Grrl Power #222 – Rhythmic gymnastics deathmatch
I made Heavenly Sword up on the same panel I first drew her (guilty admission, that happens a lot) but obviously since then I’ve had weeks to think about her powers. She can obviously can create blades of varied shapes along sword like objects, probably including an actual sword, but evidently she can to extend her powers along any linear object like that ribbon whip. It would work with an actual whip, what about a cat of nine tails? What about the landing skip of a helicopter, or a helicopter blade? Assuming she could figure out how to remain in contact with it without loosing her hand, that is. What about an elevator cable? She has a lot of potential with such a seemingly limited power. That’s the fun of limited powers, thinking of cool ways to make use of them. Power stunts. If you enjoy that sort of thing in novel form, I recommend Playing for Keeps, it’s all about using seemingly pathetic powers in creative ways. Sometimes I wish I had given Sydney a much more limited set of powers for that reason but there’s fun to be had both ways.
Someone suggested that Dabbler’s ineffectiveness in this fight has to do with keeping it non-lethal, and that’s absolutely part of it. Dabbler could be the hero in many different genres of video games, be they first person shooters, third person tomb raider type games, isometric dungeon crawlers, or a multi-planet GTA style intergalactic bounty hunter game, and all of those sorts of games have massive body counts. Heavenly would have trouble defending against a fireball, or a rain of arrows, but that doesn’t really excuse Dabbler’s performance thus far. Her ego is definitely a contributing factor, and like she said on the previous page, she really has been enjoying the fight. We’ll see if getting hit with Heavenly’s 6D4 attack helps her focus a little.
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The entire page probably could’ve done without the panel of HS’s goofy-giggle-face. I didn’t even notice it on my first read. It seemed a little OOC, I guess.
The key to handling Superpower Lottery winners, like Halo, and DOUBLY so Maxima, is to put them up against somebody who can give just as well. I imagined an alternate-universe villain who got Halo’s orbs, instead of Sydney, who called herself Roulette. That battle would be insane.
Then again, Sydney and Maxima have balancing attributes, the former having her inexperience and naivete, the latter having crippling ego issues (which we will no doubt see come into play later). Seriously, who evaluates security on the basis that nobody is better than her?
You didn’t like her cute face? That was easily my favorite part of this whole page.
Indeed, it really gave the page the comical relief that it ‘needed’. Remember, this is a comic with a lot of humor in it :)
Death by paper cuts just before being ribbonized from the sword whip, smart move but still painfull due all those paper cuts
wait a minute, who was using the rhythmic dance ribbon before HS?
She was put out of commission before we were formally introduced. She was on the roof with HS and a couple others. Maxima knocked her off the roof using Achilles as a thrown weapon. She’s been pining for the fjords since. (not as extremely as the parrot but she gonna miss everything but the ride in the ambulance now)
A ride in the ambulance under exceptionally heavy guard.
Duke: Ah, you’re awake. If you want to survive this trip to the hospital, you will remain still and quiet. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do say may be recorded and used in court against you. You have the right to retain and instruct legal council and have them present during questioning. If you can not afford a lawyer, the court may appoint a lawyer for you at no cost to you. Do you understand these rights as I have recited them to you?
An answer of “Get stuffed!” would be the wrong answer.
OHH MAN!! her pretty face…. perhaps she wont be so cocky in the future… (doubt it)
Depends on how it heals, she could compare battle-wounds with Peggy
So they either have to disarm her literally (they have healer around), tie her up or knock her out.
I am sure after being almost made into a blade holder dabbler will provide one of them. There is a lot of room below “non-lethal” and it was only “if you can”.
I vote Peggy puts a bullet in Heavenly’s WRIST. Lack of hand removes some threat of the woman AND keeps things non-lethal as her arm can be bound until medics can arrive.
Sorry, I am not a fan of playing with my food or enemies.
I have this only anecdotally, but apparently it is very hard to hit someone anywhere with a 50 cal sniper rifle and not have it be a lethal shot. Hitting someone in the wrist has a very good chance of removing the hand, if not the arm, and the target bleeds out with rapidity.
if you shot someone on the wrist with a 50 cal you’d probably take the hand off and even if that’s doesn’t happen you’ve cut the artery and they bleed to death very quickly. in real life shooting someone in an arm or a leg can easily kill that person. in fact a non life-threatening wound to a limb will hurt but not stop someone from using it.
This may be, but HS just had her warning shot.
Seriously.
I don’t see any powers in HS’ arsenal that defend against Peggy, and I don’t see any reason Peggy would give her a third chance. The reason you stay down when someone shoots at you and tells you to stay down is because when you get back up they shoot you and you die. Not because they’re ruthless, but because you have just given them a seriously constrained set of options and “kill that dude who’s willing to call my gun’s ‘bluff'” is the best of those options.
The only honest reasons I can see for HS surviving this encounter now are:
1: An ally saves her from Peggy (invulnerable in the way, or offense forcing her to back off)
2: Dabbler takes her down in the next few seconds.
this is where I point out heavenly is playing by the rules as well.. so far all her attacks have been non lethal- she could have easily shot dabbler from behind and killed her twice now.
if Peggy starts shooting to kill, it’s a good bet the opposition will as well… and even if ARCHON wins this fight, the next they won’t.
who want walking tac nukes using lethal force in civllian areas? that’s how Man of Steel went.
In the US the police are expected and encouraged to use lethal force to protect the public. Who wants a walking tac-nuke using lethal force in civilian areas? We do. If we’ve got criminals that can’t be taken down by lesser measures, we very much do.
Both the Achilles-blocked lunge and this page show intent to kill, to my reading. With Blink, Dabbler’s getting out with a bunch of cuts. Without blinking right then, she’d be succuburger right now.
I don’t think one member of this Super Street Gang or whatever has been holding back due to not seeing lethal force from the heroes. From swing 1, HS might have cut Dabbler in half without a good energy shield block. Idiot blue-hair guy and all the other super-strength types who stupidly went after Anvil were applying enough force to crush very solid things to someone they obviously thought wouldn’t survive it. And first/second blood guy. And Shadow Boxer. And everyone – his present company possibly excepted – who was fighting Math.
They’re showing off, sure. But they’re all shooting to kill already.
It may make a bad comic, but tactically? You kill HS for getting back up and striking again.
Who knows. Maybe Dabbler will. Or better, maybe she can stab to not-kill before that’s necessary.
All very true.
Succuburger… where can I order that?
McPhisto’s
Not to be confused with McFister’s proctology clinic and massage parlor
I can see the commercials even now:
Now at McPhisto’s, we ‘re having a “Friday The 13th”-Special!
