jasonderoga86

Wassup, DW Crew?

Jason Deroga here, with the newest feedback for Matt Zimmer's "Gilda and Meek and the Un-Iverse"! And at long last, I've reached the saga that's sounded more and more epic with each prior episode -- The is beginning of the much-hyped "Pontue Legacy!" Let's dive in...

Gilda and Meek #9: "The Pontue Legacy - Part One: The Fall of Finn"

⦁ What's this? Oh, MAN. People, we're looking at a PREQUEL here to the series! Interestingly enough, Matt asks, "Don't prequels suck anyway?" Well, in the case of movies like "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones", that statement is pretty legit. But I have great doubt that this prequel will follow suit. Looks like the tale will be six episodes long, too! Matt has admitted that he isn't quite 100% happy with this prequel, but I'm interested in the implied lore and backstory up ahead, and I believe that for what it's worth, indeed it's neccessary to get the best out of the overall epic here. And "The Book of Un" is a daunting title for the start of the ride...

⦁ "Humans are artistic and driven, yet stupid"...I'm not gonna lie, I can interpret this in so many ways. At the risk of possibly sounding misanthropic, I see this statement in everyday life: We've created so many advanced automobiles, yet we relish in road rage on a bad day. We've made AMAZING strides in technology, yet we're creating avenues for misinformation and hitting businesses with ransomware. We've manufactured new ways of creating energy, but... well, there's WAR, and we all know what THAT'S done to our Earth (The Earth in the Un-Iverse is not OUR Earth, as clarified), not to mention that this, though being humankind's arguably stupidest of inventions, is often still a go-to for international disputes (insert eye-rolling emoji here).

⦁ Two races: the Gragnocks and the Lapinians. One is a race of royal boastfulness, the other consists of talented scientists and tech experts. Both races have a common ability: Magic. And as stated before, both races are at war with each other due to the assassination of a Gragnock monarch by a Lapinian imposter -- kinda like our Earth, where nowadays it seems like nations are actually LOOKING for reasons to blow each other to Hell and beyond. And also like our Earth, or at least where warring nations are ignorantly leading us, the war culminated in the triggering of several nuclear weapons that ultimately rendered this Earth inhospitable (anyone remember that video game series "Fallout"?). Both sides called a victory, and skeedadled outta there. Honestly, those of us out there who keep calling for the end of wars and being ridiculed because of it is quite depressing, to say the least. Similarly to the common belief among many of us in reality, the Gragnocks opened a portal to another dimension to inhabit while the Lapinians created a massive space station to serve as their new home. Kinda weird... and strangely comforting... in a way? I mean, each race assumably living in their own realities, completely oblivious of each other following all this hostility? Hopefully I'm not coming off as a secessionist -- that is NOT how I roll.

⦁ Oh, yeah. Free will is SO boss. Interesting that the slippers Fuzzy and Scuzzy are the avatars of the concept, as they are currently subjects of Mistress Augatha. The enemy of brutal dictatorships, and in the case of our Earth, rightfully so. A common goal among all of humanity should be dismantling every single one of these hellholes. But then again, that's wishful thinking...

⦁ At last, we have the namesake of this daunting and epic tale, the sentry known as Pontue. This Gragnock commands three idols: the Dark Idol, representing immortality; the Idol of Light, bestowing great strength and power; and the Gateway (also known as the "Door to Hell"), which serves as the dimensional portal to the habits of the Gragnocks themselves. Pontue wore the Dark Idol and hid the Gateway away for protection, intending to return to Earth to amass an army and a massive armada. Pretty badass plan if I say so myself.

⦁ The Piranhas inhabiting the Earth during one time period amuses me to no end. A LOT of light bulbs must've been shattered over those years...

⦁ Pontue being intrigued by the Masters of the Planet (Cats, Dogs, and Humans) due to their living in a state of harmony is something I wish all warring nations could take a little time in envisioning. The more I look at how commoners in the world think this way, the more I believe it could become a near-reality -- a perfect world can never be, truthfully, and this Earth is NO exception -- and the more frustrated I become at how people in reality (at least, here in America) seem more interested in division and hating each other for fabricated and illogical (non) reasons. And Pontue herself began to question her original agenda, as expected.

