As of May 21, the fifth installment of the current "party" storyline goes live. Up to now, episodes have been self-contained, or strung along in short fits of continuity (e.g. Lalia's classroom embarrassment, "licking" embarrassment, cafeteria binge, and Trevor's discussion with Matt). Still, the location changed reliably from strip to strip. For the first time, we're staying somewhere, and some-when, to see how things play out over the course of a single night.

I'm very interested in how this is coming across to you all, whether it adds any interest, changes the feel of the story, or influences your expectations for upcoming episodes.

This would also be a good place to talk about any aspect of this particular storyline.

Well, it's only been 13 panels (or something like that), and I think introducing a mini-story during several strips that happen in only 1 night is a very good idea. You can see the true colors of the different characters you've introduced to us and how they are acting during the party reflects well they nature (after seeing the first strip of the story, maybe it will go into something deeper). You draw Lalia's overindulgence deliciously and Jane's shyness is very representative of her personnality.

All I can say is keep up the great work !

I think the fact that this scene is relatively static really helps with character development. I think it's a nice change from the transience of the previous scenarios. I'm always eager to see what happens next.

I just hope that Lalia doesn't get sick from all those pizzas, which I'm guessing/hoping she's going to eat.

At least it adds a certain sense of time-scale... I mean, there has been no real sense of time apart from day and night as we've jumped hours without warning in the previous strips.

Now, lots of stuff is happening in a short period of time which is great, much more realistic for a party.

Although how Lalia manages to eat all the chips, rootbeer, nachos etc WITHOUT anyone seeing is kinda un-nerving :P

She has magical absorbing powers now?

I'm loving it! Especially now that Jane's in the picture. I love seeing everything from different people's points of view...makes it more "epic".

very good work. Changing the "pace" a little allows char development (as we see here for Jane), and that's a good thing. ^^

I wanted to say hi and congratulate you on a fantastic comic.

Also I was thinking about Thursdays episode and you said you like to be offered ideas right?

My thoughts are.... brace yourself ...
I'm guessing (ok also hoping) that those 11 pizzas that Lalia's holding are going to end up inside her along with what ever other food she can acquire so maybe in the next page it can start with Jane making small talk with this guy whilst trying to leave, at the same time in the background there can be cheering and chants of encouragement from the crowd for Lalia as she proceeds to wolf down the 1st 4 pizzas
Then maybe a panel showing Lalia looking very pleased and about to stuff herself with the remaining 7 Pizzas, in this panel I'm thinking she'd be about as large as she was in the "Celebration" page
Then cut back to Jane chatting with the guy then again in the background a big round of applause provoking Jane to exclaim "What going on?". She peers through the crowd and gasps whilst a thought bubble from her says "My god! Surely one more mouthful and she'll burst!".
Then cut to a panel showing Lalia polishing of the last slice of Pizza and this time she's about twice as large as before i.e. Celebration size x2. Then maybe if you really want to go for it you can have Lalia's stomach growl again indicating she's still hungry.

In the bits with Jane I'd like to see her making friends with this guy as it would take her out of her shell a bit. Well making friends inbetween the distractions of Lalia gorging in the background.


I hope that doesn't all sound too much like the ramblings of a madman but I jotted it down in a hurry.

First off, DanDan I would say is practically a genius, at least in my personal opinion.

I also enjoy having the story stay in place for once as oppose to jumping around a lot. It makes it a lot easier for you to develop the characters and for us to understand them. I think it's a great idea, but just becareful not to have it drag on to long.

I'm glad it's working for you guys. I agree, taking more time allows the characters to demonstrate more personality. There's less necessity to explain a lot of basic things in a hurry.

DanDan's premonition is plausible. Although I know where things are going overall, I like to change details of the plan as I go, to keep everything fresh for me and improve the impact of each scene. So I will definitely be checking back here to see what other ideas get floated.

Thankyou for the vote of confidence CC.

I second DanDan's idea, as well! Can't wait to see what actually happens!!!

Keep up the good work!

I personally think it would hilarious if she woke up the next morning after the party and was not skinny this time...even if she does end up "snapping back" after a while. Even stubbornness can only last so long against that appetite...right?

Well, this is the input thread, after all.

I was thinking something along the very same lines. It would be interesting to see how she gets through a normal day like that.

i agree about eating all the pizzas, i would like to see another hardcore stuffing scene, but she finds a guy whos into tht stuff....just an idea, other than that, i love love love the strip, u do amazing work man.

