I have always been ambivalent about Cole. He's not a terribly interesting character, and the "divorce" storyline, which had potential to reveal hidden depths, just made me angry.
Now, Cole has revealed himself to be such a dorknozzle (Old Wounds) that we find out he's been holding a grudge based on an imagined slight for years. It's just another example of lazy writing (SK: "Asshole." FSM: "Right, right...").
Why, in heaven's name, did it have to be like that? Would it have been so difficult to write it in such a way that she actually was was an old girlfriend, who just happened to start hanging out with Max after she broke up with Cole? That's an imagined slight that's believable.
(On a completely separate note, and I'm withholding judgment on this, but if this turns out to be a "look, we haz a gay now" storyline, I'm going to be pissed.)
So, Cole's an idiot, and were these real people, the level of hatred he holds for Max about an ex-non-girlfriend would clearly reflect on the state of his marriage in some way. (What ever happened with that? Oh yeah, nothing.)
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26 comments:
Well, even if Max does come out of the closet, it's not like it would be inconsistent with established character development or anything. I mean, Max has never hit on any females in the strip before, and certainly has not kissed the current Mrs. Jade Fontaine Sierra.
Oh, wait...
What about Brent? Brent also makes out that he dislikes Max, and even he was surprised about Cole's grudge.
I prefer to think that they both just dislike the cheerful-to-the-point-of-apparent-phoniness type of person Max is and the imagined slight just strengthened this dislike in Cole. Perhaps Cole also clung to the memory so as to avoid admitting to himself that his dislike is largely irrational.
I don't feel any of this history is necessary or desirable though. Perhaps this is similar to what other people felt about the WWF storyline. Next up: the unexpected origin of the ambulance featured in the "whee-oo whee-oo" running gag.
Speaking of running gags, it must be ages since "damn you Max Powers" was last used.
Ooh! Ooh! More fun picking on the current storyline:
http://www.pvponline.com/2005/09/04/sun-sep-04/
Well, I guess he must not be very good at it, then.
That classic strip actually makes perfect sense to me. Max had tons of girls in his room all the time and the guys just figured he was hitting it where they actually were just being "girlfriends". If Coles old flame was very friendly with Max he could have mis-read the action, maybe saw her leaving his room late at night and assumed the worse. Who is to say, let the strip play out I guess.
Too many Matthews. Great. Time to come up with a new identity for me (I'm the one from the first and third comments, not the fourth).
Quit bogarting the thread Matthew!
The fact that Cole is such a whiny, self-absorbed prick only strengthens Websnark's contention that Max Powers is the good guy of the strip.
I don't think this is supposed to be the main point to the joke. At least, I hope it isn't.
The whole, "surprise, I'm gay!" has been done so often these last 15 years, it's just no big deal.
And, Max didn't say it. For all we know, she could have been black and Max is a racist. Or, he doesn't care for Cole Richard's cast-offs. (I know, wishful thinking, right?)
My only steadfast critique is that SK shouldn't have left the weekend to hang on such a "so what?..." moment. Although it does remind me of his not-too-recent attempt to aire his personal views on teen-aged sex. If this is supposed to be a pop-culture strip, could it not be an 80's pop-culture strip? Most of the target audience didn't even see "Back to the Future" in theaters...
I didn't see it as a "Surprise...I'm Gay!" item. They have hinted for ages about it. Most noteably when Miranda keeps trying to grab his 'attention' and Max shows no interest at all, and then when she kisses him, he shows no excitement and simply says "You're Fired!" (Ostensibly for crossing a workplace boundry. Namely that you do not just go stick your tongue down your bosses throat...unless your boss is Angelina Jolie...but I digress)
Really this strip just confirms what we behind the 4th wall have always suspected...
All issues with the writing aside (which I actually disagree with FSM on) is anyone else LOVING Max's visual revamp?
Compare the last few strips to: http://www.pvponline.com/2005/09/03/sat-sep-03/
The all the graphic shorthands are still there (square jaw, pointy nose, swooshy hair) but fleshed out and and brought out of that perpetual 3/4's view. I haven't been this happy with a style change since Brent's mouth migrated north.
"For all we know, she could have been black and Max is a racist."
Didn't Google "flaxen" like I did huh?
In the last year their has been an exemplary example of someone who thinks he knows everything. He has scolded two 19 year olds who have known each other for years and love each other in practicing sae sex. He scolded those same teenagers and threatened to lock them up for not picking obaba. Now he's be angry at a gay man for "taking" a woman he never dated. Combinie that with his immature history with dealing with his marital problems and you have a winning combination.
The 2008 douche of the year: Cole Richards!
Despite my protests above about what Cole has become if handled right this change can be interesting. I do like that art change with MAx as its cleaner and less jagged lines. WE'll see again how the gay things goes and hopefully Francis' catchphrades dosen't make an appearance.
@rook543a
We behind the 4th wall may have suspected it, but, obviously, Cole just got it. Which is where my comment is relevant.
@ Chris L
Why would I?
And queue the motorcycle over the shark..
Yep boys I think its time to call this one finished. We now have the blind black guy, a gay guy, next week we introduce the plucky nine year old girl cousin into the office.
Maybe ten years is just too long for something like this.
@TheOriginalJes
B'cuz... Knowledge is power?
Gimme a break, I'm a bibliophile. I read Erin McKean's blog for godsakes.
@Tim
Maybe Ann(archy) from PA can intern and become a regular cast member.
I just recently noticed the title of PVP has changed to "A webcomic about pop culture heroes."
I'll let that speak for itself.
@ Chris - (a side note) your avatar looks like a guy I know, Lundy. Would you happen to be from TR?
Hmm. Today's (Monday's) comic makes me think that just maybe this storyline is going to be more clever than I originally assumed.
Oh well. Probably not.
I'm trying to grasp the bridge between Friday's comic, and today's. So, Max made the statement...Cole says 'oh' and then what? They just turned around and walked away? How can they NOT be clear on what happened...
Also, if this is your idea of taking the story in a clever direction, I would have hated to see the comic you were worried about. Cole and Brent arguing about which of them Max Powers was 'gay' for is only slightly less juvenile then having them shout 'penis!' at each other and giggle.
Nah, but.. in writing? If there's no dead body, there's no death.
I haven't seen Max saying "I'M A FAG, COLE, A HOOOOMO." and Brent and Cole just said "well he didnt say it but it was p. clear" so.. the signs point towards a coming out party with Max just going to say "What? no she was fat" or something.
So...I know the phraseology is a little awkward for it, but what if SK's setting it up for wacky hijinks as we discover that Christine was a lesbian instead?...
@ Djagir
That was my initial understanding of the strip. You’re right, in order for that to be his intended meaning (which I’m pretty sure that’s how it’s going to turn out), Max should have said that he wasn’t her type. Of course, this is Max we’re talking about, so it could be argued that in any given phrase he’d speak it in terms of himself.
*ding* Justification complete!
The point of today's comic is that Cole and Brent are arguing for the gay love of Max. (for those of you who missed it.
And...I get the feeling this arc is over.
ARGH.
"Came out to Brent and ME!" ME ME ME.
You would not say "he came out to I," you'd say "he came out to me." It is no different when you have an addition object.
Freakin' illiterates.
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