Come into any branch on a Friday The 13th, and all our meals are only $6.66 each…
…& your soul.
“McPhisto’s! … Why Th’Hell Not?”
Finally, a place that serves food hot enough for Sydney.
Well, there’s always cutting the Achilles tendon to keep someone from using their leg without being in any way a life threatening injury.
But yeah, putting a .50 cal round through a wrist will break both bones, cut the artery, and might remove the hand entirely. Have you seen the round?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Rifle_cartridge_comparison.jpg
It might also be a fatal wound before the person even hits the ground just due to the massive amount of energy it will transfer to the frail, human target. The round is made to be an anti-materiel weapon, which means that you shoot through the engine block of a plane or other vehicle in order to disable it.
The other commentators are right. There is no ‘shoot to wound’ option with an anti-material rifle. That is a weapon designed to destroy trucks, stationary aircraft and pirate vessels.
DaveB has kept the tone of the comic light and swashbuckling, by shooting the shinai out of Heavenly’s hand. Which is good. But, if it is escalated to shooting at a person, we must bear in mind that this comic is set in the real world. Hollywood creates a dangerous myth by glorifying the concept of ‘shooting to wound’. It should not be attempted in the real world. For two reasons:
1) You will probably just condemn the person to a slow and painful death. This is inhumane in itself.
2) The individual will still be alive and probably still in a murderous frame of mind. And now knows they have nothing to loose, as they can tell they are dying fast.
As such you would be elevating the risk of death to others, in the hope that your shot will merely cause a crippling injury, rather than a slow and painful death.
Only ever fire a gun at somebody if you intend to kill them. And have the decency to try and make it a clean kill.
This brings to mind a story I was often told by my late-grandfather. He was friends with the local police chief of the small town I grew up in back in the 30’s (it was even smaller then, but has been around since before the Civil War). He carried twin, matched, Colt Peacemakers and was apparently quite proud of the fact that in his thirty years on the job, he only had to shoot five men. But he shot every one of them six times. When brought before a judge and asked why, he replied “Your honor, there are only two officers in this town, and I work the night shift. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna be worried about someone who survived a shootout with me every time I walk past an alley. Looking out for their kin is bad enough.”
The dangling modifier strikes again! =0P
…
danglingmisplaced modifier…3) You’ll probably miss. Anyone who’s not Peggy should aim for the center of their target’s mass, where the squishy parts are located. Trick shots are for experts and comic book characters, so she qualifies doubly.
That “Don’t shoot at someone unless you intend to kill” thing applies to ANY weapon, not just fire-arms. Even in a mugging or street fight scenario, most assailants will just beat the target (badly perhaps, but most of the time the attack is not fatal). Defender pulls a weapon though, and they are likely to end up dead.
So… good rule to life here: don’t pull a weapon unless you are prepared to kill with it in an instant.
I was taught if i pull a gun on someone its to KILL them. I have never pulled a gun on anyone but if I do, its with the intent to kill.
And on the end of that should be….
” ….. and you better be ready to accept the consequences for the rest of your life (however, long or short it may then be).”
I agree. If you pull a weapon a hesitate to kill instantly, then that gives your opponent warning and some time to move against you. You won’t believe how many ways there are to kill someone with their own knife, while they are still holding it.
Side rule, if you fight someone who has a weapon, expect them to be willing to use it to kill without hesitation.
Shooting HS is not the only option here. Harem has a taser and can teleport right next to HS and zap her. Max can do her version of deus ex machina with a supersonic flyby. She doesn’t have to touch HS to knock her around and raise a blinding dust cloud. Options people, give me more options. Because a dead character can’t grow and develop.
4.) A single shot may not be enough.
Hollywood perpetrates yet another dangerous myth. That is, that a single bullet to a vital spot (like the heart) will INSTANTANEOUSLY kill an armed and determined attacker.
In an episode of COPS (a reality tv show on the FOX network) police chase down an armed suspect, he turns, threatens and then charges the police officer with a weapon, and that officer has to empty his clip to stop him.
In case you missed the episode, FOX then runs a Public Safety Announcement program debunking various public safety “myths” and shows, among other things, a woman IN THE BATHROOM OF HER OWN HOME, being assaulted by a man easily twice her size. She, following “common sense,” shoots him in the chest, ONCE, then tries to run out of the bathroom, only for him to grab her, pin her down and SHOOT HER TO DEATH WITH HER OWN GUN. The announcer then “gives her a second chance” as he does with other victims in various scenarios and shows how to CORRECTLY respond. The woman shoots him repeatedly while trying to keep her distance because he’s charging her after every shot, until he is either dead, or she runs out of ammo, and even then, she DOES NOT APPROACH THE BODY, she curls up in a corner calling 911 with the gun aimed at him in case she needs to fire again.
You could design a non-lethal anti-material weapon.
The same way you can poke a tiny needle into a balloon without popping it, but putting the same needle into an engine cylinder will ruin it.
If you can come up with a working prototype you would probably get a Nobel prize*. The implied criteria being that it be a replacement for Peggy’s weapon. So woman portable, rugged enough for batlefield use, capable of operating at a distance and fast enough to be of tactical use.
The specified criteria, being impressive enough though. Being able to put a needle-sized hole through an engine block. Both that task, and the requirement that it be capable of being used in a non-lethal role, would require precise control.
As such the weapon would be in demand by a heck of a lot more than just snipers. High on the list would be mechanics, surgeons, ordinance disposal personnel, geologists, miners, archaeologists, sculptors, search and rescue teams, firemen, police and bank robbers.
* For something fitting the stated and implied criteria, they would probably start a new category and you would get the first Engineering award. If, however, they are unable to do that, I imagine they would consider it to be a pinnacle of applied physics, so could sneak it in under that category.
I’m not sure that’s the correct interpretation of what I meant. When I say non-lethal I mean that getting shot (in some body part other than the head) wouldn’t be a guaranteed death.
Something to the effect of tiny tungsten darts fired out of a light gas gun might accomplish this.
Flesh is too weak to stop the shot, or even noticeably slow it down, so only a small amount of energy would be imparted to targets that go squish.
Metal on the other hand, would absorb a lot more energy, ad therefore suffer much greater damage.
Yeah, I gotta agree with the others–if it were me, at this point, I’d be shooting at HS with intent to kill. And even if not, I would think Dabbler essentially got license to open fire with rail guns, missiles, whatever on HS. Heavenly Sword has just shown that she is dangerously resourceful, has a much more flexible power and skill set than had previously been assumed, and that she is dedicated (or insane) enough to get back up again after having been so flagrantly warned that there’s a sniper in the vicinity. That massively elevates her threat level, and marks her as extremely dangerous.
