Ok, I think we've just been given fairly good grounds for assuming that Tarvek's been a "true revolutionary" for some time...or that, possibly, be becomes one as a result of this story. But I'm betting on the prior possibility.
Those of you who know me already know I thought this possible, based on his behavior and comments here: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091012, and because of his more reliable areas of concern and dedication. He's definitely upset about Klaus' status as an illegitimate ruler, he seems to honestly see the Storm King as an important predecessor for more than pure politics, and I long felt that his reaction to Agatha might well be based on her willingness to sacrifice her own life for the good of Europa... even if he did sabotage her effort. On top of that we never did find out what he saw as his "work" to do in Paris...one of the few places in Europa not utterly under Klaus' command. Tarvek, to me, seemed plausible as a serious, philosophy driven revolutionary, blending "resistance" elements with "aristo duty" elements in odd and fun ways.
I also always suspected they were playing a few "Percy Blakeny/Scarlet Pimpernel" games with his foppishness, dress sense, and cover role as the utter incompetent. The idea of him working not just to save his own life, but to further the revolution and "save Europa" always seemed in keeping with the Fs' sense of humor, and with Tarvek's personality.
The current novel seems, to me, to actually stress that more clearly. The Foglios write him as clearly making his final shift to loving Agatha as a response to her recording of her plea to Klaus and her willingness to die to save the nation. Again, yes, he overturns that, but for reasons he never gets to explain to her in full.
He's also shown a bit more fully moving into his title and position, and definitely reading to Agatha as taking his responsibilities very seriously indeed. "Defender of Balan's Gap and Protector of the East," as I recall. (My Kindle is recharging in the other room and I'm too lazy to be sure I got that word for word.)
Finally, there's the heading quote for the final chapter...an impassioned call for Europa to rise up in the memory of the Heterodyne Boys and turn back the "monsters" who have arisen. Very revolutionary prose, of its type. It even made me think a few "Give me liberty or give me death" thoughts. It's attributed to... one "T. Stormboy", and is published in "The Paris Review of Sorrowful Reflections Without Merit"...at least, that's what Babelfish and my remnant of high school French make of "La Revue Parisienne des Reflexions Chagrines et Sans Merite" (accents missing, due to utter failure to know how to insert them in this program).
The sentiments, the tie to Paris (and we already know Tarvek keeps up with Parisian journals that interest him because he mentions one here: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091016), and the rather obvious nom de resistance, combined with everything else we've already seen, and that the current novel reveals about his personality as seen by Agatha, seems to add up to Tarvek having been functioning as a real and committed revolutionary for some time...and very possibly with real personal dedication, not just political ambition.
Anyone else see that as a real option at this point?
T. Stormboy
Those of you who know me already know I thought this possible, based on his behavior and comments here: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091012, and because of his more reliable areas of concern and dedication. He's definitely upset about Klaus' status as an illegitimate ruler, he seems to honestly see the Storm King as an important predecessor for more than pure politics, and I long felt that his reaction to Agatha might well be based on her willingness to sacrifice her own life for the good of Europa... even if he did sabotage her effort. On top of that we never did find out what he saw as his "work" to do in Paris...one of the few places in Europa not utterly under Klaus' command. Tarvek, to me, seemed plausible as a serious, philosophy driven revolutionary, blending "resistance" elements with "aristo duty" elements in odd and fun ways.
I also always suspected they were playing a few "Percy Blakeny/Scarlet Pimpernel" games with his foppishness, dress sense, and cover role as the utter incompetent. The idea of him working not just to save his own life, but to further the revolution and "save Europa" always seemed in keeping with the Fs' sense of humor, and with Tarvek's personality.
The current novel seems, to me, to actually stress that more clearly. The Foglios write him as clearly making his final shift to loving Agatha as a response to her recording of her plea to Klaus and her willingness to die to save the nation. Again, yes, he overturns that, but for reasons he never gets to explain to her in full.
He's also shown a bit more fully moving into his title and position, and definitely reading to Agatha as taking his responsibilities very seriously indeed. "Defender of Balan's Gap and Protector of the East," as I recall. (My Kindle is recharging in the other room and I'm too lazy to be sure I got that word for word.)
Finally, there's the heading quote for the final chapter...an impassioned call for Europa to rise up in the memory of the Heterodyne Boys and turn back the "monsters" who have arisen. Very revolutionary prose, of its type. It even made me think a few "Give me liberty or give me death" thoughts. It's attributed to... one "T. Stormboy", and is published in "The Paris Review of Sorrowful Reflections Without Merit"...at least, that's what Babelfish and my remnant of high school French make of "La Revue Parisienne des Reflexions Chagrines et Sans Merite" (accents missing, due to utter failure to know how to insert them in this program).
The sentiments, the tie to Paris (and we already know Tarvek keeps up with Parisian journals that interest him because he mentions one here: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091016), and the rather obvious nom de resistance, combined with everything else we've already seen, and that the current novel reveals about his personality as seen by Agatha, seems to add up to Tarvek having been functioning as a real and committed revolutionary for some time...and very possibly with real personal dedication, not just political ambition.
Anyone else see that as a real option at this point?