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Post by joephlommin on Feb 29, 2012 8:01:36 GMT
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Post by foxurus on Feb 29, 2012 8:02:59 GMT
Her nails must be longer than mine.
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Post by GK Sierra on Feb 29, 2012 8:03:37 GMT
Tom displays emotions so realistically, it almost makes me uncomfortable. Annies pokerface reminds me of when I lost my own dad. You just stop giving a shit and try to wall the world off. Its a really strange sensation, like you're looking at everything through a thick pane of glass.
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Post by fillerb on Feb 29, 2012 8:10:27 GMT
At least she isn't lighting stuff on fire (yet).
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Post by Max on Feb 29, 2012 8:28:30 GMT
I wonder what Donny could want to say that requires a one-on-one conversation.
Also, I wonder what Kat is reacting to in the first panel. Something Eglamore said?
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Post by Raph on Feb 29, 2012 8:34:47 GMT
Remember he used to be (is?) Anthony's one friend in the Court... Even though it'd be interesting to see Tom handling it, I wouldn't like something too personal or intimate.
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Post by TBeholder on Feb 29, 2012 9:01:07 GMT
So... I got this one right, she's wound up too hard. At least she isn't lighting stuff on fire (yet). Won't say it was easy, though. Also, I wonder what Kat is reacting to in the first panel. Something Eglamore said? Everything Eglamore said? Especially between remembering how Annie was "calm and not concerned" the first time and being well aware of what she can do now? And what Anja looks at, for that matter. Antimony's hands? Remember he used to be (is?) Anthony's one friend in the Court... Aye... P.S.: Oh, and the big guy in the middle of the third panel... it's Mr. Eglamore!
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Post by fillerb on Feb 29, 2012 9:05:32 GMT
Something I only noticed just now. The crack behind her head is gone. Magically self-repairing walls!
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notacat
Full Member
That's not me, that's my late cat Mimi: I'm not nearly so cute
Posts: 188
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Post by notacat on Feb 29, 2012 9:38:56 GMT
The beta-reader in me spots the change of tense between the first two panels, and wonders whether that's an error or something more complicated...
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Post by Tobu Ishi on Feb 29, 2012 9:46:34 GMT
Something I only noticed just now. The crack behind her head is gone. Magically self-repairing walls! Actually, I think the "crack" was supposed to be a metaphorical representation of Annie's emotional state, not an actual physical crack in the wall. She's putting on a calm, composed face, but inside, she's hurting badly. It was almost painful to look at that final frame on Monday. So upright, so stiff, so blank... The nail-marks in today's page just serve to confirm what's going on in her head, poor woobie. (My nails are only slightly grown out, but I've done that in moments of stress once or twice myself - it takes a long period of clenching, but it's quite possible.) Man. Annie has come so far and loosened up so much since the story began, but thanks to her idiot father, she's suddenly reverted to looking and behaving almost exactly like the emotionally repressed girl who first arrived at the Court, fresh from her mother's death. Darn you, Anthony Carver. Hopefully this is just a temporary backslide in Annie's growth into a healthier young woman.
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Post by foresterr on Feb 29, 2012 9:56:27 GMT
Duude... my hands are huuuuge in panel 7! OKOK sorry, perspective I know, but still first impression is "Annie's fist is the size of her head".
I like Donny here. He looks to me like the guy to be the friends with everyone, and then when his friends have a falling out for reasons only they get, he has one hell of a problem trying not to pick sides without antagonizing anybody at the same time. And maybe that's why they had to get out. So nobody can take sides... but Annie.
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Post by Alexandragon on Feb 29, 2012 11:13:09 GMT
How terrible... Poor Annie.
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Post by legion on Feb 29, 2012 11:58:25 GMT
I admire the effectiveness of Anya and Donny's non verbal communication.
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Post by Serenissima on Feb 29, 2012 12:34:40 GMT
Ouch. It looks like even she didn't realise how tense it had made her... and that it's more serious than I had first believed.
