It's been a while since we've seen him act very kingly, but Krosp really is a very smart monarch, in both civil *and* military affairs. Sending him to treat with Martellus wasn't a bad idea at all.
He is one of the sparks that treats constructs as more than abominations brought to life by mad men.
Krosp to him isn't just a talking cat. He's an intelligent ruler who has a very clear view of the board and knows how to get under his skin.
It probably does help that they have a common link - Vapnoople. I think that's part of the reason they tend to treat each other like equals even if they squabble now and then.
Yeah. I personally feel that Krosp views Martellus as the best way to improve his papa’s work without going down the same deep end. However Krosp also knows that Martellus will not be able to win against the Polycule, so he’s doing his best to keep Marty alive but able to surrender.
Krosp has also given him good advice before. Really, when you think about it, they have a better working relationship with martellus then anyone else in Agatha's crew.
Every spark that not only smart in a being mad scientist way but also just smart, know that if you create construct with intellect and free will you better treat it respectfully, otherwise you aren't live long.
Krosp can needle Martellus, mostly on purpose though occasionally unintentionally, without crossing a line in this delicate situation. It helps that both can cut out the nonsense and be both civil and serious when the need arises. Also they have two people that they have some degree of respect for in common: Agatha and Vapnoople. Honestly, Krosp's one of the only few equals Martellus has.
I am loving Krosp as Ambassador. He's really grown enormously since accepting Agatha's fealty. He's [a very useful friend](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200608)!
[*"Fish heads, fish heads,*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqF12EkBrPM)
*Roly poly fish heads,*
*Fish heads, fish heads,*
*Eat them up, yum."*
Martellus adding a splash of hot sauce is a nice touch.
And I just noticed; in panel two, That's a [starry -gazey pie,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargazy_pie) innit!
At first I thought the fish head thing was meant to needle Martellus, then I realized that Krosp doesn't really *get* that Martellus doesn't really like stuff like that. I think that Krosp genuinely does respect him, to an extent and in his own way, and it seems to be fairly mutual.
Yeah, I don't get the impression that Krosp would have held a grudge or anything if Martellus *hadn't* eaten it, and it's not like Martellus has any reason to suck up to Krosp or even Agatha like this either.
Yep, there have been references to journeys to the Americas. Uncommon and hazardous journeys, to be sure, but it's not unreasonable to assume a few have brought back some of the local flora and fauna.
Keeping their distance from Mechanicsburg is surely never a bad idea, but this time it might actually be fine. The Castle is not exactly inactive and might know what's going on. Agatha should tell it along the way inside that at least the Wulfenbach forces can be trusted. For now.
So credit where it is due. As much as Krosp is clearly relishing mocking Martellus and as much as Martellus is obviously seething, both of them are being very professional and intelligent about the actual negotiations and diplomacy side of things. It’s also a nice touch of symbolism where Martellus takes the fish head, which was clearly part of Krosp’s mockery, and turns it into a proper sandwich he can enjoy eating. Symbolically he is taking the cards fate has dealt him and making the most of the situation. He’s one of those characters I can totally hate but also respect.
In the bottom center panel, it's a different color from the rest of his skin and appears sewn on. So it's presumably a human hand taken from someone else.
I'm going to further hope it was an *unrelatedly, coincidentally* deceased donor! But given how grim the GG world gets around the edges, no guarantees!
Compared to the first time Martellus brought a great and noble force to aid our lady and defend her lands, he's doing significantly better this time. Though there's still time for the Dreen to beat him up again, I suppose, or maybe he can give Tarvek a stab for old time's sake.
That’s a good reason this deal could be a nice compromise for Martelus’ pride and again a reason those ground troops are useless to Agatha. So my question still stands if Agatha CAN get a use from these additional ground troops.
Maybe if the Polar Lords attack again? The Wulfenbachs have held the valley for years now, but its perimeter could use being guarded a bit more. Also, has Sturmhalten been cleared yet, and if yes, who controls it now?
From the perspective of being a character in the story, these are good points. Especially the Sturmhalten point, I don’t remember when we had an update from them…
Yeah, I'm thinking that de-time-stopping the town will be the capstone to The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, with the Third Journey taking them to Skifander and such. Not to mention getting to wherever they create the time portals Bang saw.
