Goin’ Solo
IT HAPPENED! Â (read more)
Do you know what the hardest part is about doing comics like this? It’s reading (or hearing) all of you screaming, begging for Samy to be a thing, to be official, and knowing what is coming without spoiling it. I want to scream OMG IT’S HAPPENING SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! Just as much as you do.
What does this mean? Well, it looks like Sam and Amy are going to start dating and let me tell you, if the comics I have written ahead hold up, this should be good times. A few commenters have expressed their displeasure or concern over this turn of events, as Amy has not been a major character in this comic up until now. To be honest, that is kind of the point. Amy makes no secret about her attraction to Sam. She knows who she is, loves herself, and knows what she wants. Whether this is a just fling or it leads to something long-term, it’s time for Sam to move on and and maybe find a little swag (yeah, I know that word but it fits in this context). In my experience, attraction and relationships seem to function on their own weird sense of time. It’s like fucked up Dr. Who logic. Some are quick, some are slow.
Thank you Lisa for looking over this comic before I posted it. Sometimes when I stare at dialogue for too long I start to doubt it. This one is important to me for several reasons so wanted to make sure it held up.
Update: Several folks asked me for a phone wallpaper of the 3rd panel in todays comic so here is a link or your clicking pleasure.
Hat-thulu was lucky after all 🙂
Something about the art in that last 2 panels looks TOO good! Maybe because we don’t see many true-profiles on d20monkey, my eyes are telling me “hey, the proportions are more real life!”
BTW, 2 hours ago I spent 20 minutes teaching my 2 year old daughter that “Princess Leia says ‘I love you’ and Han Solo says ‘I know'” so thank you for the validation!
This honestly came out of nowhere for me.
Yes, for me too, as it kind of seemed like Sam was kind of awkward about what to do about her, like he didn’t return her affections. But I guess I was wrong. I am usually the one who’s awkward in social situations though, so maybe that’s why I misjudged, haha.
I have to agree. I mean I get that this has taken place over multiple days our time but really it seems that interest and all of that was only developed in a single night their time. I could just not be paying close enough attention but I didn’t really see any development of interest on either side prior to “this night”
I don’t know where the writer is taking this but in the real world this would feel like a “well I can’t have the girl I wanted but this girl wants me so let’s go with it.”
Hopefully we get some more development of these two maybe some flashbacks to show how they were interested in each other prior to the night they got together.
I can understand where this is coming from but i want to point out that you can develop ad “interest” in months, weeks, days or even hours.
Sometimes the right person say the right thing at the right time and you suddenly see her/him in a totally different way, nothing wrong with it.
Imo this is nothing out of the “ordinary” when love and attraction are involved, also i’m really really really really glad that sam has put a stop of all that sel-pity.
My sentiments exactly. I just finished an archive binge, reading from the beginning up until now, and this seems completely out of the blue. Sam never seemed to show any interest in Amy, and until now, she’s been something of a non-character. What I mean by that is that there hasn’t really been much character development for her, as most of what we’ve seen is not of Amy, but of her character in the CoC campaign.
So Amy herself has been something of a blank slate, and pairing Sam with such a character seems to be a cop out: “Well, Sam had his heart broken, so to give it a happy ending we’ve got to pair him with someone. Hey, here’s this vague and undefined character we can stick him with, she’ll do!”
What little we do know about Amy seems to contradict at least some of what Sam thinks of her in the above strip. It’s a matter of opinion of course, but if I met a girl who was gullible enough to buy and wear a humongous tentacled elder god hat as a good luck charm, “smart” would not be the first word I’d use to describe her. Amy is more than a little goofy, awkward, and weird. In the right doses, those traits can be endearing, but Amy is so far over the top as to just come off as annoying. Again, it’s just my personal opinion, and to each their own, but Sam still didn’t show the slightest inkling of interest in Amy before any of this, and now it just feels forced.
I’m sorry you’re not happy with things, Blackbird. I’ll chalk it up to my failings as a writer.
Sometimes, you’re living in the moment, and those sometimes mean you go with what feels right and just go with it—no thinking, no analyzing, just grab onto life and go.
