Chapter 3: Page 49
Hardin’s got this ‘long game’ thing planned out, and I can barely plan what I’m going to have for dinner on any given day. That’s one of the things I admire about the guy. Not so much with the murder and the manipulating and the superiority complex — those are things I can probably do without. But I’m pretty sure he at least knows what he’s doing for dinner on any given day.
This page also confirms something a few readers have asked us here and there regarding just how ‘animal’ our characters are. Hardin (and the ermehn in general) do go through molting periods similarly to their real-world brethren. When winter comes, you can rest assured of two things: Starbucks bringing back its Peppermint Mocha, and the ermehn getting a white winter coat.
Here, however, we’re seeing the coat return to its normal brown color following the usual winter white molt. Hardin may be seeing off Kenosh during a snowstorm in the second panel there, but it’s still springtime. I guess this counts as ‘nice’ for Hardin?
For guest art this week, a really nice sketch of Quinlan done by ChrisSketch on Twitter! Check it out:
For a simple sketch, it evokes a lot of character. Quin looks a little younger here — a little happier, and pre-ear-slice, too. Thank you so much for the awesome sketch, Chris!
Oh, interesting. Kenosh spent more time up there than I thought.
I have to wonder if the Lutren debriefed him on his return. Surely he must have explained some of this to the queen.
Also, it looks like Hardin’s story has managed to get one of his companions to face-punching levels of anger. With the bandages and the sleeves, looking back, it has to be Rathik.
This can’t end poorly . . .
Hardin you look so different with that winter coat and now you are a snoboi. And oh great it looks like Rathik wont be taking the sudden news so lightly.
Nice job on doing Quin ChrisSketch! : )
They actually get the floofy white winter coat. I’m so glad.
It’s so cold in the second panel even Kenosh’s staff has a little scarf.
Cool, but I don’t think we’ve see this winter coating in other pictures. A significant portion of the early chapters is spent with the Ermehn on ice, after all.
I think It’s just cold up north all the time.
Judging by the verdant splendour of the trees we have seen it’s spring or summer.
I think the Ermehn are consistently on ice. Now then does the 2nd Ermhen from the left on the first panel look like Bevan to anyone? I’m a little fuzzy on Bevan’s backstory, although i think he was part of a tribe led by his uncle? I need to play that text based game that Alex made to find out his backstory again. Based on my limited information I think that fist in the last panel is Bevan, and he has some grudge against Kenosh. I wonder what rage and anger is hidden under Bevan’s roguish charms. ONLY TIME WILL TELL!
That is believed to be Rathik’s angry fist in the last panel, my friend.
Yeah, I noticed it after comparing Bevan’s fur color to the hand. Rathik fur tone matches. Bevan’s fur tone is lighter.
The little Ermehn is definitely not Bevan. He has a notch in his ear, a feature which Bevan is lacking. They do look similar otherwise, though.
I wonder what Rathik is so angry about, though. The way he’s speaking, it sounds personal…
Another awesome page, guys!
I was really inexplicably happy to see Hardin with a partial winter coat. :D He looks cuddly!
It seems the explanation has opened another conflict, this time with Rathik. I fear for Hardin; Rathik is a big dude.
The Quin sketch is wonderful, Chris! The line art is so beautifully clean, and Quin looks like he’s living in a happier time.
In the first panel, is that little Ermehn on the right blind in one eye or is that just the shading? You guys put so much effort into your background characters I honestly can’t tell which it is. (One reason I really love this comic.)
That one eye is grayed out. Rachel can do alot with her style. She is a big inspiration to me and my own art. Still I wonder if Alex asked for the ermehn children to be uh battle damaged? Seems like something he would do. Oh Linebyline, I think the last thing anyone would want is a hug from Rathik; I like my spine where it is thank you.
On a side note, we see alot from the ermehn perspective. Which makes me very sympathetic to their cause; I would gladly take up arms in their defense, but later on the line, when the war comes, and it will come. I am pretty sure Hardin won’t bat an eye at torching canid villages and slaughtering the population.
I think that as of now, you’re right about Hardin. Considering what he was willing to put his fellow ermehn through in the name of furthering his war effort, I doubt he’d be willing to treat the canid any better. (Note that his current travelling companions comprise only the same Sratha-Din he started with, plus Kenosh. Looks the tribe he “negotiated” with at the end of chapter 1 got left for dead.) And the ermehn basically don’t have civilians in the canid generals’ eyes (or Hardin’s) so I don’t think Hardin would have much sympathy for canid civilians.
But I’m hoping he goes through some character growth before it actually comes to that.
Yeah, that’s a bad eye she has there. I take the blame for the state of these kiddos, though. Life is hard in the Wastes and I wanted it to be very visually obvious in that panel.
Okay. You’ve brought it up. Now explain. What is Hardin having for dinner tonight? And don’t tell me it’s peppermint mocha. (Then again, Hardin does sort of seem like he’s missed his caffeine today…and every day.)
I think the next page is going to be a big group hug because everybody now understands each other and nobody’s mad at anyone anymore. Rathik (one presumes) is just vibrating with eagerness to forgive and forget and be friends. What do you guys think? ;)
I am really curious about that note Kenosh has now… Glad to get some clarity on Hardin’s real motivations and intentions though!
The line work and general composition on this and the last one is fascinating. Not that the previous ones aren’t either, but a lot of nuanced stuff seems to be going on here. :) One thing I didn’t notice at first was the soft edges of the flashback panels, and then the sharper corners of the present. The slightly faded look was easier to spot, but then I also saw the difference in character outlines themselves. Didn’t really realize how much it subconsciously draws you to focus on a character while still being subtle in design.
Love the drawing, ChrisSketch!
To be honest, I don’t really get why Rathik is all riled up..
I mean, I thought that considering how canid fought with ermenh so much, it would be pretty common for them to have family who died in the conflict, and likely that at least some of them would fight for avenging their family.
And well, I mean, why does he deduces that hardin wants to avenge his father, if he turned it down years ago letting Kenosh go?