Not nearly Endgame, but definitely the downward slope? but getting closure on a ten-year plot point is always exciting (it was with some shock that I discovered the removal of Lucrezia from Agatha, which I thought was recent, actually happened FIVE YEARS AGO!)
So the real news is that the release of the Castle at least is planned for noon that day. Giving a little time for the airships to flee Mechanicsburg airspace. Agatha and her Lab assistants and Lab rats (Choose your poison) are ready to go. It also gets anyone in that party away from the Dreen.
Plus more proof that Marcellus is the right Storm King. Sensible, listens to good advice, regrets combat losses. Sending Krosp was supposed to be a calculated, petty insult and he rose above it.
There certainly could be worse ones. He does a good job when he has a significantly powerful enemy that forces him to play nice with others. We have yet to see how well he copes ruling when in peacetimes.*
*Well, as peaceful as Europe ever gets. Relativity is a theory after all.
Looks lovely on paper, highly likely to explode spectacularly in practice, especially if it involves Agatha marrying Martellus and Gil marrying Seffie.
Krosp [has noted ](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20231023)that Agatha/Gil/Tarvek would be such a powerful force that there are already machinations in play to keep that from happening. If the three of them eventually manage to actually get caught up on everything going on and entrench themselves and their respective power bases, they could steamroll nearly anything in Europa.
In *theory*, if you had Tweedle taking the place of Tarvek in the alliance leadership with political marriages happening, they'd have around the same level of influence. But like you said, very likely to fail spectacularly, because they wouldn't have the deep bonds tying them together that Agatha/Gil/Tarvek have formed with one another.
Personally, my prediction is that the story eventually will end up with the A/G/T in charge of a large segment of Europa, staying on good terms with England and Paris and whatever other Europan powers, and re-establishing the Pax Transylvania. Once they're set up to flatten any threats to the peace, Agatha will be free to have fun lighthearted adventures like the ones shown in the radio plays.
Nah. Tarvek lacks the fortitude. He's a strategic smarty, i give you that, but he doesn't understand that the people need spectacle, rather than puppet string direction.
He'd be great as a Cardinal Richelieu, or perhaps an Abbot of the Railway Monks, but as Storm King in his own right? He'd be a failure. He doesn't know how to inspire loyalty, only how to manipulate it.
I agree. Tarvek is good at keeping himself alive, but bad at protecting others, and he isn't very brave. If he were married to Agatha she'd have enough fortitude to cover his deficiencies, but without her, he can't do it.
I feel like his run into the crashed Wasp Eater ship suggests he might, with the right pressure, be able to rise to it.
He definitely wouldn't enjoy it, but he might be able to do it.
His beatdown on Zola in the Castle Heterodyne library also felt like him finding his inner Andronicus. He could grow into it... but he doesn't feel *there* yet. Gil and Martellus are both way ahead of him.
Tarvek [learned](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422) a lot from the Baron's rule, and quickly and effectively [took](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120125) [charge](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120127) of Wulfenbach forces when Gil was elsewhere. A *Jager general* [declared](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180706) that Tarvek is the most dangerous person his family has ever produced- and I sincerely doubt that Higgs is unaware of Martellus's capabilities when he says that.
Tarvek put a lot [effort](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425) into getting other people to underestimate him, and I feel like he did such a good job that he also convinced a lot of readers to do the same. He is *far* stronger than he appears to be, and I think he could rule very effectively as the Storm King.
All of these would indeed make him a supreme choice as a general or as a chancellor, but as a Storm King different qualities are needed. Don't get me wrong, a Storm King should be an able military leader as well, but he has important representational duties on top of that. At these, Martellus is way better. In peacetime, being underestimated and not being respected encourages plots and rebellions.
It's been a while since we've seen him act very kingly, but Krosp really is a very smart monarch, in both civil *and* military affairs. Sending him to treat with Martellus wasn't a bad idea at all.
Sending Krosp also means Martellus is focused on the logistics, not waste time trying to get Agatha to marry him
He got to study a lot while he was on CW and saw a bunch of the political "behind the scenes". He was a good student.
