Let’s start the intro section off with some good news. I was wrong about In The Lion’s Den being on a long hiatus. The author, RenbyTheAlien, is determined to go forward without their collaborator, and we have two new pages this week. I know losing a collaborator is a big blow, and I wish them all the best with this fantastic series.
Africa | Page(s): 413 | Patreon
My prediction about Bibi being good for Mondo because she’s closer to his size is panning out. She can relate to him in a way that Africa never could, because for the most part a leopard can’t relate to feeling like prey once they reach adulthood. Sure his adopted mother can sympathize with him, but it takes someone like Bibi to really comfort him. Since she’s older, she’s seen several seasons and knows that life will get better. The grasses will provide both safety and plenty of opportunities to hunt. We’ve only seen the worst of the crater, but the final panel shows a season of plenty.
I just hope Mondo can keep that optimism up. I also hope Bibi gives him a few hunting lessons when the rains and vegetation return.
What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 869, 870, 871 | Patreon
Honestly, I feel like Skua is probably one of the worst cats Trout could receive advice from. I get her feeling lost and worried that no matter what she does, someone’s always going to be upset. Her need to please people is one of her biggest faults. Skua definitely isn’t the type to be honest with her in that regard. Worse, insisting Trout does what God expects of her, and what The Family expects of God is just awful. She’s supposed to be the leader of this religion, yet by ruling this way The Family expectations will take priority over everything else. So when it comes time to make a hard decision for the good of the island or even The Family, Trout won’t have the needed willpower.
Sometimes you just need to frame a “because I said so,” as “The Tide demands it.” In that way, Trout gets across her desires and most of The Family won’t doubt her decisions. Those that do? They can see her lionhearts. It’s how Thresher ruled (and things were awful), and although Sturgeon would have been much kinder about it, it’s how she would have ruled. Skua’s bad advice doesn’t stop there, as he’s basically telling his Queen that it’s okay to banish enemies to the Daisys, or to consider the Daisys as enemies because he’ll be there to stop the threat. His pleas to make decisions that keep her safe will also further isolate her from everyone else. If that threat is suddenly organized, and The Family is disgruntled with Trout’s rule, can he alone stop those threats on her life? As bad as Thresher’s era was, I feel like Trout’s reign can easily slide into something much worse.
It’s significant that in the last panel on page 871 the first monarch, King Isopod’s mural is weeping, while the wider shot of the cave looks like a spiral. It’s foreshadowing the madness to come if Trout follows her lionheart’s advice over say, her own advisor (i.e., Sturgeon). Dark times are ahead.
In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 45, 46 | Patreon
I don’t think I appreciated how quickly Kay is ready to rumble despite being royalty. She doesn’t back off from the homeless person in the least and extends her claws. The third panel also shows just how buff she is. Could she have won against the guy in the alley? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t doubt her threat, though. Fortunately, Harzuk realizes they’re not alone and wisely pulls her feline companion away. The fourth panel with the “Debt Slave” graffiti just hits so hard. Even Critters have to worry about crushing debt and making ends meet– which is probably why some of them are unhoused to begin with.
I don’t know if there’s any significance to Kay forgetting the clothing she was wearing, and the lingering shot of it. Perhaps it will come back to haunt her, or it could be me just grasping at straws. I am curious about what Harzuk means when she’s about to say unhoused and mentally ill Critters aren’t technically allowed to be on the streets. Are they forced into institutions? Or are they considered Tyrant chow like in The Wolf’s Veil? The former is cruel, and the latter is an awful kind of evil. I get the feeling we’re about to find out at exactly 10pm. Considering that Harzuk is suddenly eager to go, and Kay (and by extension us reading) has no idea what happens at 10.
I’m going to wager that’s when the Tyrant makes an appearance, or something super fascist happens, like a pogrom. Or maybe I’m completely off the mark and Harzuk has a show she wants to catch on TV.
Lost Scent | Page(s): 79 | Patreon
Poor Tulpi did in fact mess the joke up, and is horribly embarrassed when Arky corrects her. That said, I LOVE how everyone in the group doesn’t laugh at her. Instead, they try to make the Akita-mix feel more at ease by telling her not to worry about it, and sharing the times they were embarrassed by things they did. These are good people, and I hope the girls have a fantastic time with them. Despite Tupli and Motte being so different in terms of personality, spending time with Morgan and company will be helpful. Tupli is great at one-on-one interactions, but her lack of self-esteem gives away to anxiety and abandonment issues. This is because how she was treated at home, and how her own brother left her behind. Motte is generally distrustful of others and refuses to open up.
