It’s still too soon to tell (we like our plot twists, don’t we, Mr. Campbell?) but I think Tiki Wiki’s treason means that the tragedy the time travelers tried to avoid is a self-fullfilling prophecy (it also explains why their knowledge of the important details of AEGIS’ downfall was so sketchy). I hope we at least get to see Tiki Wiki’s explicit, gruesome death at some point on the immediate future. I’m talking Itchy & Scratchy here.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m aware that Tiki Wiki _might_ be just playing along and maybe he even can reconstitute Will from that skull at a critical moment using his sonic screwdriver thing (q.v. Clarke’s laws). See, that wouldn’t make a difference to me. I still want someone (Shanna? Rikk? Marc?) to go Jason Voorhees on his behind. Twice.
One of the problems with Utopist thinking is it requires — for lack of a better term — control. Utopia needs someone managing and guiding it, or it quickly falls to the conflicting needs and desires of its citizens.
I actually think Link believes his rhetoric. I think he’s trying to do the best he can by humanity. I think his expression in the first panel isn’t just surprise, but a bit of shock. It’s a bit of control-loss. The Hand didn’t want to brutally murder Will Erixon. They wanted to get as much of Aegis on board with them. That’s why they made the extra effort to grab Rikk in the first place.
Tiki Wiki has made it impossible to recruit Aegis. Link knows that. So does Rikk. No matter what Rumy does for them now, they lost the move they wanted to make.
Link’s lost control of the situation. He tries to reassert it, mind, but he’s lost it. And look at what he says. “When Mechtech and Bellhop return…” he’s expecting the two of them to come back as they were. He doesn’t currently know Bellhop broke cover to his mother (after killing his half-brother) and he sure doesn’t know Mechtech and Cloud are beginning to make their own play….
The problem with Utopia is it requires control, and control doesn’t actually work that way. Expect to see horrified Link return over and over again..
As much as I dislike the loss of Will, I think it would be cheap to ‘bring him back’. I much prefer to think of his death as final, from a story point of view. Also, Will’s demise was inevitable the moment he and Shanna stood on the beach at sunset and told each other how much they loved one another. They were FAR too happy to both live.
Eagerly awaiting the next shoe to fall, where Marc’s spirit is crushed even harder than Shanna’s. What could it be? It certainly did not seem to be his bisexuality coming out – at the moment he seems pretty together.
…. Set it next to the bars? They’re planning something.
Though, I do not know what. The most ridiculous possibility is that Will had a super-weapon implanted into his skull for emergencies. XD
Anything is possible, but right now AEGIS isn’t really in much of a position to retaliate. Their teleporters are gone and the only ones that have that ability are former Order of the Dragon members. Some of whom might are less trustworthy than others. Even so they’d have to know the Hand of Justice’s island base which they might be able to get from Mech Tech’s body, but not if she rebounds with Cloud’s assistance. Moreover, the surviving attack party might be stranded miles from AEGIS HQ which could fall to Cloud-Mech-Tech unless Tim can think of some countermeasure.
Here’s a theory. Will died at some point as all humans do and the time travelers stole his bones from his grave and stored it in a pocket dimension. When the fight looked like it was falling apart Tiki Wiki then ported Will into the pocket dimension and dropped his bones where he stood. Everyone watching would think Will died and if anyone tested the bones the DNA would match so the Hand would believe Tiki Wiki’s betrayal was genuine. When no one suspects it he could release Will who could then carry on the fight in secret since everyone thinks he’s dead. It might be a long shot, but it could happen.
I’m thinking this: Will’s death is permanent. Tiki has a plan and accepted this as a sacrifice needed to justify his ends. I still don’t think Tiki is the traitor. Not traitor to Aegis anyway.
Somebody suggested the possibility that Tiki Wiki IS Will. And I don’t know why, but it just FEELS right. “I have to stop the end of the world and all I have is a fez, a mumu and a pair of rhinstone sunglasses! Check!”
Tiki-Wiki: “I am a perserver of artifacts. Most have little military value. Thise one… was something I retained in case all else failed.”
[stuff happens]
Tiki-Wiki: “My body is a preser–”
(Will cuts him off)
So basically yeah, he had a device that let him preserve Will in some form or another. He’s lying to get into the right spot to revive Will in some fashion for maximum damage.
Marc, dude… I think you’re looking at a woman in shock.
Did someone say rebound?
XD Phil, you. Are. Terrible.
And we love you for it. ♥
I almost pity Tiki Wiki… almost.
I have to say. I find Link’s expression interesting.
We all know there’s going to be more to the story.
