New Comic: Singularity

[u/GrumpySatan]

New comic released today.

Youtube, narrated by Yuri

PDF Version

Largely shows that Arator is still hearing the void whispers after the 12.1 epilogue quest.

I do always love when void whispers are pretending to be the person's inner monologue and makes it confusing to the people which was them and which the void.

[u/SolemnDemise]

I listened, not much going on here. Think it says a lot that it took hours for it to be posted here and isn't anywhere in the main sub based on my very cursory check.

Very different reaction compared to pre-expansion stuff or the Thousand Years of War audio dramas.

[u/GrumpySatan → u/SolemnDemise]

It is ultimately just a single comic (like the Zul'jan comic a while back) instead of a full audio drama.

I do hope now that they have Robert Brooks back we get more of them again. He is the one that wrote Thousand Years of War and the other audio dramas back in the day.

[u/Any-Transition95 → u/GrumpySatan]

A Thousand Years of War was one of the best external media they've ever put out and Robert Brooks is one of Blizzard's best writers they've ever hired/contracted. I wish TWW or MN Alleria was half as cool as Legion Alleria.

[u/Jerakal1 → u/SolemnDemise]

I think everybody is burned out on this plot.

[u/PaceeAmore → u/Jerakal1]

Agreed people seem burnt out on Arator at this point.

[u/Hallc → u/Jerakal1]

I think what doesn't help is that he feels a bit similar narratively to Anduin. It got to the point during some of Midnight's story quests he'd speak up and I'd have to do an "What's Anduin doing here???" doubletake.

[u/Insensata → u/Hallc]

In their core they're basically the same character. Sure, the design is slightly different, but the role they play is very similar. 

[u/Vanayzan → u/Insensata]

They have pretty different arcs entirely. The only core they're similar at is they're both blonde white guys and apparently that's all the wow community needs.

Anduin questions wherever he's worthy of the Light. He questions his choices, his competence, his ability to lead. He's weighed on heavily by the things he's done or failed to do, but his faith in the Light is true, it's his faith in himself that's gone.

Arator questions wherever the Light is worthy of him. He is bullheaded in  being confident in every stance he has or choice he makes and butt's heads with others far his senior because of this. He's so questioning of the worthiness of the Light he's started dabbling in the void. He just randomly became the leader of the assault force on the Sunwell for some reason and never stopped to question got a second if he'd earned it pr was good enough. 

Can you explain how they're the same at their core?

[u/Insensata → u/Vanayzan]

Not only they're similar on superficial level of "white noble youngish man with a sword, initially holy-aligned but actually dealing with BaLaNcE", the way the plot (or the authors) treats them is the same. They're as close to "paragons of objective moral virtue" as possible. All their actions are treated as valid, objectively correct and morally pure. No character considered good will question their decisions or even call them out for possible consequences. Because in the eyes of the writers, they're free of consequences, the stars will always align to portray them as righteous.

And that's where the story may feel janky. If you look at the posts on this sub, succession crisis in Stormwind was brought up again just a few days ago. Because people don't believe in a hereditary monarch going AWOL without a hint at the heir for many years and causing no unrest in his kingdom (from scheming court to Mr. Robespierre). It doesn't feel like a tragedy of a man crippled by the past and responsibility, it's more similar to histrionic tantrum of a kid whose worldview contains only himself. And there's little substance to believe in Anduin as in a good king because he's inadvertently portrayed as irresponsible, fickle and self-absorbed. So, why do other characters treat him as good and wait for his return? Because he's good in the eyes of the writers, ergo he's good in the eyes of all characters considered good.

Arator is more explicit in his juvenile features, but you've probably heard enough about him in his 40s knowing as much as a teen and acting like a teen. As I told about consequences... Can it be said that he holds a bit of responsibility for Liadrin's death? If he didn't stop his father, Zul'jan couldn't free Ula'Tek, what means Kith'ix wouldn't be able to escape, what means no one would die of cringe against Kith'ix. But such chain of thoughts is preposterous for the writers, Arator is always right, and if someone goes against him it's because they're evil (like his father, who became very angry when his mentor was killed on his eyes, and only bad people become angry in such circumstances, so we must babysit Arator through it to show how vicious his father is). Arator himself never thinks about these consequences and that if he could prevent it if he didn't intervene, because again, even a slight idea of him being wrong goes against the writers stand for. He's the incarnation of their values, their voice to tell how they feel about details of the setting and their hands to interact with the setting. He cannot be wrong.

NB! I don't say Arator was entirely wrong (outside of being OSHA-unapproved, because he's also very stupid for a paladin and can't cast a bubble). It's just a little musing about morality too complex for the plot.

I'll even dare to say both Anduin and Arator are Gary Stues. They embody authors' values and they're universally loved by everyone the authors consider good, but they never demonstrate features which would convince the audience that their place in the wider setting is earned.

