Concession

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Concession
Author(s)	Immelmann
Website	http://concessioncomic.com
Update schedule	Tuesdays and Fridays
Launch date	July 1st, 2006
End Date	Ongoing
Genre	Humor, parody
Rating(s)

Concession is a furry webcomic by Immelmann based around the employees of a movie theater concession stand. Its humor varies wildly between themes of violence, parody, and increasingly frequent adult situations.

Launched in July 2006, the comic now updates in color twice a week - the original schedule was once a week, and then one black-and-white strip alternating with a full-color strip. Initially, the comic focused on the characters as they acted behind the stand, but over time it moved to show them outside of work, mostly at home or school.

On November 8th, 2007, Concession moved from Comic Genesis to its own server, which also hosts the comic's forum.

[edit] Background

Immelmann spent three years working at a concession stand, eventually quitting for fear of going absolutely insane. During that time, he filled a small notebook full of comical experiences that either did happen or should have happened. Initially planning for the comic to serve as an excuse to say to customers everything he couldn't in real life, Concession soon evolved on its own as the characters became more than just sarcastic, satirical tools.

[edit] Chronicles

On May 13th, 2008, Immelmann created Concession Chronicles, a series of essays and stories written by and about the Concession cast.

Some of the stories include:

• Joel discussing a one-night stand.
• Kelly describing how she met Emily.
• Artie talking about his family history and his life with cancer.

[edit] AnthroCon, 2009

At Anthrocon, 2009, Immelmann ran an hour-long panel about Concession. An estimated 61 people showed up. The panel was recorded on video and posted to YouTube in six videos.

• Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU9vr6bXGYA
• Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P1RcnjswSs
• Part Three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS6d3VYeaGY
• Part Four: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XxIvYtZiY0
• Part Five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAFwoUmDjHU
• Part Six: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmFmVn-Zl6o

Immelmann discusses the history of Concession, the nature of Joel's powers, Matt's fetish, and the comic-making progress, among other things.

[edit] Cast

Main article: List of characters in Concession

[edit] World information

[edit] The Jansen Tribe

The large family of which Angie and Thonnen are a part has a very lengthy history. The family can trace its roots back to Africa, to where the modern-day dinosaur species originates.

The Jansen Tribe bases its customs off the example made by its religion, Church of the Animal Christ, which focuses on family loyalty and respect. It is an elder-based system, with the ruler of the family being the oldest female, who surrounds herself with a council of personally-chosen elders. This tradition dates back to their African roots, where tribe elders would keep control over the movement of family members, the organization and distribution of crops, etc. The tradition stands mainly as a formality in modern times, but the elders are still to be treated with great respect, and they are still to organize family meetings and make decisions regarding the family's assets.

The family owns a number of businesses, picked up through years of buying stocks and forming partnership deals. Most the companies are owned collectively by the elder council, but a few companies are held exclusively by the elder female. Ownership passes on to the female's heir in the event of death.

[edit] Furry religions

A number of furry-based religions are unique to the Concession canon, many of them attempting to explain the origins of furries.

• Church of the Shepard - This is a branch of Christianity, based on Protestantism, which tries to re-interpret the bible in a favorable way towards furries.

• Church of the Animal Christ - The text of this church is based off the life of one dinosaur, ages ago, believed by the church to be the second reincarnation of Jesus.

• Church of the Animal AntiChrist - This church believes that the furry race is the genetic equivalent of the antichrist, and that, someday, the furry race will inherit the Earth.

• Church of Gaia - This is a naturalistic religion that believes furries to have a natural connection with the Earth and its soul/goddess, Gaia. The religion implores a life of peace and one-ness with the earth. The most controversial part of this religion is its support of bestiality, and its belief that marriages between feral animals and furries is to be celebrated.

• Church of Lilith - The mythology of this religion states that Lilith, the first wife of Adam who was cast out of the garden of Eden, gave birth to the furry race after breeding with demons. This implies a heavy feeling of nobility and righteousness, as the furry bloodline is, allegedly, partially the true inheritor of the Earth. The mentality of this religion is very similar to the Church of the Animal Antichrist, and the two are often considered "ally" religions.

