Ohhh fuck. Fuck this evil moid! 😡 What a disgraceful waste of oxygen 🙁 ugh, only thinking for a moment now this girl’s poor mom feels right now…how utterly heartbreaking. Poor mom, poor Shez 🙁
Y’know, just this past week I actually suffered a domestic violence assault (not trying to make it about me or anything, it just adds more relevancy to my thoughts -) but I’m already psychologically and emotionally turned upside down, and am also having to move to a shelter rather quickly. I have some support from family and some great social workers, however; and no children to worry about – and the man is in custody for now.
And I cannot IMAGINE how awful it would be going through this while being so alone and trapped like this woman is – dependant on the abuser and isolated by him; and all alone with no family, in a country you’re not native to; and with three goddamn children to worry about… two of which are quite young!
Absolute nightmare fuel. Gods, women are so strong. And yet, we shouldn’t ever have to be so strong through such things as these.
I am so sorry that happened to you – please don’t apologise at all. Very glad to hear you do have some people on your side looking out for you 🩷 ANd yes, god thank goodness you dont have any children tying you to him. God 😔
Feel free to keep us posted about it too.
( Hope the man stays behind bars for good and rots there )
Wishing you all the best, I hope you’ll be free of that man forever and will get to build yourself a life you’ll be happy with. So glad you have people looking out for you.
I expected something like that, but it’s still a gut-punch. Poor Shez. Poor Meriam. They must both feel even more hopeless now, and both like they failed to protect each other. And both of them are pretty badly bruised, so clearly it wasn’t “just” that one hit either.
What I find really concerning is that little Shez isn’t in the hospital, she needs to be looked at properly especially if she potentially just lost her sight, now I just clocked Meriam might not be able to drive… What a horrible situation for the both of them
Oh, shit, I totally missed that she is not in the hospital over how heartbreaking this page is. Of course that waste of air wouldn’t take her to a hospital – to people, who’ll start asking questions and wouldn’t be intimidated into silence.
I knew this was coming, but it stills makes me just so angry! – just what the fuck must be so utterly wrong in someone’s brain to seriously swing at a kid is just beyont my comprehension.
Insight like yours is a great example of how reading the comments really enhances the story. I would not be cognizant of how Meriam likely cannot drive away to get Shez to a hospital or tbh to do ANYTHING be it bc she doesnt know how to drive or he deliberately never lends his car, had you not pointed it out. Thank You
(Yeah I knew what was coming but I’m a hopeful woman okay 😔🍯) poor baby 😭😭 I can’t wait to see how they escaped this horrible situation, good job for making me feel so tense !!
If Chris ends up being unpunished I will personally invade this story and kill him myself 🔪👊🏾🔥
Jesus, this is dark. Poor little Shez, and holy crap, Meriam…
I REALLY hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but seeing that Meriam was obviously hurt (more than the initial strike, at least) protecting Shez, and is there immediately after providing care for her, does provide a bit of comfort in an otherwise utterly bleak part of the story. In the most awful possible way, it shows that she did her best to protect her child, and even if she failed at least she tried.
Fixing damaged eyes is something that doctors are generally pretty good at, so when I saw Shez’s seemingly-blind eye I wondered what’d happened, but I feel this answers it – it seems Shez didn’t get appropriate medical care in time because that would’ve led to Chris being asked some tough questions. Oof.
I totally understand what your saying. At the very *least* Meriam still sided with her daughter.
And yes, re: eye. You’re spot on. I’ve known this is how Shez damaged her eye since CH5. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to for me to add more visible damage (making it clouded and white), especially because she was unable to receive medical attention.
Thank you for sticking with it, totally understand this is a very dark turn in writing that isn’t for everyone. Without spoiling, know I’ve brought you all this low, to later raise you up high.❤️
Yeah 🙁 I don’t want to make it about me, and I don’t want to judge women who were harmed by misogyny too much, but I’m afraid my grandmother did nothing to protect her (very small) children from her violent husband.
