And they’re over ocean now? Because they totally have those near Denver. I guess they could’ve been flying for a little while, but then why’d he wait so long to say that?
Early Jason/Sal interactions are always a bit weird to me because it always feels like Jason acts like he’s way older than Sal, which makes his pining for her creepy.
I can’t be absolutely sure, but I think this was there four years ago or so when I first read IW! I may remember it though as one of a handful of strips I first saw elsewhere after reading through IW! Hard to be sure now after so long.
This observation would’ve been better made a couple of days ago, but the biggest hole in IT’S WALKY (through much of its run) is the whole secrecy angle. David knew how to turn that to his advantage, but there’s only so many jokes you can tell about “swamp gas” and “weather balloons” and “Mike threatening people with evil stares” before you have to deal with the fact that your heroes are trying to keep the alien presence on Earth secret when the aliens have no such inclinations. Their leader never met a microphone or camera he didn’t love, and hatches plans involving dozens of mind-controlled superpeople in D.C. or 35-story monkeybots. The only reason SEMME seems to have been able to keep a lid on this whole alien thing for more than two hours is the aliens don’t seem to actually realize they’re SUPPOSED to be a secret.
But that’s 1990s science fiction/fantasy for ya. The whole “all the cool stuff we’re talking about is really happening, just out of view” idea was super big back then: MEN IN BLACK, X-FILES, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. These days, we tend to go with “yes, it’s happening and it’s been reported and people know about it, but we’ve all got a million things to deal with every day and we get DISTRACTED, you know?”
Precisely.
Until you get set for a serious conversation, and then people realllllly get distracted.
It’s okay to acknowledge them, just don’t talk about it.
I really, really hate the Masquerade trope. Usually the excuse that at least one of the parties involved has for cooperating in keeping it up makes no real sense, and it only exists as an excuse for lazy world-building and keeping the might of modern civilization from stepping in to decisively deal with the supernatural threat because that would ruin the plot.
I’ve been playing in a Rippers (Victorian-era monster-hunting RPG) game where the party has collectively decided that covering up the existence of hostile supernatural monsters doesn’t actually benefit anyone but the hostile supernatural monsters, so we’ve abandoned any attempt to keep our activities covert, will cheerfully explain to the authorities, when they show up, exactly what actually happened, using the copious physical evidence left behind and several characters’ obvious magical powers to support our story, and have been seriously investigating the possibility that our parent monster-hunting organization is actually secretly in league with the monsters, Professor X/Magneto-style (or, wait, is that just my headcanon?), and needs to be taken down for the good of the general public.
IW’s Masquerade, like pretty much everything else SEMME does, is so incredibly half-assed that it’s funny, though. Which makes all the wangst and attempted self-sacrifice over it (for No Frigging Reason!) in the last few strips even more inexplicable.
Oh wow, I had always thought the final panel was actually two panels of the head sinking and spiraling down into the water (I thought the stars were bubbles) as the “camera” rose up above the surface. But yeah, looking at the old one again, it totally is a reflection isn’t it? Yay for recolors?
I dunno, I was thinking she should just punch him. They’ve got zero romantic chemistry. Their relationship is basically Jason sexually harasses Sal until she gives in.
Out of all your works, I think Itswalky! Has by far the fastest and most drastic tonal shifts. It gives whiplash. Which can be hilarious, but it kind of undermined any and all attempts at seriousness in this storyline.
I was like “hehe, this is the dumbest, goofiest storyline yet. Wait, the characters are taking it seriously? Okayyy…”
Also, what happened to Head Alien as a competent villain? It’s like he’s not even trying anymore.😛
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That’s what you shoulda done in the FIRST place, H.A.!
So he got the saucer and MM survived more or less.I guess it’s a win.
And they’re over ocean now? Because they totally have those near Denver. I guess they could’ve been flying for a little while, but then why’d he wait so long to say that?
I find it more likely that Head Alien has been saying it over and over for the whole flight.
Now to see if a book will come out, may buy that at the next eccc
Early Jason/Sal interactions are always a bit weird to me because it always feels like Jason acts like he’s way older than Sal, which makes his pining for her creepy.
