@distefant: MC was brought forth from RC's mind to be a tangible representation of whatever it is that is talking to more than likely created because RC thought of MC as his stongest ally, so the entity that is "teaching" RC would obviously pick the strongest memory!!
now my question is: Is the entity that is talking to RC being controlled by Ferial? or is it acting on its own? From what i have read and deduced i think that the entity is being controlled by Ferial, in order to strengthen the RC because the RC is a intricate part of Ferial's plan and he needs to be stronger to do what ever it is Ferial needs him to do… i also see this extra "training" coming back to bite Ferial in the bottom…
o the last 3 panels seem very dark…is that on purpose or just a side effect of in-game lighting?
i also feel like the first two panels are happening in slow motion…i know its not, but everytime i look at it i imagine RC running very very slow
Now for theories. I don't know that the MC is part of the cavalcade, and anyway he looks like he's no match for the Reclaimer, even if he claims to be more. I'm thinking about Ferial and I think he might be another pawn, or that he is looking to awaken a force that he wants to control but might not have the capacity to. Something like that forgotten construct.
I enjoy how each comic leads us farther into the mysteries of this haloverse. The parallels to the most recent Red vs. Blue series are also intersting. Keep up the great work!
I had a suspicion it was Ferial, but then I thought he was still talking to the other Cavalcade member… I still have my doubts as to what the MC is, or who/what is controlling it…
My guess would be that the MC is the Cavalcade member that was in that base. I bet the next comic is the MC chasing the RC to the computer that opens the gate, then the RC will do something there that helps the Cavalcade member.
Hey I’ve been reading from the start and this comic is really well done. Sometimes I get this sense of depth from a really interesting and intertwining plot and sometimes I get the feeling it’s a little cheesy or too spelled out or the writing could have been tightened up. I’m not saying I could do a better job but it’s just my impressions. I really love this comic overall in any case.
I was doing some photography in Halo and thought you’d like to check it out. I’ve left you my photobucket album in the website line and feel free to take images as long as you credit me with them.
Keep it up, can’t wait to see what happens.
-Cam
re: Nathan – Thanks. I figured it was about time you guys got some real answers to at least one set of mysteries. There’s only just so much suspense one can take.
re: Distefant – Ah, the reveal on the MC’s identity is fast approaching.
re: JimboMonkey1234 – Dude, that sucks. Time to request that coffin from Microsoft.
re: PikminGod – I think the lighting issue is partially a problem relating to types of computer monitor. I have a simple CRT I work from at home, and the comic looks just fine to me. I do know that some LCD monitors have trouble with brightness (which, I believe, can actually be adjusted in the monitor’s settings).
re: iamthemonkeyhead – I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes the writing gets a little ‘cheesy.’ I’m not always 100% happy with the quality of my own writing, but then again, I’m a writer. Very few writers are ever happy with the final product.
re: Shu Sam Chen (HSAR) – Well, this story really is about the Reclaimer and Ferial. Everyone else is basically just the supporting cast.
Could the monitor that was compromised be one that we know Ferial already has captive? You mention “Construct” as the one attacking the monitor and the station. Is Ferial a construct like Cortana? or possibly he used a construct like her to attack the station. In Haloverse it would make sense as Cortana had little problem dealing with GuiltySpark323
omg ive read all your comics in one day and i think they are reaaaaaaaaaallllly good, wow your blog is finally in the present huh? i thought there wouldnt be a point in positng a comment on any of your earlier comics
btw what is the different bewteen the cavalcade AI that reclaimer is looking for and th moniter that is supposed to be in the same instalation as the cavalcade ai they are currently looking for?
in respsonce to jimbomonkey, i got hit by the red rings of death too! it totally sucks
Upon further reflection… I highly doubt it was Ferial even. Like another suggested, could be a set-up to make RC think it was Ferial… Regardless, Jim, I think I hate and love your releasing of tension as much as I curse and praise your ability to create it…
Thats SOOOOOO not fair!Everything halo related is on the pacific timezone!Im a purebred michiganian,and I never know when a comic will be up! waah!On topic,I still stick by my thoughts as to Ferial pulling the strings.He must of sent the virus,then invaded the outpost(with a possible army/squad?).Ferial is in control!
re: Taterific – A setup, eh? Well, that’s as good a theory as any other, I suppose.
