Horns Are Showing 2014-12-29

[lake_wrangler]

Here I was expecting someone to make a comment about Paul's decision to turn the strip into a satyr.

I guess it didn't pan out.

(Drops a copy of Disney's Hercules in the Pun Vault.)

Just as long as you don't mistakenly drop it in the pan vault...

Drops a dictionary of homonyms into the pun jar.

[Dave]

So definitely not Jacob, even if he is a minotaur (which I don't think he is, I might add...)

Since Jacob is now rather obligated to explain his nature to Atsali, we'll know the answer in sixty seconds or so (Wapsiverse time).

[lake_wrangler]

So definitely not Jacob, even if he is a minotaur (which I don't think he is, I might add...)

Since Jacob is now rather obligated to explain his nature to Atsali, we'll know the answer in sixty seconds or so (Wapsiverse time).

So, sometime before the end of 2015, then?

[Sgt. Howard]

Good work, Paul- I don't think I have EVER seen such an explosion of commentary over one day's cartoon in such a short period of time as this example gives us. Perfect timing- had the lot of us fermenting over the weekend what Jacob might be, who is in on the plot and whatnot... AND WE STILL ARE NOT CERTAIN!!! Is he Minotaur, Faun or Satyr? Hell, for all I know right now he might just be a young Texas Longhorn.

Nicely done-

[cmdrpowers]

Just a couple of thoughts- Is it possible that Jacob is a Gargoyle? A lot of them have horns like that and the sharply angled features might fit. My other thought is a bit more hesitant. I noticed that Randi is a full-figured gal. Is it remotely (without, dear Lord please, offending her) possible that she might be expecting?

[Dr. Otter]

Just a moment! Horns, timid with women, and reluctant about dating?

Oh my gosh! He's a Cuckold!

Oh boy, that'll go great with a Sirenubus.

[Dr. Otter]

I noticed that Randi is a full-figured gal.

She's actually quite slim. You're just mistaking her udder for a paunch.

[cmdrpowers]

I noticed that Randi is a full-figured gal.

She's actually quite slim. You're just mistaking her udder for a paunch.

Woah! You think so? I thought I was making a wierd/bad enough assumption as it is (visions of being slapped for 'congratulating' a heavy-set woman for her upcoming 'blessing').

So, what's worse? Assuming someone might be pregnant because they are 'full-figured' (with all the insult that implies) or assuming since she's a Pan/goat person that she has an udder?

I might have put my foot in it, but either way it will make for a verrry interesting story.

[Amethyst Shadow]

He does give horny a whole new meaning and look doesn't he. I am thinking demon or satyr.

Satyr most likely.

And if that's the case, a Siren and a Satyr... good luck keeping those two from tearing each other apart if they do start dating. Heck, it will take some serious work just to keep them from jumping each other when they are in each other's presence.

Only way it would be worse is if he were an incubus

Edit: Also, judging by her reaction, I'm not sure Atsali was aware he was a paranormal. Either that or something about his horns being out is seriously affecting her beyond just normal "cute guy I am interested in is talking to/has his attention on me" nervousness.

[TazManiac]

An observation I forgot to mention;

Jacob just asked
the Magic 8-Ball
a Question...

[Catawampus]

It was obvious he was paranormal... now just what is he?

Dazed and confused?

Now, what has Horns?

Jackalopes.

Or things from family Phallaceae. He could be a really fun guy.

I thought it was stated that was a coffee shop for mundanes.

Maybe that's the majority of their clientele? (Even at Tina's?)

Are we sure the existence of paranormals is a secret in the Wapsiverse?

Phix goes on about it all the time.

It's a coffee shop that is open to the general public, not a secret coffee shop exclusively open to paranormals who know about it. Thus why Nadette called it "a human coffee shop" (either that, or she meant that they "serve mankind" in the worst possible meaning of the term, though I doubt that). While some of the workers, and perhaps even the owners, are paranormals, it would have many ordinary human patrons. After all, it would be difficult to exclude any humans from a public shop without giving away the fact that there is something odd going on.

We've seen the cast trying to keep things secret at Tina's, too, on occasion, and the MiB had to close down to the general public the entire mall for a day to let the paranormals shop in peace. And both of those places are explicitly run by paranormals or those friendly to paranormals.

Yeah... it's an inherently unstable situation. As you and others have pointed out, maintaining ignorance/unawareness in a large population, in the Internet age of rapid communication and heavy interest in "fringe" phenomena, must be a huge challenge and a constant fire-fighting job.

The Internet is flooded with photos and videos of paranormal entities, cryptids, aliens, and all that. How many frightened angry mobs armed with torches and pitchforks do you see charging around to get them?

