The Answer
Ooof. Many panels and I have to say, it felt strange drawing old school Mel.
She’s been down since the first clash between Sam and Grey and I have tried to illustrate it subtly in her appearance and overall demeanor. Some folks picked up on it, some didn’t. Either way, it was a learning experience (it’s always a learning experience that will never end) and now, we are here at the reveal and pay-off. Some may dig it, some may hate it, and some may shrug and say “Text me when the dick jokes are back”. I’ll be curious to read the comments on this one.
What does this mean for Mel, Grey, and what’s going on inside the Dragon’s Den? Come back Wednesday and you’ll see.
In case you do not recognize him, that absolutely is John from Zombie Roomie. John Wigger and I discussed the idea of having Mel and John be exes a long time ago and I have been sitting on it until today. She liked John a lot but he went turbo clingy and she had a great job opportunity. So, they split up. Don’t worry, John is doing okay in the love department.
I’m only saying it because I feel like this time I really earned it.
CALLED IT!!!
Didn’t see that one coming.
Personally I like that you actually give your characters depth, and that the comic isn’t just shallow reference gags or “it’s funny because they’re geeks.” Although they’re almost nothing alike in most way, d20 Monkey kind of reminds me of Spaced, in that you’re actually writing real characters, and not clichés. That’s probably the best compliment I can think of so drop the mic, walk away.
Exactly this!! I wish more folk thought like you.
Preach on brother. Preach on.
So much stuff happen in this strip, I love the way it’s playing out. I wonder if Grey was having an issue with his sexuality. I’ve know a few guys with the same type of dude bro behavior. Now seeing John from Zombie Roomie (Awesome). About a month ago I was watching a Twich.tv Livestream and remember hearing John Wigger saying that there was a connection between Mel and John and that they dated a long time ago, I’m glad this was shown I would still love to see something of a cross over in the future. Can’t wait to see what happens on Wednesday. Keep up the good work.
Simply AWESOME!
I love the gaming story arc, and also the “real” life of yours character.
As Kinetenen, I can’t wait until Wednesday….
BAM. And that’s why d20 Monkey kills it every MWF. Well done, Brian. Payoff with some depth? Oh, I say YES SIR.
Btw, small nitpick but Mel never closed her quotes in the first panel 😉
Thanks for an awesome read as always.
Adnittedly I did not call it beforehand, but after Sam’s put-down (flashbacked in panel 4) this revelation wasn’t exactly a surprise. I do now however loathe Grey even more than ever, for trying to hide his true nature by torturing others.
Love it. Also love the small aside telling all the dudes yelling ‘fake gamer girl’ to shove it.
p.s., yes I’m a guy
I really like how we’re finally (seemingly) gonna be resolving this issue or getting close to it, and getting some insight into the infamous relationship, but I’m a little tired and a wee bit buzzed, so the most I can take away from this strip is “Mel has some big boobs, don’t she? We’ve never really known how big they were until this strip” lol
Ok, i must say that i’m disappointed, but before telling why i want to specify that i’m not in any way disappointed by the comic, which i love; i’m disappointed by Mel.
The whole stereotyped geek crew she dated are just the typical idiots (jhon aside of course :D) you can find in ANY kind of “group” (geek, sportsman, artist and so on and on), maybe the real question is why she can’t seem to able to tell apart normal person from complete asshole before dating them… So the way she put it like “it’s the geeks fault” kinda irritate me.
Then i really hoped that there was some really good reason to her just being a dick to the rest of the group, expecially sam. But this is nowhere near being a good excuse. You don’t ditch the good people in your life to help some asshole, everyone has problems and inner demons but not all use that as an exuse to be an asshole an beat the crap out of people for no reason.
Furthermore she could have tryed to help grey AND fix things up with sam and the others, using the magical art of TALKING, but no, that was too hard.
Despite the situations i kind of despise Mel behaviour even more now, ANYONE face sentimental issue and worse in life; it’s how you handle it that make the difference. Anyway anyone also make errors so i really hope that all of this will serve as a “wake up” call for her and that she start to set her priorities right.
By the way grey is still an asshole.
I kind of don’t really see where some of that is coming from, maybe it’s just me.
From what I read, she’s not really lumping together ‘it’s all the geeks’ fault.’ And geeks really are some of the most hurtful people you can find. Take a peek at the comments of a Shortpacked! comic when they bring up something that’s not great in comics, or any of the billion other things that bring up criticizing things in a geek medium. I think what she’s saying, more or less, is that she had a few bad experiences with the geek crowd when she moved, so she decided to go for someone different since she wasn’t have that much luck in the circle, so to speak.
As for why she can’t tell people are jerks before dating them, some people are different when you start dating them, or get more involved in their personal lives in general. You’ve never had someone you’ve had a casual relationship with, thought they were pretty cool, and started to get to know them better and realized they were an ass?
