TWWR Round up 02/03/2025– Let’s Talk About This

I ended up taking last week off unexpectedly. I needed to desperately take care of some business. So to make up for the fact that I started a roundup and never finished it, I’ll just double up. So far, this week is looking to be more pleasant on the personal front.

On a better note, thank you so much for your kind and insightful comments and emails! I’d always wondered if any authors from the comics I write about occasionally read these posts and what they would say if they left a comment. I was pleasantly surprised! Again, to the comic authors who took a moment to leave me a comment. Thank you again! It’s a pleasure to read and to talk about your work. Your stories are so inspiring! And to my regular readers, thank you again for those comments. I love hearing your thoughts.

Now, on to the round up.

Africa | Page(s): 406, 407 | Patreon

After a bit more banter about Mondo, Mosi finally suggests that they stop talking about him as he wants to spend time with his mother. Africa agrees and finally asks how he managed to survive after Bes’ attack. The young leopard tries to explain that strange creatures (humans– the Maasai to be exact) helped him. He then speculates that Bibi thinks Chui may have gotten similar treatment after a serious injury as well. To that Africa then recalls Faida’s story about Chui being a “taken.” Either way, things worked out, but she’s extremely curious as to how her son was able to hunt when he’s unable to run.

So Mosi reveals his technique to Africa. She’s quite impressed with him being able to leap from trees in order to hunt. Her son admits that he still needs Bibi to lure prey close. Pleased, Africa remembers that he was always a reckless climber. Mosi admits hunting in this fashion wasn’t exactly his idea.

It’s probably best that the pair drop the discussion of Mondo and actually bond. Page 406 is also yet another reinforcement that Mosi and Chui are foils. Not only are they two males who lost a sibling and were separated by from their mothers, but they were also shown mercy by humans. Of course in Chui’s case, he was taken away, nursed back to health, and fitted with a tracking collar by humans who continue to monitor him. In Mosi’s case, he was given a special ointment that healed his wounds, but was otherwise left alone.

I get the impression that while Chui was already rotten, this interference basically allowed him to fail upwards and never learn from his mistakes. The humans will always come in to save him from the consequences of his own actions. Meanwhile, Mosi had to rely on his bonds with others, take their advice and accept their help. By that I mean, Faida’s suggestion that he leap from trees in order to ambush prey, and Bibi’s help in driving prey to those trees. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to accept that you need help in life and to accept sound advice from others. Mosi did this at quite a young age. He also had to find the inner strength to walk and climb despite his disfigurement. Granted, dropping from trees is a regular leopard technique, but the fact that he was able to do this without Africa teaching him is awesome. He’s a resourceful kid.

Thankfully our favorite mother leopard is impressed with her son. Given how much Africa has grown, I’m not surprised. There was a time she might have yelled at him, but not now especially since he’s surviving well enough. He may mention that Faida was the one who gave him the idea. Still, he’s the one who ultimately chose to take the hyena’s advice.

 

Lost Scent | Page(s): 74| Patreon

Motte and Morgan are immediately suspicious of each other. The Selkie lets the Borzoi mix know that she can’t take just any dog with her. She finds Tulpi to be trustworthy, but doesn’t know what Motte’s deal is. The larger dog insists that it’s none of the Selkie’s business, and that if she has a problem with them, they’ll leave. Morgan counters that she doesn’t want a life story, just to know how important it is that BOTH girls cross the strait.

I still think there’s something Morgan saw in Motte that she’s not quite letting on. Still, she’s a smooth operator as she’s getting this stoic dog to open up. While I don’t think we’re going to get a backstory, I think we’re going to get a reason why Motte wants to travel far so suddenly. Over the next few pages we’ll have our theories either confirmed, or at the very least discover how far off the mark we were. I’m still sticking with Motte is running from a nasty gang of dogs she used to be a part of.

 

In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 41, 42 | Patreon

Harzuk immediately recognizes the giant’s tears and doesn’t mind that Kay lived with one of the large beasts. It’s been a minute since The Wolf’s Veil, but a lot of critters didn’t take well to their kind living with giants in Dunbar’s story. Sure, The Lion’s Den could be different since large cities (usually) tend to be a bit more open-minded versus small towns. That said, I’m not sure why Kay would have felt the need to tell Harzuk she lived with a giant. Knowing this universe, I’d probably be cagey about it as well.

The feline mentions that the collar isn’t hers and that it actually belongs to her partner. The rabbit wisely mentions she ought to keep it out of sight considering how valuable it is on the black market. Kay retorts that she’ll claw the face off of anyone who tries to touch it. Harzuk then begins to follow the former royal.

One, it would be nice if Kay took Harzuk’s advice considering how long she’s been away and how things have changed. After all, the rabbit did rescue her from an awful fate. But hey, Kay is a stubborn and prideful woman and likely has to learn things the hard way. (Like the boat incident.) I don’t think wearing that collar outside of her shirt is going to end well.

