Arc XV: Hell Is That Noise

Hell Is That Noise

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Artist

Writer

David Hopkins

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Arc XIV: Its Like Cancer

Short XXIII: Gifts For God, Or Gifts For Self

Todd is a soldier during The Great Trench War, a World War I-like conflict in furry history. He reflects back on his time during the conflict, his experiences with a Drip-like figure who thrives on the carnage of war, and he slips into depression due to the war's never-ending death toll.

Returning home on bereavement leave, he finds out his wife Molly has committed suicide, and his young son has died as well. Molly was depressed due to her children repeatedly dying and Todd's absence, and hung herself. Todd, knowing he'll soon be sent back to front, and still depressed himself, takes his own life as well.

Greeted by Jack upon Death, the reaper decides to skip Judgment and take him directly to Hell. Todd is furious to find out that not only he but also his wife are in Hell, and he insists that they are destined to be together in Heaven. Jack scoffs at Todd's excuses, and he in turn decides to take the matter up with the Devil himself. Amused, Jacks chooses to accommodate him.

In Hell, he encounters Kane and his Reworks, and Jack prods him forward. He stays behind briefly and tells Kane the Devil has ordered Jack to make sure Todd meets him. Todd encounters Molly and tries to comfort her, but she is despondent and rejects his offerings of sympathy. She admits that the children didn't die naturally, each of them were daughters and Molly killed them because Todd wanted a son.

Todd still tries to comfort his wife and starts telling of his actions in the war, but they are interrupted by the appearance of Reworks of their daughters. The three demonic girls skewer Molly when she runs to them, and Jack appears to stop them from attacking Todd too. Todd is still furious and claims he and Molly don't deserve this, and Jack again mocks his belief in fate.

Tired after fleeing from the assault, Todd is greeted by a mysterious cloaked woman who offers to give him shelter. She takes him to a mysterious tower, in the dark disrobes and reveals herself to be the "real" Molly. The two make love, but then Jack returns and informs Todd he's sleeping with Vanity. The lights come on and he sees she's wearing Molly's face across her own. The Daughters appear and ask if they should expect a new baby brother. Jack urges Todd to leave. Utterly terrified, Todd leaps from the tower and jumps down into the Styx.

In the water, he sees eyes watching him and flashes back to his time in the war. He remembers when his commanding officer gave him an order to commit a war crime and execute 132 children who were war orphans on the justification that they'd end up growing up to become future enemies. Todd reluctantly carries out his orders. Back in the present, Todd surfaces and encounters Silver Blue and Fealt in a row boat. They welcome him aboard and discuss their eyes and his views on fate. Todd tries to justify his actions again by blaming fate, but Silver Blue and Fealt disagree with him. He disembarks in the Necropolis, entering the city to hide from those pursuing him and to contemplate his fate.

While wandering the city, Todd encounters Bob in a back alley, who cryptically breaks the fourth wall by referring to upcoming story arcs and dismissing Todd's views on fate. He suggests Todd leave when Lisa returns. He lives anonymously in the city for a while, entertained but terrified by the horrors that happened, until he meets Cliff. They become friends of sorts, both war vets from different conflicts and bond over that while exploring the city. They discover it's under attack by The 'Nams, the damned souls of immoral soldiers and war profiteers who continue their lust for blood in the afterlife. They fight them off and head to Cliff's home, The Oblong Tomb.

They talk about their experiences in war, and Todd let's slip the massacre of children he participated in which infuriates Cliff, who was accused along with his fellow soldiers by the public of being a babykiller himself, a label he rigorously denies. Furious that Todd did not disobey his immoral orders, he orders him to leave, ending their friendship. Todd is heartbroken and considers leaping from the top of the building, blaming fate for taking his last friend. He encounters Farrago who tries to convince him not to forestall his meeting anymore and tries convince him God doesn't hate soldiers, as she was one herself. Jack reappears and takes Todd away.

Arriving in the Devil's lair, Lucifer taunts Todd by showing him the pages of his adventures in comic form, and then transforming into the forms of various people he met in life, telling him he repeatedly put negative obstacles in Todd's path. Todd takes this as proof that he was the victim of fate, and Lucifer laughs off the suggestion while adding that while he had free will and was responsible for his own actions in life, in Hell his punishment is to have fate be real and be under the Devil's control. Todd recognizes that his life is a comic and when wondering who's reading it, stops talking in mid-sentence as he notices the comic's audience.

Arc XV: Hell Is That Noise

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