The Tumbling JHH page 57
I’m going to be completely honest: I’m not sure if this is the last page of NTO or not. There is another page in the script but I almost like this better as an endpoint and I’m having a little argument with myself over whether to belabor it with the original final page or not.
congratulations on finishing, assuming this is the last page, I’d love to see that next page should you see fit to make it
I think I ought to do a reread sometime about now
This is a lovely end to this.
And Diamonds and Miss Vane once more ride off.
Thank you for this, for the years of dedication that brought this to fruition.
Been quite some time since I last commented on your work, and a lot changed as I’ve read the site to see what’s going on.
But damn Ben not what I was expecting, but it perfectly fits as a finale.
If you’d like to post the final page as a bonus you can, but this satisfies me deeply in a way. Nearly 13 years I’ve been reading your work and never being sure what the story would become or what would come next.
How about this then: Put the original final page on your Patreon, as something people can view for free. Maybe with a join-for-free and a onetime-tip-the-artist button (that’s a thing, isn’t it?). Then put a link to that page here on this page. People who aren’t (yet) your patrons, but have gotten to the end and want more, can have one more thing, see your patreon, and maybe impulse-tip you.
(Since I learned it exists, I started joining as many free-levels as I can, cause I don’t plan to stay sick, broke & unemployed forever, and this way, I’ll already be following some folks)
Final page: John puts his hands up to his head as if removing a pair of glasses. The view shifts to reveal him sitting in an apartment, a pair of VR goggles in his hands. The words ‘Game Over’ fill the screen.
Ben settles back in his chair having just clicked ‘post’. A smile fills his face. He has made the right decision
(wonderful series, by the way. I think I’ve been a reader since the train heist. Well done!! Back then I was a student, and now I have students! XD)
I think it could use one more page. Whether it’s John’s acceptance, or just an outro-style page to wrap things up… this is an emotional moment, and I think the story deserves to have an exhale to let the tension back out.
It’s a fitting end visually, but for the most emotional satisfaction I think it needs just a sprinkle of resolve.
Having read from the start, thank you for crafting this world.
I think this could work.. but here is one last thing I think would be fitting too. Forgive my rambling or delete it if it doesn’t bring any positivity as this could be a beautiful poniont end in itself- This is just me thinking too hard.
In many ways on the first page, fire started it all. Passion, flame, rebirth. Yet its cylindrical according to coyote, it was forshadowed I think hard by that speech.
So- The farmstead is the last thing they haven’t near /compeltely/ burned down together.. the splinters remained for one last bit of tinderness for the night. Now however?
I have to imagine the last page is John walking away as it finishes turning to ash.
The locket and note, what was lost.. the price paid for the renewel, left to burn away inside.
I’d keep this as the last page, it’s pretty much perfect – leave John’s reaction in the reader’s imagination.
If the next page isn’t about that, then I’d say to leave it out, or perhaps post it as an epilogue instead of an ending.
Honestly I prefer page 52 as the last page. John and Vane facing the uncertain, ambiguous future together.
Page 53 if you’d prefer “forcing” some of the uncertainty into a happy ending.
But now it’s just a sad ending or bittersweet at best. Personally, I’m stuffed to the point of bursting with sad or bittersweet endings. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nonono please, I need the next page, I can’t leave like this.
It’s been a great ride. Love to see what you do next
Thank you for this story, and the years of pleasure it has given me and so many others. You are a fine storyteller and artist. If this is indeed the last page, I wish you the best in whatever you undertake next. Again, thank you.
This is an amazing and wonderful ending to the best Western/Mad Science/Love Story I’ve ever read… and that list includes works by L’Amour, Grey, and Foglio. Thank you so much for sharing your art and inspiration with us, and if there’s more, I’ll gladly read it, but this is perfect as it is.
Vane and Diamonds, just as we see them at the end of Lookback page 2 <3
I got this heartsick feeling you get when you finish a book so good that you're sad it's over. It was a great ride and at least a couple of last pages were great ending pages, though this one tingles deep in my heart.
Though, I wouldn't say "no" to one more page, but I guess that's me trying to soothe the bittersweet farewell.
Thank you for the story and all the years of hard work!
I’ve been following along since…2015ish? There was an article I read that called this out as one of the best webcomics out there, and it sure has been! While I would love another page, it’s also a way to prolong the inevitable end of the comic, and when posted I’ll probably still keep checking the site “just in case”, knowing all the while that there will be no more new pages, but looking and remembering this fantastic journey nevertheless.
Thank you for the glimpses into this world!
im sobbing omg, its been such a long lovely ride
This would make an amazing, amazing movie…
Nope. Totally selfish. I want another page.
That said, this is glorious. And that note is soooo her.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you!
Thank you for sharing this story and a part of yourself with us for all these years!
I love this comic. I wish it would go on for years.
But.
From a romantic perspective, page 53 would have been a perfect place to end it. Just lovely.