Arc #55: The Trial in Heaven

Post by **Sleet** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:11 am

Pete looks so cute. Which is somewhat unsettling.

I don't know why I'm surprised Rick put this much thought into this.

Sinder · Post by **Sinder** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:13 am

Pete wrote:You realize that mortals don't experience time subjectively, right!?

wh... yes they do, you furret

Mon May 21, 2012 12:15 am

IceKitsune wrote:
RandomGeekNamedBrent wrote:
Is that Joan of Arc?
I thought that as well, but I kind of doubt it.

why do you doubt it? She claimed to hear God, maybe it was Pete messing with her.

Sleet wrote:Pete looks so cute. Which is somewhat unsettling.

agreed. Especially the one where he's crying. now I see his treating King badly as a way to distance himself from his possible future avatar so he doesn't get hurt if anything happens to him. now I'm sad.

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:16 am

Sleet wrote:Pete looks so cute. Which is somewhat unsettling.

I don't know why I'm surprised Rick put this much thought into this.

I agree with both of your first two sentences.

I have never seen Pete from this angle before! He's actually CRYING!

Makes me wonder if he's not really evil, just a jerk.

And did he want to give King power like Tarot's? O_O

And no, that is not Joan of Arc.

But yes, maybe Pete fell in love with a lower order being and so is trying not to get too close to any new avatars too.

Post by **rickgriffin** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:16 am

Sinder wrote:
Pete wrote:You realize that mortals don't experience time subjectively, right!?
wh... yes they do, you furret

Not so much when your meat body demands things at regular intervals

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:17 am

RandomGeekNamedBrent wrote:
IceKitsune wrote:
RandomGeekNamedBrent wrote:
Is that Joan of Arc?
I thought that as well, but I kind of doubt it.
why do you doubt it? She claimed to hear God, maybe it was Pete messing with her.

Then why wouldn't Rick just tag it as such? She is a well know Historical Figure so it would make sense to tag her.

Sinder · Post by **Sinder** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:18 am

rickgriffin wrote:Not so much when your meat body demands things at regular intervals

you have a meat body

Post by **Dissension** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:19 am

Sleet wrote:Pete looks so cute. Which is somewhat unsettling.

Pete's always been cute. Why do you find that unsettling?

Mon May 21, 2012 12:20 am

IceKitsune wrote:Then why wouldn't Rick just tag it as such? She is a well know Historical Figure so it would make sense to tag her.

I don't think Pete's avatar is an innocent bystander, meaning that she's not tagged at all.

ChewyChewy wrote:And no, that is not Joan of Arc.

I'd like to know how you know? does something in the comic contradict with her story? Is it obviously someone else to you? or do you just not think it's her?

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:22 am

Of course something in the comic contradicts with her story!

The cosmic nerds do not exist in the same world as Joan of Arc!

Sinder · Post by **Sinder** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:22 am

you're all wrong, it's the chick from Brave

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:23 am

Sinder wrote:you're all wrong, it's the chick from Brave

Now, that I might have accepted if it weren't for copyright infringement.

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:24 am

RandomGeekNamedBrent wrote:
IceKitsune wrote:Then why wouldn't Rick just tag it as such? She is a well know Historical Figure so it would make sense to tag her.
I don't think Pete's avatar is an innocent bystander, meaning that she's not tagged at all.

Ok but that doesn't make me wrong. I'm saying it would make sense to Tag her if it was Joan of Arc, and since he didn't do that it likely not her.

Post by **rickgriffin** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:25 am

She's Joan-of-Arc-ish, not necessarily THE Joan of Arc

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:26 am

rickgriffin wrote:She's Joan-of-Arc-ish, not necessarily THE Joan of Arc

All right then.

But this is really turning the comic topsy-turvy for me--in a good way.

Sinder · Post by **Sinder** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:26 am

wait a minute

so they're just playing Populous

that's all they're doing

so Tarot has to lug that giant cross around

copper · Post by **copper** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:33 am

Well this is an interesting development.

I love almost every pic of Pete here... they are all just so great!

Yeesh, what a punishment... I'd hate to be trapped as a mortal too.

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 1:09 am

I think I figured something out, when they started this new game they had to pick a blood line to follow to power up their Avatars (hence Pete saying it sometimes takes Generations to gain a lot of power). Peanut and Grape are Pete and Dragons Avatars for the normal game. Pete couldn't get Grape because he can't use his main Avatar for the Duel (which is why he was in the Temple in the first place, they had to start a new for the Duel.)

Mon May 21, 2012 2:33 am

rickgriffin wrote:She's Joan-of-Arc-ish, not necessarily THE Joan of Arc

glad I was able to at least identify your inspiration.