⦁ Wait, did I hear that right? "Mistress"? ...actually, Pontue DOES look awfully familiar... AND she came to take human form as a woman... and ultimately fell in love with a human male. It is implied that this was a cataclysmic incident, especially with the conception of a certain child.

⦁ And the aforementioned child was the one who come to be known as Augatha. Oh, yeah. It's aaallll comin' together. *smiles confidently* And as we would come to know, the lil' lady was a flippin' POWERHOUSE -- ten times as powerful as HER OWN MOTHER. ...yep, that's powerful. Fo' sho'.

⦁ Pontue's belief in the statement "Once you know a future is coming, there isn't anything you can do to change it" should come as familiar to all who have reached this point in the story. Because the opposite of this statement is where the truth lies and where we can all take solace, as it goes hand-in-hand with free will. Yep, the answer is choice. For those who've read my comic series "Lil' Hero Artists", a similar message is mentioned in the current story arc, "Curse of Creation". Simply put, destiny as horseshit.

⦁ With Queen Gabrielle meeting Sorceress Augatha, the first part of the Legacy now kicks off!

Part I: "The Fall of Finn"

⦁ Princess Sarah putting her father King Ferrell. Yep, Jasmine sure as HELL shoula told the Sultan this to put him in his place. Free will, peoples.

⦁ "Good" King Farrell? 'Scuse me, but walking in on your half-clothed princess daughter, deciding her life for her, and half-assedly telling your most loyal of guards - the Captain of the Guard - to go and die tomorrow for the good of your kingdom sounds a little uncouth, wouldn't you think? And "wench?" Maaaan are YOU old-school... and NOT in a good way.

⦁ Winifred's quip at Gabrielle about dues for serving the kingdom remind me a LOT of Bernadette, and that's a good thing. Not being paid to serve a Royal Family allows for much in the area of "free speech".

⦁ Viking Cats are ALL kinds of awesome. Calling it now.

⦁ King Farrell refusing to face Sorceress Augatha just reeks ALL kinds of cowardice. Kinda makes you wonder: if the leader of an entire kingdom believes their subjects are bound to fight for and even die for them, why are they still respected? I mean, they have the deaths of both their enemies AND their own soldiers on their conscience now, shouldn't that be a sobering and solemn fact? Just saying...

⦁ Wait, you're changing your mind, King? That's more like it. I'm sure you didn't inherit the throne by being a pacifist, right?

⦁ Yes, Narrator, I am in full agreement. WTF is Tork doing in this tale?

So, "The Fall of Finn", the first chapter in The Pontue Legacy, ends on a cliffhanger with Sorceress Augatha, Tork, and her entire army in control of King Farrell's kingdom after the former summarily executes the dunce of a monarch even after he discloses the location of her sister, who currently resides in a special egg. The remainder of the King's subjects are now Augatha's to command, and the search for the egg begins. The King's Captain of the Guard, Henry, Princess Sarah (heartbroken over her lame dim-bulb father's swift murder), and stewardess Winifeld have gone into hiding to find the magician known as Agnor. I gotta say, things are looking grim as hell... and I flippin' LOVE IT. Matt, buddy, I'm glad you hyped this one up. It was a hell of a read, and it REALLY got me thinking and putting things in perspective. Personally, a lot of what's written here is relatable to how I view the current abhorrent state of things in America and the world as a whole. It's supposed to simple to find better solutions to the problems the world's facing right now, but I confess it's beyond my understanding. I'm not a nation leader, nor am I an advisor to one or anything as such. But it is good to see that much of what I believe in these days is nicely explained and depicted in this first chapter, and it works with the general Gilda and Meek series as a whole. Good read, man, good read.

DW Family, when I return I'll dive into the next chapter of The Pontue Legacy in Gilda and Meek #10: The Pontue Legacy - Part II: "The Invisible Kingdom". See ya there!

Nana

--J.D.