|
|
Post by zbeeblebrox on Aug 25, 2015 2:07:36 GMT
Ugh, something happened to get him up and going again. After the entertainment the creatures tossed him out on his ass? That's cold. Hey. They got their bonetenna out of him, and some fabulous Fun Times watching him fail, but it's Closing Time. Out the mystical door you go! Actually...maybe they didn't get the bonetenna. Maybe it's still attached to Anthony - invisible until activated. And there Tony is, walking around with a powerful weapon he doesn't know he still has, which can only be manipulated by those who can control the ether, and the forest just a bridge away. |
|
|
|
Post by TBeholder on Aug 25, 2015 4:26:18 GMT
I am going with the theory that Tony is rescued by Coyote because he resembles the Man in the Desert who "created" Coyote. And in process annoyed out of Anthony whatever frayed remnants of sanity he still had. Now everything makes sense. It's so sad and frustrating that Tony thinks him rotting in the desert is better for Annie than him...being alive and there for her. ...but then he had doubts about it, got angry at himself again and decided to prove that he was right? Okay, probably not, but this becomes a meme. If he doesn't see himself as a father to Annie, then what does he see himself as now? Yup. 2 - He thinks he deserves to be hated so he's giving her reasons to hate him. In an ass backwards way this is more self flagellation. May well be. Some people are obnoxious like this. Or as Istredd put it, "next time, witcher, if you choose to commit suicide, do not get others involved in your affairs. Just hang yourself on reins in the stables." What could possibly go wrong with this? Maxim 14: "Mad Science" means never stopping to ask "what's the worst thing that could happen?" This part seems to be invariant in his personality, yes. We may conclude that the process of preparing proper mad scientists met at least partial success in his generation. Should also mention he didn't have stitches for busted lip/won't have plastic surgery to correct injuries for face for same reasons. I don't agree with your analysis, but this point may give us a glimpse at his motivations, especially if we also take into account his... "feng shui". Anthony doesn't try to fix these injuries any better because it's not necessary - as in, right now he doesn't try to act as a surgeon, so he may as well go around with a mannequin hand. Beyond the basics, he doesn't care about anything anymore. |
|
|
|
Post by darththulhu on Aug 25, 2015 8:05:00 GMT
1) Reynardine tried to kill her He's since regretted trying to and has paid his penance since. What penance? He was already serving two consecutive life sentences for murdering Daniel and murdering Sivo. Continuing to remain indefinitely imprisoned isn't any new penance for him. And regretting the death of Daniel certainly didn't prevent Reynardine from being willing to give it all another go less than a decade later. Who knows how he'll feel by graduation? The fabled river-crossing Scorpion could not help being the fabled back-stabbing Scorpion, and Coyote famously claims to have absolutely no self-control over his nature and his resulting behavior. Exactly why is Reynardine more trustworthy over the roll of decades? "Are you ready to believe that this leopard has now truly changed his spots, Mr. Carver?" asks the Court representative. "And are you willing to stake your daughter's life on that?". Nor was he of sound mind before that point. Nor is he of sound mind now. "Your daughter is back to routinely hanging around with the mentally-unstable Wolf God that's already snapped and tried to slaughter her once. Would you like to change that state of affairs, Mr. Carver?" Only twice as a Court Medium trainee, the first one of which Jones said endangered many others, and the second one of which put her own life directly at stake. Now, as a full-time Forest Medium, you are correct that her constant future sallying to Coyote's side is an expected duty that he can henceforth call in on any whim at all. "Given her present employer's personality and centuries of documented behavior, Mr. Carver, are you sure you wish for your daughter to indefinitely remain employed by him?" Within a week or two of the end of Divine, the Court has some very loaded arguments to make to Tony. Arguments which have the cold fact of horrific accuracy behind them, which they can slant as heavily as they wish. |
|
|
|
Post by antiyonder on Aug 25, 2015 8:14:47 GMT
He's since regretted trying to and has paid his penance since. What penance? He was already serving two consecutive life sentences for murdering Daniel and murdering Sivo. Continuing to remain indefinitely imprisoned isn't any new penance for him. And regretting the death of Daniel certainly didn't prevent Reynardine from being willing to give it all another go less than a decade later. Who knows how he'll feel by graduation? The fabled river-crossing Scorpion could not help being the fabled back-stabbing Scorpion, and Coyote famously claims to have absolutely no self-control over his nature and his resulting behavior. Exactly why is Reynardine more trustworthy over the roll of decades? "Are you ready to believe that this leopard has now truly changed his spots, Mr. Carver?" asks the Court representative. "And are you willing to stake your daughter's life on that?". Wasn't the point of Chapter 43: Quicksilver (http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=1204) suppose to be Reynard trying to turn away from that path? "Who knows how he'll feel by graduation?" Pretty sure the murdering didn't happen until The Court decided to try and control him. Almost like antagonizing someone is guaranteed to make them into what you fear. Just saying that breaking into say a zoo cage to taunt/bother a lion? I'm more inclined to let natural selection take it's course. Regardless, I'd say until Coyote tries to go against his nature or atone for his wrong doing that the comparison isn't a full proof one. |
