You can see in Lucas’ face the genuine concern he has for his friend. And you can see in Ethan’s face that he’s seriously considering what Lucas just said, and knows he may well have a point.
I may be too pessimist, but I really don’t see anything like that in Ethans. All I see is ‘I don’t like these confrontations.’, but the underlying reaction seems closer to ‘I’ll just hang out with Nicole then, no point trying to convince Lucas it’s fine’.
I think it’s less that he doesn’t like the confrontation, it’s that he feels isolated and alone. It’s bad for him, but right now in his head being with Nicole seems to be better than being alone.
Eh, I think it’s there. Bits like “It’s kind of a lot” and “I know what it sounds like.” And then the head down in panel 3 – the universal look for introspection, not avoidance.
Besides. Last time Ethan willingly stayed home and left Lucas by himself, Lucas nearly got killed. Ethan’s out there in a helmet and body armor, not knowing if he’ll live or die, but it’s not fear of death but of upsetting his girlfriend that he turns back?
It’s the whole sequence IMO. He’s already glancing downward in the first panel, that isn’t a positive reaction to the thought of touching bases. He rebounds in the second, that’s the moment of confrontation and his reaction isn’t reluctance, it’s a sudden jump in confidence. He prepared for that answer. He didn’t prepare for the reply, and it sends him back down and much lower into a clearly sad and introspective reaction. A deeper version of the same one he had in panel 1. I won’t invalidate a theory, the next page will tell, but for me the emotional sequence… Read more »
I agree 100% with your analysis. Also, some small movements – panel 3’s half-closed eyes, just the limpness of his whole body, really cement that. I feel stupid, though, because I forgot what it’s like to be gaslit. Of COURSE he knows on some level. That’s the primary level. Everything else – everything he’s saying – is the perspective that’s been pushed onto him, that he’s accepted as “correct” as opposed to his “wrong” viewpoint. You mentioned that he was prepared. How much do you want to bet he’s repeating an argument that she cornered him with, when she first… Read more »
Somehow while being “always a bit immature” Ethan, he still manages to make a really wise and mature choices at critical moments and in important things.
So I think that sooner or later Ethan will reach a point where, with a heavy sigh, he will inform Nicole that, sadly, they are not compatible and, while it is absolutely on him (he will genuinely think so), they need to part ways.
Fingers crossed.
“I can handle it, a little bit on my part means it’s easier for them.”
The problem is that it’s not that one time. It means giving a little bit, being the bigger person, again and again and again. With a chance that the other person gets so used to you giving that little bit that they don’t think it’s a big deal that you’re getting worn down from it.
It doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for compromises and adjustments in a relationship. But it needs to be done right.
With those kind of people the little bit is always followed by another little bit… and then another.. and then another. And before you know it, it’s a very big bit and your life is possibly ruined.
Been there, done that. Luckily I found my way out and found a better partner.
My mother (Who just celebrated her 56th wedding anniversary) told me on my wedding day that BOTH people in a healthy relationship should feel like they are giving “just a little bit more” than the other person. That way you’re aware of what the other person in changing for your sake and you feel like you are making sure to give to them too.
Darkhorse
12 days ago
Just be a giver a bit longer Lucas. Ethan will return the favour later, when he’s found that he’s better off without Nicole.
Oh wow, that’s perfect.
Say Ethan rescues her in-costume and she throws herself at him, he thinks it’s cool and she’s seen through his disguise until she says or does something that proves otherwise.
Ideally when he’s out of costume again, so he realises she (thought she) was hitting on someone else behind his back.
Seems a big coincidence. Why would a randomly kidnapped civilian tie in with Ethan in some way?
I would sooner expect the reporter to be targeted. She’s been at the Troll in the hospital, covered him, and might be interested to investigate further now that the escape has occurred.
Nicole on the other hand has no ties to the Troll, with the exception of some broad similarities in how they harm people, like with gaslighting.
The troll may have a ton of info on them. Honestly it’s not even all that hard to figure out. (or it wouldn’t be if we weren’t in a universe where Clark Kent can just wear glasses.) Hey there are these two video game based superheroes, I wonder if I could find them at a video game store, convention, etc.
