Judgment Delivered
Chapter: Season Ten
It is a moment that is a long time coming (one of many as every page posted ticks down to the final page), as I deliver the end of Klaus Kringle and fulfill the narrative prophecy that Jeanie Tucker, the mantlebearer of Mrs. Claus and the Sword of Claus is the mama bear who will do anything it takes to lay evil low and keep the people she loves safe.
Some may have expected a 10 page brawl with a 10 page DBZ stare down, but that was never in the cards (and I have already done that in this series before LOL). A half-mantled Klaus was never going to be a challenge for Jeanie, and only because she became a mantlebearer after Klaus was locked away, and at the mercy of Brett’s father did Klaus avoid this fate for a time. His time ran out.
There is more to come, and I hope that you are enjoying each page and every payoff moment.
And now, I believe that Brett is able to claim the full power of the mantle for it is no longer contested…
So, does Brett get the full mantle now? Cause I want to see him at full force.
You win my alloyed distributable portion of Internet for the week, Sir.
… this was supposed to be in reply to something else, wtf why did the page Bork on me :’(
Damn.
I wonder, in that moment, if Klaus saw his mother and just how … *kind* she had really been to him, and all the mercy he could have had, and realizing just how he had completely and utterly fucked up before this end of him. Either way, he had this coming for a long time. Perhaps now his part of the mantle will pass to Brett fully.
But now, he was just small potatoes. I have a feeling we are going to see the Real Enemy behind all of this, and it isn’t only to be pretty.
What, no epic dick-kicking first? You’re getting soft, Jeanie.
I love it, Brian, that you’re going straight for the jugular the last several pages (including Clive’s less-than-epic ending). No reason to waste time with the underlings, just dispatch them and bring in the Real Baddie.
Personally I’ve always loved the point in series when they drop the fluff and things get quick and brutal. Makes it feel like the gloves have come off.
Dick-kicking is when you want someone to live to remember the dick-kicking. If the plan is for them to die, no point in beating the bush.
I love it too. I really like that Klaus didn’t really get any last words. “N-no.” doesn’t really count.
Is Jeanie missing her wedding ring in panel 1?
Also… yeahhhhh like everyone’s been saying; time for the Real Boss ™
It Transformed into the sword
That is a good cover for me, but not in this case (though some power is arcing off of it). I just forgot it. I have been breathing into a paper bag since I started the page.
It’s added now.
You caught and fixed that FAST! I am impressed, good Sir. Impressed!
You are more than forgiven Brian, this is a kickass page and all the lightning arcing about is pretty high effort. Easy to miss things when you’re keeping track of so much extra (and Jeanie is being VERY extra in the best of ways!).
This whole arc (as well as the previous, and honestly the entire run of the comic) has been phenomenal. Once my finances start clearing up at the end of this year, you are absolutely picking up another patron.
Wow, good eye. With all that’s going on in this comic today, somebody could have been missing a leg and I probably wouldn’t have noticed it.
Thanks for the tip. I just checked back and somebody is missing a head!
You win my alloyed distributable portion of Internet for the week, Sir.
I’m expecting this is certainly not the end. Klaus’ patron is going to have some words about this I but.
my literal reaction upon viewing the final panel:
“WHOA! SNAP!”
CHRISTMAS BLADE
“Form Blazing Sword!”
“And Jeannie will cut off. . . the Head!”
I was not prepared for this today. It’s a phenomenal page. A fitting end to Klaus. But woah was I not expecting this.
He’ll never be the head of a major corporation now.
Won’t be getting ahead in life either :C
Come on folks, I know things are getting deadly here but we gotta keep it together, we can’t take refuge in puns.
Don’t lose your heads now! 😉
Yes. YES. YESSSSSS!
That was quicker than I expected, but still awesome.
Of course it suggests Klaus’ mystery patron is probably even scarier…
Someone brought Slayerbells.
Noice
Hmm… I wonder. Is the thing in the crystal evil Sam? It went after Trevor & Brett. And Mel came back into the story suspiciously recently. Charlie was at the comic shop… I mean, if Sam has always held The Narrative… maybe the crystal thing is Evil Sam trying to take out the players in a TPK because it is the grudgiest spirit ever?
I’m not dismissing your theory because it could still fit but keep in mind this entity had been arranging the players for a long time. Probably wishing he’d picked better pieces right now but hey what do you do when your minions keep turning on each other.
I sincerely hope that’s not the case, because I think that would be the thing to finally break Sam, if he was the reason for all this.