• The Alien Following - This religion believes that Furries are creations of an alien race.

• Kemetic - Sometimes known as the Neo-Egyptian movement, this is a revitalization of ancient Egyptian mythology, and believes that the old Egyptian gods are still alive in the spiritual level of earth.

[edit] Dinosaurs

Thonnen's infant child, displaying the crest, arm, and tail feathers with which all dinosaur children are born.

One species featured in the Concession universe are known as Dinosaurs. Two main characters, Thonnen and Angie, are of this race. The dinoaurs are based on the theory that ancient dinosaurs evolved into birds, with these modern equivalents having gone in reverse, thus explaining the lack of avians in Concession.

The dinosaurs are very similar to the lizards that also populate the comic's world. Their most striking visual feature are the brightly-colored feathers on the head of the females. The color of a lizard can range between green, yellow, and brown (albinism exists, and certain African tribes have, rarely, yielded blue children) with most lizards browning as they age. Various skin patterns exist, usually in the form of stripes or spots. Their feathers have more color range and have been known to be nearly any hue, though red and purple are the most common.

The dinosaurs, based on birds and lizards, have no external genitalia and only one opening that serves as both their reproductive and excretory opening: this is known as the cloaca. This, plus the lack of breasts in females (as egg-laying creatures, they don't have mammary glands), creatures a very vague sexual dimorphism. The only outwardly-physical difference are the feathers, found only on females past the adult age. As children, all dinosaurs have feathers on their head, arms, and tails. These feathers are lost once puberty is hit.

The lizards of Concession are very similar to the dinosaurs in that they are egg-laying, cloacal creatures. The main differences between lizards and dinosaurs are the feathers and the skin. Lizards have scales, where the dinosaur's skin is rough but scaleless.

[edit] Continuing stories

The many stories of Concession are told in arcs, usually separated by periods of random, story-less comics. Linear story telling is not exactly common practice, as stories will suddenly start or stop (starting again at future dates).

The archives split the stories into numbered and titled chapters, but the chapter breaks are not represented in the comic itself (there are no chapter covers, for example).

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

• The New Guy (7/1/06) - The beginning chapter introduces most of the main characters and focuses partially on Matt, who first starts working at the theatre.

• The Health Inspector (9/5/06) - A visit from the health inspector worries the cast. Also in this chapter, Joel re-unites with Nicole from the first chapter, and his bisexuality is revealed. The black-and-white series begins, which shifts view to college and introduces Joel's room mate, Roland.

• Never Mind the Pollock (10/24/06) - Roland and Thonnen meet in art class and start their relationship.

• Metastasis, part One (10/24/06) - Briefly touched upon, it is revealed that Artie is suffering from brain cancer. Artie tells the story of his father dying of brain cancer, and of his mother's suicide.

• Reptile, Part One (1/2/07) - The first 'proper' story arc focuses on Roland visiting Thonnen and Angie's family. Raj Jansen is introduced, a family elder who disapproved of Thonnen's inter-species relationship. Raj plots to have Angie seduce Roland in order to break the two up, but the ploy fails.

• Smells Like Children (1/26/07) - Chelsie, a young sheep girl, is left behind at the movie theatre by her parents, who are soon found dead. Artie takes the girl home for the night (for lack of a better place to keep her); Chelsie proceeds to seduce Artie, and it is revealed that the young girl is actually a cross-dressing boy. Artie confesses this event to Dave, and the two keep it a secret (though Joel seems to know about it).

• Tormentor of Christian Souls (4/10/07) - Chelsie is taken to the house of her priest, Tim, who is to take care of her. In the church nearby, Joel and Tim confront each other; Tim expresses his suspicions that Joel caused the death of Chelsie's parents and caused Chelsie to seduce Artie. Some time later, Joel tries to seduce Matt in the theatre's break room, and, after work, Matt is picked up by Nicole and visits his home. Nicole proceeds to kiss Matt, which prompts Matt to ask Joel to retrieve him via text message. Joel picks him up and drives him to Rick's house.

