Grrl Power #211 – Battle Royale boredom
Math should know better. In a tournament you have to work your way up the ladder until you get to the tougher opponents – unless your first seed is against one of the guys that makes it to the quarterfinals. These guys are basically byes for him. Well see how well “Lee Press on Claws” does against him. Also in case it isn’t obvious, Dabbler isn’t used to working with a team yet.
The bad guys are going to learn one way or another that they better start telling Archon their pseudonyms or they’re going to get stuck with the first funny thing Leon thinks of.
My second Gynostar Guest strip is up in case you missed it Thursday. The current arc starts here.
I’m sorry I’ve let the vote incentive languish for so long. The Gynostar guest strips are taking longer than I thought, luckily the next two are basically already done except for some minor edits, so I’ll try and put something more interesting up there soon.
Update: I’m going to try something different with the stream today. For one, I’ll be penciling, and for another I’ll be editing the comic as I do it since I wrote too much to fit on the page. This obviously contains ALL the spoilers for page 216, but I’m going to try and record the stream and post that along with the comic when it goes up so you’ll have a chance to watch it then if you want to avoid the spoilers now. I’ll start at 2:30 PM CST today (May 6) and probably go for about an hour. Here’s the link if you want to hang out and chat until then: https://www.justin.tv/davebarrack Update 2: Stream’s over. I’ll post the video for it when page 216 goes up.
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Leon totally missed the chance to designate this new guy as the “Back Scratcher”.
I first read that as “Black Scratcher.” This would fit, since he’s wearing black.
I like it!
+1
+1
+1
Reduce “back scratcher” to just “Scratch.”
Back Scratch Fever! *guitar riffs!* Meedleweedeedlemeeeeoowwww!!!!
He’s kinda like a negative version of math, so why not just call him minus?
Cityopolis News
The dread villain Innumeracy and his sidekick Illiteracy stuck again today. Robbing a kindergarten adjacent to a bank. It is believed they got away with three apples and a colouring book. Police believe they are likely to try and sell the latter, and ask the public to be on the look out for it. As it would be of no use to the criminals, being a colour-by-numbers book.
*giggle* Well pun that puppy! Here, have a Scooby-snack, special Sydney recipe
Nah, I like “Lee PoN” better. Back/Black Scratcher(Why in the hells isn’t this in my browser’s dictionary?) is a name that could be given respect. Since battles are fought in the mind as well as the body, it’s better to give them demeaning names if at all possible and reduce any chances of planting/nuturing seeds of fear/doubt into the team.
Additionally, I couldn’t help but think of Harry Dresden when he coined(heh) the Denarians as the “Nickleheads,” because he felt that the, “Order of the Blackened Denarius” moniker gave em too much respect.
I like all these suggestions. We should keep them coming, but avoid derivatives by checking this list first:
https://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Clawed_Villains
Most of the serious names for clawed villains seem to be taken.
Based on that list, I could even see Sydney and Leon trying to come up with a serious name for him, back and forthing ideas only to veto each suggestion with “Taken.”
“Back Scratcher” is his war-name though (plus, it’s not as punny or apt to incite distracted rage)
Maybe I lost track over the last few panels. Did Math at one point have a pair of tech specs and lose them, or has Daphne not gotten to him yet, or does he think he is too cool to bother wearing something that looks like that?
If he doesn’t like the design ARC came up with, may I suggest another style:
https://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Scouter
I do not recall him having them, at any point. In terms of HUD, we get to see it if anybody present can. In this case, we know that Dabbler’s cybernetic eye can pick it up (as confirmed, in comments, by DaveB).
I suspect that Math will not stoop to wearing them. It would lessen the impact of his boring-through-shower-walls-stare (TM). For purposes of artistic license, if not realism, I think it fair that we assume he wears HUD contact lenses.
It could also be that he doesn’t find the advantage the goggles would give him to be in keeping with his desire for more challenging fights.
Indeed. The thought had passed my mind too. Although I failed to articulate it.
