[7/22/11] Scroll (!!!)

[bridgetvoid]

i'm going to posit what might be a very unpopular opinion, but part of me is wondering is the lack of chemistry or even the confusion in Wed's strip about what was going on might be due to the art. I mean, Jason's done a great job and had (in my estimation) huge shoes to fill, but really in terms of subtlety and sensuality, Gis is irreplaceable. Just go look at the 2020 20 Pennies to see how much emotion and chemistry she managed to fit into the frame of Penny getting her feet rubbed. The shading, the eyes, everything was just -down- to the most miniscule element.

I love this comic, I've been reading it for years, but I do feel like EVERYTHING shifted with Gis's departure, and most specifically, the subtlety and the sensuality, which are kind of important elements of this story arch.

Part of me would have really loved to see Gis draw this stuff, same script, just to see if there would be a difference.

[IS_Wolf]

"You got that out of my system. Thanks. I think I can handle Duanilla, now."

Hee! I think Michelle might have something to say about that. Especially since she isn't Penny's yes-woman anymore. Fight! Fight!

Eh, she should be more worried about Charlotte, once she gets out of the joint.

bridgetvoid, do keep in mind that Jason may not be all there with his attention right now.
See the Faans page for today as to the why.

[neru]

i'm going to posit what might be a very unpopular opinion, but part of me is wondering is the lack of chemistry or even the confusion in Wed's strip about what was going on might be due to the art. I mean, Jason's done a great job and had (in my estimation) huge shoes to fill, but really in terms of subtlety and sensuality, Gis is irreplaceable. Just go look at the 2020 20 Pennies to see how much emotion and chemistry she managed to fit into the frame of Penny getting her feet rubbed. The shading, the eyes, everything was just -down- to the most miniscule element.

I love this comic, I've been reading it for years, but I do feel like EVERYTHING shifted with Gis's departure, and most specifically, the subtlety and the sensuality, which are kind of important elements of this story arch.

Part of me would have really loved to see Gis draw this stuff, same script, just to see if there would be a difference.

I have to agree. I do love the pairing, but the art is meh. And I get shivers reading the most average shoujo manga.

[JackFairy]

Posting for the first time for this o.o

Re: the lack of chemistry or whathaveyou

This made me think (way) back to my first time. It was more hyped up since we felt like we should be doing because everyone already thought we were - it wasn't planned out as a perfect night, it just sort of happened during some free time. And it was fine, but not mind numbing...and two virgins were left wondering if they did ok. That's exactly what I saw here. I don't think realistically most people are left speechless or incapable of thought after their first time, or even a first time with someone new or a new way.

Penny may have some experience feeling attractive and in control, but she still isn't screwing someone every night - she's had little experience in the bedroom and almost none with being out of control. Aggie has even less, so her trying to take some control in order to own a piece of the night also doesn't strike me as odd or out of character.

I get the confusion or lack of chemistry others have mentioned - I don't agree but I understand. However, for today's posting I think it's right on and it makes me have even more hope for them because they care about what the other may like or may want.

But the lack of chemistry isn't about being clumsy or awkward the first time. You can be fumbling, shy, uncertain and a little (or a lot) unsteady and you would STILL have chemistry out the wazoo. In the build up if not the act, but really, even the act itself, and definitely the afterglow--confusion and questions or no. For instance, if you've ever seen the movie The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love, that has a wonderful "first" scene that's just as hesitant and awkward as you expect a sexual encounter between two virgins to be, but the two characters have plenty of chemistry.

And personally my problem with the dearth of chemistry isn't simply the sex. It's the pairing as a whole. It's Aggie and Penny as a romantic coupling--in theory I feel it could work, but nothing I've seen so far on the page has seemed remotely convincing that there's anything real between them.

[Lia S]

Lack of chemistry? How about lack of physics! Aggie's right arm (left for us) seems to be in a rather Escherian position.

I'm not complaining, though. I'm not sure how I would (and will have to!) solve the don't-make-it-porn problem.

[Alice Macher]

I'm digging the art. Jason draws some niiice women. But, different strokes and all that.

Still not 100% on this new kinky turn Aggie's taken, but then it seems Penny may not be either. It's also possible to read this strip as Aggie herself doubting whether she took the right approach. Either or both ways, it makes me feel more at ease with the writing, more like it's an organic part of the story (regardless of whether the girls stick with that kind of play or not) and less like the kink's been imported from another comic, just to make the sex spicier.

[Smurgleburf]

i'm going to posit what might be a very unpopular opinion, but part of me is wondering is the lack of chemistry or even the confusion in Wed's strip about what was going on might be due to the art. I mean, Jason's done a great job and had (in my estimation) huge shoes to fill, but really in terms of subtlety and sensuality, Gis is irreplaceable. Just go look at the 2020 20 Pennies to see how much emotion and chemistry she managed to fit into the frame of Penny getting her feet rubbed. The shading, the eyes, everything was just -down- to the most miniscule element.

I love this comic, I've been reading it for years, but I do feel like EVERYTHING shifted with Gis's departure, and most specifically, the subtlety and the sensuality, which are kind of important elements of this story arch.

Part of me would have really loved to see Gis draw this stuff, same script, just to see if there would be a difference.

Completely and utterly 100% this. I think the comic changed a lot after Gis left, art wise and writing wise.

