wooooo! and to think i almost didn’t log on today!
but…..
I don’t think he’s talking about Tess, folks. This is the true, witch-hating face of Merrick we’re seeing here. The one who called Sera a “thing” all those years ago, because he doesn’t even think of them as human. He’s talking to Lois, because a “thing” like Sera doesn’t deserve to be addressed except as a tool, at least in his “eyes”.
Which I seriously hope were enjoyed by whoever took them, btw.
Come to think of it, our fiend Chester has completely ignored the fact that Lois is “fine” too. The ones who got killed were the ones who dove in like idiots. Merrick is choosing to focus his anger on Sera, and just using the fact that she had the brains to avoid *physical* injury as an excuse.
I would bet all my original SR comics that Merrick doesn’t give a single hair on a rat’s pimply ass how Tess is doing. That man, or rather what’s left of him, is pure, simple, evil.
Hmm. I take this in a different way than alphatroll — I think this shows he’s not pure maleficent evil. He cares very deeply about his people, in that police/military way; a group that stands in the line of fire so often will look out for each other before all else. Inasmuch as he sees Sera as a threat to his people, he’s an enemy to her, yeah. He may be short-sighted, but he’s not evil. It’s understandable human behavior.
…. Which is not to say he’s right, of course. You charge in there unprepared, with your priorities all askew, and then blame Sera for your folks getting killed? That ain’t leadership. Take some damn responsibility. I’ll let it go for now, ’cause you’re all emotional, but knock that shit off.
That said, agreeing with everyone else on the “Phew Tess is fine!” and the “WAUGH HIS FACE!! D:”
So, I’m just thinkin’..
Those are hand prints on his face, where his eyes ought to be, yeah?
If so, I wonder who seared their hand prints into his face once upon a time. Sounds like witchy business to me. Perhaps his “hatred of witches” stems from this. Or this has contributed to it at least.
Woo Tuesday! Auuugghh!! Merrick! I do think he is talking about Tess, she was just tossed around a little bit, nothing so major it would result in her untimely exit from the story, anyways.
The big question I’ve been wondering about for some time now is who exactly gave Merrick those witch burns?
Now, this IS interesting. Honestly, I agree with Claire that this shows he’s not totally heartless. He apparently cared for those poor Expendable SSI’s, and happy though I am that Tess is apparently a-ok, I can understand why Merrick seems angered by Sera’s inquiry about her well being. Some men (and woman, apparently) that he seems to have worked with for some time all just died, after all.
As for someone stating that he apparently doesn’t give a damn about Tess…well, I think that’s a bit much, but even so, why should he, beyond a professional “gotta-make-sure-the-bushy-browed-civilian-ain’t-dead” way? He doesn’t know her. :\
Though I do think there’s probably merit to the witch-hating theory. Look at them witchburns! Not right, but understandable. I hope we find out who gave those to him.
I am relieved but will not be completely reassured until we see Tess alive and whole and well, firsthand and on panel. But thank you, mister author sir. The clever plan to arrange a message be sent to your mother or equivalent guardian, asking her to ground you for life should Tess turn out to be dead, has been put on hold.
Also, OH GOD MERRICK IS EVEN CREEPIER WHEN HE IS NOT GRINNING HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE.
I think he’s probably got a lot of emotional crap going on right now,
not only from the deaths of his men and women, but from whomever
gave him those scars..
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh DX
them goggles have gotta be some kind of Geordi La Forge type deal!
Thursday’s going to be an epic day, indeed.
Going to see TBM and get to see another Sera page! YAY!
SSI lost a lot of good men. And for what. Because Sera thinks she has everything under control? Because she doesn’t want to fess up and tell them whats been going on while she’s sleeping? And now more people are dead and injured because of her. And Sera STILL can’t bring herself out of her emo bubble to give a rats ass and help her with her problems, and her possibly dead best friend.
It’s not like SSI want’s to open her up and study her or anything. It’s never been specified by them. But someone as troubled as Sera, with her kind of powers needs help. Even if it’s from SSI or some kind of authority. Seems those brave people who stood up against that outbreak at the townsquare had nothing evil about them.
I think I view this a little differently than some. I think if it where not for the distraction of the wierd shit with his eyes you’d see his face in last panel is more a look of anguish than anger.
i hate to have to point this out one more time but…..
*MERRICK DID NOT MENTION TESS!*
We have no reason to assume that he has the slightest clue as to her condition. The words “Your little friend” are addressed to Lois. The “little friend” he’s talking about it almost certainly Sera, who is, after all, sitting there physically “just fine” except for some stomach discomfort.
Merrick cares about the dead SSI folks because they’re “his” people. Lois isn’t really “his” people, except in a loose fellow-law-enforcer way, which is usually tainted by jurisdictional conflicts anyway. And Sera….. well, Sera isn’t even “people”…… re: p. 7, “the *thing* is gone.” Aaron has personally confirmed that that *was* the same Merrick.
Merrick is here to *arrest* Sera, blaming her for his whole fouled-up (again) debacle. Lois will of course protest, and when her protests are ignored she will fall back on her personal promise as well as general duty to the locals and *act*. It can’t go well. When Merrick leaves, he will have one more person’s blood on his suit.
