#1221: "Witnesses to our victory!"

[Solid Snake]

The only thing that lessened the impact of the joke for me was the fact that three of the four characters on White Mage's team simply haven't been factors at all in the plot (I can't say for certain that they haven't appeared before now, but I certainly don't remember them.) A little more foreshadowing as to their existence would have led to a bigger narrative payoff.

But then again, I don't think Brian cares about narrative payoffs: he's just looking for yet another way to take Black Mage down a few more pegs, and this kind of unexpected development is the worst kind of pill for BM to stomach. So, I can't blame him for having the story (at least temporarily) take a backseat.

[Mirai Gen]

man 8bit theater really has gone downhill since it ended

[Panthera]

I'm guessing something to do with Swordopolis and Darko will be part of the loose ends Brian says he's still going to wrap up before the end of the end.

[PyrosNine]

The comment about a celestial cigarette butt in Black Mage's eye was important: the world exists to hurt Black Mage, and when the world needed his power the most, he had utter failure.

He failed to properly work for chaos, he failed in making Chaos's goals succeed, he failed as a nexus of chaos, and he failed as a light warrior, and as a main character. The LW's were decoy protagonists in a long line of Decoy protagonists.

This is also the most epic anticlimax ever, so it definitely works, and ends with the boss's total death by BM doing something stupid- a sneeze.

But I think one thing Brian has got going on is that war, war never changes. Oh wait, I mean, that life goes on, with or without you. The time loop made pretty sure that Chaos would never succeed in his plans, and that Sarda's goals were ultimately pointless and futile, and that if the LW's hadn't gone down the road, the world would have been fine, and since they have gone down the road, the world's going to end up fine anyway. Chaos would have been defeated irregardless, and the world would go on.

Obviously there's gonna be some epilogue, as level 1 or not, they have stilled accrued more atrocity in their entire lives for 3,502 Nuremberg trials, a few of which are for breaking laws of time and space, and the sole strongest party around isn't going to let them just walk away from it, All of the Kingdoms are still existing (except maybe dwarfland) and there are still hundreds of crazy people dotting the landscape.

I expect the next few comics to feature a cameo from every recurring character EVER. I mean it. Brian. Kurosen. Do it. If it ends up being cool as a wallpaper, extra points.

Oh well. Assuming they aren't killed on the spot or incarcerated, Thief has a princely life back at his Kingdom, Red Mage has a clan of reality warping mages to restart, and Black Mage and Fighter have a life of being wandering adventurers to return to.

[Solus]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?

That issue of Nintendo Power was just a strategy guide that covered the entirety of Final Fantasy I, and only that game. It was not focused on a specific party.
It listed weapon stats, info on towns, bosses, secrets, tips, and so forth.
The comment on 4 white mages was just an editors remark randomly tossed in there along with a few other comments.

[waddle2120]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?

I seem to remember that at the end of each magazine they would list a "challenge" to complete, and I remember that one of the challenges was beating the game using 4 white mages.

I unfortunately don't have my old issues anymore so I can't go back to find out which one it was... Although I am pretty sure it was not a strategy guide persay, just a normal issue.

[waddle2120]

mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?.

I seem to remember that at the end of each magazine they would list a "challenge" to complete, and I remember that one of the challenges was beating the game using 4 white mages.

I unfortunately don't have my old issues anymore so I can't go back to find out which one it was... Although I am pretty sure it was not a strategy guide persay, just a normal issue

[AngelFoodBB]

not saying this in a joke manner like everyone else. The ending was lame.

[stefan]

so, White mage just killed chaos.

perhaps its just my religious beliefs speaking, but I have a strong suspicion that killing the personification of chaos is going to have horrible, horrible ramifications upon the 8bit world.

It would also fit into how white mage has more or less had every task she's set for herself come to ruin through various means.

[...]

To everyone who says none of these characters but White Mage have appeared before...

:rmage:FALSE!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you....

http://www.nuklearpower.com/2005/04/...n-recognition/

PS This is pretty much the best ending I've ever read. Brian Clevinger I take back anything bad I've ever said or thought about this comic.