Oh, Current-You, how I hate you for taking Past-You away from me, I wish I could kill you, Current-You! Past-You, I miss you so much. Oh, if only you were Past-You!
…maybe it’s just me, but what with her commentary about ‘this husk’ and how she’s seeming to control his actions, I’m actually wondering if that’s even Vane in there anymore.
Maybe Hunter didn’t bring her back. Maybe he brought something else.
Sarah, the “Husk” reference I believe is that Vane believes she nothing more then an empty shell, a discarded husk. That’s my guess. Could be wrong. Now, about that controlling thing. Well, women have always had a way of doing that to guys, at least those who have emotions. I guess it’s John Henry’s emotions that are taking over.
No, I believe this is Vane Black! After all she has all of her memories. Perhaps in an effort to bring her back from death he accidently altered her, brought back her vengeful side or she merged with some demonic force.
Whatever it’s clear he still loves or lusts after her. Maybe why he has not destroyed her.
Erin, This page is , well, on fire. Beautiful work of art ma’am. The close up of Vane’s little lip bit, and JH’s almost unwilling surrender? Very sensual. I so see this as a motion picture epic.
Excellent work. I wonder if Vane (whom I STILL have a lot of sympathy for – I think she has very good reason to want Hunter dead) is going to use protruding bones, or replacements therefore, to slice up the asbestos suit and the cyborg beneath it? Puncture wounds in the near future. I’ve always had a weakness for black widows, as have lots of guys (see also fiction, generally, films like Heavy Metal, and many of the priestess-lead fertility cults that contested for territory with early Judaism with love/death rituals).
I expect Vane knows her own clothing best and is taking a more emotional approach (empty space, torn lace). John’s not one to resist temptation – he’ll hurt plenty, regardless of how far Vane takes this. Emotional violence coming up, physical not precluded.
I think she’s “enflamed” him almost enough for him to lose his grip on his own goals—but probably not. Just WHAT does he want enough to keep him moving on and avoiding her! I love how Vane looks suddenly lush and erotic in the face of fire and another personal injury. The art is superb!
Poor Hunter. Even if he gets through all this, he must eventually die a slow death from misothilioma.
I am convinced that Humter’s one consistent virtue is a complete lack of hate in his heart. No matter what anyone tries to do to him, he just never takes it personally. He is no coward either, and faces death bravely, but he loves life and has never found a cause woth risking his life for that he could believe in…until he met her. He was willing to risk anything for her…but then Dr. Black failed. She failed in such a way that she felt like she had utterly violated her Hippocratic oath. She was wrong, it was an honest mistake, but she just could not see it that way, or forgive herself. She wanted to die from self hate, and welcomed her death from her failure. Hunter, however, characteristicly failed grasp her self loathing. Surly, if he restored her as an elemental wraith she would appreciate if, that she could then continue her work at his side without fear, and would likely find her new condition intriguing as well. Had she died in almost any other way, he would have been right. But all she wants now, no matter the cost, is the peace of the grave, and wraiths can only die when the caster dies…
Vane knows what it’s like to be a living breathing woman, and what she currently is is no comparison, so it would make sense for her to call her body a husk.
Regardless, the last three panels of this strip are my favorites out of the whole NTO strip. Amazing, Erin.
Oh, Current-You, how I hate you for taking Past-You away from me, I wish I could kill you, Current-You! Past-You, I miss you so much. Oh, if only you were Past-You!
This is hot.
Literally.
i…. i don’t think that is miss black any more. I think when she came back something hitched a ride. Something nasty.
…maybe it’s just me, but what with her commentary about ‘this husk’ and how she’s seeming to control his actions, I’m actually wondering if that’s even Vane in there anymore.
Maybe Hunter didn’t bring her back. Maybe he brought something else.
Sarah, the “Husk” reference I believe is that Vane believes she nothing more then an empty shell, a discarded husk. That’s my guess. Could be wrong. Now, about that controlling thing. Well, women have always had a way of doing that to guys, at least those who have emotions. I guess it’s John Henry’s emotions that are taking over.
I wonder if that’s the Elemental of Fire, which he seems to have some control over, but maybe not as much as he wants (asbestos clothes?).
Maybe it’s her clothes that are asbestos?
/agree – mentioned this in the comments on the next page. I absolutely think she means her own clothes.
No wonder JHH is always trying to take a bath. Asbestos is itchy.
No, I believe this is Vane Black! After all she has all of her memories. Perhaps in an effort to bring her back from death he accidently altered her, brought back her vengeful side or she merged with some demonic force.
Whatever it’s clear he still loves or lusts after her. Maybe why he has not destroyed her.
Oh my.
Erin, This page is , well, on fire. Beautiful work of art ma’am. The close up of Vane’s little lip bit, and JH’s almost unwilling surrender? Very sensual. I so see this as a motion picture epic.
I find it very interesting that you are going for the “lust” angle rather than the “love” angle.
…whose clothes are made of asbestos? And tear like lace? Are they really going to get it on in there while the building burns? So many questions!
Vane, “No.” means, “No.”
“Buh…”
Just, “Dayum!”, Erin!
Excellent work. I wonder if Vane (whom I STILL have a lot of sympathy for – I think she has very good reason to want Hunter dead) is going to use protruding bones, or replacements therefore, to slice up the asbestos suit and the cyborg beneath it?
Puncture wounds in the near future. I’ve always had a weakness for black widows, as have lots of guys (see also fiction, generally, films like Heavy Metal, and many of the priestess-lead fertility cults that contested for territory with early Judaism with love/death rituals).
I expect Vane knows her own clothing best and is taking a more emotional approach (empty space, torn lace). John’s not one to resist temptation – he’ll hurt plenty, regardless of how far Vane takes this. Emotional violence coming up, physical not precluded.
I think she’s “enflamed” him almost enough for him to lose his grip on his own goals—but probably not. Just WHAT does he want enough to keep him moving on and avoiding her! I love how Vane looks suddenly lush and erotic in the face of fire and another personal injury.
The art is superb!
Poor Hunter. Even if he gets through all this, he must eventually die a slow death from misothilioma.
I am convinced that Humter’s one consistent virtue is a complete lack of hate in his heart. No matter what anyone tries to do to him, he just never takes it personally. He is no coward either, and faces death bravely, but he loves life and has never found a cause woth risking his life for that he could believe in…until he met her. He was willing to risk anything for her…but then Dr. Black failed. She failed in such a way that she felt like she had utterly violated her Hippocratic oath. She was wrong, it was an honest mistake, but she just could not see it that way, or forgive herself. She wanted to die from self hate, and welcomed her death from her failure. Hunter, however, characteristicly failed grasp her self loathing. Surly, if he restored her as an elemental wraith she would appreciate if, that she could then continue her work at his side without fear, and would likely find her new condition intriguing as well. Had she died in almost any other way, he would have been right. But all she wants now, no matter the cost, is the peace of the grave, and wraiths can only die when the caster dies…
Vane knows what it’s like to be a living breathing woman, and what she currently is is no comparison, so it would make sense for her to call her body a husk.
Regardless, the last three panels of this strip are my favorites out of the whole NTO strip. Amazing, Erin.
Jeeeeez. Yeah, I imagine that’s a good way to hurt him. Way to go for the low blows Vane.
Is her hair glowing?