Fun fact: This is probably my favorite set of pages in the whole comic. It's cute. It's powerful. It offers closure. It's very fancy looking. I'm just extremely proud of this. So, I hope it lands well, for y'all!
To be fair, though, I know a lot of people would've preferred Rain being able to tell off the real Marcus Flaherty in person. But throughout the story, I've considered a lot of options for that, and it never felt natural to me. Like, no matter what he wanted or hoped to achieve, he abandoned his young child and dying spouse. I just couldn't envision a scenario where he could return into the story, and he would legitimately think it was a good idea where things would work out in his favor. He's a bastard for sure, but he's smart enough to know it wouldn't end well for him.
So, instead I opted to wrap up Marcus' role in the story by focusing on what he's actually been to the story all along: a painful memory that's haunted Rain. He's never physically appeared in the comic, but we've seen how his actions have continued to hurt and frighten our heroine without him ever being actively present. From the nightmare she's had, to her meek and quick-to-crumple disposition at the start of the story, his effect on her has always been there. But we've also watched her grow over all this time, becoming stronger, and distancing herself from the one who hurt her, and instead surrounding herself with those who care. So in a way, I think it's actually kinda fitting that rather than telling off the real life Marcus who already wasn't in her life anymore, she's telling off the nightmare that's been plaguing her for years instead.
As for Marcus himself, who knows where he is. You can headcanon whatever you want for him, but he's got no power over Rain anymore, and won't be coming back. ^_^
And as for Rain's real parents, the person she thought was her mother has been the real father figure all along (the one true dad, as some readers are saying). I stand by that this information has already been revealed to us, but I know some of you are still feeling a bit skeptical about the whole thing. Please don't forget there's still one more page of the letter that Rain has seen but we haven't, which I've withheld for now. We will see it, but only when it's time to show it. Until then, I'm going to continue to refer to him as "Mr. Bryer".
And Rain's mother is... Aunt Fara? Obviously, this one is a bit more symbolic. But Fara has raised Rain during very formative years of her life. She took her in when Mr. Bryer passed and Marcus was nowhere to be found. She accepted Rain for who she said she was, and aided her in her transition. She was always there, taking care of Rain to the best of her ability. Fara wasn't always perfect, but what parent is? But I think we're seeing here just how much her efforts have meant to Rain.
Thus ends the second-to-last chapter of Rain. We are going to take a short hiatus (that I didn't want to have to do, but is kind of necessary this time). I'd like to be back to posting before too long, so I'm aiming for about late December or so. I'm hoping to drop a few Rain Delays and fillers and stuff in the to lead-up to Chapter 44, so I hope you won't go too far in the meantime.
Following that, because people keep asking, there'll probably be another break after the final chapter wraps up. And yes, I said break, not "drop off the face of the internet forever". Because yes, more is coming! If you've enjoyed Rain and are interested in seeing more queer/trans-positive comics from me, I'd like to ideally not keep you waiting too long. We may be coming up to the last chapter of Rain, but this is not necessarily the end. ^_^
So, join me next month when we begin the final chapter of Rain. And then stick around, because I still have so many stories I wish to tell!
Rain is definitely about 5'5" now. I think Fara's probably about 5'7" or 5'8" or so.
(I have Fara's height written down somewhere; I'd just have to find it.) ^^;
Hey, this can make the searche easer https://www.google.com/search?q=heigth+site%3Arain.thecomicseries.com
is a google search. Thanks for this wonderful comic.
If I'm incorrect, just don't pay attention.
I LOVE the detail of the glasses breaking in that second to last panel. It's a minute things to some, maybe, but seeing the glasses break like that really drives home the FINALITY of it. He well and truly is gone. DING DONG HE'S REALLY GONE!
Thank goodness, he's finally gone.
Just to be clear, what I was doubtful of, up to this point, was that _my fellow readers_ could be so sure that Mr. Bryer was definitely exactly a binary trans man who would've wanted to be referred to in exactly these ways, etc. based on the limited information the _readers_ saw. I never doubted that he could be/do those things, and I never doubted that Rain would know what's correct. This page is, essentially, the confirmation I was waiting for: a fairly clear depiction from Rain of who her real dad was.
