Now this is an interesting conflict, foreshadowed by the comic where Zach began a health food diet. His perceptions have been altered, but his personality, wants and needs have not.
Yes, anyone who was concerned the comic was offering up the brain-boosted Zach as a flawless person we should all look up to, can take comfort in today’s strip.
Recall that Peter Parker, when he first got his powers, didn’t start off on the right foot either, morally speaking. Let’s hope that it won’t take a tragedy for Zach to learn his “great responsibility” lesson.
On a lighter note, I’m amused that in this alternate timeline, “Jameson” is apparently the worst, most insulting thing you can call someone.
Weakness? Pah! Good ol’ J.J. Jameson is the opposite of weak! No matter how old he gets, he never gives up on getting pictures of that no-good Spider-Man! He fights for the public! For the TRUTH! He is a TRUE (fictional) American newsman!
There are so many things right with this page. ‘Jameson’ being a dire insult: check. Thwip and Jo getting into a fight: check. Zach being a sneaky bastard and getting an excellent “just as planned” grin: check. Zach realizing he’s straying into morally rocky territory: check. This just keeps getting better and better.
There’s gotta be worse things to be called than a Jameson. XD
I mean, for all his flaws, JJJ was always shown as having SOME redeeming qualities (such as being a vocal supporter of mutants’ rights).
Well I’d guess the difference between calling someone a “Jameson” and calling them a “Goblin” is kind of like the difference between calling someone “pathetic” and calling them “psychotic”.
I think worried about how we appear to others is a big part of what keeps us moral. That doesn’t mean he sees nothing wrong with being smug. To me, he appears genuinely upset about how he was behaving. That’s just the way he expressed it.
He’s not worried about how he’ll appear on TV; he’s simply thinking about reality TV due to the ad and realizing that his behavior is identical to a common stereotype on reality TV that everyone dislikes.
Wait, JJJ is a supporter of mutant rights? Damn, I didn’t know that. Guess he really is an alright guy, underneath the bluster and hatred for anyone wearing a mask. Well, you know, an alright guy except for that bit where he sorta helped create the Scorpion, who went on to be one of the most brutal Venom hosts ever. But yeah.
I hope Osborne is also used to refer to drug-junkies. Actually, since Stan Lee got a lot more influence/power in this universe, I wonder if he was less subtle in tackling the subject of drug addiction.
JJJ also has the benefit of being one of the least bigoted people ever. He hates Spiderman without a whole lot of rationality, but that’s pretty much it. He actively dislikes everyone else that he hasn’t met equally, likes people to the extent that is reasonable (barring Spidey; and, okay, to about half of what’s reasonable, but it’s all proportionally correct). He also has a serious sense of journalistic integrity – who else had the guts to call Wilson Fisk the Kingpin in print?
In all fairness, we don’t know if those aspects of Jameson were written into his character in this timeline. But considering the way Spidey’s alternate continuity has gone, I’d say it’s a good bet.
God, I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes J.J.J. , though, that’s for sure.
Also, T., I hope you remember to touch upon bizarrely obscure Spider-Man villains/characters as well. The minute I see a Morbius the Living Vampire reference is the minute I go from liking this webcomic to totally loving it.
Now this is an interesting conflict, foreshadowed by the comic where Zach began a health food diet. His perceptions have been altered, but his personality, wants and needs have not.
Well at least he’s vaguely self aware of what it is that he’s doing.
Yes, anyone who was concerned the comic was offering up the brain-boosted Zach as a flawless person we should all look up to, can take comfort in today’s strip.
Recall that Peter Parker, when he first got his powers, didn’t start off on the right foot either, morally speaking. Let’s hope that it won’t take a tragedy for Zach to learn his “great responsibility” lesson.
On a lighter note, I’m amused that in this alternate timeline, “Jameson” is apparently the worst, most insulting thing you can call someone.
“Goblin” is pretty bad too, but it doesn’t carry the same connotation of weakness.
