TWWR Round up 07/21/2025– Having a Plan of Attack is Overrated

First, a huge thank you to everyone for the kind words regarding Star. And thank you for sharing your own stories with me about your own dogs and cats. I have her ashes and paw print back, so she’s home now. She can rest easy.

In webcomic news, Jumalanpelko continues to be excellent. I read the latest chapter, “The face off” several times over now. I’m a huge fan of double meanings when it comes to titles. Also, this chapter really brings home how serious things are, and how this comic isn’t too far off from its conclusion. I’ll say it once more, this comic is more than worth your time.

 

Africa | Page(s): 431| Patreon

I asked about the gemsbok and if its guts should have come spilling out, and you all delivered in the comments! The short answer is “no” because internal organs are enveloped by a membrane called the peritoneum.

Anyway, the lionesses of Baba Bes’ pride take their half of the gemsbok and call it a day, especially as the humans responsible for darting it can be heard in the distance. Kitendo completely botched the mission. Tailing the lions won’t be easy since they’re weary of the dogs, and Kauket doesn’t appreciate being bitten. That is if anyone survives this mess unscathed, given the corpse was drenched in that dank water. Anyone who eats it will probably become sick. Not to mention Kauket’s paw taking the plunge into that muck as well. On the dog’s side, if the water doesn’t make them sick, I’m sure there might be lingering effects from that tranquilizer dart.

At this point, I get the impression that only Africa and her children will be the only cats not suffering from illness. Even so, the with the water supply not looking fit for anything’s consumption, and prey being scarce, rough times are ahead for the main cast.

 

What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 912, 913, 914 | Patreon

As expected, Gull took the advisor role without a second thought. Wrasse too, but I do find it curious about how he’s not provided any input yet, and is giving Gull the side eye. This makes me think that he’ll either want to speak to Trout privately, or he might have a conversation with Sturgeon when he gets a chance. After all, she did have him serving as her eyes and ears to help keep Trout and the Family safe. He still strikes me as a wildcard in this scenario. We’ll see.

As for Gull, this page has me convinced that she’s going to try to undo as many of Sturgeon’s reforms as possible. She’s noting how things were so different under Thresher’s rule, and that the “bad advice” Trout was given needs to be rectified. I’m going to say it here, she’s likely going to suggest having the Daisys who joined the Family sent back to the forest. Or she might propose that in order to please The Tide, more tributes must be made, and those must start with the Daisys in order to prove their loyalty. At the very least, if Trout pushes back and insists the new Family members stay, they’ll likely be treated like second class citizens– leading some to probably return to the forest. No matter how this all goes down, it’s not going to be good this island’s underclass.

We’ll have to wait for the results of this conversation, as the scene shifts and Sturgeon has reunited with Hake. I fear her conversation about him apologizing to Trout, and returning to the Family won’t end well. Worse, the longer she spends out in the forest, the more time Gull has to fill the queen’s head with even more bigotry.

 

The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 29, Page: 15, 16 | Patreon

Once the Away Team refuses to back down, shit quickly hits the fan. It turns out the Black Idol is linked with the alien doppelgängers. They are in league together and are able to communicate over long distances. Not only that, but the doppelgänger that stole Kaz’s likeness, then exploded part of the facility may have died, but there are more of these things. Several scientists have been replaced by them. Furthermore, there are Kae Kariin doppelgängers among the staff who are fighting the aliens. Are they in league with Agent Jackson, or are these people doing their own thing? Why are the aliens helping the Black Idol? What’s in it for them?

I don’t know, but everything is wonderfully chaotic now. If they’re fighting that hard on Earth, what is happening up on the Lunar Base? Has the Away Team started fighting Krizman?

 

In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 53, 54 | Patreon

Kay continues her dogged pursuit of Harzuk. Of course the rabbit has a few dirty tricks in the pouch of her hoodie. That includes the very same slingshot she used to originally save Kay from her captors. Fortunately, the feline is quick on her feet and is able to dodge the projectile. A little less than gracefully, but a fall beats being hit by a ball bearing fired from a slingshot. I’m also chuckling at Kay using a trashcan lid as an impromptu projectile. This girl doesn’t skip arm day, so if that hits Harzuk, it might be lights out for the rabbit.

For a few pages now I’ve been arguing that Harzuk is actually leading Kay to safety as a roundabout way to help her. The slingshot changes things. She’s really trying to get away from the cat. In that case, I again question why the rabbit even bothered with a rescue. So I’m going to theorize that Harzuk recognized Kay as royalty, and was hoping that by saving her she’d be entitled to a reward. Upon learning that Kay has been away from The Lion’s Den for years now, and was owned by a Giant means she’s broke. So in order to make the rescue worth her while, she decided to steal and perhaps pawn off Kay’s necklace.

I do believe Kay will either stop or slow Harzuk down. Once she catches up, who knows what will happen. Also, I still need to know what the clocking striking 10pm means!

