Wapsi Square

Slice of supernatural life YA comic PG-13 to R
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by Paul Taylor on June 9, 2011 at 12:00 am
Story: Wapsi-Archive
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Discussion (160) ¬

  1. Atomic
    June 9, 2011, 12:01 am | # | Reply

    Hug delivered successfully. And now…

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 12:14 am | # | Reply

      that face looks like it might be considering delivering a tongue lashing

      where have you been? why haven’t you called me before now? are you screwing with me again and other questions..

      • Fairportfan
        June 9, 2011, 2:24 am | #

        No – i’m thinking they’re both flashing back to the last time Heather gave Shelly a big hug.

      • Silver C.
        June 9, 2011, 2:47 am | #

        It has been that long since Shelly had long hair hasn’t it? 😀

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 6:35 am | #

        yea

        wonder how long comic time…
        perhaps a year or less?
        hard to tell 🙂

      • Fairportfan
        June 9, 2011, 8:04 am | #

        Given that i recall two or three winters in there …

      • Knighttrap
        June 9, 2011, 9:15 am | #

        Its defently been at least 3 winter has just started strips.

      • Knighttrap
        June 9, 2011, 9:18 am | #

        Grrr…… What happened to my post and my Gravatar!!!! As I just said, I know I’ve seen at least 3 winter/Spring has just started comics.

      • slywlf
        June 9, 2011, 7:59 pm | #

        Yup- time to go back and re-read from the beginning. Too much is gone fuzzy or just gone. This strip is too good to rely completely on the comments for clarification, though that is certainly a blessing when I find myself saying whu whu whu????

      • bmonk
        June 9, 2011, 10:12 am | #

        I don’t think so–Shelly might have been gone for 81,000 years, but it was not even a second for everyone else.

    • DJ
      June 9, 2011, 12:23 am | # | Reply

      And now my mind is throwing around the possibility that maybe Heather is not entirely human either.

      • Jay-Em
        June 9, 2011, 12:37 am | #

        With Paul’s propensity towards throwing mind-bending curve-balls to the readers, it’s not entirely unconceivable….

      • NOTDilbert
        June 9, 2011, 1:10 am | #

        @Jay-Em – I didn’t get home from work early enought reply to yesterdays post – what are strass stones?

        And yes, Kudos (or any other snack bar) who correctly predicted Heather. I guess 80K years is plenty of time to work out your inner conflits.

      • Jay-Em
        June 9, 2011, 1:21 am | #

        Strass-stones, or “strass” in short, are fake, sticky-backed gem-stones ,often used on ballroom dance dresses. And more often-than not, used by girls to “bling” their phones and back-packs (aaand fanny-packs) because they are waaaay cheaper than swarowsky-stones.

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:33 am | #

        they the same as rhinestones?

      • NOTDilbert
        June 9, 2011, 2:17 am | #

        @Jay-Em:
        Thanks!

        I’m not wearing those either…..

      • Julie
        June 13, 2011, 12:40 pm | #

        I’ll take a PayDay for my correct guess, thank you. 😛

      • Sonicthunder
        June 9, 2011, 2:26 pm | #

        With the revelation that Shelly is a Sphinx, I no longer trust any character to be “just human”. Amanda’s going to fill that role now that Shelly’s “evolved”, but it is only a matter of time before some craziness warps her too.

        Monica’s just a plague to everyone around her it seems, no matter her intentions. (>^_^)>

      • nerf-dweller
        June 9, 2011, 3:10 pm | #

        Shell hasn’t been transformed physically at all. She’s the as when she was born. Her family has the recessive Sphinx genes. Those recessive genes can express themselves under the right conditions. Those conditions (whatever they may be) existed in the Sacred Forest realm. Shelly become Shellinx for her duration in that realm.

        And this set of characters has always been “weirdness magnets” (to borrow a phrase). Jin knew that Monica and those around her Shelly, Michelle, Janet have always been special and necessary for the dealing with the Calendar machine. Jin’s Doubt has said that Monica, Shelly and other are and have been portals to the doorways to the Demon Realm. This shows that there are other individuals that are “special”. The disocvery of the individuals and how it affects them is part Wapsi Square’s charm.