Main point tho, is that we still DON’T know anything about Tess’ condition. NOTHING. Nobody said “Tess is fine” or even “the large red-haired man is fine”. Merrick likely thinks of her as an irritating nuisance friend-of-witches at best, and an accomplice in the death of 8 federal agents at worst (or even as a fellow *killer*, since the entities *looked* like her). There’s no reason to even begin thinking he came here to spread joyous news about her safety, and the fact that he did not do so is somehow slipping into static for some reason.
So to everyone who HAS eyes and DOESN’T have hands over them, well, *use ’em*! (why? why can nobody see the obvious? Aaron, could it be your “visual/visual” metaphors may be getting a bit deep?)
i DO think this page is astoundingly brilliant, by the way, in what is shown, what isn’t shown, what is said, and what isn’t said. And the sum is greater than its parts: Five stars for Mr A. And if Lois doesn’t survive past tomorrow, she will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
Hm… I think…it might be a bit.. off… to say that Merrick is speaking to Lois and the “little friend” in question is Sera. This is just me speculating, but given the look of rage/anguish on his face, it makes a bit more sense for him to be speaking to Sera about Tess. When he entered the room, that’s who they were talking about, not Sera, so I don’t see why he’d be referring to Sera here. And he seems to have come back from a hospital, where he could find out about Tess, theoretically. And, well, there’s no reason for him to say Sera’s fine, when he, and those present, know she’s right there and clearly standing.
…
I hope that made SOME modicum of sense. O_O Anyway, am I the only one here who doesn’t see Merrick and the SSI as a wholly evil and malicious group?
Well, you know, fine… for Tess.
Wellllllll… it was blood, after all.
Good for Tess.
Not so good for the look he’s giving her… or not giving… or… meh. Whatever.
Which of the fellows he named lost his foot to a mini-Tess?
I wish to pay my respects.
Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew……
Tess is fine ^^
Ahhh!
God damn! His face!
GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!
Zee goggles! Zey do nothing! Or everything! Just put them back on!
Maybe it’s really awful, but Tess is fine so I don’t really care about all the mangled SSI officers.
Also, Merrick’s face is about twenty kinds of creepy. Just sayin’.
wooooo! and to think i almost didn’t log on today!
but…..
I don’t think he’s talking about Tess, folks. This is the true, witch-hating face of Merrick we’re seeing here. The one who called Sera a “thing” all those years ago, because he doesn’t even think of them as human. He’s talking to Lois, because a “thing” like Sera doesn’t deserve to be addressed except as a tool, at least in his “eyes”.
Which I seriously hope were enjoyed by whoever took them, btw.
Come to think of it, our fiend Chester has completely ignored the fact that Lois is “fine” too. The ones who got killed were the ones who dove in like idiots. Merrick is choosing to focus his anger on Sera, and just using the fact that she had the brains to avoid *physical* injury as an excuse.
I would bet all my original SR comics that Merrick doesn’t give a single hair on a rat’s pimply ass how Tess is doing. That man, or rather what’s left of him, is pure, simple, evil.
Maybe even worse than Skarsdayle.
(& i don’t even *have* a WTTN trade, since the last friend i lent it to lost it….. 🙁 )
Hmm. I take this in a different way than alphatroll — I think this shows he’s not pure maleficent evil. He cares very deeply about his people, in that police/military way; a group that stands in the line of fire so often will look out for each other before all else. Inasmuch as he sees Sera as a threat to his people, he’s an enemy to her, yeah. He may be short-sighted, but he’s not evil. It’s understandable human behavior.
…. Which is not to say he’s right, of course. You charge in there unprepared, with your priorities all askew, and then blame Sera for your folks getting killed? That ain’t leadership. Take some damn responsibility. I’ll let it go for now, ’cause you’re all emotional, but knock that shit off.
That said, agreeing with everyone else on the “Phew Tess is fine!” and the “WAUGH HIS FACE!! D:”
That face really puts the “Gee” in G-men and nearly put the “Wiz” in my pants.
So, I’m just thinkin’..
Those are hand prints on his face, where his eyes ought to be, yeah?
If so, I wonder who seared their hand prints into his face once upon a time. Sounds like witchy business to me. Perhaps his “hatred of witches” stems from this. Or this has contributed to it at least.
Woo Tuesday! Auuugghh!! Merrick! I do think he is talking about Tess, she was just tossed around a little bit, nothing so major it would result in her untimely exit from the story, anyways.
The big question I’ve been wondering about for some time now is who exactly gave Merrick those witch burns?
oh thank god she’s not killed off by the author in some sick plot twist!
Now, this IS interesting. Honestly, I agree with Claire that this shows he’s not totally heartless. He apparently cared for those poor Expendable SSI’s, and happy though I am that Tess is apparently a-ok, I can understand why Merrick seems angered by Sera’s inquiry about her well being. Some men (and woman, apparently) that he seems to have worked with for some time all just died, after all.
