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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 16:11:58 GMT
Oh man, things have been going so good for Annie and her friends in Volume 5. She settled in as the Forest medium, Pazkat happened, Mort's story was super sad but ultimately optimistic. Now, I think, comes the downward slope of the emotional rollercoaster that is Gunnerkrigg Court. So many heavy things to be addressad: Annie and Tony's relationship, Tony's past with Surma, Tony and Eglamore's conflict, Annies homework problems (I'm not looking forward to this particular plotpoint), there's still some more Jeanne-plot we have to get through. Aaaah, my head is full of GC-thoughts again! That hasn't happened in a while. Give me the drama, draaamaaaa! On that note: I wonder what Mr. No-Nonsense McScience is going to say once he finds out his daughter is medium to the forest. I feel like he's going to ask her to stop, or rather command her. And since she's basically conditioned to reply to his every request with "Yes, father" and no back talk, she's going to have a hard time with that. WELL, Mr. No-Nonsense McScience! If you didn't want your daughter to make her own decisions, you shouldn't have left her on her own for over two years!Ugh, that last part really bugs me as well, and I just KNOW something like that is going to happen and it's going to be painful. Whether he means to or not, he's probably going to crush whatever spirit she has. |
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Post by Kitty Hamilton on Mar 16, 2015 16:12:31 GMT
I had to join just to express my extreme hatred for Anthony Carver.
Just. So. Much. Hate.
There's no excuse for his behavior whatsoever. Disappearing, basically abandoning Annie was bad enough, but showing up like that... He didn't even bother trying to contact Annie when he arrived.
And his comment about her make-up? Awful in so many ways. The very first thing he says to his daughter have having not seen her in so long, and it's an insult. Wouldn't be surprised if other students had makeup and he singled her out intentionally. Not to mention that insulting a student by calling her cosmetics 'ridiculous' is just plain rude. Doubt there's any practical reason behind it, either.
I'm sure there's some kind of explanation behind is behavior...but it is going to have to be a damn good one.
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 16:13:46 GMT
Oh man, things have been going so good for Annie and her friends in Volume 5. She settled in as the Forest medium, Pazkat happened, Mort's story was super sad but ultimately optimistic. Now, I think, comes the downward slope of the emotional rollercoaster that is Gunnerkrigg Court. So many heavy things to be addressad: Annie and Tony's relationship, Tony's past with Surma, Tony and Eglamore's conflict, Annies homework problems (I'm not looking forward to this particular plotpoint), there's still some more Jeanne-plot we have to get through. Aaaah, my head is full of GC-thoughts again! That hasn't happened in a while. Give me the drama, draaamaaaa! On that note: I wonder what Mr. No-Nonsense McScience is going to say once he finds out his daughter is medium to the forest. I feel like he's going to ask her to stop, or rather command her. And since she's basically conditioned to reply to his every request with "Yes, father" and no back talk, she's going to have a hard time with that. WELL, Mr. No-Nonsense McScience! If you didn't want your daughter to make her own decisions, you shouldn't have left her on her own for over two years!Ugh, that really bugs me as well, and I just KNOW something like that is going to happen and it's going to be painful. Whether he means to or not, he's probably going to crush whatever spirit she has. No he's not. That would make a pretty bad turn in the story line, considering that Annie is the heroine of this story. And his comment about her make-up? Awful in so many ways. The very first thing he says to his daughter have having not seen her in so long, and it's an insult. Wouldn't be surprised if other students had makeup and he singled her out intentionally. Not to mention that insulting a student by calling her cosmetics 'ridiculous' is just plain rude. Doubt there's any practical reason behind it, either. I'm sure there's some kind of explanation behind is behavior...but it is going to have to be a damn good one. My thoughts too. But there must be an explanation, for f's sake. There just cannot not be a one. This is just so damn strange behaviour from anybody. |
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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 16:14:51 GMT
For a while. I never said it would be permanent.  Just long enough for some angst. |
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 16:16:51 GMT
For a while. I never said it would be permanent. Just long enough for some angst. Oh man, why did you delete it? It was a beautiful piece of double-posting, a rare variant of talking with yourself. |
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Post by fish on Mar 16, 2015 16:20:52 GMT