      • Sonicthunder
        June 10, 2011, 12:56 am | #

        Transformed as in ‘character’ (as in the change from the sole ‘normal human’ in Monica’s crew to now a Sphinx), not physically. Give me some credit mate, I can remember what literally ‘just’ happened in-comic about 2 weeks ago.

        And I never stated it was not part of Wapsi’s charm. I was just stating that if Shelly, who’s general ‘normalcy’ amongst Monica, Tepoz, and the GGG has been consistent for years can now be upgraded to a more mystical being, what’s to stop any/all of the other normal humans from experiencing such change.

        That’s all. I wasn’t making any type of complaint, far from it. I was just commenting that ‘no character is safe now’.

      • Valkeiper
        April 20, 2020, 12:46 pm | #

        actually, sonic… you are not wrong.

        no character is safe.

        They never were… and some are in for more change than you could imagine (including otherwise ‘canon’ backgrounds).

        One particular character who has grown greatly is about to have her background SERIOUSLY changed and that change will effect the comic for over a decade.

    • rnd2
      June 9, 2011, 8:16 am | # | Reply

      thats a seriously awesome hug

  2. Fairportfan
    June 9, 2011, 12:02 am | # | Reply

    Bingo.

    • Fairportfan
      June 9, 2011, 12:04 am | # | Reply

      Usually, that kind of messing with the panel borders is the sort of thing Brooke McEldowney does (mostly at Pibgorn, but not infrequently at 9 Chickweed Lane, either.

      • jwhouk
        June 9, 2011, 12:06 am | #

        Brooke does it fourth-wall-breakingly, though. Pablo uses it for just the right effect.

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 12:22 am | #

        i thought ‘breaking the fourth wall’ was when the characters interact with the audience?

      • jwhouk
        June 9, 2011, 12:25 am | #

        With Mr. McEldowney, it’s more because the players don’t take themselves too seriously.

      • Fairportfan
        June 9, 2011, 12:55 am | #

        Characters lean on the borders, use them to pull themselves up from the ground, peek around them, bungee jump on them, and a lot of other stuff.

        Pogo used to do some of that – Albert Alligator would strike matches on the borders to light his ceegars…

      • Simon
        June 9, 2011, 5:25 am | #

        Strictly speaking, yes – the term refers to the ‘wall’ between the characters and the reader, and to characters expressing knowledge of it (or more generally, to the awareness that comic rules apply).

        Having Shelley’s legs dangling over the edge of the pane is a nice touch, but it’s purely artistic – it’s not like she consciously stepped out of the frame… the fourth wall is intact.

      • Knighttrap
        June 9, 2011, 9:13 am | #

        I’m with Simon on this one. This is more of a visual effect, must like 3D movies alow an effect off the screen. No interaction between the different panels are happening and the reader is more pulled to the illusion of realizim and give the character substance as she appears to jump off the page.
        Personaly I think its an awesome effect that should be used at the right times.

      • Eiríkr Útlendi
        June 15, 2011, 1:33 am | #

        That would be “breaking the *fifth* wall — the four walls are the left, right, top, and bottom borders, and the fifth wall is the “window” through which the audience views the action. In theater terms, it’d be when an actor winks at or directly addresses the audience.

        For all the college-level talk I’ve heard about “oo, post-modernist self-referential commentary,” we should remind ourselves that this “breaking the fifth wall” dynamic is certainly older than any post-modernist thought, and has been around probably as long as storytelling — we know Shakespeare does it, we know the ancient Greeks did it… 🙂

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 12:16 am | #

        it looks nice 😀
        nice effect 🙂

      • 6wingedserif
        June 9, 2011, 1:25 pm | #

        agree.. I think it’s perfect.

