Not a good first impression.
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I got Fan Art to share today. Received this fun drawing from MissAspie
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Thanks!
Selkie's original line in panel four was "I's not s scareds of hims, ands I's nots scareds of YOUS!", but I felt that came off a bit too adult-ish in tone. Changed it to give Selkie my insult-of-choice when I was her age: JERK!
Speak for yourself, Mrs. Trunchbull.
I like how she tries to eat his face. The ass hole totally deserves it.
On a side note, I feel as if Selkie saying ” I am not scared of you!” would have been perfectly acceptable. You forget that some children, of very young ages can be just as adult as actual adults.
Given the situation Selkie is in and the things she has had to endure, it’s reasonable to assume she has had to grow up a little faster then most adolescence.
Oh, dear. I wonder what Selkie was intending to do to Mr. Condescending, if Todd hadn’t stopped her? Granted he does deserve it and she’s clearly at the end of her rope and just had enough bullshit, but it’s worrying that she’d attack someone like that.
“justifiable homicide”
That’s “Professor” Condescending for you, please 🙂 :p
No, pest control however she would get in trouble for not having a license
Physically attacking someone because of words is never ok to do. It puts you in the wrong and lays blame on you. Hope Todd teaches her that soon or else she’s going to have a very difficult time in school.
Condescending or not, she didn’t need to try and attack him. I didn’t really see it as him calling her names, I saw it as him saying that he’d be incredibly displeased and disgusted with his son for attacking someone smaller and weaker than he is. I feel like Selkie and Todd really overreacted with that and that the mother was perfectly within reason with her monster comment. Was it right? Well no, but she DID look like a bit of a monster when she attacked him and bore her fangs at him.
Both parents are taking the side of their children which is very reasonable and realistic. Given Selkie’s actions just now? I don’t think Truck’s parents should be expected to believe that he was solely at fault. While he in fact WAS solely at fault for the attack, Selkie’s actions now make it look as if she may have instigated something or perhaps struck first. Looking at this from a parents point of view, it makes sense that they’re not automatically blaming their son. If Selkie attacked someone, Todd would not automatically blame her even though she is MORE than capable of doing so and quite frankly, she has a pretty short fuse so it wouldn’t be completely out of the question for her to actually attack someone.
“Condescending or not, she didn’t need to try and attack him.”
Uh, no. Sorry. Despite the snarky remark about Biology 101 in the first panel, let’s not forget the fact that Selkie isn’t human. Like Vulcans, Klingons, and other fictional nonhuman species, she might well have perfectly natural aggression responses that we “civilized humans” consider behavioral issues. In an episode of TNG, Worf’s adoptive human parents mentioned that Worf once beat up a group of several boys larger and older than him. Vulcans, meanwhile, base their entire society around suppressing their naturally extreme emotions.
Selkie is a carnivorous amphibian. Possibly even poisonous. And this smart-aleck comes into her territory right after a life-threatening fight where she barely won and calls her weak. Oh, and she’s also a kid. On an instinctive level, not to mention a child’s perspective, that’s completely justified behavior. In the wild, underwater, there probably aren’t a lot of Trunchbulls, because out there you would need to actually respect your neighbors to survive.
Heck, I was pretty obedient as a kid and I might have tried to take a swing at Mr. Trunchbull under similar circumstances.
I mean: yes, Todd needs to teach her that she can’t act like that. But it’s not because it’s the morally wrong thing to do (anyone who would defend his son’s actions like that deserves a thrashing), but because it’s bad, bad, strategy. Our “civilized” society is an incredible obstacle to justice a majority of the time, and the Trunchbulls thrive on that fact. So the lesson Selkie needs to learn is that Justice needs to be patient.
