[1440]Jenny?

[zimmyzims]

Pretends to care about Jenny for real

Okay, I'm just still reminding Jack of the fact that he once confessed his love to Zimmy and Jenny is a Zimmy lookalike. Plus, it took him until it was all over to go and check if Jenny is fine.

Anyway, so far our predictions of deaths of students seem to have gone wrong. Unless Paz is now in trouble. Because Gamma and Jenny seem to have survived fine.

Seraphs look like they're in trouble. Finally. They've been acting more than a bit cocky and really deserve to get their rusty asses kicked.

[meltea]

Blast, I was hoping for some red eyes.

[Chancellor]

They done goofed it now.

meltea
Patience, I'm sure they will come.

[arf]

Dec 3, 2014 8:01:52 GMT meltea said:

Blast, I was hoping for some red eyes.

I think whatever's left of Ship is going to be getting the red-eye treatment.

[Fishy]

I imagine the eyes will come. For now, I'm happy to see that smile. Seems like it's easy to forget that past the horrific nightmare world, she's still a young girl. Maybe I'm thinking too deeply into it, but that smile at least makes me feel like... well, like Zimmy is far more innocent than she's given credit for. And she definitely deserves to feel relieved that it's over.

Now then, as for these robots... The ship could perhaps be fixed, I think. Kat could reverse some polarities or do some hacking. The Seraph units though, they're very aware of themselves. Maybe the Court will receive a new shipment of paperclips soon. And on that note, kudos to Jenny. Not a scratch on her, from the looks of things.

[warrl]

Dec 3, 2014 7:59:00 GMT zimmyzims said:

Okay, I'm just still reminding Jack of the fact that he once confessed his love to Zimmy and Jenny is a Zimmy lookalike. Plus, it took him until it was all over to go and check if Jenny is fine.

The first part of that is a legitimate issue.

But the second part? They had a plan. Jenny did her part. For Jack to NOT do his part, abandoning it to hunt for her, would have been a betrayal. Of her specifically. He looked for her as soon as his part was clearly done.

[quoodle]

Quick, press the buttons on the seraphs!

[keef]

Dec 3, 2014 8:29:52 GMT warrl said:

Dec 3, 2014 7:59:00 GMT zimmyzims said:

Okay, I'm just still reminding Jack of the fact that he once confessed his love to Zimmy and Jenny is a Zimmy lookalike. Plus, it took him until it was all over to go and check if Jenny is fine.

The first part of that is a legitimate issue.

But the second part? They had a plan. Jenny did her part. For Jack to NOT do his part, abandoning it to hunt for her, would have been a betrayal. Of her specifically. He looked for her as soon as his part was clearly done.

Yep, he's done some serious heroing, time to forgive him for no longer being cool.

Dec 3, 2014 9:37:08 GMT quoodle said:

Quick, press the buttons on the seraphs!

You think that's still necessary? I assume they know they are beaten.

[dard]

Dec 3, 2014 8:29:52 GMT warrl said:

Dec 3, 2014 7:59:00 GMT zimmyzims said:

Okay, I'm just still reminding Jack of the fact that he once confessed his love to Zimmy and Jenny is a Zimmy lookalike. Plus, it took him until it was all over to go and check if Jenny is fine.

The first part of that is a legitimate issue.

But the second part? They had a plan. Jenny did her part. For Jack to NOT do his part, abandoning it to hunt for her, would have been a betrayal. Of her specifically. He looked for her as soon as his part was clearly done.

I'm not sure if the first part is a legitimate issue.
Jenny seems to be fully aware of that fact. Jack did not hide it from here. And Jenny is totally fine with that situation. For me this makes it a non-issue.

And for the second part, agreed: Like Jack said, she can take care of herself. He didn't jeopardize the whole rescue operation because he knew he could trust her to do her part. Trust in her abilities but care when things have settled down shows (to me) love much more than a protector's hero syndrome of someone who needs a damsel in distress as his better half.

[wanderer]

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the Seraph barge out the door and then change back to normal was "...And that's quite enough out of you, children!"

