Grrl Power #144 – PR hopscotch
Aaaand that’s the last time I draw the press corps all in a group like that. Seriously that panel almost took as long as the rest of the page.
So A-kon was good fun, I did a panel about writing comedy in story with Jennie Breeden of The Devil’s Panties, a humorous autobio comic, and Katie Tiedrich of Awkward Zombie which is mostly video game humor. After the panel I got to chat with some readers which was cool and handed out quite a few of those postcards I made (not the ones with the misspelling) and these little dice my wife had made that have the logo on them. So if you’re a new reader then welcome! I also got a cool pen from a reader that he made after I pined about wanting a pen like Arianna’s. I’ll probably use it to sign things in the future.
Also got to meet Sonny Strait, who I knew did “We Shadows” but it turns out is also a voice actor for Funimaiton, so he was pretty busy during the con. Turns out he’s a Dallas local as well so we’ll probably get drinks some evening when we’re not both slaving away over hot pixels. Also got to meet Blair B. of Star Crossed Destiny who helped set up the panel. I must guiltily admit that both Sonny and Blair’s comics are in my “to read” queue still. That’s just the way it is when you spend your weekends drawing instead of reading.
However I do keep up with Head Trip, which is a funny and well drawn comic by Amanda Bussell, and I happened to bump into her while I was resting my poor legs. I won’t say Peggy has it good, but on the second day of walking around for 10 hours I was wishing I could detach my feet.
And I got to hang with Fred Perry a bit and talked about coloring techniques. I’m not sure if his method is faster than mine but I’ll give it a shot. I mean, it is just because he mostly does cell style shading on his characters, I mean how he sets up his channels and layers. I’ll report back with an explanation once I give it a shot.
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.
Well this has got to be some sort of record. Almost 250 comments all on the first page.
Son of a bitch I knew that was going to happen.
*snort chuckle* Thank you, needed that :D
He he. Glad I wasn’t having a drink when I saw your comment, or there would have been a splutter incident!
Actually, I think the top of page two is the most appropriate place for a comment about the over-all contents of page one. At the moment there are 16 comments on this page, and 282 over-all, so there are over 250 on the first page.
I still don’t see any explanation of what the H-O-N stands for, in ARCHON. Did you have something specific in mind, or are you accepting guesses (will pick best one)?
I will guess: Homeland Operations Nexus
I’m specifying “homeland” only because of its focus on domestic events.
It is a word, in its own right, rather than an acronym. Or, if it is an acronym, such has, as you say, not been revealed. Normally that is something you would indeed expect in a press conference. So having been through, and with no mention of that, I take it that it is just a word. Plus I have a vague recollection of Dave having indicated such in a reply. But could be mistaken.
None of the historical definitions/uses of the word are particularly appropriate mind. The nearest though is ‘a supernatural being’. The ‘ruler’ version is totally inappropriate. Similarly, although related to policing, the remaining one is to do with magistrates. Which Archon would not wish to present themselves as being both police and judges, so should likewise be disregarded.
So essentially it is just a new definition in the dictionary.
What you may be doing is assuming that because Arc-SWAT is part composed of an existing acronym, that the same applies to the rest of it. However most of the other branches are just puns that are indicative of the role. Dave came up with the core ones, and a reader proposed a list of alternate ones. Which Dave liked enough that he asked if it was OK to appropriate them.
So, unless the author chooses to retroactively assign acronmys to them (which does actually happen even in real life, for various odd reasons), the various Arc-[name] are just department/branch titles. Hence why Arc-SWAT appears as a word followed by capitalised letters (to indicate the acronym status for the latter). Whilst Arc-Sparq uses the format that indicates it is a word.