  3. HarukoHoshiko
    June 9, 2011, 12:04 am | # | Reply

    say it with me now… D’AWWWWWW 🙂

    • jwhouk
      June 9, 2011, 12:05 am | # | Reply

      D’aaawwwWWWWWWWW 🙂

    • bmonk
      June 9, 2011, 4:16 pm | # | Reply

      D’AWWWWWW 🙂

      (Especially for Shelly’s faces)

    • Ratcatcher
      June 10, 2011, 8:52 am | # | Reply

      Is that the sound of Shelly purring?

  4. jwhouk
    June 9, 2011, 12:04 am | # | Reply

    Whoever predicted it – give yourself a Phix cookie.

    Heather was the one who helped her get past her fear of CG – and the loss of her mom.

    • Volstaag
      June 9, 2011, 3:10 am | # | Reply

      I was still really hoping Owen would show up….childhood friend, puller of finger, hasn’t been seen in ages, yada yada yada

      • Songdog83
        June 9, 2011, 5:52 am | #

        I have to agree, i was hoping for owen. Heather is great too though.

    • Radio365
      June 9, 2011, 10:50 am | # | Reply

      Time for some wild guesses!

      What if Heather is Phix in disguise?

      • jwhouk
        June 9, 2011, 12:40 pm | #

        What if Heather is ALSO a Sphinx?

  5. nerf-dweller
    June 9, 2011, 12:05 am | # | Reply

    Heather, huh? That greeting indicates some interesting ramifications. How much has Shelly changed. It will be interesting to see things unfold.

  6. vince3
    June 9, 2011, 12:14 am | # | Reply

    Now the question is, what’s Heather’s relationship status? Is she still hanging out with that exec or some other girl? or is she now single?

  7. ikem
    June 9, 2011, 12:20 am | # | Reply

    so now i wonder what shelly has to say to heather

  8. Paula
    June 9, 2011, 12:21 am | # | Reply

    this is heartbreaking

    who she called really.
    a person she is close to (even if she hasn’t been seen on camera for quite a while) and yet not part of the supernatural.

    maybe she just wants normal for a short time..

    good luck with that if thats the case shelly…

    with the way things are going Heather might be Athena in disguise 😛

    • DJ
      June 9, 2011, 12:24 am | # | Reply

      Maybe Heather is part of the supernatural. Phix was not the only visitor Shelly has in 80,000 years.

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 6:38 am | #

        i wonder if one of the other timeline-shellys dated heather for real and told shellinx.
        or maybe shellinx is the only one who didn’t date her

    • 6wingedserif
      June 9, 2011, 1:36 pm | # | Reply

      I love that she called Heather.

      As anxious as I am for Officer Sexy McTightBuns to reappear and make with the lovins, I’m equally happy (if not more so) to see that Heather has returned first and is here to comfort Shelly. I’m not surprised at all that Shelly turned to her first. Once she has regained a slightly better handle on herself, perhaps then she can deal with her boytoy.. and Heather definitely seems the deeply caring, yet stoic and composed type (which is what Shelly really needs now more than she needs sexxin) who can get her there.

      ..also, this hug is so very beautifully depicted, I can feel the raw emotion from here. Not sexy-emotion, the kind you feel your friend gets their arms around you and you finally break down under the weight of it all and your own desperate appreciation for their willingness to be there and try to understand/help. <333

  9. ShadOBabe
    June 9, 2011, 12:21 am | # | Reply

    Nice call people.

    • ShadOBabe
      June 9, 2011, 12:22 am | # | Reply

      Side note: Oooooo, I like Heather’s boots. I saw a pair like that at the mall. <3

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:34 am | #

        yea nice 😀
        wonder if they’re tan or black 🙂
        mostly seem to be tan when they’re like that 😀

        or maybe suede

      • NOTDilbert
        June 9, 2011, 3:06 am | #

        Then you’ll probably like these, too:
        http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=569

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 8:35 am | #

        hmm
        similar too a pair of boots i saw once irl 🙂
        not as oversized of cause
        more victorian but similar!

      • Eiríkr Útlendi
        June 15, 2011, 1:37 am | #

        Bonus points if anyone has read “The Anubis Gates” or similar fiction and knows one of the theories for why boots sometimes have a chain around the heel! 😀

  10. SoWhyMe
    June 9, 2011, 12:24 am | # | Reply

    Oh noes! Has Shelly really gone over to the dark side? Maybe it’s time for CG to popup and slap her with a “snap out of it!”