With this group both girls will likely learn comradery and that most people are good in the world. Beyond that, it’s just fun to see the group dynamics play out. I love the kind, but awkward stares from everyone in the third panel, and how one of the twins leans a bit on Tupli. It’s a way to both relax her and make her feel included in the conversation. Let’s just hope Tupli’s anxiety doesn’t get the best of her.
Golden Shrike | Page(s): 303 | Patreon
Iralee has very much done the deed of putting the old sire, and just the old sire out of his misery. Given the awful state he’s in, I doubt he would have minded too much. I’m sure he has it in his heart to find mercy for the sky and The Caller. This page also confirms my suspicions that it’s easier to have an outsider like Iralee handle what is effectively euthanasia for the very elderly. Again, making such a decision and doing the deed to your own family is incredibly difficult even if it ends their suffering. Considering that she has to leave immediately, there are many in the herd who would disagree with her actions.
This page also confirms that War is something of a wild card. He’s hiding, observing, and waiting for his chance to unleash chaos. Fitting for a being that likely represents strife. Even when Nero finds War, I think our protagonist buck has his work cut out for him. I wonder what he could possibly offer the youngest god in exchange for his help. After all, War doesn’t have to do anything. He can sit back and let the world burn for his own amusement, or choose to light the fire himself. I look forward to this guy’s eventual introduction.
I’d rather be doing anything else than writing about this page of Home. I just finished up a Monster Hunter Wilds livestream a few hours ago. I’m thinking about playing more of it, or perhaps Metaphor: ReFantazio before bed. Heck, I’m listening to the soundtrack right now and it’s quite good. This boss fight song (“Formidable Foe“) is one of my favorites. The drums and violins are so sick. And the chorus is chef’s kiss.
Did writing about something else help? Crap, page 908 is still there.
I guess getting through this page will have to be my formidable foe for the night.
We have the talk about how the thruple are moving forward in their relationship. Yes, communication and setting boundaries are good, but that’s rich coming from a dog like Rogio. I know Kique wants us as the audience to like him, but this character just has too many flaws. The biggest one being his lust, and the manipulative way he hooked up with Roamer. The poor guy was pressured into a relationship right after finding out his friend died, another friend got knocked up by this comic’s villain, and still being torn over his ex. At the time, I thought Roamer needed a break from Kargo, but in hindsight Rogio groomed the ex-boyfriend of his good friend. Then when they were actually together it was all about sex, and Rogio emotionally abused his partner for months. So I don’t have high hopes for this budding polycule.
First, Roamer wants them all to share a hut, though I think going back and forth might be better for him. Being alone with Kargo, who actually cares and thinks about his well-being would show him what a healthy relationship looks like. After all, Kargo was willing to give up the love of his life so he’d be happy. We can’t say Rogio has ever attempted the same. In fact, the threesome idea feels like a desperate bid to stop Roamer from rekindling his flame with Kargo.
Second, it’s pretty clear that Rogio and Kargo aren’t into each other. Their only shared interest is, well, Roamer. So it’s uncomfortable to even suggest that they can’t do something as simple as sleep together in the same hut without having sex. They’re thinking about that proposal, but we all know that they’re going to have a three-way at some point because nearly every male character in this comic is horny all the time– especially the main characters. And all problems in Home are solved with sex, no matter how unrealistic.
Thankfully this scene is broken up when the pups get into an argument and Roamer goes to calm the situation down. I suppose the only good thing to come out of this page is Kargo not immediately agreeing to share a hut, and Rogio telling him to go at his own pace. Finger-crossed this little polycule won’t be revisited for a long while.
On hiatus:
The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 29, Page: | Patreon
Bibi is the best. I wonder if we will ever see her with her own cubs‚ shes mother material.
Now with Home. I’m pretty sure Remaor questioning them bothbmeans they will all fck each other. Disgusting. Kargo is being treated as a boy toy at this point.
This shows the “all love triangles should be resolved with a threesome” is absolute crap and I’m tired of hearing it. These three are clear proof. Kargo should find someone else‚ if Roamer loved him he wouldn’t have hooked up with Rogio in the first place‚ I don’t care they weren’t together at that point‚ it shows. But how can you expect Kique to write a good relationship when he doesn’t have a single normal one
Bibi would be an amazing mother. Here’s to hoping we see her in that role some day.
Yeah, Kargo is pretty much a boy toy. After Roamer got together with Kargo, I was hoping he’d find someone else, but the now we’re going the three-way path. Though you’re right about Kique. He’s certainly not pulling healthy examples from his own life. 🙁