Although, that distinction is not apparent in speech bubbles, given their all caps nature. But I am probably quoting it correctly as it appears in Dave’s blogs and comments. The ‘probably’ being because I am not in the mood to look up examples. :-D
You are partly right, but it was specifically stated that “ARC” stands for Atypical Resource Commission –and SWAT is already an existing acronym (“Special Weapons And Tactics”). Therefore ARC-SWAT is fully an acronym. Other ARC-phrases, like ARC-light, ARC-dark, ARC-sparq, and more, may not have been defined in terms or acronyms (but possibly could be if enough thought was put into it–“sparq” was given a possibly-facetious definition on page #290 /archive #1608 “Super Powered Advanced Research Quacks” –in little blurb just beneath comic).
One of the reasons I picked this page to post that question about HON is because the comic itself, on this page, poses the question. And I think it was a perfectly reasonable question.
There’s another aspect of “archon”-the-existing-word that you maybe ignored. If the word refers to dictatorial-type stuff, why would a U.S. agency want to advertise such a thing? All sorts of freedom-lovers will immediately be against it, no matter how well it behaves. Therefore a complete acronym is needed, specifically to divert attention from the existing word
Also, you should look up how new words and/or new definitions normally get added to a dictionary. It basically happens only when enough people use the new word/definition. It does not happen by government fiat.
Some other possible meanings for H-O-N:
Honoring Our Nation
Helping Our Nation
Helping Overcome Nasties
Honorably Ordered Newness
It certainly was a perfectly reasonable question. And I had forgotten that the ARC part was an acronym.
And you are right that an acronym would distract from the non-politically correct version.
Likewise about how usage being what sets words getting into the dictionary.* However googling “Archon” (and excluding similar results) I got 158 hits, just on grrlpowercomic.com. Indicating that the word, in the proposed context, is being used a lot.
In a world where everybody, in every country, was actively discussing the world’s first government recognised super team, that would not just be happening on one website. It would be on TV, radio, news websites, blogs, social media.
There is no doubt that it would be added into the dictionaries on their next update, as a result.
And if Arianna does her job right the definition that everyone will be using will be her officially sanctioned version. Making sure that it was in the press briefing, for example, would get the ball rolling. Likewise always having it on any fact sheet that may be made available when the team are doing public appearances.
Similarly with any Archon sanctioned annual, for kids, or news letter, well anything that might include interesting facts or trivia about Archon.
And note that when you have new things being introduced to society, the brand name can become synonymous with the concept. For instance ‘hoover’ for ‘vacuum cleaner’, JCB for ‘mechanical excavator’ or, as we have used it here ‘google’ for ‘browser search’.
But, as per those examples, it works just as well with acronyms as with words. Especially as only geeks actually know what acronyms stand for. Most folks would not have a clue what “JCB” actually is short for. And most don’t care, they just use the ‘word’ (it is in the dictionary by the way).
* Albeit that it is not universally so. Certain countries guard their languages very carefully and words are only added to the dictionary when a government appointed body authorises them. I grew up in one such country, where Afrikaans dictionaries strictly only had government approved words.
Likewise France has a board who approve new words. I recall when they used to be just as fanatical about avoiding contamination by other languages. However they have become more chilled in recent years, and have been including words that have been popularised. None the less it is the board who make that call.
I did know about French linguistic purity, and so should have been more specific, mentioning that in English at least, new words are not currently added to dictionaries by government fiat. (In the fictional “1984” world, of course, the situation is different.)
I never heard of JCB excavators before. I could point out that for a long time after diesel engines became common, excavators were still often called “steam shovels”.
Here’s another H-O-N suggestion:
Honorably Obligated Network.
Ahh, turns out to be a British/Irish word. Interesting how you can use a word, or turn of phrase, all your life, without realising just how localised it is. Not until some helpful colonial points out their unfamiliarity with it. ;-)
Another alternative for you to consider:
Hero Organisation Network
For info, Dave has said that Archon are likely to open up branches in other cities, such as on the East and West coast.
Plus it would allow the option of other non-police/non-military super-related bodies to fall under their umbrella. For instance if the government decides that there should be a specific health and safety regulatory body for heroes working in industry, commerce or the public sector.
