Hey There! Thought We Were Vacationing? Our Artists Have Been Hard At Work On The Animaniacs #TakeIslandAnim

Animaniacs #36 -April 1998- DC Comics

Communication Gap

writer: Dana Kurtin

penciler: Omar Aranda

inker: Jim Amash

letterer: John Costanza

colorist: Prismacolor

I try new styles

Just find it a little interesting that Dazai’s farewell speech in ch.101 was focused on the past, he was reminiscing on what his and Chuuya’s time was together, and in ch.109 his moving words are of the future, of their fates still being intertwined and not being done with each other yet. Circumstance plays a part in this, the first being Dazai drowning Chuuya and the second being Dazai trying to bargain for his life, but still.

Also, in 101 Dazai’s eyes are mostly hidden or even closed during it. In fact, we really don’t see Dazai’s eyes much at all in most of the prison segment when it comes to Chuuya being brought up. Except for in ch.109 where we see both his eyes clearly like the entire time, despite the fact he’s so hurt right now. Especially during his little speeches, Dazai in 101 we see one eye or closed eyes, and in 109 we clearly see both of his eyes, and they’re drawn with light in them. 

But honestly, like what fucking time you connected and what are you fucking destined for together?!?!!! Or, according to official translations, what were the tender moments you shared exactly and what are you indelibly fated to do?!

Tsukasa's loneliness…

I've been thinking about Tsukasa's situation. How he is so tired. Tired of waiting for Amane, tired of being alone, tired of staying awake. Even after his death, he remained, he, just like Amane, he didn't go anywhere.

Death should be eternal rest, shouldn't it? But he never dies, no matter how many times he sacrifices himself, he always stays awake, alone. As a boy, he lived isolated in a house cursed with strange creatures who used him as bait, while he missed his brother.

When he returned, he had his life taken and awakened again in a dark and lonely place… the boundary. We can imagine how much he called out for his brother, even though he killed him, but his voice could never be heard, at best, considering that Amane wasn't such a bad brother.

Perhaps, while he was in that cage, he remembered those dark days…. Where he would have to once again try to free himself alone, without strength, without will, and he had already called him so much, that he was now convinced that It wouldn't make a difference, he wouldn't come for him.

Does he regret coming back? Back to Amane… Because in the end he was alone in the same way as the beginning…

Tsukasa is so tired, and now I can understand him a little. He wants to be destroyed, he wants to leave again, because there is no reason for him to stay. Hanako held him close to him in an almost eternal bond, he forced him to stay by his side even though he abandoned him. He is his yorishiro, and the only way to untie himself is to remove the seal, or destroy him…

But why didn't he just ask Nene from the beginning, when she didn't know he was a yorishiro, to take off that seal?

Because he wants to resolve things directly with Amane before leaving again. He wants Amane to do this, because it wouldn't be fair for him to go through all this and for him to simply leave without Amane even showing that he loves him…

That's just what he wants to hear.

He is no longer disappointed, he is not surprised that Amane acts in a negative way. He accepted that Amane hates him, that Amane doesn't miss him, that Amane doesn't want to be with him, that Amane doesn't listen to his voice, that Amane… won't save him.

He expected Hanako to take Nene from his arms and walk away while he fell to the deepest side of that boundary. It was what he expected of him.

Even though little Tsukasa came back, he just became more sure that Amane hated him… Tsukasa with seal asked him, in his first appearance "do you remember me?"

Hanako abandoned him.

And even so, Tsukasa was so happy to see him again, oh, what a melancholic love… To imagine that he followed his entire relationship with Nene, that he saw that every time she called for him, he heard her …

Why couldn't he hear Tsukasa's voice?

Imagine, you love someone so much that they turn their back on you, while you watch that person give their all for someone else. As if he didn't deserve to receive the same as her, not in a romantic way, but as a younger brother.

The one who spent his days trying to fulfill his brother's wishes while he was sick, the one who… left to save the one he loved, who came back to give his older brother one more chance, a chance to show how he feels in truth…

And in the end, being stabbed in the chest, yes, in the heart. How many stabs has he already received from Amane?

To be locked up and left alone for 10, 20 years… He just wants to leave again, but before that, he still intends to fulfill other people's wishes.

What will be Tsukasa's true wish…. I think only Amane can fulfill it….

luffy now using 'dawn' in his gear 5 attack names gives me the opportunity to point out something i don't know if i've mentioned before on this blog but that's been on my mind for actual years.

so, the english word 'dawn' is written in japanese as ドーン/dōn; for example, that's also how it's written in these attack names, and also in the name of dawn island (ドーン島/dōn-tou). and don/dōn is the same sound effect one piece uses ubiquitously to emphasize impactful or important panels or beats. (i think the official english translation usually renders it DOOM?) it also shows up in tom the fishman's speech pattern and the lyrics of binks no sake- i associate it very heavily with the comic as a whole.

and in thinking about gear 5, it's also occurred to me that the constant use of don for emphasis is potentially reminiscent of the sound of a drumbeat- especially since in wano, it's partially supplanted as the default 'emphasis' sound effect by the べん/ben or べべん/beben of hiyori's shamisen, another instrument.

Good to know Chuuya is Dazai's personal rubber duck

Here’s my Ranboo art from the Valentine’s Day stream :]

Be nice to him he just got dumped :,,(((

I'm starting to believe that Dazai's Good-bye speech was legit meant to be a misdirect for Fyodor, but then Chuuya went brlbrl and Dazai's actual feelings got involved, so he cut it short

they should explode i think

Ok but the snufkin game was so good and pretty ill cry

thoughts on moominvalley in november?

Moominvalley in November is truly a wonderful book I would recommend to fans of the series in general.

Though, to be honest, I came into the book with the impression that it would be a depressing read considering its oversimplified description by the fans, but I was very pleasantly surprised to find it was a book about a somewhat hilarious dysfunctional found family trying to make sense of the Moomin family's absence. While there are emotionally complex arcs and themes to these one-off characters (plus Snufkin and Mymble Jr) and these arcs touch upon themes that could be considered depressing, I think it's a rich experience in exploring these upset individuals who can't find comfort in the Moomins but instead have to find comfort within themselves and eventually learn to tolerate and even celebrate with eachother.

The characters' dynamics are enjoyable and often silly, and there are a few things to chew thoughts about, and we have descriptions and such that tell us a few things about the Moomins (or at least, Moominpappa and Moominmamma) such as the parents' separate rooms and how they represent each of their personalities and interests.

Overall, it becomes obvious why it's alot of people's favorite book in the series and it's a highly recommendable read if you have the access and time!