Comic for Tuesday, November 1st, 2022
Nov01
on November 1, 2022
at 8:01 pm
Chapter: Chapter 17
Characters: Currently Unshot Messenger, Innocent Kid 1, Kally, Peter, The Consul, The Consul's Bodyguard, Unknown Doctor
Comic
Polls
2023 Santa Hat Poll - Who will claim the Christmas Crown this year?
- Kally Summers (9%, 32 Votes)
- Ila (8%, 28 Votes)
- Naomi Atarah (8%, 28 Votes)
- Miko (6%, 22 Votes)
- Fluffy (6%, 22 Votes)
- Miko's Avatar (6%, 19 Votes)
- The Consul (5%, 18 Votes)
- Avi Atarah (5%, 16 Votes)
- Mari Kepler (4%, 14 Votes)
- Doctor Mir (3%, 11 Votes)
- Mium (2%, 8 Votes)
- Peter Kepler (2%, 8 Votes)
- Lisa (2%, 7 Votes)
- Rovak Stas (2%, 7 Votes)
- Arron Kepler (2%, 6 Votes)
- Kyle Kepler (2%, 6 Votes)
- Camilla Canthi (2%, 6 Votes)
- Amy Selah (1%, 5 Votes)
- Magnolia Dai (1%, 5 Votes)
- Tamara (1%, 5 Votes)
- Nathan (1%, 5 Votes)
- Shitty Demon (1%, 5 Votes)
- Maia Ethi (1%, 4 Votes)
- Ashvalt Ardunni (1%, 4 Votes)
- Saria (1%, 4 Votes)
- Ashley Thomas (1%, 4 Votes)
- Artem Arduni (1%, 4 Votes)
- Alex (1%, 3 Votes)
- Arkady Arduni (1%, 3 Votes)
- Tyler Weber (1%, 3 Votes)
- Atter (1%, 3 Votes)
- Elizabeth (1%, 3 Votes)
- Ryn Koko (1%, 3 Votes)
- Toshe (1%, 2 Votes)
- Doctor Martin (1%, 2 Votes)
- Ricci (1%, 2 Votes)
- Frank (1%, 2 Votes)
- Nelson Otte (0%, 1 Votes)
- Regin Enkari (0%, 1 Votes)
- Gate (0%, 1 Votes)
- Jayce Myer (0%, 1 Votes)
- Ikirium Avon (0%, 1 Votes)
- David (0%, 1 Votes)
- Nick Otte (0%, 1 Votes)
- Joid (0%, 1 Votes)
- Yoav Cao (0%, 1 Votes)
- Biana Beyer (0%, 1 Votes)
- Vairlem (0%, 1 Votes)
- Gelon Level (0%, 1 Votes)
- Marc Idunni (0%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 81
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Not to worry. Take your time. The mob needs to go buy new torches anyway.
Somewhat predictably, I will miss this week as we continue the other week pattern. This isn’t really an intentional pattern, beyond that I just try not to miss two weeks in a row and am fairly busy at the moment. In the long term I’ll think of something to get it back on track, but for the time being we’ll go with I’ll post when I can try not to miss two in a row.
I think I speak for all of us when I say that (a) we vastly prefer every other week to once a month or every two months or sporadically and totally unpredictably, which we’ve all experienced at some point with other webcomics.
And, really, we strongly prefer that you take care of yourself, even if it means missing the odd week (or are these the even weeks?) periodically.
So, yeah, if you find a way that works for you and brings it back to weekly, that would be great. Meanwhile, keep on keeping on, please!
And I hope that whatever is keeping you so busy *also* is giving you ample pleasure!
You do speak for me at least, Josh.
Seriously, PastUtopia, I didn’t even expect a notice from you, because you had told us that you would try to post an update every two weeks. I am just grateful for the comic pages we do get and for the fact that you keep us informed (even on the same site the comic is posted) and that you take care of yourself (because in the long run that means you are less likely to cancel this comic – yes, I am a selfish person). So take care and don’t worry, I will keep coming back.
I keep returning every week or two for a story that recently had a 5 month gap followed by roughly two months each for the next two updates.
Another tale I followed abruptly announced they were shifting their efforts to an anime tale, leaving everything hanging… and a year later, a new page appeared with an insistance that updates will continue (though 17 months later, it hasn’t yet).
PastUtopia runs like clockwork, comparatively.
