Guilded Age

The Saga of the Working Class Adventurer – New comics every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!
  • About
  • Cast
  • Crew
  • Downloads
  • Guilded Age Plus
  • Store
  • Contact
  • RSS

Annotations Every Day - Written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn - Illustrated by John & Jason Waltrip

Other names for Byron, by Frigg: Crazy Von Killusall, Axeshit Murderfucker, Constable Clobberstein the Cantankerous.

Chapter 12 – Page 8

on August 8, 2011
Chapter: Chapter 12
└ Tags: Bandit, Byron, E-Merl, Frigg, Gravedust, Rachel, Scipio, Syr'Nj
Comments RSS

Discussion (80) ¬

  1. Jean-Luc
    Jean-Luc
    August 8, 2011, 12:05 am | # | Reply

    So when do those mechanical fighters lose their training wheels?

  2. Michael Haneline
    Michael Haneline
    August 8, 2011, 12:10 am | # | Reply

    Hey kids, how many names can YOU come up with for Byron?

    • Timelost
      Timelost
      August 8, 2011, 1:47 am | # | Reply

      Teamkill de la Axe-in-Face, Axetalker McLooseCannon, Psychokiller Qu’estce que c’est Fa-fafafa-fafafa-fa, Mister Has Difficulty Shrugging, Longhair Killshisfriends.

      And #6

      Stubbledy Axecrack.

      • Abcus
        Abcus
        August 8, 2011, 5:00 pm | # | Reply

        Bezerky McKillface, the Axis of teamkill, Diaxial-fuck-up-your-friendsian, The axe-o-matic-ally-reducer, and my personal favourite: the Axecutioner.

        Too soon?

        Cheers,

        Cote

        PS Looking back on those, I have to say that not too much beats “Byron Hackenslasher”. Foiled by the writers again!

        • Locke
          Locke
          August 9, 2011, 2:17 am | # | Reply

          Dualaxe Chopface, Beardy McKillkill, John BLARGHARGHLAGLE, Mellow-Yellow-Murder, Axeslash Blankeyes, Collateral-Damage Jones, Not-Drizzt the Friendslayer, “Foamy”, The Gnome Divider, The Bane of Battlespire, the Brown-eyed Back-Breaker, Byron “Mad-Dog” Hackenslasher, Judas O’killey-you-all, Fantasy Micheal Weston, The Berserker Bear Grylls, Rabies McFoamface, Axe-You-No-More-Questions, Kill-everything McAxington, and, finally, Bad Dog Byron.

          • centuriancode
            centuriancode
            August 9, 2011, 6:27 am | # | Reply

            How about Axe-a-Lot Al?

          • SotiCoto
            SotiCoto
            March 30, 2016, 10:01 am | # | Reply

            DeCaptainator Ronnie P K Axelove-Teamgank Esquire the 3rd

    • Karishi
      Karishi
      August 9, 2011, 3:51 pm | # | Reply

      Trisector Sharpshoulders

  3. Pikey
    Pikey
    August 8, 2011, 12:11 am | # | Reply

    Next up: Mechanical Whores!

    • flevine
      flevine
      August 8, 2011, 6:20 am | # | Reply

      Ack, now I’m hearing RevCo’s “Hookerbot 3000” in my head…and Sundar singing, “This is the future, baby!”

  4. None
    None
    August 8, 2011, 12:14 am | # | Reply

    EYES, goshdarn it. If a character is at a distance in which we can see its buttons then we should also be able to see their eyes. The eyes are one of the first things our brains focus on. That they are missing, especially in scenes like in the last panel, looks weird. If you can’t see a face at the distance you need glasses thicker than a submarine’s hull.

    • Katlamos
      Katlamos
      August 8, 2011, 1:31 am | # | Reply

      Yeah, it’s a bothering thing, especially since my current desktop is the one where Byron has the bird on his head. It’s the same in that, and I’ve half a mind to use my poor computer drawing skills and add in my own eyes.

    • Timelost
      Timelost
      August 8, 2011, 1:50 am | # | Reply

      I know something worse than not having eyes where they should be.

      http://muppetswithpeopleeyes.tumblr.com/

      • The bawdy rifleman
        The bawdy rifleman
        August 8, 2011, 2:17 am | # | Reply

        That’s kinda … scary. Sort of.

