November 15th, 2016
November 15th, 2016
15 Nov 2016 · page 651 of 1306

Looks bad Mal

Cast: Harriet Barber, Jack O'Malley

Comments (61)

  • Darkoneko Hellsing 9 years ago archived

    Well, you don't make an omelette without eggs.

  • Jeff Eppenbach 9 years ago archived

    Listening to them, you would think they'er siblings, or something. (Hint: They are probably siblings, or something.)

    • GristleMcNerd 9 years ago archived

      Kindred spirits, I'd say. Siblings in grumpiness.

      • Tikatu 9 years ago archived

        Siblings in snarkiness, too.

  • Basil Sage 9 years ago archived

    Panel 2: I like how the Gluttony circle looks like a gaping maw with sharp teeth.


    I hope Ben at least gets some juicy intel about the other side as a reward for making those awesome notes.

  • Sturzkampf 9 years ago archived

    How long have those two been married?

    • AJ 9 years ago archived

      That's it. I'm buying you a one-way ticket on the nope train.

      • Sturzkampf 9 years ago archived

        Is that good or bad?

        • JWLM 9 years ago archived

          Yes

        • AJ 9 years ago archived

          Nope. Obviously.

  • Nikolai Novikov 9 years ago archived

    At least it is more round then the drawings in the notes

    • AJ 9 years ago archived

      See, I was assuming in both instances that the circles looked oblong because of perspective.

      • John 9 years ago archived

        The drawings on the page might be a perspective issue, or they might be slightly squashed left to right to fit them on the page. I can't tell for sure, but at least they don't have any straight edges the way O'Malley's "circle" does.


        And Harry's comment clearly indicates that O'Malley's "circle" is oblong rather than round, in addition to having the visible straight edges. So it is kind of suggestive of the idea of a circle rather than actually being a circle. Although to be fair I am not sure I would do any better than O'Malley did if I when trying to free hand draw a circle, especially one that big.

        • AJ 9 years ago archived

          Once I got to Harry's comment, I understood, of course. But I think if I freehanded that drawing myself it would look like spaghetti. I though Mal did fine. Maybe drawing was a more common class in the Widdershins grade schools.

          • non_canon 9 years ago archived

            Wizards probably have circle drawing as one of the major core classes of their curriculum. Although in this case I'd say it's more that between the legends and Grandma Barber's statements on the subject Harry was expecting an uber!wizard, and instead she got one who can't even draw a simple circle.

  • Mako 9 years ago archived

    I feel like the Sloth circle should just be a single line, and it only works if you half-ass it and be sloppy so it's not even really circular.

    • Derrill Watson 9 years ago archived

      That, or else it's the hardest one of the lot, requiring years of intense study and if you don't get every single detail exactly, perfectly right, Sloth will say "Meh" and not show up.

    • Sandrea 9 years ago archived

      That would be funny. From the picture, though, it looks like an outer and inner circle connected by twelve lines. Still the simplest of the bunch.

      • Skylark Landing 9 years ago archived

        Gluttony's looks a bit like a ring of teeth. O_O

  • Dane 72 9 years ago archived

    "Well.. why don't YOU draw a circle, then I hold the gun!"

    • Ghostdanser 9 years ago archived

      Mal + Gun = I shudder to think...

      • Bo Lindbergh 9 years ago archived

        Can gun-nuttery be summoned or imbued?

  • Ghostdanser 9 years ago archived

    "If you had that go during an earthquake." silently continued in thought ...while drunk in the freezing cold, with arthritis, and a blue monkey on your head pulling your hair.

    Okay...a bit of an exaggeration...but the blue monkey does present a nice visual aspect to the thought.

    • SomeGuy411 9 years ago archived

      Or a purple hippo egging you on and getting in the way?

    • Rhee 9 years ago archived

      I got to "blue monkey" and my brain supplied "humping your leg in a most aggressive fashion" i'm so sorry for my awful thought flows XD

  • Del 9 years ago archived

    This wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey circle will do, I think.

  • Percabeth_trash 9 years ago archived

    Mal sweetie, I've made far worse circles in my time, don't you worry 'bout a thing :)


    Eeeeeee my order came! I love the family portrait! It's only a pity that Edmund was too young for that fabulous monstrosity of a beard. Harry looks so grumpy, this is the best!! Thank yoouuuuuu!

    • Kate A 9 years ago archived

      Hooray, glad it got there okay! Had a lot of fun with the portrait, haha. Thanks!

    • AJ 9 years ago archived

      Right?!?!? That design looks HARD! There's all kinds of fiddly twice-divided triangles and stuff inside CONCENTRIC circles? Can't I just draw stick people?

