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Post by asyetunnamed on Sept 26, 2014 13:54:04 GMT
The thing about the "glare" is, as seen, it is open to interpretation. If I had seen more of Jenny before, then I would have ignored it, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I like Jenny and hope that she'll slowly be fleshed out from "Jack's cheerful and magic using girlfriend". Her abilities don't worry me too much either. To me, they help prevent Annie from looking too powerful compared to her year group (in the same way that Jack stops Kat looking like she's Einstein in a Physics class). I suspect that Jenny's spells have some severe limitations that prevent her from solving every problem. The magic also makes me wonder what else the Court teach...
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Post by goldenknots on Sept 26, 2014 13:56:14 GMT
Somehow I doubt that they're Nobodies. For one thing, they're waving back, as if they recognize the students. If I recall correctly, the Nobodies we know and love tend to ignore Annie unless she purposely attracted their attention, just like you'd expect the average city dweller to act. If you don't know Annie and her friends, there's no reason to wave to them. Remember the fake Kat? Just because they act like real people doesn't necessarily mean that they are real people... And they can act very much like real people, as when Kat showed up. Annie could touch her, too, so maybe it's only Gamma who can "GOP" them. We need to find Gamma and spring her from that cage, I think, before there can be a full resolution. Regardless of what Kat does, or any presumed rescue party, she's the key to unkinking the reality distortion that Zimmy is generating. |
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Post by sidhekin on Sept 26, 2014 14:00:49 GMT
Annie did "GOP" another. She just didn't try it with fake Kat.
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lit
Full Member
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Post by lit on Sept 26, 2014 14:03:17 GMT
Yeah, I think she touched fake Kat but didn't GOP her. A GOP has to be intentional, I guess.
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Post by goldenknots on Sept 26, 2014 14:04:41 GMT
Annie did "GOP" another. She just didn't try it with fake Kat. You're right. I should've scanned the whole chapter again, and I'd have seen that. Still, it seems that it must involve conscious intent, and is hampered by wishful thinking. A cautionary tale. :) |
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Post by warrl on Sept 26, 2014 15:21:47 GMT
I'm starting to like Jenny. She's gone from jealous girlfriend to interesting character fairly fast! Although I'm sure something bad will happen soon... When was she jealous? She never seemed jealous to me. On the fourth page of the chapter, in the last panel we see her in, Jenny is looking at (presumably) Annie and Kat out of the corner of her eye. Some interpreted this as evidence of jealousy. It seems rather obvious at this point that said interpretation was incorrect. (Although at this point I can't completely dismiss the possibility that she was jealous of Kat.) However, at the time it was a plausible interpretation. I think a more likely possibility is that she was quickly analyzing Annie's powers and needed another quick look. Oh, also, that drone is freaking fast for an impromptu-built civilian drone. That trip should have taken at least a couple hours. |
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Post by asyetunnamed on Sept 26, 2014 15:40:49 GMT
Oh, also, that drone is freaking fast for an impromptu-built civilian drone. That trip should have taken at least a couple hours. Jack obviously goes to the Mr Donlan school of engineering |
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Post by zimmyzims on Sept 26, 2014 15:49:34 GMT
When was she jealous? She never seemed jealous to me. On the fourth page of the chapter, in the last panel we see her in, Jenny is looking at (presumably) Annie and Kat out of the corner of her eye. Some interpreted this as evidence of jealousy. It seems rather obvious at this point that said interpretation was incorrect. (Although at this point I can't completely dismiss the possibility that she was jealous of Kat.) However, at the time it was a plausible interpretation. I think a more likely possibility is that she was quickly analyzing Annie's powers and needed another quick look. Oh, also, that drone is freaking fast for an impromptu-built civilian drone. That trip should have taken at least a couple hours. Another plausible explanation to everything about Jenny so far, this included, is that she's Coyote in disguise. Coyote was spying his favourite girl's reactions after the encounter in then-apparently-boxbottishly-terrible-but-turn-to-be-quite-surprisingly-charming female form. |
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Post by Daedalus on Sept 26, 2014 15:53:16 GMT
Oh, also, that drone is freaking fast for an impromptu-built civilian drone. That trip should have taken at least a couple hours. We also don't know if there's any time distortion between the Gunnerverse and Zimmingham. It could have taken ten hours outside and only one inside. Somehow I'm getting Inception vibes now. Another plausible explanation to everything about Jenny so far, this included, is that she's Coyote in disguise. Coyote was spying his favourite girl's reactions after the encounter in then-apparently-boxbottishly-terrible-but-turn-to-be-quite-surprisingly-charming female form. I disagree on the basis of Occam's Razor, but I do love that idea a lot haha  |
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Post by thedoomblahsong on Sept 26, 2014 15:59:10 GMT
Tom is very aware of how things look to the reader, and loves to mess with our perception. He's done it many times in-comic as well as in his comments below each page. In fact on that very page he jokes about how Jenny looks similar to Zimmy. It's unlikely for him to work on that panel and never realize that it looks like Jenny is giving a death glare, albeit a subtle death glare. It's intentional for sure. Could be he just wants to mess with our heads, playing of the well worn 'jealous new girlfriend' trope, only to reveal that Jenny is nothing like that archetype. It's also possible that Jenny actually is a bit insecure about her new relationship, despite being a friendly person over-all, hence the death glare. She quickly got over herself and became friendly with Annie once everyone was in danger. There's no better way to break the ice than a giant robot kidnapping you and sending you to psychotic hallucination land.
