It is heartbreaking to see Fred like that. I hope we find that car soon. Maybe Yehuda and Joe will explain the back story of the shop and Fred to Thistle so we can get the details.
Actually, bringing in Thistle would be an ideal opportunity for Rick to explain the backstory of the shop. That’s what we writers call a “new arrival opening” where the audience learns the backstory through a character who is new to the setting of the story who is being “shown around;” we learn things as she does. It’s an elegant way to handle what would otherwise be clunky exposition.
William Gibson referred to this as the naive character clause, where by all is explained from the knowledgeable characters for the benefit of the reader.
“Who are you two kooky cyclists talking to that I can’t see”
“Oh that’s Fred the Ghost and the former owner of the Kickstand. He was killed by a car on his way home one night. He left the shop to me (joe) and Yehuda in his will.”
I don’t expect that Fred left Yehuda and Joe the shop in his will. That seems too intentional for something resulting from an unforseeable “accident”. My impression from some of the earlier strips is that Yehuda and Joe were both former customers who joined forces to keep the shop open after Fred died, partly out of respect for his memory and his dedication to the shop. Probably they purchased it from his estate or some legal thing like that. And they’re so different that I’d be surprised if they were already friends before the “accident”. I’ve always assumed they were just two former customers who happened to both have the same idea and became business partners as a result. They’re obviously still learning how to put up with each other!
JohnB: I like the logical thinking you bring to the commentary but Rick’s having oposite personalities in the strip services a dialectic purpose.
Sorry, Biking Badger, but I find it more difucult to buy into the speculation, “she must have something to do with his accident…”. Do you see something I do not or is it just intuitive irony?
@David: Maybe been watching Fight Club too much but I think in the end they’ll all come together for the climax. Eventually Fred’s mystery driver will be revealed and I’ve got a feeling that Thistle was somehow involved on the scene, maybe not directly involved but maybe just saw something that can help solve the case. To be honest I don’t see it being her although that would be a crazy twist.
I am beginning to think a little differently on this. I believe that as yehuda and Joe get closer to having the shop on firm ground, Thistle adds to the bike shops solidity, the further we see Fred looking more as what he did after the accident. When the shop is finally where Fred is at peace leaving it in the hands of the “new guys” he will actually “die”. In the sense that his spirit will rest knowing that what he had to offer, teaching and livng the “bike” way, has been passed on to the next generation.
I hope that they don’t explain too much back story to to Thistle. I like having the back story be implied. When I first started seeing Fred I looked all over for the strip where he was hit. It is more fun to have to piece together information, than to have it all explained.
Plus, if they don’t explain everything to Thistle there will be all sorts of opportunities for Thistle to find Fred and then try to explain to Yehuda and Joe that the Kickstand is haunted.
I’m just happy she’s around, though I want her husband out of the picture like Nancy Kerrigan.
The grammar police says that Joe and Yehuda should spend time trying to put more people “onto” saddles, not “into” saddles, or in the case of a tandem, “on two” saddles.
Four frames. First two: both are staring at emptiness. Joe commenting that he has to see something to believe. Last two, both are staring at each other.
Rick (or enlightened reader), can you share how some of us are seeing Fred and others are spazzing out with too many exclamation points because Yehuda and Joe are talking to thin air… Obviously there are two feeds for the strip right now…
It would be awesome if the website would randomly switch the image of the comic every time you refresh, so Fred and his text would be there sometimes or not other times.
@Silent Otto: Technically one could argue that “on saddles” is correct, but it’s pretty standard for people to say “in the saddle” just like cowboys. “On the saddle” applies more to bike seats but sounds hell of weird.
Anyway, hooray for Fred’s wise counsel! I’ve been figuring they’d hire Thistle as soon as they mentioned needing an extra set of hands, and I like her and Fizz’s characters.
