#gladiator chapter 147

Memorial Day - A candle for Kya

One of Gladiator’s most emotionally-charged scenes up to date took place in chapter 147. Within the story, the Fire Nation holds a week of festivals, and one of its days is Memorial Day: as is obvious, it’s a day meant for mourning the dead. There are two different rites, one meant to honor the most important people of the Fire Nation, for whom shrines are erected inside the Capital’s Temple (the Fire Lords, royals and nobles, military leaders, culturally-relevant poets and artists... alas, noteworthy people). The second rite is far more inclusive, and it’s based on one of the rites held in our world’s Ghost Festival, where lit lanterns are sent out in a body of water, with the name of the deceased carved on the candle.

While Sokka has adjusted to living in the Fire Nation over several years by then, he had never participated in this day of the festivals until that chapter. By the time he does, he’s most determined NOT to honor any of the Fire Lords in the first rite, but he does partake in the second rite, once Azula tells him there’s no way anyone will know who he’s lighting his candles for, meaning he’s free to light candles for non-Fire Nation people if he chooses to do so.

Azula helps him light his candles after lighting the ones she sent out for herself. For artistry’s sake I decided to have the candles retaining the color of the fire she used with each of them, so the gesture she does for Kya would be more apparent: Azula lights Kya’s with gold fire, paying the deepest respect she can to the brave Water Tribe woman. Her guards, who have grown fond of Sokka over the years, proceed to strike up the most respectful reverence possible when Sokka sends out that final candle, and Azula does it too. Sokka, of course, is emotionally wrecked, but hopeful that, if he has inspired Azula and her guards to change their worldview so much that they would respect Kya so deeply, then perhaps changing the world for the better isn’t an impossible dream to work towards.

The Memorial Day of the festivals arrives, but before heading to the Temple, Azula has to visit the homeless people she saved the day before. A conversation with them reveals truths that make her further question the success of her father’s rule.

Afterwards she meets with Sokka at the Temple, who accompanies her as she grieves for the loved ones she has lost. But the second half of the memorial rites, which take place at the crater’s largest lake, compel Sokka to join the rite in his own way...

Read Gladiator HERE or HERE

Worst-kept Secret #2: The Head Sage

And here we are! Finally, after the very long delay, Worst-kept Secret #2 has arrived.

I'm really sorry it took so long, my job was suffocating me since September or so. Friday was my last day, though, so what did I do as soon as it was over? I slaved over this comic, of course :')

As voted by my patrons, here's the Temple scene from chapter 147, with the Head Sage's realization upon Azula's very innocent question about indirect bending. If anyone wants to read the Sage's full mental monologue from page 2, you need only ask!

Naturally, the story will eventually show that this is where the Sage understood what was up... but I figured it'd be fun to show his full mind process somehow, and a comic was the best way to do that. As for why he's so happy about this discovery, it's never been a secret that he and Ozai dislike each other... but I guess this comic is the first time I've shown just how far that hostility goes :'D

As it was last time, my Patrons have the privilege of making new suggestions for the next comic. I'll post a poll next month at Patreon too, where my Patrons will vote to select the next comic’s subject. If you want to be part of the creative process behind these comics, even a $1 pledge on Patreon will allow you to help choose the next comic!