While exploring an old abandoned house, Catie finds something strange. A cursed VHS tape that traps their soul inside an old children's cartoon. Now living their life as a cartoon cat, will Catie be able to escape this strange place filled with allure and lies, or will they end up staying in this fantastical new world even if that means forfeiting both their memories and identity?
I wonder why empathetic elephant didn’t go down the stairs. He said he was guarding the door, but that doesn’t make sense. Mother could easily get past him and he would have no way to know when od dog escaped (if he had) I kinda hope he’s like the secret villain
@b0o: ngl that is very convincing especially since elephant was there before od-Dog I think elephant is gonna realize he can’t escape then start his villain arc and do everything in his power to not let anyone else escape
Od-Dog really said "No sweat!" No, just some blood... I wasn't expecting bleeding to be possible in this world. Od-Dog must've felt so defeated that he scribbled out his name from his sketchbook and stayed in his room until he forgot. Also, there is an error with the side the door is attached to, on page 11.
Ooooh, okay, I think it’s just their minds that get sucked into this world while their bodies are left behind. My guess is Od Dog’s body died in the time he’s been there.
@Human76: I believe you, because in one of the other episodes, Catie notes they are hungry, even though they are eating in the TV world, I think this is due to their real body still being connected to them, and is likely beginning to starve.
@MeirFenix: First of all, I want to talk about Od-dogs past character when Empathetic Elephant and how that will relate to the story. We are able to establish a timeline that Od-dog came after all the other kids and that Empathetic Elephant came before Od-dog, but Od-dog's strange behaviour when Empathetic Elephant reminds Od-dog of his real name, implies that Od-dog already knows something about the cursed tape, foreshadowing that there is still many more mysteries to be discovered about Od-dog, and a few of those mysteries along with Od-dogs motives are heavily hinted at throughout Empathetic Elephant's account of Od-Dog.
@MeirFenix: Immediately after Od-dog remembers his name, he stands up and walks to the door towards the kitchen, merely thanking Empathetic Elephant for allowing him to continue something he implies.
@MeirFenix: The way that Od-dog speaks throughout chapter Six is unexpected, and implicates that Od-dog feels a certain degree of responsibility over the cursed tape, saying he "cannot thank [Empathetic Elephant] enough [for causing him to remember his own name], then goes ahead to reassure Empathetic Elephant that he "will handle the rest from here". In contrast to Curious cat's behaviour, whose reaction would be quite normal at having their literal consciousness sucked into a cursed VHS tape, Od-dog acts in quiet acceptance of the circumstances he faces, as though he was already aware of and prepared to deal with his situation which he more than likely placed himself in due to his own sense of personal accountability.
@MeirFenix: Not wanting to involve anyone else, Od-Dog prepared himself to die for whatever he was about to face, motivated by something he kept deeply and personally to himself, shutting out Empathetic Elephant's attempts to help both metaphorically and literally. But when Od-dog did not die, and his plan did not yet appear to have failed, he meets Empathetic Elephant with a bright smile on his face while looking at Empathetic Elephant directly in the eyes as he appears to celebrate his accomplishment with a glimmer of hope at receiving the key.
@MeirFenix: Despite not asking for any help, when Od-dog manages to distract mother away from the basement door, Od-dog's attitude towards Empathetic Elephant appears to slightly shift as he accepts his help in removing the final board that blocked the door, and even asks if Empathetic would come down with him into the basement, offering a chance for them both to face whatever they were going to see there together. However, Empathetic Elephant is left feeling unprepared and afraid for what he could find down there, and so he does not follow Od-dog down when Od-dog needed him to be there the most, as Od-dog presumably discovers for himself that he is already dead. When approaching Empathetic Elephant up the stairs again, Od-dog is paralleled with his former self throughout chapter Six with his reassuring smile, and calmly accepting attitude, except this time, he does not look Empathetic Elephant directly in the eyes, but instead walks right by him with a simple message that he had been too late.
@MeirFenix: At this point, Od-dog is effectively shattered internally, having lost all hope and is unable to completely accept his own failure at escaping, remaining completely uncertain with how to personally cope with himself, as his own overdependence on himself causes him to not seek help from Empathetic Elephant, who would have been his companion that would help support him through this difficult time.
@MeirFenix: I believe that Od-dog after that became deeply depressed as he felt he was alone, eventually giving up all hope for himself without an escape, not realizing that he may have been able to live with failing to escape as long as he had someone to support his own emotional need. Furthermore, Od-dog can be interpreted to have been motivated by Empathetic Elephant throughout his escape, as he thanks Empathetic Elephant for reminding him of his name and weakly celebrating with him as he showed Empathetic Elephant the key to escape. Therefore, Od-dog likely felt that he had to repay Empathetic Elephant for allowing Od-dog an opportunity to release his own sense of guilt or responsibilty over this tape, so when he was unable to leave though the exit in the basement, Od-dog, felt as if he not only failed himself, but also felt that he had failed Empathetic Elephant, and had been left with nothing to show for all his efforts to try to let them both escape.