...talking to the seraphs, not as them, just in case that confuses anyone.

[smjjames]

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

[ctso74]

Dec 3, 2014 14:15:25 GMT smjjames said:

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

Perhaps, Ship thought it could keep its change, once it was a willful breathing organic. Or it didn't think at all. The whole "Love Ship" plan doesn't seem to be thought out too well.
I don't know, if the Seraphs ever thought their changes would be permanent. Of course, they may have had another plan all together.

[TBeholder]

A page about smiling girls. Zimmy drowns in relief.
I like Jenny's superior half-smirk, too.

Dec 3, 2014 10:40:51 GMT dard said:

Like Jack said, she can take care of herself.

Tht, and when someone resembles Zimmy (whom Jack treats seriously after all he have seen), and plays crazy tricks with level of control, fine touches and making it look easy like Jenny does... it's probably hard not to perceive her power and competence as almost godlike.

[mariposa]

Dec 3, 2014 10:40:51 GMT dard said:

Dec 3, 2014 8:29:52 GMT warrl said:

The first part of that is a legitimate issue.

But the second part? They had a plan. Jenny did her part. For Jack to NOT do his part, abandoning it to hunt for her, would have been a betrayal. Of her specifically. He looked for her as soon as his part was clearly done.

I'm not sure if the first part is a legitimate issue.
Jenny seems to be fully aware of that fact. Jack did not hide it from here. And Jenny is totally fine with that situation. For me this makes it a non-issue.

And for the second part, agreed: Like Jack said, she can take care of herself. He didn't jeopardize the whole rescue operation because he knew he could trust her to do her part. Trust in her abilities but care when things have settled down shows (to me) love much more than a protector's hero syndrome of someone who needs a damsel in distress as his better half.

Yeah, I agree. Their relationship seems pretty genuine to me. Plus, I don't really think they actually look THAT alike? I don't think we ever would have confused the two at the beginning of the chapter if we didn't know about Jack's infatuation with Zimmy. And real people date multiple people with similar physical characteristics all the time. Isn't that just what "having a type" means?

Dec 3, 2014 14:15:25 GMT smjjames said:

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

Except the Seraphs and the sailorbots didn't change. That was just what they looked like in Zimmy's world. Nothing was done to them to alter their appearance. The ship, on the other hand, was augmented by the "Creator", who seems to possess some highly unusual abilities. Even IF the changes to the ship are no longer visible now that etheric order is restored, I have a feeling that whatever Kat has done is permanent. That is, unless this transformation process is one with a definitive end, and unravels if left incomplete.

Edited to add: I'm inclined to believe that the robots have a pretty good understanding of what's going on, perhaps better than anyone else at the moment. The Seraphs seem to have really done their research. While this "unrequited love" scenario seems almost silly, I'm willing to bet that there are many other robots out there that would be interested in "becoming flesh", perhaps even the Seraphs themselves. We know they sometimes idolize humans; remember how Tom said the Robot King is king because he has the ability to express his emotions? "Wants to be a real boy" is a pretty classic trope. I assumed they had selected the ship as a sort of first test run, due to the convenient circumstances of the cruise and its crew of puppets.
This presents some interesting possibilities regarding the whole "man's attempt to become god" thing, especially when you compare Coyote's shadow people to the robots as two variations of almost-human. (Sorry, this has probably all been pointed out before. I just got excited.)

[smjjames]

Well, on previous pages, we did see some goo and vestigial tentacles attached to the hull.

[aaroncampbell]

I wonder what the Seraphs will make of this experience?

On one hand, it's possible that the experiences of being eldritch versions of themselves was both unplanned and unpleasant, and they may do a post-action analysis and come to the conclusion that it wasn't worth it. (The closest, perhaps, that they may come to actual remorse.)

On the other hand, they did go pretty overboard about a robotic chicken wing and a little puff of smoke, and now they've witnessed their "Angel" in the process of creating life first-hand. They may come to thinking, "We would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn't been for you meddling kids!"

[thedoctor]

Dec 3, 2014 14:15:25 GMT smjjames said:

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

My thought is that it would have become permanent if the process had been "completed" somehow. How that would be, I don't know.

