Strip with the most emotional impact for you?

[mattie_p]

I know this has been discussed before, but apparently not (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106077) recently (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234211). What strip has had the most emotional impact for you?

For me, it would have to be Strip 496: Responsible (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0496.html). I can't even think of it without tearing up, much less read it through without bawling.

The first time I read it, I was blindsided by the fact that there was another Greenhilt I had not yet heard of (or didn't recall). The connection that Roy had, abandoning his mother and his archon, to go spend time with Eric, was amazing.

It is probable that this had extra impact on me because I am a father myself, and the thought of losing one of my own children would be devastating.

So which one does it for you?

[veti]

Strange, 496 regularly gets mentioned in this context - but it left me completely cold. I think because this was the first we'd heard of Eric, I was just thinking: "Huh?"

I think my most shocking would be the still-raw-and-recent 877 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html).

Previously, I would have nominated 642 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0642.html) - the point where V had a real chance to choose sanity, and rejected it.

[Gift Jeraff]

#807 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0807.html) holds a special place in my heart because it was uploaded a few hours after I learned my cat was dying.

[BirdHarvester]

#639 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) still fills me with a feeling of dread every time I read it. V's whole arc has had a lot of emotionally impactful strips, but that one really tops them all for me.

[jumpoffduck]

From Start of Darkness:
Redcloak: Goodbye, brother.
Right-Eye: Goodbye... Redcloak.

[Vinsfeld]

#830 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html)

Tsukiko just wanted to be loved. :smallfrown:


Although, there's also the one that Durkon dies. I almost cried on this one.

[Alan_Pehnereas]

For me, it was actually #400. I'm kinda a hopeless romantic songwriter type, and this one just gives me such great hope . But I also really like #417. It's so sweet. <3

[CRtwenty]

#830 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0830.html)

Tsukiko just wanted to be loved. :smallfrown:


Although, there's also the one that Durkon dies. I almost cried on this one.

I'll second Tsukiko's death scene. I really didn't like her, but I didn't expect her to get taken out like that. I felt pretty bad for her afterwards. :smallfrown:

[Zerter]

I'll third Tsukiko. An unhappy, messed up life probably followed by a even more messed up afterlife. The way she died also extremely painful.

[Mike Havran]

Durkon's death is pretty much above everything else for me.

[RMS Oceanic]

Different strips, different emotions

393: Ohcrapohcrapohcrap OH THANK GOD
400: Awwww :smallsmile:
443: Wait, what?! :smalleek:
496: Bittersweet tear or two
639: Um, wow, that's a lot of...are those eggs? Um...:smalleek:
662: You know, I never realised how scary an undead abomination who could slam flaming meteors into my face and bind my soul to him forever more could be. :smalleek:
695: Girard you silly goose! :smallfurious:
841: Um, wow, that's a lot of...are those kids? Um...:smalleek:
877: I think :smallfrown: shall suffice.
896: I think :smalleek: shall suffice.

[DaggerPen]

#496 actually never really gutpunched me like so many other people - my initial confusion over what had happened and my initial thought that I'd totally missed the context (I started reading after the strip came out, so I was just archive binging when I came across it) took the edge off for me, so while once I puzzled it out I did get a bit of the old waterworks feeling, it never really socked me in the stomach.

Familicide definitely evoked a very strong feeling of horror in me, as did Tarquin's casual "Kill them both", but the one that really got me was probably Mr. Stiffly! MR. STIFFLY! O-CHUL! (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0654.html).

Oh! Though the revelation that Familicide killed the Draketooths may tie that one, because I freaked the **** out when I read it. I even dragged a friend into reading it just to have someone else to freak out with about it.

[CRtwenty]

443: "The First Step is a Doozy" (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0443.html) was pretty shocking to me as well. I didn't expect one of the main cast to die suddenly like that.

[urbanwolf]

Although I can agree with Roy's brother, and Tsukiko death as being emotionaly charged moments.

The most powerful strips to me tend to be Elen centric.
Leaving Azure city without Haley or You would of made an awesome girlfriend being the biggest, but the little ones can hit too. Like he mother crying over a lost "nail".

The absolute biggest impact though would have to be when V's husband attacked her in 641 and the look of terror in her kids face, and the ghosts taunting her.

