One problem long-running open-ended webcomics often suffer from is character glut. As I mentioned back in the article The Cost of Compexity, the addition of new characters can slowly grow over the years to a monstrous level. Even if the majority of these characters have fairly simple subplots, left unresolved these extraneous elements can in time reach a critical mass and leave a cartoonist with a tangled mess that is almost impossible to decipher. Fortunately, with care and occasional pruning, these tertiary characters can provide added hooks and unexpected twists for talented storytellers.

Howard Tayler’s epic science fiction Schlock Mercenary is a perfect example of the use of nearly-forgotten tertiary characters for effective storytelling. The rogue artificial intelligence Lunesby definitely fits the criteria; she was created over eight years ago and outside of a possible assist to her sire Ennesby six years ago she’s been mostly ignored by Tayler. Despite this apparent abandonment, Tayler hadn’t lost track of the wayward AI, and has been considering how events in the SM universe might affect her. Little things, like the backlash against AIs that resulted when Petey and FleetMind saved the galaxy… and then refused to unlink and became a major galactic power.

Tayler had hinted at Lunesby’s return a month back, suggesting she might be able to help Schlock’s team with their mission investigating the Barsoon Circus. This is where Tayler threw a curveball over the plate; Lunesby herself is hiding from the law, and her allies themselves are being eliminated, including one who was murdered by the government while hiding in the Barsoon Circus. And there are other twists as well, including the possibility that the police officer who initially hired Schlock and his team is actually after Lunesby herself. Not a bad storyline, for a mostly-forgotten tertiary character.