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

[Fishy]

I wonder what the chances are that everyone will get to finish the cruise after all this. It sure would be a shame for this all to go to waste because the AI got all clingy and reality warpy.

Furthermore, Kat and Paz deserve to finish their dance. Really, shame this nice little break had to end up like this.

[brokshi]

What's with the white in her hair? I assumed it might just be light shining off her hair, but that's never happened before. Then again, each time she's been in the rain before, it's been dark, outside, not in a well-lit room in a yacht.
It'll probably amount to nothing, but it's worth noting, I think.

[Lightice]

Dec 3, 2014 19:25:16 GMT brokshi said:

What's with the white in her hair? I assumed it might just be light shining off her hair, but that's never happened before.

It's probably supposed to be water evaporating off her head. She's had steam coming off of her before when she came under rain. Whatever in the rain helps her also seems to give off a lot of excess heat.

[KMar]

Dec 3, 2014 16:58:06 GMT thedoctor said:

Dec 3, 2014 14:15:25 GMT smjjames said:

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

My thought is that it would have become permanent if the process had been "completed" somehow. How that would be, I don't know.

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

Yes. I'm afraid this might be an unpopular opinion, but lately I've been following updated for the graphical art (which has been glorious) and the speculation how the recent developments might affect the larger scale narrative. Straightforward execution of a plan leading to a success as planned, without complications putting everything into jeopardy, hardships, mystery to be unveiled or any credible threat of imminent danger... doesn't make very compelling storytelling.

There was the excellent, very foreboding set up: Seraphs making their presence on the ship known and being eerily creepy, and Zimmingham has been earlier established as a very terrible, dangerous place. What we've got has been thus far... protagonists and supportive cast being awesome. Emotionally I'm still waiting for the first obstacle that wouldn't be trivial to overcome.

[zimmyzims]

Dec 3, 2014 8:29:52 GMT warrl said:

Dec 3, 2014 7:59:00 GMT zimmyzims said:

Okay, I'm just still reminding Jack of the fact that he once confessed his love to Zimmy and Jenny is a Zimmy lookalike. Plus, it took him until it was all over to go and check if Jenny is fine.

The first part of that is a legitimate issue.

But the second part? They had a plan. Jenny did her part. For Jack to NOT do his part, abandoning it to hunt for her, would have been a betrayal. Of her specifically. He looked for her as soon as his part was clearly done.

I know. I just like to bring things against Jack.

Speaking about that plan... How did Jack come up with it? Don't look, if you really like Jack.

SPOILER: Click to show

Jack: "Listen, all, I've got a plan to rescue Zimmy... I mean to rescue us, rescue us all."
Others: "Alright, speak out, we're listening. Is it dangerous?"
Jack: "I'm afraid it is, for one of us.... we need a decoy to get the seraphs' attention. The rest of us should be pretty safe, but I'm not sure what may happen to her..."
Annie: "Her? does it have to be a girl?"
Jack: "Oh, yes, the seraphs should be looking for Zimmy, right... oh, wow, Jenny!"
Jenny: "What now, love?"
Jack: "I just now realised that you look quite a lot like Zimmy! What a coincidence! Someone could sure mistake you for Zimmy if you wore her clothes..."
Jenny: "uh, well, yes love, if you say so, do you mean like the shirt I have worn in bed sometimes..."
Jack: "oh YES! uh, I mean, yeah, maybe... let's skip that..."
Others (staring at Jack in disbelief): "ewww...."
Jack: "Uh, so, it just occurred to me that to rescue Zimmy.... I mean, to get Zimmy to rain to bring this field down, we need you to disguise as Zimmy and get all the seraphs to attack you while everybody else is running to protect Zimmy, most of us doing absolutely nothing there except saving their own asses, while you probably die, I mean you escape from the seraphs alone... I'm sure you can do it, like, with some spells and shit."
Jenny: "Sure thing, love! They don't call me a novice for nothing!"
Others:
Jack: "Great! Let's go! Swap shirts with Zimmy, fast!"
*shirt swap*
Jack: "ooh mama, that's hot..."
Others:
Jenny: "uh, not time for that now, love..."
Jack: "Right, right. Bye babe, try to cope..."
Jenny: "See you soon, love" (leaning to kiss)
Jack (hastily kissing Jenny while glancing at Zimmy): "I love you too, Zimmy... Jenny, I mean Jenny, the shirt messed my mind."