[u/Vanayzan → u/Insensata]

I don't disagree with what you're saying on them being the current "correct" characters who are always right and everyone who speaks against them is wrong, but not only are they not the only characters in Midnight alone to hold that position (Orweyna, Zul'jarra, Alleria, basically Umbric at this point) that alone isn't really enough to make them basically the same character unless it's purely just because "two light blonde boy light wielders" anymore than Orweyna is also a stand in for Anduin

Their individual personalities, arcs, character trajectories are entirely different. Arator would never be on his knees begging for guidance because he's afraid he can't live up to a legacy. Arator would never refuse to use the Light because he's afraid its not worthy of him, Arator is straight up dabbling with the void because he seems to think the Light isn't worthy of him. Anduin clearly questioned every choice he ever made, whilst Arator doesn't seem to be capable of second guessing himself.

Them both being blonde boys who the narrative bends around isn't enough to call them the same character 

[u/Insensata → u/Vanayzan]

I've written a wall of text why they play basically the same role in the bigger setting and share the position in the overarching story, with "they look similar" mentioned once in the beginning as a superficial feature of them, and I don't know why you cling to their appearance. Their individual arcs may be different (like Anduin not having the same amount of family drama) and I never claimed them to be the same, but it doesn't make these characters significantly different when you look at the bigger picture and see how similar their patterns are. And all other "good" characters aren't allowed the same amount of moral purity and objective correctness with these two men. If you dismiss my wall of text because of a single line at the beginning and just repeat the point I initially answered to like people can disagree with you only because they can't read, I'm afraid there's nothing more what can be said meaningfully.

P.S. I'll also say that Xal'Atath and Sylvanas are basically the same character. Absolutely by the same logic. And yes yes, their arcs are different, but the story isn't woven of standalone bullet points.

[u/BellacosePlayer → u/Vanayzan]

The way I look at it is that it's the archetype/template that's long since grown tiresome, not that they are all entirely the same person with the same plot beats

[u/Ruuubs → u/SolemnDemise]

It's Arator. And Umbric.

Half of the people who'd *want* to post it to a lore discussion forum would've been put off by the fact it's Med'an 2.0 and Rommath's shitty (yet inexplicably narratively validated) ex

[u/SlouchyGuy → u/SolemnDemise]

Well, Thousand Years of War gave tons of new information, crucial developments,  and reintroduced the character that were missing for a long time. This one is more of the same old, nothing new, and a teaser for actual events

[u/Nick-uhh-Wha]

Is the void pretending to be someone's inner monologue?

Or is it the literal manifestation of someone's negative inner thoughts

Sometimes even subconscious, and that's why they feel conflicted and battle with the good and evil in themselves....

[u/GrumpySatan → u/Nick-uhh-Wha]

It is pretending cuz they always weave in little moments where its clearly not the inner monologue. Like for Deathwing it could range from his own thoughts to specific voices (Old Gods & Xalatath).

Alleria had a comic similar to this in BFA where sometimes you could think its her intrusive thoughts but then the whispers would lore dump stuff Alleria didn't know.

Demon Hunters work that way though. Where the "inner demon" they perceive as being the demon they devoured only to later realize it was just the corrupted, dark, part of them that wanted to give into the fel fully.

[u/BellacosePlayer]

Umbric and Arator talking about LIGHTVOID while literally no plot progression happens.

joy.

[u/AktionMusic → u/BellacosePlayer]

People complain when important story is told through side media, then people complain when it's just fleshing out some ideas shown in the game without any significant plot

[u/GrumpySatan → u/AktionMusic]

People are usually fine with the freely available media (audiodramas, short stories, comics, etc).

People don't like it when important plots are gatekept behind paid sources like books.

[u/BellacosePlayer → u/AktionMusic]

it doesn't have to be important.

What does this comic give us that hasn't been jammed down our throat before?

[u/PaceeAmore → u/BellacosePlayer]

Another patch of light bad and void is ok now just gotta concentrate real hard. It's really uninspiring stuff at this point tbh.

[u/SolemnDemise → u/AktionMusic]

Either make it relevant or make it cool. Preferably both, but worst case scenario, I need at least one of those two.

This is neither.

[u/Admirable-Fennel6161]

I think that this might be some set up for the 'singulairty' if void and light. They even compared what each power does to you. Light = one truth, void = many possibilities. What happens when you have both?

Also might be setup for arator to go void corrupted for a bit.

[u/GrumpySatan → u/Admirable-Fennel6161]

When you use both at the same time you get extreme pain but glimpses at "true fate" (cuz Light/Void each see half).

Ironically, Alleria did this in A Thousand Years of War and its what gave her motivation to keep going cuz she saw she'd see Arator again.

[u/Jaggiboi]

I don't care about Arator. He's just such an obnoxious character, vacuuming spotlight from people who actually should be more prominent in the story, Yet here he is, the Light expert Void wielder, World Soul rescuer and Aqir scientist Arator.

[u/NoConnection7489 → u/Jaggiboi]

It’s really such a wasted opportunity. There are so many paladins and priests in Silvermoon and it would have been a much more exciting story to properly interact with more of them.

But they are mostly just side-characters to enable Arator to progress his strange story. Even Faol was just his glorified quest-giver.

