The rats didn’t really seem evil in this scene, I don’t think. They were nervous when the mob surrounded them. It seems to me that the moment one got hit in the head, the gun went off by accident or reflex, and things just spiraled out of control from there. None of the rats seemed happy or bloodthirsty about this at any point.
I actually think the humanization may be happening here, as said in other comments, the rats didn’t seem all that enthusiastic in killing anyone, when it all came down to the wire.
I can’t believe the rats todayI can still Spike as they drug him awayHow long, how long must we live this way?How long? Till today…‘Cause tonightWe can fight the rats tonightBroken bottles on his headBullets flying now and so many are deadWe stood there stunned as Spike did fallAnother bottle hit, and they would kill us allEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownOh, let’s goAnd the riot’s now engagedThere’s many down but all the rest are enragedIt seemed that we could not have wonBut one guard’s fallen, and now our side’s got a gunShooting back…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownHow long, we’re still buried by a mile?How long? Till we go on trial…But tonightWe can fight the rats tonightTonightEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownFight the fears in your heartFight back anywayWe’ll fight back anywayNo matter what we payAnd the fight is just a start…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownYeah, it’s time!And that’s trial’s of you and meAllgood’s minions would control our destinyBut today the minions dieThey will come for us tomorrow — they will tryAnd then the battle will beginBut there’s a victory to winHere…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody Endtown=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooVote for Endtown ClassicThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books
I have been a great fan of the rats all along. I’ve had around 25 rats as pets and know the real animal’s sweetness and intelligence. One time one rat was "said “who goes there?” but the other character, Al, said “I know you Sam” and the rat said “Oh, how are ya doin?” to Al. I agree too that this is showing some of the rat’s vulnarbility, and in book 1, the rat swimming in the soup, reminded me of “the amazing Maurice and his educated rodents” “the light widdlers” and the “cream swimmers”
I see 2 rats down with almost no hope for rat 3. The rat’s Own code of ethics is the don’t shoot anyone in the back.Didn’t matter, one did Get shot in the back. and the capturing of it is so exquisitly drawn.
While the threat of death from monsters or topsiders loomed always; and there were probably petty crimes and small scale assaults (Wally got mugged…); Endtowners probably felt safe while in town. Not any more.
As with any society where the citizens are disarmed and the government has all the weapons, abuse of power can and will occur. Civil unrest generally results in one of two outcomes: government crushes the rebellion or the people win. Sadly there will be many dead in either case. Endtowners seem to finally waking up to the abuse. Unfortunately, violence only begets violence. Their society only knew war on massive scale before the mutants went underground.
I think that some of the Doc’s wind-up guns have more stopping power than the rats pea-shooters, especially if you lob one towards the target just before it self-destructs. This whole thing begs the question of what the rats function is. Protection? Obviously they’ve failed, since killing the Endtowners is a pretty poor way of protecting them. Maintaining a power hierarchy and enforcing the rule of the Council? They’re failing at that, too, given that the public no longer has any confidence in the impartiality of the Council. This has the potential to turn into a total furball, no pun intended.
I get the impression that Doc’s wind up guns are normally only issued for foraging duty. But it’s quite likely that people have hung on to them and others have pre-War weapons. They just aren’t routinely carried.
Either way, whether the Endtowners have access easy to arms or not, things are goings to go South from here very quickly.
“Endtown was a police state where the only ones armed were those in power.”
That’s what Rep. Ron Paul® said about how police in Massachusetts acted in capturing the other bombing suspect 3 weeks ago. This is the mirror opposite of happeing with the security rats in Endtown. In fact it’s starting to become somewhat like that of what Syria is now.
Oh, if only we had a police force that wasn’t also the MILITARY force. Oh look, I have a small nail I need to put into this wall to hang a picture up with, but all I have is a SLEDGE HAMMER! What could possibly go wrong?
The phrase “THIS WAS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE!” seems to be appropriate for this week’s comics.
How many doctors do we have in Endtown again? Because last I checked, that number was ONE.
To JusayinRead your post about Kent State. You are on that correctly. The initial idea was to fire over the heads of the protesters. A so called Warning shot. Due to the noise and as you said POOR training some fired into the crowd. If you watch the old film you can see the Lt in charge waving his arm trying to make them cease fire. They misinterpreted it as to fired and once one shoots the others follow. A riot is a loud boisterous thing. It is nearly impossible to hear commands much less think. It has an energy all its own and it is contagious. All the training in the world can not prepare one for such a thing. It has to be experienced. I point that out in our training for things like this. We march, stomp and drag, clack our batons against the riot shield, get hand signals, verbal signals but until you are facing hundreds of angry folks tossing things at you the training does little other than to give you the formation but does not cover what do you do if? That is why they use old vets like me who have experienced these things. I walk the line calming the fears I can see from the new troops. These three rats were sacrificed by the ones behind all this brouhaha. The trial would not give the ones behind this what they want what ever that is so CREATE a bigger issue using the trial as a catalyst. Now whoever is behind this can seize full control shutting down Endtown.
