Endtown by Aaron Neathery for April 08, 2023

Last one to leave please turn the Lights Out ……

Finally, some peace and tranquility surrounded by the beauty of nature!

I’m probably overthinking this, but…

The background is suddenly a lot more realistic in this one. Makes me wonder if there’s a difference between how Marx perceives this world compared to the others… or is this a stylistic choice to make the scene more poignant?

Alone again, naturally

What a lovely transition! Splendid work.

It looks like Marx is depressed over not being able to save more.If he was reading that comic as a kid, he would feel some attachment for the place. A lovely place, compared to the great wastelands of the Endtown world.

“Today is a good day to die.”

Thought we’d chase after the others, not stay with Marx.

Sometimes no matter how beautiful Mother Nature presents itself the scars we carry from the past, make it all seem dull and distorted. Many in the medical field expected with the things I experienced in the military I would have PTSD; I do but it is based on my family life not war; the scars were there before combat ever happened.

It doesn’t look like a very pleasant world for the inhabitants..

Back to the same old same old?

Seeing the final moment of an entire world, frozen but for a moment in time, should give us all pause. So many times we as a species have stood on the precipice of utter destruction sown by our own hands. Yet again, we face a myriad of self-made apocalypses, and for that moment yet again, gaze upon all we see before us. The natural beauty that preexisted us and will continue long after, as that is, was and shall ever be is right here with us. Dare we extinguish this candle of life? Or do we cup our hand around it, protective of the vision it affords in the tomb like darkness of eternity. I’d rather it be said, that we are still here than, leaving only faint traces of our time in this world. Rage, rage against the dying of the light!

He must lead the loneliest life…

’’’’’’’’’’’it’s a wonder full life’’’’’’’’’’’’

Made me think of this poem…Kind of similar? Hope the format stays when I post…The Ides of Time:

Strange it seems forgotten dreamsStrange the ways of menStrange the happenings todayStrange where thoughts can lead you tooStrange you want to go

Finding means to circumventWhat is coming downManipulation indoctrinationMoving all around

Caesar knew not what would comeThe 15th day of MarchBrutal assassination then took placeA warning there maybeFor all who power do take

See it we haveOver and over againThe brothers Kennedy were twoGandhi Martin Luther King John LennonTo speak of just a fewThroughout the world it happensWhen men stand up for right and justiceAgainst the tide of greed and powerThat evil men will do

Mass murder everywhereSeems to be the order of the dayAcross the worldNot just peopleTrees rivers seasContaminated by dis-easeEffluvia washed up on distant shoresThe waste of others crimes

Interesting it becomesWe really know not whenCome forward will the endFor everyone

If you put yourself in harm’s wayFor trouble ask you doYet the simple fact comes throughAlready set up in perfect harmonyThe span of each lifetimefor mefor you

and so it is….© Jul 2019, carolan nathan

Gawd, please don’t let this be the end of “Endtown”

Say what you like about Marx, but he clearly is fond of this Cardoodles world.

Reminds me of the chalk world from Mary Poppins

It seems that some of the Cardoodles have noticed that something is up with their sun.

Nethery has managed to make this scene both ridiculous and sad, which is quite an achievement.

Presumably Marx is unhappy about the fate of the remaining toons, but since we don’t really understand either the extent or the limitations of Marx’s powers, it hard to know why he doesn’t save the others.

The inhabitants finally see what is about to happen….and Marx cannot save them.

Reminds me of the final scene from the 1959 movie “On the Beach”.

All good things come to an end. Even C.S. Lewis’ beloved Narnia was destroyed in ‘The Last Battle’, yet a better Narnia awaited. I’ve yet to see something better come and replace what’s been destroyed in this comic strip. As in all good dramas there are lighter moments in this comic strip. As in all good fairy tales, there’s a whole lot of grief and troubles before the “happily ever after” ending. There are difficult [if not impossible] tasks to be done, dragons to be slain, curses to be removed, pain to be endured, and problems solved. The saturnine is eventually replaced with the jovial.

Waitin’ for the End of the World…

Wonderful artwork!

Nice rotoscoping. And the toons quickly run the list from Pogo and Shoe to Tom and Jerry. Despite the Incoming Boom, I think Marx will make it out. The only thing we have to worry about is him singing a melancholy Vera Lynn’s “Some Sunny Day.” I hope that he’s got another trick to pull, on an entire world, but can’t guess what it could be.

I’m a little disappointed. After waiting for 3 weeks I’d been hoping to say goodbye to Marx and follow our cardoodle friends into the Endtown world. The artwork IS wonderful and it’s sad to see the imminent destruction of this world, but…………

Duffy’s desire to live changed this Cardoodle universe irrevocably it seems, at least from Mrax’s perspective? Time has slipped so slightly forward; the sun is about to nova; and Marx hates to see it happening. Beautiful, complicated, and poignant as always……