I’d follow this story even if it were far less consistent, but it is a blessing that it is more consistently published than not.
Thank you, again!
I would personally rather the attempt at a weekly schedule than a giving of it up for a monthly schedule or whatever. I don’t mind coming in and seeing an author’s note that things got delayed (life happens, after all), but accepting a slower release schedule is the first step to petering out into nothing. At least with an attempt at a weekly schedule things might get back to it eventually, but most authors don’t actively increase their update schedules over time (if for no other reason than they get more perfectionistic about it and that takes time).
And, honestly, it doesn’t take that long on either side; neither for the author to write a short note saying that something came up or for the readers to check the page and then resolve to come back next week.
Page is coming as I’ll continue to aim to not miss 2 weeks in a row, but I don’t think I’ll have time finish it tonight, so probably tomorrow mid-afternoon.
Past,
Thanks for the update. Hope your real life gets straightened out.
Let’s discuss the _important_ stuff.
Let’s get the Santa Hat vote up now.
And no more rigged voting. The winner should obviously be Ila and her rifle.
Anyone with just a bit of common sense will vote for ILA. You might survive Naomi punching you but one shot from ILA’s huge sniper rifle is always fatal.
Pretty sure that’s a reason to avoid voting for Ila; you have to bear in mind whether the character would appreciate being be-hatted and likely means of displaying displeasure.
I feel that conversing with each-other in an unknown language maybe isn’t the best way to look official and reassuring…
It keeps the possible bad guys from knowing what you are planning. It also gives a psychological advantage of uncertainty and promotes further cooperation.
That depends on how up to date the doctor is on the current MSB org structure and whether Central’s language is something the doctor can recognize.
If the doctor is up to speed with the situation and can recognize Central’s language, it all checks out: All of the registered mages are currently occupied with defending the country, so of course the current MSB head from Central would be using one of his own mages rather than someone from the MSB for his support.
But otherwise, absolutely. Also, I’m guessing it is probably the otherwise case.
Also, Cali is fairly well known in Malsa, probably with her face plastered across every news station after her stunt with the HVW, so bringing her in and talking to her in her own language probably isn’t seeming odd when dealing with a demon.
Do you mean Kali/Kallisto? Kali is a good woman, IDS member (one of the good ones) and Peter’s friend/girlfriend. Cali would probably be Acalia, a bad Rogue family member.
Last panel: what you were about the say -> to say
Quick question, please. In the Monday, October 3rd, 2022 two comics ago, is the white calculation circle typical of an autocaster? That and the way Peter holds out his hand to summon the circle seems a bit odd.
Thank you.
Rather than try to address that myself, I’ll point to discussion on that same comic page. Specifically that initiated by Amaranth at October 4, 2022, 3:26 am.
There she points out that Nathan is the only other one to use a similar looking calculation, it was described as gold there rather than white.
An excellent argument was made for that to be some sort of zone edit / demon destroying level of magic.
In this case it seems likely that Peter’s spell was an illusion of Peter casting a spell.
Thanks for the explanation. It didn’t actually come to mind that Peter’s “spell” was another one of his illusions. Peter’s “magic” sure surprised the demon.
Curious now though.
Could an illusionary circle cast real magic?
If not, why not?
If both cast real magic, what is the difference between an illusionary and a non-illusionary circle? In this thread, “illusionary” was used to describe something which looks like magic but isn’t. (Yes, it might not be the correct technical term, but then most of us are laymen when it comes to magic.)
No, because of the definition of illusionary.
A better question would be, “Could a holographic magic circle cast real magic?” I believe the answer here is it could appear to with the help of a device whose existence was masked from the demon’s perspective by nature of being behind the Peter holograph. But it’s probably not magic.
That having been said, I wouldn’t put it past Peter to do just enough actual magic at the same time to perfect the illusion so that the demon’s magic sense doesn’t point out how much of a lie that holograph was. To that end, I believe Peter stayed between the demon and the window just enough to cloud that space with the bare minimum number of mana particles to plausibly produce this effect, and then stepped out of the way as quickly and thoroughly as he could without disturbing those mana particles. (Are mana particles affected by air turbulence? If not, are they affected by a similar phenomenon that could confuse the issue, causing them to appear to be affected by air turbulence?)
