People keep calling it that, but you do realise that:
a) a Chekhov’s Gun needn’t necesarrily be a gun;
b) Grandpa Sullivan’s gun isn’t actually that important in the story and therefore doesn’t qualify for the name; and
c) seeing as it’s never actually fired, in a way it’s an antithesis of Chekhov’s principle.
Gotta say, that packing a handgun on the hip for a cross-draw strikes me as less convenient, considering your arm has to cross your upper body to get to it.
Cross draw holsters are faster and better if you know how to use them. You turn sideways and present a smaller target (possibly academic in this case) with fewer vital organs exposed. You move your arm and body in unison to bring hand and weapon together. The holster is usually canted slightly making it close to level when drawn. The first round is aimed at the center of mass. You don’t aim, you shoot from the hip. Usually, the trigger is being pulled as the weapon is clearing the holster. This stuns your opponent if it doesn’t kill them, giving you a little more time to make the second shot count. Face to face, stand up showdowns are the stuff of Hollywood. Real gun fights are won by the fastest and dirtiest fighters.
Okay – 1917. I had it in my head that it was the earlier officer’s revolver (forget the model) that the 1911 Colt ACP was a replacement for, since it was a .38 with less knockdown power).
Just not me week for reading/comprehending accurately…
Ha! I remember the pistol being part of her grandfather’s legacy, but I don’t remember episodes about her being competent with it. Heather, on the other hand, would be quite comfortable and skilled with it. Perhaps Monica had lessons.
Cross hip, when riding toward the front above the thigh, is similar to a shoulder holster, just lower. Your aim is still by a “fling” than by rotating out vertically from a same side holster though.
So… Monica is afraid of getting ‘double crossed’ by demi-god like beings capable of physically destroying the planet… and her solution is to bring a gun? Where’s Tepoz when you actually need him to mock the lapse in logic? (>^_^)>
In the later movies, maybe, but in the first chapter he carried a Webley Mark VI .455 (which I REALLY like; I owned a practically-new 1916 model until I recently gave it to my nephew.)
And I agree with a couple other opinions: If I’m going out “into the wild”, you can damn betcha I’m gonna be packing something that can slap down all the *non*-immortal boogens that hang out there…
Okay, I’m wrong. Strange, though, I could swear I saw him handling a Mark VI in ROTLA. The profile of the upper frame is similar to the Green, but the grip frame and trigger guard are quite different.
Cowboy boots, faded boot-cut jeans, Big Gun on hip, shirt that won’t bind but snug enough to not get snagged or grabbed, hair up in a business-like ponytail – Indiana Joan is ready to go!
Is that Chekov’s grandfather’s pistol? Should have recognized it the first time it appeared. But it seems Shelly is the only one it might be useful against.
Jin is in full demon mode. While Bud and Brandi have gotten more in touch with their humanity, Jin seems to have lost hers – or is that Mom that we’re dealing with?
Never mind all that calendar stuff. If I was going out into the for-crying-out-loud JUNGLE for any reason, I’d want to be packing some kind of sidearm. Jungles is just crammed full of nasty predatory types of critters, like jagulars, alleygators, honking great snakes, drug smugglers. . . she ought to have gotten a lanyard for it. Good idea, lanyards. . . .
I do wonder then if Monica is attacked by said nasties, what would happen? Would she poit them? Maybe just the fangs or claws? Would she poit herself? Would Brandi, Bud, Jin, Or even Shelley step in? Maybe they should bring along the shark throwing fire-woman…. Though, maybe her specialty is the oceanic predators…
Note that Monica is the only one in the middle panel that isn’t looking all cracked-out or scared. The top one is her coming out of meditation, maybe?
There is a Zen story about how the Master and the Student were walking along the river. The Master points out that they will need to cross very soon, to get where they are going. The Student promptly walks out onto the river’s surface, going directly to the town on the other side. The Master calls him back, and the Student quickly marches back on top of the water. Back at the Master’s side, he promptly gets a thwomp on top of his head. “What do you think you were doing?” the Master asked. “I was going across the river, I thought you were going to come with me.” Thwomp! “That is not how you cross a river!” They walk further down until they come to a bridge. Once across, the Master turns to the Student, “That is the Proper way to cross the river.” I think Monica knows where the bidge is now.
Can’t say I’ve ever heard that story. Has some humor, but I don’t think I’ll ever really get it. I don’t think I’d have enough patience to pick it apart and figure out why they had to keep walking to the bridge to cross the river when they, assumedly, could cross it right then and there. The function is the same, but time is different. And I detest having to have “patience” at times. (But matters of safety are different, I will say, as I do currently work in a factory… Taking the time to shut off electricity, etc. IS the proper way to cross that river.)
Take the time to understand or rather find your own answer. If Zen was easy westerners wouldn’t get confused when someone tosses a simple koan their way. That said this is a fairly obscure one as I’ve never heard of it before (and yes I know how much of an argument from authority that is).
