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[PA Comic] Friday, October 18, 2013 - Tall Grass, Big Stakes

GethGeth LegionPerseus VeilRegistered User, Moderator, Penny Arcade Staff, Vanilla Staff vanilla
edited October 2013 in The Penny Arcade Hub
«13

Posts

  • likalarukulikalaruku Registered User regular
    Nope...Didn't like this one.

  • GoslingGosling Looking Up Soccer In Mongolia Right Now, Probably Watertown, WIRegistered User regular
    I will bet money* that that last panel had at least something to do with Maki's Trenches guest art yesterday.

    *179.80 Sao Tomean dobras**
    **that's one US penny***
    ***penny may have already been lost under couch cushions

    I have a new soccer blog The Minnow Tank. Reading it psychically kicks Sepp Blatter in the bean bag.
  • ZxerolZxerol for the smaller pieces, my shovel wouldn't do so i took off my boot and used my shoeRegistered User regular
    Good to know that Gabe is still the same sociopathic trainer from hell.

  • JAEFJAEF Unstoppably Bald Registered User regular
    This is so deliciously PA. And it doesn't even need newspost context! It feels like my favorite comic in a while but that might be because of the long forest adventure.

  • AnzekayAnzekay Registered User, Moderator mod
    I have never felt sorry for a Weedle until now *sniff*

    Those tears are just heartbreaking. Gabe is, as usual, a true monster.

  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    edited October 2013
    Big swing and a miss for me, personally.

    Brought the dark, forgot the humor.

    Edit: Also kind of odd in light of the most recent Pokemon letting you level affection with your pokemon by letting them and stuff and getting huge bonuses with the pokemon you do it with. More exp, more crits, ability to shrug off status effects and KOs, etc.

    Inquisitor on
  • Twenty SidedTwenty Sided Registered User regular
    edited October 2013
    Gabe, as the abusive trainer, is my favorite joke here.

    Twenty Sided on
  • PandabearcakesPandabearcakes Registered User regular
    Oh my god, that poor weedle :(

  • QuidQuid Definitely not a banana Registered User regular
    I love Gabe the poke trainer. I've got the last one as a print hanging in our den.

  • KalTorakKalTorak One way or another, they all end up in the Undercity.Registered User regular
    bahahahaha oh my god

    i will never not love Gabe the abusive trainer

  • darleysamdarleysam On my way to UKRegistered User regular
    Quid wrote: »
    I love Gabe the poke trainer. I've got the last one as a print hanging in our den.

    Appropriate avatar.

    I don't even play Pokemon and I think this is brilliantly dark.

    forumsig.png
  • DoomnetoDoomneto Registered User regular
    Hilarious.

  • Skull2185Skull2185 Registered User regular
    Gabe's the best pokemon trainer.

    Everyone has a price. Throw enough gold around and someone will risk disintegration.
  • RoeRoe Always to the East Registered User regular
    One of my new favorite comics.

    oHw5R0V.jpg
  • mjrusso45mjrusso45 Registered User regular
    OMG the teeth/nose close-up will haunt my dreams. Love this comic, and I don't like Pokemon.

  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

  • Dark Raven XDark Raven X Laugh hard, run fast, be kindRegistered User regular
    This is probably my fav Trainer Gabe strip so far. Though the Infernape Skeleton is also a contender.

    The worst is that he's a veteran, he fucking knows Weedle is gonna be crushed by a Pansear. He sent that bug out to die.

    Oh brilliant
  • JackdawGinJackdawGin Engineer New YorkRegistered User regular
    Don't worry Weedle, you can be in my pokemon party.

    Glad to see the return of Trainer Gabe, and the dark underbelly of pokemon battling.

  • TheCanManTheCanMan GT: Gasman122009 JerseyRegistered User regular
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    TheCanMan wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

  • Soul SanctumSoul Sanctum Registered User regular
    Well, in PAForums they say - that Gabe's small lips grew three sizes in the third panel that day.

  • wormspeakerwormspeaker Objectively Terrible Registered User regular
    Gaslight wrote: »
    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

    Do you find animal cruelty training simulators passed off as children's entertainment amusing? Because I do.

  • DelzhandDelzhand Registered User, Transition Team regular
    The vast majority of games are about resolving conflict with violence. Pokemon just uses animal proxies.

