Endtown by Aaron Neathery for June 25, 2013

I did not see THAT coming! What’s going on!?

This surprised me. Jake has some deaths to account for.

I expected Velda but not Jake. Still for me, no clue what motive these 2 have, either both have the same motive, or what is happening is good for each from a different starting point.

Well…I didn’t see that pair coming. Wow…way back when A. Marx zapped them back to Endtown, there was concern in here about the Jackrabbit staging a takeover.

When we first met Jake he was developing into a Hitler analog. Then we were lulled into acceptance by his defense of the “Milk Three” who we care for. Now we see his true nature surfacing again. Bravo, Mr. Neathery!

It doesn’t make sense. it was Jake that wanted them to accept their mutant selves, and that is exactly what they have done. And not a clue on Velda.

What’s going on, if this is to be believed, is that Jackrabbit conspired to have innocents killed for the sake of advancing his vision of an ideal society by making his ideological doppelganger take the rap for it.

As misplaced as Allgood’s campaign to have authoritative validation on his group’s beliefs was, Jacob’s is no better, if not worse already for having killed over it. In fact, regarding the consumption of mutant products, he seems the type to compel their social consumption on the basis that everyone should be compelled to ‘accept’ their mutation in the same narrow way that he and his followers have.

Always knew he was a wannabe tinpot dictator. Never thought he was the type that had the cold-blooded nature to follow through with it ‘till now. We’ll see what interesting turns this new development takes.

And Allgood still has a gun. Unloaded? Or given the same treatment as Flask`s?

One of the ideas people have been floating around for months is that Jake was behind all this, and the only way for him to pull it off would be if Velda was working for, or with, him. The fact that he wasn’t surprised when an audience member nominated him to defense council, and the fact that he instantly accepted, served to reinforce this idea. We still need to get a motive, but either it’s a takeover bid, or an attempt to cure Endtown of mass schism syndrome.Any bets that Allgood’s gun is empty?“Conscience is but a word that cowards use,Devis’d at first to keep the strong in awe:Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.March on, join bravely, let us to’t pell-mell;If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.”― William Shakespeare, Richard III

I find it interesting how the strip has managed to pit two equally wrong-headed and oppositional characters (one apparently now more twisted than the other) against one another, while never forgetting how much alike their original goals are ethically.

Compelling society to fit your specific vision is dangerous regardless of whose vision it is. It almost always reduces individuals to be rubes and pawns that must be pushed and controlled to, as Mal in Serenity said: “Make people better”.

The proper rejoinder to that of course, was also given by Mal: “I aims to misbehave”.

Be that little bit of grit in their sandals that won’t go away.

oh

I had all my money on Colonel Mustard with the lead pipe in the library.

By the way, I found flask. Check out the “reporter” just above the “badlands” snicker…..Blessed Be.

Would be interesting . I said back on April 05 about Jack for President. Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Still he is not fully responsible for the deaths if he is the one behind all this since that was more a result of high tensions rather than anything intended. still he would bare some of the responsibility.

All these fallen jaws. Surprise!!!. Yeah, even protrusivewomen want to know now. All this mayhem only to watch Allgod sweat? He does indeed look suicidal or murderous.Jake has just put himself in fire range. Blessed Be

The entrance is classic: The sidekick, the clapBut these are co-villains, each with their own trapPlus maniac-laugher of such evil toneIt’s clear that JJ’s not been acting alone=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooVote for Endtown ClassicThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

Actually, this makes sense for Jacob if he still intends for the people to embrace their animal self, no matter the cost. He’s put a face to his opposition, Allgood. He’s made the Rats run free, stomping out supporters of mutant by products, and eventually caused the people to rally together against a common enemy. On camera he appeared to defend mutant interests, further positioning himself as the intelligent and reasonable leader. The switch was most unexpected and most expected at the same time. Funny how in the very end, Allgood became the defender and Jacob the aggressor. However this ends, one thing is clear. It’s wabbit season.

I suppose what happens next depends on whether the Security Rats are in on it or not…and there are all those angry Endtowners below to deal with…

Okay, forget eggs and milk. If I had my way, the Endtown Cafe would start serving rabbit stew.

No, I mean it. People have died. No matter what the cause, if your life is over, your life is over. It can NOT be treated lightly.

Curse you, Aaron Neathery!

Telling you, it’s time for martial law. Rats need to put order in order, if that makes sense, by force if necessary. Too many sides running amok, too much confusion, too many key figures in high places. Tear it all down and build anew.

Tell me more. I want to know more.

The thing is, revealing Jacob to be the villain was an unexpected shock. The henchmen were no surprise at all, as it’s the sort of behaviour they do all the time.It’s easier to pull the rabbit out of a hat than the habit out of a rat.