@MeirFenix: This chapter has had some really subtle but excellent writing techniques by Skynix, so great job on the story so far! I haven't even been able to write all my thoughts out for this chapter, or the other thoughts that I have been able to continue to build off of so far! As has been said in sometime in history, A picture is worth a million words!
@MeirFenix: By examining this comic page, I think I realized a few more details about Mother as well, and even another possible theory that Od-dog actually saw himself alive outside of the tape, but instead chose not to leave because he realized that he would not have been able to save Empathetic elephant with him, and chose to instead starve himself to death to stay in the tape. So instead, the reason he could not meet Empathetic Elephant's eyes, is because he didn't know how to deal with not being able to save him as well. (there are notably a few more flaws with this theory currently than there is with the last one though, so I suppose I'll have to wait until I can see one of them come true!)
1. Since Od-Dog was the last to arrive before Catie (all other characters were already present then), and it's too late for him, it's too late for all the others too.
2. After Empathetic Elephant made Od-Dog remember his name, he probably wrote it down in his sketchbook (1st inside page), but after finding out that it is 'too late' for him, he resigned & painted it over, and eventually lost his memory like everyone else. Maybe he made that one last drawing of the "Doorman" before it happened (see his sketchbook, the word is written right above the nightmare he drew).
Od-Dog might be called that because he seems to be an 'odd person' / 'loner' in the Real World... always fixed on his drawings, with no real friends, and is thus used to handling things alone. He probably does not know more about the video tape than the others (as in, directly related to or having researched what causes this curse), since Catie remembered an old house and certain other stuff too.
Also, Emphatetic Elephant is most likely a coward inside. Od-Dog opened the door for him, but then he is too scared to follow him downward (guarding the door sounds just too silly). And even after Od-Dog returned and didn't say clearly what he found, Elephant did not go down himself to check on his own.
And if the guess is right that people who got caught in the TV really starve or similar, then Catie has a VERY limited timeframe. You can go approx. 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water, so she has approx. one more night and day before it's 'too late' for her too. So the 'too late' probably refers to something else, or we won't have a 'final girl' to make it out?
Most logical next step would be trying to recover Od-Dog's real name by examining his sketchbook closer, and if he does regain his memories, ask him what he found down there, instead of fighting a nightmare.
Hmm... I wonder how the key returned to mother, and if she is really still keeping it in her room after realizing it is not 'safe' there?
Od-Dog sounds a lot more mature at the end of that chapter than the little kid who hid behind a ladder and covering his eyes, assuming nobody could see him then...
Why is Elephant so motivated, after having the door already open once, but being too scared to go down there?
We know a lot about od-dog so far but what’s empathetic elephants deal? He knows his own name and helps the other kids remember their names but he doesn’t say anything about his name or how he remembers it or what else he remembers or how he knows that mother is willing to kill to stop them or why his name was empathetic elephant and he doesn’t write down the names of the other kids when they remember also he doesn’t call curious cat by her name (Cathie) which might look weird to the other kids but would probably help her remember things.
@AliBgurl12345: also just me or does the layout of the house look like there should be another room for a 10th kid, (which is something I called out previously) that could explain some things that are mystery’s and could explain how empathetic elephant knows to ask questions about the kids real names and if they can remember other things.
I think my theory is right during the first episode caite says she feels like she’s not even eating so there are still alive just watching the tv but if they die of starvation or smth they can’t get out because they have no body to go back to
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: He already died, od-dog was too late and died in real life before he could escape, empathetic said he could never get past the Doorman (the nightmare) and he probably died and wanted to help others escape
@AliBgurl12345: I think the hallway is meant for expansion actually. Like if another person joined the cast, their room would be next to Catie's and so on so fourth. Maybe expanding the house and possibly adding memories of rooms that didn't exist before with it (like let's say a videogame room was added they would "remember" that room as if it's always exsisted)
We should not jump to any conclusions yet. This is a fictional story, so it does not have to be 100% logical. A totally reasonable character would gather different information, e.g. would have asked Elephant what _he_ remembers from the Real World, Elephant would first and foremost keep a written list of all the real names he was told instead of only requesting the other captured persons to write them down themselves etc. ... also, in an abandoned house, why is there still power to run a video tape etc. ... the time limit could also be something referring to the video tape, or maybe time in the fictional world just flows totally different, giving Catie more time...
If we add 'Real World' logic, wouldn't Catie have noticed all the dead bodies lying around the TV and backed off before actually watching the video, if all viewers really starve to death? And wouldn't have others searched for the missing persons? These days, they all carry smartphones that are traceable by police etc.
