The Love of Final Quest

One rule: Positive comments and discussions only please. Thank you  

I'll be the first to start even though I have my own struggles with Final Quest.

As a Strongbow and Moonshade fan, it does break my heart to see what they're going through during FQ. But what I do commend about it is the raw emotion expressed through Strongbow. The panel where he realizes Moonshade surrendered her wolf blood is VERY powerful without any dialogue to express the amount of pain he's going through.

That was something I was impressed with. That's where I see Wendy's "old way" of expressing emotion through art, and it really tore at my heart in order to feel what he must have felt.

I do agree that the art in Final Quest is a lot better than we've seen in a long time. I think having the time to concentrate just on the roughs and inks has given Wendy the chance to start drawing again at the level of quality she always used to. The Photoshop color is... not terrible. That's all I want tol say about that. It's not awful. In fact, it's pretty okay! Yay. But the drawings are lovely. I especially liked the scene of Ember sitting on her father's lap-- that was gorgeous.

I like that the last issue ended on a bizarre cliffhanger-- of the sort we haven't seen before. I have no idea where this is going, and I like that. I'm sick of humans or Winnowil being the reason for everything-- and they have been lately-- this is different and new.. and I'm for that!

I want to be genuinely surprised.

(Was that positive enough? )

I also like these ghosts and bats.

This was one of many issues that had to be resolved in "Final Quest." I understand Moonshade's compelling desire to be immortal, but how did she think Strongbow was going to react? If I got a neck tattoo, or cosmetic surgery on my breasts, and said, "Surprise!" to my husband of 31 years, I already know what he would say.

Some resolutions are too brief. I think it's the best they can do in a single series. I was surprised to see Rayek's parents suddenly appear.

Strong ow had over twenty years to get used to the idea, though. It wasn't like she just sprang it on him..

I thought ish 11 really did a good job of showing how they were both totally in denial - Strongbow thinking that this was just a phase Moonshade was going through and Moonshade thinking Strongbow would come around if was she just patient enough.

But bravo to Moonshade for finally going for it. As Cutter said - you can't keep denying who you really are/what you really want because you don't want to hurt someone close to you.

...Did I just agree with something Cutter said?

I like the plot twist with Timmain. Wonder what she is truly up to.

Lunakat wrote:

I also like these ghosts and bats.

Me too

I agree though about the parts with Strongbow... if anything, I feel more compassion for Strongbow during Final Quest than I ever have throughout the series (with exception to Hidden Years, his little story with Lapshaw). The way his face was genuinely shocked upon discovering what Moonshade did sort of broke my heart. I know he was in a kind of denial, but it was so heart wrenching to see his expression, and Wendy is really awesome at expressions sometimes.

The other part which kind of nibbled at my heart was the scene with Leetah 'choosing' the WoTM and how she's grown to love 'the way', and telling Cutter (in her thoughts) that they don't need the stars, 'be my lifemate here for all time'.  It's just interesting to see how Leetah's come to love another 'way' of being entirely. She's not among the others Sun Villagers in the palace, even though she's had so many more years 'practice' with the wolfriders, she still seems to genuinely love the community she's in.

wingthing wrote:

...Did I just agree with something Cutter said?  

You DID!!

And on the INTERNET!!

Where it remains FOREVEEERRRRR!!!!

*has screenshot*

Zadzi wrote:

o heart wrenching to see his expression, and Wendy is really awesome at expressions sometimes.

The other part which kind of nibbled at my heart was the scene with Leetah 'choosing' the WoTM and how she's grown to love 'the way', and telling Cutter (in her thoughts) that they don't need the stars, 'be my lifemate here for all time'.  It's just interesting to see how Leetah's come to love another 'way' of being entirely. She's not among the others Sun Villagers in the palace, even though she's had so many more years 'practice' with the wolfriders, she still seems to genuinely love the community she's in.

I really loved that panel too. The composition is beautiful, with Leetah surrounded by -- embraced by -- the varied greenery of the forest, with her feet in the little running stream. She really does look at one with the woods, in a way that once would've been unthinkable to her.

One of the poignant things about it, too, is that she wants something that may not be possible. So much in FQ seems to be heading toward a stark decision between the Wolfriders' way and their mortality, and the endlessness of the Palace and the stars. And Cutter seems very certain that he is meant to one day be dust. (Of course, we'll see how this whole business with Timmain plays out...) There's the whole question of whether immortality on the World of Two Moons is at this point even a viable option -- or if so few will choose it that it would be a very, very lonely one.

Lunakat wrote:

I like that the last issue ended on a bizarre cliffhanger-- of the sort we haven't seen before. I have no idea where this is going, and I like that. I'm sick of humans or Winnowil being the reason for everything-- and they have been lately-- this is different and new.. and I'm for that!

I want to be genuinely surprised.

Yes! The cliffhanger in #11 really was a "whoa shit" moment for me, in a good way, and I'm stoked to see where it's going. This has the potential to take the story in a new and interestingly weird direction.

Am hoping that this will be the turning point, where a lot of the wrapup that's been going on in the last few issues will be largely, well, wrapped up, and we'll start seeing some major forward momentum.

