The Unexpected Enigma

Posted on | By Jinji

Roughly 2.5 years since the first entry in Jinji’s official storyline, A Concise Overview of Jinji’s Mansion, comes the next entry (and the first comic strip!) of Jinji’s as-yet-untitled Main Canon. While out in Eterna Forest for another night of hauntings and fun, Jinji discovers an odd stone radiating a strange power. Little does he know, he’s about to find himself challenged by one very tricky spirit…

This comic comprises a total of 20 pages, which will appear below three at a time. A text transcription of each page is available in its Alt Text, which can usually be viewed by hovering over the image, and will also appear in the event a page fails to load. Each image is also captioned with a description of the page’s plot, which may also include a transcription.

After reading each set of pages, use the Next arrow (›) at the bottom of the page to flip to the next set. Alternatively, click on an image to open a filmstrip view, which will allow you to scroll through the entire comic; and also provides the following controls:


Full-screen

🔍
Toggle Zoom-On-Hover
(mouse over the image to zoom)

▶️
Autoplay
(flip to the next page every 5 seconds)

The Unexpected Enigma
(Jinji stands in front of the new machine, and is looking over one side. Above the machine, the Spiritomb-style clock points to 3 o'clock.) "Hmmm, these buttons seem to be on some sort of timer..." (A close-up of the machine. A row of coloured buttons lie below a large metal panel. Most of the buttons are red, but one is yellow. A random button in the row then blinks green. Jinji points to the green button.) "They keep flashing, but there doesn't seem to be a pattern... I guess I need to press the buttons at precisely the right times..." (Suddenly, the Spiritomb pops out in front of Jinji once again) "You're being far too slow, puny Gengar!" (Jinji recoils backwards) "Gah! You again!" Many minutes later... "I missed so many button presses because of him! Let's see what's next..." (The metal panel from earlier has opened up, revealing a row of dynamite sticks; above which, various exposed wires are criss-crossed randomly. The wires are hot from the electricity passing through them, causing them to glow brightly.) "Sticks of dynamite? Surrounded by hot wires?!?" (Nervous lines appear on Jinji's face as he reaches forward) "Gah! He's determined to get this thing to explode by any means necessary! Gotta be careful now!"
Page 10 of "The Unexpected Enigma".
(Jinji stands in front of the new machine, and is looking over one side. Above the machine, the Spiritomb-style clock points to 3 o'clock.)
"Hmmm, these buttons seem to be on some sort of timer..."
(A close-up of the machine. A row of coloured buttons lie below a large metal panel. Most of the buttons are red, but one is yellow. A random button in the row then blinks green. Jinji points to the green button.)
"They keep flashing, but there doesn't seem to be a pattern... I guess I need to press the buttons at precisely the right times..."
(Suddenly, the Spiritomb pops out in front of Jinji once again)
"You're being far too slow, puny Gengar!"
(Jinji recoils backwards)
"Gah! You again!"

Many minutes later...

"I missed so many button presses because of him! Let's see what's next..."
(The metal panel from earlier has opened up, revealing a row of dynamite sticks; above which, various exposed wires are criss-crossed randomly. The wires are hot from the electricity passing through them, causing them to glow brightly.)
"Sticks of dynamite? Surrounded by hot wires?!?"
(Nervous lines appear on Jinji's face as he reaches forward)
"Gah! He's determined to get this thing to explode by any means necessary! Gotta be careful now!"
As Jinji removes the third of the five dynamite sticks from the machine, he accidentally hits the wick against a hot wire, causing it to light. He prises it from the machine just in time to avoid setting off a chain reaction; and it explodes on his face, covering him with soot. Spiritomb: "Ha ha ha! Clumsy Gengar... You need to be more careful!" After taking a moment to clean off the soot... (Jinji moves to a different side of the machine, where a digital keypad and display are fitted) "Yet another combination lock? Heh. Finally, an easy puzzle after those last few tricks..."
Page 11 of "The Unexpected Enigma".
As Jinji removes the third of the five dynamite sticks from the machine, he accidentally hits the wick against a hot wire, causing it to light. He prises it from the machine just in time to avoid setting off a chain reaction, and it explodes on his face, covering him with soot as the Spiritomb taunts him for his clumsiness. After cleaning himself off, Jinji completes the task and moves onto another side of the machine, where there is another combination lock. Jinji is relieved, and giggles to himself, thinking this will be an easy puzzle after the last few tricks.
(Jinji repeatedly taps the buttons) "Geh? Something's not right here..." "I'm pressing the buttons, but NOTHING'S happening!" "Gah! These keys are faulty - they barely respond at all!" Spiritomb: "Oops, I guess I must have fitted some *faulty electronics* onto my machine... heh heh..." Jinji: "...And now THIS button is over-sensitive! This keypad is totally busted! I'll need to be creative to get the right code entered in..." Many minutes of struggling later... (Jinji holds a key to a newly-revealed keyhole) "Hopefully this is the keyhole to finally open this machine..." (The machine suddenly sprays a foul sludge directly at Jinji) "WRONG! Enjoy my little booby-trap! Shehehe..." (Jinji cleans himself off) "GAH! What a dirty trick! Let's try this one instead..." (The machine clicks open)
Page 12 of "The Unexpected Enigma".

Jinji discovers that this new keypad is faulty, with buttons that either don't respond, or respond too sensitively. The Spiritomb has fitted faulty electronics! Entering the code isn't going to be so easy after all...

Later, Jinji inserts a key into a newly-revealed keyhole... only to get sprayed with a foul sludge, as he inadvertently triggers a booby-trap! Jinji cleans himself off, then tries a different keyhole, and the machine finally opens...
« ‹ of 7 › »
Category: Main Canon | Tag: , , , , , , , , ,