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As for the comic...
Here we see Phoebe crossing a few sartorial lines in the fashion sand that I seldom ever cross with her. She is now wearing plaid, and is also sporting a very small bow on her choker. They both may be a first ... though I'm not sure on the bow one. She might have worn a small bow once before.
Puck 377
NEW VALEMTRIMES DJAY VROTING IMCECHIVE!!!
That’s right! This voting incentive was chosen by fans! Patrons on Patreon who pledge $5 or more a month get a personal say in what incentives are coming your way! If YOU want to put your two cents in, then my HEAD ON OVER TO PATREON and join the select club!
VOTE WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART!
As for the comic...
Here we see Phoebe crossing a few sartorial lines in the fashion sand that I seldom ever cross with her. She is now wearing plaid, and is also sporting a very small bow on her choker. They both may be a first ... though I'm not sure on the bow one. She might have worn a small bow once before.
Awwww…..
Does Miranda still breast- feed ?
(yes – yes – yes – yes)
No.
(sigh)
…
She looks big enough now to get the bottle out of the fridge herself.
Oh goody! A two year old that speaks like an infant!
Also I got my hair dyed red the other day and since my hair is naturally very dark it came out more like a tint. Sort of like Phoebe’s hair.
She looks like she’s two, but she’s really only (maybe?) not quite one or so. It’s all the hair.
She has her mother’s thick hair…
Just needs a little curl like this and it’s got a lot of body.
OMG….
That’s not Baby Talk, you fools !
It’s Shadow Gaelic, the tongue most favored by Ireland’s most evil haint – Leanan Sidhe !
Phoebe – be wary !!!
Couldn’t resist those tears. :]
It’s impossible.
The PLAID!
We shall call her Pho-u, er, oh, er, never mind. Forget I said anything. I did not say this. I was never here.
“Phoebe Goodfellow” is too long. if only there were a shorter way to combine their names.
I’m sure people can get creative.
I don’t think Phoebe is going to be marrying Robin anytime soon, though and even if she ever did, she might want to keep her own surname. Hyphenating is also another possible option, I guess.
Well, seeing as we’ve never really heard Phoebe’s last name, that would be interesting.
O’Satan ?
McSatan ?
MacSatan ?
Oh wait – Phone Call…..
Uh huh, uh huh ….
It’s Murphy.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Phoebe marries Robin ?
The time for that meme being groundbreaking is long gone.
Dude, it’s Canada.
Draw your own conclusions.
Oh, but you did, my dear Whistler. You did.
why oh why couldn´t miranda break out those epic puppy dogs when puck was about to leave?!
and its not the ovaries honey, you´re just soft-hearted….you won´t see *daph* placing a ticking bomb of poop on *her* lap.
True. Temperament is key. And no, I don’t think Daphne would fall for such things. Then again, she’s the more experienced gambler and knows how to bluff.
It occurred to me that Miranda looks a lot like Daphne did at this stage…
Miranda is wearing a take on Daphne’s original outfit from the very early comics. So that helps.
its a hint at horrors yet to come – daph was kinda cute at first too. if miranda inherited just a *fraction* of pucks temper, and grows up with rolemodels like her and daph, she´s bound to be a menace long before hitting puberty
But with Colin and Phoebe as Role Models, Miranda will be a perfect little lady.
She’ll still have her delinquent big sister to look up to, though…
‘Babykooi’ = baby cage. Since when does this household shop for products made in the Netherlands? ^_^ Or admittedly, Belgium. Or South Africa. Maybe even Pennsylvania.
IKEA
Glad someone caught that. High-end baby-type stuff is often made by European companies – or at least they want you to think they’re made by European companies, because consumers associate Europe with fine goods. In reality, most of them are made in China or Vietnam or wherever, just like all the other stuff on the shelves, and given vaguely European names by some shell company to boost sales.
Ha! Whenever I think “European made” I automatically lean toward ‘Eastern bloc’.
Trabant, Skoda, Tatra, etc.
I guess the cold war stuck with me more than I realized.
[“How do you stop a Trabi? Stick chewing gum to the highway!”]
When I say “Europe”, I mean not-Eastern Europe. I always consider former Soviet bloc countries to be an entirely different continent.
The Balkans!
Are you out of your Balkan mind?!
Hard for me not to notice it; it’s my native language. :p
I love Dutch. It’s exactly like English, only … it’s not.
I don’t know Dutch but I knew enough German to learn Steve Irwin had died.
To clarify, I knew enough German while Dutch news was on in the background (the words must have been just close enough for me to understand) while I was in the Netherlands to learn this. It was quite a rude shock.
How could it have been a shock? Everyone KNEW the croc was going to win eventually.
Aww, Miranda is getting big.
Well, she’s about the same size as was just recently. Though now she’s in the ‘standing with support’ phase.
