Worlds and Stories > Worlds & Stories Discussion Board

White Noise (Webcomic by Adrien Lee) SPOILERS

(1/44) > >>

Jitter:
Here is the thread for discussing White Noise (the one by Adrien Lee - there is another webcomic with the same name) which you can read here: http://www.white-noise-comic.com/comic/1-0 (this links to page 1).

This thread will contain spoilers up to whichever is the latest page at each time.

White Noise was the Comic of the Month for October 2021, recommended by @Keep Looking here: https://ssssforum.com/index.php?topic=1237.60

White Noise has been running since 2011 (yes, a full decade!) and updates pretty regularly on Sundays. There are pre-determined breaks mainly between chapters. The first long arc is apparently coming to its conclusion, but the author has further stories planned so not to worry (too much).

Oh btw do read the text under the comic page! It contains a description, originally intended for screen reading technology for the vision impaired but it adds a lot even when you can see the comic.

There are several queer characters, including trans folks in various stages of their journey. Sex is openly implied but no explicitly shown. Being trans and/or queer are important themes in the story and drive the plot on occasion, but I would call it more of a story (adventure/quest/road movie/??) starring queer characters rather than being mainly about queerness. I’m vanilla to boot and I have enjoyed the story immensely. It also presents profound thoughts about identity and factors influencing who we are. Also magic! Monsters! Fighting! Bravery! Friendship! Love! Body positivity!

I will now proceed to swoon over because of certain events in this and the previous chapter.

Keep Looking:

--- Quote from: Jitter on November 02, 2021, 01:11:32 PM ---I will now proceed to swoon over because of certain events in this and the previous chapter.

--- End quote ---

Ohhhhh yeah, the last few chapters have been very swoon-worthy. Both because of the lovely romances and friendships that are building, but also because it feels like we're being balanced on a knife's edge as to how and when all the missed connections will be put together. I'm nearly ready to faint with all the will-they won't-they put-the-pieces-together!

Hawk and Mari's building relationship has been really lovely, especially as you can see how much they both needed a source of care and affection in their lives. And Hawk deserves nice things after all he's been through. Although the complications thrown in by Mari's status are definitely going to throw some sticks in the works - I'm excited and pretty nervous to see how it turns out.

But Vlad. Vlad who sits in the centre of a big web of connections yet hasn't managed to quite fill in the missing pieces. It almost makes me want to scream. I do have to say, though, I love how the two originally separate storylines are getting increasingly tangled together.

I'm also excited to see how the radio plot will play in with everything else that's happening, as it's connecting characters across the different worlds and storylines. It really does feel like everything is coming together.

Róisín:
I have started reading this - don’t have much time and am doing so in five minute rest breaks between tasks so it will take me awhile. Fortunately I read fast! I have reached the point in the tale where Hawk and Teigh are setting out north on their journey to find Hawk’s sister. I will be very interested to find out what is going on with Liya and Helygen. A good recommendation.

Jitter:
Roisin, I imagine you will in particular like Helly :) You probably already noticed, but the people that are called "spirits" here are not actually spirits but the fairly human-like inhabitants of the other main world of the story, Aetheri, where Liya now is. Many (most?) of the spirits have some magic, but they are corporeal people.

Keep, YES. I have in particular loved how Mari's way of appreciating Hawk and taking it for granted that Hawk is good in many things has helped Hawk see himself differently. This is one of the key messages about identity in my view. The gender identities of many of the characters is of course important, and I like the various ways it's been considered and the different stages and approaches of the various characters. But it's not the only type of identity growth in the story at all. Liya is finding her path, but even more so with Hawk.

As for Mari's status...

Spoiler: showthat is the one thing I'm not very happy about. It's understandable how he wants to be considered just him but still it's wrong that Hawk doesn't know. Firstly, anyone involved with the cynn may be in danger. There have been attempts on his life. He's counting on nobody knowing about his forays to Enodia, but someone can and eventually will recognise him (already did but luckily that was a friend).

Secondly and perhaps more importantly. Consent is described very beautifully between them, especially in the scene where they finally get physical. But is it really consent on Hawk's side, when he doesn't know who he is with? Not entirely clear. 

Keep Looking:

--- Quote from: Jitter on November 03, 2021, 01:13:12 PM ---As for Mari's status...

Spoiler: showthat is the one thing I'm not very happy about. It's understandable how he wants to be considered just him but still it's wrong that Hawk doesn't know. Firstly, anyone involved with the cynn may be in danger. There have been attempts on his life. He's counting on nobody knowing about his forays to Enodia, but someone can and eventually will recognise him (already did but luckily that was a friend).

Secondly and perhaps more importantly. Consent is described very beautifully between them, especially in the scene where they finally get physical. But is it really consent on Hawk's side, when he doesn't know who he is with? Not entirely clear. 

--- End quote ---

Spoiler: showYeah, that's one thing that I'm concerned about too! I mean, I understand why he hasn't told Hawk, but I'm bracing myself for when the news gets out. And yeah, like - not only does Hawk deserve to know at this point of their relationship, given how close they are, but also there's a lot of potential for interesting diplomatic incidents if Mari gets recognised being all romantic with Hawk with the wrong kind of people (aka the extremely anti-immigrant anti-mixed species relationship traditionalist Aetherians that control, like, most of the assembly).

I do appreciate the character aspect of Mari not telling Hawk - in that this character who's generally seen as both a good ruler and just a pretty decent and kind person all-round is making some really stupid decisions - I do think it adds depth and complexity to his character? But it's also a really, really stupid and somewhat reckless decision.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page