As for those all screaming for the blood of the Rats. Whatever did they do to deserve this?They showed up to a fight to disperse it.Order folks to leave. Just leave no arrests no violence just leave.Folks refused surrounding the Rats blaming them for what is going on when it is the High Council not the Rats doing this.A bottle is tossed by an ignorant boob hitting one on the head and a trigger is pulled by reflex.Shots ring out. One dead one wounded. Unintentional.The crowd closes in still refusing to disperse.It come to a point US or THEM. Bottles and rocks fly.Bullets fly back. The first row dies while the second row overrun the Rats.One is seized and throw with terrible force thru a window.A rioter picks up a dropped weapon. As the remain two flee one is gunned down IN THE BACK.Who was wrong there? Is that JUSTICE?Another flees firing wildly behind him trying to get away.Personally I hope he makes it.The QUESTION demanding answers is:WHO IS BEHIND THIS??WHY?Some one is destabilizing Endtown to some dark purpose.As to Mr. Neathery’s artwork. Powerful very powerful especially to me having seen this before. The faces of those shot to ones getting shot while running. Sometimes its like a photo in my head has been reproduced.
saw this coming a mile away…isn’t that attributed to a “little person complex”?? The rats have guns so therefore are all powerful….or not, as the case really is. Too much violence…you would think everyone is sick of it and wants to be peaceful. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
I don’t buy into today’s Oliver Stone turn by Nabs either, but I’m not going to flag him because of it. Freedom of speech also means freedom to be challenged and even freedom to be wrong. Or should the Endtown threads reflect the major political parties by trying to silence people we don’t agree with? If so, there’d be no compelling reason for me to read any of these posts because they’d be one-sided (and boring). I can get that on MSNBC or Sean Hannity.
Trying to think forward on where this could go…if they go the typical riot route of “start setting random things on fire,” it could get really ugly in the enclosed underground space that is Endtown…
“Sure hope so, again I’m totally on the rat’s side at this point. Quell the chaos through firepower if need be.”
That is not a solution. It would just make the situation worse.Dialog, communication, peaceful protests, show of solidarity.Violence begets Violence.It is sometimes necessary but here in this situation it just makes matters worse.
The rats are soldiers doing policemen’s jobs. Just because they’re both armed doesn’t mean they can do each other’s job. Some, like Veteran, can. But I’m sure even he had training between being a soldier, then becoming a police officer. The most obvious mistake was the rats having their weapons out when they arrived. If they had holstered sidearms only when they stepped out, with one person staying at the vehicle just in case, the situation most likely would have been different. But the story wouldn’t be happening like it is now and this is what Aaron needs to tell his story. The feelings are part of the ride he’s taking us on, folks.
Please people the rats are a police force Not a Army. Armies are for defending against and attacking foreign powers. Have you ever seen the rats provide that function? NO.
There’s a failure of gun training:No finger on the trigger!This crisis wouldn’t be gainingAnd the magnitude wouldn’t be biggerHad the two rats struck by a bottleNot reflexively clenched their handsCausing weapons to go “open throttle”It’s a rookie mistake here, fans=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooVote for Endtown ClassicThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books
The phrase “appropriate use of force” is something we need to consider here. The Rat Patrol have shown that the only use of force they will use is guns. Need to open a locked door, guns. Need to escort someone to see the council? Guns.-In a more rational setting, you’d have COPS responding to a disturbance like a bar brawl. And if they felt it was necessary, they’d break out equipment for crowd control, like riot shields and tear gas. Get a bottle thrown at you is just part of the job as a cop.-This though, firing into the crowd, killing and injuring civilians, then continuing to do so even after the initial accident… this is just one mistake after another. The sledgehammer for every nail. The chainsaw for every cut.-Was the thrown bottle appropriate? No, but you don’t mow down a crowd of people with automatic gun fire because you had a bottle thrown in your direction either.-A trial about human values and who controls the minds of a community. It’s nice to see even during the Apocalypse, people will lose all sense of what’s truly important, in the name of Power and Control.
Bummer my first attempt didn’t get through-Basically, I was saying I don’t agree with either side of the coin. I think the demonstrators are in the wrong, I think the HC are in the wrong.-How the rats acted under Flask’s control shows they aren’t all evil, they just needed stronger command and order to keep them in line. Long story short, end the protests before it burns through society, and then end the HC.
“One problem: the rat’s would never have a chance to reload like they apparently have here. So, only one clip of at most 50, assuming they are small bullets.”
You should have stop there at statement, and not let the rest of that remark become a lie,
The question is where does it go from here. If the powers that be were trying to quiet things down, they would keep all rats confined to security and either let this burn out on its own or send larger, quieter types in to defuse things.Even if Velda and company are intent on a pretext for martial law, sending the whole rat patrol in right now is only going to result in more deaths, and the mutant population is pretty small to begin with. Unless part of the reason for the current tension is an influx of new residents that is exceeding the rate of attrition due to bean hunts. Then an additional massacre to cow the rioters by force (Chinese style) might make a certain repugnant sense.
What’s up with the rat on the left in panel 4? Looks like he’s been hit with something, but I don’t see a bottle or anything. His shirt/jacket looks like it might have three bullet holes in it. Did the duck guy get him? Or is he just looking up to shoot bottles out of he air?