There is a reason why what HS did is known as “Suicide by cop.”
That said, there is a case to be made for trying to capture people alive in this kind of fight. Not only is there a strong chance that they could have important information, but it is also a mark of civilian law enforcement to attempt to bring in perps alive whenever possible. Plus, DaveB is, I think, using this fight to (among other things) try to establish what kind of an organization ARCHON is. How Peggy and/or Dabbler deals with Heavenly Sword, and what repercussions they face are going to determine how fans see ARCHON for the rest of the comic’s run. Since Max, Peggy, and a few others are the only ones coming from an organization trained to work as a group whenever possible, the rest of the group will take their cue from those two.
Why hasn’t she using her succubus lust powers? Seems like a little distraction would go a long way?
The lust field seems to be more of an “area effect” type thing, and the last thing you want to do is distract your own side in a fight like this, when they might be mid-combat with someone who can ignore it.
It is a sensible question to ask. And it is wise to explore the alternate uses of powers. But if you examine it closely, you will see that it would be extremely counter-productive.
Because, in a social context, it is a means to encourage somebody Dabbler fancies to have sex with her. In a battle, where the person is already trying to kill you, you really do not want to turn your opponent into a murderous rapist. There is little opportunity for a happy outcome from that.
About the only tactical advantage is having the capability to draw attention off someone else. As the subjects will fixate on Dabbler. But she is already the object of Heavenly’s attentions, at the moment.
Of course Dabbler can adjust her dial. But too low and it will have no noticeable effect. Too high and you get the rapist setting. And, even if you hit on something in between those two extremes, the most it is going to do is cause a feeling of mild confusion. “Why do I feel turned on, by this person I am trying to kill?”
Whilst that could result in hesitation, it is by no means guaranteed. So is not a great tactic in a fast-moving life or death battle.
I figure it’s for the same reason the Jedi Mind Trick doesn’t work during a lightsaber battle: when somebody’s ambivalent toward you and not really paying attention, they’re far more open to suggestion than when they’re all amped up for a fight and inclined to kill you. Waving your hand and saying “you don’t want to behead me, you’d rather go read a magazine and have a nice cup of latté” is probably not going to fly.
Also, wave your hand in the face of someone you’re having a lightsabre duel with and they’re more than likely going to lop it off.
Well, HS is try to get her with bondage right now . . .
best power idea i ever cam up with was having prehensile indestructible body hair
sounds silly but taking a few logic jumps like that the user can control the lengnth of there hair can weave stands together to make objects and can Shoot hairs off there body and it became an awesome mix of Hawkeye wolverine and Spiderman
I’m preatty shure that even prehensile hair doesn’t grow at will.
Thought it would be an interesting power, you could hold weapons with your full body, create instant “cloth”armour, grapple with your hairdo and slide on your back at high speeds (tiny legg hairs).
You mean like this lady?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medusa_(comics)
Either that, or like this guy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobobo-bo_Bo-bobo
Of course there is a certain advantage in allowing the hair to be cut:
https://flakypastry.runningwithpencils.com/comic.php?strip_id=166
And the next strip shows a nun in a bondage situation.
she’s a Paladin :)
arch frenemy of the purple haired chaos knight
Hey, you checked out the strip I said had nun bondage on it ;->
Puppy reminded me hadn’t read the pastry flakes in ages
And of course you never want to cut Undercover Brother’s hair!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXMtl6Gnyk
Skip to 1:40 if you want just the hair cutting bit.
^ Also that one guy in ‘hunter x hunter’ that was exploded by an explosive pressure wave.
Prehensile body hair sounds like a rather raunchy power. Maybe something for Dabbler’s repertoire.
I’d say phase shifting (ah-lah Kitty Pryde) is one of the the most over the top powerful, versatile and lethal abilities.
Unless it has it’s own mind, like with Susan Death in the Discworld series of books. Seriously, not able to cut any of her bodyhair? hair spray cans being attacked? underarm hair wanting fresh air?
For me, Super Speed + Super Perception would be the strongest abilities. You could literally beat all the bad guys in a room to a pulp before they blink. But that wouldn’t be sporting, now would it.
Gurps has a power, Sense of Perception, if I remember the name correctly, which provides the ability to see everything in a complete globe, within one hundred miles. Even inside material things and in places where there is no light. Naturally it is quite an expensive power.
But if you have the points for such a build, I like to further enhance it. Adding the ability to see the invisible, and the other true sight type abilities. Likewise, being able to spot hidden traits, like super powers, lycanthropy or being a mage, gives a real advantage in a super setting. Provided you can tie it in with your enhanced sense, rather than having limited range. Gaining capability to see the entire electromagnetic spectrum is also quite a handy option.
But, needless to say, one hundred mile radius limitation to your omniscience is rather restricting. So I like to up it to at least cover the entire planet. The biggest problem being that humans have difficulty processing all the data. And the point cost of being able to focus, and act, on multiple disparate things can get very expensive, even in limited numbers. But is a very valid option to explore. Especially if having powers which can operate at a distance. Such as telekinesis, telepathy or teleportation.
Fortunately the power does allow an IQ check, to spot interesting things. Obviously increasing the volume would require a correspondingly more difficult check to notice details. So this power works best with builds which are otherwise intelligence heavy.
Pairing this power with super speed would work. But also consider super flight and/or intangibility. My favourites being time travel and teleportation. So much more handy for dealing with incidents on the far side of the planet. And problems are always much easier if you can tackle them back when they first started, rather than once they have grown out of control.
P.S. I quite like experimenting with 1,000 point builds (a basic super being 250 points, whereas a strong one would be 500 points).
You may have been able to guess that.
Sense of Perception is from the Lensman supplement.
Based on the works by E.E. “Doc” Smith by the same name.
A 1000 pointer several of those.
If I was your gamemaster, I guarantee a character with that build is going to meet gorgons. ;-)
And by “meet gorgons” you mean of course “see them wherever they are on the planet because they exist.”
I had an AD&D DM once who invented a monster who was always invisible. Not terribly difficult for a group in the area of 6th to 9th level. But his first “Aren’t I a bastard” move was making them so ugly that looking at them caused a save vs. insanity. Or you went insane. Which in AD&D was a permanent affliction (some high level Clerical magic could cure it, of course) which caused a roll on a rather large chart to see what form of insanity you were afflicted with, which took effect over the next couple of weeks. His second “Aren’t I a bastard” move was having the insane person not consider themselves to be insane and thus not seek out any treatment.
