Vengeance is Awesome (amazing art but spoilers, sorry)
Added 2022-06-17 00:09:58 +0000 UTCDear Insane Children,
I don't know if you know this (I think many of you do) but the Alice series is extremely cathartic for me. Because, as a child, I was abused in many ways - psychological, physical, and sexual. And by a wide variety of people - family members, caretakers, and strangers.
(trigger warning - sexual abuse stuff)
Last night, I had a nightmare about one instance. And I woke up this morning feeling angry, sad, and generally upset.
I thought back to a few years ago, this particular abuser resurfaced when a family member visited Shanghai. Over lunch, and quite casually, she asked, "So, did John (alias) get to you too?" John was her step-brother. He'd abused me on multiple occasions as a child but I never said a word about it to anyone. To hear her ask this question... my blood ran cold.
He'd abused her. He'd abused me. And he'd abused many other children... She thought I knew I wasn't alone. I did not. It didn't make me feel better knowing there had been many others. In this, I'd have preferred to remain alone.
But she let me know that he'd finally (at age 50) gone to prison forever. Convicted of a rape-murder apparently. Many years too late... but justice at last.
So when I sat down to review recent images from the Alice: Asylum pre-production team, I had a dark laugh at the latest from Adam (main image above - awesome work, Adam!).
For those who've read the Narrative Outline, you'll recognize this as the End Scene.
For those who haven't... well, spoilers!
Simply put... The ending of Asylum has Alice turn into a child predator hunter... using her Wonderland powers in the real world and tentacle mind raping them to death. The "Little Black Book" she takes from Radcliffe serves as a map, guiding Alice on her missions of vengeance. And when she finds her prey... woo, boy. Watch out!
Seeing stuff like this... makes me happy. At least as happy as you can feel about this sort of thing. And I hope that others out there who share in this sort of terrible history can also find some solace in witnessing vengeance served to those who most deserve it.
Omri did a fine rendition of the End Game dress.
From Shanghai with Vengeance,
-American
Comments
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2022-07-07 02:52:55 +0000 UTCI can see why that art would be cathartic for you. Alice's final form is amazing and terrifying; taking control of the power of her former tormentors, the Red Queen's tentacles and Bumby's ruin, and combine them to make her own power to hunt down the monsters of the real world. Honestly, this is my favorite depiction of her: She is potential prey no longer, but an apex predator.
Greyson Kehm
2022-06-29 07:13:42 +0000 UTCThank you for you being so open about your life! That takes a brave soul! You have helped myself and I know many others this way!! I have loved this game and all the creators! You being open is a huge part of why! I too feel like I am more this version of Alice and can relate on many levels! For these games I am grateful! I hope you know how amazing you are for everything youβve given including your vulnerability! I know I can speak for all of us when I say thank you to you and everyone else! I am sending love and good vibes to you all( as always!!) Keep being youβre awesome self!
Sarah McKeegan
2022-06-28 16:20:44 +0000 UTCThank you American for always being so open about things, and as Austin Cook said its a quality that i love and why i follow people like you and Lorne Lanning for trying to teach us about dark subjects etc. Im an autistic person who used to self harm untill i was able to learn some coping mechanisms and channel bitterness and pain into art (such as my profile pic) and story writing and 2d animation. So in ways you inspire me to try and do the same, to metaphorically turn trauma into lessons. I think i read somewhere that you used to play a Commodore 64 and im so glad that gaming and story telling was a comfort for you and many others out there! Also, love the art here and that Final dress is something else. Alice looks so certain, and en-powered! Love it.
AniFae Kusanagi
2022-06-24 11:26:24 +0000 UTCI know youβre older than me, Mr. McGee, but Iβm so proud of this whole project and process and how cathartic it has been and continues to be for you<333
2022-06-20 17:24:54 +0000 UTCThank you for your honesty and vulnerability. Thank you for using your history to change the narrative and future for others. Thank you for sharing and creating stories of success and justice and vengeance. All of you is seen and appreciated by the cosmos.
Sarah Heist
2022-06-19 18:59:23 +0000 UTCAwesome!!!
Sarah McKeegan
2022-06-19 18:21:47 +0000 UTCFor the art and story here. I love these new images! The black dress with the tentacles is great! I also love the image of Alice mind r@ping that evil man! This is such a cool use for Alices power! I really hope to see those used in future games as like a mechanic! I'm excited to see Alices journeys in Otherlands fully realized finally by the end of this chapter! Being a master of her trauma and fighting for those who can't protect themselves! Beautiful!
2022-06-19 02:52:29 +0000 UTCI've always loved how honest you always are with us as the fans of this game and this is one of the reasons why you have always been a creator I idolized and why Alice will always remain so close to my heart. Thank you for sharing and for all of the honesty.
2022-06-19 02:36:30 +0000 UTCAmerican, I've been a huge fan of yours since the first game-- because of this exact reason. I enjoyed the story of Alice as a child but felt she didn't have enough teeth. Your version of Alice is how I would've been and can be an alter ego that I pass in and out of. Traumas were endless, I'm sorry that we're related in that. BUT- I love that this is the ending. I'd prefer hacking them to death instead of the mind-r@ping but I completely understand. Love y'all. Love Adam's recent throng of filtering this emotion into art (please, please make some prints). Praying all is well with you and yours. And vengeance is certain to all, karma never forgets and they'll keep returning until it's sorted. (Reincarnation if I sound too cryptic) BTW, these beliefs are my own, not an endorsement. <3
2022-06-17 12:39:20 +0000 UTCI am so sorry this happened to you. You are so strong to be able to talk about it and confront it through your creations. I wish you and your family only the best until the end of time! Canβt wait for the game to be finished!
Melissa Chanyarlak
2022-06-17 11:44:57 +0000 UTCthis is like a form of theraphy for u. i wish it hadn't taken so long, but eventually karma/justice does come through. i'm sorry u had to relive ur nightmare, but u've come away stronger, i assume? and i luv this, can't wait to see more!
Sherrie Mora
2022-06-17 02:47:57 +0000 UTCGreat stuff, the images of course. Love how this game has evolved.
Lucky Dragon βShe.Theyβ
2022-06-17 02:13:48 +0000 UTC