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Post by stormy on Feb 29, 2012 13:03:34 GMT
I am super-excited to see the quiet Donald have a one-on-one conversation with Annie. The prospect of seeing a little more into this character makes me happy.
One thing I love about Gunnerkrigg Court is that unlike many fantasy comics and books that focus on young characters, the supporting adult cast feels REAL. The story doesn't focus on them, but they feel like fully-developed personalities with lives of their own, who are busy going about their own business when you aren't looking.
Way too many fantasy authors writing about young adults simply use adult characters as props to advance the action. While I don't WANT Gunnerkrigg Court to be about the adults, I enjoy them and I'm glad they're around.
Donny and Anja are actually my two favorite characters in the strip. We don't see them often, but I love how real they seem. I love how they do their best to parent Kat while still allowing her the freedom of a boarding student. I like Donny's awkwardness, Anja's occasional sadnesses, and the fact that they've both made ethical mistakes serving the court. I like that they had adventures together as kids, and are still a team.
I like that they still have kissy-face time when their daughter isn't looking.
When Kat came back to school after the summer Annie spent in the forest, some people on the forum expressed surprise at how aware Kat was of her feelings, and how well she was articulating them. She seemed to act maturely for her age (no, not PERFECTLY. But I know adults who would do worse) , certainly more maturely than Annie.
People talked about why, but I thought the reason was obvious. Kat had talked to her mom. (Or possibly her dad, or both.) Kat definitely isn't a kid that tells her parents everything, but I'm sure over the course of the summer she had a few heart-to-hearts. The difference between Kat and Annie's responses in chapter 32 is the difference between a girl who has a loving adult to listen and advise, and a girl who doesn't.
Anyhow, I love Donny's body language here, it speaks so much. I can't wait to see what he's going to say.
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Post by stormy on Feb 29, 2012 13:16:15 GMT
Just one more thing -
Dude, Anja, you've been married to the guy for what? 15, 20 years? Can't you get him a pair of wireless frames or something? Sheesh.
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Post by Stately Buff-Cookie on Feb 29, 2012 13:36:49 GMT
I am fairly confident the only thing I was right about last thread is this:
The presence of Annie's dad is not healthy for Annie in the slightest. This could certainly change depending on how the man handles his comeback, but hot damn do things look bad now.
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notacat
Full Member
That's not me, that's my late cat Mimi: I'm not nearly so cute
Posts: 188
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Post by notacat on Feb 29, 2012 13:41:37 GMT
I am fairly confident the only thing I was right about last thread is this: The presence of Annie's dad is not healthy for Annie in the slightest. This could certainly change depending on how the man handles his comeback, but hot damn do things look bad now. I reiterate, we do not know what is going on, or anything about what was said in that telephone conversation. For all we know, Anthony is sick or injured, and Annie's reaction is that of worry for her remaining parent. I love how people are quick to rush to defend Annie, and I know they say that offence can be the best defence, but honestly...you know how Tom likes to wind us up until we fire off in entirely the wrong direction! Let's have some moderation until we know whether there's anything to be actually cross about, OK?
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Post by TBeholder on Feb 29, 2012 14:17:53 GMT
I admire the effectiveness of Anya and Donny's non verbal communication. They ARE "an old married couple". It may be verbal, by the way. We don't know what happened after the flasshback chapter, and if Anja's blinker is a gift from Donald... welllll... I am fairly confident the only thing I was right about last thread is this: The presence of Annie's dad is not healthy for Annie in the slightest. This could certainly change depending on how the man handles his comeback, but hot damn do things look bad now. In other words, his presence is bad because his absence is bad? Then the former has enough of loopback that it indeed cannot be wrong no matter the parameters. I reiterate, we do not know what is going on, or anything about what was said in that telephone conversation. [...] you know how Tom likes to wind us up until we fire off in entirely the wrong direction! I suspect he doesn't need to. Anything less straightforward than disneystuff would interact with a stampede exactly the same way.
