First panel, first two balloons contain FORESHADOWING.

FANS! IS! SUBTLE!!!!

We use the "oops, the convention star CAN defend himself" gag for the second time in three chapters, but it's somewhat justified. For one thing, this time it's making the Fans' lives harder, not easier. For another, Harlan Ellison really was a martial artist in his prime, and even when I saw him in 1999 I wouldn't have wanted to mess with him. Rumy has her arms folded so she can avoid flashing anyone... she doesn't know about the panty-flashes. Therefore she may not be at her best, but still, considering who she learned from, Arlen has got to be a pretty damned awesome hand-to-hand combatant.

Brandon Lee was a martial artist actor who died during the filming of The Crow. Arlen's basically telling these punks not to mess with martial arts at all.