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Post by Lizica on Jan 22, 2022 23:01:55 GMT -5
*spectrally-bodily drags this thread out from the depths of the Clubhouse board*
Hi! The latest update made me cry and FEEL THINGS, and I wanted to rally a sobbing group hug. ='D
Also holy heck, that last panel. @_@ And the buildup to it, with the poetic format shift. yeeeek
((I also thought about resurrecting this thread earlier in this chapter and just flailing in indignation, because for all the years I've been following this incredible webcomic, I never realized before Bill Spender's introduction that the family had a dumb naming theme going, asdfghjkl. XDD))
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Post by Huntress on Jan 26, 2022 6:55:30 GMT -5
*spectrally-bodily drags this thread out from the depths of the Clubhouse board* Hi! The latest update made me cry and FEEL THINGS, and I wanted to rally a sobbing group hug. ='D Also holy heck, that last panel. @_@ And the buildup to it, with the poetic format shift. yeeeek ((I also thought about resurrecting this thread earlier in this chapter and just flailing in indignation, because for all the years I've been following this incredible webcomic, I never realized before Bill Spender's introduction that the family had a dumb naming theme going, asdfghjkl. XDD)) Oooh, this webcomic had a club board way back when and I never knew? I think I started reading well after this board was made and died. It's a magnificently underappreciated masterpiece that I'll need to reread properly one of these days because it's been hella complex and is only getting complexer. (It does have a subreddit, but it seems fairly dead.) But yes, I can join in on the group hug =D It's been a chapter I never expected to like because blaaah why the switch to teeext, and now I get the feeling that the whole story could've been like this from the start because it feels more engaging, somehow. |
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Post by Gelquie on Jan 26, 2022 18:16:10 GMT -5
Yeah, this was a really good update, and I can definitely relate to the feelings being described, and it's all just. Very well put together. Allow me to join the group hug. <3 That feeling of being seen or expected to be resilient and so no one really helps you with your problems or thinks you have them? And particularly with a kid? Yikes. Give her the biggest hugs, Spender. (And then try not to die.)
Also, that is incredible werewolf design to take from it, change the typical appearance to make it not the typical scary you would expect, and still be caught with a breathless "oh no." If this weren't a flashback, I'd be seriously worried for their lives.
...Also. This can't do any favors for Isabel's fear of dogs. ((Also Lizica, better late than never, I guess? Maybe the joke lands better the longer it takes one to realize. xD )) Yeah, I think the illustrated text works really well! (And not just for the sake of the author's wrists. I was seriously concerned that at some point they would be forced to quit the comic due to those issues, but my fears are pretty allayed now.) They have a particular knack at making the text particularly engaging, and there's a whole art to it, and maybe we'll see more of the potential from this. (Like, that last update's transition, aaaaah.) |
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Post by Lizica on May 2, 2022 23:27:30 GMT -5
PFFFFFFFTTTT, THIS ALT TEXT, I CAN'T-- XDDD Anyway, eeee! *waves heartily at my fellow Paranatural fans* I had a whole long reply I started writing before, but lost steam and never posted. x'D But I'm just thrilled there are more people who love this amazing webcomic. 8D *high fives you all* Backwards in wet ink on my hand is written: "UR COOL"But yes! I was also kinda unsure about the format shift to illustrated text at first, but now that I've gotten more used to it, I don't know how some of these things could be done with comics alone. It's really great how they've been able to implement the change and do so much with it! Other random reactions to this latest update/latest flashback sequence: !!! June Puckett, you say?? =OO
This definitely stokes that theory that Max's mom was a spectral, and also adds to another theory I heard that suggested Agent Day might be one of the girls from Max's flashback. Either way, just really neat to finally have her first name. ^^ </3
Also, I dunno about anyone else, but I was really caught off guard by learning that the giant Mayview barrier was made by Agent Walker. Like, this whole time, I'd been imagining that the barrier was somehow more...I dunno, mystical? mysterious? providential? I'm not sure what word I'm looking for, but I sort of imagined the barrier being created by some grander force, like the wight that instigated the story had so much power that it sort of imploded on itself into a barrier, or like some equally powerful spirit created the barrier for protection in a last act of desperation before they died?