Or the characters in that one chapter of Uzumaki. Though it didn’t end well at all.
Or something like Bayonetta.
The first superhero roleplaying game I played was Marvel Super Heroes. The version with the power ranks given as adjectives. After having read all the powers listed, I decided to try and come up with a new and unique power.
I came up with the idea of a hero with the power to change the rate at which chemical reactions occurred. I wanted to call him “Catalyst”, and his symbol would be a Delta. I spent the weekend before my next scheduled gaming session thinking about ways I could use the power, anything from turning steel walls into piles of rust to preventing a power like Spiderman’s webbing from operating. I imagined carrying around bottled water, and using it when I needed a really powerful acid. (Almost everything will dissolve in water. Eventually.)
I was really proud of myself, because I’d never seen a hero or villain in any comic book with that power. I showed up for the gaming session all set to try and convince the game master to let me make Catalyst. He’d have Ultimate Skill: Chemistry and the power of Catalytic Control at the highest rank I could wheedle the game master into letting me have.
That was the day the first rules expansion for Marvel Super Heroes came out. It was called “The Ultimate Powers Book”. Sure enough, the power “Catalytic Control” was one of the powers listed.
There is actually an obscure DC comics villain named “Catalyst” too.
I would also direct you to Monster Pulse for a truly stellar example of awesome hair powers.
Someone update her bio from “can create energy blades around her shinai” to “she can create energy blades around handheld items”.
I’m a huge Mur Lafferty fan, and that mention sent me over the moon.
Told you Heavenly Sword wasn’t out, she wasn’t even down!
As cool as this whip sword is, I have to wonder who brought a gymnastic ribbon to this fight?
Not unprecedented:
https://ranma.wikia.com/wiki/Martial_Arts_Rhythmic_Gymnastics
Still seems like an awfully random item to suddenly have lying there without a hint to it earlier in the comics.
You can see it twice on this page:
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1280
(Once when the wind from Maxima’s passage blows it up behind HS, and again in the wide shot (The lady in red, it’s glowing and looks a bit like a whip.)
Yup. And turn back a page, from today’s issue. Look closely at the second to last panel. All the foreshadowing has been present well in advance. Guesticus even mentioned the body lying there, in comments.
DaveB is like Agatha Christie. All the clues are there. If you look for them.
Of course that does not mean that people will be able to pick up the clues and correctly predict the outcome. No one called this. And I am glad, as it is nice to avoid spoilers from ruining things. But it is good to be able to piece it all together, with hindsight. Or if doing an archive re-read.
Yeah, was just talking to mum the other day: it’s nice to have a crime show that has all the clues visible for the watchers to pick up on them and see if they can solve the case before the cops, really sucks when the writers deliberately withhold information, or worse, when they deliberately lead the viewers to one suspect and then do a complete switch and go for someone that barely even registered on the suspect-o-meter
Although the true mastery comes when they pull the switcheroo – max 1-2 times a series – and have a bunch of small visible clues adding up to the person you weren’t suspecting. Possibly even with the detective appearing not to suspect them because it’s someone like the police chief; Gotta have an airtight case before you admit you’re doing the investigation.
I do love twists that are well pulled. Especially the really freaky ones. Such as it turning out that the investigator is actually the criminal. Be it by multiple personality disorder, amnesia or simply done through clever misdirection. One of the caveats being that there must always be things that are consistent with the ploy.
If the detective has amnesia, there should be people who recognise him, but who he does not know, for example. Not that it is necessary to have a lot of them. Simply that, where appropriate, the behaviours, or physical states of things, should match the true cause. Red herrings are allowed, of course, but if there are contradictory elements present, they should not be there simply because the writer chose to misdirect, with there being no logical reason for their presence. That is just very bad writing.
But very clever writing can keep you shifting your suspicions, first one way, then another. Is the investigator delusional or mad? Is it possible that there is a supernatural or magical explanation behind the anomalies? Is somebody not who they seem? Is the butler’s alibi really watertight?
The acid test being that if, once you know the truth, you go back and rewatch or reread the story, all the elements remain consistent with the actual facts. Anomalies are allowed, of course, but only provided they could realistically be present. Such as by plausible coincidence, deliberate misrepresentation (by characters in setting, rather than being lied to by the writer) or reasonable misunderstanding. If there are multiple exceptions, then there should be some underlying cause, such as a conspiracy.
Pull off successful twists, within those constraints, and you have good enjoyable writing. Cheat and there is a pit in hell, being warmed up, for the writers. With themes inspired by various Twilight Zone stories.
It’s all these little twists and setups and tiny details in the background that make a prolonged fight scene engaging at two pages a week (thanks for upping the output Dave, we love it!). I had to go back to the first exterior scene (where Concretia gets swatted around the parking lot) to get the full story on that whip.
I am not so much a fan of the ‘twist’ but I am really happy to spot the “gun on the nightstand” kind of foreshadowing where you don’t know why something is presented at this point in the story, but it is clearly going to be used later –just not in the way expected. Best example coming to mind is the crystal sword from the Wheel of Time series that was a powerful male booster, but required a female to guide in a circle and was part of an elaborate trick (okay so there was a twist) at the end of the series… Alas poor Jordan, I read his series from 1 to x whenever x was released –including posthumously.
I think we shall have to ban gifted authors dying before their due time. It is most inconsiderate.
Am I the only one hoping to see HS switch teams? Im liking her.
Yea, she does seem to have quite a few fans who would like to see that. And, even taking it to the extreme, the real world shows that there is no end of fascination for criminals. Just look at how many death row inmates can attract devoted pen-pals and followers.
But, from my mindset, the whole attempting to murder a police officer thing really is a turn off.
That said though, stranger things do happen. When society faces breakdown, things which are considered unacceptable normally, can be put to one side, in order that society itself survives. Truth and reconciliation in South Africa being one example. The end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, being another.
Jerry Adams has even ended up as being a member of parliament, despite having been the leader of a terrorist organisation. Similarly Nelson Mandela. So there is no upper limit to what can happen in these vein.
Plus it is a direct parallel, with Heavenly Sword’s role as a leader in this villain group. As Mandela became president, despite having served time as a terrorist. And Jerry Adams stands at risk of being put on trial, for murder, from back in his days in the IRA.
she’s not shooting to kill- she didn’t shoot when Dab twice turned her back on her.
