By Shaenon K. Garrity
Daily
Somehow, Madblood's pose in the first panel got really weirdly exaggerated. As readers commented at the time, he looks like Groucho Marx. I don't know what's up with that.
Also, I should have picked a more legible font for the computer. I went through several "computer" fonts over the course of Narbonic, usually because I upgraded Photoshop and lost all my old fonts.
This is one of those strips where "mad scientist" is code for "cartoonist." I did quite a few like that.
A Cosper (
queenofzan ) says:
Yeah, that "hazard" is nigh-unrecognizable. The rest of it is pretty good, though.
And "mad scientist" definitely equals "cartoonist" in my head. For more than one reason.
Rachel S. (
masamage ) says:
Yayyy, he is doing the Groucho walk. That's adorable.
The Auld Grump (
theauldgrump ) says:
Heh, I thought that the Groucho pose was deliberate.
The Auld Grump
James Rice (
jhrice ) says:
Question. At this point,did you know the rest of the story involving Dave and Lovelace? I know in these strips the AI is referred to as "Computer", but I sort of "hear" Lovelace, or at least a feminine personality, in the computer's voice.
Leon Arnott (
l ) says:
Friday:
I'm beginning to see the advantage of adding a minor character who does not have any physical form to depict. Though, Madblood should have arrested the growth of his AI's personality before it developed a Snark Subroutine and a Contempt Condition, which are classic warning signs of the onset of artificial depression.
Ed Gedeon (
eddurd ) says:
(TUNE: "Hooray For Captain Spaulding", Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby)
Hurrah for Lupin Madblood, Our planet's future master! Whose date ends in disaster! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
He's pausing his proposal To subjugate our race now; He's hoping to suck face now! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!
With great anticipation, He dreams of osculation Or even copulation! Hah hah!
Hurrah for Lupin Madblood! He's fast, but Helen's faster! In Helen's hands, his geeky glands Expose his fatal flaw! Hurrah ... hurrah ... hurrah!
Tiff Hudson (
tiff_hudson ) says:
Heh - "mad scientist" == "cartoonist"
I once set up MSWord's typo fixer (the one that automatically replaces "teh" with "the" when you mistype it) so that, when I typed "idiot", Word automatically replaced it with the equivalent noun "manager").
Dave Van Domelen (
dvandom ) says:
Of course he looks like Groucho. He came to say he must be going, after all.
Shaenon Garrity (
shaenongarrity ) says:
Question. At this point,did you know the rest of the story involving Dave and Lovelace?
I'll probably go into this later, but yeah.
So It Begins (
soitbegins ) says:
Heh. Heh. Heh.
Catherine Bascle (
mage_cat ) says:
The Groucho walk never bothered me, but every time I look at the last panel, it takes me a moment to tell that it's the moon landscape in the background. For some reason because of where its line goes to Madblood's neck it looks like a scarf caught in some Dramatic Wind or something. But then, my eyes like doing wierd things to me.
Paul Gadzikowski (
pgadzikowski ) says:
What's wrong with looking like Groucho Marx?!
Jon W. (
kd7sov ) says:
@Catherine: Presumably Madblood placed that window specifically so that he could pose in front of it and look like he had a dramatically-billowing cape.
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The Job Interview: July 31 - August 5, 2000
Enter Helen Narbon, With Gerbils
The Job Interview: August 7-12, 2000
Evil Coffee
The Job Interview: August 14-19, 2000
The Disturbing Palindrome Song of the Mutant Gerbils
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: August 21-26, 2000
Helen vs. Dave Barker, Round One
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: August 28 - September 2, 2000
Mutant Gerbil Mutterings as Class Resistance
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: September 4-9, 2000
The Love Theme from "Narbonic"
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: September 11-16, 2000
Results of the Name Dave Contest
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: September 18-23, 2000
Narbonic Posters!
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: September 25-30, 2000
Mell Kelly Paper Doll
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: October 2-7, 2000
Helen Narbon Paper Doll
ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: October 9-14, 2000
Dave Davenport Paper Doll
New Digs: October 16-21, 2000
A Sexy Bundle of Evil Lovin'
New Digs: October 23-28, 2000
The Art of Andrew Farago
Employee Brain Scans: October 30 - November 4, 2000
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter One.
Employee Brain Scans: November 6-11, 2000
Halloween Costumes!
Interview with the Mad Scientist: November 13-18, 2000
The Art of Tamara Fougner and Mee-Lise Robinson
Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: November 20-25, 2000
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Two.
Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: November 27 - December 2, 2000
Mr. T Vs. Narbonic
Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: December 4-9, 2000
Color Narbonic Posters
Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: December 11-16, 2000
The Dave Knight Returns
A Week of December 18 Story: December 18 - 23, 2000
Conclusion to "A Week of December 18 Story"
Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: December 25-30, 2000
Dave in Slumberland
Smart Gerbils: January 1-6, 2001
Intro to Farago Week
Farago Week: January 8-13, 2001
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Three.
Smart Gerbils: January 15-20, 2001
APE-Aid
Smart Gerbils: January 22-27, 2001
The First Annual Narbonic Haiku-Off
Smart Gerbils: January 29 - February 3, 2001
Valentines!
Smart Gerbils: February 5-10, 2001
Non-Con
Smart Gerbils: February 12-17, 2001
Sketches from APE
Smart Gerbils: February 19-24, 2001
Sunday of Shame
Smart Gerbils: February 26 - March 3, 2001
MSSGRM
Dr. Narbon: March 5-10, 2001
Dave and the Magic Shirt
Dr. Narbon: March 12-17, 2001
Helen Vs. Dave Barker, Round Two
Dr. Narbon: March 19-24, 2001
The Narbon Coat of Arms
Aaron Neathery's Guest Week-and-a-Half
Neathery Week-and-a-Half, Continued
Neathery Week-and-a-Half, Concluded
Dr. Narbon: April 5-7, 2001
Art from the Cartoon Art Museum Kids' Cartooning Class
Dr. Narbon: April 9-14, 2001
The Narbonic Diceless Roleplaying Game
Dr. Narbon: April 16-21, 2001
Gerbildance
Dr. Narbon: April 23-28, 2001
Stickers!
Dr. Narbon: April 30 - May 5, 2001
Shoulder Angels
Dr. Narbon: May 7-12, 2001
A Mother's Day Poem
Dr. Narbon: May 14-19, 2001
Dave Runner
Dr. Narbon: May 21-26, 2001
In Memory of Dave
Dave's Dead, Dave: May 28 - June 2, 2001
The Characters Recruit a New Cartoonist
Dave's Dead, Dave: June 4-9, 2001
The Cartoonist's Brother Graduates
Dave's Dead, Dave: June 11-16, 2001
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Four.
Dave's Dead, Dave: June 18-23, 2001
The Characters Strike
Dave's Dead, Dave: June 25-30, 2001
Intro to Guest Week
Guest Week: July 2-7, 2001
Guest Week Sunday: Andrew Farago
Mell's Major: July 9-14, 2001
A December Pinup in July
Mell's Major: July 16-21, 2001
Shaenon's Comic-Con 2001 Report
Get a Life: July 23-28, 2001
An Evil Cake Recipe
Get a Life: July 30 - August 4, 2001
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Five.
Get a Life: August 6-11, 2001
More Art from Andrew Farago
Get A Life: August 13-18, 2001
Studies in Internet Humor: Narbonic
Get A Life: August 20-25, 2001
Narbonic Movie Posters
Burning Gerbil: August 27 - September 1, 2001
The First Narbonic Summer T-Shirt Contest
Zombie Woof: September 3-8, 2001
The T-Shirt Contest Continues
Zombie Woof: September 10-15, 2001
The T-Shirt Contest Still Continues
Zombie Woof: September 17-22, 2001
The T-Shirt Contest Continues Some More
Zombie Woof: September 24-29, 2001
The Cartoonist Gushes About They Might Be Giants
Zombie Woof: October 1-6, 2001
The Art of Kisai, Martin Olsson, Orin J., and Tamara Fougner
Zombie Woof: October 8-13, 2001
Movie Posters
Zombie Woof: October 15-20, 2001
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Six.
Zombie Woof: October 22-27, 2001
Mello, Davo, and Hello
Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: October 29 - November 3, 2001
The Cartoonist Paints the Cartoon Art Museum
Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: November 5-10, 2001
Halloween Costumes!
Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: November 12-17, 2001
Random Artwork
Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: November 19-24, 2001
Posters! Again!
Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: November 26 - December 1, 2001
The Cartoon Art Museum Reopens
Gender Swap: December 3-8, 2001
G.I. and Narbonic Christmas
Gender Swap: December 10-15, 2001
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &co., Chapter Seven.
Gender Swap: December 17-22, 2001
Insanity Claus: A Christmas Storybook
Gender Swap: December 24-29, 2001
Dave in Slumberland
Gender Swap: December 31, 2001 - January 5, 2002
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co, Chapter Eight.
