Oh shoot, glimpse of an alternate/future timeline? It’s more obvious on the last panels of this and the previous page, because when the light shifts there’s suddenly cracks and those tendrils behind him. So I’m assuming that’s why the rest of the store looks like it does here. But I’m really curious as to the time-stop, the whale-thing, the timeline shift, and the black energy…so much going on in one page!
The snake monster’s exhalation appears to be the same as the aura coming off the bat, given that and the odd events also occurring simultaneously I think that it’s reasonable to assume that the two are related. Also I think that the fist is in motion again, supporting the time stop theory. Poor max, I don’t think he’s going to doge that.
Ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and spirits, spectrals and normals, I believe we have:
A) seen the classic doomsday vision that must be stopped by the heroes;
B) discovered a hint as to what Max’s powers are, and even the spirit that will give them to him;
C) both; or
D) none of the above.
As for me, I’m hoping this eye-widening, head-spinning page is C.
I hate to think this comic would be too predictable, seems like the author is creative enough to give a pretty unique story. Also, I still think it’s more of a parallel reality in the same store, the store in Max’s reality remains the same.
But mostly I think it’s WAY to early to make predictions like that one above right there ^^^.
You do make some excellent points, I’ll admit that… It’s not like these way-too predictable-in-hindsight guesses would be disappointing to us as readers, but parallel universes might still be interesting if that’s what this whole mind-trip of a page is really about.
Max has the power to STOP TIME. Now he must do what is expected of anyone with that power:
Sneak into the girl’s bathroom and see if their facilities really ARE better than the boys bathroom!
So I thought “Let’s check up on Paranatural on the off chance it has updated today.” So I did and my eyes were assaulted by the barrage of colorful splendor and I was left awestruck. All I could do was watch.
This is beautiful.
MAX!!! How did you break a hole through the celing/floor, smash the windows, destroy all the merchandise, “all in your sleep” and ONLY GET A BLOODY NOSE!?!?! WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?
A… loving, forgiving father?
I want that conversation to happen, but I feel like back-up will save Matt from a serious butt-whoopin’ before it does. Max had better thank Isabel for that. I’m not sure which he should be more afraid of, though, Death by Racist Whale-Frog, or the Rath of the Father. I’d be more scared of Max’s Dad, he’s less predictable. XD
LOL I love how I didn’t notice the time shift. I just thought a giant snake thing just happened to fly in and break the walls, the light was just on upstairs, the preiviously mentioned snake had the power to freeze the Whale-Frog or the Whale Frog froze in light, and that the light just happened to turn off afterwords… How oblivious and complex can I get? Time shift, so much simpler.
And I thought the light coming on was the arrival of Isabel et.als. What an amazing and unexpected sequence! Great work. I’m still looking at all the detail!
I just want to say – I love the dialogue. I mean, it’s silly, but if I were in the middle of a bunch of weird shit, I don’t think I’d take the time to be eloquent. It’s be ‘yo what’ and ‘aw shit’ ALL THE TIME.
i was excited when i read kevin’s words “the aura coming off the bat” beacuse i thought you had snuck derek back in. but no such luck. and did you get the ‘shai hulud’ ref, nephew?
The whale-frog’s fist seems to be moving backwards. The dash lines are extending off of the fist in the direction of max, insinuating that it is moving away from him.
Oooh, this could be his special power! Basically stopping time. You can see he’s able to move and such so maybe he can move out of the way of attacks and maneuver into an attack spot!
It may have been 7 pages ago, but it’s only been, like, 3 minutes. I doubt she lives just down the street, so she has a bit of a walk to get to the Corner Store. Not to mention that she seems to think that Max is just making a big deal out of nothing, and is probably taking her sweet time getting ready. All in all, she’ll probably show up in a page or two.
Max, the giant snake very clearly said “I love you”. The least you can do is tell it you love it back, seriously man. Now you gonna get punched out by a racist whrog.
…At least “tell the giant snake monster I love it” is better last words than “YOU SHUT UP, PJ!”… or, at present, “Yo what”
Zaaaack remember those days when ppl gave up about 3-5 comments a page? Well lookitus now! Those ppl who asked,”Why isn’t this comic famous?” just got answered.
You think maybe Isabel is about to save his butt…
But then it’s just… What.
And then you stare at this spectacular image.
And then suddenly back to the silly fight scene. POW!
I love how he creates this sort of flow, and you have a clear idea of motion or timing, it is the essence of making a good comic. You know this is like the big dramatic pause and then a jolt back to reality.
