TWWR Round up 04/28/2025– The Wheel of Violence

I went back and forth on if I should take another break this week or just move forward. I decided go forward and to my surprise, I was able to get this round up done before my work imposed deadline.

Africa | Page(s): 419| Patreon

Kauket is a cryptic old lioness, but she’s absolute in her beliefs about bad luck. While none of the lions seem to have any remorse for killing Faida’s cubs, she at least recognizes revenge is a possibility. It’s not a word Kauket utters once, but her concept of the wheel of violence is pretty close. As she says, “An act of cruelty always brings upon another act of cruelty.” In this way, she’s not unlike Africa who came to the same conclusion.

Unfortunately, I feel as if Mosi will take the wrong lesson from eavesdropping on the lion pride. His stare in the last panel isn’t one of revelation, but one of cold calculation. In fact, he may shift his anger and instinct to kill from Mondo to Tutu and Ra. Even if Mosi were perfectly healthy, he could never best Bes in a head-to-head fight. Getting revenge for Binti on one or both of the lion’s cub sons, though? That’s doable. Cruel, but doable. The young leopard is reminding me of Sahara from Tofauti Sawa. That said, he has more in common with Faida in this universe. Again, let’s hope being back with Africa can help push him away from the notion of revenge. Otherwise, Mosi is going to cross a moral line and become more like Chui than he ever imagined.

 

What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 888, 889, 890, 891 | Patreon

A rift is quickly growing between Sturgeon and Trout. Any plans Sturgeon had to steer her sister into doing what’s right for all the cats on the island is quickly fading. The queen has made her choice, and it’s her personal safety over everyone else’s (especially the Daisys) wellbeing. What’s striking about this exchange is not that Sturgeon is upset about her sister’s attitude, but that she nearly loses control and reaches out with her claws extended. As much as I’m coming to hate Skua’s enabling of Trout’s worst tendencies, I’m glad he stepped in to push Sturgeon back. Would she as advisor have drawn blood from her queen and added to that trauma? Maybe!

Though Sturgeon’s words have a similar psychological effect as she rightfully calls Trout out on how the Daisys will suffer and die while the queen feels safe. As the queen trembles, I’m doubtful her older sister’s words got through to her. That said, the pain of losing another sibling did. I’m not sure how Trout will spiral after this, and if she’ll continue to push cats away in order to protect her sense of safety. She’s now lost her brother, her mother, her sister, and her friend after sending Tusk to drown. The symbolism of her paws being stained red means there’s only more tragedy to come.

As for Sturgeon, as badly as she wants to make things right, it’s important not to forget that a chunk of the blame lies with her. She tried to make a big stunt of showing The Family that one of their own has it in them to attack royalty, just like a Daisy. You know, the whole assassination plot with Krill. Unfortunately, that backfired spectacularly with Trout doubling down and deciding to do whatever will make The Family happy with her reign. I just pray that Sturgeon calms down and doesn’t try to come up with another bold idea especially while she’s furious.

 

The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 29, Page: 4 | Patreon

A group of researchers and scientists including Melissa are ready to go through the portal and back to the moon. Mel has her plan to summon the Black Dog. However, I fear her plans may go awry as two members of the team (Rodney the fox and Natasha the tanuki) have been compromised since their last lunar mission. The rub is, what exactly does the black smoke represent? Are the two working for or against the Black Idol? If it’s the latter, do they represent an unknown faction?

The possibility of having everything spiral out of control on this mission is high, despite Jackson’s best efforts. For everyone’s sake, I hope Julia and Mel kept their secret about summoning the Black Dog to themselves.

 

In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 49, 50 | Patreon

I’ve been saying it for several updates now, we’re going to see the tyrant. I’m positive that it and its supporters will appear at 10pm, and the ominous ringing of the clock tower is not convincing me otherwise. That aside, Kay is understandably pissed off that Harzuk stole her pendant. That said, I don’t think the rabbit is being completely malicious. I think she wants the feline to follow her, and this is the best way to do so. Instead of just coming clean about her true intentions, Harzuk just can’t help but be opaque.

I’m guessing that Harzuk wanted Kay to come along with her the entire time, but the feline clearly has other interests. There is a reason the rabbit saved her, and I’m certain it wasn’t because of pure altruism. She needs Kay to follow her and to do so before whatever happens at 10pm happens. Once the reveal takes place (be it the tyrant or some declaration from its government), Harzuk will finally be honest about what she wants from Kay.

Now to sit back and see how far I was from the mark of what’s really going to happen in upcoming pages.

 

Golden Shrike | Page(s): 309 | Patreon

I know I missed last week, but I will say that page 308 was everything I was hoping for. Usma effectively getting her frustration with Antaras across in a way that even shut Nero up. It looks like the group is finally ready to hear her story, and we’ll finally learn more about the Northerner buck that’s put the world into crisis.

Before that, we have another scene change that focuses on Antaras himself. Or the “antaragonist” as Doe Prince states in the author’s notes for page 309.

First, I like how dull and gray the colors are for this page. It’s like everything that made this guy’s world colorful (like his daughter) are now gone. He hasn’t been sleeping well, as the final panel on this page has revealed. Second, him causally killing a chipmunk. Yes, he did so for his Halv, but the act was so cold, so callous. He’s just a buck that tramples on others without a second thought for his own selfish needs– not unlike how he used Loss to kill four deer.

I hadn’t really thought about Antaras having a Halv, but every deer has one unless they killed theirs like Gitta and Prue, or it dies for another reason. I wonder where this bird has been and why something seems to be wrong with its beak. Did it get into some kind of accident, or did Antaras do this to his own Halv, then later come to regret it? Honestly, it feels like when this buck isn’t coldly trampling others for his own needs, he’s throwing fits of rage only to be filled with regret far too late.

 

Home | Page(s): 914 | Patreon

I’m amused that Roamer is certain Ranach will lose to Solar Stag Tribe because they’re 50 members strong. Yet he’s not concerned that Nordgarde has just made an enemy out of such a large tribe. If they triumph against Ranach’s rebellion, who might be next on their list of targets, especially after turning them down? Maybe Roamer should spend less time smirking and more time worrying about the long-term future of their tribe. Of course, I’m pretty certain that Solar Stag will lose to Ranach because Kique can’t deal with the death of his favorite characters. That ultimate battle will end in a way that’s favorable to Nordgarde.

As for the rest of this page, I don’t think Kargo is wrong in that him coming back has caused a ton of trouble for Ronja and the entire tribe. Though the damage is done and leaving won’t do Nordgarde any favors. They’ve already lost three members to fear. Their enemies won’t believe Kargo is gone, and they’ll lose a competent fighter. (Unless of course the plot calls for Kargo to lose like with that shitshow of a fight between him and Ranach.) So yeah, Roamer isn’t wrong in that he should stay. It’s a shame that this loyalty to Kargo wasn’t there sooner, nor did these two ever really talk about how they originally broke up.

While I do believe Kargo and Roamer are a better couple than Roamer and Rogio, the relationship doesn’t feel completely healthy. One, because it’s a polycue, and Rogio and Romaer are toxic. Two, the reasons for the first break-up that weren’t addressed beyond a “mistakes were made,” and something, something angry bear spirit. But whatever. After hundreds of pages, these two are finally consummating their relationship. You’d think that could wait until AFTER Kargo’s guard duty was finished, but it’s always sex before safety or logic in Home. (Yes, I am rolling my eyes.)

On hiatus:

Lost Scent | Page(s): | Patreon