re: Funkayfooj – 343 Guilty Spark and 2401 Penitent Tangent are Monitors. They’re actually little metal spheres that are self-contained entities in charge of maintaining their respective installations. The Cavalcade constructs are, by contrast, vastly superior artificial intelligences who have no real physical representation, other than holographic images. They interact directly with computer hardware and software, moving into and out of systems seemlessly and effortlessly. Effectively, the Cavalcade are the Cortanas of this universe (though vastly superior even to her), and the Monitors are the 343 Guilty Sparks. Does that help?
re: Sangheilioz – I always try to leave every page of the comic with a cliffhanger.
re: mysterioso2006 – New comics go up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at midnight (EDT). If you want instant updates, use Google Reader to subscribe to the RSS feed for Reclaimer, or alternatively, sign up for email delivery, which goes out around 6 or 7 AM (EDT).
Maybe Ferial was the Monitor… Maybe he went RAMPANT!!!!! This would explain how the virus got the job done!!!
Edit: Hey, know the edit timer gives you 15 minutes! Enough time for a Coffee (Or Halo research) break!
@uzi-well,its possible.He MIGHT be a monitor in an elite shell,but he has a personality that is to organic.I dont know though.With all the weird thing s that have so far,its hard to tell.
@Shu Sam Chen – ok, where did I miss that Ferial is a shape shifter?
Ok, looking at this I have a list of unknowns:
Ferial: Rampant AI, Rampant Cavalcade Entity (one of the 3 lost ones), a power hungry Elite or ?
MC: Rampant AI, “educational software” from the cavalcade entity, a lure from ferial to get RC to do his work or ?
RC: A spartan doing his boyscout duty to help save the universe (exaclty who is he saving the universe from I wonder?), a pawn in Ferial’s game (obviously), a spartan knocked unconscious in the training area that hasn’t woken up or ?
Legacy: truely a cavalcade memeber, maybe false representation of the cavalcabe by the “other” entity and/or Ferial or a dream/delusion by RC that will all disappear when he wakes up or ?
I know I missed some theories but things are going around like a blender right now so its kinda hard to keep track. I need more coffee….......
re: Distefant – You’re going to have to go back to Visual Echoes to see that little trick. Apparently not everyone picked up on exactly what was happening there.
the coloring was my crappy monitor at work! it looks great and i dont get that wierd slow-motion effect…o btw why isnt MC shooting at RC now? intersetting!
Oh so THAT is what happened in Visual Echoes. I thought the guy was teleporting and then it was just a cut to Ferial but I guess I wasn’t paying attention.
re: Funkayfooj – Good. I’m glad we’ve got you up to speed now.
re: PikminGod – Yeah, different monitors render the comic in different ways. It’s impossible for me to account for every single one.
re: mysterioso2006 – You’re gonna have to wait for Cold Storage’s appearance. I have definite plans for that one, none of them soon.
re: iamthemonkeyhead – Yeah, it’s hard to portray a transformation like that in a static image, which is why I try to overlay Ferial on the Spartan he was impersonating, with hopes that it would convey the event, with only limited success.
re: bansheeflier – Thanks for dropping by and I hope you’ll return!
I knew it (sorry to brag and all), Ferial is another, more powerful construct, that’s why you told me to sit on those questions then? I’ve just scoured through all the old episodes trying to work out when i realised all that
I liked the comic before but now i just plain love it, all the new revelations just make it awesome. By the way any clue as to where this series is going to end. I don’t want it to but I’m just wondering how long the build up ios going to be (this isn’t a criticism by the way).
I love the darkness of this issue as well
Further theories, continued from PikminGod;
If MC is Ferial (just remembered he can shapeshift) then he is using RC to destroy the calcavade, back to my old theory of getting Archimedes and then at the last moment tricking RC and using it against him
If MC is calcavade then this is real training to destroy Ferial, and I still think Archimedes is the key to all of this.
Either way, when are we going to get back to Team Viper and Archimedes?
Very long comment, hope it keeps you busy
It’s actually really fun reading everyone’s theories and thinking how the plot would evolve from them
right I’m actually done now
Edit: Wait no I’m not, talking about how different theories could play out, have you actually looked at anyone’s ideas and altered the story according to it? Or has the story been set out from the start and not likely to change?
