Comic Transcripts

[[Gax approaches the debater from the previous comics.]]
Gax: Are YOU the guy who argues with everyone?
Gax: I like anyone who makes a habit of picking useless fights!
Debater: People are too comfortable, I usually assume.

Gax: See, I think that’s NOBLE! Free speech REQUIRES an individual to systematically debate everyone with any conceivable objection to their stated position. Anything less is CENSORSHIP, somehow!

Gax: Being obnoxious is a grand, human tradition, responsible for much progress in the world. I applaud you.
Debater: Well, ACTUALLY
Debater: It’s not always as effective as you’d think. BERATING someone’s beliefs usually just makes them defensive, instead of open to change.
Debater: As a species, humans tend to be great at crafting intellectual rationales for our existing prejudices.

[[The debater has started floating in the air. He begins to vibrate violently.]]
Gax: Did you just argue with me… AGAINST the idea of arguing?
Debater: On the contrary!
Gax: Dude, if this were an 80’s movie, this would be the point where your ears started smoking and then your head would explode!
Debater: On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary!…

{{header: come around to WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Gax has either been here since the 80’s, or he’s watched a lot of Saturday-afternoon local TV. }}

#1139; The Earthworm Bucket, Part 4 (of 4) transcribed by in

[[Gax approaches the debater from the previous comics.]]
Gax: Are YOU the guy who argues with everyone?
Gax: I like anyone who makes a habit of picking useless fights!
Debater: People are too comfortable, I usually assume.

Gax: See, I think that’s NOBLE! Free speech REQUIRES an individual to systematically debate everyone with any conceivable objection to their stated position. Anything less is CENSORSHIP, somehow!

Gax: Being obnoxious is a grand, human tradition, responsible for much progress in the world. I applaud you.
Debater: Well, ACTUALLY
Debater: It’s not always as effective as you’d think. BERATING someone’s beliefs usually just makes them defensive, instead of open to change.
Debater: As a species, humans tend to be great at crafting intellectual rationales for our existing prejudices.

[[The debater has started floating in the air. He begins to vibrate violently.]]
Gax: Did you just argue with me… AGAINST the idea of arguing?
Debater: On the contrary!
Gax: Dude, if this were an 80’s movie, this would be the point where your ears started smoking and then your head would explode!
Debater: On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary!…

{{header: come around to WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Gax has either been here since the 80’s, or he’s watched a lot of Saturday-afternoon local TV. }}

#1139; The Earthworm Bucket, Part 4 (of 4) transcribed by in

[[Gax approaches the debater from the previous comics.]]
Gax: Are YOU the guy who argues with everyone?
Gax: I like anyone who makes a habit of picking useless fights!
Debater: People are too comfortable, I usually assume.

Gax: See, I think that's NOBLE! Free speech REQUIRES an individual to systematically debate everyone with any conceivable objection to their stated position. Anything less is CENSORSHIP, somehow!

Gax: Being obnoxious is a grand, human tradition, responsible for much progress in the world. I applaud you.
Debater: Well, ACTUALLY
Debater: It's not always as effective as you'd think. BERATING someone's beliefs usually just makes them defensive, instead of open to change.
Debater: As a species, humans tend to be great at crafting intellectual rationales for our existing prejudices.

[[The debater has started floating in the air. He begins to vibrate violently.]]
Gax: Did you just argue with me... AGAINST the idea of arguing?
Debater: On the contrary!
Gax: Dude, if this were an 80's movie, this would be the point where your ears started smoking and then your head would explode!
Debater: On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary! On the contrary!...

{{header: come around to WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{alt-text: Gax has either been here since the 80's, or he's watched a lot of Saturday-afternoon local TV. }}

Gax has either been here since the 80's, or he's watched a lot of Saturday-afternoon local TV.

#1139; The Earthworm Bucket, Part 4 (of 4)

  — July 3rd, 2015

[ Tags: , , ]       Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/1139/

(Read this storyline from the beginning.)

Buy a Print

New ways to get Bolted!

July 24, 2026 by David Malki !

In addition to buying things directly from me, the normal way, my game Bolted! is also now available on Amazon dot com.

On that famous website, you can also get the Creature-Crafting Magnets Set, which is made of the same artwork from the game, but is just a weird little trinket (not a playable game).

My kiddo made the elaborate version below to show off just how many magnets you get in the set (it’s 150 pieces in all — this isn’t even all of them).

Also now on Amazon is my set of Multi-Purpose Greeting Cards — a full dozen cards with envelopes in a fancy, unbranded, foil-stamped box!

Event alert!

I’ll also be showing off Bolted! at Greenwood Games, an event in Seattle this Saturday:

Greenwood Games is a free, all-ages community game event that invites players to spend the afternoon walking Greenwood Avenue from 65th to 80th, collecting clues, cracking puzzles, and discovering games made right here in Washington.

Think of it as Pride Hop, ArtWalk, and the Gumshoe all rolled into one,  except the whole thing is built around games and puzzles.​

Local game designers will be set up at different places along Greenwood Avenue in Phinney Ridge (near Ballard). My specific spot will be the “Holy Mountain Phinney Ridge Taproom”. All the information about all the different games & venues is on the website!

(If you’re in Seattle generally but not free tomorrow, Bolted! is also stocked at Blue Highway Games in Queen Anne.)

Next week, I’ll be at Gen Con! I personally will be hanging with my buddy Sam Logan at BFE Webcomics, booth #1217… but I have it on good authority that copies of Bolted! will be available at the CRWN Studios booth, #2549.

Visit one booth! Then the other! The order…is up to you.


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