January 22nd, 2016
22 Jan 2016 · page 558 of 1306
It was nice to draw Lux non-smug for once.
Cast: Henry Barber, Mr Luxuria
Comments (87)
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Calling it now: Elodie is going to snog Barber thinking he's Tilde.
If that doesn't happen, I'm sure someone will make a fanart of it in time for the post-story interstice.
Silly Luxuria. Don't you know to never let the damn thief out of sight?
Bounty hunter
Yes, but that wouldn't fit the song.
I figured it was appropriate, given that his bounties tend to be on artefacts.
Wait, could he just have shapeshifted ito a child and freed himself that way?
Of course. But his part of the plan was to distract the Bad Guys.
In fact, note carefully - he didn't need to shapeshift to shed the cuffs at all - he was able to pick the lock whenever he wanted.
He didn't pick it. He was given the key in the Dec 22 page (panel 4).
Between yesterday and today, it looks like he was avoiding opening the lock on the cuff while anyone was looking.
I think the point is that it wouldn't have made much difference to be locked up as a different person.
Right you are! Good eye
That's right. I remember now (and i just discovered that that page and the next two, were missing from my collection).
Superbia likes to win fairly.
That, and the real woman cares for Elodie, who was treated with discourtesy by Luxuria and gave her the nod.
Those two would be happy to mess Luxuria over.
More than that, Pride was the one who gave him the key in the first place.
ah, I missed that key entirely the first time round!
Looks like he unlocked it with the key Tilde gave him, THEN shifted. Perhaps the manacles prevent use of the Liar's Heart.
No, because he was initially locked up and shapeshifted as Isabelle, before Luxuria flirted him back into his own shape.
Eh, you do that, next thing you know some Klingon jail warden thinks you're the starship captain he's out to kill and vaporizes you.
Excellent reference. ^_^
Now I wonder if it actually gives the strenght of the form.
It does appear to be a true shapeshift, yes.
A bit late, but just realised with the talk of witches who the lady at Chomolunga was, and why she could tell Voss was emotionally 'full'. facepalm
I'm really amused that M. Not-superbia is the person Barber thought of as a strong, sturdy sort of person.
That's not going to go to their head at all.
Henry has wrestled with this one before. He knows what this body can do.
Also, if you think about it, Henry is SHORT. Superbia is TALL. That helps quite a bit when it comes to wrestling.
I'm not in the least bit surprised. Henry got a taste of what tangling with her is like. xD
Isabelle is a Meddling Mage.
It all makes sense now.
Is that similar to a Meddling Monk?
Close, but rather less sanctimonious pomposity and with a lot more fireballs. ;)
I can't think of any reason for the butler to survive and the others not to.
The one attacking Luxuria is Barber, only he felt better fighting as Superbia.
The butler is Gula, who survives these shenanigans to be a butt in the Time Trap Hotel.
Or maybe he doesn't, and it all already happened in his past as well as ours. Time travel is ridiculous. Especially magic time travel. At least with scientific time travel, you have the illusion of consistency. Unless it's the stuff the Time Lords use; that show has way too many writers.
But yeah, the butler's the fat guy in green, not the well muscled lesbian in purple.
Unless he was undead during the whole situation where Gluttony abducted people from across time, the butler survived. Likely so did the others; Sin can only exist where there is life. Dead flesh does not sin.
The evidence suggests that Superbia is transgender, not lesbian. In that case, he's other- or pan-sexual, but misgendered.
She is a lady who is gay, whether she's a transwoman or not, she is definitely a she.
Gonna assume that that 'he' is a typo, since I know no-one's gonna be using incorrect pronouns for trans people (perceived or otherwise) in my comment section, are they?
Some of us just can't keep up, in spite of our best effort to be respectful of the author's wishes.
I'm not even sure if the gender pronoun conventions are the same on either side of the Pond.
If someone says they're a she, they're a she, that's it, really. No country divide there, just use whatever pronouns people give you.