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Post by atteSmythe on Feb 29, 2012 14:40:55 GMT
The beta-reader in me spots the change of tense between the first two panels, and wonders whether that's an error or something more complicated... No error, wonderfully handled IMO. It's the switch from Annie telling us what happened before that frame, to the rest of the chapter unfolding in real time. We shouldn't see her narrating again this chapter (unless Tom switches the tense again)
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Post by sunday on Feb 29, 2012 15:03:20 GMT
It must be a zillionth time when I say Tom is a genius. No, really, I even stopped eating for a minute to show the world my endless deference to this golden-handed man. Ah, no joking now. Just waiting for Annie to set something on fire (or somebody, I sincerely believe she deserves it after thirty-something chapters of blowing her head up)
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Post by Afalstein on Feb 29, 2012 15:08:31 GMT
Just thought of something, and this may have been brought up last thread.
Annie's narration, when we had it in the first couple chapters, was in the past tense "Unaware that I would not hear from my father for more than two years..." I believe Tom indicated on Formspring that Annie was narrating the events from some point in the future, and we'd have to wait to find out when exactly.
She's talking in the present tense now. And while this seems like an odd place for her to start narrating the events (who would she be telling them to?) I'm wondering if we're reaching the halfway point here.
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Post by wanderer on Feb 29, 2012 15:14:58 GMT
Ow. Hands. Pain.
It's clear this is a bigger deal to Annie than she's prepared to consciously admit.
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Post by basser on Feb 29, 2012 15:20:16 GMT
Just thought of something, and this may have been brought up last thread. Annie's narration, when we had it in the first couple chapters, was in the past tense "Unaware that I would not hear from my father for more than two years..." I believe Tom indicated on Formspring that Annie was narrating the events from some point in the future, and we'd have to wait to find out when exactly. She's talking in the present tense now. And while this seems like an odd place for her to start narrating the events (who would she be telling them to?) I'm wondering if we're reaching the halfway point here. Donny suggests she get a journal, and the rest of the chapter is her writing in it. Because this is Tom it's somehow made exciting.
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Rafael
Full Member
Cute and spunky
Posts: 202
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Post by Rafael on Feb 29, 2012 15:27:56 GMT
This chapter leaves me in no shape to discuss it.
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Post by disarticulatethis on Feb 29, 2012 15:30:21 GMT
Me too. These two pages and especially today's almost hurt. Seriously.
Phew.
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Post by nero on Feb 29, 2012 16:46:17 GMT
(This page made me thirsty.)
Anyway, I'm glad that Mr. Donlan is there to talk to Annie. I'm sure he'll be able to help her. It's too bad that Annie can't forget about her Dad and just get adopted by the Donlans.
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Post by Ulysses on Feb 29, 2012 17:09:41 GMT
Annie's obviously feeling this a lot more than she's letting on. She was even fooling herself, but she can't fool Donny. I hope he has something helpful to say so she can let it out.
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Post by Belrisa on Feb 29, 2012 17:36:33 GMT
I am going to go agaisnt the grain here...
I think this could be good for Annie. You have to face your demons. Her growth as a character wouldn't be complete without the chance to use her new skills (showing emotion, humor, asking for help) against her old foe (abandonment issues, isolation, growing up too soon).
It's not unlike the intrepid farmgirl using her new silver sword against the dragon that burned down her cottage in the first chapter. Without a second confrontation, the sword doesn't really mean anything.
We don't know how Annie will react. Just because her first reaction is to withdraw, doesn't mean she will stay like this. It just means she is struggling. If she is able to respond to this like New Annie instead of Old Annie, we will know that she has really transformed as a character.
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Post by sycasey on Feb 29, 2012 18:10:34 GMT
Just one more thing - Dude, Anja, you've been married to the guy for what? 15, 20 years? Can't you get him a pair of wireless frames or something? Sheesh. Hey, thick black frames are in these days. Donny is downright hip.
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