Difference between revisions of "Hairbun"

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(Characteristics)
(Characteristics)
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==Characteristics==
 
==Characteristics==
Hairbun is a minor character in xkcd. She appeared two weeks in a row in the spring of 2015 [[1504: Opportunity]] and [[1507: Metaball]]) and was recognized as a "new" character at that time, though she had been used several times prior to then.  
+
Hairbun is a minor character in xkcd. She appeared two weeks in a row in the spring of 2015 ([[1504: Opportunity]] and [[1507: Metaball]]) and was recognized as a "new" character at that time, though she had been used several times prior to then.  
  
 
However, after comic 1500 she has appeared 13 times from [[1504: Opportunity]] to [[1755: Old Days]] which is more than once every 20th comic, compared to only 20 times before comic 1500  which is only once every 75th comic, so there was a good reason for why she was not "discovered" before.
 
However, after comic 1500 she has appeared 13 times from [[1504: Opportunity]] to [[1755: Old Days]] which is more than once every 20th comic, compared to only 20 times before comic 1500  which is only once every 75th comic, so there was a good reason for why she was not "discovered" before.
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***In total up to Salt Mine she has used glasses eight times.
 
***In total up to Salt Mine she has used glasses eight times.
 
*Her first appearance without glasses was in her second appearance: [[378: Real Programmers]]. And with the recent comics (past no. 1500) this is now her most prevalent appearance.
 
*Her first appearance without glasses was in her second appearance: [[378: Real Programmers]]. And with the recent comics (past no. 1500) this is now her most prevalent appearance.
*In [[572: Together]] a woman looking like Hairbun is obviously Megan who has turned old during the comic, so this comic is not included here. But it could indicate that Randall often uses Hairbun to represent an older woman, as this was also the case in [[586: Mission to Culture]].
+
*Hairbun can represent a real person:
*Since she is a grown woman - she should not be confused with [[Science Girl]] or and other small girls with hair bun like in [[1584: Moments of Inspiration]].
 
*A character with a hair bun was also featured in [[911: Magic School Bus]], but she is drawn in color and with a dress and represents the fictive character Ms. Frizzle. She is thus not included as a Hairbun.
 
*Hairbun can, however, represent a real person:
 
 
**This is similar to Cueball who also represents real persons from time to time.
 
**This is similar to Cueball who also represents real persons from time to time.
 
**This occurred when she represented Emily Dickinson in [[788: The Carriage]]. In that comic Emily is drawn exactly as the standard version of Hairbun, and she is thus included.  
 
**This occurred when she represented Emily Dickinson in [[788: The Carriage]]. In that comic Emily is drawn exactly as the standard version of Hairbun, and she is thus included.  
 
**It also occurred in [[896: Marie Curie]] where zombie {{w|Marie Curie}} is drawn as Hairbun.
 
**It also occurred in [[896: Marie Curie]] where zombie {{w|Marie Curie}} is drawn as Hairbun.
 
***In the book [[Thing Explainer]] she is also used to represent Marie Curie in the explanation for ''The pieces everything is made of'' (i.e the {{w|periodic table}}).  
 
***In the book [[Thing Explainer]] she is also used to represent Marie Curie in the explanation for ''The pieces everything is made of'' (i.e the {{w|periodic table}}).  
*In both [[703: Honor Societies]], [[708: Sex Dice]], [[1511: Spice Girl]], [[1601: Isolation]] and in every instance of her in [[1608: Hoverboard]] her hair looks somewhat different, curly and with some kind of pony tail, but since her main distinguishing characteristic is the hair bun, these comics are included here.  
+
*Her appearance can be changing, apart from glasses she also has different hairdo.
 +
**In both [[703: Honor Societies]], [[708: Sex Dice]], [[1511: Spice Girl]], [[1601: Isolation]] and in every instance of her in [[1608: Hoverboard]] her hair looks somewhat different, curly and with some kind of pony tail, but since her main distinguishing characteristic is the hair bun, these comics are included here.
 +
**Her hair looks somewhat the same in [[1645: Toasts]], but without the ponytail appendage.
 
**These characters actually looks like an adult versions of [[Science Girl]], but as neither of these displays the other characteristic of that girl they stay listed as Hairbun for now.
 
**These characters actually looks like an adult versions of [[Science Girl]], but as neither of these displays the other characteristic of that girl they stay listed as Hairbun for now.
 
***However, [[1520: Degree-Off]] has been moved to Science Girl in spite of the hair bun girl in that comic being adult as she fits the science characteristics.
 
***However, [[1520: Degree-Off]] has been moved to Science Girl in spite of the hair bun girl in that comic being adult as she fits the science characteristics.
**Her hair looks somewhat the same in [[1645: Toasts]], but without the ponytail appendage.
 