    I’m beginning to wonder if this is a dream too. The background is strange and dark like a dream or maybe it’s just night.

    • ShadOBabe
      June 9, 2011, 12:26 am | # | Reply

      Hmmm… that’s could be. I doubt it, but it’s certainly possible.

  11. YakkoRex
    June 9, 2011, 12:25 am | # | Reply

    This is a wonderful turn of events. Makes me happy.

  12. Jay-Em
    June 9, 2011, 12:32 am | # | Reply

    Breaking the frame and a hug from Heather..what more could one need 😛

    I really dig Shelly’s legs hanging in the next frame…

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 6:32 am | # | Reply

      cake

      walnut coffee cake perhaps
      or ice-cream

      (had the walnut-coffee cake today. it was tasty)

      • jwhouk
        June 9, 2011, 1:22 pm | #

        No cheese, though?

      • NOTDilbert
        June 9, 2011, 5:45 pm | #

        Darn, now I want walnut cream-cheese coffe cake.

      • Ratcatcher
        June 10, 2011, 8:57 am | #

        And a mug of Tina’s best, after her talk with Heather.

  13. Sonicthunder
    June 9, 2011, 12:35 am | # | Reply

    While it is neat artistically (and I actually do like the crossover from panel 2 – 3) is Shelly supposed to be sitting on a ledge?

    —–

    And alas. My hopes for a short Darin cameo have been foiled again. Damn you serene city park!

    • Jay-Em
      June 9, 2011, 12:54 am | # | Reply

      They could go for beer at Darin’s.. Wouldn’t be too hard to fit that into the “Shelly adjusting to real-world” me thinks.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 1:38 am | # | Reply

      ooh interesting imagery

      reckon she is sitting on the ledge as she is metaphorically putting herself ‘out there’ so to speak?

  14. SoWhyMe
    June 9, 2011, 12:42 am | # | Reply

    I think this is it for this story line for now. Expect a change tomorrow in preparation for next week. If nothing else, perhaps getting back to Jin’s problem and the graveyard in Ireland. Knowing Paul, however, it could very well be something entirely new.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 1:40 am | # | Reply

      a big foot comes and squishes them both

      and now for something completly different

      (and on another note. i worked out why my linkage didn’t work yesterday. i typed ahref insted a href. doh!)

      • NOTDilbert
        June 9, 2011, 3:09 am | #

        Bigfoot versus Sphinx: Sphinx WINS!!!!

    • Knighttrap
      June 9, 2011, 7:18 am | # | Reply

      This looks like an amazing set up for a Friday cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the loop Paul gives us that I get to brood over all day at work tomorrow.

  15. Jim
    June 9, 2011, 12:44 am | # | Reply

    Awww.

  16. Dafydd
    June 9, 2011, 12:47 am | # | Reply

    The dangling feet is a wonderful touch.

  17. Jay-Em
    June 9, 2011, 12:59 am | # | Reply

    If Shelly keeps her hair long, it would be a nice indication that she’s at peace with her new situation.

    It looks nice, although I also liked the asymmetric pixie-cut she had.

    • jwhouk
      June 9, 2011, 1:24 pm | # | Reply

      You caught that, too, hey? I noticed that Shel’s hair had… “suddenly”… grown out a bit since she “returned” from the time forest.

    • DJ
      June 9, 2011, 4:24 pm | # | Reply

      Interesting bit of trivia. It was Heather who was with Shelly when she cut it short.

  18. Alex
    June 9, 2011, 1:07 am | # | Reply

    This may seem silly, but who is Heather? It’s been a while since I ventured into the earlier pages of this comic.

    • Jay-Em
      June 9, 2011, 1:14 am | # | Reply

      ooohh..now there’s a story!

      She’s Shelly’s girl-crush from loooong ago. Heather was also the first person to see Shelly break down over her mother’s death.

      “Venturing” in the older comics would be a good idea.

