Tarnation Lucille, the Gunslinging Black Powder Demon
Tarnation Lucille was created by Dewidot, it can be read on Tapas and ComicFury
WARNING
The webcomic I will be covering contains material that isn't SFW. Viewer digression is advised.
Welcome back to the blog! It's high time I covered a cowgirl on my blogs! Tarnation Lucille generally doesn't seem like the kind of webcomic I'd enjoy, as it does get pretty fan-servicey. However, Lucille herself is an exceptionally fun character, the action is entertaining, and the mythical wild western world she inhabits is super engrossing. After learning Lucille's whole schtick, I instantly knew I wanted to make a blog on her. So I did!
I also wanted to give some news while I'm at it. As you can see here, the title of the blog now has a western font befitting of Lucille. If you're to go to any other blog I've done, every title now sports a unique font! I wanted to add these to help establish the sort of vibe each character brings. Go check out the other blogs to see what their font is!
While we're on the subject of webcomic character blogs, I wanted to give a shoutout to my pal Flute Cop's recent matchup blog Axe Cop vs Bobobo! It's an excellent modern coverage on both characters, which I highly recommend giving a read.
I gotta let the cat out of the bag, I was working on Axe Cop vs Inferno Cop as my first matchup blog, which Flute and other friends assisted me with. I'd intended to release it on April Fool's disguised as a solo character blog, but I'd lost steam on it for multiple reasons.
I'd chosen that matchup since researching a series low on content like Inferno Cop felt easy for my first matchup blog, but as it went on it became very clear it would be a wash in Axe Cop's favor. It didn't help that I'd started losing interest after learning what the artist behind Axe Cop has been up to these past few years. I considered repurposing the research as a solo blog, but Axe Cop vs Bobobo is a much more complete coverage that I recommend you check out in its stead. Our research differed in some ways, but this is still the most complete his research has been in years.
Alright, let's stop horsing around and get to the real meat of this blog. Yeehaw!
Background
“Ooowee! Smell that gunpowder!”
The wild west just became a whole lot weirder. In these parts, bandits are the least of your worries. Zombies, werewolves, and ghouls are out and about causin' all sorts 'a trouble, but none more than demonkind.
Demons are no joke. They're universally feared, pure evil beings with insurmountable power. Half-demons on the other hand aren't all bad. Sure they traded their strength for mortality, but don't assume they're all vile monsters just because they're demonic in nature. Some have dedicated themselves to doing good in this world, like the black powder demon Tarnation Lucille.
Lucille is a rootin' tootin' bounty hunter who takes on a variety of jobs that involve dealing with supernatural threats. With the assistance of her skittish piggy beastkin sidekick Shatso McGillicuddy, they make for a dynamic and efficient team.
Lucille herself is crude, sassy, and southern as all get-out. She's an impulsive cowgirl whose reckless actions are motivated by the thrill of the hunt. She may not have the best manners or cleanliness, but she is a righteous woman who's considerate for the lives of everyone around her, which is virtually unheard of for demonkind.
As a half-demon she lacks their immortality and unrelenting strength, but she still has control over the elements. She's the only demonkin to ever have mastery over manipulating black powder, the more archaic term for gunpowder. That goes hand-in-hand with her gunslinging fighting style.
Not much is known of their history, but for all their differences she and Shatso are glued at the hip. Shatso is the yin to her yang, whose caution and quick-thinking helps keep her grounded. It's great that Lucille has someone as loyal and friendly as Shatso by her side, as most mortals discriminate against her simply for being a demon. She does make other allies like fellow bounty hunters, but they're few and far between.
She may be feared and hated by those she busts her ass for, but life on Earth is far more preferable compared to Hell. She faces inner conflict with her dark birthright, as she'd be much more powerful if she gave up her mortality. However, that would mean being dragged into Hell to live there for eternity and dedicate the rest of her life to terrorizing mortals.
That's no life for her. She loves shootouts, hunting bounties with Shatso, making out with beautiful women, and drinking like a fish. She wouldn't give any of those up, even if she finds herself enticed to giving in to her demonic half time and time again.
She continues trying to find her place in a world that rejects both her demonic and human sides. Even so, she's happy with her life right now. She's adventuring and shooting all the same. Just don't think of causing trouble while she's around. Wouldn't want a bullet put between your eyes, would ya?
Experience and Skill
No challenge is too big or bizarre for Tarnation Lucille and Shatso to handle! It's unknown how long the two have been working together, but their resume is already notable. Bandits are the most mundane threats she deals with when compared to ghosts, eldritch horrors, and wendigo.
Not only is she well-educated on the supernatural, but all elements and weapons related to black powder. She's especially knowledgeable on how guns operate and how her gunpowder manipulation can interact with them.
No challenge is too big or bizarre for Tarnation Lucille and Shatso to handle! It's unknown how long the two have been working together, but their resume is already notable. Bandits are the most mundane threats she deals with when compared to ghosts, eldritch horrors, and wendigo.
Not only is she well-educated on the supernatural, but all elements and weapons related to black powder. She's especially knowledgeable on how guns operate and how her gunpowder manipulation can interact with them.
