SoWhyMe – if you’re making a Jar Jar reference, that’s an entirely different fictional universe whatsoever (and a reference best left buried in a deep pit somewhere).
See how this plays out. While I agree I do not think Shelly ‘needs’ to be paired with OTB, her current status is just trying to grasp at every semblance of her original, non-supernatural life. She’s reached out to Heather, not OTB.
She could still realize she doesn’t want a relationship with him once she actually sees him again.
Course, if this is the path Shelly’s taking (reaching out to those unaware of the Masquerade), maybe we’ll get a future scene in Darin’s Bar or Jacqui’s Punk-Yoga hall!!!
Did Shelly reach out to Heather? I took Monday’s strip as confirmation that Shelly was just sleeping the whole time. She had a dream about a spider after a dream about Heather, as far as I can tell.
I’m still thinking the the inconsistencies in the bottom three panels here are hints that she was dreaming. By inconsistencies, I mean the lack of the signs around the phone to the missing phone cords.
Interesting theory. The whole Heather meeting had a surreal quality to it. Is she still dreaming even now and dreamed the turning into a sphinx again as well?
… but even if she had dreamed about Heather, I’m pretty certain the sphinx part was real, as well as the current conversation. It lacks the dreamy quality that was present earlier.
If I remember correctly, Shelly had a serious fear of being alone, and sought relationships purely for that reason before. Needing people around her probably made her feel weak.
Looking at this page in that context, Shelly may simply be admitting that it’s okay to want people in your life…if you have them there for the right reason.
I get the impression that “old” Shelly (i.e. before she realised she was a Sphinx) masked her fear of loss by pretending that she didn’t need anybody. She’s had lots of issues around intimacy.
It’s clear that, in today’s strip, she’s finally realised the question is: Does she want to break it off because it’s the right thing to do or is it because she’s scared of intimacy? Their relationship can’t stay the same so is
the right thing to break it off or take it to the next level?
Add to that that police officers have to deal with horrible things all the time — so he might have a measure of understanding for her situation and the answer is not so simple.
And besides, if she tells Justin the simple truth, and demonstrates that it is true, and he can’t handle it, she can always kill and eat him. Win – win!
I totally agree–with one exception. After they both transform to sphinxes, there would no longer be a need to break through the ceiling, since the ceiling would no longer be above them. . . .
It’s easy to forget if you haven’t read it for a while but you’ll find it easier to understand “old” Shelly if you re-read the whole of the Heather-Shelly storyline. Through her interaction with Heather we learn about her fears and the ways she got around them.
She got better than capez. She got wingz and klauzuz.
Forget the whiny guy in spandex frightening those cowardly and superstitious criminals. A three ton man eating cat with wings will do the job mo’ better.
Aha. NOW we’re getting somewhere. *puts on shrink glasses* Now, what else do You realize by now? Try -for a change- to be honest towards Yourself. There is no weakness in admitting that you need other people. it’s in our nature….
I believe that Shelly is only now starting to re-arrange all that’s whizzing and tumbling through her mind after popping back into “the real world”
I have to admit that I really, REALLY like storylines like this. It makes one care for fictitious characters even more…
A good relationship is never a sign of weakness, but it remains a social vulnerability– leverage in the hands of a third party. Even if Justin is 110% loyal to Shelly after learning her secrets, it will threaten to compromise his loyalty to his fellow officers.
This may not occur to Shelly (being a loner for so long, though Creepy Conscience may help) but she “”should”” first make a firm decision to keep or let go of Justin, and then summon a round table of all the Lost Girls (+/- Kevin, Alan & Jin) to discuss the future of their Gentlemen’s Auxiliary.
In short, her relationships are her decision, but their ramifications have to be discussed by everyone affected.
there is only one problem with that… If he lets slip about shelly, he has a good chance of either being sent to a madhouse or losing all his credibility, depending on how good his relationship with his fellow officers and bosses are…
Naw, the first time he lets it slip they’ll just assume he’s engaging in hyperbole. After all he doesn’t *really* think she’s a sphinx does he?
After a lot of ribbing OTB will be a lot more cautious.
