If you live in the United States, midterms are today. If you’re also in the US, hopefully you either voted early or had a chance to get to the polls in person. When I went out to vote, my polling place was quite busy.
In other news, I’m currently on vacation from work. I hope to use this time off to get some work done on the blog in terms of building up a buffer of non-round up articles. Also, I’d like to refresh the site’s WordPress theme. I haven’t really been happy with the current theme since I left WordPress.com. The theme I used there isn’t available for self-hosted sites and its replacement feels lacking.
This might be one of my longest round ups yet at over 3000 words. Whew boy! (I admit it was hard to stay focused while keeping an eye on the election. Which is why this post is on the late side.)
Africa | Page(s): 492 – 493 | Patreon
Unfortunately, Chui has locked on to Bibi. He has some audacity to call her a traitor when he’s the one who had her participate in that rigged contest against Africa. And when this scumbag got his way? He made it clear that Bibi was not welcome in his territory. Now he’s blaming her for Kafil doing the right thing for his herd? That’s rich. But leave it to a guy like Chui to blame others when they’re done with his shit. Again, I wish our little caracal had managed to climb the tree as well, but if she didn’t get the chance earlier, she definitely doesn’t have it now.
Given that the leopard is practically stalking toward her, it’s obvious he intends to attack. Before that, he has to get a few last digs in about Bibi’s earlier actions. Actions she’s been working hard to make amends for. She’s even going as far as standing her ground, so that he doesn’t go after Mondo for sport or something. I love how Bibi shoots back and notes people change, but Chui can’t. Change is a central theme in Africa. Bibi was able to change for the better. Africa has been changing for the better. Even Giza changed in her final moments. Only Chui has been bitter in his grudges and backstabbing as he remains small-minded and willing to take the easy way. Doubly so, with him pitting others against each other for his own sense of revenge.
With Bibi’s coughing fit starting again she’s in no position to run or fight. As much as I’d love her to get Chui sick, I’m not sure if whatever’s ailing her is airborne. At this point, as the leopard’s tracking collar goes off, I can only hope that the humans dart and take him elsewhere before he murders one of my favorite characters in this comic.
What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 1036 – 1039 | Patreon
As gentle as Sturgeon has been with Trout, page 1036 makes it clear on how much of a razor’s edge the queen’s advisor is on. Our main protagonist is holding back so much anger. But no one has time for any pleasant thoughts of Thresher. He was a terrible person and a horrible monarch. He does not to deserve to be remembered fondly by anyone who has any kind of empathy. Fortunately, Sturgeon is able to steer their conversation back to the Daisys the queen just has exiled. Even if Trout didn’t directly demand their deaths, being sent away to starve as winter approaches will have the same effect.
Not only that, but there are cats in the Family who know the Daisys they started to bond with have been given a death sentence. As with her own experience with Thresher and Auklet, Sturgeon isn’t wrong. Hearing that the previous monarch was being poisoned by someone in the Family has to be upsetting to Trout, as it puts her in a no win situation. Cats will want her blood if regardless of her stance on helping the Daisys. Again, because the queen is a people pleaser, she doesn’t have the backbone to stand up to them, and be a strong-willed leader. As awful as Thresher was, he commanded a begrudging respect.
I absolutely believe that Sturgeon needed to be truthful with Trout in how others saw Thresher, and how some may see her. Even so, I still think the advisor’s advice is the right advice, but the wrong time. This feels like a talk that should have happened while she was still an heir. Trout isn’t in a state of mind to coherently process all this news and come to a reasonable decision. All of this horror has happened in what, the last 24 to 48 hours? Mind you, neither of these two cats have slept in that period.
I fear that the only lesson that the queen will take away is that the Family is dangerous, and even blood relatives may be out to get you. Honestly, the entire story about Auklet isn’t sitting well with the current monarch already. She may lean even harder on Skua, and ultimately push Sturgeon away in pure fear. All because Sturgeon is a driven cat who wants quick results, and while she can be patient, it is currently not her strong suit. Trout needs time, empathy (even if she doesn’t deserve all of it), and a feeling of safety.
Honestly, the Daisys will be okay for a few days. All the drama that’s been roiled up needs to die down. Even if Trout agrees for some reason (which I doubt), the Daisys won’t trust her, even if they’re allowed back into the Family. The Family who wanted the Daisys gone won’t trust the queen. At this moment the situation is incredibly difficult to salvage, and rushing it will only crystallize hard feelings. I recommend reading the longer comments on page 1039. They contain deep dives into Trout’s psychology.
Anyway, good luck Sturgeon.