MIRANDA used PUPPY DOG EYES. PHOEBE’s maternal instincts rose greatly!
It was super effective!
Everything can be explained through Pokemon. Everything.
I’m almost afraid to ask, but does that mean that Phoebe has evolved?
We should all be concerned if the P.O. (Puck Overlay) becomes dominant.
Warning Signs will be O.N. (Offspring Neglect, and C.C.C. (Colin Cowering in the Cabinet).
Mega Phoebe EX, as it were.
I don’t remember seeing Phoebe wearing a bow before, but I might also have just missed it. Either or.
It’s somehow a very fitting comic, given how it’s Valentine’s Day (in this case, maternal love).
As for Miranda, I can’t say I blame her – she probably recognized the freckles and thinks it’s Puck.
Valentine connection was NOT planned, but if it works, I’ll say it was.
Too bad, Phoebes, but unless you’re a psycho-/sociopath, this stuff is right in the blood and bone. 😉
Well, I think it’s more in the heart, maybe. Some people are immune. But most aren’t.
How about having Phoebe watch the 1996 Doctor Who Movie while looking after Miranda.
That movie SUCKED.
All I remember about it is that they killed off a perfectly good Doctor for . . . some guy.
It was a dark, dark day for DW fans the world over. And remained a bitter swan song for the good doctor for a long time after that.
Ahem.
Paul McGann =/= some guy.
For starters, he might have helped the show. It’s just not immediately apparent how until you dig a bit.
Wait a minute, wait a minute. It gave us Paul McGann as the Doctor (also one of the best parts of the 50th Anniversary, let’s not forget) and also under the circumstances, it did actually work out for the best the way it did. There’s a lot of alternate futures that could have been much worse. Who wants a terrifying history lesson?
With Phoebe’s new freckles, Miranda probably mistook her for Puck.
Honest mistake, right?
Phoebe looks more like her now than her own mother… Sad.
It’s good to see the F.R.E.C.K.L.E.S. are recovering nicely.
The P.O. (Puck Overlay) is quickly becoming dominant.
Professor Huhnmorder rates this week’s Phoebe at 2.36 Cronenbergs (he loves being precise).
Dude, did you change something with the art? It looks more defined and detailed. Or I guess it could be the change in color scheme is just throwing me off. Either way, weeks strip is awesome.
Thanks. No conscious change, but I’m glad it looks good. For whatever reason.
Oh Phoebe, you may not realize how lucky you are.
Any parent can tell you of the joy of raising a young child, a child that adores you, loves you without reservation.
That phase is short, and is oft-times not appreciated until it passes.
And it never returns.
It also coincides with that point where they poop and puke on you, though, so that dulled the thrill.
It passes into the phase (in the male child) when they eat EVERYTHING in the fridge, play Minefield interminably, and laugh uproariously when they find words like “ejaculate” in a Sherlock Holmes story. My friend tells me that they go next into a phase when they say suggestive things to their father’s gf, but I am doing a lot to obviate that phase. Like cleaning guns when they are around, and whacking them when their father won’t.
You, dear Lady, are my HERO.
(and I do not toss about the term LADY randomly, to those who deserve no such compliment (as is sadly the norm these days)
My son is in the Minecraft-playing state you describe. He also gets taller by about an inch a day.
My father whacked me a lot more often than Mom–but she whacked me a whole lot harder. (She was taller and grew up with 4 older sibs.)
Phoebe’s hair changed a shade! it was idk bluer? now it’s reddish… that’s clever! 😀 and one thing i have to say about Miranda is she s manipulative like her mom and has her father’s kicked puppy look to back it up XD
It is redder now. The component color scheme used to be various shades of blue, and now it’s moved to the warmer end of the spectrum. So her hair’s still black; it just shines slightly red.
ARUGULA !
Just add a bit more RED to the palette, and we can end this for good !
Do it – DO IT !
(pleez)
This one is 10 more red than the last one.
More … Red … for the love of God … more Red ….
When I don’t see red, I SEE RED !
(groan)
yeah that’s what i noticed! i’m an art student… and i’ve been look at your art for inspiration lately and i noticed that it has been getting redder :3 now Phoebe will get what she wanted or what she jinxed herself into~
Phoebe not only has maternal instincts; but freckles as well. Probably remind Miranda of Puck.
Well, except the ‘maternal instinct’ part, because her mom was sometimes lacking on that front.
So… Phoebe’s better?
Objectively, yes.
Ears!!!
Freckles and pointy ears along with the maternal instincts.
That is why Miranda went for Phoebe!
Phoebe’s wearing plaid! That’s new…
So will Puck come back out of jealousy? Or will a certain amount of time pass and we’ll see Puck on television?
Both are possibilities.
Let’s see – time to revisit possible “Stage Names” for Robin Goodfellow ?
and she’s wearing a bow too!