I also think they should ask mother some 'innocent questions', like "Why are there Nightmares walking around at night, they scare me" or "Why is there a barred door?" or "Why is the corridor next to my room broken / who lives in the room at the other side?" (there is a door, turn on the brightness) etc. Mother does not seem to have 'evil' plans, like feeding the children to the nightmares at some point, similar to "Promised Neverland". She seems genuinely protective, probably too clinging, as to not wanting anyone to leave (maybe she is just lonely?), but protective nonetheless.
All in all, I think this is a GREAT comic, because it has the two most important things: a captivating story AND well-drawn / good-looking characters.
If it were drawn 'ugly' like 'American Dad' or 'Rick & Morty' (a 'trick' to get more adult readers/viewers, because 'cute-looking' is usually associated with 'children stuff'), you would not empasize as much with the characters, and if the story sucked, nobody would get really involved (these days stories are usually made only for a 'quick laugh' or blunt 'social criticism', not 'entertaining adventure' anymore, which IMHO is greatly missed by old and young alike)...
Od-Dog's real name is probably something starting with 'Od' (only one 'd', as Catie pointed out is strange when skipping through his sketchbook), followed by letters that occupy only the 'lower half' of letterspace, judging by the way his original name was overpainted in the sketchbook)... like Odmar, for example.
This is just a guess, one of many. Just as we can't explain how Funky Monkey got trapped, even though there is a high chance that his Real Life self is blind.
Personally, I would prefer everyone escaping. Happy Endings are neat. Otherwise go watch "Game of Thrones" and its spinoffs...
Oh, oooh, how did Od-Dog actually find his way around in the basement? He didn't bring a flashlight like Catie on the comic cover.
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: It would be cool (in my opinion) if Od-dog where to have to be sacrificed in order for the others to escape, and that he would do it voluntarily. but that is just me, I just feel like it would be a good ending.
@Algae: I’m guessing catie is going to escape from the show but the ending is going to be melancholy cause someone else is going to take her place or she chooses to stay there because the others can’t escape
@Algae: Sacrifice Od-Dog? Eww... don't mess up he (comparably) light-hearted overall atmosphere. Bloodshed does not really fit there, IMO.
@AbiBgurl12345: My best ending guess is that either everyone escapes and then they all meet in the Real World, or that Catie escapes alone, but keeps the tape safe, thus preserving the fictional world and all the other characters, maybe even watching them occasionally on TV, if she can somehow 'break the curse'. But that is multiple chapters in the future.
@AliBgurl12345: I wouldn’t be super suprised if she stayed, especially with her minor character arc if she had one which I think she did, but she would still remember her name.
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: But it is a mascot horror, is it suppose to bloody and gory, that’s what makes it awesome! Well, combined with the characters and the plot.
@Algae: Sad endings, just for the sake of sadness, IMO don't cut it. It's similar to making illogical plot twists just to say, "Ha-HA, you didn't see THAT coming, did you?" (yes, because it was utterly stupid, see StarWars movies ep7-9, for example).
Od-Dog became a main plot character, second to Catie, so he deserves not to be sacrificed or to sacrifice himself. Some of the others have 'personality' too, but did not really participate much yet.
I have a theory, notice how four of the kids rooms are all bunched together? (And the other two across from that but idk abt them rn) what if those four were the shows original main cast, and everyone else is a viewer that got sucked in like Carie. The three that are off to the side are three we know remembered their names and wanted to leave. Feels like more than a coincidence they’re kept separate.
i think the time limit might be because they die in the real world from somthing like starvations . In the frist chapter it said she continued ot be hungery dispite eating
To quote Freud, sometimes a banana is just a banana (and not a... um...). We should not try to interpret every little detail as meaningful (e.g. that Catie has a fish skeleton on her door instead of a complete fish, or try to see meaning in room placements etc.). I think most of it is just for entertainment or because someone thought it would fit well. The story seems to have other minor logical 'glitches', so let's just focus on the overall plot.
@MeirFenix: He would not have said "I was too late" if the theory was true that he stayed only because he could not save Elephant. He always acted like a lone wolf. You want to come? Fine with me. You want to stay? Fine with me too.
So "too late" means that he wanted to leave, but couldn't anymore because after a while 'something happens' that prevents it, something 'final' he was actally able to see clearly (otherwise he wound have said something like, "It didn't let me pass" / "There was no exit" or similar).
So the 'starving' idea has its point, but doesn't fit the story that good, because, well, dead bodies all over in the Real World.
What weapon did Od-Dog carry when confronting the Doorman? And where did Elephant get that mallet to guard the door with? The other children got a fancy set of weapons too when attacking Od-Dog 2.0, but that was most likely 'cartoon logic'...
The children can obviously enter each other's rooms, but neither the Nightmares nor mother can, which is strange. So mother is most likely the 'Curse of the Tape (tm)', a lost soul who seeks company. She is also the only one with no color (all grey).
