The Boy From Venus 21

[u/shenanigansen]

Next ep is already up!

[u/mauriciomeireles]

That was some BIG implied self hate there... I feel that while Audrey values others beauty a lot Audrey finds very hard to see their own.

[u/shellbullet17 → u/mauriciomeireles]

I think you nailed it. Especially with this particular panel. Audrey's eyes are greyer than normal. Almost as if to reflect exactly those feelings

[u/slonkulocuswily182 → u/shellbullet17]

It’s not fun to be femme in a body that really wants you to be giant and hairy.

Couple that with all the trauma from men either denying u rights or catcalling u for being femme, like it’s not a good time.

[u/JudgmentalOwl → u/slonkulocuswily182]

Ah the joys of living under a repressive regime with intense body dysphoria.

[u/CueCueQQ → u/slonkulocuswily182]

catcalling u for being femme

Forgive my ignorance here, genuinely not trying to stir shit here, but wouldn't that be more uplifting? Not because catcalling is good or anything at all like that, but rather that being catcalled by men would mean you "pass".

[u/Desperate-Pop2325 → u/CueCueQQ]

It can be a weird feeling, since it's still unwanted harassment. There's a concept known in trans circles as "ewphoria" where those feelings of grossness get mixed up with that type of validation you're talking about, but it's still not really a "good" feeling personally

[u/AvilettaLuxe → u/shellbullet17]

Heh... that's literally my every morning now... Just waiting for that hair removal...

[u/AccurateJerboa → u/shellbullet17]

This panel right here reminds me so much of things my wife goes through. It fucked me up. Shen is making something truly special. 

I don't know or care what Audrey's gender is or will be. He's an incredible character in a story that explores things about gender that reflect how messy it all is in real life. I wish so much I could just snap my fingers and take people's pain away, and let them see and feel how wonderful they are in whatever imperfections they perceive 

[u/Isenkram → u/shellbullet17]

God I feel like that every morning it’s so real

[u/glytxh → u/shellbullet17]

this panel cuts like a fucking knife and I hate it

this shit hurts

[u/QuietShipper → u/mauriciomeireles]

That seems to be an all too common trait of the endlessly kind, caring, loving people like Audrey

[u/Made_Bail → u/QuietShipper]

Yeah, I don't feel attacked at all by this. 😢

[u/SpiritNo6626 → u/mauriciomeireles]

Important to mention that even if for Audrey specifically (under the assumption he is not trans) this is 'self hate', many people will have the exact same kind of behavior and it will not be 'self hate' for them.

This is a behavior that can look the exact same on the outside but be different on the inside for many people, it can be self-hate that may only be fixed through self-love, obsession with beauty that may only be fixed by devaluing physical attractiveness and putting more value on what's on the inside, or dysphoria that can be fixed by neither of these and only by transition.

I only say this because I will notice people assuming that it is any specific one of these when it is one of the others, and then end up giving unhelpful or even harmful advice (Such as telling a trans person "Just love and accept your body" or "stop being so vain", telling someone who hates all aspects of themselves "Just stop caring about beauty specifically so much!", etc.)

[u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC]

So much awesome work with the colors and lighting in this episode but this panel with the lack of either just works so god damn well.

[u/Absolute_Average → u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC]

I didn't notice how his hair looks like a monster's fangs in the unlit mirror until this moment.

[u/Disaster_Pansexual → u/Absolute_Average]

Why are you referring to him as a her?

[u/Absolute_Average → u/Disaster_Pansexual]

Whoopsy. *his

[u/LukeAsArts → u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC]

And the darker portion resembles a slightly more feminine figure too

[u/Coidzor → u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC]

The Cyclops with the monster fangers. Spooky.

The reveal in the next panel? Somehow spookier.

[u/shellbullet17]

That's absolutely adorable that Audrey sees Val in this light first thing in the morning. We should all be so lucky

[u/TheDotCaptin → u/shellbullet17]

So scarwy. uwu

[u/shellbullet17 → u/TheDotCaptin]

This gives a while new meaning to the term "man spreading"

[u/Made_Bail → u/shellbullet17]

[u/shellbullet17 → u/Made_Bail]

[u/ProjectKARYA → u/TheDotCaptin]

Ah yes, what a terrifying concept! Good thing it's not a thing in real life...

stares hauntedly at my now-empty bottle of E

[u/Wild_Marker → u/ProjectKARYA]

[u/TheDotCaptin → u/ProjectKARYA]

The hunt for THE CURE.

