Wow, Zedwig sure knows where to stab Fangline to hurt the most.
Looks like Zedwig is suddenly in control of the situation too. Yay!

*hnkmffthuh*

Yeah, I don't know either, but I seem to be holding my breath 'cause it looks like Zedwig is about to make a move. Will he? Won't he? He does seem to be suddenly in control here. The suspense is killing me already!

(Um, Friday's a long time to hold your breath...just in case you want to post the next page, oh, maybe, you know, like NOW. Just sayin'.)

Also, this is beyond beautiful, especially the first two panels - they're just so tender, the way Zed is, I guess, returning Bactine to Sangwine. Can't think of a better way to put it. And of course the expression on Zed's face in the last two panels is brilliant.

simply amazing, as always

bravo colby

Is it just me, or is there less blood on Sangwine than there was just a few pages ago? It seems way too convenient for the whole stain to be covered neatly by Bactine... Did she somehow heal him too? Otherwise it seems like a useless sort of sacrifice - at least from her perspective.

Fang: What do you mean?? I sacrificed everything for my one true love: destruction! My pretty hair, my social life...

This is beautiful, and brilliant, and probably one of my favorite panels ever.

Zedwig is looking positively malevolent in that last panel - could it be that he's about to make the sort of sacrifice he's speaking of? Friday is too far away!

And, just so you know, I felt compelled to list that first quote about sacrifice in my Facebook "favorite quotes" thing. I hope you don't mind - if you do, I'll take it down.

No I don't mind :)

*evil chuckle* Go Zedwig! He's looking very malicious...maybe he'll blast Fang over the balcony, now that Bactine seems rather incapable of the task.

Oooohhh ...
zees eez so beautiful! The entire page ... but definitely the first panel. We've seen Bactine and Sangwine together before, even (rarely) looking peaceful, but now they look more ... I don't know the word ... "uplifted"? Like they've reached an entirely new plane of destiny/purpose/fulfillment. Hmm. I'm not doing very well at explaining myself. I'll just stick with "amazing job, Colby -- I didn't know I could be any more impressed with your skills than I already was."
And if anyone else can think of the word I wanted to think of, please remind me! LOL.

Okay, let me get something straight.

Zedwig was sick. Bactine healed Zedwig. Zedwig looks healed. Bactine is obviously faking or sleeping. Zedwig lays Bactine on Sangwine so Bactine can heal Sangwine. How on earth would Bactine have enough power to heal Zedwig AAANDDD Sangwine? Something fishy going on here....

And then, there is something fishy about how Zedwig pushes away his hair in that one picture. Strange. Very strange.

ooh ... good point about Zedwig laying Bactine next to Sangwine to maybe heal him? He does place her hand very carefully on Sangwine's chest. I also want to know what's going on with Sangwine's suddenly spotless shirt. LOL. So many theories!

It isn't destruction Fang loves-- it's power. And a lust for power is one of those endless holes in the soul, no matter how much you fill it with, it's never enough.

Wash, rinse, repeat, huh, Fangline?

OMG if I were Fang I'd be wetting myself right about now. Zedwig looks nothing short of terrifying. What an insane expression XD! And is it just me, or do Zedwig's eyes look....darker? *jibblies*

oooh! Zedwig's doing something to deactivate the earring! I'm sure of it! The last two panels and his expression just screams of it!

geeez, seems that now we are going to discover why Zedwig won his solo cameo on the first page of this comic, no Colby?
The "I hate you" remind me someone, ok less talk and more action, we need another elf dead!
nice work!!!!

all i can say is O.O

my guess, zedwig's hand is on his face to cover his expression of joy for having outwitted fang - he doesn't want fang to see him smile, for that would ruin his whole victory here. maybe zedwig is partially healed, but i think bactine has been put under a spell so as to appear dead. zedwig did that to get fang away from the pair, but she still could...not wake up/come out of it in time to save sang who must be in his last moments. she is definitely still alive, about him i don't know, but i don't think colby would kill off the heroes!

I'm on pins and needles, this is like the ultimate cliffhanger. I can't wait to see the outcome. Your artistry is shining through, the character's expressions are beautiful.

Zed's sacrifice quote sounds awfully similar to something from another great story :) "A greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Lovely page. I think I could stare at Zedwig for hours...I have a major weakness for pretty elf mens with silvery hair. I really ought to get professional help!

I usually prefer the goofy parts of Lint, but this page right here is REALLY moving. One of the best so far, in my opinion!

I agree, this may be my favorite page ever - which is saying a lot, considering how much I've loved the comedic parts of Lint.

I want a blow up of the last panel to tape up on my wall.

Everyone is so pretty on this page. Even under-eye-circled-rogue-Bactine looks lovely. I absolutely love Zed's expression on the last panel. And the first panel is too adorable and heartbreakingly sad.

This is so beautiful and so touching.

Zedwig is definitely planning something. I have suspicions >_>
Panel 5 would make a good icon :o

Oh snap! Zedwig being all deceptive and awesome is beautiful.

I have a suspicion, but if true, it would be so spoilerific that I'm afraid to post it.