Didn’t I read that this strip was started in 2006? I thought that each year the web site starts fresh. If you buy the book is it just the comics that arre found on this web page? Who’s this Fred you guys are talking about? (The Councilman drives a blue car)
As stated in yesterday’s comments: I hate the suggestion that Thistle or her husband were involved in Fred’s death. Why can’t Thistle et al just be cool people? I like this comic but please don’t make Thistle responsible for Fred’s death. It’s just an awful, awful idea.
And to the person pretending not to see Fred, do you cosplay Yehuda or Joe or something? Role playing a comic strip is just weird.
@Pamela: I disagree. As a writer myself, I think that making Thistle or her husband somehow responsible for what happened to Fred would be a concept RIFE with potential for dramatic conflict, and dramatic conflict is the essence of good storytelling.
This was something that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry simply couldn’t grasp. For example, the character of “Valeris” in Star Trek VI was supposed to be SAAVIK from the earlier movies, but Gene put the kibosh on the notion that Saavik could betray the crew like that. Yet, from MY perspective, I think a wonderful dramatic possibility was lost there. I COULD see Saavik doing what Valeris did given her half Romulan (and therefore more emotional than the average Vulcan) background AND it would have driven Spock’s sense of betrayal in the story home with MUCH more force if it had been a character fans already knew and loved.
This is how I see the idea of Thistle or her husband being the drivers of the blue car. Would it be difficult emotionally for the characters? Absolutely. But difficult emotion is where drama begins.
Of course, this is all pure speculation at this point; we’re going to have to wait to see what Rick REALLY does as time goes on. WHATEVER happens, I’m sure Rick will make it interesting; he always does.
@David Ehooda: I never said it was. My point is that the principles of dramatic storytelling are the same REGARDLESS of whether the story is Star Trek, CSI Miami, Moby Dick, Romeo and Juliet or Yahuda Moon; in ANY story, drama is CONFLICT.
I still maintain that making Thistle or her husband somehow responsible for (or at least involved in) Fred’s death would be a fertile source of dramatic conflict and, therefore, a wonderful starting point for a story.
I have no issues with ghosts. I think I cannot see them. From the commentary I guess that Joe and Yehuda can see the Fred dude and apparently some of you can too…..
Don’t like to see Fred’s head bloody. That supports the argument that you need to wear a helmet to be safe. But Joe and Thistle don’t wear helmets. Thus it seems inconsistent. Still, I love the strip.
It is heartbreaking to see Fred like that. I hope we find that car soon. Maybe Yehuda and Joe will explain the back story of the shop and Fred to Thistle so we can get the details.
Actually, bringing in Thistle would be an ideal opportunity for Rick to explain the backstory of the shop. That’s what we writers call a “new arrival opening” where the audience learns the backstory through a character who is new to the setting of the story who is being “shown around;” we learn things as she does. It’s an elegant way to handle what would otherwise be clunky exposition.
given Freds appeareance, looks like finding the hit-n-run driver looks to be closer every day…
Fred presents the case well. Hire a good wrench to do repairs and get Yehuda and Joe out front to sell.
Maybe the bike ninja killed Fred as a hired assassin for the mayor.
There’s already a bit of backstory that I didn’t know before. Fred used to run the Kickstand!
What colour was Thistle’s car again?? Could be that Fred’s getting worse with getting closer to the end of the tale.
Wow, Fred has a severed arm now (last frame). This is getting more and more gruesome.
Finding the “blue car” will not bring Fred back.
What will it mean to the story?
@ David: Profound thought.
@ Badger: I think the odds of it being Thistle are about as great as the odds that Joe will buy a box bike.
@David Ehooda:
It won’t bring Fred back, but it may allow him to rest.
It could be her husband??? Or maybe someone Thistle knows.
William Gibson referred to this as the naive character clause, where by all is explained from the knowledgeable characters for the benefit of the reader.
“Who are you two kooky cyclists talking to that I can’t see”
“Oh that’s Fred the Ghost and the former owner of the Kickstand. He was killed by a car on his way home one night. He left the shop to me (joe) and Yehuda in his will.”