[Finn Solomon]

"My family's screwed up, and that's never gonna change." Poor Elan, echoing a lot of RL people.

"O, buddy Roy." I like the song a lot, and it genuinely was moving. Until Belkar and Xykon ruined it.

"I'm in love with you and I thought I was kissing you!" Oh, how many times I've wished I could do what Haley managed to do.

"I get ta go home." Damnit, Beardy McBeerstein. I'm not supposed to care this much about you.

"It appears...not everyone agrees with your...analysis." Biggest hell yeah moment of the comic. I punched the air.

V and the family tree. Aside from being a good name for a band, this was the one strip out of nearly nine hundred that made me close my laptop and go 'Wow' for like a day.

[pikeamus]

"More than anything."

Damnit, should not have read that strip while at work. Now having to hide my glassy eyes from the person sitting opposite.

[TerrickTerran]

830...poor Tsukiko....almost made me stop reading the strip because I liked her so much.

[Kish]

The Familicide strip.

I'm not going to look it up, because I try to avoid looking at it unless I absolutely have to.

[Tarqiup Inua]

Miko's death tragical, you could say. I liked her as a character.

[Szarrukin]

"Only the honor of the paladin is unbreakable... even by death itself"

[coineineagh]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html
Belkar's psychological journey in 606, and his re-emergence as a sexy, shoeless god of war in 611 were related to this. It changed him from a dark comedy foil into the unlikely hero that he still is right now. It's an unexpectedly uplifting story that people can change for the better sometimes.:belkar:

[CRtwenty]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html
Belkar's psychological journey in 606, and his re-emergence as a sexy, shoeless god of war in 611 were related to this. It changed him from a dark comedy foil into the unlikely hero that he still is right now. It's an unexpectedly uplifting story that people can change for the better sometimes.:belkar:

Yeah, Belkar quickly became one of my favorite characters after that. He'd been irritating up until then, but afterwards he's been great. Plus seeing him interacting with trippy dream Shojo was a hoot. :smallbiggrin:

[F.Harr]

Roy getting smushed. I'd only recently started reading the strip and was on a strict "as many episodes as a could per day" diet of OotS. THAT came as a shocker.

[Jay R]

Then who did this?
And why? (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html)

[Draz74]

You know what? Other than 496, the one that really comes to mind for me is one with an unusual emotion (for this story) attached to it: peace and friendship (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0666.html).

[Cirrylius]

#639 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0639.html) still fills me with a feeling of dread every time I read it. V's whole arc has had a lot of emotionally impactful strips, but that one really tops them all for me.

It probably makes me a terrible person, but that moment of crowning horror when the dragon realizes the consequences of her actions makes me savagely grin.

"Oh, NOW you're sorry. NOW you're showing genuine regret. NOW you want to stop, because NOW you realize that the sequence of events so far WASN'T the worst possible outcome.

...tough."

[Kish]

It probably makes me a terrible person, but that moment of crowning horror when the dragon realizes the consequences of her actions
I wish I believed that this phrasing indicated you think Vaarsuvius is female.

[Cirrylius]

Sorry.

Although I do see V as female.

[Ebon_Drake]

"Only the honor of the paladin is unbreakable... even by death itself"

This.

#500 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0500.html) always gets me for hitting uncomfortably close to home.

[Sylian]

You guys have already mentioned a lot of the most emotionally impactful strips from this comic, and I agree with many of them. I believe that there is one more recent one that is really emotional, and that's #880 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html).

[Hatchet]

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0610.html
Belkar's psychological journey in 606, and his re-emergence as a sexy, shoeless god of war in 611 were related to this. It changed him from a dark comedy foil into the unlikely hero that he still is right now. It's an unexpectedly uplifting story that people can change for the better sometimes.:belkar:

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought of #610. I really don't know why I like it so much, Belkar isn't even my favorite character, but this is definitely my favorite strip, together with #606. It's cool to see someone else who felt the same way about it.

[HanKhalifa]

For me, this one is a no-brainer, and I can't believe nobody has mentioned it yet. Hands-down, #593: Another Choice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html).