Go Sam & Amy. 😀
Brian,
Try not to take me too seriously, I am known for being overly critical and analytical about the little details. It’s just my perspective of what I’ve seen, and I don’t know that it counts for much. I am hoping that there is some more depth to this that we as readers have not been privy to so far, and that things will make more sense to me as they develop.
I wouldn’t say this came out of left field, at least not for me. The first time we saw Amy, it was clear she had feelings for him. And I think Sam wants someone to rescue him, for once. His awkwardness stems not from returned affections, but from his own self-loathing which Amy is able to see past.
Hell, I was engaged to my wife after eight weeks, and head over heels for her after I found out she had a pirate lunch box. Maybe that’s just me, though.
Agreed. I got “Amy likes him” vibes in her first appearance. I kept waiting for her to show up again.
I was a little confused/ mystified as to why Sam wasn’t making a move, and assumed he just didn’t reciprocated. But a lack of confidence and emotional fallout from his failed crush are a solid reason. It’s very Sam.
so, as far as left field goes, im under the impression that her first appearance was the first IGS meeting we see, but since she is friends with Mel, Dallas and Jean, im under the impression is that there is more of the story than we’ve seen. yah, we as the reader are blindsided by her and sam’s kiss, but then too, she did make a stalker joke in that appearance, and its certainly possible that the girls have shared stories with her.
for example, me and a friend of mine were feuding for years. shit stacked so high that a reconcilliation seemed very, VERY, unlikely. this was specifically highlighted while i was working at a call center, someone noticed my nametag and said ‘do you know XXXX Williams?’ since this was prior to reconcilliation, i responded ‘and do you know where he is, i have a few THINGS i need to discuss with him..’ to which the person turned, ran off, and found out he later requested a different site to work.
then, in 2009, i get an email from XXXX stating that a mutual friend of ours was just in a huge car accident, its REALLY bad, he’s in the hospital and could we put aside the feud for now, just in case this is it for him.
i agreed, and set a date up with another of our mutual friends to have a sit down with XXXX, it went well enough, that the two of us became friends again. but the real meat of this comes what happens a few years later. as im sitting in XXXX’s living room, hangign out with him and his GF after classes one day, and theres a knock at the door, and its a friend he made while he and i were feuding. XXXX offers him a beer, i get a refill on my coke, so the three of us get to talking, when suddenly XXXX realizes he hasn’t made introductions yet. he introduces his friend first, and we shake hands and then he introduces me….and this guys go wide with terror, starts to make a run for the door. and he says ‘holy shit you’re THAT guy, what are you DOING here??!?’ XXXX starts to laugh his ass off and explains what had happened previously. to which i turn to my friend and say ‘wow, just how bad a rep do i HAVE with these guys these days….’ to which he responds ‘oh, i may have exaggerated a few things…’ to which i raise my glass to my friend and say ‘nahhhh..works for me, the look of terror was priceless!’
Or this can be Amy’s dream sequence on what she wants to happen 😉 But, I do like how the call of cthulhu hat is staring down as it can’t believe what is happening before itself 😀
I was beat to this, but yeah the hat looks more surprised than anyone else, it’s pretty funny.
I almost think the hat would have taken an Attack of Opportunity on Sam if it hadn’t been flatfooted at the move itself!
I was hoping this was coming. Super happy about it. It turned out beautifully as well. Is it just me or did you change up the proportions a little for the 2nd and 3rd panels? I really like the effect, but can’t figure out if it’s just my imagination or you went for a little more realistic when it comes to the profile… Also, love the image of the tender first kiss with the Lucky Squid Hat just… watching. Always watching.
Cthulu does not seem happy to be a part of that kiss.
I was thinking the same thing. Looks kind of like the hat failed its SAN roll
Yeah! BE the Narrative, Sam!
Yay! Now to sit back and watch him deal with the transition to dating. 🙂
Once again, the wisdom of star wars shines through. Truly is there any aspect of our lives that cannot be improved by the wisdom of Solo?
The proper method of dealing with slugs?
Slugs = garden mynocks. ‘Nuff said.
That speech might be one of the hottest things a girl could possibly have said in that situation. Ever.
