King of Swords 1-5
Chapter: 1
Grab the reins, you awesome puppeteer, you conductor of chains
Redeemer. Unbreakable strings. Damnation leashes
Remote cords extend, the trusses they run
They stretch all the way behind the sun.
-Meshuggah, “Behind the Sun”
Huh, I had my money on Gog-Agog stealing him.
She/They might, but Zaid was squarely purchased by Solomon from 0001. I suspect it might be a coming development.
Hey, Zaid! How does it feel to be relevant to the plot again, bro?
That’s presumptuous. He’s just appearing. He’s not relevant yet…
True enough.
I really didn’t even recognize Zaid…. huh
also man he really is bragging about his powers.
That’s not bragging. That’s just stating a fact. If you want to see him brag wait until he starts destroying suns.
Zaid seems pretty composed, all things considered.
Do we have any sense of how much time has passed? How long he’s had to adjust to his circumstances like Allison has?
When one is kidnapped by angels covered in thorns, given to a literal dragon whose hoard is a whole nation of gold, then sold off to a earth-like world with two suns…
…jaded does not begin to describe one such man.
-Hello 911? Someone’s stealing my sun
That’s was never YOUR sun. It has always been Solomon’s sun, he was just letting you use it.
I didn’t even realize that was Zaid at first.
Setting up Zaid as Nega-Allison begins now?
Hey Abbadon, if this world has two suns, how come there aren’t two different shadows from two different light sources? I suppose it’s possible that it’s a reignited Sun and an ignited Jupiter type deal or the second sun isn’t bright enough to create obvious shadows but bright enough to disturb sleep patterns.
Maybe he placed it so that the planet is always in daylight, which is why Zaid is having a little trouble sleeping. Would that work?
There are 2 different shadows. Look at the last panel. Both suns are almost overhead right now, so columns on both sides of the walkway have inwards facing shadows.
It’s also possible one’s geosynchronous and the other isn’t, meaning the explanation for there only being one shadow is that *this is nighttime*.
There are, though, if you look at the previous page. One sun is casting light from one side of the corridor, and the other is casting light from the other side (which is out of frame in this page).
I suggest that you take a look at the first panel of the previous page đ
Check the first panel of the previous page, fam. (Which, coincidentally, was super confusing without the context of this page!)
On the previous page, there is light coming in from 2 different angles, see the shadow cast on the top left. As for Zaid’s shadow, its because he is only in direct sunlight from the one sun (does that make sense), the other sunlight is shadowed.
I took what Zaid said to mean that the suns are up at different times and exist at different sides of the planet
Look at the previous page, panel 1. You’ll see what you’re looking for.
There are two shadows, check the pillar shadows on the previous page when Solomon is walking towards the reader.
Panel 1 of the previous page gave away the “Two suns” thing with its strikingly impossible lighting on the covered walkway. In this page, they are standing in the ceiling’s shadow of one sun, while being lit by the other.
Magic
Zaid and Salami Dave are only standing in the light of a single sun in this sun. The last update showed that the walkway they’re on is both incredibly wide and has two equivalent sources of light striking both sides, as evidenced by the shadows in that scene.
Might it be that Solomon has arranged it so the capital is always bathed in light? So that sunrise always coincides with sunset? Zaid may have implied that.
As to the practicalities of that, a planet stationary with reference to the two suns, perhaps? Or possibly this is the case some of the year, as it orbits one of the two.
It’s because Solomon David is a fraud and a pretender to the Throne. Only Mammon has the wealth to place a star in the sky, much less two of them.
Look at the previous page – both rows of guards cast shadows towards the middle of the pathway. Each guard is illuminated from the back
If you look at the last page, you see that the arcade is lit up from two directions. But there should be secondary figure shadows as well, I think. Lighting is super hard. Having two suns, impressive as it is, is just setting oneself up for trouble…
The idea here may be that he has trouble sleeping because the two suns always illuminate opposite sides of the globe, so there is never night.
Judging from how light is coming in from both banks of windows equally upon the previous page- as well as the issues with sleeping- I would assume that they are placed an equal distance away in such a way that they line up with each other and the planet simply rotates in the exact center between them because he decided that would work.
There are two shadows. Last page had symmetrical shadows on the colonnade, coming from opposite light sources. I hope comment moderation lets my reply through xD
I think the implication is that as one sun sets the other rises, hence the disturbed sleep.
there is a time of the ‘year’
when even s-types planets
have both stars aligned
and only one shadow
refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitability_of_binary_star_systems
It seems that the ward that is not Al-YISUN has been taken in by the Great Tyrant. I was wondering when weâd see his mediocrity again.
It is strange indeed that Solomon Davidâs power is great enough to place suns in the sky, a force not even Al-YISUN can match right now. I wonderâwhat will be this tyrantâs downfall?