It was, again it was a great role reversal between Jacob and Allgood. We started off downing on Jacob for his antics, then when he came to the rescue we gave cheers to his words. Allgood began as the foe and is now the only one in the know, fighting for order. Back to square one with Jacob, whatever is next, I’ve learned you can’t trust a single face in Endtown. While the Rats in command alone would be difficult, as they’re kind of a follower role, I think it’s safe to assume they can learn how to lead on their own.

Dadof3 -Two options. One, this has all been an elaborate prank intended to put Allgood in his place. A giant April Fool’s joke. The Milk 3 were in on it, and they’re all safe. The rats were all in on it and the guns were firing blanks. The colonists were all in on it, and no one got hurt, the graves are all empty. “Surprise, Octavius! You’re on Candid Camera!”Two, this is for real and everyone is eff’d. The colonists think the High Council is going to lynch the Milk Three, so neither Allgood, nor anyone believed to be on the HC right now can return to the colony alive. The rats are eff’d, because if they don’t fit into Jacob’s plans, he’ll have to have them erased so he can return to the colony as the “conquering hero”. The Milk 3 might be ok, but if anyone finds out that Jacob engineered the massacre, the trial and the overthrow of the HC, then the fact that Maude selected him as her defense lawyer will make her look like an accomplice (silencing the rats will prevent them from leaking the fact that there is no HC). If Jake’s plan is to “protect the Milk 3 against the corrupt HC and its horde of out-of-control rats”, then, again, the women may be safe. Or, they’re eff’d because they didn’t survive the shoot out. (Coming back unscratched with Velda and all three prisoners might be a bit too unbelievable, so either the ex-Topsider or Holly might be expendable). Regardless, Velda may have made sure that the rats don’t have functioning guns and/or ammo right now.

AH! I knew it! I called it back when Jackrabbit gave that strange look at the beginning of the trial, and I thought it all made the most sense. The trial was made unpopular by purpose, and probably this the final spark (at least in Jackrabbit plan) to unleash the resentment towards Typhoid Maries and Humanists. Think about it: the only existing council member is immune to the mutation!

“Villain” might be the wrong word for Jake Jackrabbit in his role here…he may have his motives, as did Allgood, but Velda could be playing him like she played Allgood. But a lot of Endtowners are dead because of what both Jake and Allgood said and did. Besides that, what did happen to the High Council? All we know today is that the rooms were empty…

Just a reminder that fanatics are dangerous, even if one happens to agree with the general direction of their extremism.

Welp, I honestly didn’t see that one coming. Of course, is Jake the player, or merely another piece on the board (one higher ranked than a pawn, with the knowledge that come with it).

Wonder why he (or whoever) is trying to drum up this sort of anti-milk-and-egg sentiment, though. Either A) he’s trying to make them more sympathetic and sacrificing the three as martyrs, or B) looking in the mirror one day, Jake realized that perhaps it was in his best interest not to convince many a predator to embrace their outer-beast.

They’ll look for you, Prince-of-a-Thousand-Enemies. They will look for you, and when they catch you, they will kill you. But first, they must catch you.

Turning on the wayback machine:

This is the biggest WTF I have ever seen.

Wow! And again, it’s not even Friday yet.

I can’t tell if this is “Xanatos Speed Chess” or a “Xanatos Gambit”. Either way, they’re Goooooood.

Well I didn’t see that coming. Now I’m confused.

Whatever is really going on, it is unconscionable to torture those three poor women like they have not to mention the 28 or so dead Endtowners.

It was Maude that insisted that Jacob be their defense attorney. Does this mean that Maude is in on whatever the heck is really going on?

Also, Neathery should do a Jacob and Velda for one of his art sales. That last panel is probably going to be iconic.

We have a winner for the first person to call it! Dadof3, on March, 14th.Congrats, Dad!

WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?!?

Nice twist :)

Ah, but Jake may be leaving a few things out of his calculations. I’m of the opinion that even the most carefully played out scheme can be undone in due time; either rapidly or slowly. Let’s see what transpires.

There’s some chance that Jake isn’t behind this. He may just have been able to figure out that both he and Allgood have been played. We still don’t know how the HC was stacked or by whom.

Well, Well, Well.The Rabbit and the Weasel. Got me on that one.Now who is going to get the blame for over thirty deaths, multiple injuries, destructions in town?This is Freedom at a cost. (Will the Folks of Endtown be willing to accept the price?)What next? Mandatory name changes?Confiscation of any item that reminds you that you were once human? (Destroy all human dolls, anthros only? Past life photos? Second class citizen status for those NOT mutated? Forced segregation?) Hmmmmmmm. I did quote Mae West. “Hang on boys, its going to be a bumpy ride.”Applause and many kudos to our author.And Jenner about those eye patches?

