Funny enough tho, when it looks like a C it’s actually a Cyrilic/Greek S (a lunate sigma).
And the H is actually an eta, which is an E in this context (don’t ask me what it is in other contexts I don’t know much Greek).
(For those wondering, that’s because JHC/JHS/IHS doesn’t stand for multiple words at all, rather it’s the first three letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Iesous), the Name of Jesus in Greek.)
In any case tho if JHC was the basis for the OP then I’d say it’s not a bad joke.
There’s a lot of assumptions in the comments today, and I am just going to stand here and tap these image texts over and over until people start reading them.
Yeah, I saw the text but its sort of confusing? Like, it seems to suggest that that is the Wyrm, but there’s been absolutely no suggestion that the Wyrm ever has a human form? Not that I’m going to be disappointed or anything if it is the Wyrm, or something else, but currently I can’t see why it would be. Then again we dont know why alinua could destroy it just by touching it, so there’s a lot that we dont know currently that im sure will be explained in time!
. The merfolk gape, darting out of the way as bone and spikes plunge downward, leaving bubbles in their wake.
. “By the dark…” the dark blue mermaid whispers, staring.
. “Did she do it? Is it over?” The light blue Sekrai with bandages swims over, rubbing their head.
. Selach frowns, squinting as the Captain stirs, rubbing her head. Then the mermaid’s eyes widen. “What’s that?”
. As the unliving parts of the Wyrm sink, a pulsing mass of muscle like a giant heart floats in place, covered in glowing lines like the Wyrm had been.
. Then a webbed hand thrusts up through the thing, pale green arm trailing threads of flesh. The lines curl up it to the wrist, as if trying to contain it.
I’ve been working on my book! Wrote about 400 words today, which I’m super happy about. I’m on chapter 6 of about 30 (they’re gonna be short chapters), and this one is being hard lol. But I finally got this protag’s backstory figured out, so that’s good. I’m also finalizing character arcs, which will probably mean I edit the plot for the hundredth time.
My computer’s about to die sooo bye lol
I would have to go back and look, because I can’t remember if her fingers had webbed up at the start of the underwater arc or not. I’ve noticed that for a lot of panels the webs on our other underwater friends haven’t always been drawn in–which makes a certain sense artistically, hands are already hard enough to draw without worrying if the fingers have enough mobility to do the pose you want because of said webbing (I have an aquatic character and this is definitely an issue when trying to work on concept sketches for him). Especially given the relative scale when one of the above characters is in the background or the panel is a wider shot (such as some of these scenes with the Wyrm).
Really, we’ll just have to see what Wednesday reveals.
I am starting to wonder how different this chapter would have gone if the wyrm had just eaten Alinua on the first page. Would it have immediately disintegrated there as well? Or does she need to be conscious for this to have the full effect?
Alinua’s guide to taking down a giant seamonster/corrupted vessel of a god in 10 easy steps:
Step 1: Get an early warning about the seamonter while the ship is still intact
Step 2: Get your Squard to safty, as the ship is destroyed
Step 3: Grow gills (while unconscious and sinking, no biggie)
Step 4: Scare the seamonster away with your lightshow
Step 5: Talk to the locals
Step 6: Investigate the scene of the crime
Step 7: Dodge the seamonsters attacks until reinforcement arrives
Step 8: Watch as the captains plan goes wrong
Step 9: Allow yourself to be eaten by the corrupted vessel
Step 10: Power Word SHRIP
(Secret 11. step: Enjoy glorious victory, or whatever that goop is)
Yeah. My reaction was pretty much “Oh! Wait. Oh…” because she’s not gonna like getting another upgrade she didn’t really ask for, especially since she doesn’t intend to spend enough time underwater to make proper use of it.
On the other hand, Mermaid!Alinua.
Ooh, webbed fingers.
Also, I don’t usually have time to post on here when the comic goes up due to my job, but I am hoping to tuck into my backlog some time.
This comic has genuinely done so much good for me. I started reading around when the underground bunker part of the story was happening, and ever since this comic has been a non-stop source of joy and motivation to keep me excited throughout the week. Thank you so much Red for everything you do :333
my best guess: Alinua is also in this remaining blob of flesh, giving the poor godling a much-needed reweave (and an anthro form apparently. not sure why this was needed but I’ll gladly defer to her judgement)
wait…
further speculation: the soul protects the body against magic right? what if the extent of that protection could vary with body[?] dysphoria and similar things? (just like how in real life this is impressively close to how phantom limbs work, but possibly in reverse)
this would be the perfect time for Ali’s magical girl transformation upgrade to begin as she earns a new fairy/guardian form. It even starts with her hand reaching out of a blurry, colourful ball of light
When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning
And the future has passed without even a last desperate warning
Then look into the water where through the murk a path is torn
Look and see her how she sparkles, it’s the Life’s avatar reborn!
