Grrl Power #162 – Serious press is serious
Is the press supposed to applaud? I asked around on twitter and the consensus was “depends.” I don’t mean sycophant press, like game journalists at E3 or tech press at an Apple unveiling. I mean proper, serious press. It’s hard to remember because news is mostly just entertainment these days, but it seems like the White House Press corps for example is there to report, not embolden. On the other hand, while these journalists obviously take their jobs seriously, someone did just take a chunk out of a tank with a haser. I’m trying to imagine if Ed Bradley, Tom Brokaw, Howard Cosell, and Walter Cronkite would applaud, or just nod seriously and ask an insightful follow up question. Not that this particular group of reporters ranks in that echelon.
That radio show I mentioned last week, Otaku Attack didn’t happen unfortunately. I had guests over and just plain forgot. I would feel worse about that, but apparently the show got bumped anyway for some sports thing. Tentatively we’re planning on doing it this Saturday (11pm-1am CST) but I need to confirm that. Keep an eye out here and on twitter for updates.
I hope to have the Anvil pinup colored by tomorrow. It’s mostly done, I just have to finish the background. In the meantime, I uploaded the highres inks here in case anyone would like to try their hand at coloring it.
Edit: For anyone checking up last minute on the radio show, it’s no go this week. Probably next week but I’ll update as I learn more.
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.
Oh no! Look out, Susie, but gray featureless aliens are right behind you!!
worse… its a humorless reporter
Is their actually a reporter with humor? More over if their democrats they’d be bitchin them out for trying to protect and serve humanity as a whole…
the one’s behind her are fine but if the two in front of her were being played with by the guy with the power to cause you incredible but harmless pain I’d have to help them………. eventually.
It worked fine for me, as they had not even intruded on my consciousness until you mentioned them.
Now I can’t not see them, thanks alot :)
Sooo, if Heatwave carries around a couple of pouches or flammable powders, flash powder and or water bottles she could toss one out and have a smoke cloud, flash effect and or a steam explosion on cue. Sounds like power stunts to me. ;)
Better label them well though, as she may pull the wrong one …
Lt. Col. Leander: What the hell happened back there?
Heatwave: Well, I was reaching for the water bottle I use for my steam cloud effect, but grabbed the bottle of sparklers instead. I mean they feel the same, both being in those steel bottles.
Fire Chief: Excuse me ladies, I need to move to the other side of the fence over there. [ To the radio ] That’s right; 3 more companies.
Another question: why are they giving their future enemies any intell on the team’s capabilities? Usually the capabilities of specific teams is classified information. This press conference continues to not make sense.
Because the primary purpose of the team is not being a military force, but being a public face for superheros and a show that they can be integrated into existing society without panic and hysteria. (Basically, to show that we don’t drag them off and cut them up like Sydney fears.)
Also, they are only giving broad strokes – ‘Heatwave can take out a tank in seconds.’ Exactly how hot, how fast, distance, all the details that would make a difference to making a decent threat assessment in a counter-intelligence fashion, are being glossed over and withheld. (And some are being outright withheld.)
Think of it this way: We announce we have tanks. That they are faster than the old tanks, have better armor, better guns, etc. That makes the people who we might use those tanks against nervous. We don’t announce the exact capabilities of the weapon rounds that the tanks use, or the armor it has – that would only let them work out to counter them. Same here: ‘We have supers. They can crush you faster than you can blink.’ They don’t need to show the details.
And above all: ‘These are the good guys, they are on our side. They are not vigilantes, they are not out of control, they are legitimate and recognized as an asset. They are here to protect you, and we are open about what we are doing. There is no mystery, no cover-ups, and you can trust both us and them.’
+1
… Amd another +1 here.
Noting that, in Sydney’s case, it was very specifically said that they would NOT advertise all of her capabilities, just the more obvious / showy ones – without going into TOO much detail. I am certain this is equally true of all other members of the team. The public might know that Max can fly “really really fast” or that Hiro can fly AND lift a bus at the same time (and so on), but this is hardly an in-depth analysis of their full capabilities.
*ahem* Holy Space LLama fast
Plus I would that that anyone can figure out what Heatwave does. You can figure out what a lot of super heroes and villains can do just by there names.
