|
|
Post by edzepp on Apr 10, 2015 7:19:06 GMT
"Are you here?"
Good question, Kat. I'm not entirely sure at the moment.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chancellor on Apr 10, 2015 7:21:43 GMT
"Are you here?" Good question, Kat. I'm not entirely sure at the moment. I'm sure she's just trying to save her father the INCONVENIENCE of arranging a proper lobotomy. AnUpliftedCuttlefishThis is not the major-character-growth representing haircut we were hoping for, man! |
|
|
|
Post by The Anarch on Apr 10, 2015 7:22:17 GMT
While I certainly am not on board for the likely reasoning behind it, I do personally like Annie's haircut. Of course, I just like short hair in most cases.
But definitely not a fan of it happening this way.
|
|
|
|
Post by foresterr on Apr 10, 2015 7:24:24 GMT
Okay, I'm getting legitimately creeped out right now. She looks like she got inducted into a cult. She looks like an orphanage kid. Guess her parent is back. |
|
|
|
Post by OrzBrain on Apr 10, 2015 7:25:49 GMT
I'm sure she's just trying to save her father the INCONVENIENCE of arranging a proper lobotomy. Oh, man. Now that I think about it that's not sounding all that far fetched. I wonder if Carver has the expertise to do lobotomies personally? Lets get the old ice picks sharpened up! |
|
quark
Full Member
Posts: 137
|
Post by quark on Apr 10, 2015 7:26:43 GMT
Going from this, she has given her father no resistance whatsoever. Renard may have transferred hands already, in a binding way. This is horrifying. I didn't even think of that (I still hoped it was just 'agreeing to do it' and not 'transferring ownership RIGHT NOW'). Hell. There goes all hope for Annie resisting at all. Kat and Renard and Robot and Shadow and Donald and Anja and Eglamore and Jones and Smitty and Parley have to do something right now, like, now, please? |
|
brokshi
Full Member
About as furious as my icon appears ecstatic.
Posts: 108
|
Post by brokshi on Apr 10, 2015 7:27:01 GMT
Her mannerisms have changed. She looks timid, and like she's either cried a lot or is incredibly exhausted. I can only hope for the latter.
Antimony is shattered.
|
|
|
|
Post by noone3 on Apr 10, 2015 7:30:02 GMT
I wonder how long will it take Kat to understand that Annie was covertly stepforddaughtered into a robot.  |
|
|
|
Post by psybershadow on Apr 10, 2015 7:31:38 GMT
My heart sinks for every update of this we get without break.
|
|
madragoran
Full Member
"If he trully does hurt you, I will rend the flesh from his bones on your word"
Posts: 232
|
Post by madragoran on Apr 10, 2015 7:32:44 GMT
Annie do not drink the cool Aid. I am beyond furious right now. He actually went to the "I will make decisions about your body" bit. Tom this is getting very heavy. Seriously man. And she is going along with this cause she loves her daddy? Or in the hopes her daddy will love her? This is carbon copy of the definition of an abusive relationship.
Grrrrr!
|
|
quark
Full Member
Posts: 137
|
Post by quark on Apr 10, 2015 7:35:07 GMT
I wonder how Annie will interact - she retreated behind a mask, but it isn't the cold, stoic one she had before. She's a lot more vulnerable right now - I think she'll apologise (again), and then tell Kat that everything's all right and it'll probably be good for her to get brainwashed by her dad for a while and you know she can still visit like once a month
|
|
|
|
Post by OrzBrain on Apr 10, 2015 7:37:16 GMT
I wonder how Annie will interact - she retreated behind a mask, but it isn't the cold, stoic one she had before. She's a lot more vulnerable right now - I think she'll apologise (again), and then tell Kat that everything's all right and it'll probably be good for her to get brainwashed by her dad for a while and you know she can still visit like once a month Once a month? Wellll... maybe if she's really good. Otherwise, once a year. Oddly enough, it seems to me the perfect person to deal with Anthony and/or council Annie at this moment might be Ysengrin. Do you think Kat could somehow arrange for him to stop by? |
|
|
|
Post by itrogash on Apr 10, 2015 7:37:20 GMT
This is what looks like a media trope called the Traumatic Haircut. This is Anthony’s final act of control. He has completely taken over her life symbolically by cutting off Annie’s hair. He owns her now.
I know I usually assume the worst possible outcomes, but... well, I can't imagine any other explanation.
Tony went full Victorian Dad way here.
Good luck with trying to edit it for Alternative Universe thread!
|
|
|
|
Post by aline on Apr 10, 2015 7:37:28 GMT
She looks like the little girl she was in good hope. For a moment I thought she'd lost several years. It took me several seconds to realize she wasn't really younger, just dressed like she used to.
I hope now we can all finally drop the entire "child raising methods" discussion, and start discussing what the hell is going on there. Because it is very strange. It can't be all about Surma's death or getting a wild teenager in line.
