Whitechapel - FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T04:22:00-08:00

It's Friday, time for FREAKANGELS: In which the shit that kicked off last week continues to kick.

Morning, Whitechaple. Too cold, fingers not quite working. I continue to consider possible winter mulling recipes for red bull. Everyone else surviving?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T04:28:50-08:00

First signs of Christmas here this week. Snow, car not starting and first christmas concert of the year. All three hours of it.
Now that's a good cliffhanger to end with. Only 6 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes until we find out what happens next.
Oh, and yay Sirkka.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T04:29:04-08:00

And kick it does...

@Paul Duffield: That offer still stands for me to carry your children.

I'm so happy it's Friday. No more of this 'leaving the house' bollocks for me. The weather has said 'Fuck off inside, ye gowl' and I'm more than happy to oblige.

Let me know how that Mulled Bull thing works out, Ariana

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T04:56:13-08:00

Well, shit.

Another brilliant spisode, and I love how quickly the girl without abilities who had come to kill them has become one of them so seemlessly. You have to wonder if there's an alterior motive there...

...or maybe I just have to...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T05:00:48-08:00

i have always loved the art in this series, but today...today i was absolutely blown away!
i had to back and read each page because i was so lost in the art.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T05:19:55-08:00

CLIFFHANGERRRRR

Not that I'm really worried yet.

What had be worried was that minite I couldn't get into Whitechapel and got a "An unrecoverable error has occured" message.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T05:28:53-08:00

I echo, "well, shit... Great episode, had me scrabbling around like I was in the dark, trying to work out what was going on...

Been a good/crappy week. Missed the Alan Moore signing at my LCS to go to a football match that bored my eyes. Got sick on Tuesday but managed to finish a piece for a 'zine I write for. Had to work an extra late on Wednesday. Finished my Christmas shopping yesterday and spent a ton of money on other people which felt great. Couldn't sleep last night, and am working on three hours sleep. Did come up with a whacky children's story about karma and a red calf, though...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T05:38:16-08:00

MORE PLZ

Also, first panel = wonderful.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T05:59:31-08:00

wonderful as always

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T06:10:47-08:00

Oh, thats nice. Very nice.

I am all alone, at the moment. The girlfriend is interstate. The best mate is down the peninsula, outta town. Nobody on twitter was awake or talkative. So I decided to head into town for some street-scraping.

And I finally managed to track down Wunderkammer. They were closed, of course - this was about 11:30pm - but in the window they had this delightful little Stirling 4 Difference Engine, fully functioning. Absolutely gorgeous in its pointlessness, and it made me entirely forget my loneliness and left me cheerful for the rest of the evening. I'm going back tomorrow during business hours to pick up a similar, though simpler, device for a drastically cheaper pricetag. The Stirling 4 is retailing for about AU$300, you see...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T06:11:43-08:00

Paul, your art is getting better with every episode. :)

Warren, thank you for that ending - Love the expression on her face.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T06:23:06-08:00

Wow

Usually, I comment on the week's episode and then my own week.
"Well, Shit" pretty much sums them both up
(In a good way for FreakAngels, and in a bad way for me)

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T06:28:12-08:00

Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit.

Shit.

Most of the week I've been packing and dealing with my obviously insane two-year old daughter. Because no sane person would shout "HUNGRY!" at the top of their lungs after I've acknowledged that I heard them, right? Not for half an hour, right? Not ten minutes after finishing lunch, right? That's what I thought.

Also I'm using this week to prepare for birthday shenanigans. We usually invite some friends over for a weekend of gaming, right near my birthday, but this year we happen to be moving/driving the weekend of my birthday. So we moved it up. Which is why I'll probably be entirely out for the rest of the weekend. Hope no one's weekend gets fucked over by a grenade.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T06:50:59-08:00

@ Oda I got the same message too, lots of readers on slowing it down perhaps?

Loved the bird's eye view opening this weeks episode and the tension is excellent, I want more!

Weather wise we seem to of warmed up a little bit compared to the last couple of days, night time is freezing though.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T07:10:17-08:00

Spent some few minutes wondering what the possibilities could be for this week's installment. It was a nice touch to my morning. I got to be utterly wrong. That is pure joy right there.