They said that he was never (to their knowledge) violent to her, but he was viciously brutal to them. Obviously she didn’t act out of fear and lack of help for women during that time period. But ultimately you can make excuses for her all day – her inaction and her allowing her defenseless children to be brutalized unfortunately was a defining part of her as a mother and a person. I’m just grateful the cycle of abuse stopped there but it could easily have continued.
Although the result ended up being sadly realistic in that they both just ended up hurt more, seeing Shez stand up for her mother and her mother reciprocating and standing up for Shez is… cathartic, in a really sad way. It’s a tough thing to depict and I’m grateful you went there. Definitely looking forward to things picking up again of course, but I’m glad that the comic goes places like this.
rustyhearts
You’re totally welcome to share your experiences. Art is intented to evoke emotional responses and make you think, so it’s perfectly natural to relate it to things you’ve experienced in your own life.
I understand your conflicted feelings abour your grandmother. Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn are not responses we can control, but at the same time, to take no action is to side with the person/group causing harm.
You can definitely expect to see more of Shez and Meriam’s devotion to eachother (with more positive outcomes) in the future.
It hurts to see her hurt like this, especially at the hands of this selfish, evil man. Even though I should have expected it, it hurts.
I’m also hurting for Meriam. That’s more than one bruise on her – did Chris punish her for Shez taking a swing? She’s completely isolated with him, and Shez still has one more sister after Crystal and Karissa, so I’m guessing she can’t leave, no matter how much she wants to.
I REALLY hope Chris does not bring out the ~flowers~ and ~gifts~ and ~showy apologies~ to manipulate Meriam into thinking he’s sorry. He’s lied to her enough.
Though, I wonder if he will go the other way, pretending it never happened and intimidating Meriam, Shez, Crystal, and Karissa into pretending with him.
This got harder for me to read now that I know Chris was hurting Shez too. If I didn’t know Shez had saved her family from this man, I probably would be sitting this one out.
(I hope it’s okay to talk about this?) My own father did not raise a hand to my mother – well, he stopped that after I was born – but he would hurt me when I was a young kid. He liked to pretend everything was normal after an incident and get angry if anyone brought it up, because it was our fault for acting in a way that made him respond with violence.
I hope Shez and her mother and her sisters never internalized this as “normal” or “deserved.”
One of your guesses is entirely correct re: Chris’s behaviour after this event. And I will say, for your peace of mind of you wish to continue reading this chapter (completely understand if you don’t want to), that this is the last time Chris raises a hand without consequence.
Thank you for trusting us here with such painful, vulnerable memories. I’m so sorry your accurate predictions have come from firsthand experience. You did not deserve to be abused (no woman or girl does). I sincerely hope you and your mother are in a safe place away from him now.
Re: the story again. Small win, Crystal and Karissa did not witness what happened here. More generally, I know I’ve taken you gyns very, very low here, but know its so I can raise you high later in the chapter 🩷
Bruuuhhh these pages are ROUGH. I know Shez and Miriam and the three sisters are gonna make it outta this but god DAMN. Also as awful as it sounds to say: you did really good on the bruises here ;o;
Thank you – for both things honestly 😅 I’m well aware this is a very deep, dark turn for the story to take. But as I’ve said in a few other comments, know that it is with the intention of raising you all up later in the chapter.
I have never commented before because I don’t feel like it’s an appropriate or necessary thing to do – I’m someone who would probably be considered a “gendie” and I check in on this comic regularly for access to a perspective I fundamentally disagree with.
I’m breaking my longstanding rule here to say that the Shez backstory arc so far has been heartbreaking and so well done. I can feel the empathy behind each page and your use of color is lovely, and I’m genuinely impressed by how much thought you’ve put into this character since the comic began and how much your art has improved over time.
I also think it’s incredibly kind how forthcoming you’ve been with plot spoilers to help readers prepare for/avoid potentially upsetting subject matter.
In conclusion: fuck Chris!! I can’t wait to see Shez and her mother and sisters thriving and out of harm’s way.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I respect that you’re willing to engage with media you disagree with on such a deep level – I think that’s healthy. No better way to “know your enemy” imo!
I hope you continue to enjoy this chapter. I’m incredibly proud of this backstory portion in particular and feel I’ve grown a lot as an artist and story-teller by working on it.