The Master couldn’t find it out without getting Ethan’s fingerprints and then waiting until he was in a police database. He was in all systems of the city. It hasn’t been telegraphed that the Troll knows either. The chances we get an “I knew all along” story beat is low. Besides, the gaming themed powers are more prevalent than others. Gameboy and the Black hat for example. Not to mention how you would identify them even if you staked those out. How long will you stalk each game store owner or convention goer before you decide they don’t do anything?… Read more »
Research has shown that making small alterations to a person’s appearance (like wearing glasses) can significantly hinder facial recognition.
Eye witness identification is notoriously terrible, especially after a traumatic event so it is highly unlikely that he would be able to identify them by looks.
The vast majority of gamers don’t actually work at or own a game store, and most people wouldn’t assume that video game themed heroes work at a game store. You wouldn’t assume that Batman works as a chiropterologist, or Spiderman as an arachnologists right?
It wouldn’t need to be a coincidence. Elijah could potentially connect the dots on how Analog is Ethan the game store owner, which could then give Troll enough info to dig around, learn about Nicole and target her for being around Ethanalog.
Connect what dots? Elijah doesn’t know they are game store owners. He only knows there’s two video game related heroes of which one used to play games with his now deceased sister. They could just be gaming enthusiast, which is much more likely. That doesn’t make it easy to find. Even if you only check an area where they’re active, you need to have something more to find it out. If I go to a PI and say “there’s this superhero couple dressed like gaming peripherals and one of them has a deceased sister, they’ll ask if you have more… Read more »
Elijah knows Analog, and enough to recognize him even after a costume change. I believe he was also spraypainting around Ethan’s store in his first appearance (might be misremembering that though, do correct me if I’m wrong) so I don’t think it’d be too unusual for him to know about Ethan, the owner of GameHaven. Know your enemy and all that. I agree that for most people it would be that needle in a haystack problem, but Elijah is in a unique position where he has valid (separate) reasons to know both sides of Ethans identity, enough to recognize the… Read more »
That’s where it all breaks down for me. First we don’t know if he can recognise Ethan if he would walk in the store, or how certain someone would be. You’d better not go after someone who just looks like him. Then we have the volume of people. There’s simply a lot. Analog wasn’t an enemy until they confronted and captured him the second (technically third) time either. Elijah has painted (and posted posters) around/on their shop, but only when they were away. For Elijah there’s no indication that they are more than gaming enthusiasts. Jumping to the conclusion that… Read more »
Don’t worry, I agree it’s only a remote possibility. And you’re correct that there probably would’ve been more foreshadowing if it actually was the case, so probably not true. I’m just saying it’s a possibility, and at least one that could fit in the existing storyline without contradicting all known information (unlike some of the other ones floating around). Just to clarify, since you still seem to be misunderstanding that part: I’m not saying Elijah would’ve run into Ethan and somehow deduced they might be a game store owner from that. What I’m suggesting is that Elijah, as part of… Read more »
That or he will get pretty hurt and Ethan will feel really guilty
Curtis
12 days ago
This one hit to close to home. I gave and gave to my ex wife and rarely got anything in return. Finally hit a point where I had nothing left to give so I stopped trying to make her happy. And she then cheated on me and said she did it because I stopped trying.
Pretty close. When I first told her I filed for divorce she started begging to just try a trial separation. Told her no, a divorce was happening no matter what. If we decided to try staying together after it was finalized we would. I didn’t tell her the part I had no interest in staying with her. She was really nice to me for about a month and then moved out to live with “her sister” about a month after I told her, but she really moved in with the guy she cheated on me with. About a month after… Read more »
toughluck
12 days ago
My guess how this will develop: Nicole will openly join the Troll, tell Ethan that they’re targeting some gamer idiots running around in spandex and openly mock Analog and D-Pad.
This will cause Ethan to seriously consider giving up the superheroics until Lucas is captured or until Nicole celebrates that the Troll won, or until Ethan realizes that it’s who Nicole is — not a good person.
There’s a German streamer (he’s a bit mentally handicapped) who started having a huge following of trolls who basically lived for trolling him. The guy is called Drachenlord. His haters went to crazy lengths to humiliate him, going so far that one of them faked becoming his girlfriend and when he asked for her hand on a live stream, she made fun of him, called him names and said that it was all just a troll move to make fun of him.