Referring to "Otherside Picnic", mother has a striking resemblance to the'Tall Woman' from chaper 6 / 7, which was someone who lured in men that she liked with her illusions and then killed them. But that might - again - just be a coincidence.
butterflygirl 2 days ago
first again
b0o 2 days ago
@butterflygirl: god dammit
b0o 2 days ago
@butterflygirl: one second off
butterflygirl 2 days ago
lol
butterflygirl 2 days ago
@b0o: lol I’m fast aren’t I bet you can beat me to it next time
RedRagingFox 2 days ago
Peak
Mr-Peabody 2 days ago
I like how it keeps escalating to the big buildup. What that is upstairs? well we’re gonna definitely find out
IconicSina 2 days ago
Od-Dog is really an Underdog, he would be really crazy when he would still have his memories
TheMapleReader 2 days ago
it took 23 hours bruh, and I don’t get to see or-dog remember is just anticipating
Bob-SCP 2 days ago
I LOVE this series it has such heart and soul! it somehow reminds me of dhmis idk how
NightDragon 2 days ago
this is getting good
PaintingSturdyMercenary 2 days ago
really that's it come on we got know od-dog bet the nightmare without mother knowing
b0o 2 days ago
I think my theory was correct that odd dog already died and can’t escape anymore
Bob-SCP 2 days ago
@TheMapleReader: it’s 12:12 pm at night in Scotland and I’m still awake for this
b0o 2 days ago
I wonder why empathetic elephant didn’t go down the stairs. He said he was guarding the door, but that doesn’t make sense. Mother could easily get past him and he would have no way to know when od dog escaped (if he had) I kinda hope he’s like the secret villain
ComicCal 2 days ago
16th!
Nighthilie 2 days ago
top hat is the best nickname ever
last9survivor 2 days ago
amazing
Dewski 2 days ago
@butterflygirl: CMON :(
GabuWoah 2 days ago
Absolute Peak Cinema Peak
Lukenstein 2 days ago
@b0o: Yeah, I think his real body died and his mind is still stuck in this world.
Dewski 2 days ago
ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER??? cmon man (w comic tho, no hate) :p
butterflygirl 2 days ago
@Dewski: tehee
174014sktdog 2 days ago
🧡
DanisanOwl 2 days ago
Od-Dog was lowkey aura farming
Dewski 2 days ago
@b0o: ngl that is very convincing especially since elephant was there before od-Dog I think elephant is gonna realize he can’t escape then start his villain arc and do everything in his power to not let anyone else escape
Vito-Di-Wolf 2 days ago
@butterflygirl: dang I didn't get the notification until discord sent it
Vito-Di-Wolf 2 days ago
@b0o: I agree
Vito-Di-Wolf 2 days ago
@b0o: I mean you wouldn't want anything escaping from the basement
Vito-Di-Wolf 2 days ago
okay so we learned that Od-Dog it's most likely the kid before Catie to enter the Backwards House
BatNini 2 days ago
i'm guessing the "time-limit" is just you die in real life
ComicCal 2 days ago
Od-Dog really said "No sweat!" No, just some blood... I wasn't expecting bleeding to be possible in this world. Od-Dog must've felt so defeated that he scribbled out his name from his sketchbook and stayed in his room until he forgot. Also, there is an error with the side the door is attached to, on page 11.
Null- 2 days ago
noice
Chimoki 2 days ago
AAAAAA i already want more
ArcyWebP 2 days ago
im gonna SCREAM fuh you mean "I was too late" 🙁
Algae 2 days ago
How dare my phone hide this from me for 48 minutes.
Dewski 2 days ago
@Algae: lol mine only hid it for 16 :p
butterflygirl 2 days ago
@Vito-Di-Wolf: Vito it’s ok I’ll be first next time to you can be second 🥺😏
TrackingExoticInstructor 2 days ago
My theory has faild now dammit
TrackingExoticInstructor 2 days ago
Tbh it kinda now clear on what he was doing in his room and that was forgeting his name
Moonlitmortician 2 days ago
Ooooh, okay, I think it’s just their minds that get sucked into this world while their bodies are left behind. My guess is Od Dog’s body died in the time he’s been there.
Cloudyyyy 2 days ago
i feel like there was a jojo reference somewhere in there🥺
crafty-hope 2 days ago
feed me mor papa skynix
Pupylovr68 2 days ago
Too short broooooooooo😭😭😭😭
Algae 2 days ago
@Dewski: Mostly because I was not on my phone for that time, but still evil.
Human76 2 days ago
@Moonlitmortician: if the information on the Kickstarter page is correct, then it is actually their souls that end up in the tv world.
Human76 2 days ago (edited 2 days ago)
I have to say, this is one, if not the best comic I have ever read!!
