May 22, 2025 - Here We Go

[RocketScientist]

Update:

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/page-11-2025

[Generic]

MinMax is a major asshole in this page. Yeah, Bowst messed up. But to hos defence, they were ALL messing around before the wall dropped.

I also can not blame Bowst for Kin getting hit. She must have rolled a nat one on that dex save, because, seriously... She dodged INTO that slab.

Also. Bowst did not hesitate to go toe to toe with the giant stone monster he inadvertently... summoned(?).

MinMax, if anyone, should have some understanding for those who do stupid shit in dungeons.

[Krulle]

Bowst was a big asshole pushing his "decision" on the whole group before.
He deserves a punch for having tried to play alphamale and f* the consequences.

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comics/174 ... page11.jpg


But we won't have to see the group for a whole while, as we'll now be switching over to another group ^[1].

[Glemp]

MinMax is a major asshole in this page. Yeah, Bowst messed up. But to hos defence, they were ALL messing around before the wall dropped.

I also can not blame Bowst for Kin getting hit. She must have rolled a nat one on that dex save, because, seriously... She dodged INTO that slab.

Also. Bowst did not hesitate to go toe to toe with the giant stone monster he inadvertently... summoned(?).

MinMax, if anyone, should have some understanding for those who do stupid shit in dungeons.

Yeah, no. Bowst ignored literally everyone telling him it was a bad idea, including Minmax. There's a line between stupidity and arrogance.

► Show Spoiler

[Generic]

So?

Bowst is a morality check for MinMax.A hurdle to overcome in the story about MinMax. Yes, sure! Bowst was ignorant/arrogant and disregards urges not to do stupid shit. But so is MinMax! He bursts straight through "MinMax?", "Brother?" and "Hey, listen." to punch Bowst in the mouth.

Yes. Bowst was bossing Idle around. That is pretty crappy. A punchable offence? I dunno. Let Idle, not MinMax, decide that.
Bowst did not listen to the pleas to "wait". What happened before that? Take a look at Kin, who was OOOH so busy thinking about how to solve the room in the pages leading up to that. Bowst stood there and helped with whatever "Int" score he has for a while (as did MinMax for a bit, I'll give him that). Then Kin gets distracted by Idle and MinMax playing around with buttsex jokes, and Bowst grabs the butt-sex-joker and has her light the candle, ignoring Kin who NOW demands MORE time to do her checks.

Bowst is an asshole, but at least he owned up to it as he rushed into action to do what was needed. The thing is, I don't really care about Bowst. We have been told not to care about Bowst. He even made jokes about it previously, how he is there as a supporting character. He is here to prop up MinMax. (As is pretty much everyone else...)

Bowst is an idiot. But at least he is helping. He was clearly thinking about the situation. He took a, in any other universe, quite reasonable deciscion, though he forced someone to help him in that (expressing: "Stop screwing around!"). When the fight happens, he is there to fight alongside everyone.

What does MinMax do to help anyone before the fight happens? He says "Maybe there is a trick..." and then instantly gets sidetracked. MinMax is ALSO an idiot, and even establishes himself as a VIOLENT idiot, who is arguably less productive than Bowst.

Yeah! I KNOW that Bowst is saying the trope words to make him the villain, and MinMax is supposed to be the protagonist in this story. I know that. But if you look at what happens, this is not casting any good light on MinMax whatsoever.


What I am getting: This group clearly has a problem focusing, and they dearly need a good and proper leader. (Bowst is in no way suitable, but he at least adresses this).

Bowst is bossy and reckless.
MinMax is unfocused and a violent asshole.
Idle is easily distracted and worry too much about details.
Kin is easily distracted and sucks at dodges. She also tells ownership jokes towards another person, something that is quite strange for an ex sex slave.
Ward is barely helpful and mostly an annoyance.
Salt and the Bowlcut is at least trying to help, but are quite ineffective.
And... yeah. Forgath is in the scene, I guess? He knows when to cast spells?

I nominate the paper dragon to be the most effective leader, and most productive member of the group.

[Generic]

MinMax is a major asshole in this page. Yeah, Bowst messed up. But to hos defence, they were ALL messing around before the wall dropped.

I also can not blame Bowst for Kin getting hit. She must have rolled a nat one on that dex save, because, seriously... She dodged INTO that slab.

Also. Bowst did not hesitate to go toe to toe with the giant stone monster he inadvertently... summoned(?).

MinMax, if anyone, should have some understanding for those who do stupid shit in dungeons.

Yeah, no. Bowst ignored literally everyone telling him it was a bad idea, including Minmax. There's a line between stupidity and arrogance.