Yeah. I'm sure Edward Verres is a different guy. Edward loves his child. He may not understand what his child is going through but he tries to be the best father he can possibly be and that his child grows into being the best they can possibly be.
BTW, Edward Verres is the father of the main character of El Goonish Shive. I think most people who like Rain will also like the web comic El Goonish Shive. (The early pages are only so so but the artwork and story telling rapidly improve.)
The arc ongoing in EGS right now is pretty important too. Ed Verres may not understand, but... He's not malicious. Definitely recommend EGS too for another good read that explores gender and identity :)
Wow. This is one of the best pages I've seen on ANY comic I've ever read. I can't possibly image a better or more heart warming ending to Rain's old life. Just the thought that her sperm donor will no longer haunt her life is so uplifting.
Thank you so much for this awesome comic. I look forward to the final chapter and your future works.
This is an excellent page. To see Mr. Bryer officially pass his ribbon on and Rain declare Fara as her mom. As she said, it’s why her last name is no longer Flaherty.
Do you have a link to buy the comics? I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but how long after the final page is posted online do you estimate the last volume(s) will be available to purchase? Sorry if that's a stressful question for you, I don't mean to rush you I'm just curious. I have no idea how long the process of converting these pages into a physical copy would take.
Ideally, I'd like for Volumes 6 and 7 to come out shortly after the story is done. There's still a lot that needs to be done, but I don't want to leave them hanging too long. I don't have an exact timeframe, but I'd like to see the last books both come out next year. ^_^
Once you release volumes six and seven, are there any plans for a 'bundle' style deal for those of us who haven't managed to get their hands on any of the books yet?
I don't necessarily know if this is an option, but I will say I get asked this a lot. So I will definitely see what I can do. I unfortunately can't promise anything, but I'll try to do what I can. :)
I've only been around here for a year or so but I've bought all five of the volumes that are out so far and I had a couple of questions if you don't mind my asking.
Firstly, if volume 7 is happening (which yeah I have to admit if all this fit into one volume it'd be a *wide* volume), what colour will the spine be? (I'm super jazzed about the pride colours in case you couldn't tell)
And secondly, the volume one was really blurry, which isn't a big problem for the parts I was able to read online I already knew, but I had some trouble with the bonus chapter.
Huge fan of your work and this page emptied my box of tissues so I have to go get some more.
For the last two spines, I'll be going with traditional rainbow colors (ROY G BIV style). So Volume 6 will be indigo, with Volume 7 in violet. ^_^
I'm really sorry about the blurry Volume 1. There's a lot I'd like to fix about the first book - the blurriness, the only book with no editor, my name is wrong on the cover because I hadn't legally changed it yet at the time and I ended up going with a different middle name when I did. Someday, I'd like to get around to fixing that. I was just responding to someone else about color books some, and unfortunately, because I no longer have the editable files, it'll probably take a bit of time to fix/make changes. But maybe hopefully someday I'll have time to make that happen. :)
I finally bought the books a few months ago after reading for free for years. Please don't beat yourself up over any perceived quality issues with volume 1 (although it's a shame about your name). I'm just really glad you have been able to keep going with this story for so long. Thank you!
We all have our demons, and finding a way to dismiss them is a personal victory. My high school demon was an oh-so-superior Mister Macho who chose me as the target for his worst excesses. Years after graduation, I still had occasional flashbacks to his cruelties, until I revisited my home town and met a classmate who told me he was serving his second jail term for domestic abuse. I don't normally let myself indulge in schadenfreude, but the thought of him doing two years in the county slammer somehow freed me from the memories.
Readers of Rain's journey may speculate on what happened to Marcus after he left, but since Rain has dismissed him, I shall too. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut what happened to him.
These pages are simply magnificent! Mr. Bryer passing on his ribbon to Rain, Mr. Bryer's proud declaration that he is Rain's father, Rain's acknowledgment of Fara as her mother... Just wow. I'm looking forward to the last chapter, but I gotta say that it's gonna be tough topping the impact of today's release!
