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Post by dawngazer on Mar 16, 2015 7:26:47 GMT
Wow.
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Post by setrain on Mar 16, 2015 7:28:01 GMT
Am I the only person who feels like this is the darkest this comic has ever gotten? Like Mort was sad but natural and his first death was abstracted past. "She died and we did nothing" is dramatic fantasy betrayal backstory. But dads being emotionally cruel is mundane awful in a way that for me hits harder. Maybe I'm just reacting to the moment and I'll have more perspective on this in the morning, but like wow. Let's also consider that he traipsed off into the wild blue yonder not long after her mother died to do Galactus only knows what, with nary a single syllable intended for Annie directed to her for however many years after dropping her off to sink or swim at this bonkers school. Oh, and there was the small matter of shooting etheric bone spires into Annie's body from space. Nay, this is just another layer to the putrid onion of this man's noxious role in the story. I don't care if he's been out preventing the escape of the Ogdru Jahad, the man presents at every opportunity a face-scrawled upon every nano angstrom with the word "asshole" and that will make my opinion of him quite the challenge indeed; no slight against Tom. Yeah, I guess this is just the first time I've been reminded of how awful he is in general. But in a lot of other stories, dads of protagonists are portrayed as forgivable or even justified for doing everything he has up to this point. I trust GC to be more honest then that, so I saw this coming, but I still think that this is basically the moral clarity where you see that he's basically emotionally abusive not just awkward or preoccupied. It makes me angry for all those other things all over again with greater moral clarity. |
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Post by sapientcoffee on Mar 16, 2015 7:28:04 GMT
I was on the fence about hating Anthony Carver. How he played this moment would pretty much determine everything. He could not have screwed up worse. I don't agree. He definitely WILL screw up worse later. Wednesday?
Dang, I forgot to check how many comments we were up to. Ah well. |
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Post by davidm on Mar 16, 2015 7:28:13 GMT
My guess is more than meets the eye here... eg Dad has reason to put on an act and may be message for daughter in washroom.
We've had the lead up that Dad before will put on one face in public and yet in private his feelings are completely different. He was in hiding for some reason, had supplies shipped to him in untraceable way for some reason.
Early in gunnerkrigg court history is 1 person who strongly disagrees with court, in this generation that may be "dad" and he may have reason as to why. Eg he may think he puts his daughter in danger if he is seen as friendly to her.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Mar 16, 2015 7:34:04 GMT
Presumably this is Mr. Carver's idea of classroom boundary-setting. He is reestablishing contact with his daughter in a way that she is (more-or-less) unable to refuse, too. About zero chance of being rejected this way, I'd say. Collateral damage = Antimony.
Also I am now wondering if all the other teachers were as overqualified as Carver and the Donlans.
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Post by Chancellor on Mar 16, 2015 7:37:15 GMT
My guess is more than meets the eye here... eg Dad has reason to put on an act and may be message for daughter in washroom. We've had the lead up that Dad before will put on one face in public and yet in private his feelings are completely different. He was in hiding for some reason, had supplies shipped to him in untraceable way for some reason. Early in gunnerkrigg court history is 1 person who strongly disagrees with court, in this generation that may be "dad" and he may have reason as to why. Eg he may think he puts his daughter in danger if he is seen as friendly to her. What are you doing giving him a logical benefit of the doubt? Grab a pitchfork, get into the angry mob spirit! |
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Post by rosencrantz on Mar 16, 2015 7:37:29 GMT
I think the Gunnerkrigg teachers are basically university professors. They teach and do research.
Also, I'm gonna say 2 comics before Kat offers to drop Mr. Carver.
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Post by Daedalus on Mar 16, 2015 7:39:43 GMT
My guess is more than meets the eye here... eg Dad has reason to put on an act and may be message for daughter in washroom. We've had the lead up that Dad before will put on one face in public and yet in private his feelings are completely different. He was in hiding for some reason, had supplies shipped to him in untraceable way for some reason. Early in gunnerkrigg court history is 1 person who strongly disagrees with court, in this generation that may be "dad" and he may have reason as to why. Eg he may think he puts his daughter in danger if he is seen as friendly to her. Ehh. We'll find out eventually, I suppose. That being said, even if he planned to give her a message in the washroom or whatever, the curt correction to "sir" was unnecessary. And so, so invalidating. |
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Post by sapientcoffee on Mar 16, 2015 7:40:42 GMT
Grab a pitchfork, get into the angry mob spirit!  |
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CGAdam
Junior Member
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Post by CGAdam on Mar 16, 2015 7:40:38 GMT
I don't know if I'm willing to cast Carver into 'irrevocable asshat' territory just yet, but he definitely did that wrong. First day of class, Annie's far from the only girl in there and probably not the only one wearing makeup, but he calls his own daughter out on it? Pegs the needle pretty hard into 'jerk' level with a measure of 'poor father'. Doubtless a smart man, but doesn't seem like a good leader and not a positive indicator of his teaching style.
