Comic for Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026

[Darth Fluffy 377]

Comic for Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026

Mr. Dunkel is a fount of exposition in this comic. Hope agrees this is so, she experiences it as wind.

Mrs Dunkel is herself adorable in this comic, thinking Hope is adorable.

Hope seems a bit overwhelmed by them.

[mlooney 3,821]

As DS linked to, this adds to the lore that Mr. Dunkel, at least, is some sort of agent.  Not a DGB agent, but some sort of other law enforcement/intelligence service agent.  Or he's a burned spy who didn't fight his burn notice.¹

 

¹Speaking of which, I need to rewatch that show instead of just my current trend of just watching Mythbusters videos.

[Darth Fluffy 377]

3 hours ago, mlooney said:

As DS linked to, this adds to the lore that Mr. Dunkel, at least, is some sort of agent.  Not a DGB agent, but some sort of other law enforcement/intelligence service agent.  Or he's a burned spy who didn't fight his burn notice.¹

 

¹Speaking of which, I need to rewatch that show instead of just my current trend of just watching Mythbusters videos.

My impression was 'lawyer'.

[ijuin 611]

His emphasis on her rights does suggest that he is a magic-aware attorney.

[mlooney 3,821]

2 hours ago, Darth Fluffy said:

My impression was 'lawyer'.

 

2 hours ago, ijuin said:

His emphasis on her rights does suggest that he is a magic-aware attorney.

Being a lawyer wouldn't explain his knowledge of doing search parties, but it's a good 2nd guess.

[Amiable Dorsai 74]

Mostly as a joke, but I've long held that the Dunkels are retired superheroes. IIRC, it was this strip https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2002-07-12 that got me thinking along this line. Why was Elliot's car so peculiar that Teed freaked out over it? He didn't seem like the sort to build his own, did his parents give it to him? Was it their "Batmobile" equivalent? The idea dovetailed nicely with their casual reaction to their son being transformed into a woman by his mad scientist best friend.

[mlooney 3,821]

2 hours ago, Amiable Dorsai said:

Mostly as a joke, but I've long held that the Dunkels are retired superheroes. IIRC, it was this strip https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2002-07-12 that got me thinking along this line. Why was Elliot's car so peculiar that Teed freaked out over it? He didn't seem like the sort to build his own, did his parents give it to him? Was it their "Batmobile" equivalent? The idea dovetailed nicely with their casual reaction to their son being transformed into a woman by his mad scientist best friend.

Ok, that is a good number three.

1 agent (or ex agent)

2 lawyer

3 retired superheroes

What's number 4?

[Darth Fluffy 377]

1 hour ago, mlooney said:

What's number 4?

Ex military, familiar with recon operations and usefulness of various esoteric trivia.

[mlooney 3,821]

36 minutes ago, Darth Fluffy said:

Ex military, familiar with recon operations and usefulness of various esoteric trivia.

That's sort of what I had in mind for “Agent.” I sort of had Michael Westen or Sam Axe in mind there.  But a 19D (Cav scout) or a USMC Scout/Sniper would work.

[Pharaoh RutinTutin 1,664]

 

Interesting ideas. 

 

My guess was that Mr Dunkle was a fan of the classic 60s spy movies & tv programs.  I Spy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Get Smart, James Bond. 

[mlooney 3,821]

OK, the list is:

1. Agent or former agent.
2. Lawyer
3. Retired super hero
4. Military scout
5. Fan of spy shows and movies.
   
   Of course DS is never going to reveal what the real answer is, but I think this just about covers it.

[Darth Fluffy 377]

12 hours ago, Pharaoh RutinTutin said:

 

Interesting ideas. 

 

My guess was that Mr Dunkle was a fan of the classic 60s spy movies & tv programs.  I Spy, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Get Smart, James Bond. 

The Dunkel From Uncle.

Is it weird that Napoleon Solo was part of a duo?