Marvelous job, Jocelyn. Thank you so much for all you do <3
I'll admit, as much as I would have liked to see Rain call Marcus out in person, this is much more thematically accurate and it's nice having both her true parental figures there to provide support. 10/10 page Jocelyn
Anyone else notice that when Liriel took off the ribbon and gave it to Rain, his top area flattened out. I dont know how else to word that. Almost as if releasing the ribbon released something.
just wow... thank you for this. i was so scared marcus was going to come back so this is just perfect omg like rains REAL family this made me cry happy tears
I can't believe Rain is about to enter the final chapter
This story has been so important to me in the past decade
It gave me the confidence to become the woman I am today
Thank you Jocelyn
I can't wait to see how you end the story
*throw their phone down in happiness*
It can be so powerful to throw away the name given to us by those who didn't bother to stick around! You continually write story arcs that I can see parts of myself in..
Also when Rain wraps up, any chance of a color physical book or color pdf version of the whole comic? (maybe complete with those Rain extras from the black and white physical books?)
It may yet happen, but it'll be a timely, costly project that's hard to fit in right now (especially for Volumes 1 and 2 which unfortunately don't have the editable PSD files anymore). So don't wait up for this; it may be a while if at all. But I do hear people asking for it, so I'll keep it in mind. ^_^
I discovered this wonderful comic 6 months ago and I'm already sad that it's coming to a close. But it had a good run, and even thou we all want more, all good things must come to a close.
Thank you for making this wonderful series.
:)
i appreciate the symbolism of not showing mr breyer's chest after he takes off the ribbon. it feels like a symbolic way of giving him the transition that he didn't have in life.
When I read that, I had this fantasy of Marcus showing up in person and Fara hitting him with a child support judgement for the years since he disappeared.
This was an amazing chapter, with amazing lore drops and new information! Excited for the last chapter, though it's sad to see this series end, especially when I only discovered it earlier this year!
I really wish we can time jump to rains surgery prep after the main comic it's one of the most crazy but important and life changing events for a trans gal that needs more representation
I'll note that Zebra Girl had a similar villain and ending - this ominous manipulative entity that's been traumatic and a haunt instead of being realized as a full villain...is reduced to dust by a woman who had learned to accept herself and found her place.
holy heck. I leave for three weeks to work on college applications and this is the chapter end I come back to? I was literally sobbing out loud after this one. Bravo, Jocelyn. Bravo.
I have decided that I will create a cursed magical item for my dnd party combining all the symbolism that a pair of glasses falling from someone's face has ever contained.
I've got Marcus and Piggy so far. Any other wearers of symbolic glasses I should consider?
Its hard to pick one page as the best of Rain. There are too many wonderful pages. If forced to choose the best so far this one will definitely be in the running.
Good work. Please give yourself a pat on the back for the good work!
I. Just. Wow. Look at how far we've come. And now, hearing that the next chapter will be the end...it's sad, in a way. Anytime something I follow so closely finally comes to its end, it's hard. And in this case, very much so. This comic means so much to me. It brought me out of my eggshell, brought me together with one of the girlfriends I love dearly, and for that I can't thank you enough. It's hard to remember when I first started reading, but I was definitely here for the vast majority of the comic as it happened. We've come so far. But, as sad as endings are, I'm happy, too. Endings, after all, come when the greatest hardships are overcome, and with how I've come to grow so attached to these characters, laughing with them, crying with them, flying into a rage with them, or whatever else? Seeing them happy, and smiling one last time, makes me happy too.
Now then, sappy speech all said and done, returning late December, mmm? Sounds suspiciously like a Christmas gift ;3 (I'm joking you don't actually have to do that)
I loved this section, I’m tearing up because of the dream where her real parents tell her abusive sperm donor off (couldn’t think of a better way to describe him.
Mr. Bryer gets to claim his position as Rain’s father. And along with Fara, Rain and Mr. Bryer tell Marcus off? YES I LOVE THIS PAGE
Also @Jocelyn, when Rain is finished, are you going to be working on Magical? It seems like such an interesting story!
Rain is definitely about 5'5" now. I think Fara's probably about 5'7" or 5'8" or so.
(I have Fara's height written down somewhere; I'd just have to find it.) ^^;
is a google search. Thanks for this wonderful comic.