► Show Spoiler

I go with a group of friends, including two idiots who bicker and do stupid shit all the time. One of them does some reckless shit that puts us in trouble. Yes. he is an idiot. But I will in NO WAY think better of the other idiot (who also do stupid shit all the time) for hitting him in the mouth after the fact. In particular if the first idiot rushes to help without a moments hesitation. All I really learned is that the second idiot has the potential to hit people in the mouth when he is pissed.

I don't find that a particulary good trait.

Maybe I am just strange like that.

[Inspired]

They are strong adult males with low INT scores. They have to let out their frustration somehow, and the most common way to do it is fighting it out, or at least throwing some punches. That does not make any of them assholes, even if in the grand scheme of things these do not really appear to be productive events.

So I respectfully disagree with you, Generic. Bowst does deserve some retorsion for their recklessness: If they want to survive as a party, they might aswell behave like one. MinMax's method to state his opinion on the matter is questionable, but both parties in this situation lack the eloquence to either express (or to comprehend, imho) things. Punching works. Yeah, it is obviously not a shining trait, but condemning someone to be an a-hole because we do not deem their action appropriate is the very same mistake we are accusing them with, just on an intellectual level.

[Generic]

They are strong adult males with low INT scores. They have to let out their frustration somehow, and the most common way to do it is fighting it out, or at least throwing some punches. That does not make any of them assholes, even if in the grand scheme of things these do not really appear to be productive events.

So I respectfully disagree with you, Generic. Bowst does deserve some retorsion for their recklessness: If they want to survive as a party, they might aswell behave like one. MinMax's method to state his opinion on the matter is questionable, but both parties in this situation lack the eloquence to either express (or to comprehend, imho) things. Punching works. Yeah, it is obviously not a shining trait, but condemning someone to be an a-hole because we do not deem their action appropriate is the very same mistake we are accusing them with, just on an intellectual level.

Yeah. Dudes gonna clobber. That just the way they vent steam. No harm done, right?

Kin is in for a rough relationship, just sayin'. Well, she is used to getting hit when misbehaving, and of strong men grabbing her leash, so she should be able to handle MinMax' strong protagonist hands. /S

But yea. Respectfully disagree back. I don't think we'll meet any settlement here.

[Glemp]

Bowst is an asshole, but at least he owned up to it as he rushed into action to do what was needed.

There's much I disagree with here, but I'd like to focus on this line specifically. You're describing the man trying to deny responsibility when the consequences are literally staring him in the face, as 'owning up to it'.

[Generic]

Bowst is an asshole, but at least he owned up to it as he rushed into action to do what was needed.

There's much I disagree with here, but I'd like to focus on this line specifically. You're describing the man trying to deny responsibility when the consequences are literally staring him in the face, as 'owning up to it'.

He charges the giant stone monster without hesitation. He rushed into action.

Yeah. How DARES he try to talk when MinMax comes stomping looking like he wants to go to punch town. How DARES he argue he could not know the "wall was gonna". That a goofy tesla coil kind of stone lady was lying on her back, ready to pop up was clear as day!

That was obvious. Fuck Bowst and his talking. Punching guy is clearly in the right. Because he is the protagonist!

Not defending Bowst really. Noone in the current room is acting like a sane adult.


And no. The consequences are not staring him in the face. MinMax, a violent lunatic, is. He is not a force of nature. Kin is not rushing over to punch an ally. MinMax is.

[Generic]

And no. I do not like MinMax. But I do like this turn of events, I think they are consistent with MinMax' character, and I hope it will lead to some reflection for him.

[Icalasari]

I excuse Minmax here as he is acting as many might in this situation if half dead and angry as hell. It doesn't put him in the right, but man is it *understandable*

[Writes-critically]

I wish they would all just stop for a moment to discuss their plan so that WE could know what to expect from the plot...

[samharbor]

Y'know ive been thinking... Minmax brutally genocided an entire village of goblins for essentially kicks and giggles. Whether or not he punched his moe Howard clone in the face with or without proper etiquette is kinda small beans in the grand scheme of things, isn't it?
Just the idea that a character can be introduced to the readers doing all of these atrocities at the start, and THEN get a redemption arc where he is The Ultimate Fan Favorite GoodBoi? To the point he is arguably the main protagonist at this point? is ... Almost grotesque? Is that fair?

[Generic]

I wish they would all just stop for a moment to discuss their plan so that WE could know what to expect from the plot...

No time for that! They need time to practice their three stooges routine! Ya know, goof around, poke each other in the eyes and do butt jokes!