      • Percabeth_trash 9 years ago archived

        But even my stick people are worse than other peoples' stick people! Have you seen xkcd's stick people?!? Also people doesn't look like a real word anymore!

        • AJ 9 years ago archived

          xkcd's stick people are incredible! They have eyeless heads that nevertheless show direction of gaze and subtleties of expression! It's amazing/horrifying!

  • ThisCat 9 years ago archived

    Oh, they're just the best of friends, aren't they?

    • Sturzkampf 9 years ago archived

      Wait until he starts trying to cadge her tobacco.

      • Tikatu 9 years ago archived

        If the pipe she has with her is the pipe imbued by Greed, she may be cadging tobacco off of him!

  • non_canon 9 years ago archived

    Ben drew this set of notes for Mal (he was seen with pencil to paper in an earlier strip), although I know she gave them some instructions which are incorporated into this.

  • non_canon 9 years ago archived

    I would bet that a younger Ben and Verity had this exact conversation word for word, although I would also bet all parties would not be pleased with the comparison.

    • Margot 9 years ago archived

      I don't think Ben could ever draw a sloppy circle

  • John 9 years ago archived

    Drawing perfectly round circles by hand is pretty hard, Harry. I would think the size of this circle will make it more difficult to draw it correctly and Mal has had exactly no practice at this.


    For a wizard in the normal world this probably would be a problem. Hopeful for Mal in this place it will be good enough.

  • Clyde Adams III 9 years ago archived

    The curate's egg-circle! (Was that too obscure? Google "curate's egg")

    • Fairportfan 9 years ago archived

      Parts of it are extremely round indeed.

    • Wyvern 9 years ago archived

      I've heard the expression before, but I couldn't have told you the meaning without Google.

  • Moe Lane 9 years ago archived

    I'm assuming that once actual Witch-power is pushed through the grid the whole thing will instantly snap into perfect place.

    • Graham Garrett 9 years ago archived

      I like that idea. I also think the whole "requiring a circle" thing just makes it easier for Non-Witches to get into the mindset of "this will work!"

  • Fairportfan 9 years ago archived

    I'd say Sid better watch out ... but i think The O'Malley is destined for Nicola.

    • John 9 years ago archived

      The comic has established that Nicola is interested in women, not men.


      And Kate has stated in the comments (although she hasn't gotten it into the comic yet) that O'Malley is aromantic/asexual which makes the idea that he is destined for anyone somewhat unlikely.

      • Kate A 9 years ago archived

        Yes, that is definitely the most unlikely ship!

      • Fairportfan 9 years ago archived

        Awww. Spoil my smart-arse fun, why don't you?

  • Theynamok 9 years ago archived

    I just want them to snark at leach other, for pages and pages :)

    • Kate A 9 years ago archived

      You're in luck, friend

  • Ghostdanser 9 years ago archived

    But...why? What could possibly go wrong?

    • Rolan7 9 years ago archived

      Somebody could ask that, for one thing!

  • Sir. Orc 9 years ago archived

    It'll probably wind up summoning a flock of very angry chickens.

  • reynard61 9 years ago archived

    As long as things don't go pear-shaped...

  • Corhianne 9 years ago archived

    @KateDrawsComics:disqus The icon for this item is a tiger, not a hippo, but I think you may have a(t least one) reader over at Blizzard Entertainment: [http://www.wowhead.com/item...](http://www.wowhead.com/item=139808/curio-of-abundant-happiness "http://www.wowhead.com/item=139808/curio-of-abundant-happiness") (edit: Drawing the link because of the purple cloud in the icon on top of the name, y'see. There's a madness to my method, honest!)

    • Kate A 9 years ago archived

      A Purpleish Tiger of Happiness is close enough! The Hippo would definitely call it a win :)

  • Sapphire363 9 years ago archived

    Reason no. 5000945678999 that I love Jack O'Malley

  • Chug 9 years ago archived

    I am now imagining young magic users spending years learning how to draw perfect circles of any size.

  • WitUnderPressure 9 years ago archived

    Kinda makes sense that the circle for wrath is so complicated. I'd be angry too if I had to draw that.

  • Ilmari 9 years ago archived

    Best dialogue. Not ever, but in dozens of pages, at least. :D

  • Scotchmo 9 years ago archived

    I love this comic so much.

  • scribbler217 9 years ago archived

    I am reminded of FMA, where all the circles are magically perfect, haha. Good job dodging the "this character has no reason to be good at this but magically is" trap, Ms. Ashwin!

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