I’m wondering what the inverse-tattoo means. Looking back at the transformation page, it seems the lightning drew it there, but since it looks symmetrical it must be intentional. She’s pondering the diamond shape on her forehead in the last panel. Expecting something to change? Is something missing? A key? I am intrigued.
She’s known the ‘word’ diamond for a long time. TRULY knowing the word would mean making her own key and surpassing David on the road to royalty.
I think she’s taken her first step.
A ‘diamond’ is flawless, unbreakable, and unchanging. Solomon David is a diamond. White Chain, on the other hand, has been constantly struggling, changing her mind, and wrestling with her true self.
In the end, she’s learned that what the angels consider “flaws” of an otherwise ideal and immutable flame are what makes her who she is. She’s decided that she, an unchanging thing, should embrace change… and fight against those who see it as imperfection and want to stamp it out.
I’m thinking she’s learned a Word, but not ‘diamond.’ The symbol on her head is in the place of a key, and is in the shape of a diamond, but it is empty. The word probably means something more like “the absence of diamond.”
Upon close inspection, I’m no longer entirely sure that those actually are the cracks in her armor. The lines, from her arms to her face, are mirrored. They appear far to symmetrical.
Anyway, Gog Agog is kind of using ‘mass’ in a double meaning here, she is talking about the hivemind, but she is also speaking of the crowd as a mass, and as an entertainer, she knows full well the power of the crowd.
Hmm… and Mammon was sort of forced into generosity by ppl stealing all his gold, and Mottom is now presumably living in considerably less splendor after her castle,got smashed… I might be forcing a pattern where there is none, however.
The will and memory of the mass seems to be forgotten or ignored by all of the seven, except for Gog-Agog and, perhaps, Jaggonoth. Interesting to see more of him, hopefully soon.
White Chain’s apotheosis is fascinating, and I can only wonder what she thinks of what has happened. And wonder at what, in fact, actually happened.
Do you mean the mass as in the hivemind or as in the public writ large? If it’s the latter, the collective public memory can also be fickle and selective.
Though yeah, the other demiurges don’t seem to care about the public mass or just ignore it. Mottom rules by fear, Mammon has an undying cult surrounding and isolating him, how Jadis treats those is unknown, but most is probably delegated to her technopriests, and Incubus probably at least has some awareness since he wouldn’t want any one faction to get too big.
Actually, if anything, one of the common refrains of the story has been “The masses act upon the throne”
-Mottom: terrified of her court
-Mammon: smothered by his underlings to the point of being essentially a figurehead
-Jadis: “interpreted” by underlings
-Solomon: even his rules are forced to bend by the will of the crowd
The part I find truly interesting about what GogAgog said isn’t the blatant self reference of “mass” but instead the “your law of kings is no more than a fart. In time it too shall dissolve into spectacle” which reveals some interesting insight into GogAgog
I believe it is that while Solomon embodies the concept of law, aggog embodies the concept of chaos. Hince why it gave salami the stink eye during the second meeting after he laid down said “law”.
Not that, just a shirt that has a 10 VG speech bubble going HO THERE! with COMING OR GOING? in the back is more than this sorry wretch of a Priestrix may ever ask for.
Let me go back to groveling at the shore of the Lake of Abaddon.
Solomon compromises? That’s almost oxymoronic based on my impression of him so far. He doesn’t seem like someone who cares about what the people think – more like he would beat them until they say they think what he wants them to.
Maybe this was just the final straw. What DID he learn?
The Witch and Dragon do war.
The Worm expands.
The Diamond conducts unwarranted pogroms for political pressure and peer purity.
The Red Idiot watches. And prepares.
As much fun as this has all been, the story has to get back to Allison at some point. The next book, rumored to be the final one, cannot be about White Chain. So with that in mind, maybe dropping her out of the main line of the story by having her take over Rayuba and it’s associated universes might actually move events forward.
Personally, I could read a whole additional book about what happens to WC. Her tears in the last panel are my tears.
Well this is going to have consequences…
Beating Solomon is like a dog chasing a chariot. It is completely unthinkable but what the hell are you gonna do if it actually happens?
I doubt WC would like that idea. She may have a human body now, but Angels are basically sexless, so she probably doesn’t even have sexual desires. Of course she may develop those but like every change in Angels it would probably take a huge amount of time.
