As of today, just five more days left on the Africa plushie. The current order number sits at 81, and just 19 more are needed. If this interests you, considering buying one, so the goal can be reached. Like I said last week, I really want that plushie.
Africa | Page(s): 474 | Patreon
Again, these poor cats can’t seem to catch a break on their side of the gorge. An ominous cloud of material is forming on the side of the crater. It’s super cute when Mondo leaps onto Bibi’s shoulders to get a better look. It would have been nice if it had been a rain cloud, and that was the end of the drought. But as the serval kit notes, it’s not a rain cloud, and it is definitely coming from the crater.
I don’t like how it resembles yellow smoke that seems to be coming from the ground itself. I worry that maybe between the tainted water supply and this smoke, it could be a volcanic vent spewing toxic gas. The rumbling sound certainly lends credit to that. The last thing the crater needs is poisonous gas filling it, as if these animals haven’t had enough trouble.
Reading the comments on this page on DeviantArt, some readers are theorizing it could be a stampede. The possibility of this isn’t zero, and if the dirt is dry enough, and there are enough running animals, that could be just a cloud of dust. In the larger picture, a stampede is definitely preferable to venting volcanic gases. That said, if the stampede is headed toward Bibi and Mondo, they might be in huge trouble if they’re caught and trampled underfoot.
What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 1004 – 1006 | Patreon
WLB has finally emerged from hiatus. This chapter is in the present, and based on the cover will strongly focus on Sturgeon. Likely the aftermath of Trout’s decision to banish the Daisys from the Family, and appointing Gull and Wrasse as advisors.
Egret is still dealing with having Kelp, Mollymawk, and Hake as roommates, and now Tansy and Cricket have arrived bearing bad news. Tansy fills the others in on what’s been happening with the Family, and everyone’s stunned into silence. Since there’s no legible dialogue, I’m treating pages 1004 and 1005 as silent entries. It is rehashing what we learned at the end of chapter 32.
The reactions of the group are curious. Hake doesn’t move from his spot, though he turns his ears back showing that he was at least listening. If I had to guess, this reinforces the animosity he feels toward his sister after she sent Tusk to her death. If we could see his face it’d probably be a mix of shock and anger. Mollymawk looks devastated, Kelp is a mixture of horrified and concerned, while Egret is mostly concerned. Curiously his tail tip is smacking against the ground, so he’s definitely annoyed too. I just have this feeling that if anyone is going to put claws to Queen Trout’s throat, that it might be him. Not out of a sense of personal malice, but to do what’s best for every cat on the island.
As all this takes place at Egret’s tree, Sturgeon has returned to the beach caves alone. Her claws are unsheathed, the fur on her back is up, and she’s quietly seething right now. Trout refuses to turn around to greet her older sister as Gull, Wrasse, and Skua look on. Though Skua’s never happy to see Sturgeon and looks like he’s about to fight, if needed. Something tells me the news that the two elder cats have been promoted and have the same rank as her won’t go over well. Hell, I wonder if Skua or Gull will try to convince Trout to strip Sturgeon of her own advisor rank?
This entire scene is tense.
The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 30 Page(s): 12| Patreon
As I guessed, Julia has incredible willpower. In a mix of anger and panic (though I didn’t pick up on it being panic until I read the comic’s transcript), she shoots Hedgeworth. The result isn’t pretty as the bullet may as well been a shotgun blast. Though this proves that the bug alien is more than likely the same guy. His shell is a little darker, but his eyes are roughly the same color. More disturbingly, he’s a mix of bug with tentacles from the Black Idol. I can only guess that he partially fused with it somehow how, and it granted him an extended life. Or Hedgeworth swaps bodies and controls them via hive mind and his real body and/or consciousness is elsewhere.
I’m focusing in on the fact that two pages ago he said “this body doesn’t matter.” Either way, Hedgeworth seems to have achieved the extended lifespan that his people were seeking back in issues 11 and 12. Hopefully we get a clear answer before this series ends. Despite this page, I’m convinced that even if this particular bug/Black Idol hybrid is dead, Hedgeworth lives on, and will continue to try to pull the strings from the shadows. Now what will Agent Jackson, the SIU, and (what’s left of) The Order of the Black Dog do about it now? Your guess is as good as mine!
