I wonder if we are going to get a flashback of Soma hearing Agni get stabbed to death.
That would be horrid in all the worst ways. Alone in the dark, Agni’s expression in his head, RCiel probably screaming/laughing considering how deranged the message was with the voice of a boy he called his little brother, the thick stabs into Agni’s flesh, bones breaking heavily, blood splattering little by little and by a lot at the end. And the voice of whoever spoke to RCiel, probably calm and monotone then the footsteps receding.
He doesnt open the door, he probably wouldnt be able too. Alone in the dark for who knows how long he would be hearing Agni’s words, see his smile. Clutching at his hand, the stinging felt like an annoyance compared to the despair he was feeling yet it was proof he was alive. That Agni didnt die for nothing.
The saddest part was him knowing Agni didnt listen to him in both the beginning and end of his time in England.
When
you do something like this [genderbend parody] it’s boring if you
draw characters who look androgynous by nature, since their [outward
appearance] won’t change that much. So I feel like drawing
characters in the order of their manliness [or womanliness].
Characters
like Agni and Nina are especially suitable [when it comes to
genderbend parodies]. Or Lizzie.
Lizzie: I’ve found this cute thing so I bought it [for you]~.
[Her
outward appearance] hasn’t changed that much from her usual one. A
‘dog-type’ ‘otomen’? [**’dog type’ = people
who express their affection for others very openly. For your
information, you can
read
more
about this here. **‘otomen’ = girlish boys. More
information can be obtained here.]
That ‘female butler’ I drew yesterday [*Sebastian] is so popular among my assistants and now I’m torn because they keep telling me “Do that [genderbend parody] in the main story, too. Quick!” (lol)
A
tall, dark-skinned woman (about 180 cm [5′‘9′] tall) with big
breasts and white hear, who is gentle like a goddess and has
superhuman strength, just like a fierce god… That sounds like a
character in which I put all my ideals!!
However, a shonen manga in which most characters are female and around 30 years old…? [*note: referring to genderbend!Sebastian, Baldroy and Agni] I wonder what kind of people would read such a manga.
If I created a male-female master-servant duo, I automatically would want to write about social division mixed with romance. That’s why most master-servant duos [in Kuroshitsuji] are duos of the same sex. However, I think it actually would have been okay if there had been a romantic duo among them as well.
Madam Red and Grelle are a male-female pair but I somehow think [their relationship] cannot be compared to romance. I have the feeling they were closer than that. Their mood was like in “Sex and the city”, “The Adventures of Priscilla“ or “Burlesque”.
Redmond: “Oh, Ms Phantomhive, your tie is crooked.”
Text above Greenhill: She’s the girl who can cook the best among them.
I have the feeling that this version might have been more fun… However, I think there were neither boarding schools for girls nor uniforms for female students in the 19th century yet.
The reason why I’ve been drawing so many girls lately is that as far as the eye can reach, there are currently almost only dudes wearing morning suits in the actual main story.
[Let me draw more] ribbons! Frills! Ribbons! Frills! Lace! Tassels! Lace-up boots! Waist~~~~!! *having a fit*
Today is the release date of GFantasy May issue. This month, I
could eventually draw the episode I have had in mind for about 10 years ever since that
character’s first apperance. So please watch over [his fate]. -Toboso
Bonus:
Don’t tell me that this silly “let me in – no I won’t let you in” quarrel between Sebastian and Agni in ch23
was foreshadowing this “let me out – no I won’t let you out” scene in the latest chapter:
Okay so the curry contest arc of Kuroshitsuji is by far the least violent/disturbing out of all the arcs and…one of the less exciting ones. But it 100% makes up for that by being really delightful.
I’m gonna gush about how delightful it is under the “keep reading.”
@shinigami-mistress and I have discussed Agni and Soma depicted as a Christ figure (particularly Agni, of course), and @eglentyne-mcqueen made a good post about the religious symbolism, too.
However, we’ve been focusing, perhaps, on the *visual representations/imagery*. Has anyone discussed the fact that Agni basically *died for their sins*? Because he did….
From Matthew 20:28: “The Son of Man (Agni) did not come to be served (he was from a very noble caste as Arshad), but to serve (now he’s a butler–his entire job is to serve), and to give his life as a ransom for many (do I need to explain this?).”
He “gave his life as a ransom for many”–not just Soma, but all those that Soma touched (and he says as much).
Ah! Thanks! I needed someone who can do the biblical legwork lol
It’s an interesting thought that Agni could be given a second chance by the reapers. It seems too late at this point, though, according to the idea that death occurs when the soul is collected. However, we have not seen the process for reapers saving a life. Perhaps it takes a few days? Like three??
