EVEN NEWER VOTING INCENTIVE! BLOOBS!!!
So after replacing my carefully crafted Paper Toy Puck incentive with a terrible MS Paint drawing of boobs, my ranking on TWC shot up +25 points from #38 to #12! How about that! I’m riding the lowest common denominator like it’s white lightning here!
In that spirit, I’m providing you with an entirely new image this week. So vote!!! Come on, guys! I know you can get me to #1! Don’t do it for the comic! DO IT FOR BLOOBS!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR PUCK. SEE BLOOBS.
ALSO…
THE PUCK BOOK CONTAINS AT LEAST 453 PAIRS OF ILLUSTRATED BOOBS!!! I announce this only because sales have been rather dismal so far, so hey! Can’t blame a guy for pointing out the obvious!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF BOOBS! Uh, I mean PUCK VOLUME 1!
As for this comic…
I’m going to pull a Grandpa from the Princess Bride right here and tell you that Puck does not actually ever beat the living piss out of Heather. Not going to happen. She’s not going to harm a hair on her head. Which isn’t to say that Heather won’t get some form of retribution, but it’s not going to be at the hands of Puck. Nor will it be in the next comic. Or the next comic. Or the comic after that. I say this because I have been accused of being a tease before, and I don’t want to tease. Teasing’s not nice, see? And I’m only wearing this negligee because it’s comfortable, so don’t read anything into it.
Phoebe’s blushing like she has a crush on someone.
Or like she wants to crush mother in law!
No. That’s wishful thinking.
… or that she is •being• crushed. That’s her juices rising to the surface.
Phoebe has her faults, as do we all, but I don’t recall her trying to hurt anyone. This new concept could precipitate character growth, but I don’t know if we want to see the worst of what a daughter of the devil can do.
Or of Elizabeth Taylor.
See, I don’t think that Phoebe is capable of wishing ill on anyone. Besides, there’s enough out of control angels of vengeance in this comic. We don’t need another.
Like the title character, for instance?
Exactly.
Of course, this woman considers anything resembling manual labour to be disgusting and beneath her. So what if your daughter gets a job with a towing company or working in a restaurant? While these jobs may not pay that well and often have long hours, they are generally honourable occupations. Or did your “boosting cars” comment mean something other than helping people whose batteries had gone flat?
I’m pretty sure she meant something else. The manual labor part may be beneath her but what she really can’t accept is her niece, becoming an eye-candy for men in “sh!++y” jobs. It’s not as strong a point as it could be, seeing that it comes from a woman whose “job” seems to be an eye-candy, arm-warmer for her husband and the very image of the perfect wife to anybody they meet…
also… Bloobs *chuckle* (I vote every week even though I learned some time ago that the system is rigged by bots. I’m kinda sad about the lack of interest in your incentives hurt you to the point you decided to stop them, but I understand it’s extra work for very few results. I would have loved to see other paper dolls, though).
I think your reading of Heather is very, very accurate. And yeah, the voting incentive thing didn’t really hurt me, exactly. It wasn’t my readership’s fault for not liking the incentive. It was my fault for not properly gauging their interests. I just didn’t like being 38th on the list, so I took action! And hey, now I’m 11th! As for bots on TWC, it may be a factor, but honestly, all the votes for Puck are 100% real votes from real people, and I can say that any of the folks you see in the top 100 generally have the readership that warrants them being there. Either they’re a comic of middling popularity that runs voting incentives (like mine) or a hugely, astronomically popular comic that couldn’t care less about their rank and doesn’t run voting incentives (like, say, XKCD).
Many years ago, when I was first starting out, I dismissed the TWC system as a faulty one full of bot activity and such, but another comic artist set me straight: the votes are (generally) real, those comics are popular, and if you’re going to say that they’re only on the list because of a bot, you’re diminishing and dismissing their modest success. So I’m not about to say that. Though when a comic that no one knows suddenly shoots into the top 10 for a day or two, I guess we can’t help but get suspicious…
“all the votes for Puck are 100% real votes from real people”
I am touched.
That’s the nicest thing anyone has accused me of for while a while.
Well, I said ‘real people’. Not ‘real good people.’ Becuase that would mean I couldn’t vote either.
Yes, Heather would find waiting tables at five-star restaurants to be equally disgusting and vile. Anything resembling a job to this type of unique bourgeois specimen is vile and lowly. And no, to boost in this here part of the world, means ‘to steal’. Especially cars. To quote the example from the urban dictionary: “I looked out my window the other day and saw this dude trying to boost my ride, so I shot him in the face.” Perfect usage.
I like Davids’ version better. 😀
How much did Smurfette charge you for the posing session?
Cheap, cheap, cheap. She works for Smurfberries. (Now THAT’S a dated ref.)
I and Gargamel’s minion, Azrael, used to hang together.
At the Catnip Bars.
The tales I could tell. Like the time we scored with those triplets. They were just Moggies, but MY-O-MY.
Ahh, memories.