Giving oneself a superhero name that has absolutely nothing to do with one’s abilities and/or methodology only confuses people. ;)
A simple descriptive name like ‘Heatwave’ (or ‘Ice-Man’, ‘Cyborg’, ‘Juggernaut’, ‘Spiderman’, etc., etc.) would provide some hints as to the basis and nature of that person’s powers, but very little else. Doesn’t tell you how strong said powers might be, or how they can be used, or anything much about the wielder of said power(s)
Or, go the Jean Grey route and not use a secret name at all :P
Jean Grey had a secret name. Marvel Girl :P
Yeah, and she stopped using that name in the 70’s :P
Cyborg. Hum. Better bring the emp cannon, the magnetic winch, and just for good measure, the microwave laser.
Its a fair bet he’s vulnerable to at least be of those…
I have been thoroughly degaussed, thank you, have resistant electronics, and yes the microwave laser could work but that’s because it’s a laser. Hope it’s strong enough.
A different cyborg: Col. Steve Austin, astro-not. A man barely there. We can rebuild him. We somehow have the technology. We have the capability to make the first anachronistic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was. Faster (but we always film him in slow motion anyway), stronger (can lift a ton with his right arm, but somehow does not destroy his human back), better than he was before. :)
Halo doesn’t give any hints to the powers though, only to the origin
That’s because Swiss Army Knife Girl doesn’t sound as good.
Swiss Army Girl….
I’m thinking “give her 5 more orbs and do a calendar shoot.”
Hum. And that’s a thought. New year coming up soon enough, will there be a Grrl Power calendar?
I was insipered by Torrenal’s, “I’m thinking “give her 5 more orbs and do a calendar shoot.” What if the 2 unkown orbs are replicators, where one copies the or creates the power & the other pops out the orb to house sed power!
How about Ms. MacGyver….
I think Supers rarely give themselves their Super names. Same as nicknames, it’s usually something someone else came up with that sticks, for whatever reason. Halo is a good example. Ari quickly picked a name that fits better than anything Syd suggested. Show folks a group photo and ask them which one is Halo. I’m sure most will get it right with no trouble, without knowing anything about her and her little friends, which makes it a perfect Super name. Perfectly vague, but descriptive.
Maxima’s dad was calling her that since she was born basically. Also every other possible variant of Maximillia. Max, Maxie, Moxie Maxie, Maxine, “Emillia,” Maximillitary, Maxter of Destruction. You know, normal parent stuff.
Of course her brother called her Maxi Pad, Aillimixam, Xim, brat, etc.
When did she turn gold? That must have been a weird moment for her and family
It’s a girl! … a… a golden girl!
She was gold in her Flashback, so say…mid-teens?
Maybe that was also when she turned gold
The big question has to be: was she born with the Spock-ears? o_O
A reply to yorp…not sure who will get this.
I..I..I-I-I. want the knife!…
I want the knife….please?
he said golden girl…
I thought…
well…you know
Or for that matter Dabbler, who outright lied in the press interview, to hide the origins and extent of her powers.
She did not lie. Dabbler told told the truth a vague truth but still the truth… Okay there was a little deception in the battle-form part but it was still being completely truthful of her. (( that said I would suggest you don’t attend a session of the Seelie Court for your own good ))
The Unseelie Court is even worse.
Well, well. Brook’s looking a little more plush than usual, what with all the excitement. (Note to self…no flying aura at this time.) Nice pose, too. I see that she’s melting the armor, there. I’m thinking she could have created a shaped charge to punch through the turret, but maybe she’s holding back. I’m not willing to offer a technical explanation for how a High Explosive Anti Tank (shaped charge) warhead works, but have you ever seen someone shoot water by squeezing a hand really fast? That’s exactly how it works. The explosion drives a column of high pressure into the target. Appliqué armor (those shirt boxes/reactive armor on the sides) works by disrupting the column. Change it from deep and narrow to broad and shallow, basically. The reactive armor would’ve failed to stop Brook’s melty beam, but there’s no reactive armor on the turret. I’ll bet she could’ve popped it like a ballon, if she was really trying. Is she being sly?
Yay, Suzy cheerleader! She’s earning points with Ari for sure. Maybe with some of the other reporters like smirky guy back there. Not so much with the ones in front, who seem afraid to appear anything but professionally skeptical. They’re the ones Ari needs to convince. Suzy is on board already.
Yeah Brook’s body get’s a little *Ahem* boost when she’s using her powers.
Me likey. :-)
Pinkey and Blondie are shaping up to Suzie’s arch rivals, kinda like Petey and Brock
They might pretend to be mentors or something wily and sly like that. I don’t know, but they have a look about them that I don’t trust. I’m wondering if they’ll be stupid roadkill or persistent thorns, or whatever else they might be. Maybe they’ll just wander off into the background, now that Suzie is taking the stage. (Note to self… stop calling her Suzy.) Yay, Suzie!