I wouldn't put it past the MiB to have actually encouraged the sharing of online information as a cover for accidentally-exposed paranormals. By constantly exposing us to fake (or what we thing are fake) information, we might miss the few genuine cases amongst all of the chaff. The only people likely to believe that the images are true are those who already believe in such things.

Bad idea. Jacob's horns can be written off as a trick of the light and/or his hair misbehaving. Atsali's wings are rather more conspicuous.

"Wow, nice feathered cloak you're wearing! Is it custom-made?"

Since Jacob is now rather obligated to explain his nature to Atsali, we'll know the answer in sixty seconds or so (Wapsiverse time).

They likely already know just what they each are, from going to school together. Everybody there seems to know what everybody else is. Even with Atsali being uncomfortable telling people that she is a siren, other students seemed to be aware of it. Perhaps the school makes species public knowledge to other students during classmate introductions: "Hello, my name is Bob, and I'm a Chupacabra". It might even be a safety measure, so that students are aware of unexpected dangers from other students ("Best not throw that water-balloon at Stacie; she's a sodium elemental!").

[Atomic]

I noticed that Randi is a full-figured gal.

She's actually quite slim. You're just mistaking her udder for a paunch.

Look again. Paunch, loose apron, or one in the oven? Time will tell...

[AnotherFairportfan]

If he is a Minotaur, and I'm not saying he is, then they may have already met in the library as Atsali flew down the hallway with Kathrine. The blew past a minotaur that said "What was that momma?"

Actually, he asked "Mama, why were those girls acting like that?"

minotaurs have a bad reputation where women are concerned...

[AnotherFairportfan]

In the northern part of metropolitan Seattle there is a small chain of very large supermarkets called Central Market. Their seafood section is about the size of most big-city supermarkets' entire meat section, their olive bar the size of most restaurant salad bars, their salad bar comparable to vegetable departments, they have more varieties of cheese than most specialty cheese shops...

I now officially hate you, like i hate my friends in New Orleans who live within bicycle distance of the French Market...

[AnotherFairportfan]

So definitely not Jacob, even if he is a minotaur (which I don't think he is, I might add...)

Since Jacob is now rather obligated to explain his nature to Atsali, we'll know the answer in sixty seconds or so (Wapsiverse time).

About Epiphany.

Next year.

If we have to depend on two shy walking hormone factories with a crush to reveal it.

[Warrl]

I wouldn't put it past the MiB to have actually encouraged the sharing of online information as a cover for accidentally-exposed paranormals. By constantly exposing us to fake (or what we thing are fake) information, we might miss the few genuine cases amongst all of the chaff. The only people likely to believe that the images are true are those who already believe in such things.

In another comic, the agency responsible for (among other things) spreading misinformation about magic, shapeshifting multi-species mutants, and aliens (some of whom are actually natives) is referred to as "DGB".

Which stands for Dad's Government Business, because the father of one of the major characters is a fairly high ranking guy in the agency.

[Gyrrakavian]

It was obvious he was paranormal... now just what is he?

I'm guessing faun (satyrs don't have horns and are strictly male) or manticore.

Or to make things more awkward/interesting, an incubus.

[Gyrrakavian]

He does give horny a whole new meaning and look doesn't he. I am thinking demon or satyr.

Fauns have horns, satyrs don't.

[Gyrrakavian]

ASAP, go find you a Native American family, and ask them for a fry bread recipe. One of the best things to go with some stew on a cold Winter's day, a hot piece of fry bread.

Fry bread is one of the few things you can eat that makes doughnuts look like health food in comparison. Like most comfort food, it's horribly bad for you.

Yeah, but unlike some comfort foods (*EDIT*collared greens), it actually tastes good.

If you want to try some that's a bit healthier, halibut tongue dipped in pancake batter and fried. Yes it sounds weird, but it DOES taste good. It's a thing in Norway. Though, oddly enough, I was introduced to it by some Korean neighbors.

[Gyrrakavian]

From Nadettes and Randi's comments their families have know each other for awhile. This suggests a Native American connection. Styar's are not in that traditions. This makes it much more likely Jacob is also a morph type for a different animal. From the horns I'm guessing Bull. Demon is out as they do not go to school or normally leave their person. Satyr is possible but they mainly are Greek, or roman, connection and the horns curl. Incubus is possible but I think unlikely as they don't have horns, or I don't think they do.

So this is a set up. Now we know what the snerk was for.

The Roman version, faun, is the one with horns. The Greek version is actually part horse, not goat/ram like the Roman version.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there a Kachina mask with horns?
I know it's not complete, but it's one of the better compilations of Native American mythological beings that I've found.
http://www.native-languages.org/legends-animals.htm