1/12 – The Strands of the Void: Enter … the Void!
Welcome to the premier posting of the special feature, The Strands of the Void. In this 12-part series, I’ll be spotlighting characters and themes found in Void that stretch either from Dogwoods Blush or, most of all, forward into Dove of War. This week, let’s look at the mysterious place I call … the VOID!
Readers of this webcomic know that “Deacon Void” is not the real name of our mysterious protagonist. He picked that name at random in the prologue and, later in the series, you’ll see WHY he chose it. But it’s safe to assume that he chose the name based on the PLACE.
Deacon has demonstrated his ability to travel to and from “the Void” as an astral spirit and he’s physically traveled there both to escape destruction (from Flerous in issue #2) and for emergency transportation (coming in issue #5). In issue #1, he lured abusive ghost Oscar Gwynne into the Void and left him behind for angry demons.
The "Dark Side" of the Void!
Most often, he’s used it to get answers from spirits who seem to be waiting for him to ask them a question (see issue #2 and #3 and soon to be #4). Travel in and out of this dimension costs him … he has a finite “life spark” and “the Void” takes a piece of it each time he uses it. He’s obviously hoping to accomplish his mission (still a mystery) before that spark goes out.
While the mysteries of “the Void” are endless, it appears to be a dimension between life and death where spirits reside who have unfinished business with the living. Once that business is completed, the spirits move on to a good reward (Wycliffe in issue #2) or eternal punishment (Gwynne in issue #1).
In Dove of War, a significant chapter focuses on a young man (a pivotal character in the “Bill Cain Universe” … can’t reveal anything more just yet) who is dying. His spirit travels into “the Void.” There, he travels to a bridge … the Rainbow Bridge … where he is beckoned by a mysterious figure to “cross over.” On one side are happy, smiling people and pets. And on the other? Yep … that’s the entrance into the dark side of the Void. And a figure being tortured by demons on that dark side? Could that be Deacon Void?
The Rainbow Bridge is a happy path that leads out of the Void. Beloved pets traverse it along with loving children and kind souls. But on the opposite side lies a dark path. Such are the dangers that reside within ... the Void!
While no one fully understands the nature of this “holding area” for the dead, just know that while “the Void” is obviously very important in this comic series, it’s also a significant part of Dove of War! Does the dying man in that book cross over to the other side? And who is the dark figure beckoning him to advance on the bridge? The answers to those questions are found in Dove of War. But as you might imagine, “the Void” is NOT a place you’d want to spend any significant amount of time!
There will be no “Strands” feature next week as we’ll be running page #8 of Heart of the Beast as well as a special July 4th plug, but we’ll pick it up again the week after.
Coming Thursday, 12 July, 2012: Part 2/12 – The Strands of the Void: Scourge of the Nephilim!
7 Comments
Who is the face of the sad woman on the body in the first picture???? She looks soooooo sad.
Hi, Tisa. It is quite poetic, as you mentioned on FACEBOOK. I’d say that “face” is open to interpretation. Is it his soul, someone he left behind, or just shadows? I’ll let each of YOU decide!
My question is this: Did you (or the artist) MEAN to put that there? LOL
Ah, Tisa! I suppose that question must remain part of the mystery that resides within the deepest recesses of … the VOID!
You tease!! That is sooooo wrong!!! LOL
VOID is a sad place, no rest here.
Definitely no rest there. That’s why the spirits our hero visits there are very happy to share their info with him so they can move on and get out. Others who are trapped there? Not so good, as you’ll see in future storylines!