Well one other thing,No “sugar” tonight for Allgood.I guess he will be sleeping alone.I guess Velda has hooked up with the Doctor of Love.Bunny Weasel cross breeding??? A Bunsel or a Weunny?

But what about Colonel Ketchup in the garden with the rake?

Every one knows the Butler did it.They always do it.The only one dressed like a butler isALLGOOD!!Just start calling him Jeeves.

Definitely a major twist. Strip just gets better and better. Must say I like that weasel gal.

A more relevant question: Who’s running the police switchboard? They’re the ones that created the crisis that led to the riot. It’d be too much to expect that Velda was the one directly responsible for redirecting all police calls to Security. It makes more sense for Velda to pull strings to have the switchboard operators working for her, just as Allgood’s pollsters were. Now, was the order to redirect the police calls something that Jackrabbit issued, or did he leave that up to Velda, also?

Now we might begin to get some answers as to why over 30 had to die with many more injured just for Jacob to make a point against Allgood.Like Jenner said those were real injuries. Tell the mourners, widows, widowers, fatherless, motherless children that these deaths were for the greater good.That is a very hard pill to swallow.

I had considered this an option back when “Jacob” was on the auction block. I couldn’t help thinking that the quote was a tip off to Jacob’s Machiavellian nature. Mind you with all the goings on and red herrings it just became one of many possibilities.As I see it Jacob and Velda were playing this for power. The trial made Allgood look bad and turned Jacob into a hero. Making the High Council look bad paves the way for a new form of Endtown government and Jacob stands to find himself close to (if not at) the top of whatever develops. Velda, in her roll as kingmaker gets to be one of the Endtown elites, enjoying a situation as close to wealth and power she lost as one could get in Endtown. There are still a few questions.I wonder how much Jacob knows about the massacre. I’d wager that Velda rerouted the phones in order to create a situation where a riot and massacre was inevitable. It would galvanize public sentiment against the powers upstairs and lead people to seek a new form of government. She might not have told Jacob about this. I don’t know him well enough to say if he would have trouble with a few deaths. Does he plan to bring the ladies back downstairs safely or will he have them martyred?Where will Mayor Trimble fit into this? After the massacre, Walt finally came to life and seemed determined to actually act as though he were Endtown’s mayor. Will he go back to his booze filled slumber or will he and Dottie keep digging till they discover the truth behind the massacre and trial? This is really getting interesting!

I never did trust that rabbit, where’s Elmer Fudd when you need him

Okay, now THAT, I definitely didn’t call.

But even though it’s now obvious who is The Bunny here (excuse the pun), I can’t believe that the deaths of innocents were deliberately engineered. Whether they were or not, there’s gonna be (ahem) heck to pay, and a lot more of it if the deaths were deliberate.

Regardless, this has shaped into one really interesting story.

Curiously I don’t think it’s all Jack and the weasel, I think he’s in the middle of things, but I don’t think he’s the one in charge. I could be really wrong here, but I kinda think someone else is pulling the strings.

With a name like Van der Weasel, what else should we have expected? ;-)

“I don’t remember the paper actually publishing a “stand”. Did we ever see an Op-Ed on the mutant by-product issue?”It was never overtly shown in the webcomic. Gotta figure it was on the inside op-ed page, with the splash page dedicated to the interview with Wally.

If this is Jackrabbit’s way of saying, “You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs”…Gimmie that gun, Allgood! IT’S RABBIT SEASON!!!

I remember but will it now be mandatory with threat of death under the new Jacob regime.

To address a point. Its been said that Jacob could be leading Endtown to a better place by defeating the mean old Allgood Society.The arrests alone did that. All his supporters turned on him for those arrests.The whole Allgood scheme could have been exposed and the three would have been set free. Allgood was defeated. There was only and I saw only one person at his lecture. All that supported him turned when he went after those three women. This should have stopped there. Expose the plan and take down Allgood. Expose his fixing the Council to make new laws.But No. Jacob continued with the plan. Plotting the whole time to bring Allgood down. Lets add up the costs for this.Three Rat Security guards dead. Over thirty Endtowners dead. Nearly a hundred or more wounded from light to disabling injuries.All this so Jacob could score points against his “arch” enemy Allgood.Does the ends justify the means?Were Endtowners just sacrificed to suit someone’s ego?Did this “Greater Good” require all these deaths when public exposure would have done the same thing???I can see a child asking mommy “Why did daddy die?” Her answer “So Jacob Jackrabbit could make a point.”Child’s response “wha ???”What remains now is how Jacob and Velda are going to “spin” this story’s ending. I do know this much. If you are going to debate with Jacob you better be ready to kill some folks to make your point.

