A dinosaur among mammals could be a bird, or it could be some Mesozoic giant that everyone hides from during the day lest they become snacks. It’s not so bad either way.
Likable is the American spelling, likeable is the international English spelling, and both variants are used frequently in Canada, from when I read my local paper headlines.
Technically birds are dinosaurs, but I’m assuming Dina meant the animals that went extinct millions of years ago. One of those dinosaurs among mammals would be pretty badass though, since most dinosaurs were a lot bigger and stronger than modern mammals.
Maybe they would and maybe they wouldn’t. They might be bigger and stronger (some of them anyway), but they’d also be slower and chronically tired, with about the energy levels of the average college student. Their bodies were adapted to much higher oxygen levels in the air, so for a classic dinosaur living in the modern age would feel about like living on a mountaintop.
Honestly, my favorite author’s commentaries of all time are Tom Siddell’s on Gunnerkrigg, and yours on your old comics. Especially when they’re shitty ones (though that hasn’t been happening often for a while now).
I read ’em, although the ‘bird’ comment flew right out of my head after the “watch the cartoonist work through his self-hatred” bit gave me something much meatier to latch onto.
The commentary is one of the best parts of reading it this way instead of going through the old archive. Your present thoughts on your old work are informative and interesting, to see how your feelings shifted over time and hear a bit more of the story behind the story. I very much hope you continue to share these thoughts, and that whatever people say, that it doesn’t get you down.
Way back when there was a poll on whether or not to post the original version of Year Zero or the updated one, I voted original because I wanted to see the commentary on it.
Don’t stop writing the commentary. That’s the whole point of this site. Sometimes, your comments are funny; other times, they are insightful. Some of the best ones are both.
“anyway letβs watch the cartoonist work through his self-hatred”
That’s what this was?!
I always thought it was just an unvarnished statement of the way the world works! “Yes, gentle readers, Dina is truly us.” Right down to the last panel, which perfectly captures that moment I think we’ve all had, where when you get sad about it there’s always a friend nearby to tell you your feelings don’t matter and you’re just whining and you need to shut up because you’re acting all disgusting.
Uh… we have all had that moment, right?
I’ve never totally understood Mike’s mentality here. He just seems to be a bit too reactive in that last panel for me to chalk it up to his being his usual asshole self. Of course, he could be annoyed with Dina’s self-loathing.
The reason Mike messes with Dina so horribly is because she’s probably the first person being he ever experiences genuine feelings for, and merely by her presence she probably threw a wrench into his entire self-identity of a person that isn’t susceptible to experiencing emotions like a human being.
This turns out to be a very bad and ill-advised journey of self-discovery on both their parts that would have been better off not having happened.
This might be an unpopular opinion but this was the first strip where I actually started to like Dina. She’s not being passively manipulative or a doormat or needy or anything else I’d found exhaustive before. She’s hurt and dealing with it, in an unhealthy way for sure, but she’s fully aware of that as well and (no matter what happens next/in the last frame) not asking anyone to take part or save her.
“Alcohol makes you likeable.”
– David Willis, “It’s Walky”
oh, wow! that is the best out-of-contextualization i have ever seen!
kudos
A dinosaur among mammals could be a bird, or it could be some Mesozoic giant that everyone hides from during the day lest they become snacks. It’s not so bad either way.
Yeah, Dina should try being a cassowary.
likable*
Likable is the American spelling, likeable is the international English spelling, and both variants are used frequently in Canada, from when I read my local paper headlines.
It’s an accepted alternate spelling. Don’t be that guy.
*likable π
**likable
***lickable
***LikeAbel
****liable
*****Libel.
Technically birds are dinosaurs, but I’m assuming Dina meant the animals that went extinct millions of years ago. One of those dinosaurs among mammals would be pretty badass though, since most dinosaurs were a lot bigger and stronger than modern mammals.
Maybe they would and maybe they wouldn’t. They might be bigger and stronger (some of them anyway), but they’d also be slower and chronically tired, with about the energy levels of the average college student. Their bodies were adapted to much higher oxygen levels in the air, so for a classic dinosaur living in the modern age would feel about like living on a mountaintop.