It has to do with what actually happened during the 3-5 panels of the last page, and what is being revealed on the last panel of this.

I swear, in the past 2 months or so every page has been even better than the last. This one might be my favorite yet; the look on Zedwig's face in the last panel, the second-to last panel, and the second panel of this one seem especially rich. And even the matching of dialogue with panels; the way that Zed says "if you /only tried/, maybe you could (realize)" as he "only tries" something that he is trying to "realize." ^_^

Man, I love this comic more every day.

<^_^>

Wheeeeeeeeee!!

<whistle> The angst... What a sharp contrast between Zedwig's musings about love...then him turning around and saying, "I hate you." I feel really sorry for him now, and now I suddenly understand just how dangerous he could be.

Fang: *stabb'd*

Gosh Zed, that was ccooollldd. But Fang totally deserved that!! >=]

Bactine and Sang are finally together in death...or...?

Yeah, Zedwig said the worst thing he possibly could to Fang. You know, first Fang pushed Zedwig to his absolute emotional limit when Zedwig was weak. As a result, he nearly got defeated by Zedwig. THEN, as if he really couldn't make matters worse for himself, he had Zedwig healed, and not only healed, but healed in a way that would push him even farther past his limit. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am much stronger as a person when I am healthy. Fang, that was stupid. If Zedwig could nearly resist your earing when he was half dead, do you seriously think you even have a chance now?

I agree.

My pet hypothesis is that when Bactine healed Zedwig, he was then able to heal Sangwine -- maybe channel the healing through Bactine?

So here's a stupid question. Why wouldn't Hope the Fairy come and help Sanguine? She is supposed to be looking after the house of Schloeffel'Noeffel, isn't she? Did she rescue him from certain death once before (or at least, rescue him from a bad head-ache)?

Hope is very occupied and distracted at the moment! Plus she's looking out for two, now... perhaps three.

Three? Sang, Xylic and... who else could she have to look out for?

Would her loyalty extend to Fang even now?

three?! Hmm, veeeewwwy eeenteresting.... ^.^

Oh yeah, and I completely forgot that we've already learned that Hope has trouble multi-tasking and sometimes has to choose who she helps!

BTW, Colby, I love how you're actually telling a story that has an obvious end and not letting the plot stall or lose focus as so many web-comics do. Lint is is my favorite comic!

HOPE IS PREGNANT WITH TWINS/TRIPLETS????????

And they're ZYLIC'S??????

;-)

OH MY HECKS HOW DID YOU KNOW

That would totally rock!

Colby take note!

About the fourth panel I hear the epic showdown music start up...

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?????? GAH!!!!!

And Zedwig has hit it right on the nose. Although I'd much rather he hit Fang on the nose. But, there is the next page...which reminds me...

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?????? GAH!!!!

Somehow I find myself reminded of the Star Trek episode 'The Empath.' Will the big headed aliens come in and decide Bactine is worthy? Oh... um. Yeah, that's not going to happen is it. *shakes head* surreal moment.

But Zedwig sure is looking healthier and has already shown he has the spirit to fight Fangline. And as he said: he HATES him! More sparkly magicky effects? Pretty please? And Xylic diving in to save the day, just 'cos he's brilliant?

I don't remember if I have read all of Fromage yet, but there's a lot in it about the earring and about Zedwig and Fang's relationship. If I understand correctly, the earring is simply a magnifier - there's no magic spell that forces Zedwig to do anything, it's just that Fang's amplified power overwhelms him. And then that combined with their unusual relationship - they absorb more of each other's personalities/characters every time their powers are magnified together, which is why Zedwig did what Fang wanted more easily and why Fang was so gentle with Zedwig. So again, if I understand all that correctly, then I have two thoughts about these last few pages: the earring isn't being "deactivated" ... it's just that Zedwig is beginning to withstand Fang's magnified power. Also, when Zedwig's and Bactine's powers were combined to heal him, they absorbed a lot of each other... now he has certain characteristics of Bactine's (darker eyes, brushing his hair out of his face, "gumption") and she has characteristics of his (weariness/age, silver hair, and ... holy crap, wait a minute, we can't see their ears)!

WOW. That is really really really smart. Bravo for even trying to figure that out!!! *gives you a kudo bar*

Holy cow, I didn't think of that! That is so true! Hmms.....this will be interesting... :)

Is it not possible that Bactine's healing realeased the Earring's Control over Zedwig?

Aha... I had a dream that Fang catapulted himself and Zedwig to the Desert of Sherds and rescued Sangwine from the scorpion, and Sangwine flung himself and Fang and said "Older Brother!".

It was very surprising.

Just like Zedwig's soliloquy. >.>

*pulls off a stilletto heeled shoes and points it at Colby* More now...please?

Heeeeyyy... When can we expect the next update? Just out of curiosity, to lay my paranoia at rest.

Tonight!

Hoorays!!!

*smiling warmly... sorta* i hate you... OMG I LOVE YOU SO MUCH SED!!! (have you noticed that kinda sounds like Hedwig?)