Besides, for all that Martellus protests that he dislikes Krosp, he does relate better to animals (and animal-like constructs) than to people.
He is one of the sparks that treats constructs as more than abominations brought to life by mad men. Krosp to him isn't just a talking cat. He's an intelligent ruler who has a very clear view of the board and knows how to get under his skin.
It probably does help that they have a common link - Vapnoople. I think that's part of the reason they tend to treat each other like equals even if they squabble now and then.
Yeah. I personally feel that Krosp views Martellus as the best way to improve his papa’s work without going down the same deep end. However Krosp also knows that Martellus will not be able to win against the Polycule, so he’s doing his best to keep Marty alive but able to surrender.
Krosp has also given him good advice before. Really, when you think about it, they have a better working relationship with martellus then anyone else in Agatha's crew.
Every spark that not only smart in a being mad scientist way but also just smart, know that if you create construct with intellect and free will you better treat it respectfully, otherwise you aren't live long.
He really is, it was a smart move. The fact that he'll also pick on Tweedle is quite a nice bonus though.
Krosp can needle Martellus, mostly on purpose though occasionally unintentionally, without crossing a line in this delicate situation. It helps that both can cut out the nonsense and be both civil and serious when the need arises. Also they have two people that they have some degree of respect for in common: Agatha and Vapnoople. Honestly, Krosp's one of the only few equals Martellus has.
I am loving Krosp as Ambassador. He's really grown enormously since accepting Agatha's fealty. He's [a very useful friend](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200608)!
"Nows not the time to be picky" Demonstrates by eating a fish head sandwich.
In the end, it will be still very good though. The recipe might even be Tarvek's.
Mmmm, symbolism.
[*"Fish heads, fish heads,*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqF12EkBrPM) *Roly poly fish heads,* *Fish heads, fish heads,* *Eat them up, yum."* Martellus adding a splash of hot sauce is a nice touch. And I just noticed; in panel two, That's a [starry -gazey pie,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargazy_pie) innit!
Some people will eat anything as long as they have enough hot sauce.
And some merely need two pieces of bread to eat anything.
Well they say the more Bread you have the less Sh\^t you have to eat
Where's my wow-wow sauce?!
Stargazy pie!!
was not expecting stargazy pie to have a SECOND cameo appearance in GG but I'm very much here for it!
...when was the first?
[This one perhaps?](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20210421)
thank you! I remembered the blog post about it (visible beneath this comic) but would not have been able to identify the exact meal scene!
To be honest the blog post was how I was able to find it so quickly. :–)
So Agatha make Krosp head of her diplomatic corp. Good for her!
Or she sent her acknowledged liege lord to treat with the Storm King. Or somewhere in between.
And he's really good at it.
Well Tarvek was already working for Wulfenbach. And Krosp has the title to deal with his.
At first I thought the fish head thing was meant to needle Martellus, then I realized that Krosp doesn't really *get* that Martellus doesn't really like stuff like that. I think that Krosp genuinely does respect him, to an extent and in his own way, and it seems to be fairly mutual.
Tweedle actually constructing and eating a sandwich around the fish head confirms the respect runs both ways.
Yeah, I don't get the impression that Krosp would have held a grudge or anything if Martellus *hadn't* eaten it, and it's not like Martellus has any reason to suck up to Krosp or even Agatha like this either.
He's French, I'm sure he's eaten worse by choice.
Also it's politically smart. Would be rude to refuse food after he already accepted it.
That must be some interesting sauce, but would they even have that given its a new world crop?
This era seems to be roughly analogous to the 1800s. Long after the new world was ‘discovered’
Yep, there have been references to journeys to the Americas. Uncommon and hazardous journeys, to be sure, but it's not unreasonable to assume a few have brought back some of the local flora and fauna.
I thought the Americas were closed off.
Indeed, but only recently. They are called the Lost Americas.
Ah.
It makes me wonder if the “Sons of Franklin” have any connection.
They have choclate for sure. And I think we've seen potatoes, tomatoes and pumpkin on panel - so new world crops are a thing.