There is something special about Peter’s illusions. Kally was alarmed that Peter’s illusion fooled Fluffy the Mighty. She mentioned that the old geezers of the mage society would be surprised if they knew and that Peter could end up being a mage. The demon was also shocked at Peter’s illusion so perhaps the illusion actually did something although not as powerful as a real spell. Peter knew enough to present the appearance of a banishment spell so could he load an autocaster with such? I’m also wondering if Peter has developed his own special new and improved autocaster.
The children in the previous comic were protective about the doctor. That indicated that the doctor was not one of the bad guys or at least one of the really bad guys. Today’s comic seems to confirm that impression. The doctor could be lying but it doesn’t seem that way. Innocent kid 1 is pressed against the injured doctor who appears to have an injured arm inside his coat. Can’t really tell but it appears the doctor’s left hand is holding the kid’s arm through his lab coat.
Rouge Family involvement in experiments is indicated. My guess would be one of the families involved in the attempts to kidnap Artem.
We still don’t know the identity of the third party who deactivated the security cameras. Any guesses?
The facility was electronically isolated from outside. Perhaps Peter will get Mium to read the systems before the official MSB shows up.
Which ones are the Rouge Family?
Not the red heads, certainly. Mayibe the ones who wear make-up!
I don’t think I’ll hazard a guess as to which family is involved. Maybe Acalia’s, but that’s shooting in the dark.
I hadn’t taken notice of the bunched lab coat before. It could be the doctor holding a blanket or second lab coat or such around the kid. Could also be using the kid a bit like a human shield. Peter doesn’t seem quite ready to take out the doctor though, so? Not really sure.
My first thought was also a blanket or another lab coat draped over the kid. However, on closer examination, the doctor’s hand is inside his coat and holding the kid’s arm. The coat is scrunched up where the kid is pressing against the doctor. The kid may have moved into a position defending the doctor or perhaps the doctor was giving her a thank you hug.
In the next frame the kid is back at the doctor’s side so I think the kid moved between Peter and the doctor. The doctor still has his hand in his coat. Now, is he cradling his injured arm in the coat or does he have a gun or autocaster. I vote that he is supporting his injured arm. Peter, if the doctor shoots you, I apologize for distracting you.
The arm in the coat reads less like “injured arm” and more like “putting pressure on a bleeding torso injury” to me, actually.
Looking closely at the good doctor’s body, the blood starts up his at his left lapel and continues downward. About half way down his chest, the blood trail broadens quickly then heads right just above the arm he is cradling. So,yes, the right side of his abdomen appears to be severely injured. He probably needs more than the first aid that Peter mentioned.
I was just playing with Rouge vs. Rogue.
I, too, don’t think the doctor is offering any threat to Peter.
No problem. I understood that you were making a joke about my mis-spelling Rogue. However, please be aware that Rogue Families members sometimes use rouge.
Yup. Magical Misfits comic strip seems to routinely spell it that way too.
But is it enough to make you see red?
It doesn’t necessarily mean that he´s not one of the *really* bad guys. It just means, if he is one of the *really* bad guys, he’s good at pretending like he’s sympathetic and working to help the kids. I’m reminded of a particular horror story in which the ringleader of a drug smuggling group was the one who gave the kids their drug-laced food and acted like he was also a prisoner. Even after they were safely hooked and trained to run the drugs, the ring leader gave the instructions through flunkies set up to take the fall.
It only came out that he was the ring leader the third time he was found to have been mixed up with drug smugglers in relatively quick succession.
But that’s one of those subtle sorts of things that seems to be beyond the Rogue Families. They didn’t seem like they had enough respect for the commoners or the Bureau to put up that kind of a show for them.
The doctor’s left side seems a bit larger than their right side, though that could just be a perspective thing. For example, if the camera were really close to their left shoulder, that could explain why it would seem like it is. But itś also possible it could be due to other reasons.
Unless those two kids are part of the really bad guys plot, it seems the doctor is not involved in the bad stuff. The kids are way too protective and one kid interposed his/her body between Peter and the doctor. The doctor’s body is symmetrical in the previous comic. His left shoulder may appear to be higher/larger since he has his arm tucked into his coat for support and also the drawing perspective. Now, if the doctor suddenly sprouts a shitty demon left arm, then all bets are off.
It seems you didn’t understand what I was saying at all, so just restated your point.
Bad people can be deceptive. They can fool adults, and they can fool kids.
