said “If” as if that hadn’t happened yet.
Here is where Tepoz says “Maybe a little too strong for your own good!”
I’d call Tina’s look there “yeah, right, pull the other one, it’s got bells on”. XD
Love the Diskworld ref’ 🙂
‘I lift weights, so what?’ Tina looks at her incredulously and thinks; ‘how many girs could lift a goddam CAR???’ 😛
Hey, remember waaaay back when Shelly hurled that engine block like it was a toy? (And almost took someone’s head off in the process) Even a Honda Civic’s 4-banger block weighs in at 500-600 pounds!!! Even her old man agreed she’s one step down from She-Hulk; “DAMMIT SHELLY; THOSE ENGINES COST MONEY!!!”
“Tzadle-bay!“, as my grandma would have said, whenever somebody displayed oblivious behavior.
See, Shelly? This is what happens when you sleep through your Secret Superhero Origin. Now you get to sit through the orientation classes AGAIN.
Shelly, normal people who lift weights can’t throw engines. And the Golem Girls don’t count, they’re made of clay.
Why do I get the feeling I’m about to get hit with a dropping shoe?
Oh, no, Pablo doesn’t drop shoes. He throws them at you. 😉
As long as the other shoe does drop–unlike “Obstinate Uncle Otis” by Robert Arthur
Actually Page-Mistress, After her break-up with Whatsizname, Her adrenaline level was throught the roof and into the ionosphere; when that happens, you’d be DAMN shocked at what people can do… 😉