You know, going through the whole plot again with this context in mind, I can’t help but think The Ringmaster either wasn’t very good at his job. Or that a lot of his moves were pulled specifically to spite Burke.
Don’t get me wrong, he made two very competent assets — Echo and The Captain — but after ten years of prep and a ground game set for him by Burke he failed to recruit McBell, exposed and lost Platt, lost three ‘generals’, lost one of his moles, his office and then himself in the space of what, a month or two?
Even if Echo carries on the work — and I don’t think she will — ‘useless’ seems an apt descriptor.
general gist of the last few pages is that the whole Shadow Circus incident was a result of the Mayor and Ringmaster playing a sort of game against one another. The mayor is the only surviving contestant so to speak, and as such is trying to use the power vacuum to his advantage. It’s not working that well but he probably has some evil plan cooking.
It would have been funny if Burke had gotten voted out of office for some mundane reason while Gilborn was still doing his ten years of prep work.
(Honestly, I suspect the narrative got backed into a corner where there was never going to be a satisfying way to explain why the Shadow Circus took ten full years to build up its forces. If so, giving a brief pseudo-explanation and then moving on as quickly as possible is probably the right move.)
Honestly, it could still be a fitting end. Burke just… Loses the next election and gets fired. Double points if it’s because the Shadow Circus and the police militarization ends up tanking his approval ratings.
And *then* all the scandals come out and Burke gets a pie in the face and launched into jail in an oversized comedy confetti cannon, like a human cannonball.
What do you mean by “from the start”? He could have been recruited at any point in the last ten years.
I do think that he was recruited before the start of the comic, i.e. before McBell tried to rob that casino. Is that what you meant? But even in that case, I made my assumption before this flashback started, and I don’t think the flashback did much to confirm it.
I’m pretty sure he was referring to Platt Sr. You know, his biggest donor, who sold weapons out of the basement of his peanut factory? We have no evidence that Burke even knows Doc exists.
You know, going through the whole plot again with this context in mind, I can’t help but think The Ringmaster either wasn’t very good at his job. Or that a lot of his moves were pulled specifically to spite Burke.
Don’t get me wrong, he made two very competent assets — Echo and The Captain — but after ten years of prep and a ground game set for him by Burke he failed to recruit McBell, exposed and lost Platt, lost three ‘generals’, lost one of his moles, his office and then himself in the space of what, a month or two?
Even if Echo carries on the work — and I don’t think she will — ‘useless’ seems an apt descriptor.
I assume that name means you are a fan of Kill 6 Billion Demons?
I think it’s actually a reference to Ursula Vernon’s “Digger”.
It’s both, actually (plus a third one)! Nicely spotted both of you.
HHGG’s ultimate answer to the ultimate question being the third?
I think it was more like five months, but yeah.
That’s not at all surprising – there’s too many moving pieces to make a plan around, moreso when they have/gain free will.
And men like Burke only see pawns, not people.
I officially have no idea what’s going on anymore
general gist of the last few pages is that the whole Shadow Circus incident was a result of the Mayor and Ringmaster playing a sort of game against one another. The mayor is the only surviving contestant so to speak, and as such is trying to use the power vacuum to his advantage. It’s not working that well but he probably has some evil plan cooking.
It would have been funny if Burke had gotten voted out of office for some mundane reason while Gilborn was still doing his ten years of prep work.
(Honestly, I suspect the narrative got backed into a corner where there was never going to be a satisfying way to explain why the Shadow Circus took ten full years to build up its forces. If so, giving a brief pseudo-explanation and then moving on as quickly as possible is probably the right move.)
Also, I really like Burke’s fantasies about himself. A+, no notes.
Honestly, it could still be a fitting end. Burke just… Loses the next election and gets fired. Double points if it’s because the Shadow Circus and the police militarization ends up tanking his approval ratings.
And *then* all the scandals come out and Burke gets a pie in the face and launched into jail in an oversized comedy confetti cannon, like a human cannonball.
Alt text:
Gus spent ten years preparing then lost after a few months because he wanted big muscles. Burke was confident but jeez
This is much too close for comfort, tbh…
Gus really didn’t have a whole lot, it seems.
the reveal of Burke having mogged Gilborn is really good. First I clown corp’d.. And then I serious corp’d…
He really underestimated confetti
So……Doc was in on it from the start.
What do you mean by “from the start”? He could have been recruited at any point in the last ten years.
I do think that he was recruited before the start of the comic, i.e. before McBell tried to rob that casino. Is that what you meant? But even in that case, I made my assumption before this flashback started, and I don’t think the flashback did much to confirm it.
Doc is Burke’s weapons guy. So he was definitely in on it from the start.
I’m pretty sure he was referring to Platt Sr. You know, his biggest donor, who sold weapons out of the basement of his peanut factory? We have no evidence that Burke even knows Doc exists.
It’s a neat idea, but I feel like this reveal has fallen really short for how easily he was defeated.
Well there’s still Echo so it ain’t over yet.
Who said he was defeated? Sure, it’s a big setback, but he could always change tactics…