Shortpacked! by David Willis

Discussion (44) ¬

1. 
   Wackd

   March 2, 2011 at 12:03 am | # | Reply

   Since you picked up the Only Sane Man ball.

   • 
     Wackd

     March 2, 2011 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

     Dear lord, did that come out wrong. (For one thing, Mike is nowhere near being the Only Sane Man.)

     Only Sane Man ball as in the opposite of the Idiot Ball.

     • 
       Reboot

       March 2, 2011 at 12:10 am | # | Reply

       Amber’s sane?

       • 
         David Herbert

         March 2, 2011 at 12:33 am | # | Reply

         Compared to the other people in the store? Sort of.

         Don’t know why Leslie’s exempt though. Is it because she’s currently depressed?

         • 
           StClair

           March 2, 2011 at 9:17 pm | # | Reply

           And when you consider the relationship she has with Mike, that’s saying something.
           (Something pretty bad.)
       • 
         Malph

         March 2, 2011 at 1:34 am | # | Reply

         Going off the people we know are there, Leslie’s depressed, Ethan is sensing Joe’s new Windcharger’s location, and the previous Only Sane Man hasn’t been seen since he disappeared into his apartment to go on a sex bender and got fired. Galasso’s likely there and can in no possible way be considered sane.

         Amber’s the most normal in the store at the moment.

         • 
           T Campbell

           March 2, 2011 at 5:36 am | # | Reply

           She’s going through a relatively grounded period in her life, too. She’s happy with how she looks, and happy with her home life, despite minor irritations she’s generally relaxed around Mike. Robin’s been too down to bug her much. Jacob’s out of her life. Even the Faz situation has reached a detente. Enjoy it while it lasts, Amb: drama isn’t a linear progression, it’s a wheel.
         • 
           showler

           March 2, 2011 at 10:08 am | # | Reply

           Most normal one in the store who is still interesting enough to bother with.

           That new Asian employee or some of the other boring normals might be in the store, but they can’t actually do anything useful.
         • 
           Malph

           March 5, 2011 at 3:38 am | # | Reply

           Also, whether or not he’s there, Ninja Rick is not sane. He’s crazy awesome (with emphasis on the “crazy”).
2. 
   Nikkerz

   March 2, 2011 at 12:04 am | # | Reply

   like the backgrounds! and awww Leslie looks like she’d welcome Robin back with a little time!
3. 
   Digidestined of Trust/Megaligo Ranger-Silver Dragon Knight (Tim)

   March 2, 2011 at 12:05 am | # | Reply

   Way to take charge Amber!
4. 
   Kokopure

   March 2, 2011 at 12:06 am | # | Reply

   I thought I was reading Dumbing of Age for a second (until I read Robin), so either the background had an effect on my recognition of the comic or else I’m forgetful. It’s prooooobably the second one.

   • 
     Crimson Magic

     March 2, 2011 at 12:32 am | # | Reply

     I don’t know how you’d forget what with all of the green that screams out “SHORTPACKED!”

     Love the more detailed Dumbing of Age approach, by the way.
5. 
   Ragnal

   March 2, 2011 at 12:12 am | # | Reply

   Wow, this was a pretty short storyline, wasn’t it?
6. 
   Dedlok

   March 2, 2011 at 12:13 am | # | Reply

   My Action Figure Sense is Tingling!

   • 
     das-g

     March 2, 2011 at 4:41 pm | # | Reply

     Can it beat Ethan’s toydar?
7. 
   Arison

   March 2, 2011 at 12:16 am | # | Reply

   Strips like these actually really make me want the Walky/Joyce and Walky storylines to converge or crossover more with Shortpacked. I actually sometimes forget that Robin was ever part of Semme. Also I’d love a strip where Leslie finds out that the woman she’s been banging have been genetically enhanced by aliens. (Also Amber, but she got a bit of that when she met Mike’s parents).

   • 
     Digidestined of Trust/Megaligo Ranger-Silver Dragon Knight (Tim)

     March 2, 2011 at 12:31 am | # | Reply

     What’s weird about Amber’s case is she and Mike ran into the cake monster, but no sign of other aliens or The Cheese. He just….attacked. We know Robo-Monkey is still out there, but no sign of him either.
   • 
     Undrave

     March 2, 2011 at 12:35 am | # | Reply

     Thad knew, pretty much EVERYBODY but the gang from Shortpacked! (minus Mike and Robin) seem aware of Semme and what it means. Robin is like…a war hero!

     • 
       Chibi Squirt

       March 2, 2011 at 12:49 am | # | Reply

       Wait, Thad knew? Where was that? I read Shortpacked long before I read all the Walky stuff, so I’m just now picking up on all the details I missed the first time…

       • 
         T Campbell

         March 2, 2011 at 6:16 am | # | Reply

         http://www.shortpacked.com/2008/comic/book-6/02-proposition-469/warhero/

         It’s an odd paradox that the attention-loving Robin isn’t actually that forthcoming about her past heroics, but until recently she’s avoided any kind of serious responsibility that wasn’t imposed on her. And when you admit to being a war hero, people see you differently.

         Whether Les knows now is up for debate. I tend to think she’d want to know everything about Robin, but respect it if Robin avoided certain topics. (She did attend the Walky wedding along with Amber, but I’ve attended several weddings as a “plus one” without learning too much about the couples in question.)

         • 
           Doctor Who

           March 2, 2011 at 8:49 am | # | Reply

           Does the recent Guest Strip by T Campbell and John Waltrip count as canon? If so, then Leslie probably knows; she acknowledges that her “type” is apparently superpowered former government agents who fought aliens.