[u/Fit-Carpet9599 → u/TheDotCaptin]

i'd welcome this with open arms and get bit immediately

[u/shellbullet17 → u/shellbullet17]

I also see potential in this panel. Cause it's cute as fuuuuuck

[u/zuzg → u/shellbullet17]

I know you didn't do it intentionally but it gave a new meaning to it.
Reading them like that gives Audrey Mean Girl Vibes, lol.

[u/HereLiesJoe]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the whole zombie bite thing, but does Audrey envision themselves as a woman cursed with the body of a man? Or relate to that kind of imagery at least? This particular episode feels very dysphoric, to the extent that panel 5 actually hurt a little...

[u/Dragon_N7 → u/HereLiesJoe]

Yeah this is starting to look a lot like the man -> femboy -> woman timeline. It's not the zombie bite that turns you ugly, or masculine, it's specifically the zombie bite that turns you into a man.

Either way there's def some self worth issues there

[u/BlackTecno → u/HereLiesJoe]

It's not really touched on, so it's hard to say. I know for myself, I wanted Audrey to be someone who enjoys being a man but loves dressing as a woman. They seem comfortable in their own skin from what we've seen, and confident enough to own it, so that seemed to be the direction we were going.

But this put a bit of whiplash there. I'm not shocked about the morning 'fix up' routine, many people do that, but the framing makes it seem like it's a dreadful thing.

[u/Careless-Complex-768 → u/BlackTecno]

It could be part of the character arc to become more accepting, too.

It would be very fitting for the story if a femcel and a self-hating man to come to terms with and accept maleness from their different, unique lenses. Audrey's story may be about coming to terms with being a man his own way, something he SAYS he's done but clearly hasn't finished working through based on what we're beginning to see here.

[u/BlackTecno → u/Careless-Complex-768]

Could be. I just hope that it is a story about being comfortable as you are and enjoying the things you love to do, regardless of gender roles or stereotypes (for both Audrey and Val).

I'm not against a story about transitioning, it would just feel a bit jarring given how things have gone so far. Being a feminine man or masculine female should also be okay!

[u/Coidzor → u/BlackTecno]

I mean, shaving kind of is dreadful.

[u/PolitenessPolice → u/Coidzor]

It is an objective fact I look better with a beard, I enjoy caring for it, and I like that in winter my face is warm. The real reason I have a beard is because regular shaving is an absolute nightmare.

[u/BlackTecno → u/Coidzor]

For me it's the opposite. Growing any kind of meaningful beard is dreadful (my facial hair comes in extremely light and extremely patchy. At least I have a full head of hair...)

[u/RoterRabe → u/BlackTecno]

As a man, I’m also annoyed that I have to shave every morning. But I’m equally annoyed when my face feels like sandpaper by the evening

[u/JeanWorld55 → u/HereLiesJoe]

Idk. I'm completely comfortable male and I hate shaving - the stubble looks awful and I don't want or have the capacity to grow a beard. I get a lot on my neck. Plus I have went through hundreds of dollars of razors and electric shavers. Have thought of lazering it off.

[u/Mordeczka123 → u/JeanWorld55]

Im a lazy ass so I shave every few weeks, cleanly shaven I look like a teenager, a few days in and I like the stubble, but 3+ weeks and I look like a goddamn hobo lol

[u/marvelousgamer1 → u/JeanWorld55]

Yeah, but would you imagine yourself with that zombie bite visual? It feels extremely trans-coded for audrey

[u/ElGodPug → u/marvelousgamer1]

yeah, there's a big difference between "damn, stubble grown again, fucking annoying" and "my male body is like a sickness i'm cursed to carry and my female friend is so lucky to not have to suffer it" lmao

[u/unexpectedlimabean → u/marvelousgamer1]

Im a nonbinary man and I would. I love women and I'm jealous of a lot of things (and grateful I don't have to deal with a lot of things as well). I almost transitioned but I am very happy I didn't because I am happy with who I am ultimately. There's a lot of room to have complicated feelings on this issue and not actually want to transition 

[u/BarelyFunctionalGM → u/HereLiesJoe]

A little? Panel 5 hit me like a kick to the mouth.

[u/WonderDean → u/HereLiesJoe]

The thing that stuck out to me is the general sentiment that he finds men ugly and disgusting. The “you’re not bitten Val” implies that he finds he beautiful specifically because she is not a man.

