Later Willis yes, but this was still ‘Oh no, making people say terrible things about God’ Willis. And this could be interpreted as realising that he is as God to these characters, which is probably blasphemous.
Also, if he’s God to these people and he’s making them do these self-destructive things that suggests that God’s causing us to do self-destructive things, when I’m pretty sure Young Willis would have argued it’s Satan, or our own sinful natures.
This makes me verrry curious what Young Willis thought Billie meant by “SOMEONE’s pulling my strings for me”. Did he think her actual problem was her sinful nature, and that she was dodging her responsibility for her own failure? Or did he think she was correctly acknowledging her powerlessness, and if so did he think she was actually demon-possessed and dimly starting to realize something like that was going on, or did he think again it’s her sinful nature and she was expressing the idea that she wasn’t in control in a common way, even if there was no specific SOMEONE to blame?
On one hand I agree a drink isn’t a big deal, on the other hand I can understand feeling despair if you really, really intend to do something and then don’t follow through, repeatedly. And then feel guilty for it and powerless to stop it, at the same time. Learned helplessness is a bitch.
Also, although it didn’t come across because of young!Willis’ incapability of understanding what that looked like beyond “drinking at all”, Billie is genuinely an outright self-destructive alcoholic currently in recovery at this stage of the storyline, not just a social drinker. Even one beer is setting a dangerous precedent, which she
The last few strips Billie has been talking up a storm to herself, about NOT DRINKING, and HOW SHE DOSN’T need that can of beer, and putting off DRINKING THAT CAN OF BEER.
Ah, maybe because she is an alcoholic and knows she can’t drink one can of beer..she will keep going until she’s passed out. As in “someone’s controlling me ….”
It was commented on that Danny was told off that it wasn’t all about him. Yeah, well where is the comments when he says “There must be something I can do…”. Nice Danny at least you’re trying.
You can’t deal with an alcoholic. And he’s a kid. An especially clueless kid.
Well, she’s SUPPOSED to be an alcoholic — it’s obvious in DoA because of Willis’ greater maturity, but that was clearly the intent back here, too, just foiled by Willis’ inability to tell the difference between “social drinking” and “self-destructive addictive binging.”
I would’ve gone for Hope’s Peak, but I don’t think that had much mainstream recognition back in early 2014, while I was literally the only person who hadn’t played/watched/eaten Higurashi back then.2
Wow, I’ve been enjoying reading these strips again so far, but this is the first one where I FEEL the dialoge like in Willis’ later strips, did you get a dialogue upgrade in your head at this time? Or did you change the words around when you relettered it?
Anyway, this is some heavy stuff. I’ve had almost verbatim the same exchange with a close friend of mine who’s struggling with alcoholism, and reading this was almost painful (in a good way though). Kudos!
It’s stuff like this that made me think Roomies! Was much more balanced than it apparently was.
Everyone knows that Murder Is The Best Solution!
Especially when it involves Mary.
I approve of both these gravatars.
Well, of course it is, duh!
Someone telling Danny that it’s not about him. Allow me to savour the moment.
Also, Panel 3: Willis, were you aware that one of your characters was talking about how much she hates you?
I suspect he was keenly aware of such.
Later Willis yes, but this was still ‘Oh no, making people say terrible things about God’ Willis. And this could be interpreted as realising that he is as God to these characters, which is probably blasphemous.
Also, if he’s God to these people and he’s making them do these self-destructive things that suggests that God’s causing us to do self-destructive things, when I’m pretty sure Young Willis would have argued it’s Satan, or our own sinful natures.
This makes me verrry curious what Young Willis thought Billie meant by “SOMEONE’s pulling my strings for me”. Did he think her actual problem was her sinful nature, and that she was dodging her responsibility for her own failure? Or did he think she was correctly acknowledging her powerlessness, and if so did he think she was actually demon-possessed and dimly starting to realize something like that was going on, or did he think again it’s her sinful nature and she was expressing the idea that she wasn’t in control in a common way, even if there was no specific SOMEONE to blame?
I think I’ve lost track of this storyline & I don’t know if I should care about that. Billie’s worried about drinking a single can of beer? Big deal.
On one hand I agree a drink isn’t a big deal, on the other hand I can understand feeling despair if you really, really intend to do something and then don’t follow through, repeatedly. And then feel guilty for it and powerless to stop it, at the same time. Learned helplessness is a bitch.
Friend of mine found a Tweet pointing out:
velleity (n.) – “a wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action”
THIS, EVERY DAY =C
Also, although it didn’t come across because of young!Willis’ incapability of understanding what that looked like beyond “drinking at all”, Billie is genuinely an outright self-destructive alcoholic currently in recovery at this stage of the storyline, not just a social drinker. Even one beer is setting a dangerous precedent, which she
The last few strips Billie has been talking up a storm to herself, about NOT DRINKING, and HOW SHE DOSN’T need that can of beer, and putting off DRINKING THAT CAN OF BEER.
Ah, maybe because she is an alcoholic and knows she can’t drink one can of beer..she will keep going until she’s passed out. As in “someone’s controlling me ….”
It was commented on that Danny was told off that it wasn’t all about him. Yeah, well where is the comments when he says “There must be something I can do…”. Nice Danny at least you’re trying.
You can’t deal with an alcoholic. And he’s a kid. An especially clueless kid.
Actually, if she is an alcoholic, I am more impressed that she can drink one beer and stop. That is harder than not drinking at all.
Well, she’s SUPPOSED to be an alcoholic — it’s obvious in DoA because of Willis’ greater maturity, but that was clearly the intent back here, too, just foiled by Willis’ inability to tell the difference between “social drinking” and “self-destructive addictive binging.”
We will call that plan B
>No way out… except murrrderrr.
Welcome to Hinamizawa
I would’ve gone for Hope’s Peak, but I don’t think that had much mainstream recognition back in early 2014, while I was literally the only person who hadn’t played/watched/eaten Higurashi back then.2
I think Billie’s line in the second panel needs to be said to (both universes) Danny a few times a day. Might help him a bit.
Wow, I’ve been enjoying reading these strips again so far, but this is the first one where I FEEL the dialoge like in Willis’ later strips, did you get a dialogue upgrade in your head at this time? Or did you change the words around when you relettered it?
Anyway, this is some heavy stuff. I’ve had almost verbatim the same exchange with a close friend of mine who’s struggling with alcoholism, and reading this was almost painful (in a good way though). Kudos!
Original version: http://itswalky.com/d/19991017.html
(he also changed Billie’s hair apparently)
Should note that the inks had deteriorated since then, so when I rescanned it last year it was kind of awful.
Godamnit, Danny, can you stop thinking about yourself this once?
“But, AGAIN, this ISN’T about YOU.”
Something Danny never fucking learns.
Is there a way to get that through people’s skulls without an icepick?
Is there anyone in either of DMW’s universes who doesn’t want to murder Mary? Anyone?
Does Mary herself count? Even if she did want to die, it’d be suicide.
Well presumably she doesn’t want to do that because then she would go to HELLLLLLL.
Originally posted:
October 17, 1999
What does it say about me that I’ve never read this strip before and I could still tell it was re-lettered right away?