I’m sorry for being really annoying with all this
re: Funkayfooj – Reclaimer is currently on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday update schedule. If you want to receive updates as soon as they go live, go ahead and subscribe to the RSS feed (found in the left sidebar) or sign up to get Reclaimer in your email.
Jim, you’ve let me down here, can you atleast answers the questions relating to a rough timeline, return of Viper, and other people’s theories?
You can’t just get me addicted to your amazing comic and then deny me my comment fix lol
I like howyour the first personto use sage as the MCs armor color, and not green. Green is too bright. Also, could you photoshop the scar on his armor(there is a small chunk of armor misssing in his shoulder)
The color of the MC's armor is not available in multiplayer, hence the reason I went with sage. It was the closest I could get to the real thing. And I have no intention of Photoshopping anything else onto the armor. The point is not that the fake look exactly like the MC but that it's a crude facsimile. If you could hear it, you would also notice that the voice isn't quite right.
@distefant: MC was brought forth from RC's mind to be a tangible representation of whatever it is that is talking to more than likely created because RC thought of MC as his stongest ally, so the entity that is "teaching" RC would obviously pick the strongest memory!!
now my question is: Is the entity that is talking to RC being controlled by Ferial? or is it acting on its own? From what i have read and deduced i think that the entity is being controlled by Ferial, in order to strengthen the RC because the RC is a intricate part of Ferial's plan and he needs to be stronger to do what ever it is Ferial needs him to do… i also see this extra "training" coming back to bite Ferial in the bottom…
o the last 3 panels seem very dark…is that on purpose or just a side effect of in-game lighting?
i also feel like the first two panels are happening in slow motion…i know its not, but everytime i look at it i imagine RC running very very slow
great comic…YAY JIM
Now for theories. I don't know that the MC is part of the cavalcade, and anyway he looks like he's no match for the Reclaimer, even if he claims to be more. I'm thinking about Ferial and I think he might be another pawn, or that he is looking to awaken a force that he wants to control but might not have the capacity to. Something like that forgotten construct.
I enjoy how each comic leads us farther into the mysteries of this haloverse. The parallels to the most recent Red vs. Blue series are also intersting. Keep up the great work!
Well crap, guess I was a bit off. Nice twist, maybe too much coffee on that last run of theorizing. Ferial is at it again.
But who is the MC? Is he what is left of the defenses trying to educate the reclaimer to Ferial’s threats? Can’t wait to find out.
#2
Wow. Didn’t see that coming.
Oh, and I was just hit by the Red Rings of Death. Goddamn.
I had a suspicion it was Ferial, but then I thought he was still talking to the other Cavalcade member… I still have my doubts as to what the MC is, or who/what is controlling it…
My guess would be that the MC is the Cavalcade member that was in that base. I bet the next comic is the MC chasing the RC to the computer that opens the gate, then the RC will do something there that helps the Cavalcade member.
Hey I’ve been reading from the start and this comic is really well done. Sometimes I get this sense of depth from a really interesting and intertwining plot and sometimes I get the feeling it’s a little cheesy or too spelled out or the writing could have been tightened up. I’m not saying I could do a better job but it’s just my impressions. I really love this comic overall in any case.
I was doing some photography in Halo and thought you’d like to check it out. I’ve left you my photobucket album in the website line and feel free to take images as long as you credit me with them.
Keep it up, can’t wait to see what happens.
-Cam
Mind you, we know Ferial can shapeshift… but we still don’t know his motives.
@Jim: IMHO, the comic would have been better named “Ferial”.
re: Nathan – Thanks. I figured it was about time you guys got some real answers to at least one set of mysteries. There’s only just so much suspense one can take.
re: Distefant – Ah, the reveal on the MC’s identity is fast approaching.
re: JimboMonkey1234 – Dude, that sucks. Time to request that coffin from Microsoft.
re: PikminGod – I think the lighting issue is partially a problem relating to types of computer monitor. I have a simple CRT I work from at home, and the comic looks just fine to me. I do know that some LCD monitors have trouble with brightness (which, I believe, can actually be adjusted in the monitor’s settings).
re: Sangheilioz – Good, you should have doubts.
re: Rhyan5 –
re: iamthemonkeyhead – I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes the writing gets a little ‘cheesy.’ I’m not always 100% happy with the quality of my own writing, but then again, I’m a writer. Very few writers are ever happy with the final product.
re: Shu Sam Chen (HSAR) – Well, this story really is about the Reclaimer and Ferial. Everyone else is basically just the supporting cast.