If I'm incorrect, just don't pay attention.
Just to be clear, what I was doubtful of, up to this point, was that _my fellow readers_ could be so sure that Mr. Bryer was definitely exactly a binary trans man who would've wanted to be referred to in exactly these ways, etc. based on the limited information the _readers_ saw. I never doubted that he could be/do those things, and I never doubted that Rain would know what's correct. This page is, essentially, the confirmation I was waiting for: a fairly clear depiction from Rain of who her real dad was.
Huh? Different guy? Are you sure? Huh.
BTW, Edward Verres is the father of the main character of El Goonish Shive. I think most people who like Rain will also like the web comic El Goonish Shive. (The early pages are only so so but the artwork and story telling rapidly improve.)
Thank you so much for this awesome comic. I look forward to the final chapter and your future works.
The currently available books (Volumes 1-5) can be found right here.
https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/LittleLynn84
Ideally, I'd like for Volumes 6 and 7 to come out shortly after the story is done. There's still a lot that needs to be done, but I don't want to leave them hanging too long. I don't have an exact timeframe, but I'd like to see the last books both come out next year. ^_^
I don't necessarily know if this is an option, but I will say I get asked this a lot. So I will definitely see what I can do. I unfortunately can't promise anything, but I'll try to do what I can. :)
Firstly, if volume 7 is happening (which yeah I have to admit if all this fit into one volume it'd be a *wide* volume), what colour will the spine be? (I'm super jazzed about the pride colours in case you couldn't tell)
And secondly, the volume one was really blurry, which isn't a big problem for the parts I was able to read online I already knew, but I had some trouble with the bonus chapter.
Huge fan of your work and this page emptied my box of tissues so I have to go get some more.
For the last two spines, I'll be going with traditional rainbow colors (ROY G BIV style). So Volume 6 will be indigo, with Volume 7 in violet. ^_^
I'm really sorry about the blurry Volume 1. There's a lot I'd like to fix about the first book - the blurriness, the only book with no editor, my name is wrong on the cover because I hadn't legally changed it yet at the time and I ended up going with a different middle name when I did. Someday, I'd like to get around to fixing that. I was just responding to someone else about color books some, and unfortunately, because I no longer have the editable files, it'll probably take a bit of time to fix/make changes. But maybe hopefully someday I'll have time to make that happen. :)
My heart and mind exploded here. ❤️
Readers of Rain's journey may speculate on what happened to Marcus after he left, but since Rain has dismissed him, I shall too. I don't give a flying fuck at a rolling donut what happened to him.
Marvelous job, Jocelyn. Thank you so much for all you do <3
Also, "The One True Dad" made me laugh
If you can’t solve relationship issues with someone in person, doing it in a dream or some spiritual session can be even more powerful.
this page is both empowering -and- some of the best work you've done, absolutely beautiful🖤
I can't believe Rain is about to enter the final chapter
This story has been so important to me in the past decade
It gave me the confidence to become the woman I am today
Thank you Jocelyn
I can't wait to see how you end the story
It can be so powerful to throw away the name given to us by those who didn't bother to stick around! You continually write story arcs that I can see parts of myself in..
Also when Rain wraps up, any chance of a color physical book or color pdf version of the whole comic? (maybe complete with those Rain extras from the black and white physical books?)
It may yet happen, but it'll be a timely, costly project that's hard to fit in right now (especially for Volumes 1 and 2 which unfortunately don't have the editable PSD files anymore). So don't wait up for this; it may be a while if at all. But I do hear people asking for it, so I'll keep it in mind. ^_^
Thank you for making this wonderful series.
:)
"he abandoned his young child and dying spouse."
When I read that, I had this fantasy of Marcus showing up in person and Fara hitting him with a child support judgement for the years since he disappeared.
Mriel?
Mr. Iel?
Duderiel?
I've got Marcus and Piggy so far. Any other wearers of symbolic glasses I should consider?
Good work. Please give yourself a pat on the back for the good work!
Now then, sappy speech all said and done, returning late December, mmm? Sounds suspiciously like a Christmas gift ;3 (I'm joking you don't actually have to do that)
But it's not the end and I eagerly await the final chapter (and that last page of the letter!)