Kendal: By the power of Vashskull!
Kendal, all all the ways you could reveal to the gang you’re awake, using yourself as bait for the eldritch slime was probably not the best, not matter how cool it looks. Hopefully he and Tess have a plan; they should have had time to see the glort in action and devise something. Well congrats Falst, your dressing down from Alinua about hiding injuries may be delayed once again.
It is a little strange how the glort just dropped everything to focus on Kendal. Is it because he appears to be alone and the glort is better at fighting 1v1 battles? Has Alinua’s powers countered the glort enough that it’s either scared of her or looking for an easier target? Or does it recognise something in Kendal that made it consider him a priority?
It is diverting all of itself, including the chunks on Erin’s arms, towards Kendal and leading with the trauma eyes, ignoring the current fight and tired party members. I don’t think it would do that unless it sees Kendal as a big threat, or a very tasty snack.
If glort is a by-product of void dragon corruption, it very well could be going after the starmetal that Vash conveniently wove into him, as void dragon likes eating stars.
However, we’ve established previously that Kendal is the most naturally durable to voidy’s powers. Alina can flood it out, Erin can clear it, but Kendal is apparently basically immune to the void corruption instead, leaving only the direct damage of the attack.
Otoh, I’m not sure how a sword’s going to do anything to the ooze.
I think it may also be the flame that Kendal can seemingly use now or that he has had the potential of using. Star metal would be tasty, but the fire of a star? that’ll be like mom’s cooking for it. Also i think if Kendal uses the star fire that it may empower the glort.
Is it that we can’t see Kendal’s eyes? That blue spot looks like the light on his cheekbone, and with how expressive Red draws her eyes, it usually looks weird or wrong when we can’t see them. In fact, the last time we couldn’t see a character’s cheekbones, it was a tip-off to Dainix not breathing.
To be honest, given what Kendal just went through and his immunity to void, I’m not sure glorpy’s eye thing will have any real effect on him. He might be the only one who can really go head to head with glorps.
That was my thinking too. The whole scene he went through with the dead city people was kind of like overcoming trauma, so the eye thing might just backfire on Mr. Gloopy as instead of getting stunned by seeing them again, he’d just get further encouraged to defend his friends and survive for them.
Major props to Alinua for protecting them and holding out as long as she did, particularly with a type matchup disadvantage against the Glort. Oh my goodness. She’s amazing, but also, she needs hugs and a nap.
I like that Falst’s supporting her now and tried to offer reassurance. It’s just really sweet. He also doesn’t seem sure it’ll be fine himself, from that small “oh, no” and that lil bit of stutter. Dude must be worried about Kendal doing the thing again too.
Heck yeah KENDAL!! He’s finally here and that final panel is such a cool pose and aaaAAAAA. I agree with comments saying he may be uniquely equipped to confront this thing. (Immune to Void Corruption (no void), recently had Coma Therapy.) However, considering his injuries, I’m hoping Tess is nearby and ready to leap out and do her zappy punch thing.
Look, in fairness, he wouldn’t HAVE to keep throwing him himself into danger if his found fam would just STOP PICKING FIGHTS WITH GIANT MONSTERS ALREADY.
Kendal looks so awesome and heroic in that last panel I love how it’s drawn, also it occurs to me he might not be that susceptible to the eyes, he doesn’t have that many memories of his own that would effect him, except the memory of his city being destroyed and he just went on a dream quest about that so it will probably be fine.
I wonder if Goopy Le Grande can sense the starmetal in Kendal. If it’s been mutated this much by V.D.’s essence, maybe it subconsciusly recognizes its creator’s favorite food.
What if the next page Kendal turns around looking surprised like he wasn’t expecting Glort the Great. Honestly he looks like he’s just being a nightlight.
Seems like something he’d do.
What a beautiful panel! I’m really hoping Kendal is serving as the bait and Tess is lying in wait for a lightning attack! Also, does Kendal have any particularly bad memories yet? I can think of a couple, but unless it can access Vash’s memories as well (which, maybe, we’ll see), there might not be a ton for it to overwhelm him with. He’s still quite new, but on the other hand, he has already been through a lot.
This is kind of random but I still want to see June, Shrike, and The Paladin team up. Maybe they join team fluffy, maybe they from kind of a B team. I like big ensemble casts okay?
