“How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 42
Panel four of this page is one of my favorite panels in the entire comic. I’m not totally sure why.
Also, speed lines? Have got to be the easiest background in the world to draw.
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50 Responses to ““How Mirka Got Her Sword,” Page 42”
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Panel four is great. It totally conveys Mirka’s response without depicting her at all.
Has it occured to you that the entire plan isn’t very good?
That’s not my understanding of contract law. For a valid contract there needs to be a meeting of minds. Moreover one can only contract to perform lawful actions, which would preclude killing her at least, and possibly eating her.
It’s also debatable whether a troll is a legal person capable of being a party to a contract. Finally she’s under the age of majority and so cannot be a party to a binding contract.
Panel four is great. It totally conveys Mirka’s response without depicting her at all.
Has it occured to you that the entire plan isn’t very good?
That’s not my understanding of contract law. For a valid contract there needs to be a meeting of minds. Moreover one can only contract to perform lawful actions, which would preclude killing her at least, and possibly eating her.
It’s also debatable whether a troll is a legal person capable of being a party to a contract. Finally she’s under the age of majority and so cannot be a party to a binding contract.
I agree panel four is the most expressive, but the last panel set me to giggling. Thanks for a great start to my day! 🙂
I agree panel four is the most expressive, but the last panel set me to giggling. Thanks for a great start to my day! 🙂
Funny…and creeping at the same time! good work, as always!
Funny…and creeping at the same time! good work, as always!
I agree with Daran, my first thought when I read the last panel was, “Waait a second, no it doesn’t!”
I love how he says it all with a straight face. I imagine this perfect snooty accent, you know? The butler, or something, and then he just – picks her up! Like she doesn’t weight anything. I predict in the next panel she calms down somewhat and starts trying to outsmart him.
And Daran, don’t jump all over my prediction, okay? I’m just having fun. ^_~
I agree with Daran, my first thought when I read the last panel was, “Waait a second, no it doesn’t!”
I love how he says it all with a straight face. I imagine this perfect snooty accent, you know? The butler, or something, and then he just – picks her up! Like she doesn’t weight anything. I predict in the next panel she calms down somewhat and starts trying to outsmart him.
And Daran, don’t jump all over my prediction, okay? I’m just having fun. ^_~
PS: I love how innocent she is in panel 2. “I have to make you breakfast?” Sometimes when we read a comic (or draw one) and we know what it actually means, it’s hard to remember that the character is only twelve and she might not understand. I think it’s the little details like that which make this such a wonderful comic to read.
PS: I love how innocent she is in panel 2. “I have to make you breakfast?” Sometimes when we read a comic (or draw one) and we know what it actually means, it’s hard to remember that the character is only twelve and she might not understand. I think it’s the little details like that which make this such a wonderful comic to read.
Panel 4 is definitely my favorite panel of the comic, possibly my all time favorite single panel of any cartoon anywhere. I’m not quite sure why either, but it’s simply brilliant.
Panel 4 is definitely my favorite panel of the comic, possibly my all time favorite single panel of any cartoon anywhere. I’m not quite sure why either, but it’s simply brilliant.
I recommend sourdough, not rye. Rye is better with hamsters. 😀
I recommend sourdough, not rye. Rye is better with hamsters. 😀
As for contracts, I agree with the troll. Mirka indicated her willingness to be involved in this competition when she attacked the troll; questioning it first would have been a more prudent approach. The fact that she’s just now getting around to reading the fine print in no way voids the contract’s validity. Furthermore, who gets to decide what is ‘lawful’? She’s dealing with a supernatural creature, and therefore a whole different set of laws. (Yes, I do enjoy playing Devil’s Advocate. Why do you ask?)
As for contracts, I agree with the troll. Mirka indicated her willingness to be involved in this competition when she attacked the troll; questioning it first would have been a more prudent approach. The fact that she’s just now getting around to reading the fine print in no way voids the contract’s validity. Furthermore, who gets to decide what is ‘lawful’? She’s dealing with a supernatural creature, and therefore a whole different set of laws. (Yes, I do enjoy playing Devil’s Advocate. Why do you ask?)
May I argue back at you, in a friendly way?
