i’m not quite sure how i feel about this ‘sudden reveal’
(can you imagine me saying something like that, when it has been how long since this comic’s come out?)
or maybe i could be more upfront, by remarking i might be disappointed that the C.o.D. wasn’t more “dramatic”
but isn’t there so much, already, for us-all to continue wondering about?
*skritch skritch*
we still have sulla’s ‘future’ story to ingest; how did B&A’s relationship fare, up to Al’s death; might Al preserve Bren-Bren upon bren’s own death, or shall Al or Brendan elect to pull each others’ plugs ‘when the time seems “right”‘?; shall Blue decide to WHAM us one more time, with some other plot twist?
in thinking about it, that’s also freaky ….. first the ‘skritch’ thing, then my speculating on al’s death on the comic page right before alastair himself asks about it — though taxes likely wouldn’t be an “exertion”
My heart may have shattered. Because Brendan originally though Al had done that to himself. That something so horrible had happened between them that Al would want to take his life and IT HURTS.
Their expressions really are beautiful. I can’t wait to see what else you’re going to throw at us.
I don’t usually comment much on webcomics that I’m reading (I’m that silent lurker that you know is there from the page views, but who never actually pipes up to say anything — sorry!) but I decided maybe I should.
You mentioned that Brendan’s expressions were really hard for you on this page, and I just want to say that I think you did an amazing job. I’m always impressed when an artist can convey such nuanced emotion through such simple expressions — like the sort of bitter humor and self-recrimination on Brendan’s face in panel six. Maybe that’s not exactly what you were going for, but that’s how I read it and it blends so perfectly with his words. Seriously, kudos.
Also, I just have to say that I’m really impressed with this comic overall. I love the difficult themes you’ve got running throughout, about being true to yourself in terms of sexuality and self-expression, and how hard that can be at times. The way we’re sort of unraveling the past and present at the same time is also really interesting. And I love this world you’ve set them in, how it seems simultaneously so futuristic, but still completely relateable, largely because of how realistic and normal (even with all their variance in identity and expression) the main characters are.
I just reread the whole thing a couple of days ago and was struck again by how much I love this story. I know this must take a huge amount of time and effort, but your passion for the project is also easy to see. So thanks!
Oh, my – Brendan’s expressions were very difficult for me to look at too, which means you did a wonderful job. That contained bead of a tear in the last panel… beautifully done, again. And I love the previous page very much too, the poignancy of that little boy and his radio who both is and isn’t Sulla. You’re a wonderful storyteller, Blue.
Thank you so much for using an auto-immune disorder and not one of the more ‘visible’ diseases. Auto-immunes are every bit as real as the ‘big’ diseases, and because they are so unknown, they can be even more fatal. The way Alastair died is scary close to how I almost died the first time. We later found out if we had waited one day later, I wouldn’t have made it. One day.
It is entirely possible that today’s comic will save a life or two in the future.
Thanks again, and for everyone out there with an AI, you are not alone.
I agree wholeheartedly on everything you said, except I have to ask one thing:
First time? How many times have you died now, and what should we know about what happens afterwards?
I do sympathise on it all though and hop you are much better off now. I have a debilitating illness of my own, which I am having a bad day with (And taking serious pain meds to cope with, hence rambly and maybe a little offensive. >.>) and know how hard it is to take even my more visible symptoms seriously, let alone something more hidden.
We estimate I’ve come close to death four or five times by now. Most of the time we realized this through hindsight. When I was sick, everyone was too busy keeping me alive and it was only afterwards that we looked back and said, “Craaaaaaaaaaap!”
I have been *extremely* lucky in my life. When I first became sick, 99% of all diagnoses were done during the autopsy. It’s now 23 years later, and I’m sill here. Aren’t modern meds amazing.
Oh, and I have no idea what happens after we die. And I don’t care. *This* world is what’s important.
It is possible to experience dying, at least partway, and live to tell about it. A friend of mine was DOA at the hospital from anaphylactic shock, but they were able to revive her. She experienced floating up and looking down at her physical body. When she felt herself coming back, she was at first really angry because it hurt like hell!
Wow, I just found this comic yesterday and read straight through. The emotion in the storytelling is stunning, and the art is spot-on. This is going straight to my RSS feed, it’s like christmas every time I see a new article ;)
I am just surprised that Al doesn’t even know how he died. Why didn’t he take any medication .. Or at least a regular check up. It is really sad when u die without knowing why or how .. So suddenly like that.
That’s typical of auto-immunes. Symptoms are so general that it’s only after the initial crisis is survived and every other possibility is crossed off the list that the diagnosis is made.
Hmm. Until this page I was sure that Al commited suicide. I am sure that was Blue’s plan all along to the make reader think that…
But I stay suspicious…
i’m not quite sure how i feel about this ‘sudden reveal’
(can you imagine me saying something like that, when it has been how long since this comic’s come out?)
or maybe i could be more upfront, by remarking i might be disappointed that the C.o.D. wasn’t more “dramatic”
but isn’t there so much, already, for us-all to continue wondering about?