Separately, I recently rewatched Red’s Five Man Band Video. The Heart and the Leader are easy to identify. Erin definitely has the most book smarts, leading me towards smart guy, but he’s also a very powerful attacker, which makes me consider maybe big guy/powerhouse. Falst is a lancer? probably? He’s skeptical when Kendal is trusting; he’s cynical when Kendal has hope. But he’s reasonably cooperative with the rest of the group and doesn’t strike out on his own a ton. I’ll keep an eye on him. Tess is the powerhouse if that role isn’t already filled. Dainix?? backup big guy? Earth’s second heart? 6th ranger? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t know how much Shrike would like working with June. She doesn’t seem like someone who prefers to control her conversations, so June’s willingness to stand up to important people like Erin might throw her off balance. I could see her setting that aside in favor of going after the people who trashed her livelihood and worldview if she found out they were traveling with Erin, thiugh.
I don’t know enough about the Champion to factor him into this.
Hey, I’m just curious – How often do you all come back and read through the comments in between comic pages? I tend to get here at least once or twice per day.
I read through the comments at least once each, but I don’t normally go back to them after that once. Unless I’m reading this with my son, who loves to speculate on it. I think the ancients were idiots to leave this thing around, though maybe they aren’t here now because of it. I was getting real Mines of Moria vibes back there. “You shall not pass!” Alinua’s already said it, though, and it didn’t go away until Kendal distracted it. When will Alinua get a full night’s sleep herself?
It wasn’t damaged, he just isn’t using it right now. He couldn’t cast at all with the Glort-Juice all other his arms, because he needs to touch his tattoos to activate his magic (for suspicious reasons currently unknown).
I don’t think the slime has any void in him cuz if that were the case, Dainix and Falst’s definitely would’ve sustained alot of void damage from being from being continuously grabbed and smacked around. And Falsts void corruption was most likely from being in the caves for too long with an injury that allowed void to slip past his soul barrier
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: that could be anybody
Image source: fine
Tumblr text: 👀👀👀
Erin’s patented ‘shoot a burst of flame while looking over your shoulder to talk’ technique
I REALLY hope Kendall is just there as the bait to the trap that is Tess bringing the literal thunder (and lightning) to handle the thing.
Either way, Alinua is gonna be PISSED at him after.
I can’t decide what I’m more excited for. Kendal being epic, or Alinua chewing him out to hell and back afterwards.
AND Erin trying to chew Tess out and failing.
FUCK YEAHHHHH KENDAL WITH THE HEROIC (and presumably tasty) POSE
It is for cartoon/fantasy literature of the latest generation a classic pose. And Red has class…
Aaaah, he’s glowing now!! Can’t wait for Friday!
Kendal holding up the sword shirtless has to be the sauciest panel in awhile
Thank you red for this generous gift!!!
Badass. Luckily, Tess is about to come in with the proverbial steel chair.
She IS the steel chair.
I cannot wait for Kendal to fall unconcious because he is Nearly Dead and have Tess win for them!! i feel like that’s what’s happening here
Kendal: By the power of Vashskull!
Kendal, all all the ways you could reveal to the gang you’re awake, using yourself as bait for the eldritch slime was probably not the best, not matter how cool it looks. Hopefully he and Tess have a plan; they should have had time to see the glort in action and devise something. Well congrats Falst, your dressing down from Alinua about hiding injuries may be delayed once again.
It is a little strange how the glort just dropped everything to focus on Kendal. Is it because he appears to be alone and the glort is better at fighting 1v1 battles? Has Alinua’s powers countered the glort enough that it’s either scared of her or looking for an easier target? Or does it recognise something in Kendal that made it consider him a priority?
It is diverting all of itself, including the chunks on Erin’s arms, towards Kendal and leading with the trauma eyes, ignoring the current fight and tired party members. I don’t think it would do that unless it sees Kendal as a big threat, or a very tasty snack.
If glort is a by-product of void dragon corruption, it very well could be going after the starmetal that Vash conveniently wove into him, as void dragon likes eating stars.
However, we’ve established previously that Kendal is the most naturally durable to voidy’s powers. Alina can flood it out, Erin can clear it, but Kendal is apparently basically immune to the void corruption instead, leaving only the direct damage of the attack.
Otoh, I’m not sure how a sword’s going to do anything to the ooze.
I think it may also be the flame that Kendal can seemingly use now or that he has had the potential of using. Star metal would be tasty, but the fire of a star? that’ll be like mom’s cooking for it. Also i think if Kendal uses the star fire that it may empower the glort.
O. M. G. …Kendal looks so alone, so vulnerable, so tasty. I so very much hope that the shoggoth-wanna-be is about to have a hubris-shaking moment.
No question today or for some time, some personal matters have come up and I’ll be away for a bit
Completely fair, I hope those personal issues wrap up well.
Okay, hope you’re doing well! Take as much time as you need
May you thwart whatever problems you must deal with! Unfortunately I only send prayers and not lawyers, guns or money, (sigh sadly)
There is nothing wrong with prayers. They do more than people might think. Though lawyers and money are nice too.
