Phantom Limb: Revenge, like gazpacho soup, is best served cold, precise, and merciless. Monarch: Oh, yeah, you can never have enough precision in your soup.
Note from Scott: Yeah, re-watched that episode of the Venture Brothers after I had sent this comic to the newspapers and was surprised and embarrassed to hear the revenge-soup comparison. I had completely forgotten that joke. If I'm had to accidentally steal from a show, I'm glad it was my favorite.
I was referring to unsuccessful "Number 2s" as "MacBeths" ("full of sound and fury, signifying nothing) for a full year, before someone reminded me that it, too, was from The Venture Brothers.
Very funny that the originator of the "revenge soup" is the guy declaring revenge, not Scott's character.
I think I have seen this in real life. Say something dumb to someone, then later convince them that they said it and they agree that it is dumb! Nice twist.
"Living well is the best revenge" always reminds me of a line in Frasier:
It's a wonderful expression. I just don't know how true it is. You don't see it turning up in a lot of opera plots. "Ludwig, maddened by the poisoning of his entire family, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act by living well! Whereupon Woton, upon discovering his deception, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act again by living even better than the Duke!"
What, no Valentine's day issue? I was sooo looking forward to Rick or Jenkins or Angry Customer or any relationiship-challenged toad in this nerd universe be the butt of the day's joke.......hmmmmm...
Dear Scott, "...until the adversary forgets about you and let's HIS guard down." HIS guard, dammit, not 'their' guard. The adversary (subject) is singular so the pronoun has to be singular as well. His, not their. Their is plural. You sound like a 7th grade special ed student.
Otherwise, the strip was very funny. I just think the narration should be grammatically correct. ps: I intentionally misspelled 'dammit.' love the strip.
I know how you feel. I once wrote a tragedy about impossible adolescent love in the fair city of Verona, only to find out later it had been done already. Down to the final poison scene. What a drag.
"...until the adversary forgets about you and let's HIS guard down." HIS guard, dammit, not 'their' guard. The adversary (subject) is singular so the pronoun has to be singular as well. His, not their. Their is plural. You sound like a 7th grade special ed student.
let's?? let's??? it's "lets his guard down." There's nothing more annoying than a smug but wrong pedant. DUMMY.
Don't feel too guilty about using the words "they" and "their." There is such a thing as the "singular they" which is widely accepted as a gender-neutral alternative to he/she. It is similar in position to "you," which is both singular and plural, always uses a plural verb form, and is gender-neutral as well.
Chance, Elyob is also ignoring that the "their" construction is creeping into common usage as a gender-neutral replacement for "his." Nobody says "his or her" -- it's silly and awkward, like putting wheels on your pants.
Language evolves over time. For example, in Shakespeare's First Quarto, from the 16th-17th century (really not that long ago compared to all of human history), the entire "to be or not to be" speech is quite different than the one we know now, both in meter and in verse. For example, in that text, sleep is "fleepe," dream is "dreame," everlasting is "euerlafting," "undiscovered" is "vndifcouered," and joyful is "ioyfull" -- among many others.
And I, for one, "uelcome" "Fcott's" "progreffiue" thinking on this "fubiect." ;)
I saw the Venture Brothers parallel immediately, but honestly it just made me happy that the author of my favorite comic strip also watches my favorite television show.
February 13, 2011
Reader Comments (30)
Phantom Limb: Revenge, like gazpacho soup, is best served cold, precise, and merciless.
Monarch: Oh, yeah, you can never have enough precision in your soup.
Note from Scott: Yeah, re-watched that episode of the Venture Brothers after I had sent this comic to the newspapers and was surprised and embarrassed to hear the revenge-soup comparison. I had completely forgotten that joke. If I'm had to accidentally steal from a show, I'm glad it was my favorite.
(a) Revenge is sweet.
(b) Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Therefore
(c) Revenge is ice cream.
Well I'd never heard it before, so revenge soup was brand-new awesomeness to me :)
i would have some revenge soup....
Seriusly, in the hipotethical case of Rick being real, you're not gettin a gift tomorrow.
Good stuff thou. (excuse the bad einglish.)
That's nothing, Zach.