Gender Swap: January 7-12, 2002
Paper Artie
Gender Swap: January 14-19, 2002
The Art of Richard Powell and Jennifer Toal
Gender Swap: January 21-26, 2002
The Second Annual Narbonic Haiku-Off
Gender Swap: January 28 - February 2, 2002
Non-Haiku Runoff of the Haiku-Off
D-Con: February 4-9, 2002
APE Sketches, 2002
D-Con: February 11-16, 2002
The Cartoonist Explains Modern Tales
D-Con: February 18-23, 2002
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &Co., Chapter Nine.
D-Con: February 25 - March 2, 2002
The Cartoonist as Care Bear
D-Con: March 4-9, 2002
Spot the Non-Dave
D-Con: March 11-16, 2002
Results of the Spot the Non-Dave Contest
D-Con: March 18-23, 2002
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &Co., Chapter Ten.
D-Con: March 25-30, 2002
April Fools with Terrance Marks and Isabel Gonzalez
D-Con: April 1-6, 2002
The Hottie with the Gun: The Art of Dirk Tiede
D-Con: April 8-13, 2002
The Cartoonist Hits the Big Time
D-Con: April 15-20, 2002
Narbonic Sprite Theatre
D-Con: April 22-27, 2002
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 1
D-Con: April 29 - May 4, 2002
The Narbonic Caption Challenge
Island of the Ur-Gerbils: May 6-11, 2002
A Gerbil Named Artie
Island of the Ur-Gerbils: May 13-18, 2002
Results of the Narbonic Caption Contest
Island of the Ur-Gerbils: May 20-25, 2002
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 2
Island of the Ur-Gerbils: May 27 - June 1, 2002
The Caption Contest Sketches
Island of the Ur-Gerbils: June 3-8, 2002
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &Co., Chapter Eleven.
Mostly Modern Tales Guest Week
The Second Annual Narbonic Summer T-Shirt Contest
Triple Threat Guest Week
Farago Makes the Strip Popular
Grass Roots: June 24-29, 2002
The Cartoonist Gushes About Tom Hart
Grass Roots: July 1-6, 2002
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 3
Dave Vs. Dave: July 8-13, 2002
Renaming Dave Barker
Dave Vs. Dave: July 15-20, 2002
A Narbonic Coloring Book
Dave vs. Dave: July 22-27, 2002
The Naming of Daves
Dave Vs. Dave: July 29 - August 3, 2002
Narbonic Is Two Years Old!
Dave vs. Dave: August 5-10, 2002
The Art of Kerry, Ellen, Richard Powell, Chris Shadoian, and Dirk Tiede
Dave Vs. Dave: August 12-17, 2002
Dave Barker's New Title
Dave Vs. Dave: August 19-24, 2002
A Narbonic Coloring Book
David Cronenberg's The Geek: August 26-31, 2002
Mockup of the Narbonic Book Cover
David Cronenberg's The Geek: September 2-7, 2002
The Cartoonist Attends a Wedding
David Cronenberg's The Geek: September 9-14, 2002
Results of the Summer T-Shirt Contest
David Cronenberg's The Geek: September 16-21, 2002
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 4
David Cronenberg's The Geek: September 23-28, 2002
Spider-Goats!
David Cronenberg's The Geek: September 30 - October 5, 2002
A Narbonic Coloring Book
Mell Expelled: October 7-12, 2002
The Greatest Jack-O-Lantern Stencil EVER
Mell Expelled: October 14-19, 2002
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &Co., Chapter Twelve.
Class Reunion: October 21-26, 2002
Another T-Shirt Photo, Another Spider-Goat Song
Class Reunion: October 28 - November 2, 2002
Jack-O-Lanterns!
Class Reunion: November 4-9, 2002
The Cartoonist Loses a Bet
Class Reunion: November 11-16, 2002
Halloween Costumes!
Class Reunion: November 18-23, 2002
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 5
Class Reunion: November 25-30, 2002
A Narbonic Coloring Book
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: December 2-7, 2002
Near-Narbonic Experience
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: December 9-14, 2002
A Holiday Greeting Card
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: December 16-21, 2002
Awful Milkshakes: The Art of Allan Ecker, Mari Rose, Derek Kirk, and Jason Furness
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: December 23-28, 2002
Dave in Slumberland
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: December 30 - January 4, 2003
From the Narbonic Role-Playing Game: Mad Scientific Journals
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: January 6-11, 2003
A Brief Moment of Culture, Part 6
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: January 13-18, 2003
The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon &Co., Chapter Thirteen.
Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: January 20-25, 2003
Madblood Battle Anthems
You are here -- [Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: January 27 - February 1, 2003]
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