Shortpacked!
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| Shortpacked! | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | David Willis |
| Website | http://www.shortpacked.com/ |
| Update schedule | Monday through Friday, occasionally Mon-Wed-Fri |
| Launch date | 2005 January 17 [1] |
| Genre | farce |
Shortpacked! is a webcomic by David Willis set in a toy store. It is part of the Blank Label Comics family.
After putting an end to his successful webcomic It's Walky! David Willis decided to turn Shortpacked!, his autobiographical comic, into a new title. The strip is based in the same universe as It's Walky and Roomies, and features two side characters from the previous comic, Robin and Mike. Unlike It's Walky!, Shortpacked is primarily a gag strip, with little overarching plot. The comic also often includes strips that take place outside of the regular setting and continuity, in particular one-shots lampooning pop-culture and comic figures, such as Batman or Transformers.
[edit] Characters
- Ethan Siegal(main character)
- First appearance – Strip of January 17, 2005
- Having given up on his dream of being a stand-up comedian, Ethan has settled for working retail. Amazingly, retail has not broken him yet. He still has a bright shimmer of hope for the future and his fellow man. He has had recurring depressive episodes caused in part by the frustrating behavior of his customers, his boss, and some of his co-workers, and in part by the suppression of his homosexuality. Ethan escapes from his problems by delving deeply into toy fandom, particularly Batman and Transformers toys. The question of Ethan's sexual orientation has until recently been an ongoing question and source of frustration for Robin, who has a strong attraction to him. Recently, after comparing a kiss from Robin to one from Mike, Ethan had an epiphany that he was indeed gay[2]. Despite this revalation, his boss Galasso has made it clear that he expects Ethan to provide a male heir through intercourse with Galasso's daughter Conquest.
- Galasso
- First appearance – Strip of January 17, 2005: The cruel, unfeeling, sociopathic, megalomanic boss of the toy store. He treats the toy store and its workers like his personal army, and believes he will soon take over the world. Despite his dictatorial ambitions, Galasso is none too bright, and has demonstrated that he can be easily tricked or misled, particularly by those who tell him what he wants to hear. Galasso bears a resemblance in word and manner to Ra's Al Ghul, a foe of Batman. Like Ra's Al Ghul, Galasso has grown fearful of his 'Empire' failing should anything happen to him, and chose Ethan to be a suitor for his daughter Conquest so that she could bear him a male heir. He is presumably unaware that Ethan is gay and Conquest has been taking birth control pills. As well as mannerisms of Ra's Al Ghul, he looks like Norman Osbourn, the Green Goblin.
- Amber
- First appearance – Strip of January 19, 2005: Slightly sociophobic, but caring, Amber is the wallflower of the group. She is shy, insecure, and something of an internet recluse, preferring the anonymity of the internet to real human contact. She works at customer service desk, where customers provide her with endless frustration and a target for her sharp wit. Amber has gained a roommate in Robin, who moved in against Amber's will. Amber has, for about ten years, had an online relationship with a boy in Iowa named Nate, who she has recently met in real life. Amber has also been forced to play mediator between Ethan and Robin, who have recently had some problems in their friendship.
- Robin
- First appearance – Strip of January 21, 2005: Hyperactive with few boundaries, Robin was a former agent of SEMME, who grew tired of all the work and responsiblity and quit for "a brainless retail job". After moving in with Amber (despite Amber's protests), she was responsible for pulling Shortpacked!'s 'Drama Tag', introducing substantial character conflict into the strip. She harbors a crush on Ethan, and has made a number of overbearing and inappropriate bids for his affection, both before and after learning that he is gay. Robin is also extremely proud of her breasts. During a sugar rush induced by a bowl full of Cadbury Eggs, Robin was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She retains this seat, but does not appear to spend much time fulfilling any of the duties of her office.
- Mike
- First appearance – Strip of February 11, 2005: Mike is, in a word, an asshole. In more words, Mike is a a total and complete asshole. As such Mike enjoys doing everything he can to infuriate those around him, no matter the reason. He lives to inflict pain and misery on other people. Though he is not above helping other people, he does so in the meanest, nastiest way possible and it is most likely his 'aid' will later lead to some sort of strife for them later on. Like Robin, he is a former agent of SEMME, apparently resurrected after being killed at the end of It's Walky! It appears that due to his past 'life' and work with Robin, he is willing to do everything he can to infuriate her, even going so far as to kiss Ethan for no reason other than to help him decide his sexuality and to see the infuriated look on Robin's face.
- Ninja Rick
- First appearance – Strip of February 9, 2005: He loves ninjas with every part of his body. Especially his pee-pee. Rick carries a plastic sword with him at all times, and is completely dedicated to the ninja ways - or, at least, what he believes those ways to be. Rick's sexual orientation is in question, as in one story he was shown to be sleeping with Faz, who wished to become gay so that he could take Ethan's job. There is no other evidence to suggest that he may indeed be bisexual, and the matter of his sexuality has not been broached since.
- Ronnie
- First appearance – Strip of February 2, 2005: 40th President of the United States of America. Galasso hired him after Ethan noted that anything from the 80s is guaranteed to generate money.
- Faz
- First appearance – Strip of November 30, 2005: In his first appearances he was a seasonal employee who sought to replace Ethan, but was later promoted to a full-fledged employee. A sycophant, he will do anything to improve his status, but does not seem to exercise good judgement about the best way to move up the ladder. He has an attraction to Amber, which he expresses inappropriately. Much to Faz's annoyance, Ethan has over-shot him on the ladder of success, after being promoted to assistant manager. Faz is now looking for Ethan's weakness so that he may destroy him.
- Conquest
- First appearance – Strip of June 26, 2006: The alluring (and legal) daughter of an as of yet unknown mother and Galasso, named after his favorite pastime. Goes by "Conni". She looks and speaks like a blonde Talia Al Ghul. Despite her wiles and frank sexuality, she could well have other qualities rather than being a vagina on legs - but apparently doesn't.
Conni was 'betrothed' to Ethan after Galasso demanded that one of his employees help him gain an heir, and remains so despite Ethan's recent discovery that he is gay while Ethan retains his new Assistant Manager position. This could mean that Galasso is unaware of this epiphany, or that he simply does not care, so long as he receives a suitable heir. She has recently been hired at Shortpacked, and has been selling CPRs for sex, to Ethan's disappointment.
- First appearance – Strip of June 26, 2006: The alluring (and legal) daughter of an as of yet unknown mother and Galasso, named after his favorite pastime. Goes by "Conni". She looks and speaks like a blonde Talia Al Ghul. Despite her wiles and frank sexuality, she could well have other qualities rather than being a vagina on legs - but apparently doesn't.
- Nathan
- First appearance – Strip of May 26, 2006: Amber's boyfriend of several years, who is more or less a male version of her, sharing her introversion, quiet nature, and large round glasses. At the moment, his apartment is shared with a girl he was fond of in high school, recently divorced and in need of a place to stay. This situation led Amber to finally visit him in person and kiss him.