And it would be pretty cool if Max could stop time even if it means he has to pass through a disturbing alternate reality.
“Paranatural! Tell yo’ friends.”
Pfft! As if it’s not already the main topic in all our conversations! :D
If you haven’t told your friends, or they haven’t told you, they aren’t really your friends.
So, assuming my guess from a few (or maybe more than few) pages back was right, then GIANT SNAKE-Y BRO (Gsybro henceforth shall he be called (Don’t ask how you pronounce it)) will probably end up being Max’s prisoner (Remember Wrog’s weird babbling about jailers and stuff?).
Also, am I the only one getting A Link to the Past-ish Dark World vibes coming from this (IDE/Theory: Gsybro/dark spectral energy can jump to “Dark World” (or, at least, can still function in the “Dark World”))?
Also also, I am sorta getting some Persona 3 vibes, too (Time frame that normal people don’t experience, monsters, etc).
Anyway, I love this comic, and I hope the story you’ve planned is far better than I could imagine (psst, it already is).
Okay, the snake is obviously the spirit trapped in his bat. Whether or not this means he has the power to stop time, I do not know. What I do know is this: it had better be a freaking awesome power if that’s what the spirit looked like originally.
Did the shadow snake/wyrn ghost/spirit appear because max briefly flared his spirit/shadow aura, and it nearly almost had enough to heal itself and leave but sensing max was in danger it used its newly gained energy to save max?
WHAT.
YO WHAT.
Has the store had a hole in the roof, huge piles of junk, and a broken window the whole time?? Nice purchase, Max’s dad!
He likes to think of them as, a speedie way to get downstairs, piles of awesome treasure, and a newbie’s guide to Defenestration.
Defenestration, B*TCHES! It’s the best thing to do!
Flash to the future? Looks great.
Obviously a brief glimpse of the Ghost/Spirit World equivalent of the store. I loves me a good Multiple Realities suggestion.
Did he just stop time?
ZA WARUDO!!!
Oh shoot, glimpse of an alternate/future timeline? It’s more obvious on the last panels of this and the previous page, because when the light shifts there’s suddenly cracks and those tendrils behind him. So I’m assuming that’s why the rest of the store looks like it does here. But I’m really curious as to the time-stop, the whale-thing, the timeline shift, and the black energy…so much going on in one page!
Acually, that the cracked glass of the freezer section.
The snake monster’s exhalation appears to be the same as the aura coming off the bat, given that and the odd events also occurring simultaneously I think that it’s reasonable to assume that the two are related. Also I think that the fist is in motion again, supporting the time stop theory. Poor max, I don’t think he’s going to doge that.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and spirits, spectrals and normals, I believe we have:
A) seen the classic doomsday vision that must be stopped by the heroes;
B) discovered a hint as to what Max’s powers are, and even the spirit that will give them to him;
C) both; or
D) none of the above.
As for me, I’m hoping this eye-widening, head-spinning page is C.
I hate to think this comic would be too predictable, seems like the author is creative enough to give a pretty unique story. Also, I still think it’s more of a parallel reality in the same store, the store in Max’s reality remains the same.
But mostly I think it’s WAY to early to make predictions like that one above right there ^^^.
You do make some excellent points, I’ll admit that… It’s not like these way-too predictable-in-hindsight guesses would be disappointing to us as readers, but parallel universes might still be interesting if that’s what this whole mind-trip of a page is really about.
C
Someone else agrees! :D
Thanks to you as well.
Behold from future ,WHOOOOOooo spooky, b
What.
Max has the power to STOP TIME. Now he must do what is expected of anyone with that power:
Sneak into the girl’s bathroom and see if their facilities really ARE better than the boys bathroom!
If they are better, then it’s only out of effort to avoid it being
SO
MUCH
WORSE.
Just a small detail but I love the giant whalebeast’s fingers on the ground below him. Awesome attention to detail.
He looks so happy while he’s punching.
fist bump of awesomeness! yo!
that’s what popped into my mind.
So I thought “Let’s check up on Paranatural on the off chance it has updated today.” So I did and my eyes were assaulted by the barrage of colorful splendor and I was left awestruck. All I could do was watch.
This is beautiful.
No, you are beautiful.
Oh stop it.
*gasp* I thought you told ME I was beautiful! HOW COULD YOU?!
You are all beautiful.
I’m sorry, but I’m just not going to be coherent here:
wwwhhhYYY IS THIS JUSTT THE BEEEEEEESSSSSSSTTTT. EEEVVVEEER. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.