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Post by aaroncampbell on Sept 26, 2014 16:16:48 GMT
There must be a scene after panel 5 showing the copter patiently waiting as the elevator descends while music plays in the background. Too bad it was left on the cutting room floor. Yes, and it needs to be playing a bad Muzak version of "The Girl from Ipanema" of course.  |
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Post by TBeholder on Sept 26, 2014 16:17:34 GMT
Oh, also, that drone is freaking fast for an impromptu-built civilian drone. That trip should have taken at least a couple hours. This merely leaves me puzzled as to what you call "civilian". Especially in the context of a lair of mad scientists. Especially given that Clarke's Third Law, Niven's corollary and Maxim 24 all use quantifiers making them compatible. But... ven hyu need da fing go fasta, stikk rokkits in da tail an' hyu do no wrong. Dot ken be improved only by painting 'em RED. Und dat kroozink ting wos RED! |
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Post by zimmyzims on Sept 26, 2014 16:31:26 GMT
Another plausible explanation to everything about Jenny so far, this included, is that she's Coyote in disguise. Coyote was spying his favourite girl's reactions after the encounter in then-apparently-boxbottishly-terrible-but-turn-to-be-quite-surprisingly-charming female form. I disagree on the basis of Occam's Razor, but I do love that idea a lot haha I said plausible, not true.  I nevertheless like that idea, too, and a voice inside me is telling me that is true. On the other hand, voices speaking inside oneself are no evidence, but a sign of lunacy, so I probably should not give much weight to this. |
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Post by The Anarch on Sept 26, 2014 16:49:02 GMT
I'm pretty sure that the drone is actually bumping up against the door to knock, of course, but some part of me wants it to just be playing a recording of someone knocking on a door.
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Post by Eversist on Sept 26, 2014 17:14:50 GMT
I freaking adore Tom's sense of humor. This is such a dark storyline, and he finds a way to make a joke (without it feeling heavy-handed). Awesome.
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Post by Daedalus on Sept 26, 2014 17:39:02 GMT
There's no better way to break the ice than a giant robot kidnapping you and sending you to psychotic hallucination land. Or having a dryad abduct you, leaving your friends unaware of your whereabouts. I wonder if the robots learned about the Residential trip and though "Oh, okay, this is an acceptable thing." |
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Post by artezzatrigger on Sept 26, 2014 18:06:47 GMT
It certainly has more manners than the Seraphs. Maybe it could give them a little lesson in etiquette.