Anonymous delivers. Anonymous does not forget. Anonymous does not forgive. So, the new revelation apparently is “Anonymous is Gog-Agog”.
“Today, I have learnt something”. Wait, seriously? Get impression that Solomon’s mocking, pronouncing something _that_ trite. Or, remembering his earlier lofty and somewhat corny speeches, may be not. We shall see soon, I guess.
Many have referred to White Chain’s new form as a human’s body, but I wonder if that is entirely the case. Beyond what the Diamond and armor cracks manifesting on her skin might suggest, this is certainly not the first time we have seen a being of flame in the literal flesh.
Unless I am mistaken, masked devils have been shown to have something akin to organic bodies. Once masked, they seem to possess physical bodies that, at least superficially, function like the bodies of humans and servants. Oskar’s torso wound from getting shot at the seige of Yre and White Chain’s banishing of the two devils in Hell 71 both come to mind. Though… exactly how organic their bodies actually are is unclear.
Consider: What if White Chain has created the cold white flame’s equivalent of devil’s physical manifestation? Be it either through her knowledge of the word Diamond or by striking without thought; or perhaps she has grasped the non-shape.
42 Fragments the Universe Beyond All Reintegration
My interpretation of devils is that their bodies are fully organic, but their flames can sustain and restore those bodies moment to moment. Hence, Oskar gets shot to buggery and just complains about the tears in his coat. Cio gets ejected from Alicio and reforms her entire body in the split-second before she hits the ground. Devils are tough. Solomon’s “Ki-Rata bullshit” (to use the author’s technical term) and Allison’s blade-immunity are presumably the same mechanism.
AFAIK, no angel has ever had a body of cells and carbon chemistry that could be sustained in this way. It is a new thing, and a true miracle.
47 Trigram Star, by Cosmic Fire, Sunders the Wheel of Doubt
Agreed, it certainly is a new and miraculous occurrence. We shall see what the mechanics and implications are soon I think. Suffice it to say, I think it more likely that she has entered an entirely new state of embodiment rather than transmuted her cold white flame into the feebler hot black flame of humans.
For the record, I am now only going to refer to what white chain did with that punch is “pinnochio’D herself into a real girl” and damn your eyes if you don’t think it is a perfect description of the event.
Not surprised by Solomon doing that, pride can coexist with the magnanimous acts of a wise ruler, and a wise ruler knows that an undeafeated king is never as impressive as one that can congratulate their opponent for their victory and commend their thrilling display of skill.
My, my… what a weighty gift from the Great Tyrant. One wonders what the newborn White Chain shall do with her birthday wish.
How very interesting…
“White Chain, you’ve just won the David Salami Bowl. What are you going to wish for next?”
“I’m going to Disney World.”
I’m wondering what the inverse-tattoo means. Looking back at the transformation page, it seems the lightning drew it there, but since it looks symmetrical it must be intentional. She’s pondering the diamond shape on her forehead in the last panel. Expecting something to change? Is something missing? A key? I am intrigued.
She’s known the ‘word’ diamond for a long time. TRULY knowing the word would mean making her own key and surpassing David on the road to royalty.
I think she’s taken her first step.
A ‘diamond’ is flawless, unbreakable, and unchanging. Solomon David is a diamond. White Chain, on the other hand, has been constantly struggling, changing her mind, and wrestling with her true self.
In the end, she’s learned that what the angels consider “flaws” of an otherwise ideal and immutable flame are what makes her who she is. She’s decided that she, an unchanging thing, should embrace change… and fight against those who see it as imperfection and want to stamp it out.
I’m thinking she’s learned a Word, but not ‘diamond.’ The symbol on her head is in the place of a key, and is in the shape of a diamond, but it is empty. The word probably means something more like “the absence of diamond.”
Un-diamond, if you will.
The markings on her arms reflect the cracking of her armour. The diamond is different, and rather special.
Upon close inspection, I’m no longer entirely sure that those actually are the cracks in her armor. The lines, from her arms to her face, are mirrored. They appear far to symmetrical.
I’d make a Khepri joke, but…. that alt-text has me upset
That’s great and all, but can we PLEASE get white-chain some pants?
Just ’cause Meti used to run into battle naked doesn’t make it a good idea.
So much fear of flesh among the commenting revelers here. One wonders what terrifies them so, about the unadorned form?