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stci
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Post by stci on Mar 16, 2015 7:41:11 GMT
Hm. Asshole indeed.
Yet Kat's parents seem friendly with the guy. And Surma presumably saw something in him.
Remember that Surma died because she had Annie. Presumably he had something to do with that (or not...?), so it wouldn't be unlikely that he's thinking something between "she reminds me of when I killed my wife" and "she killed my wife".
I don't know that that excuses anything. It might explain a few things, however.
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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 7:42:39 GMT
Yeah, trying to 'reach out' by being a 'dickbutt' is generally not the 'correct course of action' for a 'decent human being'.
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guyy
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Post by guyy on Mar 16, 2015 7:43:23 GMT
So, wait. Wasn't there a theory that Annie's makeup protects her from supernatural attacks? Since it seems like every time such an attack gets through--her dad's evil etheric space bones, for example--she happens to not be wearing makeup?
If that's true, this is even more worrying...
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 7:44:00 GMT
Oh for f's sake, don't be a dick, Tony! It's becoming increasingly difficult to defend you as a tragic hero as opposed to the biggest douchebag in the gunnerverse.
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Mar 16, 2015 7:44:44 GMT
By The Way, I'll guess Carver thinks it was his daughter who socked him during the bonelasers incident.
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Post by davidm on Mar 16, 2015 7:44:50 GMT
Ehh. We'll find out eventually, I suppose. That being said, even if he planned to give her a message in the washroom or whatever, the curt correction to "sir" was unnecessary. And so, so invalidating. If you think your daughter referring to you as "mom" would put her life in danger, you may do the same. (Eg a common way that organised crime will try to "get" someone under their control is by threatening their family. Godfather movie... guy is about to testify against the head of a mafia, but suddenly quits when the had of mafia shows up in court with his family ) |
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Post by Chancellor on Mar 16, 2015 7:49:03 GMT
The question I have to ask is why, then. The court higher ups know their relationship, it seems safe to say that the forest and court students made the connection. Who is there around that still has yet to learn about it?
Furthermore if he were entirely focused on protecting Annie and so much as the revelation of his status as her father endangered her, why is he teaching a class she's part of, much less at the court in the first place?
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Garbage
New Member
ANTHONY CARVER DEFENSE FORCE, 1ST LIEUTENANT OF THE SUPPORT DIVISION
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Post by Garbage on Mar 16, 2015 7:49:38 GMT
Oh for f's sake, don't be a dick, Tony! It's becoming increasingly difficult to defend you as a tragic hero as opposed to the biggest douchebag in the gunnerverse. Don't worry, I'm still on the defending-tony boat too! Personally while he's coming off as a jerkoff with the "sir" thing, as someone who did have parents for teachers at some points believe me it is a LOT less awkward than the alternative Annie was about to go for. That, with the hope he has a reason for getting her to the restroom other than the makeup remind him too much of surma, i still have some hope for the old bugger that is Tony. Also, posting this from mobile, no idea if the qoute funtion will work or not, eheh |
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Post by rafk on Mar 16, 2015 7:51:20 GMT
And theeeere Mr. Carver crosses the line of 'incredibly socially awkward', right into the territory of 'asshole'. Yeah. Actually, asshole isn't strong enough. All but ignore your daughter for 2 years, don't tell her you're coming back (let alone as her teacher) and then humiliate her on purpose in front of her class first thing you do? This isn't so much crossing the line as it is pole vaulting over it in a steamroller. All the staff who knew in advance and didn't tell Annie, they can get the mere asshole tag. |
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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 7:54:14 GMT
Oh for f's sake, don't be a dick, Tony! It's becoming increasingly difficult to defend you as a tragic hero as opposed to the biggest douchebag in the gunnerverse. Of course we sort of understand why he's like this, but there really has to be a better way. rafk: The upside is that everyone in class actually seems to be genuinely upset about this too. |
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Post by philman on Mar 16, 2015 7:57:20 GMT
Ok if he had just ignored Annie, that would have been fine, would hve played into the 'he's abit socially awkward' thing. But calling her out like this as their first interaction in over 2 years... Yeah now that's just a jerk, unless there is some ulterior motive.
