Apparently it’s a sore subject with trans people. I don’t really understand it. On the QC message board, I understand the mods pretty much instantly lock threads where speculation about this appears, even long ones about innocuous topics that drift into this area. I don’t think they ban folks, but I really don’t hang out over there. But AFAICT, the whole topic is very much frowned upon.
Which I guess I can respect, since I’m not trans and have no idea of trans folk sensibilities. But here’s the thing: whether us as readers speculate about this or not, at some point Claire and Marten must discuss it. And that’s a fascinating conversation to witness, and apparently we won’t be privy to it.
Given that she’s in Grad school I’d say she pretty far along.
Jeph is probably saying NOYB because he gets enough stupid flak from fringe gender issues and Claire’s reveal was part of the storyline that drove him to stab himself.
Indeed, we’ve heard all about Faye’s family trauma, Hannelore’s OCD, and Marigold’s sexual awakening. We’ve seen Marten and Dora in bed together, and there’s been plenty of discussion of Faye’s and Marigold’s breasts.
Certainly, Jeph’s under no obligation to go into detail about any aspect of Claire’s transition that he doesn’t want to or doesn’t deem important to the narrative. He has every right to make artistic choices about how to work with Claire, and I’m sure he can write the story perfectly well without providing that particular reveal.
To take an aggrieved tone, though, that it’s prurient to speculate about the intimate lives of his characters seems to misconstrue our shared history with all of these people.
Indeed. I like Jeph’s comic, and I like his Deathmole albums, but I think if I ever had to be in the same room as him for 5 minutes, I’d end up punching him in the face.
The QC forums spend about 20% of their time discussing the comic and 80% of their time wondering if the accidentally offended someone.
Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely that the SS Clariten sets sail and doesn’t end up making port in O-Town for both the characters (a celibate couple in QC? riiiiiiiiight), and given that Claire doesn’t seem like an anal adventurer, the chances that Jeph won’t obliquely state that she had surgery seem low.
Well, more like ‘having brought up Claire’ s status in act one, have it be a plot point by Act three’.
In short, unless Claire’s status was somehow significant for the story at some point, why introduce it? So far, it has been largely without significance - except to demonstrate that Marten was cool with it. Which of course raises the question - exactly what is it that Martin is cool with, as a romantic/sexual interest? Female parts, male parts, or not knowing which?
If it is all to be a secret never revealed to the audience, so that even asking about it is offensive - strikes me as silly to make a romantic/sexual drama based on that premise. Of course, in real life it isn’t anyone’s business - but this isn’t real life: it is an entertainment.
Scene: outside Marten’s apartment building, we see the window of his apartment (first panel here). There are voices within.
Voice 1: “Okay, here we go. Nnngh.”
Voice 2: “Arghflgl. Is that really going to fit?”
Voice 1: “Just a little more…”
Voice 2: “Ah! Go slow, go slow!”
Cut to apartment. Claire and Marten are moving furniture. Claire: “I told you the couch wouldn’t fit on this end of the room!”
And we’ll have no idea who was trying to fit what in where in the imaginary scenario.
Reminds me somewhat of the classic Fleisher cartoon “Barnacle Bill”.
Bimbo (as Barnacle Bill) and Betty are in a room with the curtains drawn; the neighbours are seen gossiping; the curtains draw back - to show them playing checkers.