@Jim: I meant this particular comic, not the series.
re: Shu Sam Chen (HSAR) – Ooooooooooooooh.
I thought about that, but figured it’d be too much a dead giveaway. Yes, there is a method to my madness. 
At least you’re willing to admit to the madness, they say thats the first step…
re: Matthew Montgomery – Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting I need anything so trite as a ‘cure.’ I like my madness.
It’s too late for us…. save yourself!
Could the monitor that was compromised be one that we know Ferial already has captive? You mention “Construct” as the one attacking the monitor and the station. Is Ferial a construct like Cortana? or possibly he used a construct like her to attack the station. In Haloverse it would make sense as Cortana had little problem dealing with GuiltySpark323
re: Shu Sam Chen (HSAR) –
re: Bearded Phantom – Don’t confuse the Monitors with the Cavalcade members. True, they’re both constructs, but they’re a different kind of construct.
It’s all a set up. Ferial didn’t do it, someone wants Reclaimer to believe it was Ferial.
omg ive read all your comics in one day and i think they are reaaaaaaaaaallllly good, wow your blog is finally in the present huh? i thought there wouldnt be a point in positng a comment on any of your earlier comics
btw what is the different bewteen the cavalcade AI that reclaimer is looking for and th moniter that is supposed to be in the same instalation as the cavalcade ai they are currently looking for?
in respsonce to jimbomonkey, i got hit by the red rings of death too! it totally sucks
Upon further reflection… I highly doubt it was Ferial even. Like another suggested, could be a set-up to make RC think it was Ferial… Regardless, Jim, I think I hate and love your releasing of tension as much as I curse and praise your ability to create it…
Thats SOOOOOO not fair!Everything halo related is on the pacific timezone!Im a purebred michiganian,and I never know when a comic will be up! waah!On topic,I still stick by my thoughts as to Ferial pulling the strings.He must of sent the virus,then invaded the outpost(with a possible army/squad?).Ferial is in control!
re: Taterific – A setup, eh? Well, that’s as good a theory as any other, I suppose.
re: Funkayfooj – 343 Guilty Spark and 2401 Penitent Tangent are Monitors. They’re actually little metal spheres that are self-contained entities in charge of maintaining their respective installations. The Cavalcade constructs are, by contrast, vastly superior artificial intelligences who have no real physical representation, other than holographic images. They interact directly with computer hardware and software, moving into and out of systems seemlessly and effortlessly. Effectively, the Cavalcade are the Cortanas of this universe (though vastly superior even to her), and the Monitors are the 343 Guilty Sparks. Does that help?
re: Sangheilioz – I always try to leave every page of the comic with a cliffhanger.
re: mysterioso2006 – New comics go up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at midnight (EDT). If you want instant updates, use Google Reader to subscribe to the RSS feed for Reclaimer, or alternatively, sign up for email delivery, which goes out around 6 or 7 AM (EDT).
O.M.G. Why am I not surprised? Evil b******.
@jim-Thx!
MC may be a piece of software designed by Ferial to get the Reclaimer to a point where the Reclaimer is needed by Ferial…..for the Final Task, maybe?
@matora3311-ya know,your theory gave me a theory.MAYBE legacy is under the control of ferial,so leg. can bring reclaimer right to ferial! 0_o
0_o indeed.
Maybe Ferial was the Monitor… Maybe he went RAMPANT!!!!! This would explain how the virus got the job done!!!
Edit: Hey, know the edit timer gives you 15 minutes! Enough time for a Coffee (Or Halo research) break!
@uzi-well,its possible.He MIGHT be a monitor in an elite shell,but he has a personality that is to organic.I dont know though.With all the weird thing s that have so far,its hard to tell.
@Shu Sam Chen – ok, where did I miss that Ferial is a shape shifter?
Ok, looking at this I have a list of unknowns:
Ferial: Rampant AI, Rampant Cavalcade Entity (one of the 3 lost ones), a power hungry Elite or ?
MC: Rampant AI, “educational software” from the cavalcade entity, a lure from ferial to get RC to do his work or ?