The artwork is incredible. The yellow of the gun blasts pops so strongly and acts as such an odd, but effective flare/light source. And now we get to find out about Kait's possibilities and where the hell is Arkady anyway? did I miss that? am I just being lazy?

Today it is cold and everyone is beginning to complain about it, so I get to be content in my own little world of many many layers and warmth. Also - there will be a matinee today as I do not have an afternoon job anymore and there is Punisher at the huge fuckoff theatre downtown. i hate that theatre. fucking monopoly.

Hope all are well, Good morning, Whitechapel!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T07:27:46-08:00

Couple thoughts... these guys seem a little too prepared? I mean, they obviously had it set up well in advanc, but its just a bit too organized. Like whoever it was knew exactly how the 'Angels would react.

Why can't they make bullets? Im not sure on the whole process, but I know my dad makes his own bullets. Melt some metal and stick it in a mold or something.

Snowing here. LOVE IT!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T07:36:17-08:00

@HylianHearts - you also have to have the equipment and gunpowder, as well as the primer button that ignites the power in the casing. Which, I assume, aren't really being manufactured anymore. The actual bullet and casing are easy enough to recycle, but the powder and primer are a little tough to come by.

Also, there's this, because my wife demanded it. Apologies if it's terrible.

She also wants a mobile wallpaper, but I'm not sure I'm up to that right now. Too busy.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T07:50:24-08:00

So happy I'm a red sea pedestrian and don't have to deal with all your Christmas mishagoss. No I don't want to go to your family's house for christmas dinner. SCREW THAT NOISE

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T08:07:15-08:00

I was wondering if Kait may actually be a seriously high value target among Freakangels crisis responders. And I'm pretty sure Mark is somehow listening to the FreakWaves and directing his minions to the other 'Angels. Or at least that's my theory. Again, the best part of Friday has fled by too quickly and it's far too long to next week. Thanks again.

Oh, and also thanks for giving Alice a plum role as more than "hapless norm", "brainless minion" or "irritating punk avenger."

I really love these characters. }:>

another week has slipped through my hands leaving only burns and cuts. *Sigh*

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T08:34:59-08:00

@Ariana

Yes, the cold bugs my hands and feet, too. Not too bad in Phoenix, though. If I were still in Santa Fe it'd be something like 20-30 degrees at night. Erk!

A grenade is a bit of a cliffhanger, yes?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T08:58:41-08:00

Thank you Warren, Paul and RickieP. That is my favorite panel of the whole damn thing thus far. So good.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T08:59:34-08:00

A grenade is not only a cliffhanger, but suggests a pretty well organised (or at least well equipped) outfit coming in on the offensive. Perhaps the 'angels aren't the only stable community around after all?

Anyway, bravo Warren and Paul. I don't know much about art, but I know when I see stuff that makes me think "yeah, I'd hang that on my wall".

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T09:37:39-08:00

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

That was a scream of pure joy. This update rocks. And now I must go do paperwork and clean up my choir director's mess. Have a great weekend, everyone!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T09:52:12-08:00

I love FreakAngels, I have to admit it's my favorite Warren Ellis piece, and I only love it more each week. I particularly love the pacing of it all, wonderful how we've got over thirty installments for one day in the life. There may not be action in every installment (thank you Warren), but when it starts... wow! Always pleased. I keep telling every comic/graphic novel buyer that comes into my store that they need to check out FreakAngels.

I can't wait to see what Kait can do, the grenade is the perfect setup to show off some awesome ability... or add some messiness and drama.
Oh, and someone asked about Arkady; she wasn't at the Freakcave, but I have a suspicion she'll show up at an interesting moment (or completely miss the fun and not realize it even happened).