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Post by rafk on Mar 16, 2015 7:57:55 GMT
So, wait. Wasn't there a theory that Annie's makeup protects her from supernatural attacks? Since it seems like every time such an attack gets through--her dad's evil etheric space bones, for example--she happens to not be wearing makeup? If that's true, this is even more worrying... Yes, it occurs that Anthony's asshat moment here is in fact aimed entirely at getting Annie's make-up off so he can do something. As to the "Surma and Donnie saw something good in Anthony, maybe he's got secret reasons to do this" argument, the only thing I can say is that maybe Anthony was infected with something more subtle than the whitelegs, in his drive to cure Surma. Or he's mentally ill. One way or another it's hard to believe he has any affection for his daughter. While he was away it was arguable he was doing something important and couldn't call... Now he's back he's got no excuse for failing to even say hello to his daughter. This is beyond being socially awkward. |
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Post by ed1300 on Mar 16, 2015 7:59:19 GMT
Hm. Asshole indeed. Yet Kat's parents seem friendly with the guy. And Surma presumably saw something in him. Remember that Surma died because she had Annie. Presumably he had something to do with that (or not...?), so it wouldn't be unlikely that he's thinking something between "she reminds me of when I killed my wife" and "she killed my wife". I don't know that that excuses anything. It might explain a few things, however. He seemed pretty normal back in the day. |
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Post by download on Mar 16, 2015 8:03:42 GMT
It has been a while since I've logged in. All I want to say really is that Anthony is a cunt.
That is all.
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Post by davidm on Mar 16, 2015 8:04:51 GMT
Furthermore if he were entirely focused on protecting Annie and so much as the revelation of his status as her father endangered her, why is he teaching a class she's part of, much less at the court in the first place? It is not the biological status of "father" but the "love" status of father/daughter that matters as far as leverage. Eg common plot for the main villian of a story to use the "daughter" of the scientist as hostage/leverage to build the super weapon.... that doesn't work if father doesn't care about his daughter. Dad was completely obsessed with saving the life of mom. Dad may see reason mom died as a disease that should be stopped. Dad already seems to have tried to cure daughter once by long distance after getting supplies in untracable way. The most obvious answer to why he is in court is because only way to save his daughter, but he can't let others know that. |
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Post by download on Mar 16, 2015 8:05:15 GMT
Unfortunately I don't think Annie will do anything to him. Despite how much of an ass he is it seems in her mind he can do no bad. I'm expect either Kat or Blondie (his name escapes me) to snap.
Also, I'm glad Zimmy left her mark on his nose.
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Post by Chancellor on Mar 16, 2015 8:05:09 GMT
In any case, I foresee poor Annie tears in the fairly near future. Probably after she attempts to speak with her father and is rebuffed for "bothering him with 'matters' irrelevant to his role as a teacher and her as a student."
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Post by setrain on Mar 16, 2015 8:06:26 GMT
So, wait. Wasn't there a theory that Annie's makeup protects her from supernatural attacks? Since it seems like every time such an attack gets through--her dad's evil etheric space bones, for example--she happens to not be wearing makeup? If that's true, this is even more worrying... Yes, it occurs that Anthony's asshat moment here is in fact aimed entirely at getting Annie's make-up off so he can do something. As to the "Surma and Donnie saw something good in Anthony, maybe he's got secret reasons to do this" argument, the only thing I can say is that maybe Anthony was infected with something more subtle than the whitelegs, in his drive to cure Surma. Or he's mentally ill. One way or another it's hard to believe he has any affection for his daughter. While he was away it was arguable he was doing something important and couldn't call... Now he's back he's got no excuse for failing to even say hello to his daughter. This is beyond being socially awkward. I find it far more likely that they are simply wrong about him. People often have a very hard time believing that their friend that treats them quite well is a bad person or did a bad thing. People make excuses for their friends all too often at the expense of their kids. In most stories they would be right and the parent would have a good reason or really actually care. But in real life with the information we have, most of the time the parent's friends would just be in denial. And GC has a pretty good track record of doing the socially realistic thing rather than the standard trope. Honestly I really hope that they're not actually an excuse because I am way more than tired of fictional parents turning out to have good reasons for treating their kids terribly. That trope does real harm. |
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 8:06:36 GMT
Oh for f's sake, don't be a dick, Tony! It's becoming increasingly difficult to defend you as a tragic hero as opposed to the biggest douchebag in the gunnerverse. Don't worry, I'm still on the defending-tony boat too! Personally while he's coming off as a jerkoff with the "sir" thing, as someone who did have parents for teachers at some points believe me it is a LOT less awkward than the alternative Annie was about to go for. That, with the hope he has a reason for getting her to the restroom other than the makeup remind him too much of surma, i still have some hope for the old bugger that is Tony. Also, posting this from mobile, no idea if the qoute funtion will work or not, eheh It works! And I still think, too, that it is part of his tragedy that he has to make himself appear as a douchebag. However, I hope there will at some point be a good father-daughter moment between them to save his memory, if even for Annie alone, everybody else might still take him just for a knob. |
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Post by Chromeleon on Mar 16, 2015 8:06:38 GMT
Prediction: his "considerably more difficult" syllabus means Annie's about to get called on copying Kat's homework, as she struggles to keep up.
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