I can't speak to how intentional that is, but that's a fantastic point. Check out the PWFanatic description:
" After years of going from extreme to extreme, Fanatic finally found some moderation... she stands more resolute than ever - not for vengeance or for zealotry, but for the defense of the innocent and the advancement of the greater good."
Zealotry was our first look at Fanatic. Vengeance was Redeemer Fanatic. Absolution breaking is probably another turning point for Fanatic where she has to rethink everything she thought she knew, and to do it against Truth is interesting.
But Truth (with a capitol T) if not that different from Absolutism really, it still implies a single objective truth or reality. Fanatic is probably always going to hold that philisophical belief, but her encounters with Apostate and Truth force her to rethink where that reality centers on.
It's also interesting to note how Apostate and Truth are almost polar opposites. Apostate represented deception and lies and Truth, though we know nothing about his character, his name alone invokes that stark dichotomy between them. Only after battling through both of these philosophical obsticals is Fanatic able to find "moderation". It's quite beautiful really.
Maybe it means that the truth is she was never going to find absolution, or that was the wrong goal. She was forced to see her stance objectively and because of that she was able to be a hero, in a way she wasn't able to before.
I had more on the symbolism of her new look, but I think if we want to explore this further, we should do it in its own thread
I think you guys are misudnerstanding what "Absolution" means... It's effectively forgiveness, especially on a formal scale (EG, in court or- the likely meaning in this case- before God); it has nothing to do with zealotry or absolutism (and arguably, absolutism could even be considered an opposite view to absolution). Now, there is clear symbolism in the fact that Apostate's blade is called Condemnation, as condemnation is the clear and polar opposite of absolution.
The word "absolve" means to formally release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
Maybe Absolution is not what empowers Fanatic, but rather a burden that she unwittingly bears. When Truth breaks Absolution, he is symbolically setting Fanatic free from what shackles her to her narrow-minded outlook of good and evil. He is...wait for it...absolving her of her obligation and fanaticism.
So her task was to bring absolution to the people she fought, and Truth broke her off that task? I'm loving this metaphor BTW. Even if it is a little vague
I really think this is an important part of the narrative progression for Fanatic, especially when it comes to her and Apostate.
Both of her Zealotry and Vengeance extreames much blind her to the truth of what Apostate is and what she is in a way. Too focused on either side of these coinds to see clearly. This middle ground might open her eyes to a new revelation.
Costume wise, she is a solid mix of both her original outfit and her Redeemer armor that represents this new found middle ground for her. But the background is, I think, the most important part of the art. Where is she?
I bet this is the home of The Host, where she can make her final confrontation with Apostate and whoever Apostate is an emissary for...
"Fanatic, the winged angel of vengeance, has great strength and great power, but those abilities rely entirely upon her world view - her faith. So, when the black-winged man attacked her, claiming her to be one of his kind, she was taken aback. Bezaliel, as he called himself, pointed out all their similarities: their wings, their powers, even their swords! Bezaliel insisted to Fanatic throughout their fights that she was in fact his creation, and not a holy angel at all! Shaken, Fanatic fled from their initial confrontation, needing to meditate on these claims.
With Fanatic out of the picture, Bezaliel began his assault, bringing terror and destruction to the world by summoning demonic entities to this plane. The heroes of the world joined forces to face him, calling him "Apostate", and he proved a terrible threat to the very existence of mankind."
Fanatic does not know where Absolution came from. It gets its name from the "Angelic" runes written on it. Maybe Apostate is the one who created Absolution and uses it to control Fanatic (either literally or psychologically). Fanatic's battle with Truth results in the destruction of Absolution and the revelation of the truth: namely that Apostate is a liar and her powers do not rely solely on her faith. She can thus continue to bring justice to the world without the need for Absolution.
Well she does know where Absolution came from. The sword and her armor she found in the catacombs, and she inscribed those runes in the blade during her sleep.
I do agree that she is not a holy angel, and maybe she comes to realise this as well in her PW form. But I do not believe Fanatic is Apostates creation. The things he says are probably half truths at best. He is a deciever.
I should have elaborated: I mean to say he created her in the sense that he may have provided her with her gear and guided her on her path without her knowledge. That might be a stretch though.
It's really possible. I talked a lot about Apostate in my Footenotes thread on the subject. It's interesting to note that, of all the villains ever released, we know the absolute least about Apostate. I think thats intentional because of his role with The Host, and the Host is most likely the Big Bad who caused the time cataclysm that we have been speculating on for years.
I agree. And given the non-subtle religeous undertones of "The Host" and the whole Apostate/Fanatic thing, I think the fact that it looks like a shady church lends creedence to the idea that this is where the The Host resides.
I also do not believe she is "renouncing" her blade. I think she will still carry it with her.
