Coming Out Of Their Shell

https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3377

Agreeing to disagree. Every squad has support staff, technicians, teachers, supply, and command. She would have AI she was with in training or acclamation. I'm sure that someone from her past would remember her - I just want that "person" to check in on her.

Darnel D Cooper

No one else from her "previous life", as you call it, is left alive for us to meet. Everyone else in her military squad was killed in an attack that also rendered Bubbles herself incapacitated. She suffered severe PTSD as a result.

awgiedawgie

Ah, nevermind, I misunderstood what they meant by "I keep using it" as in the particular and not in the general.

@mad marie "They" doesn't really misgender anyone though, we use it ALL the time as a filler-pronoun even before non-binary they was popularized. I.e. "Someone forgot their phone." Using "they" when you don't yet know someone's pronouns is never offensive, and those who choose to take it offensively are basically outing themselves as offended by trans people/non-binary people.

Nah. It's just a stupid convention. "My big poking thing is bigger than your poking thing." Currently teaching my niece how to use a sword while the blacksmithing teacher teaches her how to make one. Both of us have to overcome stupid anime tropes

Todd Ellner

Unless they AREN'T! Depulso Physics! ---- Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality ----- Professor McGonagall turned into a cat. Harry [scrambled back] "You turned into a cat! A SMALL cat! You violated Conservation of Energy! That's not just an arbitrary rule, it's implied by the form of the quantum Hamiltonian! Rejecting it destroys unitarity and then you get FTL signalling! And cats are COMPLICATED! A human mind can't just visualise a whole cat's anatomy and, and all the cat biochemistry, and what about the neurology? How can you go on thinking using a cat-sized brain?" Professor McGonagall's lips were twitching harder now. "Magic."

JourneymanWizard

Bubbles's winking face in panel 3 is a thing of beauty. She's doing so well with Emmett. 💚

Daniel Blom Paulsen

Ugh. Thank you very much for the nerd bump: 1. How Heavy is Bubbles? 2. Is she in the same strength range as Crush Bot? Or stronger because she's military grade? 3. Does she have a limiter? or does she have a running program to keep her from damaging herself. Will we EVER meet anyone from her previous life?

Darnel D Cooper

I wonder if the AIs in the QC-verse have each found a handful of human-typical characteristics that they've attached to as a way to establish an identity? May has morbid curiosity and hedonism, Bubbles has a sense of loyalty and pack-bonding, Roko has sensitivity to mind/body integration? Is this an early post-singularity phenom brought on by a need for acceptance/cooperation? Otherwise, AIs could just "be everything" to be accepted by anyone around them, having a few fixed traits may bring the AI-human connection more to common ground.

Melissa Smits

Of course Emet speaks truth. It's there in the name. Also, all those enormous anime swords? No matter how strong you are torque, gravity, and center of mass are real.

Todd Ellner

All said, the Hulk does have much larger feet than Bubbles.

SilverbackRon

Lots of human standard people with metal plates in their heads. Although I hear they use plastics more often these days.

SilverbackRon

Thank you. I have been preaching this since the Hulk first tossed an Abrams over the horizon by grabbing the barrel and twirling like an Olympic hammer throw. This does my soul so much good I may take MY hoodie off too.

@Marc: There’s already a lot of political tension in the air. Please don’t feed the elephants.

Mad Marie

Lots of human standard people live with head dents. It’s not a superpower, just surprising.

KCkittysnores

All three of the jobs that we know Bubbles has had are ones that recently involve body parts being damaged/removed/replaced so I'm sure she's past that at this point.

tim1724

or someone using a winch on a wrecker or off-road vehicle...

Jason Zions

Heavy lifting is nothing to screw with; know the breaking strain of ropes/wires/chains and stay the hell out of whipping range if something breaks. Watch some "heavy equipment rescue" videos on YouTube; in the best ones, you'll see folks doing the math, and you'll definitely see people position themselves safely.

Jason Zions

or, an opportunity...

Marc Tabor

Marc, don't. Gendering people correctly should not be reserved for people you like any more than not calling them slurs should be

Fart Captor

It seems to really depend on the AI. Roko couldn't stand to look at her own foot being detached while May just saw her limbs falling off as more annoying than disconcerting.

