How much autonomy does this fungal colony (or collection of colonies) have? It had to call the others with the cordyceps moment, so it can’t be a hive mind. The question is whether Orville controls them with directives or lets them figure things out on their own.
I kinda wanna see one of the fungi respond directly to communication, like growing a middle finger in response to Schtein’s snarkiness.
Hive minds in the traditional sense (i.e. hymenopterans) definitely do the sensory approach with the dances and the smells and the jello, but there’s already been an established paranormality in this area. It wouldn’t be too far a stretch to suspect telepathic fungi in this delightful weirdness. Or, heck, even cameras implanted in the corpses with radio signals to the fungzombs to direct them. Of course, those would suck in comparison to good old spore-wave communication.
we must have different definitions of paranormal. I have a strict no ghosts policy for this universe. The only telepath on scene is Mr. Abel. And he has to be in pretty close proximity to you.
I’d say the hive mind of the zombies in this city are pretty much at ant level. With the releasing of spore messages and smells and so forth. Alone they’re mindless, but together they’re… well, not geniuses, but they can relay messages and coordinate and such.
I’m a little confused on the last panel – I couldn’t quite tell which speech bubble belongs to whom…. I think they all belong to Schtein, but the triple speech bubble tails threw me. I think a “link tail” between the two top bubbles would help indicate it’s Doc that’s continuing to speak.
Also, fungus zombies… Somehow, significantly grosser than your average zombie….
they’re all pointing at Schtein. I don’t like linking word balloons too much. Looks weird. I probably could have linked the top two, though. Too late now, page is done!
Slightly off-topic for this post, but I’m having trouble keeping up to date with the comic because of the fact that the next button doesn’t seem to want to work anymore. Is it just me?
What’s going on is I am seeing the page in question as the most recent page, and it’s only on the more recent ones(read: the last two weeks or so). The back buttons work properly and I can get to the most recent page by putting in the site address. Also, I am using chrome.
That may have been confusing, my apologies. As an example, may 21 would be the most recent page, as would the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and so on (Those being hypothetical upload dates)
like I said it’s a cache problem. I need to tweak the settings. Still, this is better than my entire website overloading the database every week and producing 500 errors, yes? I’ll fine tune this yet!
I am LOVING the gender dynamics/body language between John and Annie. Maybe I just think too much about this shit, but the way you’re subverting this trope makes me incredibly happy.
Those plant things coming out of her eye sockets are really starting to creep me out….
It only just started to creep you out?
just wondering, are the plant things based upon cordyceps?
I don’t know what makes you think that
the way it grows, and alters the behavior of the infected, it very much reminded me of ophiocordyceps unilateralis’s effect upon ants
How much autonomy does this fungal colony (or collection of colonies) have? It had to call the others with the cordyceps moment, so it can’t be a hive mind. The question is whether Orville controls them with directives or lets them figure things out on their own.
I kinda wanna see one of the fungi respond directly to communication, like growing a middle finger in response to Schtein’s snarkiness.
ants communicate with smells. Bees with dances. Hive minds aren’t telepathic.
Perfect point. Way to make a cliffhanger, too – now please publish the next strip soon :) we’re all very impatient to see Orville!
do you mean this one http://www.stringtheorycomic.com/art/opa.gif no syringe here. although I wouldnt be surprised if I drew another one that did.
Hive minds in the traditional sense (i.e. hymenopterans) definitely do the sensory approach with the dances and the smells and the jello, but there’s already been an established paranormality in this area. It wouldn’t be too far a stretch to suspect telepathic fungi in this delightful weirdness. Or, heck, even cameras implanted in the corpses with radio signals to the fungzombs to direct them. Of course, those would suck in comparison to good old spore-wave communication.
we must have different definitions of paranormal. I have a strict no ghosts policy for this universe. The only telepath on scene is Mr. Abel. And he has to be in pretty close proximity to you.
I’d say the hive mind of the zombies in this city are pretty much at ant level. With the releasing of spore messages and smells and so forth. Alone they’re mindless, but together they’re… well, not geniuses, but they can relay messages and coordinate and such.
Yes, that’s a great idea, follow the scary thing…
Why showing the plants though? Couldn’t it have just beckoned?
the plants weren’t for their benefit, it was sending a signal.
To the plants in the other corpses, I guess. Or maybe to Orville…
I’m a little confused on the last panel – I couldn’t quite tell which speech bubble belongs to whom…. I think they all belong to Schtein, but the triple speech bubble tails threw me. I think a “link tail” between the two top bubbles would help indicate it’s Doc that’s continuing to speak.
Also, fungus zombies… Somehow, significantly grosser than your average zombie….
they’re all pointing at Schtein. I don’t like linking word balloons too much. Looks weird. I probably could have linked the top two, though. Too late now, page is done!
Slightly off-topic for this post, but I’m having trouble keeping up to date with the comic because of the fact that the next button doesn’t seem to want to work anymore. Is it just me?
I keep getting this comment and I have absolutely zero idea what to do about it since it works fine for me.
How is it not working, please be specific. Is it not there, loading the wrong page, not even a link, also what browser are you using.
Do you get this comment on pages that aren’t the most recent one?
I’ve been getting it for weeks. It’s a caching problem. I’ll find a cache plugin that works for me someday. >:/
that or tweak the settings on this one so it doesn’t act stupid when I update
What’s going on is I am seeing the page in question as the most recent page, and it’s only on the more recent ones(read: the last two weeks or so). The back buttons work properly and I can get to the most recent page by putting in the site address. Also, I am using chrome.
That may have been confusing, my apologies. As an example, may 21 would be the most recent page, as would the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and so on (Those being hypothetical upload dates)
like I said it’s a cache problem. I need to tweak the settings. Still, this is better than my entire website overloading the database every week and producing 500 errors, yes? I’ll fine tune this yet!
I really hope this page warrants The Wizard Of Oz/String Theory crossover fanart.
does that even exist? Someone make that exist stat. Schtein is the scarecrow obv.
I actually draw really dumb fanart of your comic all the time, but I’m always too embarrassed to upload it :X
awwwww man, I don’t think you should be, but I know how you feel!
*gurgles incoherently* Someday I’ll upload a thing. Someday.
I have to say, this is definitely the best webcomic I have ever read. I cannot allow you to ever stop writing it :I
You’re aptly named.
I have been told so, yes.
I am LOVING the gender dynamics/body language between John and Annie. Maybe I just think too much about this shit, but the way you’re subverting this trope makes me incredibly happy.
I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but I see what you mean! She’s more of a go-getter than he is, I suppose. :D
Nice job with the expressive eyes. It is hard to show emotions when the majority of the characters faces are covered.