To Salem Stormwing.Ever been surrounded by an angry mob that is turning on you just for being there? Ever had a bottle thrown at you? Trust me. They can seriously injure you. In my fight described the officer had to have 20 stitches to sew up the gash on his scalp. The bottle never broke. It is just a hard object flying with force. It can kill.If you came at me with bottle I would shoot you no question. I am not under any rule that says I must meet force with equal force. I can go to deadly if I can justify it. With a bottle attack I can I have seen serious injuries caused by bottles. TV makes it look simple and painless. That is sugar glass not real stuff. Then after the accidental firing instead of backing off the crowd charges. What do you expect them to do. They are going to get torn to pieces anyway with or without shooting. Their attempt now is to survive and escape using any means possible. This is just tragic. They should have never been sent into that situation. That is why I believe this is all in the plan of someone yet to be revealed.To pathfindercecThat was a program of getting the locals out of the control of the Viet Cong that ruled the areas. The villagers were caught between two big stones. US forces telling them not to cooperate with Viet Cong and Viet Cong telling them not to cooperate with US forces. We moved them. The Viet Cong just killed leaders to instill FEAR to keep them inline. The Viet Cong used the villages as cover and supply depots. The idea was if the villages were moved to a more “secure” zone they could better “protect” them and deny the Viet Cong supplies and cover.It was just the villages there were there probably for centuries. Ancestral lands so to say. They mostly did not appreciate moving. That did not help the cause either.No harm no foul. It was a legit and good question. The war became for the hearts and minds of the people. That is not war. War is to defeat the enemy and drive them out. But when the enemy is the local guerrilla forces fighting against a government THEY do not like. How do you drive those out?The justification of the entire Viet Nam War was the guerrilla forces were “nasty communists” and all of the far east would domino if not stopped. 58,282 as of last count died trying to stop some effect that was not proven it would happen, it was just feared it would.Of course if you are referring to My Lai that was soldiers crossing a line of morality. Once the killing began it just would not stop. When I was there I did not meet many civilians but I heard from others all were viewed as the enemy. Not to be trusted.
DADOF3Oh I can agree with you. I read book one when Al returned. They even aimed a weapon at him giving all kinds of confusing orders. He just dropped a sack of cans on him. Problem solved.But they were doing the job they were suppose to be doing. Securing Endtown at the entry points. They have to expect anything coming down those elevators. So many who have dealt with them would resent them. It is normal. I am not loved by all. There are many who resent me too. That is the mantle of authority. Some will like you. Some will not. And in time those roles can reverse depending on what is done.
Salem come on. Having a bottle thrown at you is part of the job being a cop????It is expected but not part of the job. And the response could be bad.I am chuckling about it right now.I guess I will have to put that in our job description.Working traffic crashes, writing tickets, getting bottles tossed at you…….hahah!I see your point we are better trained to deal with it like I did when it happened to us. Show restraint but believe me we were ready to shoot if we had to. My crowd backed off and began to cool down. The Endtown Mob just got angrier.It can swing either way and teeters on a single act.
I think this is a set-up. I think somebody picked the three dumbest rats in the security force, gave them automatic weapons, thrust them into this situation and made sure something stupid happened.-People who say the rats on the whole aren’t really bad are right. They may be a little too prone to following orders.-There is just a lot going on right now. Al is on the Council and talking to the newspaper, Wally hasn’t been heard from for a while, Linda hasn’t taken the stand yet in the trial and now this. I’m dying to see how it all comes together and today isn’t even the cliffhanger, Friday’s coming…-I’m finding this story quite gripping.
Just a word to anyone willing to listen: We all know that Aaron is an unparalleled master at drawing his audience into the story and making them feel a part of the events being portrayed. There seems to be a palpable level of tension being evoked by this arc, and (not unlike the events unfolding in the story) there “appear” to be some “battle lines” developing in these comments. We are a broad based and very diverse group with widely differing points of view, yet we are all brought together here by Aaron’s superb talents. Sometimes it is hard to remember that it’s just a story, and often the events depicted touch us deeply because they closely resemble things we have all to vividly experienced in the real world. All that being said, I would simply suggest that It might be better to remember those things we share, rather that dwell on the ones that we will most likely never agree on. Just offering my 2 cents… ;-)
I did the other day run across an old gem of a cartoon saga.“Tumbleweeds” by T.K. Ryan. He has his own website and a beautiful collection book available for a small fee. He even signed the book he sent to me. That goes with my two Flask portraits as a real item to treasure. I always loved his stories of the “Old” west.
“Jackbooted thugs” does fit. It seems to me that cabin fever set in. Being cooped up underground and abused by an over zealous Gestapo-like security force finally broke the public apathy. This sudden resurgence of emotion will be very hard to stop indeed.
To those interested here is a thought.I mentioned some time back that the High Council would have to have the backing of Security to carry out dirty deeds. I suggested the whole thing would fall apart if Security sided with Endtowners.Look at what has happened. This to me appears all to be arranged for a purpose. That purpose is to make sure the Security Rats would not align with Endtowners.The High Council would use this to show that the Endtowners care nothing for the Security Rats so why take their side. Do what “we” (High Council) tell you to after all we love you and Endtowners HATE you and will kill you if given a chance.It has been mentioned before the Security Rats may have never been human to begin with. They may have all been some grand experiment by APEX back in the day like the Secret of NIMH story. The virus made them become more human appearing but they were never human to begin with.Only our author knows that story and he has not printed that one out……yet.
Where are the actual Endtown Police? Security has no business doing or being there.to quote an old Doonsebury strip:“Police! Where are the hell are the police!!”