I hadn’t heard about this guy and just went on huge internet crawl about him. It’s horrifying what happened to him. Man if only we could dump all those real life trolls into a vat of chemicals, no superpowers. Just melting.
a french dude died live, being trolled by pieces of shit.
Sayer
12 days ago
Waiting for the train to hit him.
ssBar
12 days ago
Did anyone else imagine a “squeak-squeak-squeak” as Ethan walks away due to his (Nicole-selected) tight pants?
Not that Ethan would wear them on duty, but just because a little levity was needed…
foducool
12 days ago
this toxic blonde amazonian homewrecker!!
BlackSeedCH
12 days ago
Hi all, I understand why people call it toxic, but I think we’ve become too quick to use that label. Not every difficult or uncomfortable relationship is inherently toxic, sometimes it’s just a lack of communication or emotional maturity. Conflict doesn’t automatically mean something is unhealthy; it’s a natural part of any close relationship. What matters is whether both people are willing to communicate, reflect, and grow from it. It also feels like people often choose the quick way out “if it’s hard, just leave” instead of trying to confront the issue and work through it. Real relationships take effort… Read more »
Last edited 12 days ago by BlackSeedCH
leduk
12 days ago
“it makes her happy and doesnt cost me a lot” is actually a pretty good dating advice
Many unhealthy relationships revolve around one person making an effort to do things that should be good for a healthy relationship. Just without the recognition and/or reciprocated effort from the other.
As long as it doesn’t eventually sum up to be a lot
John
11 days ago
Well said and effectively drawn.
Nice,
Makknys
11 days ago
I just hope this Yandere plot-line concludes with Ethan knowing his powers work again.
William
10 days ago
Comics like this remind you of how great a friend Lucas is to Ethan, regardless of the continuity. Especially if you’ve watched them grow from the beginning.
24
You can see in Lucas’ face the genuine concern he has for his friend. And you can see in Ethan’s face that he’s seriously considering what Lucas just said, and knows he may well have a point.
I may be too pessimist, but I really don’t see anything like that in Ethans. All I see is ‘I don’t like these confrontations.’, but the underlying reaction seems closer to ‘I’ll just hang out with Nicole then, no point trying to convince Lucas it’s fine’.
I think it’s less that he doesn’t like the confrontation, it’s that he feels isolated and alone. It’s bad for him, but right now in his head being with Nicole seems to be better than being alone.
Looks to me more like “He’s jealous, maybe Nicole is right…”
Jealous… of WHAT? Lucas already has a working relationship.
Eh, I think it’s there. Bits like “It’s kind of a lot” and “I know what it sounds like.” And then the head down in panel 3 – the universal look for introspection, not avoidance.
Besides. Last time Ethan willingly stayed home and left Lucas by himself, Lucas nearly got killed. Ethan’s out there in a helmet and body armor, not knowing if he’ll live or die, but it’s not fear of death but of upsetting his girlfriend that he turns back?
On some level he’s gotta know.
It’s the whole sequence IMO. He’s already glancing downward in the first panel, that isn’t a positive reaction to the thought of touching bases. He rebounds in the second, that’s the moment of confrontation and his reaction isn’t reluctance, it’s a sudden jump in confidence. He prepared for that answer. He didn’t prepare for the reply, and it sends him back down and much lower into a clearly sad and introspective reaction. A deeper version of the same one he had in panel 1. I won’t invalidate a theory, the next page will tell, but for me the emotional sequence… Read more »
I agree 100% with your analysis. Also, some small movements – panel 3’s half-closed eyes, just the limpness of his whole body, really cement that. I feel stupid, though, because I forgot what it’s like to be gaslit. Of COURSE he knows on some level. That’s the primary level. Everything else – everything he’s saying – is the perspective that’s been pushed onto him, that he’s accepted as “correct” as opposed to his “wrong” viewpoint. You mentioned that he was prepared. How much do you want to bet he’s repeating an argument that she cornered him with, when she first… Read more »
Somehow while being “always a bit immature” Ethan, he still manages to make a really wise and mature choices at critical moments and in important things.