Mirka, as far as I know, didn’t know she was going in for a *contract*. I don’t think she even knew this was a troll, at first, let alone *the* troll. And she wants to be a hero, not a lawyer. And she’s 12 years old.
Imagine, if you will, that you’re twelve years old. If you were told, “The troll has the sword. Get the sword and you can kill dragons,” would you start thinking, “Oh, and I probably need to negotiate first”? No, you’d probably think, “Get sword. Got it. Troll’s not going to be too happy about that. Ergo, get rid of troll.” Except, since you’re 12 years old in this scenario, you probably wouldn’t use the word ‘ergo’. My point is, contractual law is not even on Mirka’s list of things to think about.
And now the ultimate test… did that make sense?
May I argue back at you, in a friendly way?
Mirka, as far as I know, didn’t know she was going in for a *contract*. I don’t think she even knew this was a troll, at first, let alone *the* troll. And she wants to be a hero, not a lawyer. And she’s 12 years old.
Imagine, if you will, that you’re twelve years old. If you were told, “The troll has the sword. Get the sword and you can kill dragons,” would you start thinking, “Oh, and I probably need to negotiate first”? No, you’d probably think, “Get sword. Got it. Troll’s not going to be too happy about that. Ergo, get rid of troll.” Except, since you’re 12 years old in this scenario, you probably wouldn’t use the word ‘ergo’. My point is, contractual law is not even on Mirka’s list of things to think about.
And now the ultimate test… did that make sense?
Two things I want to point out, without taking a side in the debate:
1) Mirka is 11, not 12.
2) I am enjoying reading this thread SO much! 🙂
Thanks!
Two things I want to point out, without taking a side in the debate:
1) Mirka is 11, not 12.
2) I am enjoying reading this thread SO much! 🙂
Thanks!
This post about unconcionable contract terms would appear to be relevant to the discussion. Where in the world is Hereville anyway? If in the US, in which State, as this would be a matter of State law?
This post about unconcionable contract terms would appear to be relevant to the discussion. Where in the world is Hereville anyway? If in the US, in which State, as this would be a matter of State law?
It would be if both parties were cognizant of the contract and capable of making informed decisions, but Mirka’s 11, unknowing, and lacking a written document spelling out the terms. There wasn’t even a spoken agreement. If she was old enough, she might be able to remember this and pull out under the claim that there was never a bargain (the troll is assuming), but she’s eleven.
I think she should stall until daybreak, when the troll will disappear in a puff of smoke and woolen fibers! ^_^
It would be if both parties were cognizant of the contract and capable of making informed decisions, but Mirka’s 11, unknowing, and lacking a written document spelling out the terms. There wasn’t even a spoken agreement. If she was old enough, she might be able to remember this and pull out under the claim that there was never a bargain (the troll is assuming), but she’s eleven.
I think she should stall until daybreak, when the troll will disappear in a puff of smoke and woolen fibers! ^_^
Why would I do that?
I agree with your prediction. She’s going to have get her wits about her sooner or later, if she doesn’t want to end up as breakfast.
I note that it has been dark for a long while now. Also there’s a very bright star just above the horizon in panel 4. It’s to bright to be a proper star, or any planet other than Venus. It must be the morning star. Dawn cannot be far off.
I think she’ll attempt a Gandalf, and try to engage the troll in argument to delay the resolution of the knitting contest until sun-up. That was one of Fruma’s suggestions. Also the witch said that she would only find the troll at night, suggesting that the troll might not be able to stand sunlight.
I think she’ll try it. I do not think this will work.
Why would I do that?
I agree with your prediction. She’s going to have get her wits about her sooner or later, if she doesn’t want to end up as breakfast.
I note that it has been dark for a long while now. Also there’s a very bright star just above the horizon in panel 4. It’s to bright to be a proper star, or any planet other than Venus. It must be the morning star. Dawn cannot be far off.
I think she’ll attempt a Gandalf, and try to engage the troll in argument to delay the resolution of the knitting contest until sun-up. That was one of Fruma’s suggestions. Also the witch said that she would only find the troll at night, suggesting that the troll might not be able to stand sunlight.
I think she’ll try it. I do not think this will work.