This one is heartbreaking for me for several reasons. One, an ostensibly Good (or Neutral with Good leanings) character, who helped the order out, even if only because she was in love with Elan, dies. Two, she is forced to realize that her dream of being with Elan, even though she didn't really know him, was not ever feasible under the circumstances in which they existed. She finds this out on her deathbed, to make things worse. Three, Elan is forced to shoot her down, so to speak, or at least finds himself unable to lie to Therkla about the possibility of them ever being together. Star-crossed lovers, despite the love not being reciprocated. Four, Elan is unable to save the day, in this instance. I like Elan, despite his childlike goofiness.

All of these things combined, from the two character perspectives, literally make me tear up when I read that strip. I know this has been said before, with respect to other strips, and I used to not be certain whether folks were exaggerating or not. After reading that strip, I know that it's at least possible.

[ChaosArchon]

So is it necessarily wrong that prior to learning about the Draketooths i viewed V's familicide spell as zir crowning moment of badassery?

Oh and the line "It appears not everybody agrees with your assessment" was another badass moment where I was like yes!

However strips like Elan's song for Roy's death, leaving Haley behind, and him realizing his family will never be how he wants it were really sad moments, i felt horrible for him.

[Gift Jeraff]

So is it necessarily wrong that prior to learning about the Draketooths i viewed V's familicide spell as zir crowning moment of badassery?

It became a crowning moment of funny after learning about the Draketooths, right (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0856.html)?

[Xelbiuj]

I don't know if there has ever seen one as satisfying as this one. (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0595.html)

Not just because she wasted a jerk that really deserved it but by that time everyone one thinking the same thing, "can we please get back to saving the world?"

Not storyline related but if I never read this one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0863.html) again I'll be happy.

[B. Dandelion]

For me, this one is a no-brainer, and I can't believe nobody has mentioned it yet. Hands-down, #593: Another Choice (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html).

This one is heartbreaking for me for several reasons. One, an ostensibly Good (or Neutral with Good leanings) character, who helped the order out, even if only because she was in love with Elan, dies. Two, she is forced to realize that her dream of being with Elan, even though she didn't really know him, was not ever feasible under the circumstances in which they existed. She finds this out on her deathbed, to make things worse. Three, Elan is forced to shoot her down, so to speak, or at least finds himself unable to lie to Therkla about the possibility of them ever being together. Star-crossed lovers, despite the love not being reciprocated. Four, Elan is unable to save the day, in this instance. I like Elan, despite his childlike goofiness.

All of these things combined, from the two character perspectives, literally make me tear up when I read that strip. I know this has been said before, with respect to other strips, and I used to not be certain whether folks were exaggerating or not. After reading that strip, I know that it's at least possible.

I was actually thinking about mentioning it, but apparently I mentioned it last time around and I didn't want to be redundant....

This is beautifully written, by the way.

I cried at Therkla's death and then again at the follow-up (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0598.html) when Elan does her eulogy. I think there are a lot of really beautiful, scary, and heartwrenching moments over the comic, but those two strips were the only ones that literally made me cry. I just don't cry all that easy, but somehow those hit all the right nerves. My heart was going out to both of them -- Therkla for having lost everything, and feeling some final comfort just in having Elan's arms around her as she died, and Elan (who in my opinion is the nicest character in the strip) being utterly helpless either to save her or to lie to her to give her what she wants. That "I'm sorry that... I don't even know" really gets to me on that level. I thought "she would have made a really good girlfriend, too" was pretty perfectly Elan sort of sentiment to leave at her grave, and I think it's very sweet in the spirit it's intended.

[Demolator]

830 takes the cake, because as much as I didn't care too much about Tsukiko, the way she went out was pretty dang emotional.

877 is the runner up. Poor Durkon.

[Comrade]

I know I'm gonna end up looking like one of those people who just goes against the grain to look cool and apathetic or something, but Therkla's death really didn't impact me much. She didn't feel like a fully developed character and I felt like too much of her was based around Elan and her attraction to him. And her death, too, ultimately felt less like the death of a character and more like a pivotal point for Elan-- which is good, of course, for providing that pivotal point, but not so good for making me feel bad for the character in question.

That said, Durkon's death immediately comes to mind when I think of emotionally charged scenes.

