Are you going to be at Comic-Con 2013? I just discovered Questionable Content and would hate to miss out on the chance to meet you in person. The biggest reason why I still go to SDCC every year (8 years and counting!) is to walk around the show floor, connect with my favorite webcomic authors. ^^;
I’m not sure. I got kind of burnt out on SDCC this past year. I think it might be time to take a year off. I’ll mention it on the site once I make a decision.
So what exactly is the purpose of a “standard mutual companionship contract”? If AI’s are truly given the same civil status as humans, why do they choose to legally bind themselves to a human, instead of just living freely in the world? Is it a holdover from a time when AI’s weren’t given the same status, and were considered something closer to property? If so, that sounds like the sort of thing that Momo (who seems pretty progressive about human/AI relations) would be vehemently opposed to.
There’s a lot of backstory to this that I have figured out but would rather eventually portray in the comic (or not, if I decide not to) than lay it all out on Tumblr. Suffice to say I’ve given it quite a bit of thought. AIs who sign up for the companionship gig are doing a job, both as companions to people and as “ambassadors” for their kind.
In your last comic, Emily said she’d want to be a toaster if they ever figured out mind uploading. What would you want to be?
A space probe
In the most recent comic as of this question (2283) Momo says that Marigold isn’t her owner. But just before Marigold was introduced to the comic in 1411, Momo says, “I could contact my owner. She might be able to repair [Pintsize].” Why the change?
For a while I never really thought about the use of the word “owner” as a colloquialism for the AI/human friendship/companion thing but then I actually thought about it and was like “oh wow that has some severely awful implications” so I try not to use it anymore. In canon, let’s just say it’s a term that fell out of use due to changing opinions about it.
What are the terms of the “standard mutual companionship contract”? (From 9/26/2012)
Be nice to each other, no creepy stuff
Hi, I was just wondering when you knew that your OCD was something to worry about, or I guess what was it like before you were diagnosed? I’m not diagnosed, but I’m aware that a lot of my behaviour isn’t what most people call “normal”, but I’ve always felt like I had a handle on it, but as I get older it feels like that control is slipping, but I don’t know if it’s necessary to see someone yet…
For me it’s been a long, gradual process of looking back on my life and realizing how weird I was compared to most people. I was officially diagnosed back in college, that was the first real “ah-ha” moment.
Many mental illnesses get worse over time if they go untreated. So you should probably go see a professional, even if it’s just to talk to them about it!
I’m guessing that’s Emily’s real last name on her twitter account. Would I be correct in assuming this is in reference to Kiyohiko Azuma?
Yep!
Hey Jeph, When you draw your anthroPCs you always give them square speech bubbles. I presume this is to highlight that they speak in a different manner to the humans, but as the creator how do you imagine that they talk? In my head they’ve always had very human voices, especially Momo now that she has a full-sized human-shaped chassis.
I imagine that it varies from model to model- Pintsize definitely sounds more “artificial” in my head than Momo, but even Momo has a slight synthesized tone to her voice in my mind. Not that I actually know what they sound like- it’s more that I just have a general notion that they sound different than humans.
Do you wish that you had given your comic a different name? I always feel odd mentioning that I read Questionable Content, so I assume this comes up a lot.
Yeah I should’ve named it Thrusting Cocks
I love that you’re giving more detail on this AI-populated world! But I can’t help but wonder, are there any dark things going on with AIs in QC Land? Or are they all just lovable sidekicks?
I have some Ideas about this but they will never end up in QC, it’s not that kind of comic strip. But maybe someday in a different project.
What do AIs like Momo use for memory storage? Regular hard drives? Do they upload to a server?
I imagine it’s some combination of high-density solid-state storage and cloud distribution. QC universe tech is obviously far ahead of ours in some areas so I don’t see why storage wouldn’t be one of them.
With her new chassis, is Momo’s voice produced with air going through synthetic vocal cords, a voice synthesis program outputting through a speaker in her throat, or something else?
she talks out her butt
How’s QC volume 3 coming? When do you expect to release it, and will you be signing copies?
It should be on sale sometime this month, and I believe I will be doing another run of signed copies, assuming I can work up the gumption.
Just wanted to let you know, you and QC have really inspired me. I’m trying to write a kind-of comic book series. I was afraid to start illustrating because drawing has never been my strong suit, but I look at your improvements and I think “I can do it.” I’ve only been drawing regularly now for 3-4 weeks and I can already see a vast improvement, so thanks.
Good job! Keep at it!
I know you use bass strings for the lower strings of your 7 and 8 string guitars - I’m gonna have to do that to get decent tension for the tuning I want to use on my 8 string, I was wondering what you thought of the tone, as a lot of people say it sounds pretty crappy, but judging by the stuff of yours I’ve heard, it’s pretty good. Opinions?
I’ve tried a whole bunch of different strings and gauges but I keep going back to the Ernie Ball 8-string slinky sets, they have the best balance of tone and string tension I’ve found. Anything thicker than a .74 on the low string just sounds muddy and dead to my ears. Also note that all the 8-string stuff I’ve recorded has been on extended-scale instruments, mostly 27” but I had a 27.5” guitar for a while too. That makes a big difference.
I just spent seven minutes thinking that the sock in Marigold’s room on the last panel of 2286 was Tails’ tail. Until I realized, hey, that’s ridiculous, and it’s a sock.
furry trap sprung
2 things, neither of which is exactly a question, but hey. (1) I bought Meade’s Army when it first came out and that is one fine piece of instrumental metal, just wanted to let you know. (2) Have you tried a game called The Binding Of Isaac? It is incredibly fucked up and I think you would like it.
Thanks!
I have put over 200 hours into BoI. I am utterly ashamed.
I never really considered that a comic artist might actually write out what a character is thinking before simply conveying it through the art. Is this something that happens often for you?
Most of the time, no. I don’t generally go in for internal monologue in my comic, it’s just not my style.
Where on the hemospectrum is Marigold’s fantroll? (oh god she probably gave her like pink blood or something)
I don’t know what that means
I love Faye’s dress in 2289. Do you look for clothes to draw on the characters, or do you just slap random outfits on them and hope for the best?
Most of the time it’s the latter. I got lucky with that one I guess!
You’ve been drawing Coffee of Doom from the perspective of behind the counter a lot lately. Any reason for the change? Just bored with the typical in-front-of-the-counter angle?
Just trying to get a little more creative with panel composition.
Panel #3 of comic 2289 is probably my favorite thing ever. Anyway, is it just a matter of willpower to keep drawing even though you are super frustrated and feel like it sucks? Or is there some super-secret easy way to get better at drawing?
It’s willpower. There are no shortcuts.
Just curious, but if you do read Homestuck, then you should know what Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff is. Perhaps you could make a little doodle in that style?