[02/07/07]Knife...

[EMO SAMURAI]

The bad man stabbed to the right of the skateboarder's heart, right, mommy? Mommy?

[Magick Lorelai]

I think that what happened to Stan was that his hero was just badly hurt. His immortal, on-a-pedestal Hero was just STABBED, and needs help. He's now shown to be human, which can be a shock to ANYONE to see. I think Stan's one of the two people whose life is changed forever in this storyline, because it's hard to see a hero in the same light after something like this.

[Ollie]

But yeah, this is showing a lot more of the two characters. Nice to see Jack is coming into his own here.

I've always been given the impression that Jack is the smarter of the two (Jack and Stan). There are two reasonably well-known quotes for this:

"A wise man speaks because he has something to say. A fool speaks because he has to say something."

"It is better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."

Stan is lucky enough to have the right words most of the time, but sometimes it almost seems like he feels obligated to speak and comes across as one of those loudmouths I knew in high school. After a while, they just become irksome.

[I knew only one person who was the exception to this, and is probably the most inspirational teenager I've ever met. We graduated together (last month!) and I left him a long note in his yearbook. ]

[Trogus]

I just realized...why the hell isn't he calling the police?!

Because there's something more important to do?

[Davidj]

I just realized...why the hell isn't he calling the police?!

When you call 911 to report a stabbing, police and ambulance are dispatched. However, I am a little puzzled by the address. That looks entirely like a school gymnasium to me. So wouldn't he give the school's name?

[Mistress Dizzy]

I don't think this is a school- there would have been some sort of adult intervention by now. But there's absolutely nothing. Maybe this is some sort of private shindig.

That- or those teachers are the worst chaperones of all time. >_>

[Aris Katsaris]

I think that what happened to Stan was that his hero was just badly hurt. His immortal, on-a-pedestal Hero was just STABBED, and needs help. He's now shown to be human, which can be a shock to ANYONE to see. I think Stan's one of the two people whose life is changed forever in this storyline, because it's hard to see a hero in the same light after something like this.

Hmph. I'm a bit skeptical of this explanation. Judging from my own experience on crushes, your crush getting *hurt* doesn't diminish the crush. If anything it's the opposite, if you start thinking they need you now to be there for them.

Stan is certainly in shock over this, but I don't see why it should diminish Rich in his eyes. It's been a while (roughly 2,5 millenia or so) since heroes were meant to be actually invulnerable. Since the advent of Christianity at least, heroes getting martyrically hurt only increases the perceived heroism.

But I guess this all depends on Stan's personality itself.

[Ollie]

Aris, I don't think it works like that for Stan's hero worship. Rich is everything manly-man: he's slick with the ladies without even trying, he's buff, he's good-looking, he's talented, he's a badass... he can take on anyone.

Of course, that last one won't stick when he faints from a stab wound. Anyone else get the feeling he fainted from the shock of seeing the wound rather than from the injury itself?

[ann]

Three points:

1)I don't think this is a school dance. There's been no sign of any adults around at all. Maybe it's different in the US (maybe you have better school dances?), but where I live we only really went to school dances when we were about 12 - by the time we were this age nobody would be seen dead at a school dance and people organised their own parties.

2)The archive description says "you might not notice two lives changing forever until it's too late". If Rich dies or Sara comes out or crazy kid goes to prison, people are going to notice. That's not to say these things can't happen, but I don't think they are what the tagline refers to. Something more subtle is going on.

3)Anyone remember this?

I live in Virginia.

Some of my brother's friends go to Virginia Tech.

...

I've been thinking that maybe I should do something about this as a comics writer. Go out there, take photos, do interviews, see if I can shed a little insight. It's a five-hour drive from where I am, and I worry that such activity might come off as exploitation. But still.

I'm mulling.

Or this?

Believe me, though: today's strip is not a sign of where P&A is going. At best, it's a very warped reflection of the series-altering installment I'm really worried about, which will take place a little while after "Dinner For Six." That one worries me like a knife in my gut. You'll know it when you see it.

Pun intended?

[Ollie]

Considering it's a live band and not a DJ, my guess would be that this is a small rock concert.

[Greasealease]

We now know Jack's last name : Bauer

[Black Mantha]

But this looks a lot like a school hallway, certainly not a club.

Also, just what is the damage? It's serious enough to make Rich pass out, but I still can't imagine that that knife could be thrust through the sternum. Maybe Rich just fainted?

[adamiani]

I just realized...why the hell isn't he calling the police?!

When you call 911 to report a stabbing, police and ambulance are dispatched. However, I am a little puzzled by the address. That looks entirely like a school gymnasium to me. So wouldn't he give the school's name?

Perhaps for the same reason the Simpsons never reveal what state Springfield is in? Do we actually know the name of the school?

I wonder if this is linked to the Charlie-Brown-like absence of teachers.

[Magick Lorelai]

Hmph. I'm a bit skeptical of this explanation. Judging from my own experience on crushes, your crush getting *hurt* doesn't diminish the crush. If anything it's the opposite, if you start thinking they need you now to be there for them.

Stan is certainly in shock over this, but I don't see why it should diminish Rich in his eyes. It's been a while (roughly 2,5 millenia or so) since heroes were meant to be actually invulnerable. Since the advent of Christianity at least, heroes getting martyrically hurt only increases the perceived heroism.

But I guess this all depends on Stan's personality itself.

Since long before the Advent of Christianity, considering that Greek Mythology and their ideals have similar stories of people exploding at the death of loved ones. Before that, ancient Mesopotamian stories have epic stories with the same thing; loved ones and friends dying, and heroes rising to the occasion. Christianity is such a recent development in human history. :3 Just sayin'.

But a crush is different from Hero Worship. Stan may have a little of both, but his mental picture of Rich is this untouchable hero, a God on a Platform, undefeatable. Seeing him defeated, in a weak position, contrasts with his view of who Rich is so much, it's got him shocked into inaction. Also, I agree, I think this is also indicative of Stan's nature.

[elvencellist]

I don't think this is a school- there would have been some sort of adult intervention by now. But there's absolutely nothing. Maybe this is some sort of private shindig.

That- or those teachers are the worst chaperones of all time. >_>

I'm kinda worried that it's 24 and 1/2? Weird address. Oh well on that location, though.

And on the 911 note, you call the number and they do the dispatching of whomever is needed. Then they try to keep you calm and make sure the victim[s] are getting proper treatment while you wait.
It's quite amazing, really.


I hope Rich comes out ok...