[Kish]

So is it necessarily wrong that prior to learning about the Draketooths i viewed V's familicide spell as zir crowning moment of badassery?
"Necessarily wrong" would take you into Morally Justified Thread territory, unless you're asking for Rich to come out and tell you, in which case...he's probably too busy (but you might find the Don't Split the Party commentary enlightening), but I don't understand why the perception would be changed by you learning about the Draketooths. Vaarsuvius' murder count was even higher than previously thought, so s/he was even more "badass" than previously thought.

[Reddish Mage]

So is it necessarily wrong that prior to learning about the Draketooths i viewed V's familicide spell as zir crowning moment of badassery?

Oh and the line "It appears not everybody agrees with your assessment" was another badass moment where I was like yes!

However strips like Elan's song for Roy's death, leaving Haley behind, and him realizing his family will never be how he wants it were really sad moments, i felt horrible for him.

"badassery" implies a lack of solemn emotional depth that I think V's moments called for. V killed an entire dragon clan out of revenge down to juveniles and eggs. Even if dragons were irredeemably evil creatures that had to die for the sake of the safety of V's family it is hardly the same sort of note as Belkar "I'M A SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR" shouting upon a pile of dead hobgoblin soldiers.

[ChaosArchon]

"badassery" implies a lack of solemn emotional depth that I think V's moments called for. V killed an entire dragon clan out of revenge down to juveniles and eggs. Even if dragons were irredeemably evil creatures that had to die for the sake of the safety of V's family it is hardly the same sort of note as Belkar "I'M A SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR" shouting upon a pile of dead hobgoblin soldiers.

Well I was referring to a trope but if I had to expand upon my statement it would be that to me it was a moment of awe as V wrought total devastation to anyone who at that moment posed even a slight threat to zir loved ones.

As to why my opinion of that act changed when learning about the deaths of the Draketooth clan, it is because it changed from retribution (albiet a perhaps unnecessarily massive extent) to murder because previous it had been the deaths of many creatures who were presumed to be evil and whose sole purpose in the world are encounters for the PC parties (this is a D&D world) into the murder of clan of humans who may be neutral or good and whose purpose was to defend one of the believed cornerstones of reality.

[hamishspence]

"whose sole purpose in the world are encounters for the PC parties (this is a D&D world)"

The Don't Split The Party commentary made it clear that when V thought this- V was in error.

[ChaosArchon]

"whose sole purpose in the world are encounters for the PC parties (this is a D&D world)"

The Don't Split The Party commentary made it clear that when V thought this- V was in error.

In world, yes V is wrong in zir statement and I agree that in any real world you can't label anyone as only for one purpose. However this is also a story and characters do have an exact purpose assigned for them. For instance, the flumps (I think thats what they are called right?) sole purpose in terms of storytelling is to be a joke and also provide the characters normally with a soft landing (except Roy). This is a trait not limited to OOTS, its the reason nobody usually seems to mind when protagonists in books, movies, video games, etc. slaughter legions of minions. It is because their sole purpose in terms of gameplay/storyline is conflict and for the protagonists to ultimately best them.

So that is why I personally do not feel bad about the dragons deaths as for us they were evil while the Draketooths were doing something good. Its the same reason why we don't care if our heroes kill goblins, dragons, humans, etc. In a real world though yes, the deaths of any being at such a scale would be lamentable.

[Reddish Mage]

Well I was referring to a trope but if I had to expand upon my statement it would be that to me it was a moment of awe as V wrought total devastation to anyone who at that moment posed even a slight threat to zir loved ones.

As to why my opinion of that act changed when learning about the deaths of the Draketooth clan, it is because it changed from retribution (albiet a perhaps unnecessarily massive extent) to murder because previous it had been the deaths of many creatures who were presumed to be evil and whose sole purpose in the world are encounters for the PC parties (this is a D&D world) into the murder of clan of humans who may be neutral or good and whose purpose was to defend one of the believed cornerstones of reality.

Awe is something else. I definitely had a "That's no Moon" moment. Like seeing Star Wars as a child for the first time before I got spoiled by special effects. Its power wielded on a truly massive scale.

The lack of empathy for evil-predominant black dragons is lamentable but something Rich anticipates and is writing towards.