But in societies around the world there are instances where words are considered to excuse attacks. If there weren’t hate speech would not be a term and the concept of a hate crime wouldn’t exist. His words weren’t simply condescending, they were blatantly sexist. Yes, the female body is designed more for grace than brute force but that doesn’t mean that women are automatically weak. Trunchbull didn’t say someone smaller and weaker than his son, he said a weak little girl. An attitude like that gives children the perception that they are stronger and better than everyone around them which has probably contributed to his son’s attitude. I’m guessing that brat is gonna turn on the crocodile tears and adopt the “yes, sir” “no, sir” that kids like him feed their parents to shut them up and make them think that they actually have control.
Uh, yes, actually. Even if Selkie isn’t human, she’s being raised up in a society of humans and needs to abide by their laws. If you wanna say it’s perfectly alright to attack someone because they called you stupid, I’m sure the cops would be real sympathetic with you there. Oh and I’m sure the judge would agree with you entirely and rule in favor of you when assault charges were pressed against you. Not. I live in this place called reality and even when I think something is wrong a lot of the times I just hold my tongue.
I’m not saying he needs to tell her the guy was right for what he had said, but Todd certainly needs to teach her she needs to cool her jets if she wants to make it in this world.
Google “Fighting Words.”
I actually subbed in a school where you could get just as suspended for ‘fighting words’ (verbal abuse and/or verbally goading someone into a fight) as you could for actually throwing a punch. I approved of the policy. We as a society give far too much creedence to the old ‘sticks and stones’ nonsense.
On the one hand, ‘You tell him Sellie!’
On the other hand, giving into temporeraly satisfying agressive urges tends to make the verbal assailant feel justified in his condescension.
Oh Mr Trunchbull, just because the comic ended with Selkie being dragged away because she crossed a line, don’t think I didn’t spot you crossing a line yourself in the first panel.
You were clearly being sexist and/or ageist, and doing so in order to try to get on Todd’s nerves. But that was a weak move. Something Todd could have used to his advantage if Selkie hadn’t lost her temper.
And furthermore, the beclawed and possibly poisonous “weak little girl” is going to have her guard up around your son all the time now. You’ve just given her a mandate to defend herself with far greater measures than she did last time. The fact of the matter is: you wouldn’t have done that if you were as smart as you think you are.
Oh, and I know people in real life who can play that game better than you just did. I look forward to Todd metaphorically tearing you a new one.
Jerks.
He was doing it to annoy Todd? I thought he was just being an elitist prig.
Multitasking!
Indeed. It’s probably both.
Good lord! What a bunch bullly-encourgaging jerks.
No wonder their kid is the way they are. Also, the good professor looks too much like Genji. 10 more hate factor points here!
I do not know this Genji, but I’m getting a Dishonest Abe vibe…
Panel 4: “you’re” not your
Well done Professor, you just aggravated a poisonous amphibian. I hope you have good health insurance, because your kid is going to need it if he antagonizes Selkie again.
Why do people keep saying amphibian? Fish, not frog. If she was an amphibian, she’d have the skin of one, which she’d have to keep wet all the time
While not in the amphibian phylum, she is amphibious, able to breath in or out of water.
Look up ‘Mexican walking fish’ for another example. 🙂
This could be bad. Remember how much the principal hates dealing with the Trunchbulls? Doubtless they’ll mention this little incident to him and intimidate him into “doing something” about it. That could mean a longer suspension. It could mean expulsion. It could mean police involvement.
This is a bad situation, getting worse by the minute.
When I read the comic I was boiling with frustration. But when I read your post, chills went down my spine. RUN EVERYONE
Clarification: your post changed my attitude from “FRUSTRATED! RAGEFACE!” to “Ohno ohno ohno this is bad this is bad this is bad” *cowers in a corner like Smeagol*
Police involvement will be fun. The average cop isn’t going to punish both parties to keep the peace. The average cop will also get ticked off at Trunchy’s attitude. Combine that with the witnesses and police involvement will get very very fun.
Police involvement might involve a federal intervention, so I’m in favour too.