  • TasteticleTasteticle Registered User regular
    Gaslight wrote: »
    TheCanMan wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

    But animal cruelty is not the punch line, here

    This game (primarily made for children), rated E for everyone, has a cute veneer laid over top of absolutely horrific actions, if you look below the surface

    The joke here is Trainer Gabe is embracing what Pokemon actually is, and letting us laugh at the dichotomy, using the most obvious example as the context in which to present it


    Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
  • KoopahTroopahKoopahTroopah The koopas, the troopas. Philadelphia, PARegistered User regular
  • InquisitorInquisitor Registered User regular
    Tasteticle wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    TheCanMan wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

    But animal cruelty is not the punch line, here

    This game (primarily made for children), rated E for everyone, has a cute veneer laid over top of absolutely horrific actions, if you look below the surface

    The joke here is Trainer Gabe is embracing what Pokemon actually is, and letting us laugh at the dichotomy, using the most obvious example as the context in which to present it

    Not really. In the game pokemon faint, they don't die. And abandoning your pokemon in XY would be dumb because your spend hours training up their base stats and petting them and feeding them treats and playing games with them if you want them to be as strong as possible.

    Before trainer Gabe seemed more about being insane about making his pokemon the strongest in the world, taking the training aspects too extremely. This comic isn't about being the best or the strongest. It's about being a dick.

    Like, in XY your Weedle is not equivalent to any other Weedle. Because assuming you actually planned on using a Weedle you've spent hours super training and building affection with him.

  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Before trainer Gabe seemed more about being insane about making his pokemon the strongest in the world, taking the training aspects too extremely. This comic isn't about being the best or the strongest. It's about being a dick.

    Yeah before he seemed to be a sort of Pokemon drill sergeant personality, but in this comic he's more totally unfeeling/sadistic.

  • FandeathisFandeathis Registered User regular
    This is the kind of ultra dark humor that's been missing from PA lately. Love it!

    You fuck wit' Die Antwoord, you fuck wit' da army.
  • TasteticleTasteticle Registered User regular
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Tasteticle wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    TheCanMan wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

    But animal cruelty is not the punch line, here

    This game (primarily made for children), rated E for everyone, has a cute veneer laid over top of absolutely horrific actions, if you look below the surface

    The joke here is Trainer Gabe is embracing what Pokemon actually is, and letting us laugh at the dichotomy, using the most obvious example as the context in which to present it

    Not really. In the game pokemon faint, they don't die. And abandoning your pokemon in XY would be dumb because your spend hours training up their base stats and petting them and feeding them treats and playing games with them if you want them to be as strong as possible.

    Before trainer Gabe seemed more about being insane about making his pokemon the strongest in the world, taking the training aspects too extremely. This comic isn't about being the best or the strongest. It's about being a dick.

    Like, in XY your Weedle is not equivalent to any other Weedle. Because assuming you actually planned on using a Weedle you've spent hours super training and building affection with him.

    I think you are letting very specific game mechanics bog down the observation that Pokemon is an animal meat grinder hidden underneath a carefree, whimsical world.


    Uh-oh I accidentally deleted my signature. Uh-oh!!
  • TofystedethTofystedeth Registered User regular
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Tasteticle wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    TheCanMan wrote: »
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Did not enjoy this one. I've enjoyed the Pokemon games but this brings the problematic issues of animal cruelty inherent in them way too close to the surface.

    thatsthejoke.jpg

    I know. I just don't find animal cruelty amusing, personally.

    But animal cruelty is not the punch line, here

    This game (primarily made for children), rated E for everyone, has a cute veneer laid over top of absolutely horrific actions, if you look below the surface

    The joke here is Trainer Gabe is embracing what Pokemon actually is, and letting us laugh at the dichotomy, using the most obvious example as the context in which to present it

    Not really. In the game pokemon faint, they don't die. And abandoning your pokemon in XY would be dumb because your spend hours training up their base stats and petting them and feeding them treats and playing games with them if you want them to be as strong as possible.

    Before trainer Gabe seemed more about being insane about making his pokemon the strongest in the world, taking the training aspects too extremely. This comic isn't about being the best or the strongest. It's about being a dick.

