An important aspect of any story-comic is that of character growth. It’s an interesting juggling act that the comic’s writer has to play carefully, as fans often fall in love with characters for who they are rather than what they may become (especially as you can only speculate as to what paths a character may take… and you’ll more often than not be wrong with your guesses). While there are easy outs, the creation of character flaws which are shallow and superficial and which do little to shape the character, often it is the deeper, more ingrained flaws which truly allow a character to shine.

Maytag of Flipside is one such flawed heroine, with a character flaw which appeared on its surface to be one of those “easy outs” that could be waved away and create a more perfect character… and that being her infidelity to Bernadette. The longer the comic ran, however, the more Maytag’s tendency to stray became a vital part of her, an aspect of her uninhibited nature. That has changed with today’s comic… and Maytag refusing to strip down in front of an attractive female mage because it would violate her principles… and harm Bernadette.

Nor is this sacrifice out of the blue. Brion Foulke was waving around a Chekhov pistol earlier with Maytag insisting she’d not ask Bern to give up her dreams for her… only for her partner to (on her own) abandon them due to the fact the knight order she wished to join was homophobic (and thus her own relationship with Maytag would either have to remain secret or be abandoned). I doubt this will lessen Maytag’s uninhibited nature. Instead, it will set a boundary beyond which the young blonde won’t go. And considering how long it’s been a part of Maytag’s very being, it should be interesting to watch May struggle to remain true to her vow… and to Bernadette.