By Kelly Richards

Giant Days is a brilliant, weird, funny comic about three girls living together at Sheffield University in the UK. Created by John Allison and drawn by talents including Max Sarin, Lissa Treiman and Whitney Cogar, the series has been going strong for several years now, and has amassed a rightfully devoted fanbase.

As it’s set in England, though, and because Allison has such strong instincts as a writer, there are a lot of jokes and references which might fly over the head of the international audience. Here, then, are our annotations to help guide you through life at Sheffield University, provided by our Head Annotator Kelly Richards!

Page 1

Puzzled! At the Christmas Market.

“Gaffer” is a slang way of saying “manager”. In America “gaffer” means electrician I think, and in the UK dads use it to mean “sellotape”. What a strange word, to be honest – Editor.

Page 2

Wouldn’t be a Portakabin without a sexy calendar. Wouldn’t be Christmas if that calendar didn’t feature a sexy elf.

Ed should request that the charge is itemised, and then he needs to query each item. It probably won’t solve anything but sometimes the best you can do in these kinds of situations is cause problems on purpose.

Page 3

I’m not really sure what a subreddit is, I’m not that kind of Online, but I am in favour of stowing away.

I like a Christmas chart which ends with a “log phase”.

Condemned is an awfully strong word to describe meat… and what is non-food wine? 

Page 4

The Holidays are Coming is the jingle that accompanies the Christmas Coca Cola advert with the big lorry. It’s only run since 1995, but it feels like forever.

The driver does look just like Santa.

Except for the shirt. And the cigar. And the sneer. And I would assume, the smell.

You are absolutely responsible for any package you sign for even if you have a very clear policy stating otherwise. If in doubt give a fake name… because that club will try and make you buy them new weight plates when they go walkabout. This feels like a very specific example Kelly.

Page 5

That is a very friendly teapot.

Mike Pence was the 48th vice president of the USA and quite the villain. I don’t know where one would acquire a Mike Pence stress ball but he does have the sort of head you want to squeeze.

Page 6

It’s actually extremely easy to burn through your entire loan and overdraft before the end of your first term. Student loans don’t even cover the cost of accommodation so most students are starting university already waist deep in their overdrafts. Everything else stacks up fast, so if you can’t find or don’t have time for a part time job you are pretty much boned.

Stop trafficking people to Cliff, Daisy! It’s not at all like a family. 

Page 7

I assume that banger is some kind of slang for moustache but I have never heard it and google is giving me nothing. 

Board game watch! 

  • Cluedo – murder mystery, in the billiards room with a lead pipe!
  • Kimble – (aka Trouble, aka Frustration), named for Dr Richard Kimble from the 1963 TV show The Fugitive, so kind of also a murder mystery but without any of the murder or mystery.
  • King of Keys – fictional, appears to be about an aristocratic locksmith or possible a locksmith for aristocrats. Links to murder: unknown.

Susan is correct, this is exactly how the godforsaken economy works and I have the [redacted] to prove it.

Page 8

It’s nice to think that social media could have made at least one human rational, even if they are fictional.

A slack jaw indicates stupidity. “Doubting Thomas” refers to the Apostle Thomas who doubted that Jesus had returned until he could see (and feel) him for himself. All in all, “slack jawed doubting Thomases” is a pretty good insult.

The only Peters & Lee I know are the moderately successful British folk duo from the 70s. I’m not sure why they would run an essay-writing competition but Dianne Lee was from Sheffield so maybe it is them.

Esther writes essays the same way as I do, so I can only offer support in this endeavour. 

Are you annotating Giant Days on your phone??

Page 9

Have you ever seen such a miserable little elf?

Lance could’ve been McGraw but he was playing.

Not again implies that this is not the first time Ed has been involved in a slapstick ladder incident. It’s hard to look convincingly angry when you’re wearing an elf costume.

Page 10

I’m not sure if Cliff is very good or if Ed is very weak but I have my suspicions.

Joseph is a good role though, better than one of the shepherds’ sheep, and studies have shown that children who play Joseph in school nativities go on to do great things. There is yet to be research produced on the future successes of those who played Joseph in Christmas market productions but it’s basically the same thing.

Daisy is correct, there are no ladders in the nativity.

Daisy is also unhinged. She has been completely brain-addled by the Christmas spirit.

Page 11

It’s not a cult. It’s cult-esque, like a pyramid scheme.

