Nora often mentions the smell of Cliff's clothing, whether it was cigarettes, alcohol, or swamp, and there's a lot of vagueness regarding Cliff's birth and his father. She seems to be trying to hint to him that she knows something about him (You know you can tell me anything, right?).
Since Eliza introduced herself as a Witch of Summer under the service of the White-Faced Bear, it follows that there might be a Witch of Winter as well. Bonus points that Eliza's power will wane as the comic delves into Oscar's winter and reintroduces Barbara as the Witch who protects the town during Winter.
First of all, Kevin is adopted, so we have no idea who his biological parents are. Second, when Oscar and Clifford discuss whether Nora knows about Clifford being a werewolf or not, Clifford is persuaded that she doesn't and mentions that there are many things she doesn't know because she's so busy working, without being specific. One of them could be something special about Kevin, for which Clifford is the Secret-Keeper.
- With the incident with Raven, it could either strengthen the hypothesis, by saying Kevin's powers intimidated monster!Raven, or not, by saying it was just Raven's human side not wanting to harm/frighten Cliff anymore.
It was never specified what event during Cliff's birth put her off any further pregnancies. Perhaps Clifford came out in his wolf form? It certainly would make her naming decision appropriate.
- That could be a reason why Cliff's father went away; also why she seems so protective while Clifford is so rebellious.
- Alternatively, the author's DeviantArt
leads to believe Clifford's father is a dangerous man; it's possible that he wanted to sell Clifford (Eliza said that animal people are worth a lot), or that she simply wanted Cliff to have a good life. - Recent strips seem to support that Nora or her ex-husband made a Deal with the Devil, possibly involving Cliff, and Nora's been in hiding ever since.
- Alternatively, the author's DeviantArt
Cliff's stepfather and the Bear seem to share some enmity towards Oscar, probably because they both seem Oscar as bringing him into dangerous situations.It would also explain the curfews and the chore shenanigans: he knows what is outside at night, and really don't want Cliff to go out at night.And why "only" Cliff's mother was searching for him, he was most likely searching him under his bear form, and with his spiders.
- The author jossed that hypothesis.
His fur isn't red because of his hair, his hair is red because of his fur. Even the so-called "red" wolves don't have coloration like Clifford has in wolf form, so he may be some sort of rare off-shoot of some sort. Raven mentions a feeling that being near Cliff will somehow cure his insanity, as well.
- Eliza says that the Madness compels infected animal people to seek others out to spread it, so Cliff being a special animal person is rather doubtful. Or Eliza is still lying to protect him.
Eliza immediately reacted to the mention of Sylvia with suspicion and tried to determine if she was dangerous or not. In the chapter with Taki the ghost child, Eliza uses the experience to try and convince Oscar that letting Sylvia move on was in her best interest, lest she become dangerous like his neighbors' ghost. And when Clifford provokes her, we see that she is certainly capable of becoming vengeful, and may drive a wedge between Oscar and Eliza in the future.
Besides similar appearance, Blackwolf has a reason to come to Podunk and haunt Goodness's family after the old pastor's seeming betrayal and spares Oscar for having the scent of his old friend. As to how he became the Devil himself, he probably made his own deal.