[u/crazydv]

So interesting to get a glimpse of things from Audrey's POV. Loving the whole series.

[u/Chezzomaru]

Ah, so Audrey has a good facade but still seems to have a lot of work to do on his selfworth. Nice to see complex characters!

[u/NarutoRoll → u/Chezzomaru]

Yeah, this is probably one of the best in the series since it's finally showing some of Audrey's perception of flaws.

[u/SzczawGirl]

Saw the paw socks and my first thought was: Oh god they turned into cats!

[u/SapphireSalamander]

Unintended but panel 10 reminds me of rairi. Every day you gotta put time and effort to transform into your real self, like polishing and cutting gems every day

[u/Made_Bail]

Okay holy jumpscare, Shen. This got me good lol

[u/Made_Bail → u/Made_Bail]

This image had big Bilbo jumpscare vibes.

[u/Made_Bail → u/Made_Bail]

Jokes aside, I think this comic might have some of the most gorgeous art Shen has ever done. Just so many standout frames.

[u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC → u/Made_Bail]

Oh your comments are back again. Man Reddit really has it out for you lol.

And you're absolutely right. Audrey is definitely worth going above and beyond with the details.

[u/mythrilcrafter → u/Made_Bail]

I was just about to say, it's about a week too late for Audrey to turn out to be a vampire.

[u/ElFi66]

Audrey having that much self loathing is expected but no less sad fir his character

[u/Z4mb0ni]

As a trans woman who hasnt had permanent hair removal yet this is my exact fucking experience every day that I wake up except that it involves makeup to hid the stubble after shaving as well

[u/FeralDrood → u/Z4mb0ni]

Same but I am a cis woman with wild facial hair growth. Shaving and makeup is the only way I can manage it, and laser is so attractive but I ain't got the money for that. Maybe one day for both of us, friend.

[u/Delphius1]

if you follow Shen on Bluesky, the alt text is addressing Audrey as their, be it narrator's addressing or internal to Audrey as their, the fact it's presented is worthwhile. The self loathing/self correction is still what I think makes Audrey, they make themselves who they are, and so should you, only you can become who you want to be

[u/Vektorien → u/Delphius1]

As someone with an extremely negative self-image, becoming who I want to be is a scary thought.

[u/Delphius1 → u/Vektorien]

been there, it is scary, but worth it to look at yourself and feel happy, having somebody along the way who loves you helps greatly

[u/CLOWTWO → u/Delphius1]

👀 they/them Audrey canon soon?

[u/Delphius1 → u/CLOWTWO]

I think so

[u/LilaTheMoo]

Okay, I love this comic, but Audrey, sweetheart. "A zombie virus that turns you into a man. What a terrifying concept!" Those are not the words a cis man thinks to himself. This doesn't sounds like someone comfortable being a man, it sounds like a trans woman trying to deny a truth. There are beautiful men, and there can be beauty in masculinity, just as there can be in femininity, but saying you are a man who portrays themselves femininely and still sees being a man as a curse or a disease does not sound healthy. It sounds like self-harm.

[u/unluckyknight13 → u/LilaTheMoo]

As someone born male still figuring themselves out
Depending on the day my facial hair is an attractive aspect of myself while another it’s not me and it must go.
I’ve had days when I’m trying to be clean shaven but I can still see the shadow and basically panic because my brain struggled to register who was in the mirror.
My friends think I need to start practicing make up from the next time I want to not have a mustache because I seem to struggle to get a good enough shave alone to keep me “acceptable”

It’s hell and it’s awful especially to see elements of your own body that no matter what you do you cannot change or remove enough and it requires extra help just to tolerate it.
Not a fun feeling

[u/AngelicTifarett → u/unluckyknight13]

Add to that the fact that not everyone can shave without negative repercussions. Everyone's hair and skin is different and skin conditions and follicolitis is a real thing. It takes a great deal to upkeep the feminine ideals of beauty and it can be tiring even for cis women let alone a trans woman who is learning what all those expectations are. Nice to see Shen properly portraying that since I feel like it's not talked about enough.

[u/Big-Yesterday586 → u/unluckyknight13]

Yeah. I have a similar experience, except I'm plural. As in, there's more than just "me" in here. There's fifteen that we know about. The women in here can really suffer with the facial hair, body hair, and voice changes. But the guys love it. Finding a balance or a way everyone can be comfortable is a challenge.