Sometimes Josh amazes me. I have posted on other sites as he has and only here does he get this way with me. Go figure.Well I am out. Cold beer time. Playoffs on the Telly.Going to get Subways and do some relaxing.See ya’ll tomorrow.Lets see what he has in store for FRIDAY.Oh also gotta go reserve the new CallofDuty game due out in November. “Ghosts” is the name. Great trailer by the way check it out on Call of Duty.Com.(Sorry Josh must be 18 to view) ;-))
I have only seen the rats arrive in a vehicle. The police may have been on the way, but the rats unfortunately got there faster. Or the police were deliberately delayed. The police would have had a better chance of calming things down, as they would have known some, if not all of the people there; much like in Veteran’s story.
Josh if it was a mistake fine.Try editing yourself sometimes. The @ name sign means its directed back at someone who posted. I am sure you know that. So your post about “joining” GoComics took on the appearance of insulting me. Expect me to respond like that you have aimed at me before. On one site you referred to me as boring putting ZZZZZZZZZ. Cute.I enjoy the banter back and forth and would never think of flagging (whatever that is) anyone. I just ignore them.
Aaron, the comments section here is two miles long. hands you a beer. Good Work!
And now for my two sense. er, cents. Yeah, cents. Blackie always struck me as keeping a VERY tight reign on the rats; she’s been gone three months and no one else has been riding herd on them. It stands to reason they’d want ‘reasons to salute’ again. The rats are what they call ‘jarheads’; there’s nothing in their heads except what you unscrew and put in and with no Alpha to guide them well….you get Omega results. Also remember: for days and days news has been blaring about how the rats have acted with Maude and Co. and honestly even though they’ve had their humanizing moments on the whole they’ve acted like total pillocks. Well-/armed/ total pillocks.
You can only push so hard for so long until someone decides they’ve have enough of /this/ crap.
And seriously, Aaron, ya gots a reader for life. Dayum, is Endtown ain’t entertainment I dunno what is.
Hes firing in the air BC he got his ticket punched by daffy duck, the other is laying covering fire at the bar or just panic shooting. Either or, doesn’t seem to be deliberately over their heads
The rats are simply power-mad. It is probably why they mutated into what they are. As for not being enthusiastic about firing on the crowd – it was simply because they were AFRAID.Most people used to being in control and power usually wind up being exposed as cowards when the situation changes.“Ain’t no fun when the rabbit ’s got the gun”…
Right now I’m calling it five down outside, conditions unknown, possible one down inside the bar, one dead outside(Spike) definite, one dead rat(Ben) definite, airborne rat down most likely dead or wish he was. Did I miss anyone?
“So don’t lecture us please. It is quite insulting.”DADOF3 did preface his comment with “Just a word to anyone willing to listen:”. If you think it’s a lecture, then don’t listen to it.
I’m sorry you found my comments insulting. It was not intended to be a lecture, only an observation. I think I’m correct in saying that many of us consider this a special place, a temporary haven, if you will, from the real world. When folks start injecting real world issues into their comments here (which they have every right to do) it sort of takes something away from that IMHO. I just feel that there is enough tension and conflict in the world we live in and cannot help expressing concern when those things start finding their way in here. It was never my intent to make rules or chastise anyone for the comments they made. All I was doing was offering an opinion for consideration.
stevegallacci about 11 years ago
Oh jeez! So predictable, yet so unnessisary.
SapphireDragonStudios about 11 years ago
The rats didn’t really seem evil in this scene, I don’t think. They were nervous when the mob surrounded them. It seems to me that the moment one got hit in the head, the gun went off by accident or reflex, and things just spiraled out of control from there. None of the rats seemed happy or bloodthirsty about this at any point.
SapphireDragonStudios about 11 years ago
Though don’t get me wrong, they are some trigger-happy little buggers most of the time.
DADOF3 about 11 years ago
So when was the last time you saw someone get thrown INTO a bar.
Robert Nowall Premium Member about 11 years ago
There comes a time when shooting up a place just doesn’t work…
dirtyoldlady1 about 11 years ago
I got a QUEEZY stomach right now. No more please. You have made your point. Stop it.Blessed Be
LukaTisus about 11 years ago
“Let’s start a riot!” Is the immediate song that popped into my head.
perceptor3 about 11 years ago
Ah, some of those good old-fashioned human values Mr. Allgood wants to see. . .
Hroar about 11 years ago
I wonder if this is the first time the rats have had causualties?
MacEwanMouse about 11 years ago
I actually think the humanization may be happening here, as said in other comments, the rats didn’t seem all that enthusiastic in killing anyone, when it all came down to the wire.
firedome about 11 years ago
my first thought as I read today’s installment was the coasters’ “Riot in Cell Block Number 9”.
RickD Premium Member about 11 years ago
It has to get worse. There are more rats and guns where these came from.
farren about 11 years ago
Besides, remember, it’s a comic strip, not a reality show. The feelings are real, the drawings are not.
