Wow… this strip was in two places at once: the heavy nature of Charle’s task, and the whimsy that generally comes with any strip NOT involving Charles or Vivol.
Haha I love the little otter in the last panel. The seriousness of the guardian lion in the beginning of the panel (which I found a little strange that he was offering his wise counsel from underwater…) is just relieved with the otter in the last. I love when you do that!
Plus “Are you quite well?” totally sounds british in my head.
I’ve been a big fan of this comic for quite some time. I needn’t really say anything, as my reasons for appreciation are likely obvious. (Beautiful, epic, story, great art, etc… you’ve probably heard it all.)
I’ve been faithfully following for quite some time now… but… I simply was spurred to comment on this latest appearance of the Lovecraftian Lion.
Plus to mention that I’m annoyed that Townsen appears to be gone for good now. My pessimism has finally convinced me of that! NO!!!
…
Yours faithfully, Mr. Kerschel, in possibly continuing silence,
Wolf Gunnison
This comic strip is like LOST.
I don’t know what’s going on, I’m in constant suspense, but I still tell all my friends that they don’t know what they’re missing.
I like the lion. Even in a completely absurd setting, he manages to have a sense of foreboding. It’s hard to do.
I like the bubbles rising off the water, too.
The Lion is lying Townsend is not dead!! I don’t trust a guy who’s head can explode into the night sky, he is just saying that to get Charles to do what he wants.
I had been hanging around to see if Townsend would come back, but this seals it, you’ve lost a reader. There’s enough death and sadness elsewhere, I wasn’t looking for it in a cute comic with forrest animals.
Greeneo, I understand where you’re coming from, because everyone clearly loved Townsen. However, it’s a little silly to leave just because he’s gone. Maybe something he said or did will help Charles in the future and he’ll be remembered in that way, or maybe he really WILL come back; after all, Karl did say that it’s not over yet (concerning Townsen – or so I thought). In fact, that is the very reason that I like this comic so much – it’s a perfect balance between whimsical and serious. Karl spaces it out in a way where something makes you want to cry, and then the next week, there is something incredibly cute and adorable.
I feel like that Lion’s lines are directed more at us fans that at Charles. :’( *Moves on with a heavy heart*
LOL @ Greeneo:
You don’t know if Mr. Kerschl doesn’t have something planned for us later on in the future. There’s still hope that maybe A) Charles will realize you can’t just forget your friends that easily or B) Charles goes on with his quest which somehow leads him to Townsen’s resurrection in some mysterious way because the lion is an untrustworthy liar.
AYCHVEE: the LOST theorie might not be very far of, it might just be Camoron Stewart(Sin Titulo) who has influenced Karl in someway. Mr. Stewart is very fond of the LOST series and I belive he shares desks with our Karl. gaojo: No you’re not. I sence some mischief aswell.
As others have pointed out, the art is as always great.
Townsen =”little spirit” = manitou to assist CC in
the tasks ahead.
Manitou is a term used to designate the spirits among many Algonquian groups. It refers to the concept of one aspect of the interconnection and balance of nature/life, similar to the East Asian concept of qi; in simpler terms it can refer to a spirit. This spirit is seen as a (contactable) person as well as a concept. Everything has its own manitou—every plant, every stone and even machines. In the shamanistic traditions the manitous (or manidoog or manidoowag) are connected to achieve a desired effect, like plant manitous for healing or the buffalo manitou for a good hunt. In the Anishinaabeg tradition manidoowag are one aspect of the Great Connection. Related terms used by the Anishinaabeg are manidoowish for small animal manidoowag and manidoons for insects; both terms mean “little spirit”.
Honestly, I almost expected Karl to address this in an update later back. The sheer amount of speculation that Townsen would come back at one point was dramatic. But I suppose that just shows how great a job he’s done with TACC.
Excellent web comic. I’m a cartoonist as well and am very impressed by your art work and story line. I stumbled onto your site today and read through the entire story. I look forward to reading more! Good luck!
Just discovered your magnificent comic today; have read the entire thing in one sitting. It is without doubt the very best strip I’ve read for years. The moment a book is released, I’ll be buying. In the meantime, of course, I’ll be back here weekly…and sending a link to your site to everyone I know. :D
Even if the questionably-trustworthy Lion convinces Charles Christopher to cease following the feather trail to Townsen and head out on his vague ‘quest’, I’m pretty sure Charles isn’t going to stop keeping an eye out for our favorite little fox. The Lion hasn’t been known to speak plainly before…nothing is certain.
Incredible as always; Charles’ expressions do a magnificent job of conveying emotion in every panel. (I must admit mine definitely looked much the same as his in panel 3.)
Karl, I saw an image of your otter on one of my student’s computers and asked, “What’s that?” Now having read all of the strips I thought I’d contact you to say that you are doing beautiful work, I wish I would have been introduced to The Abominable Charles Christopher before the NYCC so I could have sought you out to tell you in person.
To those you who mourn the loss of our little fox friend Townsen, and don’t trust the lion, it wasn’t the lion who pointed the barrel of that rifle through the leaves. The lion warned us of the enemy.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Wow… this strip was in two places at once: the heavy nature of Charle’s task, and the whimsy that generally comes with any strip NOT involving Charles or Vivol.