 

Lost Scent | Page(s): 91, 92| Patreon

We finally get to see Ocean in the fur, and it turns out he’s a dick. Now I’m completely convinced that he’s running a cult– the ultimate outlet for a control freak. Fortunately, Tulpi never gets the chance to join the cult, and she bolts as soon as the opportunity arises.

She immediately recognizes how wrong it is for Ocean to berate Clover over something that wasn’t really her fault, then continue to blame her after she tried to make amends. The penultimate panel suggests that Tulpi is actually projecting her own thoughts and feelings on to Clover’s situation. It’s not that the dog isn’t in a controlling situation, but more that the Akita mix can relate on so many levels. Here she wishes she stood up to her brother instead of backing down and running off. Given how he just abandoned her, I can see where her anger comes from, especially if their relationship had some parallels to Clover and Ocean’s. Our poor girl really needs a huge and someone to talk things over with.

It looks like the flashback is done, and we’re moving back into the present. Tulpi still has the blanket, so the girls and PIG likely haven’t left Morgan’s crew.

 

Golden Shrike | Page(s): 321| Patreon

Everyone who guessed a storm would be the source of disaster was correct. It also looks like Antaras was correct, but things are way too dire for an “I told you so.” In fact, I can’t even blame the leader of the March. Antaras was asking the group to stay put, but even he couldn’t predict that it would take three weeks for the storm to arrive. And if the group had listened to his advice, they likely would have been ready to move on once nothing happened after a few days of mild weather. At some point, they’d figure either Antaras was bad at his job, or if something was coming, they’d be in warmer territory before then.

That’s the insidious part about this storm. It waited three weeks to strike. That makes me think Karuna sent this storm. We know weather conditions can turn on a dime, especially during the spring. Nevertheless, the March’s predicament is so very cruel. Zooming out, it looks like the storm struck before any of the deer could organize a plan of action. They may have only had moments of warnings from their halvs before freezing gale force winds swept over the plains. Everyone’s so spread out that it’s also likely they can’t find each other because of whiteout conditions. Otherwise, I’m certain they would have all stuck together, keeping the young and Grasslanders in the center, while the Northerners provided protection against the cold. Except that didn’t happen, and it’s safe to assume Oudia froze to death despite being huddled together with Antaras and Usma to keep her warm. Her eye looks blank in the last panel.

I also have to wonder if Antaras is actually praying, or if he’s cursing the god, or starting the process that trapped Eve in Oudia’s body. Whatever happened, I can’t imagine if his wife died, he would have left her for long, as their fawn would still need a chance at life. Unless, he somehow left her body in the north, had Eve reanimate it, and brought their unborn child back to life. The possible implications are just unsettling. God-caller? More like weaver of forbidden arts.

 

Home | Page(s): 924, 925| Patreon

I’m impressed. Jahla made a grand entrance only to not actually have a plan of attack. Seriously, after calling Marduk’s name, she and Romé just stand there panting. The only thing she’s successfully done is take the former Sky God’s attention off Kainan and the pack. The obelisk is still doing its thing, and neither Jahla nor her partner are immune to its effects. Then in the most random event ever, I guess just to show how “evil” Marduk is, he randomly kills Romé. No foreshadowing, no build up, just death. Her reaction and his response are as bland as it comes. At best, she looks mildly disturbed and a tad distraught, while Marduk looks mildly annoyed. Kique couldn’t even give him one of those deranged smiles Ranulfr sported in Asmundr.

His speech to her is just one that reeks of pettiness. He’s not wrong about Father leaving them behind, but his demands that the Asmundr pack bow just fall flat. If he were a more compelling villain, I think he’d offer something worthwhile to the pack. Something too good to be true, or something dangerous like the power to become like the gods. Instead, it’s just “Father sucks. Bow to me.” I’ve mentioned numerous times why Marduk isn’t a compelling villain, and him murdering Romé doesn’t change that. He hasn’t even killed any of the elders, and spares the Akiulfr. Does he just want them to acknowledge him as a god that badly?

As for everything else, as people pointed out the scene’s layout is just off. When Jahla arrives, it seems like she’s at the top of the hill looking down on Marduk. Then it’s revealed she’s actually a good distance away from him at the bottom of the hill. Which makes it all the more head-scratching that she didn’t at least take a moment to catch her breath and attempt to sneak attack the former god. I was going to suggest that she prioritized wanting to save Kainan, but given the distance and his back being to her, she wouldn’t have seen him strangling the Asmundr pack leader. Her being blinded by anger is the only explanation that makes sense. I suppose Jahla’s in some trouble in this scene, but perhaps the power of having her lover murdered will give her the strength to take down Marduk.

Speaking of distance, what the hell is this silhouette?

I guess Kique was going for something reminiscent of alien sightings and paranormal activity? I’m going back and forth between how much I hate Marduk’s overall design, and how this silhouette still appeals a bit to me. Gotta enjoy the little things, I guess.

On a final note, I wasn’t a fan of Romé and I think his introduction and ultimate role of “yes man” to Jahla fell flat. So I’m not going to miss him. In fact, I’m going to post this meme a friend of mine created and gave me permission to share on this blog.

Until next week, everyone!

 

On hiatus:

Nothing.