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Redridge Express Page 26
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Redridge Express Page 26

on July 27, 2014
Chapter: Book 6: The Redridge Express
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Discussion ¬

  1. Karyl
    Karyl
    July 27, 2014, 7:34 pm | # | Reply

    Wow, just WOW! from present expectation to a flashback and Hunter(at least that looks like his back to me, and profile)–maybe she’s going to have to proceed in a similar way to that effort? Oh if it’s Diamonds–what a magnificent and crazy alteration that will be!

    • Annie
      Annie
      July 27, 2014, 9:00 pm | # | Reply

      If you go back to previous chapters, particularly a conversation he has with the doctor in Wayward, Hunter is sporting a rather nasty back scar down the length of his spine. He’s also made a quip somewhere a ways back about her curing paralysis. I’m going to pretty safely assume it’s him, since I kinda figured the scar was her doing. I’m just curious how he got paralyzed. My money is still on a horse accident.

      Also, lovely page. I especially like the last panel. It evokes the flashbacks to his performances on stage. Like she’s the one putting on a show now, even though it doesn’t look like an operating theater.

      • Ben
        Ben
        July 31, 2014, 10:41 pm | # | Reply

        Thanks so much!

  2. jsfury
    jsfury
    July 27, 2014, 7:58 pm | # | Reply

    Ooo, ooo, ooo. The plot thickens. It’s flash back time. LOVE love love the sepia panel at the bottom of the page, and how the fifth panel seems to curl away as the edge glows with an ember orange. Beautiful work Erin, just beautiful. Like a scene right out of Dr. Frankenstein’s lab… 😐 That’s Fraunkinstein. 😉 Vane, dear, angry woman. What are you up to now???

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:42 pm | # | Reply

      Thanks, js.

  3. Xample
    Xample
    July 27, 2014, 7:58 pm | # | Reply

    Look whose back!

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:42 pm | # | Reply

      Guffaw!

  4. Arnly
    Arnly
    July 27, 2014, 8:28 pm | # | Reply

    Wow. Beautiful transition to flashback, and another natural and internally consistent opportunity for us to learn more about their relationship. Like who resurrected whom, and who owes what to whom… I hope we get to learn more about this past incident. We got the big hint back in the plague camp. John called that a lover’s quarrel, I seem to recall – makes me wonder if the quarrel was before or after Vane’s work.

    I wonder at Vane wearing pants in the flashback. Very sensible, but not common for that period (in our universe). It makes me wonder if the NTO world is different than the American west, or if it’s just Vane that is different. Certainly in 19th century America a woman surgeon would be quite remarkable enough to flout fashion in other ways – especially at the operating table. And there is also the possibility that I’m ignorant of the actual state of a working woman’s wardrobe in the American west – maybe women wore pants, particularly if they spent time in the saddle working stock.

    It also occurred to me that this is one of the only times we’ve seen Miss Black without an armory strapped around her. I notice she still left the weapons within immediate reach, even though they might be taking up space she needs for her next task. No surprise – and the kind of detail you track so thoroughly.

    Thanks very much for the update!

    • jsfury
      jsfury
      July 28, 2014, 1:08 pm | # | Reply

      Interesting observation Arnly, although it’s never really been established this is 19th century American West. Your right about a woman wearing a dress as apposed to pants in that time period. I think of the TV series Dr. Quin Medicine Woman, and the ever lovely Jane Seymore running across a battle field with her dress gathered in her hands to help the wounded soldiers. A heroic scene if there ever was one.

      If I’m not mistaking, I believe woman who had to ride horses on a regular basis would ware a split skirt which I believe is called a coolots. This gave them the freedom to throw a leg over the saddle. For the most part I think the ladies would ride side saddle. No doubt for only short distances as I can’t imagine it was comfortable to do so.

      But we digress. Yes Erin, thank you for your diligent and beautiful up date. 🙂

    • Reaver
      Reaver
      July 28, 2014, 10:47 pm | # | Reply

      Magic and steam punk but your authenticity problem is her wearing pants? It is clearly an alternate world and the ability to wear pants has a lot more to do with Vane being Vane. No one questions her carrying guns, ordes men around.

