Please. We all know that Drew will end up with Malaya and then Leslie will realize that Robin is obvious choice because her main problems was while she was on crazed sugar high and Malaya is ALWAYS problems.
That went from English to grammatical fail but you get the idea.
Not because they split, I’m mad because we never got ONE iota for why the frack Drew was being such a dick the last few weeks. OCD? Reverse-hoarding? Neat freak? Parents killed by toys?
Leslie didn’t disappear when she and Robin broke up, I’d be surprised if we never saw Drew again. At least I really hope we see him again. If him dating Robin is what it takes to keep him in the cast, then so be it.
Leslie formed strong relationships with other members of the cast before breaking up with Robin. She has warm friendships with Ethan and Amber, seems good at handling Mike, and most importantly, she works at the store. Plus, she never stopped appearing on the cast pic. The only way she could’ve left the cast was by choosing to break with her past completely and moving away.
I’m not saying he’ll never appear again, but Drew has none of those reasons to remain in the cast. The closest he got to a connection outside Ethan was when she told Leslie how pretty she was and she got kinda flustered…
…No, no, that would be impossible, wouldn’t it? Les Bean likes GIRLS. It’s right there in her name. …Right?
See, that scene with Leslie didn’t quite resolve- I wasn’t sure exactly what its function was. For that reason alone, I feel it might be revisited and explained a bit.
And you’re right, there is a contrast between Drew and Leslie- but how long has Drew been around, and how much development had Les gotten only a year in?
Maybe a better comparison would be with Ken and Malaya- we didn’t know any of them, but we got a great introduction to their home life and roommates. We’ve never seen Drew with anybody else.
Anyway, I choose to believe Drew will continue getting development simply because I like him as a character. We will see!
I now want to see a superhero called Surprise Lesbian. Or better yet, make it a duo.
Picture it. Crooks are climbing out of a jewelry store window, carrying sacks of ill-gotten loot, when they turn around and see two hot chicks in superheroine costumes…making out.
Needless to say, they have to stay and watch, even as the cops arrive.
From the second we first saw Drew, my reaction was “that guy kinda looks a little like Randy. Am I just crazy?” And now sure enough, we get confirmation that Drew -> Catman -> Randy. AWESOME.
It’s a long shot, but I could see Robin and Ethan being a couple even though Ethan is ‘gay’ per-say. Face it, they’re not getting any younger and they’re the only best known single ones in the comic that have known each other the longest. With the exception of Roz (Whom will probably never get anyone anyways), Joe (And he’s living miserably despite his multimillion dollar smart car company b/c what’s her name broke up with him) and then Ultra Car (Of course a car)!
So much I could dispute, but I’ll focus on this: Joe is living miserably? He looked pretty happy most of the times we saw him. Call me crazy, but I don’t think you have to have a long-term relationship to be happy.
That’s not exactly how relationships work. Of course, if it did, that would be great. But people want to be with people they feel sexually attracted to. It’s pretty selfish, really.
I can’t see Robin and Ethan being a couple, but I WANT to see it. But this may just be leftover desire from the beginning when Robin saw Ethan as eyecandy… Before Ethan even knew he was gay.
We need another universe-twisting gun so we can break it while firing it at Robin. Then she can become a dude, and totes get distracted and wander off in some completely unnecessary direction while we yell at her in vain to go after Ethan.
I laughed at the joke, but then the fridge logic kicked in, and I was going to say something about how orientation and fetishes are different. Then I looked up erotophonophiliacs, and it may be about as close as a paraphilia can get to an orientation, but orientation still trumps it… just as gender identity trumps orientation.
Randy’s already planning to employ Joyce at Nerdrotica after Willis’s tragic death during the webcomics slayings of 2013. If anything, I assume this is retribution for that.
While Ethan’s habits have been going too far, Drew’s been trying to change him since the moment they met. Ethan needs to find someone who can help him curb his overcollecting without trying to end his collecting entirely.
huh. Just decided to read the comments today. Had no idea I was the only one who was totally, unequivocally on Drew’s side with all this. I mean, seeing with what happened with what’s-his-name, Drew has completely legitimate reasons to be concerned. It seems appropriate that Ethan would be having regrets now.
I assume you mean Jacob? Yes, Drew should be concerned. But Ethan was trying to curb his habits. He wasn’t willing to cut them completely, but he was working on it. And they weren’t ruining his life, or even causing him any real problems. Meanwhile, Drew couldn’t handle a single toy in his apartment. There’s no future when the 2 worldviews are that incompatible. Ethan recognized this, and walked.
Was he really trying to curb his habits? He was going through the motions, sure: he’d clear the toys off and put them in storage. But then he’d go right out and buy new ones to replace them and cover all available surfaces again. That’s not really curbing his collecting habit; if anything, it’s accelerating it.
You’re not the only one! As far as I’m concerned, Ethan’s compromise isn’t a compromise at all. If displaying something I didn’t like in my own personal space was a requirement for a relationship, it would be over.
Ethan was buying three toys a day, he was buying toys for Amber’s future-kid 4 years before he/she could use it. She’s even first trimester, and that’s a bad time to buy things for an unborn baby. He was buying the toys because he liked to buy toys.
I don’t think it’s so much a problem with collecting toys that Drew had, as a problem with Ethan’s obsession with it. Toy collecting seems to be crowding out a lot of Ethan’s interpersonal development.
There’s nothing wrong with toy collecting, and I’m guessing Drew feels the same way. But if toy collecting is more important than a relationship, the other person has a pretty good reason to not want to be in that relationship. I feel bad for Ethan, but I’m on Drew’s side here.