Did you know:
When a whale dies and falls to the seafloor it is called a whalefall and is a critical part of the seafloor ecosystem. Whalefalls are not only feasts for the seafloor scavengers but also some chemoautotrophs (get their energy from chemicals) like tube worms as well. This is by intaking the hydrogen sulphide produced by some of the bone decomposers as they eat the bones of the whale.
Wow! She came back so much faster than Jesus H. Christ!
Yeah, it would have been awful if she’d taken three days xD
What are you talking about? It did take 3 days for this page to come
Hahaha xD yeah I didnt even think of that!! Thats hilarious! Although didnt jesus actually come back on the Sunday? So she actually returned slower xD
what… does the H stand for??
it stand for Hmiddlename
Hadron Collider
Jesus Hadron Collider Christ
Hoshua
Most likely explanation: One of the monograms used to represent Jesus looks kinda like “JHC”.
Most popular explanation: The H stands for Harold, due to a baffling mishearing of the Lord’s Prayer.
Best explanation: The H stands for Haploid, since Jesus only got his mom’s genes.
Funny enough tho, when it looks like a C it’s actually a Cyrilic/Greek S (a lunate sigma).
And the H is actually an eta, which is an E in this context (don’t ask me what it is in other contexts I don’t know much Greek).
(For those wondering, that’s because JHC/JHS/IHS doesn’t stand for multiple words at all, rather it’s the first three letters of ΙΗΣΟΥΣ (Iesous), the Name of Jesus in Greek.)
In any case tho if JHC was the basis for the OP then I’d say it’s not a bad joke.
I’ve never thought of that….if Jesus has only his mom’s genes, does that make him a trans man? Mary wouldn’t have had any Y chromosomes, after all.
According to the book “Lamb” (by Christopher Moore, hilarious but is irreverent), the “H” stands for “Hallowed” (as in, “Hallowed be thy name”).
Hallowed, per “Lamb”
Jesus Henry Christ
I think ‘Holy’ would apply. Jesus Holy Christ seems emphatic enough to apply here’
is anyone gonna take that high five?
Seems not; they’re just gonna leaver her hanging.
(so thoughtless, that bunch…they just stood around, er, floated around, while she did the work.)
For mobile readers.
Alt-text: second healthbar appears
Image source: that
tumblr text: whalefall!
Bluesky/Twitter text:
there’s something happening here and what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a lot of assumptions in the comments today, and I am just going to stand here and tap these image texts over and over until people start reading them.
Yeah, I saw the text but its sort of confusing? Like, it seems to suggest that that is the Wyrm, but there’s been absolutely no suggestion that the Wyrm ever has a human form? Not that I’m going to be disappointed or anything if it is the Wyrm, or something else, but currently I can’t see why it would be. Then again we dont know why alinua could destroy it just by touching it, so there’s a lot that we dont know currently that im sure will be explained in time!
. The merfolk gape, darting out of the way as bone and spikes plunge downward, leaving bubbles in their wake.
. “By the dark…” the dark blue mermaid whispers, staring.
. “Did she do it? Is it over?” The light blue Sekrai with bandages swims over, rubbing their head.
. Selach frowns, squinting as the Captain stirs, rubbing her head. Then the mermaid’s eyes widen. “What’s that?”
. As the unliving parts of the Wyrm sink, a pulsing mass of muscle like a giant heart floats in place, covered in glowing lines like the Wyrm had been.
. Then a webbed hand thrusts up through the thing, pale green arm trailing threads of flesh. The lines curl up it to the wrist, as if trying to contain it.
I’ve been working on my book! Wrote about 400 words today, which I’m super happy about. I’m on chapter 6 of about 30 (they’re gonna be short chapters), and this one is being hard lol. But I finally got this protag’s backstory figured out, so that’s good. I’m also finalizing character arcs, which will probably mean I edit the plot for the hundredth time.
My computer’s about to die sooo bye lol
Oooo maybe the Northern Wyrm goddess? I don’t think it’s Alinua because the hand has webbing between the fingers
That was a lot of Life energy — maybe she mutated/shapeshifted/whatever it was Life did to her again?
I would have to go back and look, because I can’t remember if her fingers had webbed up at the start of the underwater arc or not. I’ve noticed that for a lot of panels the webs on our other underwater friends haven’t always been drawn in–which makes a certain sense artistically, hands are already hard enough to draw without worrying if the fingers have enough mobility to do the pose you want because of said webbing (I have an aquatic character and this is definitely an issue when trying to work on concept sketches for him). Especially given the relative scale when one of the above characters is in the background or the panel is a wider shot (such as some of these scenes with the Wyrm).
