kendal bone skeleton??? starmetal kaiju????
i have a history of incorrect theories but we know kendal’s going to do something cool & big involving the sword, the starmetal, and vash maybe.
i love the god banter between vash and tahraim
Here’s an art analysis:
The way Tarahim and Vash’s speech bubbles are more opaque than the others imply that their voices are louder in kendals head. A wonderful detail.
The composition in this page is GLORIOUS, I was afraid I wouldn’t read it right at first but the way the bubbles are placed makes the whole thing flow smoothly. I didn’t ruin the impact of the line “you of all people should know there’s no one way to do anything” because of how smooth the flow was.
And the ART! It’s so pretty! The blue swirls, the coloring, it’s beautiful!
I think that kendal may become a conduit for all the gods power seeing as he is THE weapon and we see all the other gods watching as he is forged. He must, at least, have some greater reason for existing
This has to be my favorite page so far. First, it is absolutely gorgeous. Second, just the way it flows–how it captures the flashback-montage-revelation nature of this scene. And third, the layout of the upper 80% or so of the page–the way Kendal drifts connected but not in the midst of the memories, the sword connecting him to Vash.
I mean, there’s admittedly also the way it heavily implies the Sword Theory is canon, so there’s the anticipation of finally seeing if it’s true, but that’s only part of the draw. But you can’t help but notice the little details that add weight to said theory–the way that the Starfire leaping off the sword curls around him while seeming to imply it expanding into his form (and that one splash cleverly placed over where his body had been stabbed by the Collector when still inhabited by Vash), and that curl of soul-thread embedded in the sword in the panel that show’s Vash’s reflection framed in the surface of the sword’s gem…
Both the blade and the man are included in Kendal’s soul-dreamscape, with a nice return of Vash’s blue star soul as well! I like how the wisps of starfire are all traveling around Kendal’s right arm, emanating from the scar of his gut wound, and traveling up his blade. It’s also fitting, since Vash’s soul looks like a blue star, that it’s called starfire.
Nothing like grievous bodily harm to inspire self-reflection.
I patiently await the ridiculous amount of glowing effects that are bound to come in the next few pages
The original Vash filled the metal with his soul so he could animate it like he could the rest of his avatar’s body and that’s what let him activate the starmetal to destroy Tynan. If Kendal can activate the starfire, I think that might be evidence that Kendal isn’t as much of a soulless husk as I had initially thought. If Kendal DOES have his own soul, then we might get into some real metaphysical moral philosophy when Kendal reunites with Vash’s soul and maybe ceases to be so that Vash can come back. Or maybe Vash will just straight up be dead to simplify this problem and Kendal will become his successor. Who knows? That’ll be a long way off still.
1) This is absolutely STUNNING, I adore the non-diegetic pages.
2) I am even more convinced now of the theory that Kendal was born from the fragment of Vash’s soul that was forged into the sword.
3) What did… what did Tahraim THINK Vash was going to do with the starmetal??? There were other options??? Somehow I am both shocked and completely unsurprised. Tahraim is best forge god.
God I’m so down bad for the plotline of “character realizes they are something much more cosmologically significant than they ever thought possible”. it’s GOOD SHIT and I’ve realized it’s the throughline in a lot of media I really enjoy. Red you absolute madwoman I have been vibrating with joy for like ten solid minutes
Kendal got hit so hard, both his life and Vash’s life are flashing before his eyes.
I think I speak for everyone when I say this is an amazing page; Red is a master at framing the shape and structure of panels to fit the situation. The eight panels above with dialogue from all across both his and Vash’s life framing his thoughts and introspection, then a final wide panel at the end to bring focus back to Kendal in the here and now.
So what conclusion has Kendal come to? That he is both sword and man and the starfire must come from him? That like Vash before him he must make the sword his own to control the fire?
Also, anyone else see Vash using the orb on his sword as a mirror in one of the right panels? Oh, Vash. He’s probably glad that Tahraim put the stone in the blade instead of the pommel so he could tweak his hair mid-battle.
Aahhh! Red this is so beautiful! And it’s so cohesive and easy to read!! How!? When first looking at the page I was a little worried I would read it wrong, but man was I wrong! It flowed so beautifully and seamlessly! Truly masterful, keep up the amazing work.