If people saw an average Transformers fan during a BotCon weekend, and extrapolate from that the amount of toys a TF fan buys per day, I’m pretty sure they’ll be grossly overestimating. I don’t think there’s been a single BotCon day during the past decade where I’ve bought less than 3 toys on the dealer room. I usually buy more than that.
In my case, I bought I don’t remember how many toys when I first saw DotM toys at a Target (several hundred dollars worth, so it was more than 3); but it’s not like I go every day to the store and get say $300 worth of TF toys, because in a few days I’ll end up with a bunch of duplicates.
Ethan bought 3 toys that day (and even that’s innacurate, since he purchased Staypuft Marshmallow Man at least a couple of weeks before), but he’s not buying 3 toys every day. Hmmm, I suppose some days there are more than 3.
“If displaying something I didn’t like in my own personal space was a requirement for a relationship, it would be over.”
That sentiment is… disturbing.
Um, how do you expect these two to ever live together if Drew can’t handle one toy in his living space? I think that was the point. It showed that Drew really did not like any toys in his presence and there relationship was just never going to progress to the point they lived functionally under the same roof.
There’s a difference between living with someone and having toys there, because the other person has toys, and having toys in your own apartment, where the other person doesn’t live at all. Drew really did seem to hate toys too much for a relationship with Ethan to work, and there was going to have to be a compromise. But that should be something like Drew getting over Ethan’s toys in Ethan’s apartment. Unless they were talking about moving in together. In which case, I’m with Drew right until he’s not okay compromising on decoration with someone you live with.
And I should have written “buys three toys in a day” since I know he’s not buying three toys every day.
I think he was ‘testing the waters’ about them moving in together.
Ethan had reduced to number of toys he displayed in his own living space for Drew’s comfort, and Ethan wanted to see if Drew would even consider a (much) smaller gesture (having one small toy in his living room). Drew did not agree to it.
The relationship was not going to go anywhere long term. Ethan bowed out. Drew got petty and tried to make Ethan feel like this was all his fault and make him feel like a hording ‘headcase’ again before he left.
And now the Shortpacked Universe shall make Ethan forever regret the right decision!
Mu-wha, ha, ha, ha! Suffer for your maturity, Ethan! Suffer!
Does Ethan buy toys instead of paying rent, buying food, or any other necessities of life? The answer is no. Has it ruined the relationships that he has with the people he cares about? Not really. He still has a large group of steadfast friends, and it has been responsible for ending ONE romantic relationship; however, is a relationship really healthy if a person doesn’t love and isn’t willing to accept you as you are?
I’ve seen addicts. It is all consuming. He goes to work every day, he has shelter and he eats well. Its not an addiction, it’s a hobby. I have several hobbies that cost a lot of money. My rent is always paid, I eat plenty, and my hobbies expand upon and create new relationships rather than destroy them.
If a woman said to me “I’ll be with you if you stop playing Magic/Warhammer/Computer games”… I’d tell her to go to hell. I get enjoyment out of these. All of my friends are involved in one or more of these.
Anywho. Long-winded response = Drew is a controlling dick who blows things out of proportion, and Ethan is just fine the way he is as long as he’s happy and healthy.
You’re not alone. Ethan’s habits are pretty worrisome. I think Drew was right to be concerned. Even Ethan was worried about it — “I’m still buying them at a pretty steady clip,” showing that he can literally fill a room with storage boxes of nothing but toys…he’s fortunate his hoarding tendencies are clean plastic, not moist or edible or otherwise perishable like Jacob’s. Drew was the sensible, mature one, able to show Ethan how a boyfriend should act. But ultimately, Ethan was just not goung to change, not with Drew’s tactics.
Well I’m not ‘on his side’ per-say (not on anyone’s side) I certainly don’t think he’s evil scum like some people do…
Some people take the relationships of these fictional people to seriously!
I mean so what if – [delayed reaction kicks in] oh my – Drew looks like Catman! Oh my – that makes him 20% more hot!
Wait – that’s right – they broke up- Ethan broke up with Drew who looks like Catman!
Ethan is FREE!
ANYWAY now that Drew and Ethan have broken up I’m going after Ethan! [cuddles his Ethan model] Mmmmm cute nerd…
Soon you’ll be mine!
Anyway as I was saying – you people take this all far to seriously. It’s just a comic!
Now that I’ve said my peace -
I’m off to kidnap Willis so he can bring Ethan into the real world; as the creator I’m sure he has this power~ then I can have Ethan!
Really? I’m not all that freaked by it. We don’t know that Milholland’s comic in this ‘verse is S*P or that his character is named Davan. Could just be a coincidence that the character on his poster at the grand opening just happened to look a lot like him.
Now if Rippy or Fluffmodeus come walking into the store…
So…no addressing Drew’s douchery? Or finding out why he freaks out so much at the idea of owning a toy?
Also, considering that, for reasons I’m still not entirely sure of, I recently found myself saying no to a relationship with a guy who is basically Ted Kord…um, this actually hits a little closer to home than I’m entirely comfortable with.
Dear Ethan: let’s go out drinking together and commiserate our coming “thiiiis close” to dating our favorite comicbook characters.
Although I don’t think Robin+Drew would have any chemistry at all, I *do* want to see Robin in another relationship. A healthy one anyway. In fact, it’s kind of sad/messed up/funny that the healthiest relationship is between the violent Mike and Amber, who is… well, I don’t really understand how she could be with Mike. I try to understand and I. just. can’t.