[Goosefarble]

Therkla's death (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html) struck a particularly poignant note for me, as with many other people. Also, Miko's death (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html) was surprisingly striking too. I hated her as a character, but that final strip with her was the first one where she seemed... human to me.

Other than that, the only one I can think of that always gets me oddly choked up is this strip (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0550.html). It's one of the most heartfelt ones, in my opinion. And finally, A Familiar Conclusion (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0672.html), just because it's such a melancholy end to the arc, yet kind of bittersweet at the same time.

[Kish]

However this is also a story and characters do have an exact purpose assigned for them.
You're trying to have it both ways. Yes, this is a story, and every character has a purpose. The exact purpose assigned to all the dragons Vaarsuvius killed with Familicide was to be as innocent victims as you could ever hope to meet, appearing once to be slaughtered by someone they knew nothing about who knew about them only that they were at some distance related to an enemy of his/hers. That is their single in-story purpose. Their purpose is not something assigned by your misunderstandings of Dungeons and Dragons. In world? It was an atrocity. In story? It was an atrocity. There is no position you can stand in that it was anything but an atrocity.

[oball]

It's an odd choice, but I think it has to be the last panel of #881 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html). Once upon a time, Belkar would have been delighted at the chance to cause someone pain. Now, he's clearly changing, but he doesn't seem sad or angry or bitter about his perceived role in the party. Just resigned to it. And to me that makes it all the more sad.

[MReav]

"Only the honor of the paladin is unbreakable... even by death itself"

Ditto. For some reason, I have the urge to play Frog's Theme from Chrono Trigger whenever reading it.

[Harbinger]

842 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) caused me to jump out of my seat in sheer horror. 783 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0783.html) gives me a horrible empty feeling in my stomach every time I read it. It always reminds me of the end of Of Mice and Men.

[Oscredwin]

I can never read 449 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html) without tearing up. "Only the honor of a Paladin is unbreakable - even by death itself."

[Goosefarble]

842 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0842.html) caused me to jump out of my seat in sheer horror. 783 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0783.html) gives me a horrible empty feeling in my stomach every time I read it. It always reminds me of the end of Of Mice and Men.

Oh god, seconded on #783. "What the hell is wrong with you, you stupid oaf? You moron! Kill me already!" really just... ow. My feels.

[Kaerou]

Familycide.

It was too much. Literally WAY too much for me to accept from a comic.

I dumped OotS for about a year afterwards.

[CRtwenty]

Familycide.

It was too much. Literally WAY too much for me to accept from a comic.

I dumped OotS for about a year afterwards.

Well it's nice that V didn't get off the hook for it. S/He's going to be dealing with the consequences of casting that spell for a [i\long[/i] time.


Oh god, seconded on #783. "What the hell is wrong with you, you stupid oaf? You moron! Kill me already!" really just... ow. My feels.

Luckily the follow up strip was pure awesome. :smallcool:

[alternaloser]

634: The Wrong Reasons...something about V's expression, the admission of failure. I guess I could picture myself taking the same action and being conflicted over it.

[theNater]

Belkar isn't the only one who gets the tingles when Roy goes all badass.

Like the time in 113 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0113.html) and 114 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0114.html).
Or in the first panel of 430 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0430.html).
And, of course, 808 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0808.html).

[TDG]

"I can live with that." (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0464.html)

Most of the clearly "sob-inspiring" strips don't really get me (Vamping Durkon, Therkla refusing rez, Eric etc) but that one just slams me. Something about Miko trying her best and failing, never really comprehending why she failed, believing till her last that she was right and having that glimpse of hope stripped by the icon that she worshipped - its just phenomenally written.
Then in the end when everything else is gone, all she wants is her horse - the only thing that ever really bonded with her and was a companion to her.
The fact that she'll be able to sometimes see him replacing her driving force and hope, and becoming the only comforting thing she can look back on for at least the length we were engaged with her story..

Boom - Right in the feels.

[Luna_Mayflower]

679 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0679.html) I guess just how final and bleak the whole thing seems. Just... unexpected, really.

Runner up would have to be 877, (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0877.html) but that one's been talked about to death (That's not me trying to be clever, I swear).

EDIT: Thinking about it, before the last pannel, I really didn't like 886 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0886.html), mainly becuase, above all, I don't want Xykon to die a death, or be destroyed, without any humour. I know he's evil, but at the same time he's too loveably evil for him to die just like that.