Hi there, I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I just wanted to second what Rusty said. I think it’s very cool of you to want to understand the opposing side even if you don’t agree. I do the same thing myself.
It’s better to understand what your opponent is actually saying in order to argue against them. I know it’s probably uncomfortable for you at times and I think it’s cool for you to soldier on, even if you’re someone I’d likely disagree with. I also think it’s cool that even if you don’t like the position or politics, you can still find beauty and good points in the art, and be invested in the story enough to have an emotional reaction like this.
This is also something I try to do myself. Anyway, I’m not gonna try to convert you or anything, I just wanted to say I think that this is genuinely admirable on your part, gendie or not, and I wish more folks were like this. Cheers!
This just makes it so much worse knowing that Shez has yet another sister coming after this 😟 I’m hoping that Chris is either dead or out of the picture before the next sister is born though.
I’m just so glad for Shez and all her sisters that at least they’re all girls, so none of them have to suffer from having a brother who’s been influenced by a violent misogynistic father. Sibling abuse is so much more common and more serious than people think.
My father was out of the picture from when I was pretty young, but my brother had been influenced enough by his violence and misogyny that I spent my teen years covered in bruises from my brother.
I hope you’ve been able to get away from your brother permanently ❤️
I figured the one saving grace I could give Meriam was no sons, 😔 We already saw how Jacob turned out, and that was a family dynamic WITHOUT any violent males in it.
Ough, I havent been able to catch up until now due to work and studying (junior in hs and doing duel enrollment in college) and just…
Rusty I adore your storytelling and that these past few pages have HURT- I agree with every gyn here that we should hunt down Chris but knowing how the real world works, moids like this usually get off scott free (Source: My mom had to deal abuse from my sperm doner and even after they divorced she got harassed and my sperm doner got no repercussions)
I also agree with others saying that at least Shez and her sisters have no male siblings- my older brother definitely was there for the worst of our moms abuse and uses it against her and me when hes home from college despite whining that he was also affected (Even tho the most my sperm doner did to him was to tell him to stop being a lazy fuck)- so yes. ALL men, even if they say otherwise.
(Also beautiful work on these past few pages! And congrats on finally gaining financial support for LB! Once i get my next paycheck I’m definitely throwing you a 10 or 15 for keeping up this wonderful comic,, also if I was there in Shez’s class I would already be in tears with her telling her story)
Welcome back to the comment section, always lovely to see you Miss Cath🥰 Hope your 2nd last year is going well (I forget your school years start in September. Very crazy wild 😅).
Hoping repercussions find Mr. Sperm Donor in the form of a semi-truck 🥰🚚
Thank you for even considering giving LB financial support. You are very kind 🩷🩷
I want to steal Chris’s car and first of all, drive Shez’s family away from Chris and towards medical care.
And after they’ve found a place to stay for the time, come back, find Chris, and his car can give him a nice shove that will send him flying
Long-time reader, first-time commenter. This arc is heart-breaking and as a fellow artist, I appreciated the way you drew Meriam’s expression. It’s clear she’s experiencing so much guilt and regret for this encounter when it’s not her fault at all, and likely hating herself for being unable to protect her daughter and get her to a hospital.
I’m glad for the increased frequency of your update schedule, I’ve been following very closely. Hoping for a swift and violent end for this nasty moid.
Long time ago, when you mentioned there’d be an actual explanation of Shez scar, i thought it was gonna be a result of her job as a bouncer, a burglary at her home or some other kind of encounter with random entitled abusive men (cause you know how bold they can get in groups), you know?? But now that we got to this point, looking back i’m glad you didnt choose that route cause this one hits harder and is more cathartic. Childhood experiences can have great impacts in our future routes and this narrative weaves a wider net as it involves her mom and sisters, not just her.
Now THIS is “gritty realism” in terms of portraying abuse. A lot of the time in media violence is oddly glamorized, it has this feeling of emphasizing how SHOCKING it was this woman got hit, or worst of all it can be shown as Sexy or sexualized in some way. I often think there is some kind of sadistic delight in men portraying violence against women. Like they like it, like it is Fun for them in some way to show off a woman or girl being harmed.