Probably like most men. “Hallelujah” for the first few weeks/months, then he’d move on to “Why don’t we get together for more than just sex?” after a while, before moving on to “I don’t know what I ever saw in you, let’s get to the hate sex.”
Hell, why even bother with the first two steps? It’s going to end in pain and despair eventually, just skip straight to the tearfully jacking off in a darkened room.
Drew and Ethan were not a good match,it was an internet meet up set up by Robin. Ethan needs a fellow collector, like a video games collector or something like that. somebody who understands his hobby.
seriously, Drew and Ethan just had this Physical thing, they had Nothing in common and Drew treated Ethan like a child
I hope Ethan find someone new soon! as a yaoi fangirl, fictional gay stuff is what I live on! Even though Mike and Amber are my favorite couple and characters<3 after that comes Ethan(he's not always fun. Mike is always fun)^^
Mildly disappointed that Ethan didn’t take the opportunity, on-panel, to point out that if Drew had accepted his offer, then getting coffee to go would be smart so they could go right back to Drew’s place and make up. It’s one thing to have decided to break up before sitting down, it’s another to be undecided but feel like you WILL be able to decide quickly.
It was a serious offer, Drew. The fact that your counter-offer was downright insulting (“inside the closet?” Really?) is a crack in your “perfect man” facade.
I feel like it might be a good idea to see Drew ONCE more, to get some closure for everybody. Robin is likely to accommodate Ethan’s request in the end, but there are lots of other ways to put him back in circulation. Still, I have no idea what’s going to happen next.
I agree we need to see Drew again, if only to get a better angle on his perspective on all this. We saw Ethan all the time outside of his relationship with Drew, but I feel we never saw Drew’s life. I mean, everyone seems to be really hating on Drew but we STILL know almost nothing about him. Not that everything is strictly excusable, but it would be nice to know what sort of skeletons are in his closet.
I wasn’t even the slightest bit amused until you mentioned Randy Milholland. Then, then I lol’d. I lol’d hard. I got some stares from the other people in the dining hall but I paid them no heed.
Willis you’re on a role this is most likely one of your most perfect SP1 Strips. Character development, off-colro humor, dadism, comic references, pop culture enthusiasm, real life fangasming, toy placement, and sexual diversity. My God Willis, keep this up and I might start reading Dumbing of Age.
If he had multiple storage units full of DVDs nobody ever watched and shelves full of them in their home, were bringing more home on a regular basis, and planned his calendar around the acquisition of more DVDs … I’d be concerned.
Any movie fan has DVD’s they can’t wait to be released. And anyone who loves movies and collects DVD’s usually has a lot. It’s mostly not out of some collecting habit, but mostly because they’re cheap and people like watching movies.
I have a ton of DVD’s and blu-ray that thankfully Netflix has quelled quite a bit.
My point is that I think it’s the fact that it’s action figures that bothers Drew. Not the collecting in and of itself, but the fact that it’s TOYS.
I hear about people who hadn’t finished replacing all their VHSs with DVDs by the time they started needing to convert their dvd collection into blu-rays.
I wanna say that it’s not a problem, but ultimately I think it comes down to personal views again. As much as I personally would be cool with a partner who was a cinephile and movie collector the fact of the matter is there are a lot of people who wouldn’t be. Just like anything else really, I suppose. Who here hasn’t had a partner who felt some particular part of them needed to be “Toned down a notch”. Who here hasn’t at least witnessed someone who seemed to be very liberal in their measurement of these notches.
It’s pretty universal imo. Not even just hobbies. It can be personality characteristics as well. First a slight alteration of behavior in front of the ‘rents and then “Don’t embarrass me in front of my friends” and before you know it you’re an entirely different person you don’t enjoy being.
The thing is though that there’s supposed to be a bit of give and take in a relationship. You’re expected to change at least a little. Reasonable requests on their own, but the problem is when it gets pushed too far and they’re not willing to meet you half way. When you convince them they have a problem then you get to stand on the high ground without having to do any changing of your own. So you tell them that they’re not a dick, they have “Rage issues”. They’re not kind, they’ve got issues that prevent them from asserting themselves. They’re not a hobbyist. They’re an addict. This way the onus is on them to put all the work into the relationship, and since you’re so awesome and flawless you can just sit back and enjoy it.
The question is whether this was happening here or not. Are we looking at someone who creates problems where there are none in order to suit their own agenda, or is Ethan genuinely some kind of sick?
Honestly it’s hard to say. There’s kind of a nice case for both arguments. The fact that when given the opportunity to give an inch for the mile he was asking, Drew refused and left while standing on a “Holier than thou” platform doesn’t exactly speak well for him though. Whether or not Ethan has a problem I’m not entirely convinced that Drew was speaking out of genuine concern for Ethan.
There are certainly a whole lot of legitimate reasons for why he might have done that. Just saying it doesn’t exactly look good.
When I say I’m not convinced his concern was genuine I by no means wish to indicate that I am convinced that his concern in ingenuine. He was given a chance to leave his comfort zone for the good of the relationship though and didn’t. With all he’s been asking of Ethan it’s certainly disconcerting.
The difference between DVD Collecting a toy use is that a DVD gives a given and set form of entertainment, and then can be stored for later use. A toy, for most of the world, is just molded plastic of no inherent entertainment. It rank slower than TCGs and Comic Books because eat least you DO things with them. They are seen as the kind of brightly colored distractions for children and autistics, and Ethan;s obsession over them has proven to be a strain on their relationship. (Again nice writing Willis.)