|
|
|
Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 25, 2015 9:22:10 GMT
I don't agree with your analysis, but this point may give us a glimpse at his motivations, especially if we also take into account his... "feng shui". Anthony doesn't try to fix these injuries any better because it's not necessary - as in, right now he doesn't try to act as a surgeon, so he may as well go around with a mannequin hand. Beyond the basics, he doesn't care about anything anymore. Rather posh brooding chair when a wooden milking stool would do if he thought comfort irrelevant. But maybe that was a gift or it came with the flat so let's tally the injuries and see what we've got. Missing arm, below-standard prosthetic: Maybe Anthony was in some country where this was the standard and he hasn't had a chance to upgrade. Sort of odd that he got fitted at all if he was in a big rush to get back, though. He could have gone with a more realistic fake that was also more functional if he'd made that a priority, which it was not. He could have gone for a non-realistic prosthetic that would have much more functionality, as someone else has already observed. Also not a priority. Busted lip: No big deal, maybe at worst the dead nerve endings and gap are a minor nuisance if you drink too fast. You can pretend your razor is a roller-coaster car when you shave and show off the scar to your mates with a grin. Broken septum: Now here's the tricky one. Even if Anthony is breathing okay while he's awake a busted schnozz can cause sleep apnea and pocket dust particles causing irritation and more problems down the road, if not straight can cause vascular problems. Even if he isn't an ear-nose-throat specialist he now lives these problems and is well aware of what needs doing. Also interesting are the problems mild apnea sleep dep has on the marginally sane though as that is not his specialty he probably doesn't know about it... yet. Every one of these things affects his day to day life in significant ways. Sleeping, personal productivity, really, what isn't worse off that it could be? What isn't giving him a little reminder of his sacrifice every few minutes? But above all he's a medical professional and this is just the opposite of professional. All of this together suggests someone reveling in/showing off their damaged state (see previous post). Am tempted to theorize how masochistic he is but my mental images violate forum etiquette. Good thing he didn't die in the wilderness, he'd probably come back and I'm not sure I could handle the glittering. |
|
|
|
Post by TBeholder on Aug 25, 2015 9:34:53 GMT
Anyone feels sorry for old good Donald? His part of their little talk is looming closer and closer. He will have to somehow explain things to his crazy old friend, and he's not Black Hat Guy to enjoy this. Every one of these things affects his day to day life in significant ways. Sleeping, personal productivity, really, what isn't worse off that it could be? If he doesn't care about perfection or performance much, it's still "good enough"... What isn't giving him a little reminder of his sacrifice every few minutes? Hmm, he may want this. Reminders, that is. |
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Aug 25, 2015 11:43:51 GMT
The Court watches everyone constantly. ... Alarms are nice and all, but allowing kiddos access to just wander onto it is a conscious design choice. I'm always reminded of these two pages when it comes to the Court. There's the dystocreepy spying and experimentation which makes the whole system flawed to begin with, and the collection of people part which means good people are trying to make the system better from the inside. If it acted on the surveillance, that would be creepy and oppressive indeed. The Court is composed of and deals with entities, only some of them human, having extraordinary abilities. Of course it collects as much information as it can on their activities, out of sheer self defense, as well as just trying to understand what the heck is going on. But of course it rarely intervenes--it can't know enough to decide, moment to moment, what is best. And, when it comes to the older, stranger kids, like Annie and Zimmy/Gamma, it needs to let them experience the direct result of their actions. Think of it as evolution in action. People as powerful as Annie and Z/G must learn good judgment by first hand experience. No outside punishment would do. === As to Anthony: It's pretty clear that self-loathing and guilt have poisoned Anthony's mind and soul, but as others have suggested, I now think that his treatment of Annie is a direct expression of what he understands the Court's will to be. Her Father died out there, and the current version of Anthony cannot have Annie attach herself to him. It would be, in his mind, as inappropriate as letting her develop a filial affection for Jonathan, the headmaster, because he now represents the Court's interest, not his own. I believe he's wrong in this, but that's what I think he's currently acting on. |
