Page 1135…
And this ends the flashback sequence.
I hope the symbolism of Nicodemus on all fours during Arthur’s rule…then going up to stand on two legs once he comes to power is evident.
I’m not much for symbolism. In fact…this is my first attempt at it…ha ha.
But yesterday…with him rising (to power?) with just showing his feet. Then up in today’s page.
Well…I hope it works.
On Tuesday…we’ll be back to Alex and gang.
I hope you all enjoyed this. And please…if you get a chance…go back and read it from the beginning.
http://thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-15/page-1078/
That works great with the day of man being done, and a good close to the flashback. Well done, and I can’t wait until Tuesday!
Yeah, it really worked well. Him standing up like that really makes him look human–quite moreso than the classic CG dog or cat that movies fling at you; it really works for Nicodemus. Also, I dare say I’ve loved what you’ve done with the flashback. The dragon is the bad guy, yes, and we can cheer for the heroes and boo for the Lillian, but his actual downfall isn’t so clear cut, and is interesting. He’s not just the evil dragon that crushes dreamland under his claw. I’m interested if you’re going to have this play more into the story as it moves back to the current day.
Also I’m interested to see why and how Nicodemus was in the cave near the start of this whole tale, as clearly he leaves it here, and sounds like he wants it forgotten and left to rot…
For any that haven’t done it yet, I second Scott’s suggestion to go back and read the entire flashback at one sitting. Well worth it, and a much better pace for this part of the tale!
Also, don’t forget that you can also vote on weekends!
http://topwebcomics.com/vote/4274/default.aspx
😉
The symbolism does work well. Thanks for explaining it to us though, I’m not sure if I would have got it. Wow, the end of a flashback, this explains quite nicely how the sword knew all of this, the downfall of Nicodemus, and why the spell was there. I do wonder if Alex and the gang will be split on what Nic did as we readers were. I’m glad I caught up!!!
Maybe Dan does go to dreamland, but he is trapped in a tomb, and only perceives nothing, not knowing he is in Dreamland, and Nic came every now and then to make sure that the heir to the throne wouldn’t try to escape 0_o!
I’m actually hoping that the symbolism you intend isn’t the symbolism I’m getting out of it, Scott. Because last I checked, the four-legged animal rising up and going about on two is closely associated with the chilling phrase “Some animals are more equal than others.” Surely Nicodemus isn’t intended to be a stand-in for the porcine Napoleon… is he?
dun.
Dun.
DUNNNN.
Nearly missed this! Page appearing on a Sunday – now that’s scary 🙂
Excellent close to the flashback.
I’m not sure how well the symbolism works for me. The Nicodemus’ arms and legs have human proportions: his thighs are so long that keeping his body horizontal would require him to swing his legs out to his side or crawl on his hand and knees.
I think the symbolism could work better for me if his arms and legs were the same length, [i]e.g[/i]., the anthropomorphic “GEICO Gecko” or the “Mushu” character from [i]Mu Lan[/i]. that would allow him to look comfortable while walking on all fours or only on his hind legs: that way, Nicodemus can make a [i]choice[/i] on whether he walks on two legs or on four, rather than appearing [to me, anyways] to be just finding a more comfortable way of walking around.
As it is now, my only question is “Jeez, why didn’t he walk this way in the first place?”
My $0.02.
I’m in the middle of a power struggle right now, people angry, upset, worried. All claiming to want to do what’s best for the group – or so they believe. It may destroy the group. With luck, the bloodshed will only be figurative, but I really don’t know how it can turn out well.
It doesn’t help that we all carry a bit of lizard around with us in the backs of our brains, generating responses that worked a million years or so ago – but maybe not so well today. You can see it in the news every day.
Give Nicodemus some credit – he has no self-delusion that his assumption of the throne is going to be without pain and strife. Of course, he fully intends it will largely be felt by others.
Something to think about as the story progresses (or maybe if you revisit this at some point Scott) is, how deep a game was Nicodemus playing all along? We’ve seen how Nicodemus played Arthur – was he also playing the Wraiths, saying the right things to make them decide he’d be the better ruler to deal with? It certainly has taken him no time to decide what to do now that Arthur is out of the picture – rather like this is what he’d been working towards all along. We’ve seen his contempt for humans and the other races in Dreamland. It’d be surprising if he didn’t feel the same way towards the inhabitants of the Nightmare Realm, if with a different style.
I was thinking the same thing… a little bit of Orwell’s Animal Farm?
What is in store for poor Dreamland!?
http://thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-15/page-1123/
On that page, on the last panel, there is still words missing behind Arthur’s head.