I was referring to unsuccessful "Number 2s" as "MacBeths" ("full of sound and fury, signifying nothing) for a full year, before someone reminded me that it, too, was from The Venture Brothers.
Oarsome
Scott, you are a master craftsman. I love all your characters.
The revenge soup; soup that wrecks your digestive system as a payback
for people who have the nerve to eat it.
And "qagh" is best when served live.
I used to believe that "living well was the best revenge" until I tried arson. Sooo much better.
I would totally order revenge soup.
Oddly enough, I like the first two panels best this time.
I might order revenge soup, but not in Mexico. I'd be wary of a certain kind of "revenge."
Very funny that the originator of the "revenge soup" is the guy declaring revenge, not Scott's character.
I think I have seen this in real life. Say something dumb to someone, then later convince them that they said it and they agree that it is dumb! Nice twist.
"Living well is the best revenge" always reminds me of a line in Frasier:
It's a wonderful expression. I just don't know how true it is. You don't see it turning up in a lot of opera plots. "Ludwig, maddened by the poisoning of his entire family, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act by living well! Whereupon Woton, upon discovering his deception, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act again by living even better than the Duke!"
For my money, it's not revenge soup unless there's a horse's head in it.
What, no Valentine's day issue? I was sooo looking forward to Rick or Jenkins or Angry Customer or any relationiship-challenged toad in this nerd universe be the butt of the day's joke.......hmmmmm...
I didn't think one could wreak anything other than havoc. Good to know revenge can be wreaked as well.
If gazpacho is revenge soup, is it best served with pinto beans and muffins?
OMG, did you finally let Ric win for once?!?
I would like to know why Rick declares revenge. Is it general revenge on life, or did Scott do something specific to him?
Panel four... Alien Hand Syndrome? =)
what if this very post was written by an alien hand! unbeknownst to person! =0
Dear Scott,
"...until the adversary forgets about you and let's HIS guard down." HIS guard, dammit, not 'their' guard. The adversary (subject) is singular so the pronoun has to be singular as well. His, not their. Their is plural. You sound like a 7th grade special ed student.
Otherwise, the strip was very funny. I just think the narration should be grammatically correct.
ps: I intentionally misspelled 'dammit.' love the strip.
I know how you feel. I once wrote a tragedy about impossible adolescent love in the fair city of Verona, only to find out later it had been done already. Down to the final poison scene. What a drag.
Chance said what I've been saying for years.
Besides, I bet you never had a clue that Baskin Robbins offered 31 flavors of revenge...
Dear Elyob,
"...until the adversary forgets about you and let's HIS guard down." HIS guard, dammit, not 'their' guard. The adversary (subject) is singular so the pronoun has to be singular as well. His, not their. Their is plural. You sound like a 7th grade special ed student.
let's?? let's??? it's "lets his guard down." There's nothing more annoying than a smug but wrong pedant. DUMMY.
Don't feel too guilty about using the words "they" and "their." There is such a thing as the "singular they" which is widely accepted as a gender-neutral alternative to he/she. It is similar in position to "you," which is both singular and plural, always uses a plural verb form, and is gender-neutral as well.
Chance, Elyob is also ignoring that the "their" construction is creeping into common usage as a gender-neutral replacement for "his." Nobody says "his or her" -- it's silly and awkward, like putting wheels on your pants.
Language evolves over time. For example, in Shakespeare's First Quarto, from the 16th-17th century (really not that long ago compared to all of human history), the entire "to be or not to be" speech is quite different than the one we know now, both in meter and in verse. For example, in that text, sleep is "fleepe," dream is "dreame," everlasting is "euerlafting," "undiscovered" is "vndifcouered," and joyful is "ioyfull" -- among many others.
And I, for one, "uelcome" "Fcott's" "progreffiue" thinking on this "fubiect." ;)
ROSS & JVWA.... you made me laugh as much as the comic today. Thanks!
I saw the Venture Brothers parallel immediately, but honestly it just made me happy that the author of my favorite comic strip also watches my favorite television show.
Full quote: "Live well. It is the greatest revenge"-The Talmud.
Also, Rick's idea is genius. I am so trying it on my "my "opinion" is fact" friend.