Does This Clear Things Up?
Hi, everyone!
The last page of Chapter 3 was a little confusing for some people, and we don’t deny that it could have been a little clearer. Since Baron Crossbones’ expression is impossible to read through his mask, and there was no dialogue to help explain things, it’s easy to see how some people might be confused.
We’ve made a slight change to that page, and we’d really appreciate if you could read over the five-page interlude and see if it makes a little more sense this time. The scene starts here. Please read it first, and then consider these questions:
- What happened to Jaeger?
- Did it seem like the Baron intended for Jaeger to be killed, or was this unexpected?
- Why is Magda laughing?
Given the answers below, how well do you think the comic portrayed these facts? Was it fairly clear, or was it confusing?
- The sword killed/consumed him.
- This was not the Baron’s intention. He was hoping for Jaeger to become his next Ubermensch, and was preparing a demonstration of the sword’s power.
- After having been humiliated by the Baron, Magda is finding great amusement in his failure.
Thanks for your help!
I like the way that the sword puts itself back in an orderly way 🙂
1) What happened to Jaeger?
He died … painfully. There is a possibility that something of him was drawn into the sword, but I could be wrong.
2) Did it seem like the Baron intended for Jaeger to be killed, or was this unexpected?
Nope, he looked a little downcast, as far as body language goes … he also stopped talking, and there was no gloating.
3) Why is Magda laughing?
Magda had been picked up, outclassed and thrown aside. Magda was therefore p*ssed off at the Baron, and on seeing that something he was doing had failed, and failed spectacularly, was briefly revelling in his loss.
Amiright?
You nailed it, Jad, thanks!
I don’t really see it wise for her to basically laugh in his face when he just told her that if she did anything of that sort again he had no qualms about ending her life. How quickly do people in the throes of emotion forget. >:3
Indeed! It’s also possible that in that moment, the pleasure of being able to laugh in the Baron’s face was worth dying for.
I guess, in a way, she has nothing to lose … either he’s going to kill her, or he’s not, not much that she can do will change that.
tried to post this one but it didn’t take:
1. the sword definitely consumed him
2. in addition to his change in demeanor, magda sure seems to think it was a failure. it was very much set up as the big reveal of his new toy, just to have it ripped away from him.
3. after he threw her around and set himself up as so much more powerful, such an outright failure brought him down a peg or two. she’s reveling in her schadenfreud.
Perfect. Thanks, Trav!
Huh, I thought it was pretty clear the first time I read it.
Yeah, some people got it, but some weren’t quite clear about the Baron’s reaction. At least one person thought that he had intended for Jaeger to die, and that Magda was laughing at Jaeger. It was one of those situations where Al and I may have just been too familiar with the characters and story to realize that certain details weren’t as obvious as we had thought.
My initial answers:
1. His soul was sucked into the sword.
2. I assumed the Baron meant this to happen – that the sword is absorbing the skills of the people it consumes. This is mainly because the Baron doesn’t seem annoyed, I don’t have anything more to go on.
3. She’s laughing because she thinks his plan failed.
It looks like I was right about (1) and (3), but guessed wrong with (2). I’m not really too worried about that – it was only a hunch. And if the Baron had clearly shown his disappointment, it would have spoiled the strip (because he’s meant to be concealing his disappointment from Magda).
I think it’s fine as it is.
Thanks, Alex. Two out of three ain’t bad!
One thing the new dialogue makes me think. This means it could be possible to see his face, but whatever is underneath it, is so utterly horrific that Magda would only want to see it so she can appreciate how frustrated he is…
Yep. Good catch!
As per what happened to Jäger, I think it’s pretty obvious what happened, so your portrayal was quite matching.
As per the Barons reaction, the blankness of his masks “face” and the fact that he simply walked off under Magdas laughs made me feel like he didn’t want it to happen but verified some assumptions, or showed him a secret/aspect/power he so far only believed to be rumour or theory.
As per Magdas laugh,it clearly told me she had the hunch Jäger would end up dead the second she saw him, thus making her not just mock the Baron, but also laugh triumphantly over his rash arrogrance.
Thanks, Asragin! Sounds like we’re on the right track!