^ 51 Comments...

1. zaraya
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:04 pm

   Does Sandra believe, or think Zona is a hoax? Only time will tell.

   -Z

2. JED
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:06 pm

   okay. It’s up. And no, I don’t have flu. Just a regular chest cold. No colorful horks, just lots of coughing. And thank you all very much for your concern and your suggestions. I hope by the end of the long weekend I will feel better.

3. Karyl
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:25 pm

   Hooray to see this, and hopefully you will indeed feel brand spankin’ new by Monday!

4. Karyl
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:28 pm

   Also, even if Sandra has the nerve to think this is a hoax, she won’t be in a hurry to test the theory–Zona’s a little large for calling out on a guess.

5. ICWT
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:38 pm

   Have Fun Storming the Castle !

6. alurker
   January 19th, 2013 at 9:58 pm

   Oh damn, that’s awkward. Don’t you hate it when your giant amazonian girlfriend gushes and sings your praises in front of your sister? So embarrassing when that happens.

7. sFCRetired
   January 19th, 2013 at 10:16 pm

   What I love is the expression on Sandra’s face in the last panel!! Priceless!!

8. vladdraquulia
   January 19th, 2013 at 10:16 pm

   Hmmm everybody is wierded out in this one. Zona’s wierded cause she didn’t know Mentl had a sister and she didn’t ask so she’s trying too hard to be friendly and singing Mentl’s praises. Sandra is wierded cause here’s this Giant Blond woman who claims to be Mentl’s Girlfriend and is playing into the crazy story that her brother told her and Mentl is wierded cause his sister and his Girlfriend are both wiered out ….sort of like a threeway train wreck.

9. Local Yokel
   January 19th, 2013 at 10:38 pm

   Hey Inigo, I hope we win.

10. Balkin
    January 19th, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    I love Mentl’s last lines… Okay, Umm… Really summed up the whole conversation for me! lol

11. Prairie Son
    January 19th, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    SFC: Yeah, I think that’s the picture in the dictionary next to ‘gobsmacked’.

12. Wally
    January 20th, 2013 at 12:02 am

    About now Tula calls…
    Mentl to Sandra: ‘It’s Zona’s sister, Tula.’
    Sandra: ‘She has a sister…?’ (Brain overload… faints)

13. Mac Cashman
    January 20th, 2013 at 12:20 am

    Love Sandra’s expression in the last panel

14. Mace
    January 20th, 2013 at 12:52 am

    Oh yes. That’s a ‘WTF’ look if ever I’ve seen one.

15. ExPaladin
    January 20th, 2013 at 2:18 am

    I almost didn’t notice the cat jumping down from her shoulder.

16. Jean
    January 20th, 2013 at 2:41 am

    I think it’s sweet that Zona is slightly flustered, yet clearly trying to fit into Mentl’s world, or at least what she’s learned so far of the culture. She did once compare him to the people of Normos, the Kivalians, that he seemed to fit in so well with their much more thoroughly clothed ways, et cetera…so it’s clear she’s trying to fit in here, particularly in the face of his fully dressed sister…

    …As usual, JED, you’ve left me wanting more! But do NOT stress yourself over it. The fact you got this up in spite of that horrid cough is far more than any of us expected or could have asked. (My advise, get a humidifier and pump steam into whatever room you’re in. You’ll be able to breathe palpably easier once the air is rich/thick with moisture. It works for me, and I’ve been suffering from chronic bronchitis for almost 23 years now, nearly every damned cold. Walgreens sells a really good quiet one, worth every penny.

17. JustMe
    January 20th, 2013 at 3:37 am

    And now Sandy starts to second guess every thing sye ever thought Mentl made up since kindergarden.

    Sorry Sandy, but Mentl never acrually met Batman and Wonderwoman.

18. Teri
    January 20th, 2013 at 4:42 am

    That was so…adorable. Zona is so cute and gushy and everything. I laughed heartily and can relate. I think I did something ike this when I first met an old boyfriend’s father…

    Except I was fully dressed.