Page 12

Gluhwein is the German equivalent of Mulled Wine. It tastes just as bad as regular mulled wine but as per Christmas market regulations it’s served in a fun little commemorative cup.

You can’t drink away your problems Daisy! Not this one at least.

“Santa’s Grot O”

Page 13

OH NO!

As if face melt santa isn’t bad enough they gave his big robot head teeth.

That is the face of a girl who has seen true horrors.

*cue Seth Rollins’ entrance theme*

Page 14

“He’s not the Messiah, he’s just a man!” *Cue Seth Rollins theme*

I love the delicate way that Ed is holding up his robe to run after Daisy. I also love that Ed is going into this encounter dressed as Joseph.

Ooh Cliff is a tricksy one. Is this what they mean by f**k around and find out?

Beautiful baby sack Jesus. He looks just like his dad doesn’t he? 

I don’t remember there being a literal birthing scene in the nativity. I mean I understand there is a birth, we just don’t usually have to look at it.

Page 15

I’m also 😦 that no one will be able to get their belongings signed by Hobo no. 3 from the Tooth and Consequences segment of episode 16 of The Twilight Zone (1986).

I can’t find any data on Funko Pop sales records but I did find out that Paul Scardino holds the current Guinness World Record for the largest collection of Funko Pops with 5360 figurines.

TL;DR means “Too Long; Didn’t Read”. It indicates that a passage is too long to invest the time in reading it. It’s why I am always so pithy, gotta get that Engagement™.

Page 16

Perambulation basically just means walk. Dean went for a morning walk to buy a newspaper like a grandad. 

Did you know that in Britain we still buy all of our newspapers from local street urchins? With Nickels?

A factotum is a person with a lot of diverse roles or responsibilities, like a handyman. A big awkward handyman, that reporter has really got Ted Gembel’s number.

What has happened to the Giftmaster 3000 Grotto that has led to it having sharp edges that need to be removed?

Chance’d be a fine thing is a phrase that originated in Yorkshire in the 1800s. It gained a little popularity around the 1950’s but it never really took off. It indicates that while the idea suggested – in this case, the provision of safety goggles – would be preferable, it’s extremely unlikely to occur. It’s best said while wearing a flat cap, for emphasis y’know.

Page 17

Such drama!

Incredible compartmentalisation. Just take a deep breath and stuff it all down. 

Page 18

Poor face melt Santa, out in the rain like one of those puppies in the sad adverts where they ask for money. 

Sod is a weird word, it usually suggests that a person is being obnoxious or annoying, for example my nan – nanny babs – she regularly refers to me as a cheeky sod, but it can also be used for people you feel sorry for, as in the poor sod.

Page 19

Door is gone. Maybe the door was never there.

I agree with McGraw, it’s the only logical explanation. Cliff is 100% an energy vampire.

Not whimsical, factual.

I can’t imagine that there would be anything passive about the note that Susan would write.

Still, incredible craftsmanship. 

Page 20

Saffy has incredible eyebrows.

Is that flirting? Is Saffy flirting? 

Page 21

Disgusting student house, I think I missed you and your inexplicable tower of empty cans.

The makeshift ball bag hockey stick Christmas tree is very creative.

A face like last week’s lunch means he’s got a rotten, or sour look about him. Miserable y’know? Face like a smacked arse.

It’s not for nothing, it’s all transferable. He’’l be glad of this experience the next time a job application requests an example of a time he risked his life for the company.

Or he could make a cake. 

Page 22

Classic Dad up the nose skype shot. 

Alf! Yes, powerful Australian name.

Laying drains in my daughter’s field might be one of the most horrific euphemisms for sex that I have ever heard. It’s more commonly phrased as laying pipe, but that doesn’t improve the situation. 

I suppose we should just be glad that Alf is taking an interest in his daughter’s relationships and forget about the part where he said he wants to meet the guy who is sticking his dick in his kid. 

That’s life Ed, never ending shifting debt, you just have to roll with it. Now rub the poor girl’s feet.

 

Giant Days #43

Written by John Allison
Drawn by Max Sarin
Coloured by Whitney Cogar
Lettered by Jim Campbell

 

Kelly Richards is an Eisner-winning critic who has written for sites including WomenWriteAboutComics and Sidequest. You can find more of their thoughts over on Twitter here! 

 

This post was made possible thanks to the Shelfdust Patreon! To find out more, head to our Patreon page here!