Oh, I don’t think Paul is going in the direction of having a Riley from BtVS sour the group; Wapsiwould lose its whimsical slice-of-life side if it went all Bourne Identity. (Although the series is evolving–we’ll see.)
I was only assessing Shelly’s Choice within the dramatic parameters already set: http://wapsisquare.com/comic/plans-in-place/ This is what she is measuring in her 80,000 year old divided mind.
Paul never ignores the murderous side of the real world in his work: the burning of the Serapeum, the Nazis… and the extension of this kind of violence into the reality of Wapsi world: the gang in Cairo who killed Tepoz’s friend, and Tina’s father, who is presumably still at large. This violence hasn’t been allowed to intrude much on our heroes’ suburban peace and fun. But he has always acknowledged that with one wrong move, it can.
The other thing is that they already probably think he’s weird. He said he was a psycho chick magnet, so they will hear anything he says through that filter.
and after that Dramatic “I really missed him”, Shely pulls her nhead back to reveal…. A HUGE CAVITY IN HER WALL!
To which she looks at it, and thinks “Aw Sh*#!” I love the way this strip switchs from Tragedy to Comedy.
Aaaaaand, this is the page that I have to stop at and wait for the next page tomorrow after finding this site, starting at the 2005 beginning and reading one page after another. Wow. What a ride. Deepest. Storyline. Ever.
One never realizes their values until they don’t have them anymore; If you can’t see the forest for the trees, you might see the trees with out the forest. Ergo, sometimes the only way to win an argument…is to lose one
Definitely a more mature Shelly!
One of the surest signs of strength is to lose your fear of weakness.
Actually, Tristan was commenting on the fact that she didn’t put her head THROUGH the steel re-enforced concrete wall, this time.
Poor kid, she is losing arguments with herself.
I dont think she can resist the sweet hunk… 🙂
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/zombie-apocalypse/
Some arguments are worth losing. Especially when we try to convince ourselves we are not worthy of love, or of being loved.
to bad we somethimes lose that discussion with ourselfs
…and the pendulum swings back in the other direction.
The light is on, and somebody is home!
This can only get better….
had to read back a few pages…but holy crackers! nightmares just took on a whole new aspect!
Good — she’s coming around to a more sane & sensible position. Hopefully that will lead to new positions with Justin. 😉
*slowly tilts pun jar to hear coins sliding around*
ehrm
*slowly tilts it back*
What? That wasn’t a pun — it wasn’t even “punny”. It’s more of a double entendre, if anything…
Glances Meaningfully at the Innuendo jar, sighs and drops in a quarter. (c8
It’s come to the point where we now need a jar for jar jokes/references.
SoWhyMe – if you’re making a Jar Jar reference, that’s an entirely different fictional universe whatsoever (and a reference best left buried in a deep pit somewhere).
With a large sign reading PUBLIC URINAL pointed down the path to the pit.
If we drop coins in the Jar jar, do they make “binks”?
(slips a folded dollar in the pun jar.)
UGH! It’s also not weak to decide you don’t want a relationship because you have so much going on. Seriously?!?!
See how this plays out. While I agree I do not think Shelly ‘needs’ to be paired with OTB, her current status is just trying to grasp at every semblance of her original, non-supernatural life. She’s reached out to Heather, not OTB.
She could still realize she doesn’t want a relationship with him once she actually sees him again.
Course, if this is the path Shelly’s taking (reaching out to those unaware of the Masquerade), maybe we’ll get a future scene in Darin’s Bar or Jacqui’s Punk-Yoga hall!!!
Did Shelly reach out to Heather? I took Monday’s strip as confirmation that Shelly was just sleeping the whole time. She had a dream about a spider after a dream about Heather, as far as I can tell.
I’m still thinking the the inconsistencies in the bottom three panels here are hints that she was dreaming. By inconsistencies, I mean the lack of the signs around the phone to the missing phone cords.
Interesting theory. The whole Heather meeting had a surreal quality to it. Is she still dreaming even now and dreamed the turning into a sphinx again as well?
Unfortunately for that theory, I just noticed that Shelly was clothed on Monday, but she was naked before calling Heather.