Cutter is the main character and it often bothers me that I can't care more about him... but there's one page with him I really liked: middle of FQ7, when he climbs up a tree and thinks about moving the palace, with all those leaves moving around him. Inspired by nature. And that whole page is beautifully drawn. I can feel the wind

Like Erin, I also appreciated Leetah's moment. I found it very touching. It does work as a nice counterbalance to the scene Misc described with Cutter. Cutter is in a tree, wind blowing around him, leaves moving-- contemplating the changes taking place. Leetah is in the still wood, peaceful woods-- contemplating the refusal of change. She's green and dark, like the forest. And he's all the colors of fallen leaves. Cutter is experiencing the inevitability of change-- and she is withdrawing from it.

I also agree with Erin that what we've been reading so far feels like a wrap up of a lot of different plot lines that needed to be resolved before the story could move forward. This is the first issue in which it feels as if things are beginning to happen. Everything that happens here... from Cutter's conversation with Timmain, to Skywise's (um) with Timmain, to Strongbow and Moonshade, to the ships arriving at the harbor...  feels like it is going to have a consequence. Up till now, it's been just set up... but I think, in the next issue, the story will take off.

Here's a morbid thought... but a conceivable solution for Leetah. She could choose to live out her life on the WoTM with Cutter. He may choose to remain mortal (it looks as if he will)... And if the others leave and he dies-- she would then be alone. Not a pretty fate. But she's a healer. In addition to extending his
life for however long that's possible, she could choose to end her own at the time of his death. They could, then, be together forever. It's not as dark as it sounds-- considering what we've learned about the state of death for elves. I actually think it's a viable option for her.

My favorite quote of the issue is what Timmain says to Skywise, just before they dance the horizontal tango. She says to him "receive what has always been yours." I found that line very profound. I think, in life, it's not uncommon for people to question and resist what they should be simply accepting. And then, until you do, you can't move forward in life-- you are stuck in the moment of resisting, yet longing for something on the other side of that.

Has anyone ever heard the song "What doesn't belong to me" by Sinead O'Conner? On the album "Faith and Courage." It strikes me as the compliment to that. Give back what is not yours. And accept everything that is. It's harder than it sounds, right?

But that's the theme of the issue. It's what Moonshade accepts. Everyone has to accept their nature.

Zadzi wrote:

The other part which kind of nibbled at my heart was the scene with Leetah 'choosing' the WoTM and how she's grown to love 'the way', and telling Cutter (in her thoughts) that they don't need the stars, 'be my lifemate here for all time'. It's just interesting to see how Leetah's come to love another 'way' of being entirely. She's not among the others Sun Villagers in the palace, even though she's had so many more years 'practice' with the wolfriders, she still seems to genuinely love the community she's in.

Something I really like is the fact that the two immortal Chief's mates have both chosen The Way.

You mean Tier and Leetah?

I like Leetah's little moment in the woods, too, but in a Schadenfreude kinds of way. Now she's the one chasing a lovemate who refuses to stay. Heh.

dark, Manga

manga wrote:

I like Leetah's little moment in the woods, too, but in a Schadenfreude kinds of way.  Now she's the one chasing a lovemate who refuses to stay. Heh.

Oh snap!

I am VERY curious about Cutter's new attitude - before now he has been very pro-mortality, for want of a better word, but now he seems quite conflicted - he insists he believes in keeping his wolf blood yet he seems almost ashamed of it ("worthless hide") and all that. Is that just because he knows he's disappointing Leetah and Skywise? Or is he actually rethinking his whole philosophy?

Wonder how much Leetah is thinking back to the end of KOBW when Cutter totally gave her an opening to immortalize him and she said "think it over."?

I just thought it was the way he felt towards Timmain who is, for all intents and purposes, the closet thing the elves have to a goddess.
Despite being his great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother.

Lunakat wrote:

dark, Manga

Maybe. It's more an appreciation for the irony than "mwa ha ha, you deserve it, you hearltess little she-jackal."

Lunakat wrote:

You mean Tier and Leetah?

No, I mean Teir and Leetah.

How many other Wolfrider Chief's Mates are there? Or Chief's Mates in general?

Snakeskin is "single".
Venka is "single"

"Single" in the elf sense of the word...

Your talk is inspiring ...

*Give me time! ... and the energy to use it - preferably synchronised!*

A couple of little things in Issue 11 that haven't been mentioned yet, I don't think.  I love how when Moonshade asks Leetah to take her wolf blood, they are sitting in the same poses, with nearly the same background image, as when Skywise asked the same thing all those years ago. It made me wonder if Skywise had any idea what he was setting in motion.  Probably not, and yet that panel does seem to imply that this choice of Moonshade's is directly connected to his own choice.  I thought that was interesting.

I loved the panels with Skywise and Timmain-- the whole feeling of complete relaxation that I've never seen in him before.  It was profoundly moving.  This elf has finally found where he belongs.

I loved the fruition of the friendship we've seen growing between Mender and Dart over the last few issues.  We've seen them visiting the troll caves together, just generally hanging out together.  It would be nice if they could each find something they've been missing, with each other, and if Dart could find final closure and healing from Shushen's death.

Also one point from Issue 10, second to the last page, and then again in Issue 11, page 7 -- am I mistaken, or does Freetouch keep looking admiringly/smittenly at Snakeskin?

It could be Freetouch finds him very nice to look at. She said much the same about Pool, Sust, and Pike.

Someone else made that remark about Fretouch and Snakeskin earlier. I'm going to have to go back and revisit those panels