Grrl Power #602 – You’ve got a little something on your cheek
Again, this is more than I wanted to show of Vale at this point in the comic, but it’s fine. I suspect this little reveal might present more questions than answers.
Vale makes a good henchwoman because not only can she literally ignore being impaled through the skull, but she brings significant creep out factor to the table. Intimidation is important for bodyguards, and most people who see that will probably give her a wide berth. Also she seems pretty loyal so far.
I’ve found a new book series I’m enjoying immensely. Star Justice. The short version is; Space Marine gets experimented on and essentially turned into a were-tiger. Hilarity ensues. Actually mostly violence… and technically it’s a harem setup, in the sense that the main character is male and nearly every other significant character he meets is female, many of whom join him on his adventures, and most of whom express sexual interest in him to some degree. Well, okay, that doesn’t sound like I should be saying “technically” at all. That’s flat out a harem setup, but I feel like there should be some sort of asterisk on “harem” because the female characters are significant and important parts of the story, not just notches on his bedpost – and they’re all likeable (IMO) either straight away or after some initial antagonism is resolved. The sex scenes are terse and non-graphic which is really my preference in novels. I like it when characters I like hook up, but I don’t really need the gory details.
I won’t spoil anything, but one night I went to bed planning on reading a few chapters, and I got to a point where there is a rather significant turn of events, and I wound up finishing the book and reading like 30% of the next one before I had to quit because it was 5 in the morning. :P
Anyway, I’ve enjoyed it a lot, maybe you will too. This sort of thing is hugely subjective.
Double res version will be posted over at Patreon. $1 and up, but feel free to contribute as much as you like!
SuperheroThey're super, thanks for asking!
Meatspace ComicSeriously these are awesome. Check 'em out!
Not UpdatingNo longer updating or only updates sporadically, but definitely worth reading.
SeriouslySeriously you guys. If you like Grrl Power the check these out.
"Mature"Mature subject matter and occasionally something explicit but usually safe. Can't guarantee the ads are safe though.
Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
Yuuuup…. going out to get that book series today or at least order it. I mean… tiger man space marine… you had me right there. Thank you for the book suggestions! And this one isn’t just an Ebook only one! (Can’t stand reading books on digital devices. Just plain wrong to me. Call me old fashion I want my paper pages.)
I agree. I like physical books more.
Hmmm…something i just noticed, and it may have already been mentioned, but don’t the lines on Sciona’s face look very similar to the damage on Vale’s? may just be a coincidence though….damage transference? Sympathetic reaction?
I had to look twice myself but the lines are from Scionas visor being broken/damaged.
None the less the composition between the two does have striking similarities in the final two panels.
I had written about it in reply to an earlier comment, but due to a cat-related-incident, I lost it before posting, and could not be bothered to repeat it.
However it does also show an interesting convergence in their originally disparate characteristics.
Sciona used to be the frightening monster, whereas Vale has taken on that mantle. Vale used to look cute, yet it is Sciona who grabs that label in the final panel.
Sciona was the one in control. Able to toy with others as she chooses. Now it is Vale’s turn.
It’s only broken on her right side, that line across her nose is the bottom-edge of the visor
It’s very obvious now that I know what it is. Thank you
This is unexpected but not unsurprising. I had wondered at Vale’s lack of conversation and facial expression. It she’s not human, then this goes far to explain it.
Indeed.
By the way, have you turned into a plate full of cakes? Just asking … for reasons.
*licks lips*
It is not that we want to eat you. Oh, no!
We are just… *licks lips*…. curious.
Says the plate full of waffles!
*drooling*
*reaching for the maple syrup*
I have been listening to the star justice series on audiobooks. they cool.
Small details check:
In the final panel Sciona’s background changes to a very dark one, plus there is a kind of vertical heat-wave type effect. Beautifully conveying an emotional sinking feeling, even if only subliminally adding to her more obviously changed expression.
But it also has a feel that she may be under an effect from the eldritch horror.
[Tingly]
I assumed this was universally recognized as a *sense of dread* background and emotional expression. Although we do see it more with characters in comedies when confronting bad cooking: or a curse mark in RPG videogames.
Yeah, that ^ *universal sense of dread* (not to be confused with the universes sense of Dredd, and that’s when Ole Stoney Face looms behind you)
Butt yes, a wonderful detail to go along with the *pin-prick of fear* iris’ (which is the visual indicator of the sphincter-squeeze of *fuck me sideways with a bar of crows*, which is usually strong enough to crack walnuts)
Thank goodness I understand Hobbitish!
What if her previous career was Valkyrie?…
Then Dave’s bogarting the valkyrie bodyguard idea from The Dresden Files. xD
I really enjoy how Sciona gets cuter from panels 5 to 6 to 8. The drop in her expression from victorious to confused to creeper out is adorable.
Yes :D
Sciona: “O HAI ELDRITCH ABOMINATION I’LL BE OVER HERE”
Or, alternatively, simply:
‘AAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!’