|
|
|
Post by imaginaryfriend on Aug 25, 2015 13:11:13 GMT
Anyone feels sorry for old good Donald? His part of their little talk is looming closer and closer. He will have to somehow explain things to his crazy old friend, and he's not Black Hat Guy to enjoy this. Eh. I have very high expectations from DonDon because of Jack's conversation with Antimony in ch. 34. How improbable was that friendship save, considering what kids in Real Life act like at that age? |
|
|
|
Post by aline on Aug 25, 2015 13:37:47 GMT
What is she supposed to do with her anger and hurt now? How on earth can she tell this poor man, who utterly hates himself for accidentally harming her, "you also hurt me this way". How can she even compare HER sadness about her mother dying to HIS sadness about his wife dying? Why, he was completely alone and suffering so horribly, and here she was, snug and safe at school, daring to be mad that he's not there for her birthdays or holidays or when she's in the hospital, she's been so petty, she knew there was a good reason he was gone and -- I totallly get what you're describing here - in fact, I've seen it happen. But seen from another perspective, we have a girl who has already rejected her anger towards her father to the point of cutting it off herself. She not only thinks she's not allowed to be angry at him, she also wants to avoid feeling upset at all costs because the thought of looking vulnerale in front of him feels like the bottom of shame. Yet suddenly, not only is he the most vulnerable of the two, he is the one with the greater debt, the one who comitted the biggest mistakes. He is the one to be forgiven and not the one in a position to forgive. I might be wrong, but I think acknowledging all that will empower her to accept her anger and to deal with it in a sane way. Also, don't underestimate the value of feeling needed. Anthony really needs Annie very badly right now. Again though, I do think her knowing what he was really did and seeing him as human IS very important and a necessary step both for her and their relationship. I totally believe she can handle the rest with the right support. I'm just not sure where that support is going to come from. She's been in short supply since the beginning. Yep, but she's got real friends with the Donlans, people who love both her and her dad, and I think they can help a lot if she'll let them. Not to mean that any of this stuff will be easy. There's still the question of what she'll do with all that newly acquired knowledge. She can't just hug him and all will be fine... |
|
|
|
Post by hypixion on Aug 25, 2015 15:37:07 GMT
I wonder what those creature gained from this happening. also, volume 5 arrived today  |
|
|
|
Post by Jelly Jellybean on Aug 25, 2015 16:07:03 GMT
I wonder what those creature gained from this happening. also, volume 5 arrived today - They are just ethric jerks. - Payback for what Anthony did in the past (Ysengrin knows him by name for some reason). - They wanted to save the Fire Elemental from its human bondage. In my current opinion, this is the order of likelyhood and I don't think we're going to learn more about them in this chapter. Maybe there will be a call back in some distant chapter. |
|
|
|
Post by l33tninja on Aug 25, 2015 17:19:59 GMT
I wonder what those creature gained from this happening. also, volume 5 arrived today I think Coyote (who was featured in most of the Tony scenes) has a plan. What it could be, I don't know for certain, but he gained something from the encounter. Maybe it was just amusement, but somehow I think it is more than that. |
|
|
|
Post by pxc on Aug 25, 2015 17:34:17 GMT
I wonder what those creature gained from this happening. also, volume 5 arrived today - They are just ethric jerks. - Payback for what Anthony did in the past (Ysengrin knows him by name for some reason). - They wanted to save the Fire Elemental from its human bondage. In my current opinion, this is the order of likelyhood and I don't think we're going to learn more about them in this chapter. Maybe there will be a call back in some distant chapter. Not for nothing (what does that phrase even mean?) but evil trickster skeleswine looks an awful lot like skeletal desert coyote here and here. Though it's true the teeth and feet are different. But I agree, it will be a while until we learn more about them, if we ever do. |
|
|
|
Post by Per on Aug 25, 2015 17:52:16 GMT
I think "etheric jerks" sums it up pretty well. It's entirely possible some of the things in this crowd have been a jerk at some time or other. Edit: Actually the tongue thing in that comic is similar to the jerk behind Surma here. |
|
|
|
Post by KMar on Aug 25, 2015 18:17:33 GMT
I'm sorry if someone else has pointed this out before (I haven't been reading this threads very keenly this week), but it didn't hit me until this page. We've been reading a "fantasy adventure / mystery in boarding school setting" comic. Anthony lives in a Lovecraftian horror story.