      • jsfury
        jsfury
        July 29, 2014, 4:35 pm | # | Reply

        And SHOOTS them if they don’t do as she says! YIKES!!! 😉

      • Arnly
        Arnly
        July 29, 2014, 8:14 pm | # | Reply

        Oh I wasn’t questioning our author/artist’s choice, but merely wondering how unusual it might have been back in Vane’s past for her to wear pants. That was before she became the completely different and apparently very off putting being she is now – and I was wondering if she already flouted fashion/society then (in the time of the flashbacks) or if it wasn’t all that odd for a woman to wear pants. So much else in the comic parallels the American West quite closely for looks and fashion, hence my comparisons. Plainly “We’re not in Kansas anymore” but it intentionally looks a lot like Kansas (or further west).

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:48 pm | # | Reply

      Thanks very much for the kind words, Arnly, as usual.

      I’ll confirm it’s less unusual for a woman to wear pants and ride astride in the NTOniverse than the American West, but Vane was ever a bit of an iconoclast, and skirts and side-saddles do proliferate in the eastern Territories (there is even one on Hearts in this flashback).

      As an aside (gahaw, horse nerd pun), riding side saddle can actually be pretty comfy and there are still preservation groups doing it today, often on loooong rides. It’s just not half so easy to get on and off your horse.

      • arnly
        arnly
        August 1, 2014, 10:08 pm | # | Reply

        I love these notes, thanks, and the link back to that beautiful flashback (and another look at that tree I love so well). As usual, I can’t figure out how you have a job, a young child, do NTO with so much detail, AND have this much painstaking research behind everything. It’s the kind of output that normally has a small staff of researchers driving it – but you’re doing it solo. Are you maybe one of those people that only needs 4 hours of sleep a night? (Maybe you’re just like the rest of us but only getting four hours of sleep a night?)

  5. Tie Toter
    Tie Toter
    July 27, 2014, 8:42 pm | # | Reply

    Such a powerful use of shadow and darkness! Sometimes the artwork almost distracts me from the story line!
    Great update, Erin.
    Thanks…

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:48 pm | # | Reply

      Thanks so much for the kind words and continued support!

  6. tuco
    tuco
    July 28, 2014, 1:00 am | # | Reply

    the lighting in panel 3 is gorgeous. this is one of your really good pages 😀

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:48 pm | # | Reply

      Very much obliged, tuco.

  7. Emanon
    Emanon
    July 28, 2014, 2:36 am | # | Reply

    This comic keeps getting better and better!

    (And so do my wishes for you, Erin!)

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:49 pm | # | Reply

      Sincerely appreciated, Emanon.

  8. Dan Bowman
    Dan Bowman
    July 28, 2014, 1:20 pm | # | Reply

    Damn, Erin. …just dayum!

    • Ben
      Ben
      July 31, 2014, 10:49 pm | # | Reply

      I’ll take that as a compliment and thank you kindly, sir.

  9. motorfirebox
    motorfirebox
    July 28, 2014, 6:03 pm | # | Reply

    Holy crap! I always figured it was HIM that resurrected HER. Never occurred to me that she might have performed some medical marvel on him.

    • Arnly
      Arnly
      July 29, 2014, 8:20 pm | # | Reply

      Yeah, motorfirebox. Same here. I just sort of gasped when I saw the flashback and recalled the horrific scars in the plague camp chapter… More of Erin’s terrific skill with the “Reveal.” We saw those scars when we were thinking of her trying to kill him, so we wouldn’t think that maybe those wounds were inflicted for a completely different reason. John Henry’s flip comment/explanation offered even more cover.

      Erin – the artwork is always very impressive, but my admiration for your story telling (how and when you tell what) is growing even faster than my appreciation of the painting.

      • Ben
        Ben
        July 31, 2014, 10:53 pm | # | Reply

        Bonus thanks for the bonus compliment!

  10. Rocktometrist
    Rocktometrist
    July 31, 2014, 4:37 pm | # | Reply

    Re: pants. Google image “Calamity Jane”. ‘Nuff said.

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