03/28/09 [DMFA #987] - Dark Buttface

[Pagan]

...  Perhaps the realization that she has managed to hurt and endanger people she actually admires and cares about will take her a tiny step towards maturity (but of course, this *is* Regina we're talking about).

Regina's thoughts? Hmmm... "But, all my clothes are here! What am I going to wear when we get to Unlce Aliph's castle!?"

Well... There goes the action sequence. So, will we stick with Kria, Lorenda, and Dan? Or will we follow Aliph and Regina for a moment? Oooh, or do we switch back to Abel, Jyrras, and Alexsi? Maybe we'll have a non-sequitor  scene change and see what Azlan is up to.

Never realized how hoof-y Aliph's legs are. And Aliph provides a nice little piece of beefcake, don't he?

[tiggertoo]

...  Perhaps the realization that she has managed to hurt and endanger people she actually admires and cares about will take her a tiny step towards maturity (but of course, this *is* Regina we're talking about).

Regina's thoughts? Hmmm... "But, all my clothes are here! What am I going to wear when we get to Unlce Aliph's castle!?"

True, with Regina, this may be much more likely -- that and she just remembered that she didn't get to eat her ice cream either.

[Shadowcatcher]

And one where a creature murdering twelve beings only results in a fine.

Which is a result because the trial is controlled by the same type of critter as the offender (Being or Creature).  Obviously, there is some sort of legal system that holds power over the citizens, otherwise they wouldn't bother with it even if the judge/jury is always biased in favor of the offender because of his/her/its species.

So a creature can get away with murder of beings.  And beings (adventurers) can get away with murder (slaying) of creatures.  Their peers protect them in court.  So what does that mean for an adventurer that becomes a creature, or turns out to be a creature?  It stands to reason that suddenly adventurers in that setup lose their "legal protection".   Does this mean that say, Dan goes off on an adventure, slays a Demon, and that Demon's family takes him to court.  In the past, Dan's judge/jury would have been beings, who would have been biased in his favor.  Now, since it turns out he's a creature, his judge/jury will also be a creature, and that bias vaporizes.

It looks like Dan's not going to be resurrecting his old career as an adventurer if he wants to stay out of legal trouble.  Or at least, try to avoid the provable-in-court hacky and slashy.

Final Thought, now that it can be proven that Dan's a creature now, can all the parties he's brought "harm" to during his adventuring days come back and demand a retrial?  Demand compensation?

Edit:

Regina's thoughts? Hmmm... "But, all my clothes are here! What am I going to wear when we get to Unlce Aliph's castle!?"

Clothes nothing.  What's she doing to do when she realizes she left her ice cream behind?

[Tapewolf]

In the past, Dan's judge/jury would have been beings, who would have been biased in his favor.  Now, since it turns out he's a creature, his judge/jury will also be a creature, and that bias vaporizes.

It looks like Dan's not going to be resurrecting his old career as an adventurer if he wants to stay out of legal trouble.  Or at least, try to avoid the provable-in-court hacky and slashy.

Actually, his judge would be a 'Cubi.  Dan seems to thrive on justice, so his behaviour would likely make perfect sense to such a person.  If he went around killing other 'Cubi, then he'd have a problem but he swore not to do that.  I wonder if this kind of culpability is why Dee made him take that oath...?

Final Thought, now that it can be proven that Dan's a creature now, can all the parties he's brought "harm" to during his adventuring days come back and demand a retrial?  Demand compensation?

Interesting.  It could be argued that he believed himself a Being at the time.

Clothes nothing.  What's she doing to do when she realizes she left her ice cream behind?

Indeed, all Devin's poking was in vain...

[Shadowcatcher]

Actually, his judge would be a 'Cubi.  Dan seems to thrive on justice, so his behaviour would likely make perfect sense to such a person.  If he went around killing other 'Cubi, then he'd have a problem but he swore not to do that.  I wonder if this kind of culpability is why Dee made him take that oath...?

Maybe that's another angle of it.  I had thought she made him take that oath because she had enough foresight to consider the possibility that he could be an incubus (I think Jyrras needs to make a home test kit for that; find out if you're cubi in 5 minutes), and did not want to risk damaging relations or starting new hostilities with other cubi clans.  A clan doesn't need more enemies then it already has, and considering some of Cyra's enemies (dragons) I'd make that a pretty high priority for all clan members.

[Arroyo Milori]

ahahahahahahahah~

I didn't see that coming. Also, I bet Regina is happy to take away her from Kria...unless she's pulled into doing the same chores she was previously doing for Kria but now for DP.

I wonder how Dan will break the news to Bigg's that he couldn't defeat DP and stop him from escaping.

[Tyranastrasz]

btw. Did those red markings on DP face change? I looked around a bit and to me it seems they have been different each time he's been around. Often just slightly, which could be Amber just doing it a bit different each time, but there are several times where difference is more noticeable. Possibility it changes each time he is resurrected, which would be somewhat nice detail?