Meriam’s face though? That is Raw, that is Real. It’s about the Impact that the abuse has on those who suffered from it. Focusing on the act of the woman getting hit honestly seems to be servicing the abuser sometimes. Look how strong he is, look at his power display. But instead showing the way it effects Meri and Shez feels much more focused on their perspectives. Showing Chris hitting either of them would just be letting Chris Show Off in some ways. I’m sure there are men who see scenes of men being brutal and think “what a cool guy he is”. ew ew ew.
On an artistic level, Meriam’s face is Art Goals. The level of wrenching agony you’ve portrayed here is such vivid intense artistic talent. I cannot see a single way you would visually make her look more in pain then that. And the ANGLE of her face. That is not an angle I can see myself drawing personally HA. You’ve nailed the placement of her facial features and just. Everything there absolutely phenomenal. The use of shadows. just geezums Rusty. Incredible artwork. Also in staring at her face in pure artistic admiration I can’t help but think also “wow great foreshortening on the arm too”.
43 thoughts on “CH12P10”
wool
I will get his ass for you Shez
anonymoo
Hope Chris dies painfully.
Lilith_Winged
Ohhh fuck. Fuck this evil moid! 😡 What a disgraceful waste of oxygen 🙁 ugh, only thinking for a moment now this girl’s poor mom feels right now…how utterly heartbreaking. Poor mom, poor Shez 🙁
Y’know, just this past week I actually suffered a domestic violence assault (not trying to make it about me or anything, it just adds more relevancy to my thoughts -) but I’m already psychologically and emotionally turned upside down, and am also having to move to a shelter rather quickly. I have some support from family and some great social workers, however; and no children to worry about – and the man is in custody for now.
And I cannot IMAGINE how awful it would be going through this while being so alone and trapped like this woman is – dependant on the abuser and isolated by him; and all alone with no family, in a country you’re not native to; and with three goddamn children to worry about… two of which are quite young!
Absolute nightmare fuel. Gods, women are so strong. And yet, we shouldn’t ever have to be so strong through such things as these.
rustyhearts
I am so sorry that happened to you – please don’t apologise at all. Very glad to hear you do have some people on your side looking out for you 🩷 ANd yes, god thank goodness you dont have any children tying you to him. God 😔
Feel free to keep us posted about it too.
( Hope the man stays behind bars for good and rots there )
K
Wishing you all the best, I hope you’ll be free of that man forever and will get to build yourself a life you’ll be happy with. So glad you have people looking out for you.
K
I expected something like that, but it’s still a gut-punch. Poor Shez. Poor Meriam. They must both feel even more hopeless now, and both like they failed to protect each other. And both of them are pretty badly bruised, so clearly it wasn’t “just” that one hit either.
Charly
What I find really concerning is that little Shez isn’t in the hospital, she needs to be looked at properly especially if she potentially just lost her sight, now I just clocked Meriam might not be able to drive… What a horrible situation for the both of them
rustyhearts
Very, very well spotted 🙁
Tyto
Oh, shit, I totally missed that she is not in the hospital over how heartbreaking this page is. Of course that waste of air wouldn’t take her to a hospital – to people, who’ll start asking questions and wouldn’t be intimidated into silence.
I knew this was coming, but it stills makes me just so angry! – just what the fuck must be so utterly wrong in someone’s brain to seriously swing at a kid is just beyont my comprehension.
SBD
Insight like yours is a great example of how reading the comments really enhances the story. I would not be cognizant of how Meriam likely cannot drive away to get Shez to a hospital or tbh to do ANYTHING be it bc she doesnt know how to drive or he deliberately never lends his car, had you not pointed it out. Thank You
Jaden's lover you know the one
(Yeah I knew what was coming but I’m a hopeful woman okay 😔🍯) poor baby 😭😭 I can’t wait to see how they escaped this horrible situation, good job for making me feel so tense !!