Level_Head about 11 years ago
I can’t believe the rats todayI can still Spike as they drug him awayHow long, how long must we live this way?How long? Till today…‘Cause tonightWe can fight the rats tonightBroken bottles on his headBullets flying now and so many are deadWe stood there stunned as Spike did fallAnother bottle hit, and they would kill us allEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownOh, let’s goAnd the riot’s now engagedThere’s many down but all the rest are enragedIt seemed that we could not have wonBut one guard’s fallen, and now our side’s got a gunShooting back…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownHow long, we’re still buried by a mile?How long? Till we go on trial…But tonightWe can fight the rats tonightTonightEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownFight the fears in your heartFight back anywayWe’ll fight back anywayNo matter what we payAnd the fight is just a start…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody EndtownYeah, it’s time!And that’s trial’s of you and meAllgood’s minions would control our destinyBut today the minions dieThey will come for us tomorrow — they will tryAnd then the battle will beginBut there’s a victory to winHere…Endtown, bloody EndtownEndtown, bloody Endtown=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooVote for Endtown ClassicThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books
pam Miner about 11 years ago
I have been a great fan of the rats all along. I’ve had around 25 rats as pets and know the real animal’s sweetness and intelligence. One time one rat was "said “who goes there?” but the other character, Al, said “I know you Sam” and the rat said “Oh, how are ya doin?” to Al. I agree too that this is showing some of the rat’s vulnarbility, and in book 1, the rat swimming in the soup, reminded me of “the amazing Maurice and his educated rodents” “the light widdlers” and the “cream swimmers”
pam Miner about 11 years ago
I see 2 rats down with almost no hope for rat 3. The rat’s Own code of ethics is the don’t shoot anyone in the back.Didn’t matter, one did Get shot in the back. and the capturing of it is so exquisitly drawn.
RickD Premium Member about 11 years ago
While the threat of death from monsters or topsiders loomed always; and there were probably petty crimes and small scale assaults (Wally got mugged…); Endtowners probably felt safe while in town. Not any more.
pam Miner about 11 years ago
Plus besides Spike, there is an innocent bunny down and no doubt more in the cruelty of war.
gamiath about 11 years ago
As with any society where the citizens are disarmed and the government has all the weapons, abuse of power can and will occur. Civil unrest generally results in one of two outcomes: government crushes the rebellion or the people win. Sadly there will be many dead in either case. Endtowners seem to finally waking up to the abuse. Unfortunately, violence only begets violence. Their society only knew war on massive scale before the mutants went underground.
witchspell63 about 11 years ago
Wow, Daffy Duck with an automatic weapon and blood in his eye. Very not good
Francis362003 about 11 years ago
Kill though’s rats. Kill them all.
Ponyhome about 11 years ago
I think that some of the Doc’s wind-up guns have more stopping power than the rats pea-shooters, especially if you lob one towards the target just before it self-destructs. This whole thing begs the question of what the rats function is. Protection? Obviously they’ve failed, since killing the Endtowners is a pretty poor way of protecting them. Maintaining a power hierarchy and enforcing the rule of the Council? They’re failing at that, too, given that the public no longer has any confidence in the impartiality of the Council. This has the potential to turn into a total furball, no pun intended.
3hourtour Premium Member about 11 years ago
..Wabbit season…
Airolga about 11 years ago
Wow! If possible, this just became more intense!
andrew_c about 11 years ago
I get the impression that Doc’s wind up guns are normally only issued for foraging duty. But it’s quite likely that people have hung on to them and others have pre-War weapons. They just aren’t routinely carried.
Either way, whether the Endtowners have access easy to arms or not, things are goings to go South from here very quickly.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
“Endtown was a police state where the only ones armed were those in power.”
That’s what Rep. Ron Paul® said about how police in Massachusetts acted in capturing the other bombing suspect 3 weeks ago. This is the mirror opposite of happeing with the security rats in Endtown. In fact it’s starting to become somewhat like that of what Syria is now.
salenstormwing about 11 years ago
Oh, if only we had a police force that wasn’t also the MILITARY force. Oh look, I have a small nail I need to put into this wall to hang a picture up with, but all I have is a SLEDGE HAMMER! What could possibly go wrong?
The phrase “THIS WAS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE!” seems to be appropriate for this week’s comics.
How many doctors do we have in Endtown again? Because last I checked, that number was ONE.
Jenner Premium Member about 11 years ago
Will security rat reinforcements arrive? Things could get worse.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
Well Nab, you hit a few nerves today. Perhaps you should leave this post and think about what you just said!
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
To JusayinRead your post about Kent State. You are on that correctly. The initial idea was to fire over the heads of the protesters. A so called Warning shot. Due to the noise and as you said POOR training some fired into the crowd. If you watch the old film you can see the Lt in charge waving his arm trying to make them cease fire. They misinterpreted it as to fired and once one shoots the others follow. A riot is a loud boisterous thing. It is nearly impossible to hear commands much less think. It has an energy all its own and it is contagious. All the training in the world can not prepare one for such a thing. It has to be experienced. I point that out in our training for things like this. We march, stomp and drag, clack our batons against the riot shield, get hand signals, verbal signals but until you are facing hundreds of angry folks tossing things at you the training does little other than to give you the formation but does not cover what do you do if? That is why they use old vets like me who have experienced these things. I walk the line calming the fears I can see from the new troops. These three rats were sacrificed by the ones behind all this brouhaha. The trial would not give the ones behind this what they want what ever that is so CREATE a bigger issue using the trial as a catalyst. Now whoever is behind this can seize full control shutting down Endtown.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
As for those all screaming for the blood of the Rats. Whatever did they do to deserve this?They showed up to a fight to disperse it.Order folks to leave. Just leave no arrests no violence just leave.Folks refused surrounding the Rats blaming them for what is going on when it is the High Council not the Rats doing this.A bottle is tossed by an ignorant boob hitting one on the head and a trigger is pulled by reflex.Shots ring out. One dead one wounded. Unintentional.The crowd closes in still refusing to disperse.It come to a point US or THEM. Bottles and rocks fly.Bullets fly back. The first row dies while the second row overrun the Rats.One is seized and throw with terrible force thru a window.A rioter picks up a dropped weapon. As the remain two flee one is gunned down IN THE BACK.Who was wrong there? Is that JUSTICE?Another flees firing wildly behind him trying to get away.Personally I hope he makes it.The QUESTION demanding answers is:WHO IS BEHIND THIS??WHY?Some one is destabilizing Endtown to some dark purpose.As to Mr. Neathery’s artwork. Powerful very powerful especially to me having seen this before. The faces of those shot to ones getting shot while running. Sometimes its like a photo in my head has been reproduced.