Huh. The name he chose is appropriate, then. Kendal isn’t a discarded husk or a god’s lost blade. They’re two parts of the whole. “Kendal” is both the man and the sword, together.
Vash didn’t take hours to awaken the Starfire. He didn’t know it was there. Vash didn’t know what he had created.
Sure, he created a powerful weapon, but he didn’t know what it could do at first.
He put a bit of himself into the sword, creating a splinter of himself. A splinter with it’s own potential. A potential that can surpass the power of it’s creator. And the sword may be able to absorb power, giving it an extra source aside from itself to reach it’s full potential. That or Vash connected the sword to a larger source of power than himself. But even on it’s base level it has the power of Vash.
And Vash’s body wasn’t killed in the beginning. Vash’s soul was ripped from it. The body lived on. Because Vash put a part of himself into the the blade, the metal in Vash’s body and the metal of the blade are linked. The splinter used that connection to take over the vacant body, probably gaining true consciousness because of that. But not the knowledge to understand much.
I think Kendal realized that right now and more importantly is now fully aware of his connection to the sword, that he is the sword and the body.Which means he may now realize the power at his disposal. For example what he says on the next page. He can probably heal himself now and he can’t die as long as the sword exists. Even if the body burned down to it’s skeleton, he might be able to still control that, maybe even recreate the rest of the body. As long as the bones and the metal infused in them exist.
That’s why he doesn’t sleep. A sword doesn’t sleep.
And Kendal doesn’t need to awaken the Starfire, he is the Starfire.
@DreamFox
I agree with everything you wrote but one thing: Kendal very definitely needs sleep. We had a long conversation about this.
So I guess I contradict myself. I agree with the facts you presented, but disagree about the conclusion. While the sword is part of him, he is still Kendal, both blade and man. He is still limited by his body, which is why he needs people backing him up. Maybe Vash could do this alone, but he can’t. Also, he kinda… doesn’t have a choice. Everyone has made it perfectly clear where they stand on self-sacrifice.
Omg, this makes SO much sense, now rereading! Kendal is currently going “I know how to beat him, but I can’t do it! Argh, if only I were Vash, not me!”
Oh hell yeah Kendal gonna go sicko mode on Tynan
Adrift in a whirl of memories
Floats Kendal, both blade and man;
At last he opens up his eyes,
Which glimmer with a plan.
kendal bone skeleton??? starmetal kaiju????
i have a history of incorrect theories but we know kendal’s going to do something cool & big involving the sword, the starmetal, and vash maybe.
i love the god banter between vash and tahraim
Near-Death Powerup Woop Woop!!!
Oh, Kenal IS the weapon… I sense epicness about to happen!
Yee, and dare I say, haw
I think a lot of people’s theories are about to be confirmed.
Also, this page makes me appreciate how each god’s speech bubbles are unique enough that we can tell who’s talking without any context.
New Ability Unlocked
When you use the wrong formula but get the right answer
Oooh, Kendal’s about to do something epic. I can feel it.
Also this came out on my birthday lol
Here’s an art analysis:
The way Tarahim and Vash’s speech bubbles are more opaque than the others imply that their voices are louder in kendals head. A wonderful detail.
The composition in this page is GLORIOUS, I was afraid I wouldn’t read it right at first but the way the bubbles are placed makes the whole thing flow smoothly. I didn’t ruin the impact of the line “you of all people should know there’s no one way to do anything” because of how smooth the flow was.
And the ART! It’s so pretty! The blue swirls, the coloring, it’s beautiful!
I wonder if Kendal is going to graduate to a proper god by the end of the adventure.
THE EYES ARE GLOWING
GET READY FOR SOME ✨ACTION✨
So. Many. Callbacks. This is a great page. Although I do have to point out that sometimes there is in fact only one right way to do something.
To Sunstorm the Budgie:
Happy birthday!
Dear god the composition! the posing!
from the bottom of my heart: （⊙ｏ⊙) <<<333
TL;DR: Just thinking…
HAHA cool page to turn up to after an exam
I think that kendal may become a conduit for all the gods power seeing as he is THE weapon and we see all the other gods watching as he is forged. He must, at least, have some greater reason for existing
Are we sure that vash was the god?
