And instead of geopolitical tensions in Sargon similar to the US/ Middle East we have... a military leader and an art broker with daddy issues fighting over land. It's smaller scale, but not compelling, especially when the baddies are more stupid evil than malicious evil. 3/7
My exposure with John Cassaday was his work on Planetary, a story that celebrates Pulp, Literature, and Comics of the past century, but most of all, that sense of adventure and heroism those stories inspired.
See you later, John.
Thanks for keeping the world strange.
As a final note, Shu's second talent is profoundly toxic. Talents that are affected by other operator types exist (see Pallas), but never on the level of limited Ops that are only available once a year with no other means of getting them.
8/9
If you want an event that does a better job focusing on the little people, read [COME CATASTROPHES OR WAKES OF VULTURES]. The need to hype up future events and damaging the present one is a common HG storytelling L.
7/9
The people rally in the end, and shockingly did well against enemies that gain power from mere awareness.
But most of the event is the drama between divine siblings trying to find their place under Heaven as the people leave Dahuang, never learning why they were attacked.
6/9
But just as Ji and Shu lament Yan's dependence on the Sui, it was never proven that they could stand on their own. The Collapsals only stopped because of Nian. Grain Buds only survived because of discount Ifrit.
They're good people, but only serve as narrative fodder.
5/9