An important thing is that he walked across the surface of the river. From there I’d suggest you get your own reasoning since that is the driving force behind stories like this. To understand (getting more enlightened) yourself better and you can’t do that if someone else spoon feeds you a possible reason. In this case there is no right or wrong just understanding.
I just noticed the large bubble around Monica in the bottom panel – is she poiting them all off to the calendar as she speaks? Taking control of the situation, as it were?
Okay the only people present that could be hurt by the gun are Shelly and Monica. Just my opinion but Shelly is the last person Monica would shoot and Monica appears to be beyond her suicidal tendencies; brining the gun is rather pointless.
Bullets are useful for things other than shooting people 😉 Admittedly, Monica is American, but she seems smart enough to recognise that a bit of kinetic energy applied accurately can be useful in /many/ non-lethal situations.
See also – shooting an immortal won’t kill them, but it’ll probably make ’em realize you’re serious. Which might come in handy.
Huh. She is carrying it.
Looking back, i guess i must have been misremembering that she said she wouldn’t.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you “Chekov’s Gun”. Who knew that her grandpa’s middle name was “Chekov”?
People keep calling it that, but you do realise that:
a) a Chekhov’s Gun needn’t necesarrily be a gun;
b) Grandpa Sullivan’s gun isn’t actually that important in the story and therefore doesn’t qualify for the name; and
c) seeing as it’s never actually fired, in a way it’s an antithesis of Chekhov’s principle.
^^^ Exactly that. This series is all about Chekov’s insecurities – which definitely /do/ get fired in the third act. 😉
She did say she wouldn’t.
Apparently, she changed her mind.
That was before she knew about the temple and saw how much the calendar machine has “evolved”
Smith & Wesson .38 cal “bugspray”, anyone?
Gotta say, that packing a handgun on the hip for a cross-draw strikes me as less convenient, considering your arm has to cross your upper body to get to it.
Even less convenient for some than for others…
Cross draw holsters are faster and better if you know how to use them. You turn sideways and present a smaller target (possibly academic in this case) with fewer vital organs exposed. You move your arm and body in unison to bring hand and weapon together. The holster is usually canted slightly making it close to level when drawn. The first round is aimed at the center of mass. You don’t aim, you shoot from the hip. Usually, the trigger is being pulled as the weapon is clearing the holster. This stuns your opponent if it doesn’t kill them, giving you a little more time to make the second shot count. Face to face, stand up showdowns are the stuff of Hollywood. Real gun fights are won by the fastest and dirtiest fighters.
In a fight, honor doesn’t matter, all that matters is who walks away.
Which is why Han shot first.
Yeah, I said it. And I’m good with that, momma didn’t raise no dummy. 😀
Crossdraw and shoulder holsters are much easier to manage that strongside holsters when seated . . . say in a motor vehicle.
There’s a manga currently in publication about gunslingers and one of the main characters uses this method in gun duels.
Looks like there’s a new sherriff in town.
But, then again — why is Jin “hollow”?
Why is the rum gone?
Because it takes less clay to make a hollow golem than a solid one – economics still applies to Lantheans 😉
Is it a .38? With that big lanyard loop and the Govt issue holster (modified for the cross draw) I figured it for a Model 1917 .45
S&W 1917 .45cal
Yep, that’s what I call bug spray!
It can sure take care of some big bugs!
Okay – 1917. I had it in my head that it was the earlier officer’s revolver (forget the model) that the 1911 Colt ACP was a replacement for, since it was a .38 with less knockdown power).
Just not me week for reading/comprehending accurately…
The earlier model was the M1892 New A&N.
And Aaron Sullivan served in WWII, so it would definitely be the later pattern.
Ha! I remember the pistol being part of her grandfather’s legacy, but I don’t remember episodes about her being competent with it. Heather, on the other hand, would be quite comfortable and skilled with it. Perhaps Monica had lessons.
Cross hip, when riding toward the front above the thigh, is similar to a shoulder holster, just lower. Your aim is still by a “fling” than by rotating out vertically from a same side holster though.
Hope she doesn’t need it.
So… Monica is afraid of getting ‘double crossed’ by demi-god like beings capable of physically destroying the planet… and her solution is to bring a gun? Where’s Tepoz when you actually need him to mock the lapse in logic? (>^_^)>
Channeling our inner Indian Jones/Lara Croft are we, Miss Villarreal?
And can Jin be even creepier than she is right now?
Yes.
Hqiz! You beat me to that one…
More Lara Croft than Indy Jones.
Well, the sidearm is the same as that of the good Dr. Jones. 🙂
In the later movies, maybe, but in the first chapter he carried a Webley Mark VI .455 (which I REALLY like; I owned a practically-new 1916 model until I recently gave it to my nephew.)
And I agree with a couple other opinions: If I’m going out “into the wild”, you can damn betcha I’m gonna be packing something that can slap down all the *non*-immortal boogens that hang out there…
http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark
http://www.imfdb.org/index.php?title=Indiana_Jones_and_the_Last_Crusade
Okay, I’m wrong. Strange, though, I could swear I saw him handling a Mark VI in ROTLA. The profile of the upper frame is similar to the Green, but the grip frame and trigger guard are quite different.