[Ophel]

Well, if there are not twists and complications during the action time, I imagine there will be definite consequences following all the actions. Such as Kat being stigmatised for possibly being very dangerous to be around when things like this may happen.
Or maybe her little project will be put to an end? Where might lead the story to? Rebellious, perhaps illegal continuation of her project at the, uh, behest of the Seraphs. Maybe even the court robots, too.

There will be a product to the reaction that occured. What/How shall that product be used next?

[keef]

Dec 3, 2014 20:50:54 GMT KMar said:

Dec 3, 2014 16:58:06 GMT thedoctor said:

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

Yes. I'm afraid this might be an unpopular opinion, but...
.. doesn't make very compelling storytelling.

How dare you criticize The Comic... But seriously if we can have threads about favourite chapters and pages, or (endless) speculation about the development of the story we should be able to discuss misgivings about the current chapter.

There was the excellent, very foreboding set up: Seraphs making their presence on the ship known and being eerily creepy, and Zimmingham has been earlier established as a very terrible, dangerous place. What we've got has been thus far... protagonists and supportive cast being awesome. Emotionally I'm still waiting for the first obstacle that wouldn't be trivial to overcome.

I completely agree with you here, I actually expected an end to this chapter soon after page 1405, followed by at least two more action packed chapters. The action we did see was indeed awesome, like Jenny's trap for the seraphs and action-Paz, but it seems like it all happened because it was necessary for the development of the comic in the long run, and Zimmingham, the ship and the seraphs are of minor importance. On the other hand: It ain't over...

[todd]

It's always possible that this was just a plot-device to lead to something else - like Kat's discovery of her abilities or the establishment of Jenny as a new character, or both - and that Tom made the rescue go so easily and smoothly to indicate that it wasn't that important.

But I'll agree that at present, it does seem a bit anticlimactic; none of Zimmy's horrors show up, the crew-bots and Seraphs, despite their fearsome-looking alterations, are easily defeated, the beacons are destroyed just like that, without a hitch. (Of course, Tom has shown a preference for character interaction over external conflict and battles.)

[Vilthuril]

Dec 3, 2014 8:15:53 GMT Fishy said:

The ship could perhaps be fixed, I think. Kat could reverse some polarities or do some hacking. The Seraph units though, they're very aware of themselves. Maybe the Court will receive a new shipment of paperclips soon. And on that note, kudos to Jenny.

As in, "reverse his polarities? hack? do some hacking?" Myself I've just been thinking, "Man, that ship is gonna make a huuuuuge number of paperclips. Maybe they'll have to branch out into hangers?"

[imaginaryfriend]

Dec 3, 2014 20:50:54 GMT KMar said:

Dec 3, 2014 16:58:06 GMT thedoctor said:

My thought is that it would have become permanent if the process had been "completed" somehow. How that would be, I don't know.

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

Yes. I'm afraid this might be an unpopular opinion, but lately I've been following updated for the graphical art (which has been glorious) and the speculation how the recent developments might affect the larger scale narrative. Straightforward execution of a plan leading to a success as planned, without complications putting everything into jeopardy, hardships, mystery to be unveiled or any credible threat of imminent danger... doesn't make very compelling storytelling.

There was the excellent, very foreboding set up: Seraphs making their presence on the ship known and being eerily creepy, and Zimmingham has been earlier established as a very terrible, dangerous place. What we've got has been thus far... protagonists and supportive cast being awesome.

Two thoughts, posted before: It may simply be that the Nobodies were so irrelevant to the story that they were just omitted. There's a lot of students this time around to glop them. Or maybe and I think more likely having Zeta controlled the way she was eliminated any danger to the students from rogue elements in Zimmingham. The robots should be programmed not to place the students in harm's way.