19. Lora
    January 20th, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Hahaha! Oh Zona. It’s so cute the way she gets flustered, starts to say how much she loves Mentl, what a great man he is, and suddenly thinks she needs to be differently dressed for talking with Sandra.
    If I were Mentl I’d be slightly embarrassed too by Zona’s high praise. And Sandra’s expression is priceless.

20. EmmaC
    January 20th, 2013 at 10:03 am

    Mouhahaha…. ‘nough said….

21. DoctorZuber
    January 20th, 2013 at 10:56 am

    Ah yes. One of the many conversations that never happened. Because it couldn’t. Because really, honestly, how do you explain to your sister/friend/whatever that you went away to a magical fantasy land and fell in love with an amazon princess? How do you explain that in a way that doesn’t get you placed in a little room with padded walls?

    Simple. You don’t.

    So when that same princess shows up on your doorstep, suddenly you have a heck of a lot of explaining to do.

22. ICWT
    January 20th, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    Well … technically, Z hasn’t done anything fantasyland worthy yet. The only things about her Sandy couldn’t find with a little effort in Ell-Lay is 1) She’s ginormous and naturally muscled, not body-builder cut. 2) She’s totally unaffected by her own body, not seeing it as a weapon of a handicap 3) Her skin has clearly rarely seen makeup and 4) Her accent and personal space is ‘other’. Best (in context) guess for Sandy is a backwoods Canadian Norski hybrid who was raised as a naturist.

    Now, if Sandy was seriously paying attention, she’d notice that Zona is, unlike Vito’s beloved dancer Cate, NOT all legs. She is in fact, a contradiction: a super-tall mesomorph (with boobs). All somatotypic theory says a female mesomorph should be 8 inches shorter or more, or a woman 6-6 should be slender, with medium or small frame and tiny breasts, or a tall, brawny woman that height should be slow, thick and fat.

    I used to run a 7-eleven in Silicon Valley near a training camp for the Stanford women’s volleyball team. None of them then were 6″6′ but there were some serious goddesses dropping by for munchies after practice, For comparative reference the last US Olympic team averages well above 6 foot with one lass at 6-seven.

23. Jean
    January 20th, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    I also noticed out the kitty-cat is accompanying Zona back out of the foyer/entry hall. Seems she’s made a new feline friend!

24. Prester Fred
    January 20th, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    Am I the only one here who thinks that “you never asked” is kind of…jerky? Just a little bit?

    Heck, something as simple as “Sandra and I weren’t getting along when I met you, but things are better between us now” would cover the basics. “You never asked,” whether Mentl/Michael means it to or not, carries a subtext of “it’s your fault you didn’t know,” and I didn’t like that Zona just apologized like that instead of calling him on it.

    That aside, though, I loved this scene. Really brought home something important, which is that (her physique notwithstanding) Zona is not a goddess — she’s a living, breathing woman, just as capable of fluster and insecurity as anyone (and I suspect that one of the reasons she loves Mentl is that he’s one of the few men she’s ever met who can make her feel girly).

25. tentagil
    January 20th, 2013 at 3:39 pm

    Keep in mind that at that moment he’s also extremely flustered. His siste is there unexpectedly, his Girlfriend who she doesn’t believe in is there, its not a meeting he was prepared for and his brain essentially went into auto as he’s trying to figure out how to respond to it all. Notice how little he says throughout the whole thing, and the way he’s scratching his head and looking bewildered. He’s not being a jerk, he just couldn’t think of anything else to say.

26. John Savard
    January 20th, 2013 at 4:16 pm

    We don’t have to believe that you’re at death’s door for us to say that we’re OK if the comic is a bit late. Our sense of perspective is so keen that we’re even willing to say that over just a plain old chest cold.

27. ICWT
    January 20th, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Oy! I just remembered what Zona is about to go put on. Should be quite a contrast for Sandy with the blushing 48 triple extra-long cuddly teddy bear that just floated out. Or did Nan sell her an extra outfit and transferred it to Mentl’s VW in the parking lot of the When-House? OTOH, Tula is definitely in last night’s clothes and also left by car and she’s a lot easier of a fit than Zona.