And I’m a writer. I just thing art is better served when it serves a dynamic purpose, I don’t question the skill or commitment involved but when we speak of VALUE in a fight between something pretty and something that gives a story, the story wins every time. Just ask Jim Lee or Rich Burlew.
Eh, he… For obvious reasons I can’t talk about “Darth Vader without the helmet”. But thanks for reminding me to see “Coupling” again, it’s been a while.
Catman looks like Drew who looks like Randy Milholland. Ethan’s lucky he just lost a boyfriend. Anyone who has read S*P knows this could have gone much worse.
Catman! I liked their relationship and breakup. I know other people are trying to figure out whether Ethan or Drew was “wrong,” but I thought this was a good portrayal of 2 nice people who just had different values about how they wanted to live in their space, and they weren’t going to be good together long-term because of that. Yes, Drew’s parting shot was a little sketch, but as breakups go, this was pretty amicable and well-handled by both guys.
Bad Ethan! D:< Don't sulk. Go back there and get your Aatman back! Throw all your gosh darn figures into those boxes and hide them, buy a lot to put them in, something. It's gonna suck, but do it! Anything to get back a dude that looks like freaking Catman. D:< It's totally worth it.
And then Robin dates Drew.
But Drew demands that Robin cease her habit of eating babies.
That’s so babies.
That’s a very difficult addiction to give up. *nods sagely*
Drew: I think you have an addiction to candy.
Robin: Well duh.
She had the “munchies” for a California cheese burger.
I wonder how Randy feels about that? Mhmmmmmm!
Now I want to see some young Randy pics to see if he looked like Catman.
I Drew couldn’t handle Ethan’s little eccentricities, he wouldn’t last 30 seconds in a relationship with Robin.
Gaining perspective, it’s Robin’s true function.
Please. We all know that Drew will end up with Malaya and then Leslie will realize that Robin is obvious choice because her main problems was while she was on crazed sugar high and Malaya is ALWAYS problems.
That went from English to grammatical fail but you get the idea.
He did vote for all those times, though now that I think about it didn’t she coast in to power on the necrophiliac, toy collecter vote?
Well, I’m mad.
Not because they split, I’m mad because we never got ONE iota for why the frack Drew was being such a dick the last few weeks. OCD? Reverse-hoarding? Neat freak? Parents killed by toys?
THE WORLD WILL NEVER KNOW.
We’ll find out when Robin starts dating him despite Ethan saying no.
Obviously Ethan was getting too close to discovering his secret identity.
And that’s why he had to die. Oh well.
And to me, this is now irrefutably canon.
He’s bizarro-Thad.
Wait…Drew is Amazi-Girl?!
I’m actually a little bummed this was never answered.
Leslie didn’t disappear when she and Robin broke up, I’d be surprised if we never saw Drew again. At least I really hope we see him again. If him dating Robin is what it takes to keep him in the cast, then so be it.
Leslie formed strong relationships with other members of the cast before breaking up with Robin. She has warm friendships with Ethan and Amber, seems good at handling Mike, and most importantly, she works at the store. Plus, she never stopped appearing on the cast pic. The only way she could’ve left the cast was by choosing to break with her past completely and moving away.
I’m not saying he’ll never appear again, but Drew has none of those reasons to remain in the cast. The closest he got to a connection outside Ethan was when she told Leslie how pretty she was and she got kinda flustered…
…No, no, that would be impossible, wouldn’t it? Les Bean likes GIRLS. It’s right there in her name. …Right?
Well, he also told her how she looked exactly like every girl he’d ever dated.
Awkwaaaaaard…
But what girl doesn’t like a compliment?
See, that scene with Leslie didn’t quite resolve- I wasn’t sure exactly what its function was. For that reason alone, I feel it might be revisited and explained a bit.
And you’re right, there is a contrast between Drew and Leslie- but how long has Drew been around, and how much development had Les gotten only a year in?
Maybe a better comparison would be with Ken and Malaya- we didn’t know any of them, but we got a great introduction to their home life and roommates. We’ve never seen Drew with anybody else.
Anyway, I choose to believe Drew will continue getting development simply because I like him as a character. We will see!
He could just be a control freak and a judgmental jerk.
No origin necessary.
The last few weeks? He’s NEVER been comfortable with Ethan’s obsession.
Well, we don’t know why Ethan is the way he is either, so I just accepted that Drew is just uncomfortable with extra stuff in an apartment.
PS, I wonder if Willis planned a similarity to Catman all along, and if so, did the discovery that Catman is bi weird him out?
“Told you I’d find a use for carrying around this giant image of Catman.”
This is a phrase that needs to be said more often.
Soon in a dark alley Drew will be attacked by the surprise lesbian.
Surprise, lesbians, they’re everywhere. Lurking. Waiting. Surprising.
Batwoman?
Damn you. I lol’ed in public thanks to this. Embarrassing.
I now want to see a superhero called Surprise Lesbian. Or better yet, make it a duo.
Picture it. Crooks are climbing out of a jewelry store window, carrying sacks of ill-gotten loot, when they turn around and see two hot chicks in superheroine costumes…making out.
Needless to say, they have to stay and watch, even as the cops arrive.
From the second we first saw Drew, my reaction was “that guy kinda looks a little like Randy. Am I just crazy?” And now sure enough, we get confirmation that Drew -> Catman -> Randy. AWESOME.
Omg, I guffaw’d. I am so glad I wasn’t mid-swig of my beverage at the last panel.
Ow.
Sad Wombat is Sad.