C-Cubed

Am I the only person who feels it a little odd that Bubbles is so nonchalant about people playing with a robot body part? For some reason my brain decided to swamp out the robot/human roles and imagined some AIs standing around playing with the disembodied pelvis of a human and it was... disconcerting. I guess it's another example of the way that a lot of AIs have less of a personal emotional investment in their bodies than humans do.

Marc Kevin Hall

Bonding!

Bagge

Emmett is definitely going to be a regular in the shop. They've found their new happy place.

Ruth Merriam

omg this is so precious

Danielle Church

If Dented-Head-Joe isn't a robot, that implies the existent of super powered person in QC. I would personally like that.

J. Michael

Or a concrete saw, though that could damage the Emmett if done incorrectly.

William Cole

A QC fan riot would be something to behold.

KCkittysnores

I like using gender-neutral. I use it maliciously with conservatives. I keep saying they, they say "I am he/she" and I say, Oh, neutral is just easier for me, and keep going. It's fun because it uses their own argument against them.

Marc Tabor

I went to school with a guy who died from a similar accident, except it was a tow hook & not the bumper.

Jaysyn

Which goes to show that even if you *are* the lifting apparatus, safety remains paramount.

Comics Ladybird

The kind of AI innuendo which she knows is going straight over Emmett's head. Also over mine at first reading, to be honest :)

Stephen Wells

But isn't that being offensive to rocks, Alianfranta?

Joseph Bonnar

we take rocks to them?

allanfranta

Yep. Gender-neutral and safe. Well, except for certain people who could even take offense to a rock. But we don't care about them.

09Klr650

AI tank in the maintenance bay yelling "Oh yeah, grab me by that flange, baby".

Stephen Wells

Read back over last week and the very gradual progression as their face emerges over the course of multiple strips is beautifully handled, props to the artist, this is good comic.

Stephen Wells

And at least one ear!

Andrew

When in doubt I tend to use "they/them" for everyone

Sarah Peper

It's reading London for me.

Chris Crowther

Good point, William.

Joseph Bonnar

Sam has used “they” exclusively, so I’m gonna say they/them. If not, we’ll be gently corrected in the future.

William Karr

One thing I'd like to discover would be how Emmett identifies themselves. That way I could use appropriate pronouns.

Joseph Bonnar

Is Emmett Irish? "M'dad" instantly read with a brogue for me

Gordon Johnson

i love Emmett's hair! it looks so good on them!

Absentia

please. if Dented Head Joe ahd any relation to Bembo, the only thing that would have dented would have been the bumper

Absentia

didn't even need a pry bar this time!

LH

You win this round.

Onedavewreckingcrew

It hadn't been for Dented Head Joe, I'd be conscious a long time ago.

Tudza

now im wondering if dented head joe is a robot or just a really dumb dude with a dented skull.

Ashley Thomas

There's where it came from, where did it go? Where'n heck's my bumper Dented Head Joe?

James Anthony

After that adorable wink I'd feel less nervous too

Fart Captor

When you try to pull an Emmett out of their shell, you have to use the proper handholds.

Mad Marie

I love that bubbles is the one that emmet feels comfortable putting their hood down around

(1) Bubbles's wink in panel 3 + (2) Dented Head Joe + (3) Sam's reaction to the whole conversation = me, dead

William Cole

Gonna ship him with Barry…

William Cole

I was so-so on Emmett until this strip. I was bullied as a kid, and I carefully avoided saying anything at all, in fear of giving my antagonizers yet more ammunition to use against me. But even a word of tech/geek/science/nerd stuff and I'd leap out of hiding into full engagement mode. You've totally triggered me. Go Emmett, go!

BobC

Emmett is almost literally coming out of his/their shell.

OldGoat

That wink from bubs in panel three tho...that renewed my soul for at least the rest of the day.

Josh Moberly

Wow! Bubbles got Emmett to take their hood down! She must have made a good impression.

VoxOrbisBrad

... So heavy vehicles usually have hoisting and towing flanges welded onto strongpoints on the hull or frame. I'm just envisioning a tank with comfort grips dangling off the front.

Nutjob

Dented Head Joe is a distant descendant of Bembo. Also, I love everything about this strip. Emmett's slow emergence, Sam's expressions, Bubbles being Bubbles...

Hugh Eckert

That's the two things I want to know...