Also, how long until the “What would Han Solo Do” merchandise starts hitting the store? Seriously, my moneys waiting
SECOND!
http://img1.etsystatic.com/003/0/7222270/il_570xN.368265989_ldkp.jpg
C’mon guys! This was clearly “secretly” Sam’s third test! To see if he could make out with a girl who has a Cthulhu hat on! Wait no…. To see if he could make things happen within his own life while being made to believe he wouldn’t have the narrative!
Whoa! Wait. Is this Sam making the Narrative his life? I mean manipulating the vulnerable second-tier friend of his permacrush, so he can be closer to the girl he TRULY loves? Maybe even doing it without realize it, and in 4 years him and Mel will fall into each other’s arms because it’s RIGHT, while Amy gets left by both like a crusty sock in a frat house? Is Amy the “Third Gender” the surrogate, a waystation of love, the wax paper between two pieces of cheese destined to both go in the same sandwich?
TLDR: the narrative is a playa?
SQUEEE!!!
That is all.
I shall join you in the squeeing.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I will see your squee and raise you another ssssqqqueeeee!
LATER THAT EVENING…
Amy: “Well I guess before we get things started, I should put this in my bag—”
Sam: “No no, it’s okay. Leave the hat on.”
Dang it Sean, that was my exact thought. Love this storyline and the art has definitely stepped up to a new level.
I’m starting to wonder if I can use my housemate’s Rammus hat as a lucky hat to attract a partner. It worked for Amy, surely it can work for me! Well, that and I clearly need to start coming up with some awesome geek pickup lines.
OMG she’s like a female Casanova for geeks! Everyone would have fallen for that! 😉
Well, I’m not happy about this… mostly because I don’t seem to recall Amy being in the comic much so I don’t know her character.
I’m sorry if it’s off-putting, Stephen. All I can say is that I have a plan and hope you’ll stick around to see where things go.
I’m hoping my complaint helps others who dislike this from nerd-raging. It usually takes the form of ‘loyalty to character A’ but often stems from not knowing ‘character C’ well enough yet. ‘Character B’ of course is the common character between ‘A’ and ‘C.’
Yeah, I appreciate the effort but the rage was already crashed over me from other folks. I don’t know what to tell people other than “wait and see” but for some, that isn’t an option. I’m just going to keep trying to make the best comic I can and if it isn’t where folks want it to go, I understand.
Really, rage? I’ve read through the comments on this page, and I haven’t really seen much rage, but more like opinions. Maybe you don’t like those opinions, but calling them ‘rage’ is a bit… extreme, in my opinion.
You’re always going to have people that like what you’re currently writing, and people that don’t like what you’re writing. Dealing with both of those groups is also important.
That being said though, I do really enjoy your comic, and will keep reading it even though this particular bit came a little unexpected to me!
Oh, no no. Email rage. One guy practically threatened my life.
I always appreciate differing opinions. I may not necessarily agree with them but it gives me things to consider.
I actually didn’t read the comments. I usually don’t. I was more referring to the fact that nerd rage exists and this is a situation in a story that often causes outbursts and insults. I’m sure any nerd rage comments are done in private emails. Harder for reasonable people to point out they’re nuts that way.
I think they will make a pretty cute couple, but mostly I wanted to comment that the art in that final panel is a cut above even your normally excellent work. It looks fantastic.
Great job, man, with a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge emotional moment.
cheers,
Phil
I saw that last panel, and this song popped in to my head:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qwa8yNAAgg
Nicely done, sir.
Hahahaha I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but I love the way the Cthulhu hat seems to be looking on in concern at their first kiss. As if it’s thinking, “Really? You call that a kiss?”
In fact, I think it would be hilarious if the Cthulhu hat had subtle expressions throughout the comic…
agreed! it is (and would be) awesome.
She Shoots…SHE SCORES!
I won’t lie, I squeed when I saw this comic. Me, a big strappin’ young gentleman, and I squeed. After watching Sam get pooped on for so long, and seeing just how much Amy obviously cares about him, I think it’s about time.
FWIW, I like that Amy is a relatively new character. Because that’s often the way it is IRL. You tend to find your romantic partners as new additions to your group of friends, not lurking unrecognized in their ranks. It feels far less forced than if Sam had started dating Mel simply because she was already part of the cast.