There’s also the fact that wearing glasses would weaken his move set as he’d have to avoid moving his head too quickly in any direction to avoid losing/damaging the glasses.
1) Looks like it’s hard to aim one’s eye beams when one is distracted by a knife stuck between one’s teeth.
2) Sorry Dabbler, no calling dibs on an opponent. Either take him or her down or don’t complain if someone does it instead.
3) Maxima’s opponent must not be all that tough either if she can give Math a pep talk whilst fighting.
4) Hat to break it to you, Mr. Claws, but you don’t beat someone by talk. Otherwise, your team would be far ahead on victories.
Grr… should be “Hate to…”, not “Hat to….”.
I thought she was thinking Math’s comment to Maxima was rude
Maybe DaveB can shed a little light on the subject *HINT HINT!* as to what she is referring?
Well DaveB said in the comic discription “Dabbler isn’t used to working with a team yet.”
So it’s probably about Math stealing her kill
All twenty of them. From the angle that the lightning is coming up at her, it looks likely to me that she has returned to altitude again.
Mind you it is somewhat akin to the pep talks given to Moonshadow in PS238. Every time you see that his mentor is in the middle of fighting a pitched battle. It is only broadly similar mind, as Max is so powerful that most of the minions are like mayflies to her. Whereas Moonshadow’s mentor is another example of non-powered capable enough to take on supers, on equal terms.
It seems like an enemy could be “all that tough”, and still not bother Maxima enough not to coach. “Beings too weak to threaten Maxima” is a set that includes grade school kids and Iron Man. Being unable to bother Maxima doesn’t tell us much about how strong a character is.
Based on panel 5 I can see him going tasmanian devil on this one and winning.
While doing the patented Tasmanian slobber growl.
Math in panel 2: “I require a weapon.”
Boredom Royale
Villain, I dub thee Clawsome.
Prepare to have Math perform so distribution functions — a Fourier transform maybe.
What is with the spell checker stealing letters on me? “So” should have been “some”.
Badd spEElchekker! Badd, bade, bed!
Heyy, stopp thet rite NOw!
Over at the “I Can Haz Cheezburger” site, they have a whole section dedicated to “Autoco-wrecks.”
Of course the problem with naming your villains with silly names is that if they ever make it to the media, you lose. Because either you got hoodwinked by “lee press on claws” and it’s humiliating, or you thwarted “lee press on claws” and… it’s still humiliating.
On the other hand, consider the psychological angle against the bad guys: If you take us on, prepare to have a really stupid name attached to you.
While it won’t stop most, it will at least make those who are doing it for the ego boost think a little bit more about that super MMA league idea being bandied about.
Is Math competing against the whole team of head count or each individually ?
With the apparent size of Math’s ego I would say he feels like it’s Math vs Everybody Else. Bad guys included.
Fighting your teammates to boost your personal score is severely frowned on.
This reminds me of an NPC’s journal in the game Iji, who describes a couple of bugs with the Annihilators’ HUD headcount trackers. The first is that it counts teamkills in your favour, so the near-unstoppable Annihilators have a friendly fire addiction. The second is that after the counter hits 999 it wraps around to 000 – and you get to fight the girl who filed that bug.
Okay! Great joke and totally worth it, but as we’ve seen that bit of info above Lee’s head comes from wearing the glasses… and as we’ve seen so far the only one in the room wearing them was captain invincible underpants (Achilles) who got blow out the window loony tunes style. So whose perspective are we using to see the floating name? And if no one’s, doesn’t that mean its kind of a bit out of place to have it?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the joke, but you’ve got Halo sitting right there behind her shield under orders and she’d be the perfect one to be able to explain away why that blurb of info is up, even if its not available to anyone else in the room.
Unless dabblers eye has a connection to that info, which could explain it, but I haven’t seen anything that says that yet so the only thing I could think of while reading this is ‘that joke is funny, but no one in the room is going to see it so we the reader’s don’t really have an excuse to see it either. It can be forgiven as just meta info but you’ve already got a good explanation for why those blurbs above their heads appear, and went as far as showing characters getting the gear to see it’.
