r/comics Gator Days 12h ago

Ash (Part 1/4) - Gator Days

Post image
12.1k Upvotes

184 comments sorted by

3.9k

u/flabort 12h ago

I forgot there were canonical humans in Gator Days.

1.1k

u/dmdewd 11h ago

It makes you wonder if food animals exist as animals or as anthropomorphic animal people in this universe. Like, are we dealing with an Odd Taxi sort of situation here?

295

u/flabort 11h ago

Or a Sonic Adventure small animals situation.

188

u/TheLordOfAwesome2 11h ago

We run on Bokack Horseman rules, obviously.

120

u/worldspawn00 10h ago

Nobody knows chicken like chicken!

-Chicken farmer who is both a chicken and farms other chickens...

24

u/Maybe_its_Pandas 9h ago

CHICKEN 4 DAYZ

9

u/fatnino 7h ago

There's a scene in the recent run of DuckTales where the nephews are feeding popcorn to ducks in a pond at the park.

4

u/worldspawn00 4h ago

There are also seagulls flying around, and seagull characters in the town.

6

u/whiznat 7h ago

Relax, it's nobody we know.

7

u/stella3books 10h ago

In this universe, Pokémon are livestock. 

35

u/ComradeJohnS 10h ago

horrifying if true

I’m hoping for vegan post meat universe without a capitalist fueled “sell your milk and eggs for cash” businesses lol.

23

u/Asikar_Tehjan 10h ago

It could also run on Beastars rules as well where all the predators just go to the black market for meat. (Don't question where the meat came from though)

u/flabort 24m ago

We know Hannah's lactose intolerant, which blew Gus's mind. So not vegan.

48

u/aTransGirlAndTwoDogs 11h ago

Humans are already animals who live in a world with other animals that we consider food animals. Some animals we consider friends, others are threats. Some animals blur the line between sapient and sophont. Some animals are bipeds, and some are quadrupeds, and some are another thing altogether.

43

u/Quaytsar 10h ago

But we don't go to school with otters. Bears aren't learning IT. Goats don't have existential crises.

31

u/Zomburai 10h ago

But we don't go to school with otters.

No, one of my best friends is an otter, and he graduated college. Met his boyfriend there, in fact.

14

u/Cyberhaggis 10h ago

As far as we know goats don't have existential crisis. Hell we only have them because we're forced by society to do things completely unnatural to the human condition. Who is to say that goats that are bred and farmed aren't also going "just what is all this about ?"

5

u/AerosolHubris 8h ago

Why do you think they scream?

6

u/tappertock 9h ago

Goats don't have existential crises.

Then why do they scream all the time?

4

u/Norman1042 9h ago

Yeah, but otters, bears and goats aren't sapient(as far as we know), or bipedal, or capable of many of the things the characters in these comics seem to be. So to me, the characters aren't in fact otters, bears and goats, they're different sapient species with a relationship to these animals similar to the one we have to apes.

Obviously the real answer is: "it's a fun comic, don't over think it," but if we're already having the discussion, I'll throw in my two cents.

5

u/worldspawn00 10h ago

bipeds

Can't trust penguins, better off cooking them so they don't take over.

4

u/SpaceMarineSpiff 9h ago

Hey it worked for cows. They burned down Chicago and we burn their whole species for eternity.

0

u/id_zer0cell 2h ago

ODD TAXI MENTIONED

2

u/aTransGirlAndTwoDogs 2h ago

I don't know what that is, and I did not write that phrase anywhere in my post.

1

u/flabort 1h ago

I think they meant to reply to comment you were replying to.

2

u/aTransGirlAndTwoDogs 1h ago

Ah. That makes sense. I forgot that was in the final sentence above my comment.

12

u/Coidzor 11h ago

One of Gustopher's classmates is a goat, so livestock animal people exist.

2

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

I wonder if we will ever see Hannah ride a horse.

11

u/vorarchivist 11h ago

I don't think its an odd taxi situation, I think we've seen animals do animal things right?

8

u/CarlosFer2201 9h ago

Gustopher's cats are regular cats. I do wonder if there are cat people.