I wish it were that simple. Some folks urge us to deploy new, genderless pronouns... like shir _and _ter.__
Eh, use whatever someone asks you to use, is my philosophy. They know their own identity better than you can know it, after all.
Anyway, this is a multi-layered conversation that isn't really best suited to this format or site, there are much better resources out there to understand gender identity.
Trans or not, Superbia/Tilde is a lady, that's basically all anyone needs to know.
I can go on for a long time about this, but Kate has the nub of it: "ask and respect the preferred pronoun." If someone prefers xi, then please just use xi; think of it as an extension of xir name. (Alternatively, xis name. It gets really complicated really fast.)
I am so happy that 'they' is a thing/bigger thing now because from a writing perspective I've found using 'xe' and some of the other neuter pronouns rather clumsy. Especially useful with aliens/robots/other weirdness that doesn't necessarily have the same gender spread as humans.
Cheers for 'they' as a preferred pronoun! (Hey, the New York Times Style Guide now prefers it, largely in recognition of non-binary genders! W00t!)
Of course, it doesn't solve everything, particularly grammatical number. Should one write 'Yes, that one there. They is the one I was talking about.' or 'That one there. Yes, they are the one I was talking about.' ?
For my part, I suck it up and use the third-person singular form, even though it feels kind of strange to me. I'm looking forward to seeing how that bit of the language evolves.
For me it varies writing wise. I've had some characters that are both sexes (as distinct from androgynous, fantasy so not-human) and decided to vary their pronouns throughout the text, ie different human characters see them as more male/female and use that language or switch between pronouns. I started doing that before I was aware of non-binary gender as a thing over a decade ago when I started building this thing. Because it seemed like a...natural way people raised in a binary environment with a binary-pronouns language might process that.
Personally I rather like 'it' but in writing using 'it' can come across as impersonal and cold. Dehumanising. Easier to use in speech I think- It's possible I've given this too much thought?
I avoid it because it's not just dehumanizing, but also because it refers to non-sapient entities (e.g. cats or trash cans.) But what about a robot who is a sapient trash can? (Hey, work with me for a minute here. Perhaps they're better able to tell you when you really didn't want to throw something out?) Are they an it? Wouldn't they want a say?
QuestionableContent's AIs choose a working gender, even though PintSize and Momo both explain that they really aren't gendered at all.
I've taken a liking to plural pronouns since 'they' are hard for people to abuse as an excuse to be an asshat.
That is the main advantage 'they' has over 'it' yes. :P
It seems like the previous commenter might have thought Superbia identifies as male? I can't see why they would have thought she's misgendered otherwise. (And I can't see someone who's talking about people being misgendered purposefully misgendering them at the same time? Must be some kind of misunderstanding somewhere...)
Sorry, Kate, here you're simply wrong. If he's trans, then, actually, no, he is a he. If she's lesbian, then she's a she.
I deleted this comment here earlier, but I've restored it because I think I read it wrong and we're getting our wires crossed a little- perhaps you thought I was saying that if she was AFAB and a transman she'd still be a she? Please understand that I definitely didn't mean that, I meant that if she was AMAB and a transwoman then she is still a she. Edited my earlier comment to make that a little clearer.
The final word on this is that transwomen are women and transmen are men, with all of the associated pronouns that entails. Superbia is a woman who is extremely comfortable with her identity as a woman, whether she is a transwoman or not.
I wondered what the problem was here; I hadn't thought about that possibility.
Yes, I was taking Superbia to be an AFAB transman, in which case he is a he. (Or, failing any information about pronominality, perhaps 'they'.) If she had been an AMAB transwoman, then she would have been a she.
At this point, however, you've stated that she is a lesbian, and prefers "she", so "she" she is. (For the vanillas here, though, it's worth knowing that only about 50% of transfolk are attracted to persons of their originally assigned gender, and about 50% of transfolk are attracted to persons not of their originally assigned gender)
Like you say, the easiest way to handle it is "when in doubt, please ask me."