OH SNAP!!
“I can’t believe neither of them noticed that he’s got a piece of onion stuck in his teeth!”
I don’t mind that this came out of the blue. I mean it’s similar to what happened in Zombie Roomie, when John was dating again before we were even introduced to his girlfriend. Besides, sometimes life is like that. You just do something out of the blue.
I’m a little confused, but giving it a chance. Amy’s behavior early in this arc was the sort of behavior that would make me personally keep my distance. But I’m fully aware that I’m not Sam and that that reaction is purely based on personal preferences (or prejudices if you prefer). Interested to see what you’ve got planned, Brian, but scratching my head at the same time.
She just comes off as a little bit socially awkward, but that’s pretty normal.
It felt beyond socially awkward, at least to my initial reading. I just went back and read it and it wasn’t as bad as I remembered it but it still felt more than “socially awkward”, so I’m not sure what that says about my memory.
Well, I really have two things to say to this. First, well done. I normally do not have a strong reaction from webcomics. I can only think of two other comics that have evoked such a visceral reaction from me (QC and Goblins, my two other favoite comics). I think it points to your storytelling and artwork (major kudos on the last panel, some of your best work yet) and I can only see that improving moving forward.
Second, I don’t want to be pigeonholed into one group or the other, but I don’t like the pairing of Sam and Amy (I will hold out hope for Sam and Mel, and I will have no logic that says otherwise polluting my happy, dream-the-impossible-dream thoughts). The reason is not that Amy is a new character, but more about how her personality feels like it is going to clash with everything going forward. Amy just seems like the hopeless romantic that is going to be disillusioned very quickly; it was weird first meeting her character, because I knew this was coming, but I couldn’t see it working out even then. I could see her trying to join in with the other gaming groups, but it won’t go well, especially with Brett. You are putting Sam in a lot of tough positions, although this can be a plus because it makes for outstanding character development.
Maybe it is just me, but I feel like you may have doomed the IGS with this as well. What is going to happen if (or when) the breakup comes? Who will the other girls side with? I have seen how rough it can be when couples play together, and it can feasibly ruin relationships. I can see things shattering during a game, and last I checked there are no SAN rolls in real life.
I could be wrong about all of this, but I am playing devil’s advocate just in case. On the whole though, you are to be commended for writing a great story thus far, and I am excited to see where it goes in the future.
beyond plot, characters, romance (all excellent i think),
i love the panelling on this – first close, second faraway and silhouetted (if that’s a word),
and the third as the close up. well done. had i the talent you have in your pinkie…
damn.
As always, love the writing and the art. Just keeps getting better.
Sometimes those out of the blue moments, when you take a chance, amazing things can happen. I did three years ago and despite or more than likely because of my awkwardness she took a shine to me. Our wedding is set for next fall.
In terms of the art, I think the bit that is throwing everyone is Sam and Amy are standing straight, or well, relatively straight, and it’s a good look for them. Our artist here can handle it! He’s got the chops!
In terms of Amy and Sam? Hmmm… I remember when Amy first showed up she had the hots for Sam and continued that trend here. I had thought Sam’s initial reaction to her was one of “do not want” but I think it could also be “do not want because will screw it up.”
In terms of Sam and Mel? Ugh. That would suck. That boat has sailed. I’d like to see Sam and Mel both grow as characters. I don’t know if Amy is going to sick around but she’ll be good for Sam in terms of ‘fake it till you make it’.
I do however, hope that outside of popping in and some out of game sequences, that she does NOT join the core group That part to me would be lazy writing. It would be cool to see her go over Sam’s notes with him though and act as a sounding board or a vetting board. Maybe giving her a high five for some great ideas she had.
Keep up the great work. The fact that you’ve got some lively debate here showases that people are interested and care about the characters.
I’m a little surprised by the naysayers on this one. Hell, one of my longest relationships started on a day when I was approached by a girl I had never spoken to but had crushed on me from afar for a while.
Suffice it to say, someone doesn’t need to be a “character” in your life before they become a huge part of it. Sometimes it just happens out of the blue.
Yeah, I’ve had relationships start like this. You meet someone. They act interested. You get to know them better over a couple days. You learn some of their good qualities. You end up dating. It didn’t work out either time in my life but it’s still a very viable start.
