Page Commentary No. 239

Gunwild: The joke that evil lairs shouldn't have handrails is an old one, I think I've been telling it in one form or another since I watched the Star Wars movies on VHS as a kid. You know, like, inside the Death Star are these endless chasms you can just run into? Emperor Palpatine wouldn't have plummeted to his doom if somebody had just blocked off that giant hole... but I guess you don't really worry about making things comfy and safe when you're a villain.

Brellom: It's an occupational hazard. Maybe evil villains secretly want to fall down their giant chasms of death and destruction.

Gunwild: That's pretty dark and makes it seem like being a villain isn't fun. And we know that's not true.

Psu: That reminds me, I really want to play Evil Genius 2. But I think even Evil Genius understands you need some degree of safety and wellness on your base. You don't want to lose most of your employees to pitfalls in the workplace.

Brellom: Yeah. You gotta intentionally toss them in.

Psu: I just think Dr Botz might be a terrible employer.

Brellom: To be fair, she's an employee here. It's not her responsibility to make sure the building is up to Space OSHA codes. She's allowed to deviate from such orthodoxy.

Psu: And I think Botz' hiring plan usually involves just uh... making more employees. Anyway, this is another pretty cool page but I think special props have to be given to Gunwild here. He covered a LOT of plot really quickly! And I like how efficiently Cassiopeia catches everyone up.

Gunwild: Eyebot does small but enjoyable expressions on this page, top and bottom.

Brellom: This was really his breakout episode.

Psu: I think Eyebot is still sorta Penny. But like... anyone read His Dark Materials? Eyebot is like a daemon.

Brellom: No, but I've read yours. Badumtish.

Psu: I think I see what you did there...

Gunwild: Yeah, he's like a little conscience-buddy that floats around her... maybe that's what our phones will turn into, and we'll be able to stop using wacky stands and grips on them.

Psu: If my phone could fly over across the room to get me a tissue if I'm about to sneeze, that'd be worth upgrading for sure.

Brellom: ... Just sneeze into your hand like a normal person.

Psu: I kinda wanna talk about the story stuff here. Like... I enjoy the gag that we get here with the whole safety standards thing, but I also appreciate how it hinted at a bigger story with these guys.

Gunwild: True. Granted, I knew where I was going and was able to foreshadow in that regard! Otherwise I guess it would be a bit of a small, silly addition... but it's the way details can inform a story that make the story good. The Three Little Pigs is fine, but you really believe they're taunting a wolf if they have a whole associated rhyme and stuff to repeat every time he tries to blow a house down.

Psu: It's a similar rule in architecture and design! If you repeat something, it doesn't look like an accident, instead it's got intent! Like when we bring back the joke about the railings later. Or how I keep sneaking in Metroids whenever I can.

Brellom: Oh, there is a metroid in that last panel... I've never noticed.

Gunwild: That's how metroids'll getcha.

Brellom: Just like your taxes.