Zack Tilly!!! Glad that at leat one other noted their evilnessitude
I just noticed that the “who’s who” has her listed as “Susie News”.
This is best.
I only realised the following today:
Susie Wen -> S. Wen -> swen -> news backwards
I am assuming that that is intentional on DaveB’s part.
Don`t.
Sometimes these things just happen.
Well the first time she was on TV, she introduced herself as Suzy News
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/352
Reporters* sell soap for a living, just exactly like all other TV entertainers. They just have a meme going that has fooled a lot of people into thinking “They are doing it for The People, how noble”
SURE they are doing it for the people, that is why they report THE DAY AFTER Neil Gaimen is visiting your town to sign books for his fans; why they go knocking on doors of families that have lost a loved one to some avoidable tragedy, not knocking on doors of scientists who can elucidate how to avoid tragedies; and why things extremely interesting BUT UNSUPPORTED BY ADVERTISING, such as scientific discoveries get no prime time but Justin Dribbler does.
*Except the reporters from the BBC, they do their work because the people of G.B. pay them up front to do it. Yet even they don’t go reporting without a pay-check.
Reporters report on whatever the public wants to hear.
The more views, the more money
And why more money? Because more viewers is why the advertisers will pay more for commercial spots.
The superhero novel I’ve been writing, The Fall of Doc Future, was talked about a bit on here a while back. It is now finished, and you can read the whole thing online, starting here: https://docfuture.tumblr.com/post/34751426243/doc-prologue I will be editing it to put it up on Amazon as an ebook as well.
Let us know when it’s available on Amazon. I do all my reading on an exercise bike or more recently on the train. If I’m in front of a computer these days I’m doing comic stuff or playing the occasional game. Or looking at funny gifs on reddit.
Will do. Editing not nearly as much fun as writing, alas, but it’s coming along slowly.
Yeah, I know that pain.
Have you picked up the newest WEARING THE CAPE book “Young Sentinels” yet?
Yeah, already finished it. Of course my only complaint is that now I have to wait for the next one. :)
Same here; I really like his style.
Is “explosively” a word?
Google says…yes. Remember, “English has unparalleled flexibility…not like a gymnast, limber and spry, but rather a broken man. Shattered beyond discernible anatomy.” [Sodium Eyes]
Yes, it is. It is most commonly used with events like explosive decompression.
But how is she flying, last I checked only three members of arcon had flight for a power, maxima, Sidney, and that dude from last page.
She can heat anything right??
Heat air beneath her… done right creates updrafts.. flight… not direct flight(ie Sydney or Max) but indirect
Secondly, we cant see all of her legs… she maybe about to fall of some scaffolding… :)
Maybe Dabbler gave her an antigravity belt or a Legion Flight Ring?
They haven’t specifically said who in Arc can or cannot fly. The general impression I get from the earliest strips is that not all (or even necessarily that many) supers can fly. BUT, there are enough flying supers around that this specific power is almost taken for granted by the public.
As posted on the front page of the comments, one of her powers is, indeed, flight
Rather like how Jonny Storm flew because when he “flamed on” he became lighter. Though we aren’t told how he powers around unless his body produces a thrust.
Not to mention that in one of pages she flight away from harem and Max and went to shower to get rid of sticky situation she got herself in.
Check the cast page if you are unsure about the powers. It’s all listed nicely there
I ♥ the Anvil pinup
I hope the HTML code works. {crosses fingers}
Where are your associates? Or are they in your rooms in the Empire State Building? With Ham threatening to make Habeas Corpus into bacon and Monk about to pound Ham’s had in
On an unrelated note why I have a feeling that more than half of teams name starts with either M or H? (A is a close third one) whose initials are those Dave? :P
Normally I try and be more careful about that. But Hiro’s alias is actually “Super Hiro” so it’s only Harem/Halo/Heatwave at the moment.
Let me guess, he came up with that one himself?
https://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/grrlpowercomic.com the site is freezing safari completely, so if any safari games are open while I look at this site, I lose my connection!
the site also freezes safari on its own. It’s the only internet site that does…. odd
I tried with all addons off, no luck.
Answer: don’t use safari.
What the hell kind of site is that?
Sounds like a poached/hijacked site
It is a simple website accessibility diagnostic tool.