Cheer up, Tony, you've just got the genre wrong! If it helps, you're not even the protagonist!
|
|
|
|
Post by sherni on Aug 25, 2015 19:56:30 GMT
The last two panels are so beautifully detailed. The absolute image of despair. I don't think I've ever felt so sorry for someone and simultaneously wanted to shake them. He's been through so much pain, both physical and emotional, and all of it by his own hand. And he could have avoided it all, and a large chunk of his grief, just by talking to his daughter! Honestly, as someone who has suffered from severe clinical depression, to the point of trying to kill myself more than once, I completely understand thinking your loved ones are better off without you. A couple of years ago I would have told you with complete sincerity that my family would be better off without me, they just didn't realize it. I was causing them so much pain, and I felt like I was the source of so many problems for them that I honestly thought they would be so much happier with me gone. They might be upset at fist, but they would see soon enough that it was for the best. Depression as this terrible way of making it so hard to see any other perspective than your own. It's an incredibly self-centered illness, not because the person suffering from it is meaning to be self-centered, but because you become pre-occupied with your pain and your failures, and you hate yourself for those things, then you hate yourself for being so pre-occupied with your own problems, which just feeds into the cycle. It's so hard to escape, especially when it's wrapped up in so much guilt. It's taken me years of almost daily therapy and a lot of a medication to get to the point where I think my family was right, and they are happier with me in their lives and life is worth living, and even now I still have days where I doubt those things. Basically, Tony really needs to go see a therapist. I've been there too. I suppose there just wasn't any room in his head for Annie at that point. He really believes that he's better off dead to her, to the point where he can't see how much he has, and still is, hurting her. And it's incredibly frustrating to look on from the outside. He need not have done this- any of this! What gets to me a bit is that as a medical man he should have recognised some of the signs. It's hard to do, especially when it's you, but it can be done... I hope the Court has therapists. Maybe Jones can help? At the very least, he needs to stop his behaviour towards Antimony. He needs to see that she is someone who loves and misses Surma too, and she needs him. Even if he thinks that she's better off without him, his thoughts don't matter here. Her's do. |
|
|
|
Post by warrl on Aug 25, 2015 21:29:14 GMT
Exactly why is Reynardine more trustworthy over the roll of decades? "Are you ready to believe that this leopard has now truly changed his spots, Mr. Carver?" asks the Court representative. "And are you willing to stake your daughter's life on that?". ... "Given her present employer's personality and centuries of documented behavior, Mr. Carver, are you sure you wish for your daughter to indefinitely remain employed by him?" If Mr. Carver had expressed the slightest hint of concern for Annie's safety while telling her to stop being the Forest Medium and to give Rey to him, you might have a point. But he didn't. Associating with the Forest isn't "dangerous", it's " nonsense". No justification at all was offered for demanding control of Rey, and even though it has been demonstrated that he doesn't have that control he doesn't act the least bit worried about a threat to himself or anyone else from being in the same room as Rey. No, there is zero reason to believe that Mr. Carver's actions were motivated by concern for Annie's safety. |
|
|
|
Post by Trillium on Aug 25, 2015 22:41:27 GMT
Well with tomorrow comes another page and we will find out where, "I wish my body had rotted away when the creatures left it in the wilderness... but..." is leading us. Possibly back the fire elemental in his daughter, this chapter is called 'Annie and the Fire'. It's got to come around to that eventually.
|
|
|
|
Post by todd on Aug 26, 2015 0:10:07 GMT
Well with tomorrow comes another page and we will find out where, "I wish my body had rotted away when the creatures left it in the wilderness... but..." is leading us. Possibly back the fire elemental in his daughter, this chapter is called 'Annie and the Fire'. It's got to come around to that eventually. The title might refer to the flashback to Annie separating the fire elemental part of herself at the start of the chapter. |
|
|
|
Post by Refugee on Aug 26, 2015 3:53:47 GMT
No, there is zero reason to believe that Mr. Carver's actions were motivated by concern for Annie's safety. Mr. Carver isn't Annie's Father anymore, by his own estimate. He is, I think, merely the Court's catspaw. Not that that's a good thing. |
|
|
|
Post by gunnerwf on Aug 26, 2015 5:45:10 GMT
No, there is zero reason to believe that Mr. Carver's actions were motivated by concern for Annie's safety. Mr. Carver isn't Annie's Father anymore, by his own estimate. He is, I think, merely the Court's catspaw. Not that that's a good thing. This kind of reminds me of Darth Vader. |
|
|
|
Post by csj on Aug 26, 2015 6:00:52 GMT
I love my new signature
|
|
