This blog’s theme has been updated, and I’ve tweaked it to my liking. I’m pleased with the visual look of this site now. I’ve also added a few new sections. The biggest one being a list of all the webcomics I’m currently reading, have read, or have been dropped. It’s quite comprehensive. As comics finish or are discounted the list will be updated. Also, a huge thanks to Gildedgryphon on Tumblr for sharing some comics with me that will be right up my alley.
What are you currently reading?
(On another note, if you also follow Damage Control Blog, I updated that site as well, including adding a requested merchandise shop.)
Africa | Page(s): 494 | Patreon
I depise how Chui has to get a few more verbal digs in on Bibi. Would the humans come for her like they did with Safari? Who knows? It’s not even certain that what Bibi has is fatal. However, Chui attacking her sure is. I can’t imagine a caracal coming away from a leopard attack alive, unless someone intervenes. Right now it’s just her and Mondo. The poor serval kit is too small to do anything to help. The most he could maybe do is call for Africa. Even if she could easily cross the now broken area of the ledge, would she get to Chui in time?
I honestly don’t know. I’m terrified that my least favorite character in this comic is going to maul my favorite character. Out all the false scares we’ve had with Bibi, it hurts that this might be how she meets her end. That said, I’m not giving up hope until it’s all over, one way or another. This doodle from Arven sums up how we’re all feeling at the moment.
What Lurks Beneath | Pages(s): 1040 | Patreon
Again, Sturgeon is pushing Trout too hard here. I stand by my assertion that the queen (as awful as her decisions have been) needs a few days to rest and process all that’s happened. Right now she’s running on a major lack of sleep, stress, and full-blown paranoia. While Sturgeon’s goals are what’s best for all the island cats, she’s still too aggressive in her approach. (Which is why she desperately wanted either Hake or Kelp to return with her.) Telling Trout to invite the Daisys back is such a non-starter at the moment.
Again, the Family cats who were happy to see the Daisys gone will be pissed off, especially with Gull as an advisor. All but the most desperate of Daisys would likely turn down the offer, even if there’s a reward. After all, what kind of messed up religion has you exiled then returned as a test of faith? I get the logic of it– it’s the only way for Trout to make it look like The Tide hasn’t gone back on his word, while maybe assuaging some of the Family. In reality, no one’s that logical and emotions are running high. Emotional intelligence is one of Sturgeon’s biggest blind spots and it’s showing here.
If Trout were to go this route, assigning Sturgeon as her Lionheart wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’m doubtful that any cat could beat her in a fight, and she’d be obligated to stay at the queen’s side in a way she currently doesn’t do as an advisor. If Sturgeon and Skua could co-exist, Trout would have an incredible level of protection at her side. That’s just a “what if” scenario. Judging by our paranoid queen’s body language she’s not having any of what her sister is telling her, and will reject this proposal, have a crash out, or both.
Finally, I do find it ironic that Sturgeon is promising to keep Trout safe forever. The whole incident with Krill is her fault, even if the harm wasn’t intentional. This entire mess ties back to the original sin of her trying to make a point about Family cats, and only making things worse for everyone. Now Tusk wasn’t her fault. But I do wonder if the assassination attempt never happened, and Krill was executed for treason instead, if Trout would have had the needed backbone to stand up to Gull.
The Order of the Black Dog | Issue 30 Page(s): 32 | Patreon
I wish we could have seen the rest of Okpara and Dr. Njeri’s conversation. I’m extremely curious about what it means for all the people of Earth if the rest of the galaxy sees the Black Idol as a pandemic. Do they know about the Black Idol being contained and locked into individual people on Earth? Or is that just a secret the Kae-Kariin know about, considering Hedgeworth’s initial surprise. Fingers crossed that there’s a little room in this finale for some clarification.
