Traal Anno 5
The main problem with an Iver-Magda scene is that Iver has usually been transparent in his self-interest. That’s okay when he’s dealing with someone like Don Gobligno, who expects everyone to be selfish, or Harky, who accepts people using each other as the nature of wartime alliance, or Gravedust, who knew some of Iver’s selfishness but held on to optimism about their shared values until he, well, died. Most of the dwarves, it’s implied, are either meathead warriors or fired up with anti-human fervor or both. That’ll get most of them to turn a blind eye to Iver’s grasping nature.
But Magda is both intelligent and empathetic. So for this conversation to go anywhere, we had to see a different side to Iver, however briefly, through her eyes. A version of this mural was one of the first things John drew for Guilded Age, so it was fun planting and payoff to go back to it. From the script: “Iver is far and away at his most likable here, even if, as always, he’s as concerned about appearances as anything else. Even a power-hungry cynic can hold on to a cultural value or two if they don’t directly conflict with his desire for power.”
We know from Iver’s early appearances that he prefers the finer things. So the way he dirties himself in front of his tent is an unusually self-effacing role for him. We can see, at least, why Magda is impressed by it. He’s coming across as the wise mentor she no doubt hopes to–
…Oh, hey, there’s the last panel, he couldn’t even contain the obvious power-lust for ONE PAGE, OH WELL, “BOHO IVER” WAS NICE WHILE IT LASTED
Seeing as how Iwatani does farm work when he needs to keep up appearances it’s not all that surprising.
“Are our leaders willing to explore another strategy?”
“Oh, are you concerned about Harky’s leadership?”
Oh boy, that’s really saying it all. Magda’s question was as direct as it could diplomatically be, and Iver just went directly for what he wished to hear.
That is a well-written scene. Iver seen painting himself a symbol of Dwarven home is not weird at all, it was a very good idea on the authors’ part. It’s not like he is painting someone other’s tent. And we know he is quite sincere in his opinion of the superiority – or the superior importance, anyway – of the Dwarfish culture.
If a Dwarf is not looking himself for the Dwarves’ best interests, who will? (the flip side of this question being, obviously, if a Dwarf is only looking for his best interests, who is he?)
It’s just that he is a power-hungry dude who believes himself the best choice to lead everything dwarfish, and by extension, all savage races.