The team member who can remove her bionic eye doesn’t need them as she gets them in a feed.
Got to love dabbler.
DaveB has confirmed that Dabbler can indeed pick up the HUD with her cybernetic eye. So it is her’s, regardless of whether the particular angle is from her exact point of view.
But, do not forget that this is a big, open room, full of super heroes. Most of whom we have not had a shot of, since Daphne began the re-supply run. So most of them could be wearing their glasses and/or goggles by now. Any one of whom might be standing in the correct position, to get the exact view we are seeing.
Not to mention the fact that we know for a fact that there is remote viewing going on. Probably both by magical scrying, courtesy of Zephan, and hacking into any surveillance cameras, by Leon. Or otherwise those HUD entries could not be created in the first place.
Who’s to say that any of the characters see that HUD thingy?
WE see it, but we don’t look from anyone’s eyes. We’r just omnipresent observers
Speak for yourself. All my bits are in perfect working order!
Point of order – Pg.208, Panels_2-3:
[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1303]
That’s clearly Mr.Amorphous getting flung outside by Concretia, just before she belts Achilles in Panels_4-5. The rifleman in the background of Panel_1 also seems to have them on, & Zephan seems to have at least the side-mounted camera, if not the amber-tinted lenses.
Ack – stupid lack-of-auto-correct…
…I meant to point out that -all- the above people seem to have HUD-glasses, not just Achilles.
-derp-
“…all the above-mentioned people…”
maths face says it best it just got interesting!!
Either that, or he’s thinking “I hope that wasn’t your best shot, because if it was, it wasn’t anywhere near good enough.”
I think is was more. OH Playtime!
I was interpreting it like my friend’s German Shepherd. “OOOOH, SQUEAKYTOY!”
Frisbee? Frisbee?
SQUIRREL!
…or the dog from that film: “Over The Hedge”:
“Play?”
“PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY! – PLAY!”
Where’s the paisley?
But where’s the paisley?
Oops, sorry for double post. I saw an error and jumped to a conclusion. Any way to delete these two comments?
Cheap comments app. We cannot edit or delete misteaks….
I think you meant mathtakes.
…I think I can see Mathtaking pleasure out of his next encounter here…
What is this, a Robert Asprin novel?
Would that my pun-fu was that good.
Even with all due regard to Mr. Asprin’s books (which I do enjoy), when it comes to pun-fu, I consider Spider Robinson to be a true Master.
Piers Anthony is no slouch either.
Got to back you up on that one. Pick a Xanth book any Xanth book.
…& let’s not forget Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld”-puns!
It’s true; Asprin is quite punnish, but at times Spider is punnisher.
I’m not sure I can take their punnishment.
Given Mr.Robinson’s preferred literary venue (“Callahan’s”), might one say that he was a “Drunken Master”…?
(…Apologies to Jackie Chan…)
Math: All right, Lee Press-On Claws, bring it!
LPOC: Wait, what? It’s Blade.
Math: Oh, our Mission Control guy’s been naming all of you whatever funny thing pops into his head.
LPOC: Quick, everyone! Sound off! (confused looks from the others) Am I the only one who came up with a name? We’ll be back!
While not a true super power, Leon’s power to name could possibly be one of the most devastating attacks on a super villain, especially early in their career.
Once entered into the system, regardless of what he/she may have titled themselves they are stuck with whatever name took Leon’s fancy at the time, at least as far as how the authorities will refer to them, which will pretty much domino effect into media and then general usage.
You remind me of the Celtic bards and their “Satires” They, iirc, could RUIN someone who pissed off a Bard.
Oh yes. Never dis a bard. They could take serious revenge. Doubly so as they served as the diplomats and messengers of the day too. So could ensure that it reached the most influential ears.
“You’re Midboss!”
Midboss: What? No, I’m telling you I’m the Dark Ad-
“Shut it Midboss!”
Well, Math has followed Rule #1: ALWAYS expect Ninjas. Also, it seems that Lee has actually impressed Math. This is not a good thing. Think Alucard from Hellsing… AHA! Finally a CHALLENGE! Now I don’t have to hold back! *proceed to epic curbstomp*. What… is that it?