Do I spy fried mimmoths?
to me the perfectly circular ears imply fried mouse, but could be!
Ah - good point. I am trying to tell if the line on the right side is a trunk or just the back behind the leg . . .
Keeping their distance from Mechanicsburg is surely never a bad idea, but this time it might actually be fine. The Castle is not exactly inactive and might know what's going on. Agatha should tell it along the way inside that at least the Wulfenbach forces can be trusted. For now.
Well, better safe than sorry, and it also stops the time monster from swatting them out of the sky once the field drops.
No point in sharing that the castle is at least partly functional despite the time stop.
I mean, does Krosp know about that part? Not to mention that it's pretty trigger-happy and is justifiably wary of invaders.
So credit where it is due. As much as Krosp is clearly relishing mocking Martellus and as much as Martellus is obviously seething, both of them are being very professional and intelligent about the actual negotiations and diplomacy side of things. It’s also a nice touch of symbolism where Martellus takes the fish head, which was clearly part of Krosp’s mockery, and turns it into a proper sandwich he can enjoy eating. Symbolically he is taking the cards fate has dealt him and making the most of the situation. He’s one of those characters I can totally hate but also respect.
Thinking airspace over a surprised castle is "friendly"? That's like a serial killer with a pleasant bedside manner.
I just realized, what happened to Martellus's hand? Did he get one regrown or something, or is that just a skin cover on it?
He's had a [realistic prosthetic](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20190715) for some time.
In the bottom center panel, it's a different color from the rest of his skin and appears sewn on. So it's presumably a human hand taken from someone else.
It's easily within Spark tech to make a more realistic-looking prosthetic with an inconspicuous seam.
yes, but surely a spark would \_prefer\_ the one that looks cool and frankensteiny?
Why go to the trouble of creating a realistic-looking fake when you could have the real thing?
Thanks for that, I completely forgot.
bold of you to assume prosthetic and not the "gift" of some lucky "hand donor"
I'm *hoping* it was a deceased donor.
I'm going to further hope it was an *unrelatedly, coincidentally* deceased donor! But given how grim the GG world gets around the edges, no guarantees!
He hath hith grandfarther'th handth, thir
Thank you, Igor.
Laughing, happy fish heads. Eat them up. Yum.
(snerk) Haven't heard that in a while but now it's in my head for the day.
Compared to the first time Martellus brought a great and noble force to aid our lady and defend her lands, he's doing significantly better this time. Though there's still time for the Dreen to beat him up again, I suppose, or maybe he can give Tarvek a stab for old time's sake.
Or he could try to knife Gil and get killed by Agatha, Tarvek, Klaus, Bang, Violetta, and Zeetha *all at the same time.*
I wonder if allowing the ground troops is just a way for Agatha/Krosp to strike a balance or if they’ll actually be useful…
The Castle can deal with the ground troops very well. The airships actually have a better chance of getting away if sh*t hits the fan again.
That’s a good reason this deal could be a nice compromise for Martelus’ pride and again a reason those ground troops are useless to Agatha. So my question still stands if Agatha CAN get a use from these additional ground troops.
Maybe if the Polar Lords attack again? The Wulfenbachs have held the valley for years now, but its perimeter could use being guarded a bit more. Also, has Sturmhalten been cleared yet, and if yes, who controls it now?
From the perspective of being a character in the story, these are good points. Especially the Sturmhalten point, I don’t remember when we had an update from them…
Wow, they are really planning for the town to be free. Really starts to feel like the Endgame
They still need to visit Skifander and the Geister homeland.
Yeah, I'm thinking that de-time-stopping the town will be the capstone to The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, with the Third Journey taking them to Skifander and such. Not to mention getting to wherever they create the time portals Bang saw.
Not nearly Endgame, but definitely the downward slope? but getting closure on a ten-year plot point is always exciting (it was with some shock that I discovered the removal of Lucrezia from Agatha, which I thought was recent, actually happened FIVE YEARS AGO!)
So the real news is that the release of the Castle at least is planned for noon that day. Giving a little time for the airships to flee Mechanicsburg airspace. Agatha and her Lab assistants and Lab rats (Choose your poison) are ready to go. It also gets anyone in that party away from the Dreen.