It’s a long shot, but I could see Robin and Ethan being a couple even though Ethan is ‘gay’ per-say. Face it, they’re not getting any younger and they’re the only best known single ones in the comic that have known each other the longest. With the exception of Roz (Whom will probably never get anyone anyways), Joe (And he’s living miserably despite his multimillion dollar smart car company b/c what’s her name broke up with him) and then Ultra Car (Of course a car)!
So much I could dispute, but I’ll focus on this: Joe is living miserably? He looked pretty happy most of the times we saw him. Call me crazy, but I don’t think you have to have a long-term relationship to be happy.
That’s not exactly how relationships work. Of course, if it did, that would be great. But people want to be with people they feel sexually attracted to. It’s pretty selfish, really.
yeaaaaaah that’s kind of not how relationships work. Or sexuality. Or… anything.
I can’t see Robin and Ethan being a couple, but I WANT to see it.
But this may just be leftover desire from the beginning when Robin saw Ethan as eyecandy… Before Ethan even knew he was gay. 
We need another universe-twisting gun so we can break it while firing it at Robin. Then she can become a dude, and totes get distracted and wander off in some completely unnecessary direction while we yell at her in vain to go after Ethan.
Robin as a dude… *_* I can dig it
i wouldn’t dismiss ultra car just yet. ethan’s an autosexual in this universe, right?
Well he is now!
Confuscious say: Man who go to bed with sex problem on mind wake up with solution on hand.
That gravatar works so well for your statement
He hasn’t come out of the garage yet.
“gay”.
…Because you get to change your sexual orientation at a moment’s notice. Someone should teach me that trick, sometime.
Oh that’s easy, you just need the Wheelk of Sexuality!
Wheel of sexuality, turn turn turn, show us the orientation we must learn! Oh boy, today we get to be… Erotophonophiliacs! Someone get an axe.
I laughed at the joke, but then the fridge logic kicked in, and I was going to say something about how orientation and fetishes are different. Then I looked up erotophonophiliacs, and it may be about as close as a paraphilia can get to an orientation, but orientation still trumps it… just as gender identity trumps orientation.
Is this revenge for the cameo? Because you have goddamn well succeeded.
Never tickle Randy…He’ll hit you back with a horrifying, soul-scarring comic with you involved.
Randy’s already planning to employ Joyce at Nerdrotica after Willis’s tragic death during the webcomics slayings of 2013. If anything, I assume this is retribution for that.
Pre-Revenge!!!
Pre-Post-Preemptive Revenge!
The whole course of Revenge! events has gotten all timey-whimey.
Prevenge?
So wait… am I reading too much into this or are you saying Ethan and Drew got along like cats and dogs at the end there…?
Brilliant!
Oh so that;s why you did the whole Drew storyline. Well played.
While Ethan’s habits have been going too far, Drew’s been trying to change him since the moment they met. Ethan needs to find someone who can help him curb his overcollecting without trying to end his collecting entirely.
Now Mike needs to grow a ‘stache so he can be Deadshot.
Or ya know, if Ethan and Drew were still together I’m sure Ethan would have grown a mustache to play out that fantasy.
Sooo… Catman looks like Randy who looks like Drew? Love the shout-out!
huh. Just decided to read the comments today. Had no idea I was the only one who was totally, unequivocally on Drew’s side with all this. I mean, seeing with what happened with what’s-his-name, Drew has completely legitimate reasons to be concerned. It seems appropriate that Ethan would be having regrets now.
I assume you mean Jacob? Yes, Drew should be concerned. But Ethan was trying to curb his habits. He wasn’t willing to cut them completely, but he was working on it. And they weren’t ruining his life, or even causing him any real problems. Meanwhile, Drew couldn’t handle a single toy in his apartment. There’s no future when the 2 worldviews are that incompatible. Ethan recognized this, and walked.
Was he really trying to curb his habits? He was going through the motions, sure: he’d clear the toys off and put them in storage. But then he’d go right out and buy new ones to replace them and cover all available surfaces again. That’s not really curbing his collecting habit; if anything, it’s accelerating it.
Habit. Haaa-bit. Not collection in and of itself.
Haaaaaaabit.
Buying toys is the habit in question.
You’re not the only one! As far as I’m concerned, Ethan’s compromise isn’t a compromise at all. If displaying something I didn’t like in my own personal space was a requirement for a relationship, it would be over.
Ethan was buying three toys a day, he was buying toys for Amber’s future-kid 4 years before he/she could use it. She’s even first trimester, and that’s a bad time to buy things for an unborn baby. He was buying the toys because he liked to buy toys.
I don’t think it’s so much a problem with collecting toys that Drew had, as a problem with Ethan’s obsession with it. Toy collecting seems to be crowding out a lot of Ethan’s interpersonal development.
There’s nothing wrong with toy collecting, and I’m guessing Drew feels the same way. But if toy collecting is more important than a relationship, the other person has a pretty good reason to not want to be in that relationship. I feel bad for Ethan, but I’m on Drew’s side here.
“Ethan buys three toys every day” probably needs to be addressed in some sort of FAQ at this point. Oof.
Quiet, you. What do you know?
R…really? People complain about this? This is a thing that Drew defenders use?
…I’m pretty sure even as an Ethan defender I could find BETTER defenses for Drew, but…too late for that. They’re splits. Ah well.
Word!
If people saw an average Transformers fan during a BotCon weekend, and extrapolate from that the amount of toys a TF fan buys per day, I’m pretty sure they’ll be grossly overestimating. I don’t think there’s been a single BotCon day during the past decade where I’ve bought less than 3 toys on the dealer room. I usually buy more than that.
