The problem with this kind of doubt and this kind of “proof” is that now you go from “it is unlikely that the serum is legit” (like 50/75%) to “it is very unlikely that the serum is legit” (like 95%).
But as Tim had said once about a game I don’t remember : “we both know what your 95% is worth”.
Because it hurts so much more those stay in memory better than when it does hit, I have same relation to dice games. One game I was cussing my bad luck and GM was that yeah but they aren’t doing any better at which I had to point out that in order to hit myself I need a nine or better out of 20, before rage, so I should have had at least 50/50 on the bandit.
Still impossible to draw any useful conclusion from it though.
Even if we accept Trolls reaction as genuine (probable, but he is capable of faking emotion), it’s still unclear what he’s shocked/surprised about.
It could be ‘Wait, that actually worked?’ (in which case it’s probably safe). It could also be ‘Wait, he actually went and got himself killed instead of quitting? What about my fun?’.
While I fully agree, it is easy to overthink it as a reader. Lucas might have enough to trust Ethan still has his powers. They were never certain that his powers always worked in the first place. Maybe he has a set amount of lives. In a world of uncertainty, having confidence that things will work is sometimes enough.
That’s assuming conclusion was the point. Lucas is a smart guy, I feel like he knows that a read like this isn’t guaranteed but it is literally the best he can possibly get.
So he’ll tell Ethan and they’ll proceed, still not completely sure.
My guess for the full confirmation is a situation where Ethan throws himself in harms way to save someone, knowing it might be the literal end. This strip just makes it so that Lucas is comfortable getting back into their efforts patrolling to set that moment up.
foducool
9 hours ago
guess that was all the confirmation that was needed to know the whole anti powers serum was BS lol
He had already murdered someone in cold blood before. So that’s not it.
However. His face could also mean “Wait? It actually worked?” Because there’s a chance that it does work but he wasn’t sure if it really would.
Acher4
9 hours ago
Oh yes!
Good news everyone! 😀
Darkhorse
8 hours ago
Story beads:
Lucas sees the momentary reaction of the Troll. He knows enough. He thanks the Troll, not listening to the answers. Lucas flies home and murders his partner. Happy ending!
Oh beats or uncomfortably pulled beads, who cares?
(I’ve only ever heard the phrase spoken and it isn’t my mother tongue XD )
Gonfrask
8 hours ago
When a (true) troll starts with direct insults, he has clearly lost is game. That second of doubt…tch tch
JozMk.II
8 hours ago
To me, broccoli head looks genuinely surprised. I think it’s likely that he’s surprised the serum actually “worked,” as his intention all along had been to troll and torment Analog, whether the serum he got worked as advertised or not. An alternate possibility is that he knew it worked all along and is surprised and shocked that Analog took the risk anyway and got himself “killed,” but I think it’s the less likely possibility since we all know the Troll absolutely loves tormenting Analog; To have intentionally done something that he knew would guarantee the mortality of his favorite plaything… Read more »
Daniel
7 hours ago
As everyone says, it’s not a total proof. But after all, Ethan is back on the streets anyway. I wouldn’t return to “let kill myself for mild inconvenience”, but it’s definitely make the risk lower
ears
6 hours ago
Okay, I was overthinking it, Lucas’ plan was to look at the first reaction, that’s it. There was no step 2 to the plan because it was not needed.
Last edited 6 hours ago by ears
Reader
6 hours ago
So, let’s consider that murder is punishable by a death penalty in this place where they reside. Let’s consider that the Troll doesn’t want that for himself. If the Troll was truly suicidal (in a death by police sort of way) then he would have reacted with more of a ‘it’s about time’, looking forward to his ultimate punishment. His reaction was more of a, ‘OMG’ quickly replaced by snarky jokes to hide his true, nervous feelings.
James
6 hours ago
The problem here is that he could be faking his reaction. Or his surprise isn’t that he died, but rather that he still went out and died a hero. Both scenarios, either surprise it worked or surprise at being wrong about Ethan character, would be a fitting reason for that pause and attempt at banter. People like the troll often don’t handle being wrong about the people they feel justified trolling very well
Dr DoobieDo
4 hours ago
It’s also possible that he put down a listening device.