    • Doma
      Doma
      August 8, 2011, 2:57 am | # | Reply

      Less detail is acceptable for the background, but not the mid-foreground.

      Even for the sake of deadlines, why neglect facial expressions? There are much less important corners to be cut.

      • Doma
        Doma
        August 8, 2011, 3:03 am | # | Reply

        The first two panels, however, were excellent. John, your art is hit and miss, but mostly hit. I feel bad for giving you a a hard time about minor details. Sometimes we as a community are a little too harsh.

        Please draw faces in the mid-ground though. Pretty pwease.

        • ahdok
          ahdok
          August 8, 2011, 1:36 pm | # | Reply

          There’s a hidden subplot about a ethereal filcher stealing people’s eyes, it just hasn’t come up yet.

        • Abcus
          Abcus
          August 8, 2011, 5:05 pm | # | Reply

          It was jarring enough for me that I think it was deliberate. Syr’Nj’s face is all scrunched up, so no eyes and pursed lips could account for it. For Bandit, maybe that’s the way Byron sees her now? Blocking her out just to be able to keep on without loosing his mind?

          Just a theory.

          Cheers,

          Cote

          • ahdok
            ahdok
            August 9, 2011, 2:00 pm | # | Reply

            It’s been a persistent part of the art style for a few strips now, so I don’t think that really holds – given it’s been in byron-less scenes too.

    • jk9000
      jk9000
      August 8, 2011, 10:31 am | # | Reply

      I honestly never notice these lack-of-eyes things until people point them out to me. It’s clearly not the first thing my brain focuses on.

      • Thracecius
        Thracecius
        August 8, 2011, 1:49 pm | # | Reply

        I notice it, but I’m focusing mostly on the dialogue and then the picture, so it doesn’t bother me. I’m good with the art either way. :)

      • TCS
        TCS
        October 15, 2013, 6:30 pm | # | Reply

        The lack of eyes is a little off-putting on Syr’nj, but not enough to really bug me. Faceless Bandit, though, is just… *shudder* Makes me think of face-stealers. Or maybe her face actually was stolen?

    • Redo19
      Redo19
      August 8, 2011, 8:28 pm | # | Reply

      Maybe you guys just have prosopagnosia. I see the eyes just fine.

    • Krogaladin
      Krogaladin
      August 9, 2011, 9:07 am | # | Reply

      I think they look like Brock from Pokemon

    • SotiCoto
      SotiCoto
      June 26, 2013, 10:45 am | # | Reply

      My mind tends to deregister eyes… because I find them disturbing.
      Instinctively I consider eyes to be instruments of judgement seeking to condemn me…
      Is one reason I always wear sunglasses in public.

      Just saying this to point out that your assessment isn’t all-inclusive.

  5. Dotcom
    Dotcom
    August 8, 2011, 12:15 am | # | Reply

    Axe-blocked!

  6. SteelRaven
    SteelRaven
    August 8, 2011, 12:19 am | # | Reply

    Hey, green peace, that’s the whole point of having a Berserker!

    Also, love the third panel.

    • Acadian Bacon
      Acadian Bacon
      August 8, 2011, 9:23 am | # | Reply

      -high five-

  7. Nivella
    Nivella
    August 8, 2011, 12:22 am | # | Reply

    Aww, can’t I go and play, please?
    *puppy eyes*

  8. Fairportfan
    Fairportfan
    August 8, 2011, 12:24 am | # | Reply

    Syr’nj is getting right bossy…

    • Hornet
      Hornet
      August 8, 2011, 12:00 pm | # | Reply

      No actually I think she’s kind of pissed and that’s why you can’t really see her eyes, she’s got the evil squint going on.

    • Karishi
      Karishi
      August 9, 2011, 3:54 pm | # | Reply

      Props for My Little Spinnerette. Was totally thinking Slepnir ’til I recognized the color scheme.

  9. gangler
    gangler
    August 8, 2011, 12:26 am | # | Reply

    Lol. He tries to take charge again but too late. Syrnj ain’t giving up the mantle until she’s done with it.