I don’t know what her motivations are, but so far I am getting a total ‘honorable enemy’ vibe off HS
Agreed: Heaven has had a few opportunities to kill if that was what she wanted
She knows there is someone out there who took out her shinai (hopefully she is not stupid and thought they aimed for her head and missed), so attempting to kill now would be suicidal, the whip-blade seems to me more like a painful restraining/incapacitation move
The ribbon-tip blade was going for the face. That was NOT a nonlethal option. Heavenly may not be going all out for blood, but she’s definitely not striking to wound.
Agreed. Heavenly Sword could try the excuse:
However that does not hold water, in a court of law. Especially posthumously. Which is where it would likely end up, looking at the continual deadly danger, that Dabbler has been exposed to.
I read definite bloodlust, and explain away the times Dabbler survived turning her back as either confusion in battle (the dabblegangers) or straight-up wanting to kill her foe in a face-to-face fight.
Well Dabbler is probably getting a bit pissed…the question is, will she go for something boring but practical like a “Hold person” spell, or something over-the-top like “Form of the Dragon?”
https://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/spells/formOfTheDragon.html
So, what determines the dragon type?
In the case of that spell, the type of dragon scale you use to cast it (The scale is destroyed in the casting process) – it’s listed under the components.
now got me wondering if Dabbler has the dragon slave spell from slayers
I was thinking something along the line of Ermac’s Telekinetic Slam
Hey!, this IS a Succubus we’re talking about her… she’d go for something … um, “showy”, for this. In fact, something like this: https://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0020.html
Bystander:”Oh, the humanity!”
Dabbler:”But I’m not human.*toothy grin*”
That’s a level 6 spell? Seems like it should be higher.
The lowest level version is level 6…it only lets you become a “Medium” dragon (“Medium” means Man-sized, “Large” is horse sized, then elephant sized, and so on..)
Eh, it’s not all that great. You only get one shot with the breath weapon, and at a lower damage output than you’d get from lower-level blasting spells like fireball. It’s a melee buff, but it’s a personal spell, and personally buffing up and wading into melee is not what most mages with their puny mage hit points want to be doing. It provides some other useful utility stuff, flight and energy resistance, but again there are lower-level spells that do it better. The only justification that I can see for it being as high level as it is is that it combines all that stuff into one spell. You could still replace it with three or four 2nd-3rd level spells, and be able to pick and choose which parts of it you want when.
Consider at the same spell level you can be throwing around disintegrate for at least 22d6 damage (and 5d6 even on a successful save, evasion and energy resistances do not apply).
It’s true; the value is 100% from the time-saving element. Not having Time Stop yet, you’re casting 4-6 low-level buffs in one round. But that savings is only worthwhile if you need most or all of those buffs.
And there’s a great deal of turn-comparative efficiency to be gained by Disintegrating an enemy turn one.
As my group liked to say: “Funky effects are fun, but the best status effect to inflict is Dead.”
The motto of the blasters I had in City of Heroes: Dead Mobs don’t Agro.
Cute doll on the pommel there.
It’s a mogwai. :D
Don’t feed her sword after midnight!
Unless you can TAZER them into submission, and police have killed people doing that, then blast their assets all over is the only way to end their menace. Time for the shock rounds to be fired to stop all this.
I would totally agree with you in normal circumstances. However Heavenly Sword has shown she is skilled enough to chop a bullet in half! She should be able to disable a taser just as easily.
Personally, I cannot see any conventional non-lethal option left. Not when you consider that attempting them, rather than the lethal options, would be leaving Dabbler under lethal attack.
Teargas, pepperspray. If fired in a canister all she does is open the it when she slashes at the canister. The momentum should be enough to hit her with the contents.
The M203 fires a 40mm canister round filled with about six billion BBs. That’d about do it.
I had considered tear gas and pepper spray. I was unaware of the BB canister, but would reject it for the same reasons.
Dabbler and Math are the teams two most powerful heroes, other than Maxima herself. Maxima is tied up taunting the massed ranks, plus will be vital to take down the end-of-battle boss guy (or whatever the villains have planned that makes them think they can take her down).
All three of those attacks are area of effect ones*, that will more than likely disable the heroes in the vicinity too. The fights are moving around too fast to guarantee otherwise. So Dabbler and Math would be at risk. The team cannot afford to loose both of them, even if it did take out Heavenly Sword and Jabberwocky too. That would help the villains more than the cops. The good guys being heavily outnumbered, means they need their powerful members to balance the scales.
Needless to say these are just my opinions. My only bias being that I would prefer to see Dabbler being alive at the end of the fight. If Dave plays it realistically, and follows the fight to its natural, realistic conclusions, that may not happen. Without taking real-life type countermeasures, anyhow.
But, this is a super hero story. And supers have other, non-conventional options available. Time for someone to do something heroic. Failing that, either Dabbler or Heavenly Sword could be getting a tag on their toe and a body bag to stay in.
* Yes, there are the small, spray in the face versions, but I cannot see anybody getting close enough to deploy those past Heavenly Whip’s defences (other than Harem, which is a vailid option).
Her choice of costume leaves her vulnerable to the Maxima delivered super-wedgie maneuver.
What’re we going to call the lady with the blinking lights around her head?
Wisp Woman?
Frau Blinkende Lichter?
You mean Hex? That’s only one can recall having ‘blinking lights around her head’
Hex? where did you get a name for the lady on the right in panel 1 on this page, if that’s who you mean?
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1276
(Don’t remember her ever being named yet…)
Ah, OK…it’s in the blog…but that doesn’t mean Leon hasn’t given her a temporary name yet…
Dark Halo
Omg, Heavenly’s face. XD
I really don’t see it as Dabbler performing poorly. Frankly I’m rather pleased at least one of the bad guys is not a comedy d-lister like the others have been. It’s more fun to see the heroes challenged.
+1
I agree with this; I’m of the opinion that Heavenly’s a very skilled combatant but a lot of commenters seem to be overlooking that and thinking Dabbler’s just messing. I can’t see any evidence so far to suggest Math (for example) being much/any more skilled or powerful than HS tbh – she did block the one attack he launched at her whilst half-turned and already fighting after all.
Also (getting sidetracked)… interesting to read from Dave’s comments that she was a last minute thing and not a character originally thought out before writing. I wonder how many of the villains here are similar in that regard; tentative guess based on similar creative processes would be MOST. I’d guess Dave came up with rough ideas of X power or Y being used and countered by Z to achieve this or that plot movement and building characters later to fill that void.
And everyone forgetting (or ignoring) when DaveB mentioned that there will be casualties on both sides (Heatwave’s foot booboo is more of an ‘injury’ than making her a ‘casualty’, and no, that does not have to mean a ‘fatality’)
Exhibit A: Brook’s injury
Exhibit B: Dabbler’s choice of words in the first panel.