Dammit -_- with all the comments about the teeth of lazer-eyes-guy I’ve just envisioned a -way- to creepy villain . . . “The Dentist” I don’t even want to think about what he does or how he fights >.<
She Hulk had a villain like that, once- he wasn’t named ‘The Dentist’, though- he was named ‘Doctor Doom’! Not kidding- She Hulk Vol 1, No. 18. Main villain: Dr. Bob Doom, Victor’s 5th cousin…
Don’t dis dentists, Judge Death started out as a dentist, and he killed every living creature on his world
You reminded me of a film-short by Clive Barker, in which we see what a dentist could accomplish if he had no conscience…
…no, NOT funny, & NOT for the squeamish.
Is the knife getting pulled out of the wrong side of his mouth?
Lack of massive blood spray sez no. Math pulled it straight out but was moving around. We’re seeing where he stopped.
Just different viewing angle
Hopefully sleeping poison on the claws (or mindcontrol poison) teaches math some humility.
I doubt even that would. Unless it is a contact poison, that does not need to get under the skin, in order to work. Because, even zooming in 500%, there is not a hint of blood from those wounds. A slight darkening of the skin, to indicate that there was pressure. Presumably as the cloth was being cut. But not a drop of the red stuff, that I could make out.
But, as to the sentiment, yep. He sure could do with being knocked to his bum, to remind him that humility is a virtue.
Even better: have Halo cover his sorry bum afterwards with her shield.
Meh she could probably just get behind him and grab him with the molestorb
Thousand years of pain! Hent-orb style.
Halo on LPoC, since Math is in the cliche-dialogue (could even be her argument once Math starts bi+&$ing about kill-stealing).
it is the coming of a new leepoc of agony as foretold in the ancient texts (read leepoc like epoch for joke)
I can hear him scream in my mind and everybody stops fighting, then the villains start complaining about unnecessary cruelty and “oh, the humanity!”
Otherwise, Syd should start taking bets for the fight Math vs. LPoC.
I think we passed that line already when she crushed Shadow Boxer’s nuts
There is a very important question that needs to be asked. Since they are doing headcount competition how is Achilles’ score figured out? Does he get sole count when someone uses him to take someone out or does it only count as an assist? Things like this are important to know for whether he wins the betting pool and when it’s time to factor raises. ;) If he only gets assists Sydney currently has a higher count than him with her one BG. :P
They’re not actually keeping count though.
Maxima just told Math to keep count to keep him interested
So why hasn’t Dabbler transformed into her “battle form,” the one that looks suspiciously like a purple, four armed succubus?
Same reason Math isn’t bothering to unfold his arms until now. So far Dabbler is only dealing with amateurs and wanna-bes. She saving a horrible surprise for the first real fight of the evening.
That’s… not her ‘battle form’, that’s her ‘natural beauty’
Ryuu798 was playing off what she said at the press conference.
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1004
She IS in her “battle” form, she always is since that is her natural form, only that usually she have it “covered” with the glamour illusion human look, like now. She is not a shapeshifter.
Which means around Dabbler in a fight there’s a good chance of being KOed by an invisible fist. Not to mention being fatally distracted by her low cut top. Hypno-boobs, a power that normally only works on males, is her deadly secret.
Hmmm, does Maxi actually mean ‘tougher fights are coming’ from others in the parking lot? Or is she talking about future encounters
Could really be either/or/both
I would say both.
The stronger part of this attack group sent in the rabble (who also seem to have a problem coordinating their attack), just look back at the one who deflected Concretia.
And others could be behind the attack to prepare themselves for their own confrontation.
And there will be more too far away.
“I challenge you…to an Evil Smirk-Off!”
Math vs. Nega-Math, Round 1, BEGIN!!
Love panel 4. I’ve said similar things myself. When I do, I’m only partly kidding…
NO! NO! GRAH! BLEHLEHLEHLEH-BLEH! Based on the last strip, I should have realized something more would happen with Punky-Mc-Blade-in-Teeth *shudder* I seriously almost lost the breakfast I’m currently eating. Well drawn. I felt it.