He's Rorschach!

ahahahahahahahah~

I didn't see that coming. Also, I bet Regina is happy to take away her from Kria...unless she's pulled into doing the same chores she was previously doing for Kria but now for DP.

I wonder how Dan will break the news to Bigg's that he couldn't defeat DP and stop him from escaping.

I get the feeling Dan won't be seeing Biggs until DP is dead and cremated...

[GabrielsThoughts]

the lighting in the panel with DP and Regina sees odd to me... and it's not really all that funny... I mean I admire the effort that went into it . However, I just find this strip as enjoyable as some of the others, but it's not at its best. I'll stop talking now.   

[Tapewolf]

the lighting in the panel with DP and Regina sees odd to me...

The lighting is fine... They're just translucent, being caught halfway through teleportation.

[kazzellin]

btw. Did those red markings on DP face change? I looked around a bit and to me it seems they have been different each time he's been around. Often just slightly, which could be Amber just doing it a bit different each time, but there are several times where difference is more noticeable. Possibility it changes each time he is resurrected, which would be somewhat nice detail?

Actually, looks like the markings are a bit longer. He's missing one of the spikes on his forehead, though. He's got two in comic 153 (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_153.php) and only one in the current comic (aside from the one on his nose). Maybe he lost one in the last fight? Or this one, since those red marks would hide the blood. 

Meanwhile, to paraphrase Barf in Spaceballs, "Nice fade out."

[icarus]

that *does* lend itself to questions. how would one represent the lighting effects of someone who is only *partially* transluscent? does the shading fade, is there shading at all? how does shading translate from a more solid portion of the flesh to a further faded version?

this is going to hurt my art-brain thinking about.

also:

Actually, looks like the markings are a bit longer. He's missing one of the spikes on his forehead, though. He's got two in comic 153 (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_153.php) and only one in the current comic (aside from the one on his nose). Maybe he lost one in the last fight? Or this one, since those red marks would hide the blood. 

his spikes are add-ons. make-up to look spookier. says so in his bio. so likely, he didn't put them all in.

[Corgatha Taldorthar]

baddies always have a few rat-holes, so we can expect DP to have some sort of backup base while he goes off to recruit cannon fodder. ONe wonders how seriously Dan is going to press this, once he gets healed.

[kazzellin]

Actually, looks like the markings are a bit longer. He's missing one of the spikes on his forehead, though. He's got two in comic 153 (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_153.php) and only one in the current comic (aside from the one on his nose). Maybe he lost one in the last fight? Or this one, since those red marks would hide the blood. 

his spikes are add-ons. make-up to look spookier. says so in his bio. so likely, he didn't put them all in.

Yes, but I was under the impression that they were add-ons as in, plastic surgery, not add-ons as in, temporary tattoo. I mean, how would one add a nose spike to make it last through whatever you were doing, including a fight? That would have to be some very strong glue, and I don't wanna think on how much skin you'd remove trying to take the sucker off.

[Jairus]

Actually, looks like the markings are a bit longer. He's missing one of the spikes on his forehead, though. He's got two in comic 153 (http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_153.php) and only one in the current comic (aside from the one on his nose). Maybe he lost one in the last fight? Or this one, since those red marks would hide the blood. 

his spikes are add-ons. make-up to look spookier. says so in his bio. so likely, he didn't put them all in.

Yes, but I was under the impression that they were add-ons as in, plastic surgery, not add-ons as in, temporary tattoo. I mean, how would one add a nose spike to make it last through whatever you were doing, including a fight? That would have to be some very strong glue, and I don't wanna think on how much skin you'd remove trying to take the sucker off.

Magic, obviously. Or a trade secret among demons.

[Lucheek]

I guess Aliph likes Regina....

also, Aliph has digitigrade legs, while Kria has plantigrade. I wonder if it's just a random genetic thing (like red-hair or whatever)

[Angel]

Angel's reaction: "LOL Buttface!"

Anyways. So, they will meet again, as always. And I personally hope Dan enlists some help and gets an adventuring party going. Maybe dear Mommy would be willing to help now that her baby's got the clan-mark.

[inuhanyo]

Re: DP spikes

The second one is just in front of his hair, and the same color.  It's there, you are just misinterpreting it as hair.

Regina probably gave Aliph a hurried briefing of the situation right after his resurrection, so he knows Regina can't stay.

Well, now she gets a chance to learn Evil Plots 101. 

Dan has reason enough, when he gets healed and back to lost lake, to gather his friends and hold a council of war.  Or at least a briefing.  Lorinda has questions, and everone who was involved in the encounter with Regina six years ago needs to be brought up on recent developments.

Exposition opportunity!

[Foxfire]

Some talks of the judicial system here, but everything that I've seen talked about in the comic, especially that fashion oddly enough lead me to think there is no overbearing law system there. Looks like most of the world is city states or at best smaller areas or rule. Which is one of the reason that a lot of people can go from one area cause a lot of trouble then be just fine in another area. Not a continental area of authority. Hence, Aniz killing people in the demon majority city but being in Cubi majority or ruled territory they were not in fact going to turn him over.