Darwinskeeper about 11 years ago
I wonder if NAB has ever met Keith Night, he could easily be the inspiration for “The Knight Life”’s Conspiracy Guy.
cindyorch about 11 years ago
saw this coming a mile away…isn’t that attributed to a “little person complex”?? The rats have guns so therefore are all powerful….or not, as the case really is. Too much violence…you would think everyone is sick of it and wants to be peaceful. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Guilty Bystander about 11 years ago
I don’t buy into today’s Oliver Stone turn by Nabs either, but I’m not going to flag him because of it. Freedom of speech also means freedom to be challenged and even freedom to be wrong. Or should the Endtown threads reflect the major political parties by trying to silence people we don’t agree with? If so, there’d be no compelling reason for me to read any of these posts because they’d be one-sided (and boring). I can get that on MSNBC or Sean Hannity.
enigmaticfox about 11 years ago
Trying to think forward on where this could go…if they go the typical riot route of “start setting random things on fire,” it could get really ugly in the enclosed underground space that is Endtown…
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
“Alcohol was involved.”
It always is.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
They’re going to call for reinforcements. And when they arrive, it’s going to get ugly. Real Ugly!
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
“Sure hope so, again I’m totally on the rat’s side at this point. Quell the chaos through firepower if need be.”
That is not a solution. It would just make the situation worse.Dialog, communication, peaceful protests, show of solidarity.Violence begets Violence.It is sometimes necessary but here in this situation it just makes matters worse.
yangeldf about 11 years ago
heh, I’m sure that rat didn’t enjoy breaking THAT window.
mr_sherman Premium Member about 11 years ago
The rats are soldiers doing policemen’s jobs. Just because they’re both armed doesn’t mean they can do each other’s job. Some, like Veteran, can. But I’m sure even he had training between being a soldier, then becoming a police officer. The most obvious mistake was the rats having their weapons out when they arrived. If they had holstered sidearms only when they stepped out, with one person staying at the vehicle just in case, the situation most likely would have been different. But the story wouldn’t be happening like it is now and this is what Aaron needs to tell his story. The feelings are part of the ride he’s taking us on, folks.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 11 years ago
Please people the rats are a police force Not a Army. Armies are for defending against and attacking foreign powers. Have you ever seen the rats provide that function? NO.
Level_Head about 11 years ago
There’s a failure of gun training:No finger on the trigger!This crisis wouldn’t be gainingAnd the magnitude wouldn’t be biggerHad the two rats struck by a bottleNot reflexively clenched their handsCausing weapons to go “open throttle”It’s a rookie mistake here, fans=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooVote for Endtown ClassicThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books
salenstormwing about 11 years ago
The phrase “appropriate use of force” is something we need to consider here. The Rat Patrol have shown that the only use of force they will use is guns. Need to open a locked door, guns. Need to escort someone to see the council? Guns.-In a more rational setting, you’d have COPS responding to a disturbance like a bar brawl. And if they felt it was necessary, they’d break out equipment for crowd control, like riot shields and tear gas. Get a bottle thrown at you is just part of the job as a cop.-This though, firing into the crowd, killing and injuring civilians, then continuing to do so even after the initial accident… this is just one mistake after another. The sledgehammer for every nail. The chainsaw for every cut.-Was the thrown bottle appropriate? No, but you don’t mow down a crowd of people with automatic gun fire because you had a bottle thrown in your direction either.-A trial about human values and who controls the minds of a community. It’s nice to see even during the Apocalypse, people will lose all sense of what’s truly important, in the name of Power and Control.
MacEwanMouse about 11 years ago
Bummer my first attempt didn’t get through-Basically, I was saying I don’t agree with either side of the coin. I think the demonstrators are in the wrong, I think the HC are in the wrong.-How the rats acted under Flask’s control shows they aren’t all evil, they just needed stronger command and order to keep them in line. Long story short, end the protests before it burns through society, and then end the HC.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
Nabuquduriuzhur said:
“One problem: the rat’s would never have a chance to reload like they apparently have here. So, only one clip of at most 50, assuming they are small bullets.”
You should have stop there at statement, and not let the rest of that remark become a lie,
pathfinder about 11 years ago
anybody remember the Vietnamese village that was destroyed by U.S. forces in order to ‘save’ it?
pathfinder about 11 years ago
That is NOT a swipe at U.S. troops .. just sayin’
Darwinskeeper about 11 years ago
The question is where does it go from here. If the powers that be were trying to quiet things down, they would keep all rats confined to security and either let this burn out on its own or send larger, quieter types in to defuse things.Even if Velda and company are intent on a pretext for martial law, sending the whole rat patrol in right now is only going to result in more deaths, and the mutant population is pretty small to begin with. Unless part of the reason for the current tension is an influx of new residents that is exceeding the rate of attrition due to bean hunts. Then an additional massacre to cow the rioters by force (Chinese style) might make a certain repugnant sense.