In my case, I bought I don’t remember how many toys when I first saw DotM toys at a Target (several hundred dollars worth, so it was more than 3); but it’s not like I go every day to the store and get say $300 worth of TF toys, because in a few days I’ll end up with a bunch of duplicates.
Ethan bought 3 toys that day (and even that’s innacurate, since he purchased Staypuft Marshmallow Man at least a couple of weeks before), but he’s not buying 3 toys every day. Hmmm, I suppose some days there are more than 3.
-airfox
“If displaying something I didn’t like in my own personal space was a requirement for a relationship, it would be over.”
That sentiment is… disturbing.
Um, how do you expect these two to ever live together if Drew can’t handle one toy in his living space? I think that was the point. It showed that Drew really did not like any toys in his presence and there relationship was just never going to progress to the point they lived functionally under the same roof.
Ever.
There’s a difference between living with someone and having toys there, because the other person has toys, and having toys in your own apartment, where the other person doesn’t live at all. Drew really did seem to hate toys too much for a relationship with Ethan to work, and there was going to have to be a compromise. But that should be something like Drew getting over Ethan’s toys in Ethan’s apartment. Unless they were talking about moving in together. In which case, I’m with Drew right until he’s not okay compromising on decoration with someone you live with.
And I should have written “buys three toys in a day” since I know he’s not buying three toys every day.
He didn’t buy three toys that day, either. Stay-Puft arrived in the mail. And unless he purchased some seriously quick shipping…
And seeing how Stay Puft was delayed for quite some time and shipping took forever, that would have been near impossible.
I think he was ‘testing the waters’ about them moving in together.
Ethan had reduced to number of toys he displayed in his own living space for Drew’s comfort, and Ethan wanted to see if Drew would even consider a (much) smaller gesture (having one small toy in his living room). Drew did not agree to it.
The relationship was not going to go anywhere long term. Ethan bowed out. Drew got petty and tried to make Ethan feel like this was all his fault and make him feel like a hording ‘headcase’ again before he left.
And now the Shortpacked Universe shall make Ethan forever regret the right decision!
Mu-wha, ha, ha, ha! Suffer for your maturity, Ethan! Suffer!
Does Ethan buy toys instead of paying rent, buying food, or any other necessities of life? The answer is no. Has it ruined the relationships that he has with the people he cares about? Not really. He still has a large group of steadfast friends, and it has been responsible for ending ONE romantic relationship; however, is a relationship really healthy if a person doesn’t love and isn’t willing to accept you as you are?
I’ve seen addicts. It is all consuming. He goes to work every day, he has shelter and he eats well. Its not an addiction, it’s a hobby. I have several hobbies that cost a lot of money. My rent is always paid, I eat plenty, and my hobbies expand upon and create new relationships rather than destroy them.
If a woman said to me “I’ll be with you if you stop playing Magic/Warhammer/Computer games”… I’d tell her to go to hell. I get enjoyment out of these. All of my friends are involved in one or more of these.
Anywho. Long-winded response = Drew is a controlling dick who blows things out of proportion, and Ethan is just fine the way he is as long as he’s happy and healthy.
I was too, but I don’t collect toys, so I didn’t rationalize like the Iraqi Information Minister* and project like a Kodak Carousel.
*I couldn’t remember who it was who said something like “I am not a criminal, I just broke the law.”
You’re not alone. Ethan’s habits are pretty worrisome. I think Drew was right to be concerned. Even Ethan was worried about it — “I’m still buying them at a pretty steady clip,” showing that he can literally fill a room with storage boxes of nothing but toys…he’s fortunate his hoarding tendencies are clean plastic, not moist or edible or otherwise perishable like Jacob’s. Drew was the sensible, mature one, able to show Ethan how a boyfriend should act. But ultimately, Ethan was just not goung to change, not with Drew’s tactics.
Well I’m not ‘on his side’ per-say (not on anyone’s side) I certainly don’t think he’s evil scum like some people do…
Some people take the relationships of these fictional people to seriously!
I mean so what if – [delayed reaction kicks in] oh my – Drew looks like Catman! Oh my – that makes him 20% more hot!
Wait – that’s right – they broke up- Ethan broke up with Drew who looks like Catman!
Ethan is FREE!
ANYWAY now that Drew and Ethan have broken up I’m going after Ethan! [cuddles his Ethan model] Mmmmm cute nerd…
Soon you’ll be mine!
Anyway as I was saying – you people take this all far to seriously. It’s just a comic!
Now that I’ve said my peace -
I’m off to kidnap Willis so he can bring Ethan into the real world; as the creator I’m sure he has this power~ then I can have Ethan!
But… wait… Davan appeared in the comic in a canonical event… but Randy Milholland exists in-universe…
*head explodes*
Willis and the SP! crew coexist (somewhat) comfortably.
I wonder if Mulholland is Davan’s nemesis in the Multiverse.
“Damn you, Mulholland! Does your good-naturedness know no bounds?!”
Like some sort of Continuous Canonical Continuity Turducken…? It hurts trying to work this out.
Really? I’m not all that freaked by it. We don’t know that Milholland’s comic in this ‘verse is S*P or that his character is named Davan. Could just be a coincidence that the character on his poster at the grand opening just happened to look a lot like him.
Now if Rippy or Fluffmodeus come walking into the store…
So…no addressing Drew’s douchery? Or finding out why he freaks out so much at the idea of owning a toy?
Also, considering that, for reasons I’m still not entirely sure of, I recently found myself saying no to a relationship with a guy who is basically Ted Kord…um, this actually hits a little closer to home than I’m entirely comfortable with.