Oh boy, Zaid’s back! And is Solomon David instructing him?!? Man, I am so hyped right now.
Ah, and here, now that the pattern of Zaid’s beard growth is apparent, we can see yet further proof that he and Zoss are in fact one and the same.
The beards match; the facts don’t lie!
The finer points of pencil’s edge
suggest a detail on the page.
does that translate to lineage?
Many many sailboats with upthrust sails. Long causeway. Longer colonnade. Long beard, well oiled. Two hot balls of gas in the sky. What’s he trying to say?
He’s saying all those sons sitting on the council weren’t just the result of wining and dining, if you catch my meaning.
He’s saying that he has a huge, enormous, girthy… claim to royalty.
Smug bastard
I can’t believe Allison was dating Johnny Depp.
Yessss. I knew it.
Now, does Zaid even remember Allison? Or, does Dave know about her already, and if yes how much and has he told Zaid?
And what are Zaid’s opinions on Dave? Unlike Allison, he woke up in heaven instead of hell. As far as we know, as far as he knows, life in the multiverse is good.
So much to think about.
Also the Sun placement sounds pretty awesome for a (on the surface) medieval tech world. Zaid better recognize that and be careful around here.
He’s a great deal more proud of his suns than his sons.
The suns are provably benefiting the world he stands on and shaping its course.
Perhaps if any of his sons showed even an iota of such power he would be less disappointed in them.
*finger guns*
Oh hey, it’s that guy.
“We have two suns because I wanted to show off…”
Credit where credit’s due, Zaid seems to be dealing with his current predicament quite well.
It’s been a while since the initial abduction. Zaid is probably past the first stages of dealing with his situation.
After all, one can only sustain a freak-out for so long.
Abducted by bone warriors through the vortex and such notwithstanding, I expect his experience has been generally smoother–awakening in a well-appointed and herbal scented room, bells chiming in the cool breeze blowing in from the balcony overlooking extradimensional Santorini here, perhaps.
That last frame could be a dictionary definition of “Don’t fuck with me”.
New Favorite Found. I will follow Solomon wherever he leads.
This is what happens when you have a character with a massive ego that is COMPLETELY justified. It goes from annoying to awe-inspiring awful quick. Combine that with his relative restraint – he tolerates dissent, plans for his eventual death, delegates authority, and is reasonably polite – and the God-Emperor here is rapidly shaping up to be one of the best characters in the comic.
Funny, since binary stars are more common than singular.
Yeah, but a stable orbit for a planet in their vicinity (unless the suns are very far apart)? Tricky.
There’s having multiple sons and then there’s having multiple…suns.
There once was a human they called Zaid,
Who, kidnapped by thorny promenade,
Found himself stuck in Yre,
But that came under fire,
Now in princely garments he’s arrayed.
A most interesting development indeed. Perhaps this pawn may be a more important chesspiece than we’d anticipated.
Oh no, Zaid got all rugged and regal and hot!
You can tell that Zaid isn’t the true heir because his beard isn’t awesome enough đ
AL-YISUN rolls up with a splendid beard and everyone knows her true power.
OH SHIT
AL-YIS-UN’s quarry is displayed! And judging by his clothing, Display appears to be the role for which Solomon David plans to use him.
This leads me to wonder 2 things:
How do the tournament and Zaid interrelate?
How will AL-YIS-UN and her retainers/party/lover(s) fuck up his plans?
This leads me to a 3rd consideration:
How will the 108 burning stars do in what is left of the kingdom/cosmic Colosseum/whatever AL-YIS-UN & Co. wreck?
The Boy has waken. How curious.
What has he learned of the universe since then? Has he paid thought to AL-YIS-UN, or does he think himself alone, much as she once did.
Are we to see Two parallel Rising Kings?
*shrugs* I ask too many questions, but that is the nature of a fool. And those of Royalty are the greatest of them.
âHe telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.â
List of Solomon David’s powers:
Immortality
Amazing beard
Placing suns wherever the fuck he feels like placing them
Having lots of sex
Solomon continues to deliver badass lines.
AN UNEXPECTED BUT NOT UNFORSEEABLE RETURN!
Solomon David – Sun Maker
Still think it’s the best HDI in the universe. Also, is this a kingdom…of only men..with sour expressions?
Just a guess, but is Zaid, well, ‘thaaat ex-boyfriend’?
The ability to literally create suns, sounds about right for an all mighty ruler of millions of worlds.
Not necessarily. Solomon David may simply have *moved* the suns, rather than made them.
And hell, moving stars isn’t even that hard, physics-wise. WE could do it, if we had enough orbiting mirrors. It’s not a matter of technology, but of brute force.