Just wondering whether DaveB has a secret foot-stabbing fetish? =0P
That was really clever of Heavenly! I’m impressed.
One of my favorite games to play with my friends is to think of a useless power, and try to come up with uses for it:
One friend came up with spinning. It’s the ability to spin in place at supersonic speeds. Only problem? No immunity to it yourself. You’d get really dizzy really fast. The character my friend came up with loved using and having the power, though, so he always carried some dramamine on his person.
Another friend came up with sky-writing as a power. It would be good for communication, but not much else. I suggested it could block out the sun, which would be somewhat situational, or could provide some mediocre concealment.
Another power we all enjoyed was very weak telekinesis. The NPC we encountered in one game complained his power was useless. It wasn’t like in that one comic, where he could pinch an artery in someone’s head. He could only do very light telekinesis. (Also he could light candles.) We suggested that if he focused a little, he could turn the pins in a lock and open doors. We also suggested he try his hand at throwing playing cards. The game master loved how much we became invested in this kid that he became a reoccurring character.
Mystery Men had the Invisible Boy: who had the ability to turn invisible if nobody was looking at him (it did become critical at one point). My favorite, though, was in the Legion of Superheroes: Superman brought someone on the team who could change the color of any object. Why was this useful?
“GREEN KRYPTONITE BECOMES RED KRYPTONITE!”
But the one I came up with is one of my favorites: the ability to erase any memory of yours you want. It makes you the perfect messenger, for very sensitive information. I eventually extended the power to let the user to swap out personalities like in Dollhouse or Killer 7. And if a telepath ever tried to link minds with Amnesia Man, they’d be subject to his power, and he’d mind wipe them. He’d be the perfect anti-psychic. With enough exercise, he was eventually able to set triggers so that he could merely suppress a memory until he needed it recalled.
Yes, Amnesia Man is one of my favorite characters I’ve never had the pleasure if using, ever.
Though the worst power I’ve ever heard someone suggest? The King of Cats. Ugh…
“King of Cats”? You mean that cat-who’s-name-escapes-me from Girl Genius? Or maybe that guy from League of Redundant Superheroes who can levitate cats?
You mean Krosp?
https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040315#.U5r9krHIx8E
Yeah, always prefer not to use a name if can’t recall the correct name
Actually, the King of Cats is someone that a friend of mine used to tell me about, but it’s kind of a long story.
The character he came up with is basically a conduit for the thoughts of every cat in the world. Now take paws (tee-hee) to consider how horrible that would be. I can’t think of much worse than receiving millions of messages all at once about hairballs and balls of yarn and chasing mice.
The origin of how my friend came up with this character is actually kinda funny. The real, true story (as I’m told) is that he used to have all kinds of bizarre coincidences happen to him involving cats. It was inexplicable, so he accepted that he must be the King of Cats, much to his chagrin.
He bore the title until one day, while waiting in a hotel lobby, some little boy randomly goes up to him and asks who he is.
“I’m the King of Cats.”
“No, I’m the King of Cats,” replied the boy.
“No, I’m the King of Cats,” told my friend.
“No! I’m the King of Cats.”
“No… I’m the King of Cats.”
“No! I’m the King of Cats!”
“Okay,” grinned my friend, “You’re the King of Cats.”
Thus he renounced his title. And ever since then Craig didn’t have anymore bizarre occurrences involving cats.
So maybe it’s not the most interesting story, but my friend told it rather well.
Well, nothing wrong with being a King of All Cats, except being all your subjects are murdering furballs
At least cats have the excuse of being obligate carnivores.
And then there is Squirrel Girl, who has beaten Thanos (https://www.comicvine.com/images/1300-620631) and Doctor Doom (https://www.comicvine.com/images/1300-2985419). Despite her silly name, her power set is fairly extensive, including all the sorts of physical characteristics you might conceivably associate with a squirrel (the same as our favorite web slinger, Squirrel Girl has the proportional strength and agility of a squirrel, plus tree climbing claws (two kinds!) and a cute, fluffy tail. And she can communicate with squirrels.
Squirrel Girl is the best! She’s even defeated Fing Fang Foom, and she’s currently a member of the New Avengers (last I checked). That is, I believe she’s their nanny. Either way, I count that as being a member of the New Avengers. Kinda taking a backdoor in.
Also she was a member of the Great Lakes Avengers, which was an actual thing.
…
There should really be a Squirrel Girl movie. I’d actually prefer that to another Spider-Man film.
Heck, Squirrel Girl’s defeat of Doctor Doom is one of the few Doom defeats that was NOT later retconned as “just a doombot”
Krosp
The Emperor of all Cats and leader of Mechensburg,* the Jagermonster armies and thereby much of Europe.
* Agatha is his minion.
except the castle does not see it that way
And, well, no-one else, to be honest, we haven’t even seen any other cats to find out how they feel about Krosp’s self-coronation
Ahh, but if he can genuinely command all cats*, just consider how incredibly powerful that would be. Both in practical application and from the sheer respect he would be accorded. Have you managed to get any cat to do anything, on command? Could you envisage a ‘guide cat for the blind’?
Cats do what they want, when they want, and everybody else be damned. Even Jagermonsters would give respect to anybody who cats would actually obey! I do not think they would have a problem with their boss serving under such a gifted leader.
* Bare in mind the usual response that happens to sparks when they try the “I am your master and you must obey me” line.
The castle’s job is to recognise and obey the leader of the Hetrodynes. Who she chooses to ally herself or pledge allegiance to is another matter.
Not the Krosp has been a harsh master. All he requires is that his bowl be kept full of milk.
Vasal, not minion. Agata is clearly a spark, and a strong one at that. anyone that have a problem with this may adress her cheif of complaints, Mr Castle
I accept the correction. No need for castling. Really. It is fine. I will just be over there… waaay over there.
*pitter patter of paws fading into the distance*
There’s also Lion-O from Thundercats. He can communicate with and command ANY cat, regardless of species or size. The cat is also compelled to obey. (His fellow thunderans, while not entirely cats, still obey him despite his lack of experience, because he EARNED his position after defeating each and every one of them in very specific, and very difficult tests, such as defeating chetarra in a foot race.)
Wait, is that Original Flavour or New Generation “Thundercats”?
Heavenly will likely survive, though seriously F.U.B.A.R. In this case though, yeah… the ante just got upped and someone is going to hit the ground hard. Honestly I’m thinking it will be Dabbler at some point soon. She’s a little too visible of a target, and not invulnerable like Maxima.