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Post by fwip on Sept 26, 2014 18:24:37 GMT
Jenny is so very British. I, like others, had entertained the idea that she might be Coyote in disguise; but it can't be. She's simply too British. That's not an over-the-shoulder death glare. She may look slightly creepy in that panel, but that was probably unintended. It must be a side effect of her goth-ness. Maybe she seemed so frowny in that comic because Annie was acting aloof to the point of hostility. |
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Post by Daedalus on Sept 26, 2014 18:35:53 GMT
Jenny is so very British. I, like others, had entertained the idea that she might be Coyote in disguise; but it can't be. She's simply too British. That's not an over-the-shoulder death glare. She may look slightly creepy in that panel, but that was probably unintended. It must be a side effect of her goth-ness. Maybe she seemed so frowny in that comic because Annie was acting aloof to the point of hostility. Which is the typical Annie response to new people, though people who've never met her don't know that. |
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Post by wynne on Sept 26, 2014 18:48:33 GMT
There's no better way to break the ice than a giant robot kidnapping you and sending you to psychotic hallucination land. Or having a dryad abduct you, leaving your friends unaware of your whereabouts. I wonder if the robots learned about the Residential trip and though "Oh, okay, this is an acceptable thing." Hey, at least this should be a great bonding experience for the kids. It's just that, all of Jenny's skin visible is purple, while only a bit of Annie's is off-coloured due to the purple. It kinda looks like it's emanating from Jenny. I might just be paranoid. Jenny is rather pallid. Her speech is rather odd on this page...  |
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Post by sapientcoffee on Sept 26, 2014 19:33:02 GMT
Of course she's still overexcited. And they both are purple-er on the 2-nd panel. Small wonder, given what things may provide lighting there... I thought so, as well. It's just that, all of Jenny's skin visible is purple, while only a bit of Annie's is off-coloured due to the purple. It kinda looks like it's emanating from Jenny. I might just be paranoid. Jenny is rather pallid. Goth under Black Lights (2014) |
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Post by fwip on Sept 26, 2014 19:47:07 GMT
I'm pretty sure that the drone is actually bumping up against the door to knock, of course, but some part of me wants it to just be playing a recording of someone knocking on a door. Reminds me of www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2736 where, given the character, it's unclear whether she actually says smooch while smooching him or not. (gotta stop using that word before I catch the cooties) *shudders* |
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Post by thedoctor on Sept 26, 2014 20:32:26 GMT
I'm with fwip on this one. They still could be like not!Kat, but Annie, Jenny and Jack could just poke them and find out. It kinda reminds me of Luna Lovegood from HP. She's odd and socially quirky , but polite and kind. Smart AND cute to boot (typical Ravenclaw). She is, by far, my most favourite character. Sorry for tangent. Yeah, I can kinda see that. I like the Jenny character too, though now that you pointed it out, a "Goth Luna Lovegood" should normally raise all the Mary-Sue territory warning flags in my head. Goth Luna Lovegood! HAHAHAHA! She's not nearly as absentminded tho... Dang, and now that you say this I remember a high school friend who looked A LOT like Luna Lovegood, and acted quite similar. She was scary smart, but was a bit absentminded, and acted a little bit ditzy sometimes too. Haven't thought about her in a while... How much do you want to bet that those people are nobodys? Not even a contest. Or worse, people who look normal, but are actually hallucinations, like the not-Kat in Annie's previous venture to Zimmingham. I hope she remembers to touch everybody she meets. EDIT: Also, there's folk around in the background of the second panel. That can't be good. OH SH**... Once again I question what precisely Jenny's powers are. They seem to have a lot of finesse. Also, Jenny looks...inhuman in panel 2. Honestly, her skin tone has never been...normal...as it is. Whether or not I'm right about the Coyote hypothesis, I'm pretty sure she's NOT entirely human. |
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Post by bykerhill on Sept 26, 2014 21:15:38 GMT
Once again I question what precisely Jenny's powers are. They seem to have a lot of finesse. Also, Jenny looks...inhuman in panel 2. Honestly, her skin tone has never been...normal...as it is. Whether or not I'm right about the Coyote hypothesis, I'm pretty sure she's NOT entirely human. I dunno. According to Jones, Zimmy is a human, and she also has a strange skin tone. (And piranha fangs!) It may just be that she's naturally pasty. Maybe she spent all her time in her room with the curtains drawn listening to The Cure before taking up magic and getting a nice obsessive boyfriend. There's another possibility. Jenny is a witch of some sort. She's clearly attracted to Jack and she knows he has a thing about Zimmy. Maybe her skin tone, appearance, and whole Zimmy style are the result of her intentionally trying to look like a more active, sexy version of Zimmy because she believes that'll appeal to Jack. Appearance and glamour spells have traditionally been some of the bread and butter of witches, after all. |
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Post by wynne on Sept 26, 2014 21:49:46 GMT
I feel like Jenny's a confident enough girl to just be her witchy self, but I do love the idea of her sitting in her room with the door locked and the Cure's entire discography on an infinite loop. While she teaches herself to apply copious amounts of eyeliner, of course.