Also what Just_IDD said, but I’m talking about another way it can happen.
I understood you. However, there are other clues that the doctor may not be one of the really bad people. Yes, I know what Stockholm syndrome is but I don’t think this applies here. Although the doctor might be bad, there are some other clues that support the doctor not being one of the really bad guys. The doctor’s first concern was asking Peter to save the children. Peter and Kally also saw the people in the facility as two groups: armed guards and doctors/techs. The extent of the doctor’s injuries and the children’s reactions indicate to me that the doctor tried to protect the children. We’ll just have to wait until the Archivist catches up with real life and posts the next comic.
The injuries I accept as evidence that the doctor may not be a bad guy, but it wouldn’t be the first time a bad guy got hurt as a result of their scheme going astray. The other could just be acting.
Part of the reason I’m being so stubborn on this is my older brother. He’s always been good at acting whenever anyone who could get him in trouble is around. When we were growing up, adults would never see it, because he always behaved for them.
Yes, I get that sociopaths and psychopaths don’t have the necessary attachment to do this, but not all bad people are sociopaths or psychopaths.
To be clear, I’m also not trying to say that the doctor *is* a bad guy. I do not know. I am explicitly waiting and seeing on this one. Much like Peter seems to be inclined to do.
The doctor may not be a ‘good’ doctor and still get this response from the kids. You should read wikipedia on a thing called Stockholm Syndrome.
Basically, the victim of a long-term kidnapping believes they need to protect the kidnapper from the authorities because the kidnapper has been supposedly keeping them safe from outside conditions. When in fact the kidnapper is the reason they need protection from outside conditions!
I know what the Stockholm syndrome is. The Stockholm robbery occurred a year after I graduated high school and the Patty Hearst kidnapping was a year later. I remember how strange Patty’s voice sounded in the tape where she was supposedly supporting the SLA/Symbionese Liberation Army. Never understood the mindset of people who wanted to blow up banks and post offices.
Madame Consul’s snark continues to amuse everybody but her subordinates and her opponents.
The doctor’s reticence to speak up is duly noted. This is probably an instance in which Fluffy’s appearing would bring a rapid change, but with the password it might not be needful that the doc say much at all.
And I would guess that Peter has mixed feelings about the arrival of others – easier to know who the players are when they are actually there!
Thank you for the comic!
I’ll second that. Thank you for the comic!
Vote for Madame Consul!
“easier to know who the players are when they are actually there!”
True, but by then it is a little late to start creating the narrative. Especially if they show up assumed to the teeth.
We still haven’t discovered who turned off the cameras. Also waiting to see who shows up to get whatever Peter brought as bait. This could evolve into a four sided scenario instead of just the current two. The onsite people might be two factions such as the really bad people (with guns) and the not so bad such as the doctor who may be forced to work there.
Madame Consul is an unending delight, yes 😀
The catapult thing reminds me of this:
http://www.rhjunior.com/quentyn-quinn-space-ranger-0054/
The catapult she is rerferring to is skyhammer which was put in place by the IDS during an earlier plot point. It was during that event Kally became irritated with Peter because he implied that she needed to shoot down the attack, even when he had already set up Mium to do it. Peter later made up to her for it by saving her life when the same faction tried to kidnap her back to Central.
Personally I think it was a smart move by Peter showing that Kally was just as capable as Malsa’s own high level red construct mage so that she could be safely sidelined during a later conflict.
Not convinced.
Madame Consul shouldn’t have access to skyhammer, and skyhammer is a HVW orbital platform (that is, it launches missiles downwards, and isn’t really good for launching things into orbit. What you need there is the orbital cannon system….)
https://www.project-apollo.net/mos/mos008.html
Now you did it! You just had to mention another comic. I’m currently reading #177 out of 435. Oh well, I didn’t have anything scheduled for Sunday while waiting for the next comic here.
Thank you for the link to new (for me) comic!
Jim
Just finished the Miracle of Science comic referenced in the link. I highly recommend reading the comic from the beginning. Not really giving anything away but there are spaceships and AI’s in the comic.
The above link starts with comic #8 but there is a link to the first comic below the image. The comic pages are black and white until comic #38.
Their second comic seemed good too, but it stopped updating without really going anywhere.
Still MoS is well worth picking up; it is short enough you can binge it in an afternoon, has an engaging storyline, and explores some interesting concepts.