Clearly just started reading, but this is phenomenal. Every aspect – just. Awesome. COOOOHHHHEEEERRREEENNNCCCY’S FOR THEE WEEEAKK.
Wow, thanks.
Also it says “Shai Hulud”.
MAX!!! How did you break a hole through the celing/floor, smash the windows, destroy all the merchandise, “all in your sleep” and ONLY GET A BLOODY NOSE!?!?! WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?
A… loving, forgiving father?
I want that conversation to happen, but I feel like back-up will save Matt from a serious butt-whoopin’ before it does. Max had better thank Isabel for that. I’m not sure which he should be more afraid of, though, Death by Racist Whale-Frog, or the Rath of the Father. I’d be more scared of Max’s Dad, he’s less predictable. XD
LOL I love how I didn’t notice the time shift. I just thought a giant snake thing just happened to fly in and break the walls, the light was just on upstairs, the preiviously mentioned snake had the power to freeze the Whale-Frog or the Whale Frog froze in light, and that the light just happened to turn off afterwords… How oblivious and complex can I get? Time shift, so much simpler.
… Matt?
pffsshh~ One time! Forgive my one typo~ Uhg, I have spelling and memory issues. Xd
I’m sort of torn between “Wait…what?” and “Ooh! Shiny.”
And I thought the light coming on was the arrival of Isabel et.als. What an amazing and unexpected sequence! Great work. I’m still looking at all the detail!
I thought the same thing!
I love the last panel
>Time in, here comes the pain :3<
TOKI WO TOMARE
なに。
Oh hey, look, it’s the hell dimension from “Constantine” :D
BOTH LEFTY AND JAMES ARE RIGHT HANDS, WHAT IS THIS SORCERY
WAIT, IT APPEARS I AM BLIND AND ALSO STUPID. CARRY ON.
Whatwhatwhat. WHAT is going on?? Poor Max. Definitely way over his head.
I can’t be the only one who thought the snake was wearing a top hat at first, right?
That snake monster just smiled at him…
“How you doin’?”
*shudder*
I think this MIGHT have something to do with his spectral abilities. MAYBE…
Naaaaaaaaaaaaw.
I just want to say – I love the dialogue. I mean, it’s silly, but if I were in the middle of a bunch of weird shit, I don’t think I’d take the time to be eloquent. It’s be ‘yo what’ and ‘aw shit’ ALL THE TIME.
He’s gonna get punched again…
i was excited when i read kevin’s words “the aura coming off the bat” beacuse i thought you had snuck derek back in. but no such luck. and did you get the ‘shai hulud’ ref, nephew?
A quick Google search reveals it is a Dune thing. Interesting. Also please no more talk about Derek.
Ok, the mystery is killing me. Zack, what is the story of Derek the Bat and how many stars did your English teacher give you for writing it?
It’s a dumb nickname for chapter one’s bat spirit.
For the transition between the last two panels, I can just imagine the distinct click of a pull chain for that overhead light.
b-e-a-U-ti-ful
Always a bigger ̶f̶i̶s̶h̶ smiling spirit-thingy.
I love those colors.
Ooh, full parallel world slip!
The whale-frog’s fist seems to be moving backwards. The dash lines are extending off of the fist in the direction of max, insinuating that it is moving away from him.
Uh… my mistake. Must’ve gotten overzealous with the action lines.
what is this i dont even
…what?
…was?
The more I look at this page the more I think the snake monster’s a webbed-hand-face-monster or what have you
True, I had to look at that panel for a bit. This description sounds pretty accurate. XD
Its sooo wierd! And cool!
this comic really has the best monsters ever. oh my gosh. so creative and asdjfaskljskfl gosh everything is perfect
That must be his Spirit guide, lol.
Oh so I wasn’t the only one that had that theory.
Or Hissing Pete’s true form?
Oooh, this could be his special power! Basically stopping time. You can see he’s able to move and such so maybe he can move out of the way of attacks and maneuver into an attack spot!
Ok, wait, he calls Isabell like 10 pages ago for her help….where the heck is she? 2 towns over.
OK so it was on page 13 he called her.
It may have been 7 pages ago, but it’s only been, like, 3 minutes. I doubt she lives just down the street, so she has a bit of a walk to get to the Corner Store. Not to mention that she seems to think that Max is just making a big deal out of nothing, and is probably taking her sweet time getting ready. All in all, she’ll probably show up in a page or two.
Plus, she said WE, so she’s prolly dragging Ed out of bed as well.