Ugh, I had to sign up because this is bothering me so much, and I don't know if I'm just going crazy or what, but everything about this guy's design is screaming at me that it's not Anthony... but I also realise it's pretty unlikely that Annie would recognise him as her father if he wasn't and the story doesn't seem to be going in that direction, but ugh. His eyes have changed shape, the guy has grown a square chin out of nowhere, his nose ridge is considerably more noticable and his nose is less round... I'd mention him looking haggard as hell/the scar and all that, but that might make sense given his absence/research over the years. Ugh. THIS GUY. I can see him acting this way, though. He's acting like a colossal douchecanoe right now, and his singling Annie out despite the other girls (probably) wearing makeup might have something to do with the fact it's the same stuff Surma used to wear. Still can't get over how he looks though, am I the only one getting skeeved out by how little he looks like flashback Anthony? Hmm...  I guess I can see what you mean. Doesn't really bother me though. :/ |
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Post by fish on Mar 16, 2015 16:25:36 GMT
Ugh, that really bugs me as well, and I just KNOW something like that is going to happen and it's going to be painful. Whether he means to or not, he's probably going to crush whatever spirit she has. No he's not. That would make a pretty bad turn in the story line, considering that Annie is the heroine of this story. I agree, but Annie's struggle to overcome his hold on her and to become her own person might be an interesting developement. Though I have no idea where Tom will take this story. *starts biting on nails* |
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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 16:27:10 GMT
For a while. I never said it would be permanent. Just long enough for some angst. Oh man, why did you delete it? It was a beautiful piece of double-posting, a rare variant of talking with yourself. Heh. Anyway, it just doesn't sit right with me that there is even the slightest possibility that Anthony thinks he can leave her on her own for two or so years and then come back and treat her exactly like the quiet obedient little girl she used to be. Also, art styles can change, and Tom's isn't always totally consistent, excellent as it is. |
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 16:29:20 GMT
Ugh, I had to sign up because this is bothering me so much, and I don't know if I'm just going crazy or what, but everything about this guy's design is screaming at me that it's not Anthony... but I also realise it's pretty unlikely that Annie would recognise him as her father if he wasn't and the story doesn't seem to be going in that direction, but ugh. His eyes have changed shape, the guy has grown a square chin out of nowhere, his nose ridge is considerably more noticable and his nose is less round... I'd mention him looking haggard as hell/the scar and all that, but that might make sense given his absence/research over the years. Ugh. THIS GUY. I can see him acting this way, though. He's acting like a colossal douchecanoe right now, and his singling Annie out despite the other girls (probably) wearing makeup might have something to do with the fact it's the same stuff Surma used to wear. Still can't get over how he looks though, am I the only one getting skeeved out by how little he looks like flashback Anthony? Hmm...  I guess I can see what you mean. Doesn't really bother me though. :/ I agree with you two. He looks very different. He basically just wears a doctor's jacket and wants to be called "Mr. Carver", and that makes him Anthony? Look at this: www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=813Completely different. Also, art styles can change, and Tom's isn't always totally consistent, excellent as it is. There's a fair chance we'll just have to accept this. |
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Post by edzepp on Mar 16, 2015 16:31:54 GMT
Evolving art styles, years of hard living, getting punched in the bonce.
But mostly art style changes.
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Garbage
New Member
ANTHONY CARVER DEFENSE FORCE, 1ST LIEUTENANT OF THE SUPPORT DIVISION
Posts: 29 
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Post by Garbage on Mar 16, 2015 16:47:35 GMT
I feel like I may be to wistful, but my highest hopes at the moment are that come the end of the class, Tony holds Annie back and to her surprise, he kneels down to hold her tight and apologises (likely in a flat tone, it's still Tony after all) and that the makeup thing was simply that either as many have said he couldn't handle her appearance to Surma, and/or he knew it would be an uphill struggle to earn affections of a class of people who know him as the distant abandoning father (like the fandom!), and thus took the easier route of earning their dislike and to save the truth for privacy with her. Cause I'd imagine that'd be the sort of logic Tony would use.