    Should be fun to watch her come up with cure.

    • Acadian Bacon
      Acadian Bacon
      August 8, 2011, 9:23 am | # | Reply

      He wasn’t taking charge of the group, he’s made it clear that it’s not what he wants. He just wants the team to fight better as a unit without him close by, and seeing as Gravedust and Frigg are usually close together during most fights, it just made sense to get them to fight better together as a team. I wasn’t a “Who died and made YOU king?” moment, he just wants to help.

      • gangler
        gangler
        August 8, 2011, 10:12 am | # | Reply

        Just pointing out the humor of it. Byron’s feeling in high enough spirits to give orders and lay out the tactics but now he’s getting vetoed.

        Honestly though, his directions to Frigg and Gravedust weren’t technically an order but it was a bit more authoritative than is really proper without either a position of leadership or the respect of the person you’re speaking to. His posture, his way of speaking, just about everything about him today looks like a man who’s accidentally slipping back into his old role. Gonna take some adjusting there.

  10. Robtimus
    Robtimus
    August 8, 2011, 12:32 am | # | Reply

    1. Other Tank in the background of panel 2 looks so casual battling the mechanical fighter – he didn’t even bother to put down his cigar. As if there already weren’t enough parallels between he and Frigg, they’re even standing at the same angle. (Also, I like his sword. It reminds me of the high elve’s swords in Warhammer.)

    2. The top of that goblin’s head in panel 3 looks like it’s going to fly away on it’s own with those wing-looking ears of theirs. And I can just hear the goblin just below him as he watches his hand being removed: “I did NOT see that coming!”

    3. Other Byron nicknames: Crazy McMadnuts, Slashy von Gnomedicer, Teamkillius Maximus.

  11. eschmenk
    eschmenk
    August 8, 2011, 12:42 am | # | Reply

    Sundar The Sunderer is/was Rendar the Renderer’s brother?

    http://guildedage.net/webcomic/chapter-2/chapter-2-page-15/

    • Haley
      Haley
      August 8, 2011, 3:03 am | # | Reply

      handy throwback, there, thank you!

  12. Jesus the Viking
    Jesus the Viking
    August 8, 2011, 2:04 am | # | Reply

    Is she planning to de-berserk him? Science goes too far.

    • Acadian Bacon
      Acadian Bacon
      August 8, 2011, 9:20 am | # | Reply

      Must be Ritalin or something… yeah, THAT’S a great idea, take the most powerful asset of a freakin’ berzerker and get rid of it. Now he’s just a fighter. Like the other 100k+ in the Gastonian army. Woo!

      • Nekropancser
        Nekropancser
        August 9, 2011, 2:52 pm | # | Reply

        Without the extra feats, every second level. :D

        • Karishi
          Karishi
          August 9, 2011, 3:55 pm | # | Reply

          Hope he still counts as a barbarian instead of a warrior, or his HD drop from d12s to d8s.
          Stupid NPC classes.

  13. Doop doop
    Doop doop
    August 8, 2011, 5:16 am | # | Reply

    Look, sorry but I’ve got to be picky.

    WHY would someone design a robot duel machine that dual wields? Most fighters only use single weapons, whether it be a massive greatsword/axe/maul or a one handed weapon and a shield/buckler/etc. Unless the enemy they’re going to fight EXCLUSIVELY dual wields, practicing against a dual wielding murderbot isn’t going to teach you how to fight against most people you come up against. At best it’ll teach you rote repetition to parry swings from two sides which might be good for teaching soldiers, but not for single warriors.

    Secondly, the sword arms. Seriously why do people enjoy arms that are blades. It makes no goddamn sense. Look at the stances people use to fight. Very rarely do they fight with their swords positioned as a sword arm would be. Which means training against them doesn’t exactly help much.

    And if these robots are just for training, WHY PUT SWORDS AT ALL? BE LOGICAL HERE. Who the hell risks grievous injury during training?

    If you’ll excuse me, my armchair internet expertise and incredibly cool self must now slink back into the shadows. Worst. Robot design. Ever.