Plotting is ongoing. We just don't know which plot. We don't even know for sure whose plot. There might be someone else we don't know about pulling strings... not necessarily the headmaster.
|
|
karl
New Member
Posts: 40 
|
Post by karl on Apr 10, 2015 7:38:39 GMT
I was expecting a lot of things, but this... I did not expect this. Edit: Also, is it just me or is she quite pale and definitely not-well looking? I think it is just the lack of her normal make up and the severe hairstyle change, she doesn't look like the Annie we know.   Maybe. Probably. Hopefully. I would investigate further but that would require looking at that page again and that would make me think of the implications and I'm not ready for that yet. She did have extra lines under her eyes. |
|
|
|
Post by philman on Apr 10, 2015 7:39:14 GMT
I know that this chapter is meant to make us angry and upset, but damn Tom, you're good at this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Aegis J. Hyena on Apr 10, 2015 7:40:04 GMT
Kat, you need to go get Coyote. NOW. Or at least Ysengrin. Or ANYONE from the forest. Although I'm not sure Anthony cares about the consequences of his actions, or even if he knows (does he know) she's the Forest Medium.
Hell, go get even Zimmy, even though she's afraid of you, so to speak. Even Jones might be able to say or do SOMETHING.
This is terrifying. I saw how much Annie looked like she did in the early chapters, and went OH HELL NAW at how she looks now. The only way it could have been worse is if Tom adopted her original appearance when he was just starting the comic out.
I'm expecting one of two things to happen. Either Annie's (and Rey!) fully under Anthony's control, or Annie is going along with it until the last possible moment before flipping him off (as a rebellious teen would) and she bolts into the forest and Coyote's protection.
-Masterful- storytelling, Tom. You genuinely make me afraid for Annie's safety.
|
|
|
|
Post by psybershadow on Apr 10, 2015 7:41:26 GMT
She looks like the little girl she was in good hope. For a moment I thought she'd lost several years. It took me several seconds to realize she wasn't really younger, just dressed like she used to. I hope now we can all finally drop the entire "child raising methods" discussion, and start discussing what the hell is going on there. Because it is very strange. It can't be all about Surma's death or getting a wild teenager in line. Plotting is ongoing. We just don't know which plot. We don't even know for sure whose plot. There might be someone else we don't know about pulling strings... not necessarily the headmaster. It's gotten to the point for me that he is either a terrible father, a terrible person, and/or trying to protect Annie. Either way he's a total dick and I want to see what Reynard, Ysengrin, or Coyote would do to him given the chance. |
|
Anthony
Full Member
No, not THAT guy.
Posts: 112
|
Post by Anthony on Apr 10, 2015 7:43:39 GMT
OK, I admit. This man is crazy.
|
|
|
|
Post by psybershadow on Apr 10, 2015 7:43:38 GMT
I know that this chapter is meant to make us angry and upset, but damn Tom, you're good at this. For sure. Carver is out of control. I wouldn't be surprised if part of Annie's wild nature comes from Anthony given is it even possible that he's NOT doing this with the court's consent? Is that possible. But yeah, props to Tom for making me dislike Carver so much. |
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Apr 10, 2015 7:45:00 GMT
"Oh, the hair thing? Not to worry, Kat, I've just got this big dial in back that winds it in and back out." === Gosh, this must be that Debil Tony's work, because no girl ever in history cut her hair in response to an emotional crisis. Anthony may have ordered it, which I admit will make me hate him just a little. That does seem extreme, and unrelated to the reason why he did everything else. It's arbitrary and demeaning. But I'm neither going to condemn nor defend him, or Annie, for that matter, until I know who made the decision here. Also, excellent call on AnUpliftedCuttlefish's part. |
|
|
|
Post by Chancellor on Apr 10, 2015 7:48:20 GMT
Unless the next page reveals she looks like that because Anthony has suddenly changed his mind and is determined to re-enact Annie's childhood and be a more loving, involved father and that he's being so sincere that Annie can't bear to rebuff his enthusiasm--one of those Anthony Carver is a bag of dicks bars is starting to look mighty attractive.
|
|
|
|
Post by youwiththeface on Apr 10, 2015 7:53:02 GMT
"Oh, the hair thing? Not to worry, Kat, I've just got this big dial in back that winds it in and back out." === Gosh, this must be that Debil Tony's work, because no girl ever in history cut her hair in response to an emotional crisis. Anthony may have ordered it, which I admit will make me hate him just a little. That does seem extreme, and unrelated to the reason why he did everything else. It's arbitrary and demeaning. But I'm neither going to condemn nor defend him, or Annie, for that matter, until I know who made the decision here. Also, excellent call on AnUpliftedCuttlefish's part. It would be an absurdly big coincidence if after being shown to acquiesce to everything her father wanted she went out and just decided to get her hair cut like it was back when she lived at the hospital with her mom and dad for no related reason. |
|
jocobo
Junior Member
Posts: 78
|
Post by jocobo on Apr 10, 2015 7:54:58 GMT
Sigh. I think I'm starting to be affected by emotional burnout. I get it, this chapter is supposed to be emotionally charged, every story has its bright points and it's dark points etc, etc. But this has essentially be almost an entire month's worth of blow after blow. Frankly, it's starting to lose a degree of efficacy because it's been so constant.