Really, we’ll just have to see what Wednesday reveals.
I noticed that too! It was a question I asked Red on tumblr. Apparently they’re retractable.
https://www.tumblr.com/comicaurora/789975472019800064/are-there-any-rules-on-finger-webbing-its-hard?source=share
I am starting to wonder how different this chapter would have gone if the wyrm had just eaten Alinua on the first page. Would it have immediately disintegrated there as well? Or does she need to be conscious for this to have the full effect?
Alinua’s guide to taking down a giant seamonster/corrupted vessel of a god in 10 easy steps:
Step 1: Get an early warning about the seamonter while the ship is still intact
Step 2: Get your Squard to safty, as the ship is destroyed
Step 3: Grow gills (while unconscious and sinking, no biggie)
Step 4: Scare the seamonster away with your lightshow
Step 5: Talk to the locals
Step 6: Investigate the scene of the crime
Step 7: Dodge the seamonsters attacks until reinforcement arrives
Step 8: Watch as the captains plan goes wrong
Step 9: Allow yourself to be eaten by the corrupted vessel
Step 10: Power Word SHRIP
(Secret 11. step: Enjoy glorious victory, or whatever that goop is)
“Life finds a way”.
The green swirlies are so gorgeous.
Oh. That hand is webbed. ‘Twas not webbed before. What’s happened to Alinua?! I hope its nothing that will upset her.
Yeah. My reaction was pretty much “Oh! Wait. Oh…” because she’s not gonna like getting another upgrade she didn’t really ask for, especially since she doesn’t intend to spend enough time underwater to make proper use of it.
On the other hand, Mermaid!Alinua.
Exactly my feelings on the subject xD
The prize inside is the friend we ate along the way
Nice. Very nice.
Ooh, webbed fingers.
Also, I don’t usually have time to post on here when the comic goes up due to my job, but I am hoping to tuck into my backlog some time.
Her hand has become webbed. I think she’s turning into a mermaid!
This comic has genuinely done so much good for me. I started reading around when the underground bunker part of the story was happening, and ever since this comic has been a non-stop source of joy and motivation to keep me excited throughout the week. Thank you so much Red for everything you do :333
Same! 😀 I started reading at the Argist bit, though!
my best guess: Alinua is also in this remaining blob of flesh, giving the poor godling a much-needed reweave (and an anthro form apparently. not sure why this was needed but I’ll gladly defer to her judgement)
wait…
further speculation: the soul protects the body against magic right? what if the extent of that protection could vary with body[?] dysphoria and similar things? (just like how in real life this is impressively close to how phantom limbs work, but possibly in reverse)
this would be the perfect time for Ali’s magical girl transformation upgrade to begin as she earns a new fairy/guardian form. It even starts with her hand reaching out of a blurry, colourful ball of light
GUYS, what if when destroying the Wyrm’s body, the Goddess and Alinua merged, giving Alinua a Merfolk form?!
Note: This is a fun but probably untrue theory that I know has holes in it, so please don’t go crazy if you reply to this.
So glad this isn’t the Friday page. If that’s not Alinua, what happened to Alinua? And if that is Alinua, what happened to Alinua?
Eugh, hairball
Mermaid Alinua???
Alinua is gonna be nigh-unrecognizable by the time she sees the Floof Squad again isn’t she?
oh,,,,, oh shit is alinua a mermaid now???
Is she going to have a tail now? The webs on the hands make me think so
either merlinua or the northern wyrm got a new form
Could be both. That goop-ball looks big enough to hold two individuals.
When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning
And the future has passed without even a last desperate warning
Then look into the water where through the murk a path is torn
Look and see her how she sparkles, it’s the Life’s avatar reborn!
Alinua: I’m alive!
Evil Alinua: I have become your new god.
Oh shit! Alinua gets a new skin equipped!
Good work team!
Wait a minute, did ali have webbed fingers before? Is it her or is it god phase 2??
OOOOHHH
alinua with a new skin? fish goddess lady corporeal form??? well find out on Wednesday ig !!
(im voting for fish lady alinua!!)
Given the alt text and the fact that the owner of this arm doesn’t have purple skin… Well. Where’s Alinua?
ROUND 2
READY?
F I G H T!
Did you know:
When a whale dies and falls to the seafloor it is called a whalefall and is a critical part of the seafloor ecosystem. Whalefalls are not only feasts for the seafloor scavengers but also some chemoautotrophs (get their energy from chemicals) like tube worms as well. This is by intaking the hydrogen sulphide produced by some of the bone decomposers as they eat the bones of the whale.
I love these ‘did you knows’ so much 😀
Thanks!
Is that something Alinua could save?
Or something that is resisting destruction?
Well, now how is she gonna walk on land again?
I thought that was Alinua for a sec