Also Tiger Space Marine, in the cover with green lettering, bears a striking resemblance to a character called ‘Terence Tigerman’, who appeared in a series of cutesy posters in the 80s….how do I know this, you ask? I had several. :/
Had been going to post this as a reply to someone, butt realised it could come across as rude so posting it separate
Any one claiming they knew there was something ‘not human’ about Vale is trying to make themselves seem smarter butt simply bullshitting everyone (including themselves): this is a comic, there have been several ‘human’ characters who have had similar ‘lack of conversation and facial expression’ as Vale
Vale has only appeared a few times so far, and each time it was simply to appear intimidating or as a foil to Smugdouche, not to be a conversationalist
The fact she turns out to be not-human is simply, and only, a co-inky-dinky. Has DaveB put foreshadowings in her previous appearances? Maybe, butt if he had, they would have been extremely subtle
Well Pander flat out called non-human, before this reveal (and others were suggesting varieties of superhuman). Plus there are not many humans who look like Vale does in the penultimate panel. So she certainly is not a normal human, whatever she may be.
Whilst I agree that previously her appearance has been consistently human, that is not the only way Dave gives us foreshadowing. It can appear in many ways, some of which are only apparent in hindsight. But can include behaviour, expression, dialogue and the reactions of others.
In Vale’s case folks are arguing for subdued expressions and emotions. Which would support the robot conclusion (and to some degree eldritch horror, as they too can come across as lacking human emotions, even if others have nasty and creepy emotions respectively).
The ‘being creeped out by Halo’ being a funny exception. But we can invoke ‘rule of funny’ on that, even if Vale is otherwise either completely emotionless or just has subdued expressions and reactions (such as with Yoinking the sword away from Harem).
Plus Pander’s specific ‘robot’ call may yet be borne out. Only the strapline mentioning ‘eldritch hellsmoke ectoplasm’ tips odds away from that. However that may simply be an observational joke, as opposed to a hint. What most supports that is Deus having the most advanced super gadget factories (that we know of). So if any corporation on Earth could produce human realistic androids it would be his.
Yeah, butt ‘non-human’ is far to broad, and could cover anything from extra-terrestrial to ultra-planal to artificial lifeform slash construct to even Ascended and formerly-alive
The other point was: this is a comic, which means every panel is a static ‘snapshot’, so lack of ’emotion’ (which she has shown several times in fact) is not an indicator of anything significant
Throw enough theories around, and eventually someone is going to guess lucky
Static yes. But Dave does show varied emotion. In particular Sydney stands out as being highly emotional, as we see her expressions varying tremendously, often from panel.
Now if we were talking about a character who we had only seen on one page, you would have a strong point. But we have seen Vale on a number of pages, and usually in several panels. With very little variance in emotion. Despite being in several dramatic scenes that we would expect to see more of a reaction.
Contrast her to say, Pixel or Krona. Both of whom have had a similar amount of exposure (albeit all in one go, rather than spread out over different scenes). We can say that Pixel’s emotions range from deadpan, through irritated, relaxed and all the way up to ferociously angry. Whereas Krona tends to have mischievous expressions quite often (to accompany her prankster persona) along with being happy, sad, lonely and irritated.
We have seen several instances of Vale’s change in emotion, with both Sydney and Abby
The point about it being a ‘static snapshot’ was to counter the claims of being a robot because she never opens her mouth to speak
I don’t buy the no emotion must be a robot typing,
mainly because, yeah, given its a superhero comic chances were pretty high the pink haired woman in Mad Max biker duds was at least a super. But the emotionless thing, she has been showing emotion the whole time, usually in an *eyeroll* fashion and glares. Also stoic is how one would expect a professional body guard to be, his other henchmen we’ve seen are the ones acting unprofessionally; Vale choosing to keep a dehumanizing stoicness keeps her in line with *I am the body guard, I am not to be messed with*
Personally I took it that way myself. But we can see that she is not just a normal bodyguard, so the alternate explanations do gain credibility. Stoicism, or not properly understanding emotions, or not caring about them are all fair interpretations of what we have seen.
And… this is why made a general post rather than aiming it anyone in particular
I would have simply put most of Vale’s expression as contempt/boredom of a Max level super dealing with minor supers etc..
Also fit the the sheer almost arrogance she puts down with her ability to stare down a marble statue…
Not to forget, she has to put up with Smugdouche on a daily basis :P
You misspelled ‘The most awesome guy ever.’
Lol.
It wouldn’t be the first time that an artificial life form had a gaseous/liquid center. Think nanotechs. Actually New 52 Supergirl had Supergirl fighting a robot VERY similar to that, early on in the series.
Youre being a bit harsh Given Maxima and Sydney literally had a conversation implying that Vale wasnt human at all-take as many chill pills as Sydney needs ADD medication….in fact play safe and double it =).
Now now. Guesticus was going out of his way to try and avoid making things personal. His line of argument is perfectly reasonable, even if there are other options available too.