Well it seems to be going in a similar direction to the one that I suggested. i.e Jane's flirting with her man and Lalia is expanding at a rate of knots although it seems she hasn't gobbled all the pizza herself.

Comparing the images on the two pages Lalia seems to have equalled the overindulgence in terms of the size of her bulging belly that she achieved in "Celebrating" and looks poised to (here's hoping) surpass the size she achieved back then.


What say you Mr author?

Mmm maybe I'm just being non-conformist but I'm hoping for a real sudden change in direction which catches everyone off-guard

I'm hoping at some point that Lalia will take a short breather from eating non-stop and notices Jane and 'Mystery Pink Shirt Guy' chatting quietly and having a good time, and comes to the realisation, after taking a good look at herself, that she's all alone, all of her 'admirers' are just treating her as some sort of freak-show, novelty act eyecandy and don't appreciate her the way she really wants to be.

Maybe that'll be the point that she leaves the party, goes for a walk to collect her thoughts and bumps into the guy who likes her... umm... Trevor right?

*bad memory* :P

Anyway that's my 2 cents... although I'm British

I think the idea about Lalia chugging down pizzas in a contest-like fashion would sound plausible. She already has won the attention of the crowd, so it's possible there could evolve some sort of situation witht the gang shouting: "How much can you eat? One more Pizza!! La-lia, La-lia, La-lia..."

That could also provide a possibility for Jane and Mr. Pink to either slip away and talk privately or stay, and comment on Lalia - this way Jane could reveal more her own thoughts about her reckless roomie?

Another possibility: Kim gets fed up (no pun intended) with Lalia stealing away her party (like what almost happened in the baking club) and somehow confronts her. Then we would see how Lalia would react to hostility - I guess she would find it embarrassing and leave?

Is there any chance we'll see Trevor in this scene anymore? I guess not, unless:
Kim gets bitchy and tells Lalia off. Lalia leaves the party, feeling humiliated (again). She rushes outside without Jane (Jane perhaps in another room at this point?). Outside, Trevor is still on the bridge where we last saw him, and Jeebus, Lalia shows up there! She is somewhat drunk from the party, emotionally in a bad shape and so full of pizza she can't get home on her own. Trevor gets to see Lalia in her most vulnerable state, and gets to be "a knight in shinign armour". Alternatively, his romantic visions are shattered by the reality of this stuffed-to-the-max, drunk party-girl.

I'd love to see:

- The budding romance with Jane following its logical course;

- Kim softening/humanizing a bit, instead of being constantly angry. (Maybe we could replace her with an angry comic book fan who doesn't like humorous strips with big breasts!)

- Lalia continuing to eat and balloon even more. (Hey, it's fun to watch!)

- Trevor getting to spend a few brief moments with her outside after the party;

- Lalia meeting another gal who shares her interests (eating? baking cakes? etc.?)


Just suggestion box stuff. I like Ulysses' suggestion of a pizza-eating contest, too.

By the way, has our talented comic creator ever seen those IFOCE hot-dog eating contests on TV?

If I was Kim, Lailia's behavior at the party might give me an idea on how to eliminate my main rival. Perhaps she'll show up to the next baking class with a basketful of fattening goodies for Lailia to "sample"?

Great comic. Enjoying it immensely!

Heh. I have an idea for some funny strips:
It's late at night and Lalia wakes Jane up so they can sneak out to somewhere. (movie/another party/etc). They head over to the window so as not to get caught. Jane can slide through first. Then Lalia can attempt to squeeze through the window but she can get stuck. Jane tries to get her out but she won't budge. Dun...dun...duuun.
=) Just a suggestion.
GREAT JOB ON THE COMIC BY THE WAY!!! You're wonderful.