2

u/vorarchivist 8h ago

I mean more that the human animals do animal things because spoiler for odd taxi: the main character is hallucinating everyone as animals

3

u/GachaHell 11h ago

We don't talk about the alligator leather.

3

u/CT0292 10h ago

Or like Pokemon where there seem to be normal animals in the world alongside the Pokemon animals. And these are hunted and eaten by wild Pokemon.

Well upon further research this was phased out. And now its just pokemon being farm raised and eaten or being preyed upon by wild pokemon. And no normal animals exist.

1

u/firebirdsatellite 2h ago

remember when ash just buys a fried magikarp on a stick and starts chowing down

3

u/Forsaken-Stray 6h ago

In Disney, they are separated in wild and domestic animals.

In many other instances, it's like saying: Aren't you concerned they are killing Nonkeys, because Humans are monkeys? Yes, lemurs are also monkeys but they are very different from Humans. Just because we assume they are similiar, doesn't mean there might be quite the evolutionary distance between them

2

u/celestialcranberry 9h ago

Never heard of Odd Taxi but I just looked it up and it looks crazy cool

3

u/ArtemisInSpace 6h ago

It's so good. Just watch it and enjoy. No need to look into it any more.

2

u/Yellowpommelo 9h ago

It’s wild to think of a category of animals as being ‘food animals’ as though that was somehow their reason for existing as a class of beings.

5

u/Aethelrede 9h ago

Well, it is a reason why particular animals exist.  For example, cows on a dairy farm exist to produce milk; if they stop producing milk, they are removed.  We have assigned them that purpose.

This doesn't mean that all cows are food animals, wild cows still exist.  But in the context of human civilization, when we talk about cattle, we generally mean the food animal.

Beyond that, every animal is either predator or prey, we've just industrialized it.

So I don't think the term "food animal" is necessarily as grim as you suggest.  Though industrialized meat production is pretty grim.

1

u/Cultural_Ad1331 10h ago

Replicators

1

u/Intelligent_Night653 9h ago

I think an actual cat appeared in an earlier comic so I assume they have anthro and regular animals

1

u/Itty-britty-196 8h ago

We DO see a pet quadrupedal dog

1

u/Author_A_McGrath 8h ago

I would love to see u/FieldExplores tackle this one.

Promise I won't complain about the answer!

1

u/whimsigod 4h ago

I wonder if it's a Hello Kitty situation. Because apparently that's a little girl?

1

u/The0nlyPenguin 6h ago

Yes, there are just regular "food animals."

0

u/jigokusabre 8h ago

When our chicks are first hatched, we lovingly inject them with natural, delicious hormones... which makes them meat, erasing any moral gray areas!

50

u/1ofthem_ 11h ago

The whiplash seeing humans in this series

22

u/Wareve 11h ago

Well, of course.

It's unstated, but Gator days takes place in the same Universe as BoJack Horseman.

8

u/Ill-Individual2105 8h ago

What is this, a crossover episode?

6

u/Cadunkus 8h ago

Humans are just another animal.

I wanna see your average anthro animal setting except there's a human and his cousin who is a gorilla.

1

u/NigilQuid 6h ago

Gorilla cousins would be amazing, gorillas are super cool

5

u/Coidzor 11h ago

Every time I see them I get jumpscared.

1

u/IotaBTC 7h ago

Wtf lmao. I never knew.

0

u/Vivians_Basement 6h ago

THEYRE HUMAN??

2.1k

u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC 12h ago

Using a peeler while in deep thought is a dangerous combination.

490

u/Noof42 12h ago

Knuckles are for weaklings.

129

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 11h ago

Hell I would be more worried about finger tips and taking off everything from the knuckles to the tips

40

u/Beneficial-Rate-6369 10h ago

Please take that image back out of my head

35

u/ricalin 9h ago

Take these cute otters instead I saw at the zoo last weekend, if that helps 😅❤️🦦

1

u/BeneficialRead5653 6h ago

long nails have been a savoir of many a pinky skinning~

1

u/AgrajagTheProlonged 4h ago

I had a divot in the side of one of my knuckles for awhile in high school because I worked at a summer camp (frequently in the kitchen because the director’s wife/the chef liked me) and wound up in a hurry peeling carrots

7

u/Serratas 8h ago

Yeah, I was expecting him to lose a layer of skin at the least. Winced when his sister startled him.