LazidMD
4 hours ago
Now, the rough part will be to convince Ethan to “try” it somehow? Even with the odds of still having his powers super high, what can they do with that information, concretely? It not like Ethan will be all “oh yeah! Let’s try it out right away, chop my head with an arrow like the first time!”. And Lucas can’t just take the call and kill Ethan outright just to prove it to Ethan, there’s got to be consent. The question is what will Ethen do with that consent?
He killed him by accident the very first time, could pretend the same situation.
Last edited 18 minutes ago by Kevin Greenbaum
Ben
4 hours ago
So a lot of us are waiting for the other shoe to drop. For this to be a trick, or something like that. But this comic might be going another way- maybe the Troll just… isn’t that capable? I mean, sure, he manages to entertain a few fellow deranged people, and because of how much they helped him he put on a good show, but it was ALL a show. Caught unprepared, without backup or a plan or tools? He couldn’t even manage a poker face. The best he could do was slip into his usual venom-spewing, and even that… Read more »
When you put it that way… that describes trolls in general, doesn’t it?
Crestlinger
3 hours ago
So time for a defibrillator litmus test. His powers are pretty fast at respawn timing so one minutes then BZZT if not Should be enough of a window. Sign a waiver for the Pepper X consumption as way to induce it!
Bain
3 hours ago
The troll was clearly flustered enough to accidentally complement analog on his dick size. So my moneys on this no powers thing being bullshit
Jay
2 hours ago
Hard cut to Lucas walking into the apartment and just capping Ethan right between the eyes before he even realizes what’s happening to demonstrate that he still has his powers.
I know it won’t happen like this, but it would be kind of logical but mostly hilarious.
Cmd1095
2 hours ago
Heh, clever Lucas. I wouldn’t count this as 100% confirmed it didn’t work cause you never know, the Troll could’ve accidentally made a working serum. But even so this is a big point towards Ethan is fine
24
Seems the Troll isnt so smart after all.
He was unprepared.
The problem with this kind of doubt and this kind of “proof” is that now you go from “it is unlikely that the serum is legit” (like 50/75%) to “it is very unlikely that the serum is legit” (like 95%).
But as Tim had said once about a game I don’t remember : “we both know what your 95% is worth”.
F’n XCOM, king of the rugpull 95% hits that feel more like 95% misses.
Because it hurts so much more those stay in memory better than when it does hit, I have same relation to dice games. One game I was cussing my bad luck and GM was that yeah but they aren’t doing any better at which I had to point out that in order to hit myself I need a nine or better out of 20, before rage, so I should have had at least 50/50 on the bandit.
Well. Now imagine that for Ethan, he have to stab himself in the neck. On a 1 he never comes back.
That’s XCOM, baby!
Gotta work on that poker face.
Still impossible to draw any useful conclusion from it though.
Even if we accept Trolls reaction as genuine (probable, but he is capable of faking emotion), it’s still unclear what he’s shocked/surprised about.
It could be ‘Wait, that actually worked?’ (in which case it’s probably safe). It could also be ‘Wait, he actually went and got himself killed instead of quitting? What about my fun?’.
While I fully agree, it is easy to overthink it as a reader. Lucas might have enough to trust Ethan still has his powers. They were never certain that his powers always worked in the first place. Maybe he has a set amount of lives. In a world of uncertainty, having confidence that things will work is sometimes enough.
…he has a set amount of lives, and ones they’re exhausted you need to put another nickel inside his.. er.. inside him
I’d wager that they’ve thought of this and he regularly eats quarters.
I take it upon myself to complete the thought. … coinpurse.
don’t kink shame
That’s assuming conclusion was the point. Lucas is a smart guy, I feel like he knows that a read like this isn’t guaranteed but it is literally the best he can possibly get.
So he’ll tell Ethan and they’ll proceed, still not completely sure.
My guess for the full confirmation is a situation where Ethan throws himself in harms way to save someone, knowing it might be the literal end. This strip just makes it so that Lucas is comfortable getting back into their efforts patrolling to set that moment up.
guess that was all the confirmation that was needed to know the whole anti powers serum was BS lol
Or he reacted to the thought that he actually caused someone’s death.