Basically, if I was one of the villains… she just became the single most likely target for me to take out from behind. Demonstrated high threat level, extreme pre-occupation with a current fight, and able to be harmed. She IS the target to take out before she eliminates too many of your troops. Taking her out means more allies to concentrate fire on targets like Maxima.
As the bad guy sneaks up on Dabbler, Harem teleports 6 feet to your left. As you turn your attention there, another Harem Vorps in beside you and nails you with the electric stun gun, then both teleport out, as another teleports in, carrying hand cuffs and leg shackles.
OMG, did she rip out Dabbler’s soul?!?! :O
Silly Spartan, Demons have no soul!
But seriously, Dabbles *blink*ed
Actually, it strikes me that this is a bit of insider knowledge, which we may be taking for granted unfairly. Ok it is pretty widespread, but not everyone will be familiar with D&D type terminology.
A blink is a short range teleportation spell. Typically used to evade attacks.
Oh yea, now that I look at it that way, that might be what sh did, although I am still left wondering both what that thing in the ribbon is, and what exactly HS planned to do anyway. Was she planning on trying to tickle Dabbler into submission?
The two disparate elements involved, which break down like this:
1) The pale blue cloud-like column, combined with the “Blink” magic glyph* is Dabbler’s equivalent to Harem’s VORP. In terms of how it appears in comic. Although it is also literally a very limited range version of it too.
2) The amber arrows, coming off the gymnastics tool, are physical, visual, manifestations of Heavenly Sword’s power. She has essentially turned the ribbon,** into a giant serrated whip. Imagine using a flexible length of razor wire.
The tip of the ribbon having one giant arrow on it. For that imagine attaching a guillotine-sized razor to the end of a chain and spinning that around at speed and aiming it at someone’s head. Which is exactly where she formed it, aiming for Dabbler’s head. As proven by the scar on her face.
Doubly dangerous as it did look fairly harmless initially. Not just to you, but to Dabbler as well. The power only being manifested at the last moment, making it a deviously dangerous tactic.
Had Dabbler not teleported out of the ribbon, it would have carried on spinning around her, tightening and cutting her apart.
Pretty much as if Dabbler had been dropped into a giant blender.
* I love this touch by the way. We are getting a clear visual trademarks for each spell used. This is very similar to the ‘you cant see us’ spell Gwen is using for the Arc-Light team. Presumably non-mages would only see the puff of smoke and other non-visual cues that we might be lacking. Such as the displacement of the air and a smell of sulphur.
Whereas someone able to detect magic in operation might well have a magical equivalent of a heads-up-display, which actually translated the aura of the spell detected, into just such a written or visual sign. Still, aside from being funny, it does make it easier for us, the readers. Dabbler’s shield and magical missiles have strong intrinsic visual effects. But it is ideal for the more subtle effects.
** Which was being wielded as a weapon, so is probably actually dangerous in its own right. Possibly it was just being used as a conduit, or in conjunction with, some other power, by it’s former wielder. But if not, it may be reinforced, to strengthen it and/or have a sharp edge to it anyhow. Dangerous in it’s own right. But deadly if you suddenly give it a wider and heavier edge to it, as it contacts its target.
Warning, the linked story is VERY LONG.
https://parahumans.wordpress.com/
Worm is a prose superhero story, now completed, originally published online as a serial. Its protagonist makes use of her power (to control bugs) in some pretty awesome ways. There’s also a character with a power similar to Heavenly Sword’s that makes him into one of the nastiest villains around. Highly recommended reading!
Very long, and very awesome. Parahumans is a great story.
Hm. There’s one other thing I am wondering about…
Heavenly sword knows quite clear at this point that there’s a (to her) nonfriendly sniper in the area – and one skilled enough to take out a cold weapon in motion over a large distance. Her losing the “fancynameforawoodenstickthatIcan’tremember” was a VERY obvious warning shot. If she proves enough of a threat (which she just did) or actually badly wounds Dabbler, Heavenly Sword can and should expect the next shot to target a vital bodypart, not the stick in her hand.
Just what is she doing, then?
While I’ve made a similar argument above, it has just occurred to me that this is an extension of the same argument/concern folks have about this fight on the whole.
There’s just this general sense of,
“Guys.
GUYS.
You are a street gang.
Why are you attacking The Army?”
And that question – “Why?” – is running as a current under this whole chapter.
Nitpicking, but I don’t think the kendo stick was in motion when Peggy shot it. I think HS was holding it in place as part of her stance.
Yea, that is the way that several of us read it, and DaveB confirmed that they were doing a Samurai stand off. Which could go on for minutes, potentially. Not that I think Peggy either needed that long, nor would have been inclined to wait.
As soon as the stance was adopted, the sword would have become a nice stationary target. And Peggy seized the opportunity.
The great and all Powerful SQUIRREL GIRL would have to agree with you.
Using her Squirrel powers (talk to squirrels, agility of a squirrel, and thinking like a squirrel) she soundly defeated the likes of Dr. Doom and Thanios (whose name I can not spell because he is beneath Squirrel Girl).
She also had a fling with Wolverine and if she can tame that beast in bed, she can do anything *wink*.
*nods*
The very best super heroines do have a crush on Wolverine.
And more than a few heroes
Granted, Dabbler was just trying to be witty in the way she delivered the Miranda Rights to Heavenly Sword, but HS was able to deliver a witty “wha-crack” of her own…
Dabbles was still not taking it seriously: you don’t read someone their Miranda Rights in the middle of a firefight!!! and you certainly don’t treaten them with physical harm
Dabbler is not a professional LEO. She’s an adventurer and explorer who at the moment is over her head and doesn’t yet realize it. Or maybe not she does. “The prospect of imminent death greatly focuses the mind”.
Then her using the Miranda Rights (even if she got it correct) would have as much standing as if a 10 year old used it on their younger brother
I’m waiting for Max to get tired of all the BS, gets Sydney in her shield, lighthook out for a handle and start swinging her around as a wrecking ball.
While Syd is singing “Came in like a Wreckiiiiinnng Baaaaaaallllll!!! ” *WHOOM*
Lol, I can totally see that happening, or something like that! XD
Panel 4 needs to be HS’s new “Who’s who” picture.
Never did like the current one
peggy might be getting tired of you causing trouble HS and just snipe your hand (the result would probably be HS with a prosthetic hand)
Would more than likely kill her completely (the Super Doc is still back in ArcHQ, and they can’t spare one of the fliers to get a villain there in time to save her)
There are still a few un-accounted for Arc-ites floating around, they could possibly be used to subdue non-fatally Heaven (heck, maybe the Math & Jabbs dance duo could roll by and Math could knock her out long enough for someone, not Dabbles, to properly subdue her and bind her for safe retrieval later)
peg is not the only potential shooter for shinaigirl just the only one using an anti-material rifle so any spacemarine could put a much less lethal round in HS, last we saw multiple in the condemned building with a big whole near HS
Aren’t the Space Marines on guard duty with Leon and Co? In case Gwen’s attention slips and someone spots the Observers?