Evix 2 days ago
Stop leaving us on cliff hangers!
Evix 2 days ago
@Algae: mine hid it from me for 2 HOURS!
Human76 2 days ago
@Evix: but that is how they get you to keep coming back.
GrabbingQuaintInstructor 2 days ago
@b0o: his face showed he knew something
MoonFeather 2 days ago
It's soo good! Amazing work I love the storyline. Knew something was off with od dog. Great job to skynix and all the artists!
flutterbutter 2 days ago
odd dog was movin like that bruh
Cyndaquil143 2 days ago
@IconicSina: honestly, it seems like his body remembers but his mind doesnt since he grips the arm that was hurt by what ever was up there
Peanutbutterandjelly69 2 days ago
od dog was aura farming for no reason😭🙏
ShunningComplexGargoyle872 2 days ago
I always want to know what the name of the character there real name
Charlottes-A-PIGGLE 2 days ago
@ShunningComplexGargoyle872: Yeah SAME!
Charlottes-A-PIGGLE 2 days ago
I NEED HER TO MAKE MORE!!
IceFlwr 2 days ago
Can the dog die
Skynikfan1000 2 days ago
Why
Skynikfan1000 2 days ago
I love od_dog and I hope they all survive and escape
CarlAnimator1 2 days ago
@Human76: I believe you, because in one of the other episodes, Catie notes they are hungry, even though they are eating in the TV world, I think this is due to their real body still being connected to them, and is likely beginning to starve.
TristanIsAmazing 2 days ago
the look of od-dog when he remember his name was terrifying also I thing od-dog was suicidal irl or something but Idk 😶
Skynikfan1000 2 days ago
@TristanIsAmazing: true
Algae 2 days ago
I was fully expecting for Od-dog to be the first, but he was the newest before Catie came.
MeirFenix 2 days ago
Awww, Skynix! It's only the sixth chapter, don't make me cry already! 🥺
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: First of all, I want to talk about Od-dogs past character when Empathetic Elephant and how that will relate to the story. We are able to establish a timeline that Od-dog came after all the other kids and that Empathetic Elephant came before Od-dog, but Od-dog's strange behaviour when Empathetic Elephant reminds Od-dog of his real name, implies that Od-dog already knows something about the cursed tape, foreshadowing that there is still many more mysteries to be discovered about Od-dog, and a few of those mysteries along with Od-dogs motives are heavily hinted at throughout Empathetic Elephant's account of Od-Dog.
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: Immediately after Od-dog remembers his name, he stands up and walks to the door towards the kitchen, merely thanking Empathetic Elephant for allowing him to continue something he implies.
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: The way that Od-dog speaks throughout chapter Six is unexpected, and implicates that Od-dog feels a certain degree of responsibility over the cursed tape, saying he "cannot thank [Empathetic Elephant] enough [for causing him to remember his own name], then goes ahead to reassure Empathetic Elephant that he "will handle the rest from here". In contrast to Curious cat's behaviour, whose reaction would be quite normal at having their literal consciousness sucked into a cursed VHS tape, Od-dog acts in quiet acceptance of the circumstances he faces, as though he was already aware of and prepared to deal with his situation which he more than likely placed himself in due to his own sense of personal accountability.
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: Not wanting to involve anyone else, Od-Dog prepared himself to die for whatever he was about to face, motivated by something he kept deeply and personally to himself, shutting out Empathetic Elephant's attempts to help both metaphorically and literally. But when Od-dog did not die, and his plan did not yet appear to have failed, he meets Empathetic Elephant with a bright smile on his face while looking at Empathetic Elephant directly in the eyes as he appears to celebrate his accomplishment with a glimmer of hope at receiving the key.
Marche13 2 days ago
knew it
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: Despite not asking for any help, when Od-dog manages to distract mother away from the basement door, Od-dog's attitude towards Empathetic Elephant appears to slightly shift as he accepts his help in removing the final board that blocked the door, and even asks if Empathetic would come down with him into the basement, offering a chance for them both to face whatever they were going to see there together. However, Empathetic Elephant is left feeling unprepared and afraid for what he could find down there, and so he does not follow Od-dog down when Od-dog needed him to be there the most, as Od-dog presumably discovers for himself that he is already dead. When approaching Empathetic Elephant up the stairs again, Od-dog is paralleled with his former self throughout chapter Six with his reassuring smile, and calmly accepting attitude, except this time, he does not look Empathetic Elephant directly in the eyes, but instead walks right by him with a simple message that he had been too late.
MeirFenix 2 days ago
@MeirFenix: At this point, Od-dog is effectively shattered internally, having lost all hope and is unable to completely accept his own failure at escaping, remaining completely uncertain with how to personally cope with himself, as his own overdependence on himself causes him to not seek help from Empathetic Elephant, who would have been his companion that would help support him through this difficult time.
