Whitechapel - FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:02:03-07:00

It's Friday, and that means FREAKANGELS: a sweet little comic about being bestest friends 'til the end of the world. And then not so much after.

How's everyone? Were we back to school this/last week? The internet just about halved in chatter -- the sort of drop you'd expect from all the college folks being busy, all the parents scrambling to get kids out the door, and all the teachers falling over half-dead. It's been a bit eerie...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:06:01-07:00

Wow! I was expecting something to happen, but fuck me - the shits going to hit the fan now!!!

Ninja Edit:
Awesome pages though - make me wanting more!!!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:10:24-07:00

How many more eps till the end of volume three? Because I can't wait to own it.

I'm alright. Just alright. No better.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:16:53-07:00

AWESOME!

Eh, I'm doing ok. Work's been better the last few days. The kids have gone back to school though, making my walk to/from work a bit of a minefield.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:34:06-07:00

Ha ha ha, thumbs jabbed into bullet wounds. Classy, and entertaining.

Being back in school....makes my head hurt. Just, hurt.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T04:58:56-07:00

Awesome indeed!
Way too exciting for this morning, hungover and my head hurts, and you start the day by blowing my mind!!

Not complaining though.
Awesome

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T05:42:33-07:00

Wow.
Glad to see something is happening.
Love the writing as usual, love the art...
BUT!
A few questions... What is up with Kirk's pants? From panel to panel, um, they change. And, I know it's raining, but what the hell is up with that last panel? Does heavy rain mean that pants transform, and the cliffhanger must be vague?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T05:43:58-07:00

These pages are jsut awesome (as usual)! Dan for having to wait until next friday for more...

Doing well here. The college students have invaded the neighborhod of Boston I live in. Trash, stupidity, and bottles/cans/beer cups are everywhere. As long as they keep out of my way ad act semi-civil I won't have to tase any of them *twitches*

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:14:15-07:00

Great update. I just have one question: what am I supposed to see in the very last panel? There is rain, and a hand, and... something.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:14:15-07:00

I am honestly unsure of what happens in that last panel. Someone's thumb is going into someone's flesh, but who(m)?

Anyway. Awesome stuff.

Personally? Uni is going to kill me this weekend, and if it doesn't, I should probably just spare myself the pain of future deadlines anyway.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:20:49-07:00

Awesome. Brutal. Excellent. At the first page I was nearly yelling at the screen, "Don't do it, Kirk."

Though I do agree that the last panel is a bit unclear. Took me a few minutes staring at it before I realised it was showing Luke's hand jabbing a finger into Kirk's bullet wound. All the rest of it, though, is pure awesome.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:36:04-07:00

Luke's thumb in Kirk's leg hole. You can tell because it's Kirk's shorts. On that subject: FUCKING OW. I want Kirk to win, but I think Luke's more of a dirty fighter. Or they could just do the "sibling" thing and fight it out until they're both tired of it and then pick themselves up out of the puddle. And then maybe continue the fight elsewhere.

As far as school starting: this is the first year in the last five that neither my wife nor I are going back to college in the fall; her because she's graduated and has a job, and me because we can't afford it right now (and my GPA is too bad for anyone to transfer me in.) So I have a bit of a weird feeling.

Add that to the weird feeling from getting our mortgage preapproval letter in the mail yesterday, and I can honestly say I've never really been in this position before.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:36:46-07:00

Luke's thumb, kirk's leg (he has the camo shorts on, and he's unlikely to do it himself).

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:45:10-07:00

Paul, your subtle sense of which details to include is extraordinary. I've been blown away by your distressed wallpaper and shadows cast by blood droplets before, but the panel where Luke's face is underwater! The blood thinning as it disperses, and depicting the momentum of raindrops breaking the surface of the water? JFC.This adds incredible gravity to the violence, and is what sets your work apart from most anything I've seen.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T06:51:27-07:00

I knew it was going to happen that way, as soon as I saw Kirk and Luke alone.

Never trust a snake.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T07:24:34-07:00

Thumb into a bullet hole to distract him enough so that Kirk can't use his powers... Beautiful!

Paul -- I'm with most everyone else on here, the art this week was absolutely stunning. Thank you.

Warren -- Wonderfully written scenes... Generally the comic has me curious to what's going to happen next, this is the first time I can remember it getting my heart rate up and being this exciting. I love it! (And, because I've never said it before, the 6 pages per week layout works wonderfully, please keep it up.)