…. Klaus’ claim on the Mantle of Santa expires with him.
Which means Brett is about to get a helluva powerup right about now …!
And need hellava therapy!~ Second person to go squish in front of him today wooofff
Funny you should mention the drawn out fights of DBZ fame. I’m not sure how familiar you are with the manga or the controversy over Toriyama’s dislike of the way the show treated his material, but one of the issues was the heavy focus on drawing the fights out. The fights in the manga were significantly shorter because Toriyama’s focus was on character building and inter-character relationships. In this scenario you treated the fight scene more like Toriyama would have in the manga and I kind of appreciate that.
the only thing he hated more was SHonen jump forcing him to resurect Goku at the start of the Orange Star High arc just as he was starting to establish Gohan as his dads Sucessor (i was really into that arc too i was PISSED when they rezzed goku)
Slaybells ring, are you listenin’?
“In the lane blood is trickling”
MRS. KLAUS WINS!
FATALITY!
(i know this isn’t a video game comic but that just felt right)
“Flawless Victory!”
https://meme-generator.com/wp-content/uploads/mememe/2019/06/mememe_ce05ad82e152b7908988fb37d863d49f-1.jpg
Hell yeah. 🙂
Last comic I said I might have to make a Canoness Jeanie Claus for my Sisters of Battle Army in Warhammer 40k…. That’s been significantly upgraded from might, to a must do.
Goosebumps!!! I re-read it twice and still got goosebumps!!!! Absolutely beautiful!
Wooo Brian that lighting in them panels, on point.
DECAPATATIOOOONNNN!!!
YEAH!
I know I said things were going to start happening very fast a few pages back, but I wasn’t expecting us to go quite this fast (not that it’s a bad thing, it really drives home how intense everything is getting, and how serious the party is right now (and no time for “table talk†or putting together intricate plans))
(I think my exact words were “things are going to happen a lotâ€, but the point stands: the pace has been set, and we’re in for a hell of a ride)
Guess what’s going to be on the top of the Christmas tree at the North Pole this year…
HEADS UP!
As happy as I am to see Klaus dealt with this only drives home the fact that the end really is near. Sadly, I only just found this legendary novel in mid September this year and have been on one hell of a ride, but that being said, I’m hurting knowing the end is here. My heart goes out to all of you long term readers and especially to you Brian. May your future be as bright as the sun that lights the day.
This page is pure awesome with awesomesauce on top. I’m a little afraid it will cause awesome-reflux.
… And the crowd goes wild!!
There can be only one.
Cue “Princes of the Universe” By Queen.
I’m usually not one to gloat when I’m right.
But seeing this after seeing past arguments in the comments with people who insisted that Klaus was the UberBoss, nobody else was pulling the strings, etc.
…it does put a smile on my face.
THAT SAID, Jeanie came in swinging *fast* and *hard*, and that can only mean that the reaction from Ivan Ooze, or whoever is stuck in the purple Jell-O block, is going to be *just as intense*.
Luckily the Man in the Purple Jell-O needs to fend off not one, but two full-fledged Mantlebearers (as Klaus’ half of the Santa mantle has no one at the helm, as it were), plus whatever else the party can muster. Also he’s the clear Final Boss, so to speak, of the comic.
“I’M A GRIM BLOODY FABLE, WITH AN UNHAPPY BLOODY END!” – Demoman (Team Fortress 2)
Dunno why, but this quote just popped into my mind when I read this page.
AND THIS IS WHY YOU DO NOT ENRAGE A MAMA BEAR! They will rip your face off.
Also loved Klaus had enough time to regret… To fear just like his recent victim.
Ok. WOW! I think I may need a few minutes here. And a drink. And a smoke. Jeanie, the badass, just being a badass.
DECAPITATIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
A fitting end for the damn douche canoe.
Oh, he’s not dead yet. You aren’t fooling anyone. Tomorrow’s last panel will be him picking up his head or something.
Fantastic work on these panels. Brilliant, direct and just downright fun to look at. I’m probably overthinking this but it’s interesting the big bad seems to have withdrawn his power from Clive right before his end (the purple eyes went away) but Claus still had them last we see. I wonder if Jeanie even surprised whatever that thing is in the crystal.
She has a ho ho holy avenger!
i chose to believe this was playing when she showed up
https://youtu.be/nqWZqQXk_Ao
It’s that look of dawning comprehension that does it for me. Hope you’ve had plenty of time in cold places, Klaus, because where you’re going, there isn’t even A/C…
All my puns were taken