Whilst, ideally, such should just be continued by the existing organisations, they would rapidly find themselves out of their depth. Every super power would have to be examined to see its safety implications. Yet the civilians in such organisations would have no idea of their potential, or know about any potential abuses, or be able to spot hints about dangerous side effects.
Take for example teleportation. Harem has a precognitive sense that allows her to tell if an object is in the way, and abort her teleport. How would a bureaucrat be able to verify that? He could not hire a university graduate to advise him. There are no courses on teleportation, psychic powers or anything which would allow the ability to be certified as safe in the workplace.
Whilst a cunning academic might be able to think up ways of testing these things, having to do them on an ad-hoc basis, as and when an issue arose would not be very cost-effective. Whereas Archon already have testing programs, hands-on experience, facilities and a whole bunch of other advantages.
Then throw in the fact that doing it the other way would, at best, be slow (and at worst flawed). Meaning that supers would find themselves unable to enter (or remain in) the work place, as they would be classed as having potentially dangerous powers (by insurance companies and/or employers fearing litigation, so not even needing any law or government pronouncement about such), until such time as they got tested and cleared.
Meaning that widespread discontent would rapidly grow amongst the super community. Worse the lack of an ability to earn an honest wage (and envy at the huge salaries that those who have managed to get certified bring home) might push more and more of them into undocumented work. Which would thereby increase the likelihood of getting deeper into the criminal side of things, and possibly ending up becoming super villains.
So politicians might well favour smashing the bottleneck and making a specific (civil government) organisation, but associating it with Archon, so that they can make use of common resources and ensure that consistent standards are applied across sectors, and between military and civilian roles.
Very much making sense when you realise how few supers there are, and that many of the more useful powers will be snapped up by the private sector. Leaving few who might be willing and able to work in such unglamorous roles. Yet testing of potentially dangerous powers (or ones that normal science simply has no tools to measure) may require other super powers to do so safely or with any chance of getting a meaningful result.
Plus cops and military are usually prohibited from moonlighting. So this big pool of government employees would face difficulty (not just from internal rule books, but from a public relations point of view) even if they did want to.
But if they all fell under the same overall government department, then the body avoid having to pay extortionate private sector contract rates. And it could be fitted around the various departments usual duties, for suitable individuals to do stints testing civilians.
And the sting of having to get their super powers checked out by the government might be lessened, when they get their document certifying that the Hero Organisation Network has passed their powers, as being safe to use in the work environment!
Hero Organization Network is slightly redundant, but otherwise not bad. Perhaps Hero Organization Nexus? Anyway, it is DaveB who needs to do the considering, for what the full acronym of ARCHON should be. A well-reasoned post, though!
Thanks.
The police departments are in one organisation, and it would be a part of a greater network, including the regulatory body. So the two would be justified in their own contexts.
Another way to look at it is that the hero organisation is one body and the network represents the other bodies associated with it.
Well, there is still only one hero organization, the Atypical Resource Commission, and its scope is not restricted by that name. That’s what makes “organization” and “network” at least slightly redundant (mostly to each other). Plus we need to think about how the whole six-word phrase will flow off the tongue. This next suggestion makes a slight modification to the third word, but maybe flows nicely:
Atypical Resource Commission’s Hero Operations Network.
Well your work is worth it DaveB.
Thought occures to me, they have Dabbler and Sydney sitting next to each other.
So two girls with ADHD and magic powers being told to sit still during a media conference next to each other.
dunn dunnn dunnnn.
Well, Sydney has Peg to keep her inline (which she already has), but next to Dabbles is Harem!!
Having already seen the ‘Sydney-On-Media Experience’, ARC should have a couple of guys with tranquilizer rifles hidden close by.
Arianna: “OHMIGOD! Take her down! Take her down NOW!”
Yes, I am joking, but only slightly.
LOL!
I normally don’t use text/email speak but your comment did literally make me laugh out loud, I just couldn’t help myself imagining it.
Sydney : “…. until 1973 when illuminati and cthulu plotted together to travel back in time and assassinate JFK *makes gun with finger and mimes blowing her brain’s out* boosh… and in conclusion that is why broccoli is evil and must be destroyed….. any questions?”