    Like, in XY your Weedle is not equivalent to any other Weedle. Because assuming you actually planned on using a Weedle you've spent hours super training and building affection with him.

    Somehow I doubt Trainer Gabe spent much time building affection.

    steam_sig.png
  • DemobotDemobot Lemme buzz you in Registered User regular
    I laughed out loud at this one. Also, it reminded me of a strip I'd almost forgotten about:
    1205826250_xMbNa-L.jpg

  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    Demobot wrote: »
    I laughed out loud at this one. Also, it reminded me of a strip I'd almost forgotten about:
    1205826250_xMbNa-L.jpg

    I know people love Hipster Bootyshake Gabe in this comic, and it is outstanding, but my favorite part will always by Tycho's expression and posture in the third panel.

  • JurgJurg In a TeacupRegistered User regular
    edited October 2013
    Gaslight wrote: »
    Inquisitor wrote: »
    Before trainer Gabe seemed more about being insane about making his pokemon the strongest in the world, taking the training aspects too extremely. This comic isn't about being the best or the strongest. It's about being a dick.

    Yeah before he seemed to be a sort of Pokemon drill sergeant personality, but in this comic he's more totally unfeeling/sadistic.

    This is still in the abusive training realm. He's saying that he's going to do all these things, and it's implied that he will do them unless the Weedle "mans up".

    This Weedle still has the opportunity to beg for his life, and show that he IS different.

    Jurg on
    sig.gif
  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    Gabe did a newspost with links to all his favorite Pokemon-related comics through the years. Amusingly, he mentions that with the new 3D character models and animations in X/Y, he almost feels bad watching the 'mons faint.

  • LovelyLovely Registered User regular
    While I ussually like evil-trainer-Gabe, I'm not a huge fan of the exagerated-ugly style this comic uses for panel three.

    ...Granted, I still miss the days where the characters had straight teeth, but that's me just bein' picky.

    sig.gif
  • miaAusamiaAusa GOD Gamer Of Daters ValhallaRegistered User regular
    It is really cute to see Gabrial in a trainer outfit, poor weedle though, but your right we haven't seen this dark humor in a bit, it's a bit dark but it is funny, I'm loving all the pokemon comics that are coming out i need more money for pokemon y

  • miaAusamiaAusa GOD Gamer Of Daters ValhallaRegistered User regular
    edited October 2013
    eep double post ignore :c

    miaAusa on
  • TravanTravan Registered User regular
    Psycho Trainer Gabe, in top form as ever.

    Can you still run your own eugenics program, culling the unfit in pursuit of the UberMonsch this gen?

    Gamertag- Travan7838


  • Viktor WaltersViktor Walters Registered User regular
    edited October 2013
    Tasteticle wrote: »
    I think you are letting very specific game mechanics bog down the observation that Pokemon is an animal meat grinder hidden underneath a carefree, whimsical world.

    Interestingly, this sort of observation is increasingly out-dated since the last three sets of Pokemon games (including this one) specifically discuss that problem and the problem of the sustainability of modern life. X&Y's plot has more in common with Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs than the earlier, less self-aware games.
    Basically, in the new game, humanity had a war 3,000 years ago where people used Pokemon as weapons on a massive scale. In order to stop it, a certain King used a magical weapon he built to suck the life out of the participating Pokemon and stop the war through overwhelming cruelty. Now the cycle has come back around. People are increasingly using Pokemon for fighting, stealing, etc- which causes the main villain to want to use the weapon again to wipe out most of humanity (outside of those he can control) and all Pokemon. Because Pokemon are too beautiful for this horrible world.

    edit: It should be noted that the above doesn't apply to the actual comic itself. I found it pretty funny, especially considering I am currently trying to breed a Shiny Eevee because I've never seen a Shiny before ever and I just want to once and everytime I hatch a normal Eevee I feel shame and hatred.

    Viktor Walters on
  • Niceguyeddie616Niceguyeddie616 All you feed me is PUFFINS! I need NOURISHMENT!Registered User regular
    I love psycho trainer Gabe

    I wonder if Gabe cared that Arceus was introduced in D/P as the Pokegod. I would have loved to see a comic where he goes up against it with no shirt and Pokeballs chained to his wrists like Kratos.

    But I'll settle for Full Metal Pokemon

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