If Chris ends up being unpunished I will personally invade this story and kill him myself 🔪👊🏾🔥
ada
The bruise marks 😭😭😭
And then he got hit by a car and lived just long enough for his organs to be donated to a bunch of women who needed them right Rusty????.
rustyhearts
Mary
That hand print is just…
Parniya’s biggest fan
A CHILD?? 😢
rustyhearts
A man can’t allow a 12 year old girl to “””””emasculate””””””” him.
TifHater
The marks on Meriam’s arms is totally from Chris holding her back from defending her child
rustyhearts
It is absolutely Chris’ hand
Normal person
Jesus, this is dark. Poor little Shez, and holy crap, Meriam…
I REALLY hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but seeing that Meriam was obviously hurt (more than the initial strike, at least) protecting Shez, and is there immediately after providing care for her, does provide a bit of comfort in an otherwise utterly bleak part of the story. In the most awful possible way, it shows that she did her best to protect her child, and even if she failed at least she tried.
Fixing damaged eyes is something that doctors are generally pretty good at, so when I saw Shez’s seemingly-blind eye I wondered what’d happened, but I feel this answers it – it seems Shez didn’t get appropriate medical care in time because that would’ve led to Chris being asked some tough questions. Oof.
rustyhearts
I totally understand what your saying. At the very *least* Meriam still sided with her daughter.
And yes, re: eye. You’re spot on. I’ve known this is how Shez damaged her eye since CH5. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to for me to add more visible damage (making it clouded and white), especially because she was unable to receive medical attention.
Thank you for sticking with it, totally understand this is a very dark turn in writing that isn’t for everyone. Without spoiling, know I’ve brought you all this low, to later raise you up high.❤️
Normal person
Yeah 🙁 I don’t want to make it about me, and I don’t want to judge women who were harmed by misogyny too much, but I’m afraid my grandmother did nothing to protect her (very small) children from her violent husband.
They said that he was never (to their knowledge) violent to her, but he was viciously brutal to them. Obviously she didn’t act out of fear and lack of help for women during that time period. But ultimately you can make excuses for her all day – her inaction and her allowing her defenseless children to be brutalized unfortunately was a defining part of her as a mother and a person. I’m just grateful the cycle of abuse stopped there but it could easily have continued.
Although the result ended up being sadly realistic in that they both just ended up hurt more, seeing Shez stand up for her mother and her mother reciprocating and standing up for Shez is… cathartic, in a really sad way. It’s a tough thing to depict and I’m grateful you went there. Definitely looking forward to things picking up again of course, but I’m glad that the comic goes places like this.
rustyhearts
You’re totally welcome to share your experiences. Art is intented to evoke emotional responses and make you think, so it’s perfectly natural to relate it to things you’ve experienced in your own life.
I understand your conflicted feelings abour your grandmother. Fight/Flight/Freeze/Fawn are not responses we can control, but at the same time, to take no action is to side with the person/group causing harm.
You can definitely expect to see more of Shez and Meriam’s devotion to eachother (with more positive outcomes) in the future.
Blais (traumadumping)
It hurts to see her hurt like this, especially at the hands of this selfish, evil man. Even though I should have expected it, it hurts.
I’m also hurting for Meriam. That’s more than one bruise on her – did Chris punish her for Shez taking a swing? She’s completely isolated with him, and Shez still has one more sister after Crystal and Karissa, so I’m guessing she can’t leave, no matter how much she wants to.
I REALLY hope Chris does not bring out the ~flowers~ and ~gifts~ and ~showy apologies~ to manipulate Meriam into thinking he’s sorry. He’s lied to her enough.
Though, I wonder if he will go the other way, pretending it never happened and intimidating Meriam, Shez, Crystal, and Karissa into pretending with him.
This got harder for me to read now that I know Chris was hurting Shez too. If I didn’t know Shez had saved her family from this man, I probably would be sitting this one out.
(I hope it’s okay to talk about this?) My own father did not raise a hand to my mother – well, he stopped that after I was born – but he would hurt me when I was a young kid. He liked to pretend everything was normal after an incident and get angry if anyone brought it up, because it was our fault for acting in a way that made him respond with violence.