The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 30 Page(s): 30 – 31 | Patreon
Thankfully, there’s no scene change as Okpara continues to tell Dr. Njeri all that she knows about the Black Idol. It turns out that the idol rebelled first and damn near slaughtered the Kae-Kariin before some of them were able to retreat to underground bunkers. She notes that they were supposed to think of a solution and reemerge, but never did. I’m guessing some people were sent into stasis such as Leister, and others used the portal to either take refuge on the lunar base, or go elsewhere. How else would the Kae-Kariin have knowledge of other alien races unless they either made contact before or after the Black Idol turned on them. (Now there’s a possibility that the Kae-Kariin are aliens that brought the Black Idol with them, and fashioned it into something to be enslaved.)
My next biggest question is answered here. The Shankar radiation actually originates from a network of hidden satellites. Perhaps the society or species that placed them around Earth and the moon are the gods themselves. Basically aliens so advanced and/or working on another plane of existence that they are indistinguishable from gods. It’s hard to know, as some gods can be summoned and others simply walk among the people (i.e., Tazim-Talash and Zalef-Labev respectively). Others can only be communicated to within the spiritual realm such as Air’asha. I’m starting to wonder if because of prolonged time on Earth, if some of these gods forgot their true nature. Or if a god like Zalef deliberately hid that nature away from his fellow gods. On the extraterrestrial side, I’m guessing the other factions of aliens, the ones helping the Black Idol, are either supporters or worshipers who wish to see the mass of flesh rule the galaxy.
It’s not known if the Black Idol aka the Black Star, or Black Mass even originated on Earth. Just that the Kae-Kariin enslaved the creature. Post rebellion, it looks as if the Black Idol went on a galaxy-wide rampage. It created fortresses to roam space with, attacked other creatures/aliens, and even devoured entire planets. So THIS is what Tucker and Hedgeworth were alluding to in issue 12. Now it’s pretty clear why the galaxy struggles against a creature that can shape itself into literally anything. That makes me curious as to why the visitors from elsewhere just locked the Black Idol on Earth into the illusion of evolution and individual people rather than destroying it. Where they unable to destroy the idol, or did they have compassion?
Okpara’s line about aliens seeing it as a pandemic is chilling, given what’s happening to Dr. Xijo back on Mars. Is a literal infection of other alien species how it slips into and destroys some civilizations? As many questions as these two pages answer, they just open up many more questions.
On a storytelling note, I love as the Kae-Kariin recalls all that she knows about the Black Idol that the comic’s panel borders are jagged and made up of black lines and eyes from the idol. It’s a wonderful visual to illustrate how its violence and chaos intrudes everywhere.
In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): 103 – 104 | Patreon
This comic is back after an October hiatus. I was under the impression Kay would be taking a trip to the land of giants to find the crystallized aconite. But thinking about it further, as long as the musk of a Therian persists, it’s extremely difficult to leave the area it controls. Obviously, there are felines who can do this, such as the people who kidnapped Kay and smuggled her back into The Lion’s Den. (Or perhaps they just communicate with critters on the outside.) Infiltrating a gangster-run operation is probably quicker, but definitely not safer. I mean, Kay sort of sticks out like the sorest of thumbs given how long she’s been away from the city. Not only that, but still has the attitude of a royal.
Which is why she’s going to need Myron’s help even if he’s not good in combat. (Kay more than has that covered.) In addition to the briefing, I can see him giving her tips on how to navigate the city. I am curious if the gang she’s being sent to infiltrate is the same one that kidnapped her. If so, her current mission could go either way. If not, her mission could still go either way! I fully expect this to go off the rails, as making deals with fascists never turn out well in the long run, and Kay might discover something extremely offputting about the Panthera Ligo.
On a less serious note, it’s interesting to see smartphones. Going on book 1 of In the Lion’s Den, it seems like tech in this world is at the level of the 1990s or early 2000s. That said, I don’t know much time has passed between book 1 and book 2. Since Kay spent her days living with a giant, and the city is currently in shambles, it’s hard to get a feel for the overall technological state. Judging from Kay’s reaction, she’s certainly not familiar with smartphones. Renby was kind enough to share with me that the monarchy weren’t big fans of newer tech, so this still arrived after the Panthera Ligo took power along with Maximus. I’m sure that will be revealed in the story as time goes on, but it was a cool tidbit worth sharing.
It looks like we’re about to get a scene change as Kay and Myron head off. I do like the shot of the Panthera Ligo watching them go as Maximus looks on in the background. It sets a tone that’s slightly hopeful, but that hope is dampened by the feeling that Kay will be surveilled throughout her journey. She has the phone that can track her as long as she keeps it on her, Myron, and Maximus who can appear wherever it pleases, if its powers work similarly to the wolf tyrant in book 1.
Either way, I’m excited to see more of this big city. Let’s go!