(I had to look it up, he’s only 5 years older).
And yet, it’s *still* a little creepy.
Whaaaat? THIS isn’t on the old site.
Actually, February 18, 2001 is missing a comic, so maybe that’s when this fits?
Yeah, actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this before either! How about that.
I can’t be absolutely sure, but I think this was there four years ago or so when I first read IW! I may remember it though as one of a handful of strips I first saw elsewhere after reading through IW! Hard to be sure now after so long.
This observation would’ve been better made a couple of days ago, but the biggest hole in IT’S WALKY (through much of its run) is the whole secrecy angle. David knew how to turn that to his advantage, but there’s only so many jokes you can tell about “swamp gas” and “weather balloons” and “Mike threatening people with evil stares” before you have to deal with the fact that your heroes are trying to keep the alien presence on Earth secret when the aliens have no such inclinations. Their leader never met a microphone or camera he didn’t love, and hatches plans involving dozens of mind-controlled superpeople in D.C. or 35-story monkeybots. The only reason SEMME seems to have been able to keep a lid on this whole alien thing for more than two hours is the aliens don’t seem to actually realize they’re SUPPOSED to be a secret.
But that’s 1990s science fiction/fantasy for ya. The whole “all the cool stuff we’re talking about is really happening, just out of view” idea was super big back then: MEN IN BLACK, X-FILES, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. These days, we tend to go with “yes, it’s happening and it’s been reported and people know about it, but we’ve all got a million things to deal with every day and we get DISTRACTED, you know?”
Precisely.
Until you get set for a serious conversation, and then people realllllly get distracted.
It’s okay to acknowledge them, just don’t talk about it.
I really, really hate the Masquerade trope. Usually the excuse that at least one of the parties involved has for cooperating in keeping it up makes no real sense, and it only exists as an excuse for lazy world-building and keeping the might of modern civilization from stepping in to decisively deal with the supernatural threat because that would ruin the plot.
I’ve been playing in a Rippers (Victorian-era monster-hunting RPG) game where the party has collectively decided that covering up the existence of hostile supernatural monsters doesn’t actually benefit anyone but the hostile supernatural monsters, so we’ve abandoned any attempt to keep our activities covert, will cheerfully explain to the authorities, when they show up, exactly what actually happened, using the copious physical evidence left behind and several characters’ obvious magical powers to support our story, and have been seriously investigating the possibility that our parent monster-hunting organization is actually secretly in league with the monsters, Professor X/Magneto-style (or, wait, is that just my headcanon?), and needs to be taken down for the good of the general public.
IW’s Masquerade, like pretty much everything else SEMME does, is so incredibly half-assed that it’s funny, though. Which makes all the wangst and attempted self-sacrifice over it (for No Frigging Reason!) in the last few strips even more inexplicable.
Oh wow, I had always thought the final panel was actually two panels of the head sinking and spiraling down into the water (I thought the stars were bubbles) as the “camera” rose up above the surface. But yeah, looking at the old one again, it totally is a reflection isn’t it? Yay for recolors?
I kinda like the reflection effect in that panel.
For crying out loud, Sal, kiss him already! You might have been bred to be the perfect warrior but that doesn’t make you forbidden to love!
I dunno, I was thinking she should just punch him. They’ve got zero romantic chemistry. Their relationship is basically Jason sexually harasses Sal until she gives in.
Monkey Master understands precisely what we’re going through with SEMME, doesn’t he?
Oh god, please tell me that last line was a joke.
If only because I dunno if I could bare it if you recolored the gloriously gaudy 3D-render-assisted ones.
YOU THINK YOU’RE ALL THAT, SAL WALKERTON!
BUT YOU’RE NOOOOOT!!
Out of all your works, I think Itswalky! Has by far the fastest and most drastic tonal shifts. It gives whiplash. Which can be hilarious, but it kind of undermined any and all attempts at seriousness in this storyline.
I was like “hehe, this is the dumbest, goofiest storyline yet. Wait, the characters are taking it seriously? Okayyy…”
Also, what happened to Head Alien as a competent villain? It’s like he’s not even trying anymore.😛