Arianna: “Take the shot! Take it now! Just make her stop!” *cries*
:) Heheheh.
It was that or try having them stand at attention with the people in the back, you know that that would not end well… okay we’d find it funny but the audience may be damaged emotionally, mentally, physically… metaphorically… the list goes on and on
Have Halo and company make use of the Art of War by the Chinese warrior sage Sun Tzu.
Sun Zu say “Vote on Top Web Comics!”
All modern militaries use many of principles found in that document, along with many corporate boardrooms. Even though new ideas have come along in the two and a half millennia since Sun Tzu lived, you still have to respect the master. Those that do not learn his lessons generally will be given the title “defeated.”
You can tell the difference between a pro speaker, like Arianna, and an armature. When they pause for audience response, a tumble-weed rolls by!
And congratulations to her for getting a page to herself without any other cast members. Although I did have to phrase that carefully, as there is the guest appearance.
Barring him though, this is the first page I can recall which had no superheroes in it.
He he. Perhaps I should not have accepted the spelling correction suggested by the infernal machine. Only an amateur would make that mistake!
This is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, if you are a fan of sexual equality.
Good for them!
This renews the ages old question: https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120917143341AA334b2
If Suzie News/Wen/Shitwhiskers is going to be a recurring character it would be nice if she got a tag in the Who’s Who.
There’s a guy in the picture with no eyebrows… Count Olaf!!
I can see why that panel alone almost took DaveB “as long as the rest of the page”, there are a lot of very detailed unique individuals there. Each with real character about them. Be it facial detail, clothing, hairstyle or the like.
Every panel in Grrl Power being a work of art in itself.
That one has another property that has struck me a few times though. It gives a distinct three dimensional feel to it. Perhaps the silhouette effect of the cameramen in the background, making those in the front feel more solid Or, more likely, just the careful shading on every person.
The most striking individual, in that regard, being the guy in the tweed jacket and cap. He looks almost like he is sticking out in relief. I even get the urge to rub the screen to see if I can feel the raised surface! And I know my laptop does not have that feature.
Count Olaf had one eyebrow, a unibrow or monobrow.
Take your pick.
How about having Halo get kidnapped and she ends up with Stockholm Syndrome.
Or the kidnappers do.
He he. Pity the poor fools.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome#Lima_syndrome
Apparently, it happens!
The pucerashs I make are entirely based on these articles.
oddly enough, Arianna is one of my favorite characters. i don’t have the words to describe why. she just represents so much. she’s the boring part of a super hero comic, the part that everyone overlooks, but she has so much personality DESPITE nearly being outspoken AGAINST personality. she’s a normal woman making it in an extraordinary job, and she’s written almost perfectly for the role (i say ‘almost’ only because i don’t care to analyze her character enough to determine just how good of a character she is. she’s essentially perfect by my standards for her role)
I actually really like Arianna. And I wish we could see inside her head more often — it’s adorable in there. XD
“Archon is a Federal military police force. Something America has never had before.”
You know, I’ve read that line a billion times, and I keep thinking how off it is. For starters, federal military police force used for civilian operations is called a gendarmerie, after the French National Gendarmerie. But that’s not the point. The point is that the US has one – we call it the US Coast Guard. Additionally, during the days of Indian Territory, we had an additional one, comprised of Indians from five tribes, known as Lighthorse.
Yeah, picky me, but just thought I’d comment.
I guess they are, but Arianna really meant one that can operate in the absence of rivers and fjords. :)
I just noticed the news caption. “How does America feel about Military Police? More Military: Yay! More Police: Boo!” Love it.
:-D
H.O.N.; hero organization nexus?
Arch on. This is better than Arch off, as the building would fall down.
I know this page has been up since 2013, but I was wondering if that ‘mid 80s’ thing that reporter is asking about is a specific reference to something, or if you just picked a date out of a hat? Because I can think of a few superhero stories where supers *did* first start appearing in the 80s.