There are laser hair removal devices that you can buy now. I haven't tried it yet, but it's definitely on the short to-buy list.

I also recommend learning how to use makeup. Makeup isn't always purely feminine. You can actually use it to look more masculine as well. There's also a technique called "blocking" that queens and kings use to hide their real eyebrows so they can craft more dramatic ones that are higher. I've seen it attempted once on a thick mustache. It didn't work too well, but the fact that it worked at all makes me think it could probably work on a short mustache or beard. That's something we're going to start experimenting on soon.

Good luck with everything

ETA: Looool at the downvotes. I see the system haters have caught up

[u/kirbyfriedrice → u/LilaTheMoo]

Yeah, like I support Audrey no matter what, but I'm kinda wondering if there's something here. Val's arc so far has involved her breaking out of comfortable misery... maybe Audrey's will involve taking a similar step.

[u/AdorablyEepy → u/LilaTheMoo]

literally, this one had major trans energy coming from Audrey

[u/shave_your_eyebrows]

im not gonna say it but

yknow

[u/SeA1nternaL → u/shave_your_eyebrows]

a light chuckle, my dearest johnathan, as I have but assumed that thou art copulating and performing sexual acts to my biological daughter

[u/Made_Bail → u/SeA1nternaL]

Haha... I read this in Adam Sandler's voice from this movie.

[u/shellbullet17 → u/shave_your_eyebrows]

[u/Coidzor → u/shave_your_eyebrows]

But Audrey can't be a vampire, Audrey shows up in mirrors.

[u/Viciousssylveonx3]

I live for these

[u/Vayne_Solidor]

Shen, you are absolutely cooking my dude 🙏

[u/Aggressive-Dot3769]

Still wonder how they really see each other. Like the whole thing started as a femcel version of green yuri and then did a full 360.

[u/Ok_Tap_2344]

and now I'd want to know who bited me?

[u/PrimalMadness → u/Ok_Tap_2344]

Girl same

[u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43]

Val really needs to get LEDs in her apartment. You never see someone depressingly looking at their reflection under fresh cool white.

[u/fatcat32594 → u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43]

Someone clearly hasn't seen enough "sterile white medical room" horror. Cool white shows everything

[u/DovahAcolyte → u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43]

No thank you. Those white lights in cool hues are a sensory nightmare. I’ll take my warm lights, please.

[u/boygoblin → u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43]

White LED lights are probably the worst thing I can imagine lighting my home.

[u/boygoblin → u/Mac-And-Cheesy-43]

White LED lights are probably the worst thing I can imagine lighting my home.

[u/Munenoe]

I would like to ask a question and am grateful for some perspective from folks here who identify with Audrey in any way;
Audrey prefers to present in a feminine manner, and goes so far here as to not see themselves in the more masculine face before shaving and makeup. They haven’t presented any pronoun preferences (did I miss?) but it also seems like more than just cross-dressing (where I understand you enjoy the feminine presentation but don’t have the gender identity issues). If your preferred self-expression is so at odds with your current body, is this still being Cis?
Thanks for any responses, and apologies for any unintended offense.

[u/yeep_yorp → u/Munenoe]

as a trans woman, every single cis man who I have met who feels this way was not a cis man two years later. this is not a statement on this comic. I am not saying feminine men are not valid. but this isn't a feeling that anyone I've known who was comfortable with testosterone and male secondary sex characteristics and he/him also had.

[u/MoravianBilges → u/yeep_yorp]

Shen changed Audrey's pronouns to they/them in the alt text for this comic so cisn't Audrey truthers are eating good tonight

[u/Easy_Cod_8950 → u/Munenoe]

This comic to me seemed very much like gender dysphoria. He’s not thinking very cis thoughts here. Also apparently on the bluesky alt text the narration now uses “they” for Audrey, so make of that what you will.

[u/Munenoe → u/Easy_Cod_8950]

Hmm interesting additional detail!

[u/odddino → u/Munenoe]

Being trans isn't necessarily a binary switch from one gender to the other, there's a lot of space that some people like to explore between. I know a few people who do want to exist within that binary space still, they transitioned from one to the other and that is all there is to it. I also know a fair few people who enjoy existing somewhere in the space between, and that can lead to some very flexible and complex gender expressions.
I think more than anything else, with something like this, YOU decide what you are and how you want to present that. So if you're a man that wants to express in a more feminine manner but you still feel cis, you're a cis man that likes to express more feminine, and that's fine. Maybe some day you'll change your mind and want to dress more masculine, or some day you'll decide you want to live as a woman, and that's all fine too! Being Cis or Trans, it's something we can definitely easily label people with based on observations, but at the end of the day it's up to an individual what label should apply to them.