It’s like that old saying- the god is in the pants.
….I may have mixed something up slightly somewhere along the way.
Only a few seconds have passed since the fight was won.
To wish for pants, you must draw a drop of blood from King Solomon David’s brow.
Truly, a high price for basic garments.
There damn well better be pockets.
SOLOMON GRUNDY WANT PANTS TOO!
There is nothing new nor particularly insightful about demagogue(-agog)ry
Man that was great, but I really need to be getting home now..
Some gratuitous fan service here Abbadon.
Anyway, Gog Agog is kind of using ‘mass’ in a double meaning here, she is talking about the hivemind, but she is also speaking of the crowd as a mass, and as an entertainer, she knows full well the power of the crowd.
It is getting a bit service-y, isn’t it.
Indeed. Solomon David’s chiseled, bare, beefcake torso is making me feel uncomfortable. Someone should cover him up.
no, see that is fine and he should, remove more, clothing, because
Nudity! In my good christian webcomic!
I know! So sinful! Just like those beatniks at the Garden of Eden!
… oh wait. 🤔
Is White Chain’s new body the result of her wish? Or does she still have a wish left?
BTW Gog in panel 2 looks totally Tim Curry. Honk indeed.
Scott’s Crow, the crowd repeats
Before the Phoenix. The young eat
the old. Stoic poetry.
All for one, and one for all
The singular can’t help but fall
And touch a thousand stomach walls
Crowe would try the musket age
but who else would you pull on stage
for Dumas’ noted heritage?
Ahh, but the Mass seems to produce Kings too…
White Chain is seemingly about as happy with the change as the fans are
… that looks like humility. But that can’t be right, can it?
CRACKED
Hmm… and Mammon was sort of forced into generosity by ppl stealing all his gold, and Mottom is now presumably living in considerably less splendor after her castle,got smashed… I might be forcing a pattern where there is none, however.
I have no fucking clue whats going on right now. At fucking all.
The will and memory of the mass seems to be forgotten or ignored by all of the seven, except for Gog-Agog and, perhaps, Jaggonoth. Interesting to see more of him, hopefully soon.
White Chain’s apotheosis is fascinating, and I can only wonder what she thinks of what has happened. And wonder at what, in fact, actually happened.
Do you mean the mass as in the hivemind or as in the public writ large? If it’s the latter, the collective public memory can also be fickle and selective.
Though yeah, the other demiurges don’t seem to care about the public mass or just ignore it. Mottom rules by fear, Mammon has an undying cult surrounding and isolating him, how Jadis treats those is unknown, but most is probably delegated to her technopriests, and Incubus probably at least has some awareness since he wouldn’t want any one faction to get too big.
Actually, if anything, one of the common refrains of the story has been “The masses act upon the throne”
-Mottom: terrified of her court
-Mammon: smothered by his underlings to the point of being essentially a figurehead
-Jadis: “interpreted” by underlings
-Solomon: even his rules are forced to bend by the will of the crowd
The part I find truly interesting about what GogAgog said isn’t the blatant self reference of “mass” but instead the “your law of kings is no more than a fart. In time it too shall dissolve into spectacle” which reveals some interesting insight into GogAgog
I believe it is that while Solomon embodies the concept of law, aggog embodies the concept of chaos. Hince why it gave salami the stink eye during the second meeting after he laid down said “law”.
I have understood nothing so far about this arc. I really don’t get what it’s supposed to be about.
Be who you feel you are.
Be not merely for the sake of others.
Be smart rather than hard.
Worms will be at the end of it all, no matter what you choose.
Quite. Will somebody please carve this on a monument? Or failing that, a T-shirt.
Carving things on a T-shirt rarely works out well.
Angelic stone T-shirt, perhaps?
I would buy a tshirt with Vigilant Gaze’s torso printed on it so I could look angel buffed.
Not that, just a shirt that has a 10 VG speech bubble going HO THERE! with COMING OR GOING? in the back is more than this sorry wretch of a Priestrix may ever ask for.
Let me go back to groveling at the shore of the Lake of Abaddon.
Solomon’s falling, White Chain is his foil, more or less.
Solomon compromises? That’s almost oxymoronic based on my impression of him so far. He doesn’t seem like someone who cares about what the people think – more like he would beat them until they say they think what he wants them to.