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T07:35:39-07:00

you know, i still say "Is Friday. Is Freakangels." to myself when i wake up on friday mornings and remember.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T07:41:23-07:00

I am well, m'lady, and thanks for asking. School's been back here in Indiana for a few weeks now.

Another episode that makes me wish it was next Friday already, which is what it's supposed to do. Well done!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T07:43:43-07:00

I think over the next four-five (I'm assuming a skip week) weeks we're going to see our first Freakangel fatality. And unfortunately, I think it'll be Kirk. Luke surviving and escaping ups the stakes for the remaining Freakangels and draws Alice more fully into their family. With Kirk gone, someone will have to be the primary Watchtower caretaker, and that person will most likely be Alice. Also, Kirk's death will probably provoke a vengeful manhunt by the other Freakangels. Which also gives us a good reason to begin exploring the wider world outside of Whitechapel, even while inside Whitechapel the murders create further tension.

Remember that "issue-wise" next week will begin issue 18, which will end Valume 3.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T08:10:09-07:00

Actually, each volume of FA is 24 chapters of 6 pages each (144 pages). But yes, the end of Vol 3 is coming up early Oct.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T08:32:50-07:00

Wow, fantastic sequential art!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T08:48:14-07:00

An absolutely gorgeous, wonderful, suspenseful installment. Congratulations again, Mr.s Ellis and Duffield.

Also @Frakky hey screw you i'm one of those rowdy kids! (assuming you live in the Medford-Somerville neighborhood, but if not nevermind)

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T08:49:01-07:00

...but I like Kirk... damn you.

With much love, of course.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:00:50-07:00

@SilentObjector -i'm not in th medford-somerville area, though I do quite alot of drinking and rabble rousing there. I live in Brighton, right between all the kids who attend BC and BU. Im lucky that my condo is in a building occupied by grad students and younger working types, but some of the spots around us are just utter shitholes, as are many of their occupants.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:04:53-07:00

The only big thing on my end occurred on Sunday, when my birthday marked the year I chronologically turned into a cop.

As soon as I saw the rainstorm coming down, I knew from overexposure to Japanese media that Bad Shit Was Going to Happen. Kirk looks ready to become a real angel unless his package includes instant dirty streetfighter abilities. My worry is whether Ellis will kill off Kait since she's going off by herself to investigate the serial killer den.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:15:40-07:00

I'm still hoping someone shows up in time to rescue Kirk from his own stupidity. Likely it'd be Arkady, but I would be just as happy to see Connor or KK (I feel like everyone else is busy elsewhere).

@Miranda's Eyes - Part of me thinks that's likely, because good writers will do that sort of thing to us helpless fans (put someone in peril, then kill off the one who isn't directly in danger...) just to get the reaction. On the other hand, I don't think he'd kill off Kait just yet, Kirk maybe, Kait; not so much. Kait's a very popular, and central, character at this current juncture.

Then again, this is Warren Ellis, he may do it for that very reason.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:16:51-07:00

My worry is whether Ellis will kill off Kait

hahahahahahahahaha oh dear HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:33:55-07:00

I think Kirk is a lot more likely to die in the near future than Kait, but I don't want to see anyone die, personally.

I did like today's episode a lot, despite it making me worry about Kirk. Truly awesome violence.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T09:34:48-07:00

@ warren RE:

hahahahahahahahaha oh dear HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

You are an evil bastard I want another hit or freak angels already.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T10:12:13-07:00

I had a suspicion that Luke would try something like that, but still found myself saying 'Oh you little shit!' when he did. Loving the look on his face as he opens his shackles.

Warren, that laugh confirms that you are a mean, mean man. But don't stop.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T10:15:42-07:00

The action in the very last panel confuses me a little bit.. is that Luke jamming his thumb into Kirk's gunshot wound?

Hot damn I love this webcomic.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T10:21:38-07:00

Yes, and ouch.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T10:42:01-07:00

Yes. Ouch indeed.

I'm hoping Kirk will inadvertently "stretch himself" per Luke's suggestion as the scuffle continues.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T11:06:38-07:00

Woha woha woha.

Clicking on page 3 to page 4 I was like, what a bastard.

Yeah, I confess I don't really understand last panel neither but don't we all love it this way because we can't wait for next Friday.