    • DJ
      June 9, 2011, 1:18 am | # | Reply

      Start here and keep reading for… oh… a few years.

      • DJ
        June 9, 2011, 1:19 am | #

        Stupid html. Here’s a hard link to it.

        http://wapsisquare.com/comic/12302002/

      • as363
        June 9, 2011, 10:26 pm | #

        Many thanks for posting the link – something new to do in my retirement . And create a file for each year before I put them in my eBook .

    • jae
      June 9, 2011, 8:00 am | # | Reply

      Time for an… Archive Binge(tm)!

  19. TlalocW
    June 9, 2011, 1:18 am | # | Reply

    And now… She asks Heather a riddle.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 1:47 am | # | Reply

      For some I go fast
      For others I go too slow.
      To most people, I’m an obsession
      relying on me is a well practiced lesson.

      What am I?

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:48 am | #

        from

        http://riddles.com

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:49 am | #

        umm
        ok

        from <–

      • Fatuncle
        June 9, 2011, 5:18 am | #

        Time.

        Or a clock; scans either way.

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 6:27 am | #

        correct 😀

      • Wyvern
        June 9, 2011, 7:54 pm | #

        Also, Love. Phix taught us that an experienced sphinx doesn’t cling to just one answer…and that would be a good answer for Heather.

      • TlalocW
        June 10, 2011, 12:27 am | #

        It’s eggssss, my precious! Egggssss…

  20. Lis
    June 9, 2011, 1:30 am | # | Reply

    ok so I was at least 1/3rd right and I like to put into that warm embrace the “I thought I would never see you again” that I hope is in there.

  21. Ari
    June 9, 2011, 1:59 am | # | Reply

    Hah! I knew it!

  22. Greg
    June 9, 2011, 2:07 am | # | Reply

    VERY nice work!

  23. Jaedreth
    June 9, 2011, 2:09 am | # | Reply

    Heather looks like she’s a sphinx-person too.

    • Leeskra
      June 9, 2011, 4:38 pm | # | Reply

      OMFG! THAT WOULD BE COOL! O_O

  24. Bucc-i
    June 9, 2011, 2:27 am | # | Reply

    Are they gonna start making out now?

    • DJ
      June 9, 2011, 7:07 am | # | Reply

      What is wrong with you?!

      • Eee
        June 9, 2011, 9:19 am | #

        Testosterone poisoning? ^_^

      • SoWhyMe
        June 9, 2011, 10:41 pm | #

        No, no. The correct terms are testosterone enhancement and estrogen poisoning.

      • Ratcatcher
        June 10, 2011, 9:01 am | #

        A severe case of poisoning.

    • dadman
      June 9, 2011, 8:02 am | # | Reply

      Seriously?!

      Oh, sorry. That should be

      srsly? wtf?

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 8:40 am | # | Reply

      doubtful as barring a small feminine crush shelly has not portrayed herself as a lesbian.

      Since alot of peeps recently have assumed she would have called justin for a booty-call .. i can see where you could be comming from.

      • Wyvern
        June 9, 2011, 7:57 pm | #

        Shelly and Heather need to reconnect, to synchronize emotionally, and get back to where they once were.

        If Shelly’s up to Happy Sweaty Time after that, sure.

    • Leeskra
      June 9, 2011, 4:37 pm | # | Reply

      … I wouldn’t mind it. Maybe her time in the forest re-assured of her thoughts for her? =}

      • Leeskra
        June 9, 2011, 4:38 pm | #

        Just make sure to invite the good officer… ^.^

  25. Jay-Em
    June 9, 2011, 2:40 am | # | Reply

    What’s that thingy on the right? Behind Paul’s autograph? Part of Heather’s bike?

    • Fairportfan
      June 9, 2011, 4:07 am | # | Reply

      Part of the signature.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 6:30 am | # | Reply

      as fairportfan said

      part of the signature – more specifically the copyright symbol part

      but it also looks like a headlamp 🙂

  26. lil
    June 9, 2011, 3:50 am | # | Reply

    mm, hot boots.