I have no clue why everyone took the troll’s statement in the last panel so literally – I imagine he is making a joke! After all, he’s the mythical bad guy she has to defeat, and as long as she’s in his power, he can make the rules and there’s nothing anyone can do about it! It has nothing to do with actual laws or contracts, the point is that he’s go the power so he makes the rules, so it’s a binding contract if he says it’s a binding contract, right? I mean, can someone explain to me why everyone else seems to have interpreted that so literally??
I have no clue why everyone took the troll’s statement in the last panel so literally – I imagine he is making a joke! After all, he’s the mythical bad guy she has to defeat, and as long as she’s in his power, he can make the rules and there’s nothing anyone can do about it! It has nothing to do with actual laws or contracts, the point is that he’s go the power so he makes the rules, so it’s a binding contract if he says it’s a binding contract, right? I mean, can someone explain to me why everyone else seems to have interpreted that so literally??
Yochva-
Of course it makes sense. (and yes, I’m all too happy to have friendly arguments. there are so few people who can participate in them without becoming UNfriendly.) However, I don’t see how Mirka’s age or expectations have any bearing on her entering into an agreement (whether or not she intended to) to participate in the troll’s contest. She attacked, thus effectively challenging the troll. Eleven years old or not, Mirka can’t have imagined the troll was just going to lay down and die, yes? Would her age or expectations have had a bearing had the troll simply decided to fight back physically? Of course not, Mirka attacked first. But the troll is engaging in a more controlled retalliation, that of making her take it’s challenge. How is that any different?
Yochva-
Of course it makes sense. (and yes, I’m all too happy to have friendly arguments. there are so few people who can participate in them without becoming UNfriendly.) However, I don’t see how Mirka’s age or expectations have any bearing on her entering into an agreement (whether or not she intended to) to participate in the troll’s contest. She attacked, thus effectively challenging the troll. Eleven years old or not, Mirka can’t have imagined the troll was just going to lay down and die, yes? Would her age or expectations have had a bearing had the troll simply decided to fight back physically? Of course not, Mirka attacked first. But the troll is engaging in a more controlled retalliation, that of making her take it’s challenge. How is that any different?
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This is actually a little tough for me, because in a general sense, I agree with you. I think what I think is that if Mirka knew more about trolls, she’d probably handle it differently. Remember, this is a shtetl-like community – I doubt there’s much childhood education about trolls and the general rules of behavior therein like there is in secular homes. Chassidishe children might know how to deal with a dibbuk, a spirit, or the Yetzer Harah, the Evil Temptation, but not a flesh and blood creature.
I don’t know what direction you’re coming from in this discussion (seeing as how I’m not you), but I just want to lay it out there that I’m talking about this as if it’s a hypothetical situation. Of course the troll is in charge and he does set the rules, and he can say whatever he wants. But I also think that if Mirka knew a bit about contract law, this could go differently, and I wonder how it would go. Is it possible she might know about it? If so, how much; if not, what would that do to the situation? Basically, it’s filling in the holes of a backstory and making the tapestry more complete in my mind.
I still think that it’s underhanded of the troll to talk right over top of her (of course, it is his nature), and not explaining it all at once. If he wasn’t an evil creature, he’d allow Mirka a second chance to either leave or knowingly bind the contract. But he is an evil creature.
This is actually a little tough for me, because in a general sense, I agree with you. I think what I think is that if Mirka knew more about trolls, she’d probably handle it differently. Remember, this is a shtetl-like community – I doubt there’s much childhood education about trolls and the general rules of behavior therein like there is in secular homes. Chassidishe children might know how to deal with a dibbuk, a spirit, or the Yetzer Harah, the Evil Temptation, but not a flesh and blood creature.
I don’t know what direction you’re coming from in this discussion (seeing as how I’m not you), but I just want to lay it out there that I’m talking about this as if it’s a hypothetical situation. Of course the troll is in charge and he does set the rules, and he can say whatever he wants. But I also think that if Mirka knew a bit about contract law, this could go differently, and I wonder how it would go. Is it possible she might know about it? If so, how much; if not, what would that do to the situation? Basically, it’s filling in the holes of a backstory and making the tapestry more complete in my mind.