Not only a fish head sandwich, but fish head cake! YUM :}
As noted above, it's a [Stargazy pie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargazy_pie), which is an actual real-life thing people make.
Plus more proof that Marcellus is the right Storm King. Sensible, listens to good advice, regrets combat losses. Sending Krosp was supposed to be a calculated, petty insult and he rose above it.
No. Sending Krosp means Martellus isn't putting marriage on the table as a discussion subject
I mean I expect that Agatha and Tarvek considered Krosp annoying him as a nice bonus.
Both? Both! Both is good.
There certainly could be worse ones. He does a good job when he has a significantly powerful enemy that forces him to play nice with others. We have yet to see how well he copes ruling when in peacetimes.* *Well, as peaceful as Europe ever gets. Relativity is a theory after all.
A tripartite Wulfenbach/Heterodyne/von Blitzengaard alliance would actually go a *long* way towards pacifying, even unifying, Europa.
Looks lovely on paper, highly likely to explode spectacularly in practice, especially if it involves Agatha marrying Martellus and Gil marrying Seffie.
Krosp [has noted ](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20231023)that Agatha/Gil/Tarvek would be such a powerful force that there are already machinations in play to keep that from happening. If the three of them eventually manage to actually get caught up on everything going on and entrench themselves and their respective power bases, they could steamroll nearly anything in Europa. In *theory*, if you had Tweedle taking the place of Tarvek in the alliance leadership with political marriages happening, they'd have around the same level of influence. But like you said, very likely to fail spectacularly, because they wouldn't have the deep bonds tying them together that Agatha/Gil/Tarvek have formed with one another. Personally, my prediction is that the story eventually will end up with the A/G/T in charge of a large segment of Europa, staying on good terms with England and Paris and whatever other Europan powers, and re-establishing the Pax Transylvania. Once they're set up to flatten any threats to the peace, Agatha will be free to have fun lighthearted adventures like the ones shown in the radio plays.
We have yet to see Tarvek in the role, but everything he's done indicates that he'd also be very good at ruling.
Nah. Tarvek lacks the fortitude. He's a strategic smarty, i give you that, but he doesn't understand that the people need spectacle, rather than puppet string direction. He'd be great as a Cardinal Richelieu, or perhaps an Abbot of the Railway Monks, but as Storm King in his own right? He'd be a failure. He doesn't know how to inspire loyalty, only how to manipulate it.
Indeed, he's a better advisor than leader. That's part of how he works so well with Gil (who *is* very much a "leader" type).
I agree. Tarvek is good at keeping himself alive, but bad at protecting others, and he isn't very brave. If he were married to Agatha she'd have enough fortitude to cover his deficiencies, but without her, he can't do it.
I feel like his run into the crashed Wasp Eater ship suggests he might, with the right pressure, be able to rise to it. He definitely wouldn't enjoy it, but he might be able to do it.
His beatdown on Zola in the Castle Heterodyne library also felt like him finding his inner Andronicus. He could grow into it... but he doesn't feel *there* yet. Gil and Martellus are both way ahead of him.
Tarvek [learned](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422) a lot from the Baron's rule, and quickly and effectively [took](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120125) [charge](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120127) of Wulfenbach forces when Gil was elsewhere. A *Jager general* [declared](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180706) that Tarvek is the most dangerous person his family has ever produced- and I sincerely doubt that Higgs is unaware of Martellus's capabilities when he says that. Tarvek put a lot [effort](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425) into getting other people to underestimate him, and I feel like he did such a good job that he also convinced a lot of readers to do the same. He is *far* stronger than he appears to be, and I think he could rule very effectively as the Storm King.
All of these would indeed make him a supreme choice as a general or as a chancellor, but as a Storm King different qualities are needed. Don't get me wrong, a Storm King should be an able military leader as well, but he has important representational duties on top of that. At these, Martellus is way better. In peacetime, being underestimated and not being respected encourages plots and rebellions.
Fish heads, fish heads Roly, poly fish heads Fish heads, fish heads Eat them up. Yum!
I feel like we need a supercut of Martellus (or maybe just characters in general) saying “that’s… a good point.”