28. Mikey Likes It
    January 20th, 2013 at 5:37 pm

    Yes Sandra, that looser brother you grew up with really is Gandolf the White and those Fairytales he’s been telling are a very toned down version of what actually happened. Attitude adjustment in 5,4,3,2…

29. Wookie
    January 20th, 2013 at 11:08 pm

    So Michael is a Levi….that explains so many things!

    Hope you are feeling better!

30. Midnightwolf
    January 21st, 2013 at 12:02 am

    Ok, I’m thinking Sandra is about to use Vizzini’s favorite word: Inconceivable!!

31. JE Draft
    January 21st, 2013 at 1:18 am

    Yes. Mentl is a Levite. This was for a couple of very important reasons.

    ONE: My dearest, sainted wonderful Eve Levy is the adopted Jewish Grandmother of my life. There is nothing I would not do or name in all of my life or work to honor her beloved memory. Seriously. If any of you envy me for anything (and trust me, there’s not a WHOLE lot to envy about my RL life) it is knowing and being loved by Eve Levy. Her life of nearly 98 years of love, service, amazing patience, faith, and unselfish giving to EVERYONE and ANYONE who would take it from her - and even those who wouldn’t - is a testament to the best of the soul of humanity. Eve Levy rocks the house, even after she left this Earth. She is my Yiddishe Mama, my Bubbe and was, even when a San Bernardino Protestant boy didn’t know what the word meant. May her memory never die. And she was so cute and loving - trust me, you could just plotz.

    SECOND: The Levites are a special tribe in Judaism. They are a mystic tribe, and set aside for the “tent and the sanctuary” and other things. So. Purty cool, eh?

    

32. randomnessincarnate
    January 21st, 2013 at 1:37 am

    I just noticed mentle in the background when zona was talking to sandra. Just such a nice touch.

33. Elihion
    January 21st, 2013 at 2:25 am

    Jed… ‘Just a cold’…. put me in Accident/Emergency for 4 days with
    ‘Post Viral Bronchiospasm’ last weekend. Don’t ignore it my friend.

    See a doctor. get cortico-steroids, inhalers, nebulisers, or whatever is
    recommended, and use them. Trust me.

    Eli.

34. JE Draft
    January 21st, 2013 at 4:16 am

    @Elihion (and other well-meaning and wonderful friends) I do not take it lightly. If I am not significantly better by tomorrow, Mr. MD will hear from me.

    Warmest possible regards,

    JED

35. sFCRetired
    January 21st, 2013 at 7:19 am

    The Children of Israel, as I understand it, have a term for Gentiles who go above and beyond “doing what is right”. It is “Righteous Gentile”. It is a crying shame that we Gentiles have no similar term for Jewish people like your Eve Levy. Yes, I’ve known a few like that myself. They are very special people.

36. vrwhammer
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:15 am

    Where did that truck come from?
    Best wishes and get well!

37. Fred
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:23 am

    Yup - she’s from another plane of reality all right!

38. Cherub Laws
    January 21st, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Wookie said

    So Michael is a Levi….that explains so many things!

    I’m glad that Jed cleared that up, because you last name is not necessarily your tribe.I’ve know Levy’s that were in the Cohen tribe and vice versa. By coincidence I am a Levi whose tribe is Levi as well.

39. Ga'Tor
    January 21st, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    Y’know, I’m a frim believer that if one does not learn something new every day, then that is a day wasted. This is another reason why I find “Zona” so interesting , especially the comments section. While having Jewish in-laws and a Jewish half-sister, never knew the signifigance of the Levi or Cohen names. Been doing an bit of research over the weekend, fascinating, especially the Y-chromosome research of the Levites. Still scratching my head over the liniage and what it takes to be a ‘legitimate’ Levite. I always thaought that Judaic linage was strictly matrilineal… Going to be interesting to see how JED wraps this into the storyline.
    Speaking of which, JED drops hints that Mentl pretty much filled Sandra in on his adventures in Erogenia and gives the impression that she thinks her brother is pretty much delusional or is stringing her along with a goofball story. One can almost see the wheels turning in her head following the logical progression that “Gevalt! His fantasy girlfriend really exists so does that mean those ridiculous stories he’s been telling are actually true?” Of course she may also be thinking that Mentl found a Venice Beach body builder to jerk her around even more. Sandra’s expression in the last panel is priceless.