And so on…
Very devious Mr. Smith!
Maybe Fred is Thistle’s pop…
Maybe?
Nah that would have popped up earlier or at least a bit quicker but then again you never know.
Maybe Fred could use a helmet like this: http://helmetornohelmet.com/?p=280…
was it intentional that Joe the Ghost (“spirit”) is saying “she has spirit”? A sneaky bit of humor, perhaps?
I don’t expect that Fred left Yehuda and Joe the shop in his will. That seems too intentional for something resulting from an unforseeable “accident”. My impression from some of the earlier strips is that Yehuda and Joe were both former customers who joined forces to keep the shop open after Fred died, partly out of respect for his memory and his dedication to the shop. Probably they purchased it from his estate or some legal thing like that. And they’re so different that I’d be surprised if they were already friends before the “accident”. I’ve always assumed they were just two former customers who happened to both have the same idea and became business partners as a result. They’re obviously still learning how to put up with each other!
She must have something to do with his accident affair. She could be a key witness that saw something and just never came forward.
@ Adam – No severed arm. You see him gesturing with both hands in the strip. In the last panel the left arm is just hanging down.
JohnB: I like the logical thinking you bring to the commentary but Rick’s having oposite personalities in the strip services a dialectic purpose.
Sorry, Biking Badger, but I find it more difucult to buy into the speculation, “she must have something to do with his accident…”. Do you see something I do not or is it just intuitive irony?
@David: Maybe been watching Fight Club too much but I think in the end they’ll all come together for the climax. Eventually Fred’s mystery driver will be revealed and I’ve got a feeling that Thistle was somehow involved on the scene, maybe not directly involved but maybe just saw something that can help solve the case. To be honest I don’t see it being her although that would be a crazy twist.
I am beginning to think a little differently on this. I believe that as yehuda and Joe get closer to having the shop on firm ground, Thistle adds to the bike shops solidity, the further we see Fred looking more as what he did after the accident. When the shop is finally where Fred is at peace leaving it in the hands of the “new guys” he will actually “die”. In the sense that his spirit will rest knowing that what he had to offer, teaching and livng the “bike” way, has been passed on to the next generation.
I hope that they don’t explain too much back story to to Thistle. I like having the back story be implied. When I first started seeing Fred I looked all over for the strip where he was hit. It is more fun to have to piece together information, than to have it all explained.
Plus, if they don’t explain everything to Thistle there will be all sorts of opportunities for Thistle to find Fred and then try to explain to Yehuda and Joe that the Kickstand is haunted.
I’m just happy she’s around, though I want her husband out of the picture like Nancy Kerrigan.
Love the strip ,Rick.
The grammar police says that Joe and Yehuda should spend time trying to put more people “onto” saddles, not “into” saddles, or in the case of a tandem, “on two” saddles.
People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What is happening here?
Four frames. First two: both are staring at emptiness. Joe commenting that he has to see something to believe. Last two, both are staring at each other.
I don’t get it.
Rick (or enlightened reader), can you share how some of us are seeing Fred and others are spazzing out with too many exclamation points because Yehuda and Joe are talking to thin air… Obviously there are two feeds for the strip right now…
May 24, 2008 strip Fred says it has been a year already. The strip started Jan 2008 with them already running it with a ghost bicycle outside.
Alternatively, some people are pretending not to see Fred?
@Gordon
That’s what I was thinking, a little reverse Haley Joel Osment action… But I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing on some nifty web-prank!
Who is pretending NOT to see Fred?
It would be awesome if the website would randomly switch the image of the comic every time you refresh, so Fred and his text would be there sometimes or not other times.
@Silent Otto: Technically one could argue that “on saddles” is correct, but it’s pretty standard for people to say “in the saddle” just like cowboys. “On the saddle” applies more to bike seats but sounds hell of weird.