… but even if she had dreamed about Heather, I’m pretty certain the sphinx part was real, as well as the current conversation. It lacks the dreamy quality that was present earlier.
Yes, but we often are naked or partially clothed in dreams. She may have been dreaming of sleeping in the nude.
Wouldn’t mind hearing from Darin sometime soon!!!
Easy, Ari, easy. Shelly hasn’t made a decision yet; and as far as I know*, nobody has called Shelly “weak” for wanting to stay with Justin.
*I’ve yet to comb through the past 2 days worth of comments.
If I remember correctly, Shelly had a serious fear of being alone, and sought relationships purely for that reason before. Needing people around her probably made her feel weak.
Looking at this page in that context, Shelly may simply be admitting that it’s okay to want people in your life…if you have them there for the right reason.
Hmmm…okay. I suppose. I’d like to believe that’s what she meant. Thank you. That was most helpful.
Pff. Give Shelly 5 minutes with Amanda. She’ll have her hating every sentient being in existence, especially those of the opposite sex, in no time.
AWWWWWWWWWW!!!
I’m happy now…
Hi, thanks for the welcome yesterday, to Paula and Ratcatcher too 🙂
I get the impression that “old” Shelly (i.e. before she realised she was a Sphinx) masked her fear of loss by pretending that she didn’t need anybody. She’s had lots of issues around intimacy.
It’s clear that, in today’s strip, she’s finally realised the question is: Does she want to break it off because it’s the right thing to do or is it because she’s scared of intimacy? Their relationship can’t stay the same so is
the right thing to break it off or take it to the next level?
Add to that that police officers have to deal with horrible things all the time — so he might have a measure of understanding for her situation and the answer is not so simple.
And besides, if she tells Justin the simple truth, and demonstrates that it is true, and he can’t handle it, she can always kill and eat him. Win – win!
Unless, of course, Justin can transform himself into a big hairy spider. Then it’s goodbye home sweet home, hello parking lot.
At the least, a large hole in the roof, and Shelly testing her sphinx form’s performance envelope for altitude.
Suddenly visualizes the discussion. Shelly has just told Justin everything, transformed to prove it, and is anxiously awaiting his response.
He says nothing, but takes off his clothes and glasses.
“What are you doing?!?” she gasps.
He concentrates… and suddenly there are two Sphinxes in the room.
“A lot of us go into police work. It’s the guardian thing,” he says. And looks around. “We’re gonna need a bigger place…”
Lovely projection of the possibilities.
I totally agree–with one exception. After they both transform to sphinxes, there would no longer be a need to break through the ceiling, since the ceiling would no longer be above them. . . .
RATS! I was thinking the same thinas you, Eee. By the Way, Eee, is that the Male or Female Pronunciation?
Doctor–I think you pronounce it with an Omnian accent. Although then it sounds more like Ee.
Glad you worked it out cuz I haven’t a clue where Shelly got that from
*grabs muffin and settles into confusion corner…again*
It’s easy to forget if you haven’t read it for a while but you’ll find it easier to understand “old” Shelly if you re-read the whole of the Heather-Shelly storyline. Through her interaction with Heather we learn about her fears and the ways she got around them.
The Heather story begins here:
http://wapsisquare.com/comic/01052004/
Gee, all she needs in panel one is a cape and a breeze, and a rooftop at night…. 🙂
She got better than capez. She got wingz and klauzuz.
Forget the whiny guy in spandex frightening those cowardly and superstitious criminals. A three ton man eating cat with wings will do the job mo’ better.
If it bleeds, I can kill it.
For Shar-Teel Dosan of Baldur’s Gate, opportunity knocks.
So go get some fer cryin out loud!
She misses him. When it comes to being fair to everyone, you still have to be fiar to yourself.
Just keep a fiar extinguisher near to hand. Wouldn’t want to get burnt.
Where’s that pun jar … ?
It’s not fun being lysdexic.
Remember: when life gives you melons, you may be dyslexic.
Dyslexics of the World: Untie!
Lysdexics are teeple poo!