Hey, Ariana. You're right, I've been half dead all week, but also half alive and kicking. Regards!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T11:23:22-07:00

One of the things I love about Freakangels is that the weekly episodes are so well timed - in the sense that each six page set gives us either a nice cliffhanger (a delightfully old-fashioned thing, that 'tune in next week' serial aspect...) or resolution point. And that these flow together so well when read continuously. Warren's craftiness (in both senses) in his plotting at a peak in this series, IMO.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T12:01:50-07:00

It was funny, that in the last few weeks, whilst Luke was being a punchbag, that everyone seemed to forget that he is also a Freakangel, and it has been suggested on three seperate occasions so far, that Lukes powers are unequalled by anyone bar Arkady. The last time was the previous issue, when the subtext I thought Luke was giving off was, "I'm going to fuck you up Kirk, you fucking insect". He looks a bit of a wuss when it comes to a swedge, but the Manacle popping was great. As if he'd actually need a key, I think this fight is going to get ugly, and I hope Kirk loses, because we need more villain.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T13:04:06-07:00

Why am I not surprised Luke would do that? Of course I'm tempted to say all the ways Kirk could have handled it but I realize that my ideas don't make for good storytelling.

As for my week - it's been pretty good. I've gotten some stuff dealt with and had the week off and if I could just get my WI license everything would be great. Cute boys would never hurt though.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T14:04:00-07:00

I could watch static, sequential graphic depictions of people thumbing each others' bullet wounds and fighting in pink-tinged water all day. ALL DAY I tells ya.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T14:19:52-07:00

Am i the only Whitechapler who has been bugged over the last 6 weeks that shackles plus Kirk is probably not the most effective way to restrain one of the 11 or 12 most powerful people on the planet?

When Luke popped open his manacles, I'm probably not the only fan who shouted "Well, THAT was always going to happen!"

This point has totally distracted from the (exquisitely) building-up tension in the past month or two. If Luke has finally crossed the line with his rape of a norm, and needs a FreakTrial, why would you leave him in a proper medieval dungeon, with only one guard? What could possibly go wrong?

The other FAs aren't doing much else (as evidenced by episode 64).

I’m reasonably confident that Warren has already taken this on board, but am surprised that not much has been made of this on Whitechapel.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T14:24:41-07:00

It's common knowledge that, this being an Ellis story, any character could die at any moment. Sometimes he does it out of spite, sometimes he does it for laughs, sometimes he does it because he hates us, or because we don't love him enough.

And sometimes it's all for THE STORY.

Yes, in big, thundering all-caps.

In any case, I welcome the death of any major or minor character. Not because I want them to die, per se, but because it creates CONFLICT. Ooo, there are those caps again. I should stop here.

Again, two thumbs up. And one in the leg hole, for good measure.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T15:01:50-07:00

Actually, each volume of FA is 24 chapters of 6 pages each (144 pages). But yes, the end of Vol 3 is coming up early Oct.

A normal issue of a comic book is around 22 pages. Figure 4 webisodes of FA equals 1 issue of 24 pages. By that measurement, we'll enter issue 18 next week (or the week after is next week is a skip).

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T15:04:06-07:00

@Rickiep00h

Sorry if the caps came across as too much
I was trying to point out that putting Luke in a pit with some irons on might be an inadequate way to restrain a superhuman.
And the other 10 FAs might have thought of this.

Cheers

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T16:01:35-07:00

Yeah, it's been obvious that Luke could escape in pretty much exactly this way but the others have been considering him pathetic for a long while. It's hard not to misunderestimated someone you consider pathetic.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T17:49:14-07:00

Jack smokes Panatella's. Reckon he shows up. HE gave Kirk the gun. (With Silencer, natch!)

'Course, only a fool smokes in the rain. (Uh, guess I'm a fool.)

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T19:09:57-07:00

I hate to say it, but for the life of me I can't make sense of that last panel. The hand is clear enough, and I figured the thumb had to be going into a bullet wound, but other than that I'm lost. I can't make any other elements aside from the rain resolve into a recognizable form.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T22:58:58-07:00

I'm rooting for Luke. That was a good fight scene. Had it been me, I would have stood there and watch him almost drown before offering to help him. There should have been two people watching him, but I think they don't have a lot of experience locking each other down that and they seem to underestimate Luke in general. Kait wouldn't have slipped like Kirk did (I have a feeling Kait will have something to say about Kirk's failure to watch Luke (unless Kirk gains control of the situation before that anyone notices).