RootsofOrigin · Post by **RootsofOrigin** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:29 am

Key words:
Personal power(PP)- Do both parties start off with the same PP? Or is that unimportant since they're restricted to certain miracles?
Granted power(GP)- So I guess this explains Tarot's psychic powers, but did King ever receive GP while he was Pete's avatar?
Miracles- Such as?
Mana- How much has accumulated for Pete and Spirit Dragon?
Temple- Where is Spirit Dragon's temple? Or do they share the same one? I forget.
Followers- Where are Pete's followers? Where are Spirit Dragon's followers? How many do they have?
Some classes of avatars- Might be referring to dogs and cats.
Archdemons- Any relevance?
Goals- Did Pete and Spirit Dragon originally have the same goals, or were they arguing about the difference in them?
Duel- How does this play out? Are avatars required?
Gamers
Detached
Society
Nerd

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:40 am

Granted power(GP)- So I guess this explains Tarot's psychic powers, but did King ever receive GP while he was Pete's avatar?
King was never Pete's Avatar he never fully accepted it so no he didn't

Miracles- Such as?
Anything they wanted as long as they had the power I assume

Temple- Where is Spirit Dragon's temple? Or do they share the same one? I forget.
Its never been said either way

Followers- Where are Pete's followers? Where are Spirit Dragon's followers? How many do they have?
The woodland animals are most likely Pete's Followers Dragons I have no idea right now but I would hazard to guess Babylon Gardens its self maybe?

Some classes of avatars- Might be referring to dogs and cats.
Most likely

Archdemons- Any relevance?
They fight them and other demons and things (like that Frost Giant in We're Snowed In)

Goals- Did Pete and Spirit Dragon originally have the same goals, or were they arguing about the difference in them?
Yes they were on the same team but had a disagreement about how to reach those "Goals" and the duel started

Duel- How does this play out? Are avatars required?
Since Pete has to get an Avatar I would assume so and we have no idea how its actually played yet

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:46 am

Miracles like in the second image: Pete giving free food.

What got me interested about the Granted power though is that Pete makes it sound like the Avatar could possibly do things better than miracles. Could that mean Tarot could beat Pete if she got enough power?

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 5:53 am

GameCobra wrote:Miracles like in the second image: Pete giving free food.

What got me interested about the Granted power though is that Pete makes it sound like the Avatar could possibly do things better than miracles. Could that mean Tarot could beat Pete if she got enough power?

Actually to me it sounds like hes saying that being an Avatar grants them more power then just asking for power would. Like if someone was an Avatar and another person wish for a miracle to have god like powers the person who was an Avatar would always have more power then just wishing for it.

RootsofOrigin · Post by **RootsofOrigin** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:00 am

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Granted power(GP)- So I guess this explains Tarot's psychic powers, but did King ever receive GP while he was Pete's avatar?
King was never Pete's Avatar he never fully accepted it so no he didn't

I thought King was Pete's avatar, regardless of whether or not he claimed him fairly.

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Temple- Where is Spirit Dragon's temple? Or do they share the same one? I forget.
Its never been said either way

It's just that Pete is saying "the temple" and "our temple"

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Followers- Where are Pete's followers? Where are Spirit Dragon's followers? How many do they have?
The woodland animals are most likely Pete's Followers Dragons I have no idea right now but I would hazard to guess Babylon Gardens its self maybe?

If they share the same temple, then wouldn't that mean the woodland animals are Pete and Spirit Dragon's followers?

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Duel- How does this play out? Are avatars required?
Since Pete has to get an Avatar I would assume so and we have no idea how its actually played yet

So is their new game about the duel?

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:26 am

RootsofOrigin wrote:
IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Granted power(GP)- So I guess this explains Tarot's psychic powers, but did King ever receive GP while he was Pete's avatar?
King was never Pete's Avatar he never fully accepted it so no he didn't
I thought King was Pete's avatar, regardless of whether or not he claimed him fairly.

No as I understand it he needed to accept completely and he never did.

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Temple- Where is Spirit Dragon's temple? Or do they share the same one? I forget.
Its never been said either way

RootsofOrigin wrote:It's just that Pete is saying "the temple" and "our temple"

I don't remember him saying "our temple" before

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Followers- Where are Pete's followers? Where are Spirit Dragon's followers? How many do they have?
The woodland animals are most likely Pete's Followers Dragons I have no idea right now but I would hazard to guess Babylon Gardens its self maybe?

RootsofOrigin wrote:If they share the same temple, then wouldn't that mean the woodland animals are Pete and Spirit Dragon's followers?

If they do then sure they most likely share the same followers

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:Duel- How does this play out? Are avatars required?
Since Pete has to get an Avatar I would assume so and we have no idea how its actually played yet

RootsofOrigin wrote:So is their new game about the duel?

They are playing the duel right now (and have been since Pete first showed up) when that is over they will go back to the real U&U game.

RootsofOrigin · Post by **RootsofOrigin** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:35 am

IceKitsune wrote:
RootsofOrigin wrote:It's just that Pete is saying "the temple" and "our temple"
I don't remember him saying "our temple" before

Pete says this during his talk about PP and mana in the second panel. Also during Dog Days of Summer

Liam · Post by **Liam** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:44 am

I liked this comic more when it was about talking pets that live in houses.