As a Christian this is very deep for me… I love this manga, but it being about demons would worry me if someone were to pull out biblical citations, but this is about a good character, so right now I’m so touched for Agni who’s such a good person and I’m really gonna miss him. TTATT
As for your question, @abybweisse, what if the killer was accompanied by Undertaker, specially to get a soul he could practice on for the strange dolls?
Though I don’t think Undertaker went inside the townhouse with the attackers (probably Lords Sirius and Polaris), I think a Undertaker could be driving their carriage. (That’s why my icon right now is the carriage driver….)
I doubt he would take Agni’s soul, though. He seems to be focusing on specific people and specific souls, not merely experimenting on any soul or cinematic record he can get his hands on.
As a Christian, I have to say I think you all are really stretching this. Not everyone who sacrifices his life for others is a Christ figure. Self-sacrifice is a thing that humans do. I really don’t see the connection between Agni and Christ beyond the idea that “dying for others” = “Messianic figure” which I don’t agree with. Just my .02.
If you pay attention to the illustrations, Soma gets shot in the hand, making his right hand look like it has stigmata. Then Agni gets stabbed in the side like Jesus getting stabbed by a spear. Agni is shown in a “crucifixion pose” when he’s getting shot in the back. When Sebastian holds Agni’s body on the floor, it looks very much like the Virgin Mary’s lamentation of Christ (a Pieta). Add to the fact this chapter was released worldwide just two days after Easter.
(I’m atheist, but I see the intentional religious illustrations and implications….)
Don’t forget the knives in his back, referring to the whipping. Oh and good job on the knowledge even though you’re atheist! No wonder you answer things so well!
Ooh! The whipping would parallel very well to all the slashes across his back (even more than the stabs themselves).
I’ve also wondered whether the stabbing of his eye could be a vague reference to the crown of thorns, since there’s no really good way to make a more direct reference….
I’m an art history and architecture buff, and you can’t be into those without learning a lot about religious imagery lol.
Agni and Soma are definitely Christ figures. According to How to Read Literature Like a Professor here are the requirements for a Christ Figure:
Crucified, wounds in the hands feet, side and head (See Examples Above)
In agony (perhaps even great physical suffering) (Again, See Examples Above)
Self-sacrificing (big sacrifice, preferably a life, for others) (Again, See Examples Above)
Good with children (Agni and Soma feed a bunch of poor kids)
Good with loaves, fish, water, wine (I’ll count curry as it is food)
Thirty-three years of age when last seen (I don’t know how old Agni is, but I’ll guess he’s in his 30s)
Known to use humble modes of transportation, feet or donkeys preferred (Soma and Agni walk around a lot, especially the first time we meet them)
Believed to have walked on water (Ehhhh….I can’t recall any time, but whatever.)
Often portrayed with arms outstretched (See Chapter 127)
Known to have had a confrontation with the devil, possibly tempted (in a wilderness–disappears to the wilderness) (Agni and Soma’s interactions with Sebastian.)
Last seen in the company of thieves (Well, Agni used to be a criminal, so this can count for Soma, also Ciel and Sebastian aren’t exactly innocent)
Creator of many aphorisms and parables (See Chapter 127 where Agni refers to Soma as the sun…like a lot)
Buried, but arose on the third day (Dear God, I hope this happens.)
Had disciples, twelve at first, although not all equally devoted (Agni to Soma, Soma to Ciel)
Very forgiving (Soma to Agni during their first meeting)
Came to redeem an unworthy world (at the least offers hope) (Soma and Agni offer a lot of hope in the Black Butler universe)
(I reference this discussion and then go into my own additions)
I added some comments to the tweets (@qwys), but there’s some things I wanted to add here. (I might also add it there.)
There’s a mention above that Christ was supposedly 33 when he died, and Agni is canonically 31 when he dies:
There’s a tumblr thread where I mention about the meanings of “Agni” and “Soma”, plus I’ve explained this in a previous post, but here’s the breakdown of Agni’s original name:
So, he’s the “devoted lord of truth Brahmin”.
Also, there is mention above and in your tweets about foods, particularly breads. Not only do they hand out curry breads/buns to the poor (mostly kids) and at Funtom Music Hall, too… right? But there’s also an early scene with Soma stuffing himself with naan.
Oh, yeah! And here are some screenshots from older reblogs I did in this same thread:
Something else about being in the company of thieves. That’s where our earl and Sebastian first meet them… down in East End. Soma and Agni show up while these guys are trying to steal everything our earl and Sebastian have on them.
Stressed, Depressed, and Story Obsessed 