I still think that it’s underhanded of the troll to talk right over top of her (of course, it is his nature), and not explaining it all at once. If he wasn’t an evil creature, he’d allow Mirka a second chance to either leave or knowingly bind the contract. But he is an evil creature.
This is true, and being an evil Troll, yes, he (she? I keep getting the feeling the troll is female) gets to make all the rules, fair or not. I doubt Mirka knows anything about contract law, although most children about her age learn not to start a fight unless you’re willing to finish it. If, say, Mirka’s father were a lawyer and she DID know a bit about contract law… that would make a very interesting twist in the story!
This is true, and being an evil Troll, yes, he (she? I keep getting the feeling the troll is female) gets to make all the rules, fair or not. I doubt Mirka knows anything about contract law, although most children about her age learn not to start a fight unless you’re willing to finish it. If, say, Mirka’s father were a lawyer and she DID know a bit about contract law… that would make a very interesting twist in the story!
Barry is too skillful a storyteller to do that as an asspull.. If it was important to the plot that Mirka’s father was a lawyer, then he’d have told us by now, just as he told us, many times, how important knitting was to the plot
Barry is too skillful a storyteller to do that as an asspull.. If it was important to the plot that Mirka’s father was a lawyer, then he’d have told us by now, just as he told us, many times, how important knitting was to the plot
I’m loving — absolutely loving — the battle of wits. And while contracts made at swordpoint are rarely enforceable in a court of law, one suspects the troll will not be suing Mirka to enforce it.
(Is the troll female? I’m thinking of her as one, though I like that it’s a bit ambiguous.)
(Also, I love “runrunrunrunrun”…. priceless.)
I’m loving — absolutely loving — the battle of wits. And while contracts made at swordpoint are rarely enforceable in a court of law, one suspects the troll will not be suing Mirka to enforce it.
(Is the troll female? I’m thinking of her as one, though I like that it’s a bit ambiguous.)
(Also, I love “runrunrunrunrun”…. priceless.)
Is the troll female? I’m thinking of her as one, though I like that it’s a bit ambiguous.
It’s a troll. Do trolls even have gender? If so, are their genders the same as human genders? It appears to be unclothed and I don’t see any signs of primary sexual characteristics (not that I’d expect to in a story meant to be read by children as well as adults, but if Barry wanted the troll to be clearly one gender he’d probably have put pants on it and let people assume that something was under them.)
Is the troll female? I’m thinking of her as one, though I like that it’s a bit ambiguous.
It’s a troll. Do trolls even have gender? If so, are their genders the same as human genders? It appears to be unclothed and I don’t see any signs of primary sexual characteristics (not that I’d expect to in a story meant to be read by children as well as adults, but if Barry wanted the troll to be clearly one gender he’d probably have put pants on it and let people assume that something was under them.)
It’s a troll. Do trolls even have gender?
Very good point. Maybe they don’t! At any rate, as I said, I like that it’s not clear — the troll’s a bit more “alien” than we usually see them portrayed, and I like that take on it.
It’s a troll. Do trolls even have gender?
Very good point. Maybe they don’t! At any rate, as I said, I like that it’s not clear — the troll’s a bit more “alien” than we usually see them portrayed, and I like that take on it.
Yup. This is definently my new favorite webcomic. Cause there’s yiddish. And dragons (eventually).
Yup. This is definently my new favorite webcomic. Cause there’s yiddish. And dragons (eventually).
I think it’s either a really manly lady troll (it has stubble…) or else a really effeminate man troll (it has stubble, a handbag, and it knits.) Whatever gender it is, it really creeps me out. It’s like a teletubby (tinkywinky to be precise) gone horribly horribly horribly wrong.
I think it’s either a really manly lady troll (it has stubble…) or else a really effeminate man troll (it has stubble, a handbag, and it knits.) Whatever gender it is, it really creeps me out. It’s like a teletubby (tinkywinky to be precise) gone horribly horribly horribly wrong.
Actually, looking at it’s face again, I can see a marked resemblance to Helen Clark (current Prime Minister of NZ). Mirka’s screwed.
Actually, looking at it’s face again, I can see a marked resemblance to Helen Clark (current Prime Minister of NZ). Mirka’s screwed.