Aconite about 11 years ago
Revolution! Extermination!
finder10030 about 11 years ago
What’s up with the rat on the left in panel 4? Looks like he’s been hit with something, but I don’t see a bottle or anything. His shirt/jacket looks like it might have three bullet holes in it. Did the duck guy get him? Or is he just looking up to shoot bottles out of he air?
Dragoncat about 11 years ago
Gee… I wonder what Allgood will say about this…as he looks for another place to hide.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
To Salem Stormwing.Ever been surrounded by an angry mob that is turning on you just for being there? Ever had a bottle thrown at you? Trust me. They can seriously injure you. In my fight described the officer had to have 20 stitches to sew up the gash on his scalp. The bottle never broke. It is just a hard object flying with force. It can kill.If you came at me with bottle I would shoot you no question. I am not under any rule that says I must meet force with equal force. I can go to deadly if I can justify it. With a bottle attack I can I have seen serious injuries caused by bottles. TV makes it look simple and painless. That is sugar glass not real stuff. Then after the accidental firing instead of backing off the crowd charges. What do you expect them to do. They are going to get torn to pieces anyway with or without shooting. Their attempt now is to survive and escape using any means possible. This is just tragic. They should have never been sent into that situation. That is why I believe this is all in the plan of someone yet to be revealed.To pathfindercecThat was a program of getting the locals out of the control of the Viet Cong that ruled the areas. The villagers were caught between two big stones. US forces telling them not to cooperate with Viet Cong and Viet Cong telling them not to cooperate with US forces. We moved them. The Viet Cong just killed leaders to instill FEAR to keep them inline. The Viet Cong used the villages as cover and supply depots. The idea was if the villages were moved to a more “secure” zone they could better “protect” them and deny the Viet Cong supplies and cover.It was just the villages there were there probably for centuries. Ancestral lands so to say. They mostly did not appreciate moving. That did not help the cause either.No harm no foul. It was a legit and good question. The war became for the hearts and minds of the people. That is not war. War is to defeat the enemy and drive them out. But when the enemy is the local guerrilla forces fighting against a government THEY do not like. How do you drive those out?The justification of the entire Viet Nam War was the guerrilla forces were “nasty communists” and all of the far east would domino if not stopped. 58,282 as of last count died trying to stop some effect that was not proven it would happen, it was just feared it would.Of course if you are referring to My Lai that was soldiers crossing a line of morality. Once the killing began it just would not stop. When I was there I did not meet many civilians but I heard from others all were viewed as the enemy. Not to be trusted.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
DADOF3Oh I can agree with you. I read book one when Al returned. They even aimed a weapon at him giving all kinds of confusing orders. He just dropped a sack of cans on him. Problem solved.But they were doing the job they were suppose to be doing. Securing Endtown at the entry points. They have to expect anything coming down those elevators. So many who have dealt with them would resent them. It is normal. I am not loved by all. There are many who resent me too. That is the mantle of authority. Some will like you. Some will not. And in time those roles can reverse depending on what is done.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
Salem come on. Having a bottle thrown at you is part of the job being a cop????It is expected but not part of the job. And the response could be bad.I am chuckling about it right now.I guess I will have to put that in our job description.Working traffic crashes, writing tickets, getting bottles tossed at you…….hahah!I see your point we are better trained to deal with it like I did when it happened to us. Show restraint but believe me we were ready to shoot if we had to. My crowd backed off and began to cool down. The Endtown Mob just got angrier.It can swing either way and teeters on a single act.
mr_sherman Premium Member about 11 years ago
Avery comic this week would have been a good one for Friday. I wonder what’s coming for tomorrow?
lordrunningclam about 11 years ago
I think this is a set-up. I think somebody picked the three dumbest rats in the security force, gave them automatic weapons, thrust them into this situation and made sure something stupid happened.-People who say the rats on the whole aren’t really bad are right. They may be a little too prone to following orders.-There is just a lot going on right now. Al is on the Council and talking to the newspaper, Wally hasn’t been heard from for a while, Linda hasn’t taken the stand yet in the trial and now this. I’m dying to see how it all comes together and today isn’t even the cliffhanger, Friday’s coming…-I’m finding this story quite gripping.
DADOF3 about 11 years ago
Just a word to anyone willing to listen: We all know that Aaron is an unparalleled master at drawing his audience into the story and making them feel a part of the events being portrayed. There seems to be a palpable level of tension being evoked by this arc, and (not unlike the events unfolding in the story) there “appear” to be some “battle lines” developing in these comments. We are a broad based and very diverse group with widely differing points of view, yet we are all brought together here by Aaron’s superb talents. Sometimes it is hard to remember that it’s just a story, and often the events depicted touch us deeply because they closely resemble things we have all to vividly experienced in the real world. All that being said, I would simply suggest that It might be better to remember those things we share, rather that dwell on the ones that we will most likely never agree on. Just offering my 2 cents… ;-)
Tyrnn about 11 years ago
No.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
mr_shermanAVERY??? Hooked on Tex Avery are we now!!!!(LOL)
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
I did the other day run across an old gem of a cartoon saga.“Tumbleweeds” by T.K. Ryan. He has his own website and a beautiful collection book available for a small fee. He even signed the book he sent to me. That goes with my two Flask portraits as a real item to treasure. I always loved his stories of the “Old” west.
gamiath about 11 years ago
“Jackbooted thugs” does fit. It seems to me that cabin fever set in. Being cooped up underground and abused by an over zealous Gestapo-like security force finally broke the public apathy. This sudden resurgence of emotion will be very hard to stop indeed.