AHAHAHAHAHAH. THat’s great! I’m totally going to steal that! So Monica might be dyslexic? Now where did that Innuendo jar get to…
I am Dyslexia of the Borg! Prepare to have your ASS LAMINATED!!!
More proof that great minds think alike – check this out:
http://www.collectedcurios.com/Portfolio_Chara_028.jpg
and look at his other stuff, too. Caution: some NSFW
Aha. NOW we’re getting somewhere. *puts on shrink glasses* Now, what else do You realize by now? Try -for a change- to be honest towards Yourself. There is no weakness in admitting that you need other people. it’s in our nature….
I believe that Shelly is only now starting to re-arrange all that’s whizzing and tumbling through her mind after popping back into “the real world”
I have to admit that I really, REALLY like storylines like this. It makes one care for fictitious characters even more…
I pray that police tight buns does not leave Shelly when he finds out the truth, please, please, pretty please!
Well granted Shelly does talk to him.
A good relationship is never a sign of weakness, but it remains a social vulnerability– leverage in the hands of a third party. Even if Justin is 110% loyal to Shelly after learning her secrets, it will threaten to compromise his loyalty to his fellow officers.
This may not occur to Shelly (being a loner for so long, though Creepy Conscience may help) but she “”should”” first make a firm decision to keep or let go of Justin, and then summon a round table of all the Lost Girls (+/- Kevin, Alan & Jin) to discuss the future of their Gentlemen’s Auxiliary.
In short, her relationships are her decision, but their ramifications have to be discussed by everyone affected.
there is only one problem with that… If he lets slip about shelly, he has a good chance of either being sent to a madhouse or losing all his credibility, depending on how good his relationship with his fellow officers and bosses are…
Naw, the first time he lets it slip they’ll just assume he’s engaging in hyperbole. After all he doesn’t *really* think she’s a sphinx does he?
After a lot of ribbing OTB will be a lot more cautious.
Oh, I don’t think Paul is going in the direction of having a Riley from BtVS sour the group; Wapsiwould lose its whimsical slice-of-life side if it went all Bourne Identity. (Although the series is evolving–we’ll see.)
I was only assessing Shelly’s Choice within the dramatic parameters already set: http://wapsisquare.com/comic/plans-in-place/ This is what she is measuring in her 80,000 year old divided mind.
Paul never ignores the murderous side of the real world in his work: the burning of the Serapeum, the Nazis… and the extension of this kind of violence into the reality of Wapsi world: the gang in Cairo who killed Tepoz’s friend, and Tina’s father, who is presumably still at large. This violence hasn’t been allowed to intrude much on our heroes’ suburban peace and fun. But he has always acknowledged that with one wrong move, it can.
Fortunately he keeps it to a minumun, unlike most comics which feature it on a continual basis.
The other thing is that they already probably think he’s weird. He said he was a psycho chick magnet, so they will hear anything he says through that filter.
hey, good one! 🙂 so if he starts blabbing, they just say “oops, girlfriend… :P”
Also, nice reference in panel 3 to the old MAD magazine Starchie Standrews slamming his head in prison for having let his high school babe go.
Jerk. Fool. Idiot.
Holy cow, Shelly is THINKING! And thinking her way out of trouble! Or maybe into it… Either way, good for her!!!
and after that Dramatic “I really missed him”, Shely pulls her nhead back to reveal…. A HUGE CAVITY IN HER WALL!
To which she looks at it, and thinks “Aw Sh*#!” I love the way this strip switchs from Tragedy to Comedy.
At least she’s discovered the difference between being by yourself, and being alone.
Yep. Good place to link this, again.
awww, our little Shelly is growing up, and it only took 80k years. /sniff
But really, I’m happy for the girl that she seems to be getting her head right finally.
Aaaaaand, this is the page that I have to stop at and wait for the next page tomorrow after finding this site, starting at the 2005 beginning and reading one page after another. Wow. What a ride. Deepest. Storyline. Ever.
Hitting the end of an archive blitz is always bitter sweet. Glad you’re here.
Awww! SEE! YAY!
One never realizes their values until they don’t have them anymore; If you can’t see the forest for the trees, you might see the trees with out the forest. Ergo, sometimes the only way to win an argument…is to lose one