Coyote intervenes...
But he seems so happy! You just don't know about what...
...it could be the time of day...
...or the weather...
...or that he's going to eat your liver...
I liked this comment on the comment page: "Nice perspective - it looked like it was gonna be epic fight and now Coyote looks like he's breaking up a schoolyard altercation. Easy peasy. Nothing to it. A slap-on-the-wrist like. Ysengrin went from 'hero' to zero in record time, which shows you you don't mess with this dog."
"Bap." I love that.
In a cartoon version, there would be a tiny "bap" sound effect from the high view. And when it zoomed on Ysengrin, it would be this terrifying CRACK ZOOSH.
I can't wait to see how Antimony responds to this.
Other comments on the comment page that I thought were interesting/amusing:
I don't agree with all of these comments, but:
Aquatus1: "Fantastic! Coyote has a pretty slick sense of humor. He also has little patience for anyone who might ruin the atmosphere with some uncalled-for shenanigans, such as spearing potential playmates with large wooden arms.
Coyote is actually acting identically to Kat. The moment Ysegrin did something wrong, he immediately gave him a stern STOP and a tap on the rump. Ysegrin didn't even bother to defend his actions (generally speaking, if a god disagrees with you, you are, by definition, wrong). After the rebuke is given, the trespass is forgotten, and everyone moves on with a smile on their face. Very doggish behaviour.
Which is not to say that Coyote was not perfectly capable of setting up the entire scenario for his own amusement. Or, alternatively, simply causing it without meaning to by sheer fact of being a trickster god."
Todd Jensen: "[. . .] it's not surprising [. . .] that Ysengrin would respond that way; there are many people out there who seem to think, in their fanatical loyalties to their leader, that he should be allowed to get away with whatever he wants to do.
Moving to today's page, I had, in fact, suspected that Coyote might break up the fight. (He probably doesn't want an actual war; too many people might get killed in it, meaning a lot fewer people to play pranks on.) Good thing for everyone that he did."
Absalon: "'How many times must I smack you before you get back to work?'
Also, am I the only one who thinks this was totally justified ? Ysengrim is maybe the worst diplomat ever. He seriously needed to shut up."
SquidDNA: "Something about the way that Coyote is bapping strikes me as anatomically impossible, but as his neck was ten feet long two panels ago it doesn't matter all that much. :D"
Koji: "You know, the more I think about it, the more I'm convinced this was all a carefully planned display of power on Coyote's part. He's a clever god, so of course he must have realized how Annie would react to his little indiscretion. He would also know that Ysengrin would react violently to anything he saw as disrespectful to his master.
Suddenly, the whole Court is up in arms, ready for a fight to the death with a very powerful opponent. Adrenaline is pumping, magical shields are forming and blades are going snicker-snack. And as fast as it begins, Coyote puts an end to it with a mere swat of his paw. Without a single hostile word, he has now driven home the point that if anyone lives or dies, it's because he wants them to. If there was ever any doubt as to who was the master of the situation, it's been swept away by now."
Jack: "And Coyote reminds us who the god is here. BAP.
Coyote is a clever devil. In one fell swoop he proves that Rey will protect Annie, gauges the way the Court reacts to a threat from Ysengrin, and then puts Ysengrin in his place in a way that shows precisely how powerful he is. Coyote is messing with EVERYBODY; even Ysengrin isn't safe.
And 'sincerest apologies?' I hope no one in attendance there believes in Coyote's sincerity in the least. So now do they talk directly to Coyote, or do they wait for Ysengrin to dust himself off?"
peterb: "Here's my take on it:
Coyote has already won. He got what he wanted.
The prize that the wood and Gunnerkrigg are fighting over is Reynardine. Why? I'm not sure, but I think it has something to do with the fact that Reynardine can posses anything that has eyes. Even glass eyes. Glass eyes like the men that Coyote is making.
So what did Coyote want?
He wanted leverage. And by putting Annie in a little bit of peril, he confirmed what he suspected is true: Reynardine is sweet on Annie. When she was in danger, Reynardine leapt to her defense.
Coyote doesn't want or need needless conflict. That's why he stopped the fight today. He can go back to the woods, and wait, for a chance to apply the leverage he learned exists today."
Anonymous: "Coyote is far too clever for any of us to guess his true intentions. Trickster gods (Loki, is very similar) tend to have a way of conniving and misdirecting- I doubt we can even fathom why he is in the forest (he's a Native American figure) and why he's in control when Ysengrin is the General and should be the leader of the forest.
It does seem appropriate that Ysengrin isn't as powerful as Coyote, considering his status as more of a fairy tale bumbling antagonist of Reynardine. Nevertheless, Coyote may be planning something far less light-hearted and funny than he acts- remember the evil shadow that possessed Robot and made him attack Annie?
Not so innocent.
The glass-eyed people follow Coyote, not Ysengrin.
Perhaps, this was all part of trying to get Reynardine to join them in the forest? After all, Rey may know more about the Court and other secrets (relating to Annie's parents, the staff of the school, et cetera) that could help Coyote's schemings.
I have a feeling that because Annie narrates this story, this all has to do with her, her mother, and her father (we need explanation on who exactly he is, for that matter- we haven't seen him and have no reason for his disappearance yet).
Yet, you can't help but think that this all has to do with Donlan's and Annie's parents' old class; How did Annie's mom meet Rey? What exactly did these kids do at the Court?
So much has yet to be revealed that we can't make sense other than take what we're reading at face value."
Again, I don't agree with all of the above comments, but I thought they were all interesting to read.
I really wish this comic was (also?) a cartoon, because this is so good. It could make an awesome video game, too... one that could possibly rival Majora's Mask as my favorite game of all time.
I also want an icon of the ever-creepy and ever-mysterious Tic-Tocs, but I'm afraid I've hit the icon-limit! Ah well.