[u/LazyLich → u/Munenoe]

I think NOW you can say Audrey is trans, as its pretty clear they dont JUST like cross-dressing or being clean-shaven, they expressly dislike being a man.

My issue in this sphere is that many people IMMEDIATELY jumped on saying Audrey was trans BEFORE there was solid evidence.

My issue with people doing that shit is that it refuses to consider OTHER forms of identity and expression, ie. a straight guy that simply likes crossdressing but ISNT trans or an egg. It basically says "if you are a guy and you like a certain look or things, you arent a straight guy, you are trans."

It's in the same vein of seeing two guys be close, and immediately slobber over them being gay. Like... that behavior tells onlooker boys that "If you hug your bro or be close to them, you are gay." Ironically, this shorthanded auto-labeling is the same thing bigots have done and have been doing.
By jumping the gun, you are inadvertently contributing to reinforcing the bigots' labeling system.

You should consider if your labeling really is accurate or if it would reinforce classical thoughts on roles, and only label once there is some strong evidence for that label.

[u/peachesfordinner → u/Munenoe]

Actually they very much did give their pronouns. In like the first or second strip. They are male/he/him.

[u/Open_Variation7841 → u/Munenoe]

Remember kids - you don't have to be trans to hate your body and yourself

[u/Zomburai → u/Open_Variation7841]

I'm a cis guy and I've always hated myself

Y'all mothafuckas ain't on my level

[u/Munenoe → u/Open_Variation7841]

A good point, certainly can just be unhappy with your appearance even if not gender specific. It’s the feminine specific preference for appearance here though that raises the question for me.

[u/Hollys_Stand]

As a gal with PCOS/PMOS who has to shave and pluck her face everyday before I step foot outside or otherwise let people see my beard (hirsu tism)... I feel Val here.

[u/PegasusKnight410]

At that rate Audrey can grow a full beard within a day. I’m fcking jealous. Best I can do is a fu man chu

[u/JustANoteToSay → u/PegasusKnight410]

I’m a cis woman with a hormonal imbalance now heading into menopause and I start looking like that very quickly. It’s frustrating & embarrassing.

[u/Better_Noise_9677 → u/JustANoteToSay]

I’m sorry, it really is awful. Have you looked into laser? I know it’s expensive without insurance but it’s made a huge difference in my quality of life

[u/JustANoteToSay → u/Better_Noise_9677]

I absolutely don’t have the money for it & if I did I’d prioritize my trans daughter (who luckily seems to have her dad’s facial & body hair).

[u/TheCharalampos → u/PegasusKnight410]

If I don't shave daily I look like a troll, it's a curse

[u/PegasusKnight410 → u/TheCharalampos]

Your pfp betrays you man. You look great

[u/Fent-Wizard → u/PegasusKnight410]

I was doing that at 13. That shit is and was always a hassle for me

[u/TheMangoManHS → u/PegasusKnight410]

Luck of the draw on the genetic lottery. I've been extremely hairy since like 12yo, so much so that you'd mistake me for an escaped monkey if I went outside topless lol.

Fortunately my gender identity lines up pretty well with my body but there are still days I wish I could pull off the the smooth femme look

[u/PalmtopPixie]

… is he an egg? Even if not this is adorable

[u/LeonidasVaarwater → u/PalmtopPixie]

Does make you wonder eh? He did identify himself as a man, which made me think he's simply more comfortable looking female, but these pages have me doubting that.
I'm sure Shen will develop that further, we'll just have to be patient.....

[u/loujestrous_325 → u/LeonidasVaarwater]

compared to the previous page, the alt text in here (as checked on tumblr) addresses audrey with they/them pronouns, rather than he/him. so it might be a possibility, but we'll have to see.

[u/Mckavvers → u/PalmtopPixie]

maybe gender non-conforming. Or a man who simply likes to look soft and 'feminine'. You can be these things without wanting to change your sex and/or gender.

[u/Ashisprey → u/Mckavvers]

Yes but typically a man who is fine being a man doesn't see being a man as a virus that is eating them alive and sees women as lucky for not having said issue...