Yeah, tbh, I read the comic and couldn’t decide what Lucas actually took from this encounter.
According to the comments, most people seem to think that the troll was bluffing, but I really don’t know.
He had already murdered someone in cold blood before. So that’s not it.
However. His face could also mean “Wait? It actually worked?” Because there’s a chance that it does work but he wasn’t sure if it really would.
Oh yes!
Good news everyone! 😀
Story beads:
Lucas sees the momentary reaction of the Troll. He knows enough. He thanks the Troll, not listening to the answers. Lucas flies home and murders his partner. Happy ending!
…wait
Story b….beads?
Not beats?
Bees!?
I’m allergic to bees!
Me too!
Make sure you remove them one at a time.
Oh beats or uncomfortably pulled beads, who cares?
(I’ve only ever heard the phrase spoken and it isn’t my mother tongue XD )
When a (true) troll starts with direct insults, he has clearly lost is game. That second of doubt…tch tch
To me, broccoli head looks genuinely surprised. I think it’s likely that he’s surprised the serum actually “worked,” as his intention all along had been to troll and torment Analog, whether the serum he got worked as advertised or not. An alternate possibility is that he knew it worked all along and is surprised and shocked that Analog took the risk anyway and got himself “killed,” but I think it’s the less likely possibility since we all know the Troll absolutely loves tormenting Analog; To have intentionally done something that he knew would guarantee the mortality of his favorite plaything… Read more »
As everyone says, it’s not a total proof. But after all, Ethan is back on the streets anyway. I wouldn’t return to “let kill myself for mild inconvenience”, but it’s definitely make the risk lower
Okay, I was overthinking it, Lucas’ plan was to look at the first reaction, that’s it. There was no step 2 to the plan because it was not needed.
So, let’s consider that murder is punishable by a death penalty in this place where they reside. Let’s consider that the Troll doesn’t want that for himself. If the Troll was truly suicidal (in a death by police sort of way) then he would have reacted with more of a ‘it’s about time’, looking forward to his ultimate punishment. His reaction was more of a, ‘OMG’ quickly replaced by snarky jokes to hide his true, nervous feelings.
The problem here is that he could be faking his reaction. Or his surprise isn’t that he died, but rather that he still went out and died a hero. Both scenarios, either surprise it worked or surprise at being wrong about Ethan character, would be a fitting reason for that pause and attempt at banter. People like the troll often don’t handle being wrong about the people they feel justified trolling very well
It’s also possible that he put down a listening device.
Now, the rough part will be to convince Ethan to “try” it somehow? Even with the odds of still having his powers super high, what can they do with that information, concretely? It not like Ethan will be all “oh yeah! Let’s try it out right away, chop my head with an arrow like the first time!”. And Lucas can’t just take the call and kill Ethan outright just to prove it to Ethan, there’s got to be consent. The question is what will Ethen do with that consent?
He killed him by accident the very first time, could pretend the same situation.
So a lot of us are waiting for the other shoe to drop. For this to be a trick, or something like that. But this comic might be going another way- maybe the Troll just… isn’t that capable? I mean, sure, he manages to entertain a few fellow deranged people, and because of how much they helped him he put on a good show, but it was ALL a show. Caught unprepared, without backup or a plan or tools? He couldn’t even manage a poker face. The best he could do was slip into his usual venom-spewing, and even that… Read more »
When you put it that way… that describes trolls in general, doesn’t it?
So time for a defibrillator litmus test. His powers are pretty fast at respawn timing so one minutes then BZZT if not Should be enough of a window. Sign a waiver for the Pepper X consumption as way to induce it!
The troll was clearly flustered enough to accidentally complement analog on his dick size. So my moneys on this no powers thing being bullshit
Hard cut to Lucas walking into the apartment and just capping Ethan right between the eyes before he even realizes what’s happening to demonstrate that he still has his powers.
I know it won’t happen like this, but it would be kind of logical but mostly hilarious.
Heh, clever Lucas. I wouldn’t count this as 100% confirmed it didn’t work cause you never know, the Troll could’ve accidentally made a working serum. But even so this is a big point towards Ethan is fine