Cowboy boots, faded boot-cut jeans, Big Gun on hip, shirt that won’t bind but snug enough to not get snagged or grabbed, hair up in a business-like ponytail – Indiana Joan is ready to go!
Is that Chekov’s grandfather’s pistol? Should have recognized it the first time it appeared. But it seems Shelly is the only one it might be useful against.
Jin is in full demon mode. While Bud and Brandi have gotten more in touch with their humanity, Jin seems to have lost hers – or is that Mom that we’re dealing with?
I’ll take “Mom” for $500, Alex.
You’re looking at the wrong Glyph-face for ‘Mom’ – Jin has her own, it’s Monica who’s playing ‘Sunshine’ this cycle. 😉
Huh, she thinks she’s Lara Croft… This’ll be interesting
I was thinking Annie Oakley. But whatever works for you.
Nah – Little Sure Shot was a rifle artist.
*gulps, takes deep breath*
Dude…
Never mind all that calendar stuff. If I was going out into the for-crying-out-loud JUNGLE for any reason, I’d want to be packing some kind of sidearm. Jungles is just crammed full of nasty predatory types of critters, like jagulars, alleygators, honking great snakes, drug smugglers. . . she ought to have gotten a lanyard for it. Good idea, lanyards. . . .
I do wonder then if Monica is attacked by said nasties, what would happen? Would she poit them? Maybe just the fangs or claws? Would she poit herself? Would Brandi, Bud, Jin, Or even Shelley step in? Maybe they should bring along the shark throwing fire-woman…. Though, maybe her specialty is the oceanic predators…
I’d want to be carrying more than a sidearm. I’d want a rifle.
Note that Monica is the only one in the middle panel that isn’t looking all cracked-out or scared. The top one is her coming out of meditation, maybe?
There is a Zen story about how the Master and the Student were walking along the river. The Master points out that they will need to cross very soon, to get where they are going. The Student promptly walks out onto the river’s surface, going directly to the town on the other side. The Master calls him back, and the Student quickly marches back on top of the water. Back at the Master’s side, he promptly gets a thwomp on top of his head. “What do you think you were doing?” the Master asked. “I was going across the river, I thought you were going to come with me.” Thwomp! “That is not how you cross a river!” They walk further down until they come to a bridge. Once across, the Master turns to the Student, “That is the Proper way to cross the river.” I think Monica knows where the bidge is now.
Can’t say I’ve ever heard that story. Has some humor, but I don’t think I’ll ever really get it. I don’t think I’d have enough patience to pick it apart and figure out why they had to keep walking to the bridge to cross the river when they, assumedly, could cross it right then and there. The function is the same, but time is different. And I detest having to have “patience” at times. (But matters of safety are different, I will say, as I do currently work in a factory… Taking the time to shut off electricity, etc. IS the proper way to cross that river.)
Take the time to understand or rather find your own answer. If Zen was easy westerners wouldn’t get confused when someone tosses a simple koan their way. That said this is a fairly obscure one as I’ve never heard of it before (and yes I know how much of an argument from authority that is).
An important thing is that he walked across the surface of the river. From there I’d suggest you get your own reasoning since that is the driving force behind stories like this. To understand (getting more enlightened) yourself better and you can’t do that if someone else spoon feeds you a possible reason. In this case there is no right or wrong just understanding.
Okay, so it’s Wednesday.
Tomorrow is Thursday (duh!).
Given *this* strip for Wednesday, i was just hit by two scary thoughts:
1) What can Pablo do tomorrow to top today’s. And then what can he do Friday?
and
2) How much are we gonna suffer over the weekend from whatever terifying cliffhanger he hands us out of his devious head for Friday?
I just noticed the large bubble around Monica in the bottom panel – is she poiting them all off to the calendar as she speaks? Taking control of the situation, as it were?
Nah – i think it’s just a “spotlight” – Pablo like to use detailed backgrounds and then screen them down to make the foreground elements “pop”.
Love the holster!
Cool second panel! The gang’s all here!
Hang onto your potatoes Dr. Jones!
Three golems, a gateway girl and a gorgeous ghost summoner. AYE YI YI YI !
Excuse me while I gather my lower jaw and tongue back up off the floor…and sorry about the drool-spatter.
Why’s it in a US holster when Grandpa was a mexican adventurer?
Okay the only people present that could be hurt by the gun are Shelly and Monica. Just my opinion but Shelly is the last person Monica would shoot and Monica appears to be beyond her suicidal tendencies; brining the gun is rather pointless.
Bullets are useful for things other than shooting people 😉 Admittedly, Monica is American, but she seems smart enough to recognise that a bit of kinetic energy applied accurately can be useful in /many/ non-lethal situations.
See also – shooting an immortal won’t kill them, but it’ll probably make ’em realize you’re serious. Which might come in handy.