I don’t quite know what you’re talking about “ditching” the good people in her life, maybe someone could clarify that part for me? She hasn’t ditched anyone from what I can tell, and did just about everything she could to stay with the group. She hasn’t magically stopped coming around, unless I’m hallucinating (which is a distinct possibility on next to no sleep for a few days). She tried talking to him, and he really didn’t want to hear what she had to say until the game was over. The actual night of, she knew Sam had other people there to take care of him, and she figured that getting Grey out of the area as quickly as possible would help.
I agree that he’s still an asshole for taking out his own inner struggle out on other people, this is just explaining why. Would he be one even if he wasn’t having the struggle? Possibly. Would he be nearly as big of one, probably not.
Regarding the whole geeks thing, i knew some geeks who were really hurtfull, but i know a lot of other not-geek people who were as well so it seem kind of a forced explanation to me, but i got the point and it’s also true that’s not a novel and they’re talking in a hurry so ok, i get it.
For the dating part thinking about it you’re right.
I think that i used the wrong world with “ditch” (english is not my first language), what i wanted to tell is that she hurted them, threated them bad.
She didn’t try to talk to him in any meanigful way, god, her boyfriend beated the crap out one of his friend and after a “sorry” and little more she acted (or tried to seeing is emotive state) like nothing happened.
Of course there was the last “serious” talk with sam in which he understood and forgive her after she opened up a little, and that’s cool. What i really can’t stand is that se didn’t do anything to amend, anything and that the most that has been “done” about it came from other people, not from her.
Basically to make it short:
I get the situation, it’s difficult and there’s no use deny it, at the same time i hate the way she handled it, hurting his friends (badly) in many way trying to help who? a jerk? (and how? keep on staying with him after what it did actully partially legittimating his behaviuor?)
Plus the whole “trying to help grey” don’t justify the behaviour with sam and the group, she could have tryed to help grey (for what is worth) and also fixed things with them. Instead she choose not face things, she “run away” hurting people in the process.
I think secretly she’s not in a sexual relationship with Grey it’s more of a friendship, by her realization that he is gay. No matter what Asshole or not emotions runs high especially when your keeping things inward and not dealing with it directly (A lot of closeted bullies are in fact gay themselves). Plus coming out is one of the super hard things to do even still today, with the fear or rejection from everyone and risk. Yes I’m not excusing his dickhead behavior but I believe there is more to this, and were are here for the show. You never know Sam and Grey could very well become friends in the future. As for Mel, when your dealing with multiple of friends in a situation it’s hard to stay neutral. Even though she apologized for Grey’s actions it’s still not her valued fault, it solely on Grey. Kirby I love your response about ‘Getting to knowing someone and realizing they are a ass.’ I do believe Mel does see something different in Grey. But we shall see. “I need some popcorn and Twizzlers because this keeps getting good.”
My goodness, I know I asked for more on Grey, and all that good stuff. However, I am actually quite surprised that we got to the root of our enormous Douchebro’s haughty exterior. Sure, he’s an asshole, sure he deserves anything that he gets dealt out towards him, but it just goes to show that he’s frightened, and in obvious denial.
Of course, despite all this, I still hope he gets some just desserts, likely in the form of an emotional breakdown (And/or Physical beatdown).
Indeed. Let him taste the rightous might of the Bro-hammer. But that being said I’m so damn happy with this turn out. Not only does it explain Mel’s recent and slightly “emo” look, it explains why Grey is so damn angry all the time and why he acts the way he does and even explains why Mel has put up with him for so long. Well done Brian. Well done.
I knew I guy like this.
He wasn’t that BRO like grey, but he hid his sexual preference aswell. He constantly boasted how many “dames” he had hit every weekend, and tried to hit on as many girls as possible if he had the change.
Some of our DnD group (also friends group) just thought him as just a bro, but it was obvious that he was IMMENSELY uncomfortable with it all. So when he told us he was gay, it wasn’t that big a suprise.
he got his “love-bro”, as he prefers to call it, now for about 3 years.
Pretty cool.
Despite the revelations, I still don’t feel anything for Gray. Being gay is not so much a social taboo these days as compared to, say 30 years ago. Yes, some of that stigma is still around (perpetuated by douches like Gray), but if he just went through life being himself as he should be, instead of bulking himself up to be… well, Gray as he is, then he wouldn’t have this sort of conflict.
Depends on where you live, i guess. The suicide rate for gay teenagers and children is much higher than for straight.
There has certainly been a lot of progress in the last 20 years, but we’re not quite there yet.
Grey is still a douchebag. Nice to know part of his reason for this, but he is still responsible for his behavior.
Also, I’m still hoping we’ll see him at the game table in a few months.
This has jack to do with where you live and variations in the level of “bullying” they face from (western) society which is largely tolerant of gays.