I have to say, I enjoyed buying and also viewing your book of Puck (and also Phoebe) boobs. Word bubbles kept getting in the way, but otherwise a worthy effort!
On a more serious note, the fact that the lowest common denominator will also get more interest than something you put a lot of work into frustrates me too. It always seems the strips I put the most work into, get the least looked at.
Curse those word bubbles! I curse them even more, given the fact that I draw everything behind them every single time and face the agony of having my work covered over. Mind you, you’ll notice that the word bubbles seldom (if ever) cover the boobs. For one, it’s just bad form to have a word bubble obscuring a character’s body. And I hate bad form.
On the voting incentive thing, I don’t take it too seriously. People like what they like, and I understand that. People read this comic for any of the following reasons:
(1) it’s sort of funny, sometimes
(2) the characters and their misadventures are appealing
(3) T (and sometimes A, but not as frequently)
If I offer a voting incentive that contains NONE of the above ingredients, I guess I can’t really complain when no one wants to see it.
[simply growls]
Growls are the universal language.
Due to the alt-text, I’m now singing the hell out of that song. Go figure.
And it’s kind of a pity that Puck didn’t make Heather’s neck “interesting” (as she put it). Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.
Also, it’s rare to hear someone use the world ‘harlot’.
…I love this comic even more now. ;_;
I felt, for some reason, that dated diction was called for in this situation. Heather would be frank, but not frank enough to drop an ‘unsightly’ word. And harlot struck me as a better option than ‘trollop’ or ‘painted lady.’
I recognize the song that is being referenced in the alt text, but I don’t remember enough of it TO sing it due to having not seen the movie in which it appeared in more years than I care to think about.
Well, never a better time to re-watch than now! I have kids, so it seems that I re-watch Aladdin about once every two months at least.
Yeah. Successful evasion. Phoebe’s good at that. Consider how successfully Phoebe evaded that humiliation sensation when her father’s bimbo girlfriend threw her out of his house.
I’d like to think that Phoebe evades humiliation just because she’s generally too clued out and positive to notice. It takes a sledgehammer of disapproval (like Heather) to really get through to her.
I would’ve thought ejection from one’s childhood home would’ve rated a little higher than sarcasm about the source of one’s income…then again, Heather’s delivery was probably better.
It’s all in the delivery, I hear.
Why is this awful woman still in possession of all her teeth?
El Nino? That’s my explanation and I’m sticking to it!
“El Nino”
OMG, it that another Canadian made-up word ?
Can you order one at Tim Horton’s ?
Maybe it’s a spicy Donut. (yum)
Could be. We make up lots of words.
Humiliation? Maybe rage, fury, or stress, the latter defined as the mind overriding the body’s need to choke the living daylights out of some blonde bitch who richly deserves it.
Phoebe doesn’t really do rage or fury. That’s Puck’s department!
We need a throw down with Daphne vs. Heather, stat!
Daphne doesn’t like violence. Daphne likes clearing your bank account out through illicit means when you’re not looking. It’s a far more satisfying form or revenge, if only because it can fund your visit to Red Lobster!
And Heather looks so much like one of those people whose password is 1234. Daphne, see if she uses that as the password on her luggage and her bank account. It’d be nice to see Heather have to take on a job at Howlers just to get away from the riff raff. Especially after humiliating Daphne. She’s had it rough lately.
It’s not even sporting to e-fleece someone like this! But it is profitable.
Who cares about sporting when it can be profitable and entertaining for Daphne and crew, and educational for Heather. 😀
True! Education is an important goal.
Am I the only person who has noted Puck’s unbelievable restraint? Puck can turn her husband into a pretzel on a whim but his snobby, beyond annoying sister goes unsmacked?? This needs to be remedied, my friend! 🙂
She’s on her best behaviour. Really, she’s trying. This in-laws thing is new to her, and she doesn’t want to mess it up, though I think it’s beyond repair now. From here on in, stuff gets real.
So the critical question is this: what will Satan’s response be? Does he revel in the suffering of his daughter? Does he deal with Heather quickly and decisively? Does he let his minions loose Heather?
I’m betting on a little reveling, a quick strike, followed by a decisive assault leaving Heather trying to boost a car to get to Howlers for a job interview.
Revenge is a dish best server cold.
And never limited to a single serving!
I think Satan is the type of dad who considered his fatherly duties to be essentially over once his daughter came of age. I don’t even think he funnels money her way; she’s pretty self-sufficient. Chances of him getting involved (especially after kicking his daughter out at the request of his mistress) are very, very slim. Though I personally must say that I prefer revenge served slighlty warm, with butterscotch sauce and a cherry.
… Damn, now I’m hungry again -__-
Could this day, between Tracee winning out over her at her father’s place and Heather actually making her feel shame, possibly be a turning point for Phoebe?
I don’t know. Maybe? She’s certainly the character who has shown the most character growth since the comic started. She’s still the same adorable airhead, but there’s a maturity to the airheadedness now. Hard for me to describe, but I think it’s one of many bumps in life that might contribute to the development of her character.