“I setting the twin suns of Bofa in the sky as though it were yesterday…”
What’s suns
OH MAN!!!!!
Insert a god of war reference here
An island flying through the sky
One day your son might ask you why
And if you son should be a girl
She too might ask you of this world
The sun shines sweet upon your beach
And yes my dolphin loves to teach
-Balzary the Flea
So he actually has plans for his succession, just not with an actual son.
In the eye of the sun before the world had begun
Takin’ it easy, I was havin’ some fun
Loafin’ anda jokin’ it was all energy
No such thing as you and or me
No time, you are mine
In the eye of the sun before the world had begun
It had been alot of work the last time around
Needed a rest, a chance to just lie down
Always on the go, no time to kill
Alot of runnin’ to and fro hard working in the mill
So it blew up and I threw up
Into the eye of the sun before the world had begun
Well I hung around, don’t know how many years
No more troubles, no more fears
Had alot of rest w/nothing to do
But I got kinda bored with nothin’ to do
I wanted flesh and blood, skin and bones
Multidimensional, universal home
I was space and time up and down
Live and dead, blood all around
I knew there’d be trouble, but I could pull through
So I thought of the world and humans too.
I hope the doubters now see why Allison travels so far and fights so hard; for that fine piece of ass.
Ha ha, I would love to tell my wife this joke. But I cannot find my home..
The master of the Celestial Empire seeks to surmount prophecy.
Good on him for trying.
There’s a typo in panel 3. “Thank you” should be two words. Keep up the awesome work!
The son passes between the stars
and walks the skyline as the war
forces him to sell his car
Merely putting one sun in the sky was not enough for you? Figures.
Solomon:This world’s original sun was destroyed in the universal war.
Zaid:So why are there two now?
Solomon:Because i put them there.
Damnnnnn….
My gods, I didn’t even recognize Zaid. It’s been so long. Looks like he’s not doing too badly, all things considered, but there has to be a catch. I just hope SD isn’t planning to throm him onto the arena in the upcoming tournament.
(Also, two suns confirmed!)
Is that the boyfriend from the start? Sure looks like him.
Ohh my god, that smug face
I love it!
Zaid and Al-yis-un get along on far-off stares alone
So Solomon-David is definitely planning to groom Zaid into his heir, right?
A sun! A Sun! My Kingdom for Ya sun!
Solomon David is so powerful he can blow up the sun! But then it gets to cold, so he makes another sun!
DOUBLE SUN POWER!!!
THIS was the comment I was looking for!
There are two suns: one in the sky, and one in the palace, walking among men, fire spewing from his brow.
Of COURSE he added an extra sun
That explains Solomons massive tan.
Finally, some LoverBoi exposition! Also, minor rant in 3, 2, 1…
I love your style, but those haaaaaaands -_-‘
I know I’ve pointed this out before, and they’re one of the hardest things to get right. If you spend some time studying their anatomy you’ll improve tremendously. I recommend Burne Hogarth’s books on human anatomy, they’re phenomenal.
I greatly enjoy your visual (and written!) storytelling. I also believe you have yet to unlock your true potential, muhuhahaha…
So who kills Zaid first? Allison or Ciocie?
Why are there two suns?
‘Cause I’m awesome. But never mind that, let’s go get some ice cream and discuss your girlfriend.
I desperately want Solomon to be a good guy, even if he isn’t a Good Guy.
“I put them there.” A teensy tiny little reminder that the seven are f***ing powerful.
For some reason, I assumed Zaid was still sleeping in a fish tank.
I was wrong.
Power Move
Shouldnât everything cast two shadows, then? Or are the suns diametrically opposite each other as they orbit the world, as befits the home of a God Emperor?
The shadows we saw in the last page (first panel) seem to suggest so.
Check last page. They are both on the sky, just on opposite sides of the colonnade đ
“Do you think it’s easy to keep a perfect tan such as mine?”
“… just like I put you in your place”.
Why only have one if you can have two for double the price!
Zaid’s looking surprisingly good, all things considered. I mean, what with the prophecy saying he’ll destroy them all I’d have thought the Demiurges would’ve at least lobotomised him a little bit or something.
Points have been made clear.
Now THAT’S a badass boast
Nice duds, dude. Not sure that I approve of the haircut, but the beard works fine for that chin. (It isn’t the proudest beard in the room, but that’s to be expected when in the same universe as Solomon.)
So you got a new one and a backup. Good call.
Wow, zaid looks… tired.
Oh, hey! It’s, uh… who again?
Praise the Sun.
Praise the Praise the Sun.
At least of the suns, it is known they burn brightly and one should be cautious when exposing oneself.
An elegant intertwining of curiosity, sparked from a world unlike many others, and stirring of revelations to come.