As for someone stating that he apparently doesn’t give a damn about Tess…well, I think that’s a bit much, but even so, why should he, beyond a professional “gotta-make-sure-the-bushy-browed-civilian-ain’t-dead” way? He doesn’t know her. :\
Though I do think there’s probably merit to the witch-hating theory. Look at them witchburns! Not right, but understandable. I hope we find out who gave those to him.
I am relieved but will not be completely reassured until we see Tess alive and whole and well, firsthand and on panel. But thank you, mister author sir. The clever plan to arrange a message be sent to your mother or equivalent guardian, asking her to ground you for life should Tess turn out to be dead, has been put on hold.
Also, OH GOD MERRICK IS EVEN CREEPIER WHEN HE IS NOT GRINNING HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE.
pretty much agreeing with Claire here,
I think he’s probably got a lot of emotional crap going on right now,
not only from the deaths of his men and women, but from whomever
gave him those scars..
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesh DX
them goggles have gotta be some kind of Geordi La Forge type deal!
Thursday’s going to be an epic day, indeed.
Going to see TBM and get to see another Sera page! YAY!
AAAH! That’s really creepy.
SSI lost a lot of good men. And for what. Because Sera thinks she has everything under control? Because she doesn’t want to fess up and tell them whats been going on while she’s sleeping? And now more people are dead and injured because of her. And Sera STILL can’t bring herself out of her emo bubble to give a rats ass and help her with her problems, and her possibly dead best friend.
It’s not like SSI want’s to open her up and study her or anything. It’s never been specified by them. But someone as troubled as Sera, with her kind of powers needs help. Even if it’s from SSI or some kind of authority. Seems those brave people who stood up against that outbreak at the townsquare had nothing evil about them.
Oh WOW…. um… he has no eyes! who in hell did he shoot the mini tess monsters with NO EYES!
sorry typo i meant “how in hell” not “who in hell”
I think I view this a little differently than some. I think if it where not for the distraction of the wierd shit with his eyes you’d see his face in last panel is more a look of anguish than anger.
i hate to have to point this out one more time but…..
*MERRICK DID NOT MENTION TESS!*
We have no reason to assume that he has the slightest clue as to her condition. The words “Your little friend” are addressed to Lois. The “little friend” he’s talking about it almost certainly Sera, who is, after all, sitting there physically “just fine” except for some stomach discomfort.
Merrick cares about the dead SSI folks because they’re “his” people. Lois isn’t really “his” people, except in a loose fellow-law-enforcer way, which is usually tainted by jurisdictional conflicts anyway. And Sera….. well, Sera isn’t even “people”…… re: p. 7, “the *thing* is gone.” Aaron has personally confirmed that that *was* the same Merrick.
Merrick is here to *arrest* Sera, blaming her for his whole fouled-up (again) debacle. Lois will of course protest, and when her protests are ignored she will fall back on her personal promise as well as general duty to the locals and *act*. It can’t go well. When Merrick leaves, he will have one more person’s blood on his suit.
Main point tho, is that we still DON’T know anything about Tess’ condition. NOTHING. Nobody said “Tess is fine” or even “the large red-haired man is fine”. Merrick likely thinks of her as an irritating nuisance friend-of-witches at best, and an accomplice in the death of 8 federal agents at worst (or even as a fellow *killer*, since the entities *looked* like her). There’s no reason to even begin thinking he came here to spread joyous news about her safety, and the fact that he did not do so is somehow slipping into static for some reason.
So to everyone who HAS eyes and DOESN’T have hands over them, well, *use ’em*! (why? why can nobody see the obvious? Aaron, could it be your “visual/visual” metaphors may be getting a bit deep?)
i DO think this page is astoundingly brilliant, by the way, in what is shown, what isn’t shown, what is said, and what isn’t said. And the sum is greater than its parts: Five stars for Mr A. And if Lois doesn’t survive past tomorrow, she will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
Oh god, it’s like Pan’s Labrynth all over again!!
After several rereads and re-views I do believe alphatroll has it aright. Merrick is speaking to Lois and the “little friend” is Sera.
Tess, Stiletta, the monster chased into the woods, all are still unknowns at this point.
Tomorrow will indeed be epic! I just might stay up past midnite to see if Mr A posts early.
OH MY GOD!!! WHERE ARE HIS EYES!!!! PUT THOSE DAMN GOGGLES BACK ON!!!
Hm… I think…it might be a bit.. off… to say that Merrick is speaking to Lois and the “little friend” in question is Sera. This is just me speculating, but given the look of rage/anguish on his face, it makes a bit more sense for him to be speaking to Sera about Tess. When he entered the room, that’s who they were talking about, not Sera, so I don’t see why he’d be referring to Sera here. And he seems to have come back from a hospital, where he could find out about Tess, theoretically. And, well, there’s no reason for him to say Sera’s fine, when he, and those present, know she’s right there and clearly standing.
…
I hope that made SOME modicum of sense. O_O Anyway, am I the only one here who doesn’t see Merrick and the SSI as a wholly evil and malicious group?
I love that guy. Really…he’s scary, but if he can somehow see without actually having visible eyes well then…thats cool.
And I totally think hes talking to Sera about Tess.
WHAT THE HOLY AAAAGHH
Well at least Tess is okay