So I think that sooner or later Ethan will reach a point where, with a heavy sigh, he will inform Nicole that, sadly, they are not compatible and, while it is absolutely on him (he will genuinely think so), they need to part ways.
Fingers crossed.
Isn’t it crazy how good Tim’s art has become?
hear hear
Honestly, I’ve been in that mindset.
“I can handle it, a little bit on my part means it’s easier for them.”
The problem is that it’s not that one time. It means giving a little bit, being the bigger person, again and again and again. With a chance that the other person gets so used to you giving that little bit that they don’t think it’s a big deal that you’re getting worn down from it.
It doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for compromises and adjustments in a relationship. But it needs to be done right.
Exactly.
With those kind of people the little bit is always followed by another little bit… and then another.. and then another. And before you know it, it’s a very big bit and your life is possibly ruined.
Been there, done that. Luckily I found my way out and found a better partner.
My mother (Who just celebrated her 56th wedding anniversary) told me on my wedding day that BOTH people in a healthy relationship should feel like they are giving “just a little bit more” than the other person. That way you’re aware of what the other person in changing for your sake and you feel like you are making sure to give to them too.
Just be a giver a bit longer Lucas. Ethan will return the favour later, when he’s found that he’s better off without Nicole.
…Or the troll targets her.
Oh wow, that’s perfect.
Say Ethan rescues her in-costume and she throws herself at him, he thinks it’s cool and she’s seen through his disguise until she says or does something that proves otherwise.
Ideally when he’s out of costume again, so he realises she (thought she) was hitting on someone else behind his back.
Seems a big coincidence. Why would a randomly kidnapped civilian tie in with Ethan in some way?
I would sooner expect the reporter to be targeted. She’s been at the Troll in the hospital, covered him, and might be interested to investigate further now that the escape has occurred.
Nicole on the other hand has no ties to the Troll, with the exception of some broad similarities in how they harm people, like with gaslighting.
The troll may have a ton of info on them. Honestly it’s not even all that hard to figure out. (or it wouldn’t be if we weren’t in a universe where Clark Kent can just wear glasses.) Hey there are these two video game based superheroes, I wonder if I could find them at a video game store, convention, etc.
The Master couldn’t find it out without getting Ethan’s fingerprints and then waiting until he was in a police database. He was in all systems of the city. It hasn’t been telegraphed that the Troll knows either. The chances we get an “I knew all along” story beat is low. Besides, the gaming themed powers are more prevalent than others. Gameboy and the Black hat for example. Not to mention how you would identify them even if you staked those out. How long will you stalk each game store owner or convention goer before you decide they don’t do anything?… Read more »
Research has shown that making small alterations to a person’s appearance (like wearing glasses) can significantly hinder facial recognition.
Eye witness identification is notoriously terrible, especially after a traumatic event so it is highly unlikely that he would be able to identify them by looks.
The vast majority of gamers don’t actually work at or own a game store, and most people wouldn’t assume that video game themed heroes work at a game store. You wouldn’t assume that Batman works as a chiropterologist, or Spiderman as an arachnologists right?
It wouldn’t need to be a coincidence. Elijah could potentially connect the dots on how Analog is Ethan the game store owner, which could then give Troll enough info to dig around, learn about Nicole and target her for being around Ethanalog.
Connect what dots? Elijah doesn’t know they are game store owners. He only knows there’s two video game related heroes of which one used to play games with his now deceased sister. They could just be gaming enthusiast, which is much more likely. That doesn’t make it easy to find. Even if you only check an area where they’re active, you need to have something more to find it out. If I go to a PI and say “there’s this superhero couple dressed like gaming peripherals and one of them has a deceased sister, they’ll ask if you have more… Read more »
Elijah knows Analog, and enough to recognize him even after a costume change. I believe he was also spraypainting around Ethan’s store in his first appearance (might be misremembering that though, do correct me if I’m wrong) so I don’t think it’d be too unusual for him to know about Ethan, the owner of GameHaven. Know your enemy and all that. I agree that for most people it would be that needle in a haystack problem, but Elijah is in a unique position where he has valid (separate) reasons to know both sides of Ethans identity, enough to recognize the… Read more »
That’s where it all breaks down for me. First we don’t know if he can recognise Ethan if he would walk in the store, or how certain someone would be. You’d better not go after someone who just looks like him. Then we have the volume of people. There’s simply a lot. Analog wasn’t an enemy until they confronted and captured him the second (technically third) time either. Elijah has painted (and posted posters) around/on their shop, but only when they were away. For Elijah there’s no indication that they are more than gaming enthusiasts. Jumping to the conclusion that… Read more »
Don’t worry, I agree it’s only a remote possibility. And you’re correct that there probably would’ve been more foreshadowing if it actually was the case, so probably not true. I’m just saying it’s a possibility, and at least one that could fit in the existing storyline without contradicting all known information (unlike some of the other ones floating around). Just to clarify, since you still seem to be misunderstanding that part: I’m not saying Elijah would’ve run into Ethan and somehow deduced they might be a game store owner from that. What I’m suggesting is that Elijah, as part of… Read more »
Got it. Thanks for clearing that up.