Dear Ethan: let’s go out drinking together and commiserate our coming “thiiiis close” to dating our favorite comicbook characters.
Ted Kord lives! Huzzah!
Thanks to Gail, a metric-tone of slash-fics have just become canon in the minds of her fans.
Interesting that their last argument was triggered by Ethan buying that Catman figure.
Also, I love that Willis planted Mulholland’s existence in the Walkyverse two years ago: http://www.shortpacked.com/2009/comic/book-9/09-grand-reopening/tour/
And now I know why Drew dislikes dog figures
If Drew turned out to actually be Catman somehow it would make so so very happy
Although I don’t think Robin+Drew would have any chemistry at all, I *do* want to see Robin in another relationship. A healthy one anyway.
In fact, it’s kind of sad/messed up/funny that the healthiest relationship is between the violent Mike and Amber, who is… well, I don’t really understand how she could be with Mike. 
I try to understand and I. just. can’t.
Agreed!
Ya know, you’ve gotta wonder just how randy would take to being a sex object of robin’s…
Probably like most men. “Hallelujah” for the first few weeks/months, then he’d move on to “Why don’t we get together for more than just sex?” after a while, before moving on to “I don’t know what I ever saw in you, let’s get to the hate sex.”
Considering randy writes SP… I would think the hatefucks would be the first thing on the list, followed by remorse sex, and then tearful masturbation
Hell, why even bother with the first two steps? It’s going to end in pain and despair eventually, just skip straight to the tearfully jacking off in a darkened room.
Maybe Drew will suddenly realize he’s being unfair and call Ethan up. I mean, CATMAN for crying out loud.
Please let Ethan meet somebody new
Drew and Ethan were not a good match,it was an internet meet up set up by Robin. Ethan needs a fellow collector, like a video games collector or something like that. somebody who understands his hobby.
seriously, Drew and Ethan just had this Physical thing, they had Nothing in common and Drew treated Ethan like a child
I hope Ethan find someone new soon! as a yaoi fangirl, fictional gay stuff is what I live on! Even though Mike and Amber are my favorite couple and characters<3 after that comes Ethan(he's not always fun. Mike is always fun)^^
Mildly disappointed that Ethan didn’t take the opportunity, on-panel, to point out that if Drew had accepted his offer, then getting coffee to go would be smart so they could go right back to Drew’s place and make up. It’s one thing to have decided to break up before sitting down, it’s another to be undecided but feel like you WILL be able to decide quickly.
It was a serious offer, Drew. The fact that your counter-offer was downright insulting (“inside the closet?” Really?) is a crack in your “perfect man” facade.
I feel like it might be a good idea to see Drew ONCE more, to get some closure for everybody. Robin is likely to accommodate Ethan’s request in the end, but there are lots of other ways to put him back in circulation. Still, I have no idea what’s going to happen next.
I agree we need to see Drew again, if only to get a better angle on his perspective on all this. We saw Ethan all the time outside of his relationship with Drew, but I feel we never saw Drew’s life. I mean, everyone seems to be really hating on Drew but we STILL know almost nothing about him. Not that everything is strictly excusable, but it would be nice to know what sort of skeletons are in his closet.
You know, other than the obvious.
That could just be The Thing, though. Maybe his life really is completely devoid of any content and meaning.
I misread that as “maybe Drew is The Thing”, and for a minute I was like “well, he does have blue eyes”
Catman? … He’s Catman? …. OMG, He Is Catman!!!!elevensies!!!!!
This aversion to toys, especially batmut makes so much sense now …. wait a sec, nothing ever makes sense here …
No wonder he didn’t want the Bat-Hound. . .
I know it was just to set up the joke, but man that was dickish, Robin.
*ding ding!* we have a winner!
If Drew were actually anything like Randy then he would’ve killed them all a while ago (except Mike, they are kindred spirits).
You’ve… Never met Randy in real life have you? I swear he was amazing to talk to and really nice.
Oh wait the secret is out! DON’T SHOOT ME UNCLE RA…
*BLAM*
I wasn’t even the slightest bit amused until you mentioned Randy Milholland. Then, then I lol’d. I lol’d hard. I got some stares from the other people in the dining hall but I paid them no heed.
AWESOME Last Panel !!!
Ha, ha!
You made the right, decision Ethan.
Now you shall be punished for it.
Ha! Comedy.
Willis you’re on a role this is most likely one of your most perfect SP1 Strips. Character development, off-colro humor, dadism, comic references, pop culture enthusiasm, real life fangasming, toy placement, and sexual diversity. My God Willis, keep this up and I might start reading Dumbing of Age.
And then David’s life will be complete, I’m sure.
It’s so crazy how so judgmental some people can be over toy collecting.
If Ethan collected DVD’s (you know, like 99% of the world does), would he still have a problem with it?
If he had multiple storage units full of DVDs nobody ever watched and shelves full of them in their home, were bringing more home on a regular basis, and planned his calendar around the acquisition of more DVDs … I’d be concerned.
Any movie fan has DVD’s they can’t wait to be released. And anyone who loves movies and collects DVD’s usually has a lot. It’s mostly not out of some collecting habit, but mostly because they’re cheap and people like watching movies.
I have a ton of DVD’s and blu-ray that thankfully Netflix has quelled quite a bit.
My point is that I think it’s the fact that it’s action figures that bothers Drew. Not the collecting in and of itself, but the fact that it’s TOYS.
I hear about people who hadn’t finished replacing all their VHSs with DVDs by the time they started needing to convert their dvd collection into blu-rays.