*skritch skritch*
we still have sulla’s ‘future’ story to ingest; how did B&A’s relationship fare, up to Al’s death; might Al preserve Bren-Bren upon bren’s own death, or shall Al or Brendan elect to pull each others’ plugs ‘when the time seems “right”‘?; shall Blue decide to WHAM us one more time, with some other plot twist?
hmmm…
(p.s. — it’s okay to cry, big guy)
in thinking about it, that’s also freaky ….. first the ‘skritch’ thing, then my speculating on al’s death on the comic page right before alastair himself asks about it — though taxes likely wouldn’t be an “exertion”
With the note on the pillow way back at the beginning of the story, I suspect Brendan got into a serious argument with Al before it happened.
i need you to be my second set of eyes, okay?
;-)
i’m torn between my desire to be surprised, and my desire to not be kept in suspense
that’s a pretty delicate line to toe.
if not outright paradoxical.
for, whom am i to tell another’s story?
why do my predictions and forecasts have to be accurate, E.O.?
My heart may have shattered. Because Brendan originally though Al had done that to himself. That something so horrible had happened between them that Al would want to take his life and IT HURTS.
Their expressions really are beautiful. I can’t wait to see what else you’re going to throw at us.
Interesting way to die. There seemed to be no way to stopping Al’s death. That’s one reason what makes Al’s death so sad.
I don’t usually comment much on webcomics that I’m reading (I’m that silent lurker that you know is there from the page views, but who never actually pipes up to say anything — sorry!) but I decided maybe I should.
You mentioned that Brendan’s expressions were really hard for you on this page, and I just want to say that I think you did an amazing job. I’m always impressed when an artist can convey such nuanced emotion through such simple expressions — like the sort of bitter humor and self-recrimination on Brendan’s face in panel six. Maybe that’s not exactly what you were going for, but that’s how I read it and it blends so perfectly with his words. Seriously, kudos.
Also, I just have to say that I’m really impressed with this comic overall. I love the difficult themes you’ve got running throughout, about being true to yourself in terms of sexuality and self-expression, and how hard that can be at times. The way we’re sort of unraveling the past and present at the same time is also really interesting. And I love this world you’ve set them in, how it seems simultaneously so futuristic, but still completely relateable, largely because of how realistic and normal (even with all their variance in identity and expression) the main characters are.
I just reread the whole thing a couple of days ago and was struck again by how much I love this story. I know this must take a huge amount of time and effort, but your passion for the project is also easy to see. So thanks!
Spot on, Blue.
oh noooooooo :(((
Oh, my – Brendan’s expressions were very difficult for me to look at too, which means you did a wonderful job. That contained bead of a tear in the last panel… beautifully done, again. And I love the previous page very much too, the poignancy of that little boy and his radio who both is and isn’t Sulla. You’re a wonderful storyteller, Blue.
God, this page is incredible, with the minimal use of colour and the speech bubbles in just the right places!!
Thank you so much for using an auto-immune disorder and not one of the more ‘visible’ diseases. Auto-immunes are every bit as real as the ‘big’ diseases, and because they are so unknown, they can be even more fatal. The way Alastair died is scary close to how I almost died the first time. We later found out if we had waited one day later, I wouldn’t have made it. One day.
It is entirely possible that today’s comic will save a life or two in the future.
Thanks again, and for everyone out there with an AI, you are not alone.
I agree wholeheartedly on everything you said, except I have to ask one thing:
First time? How many times have you died now, and what should we know about what happens afterwards?
I do sympathise on it all though and hop you are much better off now. I have a debilitating illness of my own, which I am having a bad day with (And taking serious pain meds to cope with, hence rambly and maybe a little offensive. >.>) and know how hard it is to take even my more visible symptoms seriously, let alone something more hidden.
We estimate I’ve come close to death four or five times by now. Most of the time we realized this through hindsight. When I was sick, everyone was too busy keeping me alive and it was only afterwards that we looked back and said, “Craaaaaaaaaaap!”
I have been *extremely* lucky in my life. When I first became sick, 99% of all diagnoses were done during the autopsy. It’s now 23 years later, and I’m sill here. Aren’t modern meds amazing.
Oh, and I have no idea what happens after we die. And I don’t care. *This* world is what’s important.
It is possible to experience dying, at least partway, and live to tell about it. A friend of mine was DOA at the hospital from anaphylactic shock, but they were able to revive her. She experienced floating up and looking down at her physical body. When she felt herself coming back, she was at first really angry because it hurt like hell!
B-but…THE EXPRESSIONS ARE PERFECT. I refuse to think you had difficulty. You will always be a perfect god(dess) in my eyes.
is that a tear in Brendan’s eye in the last panel ?
oh god I think there’s a tear in my eye now :'(
Al, don’t say a word. Just hold the man, and let him get it all out, where it needs to be.
And yes, I’m crying like a baby. You want to comment on that? Go ahead.
Eli.
Wow, I just found this comic yesterday and read straight through. The emotion in the storytelling is stunning, and the art is spot-on. This is going straight to my RSS feed, it’s like christmas every time I see a new article ;)
I am just surprised that Al doesn’t even know how he died. Why didn’t he take any medication .. Or at least a regular check up. It is really sad when u die without knowing why or how .. So suddenly like that.
That’s typical of auto-immunes. Symptoms are so general that it’s only after the initial crisis is survived and every other possibility is crossed off the list that the diagnosis is made.
Huh. Just read through this all in one sitting. I like it.
How often does it update?
Hmm. Until this page I was sure that Al commited suicide. I am sure that was Blue’s plan all along to the make reader think that…
But I stay suspicious…
I actually cried, in class, while people stared. This page was so heart-shattering! Love it though!
I KNEW IT.
No suicide, just mortal illness.