You have my prayers as well!
might you be a fan of Warren Zevon?
Don’t let the bastards get you down.
What timing to head out. May you travel safely and resolve whatever it is, so you can return refreshed. And the cavalry? has arrived.
Falst trying to be reassuring :,)
Also GODDAMMIT KENDAL I FUCKING KNEW IT
Why does it feel like something is missing from the last panel to this one? Am I just crazy?
@Spine, if something wasn’t missing, we would have nothing to look forward to come Monday!
Is it that we can’t see Kendal’s eyes? That blue spot looks like the light on his cheekbone, and with how expressive Red draws her eyes, it usually looks weird or wrong when we can’t see them. In fact, the last time we couldn’t see a character’s cheekbones, it was a tip-off to Dainix not breathing.
wait i meant eyes not cheekbones
but tbh it would look pretty weird without cheekbones too
Wait, if Kendal is here then where’s Tess? Wasn”t she with him?
Yes where IS Tess 👀
Man, it’s good to see him again.
To be honest, given what Kendal just went through and his immunity to void, I’m not sure glorpy’s eye thing will have any real effect on him. He might be the only one who can really go head to head with glorps.
That was my thinking too. The whole scene he went through with the dead city people was kind of like overcoming trauma, so the eye thing might just backfire on Mr. Gloopy as instead of getting stunned by seeing them again, he’d just get further encouraged to defend his friends and survive for them.
I think it’ll either be that or visions of all the times his friends got hurt.
Plus, he’s only been alive for, what? Two weeks? Even though they were very eventful, it might not be enough volume to immobilize him like the others
I like that Falst is preemptively comforting Alinua cause he knows she’s about to have a panic attack at Kendal doing the thing again.
Kendal: Stand back, I have the power of God and anime on my side!
The last panel has such strong theme song vibes
I kind of need a Kendal theme song now
If I were a better animator I would be on it, but I don’t think I’d do it justice.
… or finish it tbh
Sunao ni I LOVE YOU! todokeyou
kitto YOU LOVE ME! tsutawaru sa
Kimi ni niau GLASS no kutsu wo sagasou
I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
Major props to Alinua for protecting them and holding out as long as she did, particularly with a type matchup disadvantage against the Glort. Oh my goodness. She’s amazing, but also, she needs hugs and a nap.
I like that Falst’s supporting her now and tried to offer reassurance. It’s just really sweet. He also doesn’t seem sure it’ll be fine himself, from that small “oh, no” and that lil bit of stutter. Dude must be worried about Kendal doing the thing again too.
Heck yeah KENDAL!! He’s finally here and that final panel is such a cool pose and aaaAAAAA. I agree with comments saying he may be uniquely equipped to confront this thing. (Immune to Void Corruption (no void), recently had Coma Therapy.) However, considering his injuries, I’m hoping Tess is nearby and ready to leap out and do her zappy punch thing.
*wakes up after almost dying*
*instantly throws himself back into danger again*
Honestly, Alinua should just put on a straitjacket on him.
One of those toddler leashes, maybe?
Look, in fairness, he wouldn’t HAVE to keep throwing him himself into danger if his found fam would just STOP PICKING FIGHTS WITH GIANT MONSTERS ALREADY.
Que the “I need a hero” music.
Yeah, I heard it too.
Kendal looks so awesome and heroic in that last panel I love how it’s drawn, also it occurs to me he might not be that susceptible to the eyes, he doesn’t have that many memories of his own that would effect him, except the memory of his city being destroyed and he just went on a dream quest about that so it will probably be fine.
I wonder if Goopy Le Grande can sense the starmetal in Kendal. If it’s been mutated this much by V.D.’s essence, maybe it subconsciusly recognizes its creator’s favorite food.
Alinua *cannot* catch a break, that expression reads “oh god he’s doing it again oh no”
Ha! Try using your psychic bad-memories gaze on *this* guy.
and it’s tess coming in with the metaphorical steel chair!!!
It’s probably my media addled brain, but that’s a POSTER SHOT if I’ve ever seen one!
OMG THE LIGHTING
THE POSE
THE EVERYTHING
IM GLAD YOU’RE BACK BUT KENDAL NOOOOO
The fantastic- the amazing- the wonderful- the DEUX EX MACHINA! -Floof edition-
NOOO KENDAL SHE LITERALLY JUST SAID NO SACRIFICES
What if the next page Kendal turns around looking surprised like he wasn’t expecting Glort the Great. Honestly he looks like he’s just being a nightlight.
Seems like something he’d do.
I wonder… if the Glort trauma eyes Kendal, will he have flashbacks to only his life? Or also Vash’s? They share memories so maybe?