Teen suicide starts with severe issues at home, with the parents. Having your dad disown you and kick you out of the house for coming out is an archetypical example of suicide cause… because if even your parents whom you trust, and love, and you thought loved you can’t accept you, who ever will?
Being “Gay” is still a very “social taboo.”, if it wasn’t the problems with Suicide, Equality. and Religious organization raising money for Hate organizations would never happen. Off topic there are still places around “the social world” where being Gay is illegal and straight associates or allied with them can be executed along with the gays themselves. Sorry to advocate these issues but I’ve done too much research to let people think that everything is just alright. Me be black and gay I’m served a “Double Taboo.”
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean to imply that being gay wasn’t seen as a taboo (unfortunately, people still have an unjust hate, due to religious beliefs, tides of society, or sometimes even just because). But compare things now (some countries are starting to recognise and legislate gay marriages, adoption rights and the like) to 30 or more years ago (yes, I am also aware that things still have a LONG way to go, but I digress), and at least the has been some positive change.
OK, I will admit, I’m not in any position to have a say in these matters, and I will admit to being a bit idealistic in how our society could be, but… nevertheless, I still believe life is for living and for loving, not for controlling and instilling fear.
Really? That’s your response? Sure, things might be a lot different for those in high school compared to 20 years ago, but not yet enough. And I had close friends then that didn’t come out until after high school AND moving away to the big city. And my community supposedly had the second highest per capita population (after San Francisco) of homosexual (I find it an odd and certainly unprovable statistic, but there it is), and should have been more gay-friendly with two universities and provincial and federal government offices driving its economy. I still know of at least one person my age in the closet/in denial, and as of today I’m in my late-thirties. I think that while the polls, and especially the media have liberalised their views towards gay & lesbian relationships, that reality in much of North America (at least) lags behind the apparent progress.
In smaller towns, even apparently or otherwise progressive ones, the pressure to conform is ENORMOUS. I would imagine that much of Grey’s repression (and subsequent violent expression) stems from his upbringing, either subconciously at the community level, and almost certainly at the family level. I can only imagine that Grey has a family (likely father) that penalized any tendencies towards homosexuality, physically, emotionally, psychologically, or through all three means.
Bravo, Brian, you’ve made Grey human.
Asshole still? Yes. Redeemable? YES!
So, I take back my douchey comment from yesterday… as it would appear that the label isn’t as appropriate as once thought. And I sympathize with Mel – many a woman has thought she could “save” a man (and usually trying to make him like she wants, rather than as he is, which is Mel’s aim). Few succeed, and none without personal cost.
Looking forward to a resolution for this messed-up couple, and happiness for all concerned (or at least acceptance and some contentment).
Cheers!
Wow, Brian, you nailed it. More like this, please.
I agree with most of the the commentors so far, Gray is still a dick. This doesn’t change much except maybe make him seem even worse. Though it’s still good to have an explanation.
As for Mel, I am just dissapointed in her. She’s been lying to her friends (which got them hurt), and how exactly is she helping Gray? If anything she is just reinforcing his refusal to accept that he is gay.
Anyway, I can’t wait to see the conclusion to this.
I was curious about who “John from Zombie Roomie” was and why I should care, so clicked on the link. 2 hours later I’m still reading through the archive. Not sure if I should thank you or use harsh language….
Love Mel with the long hair.
WOW! This one made me have some powerful feels, and brought a single tear to my eye. Great job, you are a wonderful storyteller, keep it up!
“Ooof” is right. I could probably sympathize with Grey if he wasn’t such a violent prick. I’ve personally known people that struggled with their sexuality that didn’t lash out at people the way he does, but at the same time I give him a little slack now because I’ve known people that get just as violent as he does for a whole lot less. At the very least, it’s refreshing to know he’s not a violent douchebag just for the sake of being a violent douchebag.
First of all, I wish I had a friend like Donnie who isn’t afraid to ask to hard questions.
Second, I’m glad you maintained your story’s consistency (not that I thought you wouldn’t but still happy to not be disappointed) since Grey’s troubles were alluded to when Sam “broke” him.
Finally I like that both of the major flaws here are very real I appreciate: Grey being angry about who he is and Mel being one of those people who tries to fix/help people. I’ve seen both too many times.
So like many of the other comments, I enjoy the 1% of the serious in this strip as well as the 99% dick jokes.
I wondered if Gray had some feelings he was trying to sublimate. The man who’s secure in his sexuality doesn’t feel the need to go around thumping everybody who lisps (or, for that matter, everybody who mildly annoys him).
That said, I can’t say I feel all that sorry for him regardless. He’s still a Giant Walking Male Organ until he starts controlling that temper.
