Stumbled across the site a week ago. I’m really enjoying the subtle nuances in your writing, and the spot on line work. I now have something to look forward to on Wednesdays.
@Jim – what makes you think the gender is wrong? Vivol is referred to as ‘Man’ at Vivol’s party (though this is pretty gender uspecific) and the party does seem to be for the guys judging by the bird family – my wife’s favourites.
Awwww, so sad! I thought the ringmaster was Russian too. But that just makes me so sad to hear him talked about like that, and have a stupid hat and collar put on him. If I was Vivol I would totally eat those bastards. Karl you’re amazing.
About the gender confusion – It looks like V&MB part two is long after part one. Part one was young Vivol and his mama – now the star is Vivol, and moon bear is the small bear. Where’s mama bear, though? :(
Ah yes – I was confused. I forgot that “mama” was Vivol’s mama, not Moon Bear’s. So if Vivol was in captivity when his mama performed, it shows that the ring master is definitely lying about him having eaten three mean.
Karl, you have at this point made me tear up on more than one occasion with this comic. The work is simply stunning, from the perspective of writing and art alike. Thank you for sharing it with us.
This reminds me of my favourite show from my childhood called “Jeremy” – about a bear who was stolen and forced to perform in the circus….I cried then too. This makes me miss you that much more.
Hi! As I dig ever deeper into the web of comics, I am really very pleased to find such a well-drawn and endearing story. I’m thrilled that after reading to this point, I discovered that little ‘inspired by’ sidebar: works that I greatly admire! Keep up the beautiful work.
In all honesty, I imagined him to ‘tawk like dis! wif a doubleyew too his voiece!’ … That’s probably just because I don’t like him :[
… ;_; This whole comic makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Do you want to give me brain damage, Karl? You cruel cruel person, giving people brain damage with your wonderful comics.
“Masha” is the name of Vivol’s mother. It is a Russian female name that means “Bitter”. Would you not be bitter having to slave away for such a cruel master knowing that your only son will most likely suffer the same fate?
So, take your pick. I like to think it as a metaphor for the bitter life of the circus animals. Karl is the only one who really knows and I could be reading way too much into it. :)
And I have to say, very rich comic, keep up the excellent work!
“Masha” means “bitter”? I’m Russian, and that’s the first I’ve heard of it. Though since the name goes back to the Hebrew “Miryam” (Maria) and possibly even back to Egypt, I’m not surprised that its meaning has disappeared in Russian.
I don’t think that first names really have recognizable meanings in most languages anyway… last names often still do, though.
Yeah. Really seeing the snarling hatred there, pal. Though the admonition to behave hints that they’ve come up against Vivol’s vitriol before…now poor V just looks like he’s going through the motions. He does indeed know that he has a new master…
In general I like this comic and the depth of the characters, but today’s episode seems sub-par in that regard. The total meanness of the ringmaster and Vivol’s total docility seem a bit caricatured, as in a humans-bad-animals-good propaganda piece.
Unless Vivol really *has* done something bad before, as hinted in panel 2.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
this is without a doubt the best webcomic series currently running. i love the subtle french-canadian accent of the ringmaster
February 13th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
This is really good Karl- I like it quite a bit!
February 13th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Now I’m emotional.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Josh said: “i love the subtle french-canadian accent of the ringmaster”
Interesting how people fill in things with their imaginations – I thought the ringmaster is Russian.
Great strip as usual.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
i agree, josh…
Karl – you have a subtle genius :)
February 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Fantastic.
I assumed russian for the accent as well.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I got Russian, too. Beautiful stuff, Karl, as ever.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
You made me cry you bastard… Love you !
February 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Love you too, mate. ;)
February 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Very sad, but yet another great installment of this wonderful web-series. Thanks so much for this, Karl. It’s sublime.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Stumbled across the site a week ago. I’m really enjoying the subtle nuances in your writing, and the spot on line work. I now have something to look forward to on Wednesdays.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
woo more vivol, and so it would seem -moon bear. the plot thickens =D
Kudos yet again on the wonderfully expressive faces
February 13th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I like the moon in panel one. Also, the trainer gets Vivol’s gender wrong (maybe on purpose).
February 14th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Viiiiivoooooolll… *weeps like a tiny child*
February 14th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Oh, that makes my heart hurt.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:20 am
@Jim – what makes you think the gender is wrong? Vivol is referred to as ‘Man’ at Vivol’s party (though this is pretty gender uspecific) and the party does seem to be for the guys judging by the bird family – my wife’s favourites.