Nevertheless, I want Luke to beat that ass good.

I don't really trust Kirk and Karl, since it seems like they decided to try and execute Mark (and it wasn't part of the general consensus <--I may have read that wrong but that's what I get). If Luke gets kicked out, I assume they will seek to END him feeling it's all for the best.

Anyways..I can't wait to see what happens next. The artwork is always just a joy to look at. This week was both brutal (more like primal) and beautiful.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-11T23:57:57-07:00

Very enjoyable, Luke's a fool if he doesn't think Arkady isn't ready for him.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T04:53:57-07:00

I agree that the last panel was a little hard to figure out...but otherwise, this was a neat fight scene.

Ooooh hey, I'mma going to Scarefest today in lexington ky.
This year, doug bradley is the guest of honor, and the show is being hosted by my awesome friend Dave Fultz.
(seen here at the end of this trailer hehehe)
My Bloody Wedding

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T05:56:33-07:00

@Louie Huwie - No no, bit of a pisstake at myself. And, you know, writing. THE PLOT and THE STORY and creating CONFLICT and all that. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic toward people, but toward ART. Well, maybe a little sarcasm toward Warren, but he's a totally benevolent internet god and loves us all and wouldn't hurt a single one of us.

...would he?

*cowers in terror*

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T07:10:44-07:00

Okay then, I might be consigned to the Tinfoil Hat Ward for this, but I figure it has to mean something, soooo...

*deep breath*

May I direct your attention to the bottom of page two? A matched pair of panels, nearly identical, but for the diabolical glow of Luke's FA juju, carefully nudging the safety off of Kirk's firearm. Hey now... years of working out Henry Boltinoff's Hocus Focus puzzles may be paying off, because I spot another interesting difference: the camo pattern on Kirk's pants. Hmm. Seems a bit odd. I would think an artist would just clone the panel, and then change the significant details. The rain, for exam... holy chikkin nuggitz, the rain. Every drop, streak, splash and ripple is the same. The panel was cloned! Which begs the question: why are Kirk's shorts apparently squirming like Rorschach's mask on Red Bull?

Or maybe I've just gone a bit yumpy.

[ UP NEXT: THE VAN JONES CONNECTION ]

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T07:28:09-07:00

@dddrum
Ah, that was a bit of an oversight! It's just down to a quirk in my working method, and having several people helping with the colouring. Would appreciate if you could put that in the continuity and editing thread, so I can clean that up for the print volume.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T08:55:48-07:00

I think this struggle may enble us to see Kirk's powers. I get the feeling that he is a reluctant Freakangel and this may be the kick in the pants to show us what he really has up his sleeve.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T09:45:12-07:00

@thewaltonsare: I really, really like that theory. Luke's head might just explode all over the wall with a withering purple glance from Kirk...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T15:46:42-07:00

Is it next Friday yet?

Whatever way it goes, next episode is going to rock! Will Arkady appear and put the smack down on Luke? Will Kirk demonstrate that he's not as useless with the package as Luke thinks he is? Kait is elsewhere, investigating the murder, so I don't think she'll turn up, but I could be wrong. Could be Jack or Sirkka. Could be Caz or Connor or KK. Miki's probably busy. Karl may or may not have his tinfoil on, and may or may not be busy shoring up plants to protect them from the downpour. Then again, when last seen, Arkady was up in his garden with him, and she could drag him along if she picks up on this.

It'll be fun!

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-12T17:50:34-07:00

I know Alice brought in a shotgun, but did anyone ever bother to give her a scoped rifle for when she's up the Watchtower? Figure once she's given warning, that'd be an excellent vantage point from which she could deliver Death From Above.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T03:23:39-07:00

What intricate details! this was excellent and hinging on so many decisions here and there that are so very subtle. Luke has been freaking me out (natch!), wondering how much detail he catches about other people when he stops paying attention only to himself. He had to know or be willing to bet very heavily that Kirk would put the gun away and use both hands to unlock the manacles. I'm pretty sure Kirk could have just as easily kept the gun trained while using only one key to unlock. Conclusion: Luke has been paying closer attention to their exchanges than Kirk, who seemed more caught up in his emotions.

this week I've caught up a lot of the more useless crap in my life and done nothing toward the necessary bits which, all told, is very ordinary for me.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T03:36:34-07:00

Eugh I have food poisoning and while Freakangels would normally cheer me up, right now I just want to puke and puke and die.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T08:35:43-07:00

Hope the food poisoning goes away soon, Dee! :(

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T11:04:18-07:00

Everybody's gonna "hear" what's going on, Arkady's gonna snatch 'em all up and put 'em in the same place (somewhere interesting, I bet), and nobody's going to die... yet.