Lost Scent | Page(s): 125 | Patreon
If you’re following Lost Scent on ComicFury, the newest page there hasn’t been uploaded yet. However, you can find it on DeviantArt. I’m sure the authors will have it up on CF soon enough.
Nothing interrupts a love confession and possible romantic moment like a falling star smashing into the ground. Maybe an author from another dog comic, such as the one listed below should take note. If you want a conversation about romance or a love confession to be put off for later, have a big event that’s more pressing at the moment to draw a character’s attention away.
Anyway, Tulpi is easily distracted, so once the meteor strikes, of course she’d have to go and take a look. To be fair, I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing a shooting star myself, much less have one fall nearby. Part of me would definitely be curious. Doubly so if I weren’t concerned about any hazards at the impact site. So I guess this tense moment between Tulpi and Motte has been effectively shelved for now.
Golden Shrike | Page(s): 364 | Patreon
Normally, I don’t share multiple panels from comics for these round ups. However, the first four panels of this week’s page were too funny. A bit of humor before things take a more serious turn again, and I promise there’s a lot more page left! Another seven panels if you really want to be concise.
Eve seems to be mildly curious to be speaking to someone besides Antaras. As expected, she’s not really bothered by Iralee not liking her. The God-caller also carefully asks why she’s here and not doing her duties in the sky. This is of course the reminder that while Nero’s group got the entire story from Usma, no one else besides Antaras, Eve, and Loss is privy to that knowledge.
I do like how Eve doesn’t give a straightforward answer here. Not at first, anyway. I believe she’s sincere in wanting to see the life she’s helped create up close. If you’re trapped on Earth with a desperate, heartbroken maniac, you might as well do some sightseeing and getting to know your creations. Her answer does take Iralee aback for a moment before the God-caller regains what little composure she has left. Simple sightseeing is too incredulous of a thought, especially for the almighty. So I’m curious to see how she’ll respond to Eve’s actual reason for being on Earth and sticking around to carry a fawn at her leisure.
Could Iralee even understand? Can she actually convince Eve to fulfill her end of the deal with Antaras? I firmly believe that she can’t, as the god seems dead set on seeing her kidnapper suffer first. But hey, stranger things have happened in Golden Shrike.
Home | Page(s): 978 – 980 | Patreon
As promised, we have a three-page update for Home this week. If there’s another multipage release, it’ll probably come around another major holiday. Likely Christmas or New Years.
Felidae tries to talk to Ferah in the hopes of starting a romantic relationship. However, Ferah isn’t having any of it, as she turns away and notes that she’s heard the words “I would never hurt you,” before. She leaves the tent and without directly saying so, I get the feeling that she’s more or less rejected Felidae. Now a lot of readers on page 978 and even in other discussion spots for Home say the Southern Jaro was pushing too hard. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a bad thing to make your feelings known, and wanting to know where a relationship stands. If Ferah were too afraid or uninterested, I think Felidae at least deserves that clarity versus having the conversation put off, or ignored entirely. It sucks to spend your time hoping for a relationship with someone who’s not interest, or their honestly has to be dragged out of them.
I will say this page feels completely out of character for Ferah, and for how this relationship or non-relationship has been building for the last few chapters. First, where was this hesitation when it came to Fjordor ages ago? Ferah practically thirsted over him, despite him not being over his wife, and blamed Kargo for having to leave Midnightgarde. Then, she admits to Kargo much later that she has feelings for Felidae and his advice is to go for it. She doesn’t say nay or yay, but she does express her concerns about the past, and her first lover. She doesn’t name him, but it’s clear she’s talking about Ralek. Any feelings she had for Fjordor are just not brought up again. That said, hinting at her fears in this page at least provides a little continuity, but the feelings for Felidae are there. I don’t understand why she just can’t bring those fears and feelings up to the dog in question in a more concrete manner, as communication was one of her strong points earlier in this comic.
