March 31st, 2020
31 Mar 2020 · page 975 of 1306
Cast: Jack O'Malley, Purple Hippo of Happiness
Comments (43)
Events
ThoughtBubble
14 Nov 2026 – 15 Nov 2026
Harrogate Convention Centre
Manchester Megacon
31 Jul 2027 – 1 Aug 2027
Manchester Central
Looks like having the Purple Hippo of Happiness as his external conscience is just the thing O'Malley needs.
And also the last thing he wants.
So often the same thing.
Free therapy! Forced introspection! (Extrospection?)
But why?
"Always move fast. You never know what's catching you up." (c)
I wonder if being in the human world for a long time starts to give malforms more complexity than their base emotion. It's interesting to see the PHOH display a lot of extra range and memory as they hang around O'Malley for several months.
It's something Ben was wondering about in Malforms Guide, yeah!
oooh I haven't seen that, neat! I'll have to pick up the PDF set at some point while there's still a deal on it :)
As DEATH experienced, humanity is an infectious disease. Stay long enough among humans, and you will catch some of it.
(couldn't resist plugging some PTerry reference)
Going back in-universe, metaphysically, as malforms are embodiment of humans emotions, it would make sense that they are empathetic. Able to absorb more emotions, on top of the one defining them.
Whichever they origin, they have already been shown to feel fear and they can relax by listening to beautiful music.
Didn't seem to effect Lust, who as far as I am aware spent more time in the human world than any other spirit.
I think fully summoned spirits (particularly the sins) are more rigidly defined, but at the same time being a lot more powerful and self-driven.
But maybe something about the nature of being incomplete lets malforms learn and gain more dimension? Wildly speculating here but it's neat to think about the rules of this world.
it did. it even talked about it- [https://www.widdershinscomi...](https://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/may-1st-2018 "https://www.widdershinscomic.com/wdshn/may-1st-2018") compare it to say, gluttony- it's a lot more human. more layers.
I seem to have misunderstood this page; I had thought it showed the opposite. Greed was the other "most human" deadly, but I guess I forgot that it'd been in the human world for a while by the time Chapter One happened.
The O'Malley is scaring the Purple Hippo.
Purple is also a sad color.
I… I can't honestly upvote that statement.
You're right though. 😢
Oh dear. I think he may be letting some of it catch up with him.
Don't yell at the Purple Hippo, Mal!
It seems now PHOH does duty for Wolfe and Ben both!
It might be better in this case if Mal was yelling at one of them instead of alarming the PHOH; Wolfe is never bothered by his moods, and Ben just yells back.
It certainly would be better because it'd mean Mal is back home! :(
I'm not sure it's just Mal's yelling that alarms PHOH, though. In the last panel, Mal doesn't yell, his voice is shaky, and he looks like being in turmoil - but PHOH hides beyond the stone even more.
I suppose a creature literally made of happiness wouldn't know how to deal with its favorite person having an emotional crisis. :( I want to give both of them a hug.
I think you have it - for a creature of actual happiness having to process their friend's misery and fear would seem scary and painful.
And yet the poor thing sticks by its friend, the O'Malley regardless. (Sniffle)
I'm thinking "it" would be emotions, attachments and responsibilities. Just guessing, though. 😏
Any feelings that you care about the people you left behind in situations that you ran away from.
I think suddenly: it would be... nice, if at the moment Ben and Eliza go for searching Mal, they'll meet him going home! A bit unexpected, but nice. :)
Though I'm thinking about the finale where everyone meeting everyone in the Widdershins Anchor all more and more.
Jack O'Malley, i know you're going through a lot right now -- and you're running from it. hey, i applaud you. especially since i need to borrow your Purple Hippo of Happiness to get me through the next couple months of lockdown, please. and thanks.
Jack O'Malley was self-isolating before it became cool!
slips the O'Malley and the Hippo some hugs
Mal! You scared PHOH! Meanie!
Mal, use the cheat 'CHANNEL SURFING'. You already used 'WUV WOO".
...Is this literally the PHOH version of "Does this spark joy"?
Seems so, and it's a really good question!
Oh yes. There's that point where you realise that the broken coping mechanisms that kept you alive to this point are still broken coping mechanisms.
No, I don't know anything about that at all, why do you ask?
Mal is so used to running it's never occurred to him there might not be anything to run from at the moment.
He might be running from the responsibility of being the witch, either consciously or subconsciously.
Also, the evil American whose offer you can't refuse!
I wonder if Pryce had time to tell Mal what he wanted from him...
Good question. Pryce says Mal "didn't even let me tell him what the pay was", but it it's not clear whether he had already explained the job before that.
Don’t yell at happy hippo baby!!
Everyone's working on their feelings without bullets!
I think someone needs his emotional soppurt german
Ooh there's a lot happening this chapter, but clearly Harry, Sid and Mal have some feelings to work through