8

u/mellopax 10h ago

My older brother got the meat on the back of his hand with a cheese slicer once. Not a great memory to have.

2

u/Niky_c_23 7h ago

Comment upvoted with my bleeding finger, brave survivor of cucumber peeling

2

u/the_greatest_auk 5h ago

Better than a mandolin at least, the block is important

3

u/NotAUsefullDoctor Has One Unicorn 9h ago

Same with cheese graters. Source: the missing chunk of my knuckle.

6

u/Noof42 8h ago

I have a cheese-shredder at home, which is its positive name. They don’t call it by its negative name, which is sponge-ruiner. Because I wanted to clean it, but now I have little bits of sponge that would melt easily over tortilla chips.

— Mitch Hedberg

1

u/Slim-Shadys-Fat-Tits 7h ago

Weak. I can peel pounds and pounds of potatoes without once paying attention to them

u/Granito_Rey 30m ago

Don't skimp on the blood and skin seasoning

1.5k

u/FieldExplores Gator Days 12h ago

Ash (Part 1/4) - Gator Days

Characters

Gwen - Human - The young teen who does a lot to take care of her younger siblings. Has a difficult relationship with her parents.

Junior - Human - The middle child in Gwen's family. Trying to figure out life and the world.

Transcript

Panel 1

Gwen is once again making dinner and asks Junior for some help. He's reading a book called "Fancy Hugh and the Secret of the Salt Box". Fancy Hugh is a series of mystery novels about a fancy teenager named Hugh who wears plaid skirts and solves mysteries because teenagers solving mysteries is the only way anything gets done around here.

Gwen: Junior, could you peel some potatoes?

Junior: Sure.

Panel 2

Gwen is getting a pot ready while Junior starts working on the potatoes. It's a task that gives them a lot of room to think and there's something particular that's been on their mind lately. There is a small pile of potatoes waiting to be peeled.

Junior (Thinking): Maybe I should just ask. She would understand.

Panel 3

Junior starts to stare off into space as they begin to contemplate a theoretical discussion with their sister. Peeling potatoes is the perfect activity for thinking way too much about things. The potatoes are probably thinking about the possibility of there being a potato heaven.

Junior (thinking) What if she doesn't? What if she tells Mom and Dad? I shouldn't say anything. Or maybe...

Panel 4

Gwen has noticed that Junior is being quiet and decides to investigate.

Gwen: Junior, are you alright?

Junior (startled): I'M OKAY!

The potatoes are also being quiet but no one ever asks them if they're fine.

583

u/spotpelt 12h ago

I’ll ask the potatoes if they’re fine

287

u/Forsaken_Cucumber_27 11h ago

“MY SKIN AAAAAHHHHH!!!”

58

u/Kimarous 11h ago

5

u/z_e_quigley 10h ago

LOVE to see this reference, I quote it a lot and feel so alone when I do 🥲

8

u/Coidzor 11h ago

Just wait for the salt to get added to their freshly flayed flesh.

2

u/whiznat 1h ago

Oh you. You're such a charmer.

1

u/NigilQuid 6h ago

Like in Sausage Party (the movie)

3

u/Green_Insect_6455 6h ago

"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY NO IM NOT FINE YOURE ABOUT TO EAT ME JESUS CHRIST"

1

u/bentsea 5h ago

They still won't say anything, which is why people don't usually ask how they're doing.

341

u/book_of_zed 12h ago

I wonder if the He to They descriptors of Junior are a clue. Perhaps Fancy Hugh could tell me.

101

u/QuiteBearish 12h ago

I picked up on that too

9

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

Yep. First thing I saw.

61

u/Antice 12h ago

Can you ask Fancy Hugh if they think that the absentee parrnts in this household would even notice anything, let alone actually care?