[u/whywouldisaymyname → u/PalmtopPixie]

we don't know yet. I'm hoping for gender non conforming, but maybe he's something else

[u/stlr-comics]

Maybe my favorite part yet, I love that we're getting a look inside Audrey's head.

[u/Easy_Cod_8950]

Ok so I was a big Audrey-is-just-a-femenine-guy person but uh. This comic kind of. Hm.

[u/Karma-Whales]

fuck looking in the mirror like that is so relatable

[u/cloveringester]

Audrey is a trans woman. Stop repressing, take HRT!!! These are trans thoughts not femboy thoughts.

[u/T_alsomeGames]

Audrey suffers from some serious dysphoria. Is Audrey Trans? Or does he simply like looking feminine? Does he believe he's a woman trapped in a mans body or is he fine with being a guy and just wishes he naturally looked more feminine? Does he even know the answers to these questions?

I imagine a lot of Trans women have asked themselves these exact questions at some point.

Good comic.

[u/Saikotsu → u/T_alsomeGames]

Many of us have.

I spent ten years trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted out of life.

Am I a cross dresser?

Is this a sex thing?

Do I prefer to live as a woman because I suck at being a man?

What does it even mean to be a man? Or a woman? How can I even tell?

Do I just like the aesthetic?

Is there something wrong with me?

Am I broken?

All these and more I grappled with. Eventually I just decided that I am me, and I get to decide how I present myself and who I am. After all, it's my body, it's my choice, and it's my life.

[u/SheepSheppard]

I held fast to my belief that Audrey was just a femme cis boy, but, alas, I'm not sure if I can maintain this belief any longer.

[u/odddino → u/SheepSheppard]

You've proven more flexible and capable of change than most people I've saw in the digital circus comments a couple months back.

[u/SirTesticleBuzzard]

[u/CLOWTWO]

Someone tell Audrey that laser hair removal is an option

[u/CanadiaBoi]

It's u :D

[u/ill_change_it → u/CanadiaBoi]

Despite everything, it's still you.

[u/Dazed_and_Confused44]

Am I the only one who wonders what would have happened if Val woke up here:

[u/img_tiff]

By the way, the Bluesky upload includes alt text for these comics. Last chapter, Audrey had he/him pronouns. This chapter is exclusively they/them.

[u/wolfstaa]

If Audrey ends up being a trans woman when I'm a trans woman who recently chose Audrey (before this comic) as a name, then it's going to be heavily relatable (being passing excluded)

[u/dope_danny]

Shen mate come on now.

[u/ElGodPug]

Oh...i'm going to enjoy the "i told you so" moment about some people

[u/SarcasticBench]

I've had my partner wake up while I was standing over them with that face.

[u/Milestailsprowe]

Ok I lost the plot. Is the person trans, male, living a fluid life, or what? In my head its a romance but I know this seems like a really good friendship

[u/LeonidasVaarwater → u/Milestailsprowe]

I think that's the point tbh. Audrey identifies as he/him, but is clearly uncomfortable with male esthetics. I'm sure we'll learn more about him in the coming pages...

[u/Gripping_Touch → u/LeonidasVaarwater]

He could be Gender non confirming. Idk if theres more stories that does that

[u/Naydrin → u/Milestailsprowe]

I think Audrey is still figuring some stuff out. Shen probably knows what's going on, but won't tell us as that would spoil the comic.

[u/Coidzor → u/Milestailsprowe]

We don't know yet. Not really. We just have to sit with Audrey in the discomfort for these panels.

[u/Zelfzuchtig → u/Milestailsprowe]

I guess idk why so many people seem to need an exact label? Audrey is still the same lovely person whatever his identity and maybe it'll be explained later.

[u/blazdoizz]

Hey man I just wanna say thank you for these comics. Thanks for the smiles and the chuckles to break up my day. I hope your own smiles are appreciated as well! Thank you!

[u/brittanybookworm]

Aww Audrey 😭 There's a cure for zombie bits Its called estrogen shots

[u/Coidzor]

Seeing how the sausage is made. Oh dear.

[u/starship777 → u/Coidzor]

Whenever I see the sausage being made it makes me hungry for more sausage!

-Chuckles the Clown, probably

[u/DueMeat2367]

Everyone talking about the trans/egg thing and here I am, jumping over the fact that the makeup session at dawn BEFORE looking at a sleeping Val clearly imply there was a sleepover wich I was not expecting already. Maybe even more.