But don't worry! I know what we'll see.
They will wander around for a couple of IRL years, encountering random rooms, until they will confront the big bad and eventually trap this big bad in a bad position of his/her own making.

Y'know ive been thinking... Minmax brutally genocided an entire village of goblins for essentially kicks and giggles. Whether or not he punched his moe Howard clone in the face with or without proper etiquette is kinda small beans in the grand scheme of things, isn't it?
Just the idea that a character can be introduced to the readers doing all of these atrocities at the start, and THEN get a redemption arc where he is The Ultimate Fan Favorite GoodBoi? To the point he is arguably the main protagonist at this point? is ... Almost grotesque? Is that fair?

He had some character development where he befriended some monsters and turned on Goblin Slayer, but he is still just a big an asshole. Don't get me wrong, I like an anti hero in my stories! But how sweet his and Kin's romance plot is portrayed leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I am game for some destructive romance plots, but it's not where this seems to be heading. They are holding hands, blushing when they bump into one another and... flashing genitals (?)...

Because, face it. Save the rape, MinMax has all the ingredients that made Goblin-Slayer.

[samharbor]

The reason minmax had no trouble slaughtering women, children, and the elderly in the beginning of the comic is because they were evil monsters and he didn't think of them as "people", but like.. is his entire character arc supposed to make me think he regrets slaughtering a village that was essentially a goblin retirement folks home? Is Kin really supposed to be the entirety of what changed him to the point he wouldn't have done what he did to the goblins if he ran into Kin sooner?
What if Kin didn't look like a smoking hot human woman from the waist up. What if she looked like this weird-ass nameless gooey skeleton creature that was just popping out of the wall for the last three months? Would he still care then?

It's all just so shallow and Ridiculous to think that what is pretty much a fantasy equivalent to a racial profiling mass spree gunman- POST KILLING SPREE becoming a cringe Precious Moments figurine could be hailed as a respectable or interesting example of depth.

[Alarikun]

I mean, Eli set up Goblins in the way that your average D&D Campaign treated a fantasy world.

Goblins are monsters, and the general public would consider them as such. They aren't people. They don't have empathy, or care for anyone. They just attack, and kill.

Honestly, while it was handled a bit clumsily at times, Minmax HAS undergone a redemption arc. It took falling in love (and having that ripped away due to a foolish mistake), losing his best friend, and then truly connecting with one of these so called "monsters" for him to begin to empathize with them, and see them as people.

Was Minmax an absolutely TERRIBLE human being at the start of the comic? Yeah. He murdered a bunch of Goblins with a smile on his face.

But over time, and with a great deal of trauma and character development, he got better.

I wouldn't say that he's a good man, but he's better than he was. And he's on the path to becoming a good man.

All that said, I completely understand where he is coming from with punching Bowst. It's not productive, but damn, I'm sure it feels good to punch the guy that REALLY fucked up.

Because, face it. Save the rape, MinMax has all the ingredients that made Goblin-Slayer.

I would say that yes, you are correct. Minmax HAD all the makings of being Dellyn Goblinslayer.

However, he had one line that he wouldn't cross. And when he came to that line, he turned back. In that brief moment, he saw that monster as something other than a monster, and it set him on the path to redemption.

I'm not saying that the Goblins should forgive him, or see him as a good person. Nor should we, necessarily.

But he has been improving since that day.

[metalusVerne]

Long time lurker and reader, had to register to reply to this ridiculous idea that Minmax is completely out of line and in the wrong for punching Bowst here.

Bowst just willfully ignored the rest of the party, and ordered people around to take a stupid action that resulted in a dangerous, unnecessary fight that nearly killed a member of the party. Then, afterwards, he deliberately and brazenly declaims responsibility.
It's clear from https://www.goblinscomic.com/comics/173 ... -page3.jpg that he's used to being able to order Idle around without much pushback (seriously, people talking about Kin being in for an abusive relationship? How about her?) and he needs to be sharply corrected.

Now, is the perfect answer to punch him in the face? Of course not. It's something more like telling him, in an extremely direct and uncompromising way, that yes, his actions and (more importantly) his choices directly led to this. That he is responsible for every injury and every lost hitpoint from this fight - and every injury and lost hitpoint that results, later today, from the expended resources here. That even if those future losses cannot all be exactly counted, and will not be able to be unambiguously traced back to this fight, they'll still be on him. That Kin nearly died, and he's damn lucky she didn't, because then her death would be on his hands. The correct action is to tell him that he gets a chance to shape up now, but if he ever willfully pulls a stupid stunt like this again, Minmax will do whatever he needs to to ensure that he's never a danger to the party - or possibly, anyone else - again.