• Dirty Thoughts (7/10/07) - Matt, Joel, Rick, and his sister, Kate, use their day off to see a movie. Artie develops a crush on Kate.

• Reptile, Part Two (8/17/07) - Mariam, the head of the Reptile Family, dies at the hands of the Grim Reaper, who looks mysteriously like Joel. Thonnen travels to the family's estate for the funeral, and Roland goes with her. Raj, now the head of the family, pays a lizard named Valae to rape and impregnate Thonnen. The chapter ends with Valae repenting and confronting the council of family elders, revealing Raj's plan to the rest of the elders.

• The Confession (10/9/07) - Matt visits Tim and confesses his confusion with his sexuality, caused by Joel's seduction and Nicole's kiss. Matt reveals his concern that Joel may be plotting evil things.

• Metastasis, Part Two (11/16/07) - Artie's brain cancer has worsened, but this does not stop him from taking Kate out on a date. Also in this chapter, Matt hears from Roland, who tells of the stress Thonnen's pregnancy is creating.

• With a Strong Hand and an Outstretched Arm (1/1/08) - Joel visits Tim's confessional booth. Joel admits that he is the cause of the deaths of Chelsie's family, Artie's seduction and Thonnen's rape as well as many numerous crimes in the past. Joel reveals he is indeed the Grim Reaper (or some form of it), but Tim already knew that for an unspecified reason. The two have a spiritual battle that ends in Tim's defeat. The fight has a bad effect on both Joel - who proceeds to walk outside and cough up blood - and Tim - who walks out of the confessionary visibly shaken.

• Metastasis, Part Three (2/5/08) - The longest chapter so far. It begins with Joel professing concern about his plans, though we are not told what they are. Shortly thereafter, Thonnen breaks up with Roland, and it is revealed to the audience that Thonnen cheated on Roland with Joel. Artie and Kate continue going out, but the relationship is ruined when Kate brings Artie to a NAMBLA meeting, assuming he is a pedophile. Artie's medical condition worsens and he is hospitalized, but not before Kate gives him her inheritance to pay for cancer treatment. In the hospital, Joel confronts Artie and attempts to kill him, but fails to do so. Joel confesses that he gave Artie cancer, and that he made Chelsie seduce him. Just before the fight ends, Artie rips a female figure out of Joel's body.

• Eye in the Sky (6/27/08) - Joel confronts Matt about both his feelings and his religion, strengthening the former and weakening his faith in the latter. Meanwhile, Dave has installed a new security system in the theater which he is using to maintain tighter control. The chapter ends when Rick discovers a bug infestation within the walls while investigating a broken camera.

• Convergence (8/22/08) - The staff travel to a beach resort, and after an asbestos scare, Joel confronts Matt about his feelings and makes him accept himself, resulting in them having sex and hooking up. Also, Artie begins to have strange dreams about a mysterious dolphin woman.

• Revelations (1/02/09) - In this pretty short chapter, we see Matt's past, showing why he was so scared to accept himself, and then see Joel's past, showing just why he's determined to have his revenge.

• The New Boss (2/24/09) - The staff get a new boss, who's determined to run things in a stricter way. Through Joel's manipulation, the staff go on strike and refuse to work, resulting in her resignation. We then learn that she's actually a spy for Joel's brother, and Joel attacks and infects her. The chapter ends with Joel revealing just how all of his final plans are going to come together.

• Aqua Dementia (6/30/09) - In the longest chapter yet, Artie travels with Melusine to her home city, training with her and her sister to prepare to free Joel from Miranda's control. Artie and Melusine end up getting close, and Melusine becomes pregnant. Enraged, she is taken hostage by a whale named Darin, who believes that breeding between dolphins and land-dwellers is punishable by death. Artie confronts Darin, who kills Melusine (and thus her baby, too), and is then killed by Artie, who proceeds to snap and burn down the city. Meanwhile, Matt's parents disown him for being gay, and Joel has to convince Matt's father to change his mind, which he eventually does. The chapter ends with Matt buying Joel a new coat, and Artie preparing to fight Joel and Miranda.

[edit] External links

• The Concession Forum