Lyons Group, Inc. about 11 years ago
It’s so easy, a preschooler can do it.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
To those interested here is a thought.I mentioned some time back that the High Council would have to have the backing of Security to carry out dirty deeds. I suggested the whole thing would fall apart if Security sided with Endtowners.Look at what has happened. This to me appears all to be arranged for a purpose. That purpose is to make sure the Security Rats would not align with Endtowners.The High Council would use this to show that the Endtowners care nothing for the Security Rats so why take their side. Do what “we” (High Council) tell you to after all we love you and Endtowners HATE you and will kill you if given a chance.It has been mentioned before the Security Rats may have never been human to begin with. They may have all been some grand experiment by APEX back in the day like the Secret of NIMH story. The virus made them become more human appearing but they were never human to begin with.Only our author knows that story and he has not printed that one out……yet.
witchspell63 about 11 years ago
Where are the actual Endtown Police? Security has no business doing or being there.to quote an old Doonsebury strip:“Police! Where are the hell are the police!!”
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
Sometimes Josh amazes me. I have posted on other sites as he has and only here does he get this way with me. Go figure.Well I am out. Cold beer time. Playoffs on the Telly.Going to get Subways and do some relaxing.See ya’ll tomorrow.Lets see what he has in store for FRIDAY.Oh also gotta go reserve the new CallofDuty game due out in November. “Ghosts” is the name. Great trailer by the way check it out on Call of Duty.Com.(Sorry Josh must be 18 to view) ;-))
gamiath about 11 years ago
I have only seen the rats arrive in a vehicle. The police may have been on the way, but the rats unfortunately got there faster. Or the police were deliberately delayed. The police would have had a better chance of calming things down, as they would have known some, if not all of the people there; much like in Veteran’s story.
witchspell63 about 11 years ago
Hey D’keeper, you think Nab and Dora Dingle should hookup. They seem to be a match made in…..somewhere….
Dragoncat about 11 years ago
I have the nasty feeling this is not quite the “Fumigation” that Doc Chase had in mind…
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
Josh if it was a mistake fine.Try editing yourself sometimes. The @ name sign means its directed back at someone who posted. I am sure you know that. So your post about “joining” GoComics took on the appearance of insulting me. Expect me to respond like that you have aimed at me before. On one site you referred to me as boring putting ZZZZZZZZZ. Cute.I enjoy the banter back and forth and would never think of flagging (whatever that is) anyone. I just ignore them.
Drmercurious about 11 years ago
Aaron, the comments section here is two miles long. hands you a beer. Good Work!
And now for my two sense. er, cents. Yeah, cents. Blackie always struck me as keeping a VERY tight reign on the rats; she’s been gone three months and no one else has been riding herd on them. It stands to reason they’d want ‘reasons to salute’ again. The rats are what they call ‘jarheads’; there’s nothing in their heads except what you unscrew and put in and with no Alpha to guide them well….you get Omega results. Also remember: for days and days news has been blaring about how the rats have acted with Maude and Co. and honestly even though they’ve had their humanizing moments on the whole they’ve acted like total pillocks. Well-/armed/ total pillocks.
You can only push so hard for so long until someone decides they’ve have enough of /this/ crap.
And seriously, Aaron, ya gots a reader for life. Dayum, is Endtown ain’t entertainment I dunno what is.
Flask. Was. Right.
Vet Premium Member about 11 years ago
Hey witchspell63I got claims on Dora, I think she likes me. She finds me creepy!!!!! :-())))
witchspell63 about 11 years ago
Hes firing in the air BC he got his ticket punched by daffy duck, the other is laying covering fire at the bar or just panic shooting. Either or, doesn’t seem to be deliberately over their heads
Doggard about 11 years ago
Oh when did I see this coming the “Fritz the Cat” reference to the Race Riots of the 1960s
craigwestlake about 11 years ago
The rats are simply power-mad. It is probably why they mutated into what they are. As for not being enthusiastic about firing on the crowd – it was simply because they were AFRAID.Most people used to being in control and power usually wind up being exposed as cowards when the situation changes.“Ain’t no fun when the rabbit ’s got the gun”…
witchspell63 about 11 years ago
Right now I’m calling it five down outside, conditions unknown, possible one down inside the bar, one dead outside(Spike) definite, one dead rat(Ben) definite, airborne rat down most likely dead or wish he was. Did I miss anyone?
Ida No about 11 years ago
“So don’t lecture us please. It is quite insulting.”DADOF3 did preface his comment with “Just a word to anyone willing to listen:”. If you think it’s a lecture, then don’t listen to it.
pam Miner about 11 years ago
that remark was un-called for, and not approved of here!
pam Miner about 11 years ago
He didn’t insult me, and don’t think he insulted anyone. We all just gotta give peas a chance.
DADOF3 about 11 years ago
I’m sorry you found my comments insulting. It was not intended to be a lecture, only an observation. I think I’m correct in saying that many of us consider this a special place, a temporary haven, if you will, from the real world. When folks start injecting real world issues into their comments here (which they have every right to do) it sort of takes something away from that IMHO. I just feel that there is enough tension and conflict in the world we live in and cannot help expressing concern when those things start finding their way in here. It was never my intent to make rules or chastise anyone for the comments they made. All I was doing was offering an opinion for consideration.