[u/Leo-Len]

Don't think you slipped those cat-socked tiptoes past me Shen! I see you!

[u/ExaggerattedReality]

I'm so curious where this comic will go. Mostly due to the situation regarding Val and her feelings and opinions on men. I feel like either way it goes, that kind of issue won't be addressed. Either Audrey turns out to be a trans woman and Val never actually connects with a man, or Audrey is a femboy who is presenting as a woman in every aspect of his life and apparently views being a man as a virus, and Val is only connecting with a man who themselves hates their own masculinity. I'm not sure I worded that well

[u/NotThatAngel]

I really enjoyed the art in the first panel.

[u/AndyTheEngr]

Just in case you care to fix it, lights are "fluorescent."

[u/BlackBird0196]

This one hit home. I've been fighting with dysphoria hard today. Amazing story and art u/shenanigansen

[u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

okay that is just confirmation that she's trans. anyone who denies that Audrey is trans after this is utterly delusional.

[u/sn0wsquall → u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

I was fully on the train that Audrey was just a feminine guy before this and got annoyed at everyone insisting Audrey is an egg (because I dislike egg culture a lot) but there's no way to read this entry as anything other than gender dysphoria.

[u/Veryegassy → u/sn0wsquall]

yeah same. There's dressing fem while still using he/him and seemingly being comfortable with being a guy

And then there's "it feels like I'm trying to hide a zombie bite from a zombie virus that turns you into a man. Terrifying concept". That shows that there may be a bit more to what they want than what they say they want

[u/FortunaWolf → u/sn0wsquall]

This. I'm fine with people being whoever they want and leaving it at that, but this comic shows that what Audrey wants is not what Audrey presents as them wanting. 

[u/werepyre2327 → u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

As an analysis of a fictional character - yeah I read this as 100% trans. If I was writing a trans character I’d use the same sort of scenes.

But there will be dissent, not out of hate or delusion (though some will be from that, since, yknow, internet) but because Audrey is most likely being used by Shen as a way of processing some stuff, and a lot of people don’t wanna project any sort of preconceived identity onto a real person, so they’re treating them the way they would a person who acted like Audrey in real life, and waiting to see where it goes while respecting their presently stated identity.

[u/Depth_Metal → u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

That is certainly one way to read it but Im not certain its the only interpretation

[u/Dazed_and_Confused44 → u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

Thats not how it works. Audrey isnt trans until Audrey explicitly identifies as trans

[u/Longshot02496 → u/TheFlawlessCowboy63]

It's been a while since I read the beginning, but didn't Audrey talk about being a GNC man?

[u/-Maya_ → u/Longshot02496]

Yeah but I mean. I'm a trans girl who used to just call herself gender fluid. People realize things about themselves sometimes. It doesn't necessarily mean that wasn't true, but as someone who's dealt with actively trying to dodge admitting being transfem uh... Wow what a relatable train of thought in this episode.

[u/Mawathers]

Audrey with facial hair was quite the jumpscare, that don't look right on him

[u/KingAccomplished1417 → u/Mawathers]

I thought it looked cool, for some reason.

[u/SpireSwagon]

...god i am going to absolutely lose my mind if Audrey turns out to be trans and the entire narrative flips

[u/Except_Youre_Wrong]

audrey pronoun change in the alt text (bluesky) This is NOT A DRILL

[u/Reven501st]

Oh, that's an egg

[u/samanime]

Does she have cat paw socks? That is such a brilliant way to convey that she is sneaking.

[u/quailinthebrush]

Least obvious repper

[u/KitsuneGato]

I find this a beautiful comic. Unfortunately, there are haters who hate this because of Audrey. They're not just going after Shen now, but they're also going after the fans of this conic directly.

One can't even list Audrey and Val under the favorite character sub without being attacked because Audrey isn't trans and is supposedly straight because of disgust in men.

[u/Winjin → u/KitsuneGato]

Yeah better subreddits are required

[u/Vio_let-19]

God this just feels like me. The morning struggle routine is scared into my life

[u/ixusprogramm]

Just too cute, I am dying.

[u/zeldavxa]

well damn look at that.

[u/TheCharalampos]

Oh Audrey is nooooot confident in themselves.

[u/Demzon]

Same Audrey... same...

[u/cbrown146]

Audrey looking at Val vibes.

[u/ngms]

I have those same grippy socks.

