OOTS #277 - The Discussion Thread

[The Giant]

The Bad News: The strip is two hours later than I wanted it to be.

The Good News: That's because it's the triple-length conclusion to the crayon saga.

The Other Good News: This is Sunday's strip. There's another Monday strip coming, though don't look for it until at least 4-5 pm Eastern time, and maybe not until later in the evening.

[Lord Herman]

Genius! Pure genius! I got tears in my eyes, those last panels are just too damn funny!

[Zaku_III]

Wow, I like that it wasn't a big happy ending for the group.

Also, you'd been waiting for the last crayon comic to settle the Soon debate, eh? Kinda dissapointed myself, but no worries.

Excellent backstory, and the other gates should be very interesting when they come up.

Edit in Complete Jest: Damn you Herman! Damn you!

[Rei_Jin]

Yet again an awesome comic.

I would just like to thank you Giant for giving us these comics, and the effort you go to. Being a god to so many people can't be easy.

And I for one don't care how long the next one takes, as long as it's Gold like the rest have been so far.

What do we think, will it be the Belkar vs Miko, the Trial, Xykon and Redcloak, or the Linear Guild?

Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.

[Zaku_III]

I want it to be all four, Rei.

[Knight13]

I doubt it will be all four, unless the Giant decides that he no longer needs to do anything besides draw comics for our amusement. ;) Thank you, Mr. Burlew!

[mipers]

Brilliant breaking of the fourth wall! I shall be calling my agent, indeed... ;D

[JamesPicone]

Last panel=love.

[Skyserpent]

Whoo! Go Hinjo!

[nerve]

triple-lengh strip - that's how I like my monday mornings :)

AND Haley wet& nearly naked.. wow - I guess some guys wont be able to take their eyes from the last panel :))

great job!!!

[Ryltar_Swordsong]

The last 4 panels were great. Well worth the wait.

Haley: Are we back?

[Dispozition]

Awesome as ever. Keep up the great work.
Loved the last 4 panels.


P.S. I take offence to that nerve.

[Euphemism]

BWAHAHAHAHA!
<wheeze>

[lofrothepirate]

Hmm. I wonder if this all means that Xykon has run afoul of the Sapphire Guard before, though. Clearly he must have known about the gates for a while... And the Guard might have noticed someone snooping into That Which Must Not Be Snooped.

-E

[soni]

Hinjo's going to command the Sapphire Guard? But he's not a proper Paladin- he doesn't have a stick up his ass (yet)!

[Nerd-o-rama]

Ah, a grand conclusion for the Order of the Rifts saga, that stupid Soon/Shojo argument ended, and Haley in a towel. For this, I think we can all forgive a couple hours' lateness.

I was wondering how Kraagor was going to guard a gate when he was perma-killed...he's guarding it In Memoriam.

And is it just me, or did Soon and Papa Shojo not stick around very long? If the Gates were made and the Sapphire Guard formed between 60 and 66 years ago, and Shojo's been ruling for 47, that's an average (lifetime) reign of 6.5 to 9.5 years between them. Hmm.

[Sleffie]

I would say that "Are we back?" is exactly what Haley is saying, yes. :)


Jay for triple-length conclusions!


I think there's still some time left before Shojo will die, plenty of time to implant a stick up Hinjo's ass anyway... or hope it will grow there.

[Dugray]

Ah, a grand conclusion for the Order of the Rifts saga, that stupid Soon/Shojo argument ended, and Haley in a towel. For this, I think we can all forgive a couple hours' lateness.

I was wondering how Kraagor was going to guard a gate when he was perma-killed...he's guarding it In Memoriam.

And is it just me, or did Soon and Papa Shojo not stick around very long? If the Gates were made and the Sapphire Guard formed between 60 and 66 years ago, and Shojo's been ruling for 47, that's an average (lifetime) reign of 6.5 to 9.5 years between them. Hmm.

Maybe Soon just wanted to retire, at that point Shojo's father would have ruled for 20 years.

[Elurindel]

Wow, the giant just keeps on giving ;D
At last we know why the gates are so important, and which ones might already be compromised. I loved the way the OOTS were all sitting around waiting for it to be over, and then Haley comes on in a towel. I guess adventuring does make yoy rather smelly without frequent washing.