    • gangler
      gangler
      August 8, 2011, 6:58 am | # | Reply

      It’s a brand new invention. Training Robot 1.0. Some design flaws are to be expected.

      Also earlier conversations with Rendar’s brother seem to indicate that these weren’t meant for training at all, that’s just all they’re good for right now, which further reinforces the notion that they are far from a perfect creation.

      Admittedly the guy’s not a reliable source and he was drunk, but there’s nothing to indicate that the intended purpose he laid out was false and it would make a lot of sense of the situation so I’m inclined to believe it’s accurate.

    • Jean-Luc
      Jean-Luc
      August 8, 2011, 12:59 pm | # | Reply

      Rules change when you’re a machine. When you have no bones and organs to worry about blindly charging into a group of enemies with twirling blades suddenly becomes viable.

      • Karishi
        Karishi
        August 8, 2011, 11:06 pm | # | Reply

        Maybe rules change when you’re a machine, Jean-Luc. (Do they ever.)

        But when I’m a machine, people expect business as usual.

    • centuriancode
      centuriancode
      August 9, 2011, 6:32 am | # | Reply

      Take a look at depictions of medieval training dummies some time. They’re suspiciously similar.

      Y’see, with that kind of training dummy, the whole point is rote-learning either a parry or a block for a downwards strike. Then you move on to the same thing, but for lunges. Then for side swipes. Counter-intuitive as it seems, you don’t get good at fencing (or any kind of combat sport/style) but practising in realistic scenarios. You get good by mindless repetition of basic movements so that, when you need them, they come without thought.

      Surely someone else remembers “wax on, wax off”?

    • MDude
      MDude
      August 9, 2011, 10:43 am | # | Reply

      On the plus side, they’re very skilled at keeping the flat side of the blade pointed towards the viewer

  14. King of Zeroes
    King of Zeroes
    August 8, 2011, 5:44 am | # | Reply

    I’m clearly the only one who sees the value in an axe swinging psychopath not controlling himself during wartimes.

    You want him to kill his enemies, but you don’t want him to do it too well. Might make everyone else look bad.

    My love for you is like a truck!

    • gangler
      gangler
      August 8, 2011, 7:24 am | # | Reply

      He’s still quite mortal in his frenzied state, you do know that right?

      I imagine what Syrnj is getting at though is that just because they send him to fight away from the team doesn’t mean that’s where he’ll stay. If you’ve ever played this type of character I’m sure you’ve seen how once you lose control they have the darndest habit of running off to exactly where you need them least. Taunting nasty shit that otherwise wouldn’t have known about you, somehow he ends up next to your mage and just won’t stop slashing until the target is dead. Takes more than he can chew and puts you in the difficult situation of having to get your healer over there to treat him without dying or just fucking up whatever the plan was supposed to be. Heaven help them if there’s traps on the battlefield there’d be no stopping him from setting off every single one of those nasties, or at least however many it would take to end him.

      We don’t just train soldiers in marksmanship, we train them to take orders. There’s a reason for that. Byron’s platoon wouldn’t make it out the other end of a war unless they were fortunate enough to have him bring about his own destruction early without taking anyone with him. Admittedly my knowledge of real war is limited, but I’d bet money that if I asked a veteran I’d find you don’t survive by not keeping your wits about you. Thought is a necessary component. Even that cliched scene where the grenade lands in the fox-pit and someone tosses it out would require more thought than Byron could muster in that state. A frenzied beast is not an asset out there.

      It’s a nice idea in theory but he’d be a liability as he is.

      • King of Zeroes
        King of Zeroes
        August 8, 2011, 8:37 pm | # | Reply

        That sounds like Ladytalk to me! Everyone knows the real point of war is getting a higher body count than the other guy.

        • Nekropancser
          Nekropancser
          August 9, 2011, 3:00 pm | # | Reply

          And the higher body count requires more living soldiers for me than for the enemy. True berserkers weren’t warriors. They were weapons. Like the atom of the middle ages. On the top of a hill, there stood the archers, who finished the remaining off, when they turned around. But this army is nothing like this, so they do not need anything required to be shot down after the end of battle, or in the middle.