And Lucas goes on patrol himself and gets captured. Then Ethan has to deal with the consequences of coddling Nicole versus saving his friend.
I can see that happening. 👀
That or he will get pretty hurt and Ethan will feel really guilty
This one hit to close to home. I gave and gave to my ex wife and rarely got anything in return. Finally hit a point where I had nothing left to give so I stopped trying to make her happy. And she then cheated on me and said she did it because I stopped trying.
And – let me guess – when you divorced her, she begged and pleaded for you to stay and repeatedly apologized and say she’ll do better?
I hate the fact that narcissism is so predictable, you can literally write a script for it.
Pretty close. When I first told her I filed for divorce she started begging to just try a trial separation. Told her no, a divorce was happening no matter what. If we decided to try staying together after it was finalized we would. I didn’t tell her the part I had no interest in staying with her. She was really nice to me for about a month and then moved out to live with “her sister” about a month after I told her, but she really moved in with the guy she cheated on me with. About a month after… Read more »
My guess how this will develop: Nicole will openly join the Troll, tell Ethan that they’re targeting some gamer idiots running around in spandex and openly mock Analog and D-Pad.
This will cause Ethan to seriously consider giving up the superheroics until Lucas is captured or until Nicole celebrates that the Troll won, or until Ethan realizes that it’s who Nicole is — not a good person.
There’s a German streamer (he’s a bit mentally handicapped) who started having a huge following of trolls who basically lived for trolling him. The guy is called Drachenlord. His haters went to crazy lengths to humiliate him, going so far that one of them faked becoming his girlfriend and when he asked for her hand on a live stream, she made fun of him, called him names and said that it was all just a troll move to make fun of him.
I hope Nicolle isn’t that.
I hadn’t heard about this guy and just went on huge internet crawl about him. It’s horrifying what happened to him. Man if only we could dump all those real life trolls into a vat of chemicals, no superpowers. Just melting.
a french dude died live, being trolled by pieces of shit.
Waiting for the train to hit him.
Did anyone else imagine a “squeak-squeak-squeak” as Ethan walks away due to his (Nicole-selected) tight pants?
Not that Ethan would wear them on duty, but just because a little levity was needed…
this toxic blonde amazonian homewrecker!!
Hi all, I understand why people call it toxic, but I think we’ve become too quick to use that label. Not every difficult or uncomfortable relationship is inherently toxic, sometimes it’s just a lack of communication or emotional maturity. Conflict doesn’t automatically mean something is unhealthy; it’s a natural part of any close relationship. What matters is whether both people are willing to communicate, reflect, and grow from it. It also feels like people often choose the quick way out “if it’s hard, just leave” instead of trying to confront the issue and work through it. Real relationships take effort… Read more »
“it makes her happy and doesnt cost me a lot” is actually a pretty good dating advice
Many unhealthy relationships revolve around one person making an effort to do things that should be good for a healthy relationship. Just without the recognition and/or reciprocated effort from the other.
As long as it doesn’t eventually sum up to be a lot
Well said and effectively drawn.
Nice,
I just hope this Yandere plot-line concludes with Ethan knowing his powers work again.
Comics like this remind you of how great a friend Lucas is to Ethan, regardless of the continuity. Especially if you’ve watched them grow from the beginning.