40. Sleepymancer/oddcodicologist
    January 21st, 2013 at 2:47 pm

    Yep. classic moment, nice to make something we could never experience (assuming the world is pretty much how it seems to be :p ) completely relatable! well done JED!!!

    Oh, I have two names because I can’t remember which one I used to use here. worlds collide, hey?
    @ DoctorZuber - don’t forget that since Mentl went to Erogenia, as far as i am aware, he also no longer lies, ever. Like True Thomas but without the magical binding, I guess…

    

41. ICWT
    January 21st, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    Ga’Tor,

    One of the things that happens to women past a certain point of bodybuilding is “shrinkage” which has clearly not happened here. Also, Zona’s callus patterns are in places a martial artist would recognize but not a body-builder or GLOW. Not too mention that is skin that has never known tanning oils,

42. David
    January 21st, 2013 at 6:32 pm

    Hey, do you need the family chicken soup remedy?

43. Jamendithas
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    Lol Perfect quote for this page! XD

44. Prairie Son
    January 21st, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    You used to go by Oddcodicologist. I remember because we made a lot of strange fish jokes.

    @Fred–I think Mentl’s point is that he didn’t lie to Zona. She didn’t ask. Lie by omission, to be technical about it, but Zona isn’t overly philosophical.

45. Ga'Tor
    January 22nd, 2013 at 2:43 am

    @ICWR, Well yeah I understand that. BUT, would Sandra? She is ‘in the moment’ and I doubt that she would be considering things such as a body builders muscle to fat ratio regarding Zona’s … ‘Chesticles’, umm ‘Breasticles’ ummm…aw frack it!, BIG TITS. Also, ya really think Sandra’s looking at Zona’s calluses?

46. ICWT
    January 22nd, 2013 at 6:42 am

    GT, Pedanticism is its own reward. Why, because nobody else will.

47. calisto
    January 22nd, 2013 at 8:50 am

    @Ga’tor hey man I don’t know about you but I couldn’t stop staring at her calluses, that’s me, the kind of guy that really likes a nice set of calluses on a girl…>cough<

48. Deris
    January 22nd, 2013 at 10:13 am

    A lie by omission, not. I’ve been married 19 years and there’s stuff in my past my wife still doesn’t know about. After 19 years she does know I have a sister though. But I never felt the need to sit down with her and tell her my life story. It comes out as it comes out. Also if I found myself in a strange world most of my conversation would be info gathering about the new place so, I’m sure he wasn’t ‘holding back’ info, it just never came up.

    PS: JED- Hope your feeling better.

49. Ga'Tor
    January 22nd, 2013 at 11:52 am

    @ICWT - Ah, dinna fash yersel aboot it. I ken ye tae be a brae couthie mon forbye a pawkie bodie an’ nae a thrawn crabbit yah.

50. Cherub Laws
    January 22nd, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    @Ga’Tor Said
    “While having Jewish in-laws and a Jewish half-sister, never knew the signifigance of the Levi or Cohen names”

    If I remember correctly the tribe is passed down through the paternal line makes sense since my father and his father and his father were all Levi’s. I’ve never asked my mother what tribe sh was (a new question for Mom). As for the significance of the tribes (and i might be remembering this wrong) the levi’s were the keepers of the temple and the Cohens were the Preists.

    Not very relevant to the comic but it will be interesting to see how this impacts the story.

51. Lora
    January 22nd, 2013 at 6:45 pm

    Maybe she felt them when shaking hands with Zona.

    And Prairie Son is right: Oddcod. I remember that too.

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