I imagine if one of them died, the rest of them would feel it. Maybe that's why they're about the banishment instead of the killing. Then again, they're English, and English haven't executed their criminals for a while, right? It might be abhorrent to these kids' psyches on a cultural level to consider a death sentence.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T11:10:59-07:00

It would seem that Luke was listening to Jack's speech about what it takes to win a fight way back when, and took it to heart for when he needed it. A thumb in your bullet hole, eek.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T15:19:19-07:00

I imagine if one of them died, the rest of them would feel it. Maybe that's why they're about the banishment instead of the killing. Then again, they're English, and English haven't executed their criminals for a while, right? It might be abhorrent to these kids' psyches on a cultural level to consider a death sentence.

Then again, they have no problem killing off invaders if they think it's necessary to escalate. And at least some of them were willing to kill one of their own...

In a way, it's too bad. I was hoping for Luke to turn from Worm into Hero. Then again, it might end up that he's the only one of the Freakangels alive by the end of the story.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T16:48:47-07:00

In a way, it's too bad. I was hoping for Luke to turn from Worm into Hero. Then again, it might end up that he's the only one of the Freakangels alive by the end of the story.

As has been mentioned many, many times already, the story is still far from over. Don't jump to conclusions. Give Warren and Paul (and Ariana) a chance to tell the tale in their own good time. Really, the wait'll be worth it.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T17:06:58-07:00

Give Warren and Paul (and Ariana) a chase to tell the tale in their own good time.

Ohononono. I've got nothing to do with the telling of the tale. I want none of that blame. I'm just the one that sets the table on Friday mornings so we can all sit down with our coffee and talk about it.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-13T19:44:00-07:00

@ Ariana

Well, in any case, I thank you, because without you we'd have no utensils and would be left to gnaw at our monitors and keyboards in frustration and sadness.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-14T11:19:36-07:00

Given the powers they have, would it not be possible for the group to alter Luke's mind or even strip him of his abilities - perhaps turn him into a human-normal person? That would be more than sufficient punishment in itself.

Couple of other questions - where does the all the food come from? - you have several hundred people living there, they can't all be living off a few fish, some salvage and one roof-garden. Either there's large-scale farming in Whitechapel or some substantial trading going on.

Another question - why are there so many female mechanics and engineers in webcomics, and so few in the real world? Following on from that, why are most of the male characters here relatively useless?

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-14T16:21:34-07:00

Given the powers they have, would it not be possible for the group to alter Luke's mind or even strip him of his abilities - perhaps turn him into a human-normal person? That would be more than sufficient punishment in itself.

Sure it'd be possible. They could also gouge out his eyes, scalp him and leave him as hideously disfigured - a walking "angelfreak" that they could look at all the time to remind them of what they did to him.

There's a difference between could and would. The smart, sane thing would be to simply kill him. Lingering "warning" punishments are as a general rule worse than useless.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-15T08:49:54-07:00

Luke's not worth keeping around, even as a reminder. We haven't seen him come to use a single time yet. If anything, he's just a pain in the ass. Even powerless, who would want that poison pill around just so he can throw a wrench in the gears when they're up against a major crisis, at just the right moment?

He's more useful dead in that ditch.

As far as the fight goes, Luke doesn't seem to have much of an advantage, it seems. Not how I see it. Kirk has demonstrated before that he has more hands-on experience in a fight. All we've ever seen Luke do is run his mouth about how he's an all-powerful member of a master race, when the only scope of his ability so far has been tampering with the minds of people he wants to fuck.