  27. Duessa
    June 9, 2011, 5:55 am | # | Reply

    Oh, the layout on this is just beautiful!

  28. ckret
    June 9, 2011, 7:18 am | # | Reply

    I feel that the most important panel in the whole comic is the first one. Shelly looks truly at peace, when was the last time we saw this? Considering how out of sorts she seemed to be with the last few comics with the phone. Once she made the call, she seems at peace.
    I’m very interested in where this is going.
    The rest of the layout is fantastic.

  29. The Old Wolf
    June 9, 2011, 8:52 am | # | Reply

    Wapsi Square for the super bloodsoaked flawless fatal victory win. Today’s strip has an awesome look and feel.

  30. susan
    June 9, 2011, 8:53 am | # | Reply

    Ok, that’s it. Time to start over from the beginning to get caught up on old characters. Been meaning to do that anyway 😉

    Love how much the art has changed in 10 years!

  31. TheDoctor
    June 9, 2011, 9:09 am | # | Reply

    and during their conversation Shely answers, “Lets just say I’ve………MATURED a lot since I’ve last seen you.” Its WAY better than blurting out ” HI! I’M A SPHINX!

  32. LazyWookie
    June 9, 2011, 9:40 am | # | Reply

    Noooooo– ooh, wait, this is good! And I absolutely adore this page layout and background design!

  33. Moonduck
    June 9, 2011, 9:53 am | # | Reply

    Phenomenal art on this strip. The whole thing is just gorgeous. This is easily the most impressive strip I’ve seen in Wapsi to date.

    Great job, Pablo!

  34. Jay-Em
    June 9, 2011, 10:22 am | # | Reply

    By the By, for those interested in the progress of the Nudge figurine. have a look at Nudge Basic layout

    It’s a start. The Apox is hardening now, and tonight on to the rest of the legs….

    • Jay-Em
      June 9, 2011, 10:47 am | # | Reply

      PS. Yes, I know it’s hanging forward . Made a mistake with the rod in her back.. easily fixed. 😛

      • as363
        June 9, 2011, 10:29 pm | #

        Excellent work – kudos for your talent .

    • Paul Taylor
      June 9, 2011, 12:50 pm | # | Reply

      That is so awesome!!! 😀

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:28 pm | #

        totally 2nd’d

    • Jabberwonky
      June 9, 2011, 1:31 pm | # | Reply

      Way cool, dude. Please keep us up to date on it.
      (If you’re working from the last panel of the strip on the workbench, it’s one of my favorite Nudges)

    • Jay-Em
      June 9, 2011, 3:29 pm | # | Reply

      Thanx guys. 😀

      I am still pondering if i’ll go for a “comic Nudge” like the vinyls of Bud, Shell, tepoz etc. Orrr… That I’ll pull Nudge in the “real world” meaning: completely realistic (as far as possible with a half-deity)

      Making Nudge look “real” is more of a challenge, because of her odd anatomy. As a classical trained artist, it’s hard to let go of normal “human” anatomy ,when making legendary creatures….

      I guess I’ll make both heads ,comic and “real” and see which one I like the most..

      Choices choices.. 😛 (and I am afraid I cannot do Paul’s art right…)

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 5:06 pm | #

        do both 🙂

    • The Old Wolf
      June 9, 2011, 4:43 pm | # | Reply

      Holy hqiz that is massively awesome! 😀

  35. txmystic
    June 9, 2011, 11:12 am | # | Reply

    Maybe this is why she called Heather…

    • jwhouk
      June 9, 2011, 1:26 pm | # | Reply

      And her middle name must be “Leah”.

  36. kingklash
    June 9, 2011, 11:30 am | # | Reply

    …and then CG pops up and says, “Who is this?”

    • jwhouk
      June 9, 2011, 1:26 pm | # | Reply

      Nope. CG’s met Heather.

      • Paula
        June 9, 2011, 1:37 pm | #

        has she though

        i always assumed that was a dream of shelly.
        creepy might have met her via the dream but heather won’t know creepy..

        in fact..now knowing about creepy more it wouldn’t surprise me if creepy created that dream purely to confront shelly about the keeping alone thing…

      • 6wingedserif
        June 9, 2011, 1:43 pm | #

        when did Heather and CG meet? any chance you could provide a link?