Pressing F5 like my life depended on it. I MUST KNOW WHAT IT IS
Max, the giant snake very clearly said “I love you”. The least you can do is tell it you love it back, seriously man. Now you gonna get punched out by a racist whrog.
…At least “tell the giant snake monster I love it” is better last words than “YOU SHUT UP, PJ!”… or, at present, “Yo what”
It’s 10:21, coherence is for the WEAK.
MAYBE THIS IS MAX’S SPIRIT ANIMAL!
Or it’s a doomsday vision, maybe. I guess that’s cool too.
Just to let you know Zach… I’m really enjoy this!
Awesome!
Even more than the Dune sandworm, this creature reminds me of the worm/snake from Beetlejuice.
He’s found the spaces between time, wherein the Sandworms dwell…
Has the fact that Max’s leg (in the last two panels) looks like a gargantuan boner been established yet? Pretty cool.
which program you use to make these comics?
GIMP.
very, very cool guy!!
Zaaaack remember those days when ppl gave up about 3-5 comments a page? Well lookitus now! Those ppl who asked,”Why isn’t this comic famous?” just got answered.
Yesss. I am very happy about this development.
You think maybe Isabel is about to save his butt…
But then it’s just… What.
And then you stare at this spectacular image.
And then suddenly back to the silly fight scene. POW!
I love how he creates this sort of flow, and you have a clear idea of motion or timing, it is the essence of making a good comic. You know this is like the big dramatic pause and then a jolt back to reality.
And it would be pretty cool if Max could stop time even if it means he has to pass through a disturbing alternate reality.
Silly people, with all your giant snake monster is this or that theories…as Zack said, sometimes a giant snake monster is just a giant snake monster…
You’re probably right, it could be nothing. But it also takes up most of a whole page. o_O
So, am I the only one to notice there is a righty in the air above the whrog as well as a lefty? o.0
The whale frog monster pulled out Lefty’s reflection, so yes. There is a right hand there.
If Max hadn’t rudely interrupted it, the snake-monster’s full line would clearly have been “Shake, shake that ass.”
Ahahaha
“Paranatural! Tell yo’ friends.”
Pfft! As if it’s not already the main topic in all our conversations! :D
If you haven’t told your friends, or they haven’t told you, they aren’t really your friends.
Man. Max sure forgot to walk without rhythm.
Eyes on the fist, Max.
You know. The one coming right at your face.
Yeah. That one.
So, assuming my guess from a few (or maybe more than few) pages back was right, then GIANT SNAKE-Y BRO (Gsybro henceforth shall he be called (Don’t ask how you pronounce it)) will probably end up being Max’s prisoner (Remember Wrog’s weird babbling about jailers and stuff?).
Also, am I the only one getting A Link to the Past-ish Dark World vibes coming from this (IDE/Theory: Gsybro/dark spectral energy can jump to “Dark World” (or, at least, can still function in the “Dark World”))?
Also also, I am sorta getting some Persona 3 vibes, too (Time frame that normal people don’t experience, monsters, etc).
Anyway, I love this comic, and I hope the story you’ve planned is far better than I could imagine (psst, it already is).
I nearly dropped my taco when this popped up on my screen. Thats how amazingly epic this is.
Because I NEVER drop my tacos. NEVER.
The snake is saying…
“DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODGE!”
Stop sign with an arrow pointing at the creepy snake thing.
I see whatcha did thar.
I saw on the last page how there were suddenly cracks in the glass behind his head in the last panel that weren’t there before… SNEAKY
Now stop!
…
It’s a stop sign!
Suzy’s gonna blow up his house.
Okay, the snake is obviously the spirit trapped in his bat. Whether or not this means he has the power to stop time, I do not know. What I do know is this: it had better be a freaking awesome power if that’s what the spirit looked like originally.
I would kill thousands for that second panel as a wallpaper.
I’m kinda sad that only two other people thought this was a sandworm from Beetlejuice
Did the shadow snake/wyrn ghost/spirit appear because max briefly flared his spirit/shadow aura, and it nearly almost had enough to heal itself and leave but sensing max was in danger it used its newly gained energy to save max?
That would be awesome and I hope that is how this went down 100%
Did Max just travel to Gears of War?
I just…wait what if the time snake was just dropping in?
Looking back at this chapter to see the time snake. :D
Wait, is that…? Yup, that’s probably what I’m thinking the “time snake” is…
I’m sure people said this a bunch but
yo what
If only it were a hammer instead of a bat. STOP. HAMMERTIME.