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Jota
Junior Member
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Post by Jota on Mar 16, 2015 16:49:02 GMT
I've got a theory, which is probably wrong, but it's my theory, so I'm going to go with it until it's disproven tomorrow: Annie's makeup has been speculated to be protection against something. What if it protects her against her father? Or at least, against whatever kind of stuff he's been researching all this time? Consider the chapter in which Zimmy saw the bone spines coming out of Annie: she wasn't wearing her makeup at the time (see the end of that chapter). Perhaps that's why Anthony was able to do that to her in the first place? If this is the case, then there's presumably no note in the bathroom. Having Annie take off her makeup is the whole point of this exercise, in order to intentionally open her up to... something. I'm not sure what yet. It may simply be that he wants to be able to secretly psychically contact her to explain why he has to act like such a jerk. Or it may be that he wants to use her as a sacrifice to the dark ones in order to give him the power to take over the Earth. Or possibly both! I'm withholding my judgment on that part at this point. |
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Post by Lightice on Mar 16, 2015 16:59:28 GMT
I wonder what Mr. No-Nonsense McScience is going to say once he finds out his daughter is medium to the forest. I feel like he's going to ask her to stop, or rather command her. And since she's basically conditioned to reply to his every request with "Yes, father" and no back talk, she's going to have a hard time with that. WELL, Mr. No-Nonsense McScience! If you didn't want your daughter to make her own decisions, you shouldn't have left her on her own for over two years!Ugh, that last part really bugs me as well, and I just KNOW something like that is going to happen and it's going to be painful. Whether he means to or not, he's probably going to crush whatever spirit she has. I kind of doubt that, actually. That would require for Anthony to actually take his role as a father seriously, and we all know what his track record on that front has been like. At best of times he was an aloof and distant father figure, and as soon as the safety network represented by his wife vanished, he couldn't handle the pressure of parenthood for another second. I really doubt that he'd try to start controlling Annie's life, since it would mean that he'd have to be a part of it, and he's made it amply clear that it's not something that he's capable of. I think it's more likely that Annie will try to make a some sort of parent-child connection with him, only to be brushed off. I think that the best thing that could happen with both of them would be that Anthony would admit and acknowledge his inability to be a father to Antimony, and have them both move on without trying to force them to pretend either that the other doesn't exist or that they'd be able to work out as a conventional family. Unfortunately they're both inclined towards denial and passive-aggressive behaviour, instead. |
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Post by Deepbluediver on Mar 16, 2015 16:59:55 GMT
I remember the last time I was thinking the forum was jumping to fast to some weird conclusions... Oh wait, that was on the last update. And the update before that. And basically every update ever, hahaha! I'm also often part of the conclusion-jumping, it's just the way of this forum, I guess... BUT, thinking "Anthony is a jerk" is authorial intent in this case. I, too, wanted to strangle this man, not just after this page, on Friday as well! Even though I'm actually on the "Tony is NOT evil" train. I'm just asking for a little patience- Anthony "Tony" Carver might well end up being a loathsome human being who deserves to be kicked in the head and turned into a dung beetle. I'm hoping that's not the case, because if for no other reason it would leave Annie figuratively orphaned, and I hate to see people not getting along with their parents. I'm just saying I foresee a couple of possible paths here, including at least one that involves reconciliation and redemption. After all, it's not like other characters haven't done foolish, selfish, short-sighted, or downright evil things, and most of the forum doesn't seem to howl for blood when they show up. |
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Post by elcheeso on Mar 16, 2015 17:00:45 GMT
Yeah, it might just be an art style change... but it still bothers me, I don't think I've seen any character change so much without the excuse of puberty (I mean, I can't see teenage Eglamore in adult Eglamore at all, but I always thought adult Eglamore stayed relatively recognisable/consistent as Eglamore by comparison). It's like he's some sort of horrible looking duplicate and no one is reacting to it. I mean, granted, we're only 2 pages in and the characters haven't really had a chance to react to it, but it does make me uncomfortable like it's some sort of weird twilight zone thing, haha. That's my damage, though, I do agree that this guy probably is Anthony and it's just a combination of the things edzepp mentions. I don't think I've had as strong a reaction to anything in the comic since PazKat!