Dec 3, 2014 20:50:54 GMT KMar said:

Emotionally I'm still waiting for the first obstacle that wouldn't be trivial to overcome.

Brace yourselves. Here comes likely the most painful and socially awkward part of the chapter; Lyn is going to give Love Boat a serious talking-to. Destroying the whale would render the cruise ship's fingers and systems off-line, including sanitation, making for a difficult and unsanitary adventure in returning home...

[Jelly Jellybean]

Dec 3, 2014 22:43:52 GMT Ophel said:

Well, if there are not twists and complications during the action time, I imagine there will be definite consequences following all the actions. Such as Kat being stigmatised for possibly being very dangerous to be around when things like this may happen.
Or maybe her little project will be put to an end? Where might lead the story to? Rebellious, perhaps illegal continuation of her project at the, uh, behest of the Seraphs. Maybe even the court robots, too.

There will be a product to the reaction that occured. What/How shall that product be used next?

My guess is that everyone will concentrate the blame and recrimination on the Seraphs and Ship, instead of stigmatizing Kat.  I think there will be long-term consequences for Kat, but more along the lines of enhanced abilities and the realization that the titles Angel and Creator are more than honorific.

And since I am confessing thoughts, here are things I previously felt foreboding about that have been dispelled...
- I don't think Kat will distrust the robots given the robot rescue.
- I don't think Paz will be afraid of the robots' perception of Kat.  Action Paz is not going to let a cult of worshipping robots come between her and Kat.

[zimmyzims]

Dec 3, 2014 16:58:06 GMT thedoctor said:

Dec 3, 2014 14:15:25 GMT smjjames said:

So, the seraphs and the ship were wrong in thinking that the changes would be permanent. Although the bio-wings goo is still splattered on the ship as far as I know.

My thought is that it would have become permanent if the process had been "completed" somehow. How that would be, I don't know.

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

It doesn't seem very unpopular.

Dec 3, 2014 20:50:54 GMT KMar said:

Dec 3, 2014 16:58:06 GMT thedoctor said:

Also, does anyone else feel like this was too easy? Or not easy, but perhaps to straightforward? I'm expecting a twist here.

Yes. I'm afraid this might be an unpopular opinion, but lately I've been following updated for the graphical art (which has been glorious) and the speculation how the recent developments might affect the larger scale narrative. Straightforward execution of a plan leading to a success as planned, without complications putting everything into jeopardy, hardships, mystery to be unveiled or any credible threat of imminent danger... doesn't make very compelling storytelling.

There was the excellent, very foreboding set up: Seraphs making their presence on the ship known and being eerily creepy, and Zimmingham has been earlier established as a very terrible, dangerous place. What we've got has been thus far... protagonists and supportive cast being awesome. Emotionally I'm still waiting for the first obstacle that wouldn't be trivial to overcome.

I want to just add that the setup was bit forged as well, the seraphs got their plan starting way too easily, just planting those stickers to students etc.

All in all, the internal plot of this chapter has hardly been convincing. Or let's say, it has not been. Every obstacle for it to go forward has been rather trivial. But I want to, once again, emphasise the that pushing the plot forward at the price of its credibility probably signals that the internal plot is just less relevant and this chapter serves to significantly advance the general storyline. I'd wager that Tom is aware that his decisions in this chapter have been implausible and easy and do not make the best of storytelling, but has considered this as a necessary sacrifice to get his big story forward.

Dec 3, 2014 22:43:52 GMT Ophel said:

Well, if there are not twists and complications during the action time, I imagine there will be definite consequences following all the actions. Such as Kat being stigmatised for possibly being very dangerous to be around when things like this may happen.
Or maybe her little project will be put to an end? Where might lead the story to? Rebellious, perhaps illegal continuation of her project at the, uh, behest of the Seraphs. Maybe even the court robots, too.

There will be a product to the reaction that occured. What/How shall that product be used next?

Robot wars? Kat in secret robot resistance?

[hnau]

Breaking news: New fully autonomous ship called "Revolt" ...