Okay, phew, glad we're on the same page again! Sorry to automatically assume the worst, it's just.. well, internet, and all. She is definitely not a transman, as that would definitely lead to a 'Mr' rather than a 'Ms' nickname.
It's nice to see that you have enough self reflection to back up and
realize you may have made a mistake instead of doubling down and going
full Authoritarian SJWtard. I've seen plenty of people on the internet
fail to do so.
They're just asleep, otherwise Lux couldn't summon the rest of the deadlies
I suggest that, in the last panel, it should be better to use the word "made" rather than "make". By the way, I have been enjoying this whole flashback sequence very much!
I would use the word made rather than the word make when telling a story about what I did in the past, which is what Henry is actually doing. On the other hand, I am not sure Henry is that fussy with his grammar.
Using the present tense to help form a more vivid description of past events is a rhetorical device that dates back thousands of years (so replying to a 5-day old comment about it doesn't seem so late in comparison):
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_present "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_present")
The look on Sloth's face in Panel 2...
"Is this supposed to happen, or am I just being slow again?"
Not quite sure what is meant by "it requires you bind the oldest spirit last". Is the implication that lust is the oldest of the seven?
If so, I'm not sure I follow that leap of logic, since envy and wrath are demonstrated in Genesis 4 when Cain slays Able. For that matter, an argument could be made that Adam & Eve were motivated to eat the fruit by Greed. And prior to both of those, chronologically, Lucifer's fall was due to his imense pride.
I'm thinking within a Victorian framework, informed by Christian tradition, btw.
OIC. That's makes sense, then.
Delicious, DELICIOUS irony! :D Barber -is- using Lust's power against its source AND turning the strength of its dupe against it in one fell swoop! :D
I'd say the really delicious part is that Lust just got done taunting Henry about him trying to use his own magic to trick him. Yet he doesn't take the necklace, and whoops, in what I assume is less than 20 minutes real time, he's being thwarted by his own magic.
Good point. She is also fairly quick, which is not a description I would associate with the butler.
She really is the most logical choice for a combat upgrade: taller, stronger, and almost as fast as Barber is. There's a reason why she was such a good candidate for Pride.
You're also forgetting she's rather kind to the eyes -- in Luxuria's case, that's something to think about. Guy's rather too soft on those he can... well, be himself around easily. ;P
Just watch out that Luxuria doesn't make a grab for the necklace, which is SO CLOSE to his fingertips!
please please please give us a spinoff comic with Elodie and Tilde oh please oh please
Well, one of them, at least.
Oh, that would be awesome. Sort of "Darken in the Widdershins 'verse."
The problem with grabbing Mr Luxuria by the neck is that I suspect his head is detachable.
That...
That woud make the next page pretty hilarous.
I'll be disappointed if the story ends without the classic "with 'is 'ead tucked underneath 'is arm" moment.
Smug people getting beat up is one of my favourite things in the world. Please and thank you.
Also, it took me a while Barber turned himself into Superbia. When I read the textbox, I thought she suddenly became part of the Barber Family Reunion or something!
I would think they'd be okay until the the Deadlies actually took possession of their bodies -- which they didn't get a chance to, as the ritual was interrupted.
They didn't. Remember when Courage was summoned from Nora, she didn't die, and when Lux offered his erstwhile companions to the deadlies they said he couldn't give what wasn't his, meaning they were alive then. Lust also said that they had "given themselves" over completely, which implies that the offering was possession or control over them, Lust didn't have to "give" anything because the human hosts had already given everything they could to the sins.
This exactly.
Ms. Ashwin: regarding transgendered people, please find and read a webcomic entitled "Wildflowers," which follows the story of a transgendered teenager. In Ms. Superbia's case, she is your character so you you're right - but generally, one would use the gender-termof the gender a person identifies with, whether they are trangender or (and I learned this prefix from commenting on that webcomic) cis-gendered. Thank you!