Go to http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com
supply a hostname e.g. http://www.grrlpowercomic.com
and it will tell you if IT can access a website at that hostname.
On the assumption that you wouldn’t bother using it if you could reach the desired website directly it provides a 2nd data point regarding the source of the accessibility problem.
Example sources of failure include:
Your/desired-website’s – system/ISP/ISP’s ISP/… tier 1 provider/tier 1 providers peering agreement
Being able to access http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com provides a separate partial test of YOUR system/ISP/etc and it in turn attempts to access the desired website providing a separate partial test of of the DESIRED-WEBSITES system/ISP/etc.
Amusingly, I can access http://www.grrlpowercomic.com just fine (obviously) but http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com can’t.
Just goes to show the wonderful world networking. :-)
Oh ok, maybe should check to see why DrunkDuck hasn’t been loading for the last month or so
Looks like the Drunk Duck succumbed to liver failure :(
Drunk Duck had a server quit on them and now problems with DNS upstream from them. I keep checking in on their FB community page and right now their biggest problem besides the DNS issue is they’re basically an all-volunteer operation, or a really non-profit.
Is it possible to find a link to some of the comics that used to be on it? One in particular, “Simply Sarah”, that was the only one kept up with (and was the reason for me registering with the Inebriated Mallard in the first place, way back when a dalek featured in the background :P)
When I use that site to check for any of my 29 other webcomics, the all turn up to be fine. THIS one has issues. For instance, the 14 minutes it has taken me to reach this comment box. 14!
Have you tried coming here directly? Never had any troubles coming here
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com lags still. Is it using IPV6 only? Does it use a cutting edge version of flash on many little separate icons or links to social sites, who all trigger an attempt upgrade I will not see? Is it an advertizer? Does the popup to several comic sites preload, and all separate pages are somehow pre-loaded or something? Does their ISP sort of block my country but some internet dirty back road in redneck town is used instead?
I have no clue!
In any case I am blocking something new every time I come here with adblock, with luck I’ll be able to narrow it down to only one thing, so it can be ruthlessly exterminated.
Exterminate! Exterminate!
I wonder how Syd’s PPO will do against the tank? But knowing her she’ll something unexpected: Like coiling her tentacle under the tank like a spring and flipping it on its side so she can shoot at the thinner armor underneath.
Well, if she can flip it on its side, would she even need to shoot it? How dangerous is a tank that’s on its side or up side down? Assuming the answer is “not very” or less, she could just flip it and move on to something else (or the next tank), no need to kill the people in it (especially if flipping it traps them so she can come back for the POWs later).
Given that in most tanks the turret will fall off if you flipped it on it’s side (they aren’t actually secured in any manner: gravity is considered enough), I’d say a tank on it’s side is successfully disabled.
The thinner armor underneath? Please tell me you don’t design tanks for a living…….or at least not one I’ll ever be inside. The underside of a tank shouldn’t actually be much easier to penetrate then any other side, they tend to get driven over things that may or may not explode upon being driven over. Add in the fact that if a tank was significantly weak on the belly the enemy would constantly be aiming their grenades and whatnot at the belly.
Only modern tanks designed for city warfare.
Older tanks had the most armor in the front, less on the sides, and even less on the rear. And the top and bottoms were pritty thin to. Designed to fight at range
tanks originally where built to breach wire, cross trenches, and defend troops against machinegun fire this required no top back or bottom armor light side and strong front. the second generation was developed to carry weapons to kill other tanks thus armor was upgraded to all 4 sides a light roof and to keep weight down minimal bottom. the improvements of mounted weapons and increase in armor to resist was always focused on projectile weapons. the use of guerrilla warfare with IED result in unexpected need for armor in this previously unthreatened area only in the recent middle east conflict.
Growing up in South Africa, the army there was strong enough that they had little fear of invasion from any neighbour. The greatest threat being from rebel fighting overspilling in Zimbabwe. Who did not have much in the way of anti-tank weaponry, so the primary threat was from mines. Lots of dirt roads in the border regions making it very easy to conceal them. When they then got home brewed terrorism, due to Apartheid, the threat remained similar but gained the complication of worldwide arms sanctions.
So South Africa started producing their own armoured vehicles. Customised for their specific needs. You could easily pick out any of the various models, because of their common traits. Very high ground clearance (abnormally so, compared to any you would see in war movies or news footage from other countries) with clearly heavy armour below. Typically wheeled, as they needed to protect civilian roads as much as to have off-road capability.
