Endtown by Aaron Neathery for December 26, 2016

Both Aarons are getting deep, and at least one is over his head.

Now, how does the Oracle feel about being used as a hot tub?

I actually think we are going to begin a new story soon either with completely new characters or a few old ones we barely got to know.

I wondered where the Oracle Tender was, then I saw him (her?) in panel 4.

Oracle: “This isn’t a jacuzzi, Marx…”

I kinda established in my mind a long time ago that the Oracle is actually Flask’s disembodied spirit. What do y’all think?

Bathing in the Oracle. Just how close is their relationship?

“he didn’t respond as he has before”…

.

They’ve done this traveling ditto show before in other realities. So, it’s not the victory, it’s the thrill of the chase.

“You keep an eye on him and the Oracle. I’ll grab his dimensionometer.”

I am somewhat appalled to see Marx submerging most of his cigar in panel 2. The water would keep the cigar from burning and cause the filler to swell so that Marx would never be able to get a decent draw through the cigar — moisture content is extremely critical in cigars. Still, I suppose that a guy who can swallow an explosion can keep a cigar at its proper moisture content while being submerged.

Oracle: “Mind the bubbles, Marx..”

Okay, time to post signs about not bathing in the sentient all-seeing pool of water.

Then why did you tell it?!?

The Truth is the safest Lie.

The Oracle always has been and created itself out of the nothing, because it had been and saw that it would again be an omniscient jacuzzi for a frivolous trixter.

“Damned if I do, damned if I don’t huh?…. I need a long hot bath!” Yeah, Marx is up against the wall here. Used as a tub or not, I give credit he sought counsel. Time to brainstorm an extraordinary solution.

This is Existentialism at it finest! Thank you Aaron!

Gotta be hard being Aaron…….I wouldn’t want Marx bouncing around inside my skull!

If there is an option to bring her to Endtown alive and an option to bring her to Endtown dead, does that mean that she is Schrodinger’s mouse?

I wonder what the Oracle’s attendant feels about Marx’s bath?

Has anyone ever suggested that the Oracle isn’t actually the water…or in the water, but just communicating through the water? When they brought the “glass of Oracle” into Al and Gustine’s trial…did that mean that the pool back in the cave was empty of intelligence? No way to know.

Bad joke of the day: Do these panels mean Marx is going to “duck” the issue?

And now, my real comment: Methinks that Aaron recognizes the grave peril that Holly is in. He posits that Holly may be dead or alive, a binary sequence. // If she’s dead, that’s consequence #1 and Doc Chase is “ruined.” // If she’s alive, she will commit suicide once returned to Endtown. That’s consequence #2; see consequence #1. // Bringing Doc to Holly is consequence #3, Endtown loses its doctor. To what? Will the ship imprison him as it has Holly? // At this point, it now appears that we have a true lose-lose-lose situation.

Last, and certainly least, as Aaron emerges out of the water, doesn’t he look a lot like “Rob” in “Get Fuzzy”? (Panel 2)

I get the sense that there is a far larger purpose behind Marx’s actions over-all, and part of his seeming craziness is a reaction to the burden of trying to be the “god” of the Endtown reality. And it appears that Aaron Marx promotes freedom of choice, which is comforting.

Annnd this is where I quit reading Endtown lol.

The Oracle is where people go for reflection.

Am I the only one who gets a strong Doctor Who vibe from Marx?

This could be very traumatic for the Oracle!

Viaduct?

Well, let’s put it this way:

Have you ever walked into a restaurant and found it just didn’t suit your taste? Maybe it was a new one with rave reviews, or maybe it was an old favorite that started making little changes here and there. There can be absolutely nothing wrong with the restaurant other than it just doesn’t appeal to you.

That’s a common vibe fiction-wise. Some folks like a series a great deal, and others go “Eh.” Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

To be honest, I don’t like this turn of the plot. Others may, and that’s fine. It just doesn’t suit my taste. Endtown isn’t the first cartoon to change character focus (I’m looking at you, On the Fastrack), or the first to maybe go off in a different direction. If people like it fine, and if not, fine.

The simple fact is that no comic is going to appeal to everyone. I’m not sure that one should try. It’s only when a comic fails to appeal to anybody that the author should take notice, and I don’t think that’s happening with Endtown.

Just my two cents.