      • Bell pepper
        June 9, 2011, 1:46 pm | #

        Start reading at the beginning 3/2005 and keep going, CG was not happy at first.

      • 6wingedserif
        June 9, 2011, 2:23 pm | #

        thx

      • 6wingedserif
        June 9, 2011, 2:39 pm | #

        heh.. this is one of my faaaav strips.. so very very sweet. and left open to interpretation!!

        http://wapsisquare.com/comic/03112005/comment-page-1/#comment-52576

  37. Opus the Poet
    June 9, 2011, 11:32 am | # | Reply

    Artistically this is one of Paul’s best. Thematically I’m not sure where he’s going with this, because there was an arc where Heather and Shelly had a physical as well as an emotional relationship, but Heather drifted away after meeting a cute chick in Tina’s place. And even though I know they are both fictional characters I still want Shelly to have a happy life for what she has left, after all she has just been through 80K years of Hell +/-.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 1:34 pm | # | Reply

      they were never physical..
      from what i remember..

      in fact any misleadings of that relationship was all hypothetical.

      • SoWhyMe
        June 9, 2011, 2:08 pm | #

        Correct. Heather had naughty thoughts toward Shelly (“peanut butter and Shelly”), but never acted on them.

      • Fairportfan
        June 9, 2011, 9:30 pm | #

        There was at least that one kiss…

  38. Nimrod
    June 9, 2011, 1:18 pm | # | Reply

    I do not understand the last two weeks of the strip.
    As Shelly is my least favorite character I really do not care to know – but I must say that the amount of back-story work and alternate experiences that just these last few days have exposed shows a strong effort to try and add substance and depth to her.
    I did read through all the posts and I still do not understand who died.

    Great to see Heather again! It has been too many years.
    Better bring Lakshmi out before copyright expires.

    • Paula
      June 9, 2011, 1:36 pm | # | Reply

      it has been abit hard to keep track 🙂

      best to have a muffin and wait for a while then reread.
      it does help to go through story lines sometimes a few time with a big break inbetween 🙂

      (took me about 4 rereads to actually work out what was happening in the calender room)

    • Fairportfan
      June 9, 2011, 9:31 pm | # | Reply

      trademark

  39. AvengerReloaded
    June 9, 2011, 1:48 pm | # | Reply

    This was perfect.
    All she was seeking was acceptance. Something from someone who could tell Shelly she is still Shelly and mean it.
    No questions, no riddles, no answers and no inquiries on where this super-natural sleigh ride has taken her.
    Just pure and unconditional acceptance.

    • Sonicthunder
      June 9, 2011, 2:31 pm | # | Reply

      Oh. I hate to rain on anyone’s parade, but it has to be more than just ‘acceptance’. If that was all, Shelly wouldn’t have called a former love interest, no matter how good of terms they parted. It seems more likely she would have run to someone less likely to flare at her if the conversation turns inappropriate, but who knows her just as well if not better yet has no knowledge of her supernatural escapades. Namely, Jacqui.

      For her to turn to Heather instead, I feel she’s looking for something more than just acceptance. Not necessarily sparking the old relationship fires, but something more complicated.

      • DJ
        June 9, 2011, 4:18 pm | #

        Shelly made it clear the Heather was never a love interest but she was someone special.

      • ProleBoi
        June 9, 2011, 8:51 pm | #

        @Sonicthunder: I think Shelly called Heather because Heather’s the only person who isn’t really a part of her social circle that she can open up to. Heather, in this case, makes the only likely sounding board for Shelly’s most speculative thoughts; and she knows Heather has the maturity to listen.
        There was romantic tension between them upon a time, but not romance. As far as we know right now, Heather’s still in a relationship… and so is Shelly.

      • Sonicthunder
        June 10, 2011, 1:01 am | #

        Probably too late of a comment now for anyone to read this, but still:

        I hold my suspicions that this is more than just “I need to open up to someone who knows/cares about me but isn’t part of Monica’s magical crusades”.