My week was great, busy as hell, but great. I'm having fun throwing my staff recomended book at everyone, keeping Hunger Games selling. I want to get it out there, 'cause it's awesome. I finally got some FreakAngels in the store and am slinging that one too. I love my work.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T09:59:21-08:00

Agreed on the gunshots. It's not often I get drawn into a scene in a comic like that but I could almost hear the gunshots going off in my head. Bravo.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T10:44:34-08:00

It's a cold 66° here as it is all relative. But I fear for Kait. I'm hooked.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T11:25:19-08:00

"Well shit" is definitely what I'd say. That's precisely what I said to myself when I realised that was the last panel.
O Paul o Paul o Paul how can you draw so well so fast, man? Do you have a life?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T11:32:13-08:00

I'm lovin Whitechapel at dusk! your best art of the series, Paul. Page 3 was a beaut. The Red-Headed Stranger is good for hangovers. It's quiet and pleasant and has no whiskey in it whatsoever.

And RE: bullets - I'm sure people are making bullets like homebrew; making as much as they can out of whatever they can. But there are no more boxes of bullets and shells besides what's around people's guns mostly because
a) handguns are illegal in the UK, so any of that stuff would've been blackmarket, and certainly imported (except for sporting rifles and ancient powder guns for reenactments, I think - someone English please correct me if I'm wrong, here).
b)If the whole world's drowning, my guess is that International trade and large-scale manufacturing is taking a hit as well, legal or otherwise.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T12:39:01-08:00

Paul Duffield, I bloody love the colors. Ellis--great, as always. Alice is really turning out to be the shit.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T12:49:10-08:00

This was a wonderful issue. I hadn't realized they could die so easily, and I'm excited to finally see Mark. Killing Freakangels. Awesome.

Weather in Eugene OR is bloody brilliant. I shaved all my hair off the other day and the cold nights have made me wonder why I did this at the beginning of Winter, but the sun is out today, and if I didn't have all my final essays to write for Monday, I'd probably go outside and bask in Naturally Glorious Beauty.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T13:29:47-08:00

Great cliffhanger.

And great art. I love the way Paul Duffield’s restrained art makes this run-down world come to life. No hulking superhero guys, no girls with explosive T&A. Gunshots are simple, psychic powers are rendered lightly. Nothing here overwhelms the writing, but everything complements it. It took me a while to see how special that is.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T13:54:10-08:00

I say it's the Americans.

Other than that, what can I say? The artwork, particularly the color purple, is phenomenal. The writing keeps me closely interested, though I can't treat it like I normally treat such works (coming in after they're finished and expressing interest by devoting more and more of my day to reading.)

@Cyman
Eugene, eh? I went to High School there. Portland sunshine is poking me in the eye. If I could, I'd send it south to warm your barren skull.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T15:01:39-08:00

Every week You give us more, but it's never enough.

It is the begining of summer here I'm covered in sweat typing this it is horrible and I woul;d gladly swap weather with you northern hemisphere twats

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T15:23:37-08:00

@Gekko
Thankfully yes! :) But it is distinctly Freakangels flavoured.

Thanks for all the compliments on the art this week people @@ It's a lovely boost to be able to read these comment threads at the end of a busy week and hear what you think.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T16:30:28-08:00

Just read all of the Freakangels archives, love your work! One thing is puzzeling me though why is her foot got dust pluming up in front of it? If she was running it would be all the way around it, if she was skidding to a halt it would be behind it. The dust in front of her foot would mean she's moving backwards. Normally a reaction would take a little longer than that grenade gives her I would think.

Kaitlyn, she's a great character, hope you got a way out of all this for her....

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T16:52:38-08:00

After reading the trade and the rest of the episodes, I got to tell you Paul, I never had an artist making to my "favourite artists list" in so little time like you did. Keep up the gorgeous work!
Hmm guerillas night fights. Loving it!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T17:02:50-08:00

Paul: Wow. Just wow.

Warren: And you're carefully distracting us from whatever Alice is up to. Sneaky, sneaky...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T18:23:44-08:00

Props on the beautiful comic, My boyfriend and I are starting a little comic project, and FreakAngels has been very inspiring. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough, but I haven't found any other graphic novel style comics online that make Me say "Wow, these guys are good". Only on the bookshelf. Keep up the good work.