I hope Shez and her mother and her sisters never internalized this as “normal” or “deserved.”
rustyhearts
(Spoiler-ish reply ahead)
One of your guesses is entirely correct re: Chris’s behaviour after this event. And I will say, for your peace of mind of you wish to continue reading this chapter (completely understand if you don’t want to), that this is the last time Chris raises a hand without consequence.
Thank you for trusting us here with such painful, vulnerable memories. I’m so sorry your accurate predictions have come from firsthand experience. You did not deserve to be abused (no woman or girl does). I sincerely hope you and your mother are in a safe place away from him now.
Re: the story again. Small win, Crystal and Karissa did not witness what happened here. More generally, I know I’ve taken you gyns very, very low here, but know its so I can raise you high later in the chapter 🩷
Crypty
Bruuuhhh these pages are ROUGH. I know Shez and Miriam and the three sisters are gonna make it outta this but god DAMN. Also as awful as it sounds to say: you did really good on the bruises here ;o;
rustyhearts
Thank you – for both things honestly 😅 I’m well aware this is a very deep, dark turn for the story to take. But as I’ve said in a few other comments, know that it is with the intention of raising you all up later in the chapter.
There will be justice and catharsis.
I hate men
So is this why Shez has her scar and her right eye looks blind? 🙁
rustyhearts
Indeed 😔
Briefly Unlurking
I have never commented before because I don’t feel like it’s an appropriate or necessary thing to do – I’m someone who would probably be considered a “gendie” and I check in on this comic regularly for access to a perspective I fundamentally disagree with.
I’m breaking my longstanding rule here to say that the Shez backstory arc so far has been heartbreaking and so well done. I can feel the empathy behind each page and your use of color is lovely, and I’m genuinely impressed by how much thought you’ve put into this character since the comic began and how much your art has improved over time.
I also think it’s incredibly kind how forthcoming you’ve been with plot spoilers to help readers prepare for/avoid potentially upsetting subject matter.
In conclusion: fuck Chris!! I can’t wait to see Shez and her mother and sisters thriving and out of harm’s way.
rustyhearts
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. I respect that you’re willing to engage with media you disagree with on such a deep level – I think that’s healthy. No better way to “know your enemy” imo!
I hope you continue to enjoy this chapter. I’m incredibly proud of this backstory portion in particular and feel I’ve grown a lot as an artist and story-teller by working on it.
Happy reading.
TifHater
Hi there, I don’t know if you’ll see this, but I just wanted to second what Rusty said. I think it’s very cool of you to want to understand the opposing side even if you don’t agree. I do the same thing myself.
It’s better to understand what your opponent is actually saying in order to argue against them. I know it’s probably uncomfortable for you at times and I think it’s cool for you to soldier on, even if you’re someone I’d likely disagree with. I also think it’s cool that even if you don’t like the position or politics, you can still find beauty and good points in the art, and be invested in the story enough to have an emotional reaction like this.
This is also something I try to do myself. Anyway, I’m not gonna try to convert you or anything, I just wanted to say I think that this is genuinely admirable on your part, gendie or not, and I wish more folks were like this. Cheers!
jfc
At least she lived
/sarcasm obvs
Scully
This just makes it so much worse knowing that Shez has yet another sister coming after this 😟 I’m hoping that Chris is either dead or out of the picture before the next sister is born though.
I’m just so glad for Shez and all her sisters that at least they’re all girls, so none of them have to suffer from having a brother who’s been influenced by a violent misogynistic father. Sibling abuse is so much more common and more serious than people think.
My father was out of the picture from when I was pretty young, but my brother had been influenced enough by his violence and misogyny that I spent my teen years covered in bruises from my brother.
rustyhearts
I hope you’ve been able to get away from your brother permanently ❤️
I figured the one saving grace I could give Meriam was no sons, 😔 We already saw how Jacob turned out, and that was a family dynamic WITHOUT any violent males in it.