 
**Six times in total with different hair. Never also with glasses though.
 
**Six times in total with different hair. Never also with glasses though.
 
**This leaves 27 times (after 33 appearances) where she has looked like the picture used on this page.
 
**This leaves 27 times (after 33 appearances) where she has looked like the picture used on this page.
 +
*There are some comics with characters with hair bun that are not included as a comic with Hairbun:
 +
**Since she is a grown woman - she should not be confused with [[Science Girl]] or any other small girls with hair bun like in [[1584: Moments of Inspiration]].
 +
**In [[572: Together]] a woman looking like Hairbun is obviously Megan who has turned old during the comic, so this comic is not included here. But it could indicate that Randall often uses Hairbun to represent an older woman, as this was also the case in [[586: Mission to Culture]].
 +
**A character with a hair bun was also featured in [[911: Magic School Bus]], but she is drawn in color and with a dress and represents the fictive character Ms. Frizzle. She is thus not included as a Hairbun.
  
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==

Revision as of 12:27, 4 November 2016

Hairbun

Hairbun, as seen in 1253: Exoplanet Names
First appearance 337: Post Office Showdown
Appearances 87

Hairbun is a stick figure character in xkcd. Like most characters in xkcd, she does not necessarily represent the same person from comic to comic. She is distinguished by her hair that is set up in a bun. She can have several different hair styles, and occasionally uses glasses. See the gallery below.

Characteristics

Hairbun is a minor character in xkcd. She appeared two weeks in a row in the spring of 2015 (1504: Opportunity and 1507: Metaball) and was recognized as a "new" character at that time, though she had been used several times prior to then.

However, after comic 1500 she has appeared 13 times from 1504: Opportunity to 1755: Old Days which is more than once every 20th comic, compared to only 20 times before comic 1500 which is only once every 75th comic, so there was a good reason for why she was not "discovered" before.

Originally she was named Hair Bun Girl, to follow the similar name scheme of Beret Guy, but since she specifically represents an adult, and not any small girls with a hair bun (like Science Girl), and is even often portraying older women, the name was changed in the spring of 2016, to avoid any misconceptions, and also to not call a woman for girl. Furthermore this name now instead follows the name scheme of Ponytail.

She is not the same character from comic to comic. She is mainly just another woman that Randall can use when he wishes to give a woman a specific characteristic so to set her aside from the more commonly used women Megan and Ponytail. Often she is depicted together with both Megan and Ponytail proving this point. (Nine appearances as of February 2016: 703, 708, 1052, 1253, 1504, 1507, 1601, 1637 and 1645.) She has for instance represented the mother of both Megan and Cueball, see the list below under the list of Hairbun drawn with glasses.

  • In her first appearance, 337: Post Office Showdown, she is drawn with glasses.
  • Her first appearance without glasses was in her second appearance: 378: Real Programmers. And with the recent comics (past no. 1500) this is now her most prevalent appearance.
  • Hairbun can represent a real person:
    • This is similar to Cueball who also represents real persons from time to time.
    • This occurred when she represented Emily Dickinson in 788: The Carriage. In that comic Emily is drawn exactly as the standard version of Hairbun, and she is thus included.
    • It also occurred in 896: Marie Curie where zombie Marie Curie is drawn as Hairbun.
      • In the book Thing Explainer she is also used to represent Marie Curie in the explanation for The pieces everything is made of (i.e the periodic table).
  • Her appearance can be changing, apart from glasses she also has different hairdo.
    • In both 703: Honor Societies, 708: Sex Dice, 1511: Spice Girl, 1601: Isolation and in every instance of her in 1608: Hoverboard her hair looks somewhat different, curly and with some kind of pony tail, but since her main distinguishing characteristic is the hair bun, these comics are included here.
    • Her hair looks somewhat the same in 1645: Toasts, but without the ponytail appendage.
    • These characters actually looks like an adult versions of Science Girl, but as neither of these displays the other characteristic of that girl they stay listed as Hairbun for now.
      • However, 1520: Degree-Off has been moved to Science Girl in spite of the hair bun girl in that comic being adult as she fits the science characteristics.
    • Six times in total with different hair. Never also with glasses though.
    • This leaves 27 times (after 33 appearances) where she has looked like the picture used on this page.
  • There are some comics with characters with hair bun that are not included as a comic with Hairbun:
    • Since she is a grown woman - she should not be confused with Science Girl or any other small girls with hair bun like in 1584: Moments of Inspiration.
    • In 572: Together a woman looking like Hairbun is obviously Megan who has turned old during the comic, so this comic is not included here. But it could indicate that Randall often uses Hairbun to represent an older woman, as this was also the case in 586: Mission to Culture.
    • A character with a hair bun was also featured in 911: Magic School Bus, but she is drawn in color and with a dress and represents the fictive character Ms. Frizzle. She is thus not included as a Hairbun.

Gallery

Since Hairbun is depicted in quite many different ways here is a gallery of some of these different appearances:

Hair Bun Girl with curly hair and ponytail.png Hair Bun Girl with glasses.png Hair Bun Girl as Emily Dickinson.png Hair Bun Girl with curly hair but no ponytail.png