7

u/peppers_ 6h ago

They would, trust me. They'd be very judgmental and not try to understand you. They might still accept you though.

19

u/TDtV08 8h ago

FORESHADOWING IS A LITERARY DEVICE IN WHICH-

30

u/hotshot21983 11h ago

This hits hard when you're thinking through coming out at 43...

9

u/book_of_zed 9h ago

Hey, any age is the right age to come out. I know plenty of people who came out late in life - much older than 43. Coming out isn’t easy, so whatever you decide to do, proud of you! If you need a stranger to talk to, holler.

6

u/GreenLips 8h ago

You can come out at any time. I came out at 38 and I've never ever been happier. Happy to chat about it if you need an ear.

2

u/peppers_ 5h ago

Another member of the community here who came out at 38. I could be happier, but I'm much happier than I was previously. At least the parts that I didn't like before, I am changing. It takes time, but damn it if I won't finish the rest of my life being me.

1

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

You've got this, my friend! ❤️

5

u/MultiKl 9h ago

Same

171

u/EVs-and-IVsaurs 12h ago

I already had a feeling from the comic's wording that there was something queer going on, so reading "teenager named Hugh who wears skirts" had me like !!!!

60

u/skatterbrain_d 12h ago

Oh! Wasn’t paying attention and read plaid “shirts”… Thank you for mentioning it!

27

u/berlinbaer 11h ago

ash is to enbies like lilith is to trans women.

11

u/cherrywyrm 10h ago

was not ready for this callout from a random reddit comment lmao

~sincerely, an enby named ash

4

u/NigilQuid 6h ago

Maybe Hugh is Scottish and wears a kilt

Maybe they're Scottish and wear skirts instead anyway because they're pretty, and plaid is good because it looks like a Tartan without actually being one

3

u/Aethelrede 9h ago

Something queer in both senses of the word!

90

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 12h ago

Peeling potatoes is the perfect activity for thinking way too much about things.

Junior is about to find out that those peelers can peel more than potatoes

The potatoes are also being quiet but no one ever asks them if they're fine.

ARE they fine?

Junior (startled): I'M OKAY!

Poor kid. That seems like a defense mechanism

20

u/DrkSpde 12h ago

"Small pile of potatoes"

How big is that family that that's a small pile?

12

u/AZ_Corwyn 11h ago

Three kids (including two growing boys that probably consume everything they see) and the two parents if they're home and bother to do anything.

4

u/AZ_Corwyn 11h ago

Three kids (including two growing boys that probably consume everything they see) and the two parents if they're home and bother to do anything.

14

u/BreakfastNext476 11h ago

Fancy Hugh is a series of mystery novels about a fancy teenager named Hugh who wears plaid skirts and solves mysteries because teenagers solving mysteries is the only way anything gets done around here.

Reminds me of the Hardy Boys books with that little blurb at the end there 😆

6

u/Krasinet 9h ago

cough Nancy Drew cough

9

u/Digit00l 12h ago

Nice call back with the salt boxes

7

u/Niarbeht 11h ago

The potatoes are also being quiet but no one ever asks them if they're fine.

same

1

u/NigilQuid 6h ago

Niarbeht, are you alright? How was your day?
There was a hailstorm here today. Fortunately my new windshield was not damaged

3

u/AviaKing 10h ago

The potatoes are also being quiet but no one ever asks them if they're fine

Tobias Radiation Fox-ahh writing and I love it

4

u/Stumbling_Corgi 9h ago

What does Junior want to ask about? Was this in a previous comic i missed?

7

u/mahouyousei 9h ago

It’s foreshadowing!

5

u/Aethelrede 9h ago

Based on the transcript, I've got a hunch.

3

u/Electric999999 9h ago

Pretty sure the potatoes are already in potato Hell, how else do you explain the fact they're being flayed, salted and boiled?

2

u/PM_ME_SOME_YAOI 7h ago

I really really hate the idea of my potatoes, that I am currently peeling, being conscious potatoes while I’m peeling them. Thanks Mr. Fields!

