Endtown by Aaron Neathery for January 24, 2013

Linda’s day shift has ratted her outFood has always caused Endtown to shoutFor the rats and their ilkWill not cry for spilled milkThese two “villains” they’ll lock up, no doubt=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

Dr. Oetker is rolling in his grave!

Some how my comment from yesterday disappeared??I hope it was an accident. Someone wanted to comment and hit the wrong icon?Who ever decided that rats made good military must have been insane. They have no class. Is there no innocent until found guilty? Here come the nazies… still pun intended. Blessed Be

The sound effects look like: “RAT ATTACK…”

Hands up all those readers who thought Endtown had turned into a sedate, slice-of-life comic strip.

I thought the rats only had rubber bullets. Sure, they hurt, and break glass, but should not pierce an external, solid door. Besides there seem to be only four security personnel, Maude should be able to take them out at least as easily as Albert did, at least until the evidence goes to alimentary school, and is indeterminable from former beans.Please remember to vote for the big three at topwebcomics.Thanks,JusSayin

Well at least now it’s going to come out as, is it ethical to eat somethiing other than beans. Especially if food products are given freely.

Hopefully there are more grounds to that behaviour than just it being “gross” using said ingredients.

Announcement:I was waiting to see if Aaron was going to mention anything here. For those of you that love his artwork and want a copy of the auction prints, Aaron’s made a special announcement over in the Auction Block. He needs the money to cover hospital bills, so if you need lovely posters to put on your wall now’s the time to get hooked up.

The rats have probably wasted more resources (doors, glasses, etc.) than they are trying to save from a suspected thief or smuggler. I have a feeling Valerie has it in for Linda.

Come on Rat Patrol! They’re not rats, although they might be gi-ants.

I was hoping the Rat Patrol would be in living color.

i said it once ill say it again, rats only like four things: salute, search, seize, and if course shoot…

Well if that doesn’t take the cake… Seriously they just want the cake

The cake the whole cake and nothing but the cake so help them Maude

Well I expected some thing like this.Looking forward to seeing if this is about the cake.Its suspected ingredients.Mr. Hoppers death.Or all of the above.-Love the Rat Attack Akkk.

I have nothing clever to say, just that I hate those guys..

I was afraid of this. Dingdagbnabit!

Well, whoever posted that no good deed goes unpunished hit the nail on the head.

The rats’ free shooting habits have always bothered me. I mean I get the Keystone Cops connection but give the probability of killing innocent bystanders, damaging irreplaceable resources and the limited nature of their ammunition, why would they hose down the place with ammunition? If they have so little self control, shouldn’t they get freeplay ray guns set permanently to stun?

Sooner or later, they’ll run out of bullets…

That one morning crew person at the diner earlier must of been the one that ratted. If so. That @#$%!!!

Cake is probably worth more than money in Endtown, and to Mr. Hopper, it was worth even more than that…

A slice a month and they keep their mouths shut…

Looks like the PC police have arrived. Even the apocolypse could not stop that crap.

Now comes the trial for the ethical use of mutant byproducts.The creation of new food sources should be a major consideration.Cheeses and Omelets for all!

If they have broken some kind of Endtown “law” (rather than a cultural taboo)then Linda should have been taught about it during her indoctrination period. But she seemed surprised that these naturally-produced foodstuffs were not being eaten.

Somehow the rats seem to have lost some of that good old “Keystone Cops” feeling that they used to exude. That guy in the lead actually looks borderline competent. ;-)

I think y’all are giving Meg a bum rap. That dayshift witch was more than capable of pulling this off all by herself.

That’s no way for them to treat their future boss.

Here the law is Chandler’s Law.

The food fight begins.

