Comic Archive

Heidi: We should try killing our avatars one more time.
Adil: Not again!
Heidi: I know it is a horrible experience, but our first respawn may have altered the state of the system. It is worth a try.

Adil: OK, but then not through a suicide booth. “Relatively painless…” my ass!
Zhang: I also cannot recommend the motor oil extract tea. I am willing to take an elevator to avoid repeating that.
Alana: Then I would recommend the ‘skydive.’ The pain was bad, but very short. And, the dive was actually exciting…

We again see the team in the same starting spot, with some of them still materializing.
SFX: WHOOOSHH…
Zhang: Well, that didn't work either… now what?

Alana: The virtual suicides obviously do not work to get out of here. Let's not try it a third time. Any other suggestions, Heidi?
Heidi: None at the moment. The best we can do is continue exploring. If we could find a way to restore contact with OIB-A271, our chances of exiting this simulation would be much higher.

Adil: I don't know what we hope to achieve by further exposing us to this madness. Asking the local population will not help, given how dumb they are.
Max: I would say on the contrary. It will be a practical way to find out more about this future. Say, is anyone else finding it unpleasantly hot here?

Heidi: Considering altitude of the sun and time of day, it must be early spring or late fall, yet it does feel like summer. The simulated sensation of temperature should be accurate… much better than the smell part.
Max: Then I guess the climate must be just as messed up as the average intelligence level.

Alana: If we want to waste minimal time asking for information, we should try to find someone who is minimally dumb.
Steve: How about that garbage man over there. Perhaps the dumbest jobs are performed by the smartest persons in this future, heh.
Alana: Well, why not; we need to start somewhere…

Alana: Hi there, do you prefer square wheels over round wheels?
Garbage man: Well, round… I think. Square wheels seem a bit dumb to me.
Max: Gee, you may be on to something, Steve…

Steve: Do you happen to know if there is a history museum nearby?
Garbage man: Well, yes, but why would you want to go there? Almost nobody does.
Steve: Well, we are trying to be a bit… less dumb.
Garbage man: I like it when people want to be smart. I can take you there.

Max: So, a lowly garbage man is one of the smartest persons in the future… did we get transported into the Dilbert universe by any chance?
Heidi: I hope not, considering what happened to that universe… I am sure there is some logical explanation though, but I cannot think of any right now.

Max: What's your name?
Garbage man: Alfred.
Max: Hi Alfred, I'm Max. You seem to want to become smarter. Am I right that this is a bit… unusual in these times?
Alfred: Well yeah, nobody seems to want to think much.
Max: Do you know why? Does nobody go to school anymore?

Alfred: School? That barely exists anymore. Only basics, reading, using punch screens…
Max: Punch screens?
Alfred: Yeah, you're not from here, are you? You know, punch the thing on the screen to make it work…
Heidi: Wait, I think I know what this is about, I have experienced it in the… booth.