February 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
This is probably the saddest panel yet – but this series just keeps racking up the points for best mood ever :)
February 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
I hope the bear eats them all, for breakfast :(
February 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Awesome, Karl. Just don’t make us wait forever for the next installment of the story of Vivol and Moonbear.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Awwww, so sad! I thought the ringmaster was Russian too. But that just makes me so sad to hear him talked about like that, and have a stupid hat and collar put on him. If I was Vivol I would totally eat those bastards. Karl you’re amazing.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Actually I think Vivol has a Russian accent too, doesn’t he? I’m pretty sure this backstory is all taking place in a “former USSR” area.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Also (sorry for leaving 3 in a row) the ringmaster is a huge liar. They had Vivol since he was a baby. He SHOULD have killed three men though….
February 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
You’re absolutely right, Nika! The ringmaster IS a huge liar. Don’t believe the hype!! Vivol is no killer!
Yet.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
About the gender confusion – It looks like V&MB part two is long after part one. Part one was young Vivol and his mama – now the star is Vivol, and moon bear is the small bear. Where’s mama bear, though? :(
February 14th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
see, I thought ‘Cajun’… probably votes republican, too
February 14th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Ah yes – I was confused. I forgot that “mama” was Vivol’s mama, not Moon Bear’s. So if Vivol was in captivity when his mama performed, it shows that the ring master is definitely lying about him having eaten three mean.
February 14th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I love this web comic. I got russian too!
February 15th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Karl, you have at this point made me tear up on more than one occasion with this comic. The work is simply stunning, from the perspective of writing and art alike. Thank you for sharing it with us.
February 15th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Oh, you had me tearing up before the last panel. Well done, again…
February 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
This reminds me of my favourite show from my childhood called “Jeremy” – about a bear who was stolen and forced to perform in the circus….I cried then too. This makes me miss you that much more.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Hi! As I dig ever deeper into the web of comics, I am really very pleased to find such a well-drawn and endearing story. I’m thrilled that after reading to this point, I discovered that little ‘inspired by’ sidebar: works that I greatly admire! Keep up the beautiful work.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
“See how he hates”.
God, but that line STINGS. I’m not sure why you’re not writing more things.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:48 am
“Behave today.”
Good…that implies that at least at one time, Vivol put up a fight.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
In all honesty, I imagined him to ‘tawk like dis! wif a doubleyew too his voiece!’ … That’s probably just because I don’t like him :[
… ;_; This whole comic makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Do you want to give me brain damage, Karl? You cruel cruel person, giving people brain damage with your wonderful comics.
February 18th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Those last two panels are like The Bicycle Thief.
Gut-wrenching.
February 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
*weeps silently*
February 19th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
You fools! It’s clearly a Russian accent!
“Masha” is the name of Vivol’s mother. It is a Russian female name that means “Bitter”. Would you not be bitter having to slave away for such a cruel master knowing that your only son will most likely suffer the same fate?
http://www.weddingvendors.com/baby-names/meaning/masha/
Then again, I also found that it is a variant form of “Marya” meaning “Beloved”.
http://www.names-meanings.net/name/masha.html
So, take your pick. I like to think it as a metaphor for the bitter life of the circus animals. Karl is the only one who really knows and I could be reading way too much into it. :)
And I have to say, very rich comic, keep up the excellent work!
February 20th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Actually I imagined a Georgian accent :-) And no, because i’m sure someone will think it, not the U.S. state of Georgia, ugh.
Love it. Poor Vivol. Three cheers for depressing memories, empathy all round.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 am
This made me very sad, I hope we get good solid bear justice on this one :)
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 am
“Masha” means “bitter”? I’m Russian, and that’s the first I’ve heard of it. Though since the name goes back to the Hebrew “Miryam” (Maria) and possibly even back to Egypt, I’m not surprised that its meaning has disappeared in Russian.
I don’t think that first names really have recognizable meanings in most languages anyway… last names often still do, though.
September 25th, 2008 at 2:31 am
lousy rotten humans…. *mumbles obscenities under his breath*
September 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
“see how he hates”
Yeah. Really seeing the snarling hatred there, pal. Though the admonition to behave hints that they’ve come up against Vivol’s vitriol before…now poor V just looks like he’s going through the motions. He does indeed know that he has a new master…
Humans. =P
May 29th, 2009 at 6:21 am
In general I like this comic and the depth of the characters, but today’s episode seems sub-par in that regard. The total meanness of the ringmaster and Vivol’s total docility seem a bit caricatured, as in a humans-bad-animals-good propaganda piece.
Unless Vivol really *has* done something bad before, as hinted in panel 2.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Hm… there really is a moon bear – but the moon crescent mark is around its throat. I’ll have to go the Natural History Museum now to look it up.
December 24th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
This really is something else. It’s so different from other comics. It’s very quiet, yet expressive.