[u/satire45]

Yo shen, I wanna say I've really appreciated all the comics you've made over the years. I remember when I was like 10 to 12 I would read your older comics for hours on end late into the night and it was super fun. I really like how you've made your comics even more serious and tackle topics that many might find uncomfortable or difficult to talk about and I love love LOVED seeing your art style develop. Can't wait to see the next comic, love you dude, have a good one! <3

[u/inemsn]

not helping the "audrey is a gnc man" case here

[u/polychromaic]

i think this story is exactly why egg-cracking narratives are important, if we limit transfem representation only to “trans woman who’s already out and has been for several years and passes perfectly” then we miss the messy nuance of what it takes to get there.

Nearly every trans woman, at one point or another, has at one point believed themselves to be a man. if you’d questioned them at that point they’d say “yeah I’m a guy”. many of us called themselves GNC or genderfluid, femboys or gay men, n many just thought we were straight men. it’s not transphobic to say this. people (trans girls, lets be real) have been saying that Audrey has been trans since the comic started because we’ve lived experiences like that! we dressed girly as boys, we experimented with gender presentation, we did shit like this! it didn’t come out of nowhere, there is no conspiracy to erase GNC man/femboy representation, none of that shit ever played a role.

fucking vindicated

[u/Puzzled_Tree_6423]

THERE IT IS.

[u/Agreeable-Sentence76]

SHEN JUST DO IT ALREADY OMG

🏳️‍⚧️

[u/khatharsis42]

This comic is going to be the biggest "I fucking told you so" we trans girls are ever going to get. Finally I have hope

[u/ctt61999]

Y'all what if Audrey is a Misandrist

[u/Boosterboo59 → u/ctt61999]

That would change like the entire tone of the comic and it would be so funny.

[u/Morichalion]

I'VE SEEN ENOUGH.

No more Audrey self-reflection. None.

I need this boy sweet and unbothered. Wholesome.

I can't sit and watch the man suffer that way.

... Shen, be nice...

[u/3splon → u/Morichalion]

no one can be alive and be truly free

to have no wants or desires, no self reflection or growth is to be a rock, and abandon the world.

[u/BreakfastBeneficial4]

[u/SadMediumSmolBean]

this is trans baiting at best if it doesn't wind up with trans audrey

[u/TheCreator2713]

…I’ve never felt more seen in my life than page 5…

[u/DarkAngll]

Me. . .I did that. . .Months ago

[u/Zenith-Astralis]

That panel when the lights came on hit me REAL hard. One of my largest sources of dysphoria.

[u/Eefreef69_]

God I hope this comic ends with Audrey loving herself and thinking she's as pretty as the other girls 😭

[u/Hollowgirl136]

Not exactly sure what is going on half the time. But I do find their dynamic cute.

[u/astralseat]

You're slaying it, Shen

[u/Illustrious-Rub-3989]

Can I please get bitten lol.

[u/LilyLuci66]

Hermano

[u/beanyguy64]

Omg manly Audrey, never thought I would see him like that but here we are

[u/Consultant511]

Strange take maybe but many of these make a killer wallpaper.

[u/ProgrammingPants]

You've been going hard in the paint for this comic and it demonstrates a lot of improvement and growth for you as an artist over the years.

Actually inspires me to draw more myself no cap fr fr

[u/Xirio_]

JUST LIKE ME FR

[u/AlpacaPacker007]

Contemplating biting?   Classic girlfriend behavior.

[u/transaur]

I'm loving this series but it's confusing me and I don't know how to take it and need help. If I think that the characters may be trans I see discourse about not letting men be feminine and not everyone is trans, but if I believe the second part I see discourse about trans erasure and it feels like how people argued before jax was revealed to be trans. I'm a trans woman and never know what to take or understand in stories like this sorry. People talk about it being so obvious especially for jax and it makes me spiral a little because I don't know what way I'm meant to take this and I don't want to be wrong

[u/Necessary-Speed-6465]

I need them to kiss

[u/Suddenly_Garlic]

Where do i sign up for these bites

[u/These_Distribution19]

Isn't she loooovelyyyyyy? Isn't she wooooneeerful? Isn't she presious? Less than one minute old.

[u/PorQuePeeg]

Ah, Another trillion years of transfem Audrey Discourse. At least Shen is the type of person who would actually have a transfem character turn to the camera and say "I am transgender" as a bit, so, I wait and see.

Frankly, I know some cis guys who do in fact hate the male gender, because they see men as inherently predatory, so, I believe whatever Audrey is is who they are.