MeirFenix 1 day ago
@MeirFenix: I believe that Od-dog after that became deeply depressed as he felt he was alone, eventually giving up all hope for himself without an escape, not realizing that he may have been able to live with failing to escape as long as he had someone to support his own emotional need. Furthermore, Od-dog can be interpreted to have been motivated by Empathetic Elephant throughout his escape, as he thanks Empathetic Elephant for reminding him of his name and weakly celebrating with him as he showed Empathetic Elephant the key to escape. Therefore, Od-dog likely felt that he had to repay Empathetic Elephant for allowing Od-dog an opportunity to release his own sense of guilt or responsibilty over this tape, so when he was unable to leave though the exit in the basement, Od-dog, felt as if he not only failed himself, but also felt that he had failed Empathetic Elephant, and had been left with nothing to show for all his efforts to try to let them both escape.
MeirFenix 1 day ago
@MeirFenix: This chapter has had some really subtle but excellent writing techniques by Skynix, so great job on the story so far! I haven't even been able to write all my thoughts out for this chapter, or the other thoughts that I have been able to continue to build off of so far! As has been said in sometime in history, A picture is worth a million words!
MeirFenix 1 day ago
@MeirFenix: By examining this comic page, I think I realized a few more details about Mother as well, and even another possible theory that Od-dog actually saw himself alive outside of the tape, but instead chose not to leave because he realized that he would not have been able to save Empathetic elephant with him, and chose to instead starve himself to death to stay in the tape. So instead, the reason he could not meet Empathetic Elephant's eyes, is because he didn't know how to deal with not being able to save him as well. (there are notably a few more flaws with this theory currently than there is with the last one though, so I suppose I'll have to wait until I can see one of them come true!)
MeirFenix 1 day ago
@MeirFenix: ♥️ 🐶to Od-dog and the incredibly talented writing of Skynix for the Backwards House! ♥️
Lord0914211 1 day ago
I love the art and the story 😍 especially those 3 ❤️ I can't wait for the next chapter and I hope everyone at the house escaped!!
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
Well, so far we know the following:
1. Since Od-Dog was the last to arrive before Catie (all other characters were already present then), and it's too late for him, it's too late for all the others too.
2. After Empathetic Elephant made Od-Dog remember his name, he probably wrote it down in his sketchbook (1st inside page), but after finding out that it is 'too late' for him, he resigned & painted it over, and eventually lost his memory like everyone else. Maybe he made that one last drawing of the "Doorman" before it happened (see his sketchbook, the word is written right above the nightmare he drew).
Od-Dog might be called that because he seems to be an 'odd person' / 'loner' in the Real World... always fixed on his drawings, with no real friends, and is thus used to handling things alone. He probably does not know more about the video tape than the others (as in, directly related to or having researched what causes this curse), since Catie remembered an old house and certain other stuff too.
Also, Emphatetic Elephant is most likely a coward inside. Od-Dog opened the door for him, but then he is too scared to follow him downward (guarding the door sounds just too silly). And even after Od-Dog returned and didn't say clearly what he found, Elephant did not go down himself to check on his own.
And if the guess is right that people who got caught in the TV really starve or similar, then Catie has a VERY limited timeframe. You can go approx. 3 weeks without food, but only 3 days without water, so she has approx. one more night and day before it's 'too late' for her too. So the 'too late' probably refers to something else, or we won't have a 'final girl' to make it out?
Most logical next step would be trying to recover Od-Dog's real name by examining his sketchbook closer, and if he does regain his memories, ask him what he found down there, instead of fighting a nightmare.
Hmm... I wonder how the key returned to mother, and if she is really still keeping it in her room after realizing it is not 'safe' there?
Frances12 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
I did not expect that it all that was such a great comic i can't wait for the next chapter
Keanuoil 1 day ago
Soo everyone except catie is already died because of starving or something else? The only survivor is catie.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago
Od-Dog sounds a lot more mature at the end of that chapter than the little kid who hid behind a ladder and covering his eyes, assuming nobody could see him then...
Why is Elephant so motivated, after having the door already open once, but being too scared to go down there?
Cosmovr 1 day ago
lol
TacticalLighter 1 day ago
mermão, a cena final foi absolute cinema
mice 1 day ago
am i late or something?
Bananino1988 1 day ago
I love this comic lol
AliBgurl12345 1 day ago
@BatNini: that would be approximately 1-3 days
Algae 1 day ago
@Evix: *El gaspo*
Algae 1 day ago
@AliBgurl12345: Water is overrated.
AliBgurl12345 1 day ago
We know a lot about od-dog so far but what’s empathetic elephants deal? He knows his own name and helps the other kids remember their names but he doesn’t say anything about his name or how he remembers it or what else he remembers or how he knows that mother is willing to kill to stop them or why his name was empathetic elephant and he doesn’t write down the names of the other kids when they remember also he doesn’t call curious cat by her name (Cathie) which might look weird to the other kids but would probably help her remember things.