Just thought I should bring that up again :p
Otherwise, the symbolism is noticed well when you view the entire section in one viewing.
Huh. Nicodemus is kinda sexy there. (But then I’ve always had a thing for villains. :P)
It is good symbolism indeed. Definitely wasn’t lost on me. This entire flashback sequence was well thought out and well executed. We can really see how Nicodemus became who he was. There’s even a little room in the story for redemption along the way if that’s part of your master plan.
I was predicting the symbolism from the start, and it was executed in the end better then I ever imagined. Kudos. I LOVE how Nick evovles into a villian but still retains *snaps fingers* for lack of a better word, his “good qualities” that I’ve seen in the flashback. As for “some animals are more equal then others,” I don’t think he has favorites among the Dreamland races, but he is happy to silence those who speak against him (Nastajia) and probably wouldn’t have any real regrets to genocide if an entire race stood against him; least that’s my humble opinon.
he definitely
looks more powerful on 2 legs instead of 4. great job scott
I LOVE the symbolism. You showed it wonderfully. When he confronts Arthur earlier, he briefly rises to two legs. I am actually going to miss the flashback. I’d like to get back to the talking sword though.
ugh, creepily human… just give him some clothes and saw off those devil horns and he looks like a scaley person!
Rule of the Dragon:
Rule 1 – do not annoy me for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup
Rule 2 – see rule 1
Why Nic, why…. I was starting to like you…. And you ruined it all…
Well, well, well. Bad human failed to start a war, good dragon preventing it. But… hasn’t the Nightmare Realm effectively won the would-be war anyway? All hail King Nicodemus, saviour of countless lives… of Nightmare Realm soldiers mostly, I’d guess.
Who do you really serve, our compassionate reptilian pal?
start of the Dragon Age? 😉
Awesome.
Though these “flashbacks” told by the sword here in the comic are perfectly well placed, I would imagine that these could/would be told as a background story in the beginning of the movie version. I remember someone having an issue with the sword telling this and the sequence could easily go into the movie in the beginning to build the character of Nic early on.
With all due respect, I heartily disagree, and I hope the movie folks don’t make that mistake!
The purpose of this flashback is to reveal information to Alex (and the audience) at an appropriate point in the story. If you move it to the beginning, you destroy it; you might as well leave it out entirely at that point. (But I wouldn’t recommend that either, movie people!)
😉
I actually pitched an idea to start the movie in Arthur’s time. A war is ensuing in both worlds and Arthur tries to end it. Fails. And then we cut to modern day.
I liked it. They didn’t.
🙁
Scott, I’m really liking how you wrapped up the last few panels! Nice touches, great dialogue.
Symbolism aside, this is the perfect end to the flashback: one massive panel of Nicodemus looking menacing, accepting his new power with as few words as possible. Since we know some of what comes next, what he becomes, it’s even more effective.
Thanks for including the link to the start of the arc. I was just thinking this morning that I’d have to go back and re-read it once you finished, so good timing. 🙂
Was it just me or did anyone else think “Dragon Age”?? No? Aww fudge, I’m a nerd >_>
Only thing missing is a heartily “Bwuwhawhawhaaaa”
Everyone that uses the phrase “let the …. rule begin” is in deep super-villain territory…
“this is the dawning of the age of Nicodemius…”
I’ll be honest, I didn’t even notice the switch from four legs to two until you pointed it out, let alone the symbolism behind it…
So this was how the advisor to the king became Darth Nick. I suppose we could hope that he throws off the shackles of the dark side and throws the wraiths down a bottomless pit or something.
jumping in a bit late here (was out of town). I caught the symbolism right away and I think it works quite well. Overall the flashback sequence is excellent.
@Scott
Interesting twist Scott,
I would have thought the movie team would go for the character building at the start of a movie. Wouldn’t have thought that you pitched the idea too though.
If this does end up in the movie, I do think there’s more bang in the sequence being in the middle, since it would not bias the audience towards Nic from the beginning.
@TekServer
Oh I do think this flashback fits perfectly exactly where it is in the Comic, I was merely attempting to foresee what the movie version would probably be like – Must say that I failed with honor though. I look forward to a movie which might actually be closer to the original storyline instead of everything jumbled as it usually ends up being.
OOooooh SNAP.
Wraiths:SILENCE!!
This flashback has been most insightful. I will agree with those who said that reading through it all at once is clearer than daily updates.
THE DRAGON DYNASTY!!!! DUN DUN DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
To be honest, up until this flashback I thought the plot was a little bit of a classic cliché …
… I rather like the way this has turned out though. No more moral black-and-white nonsense, but all nicely, conveniently grey. =3
Well played, Scott.