That's exactly what I've been saying, sorry if that read unclearly!
For some reason, I try to edit a comment and odd things happen. I'm glad it disappeared; I appeared to have misread our artist's comment!
Superbia was their grand-dad all along !
YES!!!! YES!!!! SUPERBIA FORM FOR WIN!!!! ahem.....I'll just go lie down now.
He makes himself useful by making himself stronger, taller, and faster.
I find it so odd. As far as I know, we have not seen a single instance of magic being used professionally by a highly capable witch or wizard. Sid is a half trained flunky; Lei, Rosie, and Isabelle each taught themselves and not to a level of mastery. Ben is the only character who completed formal training, and apparently he's not at all talented. I suppose Councilwoman Fairbairns and Grandpa Cunningham might be exceptions to this rule? But I can't think of any others. I just wonder if this was necessary to keep the characters on some sort of level playing field, or if it's a coincidence, or what. I hope we get to see some really advanced magic before the story's through :)
I've recently been trying to write Star Trek fanfiction, and I've been finding that a thoroughly competent character is actually far more difficult to make likeable or interesting. An enthusiastic bungler like Sid, somebody under a jinx like... um, Sid again, a determinedly ignorant savage like Mal, a guy with no talent, no job and no patience, like Ben - you already have some story right there. But someone who by definition is supposed to be up to the job, where are you? Achhhh, deliver us from Starfleet captains.
So I think that may be part of what's happening here - main characters who are out of their depth in one way or another are more fun, and then, yes, level playing field, you can't then upstage your main characters by bringing in loads of proper, skilled wizards with no major personality defects, or they'd get left behind.
That said, Isabelle's an exception. (And hence much kudos to Kate for making her as great a character as any of them!) I don't think Isabelle taught herself, I think her mother taught her, and I think she IS "up to a level of mastery". The impression I get is that Isabelle actually is equal to a fully qualified University-trained wizard, at the very least; she's just, at this point in the story anyway, having a hard time getting the academic establishment to admit that. (Ah, of course, THAT's Isabelle's problem.) I think what we've just been watching is a rare example of "really advanced magic".
In fact, Isabelle seems to be ahead of the University graduates on some things. For instance, Ben doesn't appear to know as much as she does about what a witch is. Or if he does, he's remarkably slow on the uptake. (If it was Sid there'd be an obvious explanation, but Ben owes his Third to lack of lateral thinking, not lack of paying attention in lectures; if it HAD been part of the course, it seems likely it would have occurred to Ben by now. ...If not, he's REALLY going to kick himself when it does.)
Ah, this is a really nice and thoughtful post! Quite right, flaws and conflict drive story. Izzy's the most accomplished wizard we've met thusfar, but if she were both talented and fully qualified, that's one less flaw for her to prove herself better than.
Also that's why Sisko is my favourite captain, he pushes things into a moral grey area just to get the job done, and even he isn't sure if it's the right thing to do or not.
Thank you for the thoughtful response and insight :)
Man, this huge long thing about the pronouns, and this entire time I thought Superbia was a dude all along, with no trans or what have you. Not a super observant/attentive reader, so not surprised I missed a point-out that she was, well, she.
Ancillary Justice's....I'm not even sure I wanna call this thing an AI....entity? Anyway, the culture that created her didn't really have a linguistic or cultural concept of gender. They referred to everyone/thing as 'her'. As a result you go through the book mostly unaware of the genders/sexes of the characters, because the main characters honestly can't tell. When pressed about it by someone from another culture one of them says something like 'The only way to tell is to see someone with their clothes off and even that's not reliable.'
I can't really explain my personal preference for 'it', aside from anything else it can make sentences a little confusing. I haven't told anyone else to use it for me because I'm pretty sure it'd get a worse reaction than just about anything else. shrugs Language.
Is using Luxuria's pendant's power to accost Luxuria the best idea, though? (Geez, I haven't touched fb in so long I forgot this was my icon. A halloween costume.)