(Birds technically being dinosaurs is the joke π π :D)
What she means is she’s a bird? Well Jason, from a British standpoint (from an earlier generation) should agree.
man three people so far quoting the below-strip commentary back at me
should i stop writing it, does anybody still read it
I was gonna say yes, except for the fact that when you made me question that, I realized I did not actually read that
Tak it from me you just got to role with it man.
Please continue to write it if you want to. I read it.
Surviving depression five? (/scrubs)
I read it. It’s interesting how one’s perspective changes after 10-15 years.
A least we’re not empty-quoting it a dozen times every day, like the old “related comics” list?
I read it, though I may not comment on it.
Honestly, my favorite author’s commentaries of all time are Tom Siddell’s on Gunnerkrigg, and yours on your old comics. Especially when they’re shitty ones (though that hasn’t been happening often for a while now).
I read it! And the fact that it’s not title text makes it that much easier to read it on mobile when I’m away from my laptop, so thanks!
I read it.
It’s like those goodies or quips they put in some chocolate wrappings. You get candy, then while you enjoy it, you get the bonus!
3oranges’ post looks like it’s riffing off the commentary. ‘Well, yes, it could be a bird, but also…’
That was the intent! I do read well, even if I don’t write well enough to make it clear.
I read ’em, although the ‘bird’ comment flew right out of my head after the “watch the cartoonist work through his self-hatred” bit gave me something much meatier to latch onto.
The commentary is one of the best parts of reading it this way instead of going through the old archive. Your present thoughts on your old work are informative and interesting, to see how your feelings shifted over time and hear a bit more of the story behind the story. I very much hope you continue to share these thoughts, and that whatever people say, that it doesn’t get you down.
Also reading it this way means I don’t lose a couple days bingeing.
100% this. Even when the comic isn’t that good, the commentary’s always snarky, informative, or both.
Way back when there was a poll on whether or not to post the original version of Year Zero or the updated one, I voted original because I wanted to see the commentary on it.
Don’t stop writing the commentary. That’s the whole point of this site. Sometimes, your comments are funny; other times, they are insightful. Some of the best ones are both.
I read all the commentaries. If I hadn’t read today’s commentary I wouldn’t have included the link to the relevent xkcd in my comment.
The commentary is one of the best parts!!!
Late to this party, but the author commentary is a major reason I’m on here reading these daily. It’s kinda like watching a DVD for the commentary.
Mike has little time for weakness in anyone (including himself).
“anyway letβs watch the cartoonist work through his self-hatred”
That’s what this was?!
I always thought it was just an unvarnished statement of the way the world works! “Yes, gentle readers, Dina is truly us.” Right down to the last panel, which perfectly captures that moment I think we’ve all had, where when you get sad about it there’s always a friend nearby to tell you your feelings don’t matter and you’re just whining and you need to shut up because you’re acting all disgusting.
Uh… we have all had that moment, right?
I’ve never totally understood Mike’s mentality here. He just seems to be a bit too reactive in that last panel for me to chalk it up to his being his usual asshole self. Of course, he could be annoyed with Dina’s self-loathing.
The reason Mike messes with Dina so horribly is because she’s probably the first person being he ever experiences genuine feelings for, and merely by her presence she probably threw a wrench into his entire self-identity of a person that isn’t susceptible to experiencing emotions like a human being.
This turns out to be a very bad and ill-advised journey of self-discovery on both their parts that would have been better off not having happened.
Yeah Minder that’s pretty much how I feel as well. Seems like a lot of the fanbase just disregards Mike having feelings at all, and it’s kinda sad.
This might be an unpopular opinion but this was the first strip where I actually started to like Dina. She’s not being passively manipulative or a doormat or needy or anything else I’d found exhaustive before. She’s hurt and dealing with it, in an unhealthy way for sure, but she’s fully aware of that as well and (no matter what happens next/in the last frame) not asking anyone to take part or save her.
Yeah there’s this and few other points that really made me care about her
(And since I rarely comment, I was thinking “how funny if I get Dina for my gravatar on this comment!” Lo and behold…)