But that's the 18 WIS/18 CHA Cleric/Paladin of Tyr answer. Minmax is not that person.

In the context of being violent warriors who go out on a regular basis and fight monsters, a punch like this should not be a colossal deal. It is justified. And furthermore, it is unreasonable to expect Minmax to be a perfectly stoic and calm mediator, especially at a time like this.

[Generic]

Long time lurker and reader, had to register to reply to this ridiculous idea that Minmax is completely out of line and in the wrong for punching Bowst here.

Bowst just willfully ignored the rest of the party, and ordered people around to take a stupid action that resulted in a dangerous, unnecessary fight that nearly killed a member of the party. Then, afterwards, he deliberately and brazenly declaims responsibility.
It's clear from https://www.goblinscomic.com/comics/173 ... -page3.jpg that he's used to being able to order Idle around without much pushback (seriously, people talking about Kin being in for an abusive relationship? How about her?) and he needs to be sharply corrected.

Now, is the perfect answer to punch him in the face? Of course not. It's something more like telling him, in an extremely direct and uncompromising way, that yes, his actions and (more importantly) his choices directly led to this. That he is responsible for every injury and every lost hitpoint from this fight - and every injury and lost hitpoint that results, later today, from the expended resources here. That even if those future losses cannot all be exactly counted, and will not be able to be unambiguously traced back to this fight, they'll still be on him. That Kin nearly died, and he's damn lucky she didn't, because then her death would be on his hands. The correct action is to tell him that he gets a chance to shape up now, but if he ever willfully pulls a stupid stunt like this again, Minmax will do whatever he needs to to ensure that he's never a danger to the party - or possibly, anyone else - again.

But that's the 18 WIS/18 CHA Cleric/Paladin of Tyr answer. Minmax is not that person.

In the context of being violent warriors who go out on a regular basis and fight monsters, a punch like this should not be a colossal deal. It is justified. And furthermore, it is unreasonable to expect Minmax to be a perfectly stoic and calm mediator, especially at a time like this.

So... Bowst is a reckless asshole, just like MinMax?

I am glad I inspired you to post.

From MinMax perspective, this was a couple of days ago:

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/09042013
https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/10222013

[metalusVerne]

Long time lurker and reader, had to register to reply to this ridiculous idea that Minmax is completely out of line and in the wrong for punching Bowst here.

Bowst just willfully ignored the rest of the party, and ordered people around to take a stupid action that resulted in a dangerous, unnecessary fight that nearly killed a member of the party. Then, afterwards, he deliberately and brazenly declaims responsibility.
It's clear from https://www.goblinscomic.com/comics/173 ... -page3.jpg that he's used to being able to order Idle around without much pushback (seriously, people talking about Kin being in for an abusive relationship? How about her?) and he needs to be sharply corrected.

Now, is the perfect answer to punch him in the face? Of course not. It's something more like telling him, in an extremely direct and uncompromising way, that yes, his actions and (more importantly) his choices directly led to this. That he is responsible for every injury and every lost hitpoint from this fight - and every injury and lost hitpoint that results, later today, from the expended resources here. That even if those future losses cannot all be exactly counted, and will not be able to be unambiguously traced back to this fight, they'll still be on him. That Kin nearly died, and he's damn lucky she didn't, because then her death would be on his hands. The correct action is to tell him that he gets a chance to shape up now, but if he ever willfully pulls a stupid stunt like this again, Minmax will do whatever he needs to to ensure that he's never a danger to the party - or possibly, anyone else - again.

But that's the 18 WIS/18 CHA Cleric/Paladin of Tyr answer. Minmax is not that person.

In the context of being violent warriors who go out on a regular basis and fight monsters, a punch like this should not be a colossal deal. It is justified. And furthermore, it is unreasonable to expect Minmax to be a perfectly stoic and calm mediator, especially at a time like this.

So... Bowst is a reckless asshole, just like MinMax?

I am glad I inspired you to post.

From MinMax perspective, this was a couple of days ago:

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/09042013
https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/10222013

There is a world of difference between succumbing to an impulse in the moment to reach out and physically grab someone (even if, upon reflection, you know that it was a bad idea and a transgression of boundaries), and a deliberate, willful, stupid decision with consequences, taken despite multiple people telling you to stop, and to which you express an absolute lack of any remorse or reflection after the fact.

[Generic]

Long time lurker and reader, had to register to reply to this ridiculous idea that Minmax is completely out of line and in the wrong for punching Bowst here.