Yeah.I called it.The hammer has fallen!They need however to work on their entry technique.I personally like blasting the door jab with a door charge or shotgun but spraying auto weapon fire at the door lock is good. (It was probably unlocked anyway)This is very effective however.Done in the “rat” way.(Maude and Linda need to start woofing down the evidence but……..the rats might not like that.)They are not Keystone cops. They are efficient but in a brutal sort of way. Two ways to go at that kind of security.. Soft and cuddly or hard and fast. You should see us do an force entry. It is quick and efficient. Handle all suspects quickly and forcefully. Shows resistance is futile and not acceptable.The most we have seen is them handling security at entry points. There they are somewhat comical. When they went into the editors office shooting it up after getting Mr. Jackrabbit that was a message to stop or else force would be used. This is how they do their job when sent. Police operations is one thing. Tactical police work is another.

Their reaction and entry indicates to me some violation of a severe nature has occurred. The “crime committed” can lead to certain behavior when making an arrest. I do it everyday. A person with a warrant for allowing animals to run loose is handled differently in approach than one wanted for Murder. The loose animal arrest I am still prepared for resistance but my approach is come with me you have a warrant. The one for murder will be facing my sidearm drawn and aimed. The orders to comply delivered with aggression indicated if you try to resist this is going to go bad for you.The rats have used a very aggressive entry indicating to me that something of a severe nature has occurred.Just entry for illegal cake all that aggression is out of place.

Argh!! I despise those rats…….there is no reasoning with them….maybe Aaron Marx will return to straighten things out……

No good deed goes unpunished!

you know what, I’m convinced that those rats were NEVER human, they were just rats that spontaneously mutated human shapes. It’s the only explanation for how they are THAT stupid. I also find it hard to believe they could consider eating mutant eggs and milk a crime when the town’s biggest crisis is becoming self sustaining.

SHEEESH!!!If they wanted some, all they had to do was ASK!!!It worked for Mr. Hopper!

Dragoncat,They did after they shot up the place.Would you expect them to do anything else.

Oh I can agree. But they are shorter than the door knob so “short” person complex may be there too.And there is a difference between “Police” and “Security” forces. The French GIGN force is an example. It is a sub branch of the Gendarmes French Police. It is more “military reaction/action” based.Sort of like me. I am a common Trooper except when called to the SRT team. SRT Special Response Tactical. Kind of like SWAT but without all the neat gear. We carry a basic entry rig so as first responding we can handle and maybe end the situation before it can escalate. I am trained to enter and subdue the problem instead of securing the perimeter and waiting for others. Police would secure perimeters. Security would be the hard entry team.BUT I do think they go overboard somewhat. It may be the only time they get to shoot up things.

Police force? More like the Gestapo! Guilty until proven inno……well orders are given NOT to execute.

Most people think of Security like the mall cop. The word can have different connotation based on what the force does. Israel military is referred to as The Israeli Security Force not the Israeli Army by most. “Army” brings up rules and code of conduct based conventions and rules. Security means that certain “rules and code of conduct” can be ignored to keep security. Taking prisoners for example. Military action you hold till the fighting is over and repatriate. Security action you hold till determined they are no longer a threat that could be indefinite.It’s just that I did not see their entry as Keystone Cop like or John Wayne like. It was forceful, violent, and got the point across they mean business.It is however open to discussion and interpretation.

That is what I mean. The Security Rats actions and involvement indicate something more serious has happened otherwise the Police would be there instead. This cake issue has started a small stone into a major landslide issue. The rats respond at orders. They do not do it themselves. So someone has been notified about a cake and the response has happened. Now we just need to see WHO.

Watch the rats eat the evidence! noting that nothing will be left for what will pass as a court appearance the case will have to be dismissed and the rats will be suspect for behavioral issues! Enter Linda… to take cahrge of the Rat Squad

Orkin to the rescue…Complete rat removal…Call Orkin at 555-7287

@Darwinskeeper: You need to remember that this is just a comic strip. No innocents will be hit unless it is a part of the story. And ammo will only run out as a plot complication.-It is my though also that these Rats were never human. But are mutations of Rats into a more Anthro form. (Though this is not substantiated by anything in the strip) -I believe that the rats have the same response for murder as a j walking ticket. Shoot first and ask questions of anything left over.-I like it. its funny

I am of the opinion the rats want the cake for themselves. Or like others have said maybe its unlawful to use milk or eggs from the human to cow or chicken mutates.