Weakness? Pah! Good ol’ J.J. Jameson is the opposite of weak! No matter how old he gets, he never gives up on getting pictures of that no-good Spider-Man! He fights for the public! For the TRUTH! He is a TRUE (fictional) American newsman!
There are so many things right with this page. ‘Jameson’ being a dire insult: check. Thwip and Jo getting into a fight: check. Zach being a sneaky bastard and getting an excellent “just as planned” grin: check. Zach realizing he’s straying into morally rocky territory: check. This just keeps getting better and better.
Someone send him a copy of Richard III.
“I can smile, and murder while I smile…”
There’s gotta be worse things to be called than a Jameson. XD
I mean, for all his flaws, JJJ was always shown as having SOME redeeming qualities (such as being a vocal supporter of mutants’ rights).
Epic trollface. He is ready for reality TV after all.
@sun tzu: You’re absolutely right. “Osborn” for one.
First… that pose in panel four is TOTALLY the trollface.
Second… wow… he screws up Thwip’s relationship. He manipulates people. And the one thing he CARES about is that others can tell he’s enjoying it.
Screw reality TV. He’s ready for *politics*.
That got to be the best trollface I’ve seen recently
OH NO! It’s…. J Jonah Jameson!
The horror!
Well I’d guess the difference between calling someone a “Jameson” and calling them a “Goblin” is kind of like the difference between calling someone “pathetic” and calling them “psychotic”.
Yeah, hey, what the hell, Zach? You only care about your response because of how you’ll look on TV?
Does this reaction to the truth serum turn you into a sociopath?
@Joraiem: We have no evidence that Zach was a good guy prior to the serum.
Then agina, he’s enjoyng the fight, but there’s no real saying he specifically came to talk to them to do that. I think it’s coincidental
I think worried about how we appear to others is a big part of what keeps us moral. That doesn’t mean he sees nothing wrong with being smug. To me, he appears genuinely upset about how he was behaving. That’s just the way he expressed it.
He’s not worried about how he’ll appear on TV; he’s simply thinking about reality TV due to the ad and realizing that his behavior is identical to a common stereotype on reality TV that everyone dislikes.
Wait, JJJ is a supporter of mutant rights? Damn, I didn’t know that. Guess he really is an alright guy, underneath the bluster and hatred for anyone wearing a mask. Well, you know, an alright guy except for that bit where he sorta helped create the Scorpion, who went on to be one of the most brutal Venom hosts ever. But yeah.
I hope Osborne is also used to refer to drug-junkies. Actually, since Stan Lee got a lot more influence/power in this universe, I wonder if he was less subtle in tackling the subject of drug addiction.
“You’re a Ben Reilly!” or “Go get Gwenned!” strikes me as two potentially worse insults than “Jameson”.
JJJ also has the benefit of being one of the least bigoted people ever. He hates Spiderman without a whole lot of rationality, but that’s pretty much it. He actively dislikes everyone else that he hasn’t met equally, likes people to the extent that is reasonable (barring Spidey; and, okay, to about half of what’s reasonable, but it’s all proportionally correct). He also has a serious sense of journalistic integrity – who else had the guts to call Wilson Fisk the Kingpin in print?
@Sasha: So “Go get Gwenned” would be this universe’s equivalent of “Die in a fire?”
In all fairness, we don’t know if those aspects of Jameson were written into his character in this timeline. But considering the way Spidey’s alternate continuity has gone, I’d say it’s a good bet.
God, I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes J.J.J. , though, that’s for sure.
Also, T., I hope you remember to touch upon bizarrely obscure Spider-Man villains/characters as well. The minute I see a Morbius the Living Vampire reference is the minute I go from liking this webcomic to totally loving it.
@Locke:
You mean people besides me actually remember Morbius?
Who doesn’t like Morbius?
Morbius would be a lot more obscure if he didn’t appear in so many episodes of the 90’s Spiderman cartoon.