RC: A spartan doing his boyscout duty to help save the universe (exaclty who is he saving the universe from I wonder?), a pawn in Ferial’s game (obviously), a spartan knocked unconscious in the training area that hasn’t woken up or ?
Legacy: truely a cavalcade memeber, maybe false representation of the cavalcabe by the “other” entity and/or Ferial or a dream/delusion by RC that will all disappear when he wakes up or ?
I know I missed some theories but things are going around like a blender right now so its kinda hard to keep track. I need more coffee….......
re: Distefant – You’re going to have to go back to Visual Echoes to see that little trick. Apparently not everyone picked up on exactly what was happening there.
Ah, ok, now I see it. I did’nt look as close as I should have before. I now see the outline of Ferial in there too.
Nicely done, going to need to check the future ones closer for any other “visual echos” that you may sneak in on us.
Nice comic Jim, I have and will remain hooked on this one.
O.O, This is getting really addictive! oh and yet another theory; MC is part of a monitor? or some other control sub-programme or a defence programme?
ah, sorry it took me a couple hours to understand it but i do!
the coloring was my crappy monitor at work! it looks great and i dont get that wierd slow-motion effect…o btw why isnt MC shooting at RC now? intersetting!
So,considering its been like two weeks since cold storages release,Itll be in the next little story arch?
Oh so THAT is what happened in Visual Echoes. I thought the guy was teleporting and then it was just a cut to Ferial but I guess I wasn’t paying attention.
i didnt start reading until today and i got to say good work and also a nice little twist at the end….hmm
re: Distefant – Glad to hear it. Repeat readers are what keeps Reclaimer going.
re: Spartana – Or something.
re: Funkayfooj – Good. I’m glad we’ve got you up to speed now.
re: PikminGod – Yeah, different monitors render the comic in different ways. It’s impossible for me to account for every single one.
re: mysterioso2006 – You’re gonna have to wait for Cold Storage’s appearance. I have definite plans for that one, none of them soon.
re: iamthemonkeyhead – Yeah, it’s hard to portray a transformation like that in a static image, which is why I try to overlay Ferial on the Spartan he was impersonating, with hopes that it would convey the event, with only limited success.
re: bansheeflier – Thanks for dropping by and I hope you’ll return!
Whens the next one comin out jim?
Good work so far!
I knew it (sorry to brag and all), Ferial is another, more powerful construct, that’s why you told me to sit on those questions then? I’ve just scoured through all the old episodes trying to work out when i realised all that
I liked the comic before but now i just plain love it, all the new revelations just make it awesome. By the way any clue as to where this series is going to end. I don’t want it to but I’m just wondering how long the build up ios going to be (this isn’t a criticism by the way).
I love the darkness of this issue as well
Further theories, continued from PikminGod;
If MC is Ferial (just remembered he can shapeshift) then he is using RC to destroy the calcavade, back to my old theory of getting Archimedes and then at the last moment tricking RC and using it against him
If MC is calcavade then this is real training to destroy Ferial, and I still think Archimedes is the key to all of this.
Either way, when are we going to get back to Team Viper and Archimedes?
Very long comment, hope it keeps you busy
It’s actually really fun reading everyone’s theories and thinking how the plot would evolve from them
right I’m actually done now
Edit: Wait no I’m not, talking about how different theories could play out, have you actually looked at anyone’s ideas and altered the story according to it? Or has the story been set out from the start and not likely to change?
I’m sorry for being really annoying with all this
re: Funkayfooj – Reclaimer is currently on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday update schedule. If you want to receive updates as soon as they go live, go ahead and subscribe to the RSS feed (found in the left sidebar) or sign up to get Reclaimer in your email.
re: lilskii – And the plot thickens.
Jim, you’ve let me down here, can you atleast answers the questions relating to a rough timeline, return of Viper, and other people’s theories?
You can’t just get me addicted to your amazing comic and then deny me my comment fix lol
re: lilskii – Just for you, my friend.
I like howyour the first personto use sage as the MCs armor color, and not green. Green is too bright. Also, could you photoshop the scar on his armor(there is a small chunk of armor misssing in his shoulder)
The color of the MC's armor is not available in multiplayer, hence the reason I went with sage. It was the closest I could get to the real thing. And I have no intention of Photoshopping anything else onto the armor. The point is not that the fake look exactly like the MC but that it's a crude facsimile. If you could hear it, you would also notice that the voice isn't quite right.