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Post by eightyfour on Mar 16, 2015 17:12:05 GMT
Evolving art styles, years of hard living, getting punched in the bonce. But mostly art style changes. Exactly that. I'm just gonna remind people of the forum frenzy that ensued after this page.  Edit: For those that weren't here back then: The style changes on that page led many readers to doubt whether that's really Eglamore, even after Tom himself confirmed it's him. This is where the "it's Eglamore" running gag comes from. |
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Post by KMar on Mar 16, 2015 17:16:43 GMT
Evolving art styles, years of hard living, getting punched in the bonce. But mostly art style changes. Exactly that. I'm just gonna remind people of the forum frenzy that ensued after this page. I was too going ot point out the ever-changing face of James Eglamore. |
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Post by zimmyzims on Mar 16, 2015 17:22:48 GMT
Ugh, that last part really bugs me as well, and I just KNOW something like that is going to happen and it's going to be painful. Whether he means to or not, he's probably going to crush whatever spirit she has. I kind of doubt that, actually. That would require for Anthony to actually take his role as a father seriously, and we all know what his track record on that front has been like. At best of times he was an aloof and distant father figure, and as soon as the safety network represented by his wife vanished, he couldn't handle the pressure of parenthood for another second. I really doubt that he'd try to start controlling Annie's life, since it would mean that he'd have to be a part of it, and he's made it amply clear that it's not something that he's capable of. I think it's more likely that Annie will try to make a some sort of parent-child connection with him, only to be brushed off. I think that the best thing that could happen with both of them would be that Anthony would admit and acknowledge his inability to be a father to Antimony, and have them both move on without trying to force them to pretend either that the other doesn't exist or that they'd be able to work out as a conventional family. Unfortunately they're both inclined towards denial and passive-aggressive behaviour, instead. To be more precise, we don't know at all how seriously he is taking the parenting. We know he has intervened with Antimony twice since leaving her to school that he for good reasons thought is the best place for her. There are quite exceptional circumstances here: Annie is a half-demon bound to die after giving birth, and Anthony is... we don't really know yet what he is. That's the case, it has been the case so far and continues to be the case still. However, on a completely different note, wearing this Anthony Userbar is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. |
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Post by Aurelia Verity on Mar 16, 2015 17:36:13 GMT
Back in High School I totally would do that. As Annie walks away just get up and leave with her and if the teachers says "Where do you think you're going?" "Terribly sorry sir, I too, was unaware of the policy and am wearing make-up" In my old school guys would have to leave too, now that i think about it  If he is real and this is not some dream or whatever, why is he here? Is this the court's doing? Going from the Headmaster's reaction they were not happy about Annie becoming a medium? did they bring him here somehow to try to control her? did he come here to try to control her? because it won't really work. she's committed now, it's her job. back when she was doing her medium lessons it may be possible to forbid them but now? Coyote would pitch a fit if his favorite red head was gone and the GC doesn't want that. In terms of other adults not telling Annie there are two possible explanations: a) they've not told her stuff before. for her own good ostensibly or more likely because they felt awkward broaching the subject, but they never told her she was a fire elemental or the cause of her mother's death. b) more likely in my opinion though, they didn't know themselves and will be just as surprised as Annie. Court doesn't tell it's employees everything. they don't tell them most of their decisions or their explanations for them. when Headmaster chose Smitty over Annie as the medium no one knew about it. this may be a similar thing. Whoever this guy is and whatever reason he has for coming here my strongest suspicion is the Court is responsible for it. Though the really only positive thing about this chapter so far is; the entire class seems to be really on Annie's side. Even if they don't follow her out. She's no longer the odd one out. Even though not all probably know the extent of her troubles with her father they seem to be pretty appalled. Winsbury is downright fuming, which is quite a turn around from his first comic appearance. |