~ Josh
January 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Haha I love the little otter in the last panel. The seriousness of the guardian lion in the beginning of the panel (which I found a little strange that he was offering his wise counsel from underwater…) is just relieved with the otter in the last. I love when you do that!
Plus “Are you quite well?” totally sounds british in my head.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Why? :(
January 28th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
::Sigh::
January 28th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I love how the otter leans back, nervous about what Charles might do…
Sarah, I totally agree about the “Are you quite well?” line!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Wise advice on mourning!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Aw, son of a BITCH.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I’m afraid that all the lovers of Townsend will view panel 3 with a heavy heart – and I would count myself in that throng .
Yet the advice is good – and there is still the quest that was laid on Charles . The sage continues . . . . . . . .
January 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Sigh. OK. Goodbye Townsend you will be missed you cute doggie you.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Dang. I liked Townsend. Reminded me of my little brother.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
WHY?? Why can he not be saved!!!
I do not like that lion!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I think we were all secretly hoping Townsend was somehow alright, this is most upsetting. Still I love Charles Christopher’s sincerity.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Am I the only one who gets deception vibes from mr. lion
January 28th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Karl, awesome comic amigo…love this every week.
Not convinced that Townsen is gone for good, or that he should “Move on”…I don’t trust Mr. Lion one bit…remember this? http://www.abominable.cc/2008/06/11/false-prophet/
January 28th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Lurker suddenly decides to comment:
I’ve been a big fan of this comic for quite some time. I needn’t really say anything, as my reasons for appreciation are likely obvious. (Beautiful, epic, story, great art, etc… you’ve probably heard it all.)
I’ve been faithfully following for quite some time now… but… I simply was spurred to comment on this latest appearance of the Lovecraftian Lion.
Plus to mention that I’m annoyed that Townsen appears to be gone for good now. My pessimism has finally convinced me of that! NO!!!
…
Yours faithfully, Mr. Kerschel, in possibly continuing silence,
Wolf Gunnison
January 28th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
This comic strip is like LOST.
I don’t know what’s going on, I’m in constant suspense, but I still tell all my friends that they don’t know what they’re missing.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I like the lion. Even in a completely absurd setting, he manages to have a sense of foreboding. It’s hard to do.
I like the bubbles rising off the water, too.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Makes me wonder quite what was in that water. :P
January 28th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
The Lion is lying Townsend is not dead!! I don’t trust a guy who’s head can explode into the night sky, he is just saying that to get Charles to do what he wants.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Holy cow, that’s terrifying.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
CHARLES! Don’t listen to the lion! I’m seriously counting on Townsend being salvaged. I just can’t take it when oh-so-lovable characters…well…die :/
But other than that, ah man, those crazy otters :)
January 28th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
TACC’s weakness is that he has a tender heart. IMO, he can’t afford to set that aside. It’s who he is.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. WANT TOWNSEND!
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Hahah…. I love that the speech bubbles have bubbles! Nice work as usual my friend!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
wooooo-oooh. Dude,what’s up with plot? This is aMaZINg!!
January 29th, 2009 at 12:49 am
I had been hanging around to see if Townsend would come back, but this seals it, you’ve lost a reader. There’s enough death and sadness elsewhere, I wasn’t looking for it in a cute comic with forrest animals.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:53 am
You know who that Lion reminds me of? The Goblin King in Labyrinth, played by none other than David Bowie!
There’s something very wrong here.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:08 am
Yeah, I think the lion had a hand (paw?) in Townsend’s demise
January 29th, 2009 at 1:50 am
Greeneo, I understand where you’re coming from, because everyone clearly loved Townsen. However, it’s a little silly to leave just because he’s gone. Maybe something he said or did will help Charles in the future and he’ll be remembered in that way, or maybe he really WILL come back; after all, Karl did say that it’s not over yet (concerning Townsen – or so I thought). In fact, that is the very reason that I like this comic so much – it’s a perfect balance between whimsical and serious. Karl spaces it out in a way where something makes you want to cry, and then the next week, there is something incredibly cute and adorable.
Don’t give up yet!
January 29th, 2009 at 1:50 am
While this is heavy news (though I am also of the thought that the lion’s words need to be weighed carefully), the otter is adorable. <3
January 29th, 2009 at 1:58 am
I feel like that Lion’s lines are directed more at us fans that at Charles. :’( *Moves on with a heavy heart*
LOL @ Greeneo:
You don’t know if Mr. Kerschl doesn’t have something planned for us later on in the future. There’s still hope that maybe A) Charles will realize you can’t just forget your friends that easily or B) Charles goes on with his quest which somehow leads him to Townsen’s resurrection in some mysterious way because the lion is an untrustworthy liar.
*Still retains some hope deep in her heart*
January 29th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Townsen?
*sniffle*
January 29th, 2009 at 3:18 am
His expression in the last panel is GOLD man!
January 29th, 2009 at 3:37 am
The use of ‘quite’ in the last panel is utterly butterly.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am
I keep on thinking that the Lion is going to pull a White Witch on us and try to sacrifice somebody.