GameCobra wrote:Miracles like in the second image: Pete giving free food.

Looks more like clothes.

And turds.

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:48 am

Liam wrote:Looks more like clothes.

And turds.

You know, I don't know how I miss this stuff at times. It boggles me. @_@ But then again, some of it looked like chicken at first glimpse.

Also, I'm pretty certain Pete won that duel already, judging how the Spirit Dragon is practically living in Tarot's body from the looks of things.

RootsofOrigin · Post by **RootsofOrigin** » Mon May 21, 2012 6:52 am

GameCobra wrote:Also, I'm pretty certain Pete won that duel already, judging how the Spirit Dragon is practically living in Tarot's body from the looks of things.

She's not locked in the body.

kavviyenta · Post by **kavviyenta** » Mon May 21, 2012 7:36 am

Not so important, but in the first and second panel, Pete's hind legs are portrayed differently than the standard design that Rick normally use. Can that apply to housepets?

EvanAierkan · Post by **EvanAierkan** » Mon May 21, 2012 8:16 am

GameCobra wrote: judging how the Spirit Dragon is practically living in Tarot's body from the looks of things.

I think she just does that to stalk Peanut. If she were locked, she wouldn't appear in her true form.

justacritic · Post by **justacritic** » Mon May 21, 2012 8:30 am

ChewyChewy wrote: Makes me wonder if he's not really evil, just a jerk.

(

There's a razor for that "Do not attribute to malice what can clearly be given to stupidity" or jerkishness.

copper · Post by **copper** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:03 am

I think the meaning of Granted Power and avatars is that, like Pete said, the Cosmic Nerds are limited in the miracles they can perform, but Avatars are not bound to such restrictions, since the Nerds are not allowed to directly interfere with mortals. They use the given powers however they want, feeding off the Mana stored in the temple. *shrugs* My opinion anyway.

angelusbr · Post by **angelusbr** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:09 am

Liam wrote:I liked this comic more when it was about talking pets that live in houses.

I loike this comic more because it has more fantasy now.

ChewyChewy · Post by **ChewyChewy** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:11 am

angelusbr wrote:
Liam wrote:I liked this comic more when it was about talking pets that live in houses.

I loike this comic more because it has more fantasy now.

I like this comic because it's generated such controversy already between those who want it to stay the way it originally was and those who prefer the new developments.

Post by **Sleet** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:45 am

As long as it's funny and there's cute critters I'm cool with it.

GameCobra · Post by **GameCobra** » Mon May 21, 2012 11:53 am

copper wrote:I think the meaning of Granted Power and avatars is that, like Pete said, the Cosmic Nerds are limited in the miracles they can perform, but Avatars are not bound to such restrictions, since the Nerds are not allowed to directly interfere with mortals. They use the given powers however they want, feeding off the Mana stored in the temple. *shrugs* My opinion anyway.

This is what I'm referring to as well, but here's what I'm trying to throw in myself:

Say Pete caused a flood in the neighbourhood. Tarot found out. Tarot had requests before to stop the flood, and worked, and to punish Pete for his wrongdoings. Unfortunately, she lacks the requirements given to her by the cosmic beings. The punishment for example is that she could be given Game Master-like abilities like the Great Kitsune and be able to jail Pete or remove him from the game for certain periods of time or steal some of his mana if he doesn't have a avatar himself. Basically, she could become a game-breaking avatar if Pete ain't careful.

Also, i love this comic because of the romance and humorous pet meets human and human meets pet scenarios. I also like the cosmic plots since it's an enjoyable behind-the-scenes look of the scene.

Post by **rickgriffin** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:10 pm

Liam wrote:I liked this comic more when it was about talking pets that live in houses.

GameCobra wrote:Miracles like in the second image: Pete giving free food.
Looks more like clothes.

And turds.

You say hurtful things

Post by **Dissension** » Mon May 21, 2012 12:24 pm

It's okay, Rick, I don't find your drawings reminiscent of feces.

IceKitsune · Post by **IceKitsune** » Mon May 21, 2012 1:13 pm

I was just thinking if I am right about Peanut and Grape being Dragon and Pete's bloodline/generational Avatars thing are we going to end up seeing Peanut and Grape fighting Demons and stuff? Part of me is like that is really cool, but then another part of me just keeps thinking there is no way Rick could keep the comedy going at that point. You really can't make stuff like that funny unless you go the whole black comedy route, or go so over the top and bizarre that it would never feel like any kind of threat at all.

This is the one thing that keeps me thinking I'm most like just wrong, however if they are generational Avatars then a lot of things make sense: Pete calling them "The Cat and The Dog", Grapes ability to fight off a full grown human with a shotgun as a kitten,Peanut being able to read at superhuman speeds, ect.