God Fire time!
OOOOHHHHHH HE’S REALIZING HE IS THE SWORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOA MY GOD, this is so pretty. And the callbacks are good too! Kendal, darling, kick his ass.
This has to be my favorite page so far. First, it is absolutely gorgeous. Second, just the way it flows–how it captures the flashback-montage-revelation nature of this scene. And third, the layout of the upper 80% or so of the page–the way Kendal drifts connected but not in the midst of the memories, the sword connecting him to Vash.
I mean, there’s admittedly also the way it heavily implies the Sword Theory is canon, so there’s the anticipation of finally seeing if it’s true, but that’s only part of the draw. But you can’t help but notice the little details that add weight to said theory–the way that the Starfire leaping off the sword curls around him while seeming to imply it expanding into his form (and that one splash cleverly placed over where his body had been stabbed by the Collector when still inhabited by Vash), and that curl of soul-thread embedded in the sword in the panel that show’s Vash’s reflection framed in the surface of the sword’s gem…
Also, Happy Birthday to Sunstorm the Budgie!
Oh geez!
so excited for Friday now
beutiful
Hundreds of voices give him a clue
Now Kendal suddenly knows what to do
@Sunstorm the Budgie; Happy birthday!
Also it’s so cool to see the memories of the fight from Vash’s perspective, I wouldn’t have thought to do that
Both the blade and the man are included in Kendal’s soul-dreamscape, with a nice return of Vash’s blue star soul as well! I like how the wisps of starfire are all traveling around Kendal’s right arm, emanating from the scar of his gut wound, and traveling up his blade. It’s also fitting, since Vash’s soul looks like a blue star, that it’s called starfire.
…….. Some Me Mo Ries… Doo dooooo doo doo doo…….
Haha! Cats reference. I see you, Red.
Ohmigosh. No. NO. SHE’S GONNA CLIFFHANGER US! Red, don’t you dare! Red! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooo… -sob.-
Nothing like grievous bodily harm to inspire self-reflection.
I patiently await the ridiculous amount of glowing effects that are bound to come in the next few pages
alt text: memory……….. all alone in the moonlight…………
The original Vash filled the metal with his soul so he could animate it like he could the rest of his avatar’s body and that’s what let him activate the starmetal to destroy Tynan. If Kendal can activate the starfire, I think that might be evidence that Kendal isn’t as much of a soulless husk as I had initially thought. If Kendal DOES have his own soul, then we might get into some real metaphysical moral philosophy when Kendal reunites with Vash’s soul and maybe ceases to be so that Vash can come back. Or maybe Vash will just straight up be dead to simplify this problem and Kendal will become his successor. Who knows? That’ll be a long way off still.
1) This is absolutely STUNNING, I adore the non-diegetic pages.
2) I am even more convinced now of the theory that Kendal was born from the fragment of Vash’s soul that was forged into the sword.
3) What did… what did Tahraim THINK Vash was going to do with the starmetal??? There were other options??? Somehow I am both shocked and completely unsurprised. Tahraim is best forge god.
this will have either 2 outcomes
1. Kendall now can make Starfire out of his own body
2. he’s gonna make Starfire out of the sword
Perhaps kendal wasn’t the most inaccurate name after all…
Something awesome is about to happen, and I am FOR IT.
Yoooooo this is about to be awesome as fuck bro
Getting serious “she ra is not the sword, she ra is you” vibes from this page
God I’m so down bad for the plotline of “character realizes they are something much more cosmologically significant than they ever thought possible”. it’s GOOD SHIT and I’ve realized it’s the throughline in a lot of media I really enjoy. Red you absolute madwoman I have been vibrating with joy for like ten solid minutes
Kendal got hit so hard, both his life and Vash’s life are flashing before his eyes.
I think I speak for everyone when I say this is an amazing page; Red is a master at framing the shape and structure of panels to fit the situation. The eight panels above with dialogue from all across both his and Vash’s life framing his thoughts and introspection, then a final wide panel at the end to bring focus back to Kendal in the here and now.