[Leo_Forestclaw]

What a incredible conclusion to the Crayon Campaign! I've often wondered what could drive a party of adventurers apart and the painful reminder of a friend's death... ya, that could do it.

I do have one question: What happened to Girard's goatee? It rather seems to be missing - assuming he didn't shave in-betwwen #276 and #277.

[iltharanos]

Hiroji is Shojo's successor? Awesome. Now let's just hope nothing were to happen to either Shojo or Hiroji ... 'cause then that'd be quite annoying if [glow=red,2,300]Miko[/glow] were next in line.

[Eldhrin]

Oh my don't even think about that possibility!

Brilliant comic Rich, I was cackling for at least ten minutes before I could summon up the energy to press the Post button. And another comic today as well (well, tomorrow in this time zone). I feel highly privileged.

[illathid]

i love it! good work as always Giant...

[Marller]

Awesome, thanks Giant. :)

I guess Elan went to the toilet, if Haley can take a shower. ;)

[manscatha]

The trees are my favourite. In fact I think I shall be making myself a Guardian Tree icon in the near future.

I am so, so sad that they would have perished in that forest fire...

[Fale]

That comic was both very interesting and funny. Good job!

[rosebud]

Let's see...

1) Killing goblins

I can imagine poor little redcloak, just off panel, watching with horror as the Sapphire Guard cut down his father.

2) Haley fan service, again. Poor Haley. Tee hee. Oh, good, someone's decoded it.

3) I'd ask where Elan was carrying the yo-yo, but if he had a paddle ball and jam, it's probably not worth the botther. He does look so cute with the yo-yo.

4) Library purge/Crusade

Interesting parallels that could be drawn, but the one amusement is the one book in a library that did not purge the information. Ah, for the joy of journals.

5) I like V in what appears to be the yoga position. I just don't understand why V wasn't listening intently to the entire explanation. It's not like she's easily bored. Ditto for Roy. If you're going to be dragged to the Southern Lands, you'd think those two were listening.

6) Where's Durkon?

7) Oh my word. I LOVE the crayon rays of light on the chair. The fourth step is oddly longer, though.

8] Yeah, the time sequence confused me, too. Soon seems to have aged and died too fast. Shojo's father, as well. And Shojo seems too old, as well. Maybe it's a heavy burden. It would have been interesting, though, if they had destroyed something that was centuries (or longer) old.

I do like that Hinjo will outrank Miko some day, though. (Assuming she's around to be outranked.)

9) I wonder if they retained the knowledge for building the gates. One would hope so.

10) I could see why Durokan would dissociate from Soon and Girard, but I thought he was trying to get into Lirian's magical door. And they worked together on the spells.

11) Pur-ple worm. Purrrrple worm. :) (And cute idea for guarding.)

12) I don't see why anyone in the party would have opened Durokan's gate. There's no particular reason for it to easily open for the pure of heart, is there? (The sigils and necklace could be considered separate.) They never wanted those gates opened. That was the entire point of them.

[enigma]

Wonderful Giant.

Kinda sad the crayon epic is over, but can't wait to find out the outcome of the trial. And I wonder how Miko and Belkar are doing. And wouldn't it be great if a message for Roy comes soon?

Enigma

[Nerd-o-rama]

I also liked Shojo's little spin in favor of his Fearless Leader:

"Spells were readied in anger, and blades drawn in self-defense."

Sure. Honorable ol' Soon was just protecting himself from the marauding arcanists.

Hmm...where was Lirian througout this whole falling out sequence? And did she and Dorukan, at least, remain associated? In fact, I think the main conflict here was Soon vs. Everyone Else, rather than a free-for-all blame game. But that could just be because of who's narrating.

[The Giant]

Re: timing, it's not apparent from the crayon drawings, but Soon is supposed to already be in his late 40's when his wife is killed (his wife is in her 30's). Then it's 19 more years until Shojo takes command. In the panel showing the two Shojos, Shojo II is supposed to be about 12 (old enough to already be learning in his father's court). If Shojo takes control of Azure City when he's 21 (let's say), then Soon passed the baton more than 56 years ago. That would make Soon in his late 50's when he passes control to Shojo I. Not too early to die of old age in a medieval setting, especially for someone still grieving his spouse. Shojo II would then be around 68, downright ancient by these health standards.