“YOU SHOULD BE RESTING! DON’T make ME heal your butt again!!”
What a beautiful panel! I’m really hoping Kendal is serving as the bait and Tess is lying in wait for a lightning attack! Also, does Kendal have any particularly bad memories yet? I can think of a couple, but unless it can access Vash’s memories as well (which, maybe, we’ll see), there might not be a ton for it to overwhelm him with. He’s still quite new, but on the other hand, he has already been through a lot.
Kendal, honey, no… floofiness is NOT sufficient protection from gloop with eyes!
The fineness of this situation is gone
As alone Kendal stands in the dark before dawn
Now there’s a question. How do we think the glort will react to daylight?
Welp. Alinua’s definitely gonna be talking about this with her therapist post world-saving adventure.
Ah, looks like the leader of Floof Patrol is about to do something heroic.
How has nobody called out the He-Man pose yet? I love it, best page in a while.
May I direct you to my comment near the top?
The Tank has returned to Taunt!
TL;DR: Unexpected teamwork saves the day! And more self – sacrifice from sword guy.
There once was a handsome hero
Who miraculously bounced back from zero.
He stands on the height
Ready to fight,
Posed like a real superhero!
I love Kendal so much!!!
Kendal sweetie you’re gonna give Alinua a heart attack.
This is kind of random but I still want to see June, Shrike, and The Paladin team up. Maybe they join team fluffy, maybe they from kind of a B team. I like big ensemble casts okay?
Separately, I recently rewatched Red’s Five Man Band Video. The Heart and the Leader are easy to identify. Erin definitely has the most book smarts, leading me towards smart guy, but he’s also a very powerful attacker, which makes me consider maybe big guy/powerhouse. Falst is a lancer? probably? He’s skeptical when Kendal is trusting; he’s cynical when Kendal has hope. But he’s reasonably cooperative with the rest of the group and doesn’t strike out on his own a ton. I’ll keep an eye on him. Tess is the powerhouse if that role isn’t already filled. Dainix?? backup big guy? Earth’s second heart? 6th ranger? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t know how much Shrike would like working with June. She doesn’t seem like someone who prefers to control her conversations, so June’s willingness to stand up to important people like Erin might throw her off balance. I could see her setting that aside in favor of going after the people who trashed her livelihood and worldview if she found out they were traveling with Erin, thiugh.
I don’t know enough about the Champion to factor him into this.
I feel like Dainix and Falst are both lancers, to each other as well as everyone else.
oh look another self sacrificial idiot
AND KENDAL COMES IN WITH THE STEEL CHAIR
BOY 😤
Standing on a mountain top
Burning like a silver flame
(with apologies to anyone too young to get the reference)
Who needs age when you have a search engine? https://genius.com/Bananarama-venus-lyrics
Hey, I’m just curious – How often do you all come back and read through the comments in between comic pages? I tend to get here at least once or twice per day.
I read through the comments at least once each, but I don’t normally go back to them after that once. Unless I’m reading this with my son, who loves to speculate on it. I think the ancients were idiots to leave this thing around, though maybe they aren’t here now because of it. I was getting real Mines of Moria vibes back there. “You shall not pass!” Alinua’s already said it, though, and it didn’t go away until Kendal distracted it. When will Alinua get a full night’s sleep herself?
At least once or twice on the day inbetween pages. And whenever I reread the whole archives when I’m bored
HE’S BACK
I just assume that posing heroically comes ingrained in Vash’s incarnation, like knowing how to fight
“guess who woke up from his Character Development Coma and acquired +1 lvl in butt-whooping?”
“You’re supposed to be IN BED!”
Oh crap, Erin has his lightning tattoo damaged. The one leash on the void dragon is damaged this is super bad.
By the Power of Vash’s Citizenry, I HAVE THE POWAAAAA
Whoops, didn’t intend that as a reply. Oh well.
It wasn’t damaged, he just isn’t using it right now. He couldn’t cast at all with the Glort-Juice all other his arms, because he needs to touch his tattoos to activate his magic (for suspicious reasons currently unknown).
Trope: BIG DAMN HEROES!!
Kendall: I…HAVE…THE POWERRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
oh GOD im caught up.
Congratulations! Welcome to the Aurora Fandom!
Yay Kendal’s back! I really missed him!
“NOTHING WE’VE DONE HAS WORKED, WHAT DO WE DO??”
“i’ll stab it”
If magic doesn’t work, use pointy / heavy things!
I don’t think the slime has any void in him cuz if that were the case, Dainix and Falst’s definitely would’ve sustained alot of void damage from being from being continuously grabbed and smacked around. And Falsts void corruption was most likely from being in the caves for too long with an injury that allowed void to slip past his soul barrier
Goodbye Slorb