Equipment
LeMat Revolvers
LeMats were caliber cap & black powder revolvers developed in the mid-1800s that mostly saw use during the American Civil War. They were small, but capable of buckshots like a shotgun thanks to their larger nine-shot cylinders. Despite their power and novelty, they weren't an effective military weapon and manufacturing eventually ceased.
Thankfully this isn't modern times, so we get to see Lucille in action with these bad boys. She doesn't go anywhere without her trusty revolvers by her side. They really pack a punch when combined with her black powder manipulation, the applications of which I'll elaborate on later.
LeMats were caliber cap & black powder revolvers developed in the mid-1800s that mostly saw use during the American Civil War. They were small, but capable of buckshots like a shotgun thanks to their larger nine-shot cylinders. Despite their power and novelty, they weren't an effective military weapon and manufacturing eventually ceased.
Thankfully this isn't modern times, so we get to see Lucille in action with these bad boys. She doesn't go anywhere without her trusty revolvers by her side. They really pack a punch when combined with her black powder manipulation, the applications of which I'll elaborate on later.
Chirpie the Squawk Walker
Egads, a chocobo?! I kid. The magic setting of the webcomic comes with a more diverse selection of fauna, and squawk walkers are no exception. They're basically oversized birds that can be used as steeds.
Egads, a chocobo?! I kid. The magic setting of the webcomic comes with a more diverse selection of fauna, and squawk walkers are no exception. They're basically oversized birds that can be used as steeds.
Earrings
As a a demon, Lucille was born with her trademark pentagram earrings. What makes them peculiar is that they can't be permanently removed from Lucille's person. If she threw them away they'd just poof back in place.
As a a demon, Lucille was born with her trademark pentagram earrings. What makes them peculiar is that they can't be permanently removed from Lucille's person. If she threw them away they'd just poof back in place.
Pickaxe
Lucille found this pickaxe in a haunted cave and used it to defend herself against monstrous undead. With enough black powder she can supercharge to effectively function as a stick hand grenade.
Lucille found this pickaxe in a haunted cave and used it to defend herself against monstrous undead. With enough black powder she can supercharge to effectively function as a stick hand grenade.
Silver Bullets
It's handy to dip her bullets in silver if she has to deal with werewolves.
It's handy to dip her bullets in silver if she has to deal with werewolves.
Abilities
Gunpowder Manipulation
As the world's only black powder demon, she never runs out of ammo since she can conjure up gunpowder. She can move swarms of it and detonate it at will. She isn't normally able to summon it in droves or at a wide range, but she can draw from the environment to give herself way more black powder to control. This includes elements like lead that were used in black powder at the time.
As the world's only black powder demon, she never runs out of ammo since she can conjure up gunpowder. She can move swarms of it and detonate it at will. She isn't normally able to summon it in droves or at a wide range, but she can draw from the environment to give herself way more black powder to control. This includes elements like lead that were used in black powder at the time.
Limited BFR & Self-BFR
There are a couple ways Lucille can send a demon back to Hell.
As a half-demon she's able to tap into summoning circles to shut them down and return the demon summoned from them back into Hell. When accessing the summoning circle she briefly crosses over to Hell to close a door that severs the connection. She hates this part because other demons immediately recognize she's back in Hell. In her mind she hears whispers of temptations to give up her mortal side for overwhelming power in the underworld.
The other more practical way is to create a banishment circle with black powder and heretical ink. Her experience with runes isn’t comparable to a witch’s like Annabel, who improved upon her circle by adding exorcism runes to it. The two of them managed to send a gigantic possessed millipede train into the fiery pits of Hell.
There are a couple ways Lucille can send a demon back to Hell.
As a half-demon she's able to tap into summoning circles to shut them down and return the demon summoned from them back into Hell. When accessing the summoning circle she briefly crosses over to Hell to close a door that severs the connection. She hates this part because other demons immediately recognize she's back in Hell. In her mind she hears whispers of temptations to give up her mortal side for overwhelming power in the underworld.
The other more practical way is to create a banishment circle with black powder and heretical ink. Her experience with runes isn’t comparable to a witch’s like Annabel, who improved upon her circle by adding exorcism runes to it. The two of them managed to send a gigantic possessed millipede train into the fiery pits of Hell.
Fireworks Manipulation
Who needs firecrackers when Lucille can make a light show in a room!
Who needs firecrackers when Lucille can make a light show in a room!
CQC
She's an aggressive one, that darn Tarnation Lucille. She's as unpredictable and violent as a bull in a hornet's nest! Am I doing this right?
She's an aggressive one, that darn Tarnation Lucille. She's as unpredictable and violent as a bull in a hornet's nest! Am I doing this right?
Limited Enhanced Senses
Lucille's senses are specifically attuned to elements gunpowder is made from.
Lucille's senses are specifically attuned to elements gunpowder is made from.
Extrasensory Perception
Along with that, her demon side is receives foreboding senses around stuff that is clearly supernatural, like this chest containing an eldritch horror.