Bowst just willfully ignored the rest of the party, and ordered people around to take a stupid action that resulted in a dangerous, unnecessary fight that nearly killed a member of the party. Then, afterwards, he deliberately and brazenly declaims responsibility.
It's clear from https://www.goblinscomic.com/comics/173 ... -page3.jpg that he's used to being able to order Idle around without much pushback (seriously, people talking about Kin being in for an abusive relationship? How about her?) and he needs to be sharply corrected.

Now, is the perfect answer to punch him in the face? Of course not. It's something more like telling him, in an extremely direct and uncompromising way, that yes, his actions and (more importantly) his choices directly led to this. That he is responsible for every injury and every lost hitpoint from this fight - and every injury and lost hitpoint that results, later today, from the expended resources here. That even if those future losses cannot all be exactly counted, and will not be able to be unambiguously traced back to this fight, they'll still be on him. That Kin nearly died, and he's damn lucky she didn't, because then her death would be on his hands. The correct action is to tell him that he gets a chance to shape up now, but if he ever willfully pulls a stupid stunt like this again, Minmax will do whatever he needs to to ensure that he's never a danger to the party - or possibly, anyone else - again.

But that's the 18 WIS/18 CHA Cleric/Paladin of Tyr answer. Minmax is not that person.

In the context of being violent warriors who go out on a regular basis and fight monsters, a punch like this should not be a colossal deal. It is justified. And furthermore, it is unreasonable to expect Minmax to be a perfectly stoic and calm mediator, especially at a time like this.

So... Bowst is a reckless asshole, just like MinMax?

I am glad I inspired you to post.

From MinMax perspective, this was a couple of days ago:

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/09042013
https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/10222013

There is a world of difference between succumbing to an impulse in the moment to reach out and physically grab someone (even if, upon reflection, you know that it was a bad idea and a transgression of boundaries), and a deliberate, willful, stupid decision with consequences, taken despite multiple people telling you to stop, and to which you express an absolute lack of any remorse or reflection after the fact.

Nah. He is reflecting. He is right. There was no reasonable way to know that "the wall was gonna".

His error was that he disregarded the advice of everyone else. Not that he summoned an over the top monster.

Everyone else gave all the impression in the world that they were gonna run around and play grabass instead of getting them out of the room.

Summary: everyone is an idiot, MinMax is a violent idiot.

Also: The MOMENT Kin's "second collar" (as Ruby put it), was gone, he reached for the first collar. And then he stood there, holding it for ages. That is no simple grab. That is storytelling. MinMax is a forceful idiot, and Kin is locked to him through the Avatar I See You-bullshit.

If this arc turns out to be sweet, without any proper character growth...

[metalusVerne]

So... Bowst is a reckless asshole, just like MinMax?

I am glad I inspired you to post.

From MinMax perspective, this was a couple of days ago:

https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/09042013
https://www.goblinscomic.com/comic/10222013

There is a world of difference between succumbing to an impulse in the moment to reach out and physically grab someone (even if, upon reflection, you know that it was a bad idea and a transgression of boundaries), and a deliberate, willful, stupid decision with consequences, taken despite multiple people telling you to stop, and to which you express an absolute lack of any remorse or reflection after the fact.

Nah. He is reflecting. He is right. There was no reasonable way to know that "the wall was gonna".

His error was that he disregarded the advice of everyone else. Not that he summoned an over the top monster.

Everyone else gave all the impression in the world that they were gonna run around and play grabass instead of getting them out of the room.

Summary: everyone is an idiot, MinMax is a violent idiot.

Also: The MOMENT Kin's "second collar" (as Ruby put it), was gone, he reached for the first collar. And then he stood there, holding it for ages. That is no simple grab. That is storytelling. MinMax is a forceful idiot, and Kin is locked to him through the Avatar I See You-bullshit.

If this arc turns out to be sweet, without any proper character growth...

This is a dungeon. You may not know for sure that blundering around like a moron will cause a trap to pop up, but it is a reasonably forseeable possibility, caused by his deliberate, willfully reckless actions against the party's consensus. It's the equivalent of going out, getting drunk, being told by your friends "You're too drunk to drive", driving drunk anyway, getting in a car crash that hurts someone (actually that hurts one of the people who told you not to drive drunk), and then going "There was no way to know that I'd get in an accident just because I drove drunk!"

And I don't read the collar page like that at all. It looks to me like Minmax instinctively reached out to grab something, grabbed the leash, and (having a low INT and WIS), took a moment to remember what the leash does and what him grabbing it did. To suggest that he deliberately decided to grab the leash to compel her to stay using its magic is both to interpret the page in a way that doesn't seem to me to match the art, and also to ignore the context of his actions before and after that moment in the story.