      • Karishi
        Karishi
        August 9, 2011, 4:00 pm | # | Reply

        He’s still quite mortal in his frenzied state, you do know that right?

        You have no proof of that. None! The only time he’s died so far it’s been outside of frenzy.

  15. flevine
    flevine
    August 8, 2011, 6:16 am | # | Reply

    Alt-text win.

  16. mightysmiley
    mightysmiley
    August 8, 2011, 6:33 am | # | Reply

    guess we know who wears the pants in that family

  17. Slipdance
    Slipdance
    August 8, 2011, 6:46 am | # | Reply

    In addition to Axe-mad Mc Slay-pal:
    Frothy McCleavelots, Hack Stubblechin, Fumble Glovedrop, Mood Axeswing, Grit Splitman, Chop Friendgibb, Bob Johnson, Toggle Friendlyfire, Axe Shoulderyoink, Flag Honorkill, Stab Speartroll

  18. DeWitt
    DeWitt
    August 8, 2011, 7:00 am | # | Reply

    I rarely comment, but I fucking lost it when I read the alt text and got to ‘Axeshit Murderfucker’. I love you guys.

  19. Gillsing
    Gillsing
    August 8, 2011, 8:18 am | # | Reply

    In the second panel it looks like “pull of” should be “pull off”. And I too noticed the facelessnes in the last panel. Spooky!

    • Phil
      Flo
      August 8, 2011, 8:30 am | # | Reply

      Thanks for the typo catch. Fixed.

  20. TexasNinjaBuzzard
    TexasNinjaBuzzard
    August 8, 2011, 8:33 am | # | Reply

    It’s awesome the way he spent several chapters warning them repeatedly that he was a killamajig- a fuggin’ professional killamajig, it’s right on his damn business card- and they still got all shocked and bitchy about it when it turned out, WELLLP, he gets kallamajiggy wit’ it sometimes. Gravedust grew up hammering the desert, right? Shouldn’t he at least know about scorpions?

  21. Karishi
    Karishi
    August 8, 2011, 8:43 am | # | Reply

    Seriously, all your berserker rage needs is to triple its vocabulary:
    “Kill!”
    becomes the landshark-level
    “Kill those guys!”

    • gangler
      gangler
      August 8, 2011, 8:53 am | # | Reply

      That… There might be some merit to that line of thought actually. Just a couple extra point into that int stat would make a world of difference.

      • Acadian Bacon
        Acadian Bacon
        August 8, 2011, 9:15 am | # | Reply

        That’s funny, Syr says she knows exactly how dangerous he is, yet calls his class ability a ‘problem’. You’ve got a lot to learn about what makes a berzerker… a freakin’ BERZERKER.

        • Acadian Bacon
          Acadian Bacon
          August 8, 2011, 9:16 am | # | Reply

          Whoops. Tried to make it as a comment on its own! D: DAGNABBIT.

          Ah well…

          Oh, and Byron has a fairly high Int stat, considering he knows a lot about combat tactics and whatnot. And I like my Gravatar. :3

          • gangler
            gangler
            August 8, 2011, 10:04 am | # | Reply

            Zerked Byron doesn’t really have much of an int stat at all though. If he could retain just a couple points more we’d be pitching and bitching.

  22. LurkingTroll
    LurkingTroll
    August 8, 2011, 10:33 am | # | Reply

    Byron demonstrates quite well why people in my family try to find peaceful outcomes to disagreements: There’s a fairly high percentage of my bloodline that tends to ‘lose it’ when the adrenaline flows and the blood’s pumping. My little sister, all 5’3″ of her, physically TOSSED her husband out of the way to get a clear running charge at someone, and he’s a 6’1″ Marine.

    Heavy bones, bad tempers… yeah.

    Even today, berserking has negative connotations for a lot of people, however useful it may be to crunch your antagonist into a fine chewy pulp.

    However!

    Syr’nj needs to help him embrace whatever it is in himself that causes berserking, allow him to harness it, not just drop the leash and let it rage, nor keep his abilities in a cage (accidental Suess there). He’s skilled, strong, and fast. Develop it. Give him clarity whilst carving, and Frigg will be jealous of his Awesome Chopomancy.