AliBgurl12345 1 day ago
@AliBgurl12345: also just me or does the layout of the house look like there should be another room for a 10th kid, (which is something I called out previously) that could explain some things that are mystery’s and could explain how empathetic elephant knows to ask questions about the kids real names and if they can remember other things.
Rustyant1120 1 day ago
I think my theory is right during the first episode caite says she feels like she’s not even eating so there are still alive just watching the tv but if they die of starvation or smth they can’t get out because they have no body to go back to
ComicCal 1 day ago
@Human76: Yes, in one of the creator's YouTube videos, he says their souls get trapped in the children's cartoon.
ComicCal 1 day ago
@Evix: It's so people will keep reading when the next chapter is released.
SpinningDarkSage 1 day ago
@AliBgurl12345: Elephants are known for their memory and we have been shown they have the ability's of the animals they turned into
SpinningDarkSage 1 day ago
@Rustyant1120: This was proven to us in episode 4
SpinningDarkSage 1 day ago
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: He already died, od-dog was too late and died in real life before he could escape, empathetic said he could never get past the Doorman (the nightmare) and he probably died and wanted to help others escape
DiceCreation 1 day ago
@AliBgurl12345: I think the hallway is meant for expansion actually. Like if another person joined the cast, their room would be next to Catie's and so on so fourth. Maybe expanding the house and possibly adding memories of rooms that didn't exist before with it (like let's say a videogame room was added they would "remember" that room as if it's always exsisted)
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 13 hours ago)
We should not jump to any conclusions yet. This is a fictional story, so it does not have to be 100% logical. A totally reasonable character would gather different information, e.g. would have asked Elephant what _he_ remembers from the Real World, Elephant would first and foremost keep a written list of all the real names he was told instead of only requesting the other captured persons to write them down themselves etc. ... also, in an abandoned house, why is there still power to run a video tape etc. ... the time limit could also be something referring to the video tape, or maybe time in the fictional world just flows totally different, giving Catie more time...
If we add 'Real World' logic, wouldn't Catie have noticed all the dead bodies lying around the TV and backed off before actually watching the video, if all viewers really starve to death? And wouldn't have others searched for the missing persons? These days, they all carry smartphones that are traceable by police etc.
I also think they should ask mother some 'innocent questions', like "Why are there Nightmares walking around at night, they scare me" or "Why is there a barred door?" or "Why is the corridor next to my room broken / who lives in the room at the other side?" (there is a door, turn on the brightness) etc. Mother does not seem to have 'evil' plans, like feeding the children to the nightmares at some point, similar to "Promised Neverland". She seems genuinely protective, probably too clinging, as to not wanting anyone to leave (maybe she is just lonely?), but protective nonetheless.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
All in all, I think this is a GREAT comic, because it has the two most important things: a captivating story AND well-drawn / good-looking characters.
If it were drawn 'ugly' like 'American Dad' or 'Rick & Morty' (a 'trick' to get more adult readers/viewers, because 'cute-looking' is usually associated with 'children stuff'), you would not empasize as much with the characters, and if the story sucked, nobody would get really involved (these days stories are usually made only for a 'quick laugh' or blunt 'social criticism', not 'entertaining adventure' anymore, which IMHO is greatly missed by old and young alike)...
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago
Od-Dog's real name is probably something starting with 'Od' (only one 'd', as Catie pointed out is strange when skipping through his sketchbook), followed by letters that occupy only the 'lower half' of letterspace, judging by the way his original name was overpainted in the sketchbook)... like Odmar, for example.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
This is just a guess, one of many. Just as we can't explain how Funky Monkey got trapped, even though there is a high chance that his Real Life self is blind.
Personally, I would prefer everyone escaping. Happy Endings are neat. Otherwise go watch "Game of Thrones" and its spinoffs...
Oh, oooh, how did Od-Dog actually find his way around in the basement? He didn't bring a flashlight like Catie on the comic cover.
Algae 1 day ago
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: It would be cool (in my opinion) if Od-dog where to have to be sacrificed in order for the others to escape, and that he would do it voluntarily. but that is just me, I just feel like it would be a good ending.
AliBgurl12345 1 day ago
@DiceCreation: I doubt it but it would fit.
AliBgurl12345 1 day ago
@Algae: I’m guessing catie is going to escape from the show but the ending is going to be melancholy cause someone else is going to take her place or she chooses to stay there because the others can’t escape
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
@Algae: Sacrifice Od-Dog? Eww... don't mess up he (comparably) light-hearted overall atmosphere. Bloodshed does not really fit there, IMO.
