Equinomics

Bubbles is SUPER HOT gosh,,,

Diptych

No, I don't think so. His character development has been slow, but he's gone from "hating his life but doing nothing to change it" to "enjoying his life but not working to make it even better in the future", which is A: still progress and B: makes sense for his character.

Daryl Sawyer

Does Marten seem somewhat Flanderized, these days?

Shawn K. Younkin

You really have to wonder who wrote that...Brun or Elliot...

Shawn K. Younkin

::puff puff:: It IS pretty joyous... DOYOUHAVEANYCRACK????

Thisguy

I think you do continue naturally to gain experience. Problem is, around early to mid 20’s, most people find their comfort zone, and subconsciously put effort into staying in that zone. This usually means ignoring opportunities that come up, which require effort.

Joe

thank you!! not to mention that Faye has been gone for the total of a casual conversation - not a tremendous amount of time. everyone needs to let go their pearls ...

Joe

I love the look on Bubbles' face in the last panel. she is clearly restraining herself from grabbing him by the shoulders & shaking him. which is probably good for his continued health.

In Marten's defense, you do improve naturally over time all through childhood and adolescence, and, in some ways, right into your early 20s. All experience suggests that it will continue forever, and then it doesn't. One would think that Marten would have played guitar long enough to have hit a barrier that he couldn't get over without work. Maybe he is talented. Maybe he is complacent.

ysth

Pretzel! I was trying to read it as Pie Tart or something like that.

Manuel Schumacher

Yeah Marten, I wasn't happy when I found that out, either ...

Kuragari

Bubbles: -_-

Churchill (formerly TeaBear)

It might be from anybody else, but Not from Marten, no. ;)

Trigon Manthree

<a href="https://i.imgur.com/nveSI4D.jpg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://i.imgur.com/nveSI4D.jpg</a>

Chris Hull

NOTICE: Be nice to Elliot. :D

Lucanid Landman

Bubbles, I think I can say with near certainty that that's not sarcasm. And in retrospect, a lot of his behavior now makes a lot more sense.

A sheep

Twist, Faye leans about the joys of smoking crack

Captain Button

bacon -5 So the pay you to eat a bacon burger. Bad business model if you ask me.

Miyaa

15 years in comic series is probably, what, 3 years in actual passage of time in the comic? Maybe 4?

Jon Guyer

He would have to know himself

Evgeniy Semyonov

I don't quite get why everyone is freaking out about Faye. First, QC was never about cheap drama, and "Faye starts to drink again and fucks up her relationship and life in general" is the cheapest drama possible. Next, she already had one drinking accident (right before she met Bubbles) and Marten helped her get straight again. Faye and Bubbles are reasonable adults (albeit damaged) and care about each other a lot - they'll work through this situation should need arise. Lastly, they discussed exactly this situation beforehand, Bubbles can softly, but firmly restrain Faye from drinking, and I suppose she could detect Faye drinking from a mile away. Risk is minimal. I think it's not Faye's, but Marten's arc right now.

SpookyPenguin

I don't think Marten has a sarcastic bone in his body. It's his best feature :D

ysth

I suspect Jeph very intentionally garbed him in TEH for this

Considering the noise made in 3990, removing of pants at this stage might not be a good idea.

Benzy

Equanimosity

BobC

Wait. Was I just thinking about taking life advice from some pithy koan spoken by an AI in a web comic? Yes. Yes I was. But I got over it.

Chris Heg

He acts like he believes that. Hasn't changed much in the last 15 years.

ysth

Burger 1 cheese 16 bacon .5 ???

Seth Aaron Hershman has they she pronouns

Marten's definitely being sarcastic--he had a similar (but far more obviously facetious) reaction when Claire suggested he try to get closer to his mom's new family.

Chas Simmons

I've been thinking that.

Stoodmuffin

Oh, Marten. Sigh

Bagge

Hmmmmm. Tai still seems to be wearing pants. I don't trust it to last.

awgiedawgie

I read it as a cheeseburger is $1, and a bacon burger is $16. Apparently it comes with <i><b>A LOT</b></i> of bacon.

Miyaa

Ah, the sensation and sound when Marten gets hit by a clue by four.

awgiedawgie

Be nice to Elliot, and Elliot will be nice in return.

awgiedawgie

She went to the restroom to deal with a disagreeable burrito.

Ah, now I see the sign! I was wondering about the meaning of the footer comment...

Erin Hartshorn

Sign is unnecessary. Who *wouldn't* be nice to Elliot?

anyone else have a growing sense of dread for every day faye doesn’t appear?

R L

Where's Faye?

Bagge

"I would work to improve myself, but that's too much work."

Does that menu say a burger costs a buck, but cheese costs 16? That's some primo cheese!

Mordaeus

This explains so much

Brian

Having read the entirety of QC, I can say that i have no idea if that’s sarcasm or not.

the worst part is that its impossible to tell with him

Max D S

Oh Marten, never change. Wait...