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Mar 16, 2015 17:39:47 GMT
Welcome to the forums elcheeso, Kitty Hamilton, vakri, and any other new people I've left out! It would be so cool if Winsbury stood up for her... We haven't seen Kat's reaction yet, and she seems far more likely to actually stand up and yell at a teacher for Annie. If Dr./Mr. Carver beats down on Antimony in class I think that it's likely that Donlan and Winsbury would both object in class... though disrupting class like that might give Donlan hives, as she's a good student even if Antimony is her main babe. Not that this is a problem for the Jan-Willie ship, it's just that Winsbury has been made into more of a good and proactive character in payment for his earlier role as a bully-foil in the comic. If you like Tony- could you explain why? I'm still withholding judgement on Anthony Carver for reasons mentioned by Deepbluediver and others about his lack of appearance in the comic except in flashbacks and photos, the possibility that other things we don't know about may actually be placing him and/or Antimony in danger, and the apparent lack of clear-cut bad guys in the comic. My suspicion is that he's a Bad Dad and (though this may cost Anthony basser's love) he's probably the whiniest character in the comic, he's just doing his whining on the inside and acting the way he does where other characters might vocalize. I wonder what Mr. No-Nonsense McScience is going to say once he finds out his daughter is medium to the forest. I feel like he's going to ask her to stop, or rather command her. And since she's basically conditioned to reply to his every request with "Yes, father" and no back talk, she's going to have a hard time with that. WELL, Mr. No-Nonsense McScience! If you didn't want your daughter to make her own decisions, you shouldn't have left her on her own for over two years!He knows. If there is a reason in the comic why Anthony Carver is back NOW instead of months ago or a year from now (with nobody who'd give Antimony advance warning notified) it's to rein in his daughter. There may be another reason we don't know about but that's probably a reason. If you like Tony- could you explain why? He's the one character in this whole debacle who's evidently looked at the etheric nonsense around him and gone "no, that's bullshit" and chosen to do something about it. Everyone else just rolls over and lets the universe do what it will to them. Tony doesn't care if forces beyond human comprehension are at work killing his wife and child, he's damn well gonna make this junk work out in his favor. Kat is nearly as good about this but I feel Tony's gone the extra mile in straight up forcing the magic voodoo to work for him. I'm not sure that's fair to the rest of the Court. We don't see it in the comic much but there are probably a lot of people who are willing to do what it takes (such as experimenting on animals and Zimmys) to reel in all the etheric madness in the GC universe. Some of them likely have personal reasons for doing so that would rival Anthony's. The Headmaster is probably one of these since he is the highest-raking person in the "control Antimony" clique we've seen; maybe we'll meet others... possibly as a surprise sandbagging on something the kids are planning someday. |
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Post by Aurelia Verity on Mar 16, 2015 17:40:42 GMT
Also, Make-up really is not allowed in practical chemistry classes (as well as contact lenses and certain types of clothing)
I wonder if there is a logical real world reason for biology, not related to Anthony being terrible
Formaldehyde gets trapped in it during dissections?
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Post by Max on Mar 16, 2015 17:45:08 GMT
Hopefully this didn't get mentioned earlier, but Side note: now that it is confirmed this is Anthony Carver AND that he's being all Captain Proper Forms of Address, it definitely seems odd that he wrote his name on the board as Mr Carver and not Dr Carver. I don't know if they ever stated what his branch of medicine was, but in the UK, male surgeons are generally styled as Mister. And Annie's Science Fair proposal does indicate some interest in surgical tools. |
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Post by imaginaryfriend on Mar 16, 2015 17:46:25 GMT
Also: The notions that Anthony wants Antimony to get rid of her makeup for classroom discipline and/or because it reminds him of Surma and the possibility that the makeup has magical protective attributes are not mutually exclusive. He could want her cosmetics-free and still not have plans to fire another bonelaser volley (or whatever) in the immediate future.