Keep in mind, there’s already signs of a coverup. I’ve suspected it’s on a federal level to protect Selkie’s kind. So, if it comes down to a federal investigation, The Trunchies might find themselves dealing with some very scary men that won’t be impressed by Mr Trunchy’s attitude. (Yes, I know it’s Trunchbull like everyone else. But they don’t deserve to be referred by their full name.)
Now I have visions of Todd walking into the PTA meeting room yelling at the top of his lungs, “HOW’S IT GOIN’ TRUNCHY?!”
XD
Yes. Yesyesyes!
At this point, Todd should pull Selkie out of school entirely. Administration has dropped the ball twice, and shows no signs of getting better. The principle is obviously under Mr Trunchbull’s thumb. There are also at least two known bullies who obviously have it out for Selkie, both with a little gang of tag-alongs.
I understand Todd’s gone during the day, and probably needs the free babysitting, but it’s not worth it if his kid keeps getting antagonized. He can find a good private school, or maybe homeschool her, and hire someone to take care of her while he’s at work. (Hell, I bet Asuka would even do it.)
And what about Selkie’s feelings and her friends? Pulling her out entirely is not necessarily the best choice for her well-being if it causes her to become withdrawn and depressed due to a lack of friendship.
really? rage selkie with an ADORICUTE fanart selkie? haha that sooo throws me off
I dunno, I thought rage Selkie was pretty adorable too. 😉
Wow, Trunchbull clearly took a waaaaay different Biology 101 class then I did, also I don’t know why, but I think the good “professor” doesn’t even have a real degree, probably got it from some online site or something, or he’s a self absorbed jack ass.
I love how the moron sites BIOLOGY when referring to a girl who isn’t even human.. and is at least, by all appearances, biologically different from the average human.
My vote’s for self-absorbed jackass. The reason I say that is because I have a bachelor’s in Geology. College experiences have taught me that a lot of professors have very large, and very interesting, egos. Not all negative. Just… variable LOL. I recall I was in my first few days, freshman year, wandering around the Anthropology professor offices. Any prof who was in had his door open. One particular man was on the phone. I paused for whatever reason. He paused to turn and yell at me to go away! Wow… Later I learned that, yes, he was just a jerk. Big time. I have also known some very cool professors. In writing, sometimes I have one kind, and other times the other side of the coin:) Take the professor in my comic “Shards”, Dr. Muffet for example 😉
Dr. Muffet worries me.
Thinking to one of my own professors, who taught the courses on Norse mythology and Viking sagas, among other subjects. He’s also tenured, which is probably a good thing. One time, I was in class, and all we can hear from the hallway is fiddle music. Eventually, the professor for the class goes out to speak to him. He was entirely caught off guard. He’d thought it was the evening, not just after three, so figured no one would be disturbed by his playing.
He knew his subject very well and was an excellent teacher, but was massively odd.
While understanding all the hot issues, I gotta give props to Todd here. Dealing firmly but properly with Professor Asshole, and handling his out-of-control kid at the same time. The “MISTER Trunchbull” is icing on the cake.
Until now, I had faint hope that justice would somehow prevail — but the Trunchys are going to spin this enough that probably no adults will ever agree on what the situation is.
I don’t think Selkie would’ve actually bit or scratched Professor Jerkface, but I do think that was some sort of instinctual threat display from her. And not very unlike humans – just think of how you’d act if you had to charge on someone twice your size, you’d go for a scream/roar as well.
Scratching and claws have been mentioned… but does Selkie even have fingernails? They look like just webbed fin-shaped things. Then again, Dave doesn’t always draw the nails on the humans either.. so this begs the question.
Can Selkie scratch?
My guess is that, what with her hands being webbed, her fingers (or at least fingertips) are somewhat structurally similar to fin spines, like on a weever fish or scorpion fish. She wouldn’t need fingernails then; her fingers themselves are essentially claws. If so, she may even have a toxin in her spines similar to that in her saliva. Though I doubt that part, since if she has scratched people before the orphanage probably would have noticed something like that, and warned Todd about it (unless her species doesn’t develop it until adolescence…)
Yes, she can. Selkie has talons which I typically try to suggest by drawing her fingertips more pointed and triangular than the human character’s (minus a few instances where my pen slipped and particular fingers didn’t come out as rounded-off as I had intended).