I didn’t spot it till you pointed it out, Buggle. I also think this is the first time I’ve seen Phoebe in green pants… Now I have to do an archive dive!
As I’ve said before, that’s one ugly baby.
I’m no good at drawing babies. Blame me, not the kid.
Here’s a cat who disagrees.
I find Miranda thoroughly charming (when she is dry).
Seconded!
Thirded! Move for a motion to adjourn!
I’ll bet Miranda is so into Phoebe that she will NEVER crap on her.
Not Ever !
No promises.
Thirded, Motion carried! I even thought Miranda was adorable when her hair was sticking straight up!
Miranda’s come a long way since the Beanie Phase.
Kid really is her mother’s daughter. She knows how to manipulate people at the tender age of less than one already!
It’s a trait.
I have a suggestion how about having Puck in other languages as well in English.There are webcomics that are doing this already.
Demosthenes improved his speech by talking with pebbles in his mouth why not have Miranda do the same.
Pshaw !
It’s all Greek to me.
She’s an infant…
I like Latin better. Delenda est Carthago!
Googling, I get:”Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam” or “Ceterum autem censeo Carthaginem esse delendam” (English: “Furthermore, (moreover) I consider that Carthage must be destroyed”) often abbreviated to “Ceterum censeo”, “Carthago delenda est”, or “Delenda est Carthago” (English: “Carthage must be destroyed”)
Quit your war-mongering, Cato the Elder. Reports of Carthage’s interference in Roman affairs is largely fake news.
This made me ROFL.
I used to kinda like Cat othe Elder till I found out how mean he was to Scipio Africanus. Jerk! And Cato the Younger, too
LATIN ?
SHE’S A WITCH !!!
(I am looking for part-time work as a familiar.)
Be careful where you step with her! If her warmongering is any indication, she would be a harsh mistress!
But, but, I need the job !
I’m running out of batteries, and those D-Cells don’t come cheap.
It’s a fair cop :p
ooohhh… Latin!!!! Lemme try!
“VINI, VICI, VINO”
(I came, I saw, I had a glass of wine)
Greg White suggested I have a suggestion how about having Puck in other languages as well in English.There are webcomics that are doing this already.
Some Comics are bi-lingual. Frivolesque: Canadian French. A Tale Yet Unclaimed: Spanish.
But these are all Romance languages; based on LATIN.
So we agree: PUCK should cut to the ROOT, and be the FIRST Web Comic in LATIN !!
I’ll begin by translating this week’s comic:
Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. 2 Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. Gallos ab Aquitanis Garumna flumen, a Belgis Matrona et Sequana dividit. 3 Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae, propterea quod a cultu atque humanitate provinciae longissime absunt, minimeque ad eos mercatores saepe commeant atque ea quae ad effeminandos animos pertinent important, 4 proximique sunt Germanis, qui trans Rhenum incolunt, quibuscum continenter bellum gerunt.
Ok, ok.
I realize there may be a few of you who lack four years of High School Classical Latin, or missed several semesters of “Magic Spells for Hacks”. (ever notice how every Magic Spell on TV or in Movies for the past century is in Latin, and not Shadow Gaelic (as they should be).
Anyhow, for the Philistines, I have also translated this week into PIG LATIN.
Arhgagay! Oohachay Ahbay! Aahgay Eegay! Ahahgay Ohbay!!!
Istenlay! Ouyay inkthay I’llway automaticallyway assumeway away
eudopsay-otherlymay oleray ustjay ecausebay Iway avehay
ovariesway?
Ellway, ONAY. I’mway onay aveslay otay ymay aternalmay
instinctway.
Ouyay alledcay ymay uffblay, uhhay?
Ufoouway.
The issue with webcomic translations is this: translating comedy, especially written comedy, from one language to another successfully is the hardest translation task to accomplish. Period. It requires a talented comedian/translator, and those are obviously in short supply, and likely expensive. In the case with Frivolesque, Etienne is fluent in English and French, so the creator can adapt the material himself. In the case of Puck, though, even if I got a translator (my wife is admittedly fluent in French), the nature of translation often means that jokes that work in one language fall flat in another. That means coming up with entirely new jokes for the new language. Which is a task.
Oooooooh….
What if we had clickable Speech Balloons, where the text is spoken out loud ?
I’ll bet no one has done that yet !
(at least in Latin)
Even a one-time clickable Speech Balloon would be an impressive incentive !
Monsieur EletricGecko is right here. It’s not just enough to be fluent in the target translation language; one also sometimes has to translate the jokes into other but similar jokes. (There are also issues of keeping the rhythm of the original comic, how to translate names, and how to translate formal or informal speech into the target language).