On a happier note, I had been wondering for ages if Julia knew about Melissa surviving the attack. The answer is yes, and given the condition of the wolf’s phone, it has been a source of (understandable) anxiety. Whatever monitoring the facility was doing with Melissa seems to have eased up. She’s being reunited with Julia. I love the parallel between Mel being wheeled out with a relaxed look on her face and when Julia was “cured” of the Black Idol. This time around, the girls aren’t separated by a glass wall, and I love how Mel jumps into Julia’s arms. She clearly didn’t need the wheelchair. Does this mean Melissa can leave? I’m not sure, but at the very least I hope the two can see each other on the regular now.
I also hope that Mel is allowed to leave to she can visit her father who remains in ailing health.
Lost Scent | Page(s): 139 | Patreon
After the excitement of the last page and Tupli telling Dr. Ferris off, we have a quiet page with almost no dialogue. The trek back to Motte and PIG took the Northern Spitz all night. The smile on her face as she watches the Borzoi-mix sleep tells me that the solo journey was worth it. Especially as she was able to use the fact that meteorite had been cut in half to make a nice necklace for Motte before taking a well-earned rest. Speaking of Motte, she wakes up in a panic, but her relief is immediate as she finds Tulpi sleeping by her side. She’s even proud of her traveling companion for finding the meteorite. I hope she accepts and wears the necklace with pride.
The jagged panel border reflecting her panic is fantastic. I’m a huge fan of how the authors use panel borders to convey the emotions of the characters or the overall situation.
Anyway, the girls are back together. I wonder if they resume that talk or if they press on to Tulpi’s hometown.
Oh, this is worse than I thought. Not only is Jahla going alone to confront Rohgir, but she’s telling Thakir, Argeirr, Vilja, and Niala to all go on without her while Folluin waits for her at the gateway.
What?
Why can’t they all wait for her to return? The area of the coast they’re at looks pretty secluded from the dogs, and I’m sure they’ll be safe camping out for a few hours. Instead, Jahla’s telling her former tribe mates to find Ronja at Nordguarde on their own. Did she forget about the tribe dogs that want the Akiulfr’s dead? Not only that but only she somewhat knows the area while the others have no clue. Also, fuck safety in numbers, I guess.
If the fear was drawing attention to themselves while traveling in a large group, they could have done the same thing the Asmundr pack did. Travel at night, and avoid tribes. (Not that there are too many in the north.) Or better yet, Jahla and her group could have gone with Asmundr, (adding needed strength to that group), got to Ronja’s place, and then she could have taken some dogs with her and doubled back to see Rohgir. But I guess that plan has too much logic in it.
Part of me is hoping that the others disregard Jahla’s terrible advice and wait for her. I mean what’s she going to do, yell at them when she returns? I fear they’re going to just do what she says, and get attacked as they try to locate Ronja’s tribe. We have so many factions around the old Meteor Tribe territory now.
As for the island, there’s no one to greet Jahla on the other side of the gateway. And the first Akiulfr she sees is starving. I guess they ate all the skvaders on the island, and no one has had permission to leave and hunt bigger game. Yeah, this talk with Rohgir is going to go south really fast. But if the Akis are starving, there might be room for a mutiny. Talks about faith and all are fantastic until you’re starving.
Off for the week:
In The Lion’s Den: The Scarlet Uproar | Page(s): | Patreon
On hiatus:
Golden Shrike | Page(s): | Patreon
Honestly, on one hand I’m keen to see the next page of Africa to get an eye on what happens but I’m also kind of dreading it in case we get a bad outcome. Hopefully someone will materialise in time to school Chui into next week – justice for Bibi!
For comics I’m currently reading (that aren’t already on the list!), Ophidia is a treat; there’s a lot of smouldering tension, lingering questions and gradual reveals in the worldbuilding that make each update feel exciting. The art style is superb as well, everything has so much substance and texture! Perdure is an intriguing one as well; it takes a minimalist approach in the storytelling and speaks up more through patterns and colour, with an ancient tapestry kind of feel. It’s quite different and refreshing with it.