Comic Transcripts

[[MACK and MABEL, sitting forlornly in a room.]]
MACK: Okay, here’s the plan.

MACK: We’ll fashion a rope ladder from your petticoat.
Weighted with stones, we’ll throw it onto the roof and hook it over the ledge.
[[He envisions MABEL climbing said rope ladder.]]

MACK: Then, we’ll pry off all the rain gutters, lashing them end-to-end with bits of the ladder using sticks as splints.
While you erect the gutters like a flagpole, I’ll place the other end in contact with the doorknob.
[[He envisions himself working on the gutter-flagpole.]]

[[He envisions lightning striking the makeshift lightning-rod.]]
MACK: Once lightning hits our rod, the charge will travel down the copper gutters, superheat the doorknob assembly, and momentarily soften the deadbolt enough for me to batter the door open.

MABEL: Or we could wait five more minutes for Zach to arrive with our spare keys.
MACK: THAT DOES NOT AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY!

{{Header: plan it out at WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{Alt-text: If we had gotten OnStar for the front door like I WANTED, this wouldn’t have HAPPENED.}}

#539; In which Circumstances must be Conquered transcribed by in

[[MACK and MABEL, sitting forlornly in a room.]]
MACK: Okay, here’s the plan.

MACK: We’ll fashion a rope ladder from your petticoat.
Weighted with stones, we’ll throw it onto the roof and hook it over the ledge.
[[He envisions MABEL climbing said rope ladder.]]

MACK: Then, we’ll pry off all the rain gutters, lashing them end-to-end with bits of the ladder using sticks as splints.
While you erect the gutters like a flagpole, I’ll place the other end in contact with the doorknob.
[[He envisions himself working on the gutter-flagpole.]]

[[He envisions lightning striking the makeshift lightning-rod.]]
MACK: Once lightning hits our rod, the charge will travel down the copper gutters, superheat the doorknob assembly, and momentarily soften the deadbolt enough for me to batter the door open.

MABEL: Or we could wait five more minutes for Zach to arrive with our spare keys.
MACK: THAT DOES NOT AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY!

{{Header: plan it out at WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{Alt-text: If we had gotten OnStar for the front door like I WANTED, this wouldn’t have HAPPENED.}}

#539; In which Circumstances must be Conquered transcribed by in

[[MACK and MABEL, sitting forlornly in a room.]]
MACK: Okay, here's the plan.

MACK: We'll fashion a rope ladder from your petticoat.
Weighted with stones, we'll throw it onto the roof and hook it over the ledge.
[[He envisions MABEL climbing said rope ladder.]]

MACK: Then, we'll pry off all the rain gutters, lashing them end-to-end with bits of the ladder using sticks as splints.
While you erect the gutters like a flagpole, I'll place the other end in contact with the doorknob.
[[He envisions himself working on the gutter-flagpole.]]

[[He envisions lightning striking the makeshift lightning-rod.]]
MACK: Once lightning hits our rod, the charge will travel down the copper gutters, superheat the doorknob assembly, and momentarily soften the deadbolt enough for me to batter the door open.

MABEL: Or we could wait five more minutes for Zach to arrive with our spare keys.
MACK: THAT DOES NOT AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VICTORY!

{{Header: plan it out at WONDERMARK.COM}}
{{Alt-text: If we had gotten OnStar for the front door like I WANTED, this wouldn't have HAPPENED.}}

If we had gotten OnStar for the front door like I WANTED, this wouldn't have HAPPENED.

#539; In which Circumstances must be Conquered

  — July 31st, 2009

[ Tags: , ]       Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/539/

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Applications open for Genius Northwest – an IRL gaming competition

May 8, 2026 by David Malki !

Last year, I participated in Genius Northwest, a gaming competition inspired by the Korean gameshow The Genius and its ilk.

It’s a reality show without the cameras — a 3-day, all-inclusive weekend retreat structured around a series of challenges and puzzles, in which personalities and dealmaking matter as much as playing games.

It’s truly a remarkable thing. I came in dead last in the competition, but I still had a great time participating.

The event is held annually in the Pacific Northwest (hence the name) and applications are now open to participate in the 2026 competition!

Learn more — and apply — at GeniusNW.com.


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