Dunno about you all, but while I see a rabbit stepping up and making himself visible… I have to wonder if he in turn was used.

Those who cling the most tightly to their ideals, are the easiest to dupe.

Both Allgood and Jackrabbit are extremists in their own ways. And the one in common to them both, is the gal standing behind the jackrabbit right now.

She’s a weasel behind a rabbit, and couldn’t meat be considered a byproduct to some?

Veteran,It wasn’t really to make a point but to turn Allgood into a dragon that could be vanquished. I’d wager that Jacob and Velda have a plan to convert this whole mess into power. I’d also wager that Allgood will have to be killed. By revealing himself to his nemesis, Jacob has given Allgood a dangerous secret. Either the gun Allgood is holding is rigged (like Flask’s on the airship), unloaded or carrying blanks. By attempting to fire it, Allgood is inviting an attempted murder charge. If it is loaded with blanks, the Rats might shoot him to eliminate the danger and thus eliminate Allgood.The question is will the rats still follow Jacob & Velda? They have a potential to sabotage this.

Allgood took that gun from a rat on June 20.

Meanwhile, “Mr. Hopper” watches from the shadows, with current events distracting everyone from his role in their creation…As I’ve said before, we have only been told Hopper’s dead, and haven’t seen proof. They could easily have faked his death.The big plan had to have been in place for some time, waiting for the right moment. For it to work, the right moment had to be someone using mutant products, as the precept for a contentious trial to create a martial law situation.A good way for someone to use mutant products would be a cake. A good way to encourage someone to make a cake would be to have a loveable, senile old man make the rounds of establishments that could make cakes, looking for a beloved cake made by his beloved Trudy. Eventually it would be too much for some kind soul to bear, and a cake would be made. And the trap is tripped.As soon as Hopper had his cake, he had his patsies for the trial and “Hopper” was no longer needed. The plan could proceed.As yet to be determined is whether “Hopper” is the mastermind, or merely working for the mastermind, be it Jacob or someone else.

The cake gambit might not have been the only trap waiting to be triggered. There may have been several other traps based on mutant product use, and the cake was the first opportunity that presented itself. Other mutant products could be fleece, shed skin, scents, brute labor, feathers, horns, ivory, and so on. The clothing industry may have had its own Mr, Hopper (or dear old Mrs. Hopper) checking for contraband.

The schemers may not want to rely on the rats to back them up. The rat commander may be upset that some of his troops were killed for this charade, and take control away from Jacob and company instead of enforcing it for them. But I don’t think the commander wants to do anything more than follow the orders of a chief, so as foreshadowed in the Zetaboard forums, Linda will find herself as the new security chief.

I swear, Mr. Neathery, if you take one more twist in this corkscrew ride you’ve given us, it’s going to end up like a Slinky after a two year old played with it!

Just blast them, Allgood. Addition by subtraction.

“You don’t want martial law, that just means inviting in the dictatorship.” No, I would want martial law. Again, too many shifty faces in high places, tear it down, rebuild. Even if it invited in a dictatorship, such a class of rule may not be a bad idea. No form of rule would be perfect, but one that is stricter and sacrifices some personal freedoms might not be the end of the world That already came and went, so to speak.

If Mister Neathery’s genius at telling a story is up to standard, then two weeks from now, we all will have completely changed how we feel about Jacob Jackrabbit and the rabbit will have our total sympathy and support. And if he pulls that off, then I shall consider Endtown, as a work of literature, not just great but unsurpassed.

I do know this. The laughter at the rooms?I know who was doing the maniacal laughing.“Neathery”

Whoa! Unexpected twist. This’ll be interesting to hear.

kill da wabbit… Kill Da Wabbit!… KILL DA WABBIT!! dum da dum

also, Someone needs to goose the duck

Now, it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Wasn’t looking for a political bout honestly, was just speculating on how it would work in post apocalyptic environment. In real life a dictatorship has obvious problems, in this here land of Endtown, with a smaller more manageable population, doing everything it can to survive, extra imposed order wouldn’t be a bad thing. Let’s keep it about Endtown.

You know? This caught me off guard but if you think about it it makes sense.

“No, I would want martial law. Again, too many shifty faces in high places, tear it down, rebuild.”We’ve got martial law – it was imposed by those “shifty faces in high places”. It’s just a matter of time before Velda sends the rats out to eliminate any opposition to her plans. That’ll give you all the martial law you want. If you want a restructuring from the top, it’s most likely going to start from the bottom, with Walter imposing grassroots order and taking everyone’s guns away from them so they have to play nice.