So what conclusion has Kendal come to? That he is both sword and man and the starfire must come from him? That like Vash before him he must make the sword his own to control the fire?
Also, anyone else see Vash using the orb on his sword as a mirror in one of the right panels? Oh, Vash. He’s probably glad that Tahraim put the stone in the blade instead of the pommel so he could tweak his hair mid-battle.
These just keep getting prettier ahhh
I can practically hear the anime power-up music
Can’t wait for Kendal to go Super Saiyan. Now we can finally begin the rapidly escalating power creep part of the story.
Aahhh! Red this is so beautiful! And it’s so cohesive and easy to read!! How!? When first looking at the page I was a little worried I would read it wrong, but man was I wrong! It flowed so beautifully and seamlessly! Truly masterful, keep up the amazing work.
And happy birthday substorm budgie!
I love how thanks to the way they compose themselves, despite being in the same body it’s easy to tell Vash and Kendal apart
Waita minuete… built in a crater + metal = …SPACE SWORD?!
so is this confirming that one theory about Kendal being the soul of the sword come to life?
@randomfangirl Starmetal ain’t just a fancy name.
That feeling when you level up in the middle of a boss fight….
THE POSING/LAYOUT/ETC ON THIS PAGE IS *CHEFS KISS*
THIS IS GORGEOUS
Ohhh, he is going to go do that thing… where he rushes straight into battle with no regard for his life… hate it when her does that
also I love that we get to see through Vash/Kendal’s eyes and confirm that yes, his bangs Are in his face&eyes All The Time
Oh heck yeah!
Huh. The name he chose is appropriate, then. Kendal isn’t a discarded husk or a god’s lost blade. They’re two parts of the whole. “Kendal” is both the man and the sword, together.
Wow! This one is by far my fave! Love the aesthetic and the lighting. And I am a sucker for some memory trip <3
Vash didn’t take hours to awaken the Starfire. He didn’t know it was there. Vash didn’t know what he had created.
Sure, he created a powerful weapon, but he didn’t know what it could do at first.
He put a bit of himself into the sword, creating a splinter of himself. A splinter with it’s own potential. A potential that can surpass the power of it’s creator. And the sword may be able to absorb power, giving it an extra source aside from itself to reach it’s full potential. That or Vash connected the sword to a larger source of power than himself. But even on it’s base level it has the power of Vash.
And Vash’s body wasn’t killed in the beginning. Vash’s soul was ripped from it. The body lived on. Because Vash put a part of himself into the the blade, the metal in Vash’s body and the metal of the blade are linked. The splinter used that connection to take over the vacant body, probably gaining true consciousness because of that. But not the knowledge to understand much.
I think Kendal realized that right now and more importantly is now fully aware of his connection to the sword, that he is the sword and the body.Which means he may now realize the power at his disposal. For example what he says on the next page. He can probably heal himself now and he can’t die as long as the sword exists. Even if the body burned down to it’s skeleton, he might be able to still control that, maybe even recreate the rest of the body. As long as the bones and the metal infused in them exist.
That’s why he doesn’t sleep. A sword doesn’t sleep.
And Kendal doesn’t need to awaken the Starfire, he is the Starfire.
@DreamFox
I agree with everything you wrote but one thing: Kendal very definitely needs sleep. We had a long conversation about this.
So I guess I contradict myself. I agree with the facts you presented, but disagree about the conclusion. While the sword is part of him, he is still Kendal, both blade and man. He is still limited by his body, which is why he needs people backing him up. Maybe Vash could do this alone, but he can’t. Also, he kinda… doesn’t have a choice. Everyone has made it perfectly clear where they stand on self-sacrifice.
I want this art on my wall STAT!
I know I’m late and no one is ever gonna see this comment, but GODS this page
It’s so beautiful, both visually and the writing.
It hits so hard.
Good now rise little Phoenix 🙂
More Foreshadowing
This page is a magnificent work of art
Are those the sounds of the Chekov’s guns firing?
Omg, this makes SO much sense, now rereading! Kendal is currently going “I know how to beat him, but I can’t do it! Argh, if only I were Vash, not me!”
Actually, that last panel is giving me some probably-unintentional He-Man 1981 vibes