        Primarily because of Jacqui. Jacqui is a closer friend to Shelly, is unaware of Monica’s magical crusades, is very supportive/positive, and has shared more dialogue with Shelly in-comic since Heather’s last appearance (Heather’s last appearance seemed more of a parting-ways on good terms).

        Perhaps I am just overanalyzing, but the selection of Heather, simply because of the unique nature of the Shelly/Heather dynamic, indicates there’s something more complicated intended by Shelly.

  40. txmystic
    June 9, 2011, 5:12 pm | # | Reply

    Heather also had this effect on Shelly (or is that CG?), so prolly another reason for her to call her up just now.

    • Sheik
      June 9, 2011, 8:51 pm | # | Reply

      I think you nailed it.
      Yes, it is alright to go out and play.

    • ProleBoi
      June 9, 2011, 9:00 pm | # | Reply

      I don’t think that was Heather’s doing; it was just in Shelly’s mind… a way for her unconscious to use a Heather-image to resolv an inner conflict; in this case, her guilt about not preventing her mother’s death. Simply getting to know Heather had precipitated that sequence of thoughts.
      I hope that sounds at least somewhat coherent 🙂

    • ProleBoi
      June 9, 2011, 9:21 pm | # | Reply

      This is the one I was thinking of.

      • ProleBoi
        June 9, 2011, 9:23 pm | #

        (laughs) One of these days, I’ll figure out tagging. This is the strip I had in mind:
        http://wapsisquare.com/comic/becauseyourescared/

      • Fairportfan
        June 9, 2011, 9:34 pm | #

        yep

      • txmystic
        June 9, 2011, 11:18 pm | #

        My earlier comment’s link (11:12AM) says something similar…Shelly’s abandonment issues surrounding the loss of her mom, the pain of being able to let Heather in despite that, yet still being afraid of it happening again/being alone. Well, she’s just had 80000 years, mostly alone, so it’ll be interesting to see what she’s wanting to share with Heather regarding all that…

    • Jabberwonky
      June 9, 2011, 10:59 pm | # | Reply

      I hope that’s why Shelly called her. Because, and I hate to rain on the Heather parade, I see her body language as a little stiff.
      Shelly can only be a complication for her, but what relationship isn’t filled with those?
      If she’s still with the lawyer, it has the look of a triangle. If not, is Heather willing to go through the ‘mixed signals’ thing again?
      But she is friends enough to come see Shelly when she needs it.
      I’m just worried about the Friday cliffhanger…

  41. Fairportfan
    June 9, 2011, 9:35 pm | # | Reply

    Talking about the old Shelly/Heather days (ummm – maybe i should use a hyphen instead of a slash) – this suddenly looks like foreshadowing…

    • Jabberwonky
      June 9, 2011, 11:08 pm | # | Reply

      Looking back there was foreshadowing for YEARS. Throwing engine blocks, grinding the back end off of a car, Tepoz telling her she was strong ‘maybe too strong for her own good.’
      Going back through the archives, now, make you second guess every incident that I first wrote off to ‘only when it’s funny’.

      I’m worried about Dietzel now…

      • Kramegame
        June 9, 2011, 11:27 pm | #

        well he was depicted inside the Temple of the Calender Machine…
        at least that’s what we wanted to believe anyway…

    • txmystic
      June 9, 2011, 11:22 pm | # | Reply

      There are TONS of strips with Shelly and Heather that would be nice to bring up right now, which is why I’m hoping this vignette lasts for more than a couple of days…

      • DJ
        June 9, 2011, 11:30 pm | #

        Not likely. It Friday and that means it explody time. Wonder what bombshell Paul is going to have for us today.

  42. Julie
    June 13, 2011, 12:44 pm | # | Reply

    Pretty Shelly! 🙂

  43. GaijinGuy
    May 31, 2012, 1:32 am | # | Reply

    I actually ‘awwwwww’d out loud at this strip. After seeing the one where the plutonium made Shelly die, this one was the perfect pick-up. Bravo!

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