Either way, I expected a huge reveal about the barrier later, and to have it revealed so bluntly that it was Walker all along sorta threw me. But it really adds to the story side of how spectrals impact and control this world so much, for better or worse, and it adds a lot more intrigue into the consortium hierarchy and why some characters don't fully trust them.
Also, I'm super looking forward to meeting younger Isaac (and seeing him without his spiky anime protagonist hair?). XP
Speaking of Isaac, kinda upset with Spender for not communicating better. =| I know we'll probably see more about it as the chapter goes on, but seriously, how bad would it have been to just be like, "Hey, I'm afraid I don't trust the spirit that's possessing you, so we unfortunately have to keep you in the dark about some things"? It would have been better than nothing and letting poor Isaac spiral.
Speaking of poor communication, if Spender doesn't call Zarei at the end of these flashbacks, I'm gonna break the fourth wall and dial her number for him Anyway, much hype =D |
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Post by Gelquie on Jun 17, 2022 2:34:07 GMT -5
I might react to other posts later (I enjoyed reading them!), but for now I want to react to the latest update today. (Chapter 7, Page 79) That last panel, EXCUSE ME???
(I think I was laughing for a good 5 minutes. xDDD (When I first saw it, I thought okay, maybe his parents are nerds and they were at a con. Upon re-read: Nope!) It's not what I expected but I feel like it should be what I expected. The worst part is that I can see the similarities. Dear gosh.)
This update was a fun combination of plot progression, good drama, meta humor, and sheer comedy. xD Also, the more we know, his sunglasses aren't actually sunglasses, but tinted with shadow powers. The visual of him on top of the dome with the broken glasses, shadowy look, and futile desperation was very strong with me. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was a very strong protagonist-level spectral.
Also, being up there by oneself (almost) and too weak to stop what happened next from happening, that's sheer ouch. Literally and metaphorically. I wonder if he feels some lingering responsibility for what happened to Isaac after failing to stop KC. Not that it excuses Spender's attitude towards him later. =|
Okay, the next mysteries are. How do they find out about Isaac's possession? The hard way? Based on Isaac's "he's gonna flip his lid just like--" and later explanation of his first mission with the club, possibly that. Sounds like oof for everyone involved.
For now a more pertinent question. Spender, how are you getting down from there? xD
In regards to the meta, I loved the pokes at the comic's audience rating. xD Spender may be in a horrible position on top of a lonely dome with none but himself and adult-figure ghosts and spirits, but like *gust of wind* is he going to swear in front of the fourth wall!!
This part was gonna be in the spoiler box, but I'm keeping it out because it's kind of general. Some of the context draws on what happened in the update, but it's nothing major. In regards to the swearing gag. It was particularly fun on a meta level because I know a lot of web media or other unvetted work tends to be a bit shaky with consistency of media rating things such as swearing. Mostly with works that start PG but then start slipping in swears and other dark things until that's no longer justifiable. Rarely others that start out with swearing but then try to tone that down while keeping in all the other stuff that still justifies a high rating. It's almost a bit refreshing to see a medium want to stay consistent, at least in that aspect. There are tone changes, changes with author growth, and some of the plot is more serious and streamlined out of necessity, but it still feels Paranatural. (Incidentally, it's also interesting comparing with other comics, knowing how many comics die out due to loss of interest or health issues, which I was worried would happen to Paranatural due to hand issues. So it was really good to see that they found a way to keep the story going while accommodating their health and keeping the tone of the comic.) Just. On a meta level, I'm seriously impressed.) |
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Post by Lizica on Aug 27, 2022 1:02:21 GMT -5
Oooooh, oh man 8OO *nervous and excited flailing at latest update*
This is the sort of thing that might prompt a massive archive reread later.
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