UPDATING OCCASIONALLY (FOR NOW)

9 thoughts on “558 – Cotton Clad Calamity”

  1. Raznaak

    Yup, he’s a bastard XD

  2. Dr. Norman (not a real doctor)

    Are those pajamas available in XXXL in the gift shop?

  3. Otaku

    It’s been a while, so let me ask: Did we get a reason for him to WANT Susie dead? Not to backseat, but if we didn’t, I’m worried were about to move into “Stupid Evil” territory. Now, stupid happens, don’t get me wrong. It’s not bad storytelling for that to be the case here.

    You’ve just done a good job NOT having that be a driving factor, so the “Kill off the stars of my successful reality TV show.” seems shortsighted, otherwise. Oh, I guess I could be mistaken about the in-story reality TV show’s success. Like, if the company behind them is losing money, or they think a change in management at the ranch would make the whole thing more popular/profitable, then I can see the above scenario happening as well.

    I REALLY think I’m just forgetting something important, but that I don’t have time to deep dive to remind me of, hence the comment. >_<

    1. Deoxy

      It certainly has been stretched out over quite a while, but there have definitely been hints from quite near the beginning that whoever is running the reality TV show definitely wants her dead.

      But I certainly don’t recall any reason why.

      1. Clint

        Yeah it’s fair to not remember since it’s been a hot minute (many, many minutes) but if you feel like a refresher the most relevant bits would be the beginning of Episode 8 and the end of Episode 15. We haven’t explicitly spelled out exactly what The Exec means by his “side hustle” or who was on the other end of that phone call, though.

        I’m hoping that when the whole thing is eventually available it will make sense, or at least enough sense to have hung this narrative on.

        1. Otaku

          Thanks for the replies, Deoxy and Clint. Yeah, I’d totally forgotten about those things. Good to know!

  4. Evervigilant

    Seems about time for the two people who aren’t there to make a surprise entrance as the ace Susie didn’t even know she had.

  5. Scarsdale

    There’s still 3-5 people on her side that might be planning something. This guy is a megalomaniac with a god complex, so letting him think he’s the sharpest tool in the shed sets him up for a fall. Everything depends on those cameras, and I suspect their little stop over by the charging coffins had something to do with her actual plan, not the one the a-hole thinks it is.

  6. lyra

    Really enjoyed the opening of Zombie Ranch. I like the combination of the western setting with the zombie concept, it gives the story a really distinctive atmosphere. I’m a freelance illustrator and animator, and I’d be interested in seeing how some of these scenes could translate into motion, especially as a short animated teaser or character scene.

    If you’re ever interested in something like that, you can reach me here:

    IG: eve_verse_
    Email: [contact.lilaclines@gmail.com](mailto:contact.lilaclines@gmail.com)
    Discord: Lyralilac_

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558 – Cotton Clad Calamity
Posted on August 26, 2026 by Dawn

What would you call this? Armchair assassination? Merk-from-home?

Well, Suzie ain't dead (or undead) quite yet, so we'll just have to see if his gloating is justifiable.

Franklin meets the pandemic…

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Clint

One of American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin’s more famous quotes goes as such:

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”

I’ve often heard the first part paraphrased as “a little liberty” which doesn’t leave much wriggle room versus “essential liberty.” Then you end up looking into it further and find out we mostly use it way out of its original context.

I can’t help but wonder if Franklin ever had to live through a global pandemic? Then again, now that I’ve looked up the quote again for this blog it seems that we mostly use it out of its intended context, anyhow. It sounds great as an anti-tyranny statement but was originally mostly about making sure certain rich people paid their taxes.

And even if we apply it to its 20th/21st Century context, well, there’s still some room for soul-searching as to why being asked to wear a face mask is giving up an “essential Liberty.” Especially now that the worst is (predictably) coming true and America’s laissez-faire attitude towards Covid-19 is causing its resurgence in a big way.

We shouldn’t have rushed to reopen so soon, and it’s perhaps even more tragic that here in California all signs were that we were getting it under control and then we had to go and screw it up right along with the administrations that never seemed to take it seriously at all. Now everything’s getting shut down again but according to the CDC, it’s too late.

At very least I don’t honestly know how anyone thought reopening bars was a workable idea. We still know comparatively little about how the disease operates but we do know that the most surefire scenario for contracting it is to be in an enclosed area with a lot of people for an an hour or two, particularly if they’re doing something like singing or shouting and aren’t wearing masks so that their exhalations flow free. That humid feeling you get in crowded nightclubs and bars? That’s human breath and sweat in the air. And the whole “be cautious and observe social distancing” protocol? That’s not going to survive much past a few drinks.

I’m not laying all the blame at the door of the far right, either. They might be the most vocal figurehead for denial and you’ve got some really fringe elements that apparently consider not spitting on the produce aisle in the supermarket an unforgivable affront to their freedom, but there has been plenty of stupid to go around on all points of the political spectrum. People in my own family that I would hardly describe as ragingly conservative have been getting manicures and haircuts. It’s more than disappointing to me, it legitimately terrifies me for their safety, no matter how otherwise careful they assure me they’re being.

I get it, to a point. I’ve always hated wearing a mask, even though I’ve suffered from allergies all my life. They’re uncomfortable and they tend to fog up my glasses. But you can breathe in them. Wearing one isn’t going to weaken your immune system from “disuse,” which is an actual statement I’ve heard people say in all seriousness. Trust me, we’re filthy creatures, our immune systems are constantly getting a workout whether or not we’re letting people cough in our faces. It’s such a little thing, and yet we can’t even do that much? If ever there was a time to give up a little liberty for some temporary safety, this was it. I’m past done with anyone downplaying the threat or insisting the “cure is worse than the disease” or any of that hogwash.

Anyhow, if ever I found the trope far-fetched of the guy hiding his zombie bite from the other survivors, putting everyone at risk because he figured nah, he won’t really be affected despite all observation to the contrary… here we are with a scenario where the worst that happens isn’t that you get shot in the head or exiled, you just get asked to leave the store.

Well, the worst that happens is you contribute to the spread of a deadly pandemic America could have stopped in its tracks like New Zealand, South Korea, and other countries managed to. As the ICU beds fill up, are we ready to admit we have a problem, and that the curve has not, in fact, flattened? Or will this weekend’s 4th of July celebrations be Memorial Day all over again?

For my part, I’ll be celebrating my liberty to turn down the BBQ invites. And I’m pretty sure that in these circumstances, Franklin would’ve worn a mask.