Plus we should note the underlying morality in his argument, which is to try and protect Vale from being dehumanised! If we look though the various threads, the fact that Vale is different underneath her skin has instantly brought out expectations that she is evil, of the most dire kinds.
Yet she may well just be a super who has some weird stuff under her skin. After all Maxima has blue blood, yet we do not assign evil motives just because of that.
To be honest I still dont consider Vale to be evil at all human or not.Humanity is not a business card that reclassifys someone as a goodguy,In fact until the idiot-er I mean Sciona came along the most evil characters in the comic could be argued as 100% human.Hell even Maxima has been more evil than Vale and shes the big gun of the good guys.
Though I confess I do want to see more of Vale,She seems to be the least smug non human that weve ever met in the comic so far and Id love to see more about her.In fact since youre implying that everyone doesnt like her cause she might be an “icky non human” Ill call dibs on hugging her first ^^.
Aww. How sweet.
You may also kiss Sciona too, if you are into that kind of thing. I am sure we can arrange either head, with the use of one of Deus’s toys.
Kissing the mentally subnormal sounds kinda rapey so ill pass on Sciona thanks ^^.
Weighing in on it…I personally don’t *care* what flavor of non-baseline-human Vale is; she’s always been pretty awesome and these last few pages only make her more so.
As it currently stands, we only have *Sciona’s* conclusion on the matter, when in point of fact not only is she somewhat biased, she is also arguably not a Walking Wiki for every super in the world. Vale could very well be a `human super’ of a sort we’ve simply not been exposed to. Just to throw a Name out there…anyone remember Element Man? Could transform into any element? Would his powers explain everything we’ve seen from Vale thus far? I believe they would, indeed.
So, human super, robot, eldritch horror controlled by Deus…for all we know, she’s Peter Cottontail’s bitter younger sister from an alternate dimension a la Howard the Duck (the comic, not the movie!). Doesn’t change that she makes if not steals every scene she’s been in.
And really, most everyone is taking *Sciona* at her word?!?
I assume Vale isnt a super simply because she doesnt have spic sick abs like all the others which is apparently an in universe marker for superpowers that even the government has noticed though I could be wrong and yeah I should take anything that comes out of the idiots- er I mean Scionas mouth with a pinch of salt because shes slightly dumber than the average Justin Bieber fan XD.
Though I agree Vale could be a distant cousin of Cthulus for all I care shes still awesome!
Star Justice sounds like fun.
I just assumed she was non-human based on what I knew of her employer. He doesn’t keep another bodyguard around, he’s unreasonably prepared, and he lives in a world with superpowers and magic. If he was keeping her as his sole regular bodyguard she *had* to be something capable of handling all of that.
At was at this point that Sciona FINALLY realised that she had f***ed up!Heeh looks like Maximas implying that Vale wasnt human at all was on the ball after all-Maybe now Sciona will stop being such a leroy jenkins cause im pretty sure when someone cant be arsed to pay attention to your double fatality its time to start playing nice until youre out of immediate overkill range.
Damn I love Vale,Shes such a professional<3
Regarding `Star Justice’…it keeps showing up on my Amazon Suggestions but I’ve resisted because I’m not much of a fan of `harem’ fiction…I know, I know, take away my Studly He-Man membership card…and even less of furry-fic. I’m not even sure I qualify as a geek anymore if I don’t lust after catgirls…
If military sci-fi is your interest…`Vatta’s War’ by Elizabeth Moon; the Heris Serrano books by the same author, the first few Honor Harrington by David Weber; the Leary series by David Drake; Empire of Man by John Ringo; Empire Corps series by Christopher Nutall; Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell…and of course if you haven’t read Heinlein’s `Starship Troopers’ you’ve overlooked the book the pretty much defined or reinvented the genre…
Other out-of-that-genre series worth a read: Drew Hayes `Super-Powered’ series, Rick Gaultieri’s `Bill the Vampire’ series, and John Hartness `Bubba the Monster Hunter’.
Yeah, I read a lot. It keeps me off the street.
So she’s successfully creeped out Sciona. Yikes.
Yet she was, in turn, creeped out by being trapped in an elevator with Sydney…
… maybe Zephan Zoeng was more intuitive than folks give him credit?
Although all of the panel seemed to have … intuitive … misgivings.
Love the skull just bellow the right eye.
It could be interpreted that way. Do look at the ‘eye’ itself though. It has what looks like more than one iris (the blue bit). Plus it has chunks missing. One piece of which looks to be about the same size as the ‘skull’. So that may actually be a missing bit of a very non-standard eye. One with three irises.
Alternatively the shape may not be down to the damage, but just be that the bits inside her are not what we would expect even to the extent of an eye being round, or composed of one part. So both the bigger one and smaller ‘skull’ could be eyes.
Or, yea, it could be a skull. :)
I have a theory about Vale based on subtle hints, but just noticed that someone else mentioned something really close.
I’m assuming that if we collect all of her shards and glue them back together she’ll be just fine.