Cath (Sobbing, crying, throwing up)
Ough, I havent been able to catch up until now due to work and studying (junior in hs and doing duel enrollment in college) and just…
Rusty I adore your storytelling and that these past few pages have HURT- I agree with every gyn here that we should hunt down Chris but knowing how the real world works, moids like this usually get off scott free (Source: My mom had to deal abuse from my sperm doner and even after they divorced she got harassed and my sperm doner got no repercussions)
I also agree with others saying that at least Shez and her sisters have no male siblings- my older brother definitely was there for the worst of our moms abuse and uses it against her and me when hes home from college despite whining that he was also affected (Even tho the most my sperm doner did to him was to tell him to stop being a lazy fuck)- so yes. ALL men, even if they say otherwise.
(Also beautiful work on these past few pages! And congrats on finally gaining financial support for LB! Once i get my next paycheck I’m definitely throwing you a 10 or 15 for keeping up this wonderful comic,, also if I was there in Shez’s class I would already be in tears with her telling her story)
rustyhearts
Welcome back to the comment section, always lovely to see you Miss Cath🥰 Hope your 2nd last year is going well (I forget your school years start in September. Very crazy wild 😅).
Hoping repercussions find Mr. Sperm Donor in the form of a semi-truck 🥰🚚
Thank you for even considering giving LB financial support. You are very kind 🩷🩷
The most excellent car driver
I want to steal Chris’s car and first of all, drive Shez’s family away from Chris and towards medical care.
And after they’ve found a place to stay for the time, come back, find Chris, and his car can give him a nice shove that will send him flying
rustyhearts
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
forget-me-not
Long-time reader, first-time commenter. This arc is heart-breaking and as a fellow artist, I appreciated the way you drew Meriam’s expression. It’s clear she’s experiencing so much guilt and regret for this encounter when it’s not her fault at all, and likely hating herself for being unable to protect her daughter and get her to a hospital.
I’m glad for the increased frequency of your update schedule, I’ve been following very closely. Hoping for a swift and violent end for this nasty moid.
rustyhearts
Welcome to the comment section, and thank you for being such a dedicated reader 🥰🥰
Glad to hear Meriam’s emotions have come across so clearly! Keep your fingers crossed for Mr. Moid here 🤞🤞
SBD
Long time ago, when you mentioned there’d be an actual explanation of Shez scar, i thought it was gonna be a result of her job as a bouncer, a burglary at her home or some other kind of encounter with random entitled abusive men (cause you know how bold they can get in groups), you know?? But now that we got to this point, looking back i’m glad you didnt choose that route cause this one hits harder and is more cathartic. Childhood experiences can have great impacts in our future routes and this narrative weaves a wider net as it involves her mom and sisters, not just her.
Thank you for the page as always
Tenbelow
Now THIS is “gritty realism” in terms of portraying abuse. A lot of the time in media violence is oddly glamorized, it has this feeling of emphasizing how SHOCKING it was this woman got hit, or worst of all it can be shown as Sexy or sexualized in some way. I often think there is some kind of sadistic delight in men portraying violence against women. Like they like it, like it is Fun for them in some way to show off a woman or girl being harmed.
Meriam’s face though? That is Raw, that is Real. It’s about the Impact that the abuse has on those who suffered from it. Focusing on the act of the woman getting hit honestly seems to be servicing the abuser sometimes. Look how strong he is, look at his power display. But instead showing the way it effects Meri and Shez feels much more focused on their perspectives. Showing Chris hitting either of them would just be letting Chris Show Off in some ways. I’m sure there are men who see scenes of men being brutal and think “what a cool guy he is”. ew ew ew.
On an artistic level, Meriam’s face is Art Goals. The level of wrenching agony you’ve portrayed here is such vivid intense artistic talent. I cannot see a single way you would visually make her look more in pain then that. And the ANGLE of her face. That is not an angle I can see myself drawing personally HA. You’ve nailed the placement of her facial features and just. Everything there absolutely phenomenal. The use of shadows. just geezums Rusty. Incredible artwork. Also in staring at her face in pure artistic admiration I can’t help but think also “wow great foreshortening on the arm too”.
Celina
YOU WERE SO BRAVE, LITTLE SHEZ!!! YOU’RE MY FAVORITE TOO 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🩷!!!!!
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