Anyway, hooray for Fred’s wise counsel! I’ve been figuring they’d hire Thistle as soon as they mentioned needing an extra set of hands, and I like her and Fizz’s characters.
Didn’t I read that this strip was started in 2006? I thought that each year the web site starts fresh. If you buy the book is it just the comics that arre found on this web page? Who’s this Fred you guys are talking about? (The Councilman drives a blue car)
@pedally You are actually mistaken the Councilman drives a silver or grey car: http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20080219
The person that drives the blue car was the one that almost ran over Yehuda: http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20080310
http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=20080311
Maybe it was her as she has no clue and they show her doing more than one thing at a time.
The blue car appears on July 15th.
As stated in yesterday’s comments: I hate the suggestion that Thistle or her husband were involved in Fred’s death. Why can’t Thistle et al just be cool people? I like this comic but please don’t make Thistle responsible for Fred’s death. It’s just an awful, awful idea.
And to the person pretending not to see Fred, do you cosplay Yehuda or Joe or something? Role playing a comic strip is just weird.
@Pamela: I’m sure they’re just joshin’ for our benefit.
@Pamela: I disagree. As a writer myself, I think that making Thistle or her husband somehow responsible for what happened to Fred would be a concept RIFE with potential for dramatic conflict, and dramatic conflict is the essence of good storytelling.
This was something that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry simply couldn’t grasp. For example, the character of “Valeris” in Star Trek VI was supposed to be SAAVIK from the earlier movies, but Gene put the kibosh on the notion that Saavik could betray the crew like that. Yet, from MY perspective, I think a wonderful dramatic possibility was lost there. I COULD see Saavik doing what Valeris did given her half Romulan (and therefore more emotional than the average Vulcan) background AND it would have driven Spock’s sense of betrayal in the story home with MUCH more force if it had been a character fans already knew and loved.
This is how I see the idea of Thistle or her husband being the drivers of the blue car. Would it be difficult emotionally for the characters? Absolutely. But difficult emotion is where drama begins.
Of course, this is all pure speculation at this point; we’re going to have to wait to see what Rick REALLY does as time goes on. WHATEVER happens, I’m sure Rick will make it interesting; he always does.
@John A.
But why Thistle or her husband? What would be the point? This is not Star Trek.
@David Ehooda: I never said it was. My point is that the principles of dramatic storytelling are the same REGARDLESS of whether the story is Star Trek, CSI Miami, Moby Dick, Romeo and Juliet or Yahuda Moon; in ANY story, drama is CONFLICT.
I still maintain that making Thistle or her husband somehow responsible for (or at least involved in) Fred’s death would be a fertile source of dramatic conflict and, therefore, a wonderful starting point for a story.
Maybe Fred is Fizz’s true father!
OK, Issac, we get it, you don’t believe in ghosts.
OK, my 2 cents on Who Hit Fred and how Thistle’s connected:
“Thistle! It’s niot SAFE! Americans don’t like to share the road with bikes!”
“And you know this HOW?”
I have no issues with ghosts. I think I cannot see them. From the commentary I guess that Joe and Yehuda can see the Fred dude and apparently some of you can too…..
:p
Man, these plot-related comments are dumb. I just hope Rick stays above it and crafts his own stuff w/o listening in too much
I agree with John of Indiana that the link is in the July 11 strip.
I just hope this is resolved soon – Fred’s beginning to look REALLY gross. A little too gruesome for an otherwise fun comic.
Don’t like to see Fred’s head bloody. That supports the argument that you need to wear a helmet to be safe. But Joe and Thistle don’t wear helmets. Thus it seems inconsistent. Still, I love the strip.
And what good does a helmet do you when someone parks an SUV on your chest?
How do you know he WASN’T wearing a helmet? They’re not panaceas.
@Chris
The Truth hurts. Squint if you must.
ypu can tell he wasn’t wearing a helmet because of the gravel in his forehead. a helmet would have prevented that.
I can’t stand this bloody fred thing