Actually it has occurred to me why didn’t Heavenly imbued the concrete under her with her power. Shouldn’t have any problem ripping it loose under Dabbler. It may be the object Heavenly imbue need to be a separate object. Hmm can you say floating strand of spider web become a monofiliament cutting web?
Um, guys? What about that speedster?
He’s a little tied up at the moment.
He could run, but he couldn’t hide.
Dabbler bleeds red? Didn’t expect that
Artistic license — if she bleeds glowing green gas or acidic black fast-crystalizing slime as a proper alien or demon might, people might not get it right away and that would distract even if for a second from the story.
My observations:
1) HS’s power appears to be similar to The (first) Silver Samurai. Both generate energy fields and use objects (e.g., HS’s shinai, SS’s sword) as means of focusing the fields, and thereby amplifying the damage of said objects. As some have stated, immobilizing at least one of HS’s hands should reduce the threat she presents, preferably her dominant hand.
2) HS may not be the leader of her group, but she is definitely a strategist. She attempted to coordinate the attacks of her teammates, but some had other (not-well planned) ideas. She should not be taken lightly.
3) Sydney should remind Dabbler that the “Silver Age Rules” only apply to the opposition. Dabbler has made some rookie mistakes (e.g., announcing her attack, describing the function of a weapon). To paraphrase Peggy, Dabbler needs to concentrate on her enemy. Hopefully, the near-miss in this panel will function as a wake-up call…
Dabbler ALREADY had a wake-up cal that near sliced the restaurant in half RIGHT NEXT TO HER. Since she apparently pushed the “Snooze” button and is STILL NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, it would be her own damn fault if she winds up dead, ADD or not.
Maybe she can blame it on being an Alien, but the Miranda rights are as follows.
1.) You have the right to remain silent. If you waive the right to remain silent, what you say can and will be used against you.
2.) You have the right to an attorney. If you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by the court.
Those are the most important and immediate aspects of the Miranda oath. Any competent attorney will happily inform you any additional rights and responsibilities.
0) * .50 round through the keyhole* BANG!
0.5) Your rights have been revoked, on account of being dead.
There are better versions of the Miranda Rights, like:
Cop: You’re under arrest. You have the right to the remains of a silent attorney. If you cannot afford one, tough noogies! You can make one phone call, I recommend “Tracy”, 976-555-LOVE. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you? …. Well do you, punk?!
Man: …..no.
Cop: …Then I can’t arrest you!
… I feel a bit old for remembering that, but oh well.
I’m getting kinda irritated by the fact that HS does not know when to give up, will one of the other hero’s PLEASE defeat her already?
Squirrel girl did not actually defeat Thanos, it were just one of his clones that she fought.
Yeah HS just asked for a much more , shall we say lasting for of incapacitation. I’d certainly be making damned sure she didn’t get back up to try something else, but then my attitude is enemies come in two categories properly dealt with and the still breathing.
And… that’s why you are not a cop (Darkness tell me you are not a real cop!)
Never claimed I was a police but considering she just tried yet again to make a lethal attack I wouldn’t be shocked if one or more officers at this point unloaded their weapons into her.
this is why you don’t frikkin play around and you fight with all you got instead of screwing around.
Anyone else worried that dabbler might have just accidently impaled HS with that blink? Sword’s now roughly pointing in the direction that the ribbon came from.
I think Dabbs landed to the left of where she was standing. Still the same distance from HS.
Worried, no. Dabbler is doing the right thing keeping her weapon directed at her opponent, even whilst conducting an emergency evasion. If she pulls off a hit, even accidentally, as a result of that, I will be suitably impressed.
And, on the plus side, if it is not intentional, then Dabbler would not have been giving off any tells. So, despite her superior martial arts skills, Heavenly Sword would have no defensive options. Finally, morally, Heavenly would have brought it on herself. So there would be a satisfying poetic irony to that happening.
One possibility that I haven’t seen mentioned is that Peggy puts a bullet into the pavement a foot from Heavenly Sword’s face. Very incapacitating, probably non lethal.
Of course, despite how hard Dave tries this entire fight is only happening because of rule of funny and rule of awesome. If Max can not only move fast enough but think fast enough to snag bullets out of the air casually she would have been able to subdue all but one or two of the villians in the first ten to fifteen seconds of the fight. The easiest way would be for her to use her strength, speed, and zero range telekinesis do disarm everyone with a weapon and then juggle them. Flying units would require a taser and or cuffs, only the speedster and phaser of the villains seen so far would be any challenge to her.
Maxima’s biggest problem is that she is facing a large number of super-powered individuals, with vastly disparate abilities. Any one of whom might have something that can easily overcome her. Do not forget that they just saw her demonstration and still came regardless. They have some reason not to fear her. She has no protection against mental or magical attacks, for example. So no point exposing herself, more than she already is, until she has some idea of their abilities.
Aside from caution for herself though, is the issue of being in the middle of a populated area. Those villains are shooting off a hell of a lot of fireballs, lighting bolts and other destructive powers. And a number of the opponents have been shown to have superior reflexes and speed too.
So Maxima’s own speed is not guaranteed to win, but what is likely that opponents trying to hit her, if she came down, to attack, would miss and end up hitting whatever was beyond her. That is a point that will probably come in her next lesson to Sydney. Not only must you consider what is beyond your target, you must think about what is beyond you, if your opponent misses.
I doubt the other people hiding in buildings around the business park would be happy for their buildings being set on fire, explode or for lightning to shoot through the windows.
Had Maxima been alone, she might have had to risk that But, as she has the full SWAT team with her, she has other options. For now, she is providing a good distraction from everybody else, holding the aggro of the vast majority of the villains. Plus is assessing the individual threat level of each, and can pick her moment to counter-attack, when she can minimise the threat to both herself and the civilian populace.
Plus, even if she cannot use her full power attack, I imagine she has lesser versions of her energy blast to keep them busy, for now. She will probably have been keeping it very weak, in order to minimise the risk of killing glass cannons. Gradually probing their defences, to pick out who can take the heavy blows. There have been a number of clues that the firefight in her area is raging strongly.
Course HS did go for Dabbler’s face, which pretty much means the kiddy gloves are off.