I’m just saying, the kind of girl who buys a Cthulu hat as a “good luck charm,” but plays CoC so knows what it really means? Yeah, that’s a keeper.
I’m actually a little surprised LESS people saw this coming. I’m not diving into the archives, but I recall that what little characterization we DID see of Amy when she first appeared, she seemed a bit talky towards Sam, a little awkward… smitten, if perhaps only a little. It wasn’t much to work off of, but on top of what we had seen in the current arc here, it just builds on that.
Now, Sam’s an introvert, and one that’s been having issues with his life. How things turned out with Mel didn’t help. And then he gets a carpe diem speech from Larry. And here’s this girl who is CLEARLY attracted to him, and he clearly want to keep going on his little monologue of how awkward he is (see bottom of the first panel) but then Amy swoops in and sets the scene. SHE provides the narrative for Sam, and Sam was JUST TOLD to live the narrative.
So he did. Because an attractive girl who likes him just told him to Solo her Leia, which may as well be nerd-speak for “take me!” Boom.
I dunno. I think you set it up exquisitely Brian. Because that was how I saw what Larry said: sometimes it’s not the story you expect, but live it anyway. And I’ll admit, I figured something would happen with Amy, but I was pleasantly surprised at how fast. Go Sam!
I understand that some people feel this was shoehorned or too fast, but that’s life. A lot of gamers tend to fall into the “slow build to romance” school of dating; just look at how long in-comic between when it was clear that Sam had affections for Mel, and when he was planning to “confess” to her, as the Japanese might put it.
I’ve been acquainted with several gals who act like Amy, in that they’re not afraid to initiate pursuit, and to do so from the moment they form a crush. Especially if they don’t have the patience for us romantic types to finally sidle up sideways to the topic of courtship. Completely believable to me.
Finally, it should be mentioned that the IGS gals debated about bringing Sam onboard before Shang-Hai’ing him, so Amy would have already had Sam talked up to her by her friends, even if the others weren’t necessarily angling to pair them off. I’m hoping that dialogue finds its way into the comic in the coming month or so.
Stumbleweeds wins for logical reasoning! Thank you for the sanity here. 🙂 Completely agree with what you said about how relationships blossom and the in universe buildup. Speaking from personal experience I’ve been involved in relationships that blossomed into making out while walking a girl to her car (exactly as depicted here though with none of the talking) to relationships that were years in the making.
It’s like a well-done soap opera, perfectly seasoned with geek elements in the dialog, plus that hat…
*sniff*
Brilliant, sir…brilliant!
this seems apt to post
Don’t take any negative stuff these folks say, only tune in one the positive (unless the negative is helpful negative and not break you down negative) It’s your story, you’re the writer, create your master piece!
I think that hat wants some sugar too, it’s eyeing up sam something fierce.
Pardon my spelling errors, I wish there was an edit option (unless there is and I remain ignorant of it’s existence?) but yeah.
It may be creepy, but may we get a high res litho of this? Everything is perfect! I went through something similar to Sam, so it really hits home and I love every second of this! More more more!!!
I like the strip … secretly I was holding out for Sam and Mel, but this works too.
Part of me was holding out for Sam & Mel, but truth be told, I’m glad it didn’t go down that way. Would have felt too contrived. We rarely get the relationship we go in for, especially when we make some of the dumb mistakes that Sam has made with Mel. This gives Sam a clean slate with a character I’d definitely like to see developed more.
the sign said it was lucky, didn’t specify the type of luck
I started a new job on September 9th, and had to put my web comic reading on hold, as I was passing out after work.
Tomorrow is my first day off aside from the weekend (when I sleep and game).
Picking up where I left off and then seeing this strip! OMG thank you it’s amazing! You made my night.
Yaay, smart, fun-loving, kindof crazy, and pretty. Probably won’t work out, but it’ll be a fun ride.
For what it’s worth, I think the third panel is one of the nicest (artistically) you’ve drawn so far (and love the lead in with the second panel).
And in the transition between the 2nd and 3rd panels, the chorus for “Let’s Live for Today” by the Grass Roots begins to play: https://youtu.be/5lRWXHomzF0