The higher the vehicle is raised off the ground the more the explosion from a mine can dissipate before hitting. Dispersing the force across a greater area, means less pressure on any one spot, thus making it harder to damage the armour. Ideal for that role, but less so for a country that feared attack by other armour or sophisticated anti-tank weaponry. Where a low silhouette is preferable.
Ironically South Africa flourished to become the 4th largest arms exporter in the world, at one point. Serving all the other countries which the international community had under sanction at the time.
“Cairo iIn Sixty Days” was what a book I read a while ago said about South Africa’s military as compared to the rest of Africa.
Dude. This little scene here totally reminded me of that one scene from Short Circuit (1986) where everyone politely applauds when the robots first got unveiled.
I just want to get your folks attention for a split second for something on kickstarter. More information about it is in the link but I will tell the short story behind project if anyone interested. I am posting this here becuase well Super Hero business :P
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/missingworldsmedia/the-phoenix-project-city-of-titans
and suddenly my Villain Mode has been activated :D
Ooh, you should have said CITY OF HEROES and you would have instantly gotten both my full attention and that of a fair number of other readers too. Having been a player from the first day to the last. I shall read through that link with great interest, and would be interested in anything else that you have to add on top of that.
Thanks for the share, Greenstalker… wish I’d thought of it! XD
But yes, I agree completely — as a former City of Heroes player, this project is shaping up to be the first (and best) spiritual successor, and I agree, wholly worth funding. :D
(Also, that subtle irony when I haven’t changed over my Gravatar yet, so it’s actually my namesake from City of Heroes… :D)
Same for me. This is the hero name i used from april 2005 until game was closed at defiant server. Ah good old days kicking some villians (or cutting my case) was so addictive :P
Yes this would be a good time for the equivalent of a streakier to come by and flash the press crowd.
A flying streaker?
Here’s where “the FLASH” makes a cameo… they don’t call him the Crimson Streak for nothing!
Or up to 5 teleporting ones.
Just noticed that the images of the cast change with each page refresh :P Nice touch.
The first 5 are always the same cast member (Syd, Maxi, Dabbles, Anvil & Harem), but the 6th one not only changes the image but also the member (Ari, Peggy, Gwen, Gigawat)
Read through everything you’ve posted so far today and I love it.
I’ve got another superhero book for you if it isn’t one you’ve already found:
In Hero Years I’m Dead by Michael Stackpole – https://www.amazon.com/Hero-Years-Deluxe-Edition-ebook/dp/B004BDOU4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380939649&sr=8-1&keywords=in+hero+years+im+dead
Welcome to the community. Great to see what a strong flow of new fans DaveB continues to attract.
Just noticed something about the guy behind Suzie: does he have something on his neck?
That is just the space between the two figures. Because the background terrain is a roughly similar shade to his skin tone, it can give the effect you describe.
So are you implying that this comment could have been avoided if DaveB had better art terraining? :OP
Nope, given that I have never even heard of the term.
Oh yes, thank you, can see that now (dang that face-featureless alien, it was it’s collar that was responsible)
This has been the longest day of my life =I
OHHHHH GOD… It just took me almost an entire week to understand the pun xD
I am so ashamed right now… licks the frosting off… GNARGGHHHH
It really feels to me like in a book format there should be a page(2) in between this one and the last one. It almost feels too abrupt. That’s all. Archive binging this awesome comic today/yesterday, and thought I’d toss in that comment.
Not an unreasonable point. But, once you realise that there has been a jump forward, you can easily deduce that nothing interesting happened in the interim. All it would have been was the press corps getting out of the bus and everyone filing into place, then Arianna beginning the demonstration speech.
DaveB just chose to jump to the next bit of action. Which I think is wise. Dave is good at making the mundane interesting. But if nothing inspirational strikes, then it is a good time to move the story on.
I think the coolest aspect was Arianna standing within the molten tank splash danger area, completely confident in the heroes’ capability to protect her. Not a single bead of perspiration, nor the reflexive urge to either look around, at the danger, or duck.
Most of the people you see applauding at an Apple press event are engineers that worked on the products that are being introduced, and various other Apple employees. The press generally do *not* applaud, and as a result, are typically avoided by the camera crews.
Apple has a habit of seeding the first dozen rows or so of their press events with engineers– it’s a privilege given to those that worked the hardest on whatever is being introduced.
Apparently during the iPhone introduction the prototype was incredibly buggy as hell– and the people in the front rows were pretty drunk by the end, they would drink to celebrate “their part” of the keynote going well.