How about this:
After watching Lalia down another pizza or three, Kim, intent on getting revenge on Lalia for hijacking her party (albeit unintentional - Lalia just can't help being the life of the party!), and not understanding Lalia's near-infinite capacity, challenges her to a beer chugging contest, thinking to hand Lalia a humiliating defeat. After all, with all the pizza, chips, beer and who knows what else she's already packed away, how can Lalia possibly finish even one more beer? ...because the word "full" has no meaning to our beautiful redheaded heroine, that's how! And as Kim tries in vain to keep up with Lalia in the fateful contest of her own choosing, we note a slight distention of her belly just before she is forced to painfully and humiliatingly accept her defeat with a quick and unceremonious departure to the ladies' room. As she involuntarily prays to the porcelin god, she can still hear the crowd cheering Lalia on as our irresistably insatiable Goddess of gluttony continues to gorge herself, not even noticing the sudden dissapearance of her "competitor," for, to Lalia, the contest had never been with Kim, but rather against herself.
Kim, of course, will have to call an end to the party, while trying to salvage as much dignity as possible, and without much protest from her guests, as there isn't even a scrap of food or drop of beer left in the house! This event will trigger an ongoing obsession for Kim to find a way to use Lalia's appetite against her by "befriending" her in order to fatten her up, always encouraging her to eat more and more to send her gluttony spiralling (even more) out of control. This plan, of course, is doomed for failure due to Lalia's magically magnificent metabolism!
Meanwhile, oblivious to it all, sweet super-stuffed Lalia takes to the streets, struggling a bit adjusting to her new center of gravity, and coincidentally stumbles upon a familiar face gazing up at the stars. Trevor, to his delight, pinches himself as the object of his dreams approaches, outshining even the brightest of stars, and as his eyes glide down from her gorgeous face (mandatorily pausing to admire her breathtaking breasts) to encompass the full glorious grandeur that is our lovely Lalia, he realizes that she has grown even more beautiful since last he saw her. Seizing the opportunity to finally make contact, he reaches out to help steady her, and thus begins the most fulfilling journey of his life...

Im liking the idea of either dandans idea of an eating compition, or bigbellyfan1s idea for a drinking contest. Both would bring lalia even more to the center of the party (as if she isnt already ) And the drinking contest with kim would defo be interesting to watch.

An image of lalia lying drunk, and half asleep from her binge on the couch with her dress straining to contain her contest winning belly, with people giving remarks about the state shes in, how can she eat so much, etc would be an interesting end to the night. Either way, loving the way this is going so far. Anybody want to join me in a bet if that dress will hold till the end of the night?

I'm not the betting type but I have firm belief that since this is a comic universe dress, it will stretch (as it stretches our imaginations) but it will hold. Remember, according to the Author, "she's a trooper."

I dunno about the eating or drinking contest but I am curious to see where the author goes with the story elements thus far.

Yep, Allen, I think that's what I don't like about the dress--it's too darn resilient!

Next costume contest, I hope we get a white cotton button-up blouse and a pair of very snug hiphuggers. ;-)

Agreed with your suggestion of Lalia snapping back slowly the next day, hopefully with frantic efforts to find blue jeans that button, and so on.

Gee, this comic is fun. We don't sound like unenlightened lecherous males, do we?

I think after the party story arc you should have an arc of her trying to loose weight and going on a diet like eating rice cakes. But in return, she will eat like 2 bags full of rice cakes or something like that lol.

Maybe all of her clothes are made of unstable molecules like the costumes of the Fantastic Four and can be way stretched out and then return to their original shape, just like her?

Me thinketh not.

Or maybe she keeps several pairs of size 16+ jeans and t-shirts around, just in case-?

Nahhhhh!

But assuming something like this occurs (which is admittedly a rather big assumption on my part, no offense to the Author), the Author has no doubt already thought of something unique and appropriate for the situation.



Some people may consider us "unenlightened" for whatever reason... but lecherous? Never!

bigbellyfan1's or DanDan's ideas (either or both) sound like my ideal direction for this arc to go. And I also don't hate the idea of the 'slow snap back' (especially since it's basically a version of what I already suggested, but adjusted enough that you don't lose the non/anti-FA fans).

Regarding the recent comic: Rawr! Wow, Author, so nice!!! Lalia is looking incredible on that couch... I loved the "false dichotomy" comment too :D There is nothing sexier than powerful and shameless urges and equally powerful and shameless intelligence. I hope the night is just beginning for Lalia.

What would make Lalia complete would be an admirer or two who could urge her on to "broader" achievements... and perhaps give her an appropriate set of rewards (tastefully out of frame, perhaps, but implicit all the same) for achieving them so fully.

I can't right that much, so I'll just agree with some random person...

*Puts on blindfold, spins in circles, and points*

*Takes off the blindfold*

BigBellyFan1, you win my vote!

I have to say I'm very much looking forward to tomorrows exciting new instalment.