Good point. Freudian Excuse wasn't the right word... maybe Monster Sob Story? No, even that doesn't excuse the whole 'burning people alive' thing.
Maybe what I was getting at was more like; "at the end of the story, do you still find her a sympathetic character?"
I've returned from the depths to continue politely irritating the good people of Tv Tropes.(◕‿◕✿)The whole deal with Elizabeth, would she qualify as a deconstruction or aversion of the Alpha Bitch trope?
She has several traits in common with the stereotypical Alpha Bitch, blonde, attractive, athletic, intelligent, popular, and dating the local jock, Sean, that Anya also wants to date. When you first see her you probably think she's going to be one if you know how your standard high school show works. However Elizabeth is not mean at all and it is obvious Anya and the other girls at there school are jealous of her. However when we get to the party Sean apparently enjoys sleeping around with other girls and Elizabeth still stays with him because she "loves him." She have all these terrific traits but only feels significant if she has her deuce bag boyfriend in her life. It says a lot about her so called perfection and her self esteem.
edited 22nd Oct '11 10:31:43 PM by VinniaNein
I agree. At first I was certain Elizabeth was going to be a standard Alpha Bitch, there to be vanquished by the noble heroine. But instead, we see that she's just as insecure and flawed as Anya is, and has her own trials to struggle with. It really hit home the theme that everyone has their problems, and it's wrong to judge them when you don't understand them.
I've returned from the depths to continue politely irritating the good people of Tv Tropes.(◕‿◕✿)And on the subject of Emily I would say Freudian excuse.
I think as Emily was explaining things from her past she might have been giving away elements of her own life. She talks about how tight knit the immigrant communities were. Her family were probably outcast in the community. In the picture of her and her parents, they do not like happy functional people and it defiantly says a lot about who they were when they were alive. Emily also mentions caning was a common forum of punishment for children. This also might allude to the fact she was abused as a child. I know some people complain that the villain who was abused as a child is a cliche but there is some truth to it. The fact it was only hinted at in the story works to its advantage and lets the reader come to their own conclusions.
edited 23rd Oct '11 2:59:10 PM by VinniaNein

I just made a page for this wonderful little graphic novel, and it needs all the attention it can get.
Does anyone have any comments or discussion for the story? For instance, do you think that Emily was Evil All Along, or did she have an adequate Freudian Excuse?
I've returned from the depths to continue politely irritating the good people of Tv Tropes.(◕‿◕✿)