Along with that, her demon side is receives foreboding senses around stuff that is clearly supernatural, like this chest containing an eldritch horror.
Demon Transformation
Lucille has the potential to let her demon side take the reins, turning her into a truly monstrous foe. Once she lets it take over there’s go going back. As demonstrated by Lucious, a half-demon may receive a complete power boost, but they'll remain on the mortal plane for a few minutes before being dragged into Hell for all eternity. It's currently unknown what fully giving in to her demon side looks like.
Lucille has the potential to let her demon side take the reins, turning her into a truly monstrous foe. Once she lets it take over there’s go going back. As demonstrated by Lucious, a half-demon may receive a complete power boost, but they'll remain on the mortal plane for a few minutes before being dragged into Hell for all eternity. It's currently unknown what fully giving in to her demon side looks like.
Power Amplification
Her power and range are amplified when in the presence of heretical ink, the same substance used to summon demons. This gives her more busted uses of her black powder powers I'll go over in the techniques section.
Her power and range are amplified when in the presence of heretical ink, the same substance used to summon demons. This gives her more busted uses of her black powder powers I'll go over in the techniques section.
Levitation
When under the amp of heretical ink, she was seemingly able to make her guns float.
When under the amp of heretical ink, she was seemingly able to make her guns float.
Heat Manipulation
Wet gunpowder is basically useless, so she's able to counter-act that by heating it up. This even works at long distance.
Wet gunpowder is basically useless, so she's able to counter-act that by heating it up. This even works at long distance.
Techniques
Overcharging
Lucille can overcharge her shots with black powder to make them more forceful, but also less accurate.
Lucille can overcharge her shots with black powder to make them more forceful, but also less accurate.
Exploding
Not only can she control her swarms of black powder, she can also explode them to blind her opponent.
Not only can she control her swarms of black powder, she can also explode them to blind her opponent.
Amped Explosions
Thanks to the power amp, her range is increased. Normally she’s able to just warm up powder from a distance in case it’s too wet. Here though, she can easily blow up the gunpowder in other peoples' guns. Now that's just playing dirty.
Thanks to the power amp, her range is increased. Normally she’s able to just warm up powder from a distance in case it’s too wet. Here though, she can easily blow up the gunpowder in other peoples' guns. Now that's just playing dirty.
Explosive Sealing
With her powers juiced up from the heretical ink, she could seal up an entrance with black powder explosions.
With her powers juiced up from the heretical ink, she could seal up an entrance with black powder explosions.
Explosive Empowerment
She manipulated dynamite dust to empower her pickaxe, making her weapon explosive upon striking.
She manipulated dynamite dust to empower her pickaxe, making her weapon explosive upon striking.
Feats
Overall
- Beat a water demon that massacred a town
- Slayed Blaise Dubois, an undefeated gunslinger who uses the hidden fact he’s a zombie to avoid being killed
- With the help of a witch, banished a giant millitrain possessed by an eldritch horror after guiding it around to make a giant banishment circle and sent it to Hell
Strength
- Shot a water demon
- Blew up Blaise's head
- Fought a train-sized millipede overtaken by heretical ink
- Exploded a hole through a cave
Speed
Durability
Weaknesses
- Half-demon, half-mortal. Demons are sent back to Hell when “killed,” but as a half-mortal ending Lucille’s life is more permanent. She’d be more powerful if she were a full demon, but she’d much rather live among mortals than in Hell
- A shot in the heart is the best way to put her down
- Has a habit of running her mouth, which she should keep a watch of while in the middle of a fight
- Canonically REEKS
- Her black powder isn’t of much use if it’s wet
- More used to relying on her guns during fights. She can improvise, but is sloppier this way
Matchup Potential
Tarnation Lucille vs Jericho Cross (Tarnation Lucille vs Darkwatch)
(thumbnail by Vibe Check)
Vibe Check
Despite there being an abundance of western characters that could make for a fun fight, there aren't many I've seen that really fit her schtick of being a half-demon gunslinger who deals with an inner conflict with her mortal and demon halves. So far the one I've seen that fits that bill the most is Jericho from Darkwatch.
His circumstances are a bit different since he is a recently turned vampire, but the game pushing a morality system that grants him different movesets based on if he chooses to stick with his human half or not really sounds appealing for Lucille. To top it off he comes from another western series blended with supernatural and horror elements. Jericho isn't that story-heavy either so it should be a fine fit.
The gist can be summed up as gunslinging half-supernatural protagonists in western series with supernatural and horror elements who have inner conflicts with their righteous mortal halves and evil vampire/demon halves.
Jericho's vampire powers are particularly interesting, with abilities like turning undead into allies and stealing souls and lifeforce. He has some nifty abilities when he makes good moral decisions, like lightning manipulation and fear manipulation. Based on these powers I'd imagine it's more likely for him to win, but that could change with further updates to Tarnation Lucille.
I imagine this could be improved even further down the line if Lucille's full demon transformation is explored and provides other abilities.
NEXT TIME ON WCAB… whenever I feel like it