[F.Harr]

Well, we do seem to be lucky to have a narrative with so many excellent moments.

[Ninja]

From Start of Darkness:
Redcloak: Goodbye, brother.
Right-Eye: Goodbye... Redcloak.

This.
The fact that in the end he did not call him Little Brother, or even by his real name, but the fake one he picked not to displease Xykon.

[Mightymosy]

If I am allowed two (because they sorta belong together), then it's 593 and 594. If only one, then 593 pretty easily. Most sad and emotional strip of all. There are some more pretty emotional ones, but this is #1

[Saharo]

There are of course Durkon's death, Roy's death, the familicide strips, and so forth, but there are three which have always stood out to me.

1. Therkla's Death (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0593.html)
2. Haley's Speech Being Restored (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0393.html)
3. (From SoD) The Azurite extermination of the Goblins

Do those first two choices make me a preteen girl? Meh.

[BroomGuys]

This one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0880.html) really got to me. The first time I read it, I felt like Roy's reaction was too over the top, didn't make sense... until the last panel. Seeing resignation in a character hits you much harder when they have to go through denial first.

[Gwenovier]

Other than deaths. I often find that the ones that hang with me the most are one-liners. "Hiding is my best skill". (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0311.html) And "Hurting people is the only thing I'm good at". (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html) It's the idea that the characters are coming to realize their flaws, and to be burdened by them.

[Forbiddenwar]

Perhaps not the most emotional, but definitely in the top five and the first strip to illicit an emotional response other than "that's kind of funny"

The Dwarven Way (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0084.html)

Somehow, after all this time, it still gets to me.

[Liliet]

#1 - Running away (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0623.html). Before that I thought that V was being a stupid stubborn jerk. After that I felt the need to apologise to vir for those thoughts )=
#2 - Complex math (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0866.html). At this moment V has fully redeemed virself in my eyes.
#3 - Breaking and entering (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0452.html). This strip proves to me that this comic is NOT comedic. It doesn't have a single joke, and it's one of the most powerful. I listed it third but only because I, personally, care for V, personally, so much.
#4 - Second chance (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0657.html) and Flight of the Phylactery (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0659.html). While I was reading them I was still on an archive binge so I don't percieve them separately. That's where V's redemption began.
#5 - Innocent man (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0367.html). "I need to warn Haley"... oh God. Oh Giant.

Yes, 4 out of 5 are V's personal arc... it's the most important arc for me at the moment.

[F.Harr]

Other than deaths. I often find that the ones that hang with me the most are one-liners. "Hiding is my best skill". (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0311.html) And "Hurting people is the only thing I'm good at". (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html) It's the idea that the characters are coming to realize their flaws, and to be burdened by them.

They were already burdened. They just admitted it. Powerful, indeed.

:smallfrown:

[coineineagh]

How about somebody recreates this thread as a poll, and puts down the most frequently occurring strips, from this and earlier threads? It would be cool to let them have a standoff:smallcool:

[Mollez]

It's an odd choice, but I think it has to be the last panel of #881 (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0881.html). Once upon a time, Belkar would have been delighted at the chance to cause someone pain. Now, he's clearly changing, but he doesn't seem sad or angry or bitter about his perceived role in the party. Just resigned to it. And to me that makes it all the more sad.

That one gets to me, too. It's not big or overstated, there's just something really sad about the words, "Hurting people is the only thing I'm good at."

It reminds me a bit of this strip (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0131.html), where Haley reveals that she's counting her money because she needs to save up for her dad, and Durkon misunderstands; she can't admit her problem to anyone, she's just so alone and she's faking it.

Actually, now that I think of it, a more dramatic strip related to that is this one (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0245.html). And the two that (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0246.html) follow it (http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0247.html), to a lesser degree.

[Oko and Qailee]

One that hits me every time (and I've re-read this comic so many times).

#490 - Final Review.

When the Deva says "you're trying" and then explains how it's the struggle that matters. It made me feel very happy. I feel like I mess up a lot, and the idea that if I keep trying things will get better means a lot.

There are a lot of other ones that you guys brought up that also hit home, but I don't want to sound like a broken record.