[272] Story Discussion - Is That You?

[Aspen d'Grey]

See sig for early update.






Erm, well, Tom has thrown us (me at least) another curveball. On the other hand, it becomes clear that the shadowy wold figure will not be the main character.


WHo's this General, though? And, apparently, he hasnt always looked like this as the (lets call him the Headmaster for sake of argument) clearly recognizes him.

Oh, yeah, and not to state the obvious, but he's a wolf. Woops.

I wonder if it's the wood parts that the headmaster is concerned about or the wolf parts or both? Hmm? Also, notice that his companion seems to be pretty patchwork itself.

It also seems taht a lot of the adults are in uniforms of their own, in a sort of olive-drab military form.

[La Goon]

aspengrey said:

I wonder if it's the wood parts that the headmaster is concerned about or the wolf parts or both? Hmm?

It seems like the sallow dude only recognizes this general when he removes his hood, so my guess is that he recognizes the wolf head and is concerned about the wooden arms.

So, was he a general before he became a god? Maybe he has become a god since the last time sallow dude saw him, and that's why he got those wooden arms...

Also i notice that now both the god/generals arms are shaking, and the right hand is even making noises. Are they about to fall apart or something? He would be kind of a lousy god if that's the case

EDIT: Could still be the dog like creature that's the god. Maybe he's playing a trick by making this general looking like the important one.

[legendary]

He used to have blue eyes; now he has tinted contacts.

[neal]

Is it just me, or is Eglamore standing at attention in the first panel?

[todd]

I've got to admit, this comic continues to deliver surprises - between what was under the Very Nice Man's hood, *and* the Headmaster's response. (Maybe he really *is* Reynardine's cousin.)

All the more reason to eagerly look forward to next week's instalments.

[Mezzaphor]

The wolf companion looks like more Haida-inspired art.

And both of the Very Nice Man's arms are twitching now.

In panel six, I bet the TVNM is thinking to himself, "I'm crushing your head! I'm crushing your head!"

[Goatmon]

He's a furry, Zomg!

*saves*

[Boksha]

aspengrey said:

Erm, well, Tom has thrown us (me at least) another curveball.

I second that, even if just because all of this is shaping up quite differently from what I expected in general, not particularly because of one twist.
There's something about this page that's really good. Some feeling of... seriousness. Everybody being all formal and then the headmaster (?) suddenly sounding both familiar and pissed off.

I wouldn't be surprised if this "general" has had a transformation similar to Aly, only retaining a more or less human mind.

[Goatmon]

I notice that both his arms seem to be trembling. I wonder if this "General" character has to endure a lot of physical stress as a result of whatever he's done to himself?

boksha said:

I wouldn't be surprised if this "general" has had a transformation similar to Aly, only retaining a more or less human mind.

Who said that Aly lost his human consciousness through the transformation?

[Boksha]

Not to bring up the whole bird lobotomy thing again, but Tom confirmed the transformation was complete, including the brain. Considering Annie referred to this guy as a "god", I'd expect him to be a bit more intelligent than the average wolf with wooden arms.

[Goatmon]

boksha said:

Not to bring up the whole bird lobotomy thing again, but Tom confirmed the transformation was complete, including the brain.

Well how about that?

[Aspen d'Grey]

I almost got the impression that the general was trying to do sign language.

[UbiquitousDragon]

aspengrey said:

I almost got the impression that the general was trying to do sign language.

Hm, maybe, though I thought that it would be because having wooden arms wouldn't be very practical. Stiff and creaky in my mind (probably because of the 'creak' sound effects in panel three).

The headmaster looks dead. In RL I am very pale, but I'd like to think I don't look dead.

[Count Casimir]

Mysteries! I'm likin' this page though.

[Erik]

I'd rather think creaking and shaking is part of the wooden arms package. He doesn't seem to be hindered by it or anything.

But I am getting seriously interested in how "the Very Nice Man", as you call him, will communicate.

[Yin]

My first impression was of a marionette, because of the closeup of the fingers we got. Perhaps he's only 'wearing' the wooden body?

[Mezzaphor]

erik said:

I'd rather think creaking and shaking is part of the wooden arms package. He doesn't seem to be hindered by it or anything.

Well, Robot 13's wood arm didn't creak or shake, but it was only a few months old. The General's arms are presumably older, so maybe the creaking and shaking is a sign of age.

The four-horned shadow called him the Very Nice Man; Robot 13 called him a man; narrator-Annie called him a god; and the pale authority figure called him General. Four different appellations and we still don't know what his name is. Maybe he he's like an Ent, only giving out his real name to a select few.

[Count Casimir]

My guess: the god used to be a GENERAL for the Court, and then defected to the forest. Understandably, this would make the Court-ians a bit peeved, and perhaps the Headmaster calls himi by his old honorific to force remembrance.

[Boksha]

Yeah, that's the impression I got as well.

[Riess]

Maybe the General is not the god Narrator-Annie is referring to, but his companion is?

[Boksha]

Yeah, I think we've discussed that earlier as well.
We'll have to wait and see.

[fjodor]

Good thing about going on vacation to an internet-free location for two weeks is that you get to read six pages in a row. Wow. Many new things.

Gogling for Fox+God led me to this page:

www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/fox.htm

[fjodor]

by the way: could the general have some more of those seeds that was used on Robot in that pouch he's got on his hip? 'Jake and the beanstalk' springs to mind