It’s still too soon to tell (we like our plot twists, don’t we, Mr. Campbell?) but I think Tiki Wiki’s treason means that the tragedy the time travelers tried to avoid is a self-fullfilling prophecy (it also explains why their knowledge of the important details of AEGIS’ downfall was so sketchy). I hope we at least get to see Tiki Wiki’s explicit, gruesome death at some point on the immediate future. I’m talking Itchy & Scratchy here.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m aware that Tiki Wiki _might_ be just playing along and maybe he even can reconstitute Will from that skull at a critical moment using his sonic screwdriver thing (q.v. Clarke’s laws). See, that wouldn’t make a difference to me. I still want someone (Shanna? Rikk? Marc?) to go Jason Voorhees on his behind. Twice.
Its a freaking time loop, they come back to prevent the event when infact they are the ones that created the event in the first place.
Tik-tik-tik-tik-tik-tik….
Say, they’re on the ground now. Fitz busted his wing, or something?
That’s right, Tiki Wiki, keep poking the caged animal with a stick. That’s fine, as long as it never gets out. Otherwise …
Anyway, looking forward to something extremely unpleasant happening to Tiki Wiki.
So, we’re all agreed that Tiki Wiki is just fooling and Will will be fine, right? … right?
RIGHT?!??!?!??!??!?!?
One of the problems with Utopist thinking is it requires — for lack of a better term — control. Utopia needs someone managing and guiding it, or it quickly falls to the conflicting needs and desires of its citizens.
I actually think Link believes his rhetoric. I think he’s trying to do the best he can by humanity. I think his expression in the first panel isn’t just surprise, but a bit of shock. It’s a bit of control-loss. The Hand didn’t want to brutally murder Will Erixon. They wanted to get as much of Aegis on board with them. That’s why they made the extra effort to grab Rikk in the first place.
Tiki Wiki has made it impossible to recruit Aegis. Link knows that. So does Rikk. No matter what Rumy does for them now, they lost the move they wanted to make.
Link’s lost control of the situation. He tries to reassert it, mind, but he’s lost it. And look at what he says. “When Mechtech and Bellhop return…” he’s expecting the two of them to come back as they were. He doesn’t currently know Bellhop broke cover to his mother (after killing his half-brother) and he sure doesn’t know Mechtech and Cloud are beginning to make their own play….
The problem with Utopia is it requires control, and control doesn’t actually work that way. Expect to see horrified Link return over and over again..
Eric: Nice analysis.
As much as I dislike the loss of Will, I think it would be cheap to ‘bring him back’. I much prefer to think of his death as final, from a story point of view. Also, Will’s demise was inevitable the moment he and Shanna stood on the beach at sunset and told each other how much they loved one another. They were FAR too happy to both live.
Eagerly awaiting the next shoe to fall, where Marc’s spirit is crushed even harder than Shanna’s. What could it be? It certainly did not seem to be his bisexuality coming out – at the moment he seems pretty together.
…. Set it next to the bars? They’re planning something.
Though, I do not know what. The most ridiculous possibility is that Will had a super-weapon implanted into his skull for emergencies. XD
Anything is possible, but right now AEGIS isn’t really in much of a position to retaliate. Their teleporters are gone and the only ones that have that ability are former Order of the Dragon members. Some of whom might are less trustworthy than others. Even so they’d have to know the Hand of Justice’s island base which they might be able to get from Mech Tech’s body, but not if she rebounds with Cloud’s assistance. Moreover, the surviving attack party might be stranded miles from AEGIS HQ which could fall to Cloud-Mech-Tech unless Tim can think of some countermeasure.
My greatest hope for Will being alive, or rather, “salvageable,” is that his death wasn’t epic enough. Main characters don’t die without more fanfare.
Here’s a theory. Will died at some point as all humans do and the time travelers stole his bones from his grave and stored it in a pocket dimension. When the fight looked like it was falling apart Tiki Wiki then ported Will into the pocket dimension and dropped his bones where he stood. Everyone watching would think Will died and if anyone tested the bones the DNA would match so the Hand would believe Tiki Wiki’s betrayal was genuine. When no one suspects it he could release Will who could then carry on the fight in secret since everyone thinks he’s dead. It might be a long shot, but it could happen.
My theory: Tiki-Wiki is (body-swapped) Will.
Brasca1, Eric: excellent thoughts.
I’m thinking this: Will’s death is permanent. Tiki has a plan and accepted this as a sacrifice needed to justify his ends. I still don’t think Tiki is the traitor. Not traitor to Aegis anyway.
Somebody suggested the possibility that Tiki Wiki IS Will. And I don’t know why, but it just FEELS right. “I have to stop the end of the world and all I have is a fez, a mumu and a pair of rhinstone sunglasses! Check!”
@DoctorDidj
Suspect it’s a cramp, not as if he engages in aerial dog fighting maneuvers every day.
Normally he’s too busy in the lab with Weird Science.
Tiki-Wiki: “I am a perserver of artifacts. Most have little military value. Thise one… was something I retained in case all else failed.”
[stuff happens]
Tiki-Wiki: “My body is a preser–”
(Will cuts him off)
So basically yeah, he had a device that let him preserve Will in some form or another. He’s lying to get into the right spot to revive Will in some fashion for maximum damage.