She could talk to Felidae about her time just after escaping the Meteor Tribe, as she did with Roamer. Now I suppose you could argue that she’s too flustered because she does have some feelings for her friend in Whispervale Tribe. That said, I feel like she’s being elusive for no other reason than drama for drama’s sake. I’m sure if she’d relayed this story to Felidae about being with the Meteors and needing more time, or being too afraid to start a new relationship (again her want of Fjordor has been completely forgotten) she’d understand. I mean, these dogs are understanding with much less. Not only that, but they remember Isbel escaping from MT, so Ferah wanting time and space makes sense. But no, the issue has been dragged out, and I bet it comes up again despite Ferah seemingly putting her foot down.
At this point, I’m hoping Kique just puts an axe in the idea of this pairing, and both dogs move on with their lives. Hell, maybe just axe most of the romance in this comic because the majority of it is poorly done.
Now time for a scene change with page 979. Ranach has gotten five tribes to join his rebellion, which isn’t bad since out of the 14 tribes (there are more, but some are not players or don’t exist anymore), only so many would join him. I mean, Solar Stag is the target, and Southspear is the aggressor, so those two don’t count. Nordgarde is a flat out no, and is neutral overall. Asmundr isn’t a tribe and is looking to join Ronja. Havenreach and Midnightgarde don’t even exist. So that’s a little less than half. Not bad considering what Ranach is trying to do.
Though some of those confirmed five allies might be fleeting as Onofre is hellbent on a rematch with Nordgarde despite getting his ass kicked and several members of his raid killed. If the Asmundr pack and Jahla and her group make it North before Onofre strikes, that’s simply more allies to push them back, and a blow to the rebellion. Ateus has a point. If they were smart, they’d worry about the rebellion first and deal with Ronja later. Amazing how all this dogpower wasn’t put to use until after Arenak was killed and Ranach was run off. I guess they really do see Ronja as a weak leader, even after suffering a setback. And this is even after she did what they asked and left the Meteor territory. This entire conflict seems pointless. I do hate how Ranach has a point too.
Speaking of, is this entire rebellion for the sake of Ranach getting his revenge on what’s left of his former tribe? Why utter the line “And then I’ll take back what’s rightfully mine…”? He tried to take down the tribe, killed Kargo, and ran off once his summoned beast was defeated. Was him joining Southspear really a long game in trying to get back at MT, or did he give up on those plans once he lusted after Iberion, only to return to them after Rogio’s brother rejected him? Who even knows.
Ranach’s motivations as a villain have rarely been clear, and I feel this is because Kique wants him to be evil and badass while also wanting to keep open a redemption path. However, that path has been closed. What would Ranach even rule over? The broken tents of the old territory? It’s not like anyone currently alive in the former MT wants anything to do with him. Does he just plan to use the rebellion to kill everyone and charm new dogs into restarting the Meteor Tribe?
On a side note, I’m just shaking my head at how he refers to Kargo as a supernatural force when, he’s the one who knifed him several times without much issue. The fight wasn’t even close, despite Kargo being blessed by a spirit of strength. The only reason Ranach is going on about that strength is because the dog he murdered isn’t dead. He has to be attributing that revival to the supernatural strength as well.
We have yet another scene change mid-page. Everyone’s searching for Naeva, and they’re close to the old Meteor territory. I honestly think this search could have started on a fresh page instead of partway through 980. Fortunately, there’s no danger of anyone here running into Onofre’s forces, or Ranach’s camp, as according to the current map as of this writing, all parties involved are nowhere near each other. Ranach is in Arctic Brook as stated on page 979 and Onofre is also there. They’re quite a ways south of Ronja’s search party. (Just to be safe, here’s an uploaded portion of the map for archival purposes.)
As for where Naeva has gone? We at least know she’s passed through the old MT territory.
Off for the week:
In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): | Patreon
On hiatus:
