Chapter 17, Page 27 | Catching Feelings (Patreon)

Dr. Muskiday’s macronano converter is ready for its first field test. All he needs is a volunteer to lure one of the little emotional parasites into range.

Fortunately, HoloClone Miss Match has been rehearsing for this moment her entire artificial life.

The good news: Muskiday’s invention works! It converts the macronano back into harmless micronanos and releases its stored emotional energy into the atmosphere.

The bad news: Anyone nearby may experience some unexpected side effects.

And just like that, we're back at the occult-supply bodega from Chapter 10 (Evil Inc eComic 52).

Behind the scenes: Meet Queen Nephie

The goth girl in the final panel is loosely based on cosplayer Queen Nephie, who keeps popping up in my TikTok feed as part of YouTuber David Alvareeezy’s dating-show videos.

She appeared as one of the four members of the “Goth House” in Goth Girls Blind Date 7 Nice Guys, and her look was simply too good not to inspire a character.

Transcript

Panel 1Dr. Muskiday finishes tinkering on his device in front of a whiteboard that shows how the device works.

Macronano —> containment unit —> compression field emitter —> emotion output emitter

Transforms macronano Drains and disperses Back into micronano and raw emotional energy Deposits in digital storage safely

Muskiday: OK… I think we’re ready to test it out. Can you attract one of the macronanos?

Panel 2HoloClone Miss Match: Musky, darling, this may be our last chance to consummate our love before the macronanos take over! 

Panel 3A macronano reacts as Holoclone Miss Match (continues off-panel): Take me, my love. I’m yours, body and soul!

Panel 4The macronano enters the lab, and HoloClone Miss Match slams the door behind it.HoloClone Miss Match: Ha-HA! You sure are gullible! I can’t believe you fell for that. GET ’IM SWEETY!

Panel 5Dr. Muskiday is in the act of taking off his pants: …Huh??

Panel 6Dr. Muskiday opens fire on the macronano, successfully converting it back to a micronano and discharging the emotions.HoloClone Miss Match: It’s working! It’s working!

Panel 7HoloClone Miss Match: What will happen to the emotions they collected?

Panel 8Dr. Muskiday: That’s the best part. That energy will safely dissipate into the atmosphere.

Panel 9Dr. Muskiday (in narration box): Although there may be a few people in the immediate vicinity who run the risk of, er… “catching feelings.”

Panel 10Chtad, the shopowner of the occult-supplies bodega from Chapter 10, stands behind the counter as a goth girl, loosely based on cosplayer Queen Nephie, stands basking in ambient hearts from the discharge of the macronanoes.Chtad: Did you find everything you’re looking for?Goth Girl: I have now…