Darn, there goes my theory that Zaid was disassembled by Mammon and his parts kept in Jars like Akira…
Ok, Solomon is actually pretty badass. Taunting his sons about not being strong enough to fight him didn’t impress me too much, but dropping that you can fling sons around in conversation like that is
HE’S BEING INDOCTRINATED IN TO THE BEARD HIERARCHY
HELP THIS POOR BOI
NEVER! LET THE BOI BEARD! IT’S THE ONLY WAY!
So we’re in the universe he originates from.
I was RIGHT! There ARE two suns!
If my memory serves, this is the first we’ve seen of Zaid since Book 1.
Well, that explains the shadows.
Any fool can destroy a star. It takes a crafty fool to create one.
Solomon David didn’t say he made the suns. He said he *put them there*. As far as we know, he simply moved two existing stars there. It’s not like your average universe is lacking in them.
My personal guess here is that Solomon actually believes in the prophecy a lot more than he let on. It’s just that, after so many years building everything he can imagine (structures, societies, laws, SUNS), he can’t find anything worthy of building.
So he’s decided that he’s going to build his own chosen usurper. Because as he is now, the only person he feels is worthy of scheming against is himself.
It’s very possible He simply took the suns from other systems instead of making them. Wouldn’t be the first time, or the last.
I just realized something about the tournament, & sibling rivalry dynamic, at the risk of identifying my username to my real life brother, who also reads this comic.
*It’s time for some sibling rivalry! Who’s ready to rumble!*
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VLex3JVbCTs
Solomon never lets his bad-ass meter drop below 11.
Unless there was a timeskip, the prodigal douchebag’s hair grew a lot in the past four days.
…there probably was a timeskip.
I get the feeling that Solomon will be projecting a bit on Our âPalâ (I Dislike This Man) Zaid for this book wrt his supposed once and future god-king-iness
Moving stars around is actually not that difficult and can be done without magic using today’s technology. Look up “Shkadov thrusters” AKA stellar engines.
There’s a good chance that Solomon David expects Zaid to one day draw blood from him in that tournament… or maybe even kill him.
Solomon is probably the sort to go, “Ugh, the prophecy of my destruction is never going to come true without my help. Typical. I even have to arrange my own doom, just to make sure it’s done properly.”
Bet in actuality Solomon didn’t put them there, but rather hired two teams of professional sun movers to do it for him, but then he thinks that’s kind of the same as moving the suns himself, and he always brags about it when he has guests over.
Something is (of course) off with Solomon. There are apparently sons shoehorned into every nook and cranny of the palace and no women are visible. Something terrible is behind this.
It would seem that Paternum Solomon David is mistaken: binary star systems are NOT rare at all. Up to 85% of all stars in our universe are part of binary star systems.
Then again, this universe depicted above (it sure as hell doesn’t look like Throne) is a different universe in a Multiverse of 777,777 universes, so it could very well be that most stars in most of the universes (or at least in the universe depicted above) are single stars as Solomon David says. Our universe seems to be highly unusual in at least two ways: 1) it has many more stellar systems with multiple stars that the average universe and 2) remains unconquered by the Seven (even if it is in Mottom’s fief).
From Multiplicity to Duality to Singularity. All of these are the lies of YISUN’s very being, for there is no separation that is not also a deception, and most preciously, a self-deception.
I remember some comments from the last page about there being two different light sources. Did… did he position the suns so the shadows in his palace would be symmetrical?
Really, Zaid has some of the same sort of WTF look in his eyes when she arrived in Throne – the ‘I’m overloading on this shit and I’m just keeping it together’.
I like that the first words he’s said are basically his name and ‘Let me outta here’.
I’m confused. Why is this young man not terrified? I WOULD BE TERRIFIED.
One for glory, two for pride.
Steal what you can’t make, make what you can’t steal.
Let us see where the King is going with this.
Nobody bothered to remember Alice-Unâs name either, at first.
I just realized this and if nobody else saw the parallel, I wanted to share. Nice touch.
Imagine that. He left two entire planets in frozen death to make his favorite resort planet a little balmier.
Look at that smug mother trucker, “I put them there”. He could have only put one but he chose to put two. Eternal day biches!
Not just a fan, but a quoter of Meshuggah? I’m struck, but not surprised. â¤ď¸đ¤
So and this is Pride. And it’s not like he can’t back it up, unlike most examples.
Zaid… You look like you… Oh, I’m not gonna make this rhyme.
Seriously, tho. The guy has suffered his generous share all this time.
I wonder if he’s going to want the power or if he’ll be glad that Alison has it all.
Since I expect the worse of every human, I think he’s gonna be petty. But I might be wrong.
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HI, Does Dave know about her already, and if yes how much and has he told Zaid?