Chapter 17 | Page 8a: Competition Breeds Innovation… and Aggravation

In the depths of Dr. Muskiday’s laboratory, he unveils his newest invention to his longtime companion — a holographic clone of Miss Match. Using micronanos he can read emotions using bioluminescent mood clouds! However, although competition breeds innovation, a comment from a humble lab rat proves that it can also lead to aggravation.

Evil Inc After Dark

Meanwhile, over in Evil Inc After Dark, readers have already witnessed the results of the long-anticipated Team-Up Talk between Lightning Lady and Angus. It was a heated conversation, to say the least — and it marked a genuine first in EiAD’s ten-year history. Longtime readers will know exactly why that matters… and why the ramifications are only just beginning.

Yesterday's bonus cartoon that explored a completely new kind of shopping experience. No spoilers, but let’s just say consumer expectations are about to be challenged in ways the Better Business Bureau definitely didn’t anticipate. There’s also a brand-new Evil Inc Erotica story inspired by the most recent Monster Girl Poll winner, along with a surprise bonus reward waiting just around the corner.

Wanna see what you're missing? Here's a -very- NSFW preview.


ComicLab

In this week’s episode, “Quietly LOL,” Brad and Dave dig into the many ways we react to humor — from full-on belly laughs to the silent internal “that was good” response. Along the way, they tackle some big (and surprisingly relatable) topics:

  • Patreon Quips was a case of "competition breeds innovation" — but are we actually going to use it?

  • Why you never stop building an audience, even when things feel “established”

  • And yes… being scared of Reddit comments is universal!

It’s thoughtful, funny, and quietly reassuring — the ComicLab sweet spot. comiclabpodcast.com

 


Transcript

Panel 1:
Dr. Muskiday, presenting excitedly:
"Behold! Project SMILE: It's my Synaptic Mood Indicator and Linguistic Emulator."

Panel 2:
Dr. Muskiday, holding a perfume atomizer, sprays mist toward a lab rat in a cage:
"I spray micronanos in a 'mood mist' that bond with the subject's synaptic receptors."

Panel 3:
Dr. Muskiday continues as a close-up of the mist forms a pink bioluminescent cloud above the lab rat:
"They translate the subject's emotions into a bioluminescent cloud emitted through the skin."

Panel 4:
Dr. Muskiday observes the glowing rat in the cage. A cloud over its head displays a padlock and a key:
"And now we know everything happening in the subject's mind!"

Panel 5:
Lab rat, standing and speaking from inside the cage:
"You coulda just asked."
Holo-Clone Miss Match, surprised:
"Wow! It can TALK?!"
Dr. Muskiday, resigned:
"~Sigh~ Yes..."

Panel 6:
Dr. Muskiday slumps, disappointed:
"That's the result of my transgenic intelligence transfer system. A total failure."

Panel 7:
Holo-Clone Miss Match, curious:
"Inconsistent results?"
Dr. Muskiday, irritated:
"There were about three hundred mad scientists ahead of me, trying to patent the same acronym."

Expanded Alt Text

Seven-panel Evil Inc comic strip featuring Holo-Clone Miss Match and Dr. Muskiday, a humanoid figure with a fly’s head, standing beside a small cage containing a white lab rat. In a scene that proves that proves once again that competition breeds innovation, Dr. Muskiday introduces “Project SMILE,” which stands for Synaptic Mood Indicator and Linguistic Emulator. In the second panel, he sprays a pink mist toward the lab rat. In the third panel, the mist causes the lab rat to emit a glowing pink bioluminescent cloud. The fourth panel shows the rat glowing inside the cage, as Dr. Muskiday says they can now know the subject’s thoughts. In the fifth panel, the lab rat speaks clearly, saying, “You coulda just asked,” to Holo-Clone Miss Match’s surprise. Dr. Muskiday sighs in response. In the sixth panel, Dr. Muskiday explains that this speech is due to his failed “transgenic intelligence transfer system.” In the final panel, Miss Match assumes the project had inconsistent results, but Dr. Muskiday bitterly says hundreds of other mad scientists were ahead of him, trying to patent the same acronym.

Melonpool’s Troop Launches Weekly Feature for Kevin Smith Site

Steve Troop, webcomics veteran and professional puppeteer, is proud to announce a new weekly feature scheduled to appear every Friday on Kevin Smith’s new Web site, Quick Stop Entertainment.

Smith, best known for hits such as “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma,” and “Clerks”, launched the site Monday. It features an impressive line-up which includes Terry Gilliam (“Monty Python’s Flying Circus”), Paul Dini (“Tiny Toons”) and Blank Label Comics founding member Steve Troop.

Troop’s Melonpool puppets will have a new 3-5 minute “quickcast” available every Friday at the new site — an updated version of the “Movie Poop Shoot” site made famous in Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” The new site will feature interviews, entertainment gossip, and other original content.

The first installment is available this Friday, June 23. For a sneak peek, point your browser to this sample video.

Chad Diez of Today The Comic ( http://www.todaythecomic.com ) edited the first installment. A new Melonpool theme song was created for the podcast by Erik Przytulski of Pretzyl Music ( http://www.pretzyl.com). In addition to Troop, who performs the title character and Przytulski who performs Ralph Zinobop, Roger Przytulski will continue to perform Sam T. Dogg and Chris Gleason will continue to perform Sammy the Hammy – roles they all created for a small student film in 1994.

The puppets were the inspiration for Troop’s seminal webcomic classic, “Melonpool,â€? ( http://www.melonpool.com ) which centers around the misadventures of several aliens stranded on earth. It has been on the Web since 1996. The puppets have made regular appearances at comic conventions for almost as long. Troop plans to tape more footage for his new feature at Comic Con International in San Diego this July.