Maybe this was just the final straw. What DID he learn?
Next chapter:
The Witch and Dragon do war.
The Worm expands.
The Diamond conducts unwarranted pogroms for political pressure and peer purity.
The Red Idiot watches. And prepares.
No, he’s always aspired to be a perfect king, or as close to perfect as a king can ever hope to be.
He seems pretty nice to his people tho, in fact he seems more oppressive towards his own government more than anything.
bobs and vegana
aha!
She never wanted to rule, she wanted to find herself. And now she has an entire empire to run.
Whoops.
Let’s not speak too soon. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I doubt it’ll be Salami Dave surrendering his empire to WC.
As much fun as this has all been, the story has to get back to Allison at some point. The next book, rumored to be the final one, cannot be about White Chain. So with that in mind, maybe dropping her out of the main line of the story by having her take over Rayuba and it’s associated universes might actually move events forward.
Personally, I could read a whole additional book about what happens to WC. Her tears in the last panel are my tears.
Well this is going to have consequences…
Beating Solomon is like a dog chasing a chariot. It is completely unthinkable but what the hell are you gonna do if it actually happens?
What if Solomon will now want to take WC as his wife seeing she has potential any of his sons didn’t?
I doubt WC would like that idea. She may have a human body now, but Angels are basically sexless, so she probably doesn’t even have sexual desires. Of course she may develop those but like every change in Angels it would probably take a huge amount of time.
Now just try to imagine a threesome where Cio is placed between Allison and WC sturdy muscular bodies.
There’s probably Rule 34 of it being drawn as we speak.
Blue Devil Samwich! So good, and good for you!
Anonymous delivers. Anonymous does not forget. Anonymous does not forgive. So, the new revelation apparently is “Anonymous is Gog-Agog”.
“Today, I have learnt something”. Wait, seriously? Get impression that Solomon’s mocking, pronouncing something _that_ trite. Or, remembering his earlier lofty and somewhat corny speeches, may be not. We shall see soon, I guess.
Whatever he’s learned, by his expression it doesn’t seem to make him happy.
Many have referred to White Chain’s new form as a human’s body, but I wonder if that is entirely the case. Beyond what the Diamond and armor cracks manifesting on her skin might suggest, this is certainly not the first time we have seen a being of flame in the literal flesh.
Unless I am mistaken, masked devils have been shown to have something akin to organic bodies. Once masked, they seem to possess physical bodies that, at least superficially, function like the bodies of humans and servants. Oskar’s torso wound from getting shot at the seige of Yre and White Chain’s banishing of the two devils in Hell 71 both come to mind. Though… exactly how organic their bodies actually are is unclear.
Consider: What if White Chain has created the cold white flame’s equivalent of devil’s physical manifestation? Be it either through her knowledge of the word Diamond or by striking without thought; or perhaps she has grasped the non-shape.
My interpretation of devils is that their bodies are fully organic, but their flames can sustain and restore those bodies moment to moment. Hence, Oskar gets shot to buggery and just complains about the tears in his coat. Cio gets ejected from Alicio and reforms her entire body in the split-second before she hits the ground. Devils are tough. Solomon’s “Ki-Rata bullshit” (to use the author’s technical term) and Allison’s blade-immunity are presumably the same mechanism.
AFAIK, no angel has ever had a body of cells and carbon chemistry that could be sustained in this way. It is a new thing, and a true miracle.
Agreed, it certainly is a new and miraculous occurrence. We shall see what the mechanics and implications are soon I think. Suffice it to say, I think it more likely that she has entered an entirely new state of embodiment rather than transmuted her cold white flame into the feebler hot black flame of humans.
For the record, I am now only going to refer to what white chain did with that punch is “pinnochio’D herself into a real girl” and damn your eyes if you don’t think it is a perfect description of the event.
Not surprised by Solomon doing that, pride can coexist with the magnanimous acts of a wise ruler, and a wise ruler knows that an undeafeated king is never as impressive as one that can congratulate their opponent for their victory and commend their thrilling display of skill.
…or as they say, game recognize game.
See, the system works. Just gotta work a hundred times as hard for one hundredth of the recognition of the emperor. That’s practically equality!
But what will she wish for? I’m betting on the long odds: For Allison, Cio and her to all be gay and poly.