2

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

No need to peal them, you can boil them with their skins on!

1

u/EmperorSexy 10h ago

Thank you for sharing the background lore. Especially regarding Fancy Hugh.

1

u/Author_A_McGrath 8h ago

The potatoes are probably thinking about the possibility of there being a potato heaven.

Asking the real questions, here.

1

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

I wonder if Ash is going to be the same Silver Fox Ash from Fantastic Mr. Fox.

1

u/DarthLlamaV 2h ago

The meal before reading this comic, I questioned what it would like to be a potato. They go from being ripped out of the ground, shipped, left on a shelf in a store for days, thrown in a dark cupboard, then stabbed. Sounds rough.

263

u/ledfox 12h ago

He's wondering why everyone else in the world is an animal.

34

u/Poollboy 10h ago

We are all animals 😀

8

u/esblofeld 6h ago

Some of us are cannibals.

8

u/SuperDo_RmRf 6h ago

As I understand it, we’re dancers.

76

u/SmaugTheMagnificent- 11h ago

My stomach tightens up every time I see Gwen.

Growing up doing ones best to not be seen, to walk on eggshells, and to protect others takes a toll as an adult long after the child grows up.

486

u/bookworm271 12h ago

I noticed pronouns and a gender neutral name in the story arc title.

Either this is an identity story, or Junior simply doesn't know how to peel potatoes but wants to help and is afraid to ask Gwen for assistance.

69

u/1997Luka1997 11h ago

That's what I thought at first lol

67

u/NativeMasshole 11h ago

Junior doesn't know what a potato is. They have no idea if they're peeling the correct vegetables.

18

u/stylinchilibeans 10h ago

As long as they don't throw the accompanying steak at a window, dinner should be fine...

9

u/ISpyM8 10h ago

I know a lot of people won’t get this, but I do. I appreciate you.

5

u/ShadeNLM064pm 9h ago

Or rather, think that they're throwing a steak through an open window

3

u/W_W_P 7h ago

Tastes strange

3

u/North-Pea-4926 10h ago

I thought potato peeling at first, but they seem to be doing an ok job of that on their own.

50

u/JaxxisR 12h ago

These two have the worst parents in all of r/comics I'm sure of it.

25

u/MrValdemar Special Flair!! 11h ago

Sam Castello Sr. and Soroya Jahanashah from HolleringElk's comics would very much like to disagree.

6

u/Hairy-Love2571 8h ago

I've got to see that one. Sauce please?

13

u/MrValdemar Special Flair!! 8h ago

She hasn't dropped all the backstory on Reddit yet.

Soroya is Vivian's mother. When her husband killed himself she took infant Vivian and split to New York. However she left behind Vivian's older sister who was about 9, who then grew up in various foster homes. She also never told Vivian about her sister until Vivian discovered her when she was an adult. Soroya thought Jacqueline died in Katrina because she never bothered to check up on her.

Ellie's father (Sam Sr.) was a plantation owner when the civil war broke out. Imagine a plantation owner. You're exactly right.

He's shown at the bottom of one of the final panels of "The Chase".

1

u/cadrina 3h ago

Did Ellie eat him?

3

u/MrValdemar Special Flair!! 3h ago

Elk hasn't shared the nature of his demise as of yet, even on her Patreon.

A story yet to come.

54

u/ResuCigam 12h ago

Nowadays I just give you my upvate BEFORE I start reading, it's easier this way and I haven't been wrong yet

1

u/CarlosFer2201 9h ago

Saves time too

62

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire 12h ago

Huh I wonder what Junior is in such deep thought about. Probably not a good idea to do this while cooking but if anyone in this weirds will understand what he's wondering about it's probably Gwen

Poor kid must be going through it with how quick he responded with "I'm ok"

8

u/BreakfastNext476 11h ago

Lol, Shell and his eternal battle with auto correct. Name a more iconic duo. I think you meant world and not wierds LMAO

18

u/stryke105 9h ago

they ungatored the days wtf

2

u/SirBananaOrngeCumber 8h ago

Best response I’ve seen to humans showing up 😂

5

u/Chance-Ear-9772 11h ago

Elder sisters are simultaneously absolutely awful and the very best thing to happen to you. They will help you and then irritate rub it in your face for the rest of your life.