[nymosy]

imo, jason's art just doesn't have the kind of nuance that this story needs. it's straight-up cartoony, and situation-specific expressions generally look exactly the same from character to character, with minor variations for their individual design. add that to the weirdly plastic dialogue and you get Awkward Stew

(i made katy-ann's sneer my icon because it's one of the rare exceptions, and also because blinking faces are hilarious)

[Nerdybear]

I can honestly say I liked Penny/Rich more, hell, I was all for Stan/Penny at some point in time. They had some sort of chemistry, you know? Maybe it's the way P/A's relationship was developed that turns me off of this. I don't mean to disrespect Jason in any way, but it doesn't feel right anymore. Not to mention, Penny's face in the last couple of panels don't convince me of any sort of happiness with the situation. Not even a tiny smirk or something to show me that Penny is still there. To be fair, I will always love Bitch!Penny. I think they had better chemistry as enemies, not even, as whatever they were before they decided to get romantic.

[Bill_LR92]

Well I haven't post here for a while but I felt I should for this last update. First off I'd like to say I'm part of the seeming minority who actually feel the chemistry between Penny and Aggie. I was supprises by Aggies forcefulness at the beginning of this *cough* 'encounter', however I still find it to be part of the Aggie personality - she strikes me as someone who would try to find wha her partner wanted out of a 'encounter' and try to match that. Second is Penny's face in the last three frames - yes she looks worried but her expression during shows she enjoyed herself. I agree with an earlier statement about the possibility that Penny is worried she is changing Aggie. Wilst we don't know if Aggie told her about that worry I would guess she has.
And as a final thing Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! To this update =D bout time =D

[Terminally_Frosty]

I'm going to express my disappointment in little words.

Maybe i'm just being really whiny and immature about this whole thing but again, this is borderline fanfiction. To me, it looks like just an experiment for them both. I don't understand it. I don't see the romance or the chemistry between them. I feel like the only person who thinks so. smh

+1

[Christa-theman]

Hey everyone! Joining the ranks of the "haven't posted in a thousand or so years, but it's time." Because I finally have something to say.

I, like many others I'm sure, find my reaction colored by two important events in my past: personal experience... and another webcomic.

I had a partner for over a year who just didn't feel the way about me that I felt about him. He was one of my best friends, he was sweet and wonderful, and he was a loving, caring partner... But he wasn't IN love with me (and thus refused to actually make love. We messed around, but still, nothing too different from what's happening between P&A here). We were pretty open and honest with each other through most of it, but towards later months, after our "encounters," I'd look up at him and smile and he'd have this look on his face... Almost like, "I'm trying to be happy for you, I'm sorry for not loving you more." I tried to play it off, kind of like Aggie's doing, the difference being I had nothing to hide from myself. I'm completely honest about what's happening between us, I know it's heading somewhere bad fast. And, like Penny & Aggie... It's still happening, but heading towards the end, fast. And I can only hope we can at least still be friends when it finally ends.

Second. Anyone else read Friendly Hostility? Yeah... Wasn't expecting that AT ALL. And I was crushed when I found out exactly what happened. I feel like I'm at least more prepared for this to go south, but it'll still break my heart. I've been reading for a long while, and shipping since the beginning... I remember being confused when I read up to the current comic back then and Penny and Aggie weren't even anywhere close to being friends yet. Knew it was gonna happen eventually, felt their chemistry all the way. These last few weeks have been a little like a sad, beautiful dream. But I trust T. And you know what? Friendly Hostility hurting me the way it did... That's a sign of powerful writing. And I'm sure, good or bad or anywhere in-between, the ending of Penny & Aggie will affect me just as much. That's all I can really ask for in a good story. =]

[Terminally_Frosty]

I'm done, I think. If I read P&A to the end, I'll be reading out of a sense of obligation to the memory of a strip I used to like. The art has really, really suffered since Gisele left. I don't enjoy reading it anymore, and this most recent comic is the last straw. I've tried to be charitable, but Jason just isn't a good enough artist to carry the comic.

[katiuska]

I'm digging the art. Jason draws some niiice women. But, different strokes and all that.

Still not 100% on this new kinky turn Aggie's taken, but then it seems Penny may not be either. It's also possible to read this strip as Aggie herself doubting whether she took the right approach. Either or both ways, it makes me feel more at ease with the writing, more like it's an organic part of the story (regardless of whether the girls stick with that kind of play or not) and less like the kink's been imported from another comic, just to make the sex spicier.

Yeah, I've been in the "not feeling it" camp, so it helps mitigate the feeling of disconnect. I'm still not sure if I should be happy for them or not, because I don't have a good read on Penny--maybe she was afraid of hurting Aggie's feelings, maybe she's realizing that she doesn't want what she thought she wanted, maybe it's something else, or maybe she's just tired. Regardless, I hope Aggie listens to her instincts; it could just be jitters or it could be something more, but it is something they need to talk about.

[kern]

Personally I don't see the problem. I think the chemistry is intended to be a little conflicted -- the strip isn't setting up this P/A relationship as a star-crossed supercouple. They're supposed to be somewhat uncertain. Aggie tried an aggressive attack that she thought might please Penny but she wasn't sure, thus her questioning in this strip. They're trying to work out their relationship and how they feel about each other.

And I don't have a problem with the art. Yes, Gis was a "better" artist, but Jason is doing fine.