The artful pan out did create a little more ambiguity than I was entirely comfortable with. Byron and Syr’Nj will be kissing some more, but sex will not be happening until Syr’Nj can get a little further along in Byron’s treatment. Putting Byron’s body through that kind of uncontrollable excitement until they’re relatively sure it won’t make him berserk is an experiment neither of them would want to try.

Also, they probably need to put a stopper on that sparking test tube in the penultimate panel. Not that they don’t appreciate the metaphor it’s offering.

And with this, finally finally FINALLY, the series came to what I now feel is the true end of its true Act One. We would continue to introduce new characters up until the first few pages of the final chapter, but this one rolls out a lot that would be critical to the remainder of the story: Harky’s war council, the Hall of Houses, Syr’Nj and Byron’s relationship, Syr’Nj’s leadership cemented, the second wave of Peacemakers, and the notion that the five heroes who were there on page 1 will be heading up a movement, standing for something much greater than just themselves. From here, though slowly and subtly at first, conflicts would start rising.

Sadly, from here, conflicts started rising between me and Phil too. But our struggle was, we hope, your satisfaction. Next up: the year’s guest comics!