           Anyway, she’s such a sci-fi fan that she MUST be aware of SEMME and aliens, right? Seems a pretty odd thing for her to ignore.
   • 
     CJ

     March 2, 2011 at 1:04 am | # | Reply

     Don’t forget Roomies!
8. 
   turkishproverb

   March 2, 2011 at 12:49 am | # | Reply

   Hermies Voice-That’s a very good question.
9. 
   NeoDarklight

   March 2, 2011 at 2:30 am | # | Reply

   Well, I just finished my archive binge right before I usually go to bed: 2:30 AM. Whelp. Glad I’m caught up! Night all.
10. 
    Bickendan

    March 2, 2011 at 5:56 am | # | Reply

    Damn You Willis!!! Now I envision Shortpacked! and Dumbing of Age as drawn by Jeph Jacques! Or is that Questionable Content as drawn by you?
    The universe shall never know!

    http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1873
    (below the comic)

    • 
      gwalla

      March 2, 2011 at 11:56 am | # | Reply

      At first I thought the character in the black dress was Dora, and I masturbated to it. Then I realized it was Marten in drag with breasts, and I was all “…”. Then I masturbated to it again.

      • 
        StClair

        March 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm | # | Reply

        way way WAYYYY TMI.

        • 
          Bickendan

          March 3, 2011 at 5:12 am | # | Reply

          No kiddin’.
11. 
    T Campbell

    March 2, 2011 at 6:19 am | # | Reply

    Took me a sec to realize that what Leslie was starting to say was probably “That’s not what I asked.”
12. 
    Pat

    March 2, 2011 at 7:52 am | # | Reply

    Man, I can’t stand that guy in Denver. Ethan should go beat him up again.

    

    • 
      tbf

      March 2, 2011 at 2:20 pm | # | Reply

      Ethan’s sensing the Windcharger that Robin gave Joe.
      .
      Part of me wants to speculate that this universe’s Transformers are made with bits of Alien tech and Ethan senses them because he’s an abductee. The other part of me just dismisses it as Rule of Funny.

      • 
        Derik

        March 2, 2011 at 3:36 pm | # | Reply

        Abductees don’t bleed gray!
13. 
    ErikZ

    March 2, 2011 at 8:27 am | # | Reply

    Is the “Space Disk” a real thing? Googling for it didn’t turn up anything.

    • 
      David Willis

      March 2, 2011 at 8:49 am | # | Reply

      Real thing’s called a “hover disk.”
14. 
    Rick Sivart

    March 2, 2011 at 9:18 am | # | Reply

    Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moon light
    Someone is opening a Windcharger and loving him tonight
    Somewhere out there, someone’s saying a prayer
    That they’ll find a Windcharger in that big somewhere out there
    And even though I know how very hard to find they are
    It helps to think we might find him mint on a sealed card
    And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby
    It helps to think we’re sleeping underneath the same big sky
    Somewhere out there if love can see us through
    Then we’ll be together somewhere out there
    Out where dreams come true
15. 
    milk experiment

    March 2, 2011 at 9:26 am | # | Reply

    I’m liking the more detailed backgrounds. It gives the store a stronger sense of place, though I’m sure it must be a lot more work.

    • 
      begbert2

      March 2, 2011 at 10:58 am | # | Reply

      I think he only makes them once, though.

      (Each. Obviously.)
16. 
    Shadow Mask Prime

    March 2, 2011 at 11:18 am | # | Reply

    What? No comic tomorrow!? But it’s the 3rd most important day of the Year!
    My Birthday/Japanese Doll Festival/The day that GG subs release their FanSubs for the next episode of Madoka Magica!
17. 
    Black Bumblebbee

    March 3, 2011 at 12:23 am | # | Reply

    I came to see Thursday’s comic… then I remembered… and was sad
18. 
    LockeZ

    March 3, 2011 at 7:10 am | # | Reply

    Amber raises a good point. Why isn’t Galasso in this strip instead of her? Galasso is the best character in the comic and it seems silly to have Amber fill in for him for no reason.
19. 
    JabberwockyPie

    March 3, 2011 at 7:29 am | # | Reply

    I feel Ethan’s pain. I am certain that somebody somewhere is getting Patch Treasure Chest, the first boy Lalaloopsy doll. HE IS A PIRATE. I NEED THIS DOLL. MY SOUL CRAVES HIM. HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUT IN MARCH. YET HE IS NOT ANYWHERE YET, EVEN EBAY!

    . . . Does Shortpacked have any thoughts on Lalaloopsy dolls? They strike me as Amber’s kind of thing on the grounds that Amber loves the same 80s toys I adore (you can have my MINT Strawberry Shortcake Berry Happy Home when you pry it from my cold dead fingers) and these make me feel like a little kid again – which is a big part of toy collecting, right?

    The little story thingy is that they’re magical ragdolls (only not really – they’re vinyl and hard plastic) that come alive and they were all made from a discarded garment of some kind. (A baker’s apron made Crumbs Sugarcookie, the cooking themed doll. An astronaut’s spacesuit made Dot Starlight, the astronomy themed doll.) But they seem to give some people unpleasant flash-backs to Coraline.

    And instead of a birthday they have a “Sewn On” day that relates to their theme. Patch Treasurechest’s Sewn On date is September 19th – Talk Like A Pirate Day.
20. 
    Richie9999

    March 3, 2011 at 1:11 pm | # | Reply

    He doesn’t even know the half of it.
21. 
    beeftony

    May 29, 2011 at 3:59 pm | # | Reply

    Looking back on it now, Amber’s line in the last panel is obvious foreshadowing.