Hugh Eckert

I keep squealing after every Emmett appearance, oml

obw

Dented Head Joe appearance soon or we riot!!

HI EMMETT

Errol Lobo

Lol: "It depends on the tank." [wink wink] Sure, Bubbles has known a few AI tanks in her day. Hafta doubt she actually tried to pick up on one, tho.

Photon

I love how rapidly this community adopts another cinnamon roll. 😊

Dakhran

I hate this reference. Have a like.

R L

Where did you come from, where did you go? Where did you come from Dented Head Joe?

TV4Fun

Excuse you, we also have to kill God on our way out.

Robin

i've only had emmett for a week but if anything happens to them i'll kill everyone in this patreon and then myself

Jam Ussery

Awww cute lil theyby comin' outta their shell 🥺

Fart Captor

More than smart, socially awkward, shy. Oh, yeah. Last week you gave us the frame. Now you provide the picture

Todd Ellner

Question: do we have to increase our subscription level to see the Dented Head Joe bonus strips or were you already planning to have him make some QC cameos from time to time?

Bartley J Drood

Before anyone asks, the bull was a dick and he deserved it.

Yelling Bird

Omfg they're so bloody CUTE.

Lex

I never hit myself in the head with a bumper, but I did punch a bull in the face one time. It ended about as well as you'd imagine.

Yelling Bird

I've only known Emmett for 6 comics but I would defend them with my life

Molly Jean the Queen

Emmett has a striking resemblance to Willow

Chauncey

I like the way Emmet taking off the hood is used as visual shorthand for them coming out of their shell a bit. I didn't even think of it when I first read the strip.

Rob McBobson

We know where they come from, but not where they go

MikeT

HOLY MOLY EMMETT HAS TWO EYES

Nicolas Demers

After the bumper hit em, yes.

update: I love bubbles (still)

BeatButton

This “Dented Head Joe” feels like the sequel to “Cotton Eye Joe.”

Miyaa

BUBBLES <3

Tamara Macadam

I would die for Emmett

VampireJuicePouch

Well now we have to meet Dented Head Joe

Jaron Mortimer

Bubbles says, "Heck, I'm wearing a tank right now!" :D

Sean Kinlin

This is absolutely one of the best story arcs of the last year. #Emmett4Ever

Technoir

Bubbles on the same level as Emmett, a meeting of minds.

SpookyPenguin

It never stops, for me!

Grace Kieser

So is dented-head Joe an AI person or a meat person?

Martin Zarate

I'm 💯 with Sam 🧐🥰

Drazi

This is the second instance of a introverted human opening up to an AI. And both in the bodyshop.

Elberik

She was literally in her shell for ages until she & Faye finally banged. Then she switched to athleisure, as an AI does.

Pejo

Or maybe, just maybe, the turret of a tank

Ting

Bubbles understands shells, and how to get out of them.

Absynthe

oh dented head joe where do you come from where do you go

Ian Alexander

I love the wink in panel 3! Especially because it's the same wink Faye makes in panel 2 of yesterday's comic--she's rubbing off on Bubbles

Cute_Fuzzy

In my mind Dented Head Joe is definitely not a robot

Pejo

If it hadn't been for Dented Head Joe we'd be riding long time ago you can't lift that call for a tow You can't lift that Dented Head Joe.

Edward Clayton Andrews

Cotton Eyed Joe is now playing in my head, thanks 😡 😂

Stephen B.

Adorable

Sparky

The hood is down! Step one of ensuring the comfort of your new Canadian.

Anthony Gaglianese

Emmett ís precious and must be protected

dirtknight

Thanks for this 😊

totallySafeUsername

if it hadn't been for Dented Head Joe i'd been unditched a long time ago

LH

I'm pretty sure Bubbles has admitted to accidentally pulling the bumper off of a Jeep once.

JD

Bubbles pries open Emmet's shell ever so slightly. Good job, Bubbles.

Michael Boettger

Bumper to bumper brilliance in this conversation

Alan Wiggs

Where did he come from, where did he go...

Alex Thompson

Emmet' s all about the logistics.

Abreon or Abrea

Everyone has a "Joe" story

Michael

Awwww!

Spacey02111

I love Emmett so much

Nicholas Lopez

Bumper Head Joe, on the other hand, is a very different story

Ting

poor Joe, hope he can get a replacement chassis

Agnes