Two, Kay had a partner. I’d love to know more about her. Did she meet her while out in the wilderness with the giants? Was she someone left behind after the revolt? I’m thinking it’s the former as the woman had a collar, and she probably met another critter while being owned. Of course, there’s still the possibility that this critter also had a former owner, and she just ended up in The Lion’s Den much like Kay. It would explain why this feline longed for the city despite being chased out years earlier, other than loneliness of course. As for what Harzuk wants, I’d bet we’re about to find out why the rabbit saved a former royal. Something tells me it wasn’t solely out of the kindness of her heart.

 

Golden Shrike | Page(s): 296, 297 | Patreon

We have a scene change with Runi and Kasko watching over a sleeping Usma. The albino doe is fairly exhausted and dirty from her travels. The two wonder how she managed to find them. As they contemplate having a chance to rest thanks to their good pace, Kasko voices the gravity of their situation. Even as they stop to rest, stillborn fawns are born, and the elderly continue on unable to die natural deaths. They’re just sitting around as it happens. Runi has some sagely words for her friend. They can’t let the guilt stop them, as they’re not magic, and even if Nero is special because Karuna talked to him, they’re not. Running yourself ragged will not save the world– this applies in Golden Shrike and in the real world as well.

Even as Runi makes this declaration tears well up in her eyes, and Kasko pulls her in close so he can comfort her as she cries. Being the observant type, he notes that she’s smart and knows she’s making the right choice even if it feels wrong. Same with Nero and how he cares. This could be the page that sails a thousand ships between Runi and Kasko. Personally, I’m getting more good friends or sibling type vibe from the two. After all, their personalities mesh well given the similarities between them. Let’s just hope they have luck in regard to reasoning with Nero come morning.

We’re not going to have that discussion right away, as we have yet another scene change. Iralee comes across a herd of bucks who inquire about Dousa’s location– as they want to spar with him again. Despite him helping her at the gathering, they’re not actually traveling companions. Just then, a doe gets the Caller’s attention and Iralee is more than happy to help. The doe informs her that her dame could really use the sky, and the Caller’s gaze becomes concerned.

Some quick facts from this page. It’s been confirmed that Dousa left Iralee’s side after The Gathering. She has no idea what he’s been up to. That would be normal, except for the current theory that Dousa might be Helevise’s murderer, and might be keeping tabs on Nero’s group. It’s not my theory mind you, as I sort of missed it, but astute readers of this blog made a compelling case. Sounds more than plausible to me. So if Dousa is the murderer, bravo to them for figuring it out way ahead of the reveal. Again, this is just a reader theory!

Personally, I’m curious as to what the doe means by “We could really use the sky right about now.” I guess we’re about to find out what a Caller does exactly. Are they like a diviner or a forecaster? Do they actually call out to the sky? Does God answer back? I guess until it’s confirmed in-comic, the sky is the limit with these possibilities. No, I won’t apologize for that line.

 

Home | Page(s): 902 | Patreon

Iberon and Ranach arrive at the burned out remains of the Meteor Tribe territory. The former notes that it certainly looks like the tribe was attacked. As he looks around, he spots a nova skull carefully placed on ground, surrounded by tent poles that haven’t been burned. Ranach is nervous and tells Iberon they should leave. He’s ignored as the former Snowcap Tribe member recognizes his tribe’s paint on the skull. Ranach deflects and proposes that it was probably taken from Snowcap Tribe in a raid by the Meteors. Iberon notes they were never raided, and it must have happened after the incident. To that the former Meteor Tribe jarl asks what happened on the day he contacted the spirit.

After all this time Iberon gets confirmation that someone from his former tribe survived. We know that someone is Rogio, and again, Ranach is terrified of the truth coming out about his new lover’s brother. As I said last update, as far as Ranach is concerned, he’s the one who had Rogio murdered. And still believes this to be the case despite numerous opportunities to scent his former lover. I don’t need to go over them again. Instead, I’ll go over the new opportunities that should be happening right now. For one thing, Rogio carefully placed that skull. Either to be found, as a tribute to his former home, or because he was in a hurry and dropped it without noticing. (Plot wise, we know it was there for Iberon to find.)

Considering how recently they changed territories and that Rogio’s tent wasn’t burned, his scent should still be present. Not only should Ranach be realizing Rogio is still alive, but Iberon should be scenting his younger brother for the first time in years. However, as I’ve said many times in the past in my critiques, scent doesn’t count in this comic despite dogs having some of the most powerful noses in the animal kingdom. Instead, Kique and his current co-writer, Pralig insist the dogs don’t have noses as powerful as dogs in real life. Or basically their ability to track scents is terrible. Which certainly is one hell of a lazy way to cover up plot holes.

But despite the dogs occasionally using their noses in Home (like when Ranach scented Kargo and Ferah), the authors have declared their noses are useless in order to write around said plot holes. I suppose that’s just easier versus plugging those holes during the outline/scripting phase of this comic. Honestly, I just wish the reveal to Ranach and Iberon that Rogio is still alive would just happen because dragging it out like this is getting old.

On hiatus:

The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 29, Page: | Patreon

What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 857, 858 | Patreon