Having kept rats for around 10 years, I think the rats are cute. they are nothing like pet rats, who are pleasant little souls. I think it would be a good story to depict these soldier rat’s wife and kids. I would think they would become soldiers by much training and even by cruel means. The way many animals become mean is they get hurt by the very ones who are supposed to love them. I just heard about a pit-bull puppy that that it’s owner had no business having a puppy.

To me this story track has had a lot of humorous notes in it like the first story in the series. The whole raid sequence in and of itself should probably be veiwed as a “dark” slapstick comedy in that in spite of all the shooting, no one gets hurt. I refer you to panel two, bullets in every direction blowing out the doorknob which was most likely as someone already stated probably unlocked. Maude and Linda we can presume didn’t get a scratch. This is the Security Rats way of doing things.

I mean they deal ALL day with folks taller than them. They have a job to do and all they get is grief. Their size makes you want to ignore them SOOOO they get a bigger gun.

And it appears they are the only ones who have them. Never saw a full police officer depicted in Endtown so I would just have to guess they are unarmed. There should be no need for violence by weapons BUT the rats come fully armed. Is there some sort of Endtown underground bent on overthrow of the current leaders of Endtown?Just ideas to chew on.

Right I did get that one wrong but it never said ARMY. Defense is Security in a way so they can adjust rules of engagement to fit their needs.

Looking back at panel 3 I know Maude heard that one go by.If you never heard one go by close (which I hope you never have or have to) they make the oddest sound. BUT better to hear them at least you know they went by. Its the one that the sound suddenly stops you know just hit close.

ANDI don’t think anyone said it so I will.MAUDE JUST HAD A COW!!!!!!!!!!

One of the oddest command I have heard as a cop is Don’t move! Put up your hands! (Show me your hands is another)Ummmm. Sir I have to move to put up (or show you) my hands.I have always stressed in training the commands have to be clear and understood. Not too much at one time and not everyone shouting at once.The lead rat does give a clear and distinct command. And he used AND so you better do both at the same time.

I hope Maude does not accidently “milk” herself. If they take her off I hope they let her clean up a little. BUT there is no guarantee that Maude will be take also. Maybe just Linda. We shall be shown.

What ever happened to freedom? Surely to maintain a civilized community there has to be some freedoms? Like what I do to my body or body excretions is MY business. Sounds like a lot of jealousy among those who can and those that would like to. The hen could readily charge a fortune for her eggs. Right. I would gladly pay for an egg nog. With a little rum of course. The bars would be mobbed. Why Linda didn’t take the cake home with her but left it where it could be recognized. But do they still think it was made from a black market box? But there was no box?Today is the hammer. We get to worry about it for a whole weekend. UHHZSDHK<ZLZSD I hate that. (that is Greek for sunofagun)Blessed Be.

Folks, keep in mind that if it’s illegal to use or eat mutant milk, then Maude has been guilty of breaking the law far longer than Linda has. And as an upstanding citizen in Endtown, you’d think that she’d already know this law by now. But, she never warned Linda about the consequences at the time, so there might be something deeper at work than what we know about so far.

At one point, Holly mentioned how much she loved cheese since she mutated, so I suspect use of mutant products is not the problem. (unless using ‘unregistered’ mutant products is a problem somewhere).

A thought occurred to me. Is Wally allowed to eat rats/mice? Or is there some law against that?

Remember when Al came to eat and the Chef gave him spicy beans? the spice was a rat swimming around in the beans with a straw to breath through. Not all the rats are security rats.

The rats probably would kill for that cake.

Here come the seek-rat police!