And yes, this one was lol worthy... but-face. >D

[Shadowcatcher]

I guess Aliph likes Regina....

Well, Regina Is family, after all.  None of Amber's characters are shallow and adhere strictly to the typical stereotypes.  DP has his objectives (resurrecting this dead god of his), but that doesn't mean that's the only thing that's important to him.

What I think is interesting from this story arc is, despite the hatred Dan and DBF has for eachother, there's a lot of traits they have in common together (stubbornness, bigotry, stubbornness again...)  It makes me wonder what DP's origin is, how did he become the demon that he is today.  Might he once have walked a path similar to Dan's when he was his age, and made choices that took him down a different path?  Will Dan have to make these same choices as he comes to terms with his cubi heritage?  Just how many adventurers turned cubi stay adventurers?  What do they do with their suddenly elongated natural (or unnatural if they get a craving for soul food) lifespans?  Do many of them eventually get sick of it all, and give into the temptation of going evil?

[Tapewolf]

Well, Regina Is family, after all.  None of Amber's characters are shallow and adhere strictly to the typical stereotypes.  DP has his objectives (resurrecting this dead god of his), but that doesn't mean that's the only thing that's important to him.

If the god died, doesn't that mean it was too weak to bother with? 

Will Dan have to make these same choices as he comes to terms with his cubi heritage?  Just how many adventurers turned cubi stay adventurers?  What do they do with their suddenly elongated natural (or unnatural if they get a craving for soul food) lifespans?  Do many of them eventually get sick of it all, and give into the temptation of going evil?

Who knows?  Abel seems to be a reasonable sort, though all told he's still comparatively young.  What he'd be like at 2000 is anybody's guess.

[Lisky]

well, if this dark god did in fact die, then wouldn't that make it more like a norse god, than your more expected omni-potent immortal?

i though he was trying to summon the dark god... not resurrect... but i could be wrong on that...

[Jairus]

Well, Regina Is family, after all.  None of Amber's characters are shallow and adhere strictly to the typical stereotypes.  DP has his objectives (resurrecting this dead god of his), but that doesn't mean that's the only thing that's important to him.

If the god died, doesn't that mean it was too weak to bother with? 

As a new-born fan of the God of War series, I will point out that Kratos - then-current God of War - died in God of War II, and just came back more badass and awesome than ever. And more violent, but this is God of War we're talking about. A god dying doesn't necessarily make them any less awesome: it just proves the kind of enemies they made.

Besides, maybe a Fae killed/got rid of the Dark God. In that case, it's not the god's fault.

[jeffh4]

Heh.

Makes me wonder what Amber and her brother's coversations sounded like in their early teens.

[Michael Chandra]

Dan has reason enough, when he gets healed and back to lost lake, to gather his friends and hold a council of war.  Or at least a briefing.  Lorinda has questions, and everone who was involved in the encounter with Regina six years ago needs to be brought up on recent developments.

Exposition opportunity!

... "And that is why I'll be gone from Lost Lake for a while, to kill both Regina and Dark Pegasus. Any questions?"
"You are so not going after the gal that nearly killed me all by yourself, Dan! I got dibs on that one!"

Is what I'd imagine Wildy to comment.

[M]

Re: DP spikes

The second one is just in front of his hair, and the same color.  It's there, you are just misinterpreting it as hair.

I think the issue people are having with DP's spikes is that there use to be two spikes that matched his hair color, not just the one you noted.

[Tapewolf]

i though he was trying to summon the dark god... not resurrect... but i could be wrong on that...

Strip 151.  "In order to resurrect the Dark God..."

[Lowde]

Hehe... calling others buttface is apparently a demon thing

[inuhanyo]

Re: DP spikes

The second one is just in front of his hair, and the same color.  It's there, you are just misinterpreting it as hair.

I think the issue people are having with DP's spikes is that there use to be two spikes that matched his hair color, not just the one you noted.

Ah, the way Amber is drawing him now. that third spike is actually in his hair, and is not always visible

[Arroyo Milori]

btw. Did those red markings on DP face change? I looked around a bit and to me it seems they have been different each time he's been around. Often just slightly, which could be Amber just doing it a bit different each time, but there are several times where difference is more noticeable. Possibility it changes each time he is resurrected, which would be somewhat nice detail?

ahahahahahahahah~

I didn't see that coming. Also, I bet Regina is happy to take away her from Kria...unless she's pulled into doing the same chores she was previously doing for Kria but now for DP.

I wonder how Dan will break the news to Bigg's that he couldn't defeat DP and stop him from escaping.

I get the feeling Dan won't be seeing Biggs until DP is dead and cremated...

He probably has to, it's not like Dan knows where DP will fade away to.

[Dwarg91]

Heh.

Makes me wonder what Amber and her brother's coversations sounded like in their early teens.

Good question