I mean this page SHOULD incite me to something be it anger or sadness, as it is a confirmation of my suspicions that what is under assault here isn't just Annie's bad streaks but rather her entire identity. (Mind you there is still room that it COULD have been Annie's decision but given that she has not asserted herself or made an independent decision for herself since the beginning of the chapter, I doubt it.) But I think I've become numb at this point.
That said, I am still very eager to see the outside reactions to this. Particularly from the Donlans, Coyote, Eglamore and Reynardine.
|
|
|
|
Post by zbeeblebrox on Apr 10, 2015 7:57:38 GMT
What is going ONNNNNNNNNN
This just went from a really bad situation to friggin' Twilight Zone territory. Did Anthony demand this insane makeover as well? IS there a cult involved? Is she just regressing in the face of a childhood stressor coming back into her life? Is Kat actually in fact dreaming and Annie becoming her pre-Gunnerkrigg self is the symbolic extreme-outcome of her fears about Anthony's effect on Annie...and also she knew about her cheating all along somehow? I don't know!
Sometimes, I watch movies or read a novel and I think "Oh I'm really clever I can predict the ending to this story and haha it turns out I'm right! Smug smug smug". Then I read a Gunnerkrigg page like this, and all that confidence comes crashing down in the face of the giant question mark that is what's going to happen next. George RR Martin, David Lynch, Brandon Sanderson...and Tom Siddell. Those are the assholes who outwit me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Apr 10, 2015 8:05:20 GMT
Hey, Donlan? Go over and hug that girl right this minute. No matter what, she needs it. She may even be worried that you are angry with her for using you to cheat.
Silly, I know, but I've seen kids your age think worse things at times like this.
|
|
quark
Full Member
Posts: 137
|
Post by quark on Apr 10, 2015 8:07:46 GMT
I don't think it's a dream. Tom usually marks dream/etheric sequences or flashbacks pretty clear. I was also just thinking about Annie's haircut, since that just seems pointlessly cruel, and while Anthony's very cruel, he usually backs it up with some reasoning.
Annie's hair has always been important in the ether - it frames the panels, it's longer and weirder and sometimes on fire when she looks through her blinker stone. She also didn't cut it since she went to the forest, so it may be connected to her powers.
|
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Apr 10, 2015 8:08:49 GMT
It would be an absurdly big coincidence if after being shown to acquiesce to everything her father wanted she went out and just decided to get her hair cut like it was back when she lived at the hospital with her mom and dad for no related reason. It would be a coincidence if it just happened. But I've known too many girls, women even, to cut their hair in situations like this. We don't know, though. I'm waiting for Monday to find out what this all means. Granted she looks more than a little shell-shocked, though. She really does need that hug. |
|
|
|
Post by aquamafia on Apr 10, 2015 8:11:04 GMT
This is so freaking messed up.
This one of the most traumatizing things a person could do to their daughter imo. Anthony is cutting off any individuality Annie gained over the years-both in her personal clothing style (which she has steadily been developing-especially with more forest influence recently) and in her hair, which she's been growing out for ages (not to mention the connection it represents with the aether.) Considering how much Annie has been attentive to her hair recently (braiding it, torching it for dramatic effect etc.) I doubt that haircut was her idea.
People might consider this an overreaction, but forcing one's daughter to cut off their hair is a common form of abuse I've grown up hearing about in my culture. It is completely repugnant and an utter violation of a child's autonomy. This is just another act in Anthony exerting control over Annie. All of his actions point towards him not seeing Annie as her own person-just an extension of him or Surma. Good god, I bet she'd be rolling in her grave if she saw how her husband was treating their daughter. She'd never want this for Annie.
|
|
|
|
Post by geminisun on Apr 10, 2015 8:13:35 GMT
Well I am just creeped right the heck out.
This is, in a way, almost worse for me than the previous scene of Anthony being directly emotionally abusive on-panel, exactly because it's less direct. We don't know from this page whether Annie herself decided on this haircut and change of wardrobe, or whether her father ordered it - and I'm not sure which I would find more distressing. Whether this is Tony exerting yet more inappropriate control over the teenage daughter he abandoned for years, or whether it's Annie subconsciously reverting herself to the look she had the last time her father was part of her life... either way, this is a potent bit of visual storytelling that really underlines how much Anthony has just kneecapped Annie's development and maturation.
|
|