For a more close-up look, though, refer to strip #210.
She could try acting all sweet and girly and giving him apology kisses- remember that experiment she did where it turned out her saliva causes rashes? 😛
Wrath. Wrath unbridled and spoken in volumes of unparalleled octaves, ye who have cast the first stone, beware! For the slumbering giant wakes ere again upon those who would condescend upon her! Take heed O wretched mortals, for thou art upon the precipice of disaster; but one push, nay one thought and thrust over into the chasm of despair shall ye be wrent!
Okay, so this hits on a personal note for me.
When I was about eight or nine there was an older boy (I’m female) who thought that he could get away with threatening me physical harm while we were walking home from school. Well, he said that he’d make sure I would never walk again and started towards me, so I promptly pummeled him into the ground. It turns out that he was the son of my Aunt’s good friend. So, I get home and everyone is in my living room waiting for me. I tell my side of the story and told them very clearly that I would, under no circumstance, be threatened by someone and let them get away with it. No, I won’t tell their parents, or my dad because it’s not the parents saying it, it’s the kid, so if they want to pick a fight with me then they can feel the consequences of it.
I know this seems over done, but I had been being bullied since I had gotten to this school three years earlier and I was done with it. No on had done a single thing to stop these kids from making my life hell, so I took it into my own hands. I think that Selkie is perfectly justified in trying to protect herself from being bullied anymore. No one has done anything for her, so now she needs to do it for herself.
Being called week is an insult to one’s person and also makes you seem week if you are already in a position where people can cause you harm, her reaction as far as I am concerned is warranted. It’s like this page was taken directly from my life.
That… could have gone better.
Not that I blame her, though.
Ah-huh… The use of the “M” word has come out. Monster is also a very strong and very negative descriptor in this case. I am amazed actually. How progressive we all are not to consider this sooner. Labelling Selkie as a “monster” when she is clearly not human is as big a step in the hind direction as calling an African American the “N” word. It still happens, but look what happens when someone does it! Anyway, I view Mrs. Trunchbull’s ending comment in the same regard. They are dumb, AND racist.
I love this comic but I am a teacher and it’s giving me PTSD-like flashbacks.
I’ll check back in a few weeks; hopefully this mess will be over by then.
We got a PTA meeting coming up shortly, so for varying definitions of “over”… 🙂
Mr. Trunchbull, this is no time to be dancing the Thriller.
I’m seriously impressed with Todd. Keeping his cool while handling the jerk and the very upset kid.
Something needs to be done about this school. Their anti-bullying policy is a joke – the principal bullies his teachers and rolls belly up to parents to the point of hurting other children. Selkie’s been physically assaulted 2x now, and there’s no repercussions.
I’m not saying yank her from the school – but maybe some talk with other parents of kids who Truck HAS to have hurt…PTA meeting? How about a talk with, I don’t know, the SUPERINTENDENT? Yes, there is someone above the principal.
By the by, mister Author, I like the new layout. Simple and nice.
Thank you. Been meaning to do it for awhile now. 🙂
Just catching up after a death in the family.
Sorry to be the Grammar Nazi, but that should be “you’re a jerks.” “Your” is the possessive form of “you,” (the “a jerks” of or belonging to you), while “you’re” is the contraction of “you are.” They sound exactly alike, but mean totally different things when written. It’s not much, but it can be jarring to the reader, and it diminishes the enjoyment of the excellent comic.
Is it bad that I feel emotional enough to want to stab the professor?
I promise I have never stabbed anyone before with more than a stick. I would, however, probably grab him by the collar and bring my forehead into violent contact with the bridge of his nose.
Even as a fully functional adult I sometimes get mad.
I’m just better at controlling the anger and not allowing for it to control me now.