Brrrrrrrrrr.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Screw you, Lion of Doom! Screw you! PS: Karl, loved the art, as always :)
January 29th, 2009 at 8:05 am
amazing, as always…
January 29th, 2009 at 8:46 am
AYCHVEE: the LOST theorie might not be very far of, it might just be Camoron Stewart(Sin Titulo) who has influenced Karl in someway. Mr. Stewart is very fond of the LOST series and I belive he shares desks with our Karl. gaojo: No you’re not. I sence some mischief aswell.
As others have pointed out, the art is as always great.
Your fan
Mr. Kibbs
January 29th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Oh. Oooooooh. I’m finally starting to “get it,” I hope. I think? Cool story!
January 29th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Don’t listen to him, Charles. You need Townsen. You can’t do it alone. I know it.
January 29th, 2009 at 11:41 am
So now he’s a Sea Lion too?
(yuk, yuk, yuk…) :)
January 29th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Townsen is still with us.
Townsen =”little spirit” = manitou to assist CC in
the tasks ahead.
Manitou is a term used to designate the spirits among many Algonquian groups. It refers to the concept of one aspect of the interconnection and balance of nature/life, similar to the East Asian concept of qi; in simpler terms it can refer to a spirit. This spirit is seen as a (contactable) person as well as a concept. Everything has its own manitou—every plant, every stone and even machines. In the shamanistic traditions the manitous (or manidoog or manidoowag) are connected to achieve a desired effect, like plant manitous for healing or the buffalo manitou for a good hunt. In the Anishinaabeg tradition manidoowag are one aspect of the Great Connection. Related terms used by the Anishinaabeg are manidoowish for small animal manidoowag and manidoons for insects; both terms mean “little spirit”.
January 29th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I like how Charles’ fur on his chest almost makes it looks like he’s carrying Townsend in the third panel. Not sure if that was intentional…
January 29th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
This Comic blows my mind and gets awesome all over my keyboard. Keep up the good work.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
In my head, the lion has the voice of Sir Ian McKellen.
January 29th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
lol perhaps he had too much fancy tasting water? haha. maybe theres a bad reason the water taste like apple :]
January 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Now CONTINUITY is what scares me! Is this strip actually going somewhere? Wow. Keep it up Karl!
January 30th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
The lion does sort of resemble the Great Old One, Cthulhu, of Lovecraft fame; Wolf is quite right about that. Cthulhu is also a deceiver and a liar.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I don’t trust that lion either…per a few comments that came in.
It’s sad that I trust the skunk from way back with his food marketing more than the lion.
January 30th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Honestly, I almost expected Karl to address this in an update later back. The sheer amount of speculation that Townsen would come back at one point was dramatic. But I suppose that just shows how great a job he’s done with TACC.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I know just how he feels. It always happens like that and in hindsight you always ask yourself, didn’t I just wonder why the water tastes like Lion?
January 30th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Yeah, I don’t trust the lion either, sending Charles off like a servant on an errand, instead of guiding a hero on his quest.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Excellent web comic. I’m a cartoonist as well and am very impressed by your art work and story line. I stumbled onto your site today and read through the entire story. I look forward to reading more! Good luck!
February 1st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
wow, this is an awesome comic strip. Something about it stirs up my emotion.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 am
Just discovered your magnificent comic today; have read the entire thing in one sitting. It is without doubt the very best strip I’ve read for years. The moment a book is released, I’ll be buying. In the meantime, of course, I’ll be back here weekly…and sending a link to your site to everyone I know. :D
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
please bring back the cutest character ever :(
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
It sure looks to me like that water’s been enhanced by something more pharmacologically exciting than peat and an aftertaste of apples.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Otter pee.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I did a fun edit of today’s strip. Long Live Otters!
http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv194/oktarb/2009-01-28_Edit.jpg
February 4th, 2009 at 12:48 am
What’s the use of saving the world if you can’t save your friends and loved ones?
February 4th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
woah everything about this strip reminds me of a Winsor McCay Little Nemo strip
February 8th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Even if the questionably-trustworthy Lion convinces Charles Christopher to cease following the feather trail to Townsen and head out on his vague ‘quest’, I’m pretty sure Charles isn’t going to stop keeping an eye out for our favorite little fox. The Lion hasn’t been known to speak plainly before…nothing is certain.
Incredible as always; Charles’ expressions do a magnificent job of conveying emotion in every panel. (I must admit mine definitely looked much the same as his in panel 3.)
Can’t wait for future Wednesday afternoons! ~小白狐
March 23rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Karl, I saw an image of your otter on one of my student’s computers and asked, “What’s that?” Now having read all of the strips I thought I’d contact you to say that you are doing beautiful work, I wish I would have been introduced to The Abominable Charles Christopher before the NYCC so I could have sought you out to tell you in person.
To those you who mourn the loss of our little fox friend Townsen, and don’t trust the lion, it wasn’t the lion who pointed the barrel of that rifle through the leaves. The lion warned us of the enemy.
March 1st, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Noooo! I don’t want Townsend to die!!! *cries*