Crystal

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T18:43:59-08:00

Holy shit Paul. That scene with Jack pushing away the telekinetic shield and returning fire is absolutely spectacular.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T19:52:17-08:00

I hate to think this, much less type it or paraphrase it, but...

(I think) Freakangel has killed Freakangel.

Woe unto ye Freakangels, and woe unto us all...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-05T22:30:10-08:00

Is this the first above shot, like way way way up in the fucking sky like above shot. i can spell goddammit, but really. what is with all the bubbles and shite the last two weeks, yes i understand that bubbles are the perfect resemblance of physic bull shit yadadadaadadad but really bubbles werent they invented in the 70's or what not. I WANT EXPLOSIONS. BRING THE EXPLOSINGS GERNADES ARE THERE I WANT BOOOM BOOOM BOOOM BOOM OMG BRITISH COMICS AND THERE CLIFF HANGERS MY BONGER WITLL GIVE YOU A CLIFF HANGER FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YEA

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T01:34:55-08:00

Um......what?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T04:03:38-08:00

Wow plus ten!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T09:54:30-08:00

The more I think about it, the less concerned I am for Kait's safety. I really don't think Warren intends to kill her off so quickly, she's going to be too interesting and useful to the plot. (the only time I've seen killing off characters right after they're introduced work is in Jacqeline Carey's Banewreaker/Godslayer duology) So unless Warren is planning to do a lot more flashbacks, thus being able to keep her as a character, I don't think she's about to die. I still maintain that it's a great way to show us her awesome FreakAngel abilities.

I think this is one of my favorite installments so far. I went to work and kept handing people the trade copy of FreakAngels, then muttering something about amazing cliffhangers to come and grenades... "There was a grenade in today's episode... a grenade!" with glee, of course.

I am also convinced that, while you may be worthy of worship, Warren, it may be the evil overlord sort of worship. Something cleverly demonic that will consume our souls. Thank you for creating FreakAngels and WhiteChapel, it has further enriched my world, even if you will end up owning a piece of my soul.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T10:40:30-08:00

I am also convinced that, while you may be worthy of worship, Warren, it may be the evil overlord sort of worship. Something cleverly demonic that will consume our souls.

I try.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T11:13:35-08:00

Got around to reading this last night, but I crashed before I could comment. This episode was visually amazing! Thank you for the freaking awesome art Paul! And Warren Why do you torture us with cliffhangers so??

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T13:10:09-08:00

Because *he* can.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-06T17:54:45-08:00

Watch, something as simple as kicking the grenade will save her.
Or another "angel will pop up. Arkady rambling in and having a lucid moment.
Actually, I think Arkady is mostly Lucid and enjoys choosing not to be.
I take that back....or do I? I'm really not sure. Annnyywayyy....

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-07T05:35:01-08:00

I have one question. Why the fuck would anyone wear a singlet like Jack's? IT SERVES NO PURPOSE!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-07T09:25:27-08:00

Mark? I didn't see Mark in this ep. But I'm old and kind of stupid, so...

Part of me wants to suspect Luke is involved with this somehow, but I rather think he's too involved with his own dick to plan out a complex attack such as this. Mark might be involved, but this is rather soon after his earlier attempt using Alice, so it could well be that there is another Major Player behind this.

Regarding ammunition, at first I thought, well, manufacturing new cartridges isn't all that hard, if you save the brass casings, and gunpowder can be manufactured if you have access to charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter. The bullets can be had by melting lead (should be easy enough to scrounge in an old city like London) in the proper molds. But I forgot about the primers. Those would be really tough to replicate.

Although if you're really clever, if you find intact cartridges that are the wrong size for your gun, you can disassemble them and use the powder and primers in new cartridges you make with the recycled brass and freshly-molded lead bullets.

In modern times pretty much all civilian firearms are banned in Britain, even shotguns, and the .22 calibre target pistols used in Olympic sports, (so that the British team has to go practice in Belgium, I'm told). But of course, hashish is banned too, and look how well that's worked out. So there are an estimated 2 million illegal guns in Greater London. Probably quite a few illegal shotguns in the hinterlands.