Lost Scent | Page(s): 138 | Patreon
Tulpi continues to unload emotionally on Dr. Ferris, and I’m here for it. It takes her a moment, but the Northern Spitz realizes she’s done putting aside anything and everything she wants for the sake of others. No more being a doormat, it’s time to stand up for herself. And that starts with firmly letting the Red Terrier know that he cannot in fact have any part of the meteorite. Tulpi took the time to track it down, found it, and it means a lot to her. So the researcher can resent her all he wants, but she’s done caring about what others think.
As Tulpi gets that long awaited vent session and self-realization off her chest, she breathes a bit easier, and walks a bit taller as she leaves Ferris behind. He’s been so stunned into silence that he falls over, and his cats gather around him in concern. I’ve read the comments on DeviantArt and ComicFury. Some people actually feel bad for this guy because all he wanted to do was study the space rock, and was a nice fellow otherwise. Surely, he deserves half of it. To that, I say “fuck Dr. Ferris.”
It’s Tulpi’s rock. She found it, and she was under no obligation to let the doctor see it, much less cut it in half, and soak it in acid. She had every right to push back against his pushiness, as he violated the original terms of what they agreed to. If he had his way, he would have taken the entire thing from her. Not by force, but by persuasion or wearing her down with his pleas. While he’s not malicious in any way, he pushed against boundaries. Getting half or all of that rock is not a reward for bad behavior. I hope he’s learned not to do this again to anyone else. Meanwhile, I hope Motte can appreciate her traveling partner’s newfound confidence.
Home | Page(s): 995 – 997 | Patreon
I’ve been putting off writing about Home for weeks. Time to dig into these pages.
Like I said for page 994, having Naeva’s fate be uncertain would have made for a stronger entrance for Ronja as she guarded her daughter and drove off Ulfr’s ghoul. Credit to for her being the one to chase him off in death. She banished him from the Meteor Tribe when he was alive, but was ultimately defended by Fuss. It feels like that confrontation has come full circle. Naeva reveals that she did want to see if Ranach was bad as everyone made him out to be, and of course the answer is yes. Not that it excuses their horrible treatment of her, and their outright refusal to further elaborate on why he’s so hated. While I would have loved to see more of this scene play out, with perhaps Roamer attempting to run after Ranach, only to be stopped and reminded of their mission, we get none of that. No sooner is Naeva safe than we get another scene transition. Mid-page at that!
I’m assuming that Ranach didn’t chase the pup down because he took the time to hide Vamr’s body. Either way, the rebellion leader tells Ruette and Ateus to keep an eye out for the pup, and not to question her without him present. Definitely a case of him trying to cover his ass, in case Naeva were to be caught and let loose that she saw Ranach murder Vamr. I do find it amusing that Ateus pondered if the pup was a spy, and Ruette (rightly) shot that idea down. The process of elimination reveals that the young dog could either be from Whispervale or Nordgarde.
If Ranach has two braincells worth rubbing together, he might surmise the pup is likely his. Which might be why he wants her captured unharmed. Moving the camp further south isn’t a bad idea, given all that’s happened. Ruette and Ateus don’t seem to be buying the idea that Ranach just spoke to Vamr, and he’s on his way south. I have to wonder if one or both of them will go looking for their tribe mate. In theory, if he’s on his way back Southspear, he couldn’t have gotten very far and one of them, probably Ruette, would be able to track him down and speak privately. Then she’d learn that his scent stops, and would maybe discover his body, if Ranach didn’t dump it in a river. That scenario makes the most sense to me, but I could be reading way too far into their expressions. They might have picked up on Ranach’s change in tone, and are just uneasy
Again the scene changes and instead of seeing Ronja talk to Naeva about what she saw, and why she felt she had to run away, all that happens off-screen. At the very least it seems as if the pup talked about where she saw Ranach and the murder itself. I’m a bit disappointed that Fraujar had to be the one to point out Nordgarde’s holes in security, and not Ronja herself. She just looks as if the idea never crossed her mind once as a leader. And we have another mid-page scene change. Ugh.
This time it’s a two-day time skip. Jahla has made it to the gate that connects the main island with the smaller island where the Origin Orion Tribe lives. She’s making good on her promise to talk to Rohgir before joining Ronja. Honestly though, if Rohgir is as far off the deep-end as Argeirr and Father noted, perhaps Father ought to be making that trip. I’m certain I brought this topic up in a previous round up. Why does Jahla have to be the one to return to and pacify or attempt to pacify the very same brother that scarred her face and banished from Origin Orion?
Toxic family aside, I am curious to see how the Akiulfrs have been doing since we last saw them on page 388. I can’t believe it’s been over 600 pages of not knowing what’s happened to them outside of Argeirr leaving.
Off for the week:
On hiatus:
Golden Shrike | Page(s): | Patreon
