It looks to me like the purple magic is catching John’s feet and making him let go of Vane, so he has pulled the flame sword to attempt to cut her free. What the heck Matteo is trying to do is beyond me, but I think he’s the power source for the purple magic, and therefore is a precarious position to say the least!
I think Matteo is dying, that the dark stuff we see on the ground here (and in the previous strip) is Matteo’s blood. Also that the purple magic is an extreme version of Matteo’s blood magic, being used to heal/purge the demon from Vane.
Hunter’s either going to cut the magic pulling at him, or finish Matteo off to stop the magic. Either way I think Matteo’s dead very soon.
It looks to me as if the purple fire in panel 1 is pulling on Vane’s legs (and wrists) not Hunter’s, and pulling hard enough that Hunter has to dig his feet into the floor in panel 3. I agree that Hunter seems to be planning to use the flame sword to cut Vane free.
Oh the speculation Erin. You must get a great kick out of all this…but WHAT! THERE’S MORE! 😉 I see the JHH brand John burned into Vanes butt is a glow with the mysterious purple fire, as to Mother Superior’s cross. Meanwhile, the young monk on the ground (which is still a bit of a mystery as to how he got there) is now reaching up to a levitated Vane. Is he going to heal her? Free her from John Henry’s hold, and bring her back to the world of the living? Oh the suspense. 🙂
Makes me wonder if the reason Vane wants to kill John is because he branded his initials on her ass. 🙂 I dunno, if your spouse did that to you would you want to kill him/her?
Never get tattoos or brands of your lovers on your body, kids. It’s just a guaranteed jinx. Next thing you know, you’ll be going town to town on a cyborg horse, seeking a tattoo artist capable of turning your ex’s face into an anthropomorphic armadillo riding a Christmas tree made out of ham.
One more detail (in addition to the magical grab-ass Eonknight and those posting after him mentioned, once the subject was finally broached) – Mother Superior is running purposefully off-screen … and she’s surrounded in something that looks more like ichor than purple flame.
Hrm, the good brother was comatose… possibly dead last panel. He’s in a circle and since I doubt the nun was summoning something, it’s very possible she was binding (imprisoning) instead.
Given she was “purging sin” from Vane, who wants to put bets that Vane’s sin (Wrath) is now (or soon-to-be) inhabiting the good Brother’s corpse?
I’m pretty sure the black stuff in this panel and last is Matteo’s blood, something I believe the slashed wrist supports. My guess is that the nun used Matteo’s blood and blood magic to try to heal and/or cast out Vane’s demon. That last panel sure looks like Matteo’s reaching up to heaven/God/an Angel as he dies.
Gotta say that if I’m right and the nun did this to Matteo, I will not be the least upset if Hunter and/or Vane send her off to hell.
A sin eater … ? That’s so crazy it just might work! Good catch on the slashed wrists … they may even be slashed in “the correct” direction rather than across the tendons.
Great, Emanon. Now I’ve got Steve Perry wailin’ in my head, here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVY_hVK3RyY … You’re tearin me apart! Every, every daaaay. Et cetera. Better than what happens to the heroine in the Rutger Hauer version of The Hitcher, though. God, I’m morbid. And Old. Old and morbid will one day become moribund.
Emanon inspired me … looking at the purple ectoplasmic ichor (or some such) I feel compelled to observe observe, hic sunt dracones … or serpentes … or even hic sunt nautili.
The brand opens the body to the elemental energy, and the purple is coming from the blood magic? Usually Vane is powered by Hunter’s element of Fire, but something is hijacking…
I have no idea what’s going on, but I don’t like it!
I also have no idea what’s going on. So many questions right now.
Eagerly awaiting next page, in which I guess brother Matteo will finally bite it 🙁
It looks to me like the purple magic is catching John’s feet and making him let go of Vane, so he has pulled the flame sword to attempt to cut her free. What the heck Matteo is trying to do is beyond me, but I think he’s the power source for the purple magic, and therefore is a precarious position to say the least!
I think Matteo is dying, that the dark stuff we see on the ground here (and in the previous strip) is Matteo’s blood. Also that the purple magic is an extreme version of Matteo’s blood magic, being used to heal/purge the demon from Vane.
Hunter’s either going to cut the magic pulling at him, or finish Matteo off to stop the magic. Either way I think Matteo’s dead very soon.
It looks to me as if the purple fire in panel 1 is pulling on Vane’s legs (and wrists) not Hunter’s, and pulling hard enough that Hunter has to dig his feet into the floor in panel 3. I agree that Hunter seems to be planning to use the flame sword to cut Vane free.
I love panel 2, with Hunter’s spine and scars and Vane’s JHH brand.
Oh the speculation Erin. You must get a great kick out of all this…but WHAT! THERE’S MORE! 😉 I see the JHH brand John burned into Vanes butt is a glow with the mysterious purple fire, as to Mother Superior’s cross. Meanwhile, the young monk on the ground (which is still a bit of a mystery as to how he got there) is now reaching up to a levitated Vane. Is he going to heal her? Free her from John Henry’s hold, and bring her back to the world of the living? Oh the suspense. 🙂
Makes me wonder if the reason Vane wants to kill John is because he branded his initials on her ass. 🙂 I dunno, if your spouse did that to you would you want to kill him/her?
Never get tattoos or brands of your lovers on your body, kids. It’s just a guaranteed jinx. Next thing you know, you’ll be going town to town on a cyborg horse, seeking a tattoo artist capable of turning your ex’s face into an anthropomorphic armadillo riding a Christmas tree made out of ham.
If I had a nickel every time that happened…
One more detail (in addition to the magical grab-ass Eonknight and those posting after him mentioned, once the subject was finally broached) – Mother Superior is running purposefully off-screen … and she’s surrounded in something that looks more like ichor than purple flame.
Hrm, the good brother was comatose… possibly dead last panel. He’s in a circle and since I doubt the nun was summoning something, it’s very possible she was binding (imprisoning) instead.
Given she was “purging sin” from Vane, who wants to put bets that Vane’s sin (Wrath) is now (or soon-to-be) inhabiting the good Brother’s corpse?
Ah, speculation…
I’d say he looks most likely dead, given that his wrists are slashed…
I’m pretty sure the black stuff in this panel and last is Matteo’s blood, something I believe the slashed wrist supports. My guess is that the nun used Matteo’s blood and blood magic to try to heal and/or cast out Vane’s demon. That last panel sure looks like Matteo’s reaching up to heaven/God/an Angel as he dies.
Gotta say that if I’m right and the nun did this to Matteo, I will not be the least upset if Hunter and/or Vane send her off to hell.
A sin eater … ? That’s so crazy it just might work!
Good catch on the slashed wrists … they may even be slashed in “the correct” direction rather than across the tendons.
Yes, I’m starting to get into the habit of scrutinizing every panel for any little detail.
ERIN, YOU’RE TEARING ME APART!!!
Great, Emanon. Now I’ve got Steve Perry wailin’ in my head, here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVY_hVK3RyY … You’re tearin me apart! Every, every daaaay. Et cetera.
Better than what happens to the heroine in the Rutger Hauer version of The Hitcher, though. God, I’m morbid. And Old. Old and morbid will one day become moribund.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPBPa2BQFRM
There. I did it. I’m not sorry.
Emanon inspired me … looking at the purple ectoplasmic ichor (or some such) I feel compelled to observe observe, hic sunt dracones … or serpentes … or even hic sunt nautili.
The brand opens the body to the elemental energy, and the purple is coming from the blood magic? Usually Vane is powered by Hunter’s element of Fire, but something is hijacking…