@AbiBgurl12345: My best ending guess is that either everyone escapes and then they all meet in the Real World, or that Catie escapes alone, but keeps the tape safe, thus preserving the fictional world and all the other characters, maybe even watching them occasionally on TV, if she can somehow 'break the curse'. But that is multiple chapters in the future.
Algae 1 day ago
@AliBgurl12345: I wouldn’t be super suprised if she stayed, especially with her minor character arc if she had one which I think she did, but she would still remember her name.
Algae 1 day ago
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: But it is a mascot horror, is it suppose to bloody and gory, that’s what makes it awesome! Well, combined with the characters and the plot.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago
@Algae: Mascot horror, maybe, but not the 'we sacrifice friends' attitude. Even though everyone was quite hostile against Od-Dog 2.0 ...
Algae 1 day ago
@GrabbingIntricateOwl945: It would still make a good ending nonetheless, because of it being sad and stuff.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 1 day ago (edited 1 day ago)
@Algae: Sad endings, just for the sake of sadness, IMO don't cut it. It's similar to making illogical plot twists just to say, "Ha-HA, you didn't see THAT coming, did you?" (yes, because it was utterly stupid, see StarWars movies ep7-9, for example).
Od-Dog became a main plot character, second to Catie, so he deserves not to be sacrificed or to sacrifice himself. Some of the others have 'personality' too, but did not really participate much yet.
Soap-studz 1 day ago
I have a theory, notice how four of the kids rooms are all bunched together? (And the other two across from that but idk abt them rn) what if those four were the shows original main cast, and everyone else is a viewer that got sucked in like Carie. The three that are off to the side are three we know remembered their names and wanted to leave. Feels like more than a coincidence they’re kept separate.
thatoneperson5 1 day ago
PEAKKKKK this is absolute cinema 🥹❤️🩹🔋
ethancoolNotATroll 1 day ago
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
s20rugimk 1 day ago
Too much lore 0_0
DaBackwardsHouseBigFan 19 hours ago
HOLY WHAT
IC3CR34MS4NDWH1CH 19 hours ago
HOLY PLOT TWISTS And btw is it me or do their names sound like names generated by PKXD or chooses for u ?
AMCh1cken 18 hours ago
This is so peak I was cured of the flu
CherDraws 16 hours ago
FEED ME MORE *ahem* ... pls :3
Otterpop04 16 hours ago
i think the time limit might be because they die in the real world from somthing like starvations . In the frist chapter it said she continued ot be hungery dispite eating
FNAFkitty 16 hours ago
OOOH :O
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 12 hours ago
To quote Freud, sometimes a banana is just a banana (and not a... um...). We should not try to interpret every little detail as meaningful (e.g. that Catie has a fish skeleton on her door instead of a complete fish, or try to see meaning in room placements etc.). I think most of it is just for entertainment or because someone thought it would fit well. The story seems to have other minor logical 'glitches', so let's just focus on the overall plot.
Bluthe1 10 hours ago
Hi guys!
Solver-Rox-Wanless 10 hours ago
That’s amazing!
Starred 10 hours ago
Wait I thinks it's because OG-DOG'S body is dead in the real world so it's too late for him to go back...
Prime-Od-Dog 10 hours ago
woooooooooooooooow
Prime-Od-Dog 10 hours ago (edited 10 hours ago)
I low-key locked in
Algae 10 hours ago
@Algae: I wonder if I get a notification if I reply to my own comment…
Algae 10 hours ago
@Algae: Update: it does not.
Catnap 9 hours ago
OD-DOG GOATTT
Prime-Od-Dog 8 hours ago
yuppp
TheBooger 7 hours ago
👍
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 6 hours ago
@MeirFenix: He would not have said "I was too late" if the theory was true that he stayed only because he could not save Elephant. He always acted like a lone wolf. You want to come? Fine with me. You want to stay? Fine with me too.
So "too late" means that he wanted to leave, but couldn't anymore because after a while 'something happens' that prevents it, something 'final' he was actally able to see clearly (otherwise he wound have said something like, "It didn't let me pass" / "There was no exit" or similar).
So the 'starving' idea has its point, but doesn't fit the story that good, because, well, dead bodies all over in the Real World.
GrabbingIntricateOwl945 6 hours ago
What weapon did Od-Dog carry when confronting the Doorman? And where did Elephant get that mallet to guard the door with? The other children got a fancy set of weapons too when attacking Od-Dog 2.0, but that was most likely 'cartoon logic'...
The children can obviously enter each other's rooms, but neither the Nightmares nor mother can, which is strange. So mother is most likely the 'Curse of the Tape (tm)', a lost soul who seeks company. She is also the only one with no color (all grey).
Referring to "Otherside Picnic", mother has a striking resemblance to the'Tall Woman' from chaper 6 / 7, which was someone who lured in men that she liked with her illusions and then killed them. But that might - again - just be a coincidence.