Annotated 48-9
(No FB.)
By now I hope it’s clear that with Taro, the contradictions are the point. Some would say that a narcissist like him is incapable of friendly gestures or admiration of others. The truth is, in some ways, even worse: he can do those things, but they mean almost nothing because his own ego or impulses can contradict them mere seconds later. “I’ve always admired your people’s ingenuity…gnomeskulls.” That promise of a hot bath won’t be delivered on, either.
That’s the real horror of having someone like him at the head of a nation or organization. And that’s why people like him seek those positions. Her Grace Iwatani thought her husband wanted “the freedom to indulge his every appetite,” but that’s an apter description of her son.
I have a feeling “Bossy, bossy, bossy” is a phrase Taro picked up from others, who described him that way back in the days when doing so wouldn’t get them killed immediately. Back when he was only a “normal” child and his domineering seemed harmless.
Is that Bandit hiding in the rafters in the last panel? Also, fantastic work by John, showing the real scale of the ultimate engine by just its shadow.
oh, thanks for pointing that out! My old monitor is getting a bit dark in the shadows these days …
Franzington, Micholuszek, Taro Iwatani not tagged.
Also, colouring seems off. Taro’s definitely too yellow. Ouch!
I was under the impression that the light was cauzed by the sunset coming through old glass windows.
Plus Bandit.
Man, I miss Red Alert.
“The test driver’s gone, but that’s alright, I have OLD FRIENDS who could do it!”
Oh typical villain he’s sending his lackeys to their death. Especially when they keep repeating this shit’s highly unstable.
“I’LL DO IT”
Oh… why did you… what’s the…
Turns out he’s a loose cannon and ruins even his own war plans, but he might still be smart enough to notice some of the subtext here.
I bet Franzington and Micholuszek were hoping that the damn thing just explodes under Taro’s butt, and that Taro noticed something and decides to keep them around on the “test drive”, just to make sure.
On the other hand: I wonder how much of Taro’s power grab was for the sole purpose of being able to drive this monster…
Way I read it, Franz and Mick were just ON that test drive.
That explains why they talk about how the machine was only ALMOST unsafe, and how they were almost not terrified at all.
Having seen that it’s safeish enough, Taro wants to hog all the glory, relying on plot armor to make “safeish” into “servicable”.
Taro’s skin tone on this page kinda makes him look like a Lego man