Then there's the fact that Luke's been shot in both legs, while Kirk only has one gunshot wound. The only way Luke could get the upper hand is if he's indeed as powerful as he says he is mentally, or if he does something insidious to get an advantage (which, with his history and the recent thumb-in-the-wound, is obviously not outside his modus operandi). Or if he manages to get his hands on the gun first. Even then, it's a coin toss, because the gang has shown the ability to deflect bullets.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-15T16:22:02-07:00

@leob - re : food. First episode(s), they have bread. Which means some kind of wheat somewhere. We don't know the population of Whitechapel, only that it's grown by a hundred recently. The Mudlarks and other gangs have at least sufficient numbers to send raising parties and sneak thieves. (The FA's left one alive to swim back and tell the others not to fuck with the Freakangels.)

And whoever said the English are squeamish about Capital Punishment, that's a very recent development, as a cursory glance at English history will tell you. Not looking to start a debate, just sayin', is all.

... Is it next Friday yet? (I also get paid on Friday and am very much looking forward to that.)

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-15T18:41:02-07:00

No, I think our pal Kirk is in real trouble. And, to be fair, it's his own damn fault several times over. He shot Luke because he felt like shooting him. Twice. Who wouldn't respond to that exactly as Luke did? He wasn't paying attention to who he was guarding, either. Of all people, he should have known better.

Luke did get shot twice, but they were fairly straight in shots, and he had time to take out at least one round, and probably did the other too. So he's already on the Freak-mend. Kirk only just got shot, and his wound looks to be length-wise with the leg, and intramuscular. That's a horribly nasty wound, just fucking awful. And a thumb just got crammed up in it.

At this point, I think it's going to come down whether Kirk can or will 'call' for help. It's become a question of will Kirk be too proud/ashamed to ask for it? He did shoot Luke for no reason other than spite - in Luke's own words: "...a shooting offense...". There's no way he'll be able to lie about that. How will they react to that?
And how will they react to Jack being implicit in that?

In fact, the moment Kirk pulled the trigger on Luke, the dynamic of the entire group changed - and I'm not sure that wasn't part of Luke's plan from the start.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-15T18:55:01-07:00

Thanks everyone, after reading this all week, and going back to the episode several times, I think I get it all. I was never so confused. I didn't get that the safety was taken off and the gun went off in his pocket. I didn't get the whole thumb in the wound thing, and even reading it and looking at it over and over, I only think I get it. You guys really helped.

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-16T12:13:57-07:00

I think Kirk will call for help, and maybe Arkady will help him. But that means she isn't helping Kait. Someone isn't coming out of this alive...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-16T19:50:35-07:00

@Berserker

Given Kirk's way of seeing Luke and similar offenders (as well as anyone else who is a shitbag, really) I can't say I blame him for taking a couple of potshots. We know Luke's offenses, so I won't bother to recount them. But when you do what Luke did, it's not just revoking your Freakangels membership. You stop being human when you pull those stunts. And with the way that he was only too ready to kill Alice and Janine, it's clear that his malice wasn't stopping any time soon. Besides that point, it's hard to sympathize with someone who regularly mutters threats under his breath to people who are supposedly his allies. It's easy to get the ideology: he thinks he's King Shit, and everyone with powers less than his deserves to live a life of slavery. In other words, he's Mark Lite. If I were Kirk, I wouldn't stand for it either. That's why I'm pulling for him. And it's true that Kirk's wound is nothing to sneeze at, but at the same time, he still has one good leg. It'll take Luke some time to recover from his, cursory injuries or not.

As far as the shooting offense, Mark's beyond talking, as he responds to former allies by chiding their views with sarcasm and belligerence. It makes sense that it would take a bullet or two to get his attention. It's hard to knock a moron off the tracks he clings to when it's a moron on a mission. He seems to have a misplaced holier-than-thou attitude even towards people who try to help him, and with the crimes under his belt, I'd call him deserving of what he got. There's no contesting that the group would get taken aback at the fact that Kirk and Jack acted on their own, but when the logic behind their actions is examined, it's hard to deny.

(Even if the shooting wasn't called for, the scenes that led up to it, specifically 0062? Fucking magnificent, and I'm glad things happened the way they happened, because I think that's one of the greatest suspenses I've seen so far. The way the last page was drawn, the way leading events and the event itself was written... superb.)

As far as Kait goes...

FREAKANGELS Episode 0068

2009-09-18T09:16:35-07:00

I know we have the new episode, but I wanted to comment on the Kirk shooting Luke debate... he may have felt the emotions you mention, but it seemed to me that the idea was to keep Luke's "Freak-powers" occupied fixing the wounds so he couldn't turn Kirk inside out... that's good logic, just plain smart.