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Jota
Junior Member
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Post by Jota on Mar 16, 2015 17:52:24 GMT
I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but if Anthony's been in deep cover for several years, that would seem to suggest that probably hasn't been actively practicing medicine professionally. Wouldn't his medical license probably lapse in that situation? And would an unlicensed physician still style himself as "Dr."?
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Shire
Junior Member
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Post by Shire on Mar 16, 2015 18:09:03 GMT
Anthony "Tony" Carver might well end up being a loathsome human being who deserves to be kicked in the head and turned into a dung beetle. I'm hoping that's not the case, because if for no other reason it would leave Annie figuratively orphaned, and I hate to see people not getting along with their parents. Hey, don't worry about it; Annie's still got Reynardine and Ysengrin! Dog parents are the best parents! |
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Post by TBeholder on Mar 16, 2015 18:17:38 GMT
Annie leaves for the bathroom, accompanied by Margo and other girls wearing makeup, who either try to comfort Annie or riddle her with questions about her father. (This one is unlikely though, he adressed Annie alone with his cosmetics-remark) Conversely, if they really want to troll that guy make a point, the best way would be for one to raise a hand and request a cosmetics removal leave... then another... one by one... as formally, slowly and verbosely as possible. I doubt about Margo, but Janet is obviously capable of devising something like this and remaining absolutely deadpan through the whole exercise. The sad thing is, Tony may be too far down his personal rabbit hole to get any signal, even if the hint was so clear that anyone else in his place would consider repeatedly banging the head against the chalkboard. And his comment about her make-up? Awful in so many ways. It's not awful. It's... terrible! I think that the best thing that could happen with both of them would be that Anthony would admit and acknowledge his inability to be a father to Antimony, and have them both move on without trying to force them to pretend either that the other doesn't exist or that they'd be able to work out as a conventional family. He kind of already did exactly this. By sending her to GC and disappearing. |
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Post by fish on Mar 16, 2015 18:17:49 GMT
To be more precise, we don't know at all how seriously he is taking the parenting. We know he has intervened with Antimony twice since leaving her to school that he for good reasons thought is the best place for her. [...] Objection! It was Surma's wish that Annie continue her education at Gunnerkrigg Court. For all we know Anthony might have been against it. But I agree, we have not seen any evidence that he is not taking his role as a parent seriously. Never! I am sticking with my Anthony- and Zimmingham-userbars until the bitter end, since I enjoy those storylines the most! |
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Post by Eversist on Mar 16, 2015 18:18:01 GMT
I'm going to read through the thread, but wanted to bring this up before I forget while reading everyone else's reactions (and I recognize that someone else may have already come to this conclusion):
I wonder if at least part of the reason he's asking her to take it off is because it makes her look more like Surma (as it is Surma's makeup choice). Hmmm...
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Post by mordekai on Mar 16, 2015 18:20:11 GMT
Tony, my man, never go full Gendo. My thoughts, exactly, he's Gendou Ikari, only in this case, Shinji Ikari and Rei Anayami are the same person (Annie isn't a clone of her mother, but she has her lifeforce, and looks close enough to her that most people mistake her for her mom...). How come antisocial assholes like Gendou and Anthony Carver get the most popular, beautiful and smart girl in the class? That said Antimony's mom had a darker side of her own, so maybe their love was a mutual attraction between assholes... Anyways, that guy is asking to be eaten by furry wood demigods, disenboweled by sword-wielding robots, prematurely being taken away by psicopomps or turned into a giant caterpillar by Coyote...Antimony is going to spend a few chapters protecting his life from her own friends. Mmmm...I suspect this could be the drop that makes the bucket overflow and push Annie to side with Coyote against the Court. |
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Post by fish on Mar 16, 2015 18:35:10 GMT
Oh yeah, also: People keep saying the scar on his lip is from Zimmy punching him in 'Divine'. But since I'm still not convinced she actually tele-punched him through the aether, or that he was actually shooting bone lasers at Annie, I believe that scar and/or the scar on his nose (if that is actually a scar) came from a bloody fist fight with James in the past. Aah, I really hope so. A flashback like that would be glorious!
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Just long enough for some angst. 