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Post by todd on Sept 26, 2014 22:16:46 GMT
I'm still baffled at how Jack was able to so quickly create such a sophisticated drone able to travel all the way back to the school. While Jenny's spell is pretty awesome, if what they sent didn't need to be able to travel that whole distance, then why not just use a paper airplane. I'm thoroughly impressed by both Jenny and Jack's ability to work quick. I wondered a while ago whether Jack and Jenny might turn out to have been secretly behind the robot takeover all along, wanting to go to Zimmy's world for their own reasons (in Jack's case, to go back). In that case, Jack might have already started building the drone a while ago - except, if he was behind it, then he wouldn't want to help Annie send an SOS back to the Court that could interfere with his plan. Unless, of course, he figured that by the time it reached the Court, the ship would already be in Zimmy's world and so the Court wouldn't be able to do much to interfere anyway - and that helping her send the blinker stone would make her more likely to trust him. I've probably been reading too many mystery stories lately, and started subconsciously seeing this as a who-done-it. Next thing you know, I'll be imagining Jack inviting Annie, Kat, and seven other students to some out-of-the-way part of the Court for another "Faraway Morning"-type party, then sealing the place off so that nobody and nothing can get in or out and murdering them one by one (or - to avoid getting rid of popular recurring characters permanently - using some half high-tech half magical device he'd developed to turn them into stone or into potted plants or into animals - if that last one, he'd have to either leave Paz off the invites list or make her the first victim so that she can't talk to the other transformed students and find out what happened to them) - then faking his own murder (or petrification or transformation) halfway through to keep anyone from suspecting him, all the while waiting until he confronts Annie as the last survivor to finish her off as well.... Oops, I just did imagine that. I hope Tom won't be alarmed about the comparisons of Jenny to Luna, in light of his statement that he'd have written "Gunnerkrigg Court" very differently if he'd read the Harry Potter books first. (I certainly doubt we'll ever see Jenny do an off-the-wall color commentary for whatever the Court's big athletic event is.) |
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Post by eightyfour on Sept 26, 2014 23:19:35 GMT
Jenny is proving to be quite powerful and very useful in a pinch! I just hope the Seraphs are not able to put a power-cancelling note on her too. Jack better find a crowbar and keep it handy. You know, I've been wondering about that. Why exactly didn't they tag her to begin with? We don't know yet what exactly she can do, but she certainly seems to be quite capable. Makes you wonder what exactly they consider "disruptive powers". And speaking of Jack, why didn't they tag him? The court's robots should know pretty well what kinds of trouble he's capable of causing. Granted, from what little we know the tags are aetheric in design and only work on aetheric powers, while Jack mainly just is really smart. But still, they should know better than to let someone like him run loose. If a tag wouldn't work they could've at least detained him. |
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Post by todd on Sept 26, 2014 23:25:57 GMT
You know, I've been wondering about that. Why exactly didn't they tag her to begin with? We don't know yet what exactly she can do, but she certainly seems to be quite capable. Makes you wonder what exactly they consider "disruptive powers". And speaking of Jack, why didn't they tag him? The court's robots should know pretty well what kinds of trouble he's capable of causing. Granted, from what little we know the tags are aetheric in design and only work on aetheric powers, while Jack mainly just is really smart. But still, they should know better than to let someone like him run loose. If a tag wouldn't work they could've at least detained him. Most likely because Jack and Jenny weren't in the dance room at the time - and maybe it didn't occur to the Seraphs that there were people in other parts of the ship, who might have left the dance. The robots seem single-minded enough that they could overlook that possibility. |
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Post by The Anarch on Sept 26, 2014 23:28:03 GMT
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Post by m0rtimer on Sept 26, 2014 23:50:01 GMT
So hey, long-time reader and lurker, first post... No big deal, generally.
I'm just posting because I noticed something- Perhaps it's been pointed out before, but last time we saw Annie in "this place", she had the cut on her cheek from Jeanne. Same as with all manifestations of her in the "ether".
But, I'm not noticing carrying the scar here? I wonder if that means anything...
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