But the best source of guns and ammo would likely be the military armories. Which apparently someone has found. Uh-oh.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-07T17:39:01-08:00

...If you save the brass casings, and gunpowder can be manufactured if you have access to charcoal, sulfur and saltpeter.

That would be fine for breechblock loaders or muzzle loaders, but automatic weapons like the one Jack has requires the smoke and gasses to be clean to prevent cobbering up the weapon in a few shots. This would mean a source of Nitric Acid which is met currently with byproducts of the meat/agriculture industry. A few strawberries from the rooftop? not gonna do it.

I guess the amount of firearm supplies they can forage would depend on how many people were left alive to run when it all went boom, and how long ago it was. Also on how well someone can recognize that some chemicals that are simple and harmless alone can be quite deadly when mixed right.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-08T09:33:32-08:00

I don't usually pop in to this thread, as I never have much to say besides 'wow, that was good as always' .

Anyway, on the subject of guns I imagine that there might be safety reasons for not making your own bullets. Even considering the FA's technical abilities, handmade bullets might not be something they'd want to rely on - it could only take one jam or misfire to make a dangerous situation into a deadly one.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-08T10:14:25-08:00

@rickiep00h

AHH!! That's my favorite panel of this episode too!!! *loves*

Sirkka and Jack are so sweet together!!!

@Cassisus
I totally agree. He wants to show off his body maybe? "Everyone look - I've got no tummy fats."

Grenade. Goodness.

@HylianHearts
Hmmm I think that this is a great chance for Kait to show her powers - (which I've been waiting so long for!!! So maybe i'm biased >_< ) and since her eyes are glowing in the last panel I forsee Kait doing something absolutely amazing with her powers.. ^_^

I guess she's sorta a loner, so I doubt someone will come to her rescue.. Couldn't Kait have sensed someone around before she got the grenade at her feet? OH MY I just realized that if you look really closely you can see the vague figure of the person who threw the grenade!!! in panel 2 of the last page! That is so cool! Paul Duffield's attention to detail is amazing!! Or did Warren Ellis specify that it should be included in the comic script? hmm... Still, it's great! ^_^

Other than that, I echo the general sentiments - The enemy seem too well prepared w ammunition and advanced planning; Freakangels are weaker than expected.. Have they grown soft and complacent w their powers? Hm.

Can't wait to see what part Alice has to play in all these madness.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-08T11:56:41-08:00

Or her eyes are glowing to see in the dark???? Ha ha.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-08T12:03:34-08:00

CFC!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-09T01:40:18-08:00

@TheCommissionerJ: I can think of two stockpiles of 5.56 ammunition mm within fifty miles of my location and I could make an educated guess at the location of a stockpile of 9 mm. Grenades might be more tricky as I can't remember the location of my nearest regular Army base (is there one in Northampton?). Just because we don't let our general public run around semi-automatic weaponry doesn't mean that there isn't any in the country

Kait is wearing body armor so she might survive if she drops flat on it. There's this fantastic photo I found on military.com of a Marine Master Sergeant being carried out of a building in the aftermath of firefight where (so the medal citation says) threw himself on not one, but two grenades. He can't walk, but he's still holding his sidearm, still scanning the roof-tops and still maintaining trigger discipline (how the fuck do you stop someone like that?) Of course in the six years since the world ended, the fabric might have begun to polymerise so all bets are off

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-09T07:10:24-08:00

Not to mention Warren said Kait's wearing a stab vest, not a "jump on grenades" vest. I'm not very familiar with either, but I expect there would be reduced effectiveness due to the different design.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-10T08:31:47-08:00

@HylianHearts
Hahaha.. that's funny.. ^_^ maybe? ^-^

FREAKANGELS Episode 0037

2008-12-10T13:45:19-08:00

ZJVavrek: On further research, it appears that modern grenades are designed to penetrate body armor. However, it appears to be an M2 grenade (of WWII vintage) so the thrower will be lucky if it goes off at all, but I can't imagine Uncle Warren doing something lame like that. However, Paul may have decided that the modern grenades just don't look like the general public imagine hand grenades to look like and drawn an M2 instead

Edit: to save people asking, this what a modern grenade looks like