Love where this story is going…..
cheers,
Phil
So I see:
– True depth to the characters
– A cameo from another favorite comic of mine
– An unfortunately true (if comically exaggerated) depiction of geek insecurity-fueled bravado
– Calling out those in the geek community for such behavior
– Mel throughout the years, with very nice… dress, yes. Dress. That.
– The many layers of: psychological attachment to someone outside of the normal social circles which gives a measure of emotional safety, combined with the all-too-common relationship trap of trying to “fix” someone, sprinkled with guilt over injury inflicted upon a long-time friend perceived as a result of these things, garnished with the social and emotional security of “fronting” a relationship with someone who has no real sexual interest to gain distance from friends who have declared an interest in order to keep them as friends
– A tiny phallus on Grey’s polo shirt where the little alligator or horse would go. That made me giggle.
All considered, this is definitely going into my top 10 favorite D20 Monkey pages. You’ve exploded this one. You made me get all wordy in the comments. Extraordinarily well done.
Oh my lord, I just scrolled back up and saw said phallus. I knew something was off but I didn’t know what. Bravo Brian. Bravo
Actually, I’m rather curious about something. Sam’s Lich Therapist and the Beholder imply that Sam’s World has at least some DnD monsters. I’d write them off as one time jokes, but Sam’s Lichtherapist has not only shown up twice, but had Sam meet others in his office room, so he seems to be at least canonical enough.
Here’s where I get confused. When Larry appeared in Sam’s Shower, one of the questions that came up was “Why aren’t you in the DnD world?” Does this mean the Dnd world is real, and can be traveled to, but not by us mundanes? That it’s real, but most people consider it a myth, like steampunk, close to the real world, etc?
Or… some of them crash-landed in the mundane world due to a magical experiment gone awry and were forced to find real jobs or else mooch off of those who could accept their existence without screaming, crossing eyes, and foaming at the mouth.
I knew ZR and D20 were in the same universe, because of the various “companies” that show up in both(I can’t remember right now). That has some weird implications though, like there being a Local Shamblers union in the town that the d20 gang live in. But I guess with the Santa stuff, and the Narrative, the whole “Magic is real” thing is out there already.
And John’s definitely doing alright, but I’m saying tat as a Lyn fan-boy. Though I am a Mel-hater as well.
Bad ass good sir. This is top-level comicing!!
Brian, stop fishing for compliments… we already acknowledge you as a master writer and artist. 😉
Basically, well-done, sir. Very well done.
Holy shit! Totally blindsided. Fantastic work, as always.
So many feels. Good work, sir. Grey’s still a dick, though. He needs some Narrative treatment from Pops to straighten out that attitude problem.
Er… I thought this was stated at some point? Because of his interactions maybe?
http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=4040
Stuff like this… I took it as read… huh.
Didn’t see this coming… his being gay makes me feel no different about him. Douche is douche and I patiently wait his comeuppance.
Or his redemption I suppose I could deal with that as well.
Well frankly I kinda hope he gets both. Some times..to set a person straight, you just have to WHUP their ASS. But once the whuppin’s done, it’ll be interesting to see what emerges I don’t think Grey will turn into a “friend” or anything like..but maybe we’ll see a deeper, more interesting character emerge.
They guys may never like him but I could see him and Mel having an interesting relationship if he could lay off her friends a little anyways.
Enough talk. Let fly the Bro Hammer!
All those who called it (including me), get yourself a free cookie.
Wow that was…something. Could I give a dissenting opinion? I don’t want to bash or come across negative, I’ve liked the strip (for a long time) and still do btw so I’m not a hater.
This almost seems like an easy cop-out, almost playing into the Geeky stereotype that those of us who eat well and play sports and lift are hiding an homoerotic secret or something. On the other hand you did have her mention that some of the least nice people she’s known have been geeks. I agree.
Incidentally I’ve never really “got” DnD or video-games and have never played, though I’ve friends who do (though I can’t see them asking me, ha!) but I really do love your strip and the embedded story narrative device. I love seeing the same characters cast into different roles and worlds.
I do not mind dissenting opinions at all and I totally see your side of it. I’m not slamming fit people (I am actually working hard to be more active as well) and I do not want to make it seem that way. This is just a situation where Grey was raised in a household where his feelings were shamed and it turned into anger. If Grey comes to terms with his emotions, sexuality, and anger he will STILL be a fit guy who loves to lift. Thanks so much for reading and I hope I didn’t botch this reply.
Ehhhhh, not sure about this. Youve been a pretty good writer so far, but this kind of subject can be really difficult to get right unless you have firsthand experience. Im reserving my judgement til its over though
DO NOT underestimate clerics. The horror!
I get the feeling that this was supposed to make Mel & Grey more sympathetic, but it really doesn’t; everyone goes through shit, just of different types. It’s not what you’ve been through that determines who you are, but what you do with it, and neither of them have handled their issues well at all.