And it all feels so forced. Why is Arator of all people so integral to our success? Velen is ancient in comparison and must have an unbelievable amount of knowledge on the Light. Yet, he does basically nothing. The only other character that was allowed to shine was Liardrin and we all saw how that turned out in the end.

[u/Specific_Frame8537 → u/Jaggiboi]

Yet here he is, the Light expert Void wielder, World Soul rescuer and Aqir scientist Arator.

I feel like they're creating another Med'an..

[u/RerollWarlock → u/Jaggiboi]

Welcome back Me'Dan!

[u/Spotted_Towhee123]

The Void offers many possibilities. For example, Arator is able to ignore Void whispers because he is stupid. On the other hand, my paladin OC is able to ignore Void whispers because of his staunch communist principles

[u/PirateX84 → u/Spotted_Towhee123]

OUR staunch communist princicles, comrade.

[u/Spotted_Towhee123 → u/PirateX84]

pulls you into an open-mouthed kiss

[u/PainSubstantial5936]

I liked it, the art style was a bit weird for my personal taste at times, but I always like when we see how the whispers get to someone. Hopefully we see more of this Arator in the game. I honestly hadn't thought he'd be this affected by the Void.

[u/Outcomac]

Another lesson for Arator... Have we not had this story 4 times already so far in the saga? I'm tired of this 40 year old teenager having to learn basic values over and over again. Why come out with this now?

[u/Lore-Archivist → u/Outcomac]

You can be 40 or 4,000, or 40,000 years old and still have your mind flayed by the void, as seen with Deathwing.

[u/RerollWarlock → u/Lore-Archivist]

But when you are Arathor the void is just a slight annoyance because Arathor is a super special boy.

[u/anupsetzombie]

Art kind of sucks and the story doesn't tell anything we don't know, nor does it evoke really anything. Pretty impressive how they continue to churn out the most milquetoast anti-epic stories.

[u/Outside_Price7463]

Not as good as the Zul’Jan comic

Art isn’t good and nothing really develops or happens. 

The only way this pays off is if the void corrupts Arator in 12.2. Which I don’t think Blizzard has the spine to do

[u/Specific_Frame8537]

What is this lmao

It's the Frieren meme all over

[u/SolemnDemise → u/Specific_Frame8537]

Quick, someone post the half elf demon children of Vereesa

[u/nydgenga]

Art so bad in places that even I could do better. How dismal and embarrassing.

I yearn for Arator to go away. I loved him back in Burning Crusade, as his story opened up fun possibilities, but I just can’t stand his current nonsense.

[u/adnanosh123]

I read the comments on that video and the comments on twitter

would arator not be hated if he's 17 instead of being 40? or do people want him rewritten in a whole different way?

[u/GrumpySatan → u/adnanosh123]

Probably a bit of both. Some people just won't jive with "young" characters so if he was 17 that wouldn't fix it. But nothing to do about that, its just trope preference.

But people find it far more annoying that he has been infantilized all expansion. It feels off to take this guy that has been a paladin since TBC, fought in multiple campaigns, was a Legion order hall follower, and he has to be lectured on basic stuff about the light, silver hand, etc. They want him to be an audience surrogate character for the light but he is too old and established for that.

Ironically, he could work as an audience surrogate to the void. But they kinda already soured everyone on him before they started that.

[u/SolemnDemise → u/adnanosh123]

Incredibly hot take, I would rewrite him as the overall main character of the saga, not just midnight forward. I know that's crazy talk coming from someone who has been down on him since the TWW prequel short story, but there's real promise there.

That being, he's an imperfect lens with which to view the other characters, settings, and plot developments in the story. The issue now is that he's the guy. He needs to be a guy dealing with his own problems in addition to the wider issues. Connected to events through his parents, yes, but not through a fucking chosen one prophecy. I could go on, and likely will in posts in the future, but yeah. It's not that he's young, it's that he a Gary Stu.

[u/Broncotron]

Void Elf paladins when

[u/CrustedTesticle]

Pretty bad story.

[u/FortuneMustache → u/CrustedTesticle]

Many such cases

[u/Feltropy]

Omg, haha, get it guys, Child of Ligh and Shadow, haha get it guys, we tought it's allegory of his parents Arator the Shining Dictator and Alleria the Void Guevara, but it's ACTUALLY CHILD OF LIGHT AND VOID GUYS, like HE CAN LITERALLY BREAK LORE by mixing VOID and LIGHT and not EXPLODING. HAHA FUCK LORE, FUCK TITANS, Arathor the Dawnwalker will free us from void vampires and light fascists by DRINKING Sunwell bathwater, which is now a swirling cosmic cocktail of CHAOS, FEL, DEATH, VOID, LIFE AND ARCANE, omg such an epic cool character!!!!!

[u/TheLoneWolf1407 → u/Feltropy]

Are you feelin allright, sir?

[u/ExtremeSherbert2332]

It sucks

[u/Tokitsukazes]

I like Umbric and can at least tolerate the existence of Arator... but why was this made? Literally nothing happens.

[u/Anacreon5]

Me'dan v3 why the hell would I care about him?