I wanna say that it’s not a problem, but ultimately I think it comes down to personal views again. As much as I personally would be cool with a partner who was a cinephile and movie collector the fact of the matter is there are a lot of people who wouldn’t be. Just like anything else really, I suppose. Who here hasn’t had a partner who felt some particular part of them needed to be “Toned down a notch”. Who here hasn’t at least witnessed someone who seemed to be very liberal in their measurement of these notches.
It’s pretty universal imo. Not even just hobbies. It can be personality characteristics as well. First a slight alteration of behavior in front of the ‘rents and then “Don’t embarrass me in front of my friends” and before you know it you’re an entirely different person you don’t enjoy being.
The thing is though that there’s supposed to be a bit of give and take in a relationship. You’re expected to change at least a little. Reasonable requests on their own, but the problem is when it gets pushed too far and they’re not willing to meet you half way. When you convince them they have a problem then you get to stand on the high ground without having to do any changing of your own. So you tell them that they’re not a dick, they have “Rage issues”. They’re not kind, they’ve got issues that prevent them from asserting themselves. They’re not a hobbyist. They’re an addict. This way the onus is on them to put all the work into the relationship, and since you’re so awesome and flawless you can just sit back and enjoy it.
The question is whether this was happening here or not. Are we looking at someone who creates problems where there are none in order to suit their own agenda, or is Ethan genuinely some kind of sick?
Honestly it’s hard to say. There’s kind of a nice case for both arguments. The fact that when given the opportunity to give an inch for the mile he was asking, Drew refused and left while standing on a “Holier than thou” platform doesn’t exactly speak well for him though. Whether or not Ethan has a problem I’m not entirely convinced that Drew was speaking out of genuine concern for Ethan.
Or maybe Drew realized it wasn’t going to work out when Ethan flew off the handle and called him a “jackass”.
I’m just spitballing here.
There are certainly a whole lot of legitimate reasons for why he might have done that. Just saying it doesn’t exactly look good.
When I say I’m not convinced his concern was genuine I by no means wish to indicate that I am convinced that his concern in ingenuine. He was given a chance to leave his comfort zone for the good of the relationship though and didn’t. With all he’s been asking of Ethan it’s certainly disconcerting.
Be very concerned then, my mother is like that
I like how this comment has worked no matter what the last comment in the discussion above it was.
Oh I can tell I’m going to like you..
The difference between DVD Collecting a toy use is that a DVD gives a given and set form of entertainment, and then can be stored for later use. A toy, for most of the world, is just molded plastic of no inherent entertainment. It rank slower than TCGs and Comic Books because eat least you DO things with them. They are seen as the kind of brightly colored distractions for children and autistics, and Ethan;s obsession over them has proven to be a strain on their relationship. (Again nice writing Willis.)
The same could be said of art. It’s just…there. But you know what? Anyone who says art is a waste of time and pointless is an idiot.
For toy collectors, the action figures are pieces of art. I create art using action figures as my canvas (I’m a customizer).
And I feel no shame in that. I’m also a cartoonist, painter, and sculptor.
And I’m a writer. I just thing art is better served when it serves a dynamic purpose, I don’t question the skill or commitment involved but when we speak of VALUE in a fight between something pretty and something that gives a story, the story wins every time. Just ask Jim Lee or Rich Burlew.
My personal theory is that a toy murdered Drew’s parents in a dark alley.
Then would that make him……the plastic avenger….could it be that bi-sexual Drew is actually….the Melty Man?
Kudos if you get the Coupling reference
Eh, he… For obvious reasons I can’t talk about “Darth Vader without the helmet”. But thanks for reminding me to see “Coupling” again, it’s been a while.
AAaah! celebrity paradox screwing with my brain!
If Drew is uncomfortable with Ethan’s quirks then Robin’s crap would probably cause him to leave the state and change his name.
Catman looks like Drew who looks like Randy Milholland. Ethan’s lucky he just lost a boyfriend. Anyone who has read S*P knows this could have gone much worse.
Very true, it could of gone much much worse
I really didn’t expect this comic to go from zero to funny in such a hurry.
I’m a new reader, and I finally caught up! WIN!!!
Man, I used to like Robin, but then she had to go and say “totes.”
You just don’t get ROBIN.
Robin is totes cool!
Although I doubt Drew would date her because she’s totes CRAZY!
TOTES!
Shizzle, Fo’ Rizzle, and Babies is okay,
But Totes gets your goat?
See, this is how I know I’m more of a video game nerd than a comic book nerd. He looks more like Bartz from ffv to me.
I’m surprised that Ethan didn’t use a Furmanism…. “It’s over… finished!”
Called it.
This posits that at some point Drew/Catman’s rate of growing facial hair outpaces his shaving and he just gives up in disgust.
Catman! I liked their relationship and breakup. I know other people are trying to figure out whether Ethan or Drew was “wrong,” but I thought this was a good portrayal of 2 nice people who just had different values about how they wanted to live in their space, and they weren’t going to be good together long-term because of that. Yes, Drew’s parting shot was a little sketch, but as breakups go, this was pretty amicable and well-handled by both guys.
no. wait… Drew is really catman!
RAAAANDYYYYYY!
Bad Ethan! D:< Don't sulk. Go back there and get your Aatman back! Throw all your gosh darn figures into those boxes and hide them, buy a lot to put them in, something. It's gonna suck, but do it! Anything to get back a dude that looks like freaking Catman. D:< It's totally worth it.
I’m confused that both Randy and Davan are part of the same universe.