TWWR Round up 06/09/2025– Rushing in Without a Plan Always Works

I took Star to the vet on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the news wasn’t good. Cancer that has spread to her lungs and brain is the reason she had a sudden seizure last Monday. At this point we’re just keeping her comfortable and happy. There’s no prognosis on when the end will come. On the upside, she’s not had another seizure since last week.

Turning back to webcomics, we have a full round up this week.

Africa | Page(s): 425| Patreon

I absolutely love how Kitendo is focused on lunch and not much else. He’s like me on lunch break at work. At least in this sibling trio, Thabiti was smart enough to make sure no one got in trouble for the unauthorized side quest. As their parents are imposing on the fourth panel.

As for Fikra’s fears about a full scale war between the lions and hyenas, as I said before, I wonder how this will be a problem for the wild dogs. Seems like two large groups of carnivores going at each other will thin their numbers out and leave the dogs with less competition for prey. At this point I’m just curious to see how a fight between the hyenas and lions will impact everyone else in the crater. Would the brawl just be so destructive that everyone else is caught in the crossfire? Is there a possibility prey would be driven off, and everyone potentially starves? Or would they cause a big enough ruckus that the humans decide to intervene? I’ll just have to wait for my answers.

What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 896, 897, 898 | Patreon

It’s funny, Egret reminds me so much of my brother-in-law. I think it might be the sassy attitude and the strong language. The poor guy is just so fed up with Kelp’s questions. Even so, he does provide her with a terse answer. That answer tells Kelp everything she needs to know. I thought she might be upset with Sturgeon over keeping the whereabouts of her son from her, but she’s glad that he’s alive. I do ponder how things will go down once she’s finally able to talk to Sturgeon. This conversation will likely be on the more positive side of things, as we know our favorite blunt protagonist needs some positivity in her life at the moment.

On another note, I thought we’d never revisit Petrel’s tree outside a flashback chapter. Turns out Egret has made himself a home there. I’m guessing Sturgeon suggested it as a living option after everything went down at Trout’s coronation, or he took the tree for himself after their death. After all, Petrel won’t be using it or anything else ever again.

The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 29, Page: 10 | Patreon

Seeing that the Black Idol has changed the layout of the Lunar base in such a short time is unnerving. Though a page in a previous chapter hinted at it being able to change its form at will. I don’t fully understand what this means, aside from it not being good for the exploration team. It’s curious that Julia wants to evacuate the team while Jackson wants them to proceed. I fear that mysterious message from last week might be the reason. Would it not be easier and safer to have them retreat, then explore the area with drones? Or is there a possibility that the Black Idol could change the layout of the base again?

On a narrative level, I’m getting the feeling that everyone except Melissa may die. And Mel will only have plot armor because she took that crystal containing a way to summon the Black Dog with her. It’s going to be the only thing that saves her from being absorbed into the Black Idol, and even that is going to come with a cost. Probably not unlike Rhoda and having her body taken over by a god.

The stakes are pretty high right now.

In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 51-52 | Patreon

I’m extremely certain that Harzuk is leading Kay to wherever the rabbit wants her to go. Though I have to admit, it’s pretty cool seeing her leaping skills in action. That bounce off the wall was awesome. Unsurprisingly, being a cat Kay is able to keep up with her.

On second thought, if Harzuk isn’t leading the feline deliberately, then she’s having a really hard time shaking her. Maybe at this point I want to believe this is on purpose. They were about to part ways, and something major happens at 10pm. Instead of the rabbit being straight forward, she picks the most roundabout way to ensure Kay follows her. I’d really love to know what Harzuk’s game is. Why did she bother to save Kay? What does she want from the former royal?

Lost Scent | Page(s): Chapter 5 Cover| Patreon

Not much is happening this week. We have the chapter 5 cover and name reveal. A boat and a plastic tub with a crab peaking out. If I had to wager a guess, part or all of this chapter will be about Tulpi and Motte crossing the strait with Morgan and crew. “Just a Scratch” could refer to a physical event happening, like someone getting injured and downplaying their injuries, or emotionally feeling hurt and downplaying that. I guess we’ll see when the next page drops in a week.

Golden Shrike | Page(s): 315 | Patreon

We have a little more backstory revealed. Usma, Antaras, and Oudia were part of a mixed herd. Mostly Northerners, but a few Grasslanders. Also, Oudia is a Grasslander. More importantly, the trio set off to make a dangerous journey to travel south. It seems Usma blames herself for urging her parents to take her to see the grasslands.

I’m going to wager a guess and say that if Oudia wasn’t gravely injured on the way, something else happened that would not have occurred if they stayed home, or joined another March. This might be doubly so if it turns out one or both of her parents objected to leaving right away, and she insisted, ultimately winning out. Whatever happened, Usma carries a lot of guilt. How on earth did things go so badly that Antaras now has two gods at his beck and call while the rest of deerkind might go extinct?

Home | Page(s): 919 | Patreon

I wish this page showing Jahla and Romé’s run to the Asmundr pack was a standalone event, had more panels showing their journey, and was just a cool page without dialogue. I feel like having it split between their journey, and the Asmundr pack escaping from Marduk is just too much happening.

It’s okay to slow the pace a story down and focus on the little details– like the time of day. I can only guess that the pair ran for an entire day as the sun seemed to be rising on the previous page. Now it hangs low in the sky on the first panel, then by the forth panel it’s either rising or setting. A panel showing where Romé got the torch and striking sticks could have helped as well because he only left Havenreach Tribe with the shirt on his back. Confusion aside, I would have loved to drink in more of the scenery here. We have an example how Kique can do backgrounds well when he wants. The third panel with their silhouettes in the darkness and the mystery torch barely illuminating them looks especially nice.

As for the second half of this page, I can only shake my head at the haphazard way this escape is happening. If the Asmundr pack were supposed to wait for Jahla, they should have waited. They probably could have sent Panic off to check on the Akiulfr and maybe relayed a message. Instead, they’re just escaping because they need to go while Feaf is able to travel. As others have pointed out, being pregnant should not affect her mobility in any way. Lions and other cats in general need to be able to hunt right up until they give birth. So Feaf shouldn’t be a problem until she’s just about due to give birth.

Worse than that, this pack is just hoping they can sneak away while Marduk is asleep. Why not do something to ensure he’s actually asleep and out for a few hours? Like maybe wait for Jahla and Romé, or ask the Zioqa about herbs that could either knock Marduk out or kill him. Slip them into his food and hope that he doesn’t notice. Then make that escape with Rhov leading the way back to Solar Stag Tribe as a safe haven for a while. Once rested, they continue on to Shiverfall Tribe, and then Nordgarde Tribe. If that’s not an option, why can’t the Rabisu take them in? They’ve been hiding from Marduk for generations. Surely they could shelter the pack? But no, these dogs are just running without a plan as to where they’re even going in a land they know next to nothing about.

This is all likely happening so Jahla can rush in at the last moment and save the day. No clue on how she’s supposed to beat Marduk. All of this current plot feels rushed, and more story planning could have fixed a bunch of these massive holes. Or at the very least, made them smaller.

On hiatus:

Nothing! Woo!