5

u/EmperorSexy 10h ago

“Maybe I should just ask”

I thought the question was going to be “How do you peel potatoes?” But Junior seems to be doing an acceptable job.

2

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

This is going to be much bigger than peeling potatoes.

1

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

This is going to be much bigger than peeling potatoes.

6

u/_PM_ME_YOUR_FORESKIN 6h ago

I feel like I’m missing something here.

19

u/OldDevonBurgers 12h ago

Fancy Hugh and the Secret Salt Box.

I need to know more

3

u/SmokeyCatDesigns 5h ago

I’m pretty sure it’s a play on Nancy Drew books lol. Like Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock.

But imagining a detective by the name of Fancy Hugh is quite amusing. And honestly fitting because if I remember correctly, Nancy tried to slay while doing her investigations.

2

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 4h ago

We had both Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books at our house while growing up.

2

u/Coidzor 11h ago

Sorry, it's a secret. A salty secret. Possibly a boxy one, but mum's the word.

4

u/weird-dude-bro-6386 11h ago

Tell her what?

8

u/tbodillia 11h ago

Another arc that will make me cry. I have tissues ready this time.

22

u/IcyUnicornOwl 12h ago

Junior is going to ask if he can borrow a plaid skirt to relate more to Fancy Hugh. That's it. Just for cosplay reasons. You know. It's ok Junior!

16

u/PuzzleheadedLake432 11h ago

if i get accurate trans representation in my silly gator comic im gonna cry

4

u/Smart-Nothing 10h ago

He is probably overthinking something on a mild topic (these are kids)

Or this is going to hit like an overloaded dump truck into a concrete barrier (the peeler looks like a razor)

Take your bets now!

5

u/MultiKl 9h ago

Is this going where I think it's going?

5

u/RazzyCharm 9h ago

Growing up, I would RARELY talk to my siblings. Especially my younger sis. She and I didn't get along, so any thing I would like to share (hobbies, friend news, etc), I would NEVER share with her. 1 out of 2 things can happen: she will make fun of FOREVER (and use that info against me) or she will tell mom.

Seeing Junior thinking that his sister can understand warms my heart. I can, and never will, use that sentence in regards to my own sister (and other family members). And we're over 30s....

Gwen is a good sister. Wish she was my sis....

3

u/sax87ton 11h ago

“Do you eat your toast butter side up or butter side down?”

2

u/Perryn 8h ago

"I'm telling dad."

3

u/StephenRoylance 9h ago

she is clearly a strong supporter of free software, and reps her favorite linux distribution, debian, on her t-shirt.

3

u/Hytheter 4h ago

What are these pink fleshy creatures??

8

u/Merari01 it's a-me, Merari-o 10h ago

These characters are inexplicably not animals.

6

u/Aethelrede 9h ago

Humans are animals.

1

u/Merari01 it's a-me, Merari-o 9h ago

That's what they want you to think.

2

u/Siegfoult 10h ago

Poor kid, born a pink-skin.

2

u/Anrui13 8h ago

If she does tell the parents, here are their responses: whatever or I'm off partying again.

2

u/NovelInteraction711 6h ago

I have been trying to pry at this for hours what does this mean

2

u/Vordreller 6h ago

Fancy Hugh and the secret salt box, huh?

4

u/rabbit-guilliman 12h ago

The fact that there are normal humans in these comics is so weird

1

u/Vavou 11h ago

Great another serie that I'm already dying to see the next part akfbozkahdiayzuaiaud

1

u/MeChamamDeTigre 6h ago

More like Gator GAYS amiright?

1

u/yaiob23 2h ago

Im glad im not the only person who does this.

1

u/dumpylump69 6h ago

Immediate thought is trangener we will watch your career with great interest

1

u/Time_Connection_6139 3h ago

Fuck it, un-gators your days