O.K., story started on Aug 23, 2010, and are we not still on the same DAY , Sydney’s timeframe ? If not, how much time in the story has gone by since page 1 ?
#s 1-4 are a few months from now.
From 5 on it has been the same day.
The fan part is, majority are happy with the way things are going: we have seen more in ‘one day’ than most ‘mainstream comics’ put in a multi-title arc that covers more than a month (and personally would be happy to see this fight last until New Years, but even DaveB is eager to move on to the ‘actual’ adventures of “Halo and the her Arc-Angels” :D)
Heh…For the last part of your last sentence there, if I were you, I’d be praying to the Almighty Charley for taking the name of His Angels in vain…
I like that…
OMG, so issues #1 – #4 are actually set in the afterlife? And it is so clear, with hindsight. Why did I not pick that up with my sixth sense?
Because it is working overtime, to compensate for your lack of the other 5.
Delayed realization is perfectly normal.
For example I just realized that your post is either from 3 hours and 45 minutes in the future, or (far more likely) that there is no relative time zone conversion (to show people the time in their own time zone).
Well that answers that.
I forgot that 12 AM comes after 11PM.
Also, does anyone know why we deal with time by counting:
…8,9,10,11,24,13…20,21,22,23,12?
12 noon is 12:00, midnight is 00:00. So in your example it would be
…8,9,10,11,12,13…20,21,22,23,00?
Still want to see a Hulk vs Loki type smack down.
Puny god.
I want to see the ironman vindaloo impression, although we don’t have a massive monster for Max to defeat.
If you’re going to involve vindaloo here, bring in Dave from the Red Dwarf. Nothing vindaloo can stand up to his appetite…
I doubt even he could survive a super flying into his mouth and exiting out his rear at speed.
God, I loved that big-ass battle in Avengers.
Another good part was Hulk vs. that snake-transport-thing.
One hit in the face and it derailed like that train in Hancock.
Also, Cap + those cops, clearly settling who’s da boss.
I think that, and the “Puny god” line, is the best moment in any super hero movie. Evah.
That includes the part with Loki in the crater, doesn’t it? Or is that extra?
No crater is springing to mind. What is memorable is a god being tossed around like a rag-doll. Which put him in his puny place.
I was jet-lagged the only time I have seen it though, and did not see the extras. So can’t help narrow down which part the crater scene may have been in, as chunks of that movie are just a blur now.
Matt. you gotta admit this guy is going to beat you.
…at staring. That stare is more dangerous than laser eyes, you know.
That’s a low blow: everyone knows that a truly effective glare requires eyebrows
Oooh, Kendo Chick with the Heart on Forehead –be a real hoot if she turned out to be a “Charm” type attacker that makes her opponent fail to defend… Think about it.
Dabbler: “Oh Honey, that’s so cute. But that’s not a glamor.” “_THIS_ is a GLAMOR!”
You know why Math has it so easy in combat?
All his opponents are Math Impaired to begin with ! /Cheesy Dwarven Grin — sorry I missed out on the pun fest earlier this week. I’ve been down with migraines.
Math isn’t glaring, he’s giving everyone a Calculated Stare!
Hero tactics, send in Math to cause Division in the enemy ranks!
I see that Lee Press on Nails has a variant strain of Liefeld disease. An over abundance of belts, straps, and buckles seem to be his symptoms instead of the standard outbreak of useless pouches and ridiculously small feet.
Yes, is the lesser-known strain, the Bondage-Liefield
Reading the whole fight scene for the first time in one sitting. It’s pretty great. I like “Lee Press-On-Claws”
That said, if you ever feel like re-ordering pages, I’m not sure if Dabbler’s Science Corner #2 should stay there in the long run. It’s fine if you’re reading one-ish pages a week, but for new archive trawlers, it interrupts the action.
Dollar-Tree Cyclops getting the knife between the incisors is still one of my favorite panels from this comic….