If I were younger and better remembered my Latin, I might give a Puck comic or two a try. However, Latin has its own set of translation challenges. Does one use Classial Latin or Mediaeval Latin? Does one use Vatican Latin for modern concepts? It might be useful to study how other comics are translated into Latin and use them for a guide (at least Asterix has the advantage of taking place in Roman times).
There is much more to be discussed on this topic, but I think that’s enough to give an outline of the complexities of it.
Did ya’ ever wonder about this ?
The word SALARY is supposed to derive from the Latin word for SALT, as salt was so rare and valuable that Roman Soldiers were paid with it.
Ok.
But when Carthage fell, it is said the fields were SOWN WITH SALT so nothing could ever grow there again.
I’m calling shenanigans.
If salt was worth so much, you’d never be able to afford spreading thousands and thousands of acres with it !
(and if I were a Centurian I’d be pocketing a bit, let me tell you)
I think they made the “sowing with salt” bit up.
Fake News circa 146 B.C.
Possibly there was a great difference in price between purified sodium chloride and the mixture of salts and crud you get by just evaporating sea water. Near Carthage, all they had to do was pump sea water up into a shallow pool on the land and wait for the sun to dry it. That gives you salt, but it’s mixed with rotten shrimp and various compounds that chemists call “salts” but with quite different tastes. Getting palatable salt requires selectively re-dissolving the raw sea salt (which needs fresh water, I think), filtering, possibly some chemical treatments, and evaporating the solution again. And then it’s on the other side of the sea from Rome, and transporting salt in primitive wooden ships must be tricky.
Or they could skip the parts where you evaporate the water, pound the salt pan with sledgehammers to break it up, carry it to the fields, and sow it, and just carry seawater in buckets and pour it onto the fields they wanted to salt. It’s also likely that if the Romans did salt the fields, they only salted the fields quite near Carthage and along the sea shore. That is, they killed the farms that provided fresh produce to the city, but probably didn’t make much of a dent in the grain production.
Whatever they did, it wasn’t permanent. Tunisia grows food today, and as far as I know their main limitation is scanty fresh water (16 inches of rain a year) rather than the fertility of the soil.
It’s nice to see PUCK’s status as the leading Scientific Web-Comic again.
You’re thoughts are plausible, indeed.
However, I expect dead shrimp and rotten seaweed would make any soil MORE fertile, though yes, thoroughly disgusting to use on your Fries.
And yes, I have always questioned why SALT would be considered expensive.
As you have pointed out, all you have to do is evaporate sea water. No big deal in sunny Italy.
Perhaps both aspects of the tale are FAKE NEWS.
As you have suggested, there are, in fact, TWO forms of Sea Salt.
A coarse grey salt, and a fine white salt. Both harvested in the same artificial pond, but in different ways,
SEA SALT EXPLAINED
Perhaps the Roman Fake News is not as fake as I thought…
Her arm freckles are kinda hot. I really should be ashamed but I’m not 😀
I don’t know why one would be ashamed. I’ll back you up on that. I love arm freckles.
Does anybody recognize this guy ?
Mysterious Top Hat Man
I’ve been hired to track him down (if I do, a full case of D-Cells has been pledged to me).
Er… can you describe who hired you?
Susan SchroederUmm, it’s confidential.
No unauthorized leaks from this cat !
Fake news! 😛
Yes, yes.
Totally fake.
All made up.
Nothing to it.
Did I mention I lied ?
(whew)
meus magister
laboro
(yes master, we should communicate only in Latin from this point forwards)
Well, I think you should know, he is protected by a mighty, mysterious person, who is feared throughout the multiverse. I wouldn’t cross him if I were you.
@Buggle
“Well, I think you should know, he is protected by a mighty, mysterious person, who is feared throughout the multiverse. I wouldn’t cross him if I were you.”
No way my employer is under the command of anyone.
HerHis Benelli would dissuade anyone of that notion stat !Latin’s a dead language it’s 1 of 8 languages of Lawrence of Arabia the other 7 are English French Greek German Arabic
Syriac and Turkish.
Lawrence was such a weirdo.
What makes you say that Lawrence was a weirdo?
NOW you’re asking me to back up one of my incoherent rambles
Good Day Sir !
TE Lawrence apparently got along better with Arabs than with Englishmen. He was a mystic who liked to dress in robes and was gay or bisexual in an era when you could go to prison for that. He survived a major war and a 20-year career in the military and was killed two months after he retired. Not that his military career was smooth after WWI; he tried to change to the RAF and then to tanks, was firmly shoved into the most remote posts they could find, and finally finished out his career running a boat for the RAF.
In summary, definitely a square peg in round holes – except for a couple of years as a liaison to Arab rebels, where he seems to have fit in better than any proper Englishman ever could.
In other words – a weirdo.
(at least for the time)
To be fair, you have breasts and freckles, just like her mom does…so there is that.
That’s all that matters, really.