I’m just saying…

(From The Last Days of FOXHOUND, by Chris Doucette. SPOILER WARNING!)

Ok. Before you read this, click above to read the comic in question. I only recommend that if you’re caught up in the story, and have don’t mind MGS3 spoilers if you haven’t played it yet. If you have no involvement in the comic or the game, then I guess I leave it to your discretion.

Read it?

Good. I have a lot to say.

(EDIT: Wow. A lot more to say than I planned. I’ll stick this behind a cut.)

Doucette’s made quite clear with his actions in the past and his vocal plans for the future that he arranged it so comic #200 would be the big, huge chapter conclusion. And what a conclusion it was.

I want to talk first about Doucette’s treatment of the MGS franchise. He’s doing a fan comic. A brilliant one, but still a fan comic. That leads to a few restrictions:

1) Being based on an existing universe, there’s a limit on what he has to work with
2) Using existing characters, he has to do his best on portraying them accurately
3) Doing a fan comic, he will have to suffer the inevitable swarms of angry fan mail who disagree with him

On the universe front, he’s been very strong. All events so far are pre-Shadow Moses. So he has no access to the events that occur during Shadow Moses/Twin Snakes (MGS), Sons of Liberty (MGS2), or even Metal Gear Acid (should the need arise, although doubtful). What he has access to, almost ironically, is Snake Eater (MGS3). There’s limits on him for using Snake Eater material, since that heavily predates his stories. He can build upon those elements as he builds upon the characters (Namely Ocelot and Saladin, really the only two who still exist that were involved).

He’s been building original stories using the characters and the mythos established by Hideo Kojima that takes place before Shadow Moses (Hence the title, “The Last Days of FOXHOUND”). Not too easy a task, because he has a whole lot of continuity to adhere to. And so far, to the best of my own experience, he’s been doing nicely on that front. Nothing so far has stricken me as “Hey wait! That’s not how it goes!” Other than his character interpretations of course, because while a fan comic, it is also a parody comic. So he’s handling that by mocking the personalities of the characters, but preserving the universe they’re in.

This leads us into the next topic, the use of pre-established characters. Now, Chris has taken some radical deviations in the personalities of the characters. Very different, but still enjoyable. The best example is Psycho Mantis. In MGS, Psycho Mantis was a sadistic and tragic villain. He was born a psychic in Soviet Russia, and as such he was taken and experimented on. Conditioned to be a psychic operative for Soviet goals. Chris’s interpretation has Psycho Mantis as a Telepathic Genius with ridiculous power and an ego and bitterness to match. And I think he’s right. I mean, if I could read people’s minds, I’d find myself having a quick loathing for humanity on the whole. There’s shit going on in my head even, that I’d rather nobody ever finds out about. I’m not exclusive. Everyone has dark secrets, hidden shames, forbidden fantasies, suppressed urges, diminished inner children… If I got exposed to that, I think I’d be more disgusted that Psycho Mantis even seems to be.

Ocelot is probably the closest adaptation. A hotshot and a manipulative bastard, with the power of the patriots employing him. Of course, the manner of speech is different (as with all the other characters), but that’s a style choice. Also, the addition of “Chronic Backstabbing Disorder” is too funny for words.

Liquid is interesting because he’s been walking the long road of character development. Starting as the promising new recruit, then turning out to be a complete moron, then to becoming an amazing warrior when backed into a corner, to the conflict between him and his father. Now, it seems Saladin has won control over the body. And we have a twinge of disappointment, because we know it’s temporary. Liquid is aware of himself and his hatred for his father and brother in MGS. But I’ll be damned if it isn’t going to be an interesting journey there, because we’ll have to see how Liquid becomes such a capable soldier by the end of MGS.

And despite all the parody and mockeries added to the characters by Doucette, he’s still developing the characters realistically. Sniper Wolf, who had a former relationship for Saladin, inspired feelings in her for Liquid. And after the mental battle, she thinks Liquid came out on top, greeting him with warmth and physical contact. But when she learns Saladin was the victor, she recoils in shock and what seems to be dismay. I don’t think she’s aware of herself. She knows she loves/loved Saladin, but does she know her feelings are now for Liquid?

Mantis is genuinely afraid of Saladin. And that’s amazing, because in the general sense, Mantis fears no one (there is that whole thing he has with women). But he fears Saladin. Because in all likelihood, he could probably trounce Mantis.

And the interaction between Saladin/Liquid and Ocelot is oh so groovy. Ocelot is excited to think that Saladin could be leading their ranks, and who wouldn’t? He is the greatest soldier to have ever lived after all. But Saladin remembers Ocelot well. He remembers what a fucking cock he was when he was during the Virtuous Mission/Operation Snake Eater. And he’s ready to murder him for it. And Wolf intervenes! She is sorry to betray Saladin, but she knows what the right thing to do is (Or is she doing it so she can have Liquid back?).

And now, finally, with this 200th strip, we have the tie-in to MGS3. Saladin remembers, and now they are going to go see the Sorrow. The Sorrow. I’m excited. My prediction? Chris will deliver quite a funny performance from him. I mean he’s The Sorrow. If he’s not going to be gut-wrenchingly depressed, I suggest a name change for the man. What if The Sorrow turns out to be totally Emo? I can’t wait to see how this develops.

Bottom line, although they are semi-ridiculous interpretations of the cast, they still make sense to who they are. Nothing’s too preposterous. Everything still works.

And that leads into the third point I rose, fan feedback. There is a ton, I’m sure. Chris has a responsibility to serve both the continuity of the series, faithful to the characters, and to appease the other fans. Appease is a relative term, and while I think he should do it however he damn pleases, he should be mindful of what people expect. Because there are going to be a lot of people who would disagree with him.

It’s quite similar to 8-bit Theater. They share the same responsibilities as they are both fan comics. And we have noticed how Brian Clevinger’s depictions of the Final Fantasy characters have stuck. They remain consistent with other fan interpretations which are, interestingly enough, interpretations of interpretations. So Chris Doucette is having the same effect with his work. I’ve been reading FOXHOUND for a long time. I understand and get the characters as depicted by Hideo Kojima, but now I find that I almost prefer Doucette’s depictions. Why? Mostly because they’ve more personality now than they’ve ever had. They’re no longer a group of villains with a short back story to be killed in a series of boss fights. They’re a group of Heroes now, with developing characters that we root for. Chris has taken this story and made it his own, creating new stories while remaining faithful to the original ideas. Better than any other I’ve seen.

And that’s why The Last Days of FOXHOUND is the best Fan Comic I’ve ever read.

100 Awesome Points™ for 200 great comics. That’s a half point for each strip there, buddy. Keep it up.

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