    • centuriancode
      centuriancode
      August 9, 2011, 6:35 am | # | Reply

      Seeing red. So much better when it’s not a metaphor.

  23. Ishmael
    Ishmael
    August 8, 2011, 1:06 pm | # | Reply

    Guys, there’s a good reason that they don’t have eyes that far.

    They have the detail rendering on their game turned way down in order to squeeze in more fps.

    • Phil
      Flo
      August 8, 2011, 1:56 pm | # | Reply

      Gold Star.

  24. Goldeye
    Goldeye
    August 8, 2011, 7:18 pm | # | Reply

    next: Byron gets a shrink

  25. Whipstitch
    Whipstitch
    August 8, 2011, 10:42 pm | # | Reply

    I would have gone with “Can’ttankerous” for the nested pun, even if it looks stupid in print.

    • Phil
      Flo
      August 9, 2011, 12:26 am | # | Reply

      It’s appreciated.

      Every pun is sacred. Every pun is good.

      • Locke
        Locke
        August 9, 2011, 2:19 am | # | Reply

        So sayeth the Lord, Amen.

      • King of Zeroes
        King of Zeroes
        August 9, 2011, 5:17 am | # | Reply

        Puns are bad, and you should feel bad for writing them.

      • centuriancode
        centuriancode
        August 9, 2011, 6:36 am | # | Reply

        Every pun is needed, in you neighbourhood!

      • Robtimus
        Robtimus
        August 9, 2011, 11:40 pm | # | Reply

        There are those that will read
        Little Guardians
        Some read Goblins or OOTS
        There are those that read Looking For Group BUT
        I’ve never been one of them

        I’m a GA reader
        And have been since September ’09
        And the one thing they say about Guildies is
        If you make puns you’ll do just fine

        You don’t have to read every comment
        You don’t have to get a Gold Star
        As long as you read every update and
        Make bad puns then you will go far

        Because…

        Every pun is sacred
        Every pun is great
        If a pun is wasted
        Phil gets quite irate
        (repeat)

        Let the heathens waste theirs
        On Digg or Google+
        Phil shall make them pay
        For each pun not just for us

        Every pun is wanted
        Every pun is good
        Every pun is needed
        In your neighborhood

        Social media users
        Spit puns just anywhere
        But Phil loves those who treat their
        Wordplay with more care

        Every pun is sacred
        Every pun is great
        If a pun is wasted
        Phil gets quite irate

        Every pun is sacred
        Every pun is good
        Every pun is needed
        In your neighborhood

        Every pun is useful
        Every pun is fine
        Phil needs everybody’s
        Gangler’s, Lockes’, and mine

        Let commenters waste theirs
        On Reddit and 4chan
        Phil will show no mercy
        And they shall all be banned

        Every pun is sacred
        Every pun is good
        Every pun is needed
        In your neighborhood

        Every pun is sacred
        Every pun is great
        If a pun is wasted
        Phil gets quite irate

        (the original)

        • Phil
          Flo
          August 13, 2011, 5:52 pm | # | Reply

          Gold. Fucking. Star.

  26. Locke
    Locke
    August 9, 2011, 2:20 am | # | Reply

    No, don’t cure the battle-rabies, Syr! IT’S TOO AWESOME.

  27. soloran
    soloran
    August 9, 2011, 4:01 am | # | Reply

    I just want to know whether that flat-edged blade the sister is wielding actually has ruler markings on it.

  28. Saiyanwolf
    Saiyanwolf
    October 13, 2014, 9:08 pm | # | Reply

    Don’t forget Sir Slayalot

Comment ¬ Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NOTE - You can use these HTML tags and attributes:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>



Guilded Age is co-written by T Campbell & Flo Kahn, and illustrated by John Waltrip. Site design by Samantha Kyle. Fonts by Blambot.com.
Stay up to date with Facebook or Google+, or use our RSS Feed!
Privacy Policy
Guilded Age does not claim ownership of any of the corporate branding that appears in this comic, nor does it claim any affiliation, partnership, or endorsement of any kind.
They are used strictly as an artistic choice for the set dressing of the comic.