The really depressing part is NOT ONLY do we all have family members JUST like Heather – but we also KNOW people just like her
No, sorry, the REALLY depressing part is they ALSO all still have all their teeth <-<
See, that’s the thing: it’s easy for everyone to say “Knock her teeth out!” from the comfort of their own homes, but when it’s your obnoxious family member or in-law, it gets way harder to knock their teeth out with impunity. Most people opt for the easier option: avoiding contact as much as possible and silently wishing them ill.
The Heather s in my life have a very fine sense of where the line is between getting and not getting their targets to lash out.
They love to kick sand over it, but get great amusement over not quite crossing…. maximizing their victim’s suffering.
This one knows the line too, and she knows that she holds the lion’s share of the power. And though people are baying for blood, she hasn’t really said anything violence-worthy. Hatred-worthy, maybe, but not the sort of WAY over-the-line stuff that would totally vindicate a punch to the face in everyone’s eyes.
after one glance calling someone’s daughter a car stealing streetrat isn’t over the line?
Well, if the line is set pretty far forward, I think minor-level verbal abuse can fit in nicely.
Dammit! Puck is showing more self control than many of us would in the same situation. Impressive considering she’s old enough to know how to literally go medieval on someone. As in knowing the proper procedure for placing heads on pikes due to having seen it in person.
Well, she’s now officially out of patience. It’s time to exact vengeance! What will happen? WHAT? WILL HAPPEN?
Really, placing heads on pikes seems pretty simple and straightforward.
It looks easy, but can be surprisingly difficult to do right.
GATES. OF. HELL! If he was still alive, call Lucio Fulci for tips on that! (Cookie if you know WTF I’m talking about)
I don’t get the cookie.
I’m still waiting for the plot device that will get Heather and Tracee together. I’m still rooting for garage sale, but am willing to be pleasantly surprised.
It’s coming. It’ll be… interesting.
… They’re twins aren’t they. Evil, evil twins.
I just binge-read this entire strip…. consider me a fan for life!!!!!
I don’t even laugh this hard at my own jokes!
Glad to hear it! And if I’m holding up to your own material, then I’m happy!
Seriously not a fan of Heather but I found her “Of course you do” comeback kinda hot and awesome.
All she needed was that white collar smirk to top it off. 😀
Kick ass dialogue throughout.
We like to pretend otherwise, but sometimes pure evil is kinda hot and awesome.
If I was Puck I would throw Heather out.
She’s an in-law. You don’t throw in-laws out unless you want horrible Thanksgivings for the rest of your life
Exactly. Besides, throwing her out also means passing on a chance to really make her suffer.
I’m looking forward to when Miranda’s older.I’m curious to see what influence her Aunt Heather will have on her.
If she’s smart (and she will most likely be, with a “sister” like Daphne [quotation marks put because Daphne doesn’t see herself as Puck’s daughter] and surrounded by a neighbourhood that seems quite… demanding for a kid), she’ll be able to see through Heather’s schemes while profiting as much as possible from them. I just hope she won’t become as jaded as Daphne…
A good prediction, I’d say. You have a very effective gauge of the characters.
Well, it’s thanks to you: you’ve given us all the information we need, and kept it consistent. Even though they did evolve with time, your characters stayed true to themselves. It’s easier to imagine possibilities when the data to back them up has real substance.
Nice of you to say! I try.
Let me second that! LOve the characters. Well, not Heather, but then, who does?
I haven’t been very fair to Heather, writing her as a total villain, but it’s been fun. I might develop the character a bit more in the future, but right now, it’s too enjoyable to have her be a runaway nightmare.
I accidently blued myself.
Be sure to put stain remover on it before laundering.
There’s nothing wrong with earning an honest living by whatever honest means you are capable of seizing…
… but I still can’t shake the feeling that this experience might not be a completely unbeneficial one for Phoebe. ^^;
However, that being said, Rachel is toxin on heels. She needs to go. =_=
She shall.
Phoebe is at that interesting late twenties point where lifestyle and expectations have a switch-over. She’s been entirely satisfied with her life up to this point, but I’m not sure how long that will last. Not really sure where it’s going, but I’m excited to explore her development.
https://ourtimeout.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/blue-footed-booby-in-mating-ritual.jpg
Bloobs?
Still Cute !
Laughed at Panel 4.
It’s kind of sad, tho. Fee-Bee’s Innocence- Lost.
It was a painful panel to draw, I must say.
Hmmmmm……
Are we sure this Strip is not ABOUT Satan, but is WRITTEN by the Prince of Darkness ?
What else would explain our inability to correct grammatical errors on our posts ? Not even edit for five minutes, as forums that are “nice” do.
Could it be PUCK is an insidious TRAP, designed to capture our very SOULS ?
I can edit mine. BWA-HA-HA!
I love that Phoebe looks so cute in panel three. It makes her upset reaction right after more effective.
I try. Really I do.