Grrl Power #325 – Four out of ten hut
Maxima doesn’t have super hearing, but the team has decided that her hearing is pretty good at least.
This page was just the natural progression from the previous one. I rarely have anyone doing anything particularly military in the comic, but I figure if a Lieutenant and a Lt. Colonel walk into a room full of recruits, there should be some reaction. That reaction might be subdued if the Lt. Colonel is in street clothes (which will be explained) but Peggy’s still an officer.
Also while writing this page I learned that “ten hut” is just drill-sergeant-ese for “attention” I didn’t know that. Harem is sort of splitting the difference.
In panel 7, Peggy’s original comment to Sydney was “Stop sticking your chest out like you’re modeling your first training bra”, but my wife convinced me the first date thing was more universal. Though I suppose a lot of that depends on when you started dating, and who you were on a date with.
So A-kon was the usual good times. I didn’t get any commissions unfortunately as I didn’t have the forethought to print out any reference sheets, but I went to some of the webcomic panels and better yet got to talk some webcomic shop with some folks, primarily The Devil’s Panties and the writer of Spinnerette. I think it helped me formulate some plans regarding the book. I may make a separate post about that. Also I got a chance to sit down and have some dinner with some readers. Here’s some photographic evidence taken with my crappy Galaxy S5 camera. I’m in the back in the green shirt, continuing my streak of being chronically bad about not smiling in pictures. I’m not sure what’s up with that, but it was good times. I didn’t spoil much, mostly we recommended animes, talked about other webcomics, the usual nerd stuff.
Here’s the link to the new comments highlighter for chrome, and the GitHub link which you can use to install on FireFox via Greasemonkey.
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5th panel Peggy looks like she’s trying not to laugh
Either that, or she’s in love :D
That is the face she makes when she makes her saving throw vs “so noob its cute”
Makes me wonder how Max manages to keep/show a serious but still relaxed face :D
Sheer willpower on that level would be… scary.
A vital skill for any officer in any service, I’d say..
In her case I’d find it reassuring. After all she is one of the, if not the, most dangerous people on the planet. Self control and willpower are good.
She’s all :y
Those eyes. Mmmm.
NCO’s and Sergeants are permitted to smirk (slightly) when no in line-of-sight of higher in every armed service of which I am aware.
True, but Peggy is an officer, after all. *chuckle* Sydney is just going to be so much *fun* for the more militant side.
I’m also pretty sure that Arc-Swat is a bit less formal than traditional military organizations.
Yeah, that’s pretty much a given, since we’re talking about people who would really NOT be in the military at all. They still must be able to instill enough discipline to understand the protocols abide by them. Even so, let’s just say that first morning in boot camp when they use a wooden stick on a trash can to simulate an alarm clock is something that takes getting used to…
Because this could happen …
https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/720
Panel 2
I still think expecting Sydney to learn how to stand properly by the end of the day is basically asking the impossible of Harem. This isnt something simple like Vehemence, after all.
Although Sydney does have enough self control that she was able to learn to scuba dive :) But this is probably more than a 3 day course :)
Halo is trying at least, harem not so much.
Halo’s just trying to fit in – it’s not her fault everyone else’s chests stick out even with their backs straight.
Yeah, panel two caught Sydney by surprise, but she figured it out soon enough, and without being prompted by anyone
But shouldn’t she know the basics already based on movies?
That is what she is trying to do. With about as much success as most fresh meat, off of civvy street, I would imagine.
Some movies are made by people who have no idea how the military actually works. Sort of like when us scientists are watching what passes for science on many programs, even the non-science fiction/fantasy ones.
Well, that’s Hollywood for you…After all, it IS a minority sub-culture that bases their careers & lives around the manufacture & sale of fantasy & fiction. Even when “based on actual fact,” there’s going to be a lot of “dramatization” & “creative license” inserted.
this is why I’m willing to watch what they do & take entertainment from them, but when they try to step outside of their own isolated little worlds & talk politics or social topics, that’s when it’s best to just turn around & walk the f**k away from them…They don’t have any grounding in the reality of mainstream lifestyles, ya’ know.
Depends on movies and branch. As some of us noted Parade Rest is different for Army and Air Force and ARCHON is its own branch.
I talked to a few of my old army buddies who were professional military advisers for Hollywood movies. They told me that most directors will listen politely, then do just as they damned-well please. At that point it is good to keep in mind how much you are getting paid, and wander over to buffet and get a plate.
Grrl Power the Movie director, please note that this will not be acceptable behaviour. I will demand that the new medium give justice to the old. Whilst the change in medium does mandate some changes, those should not include the feel or facts from the original.
And I am not a great fan of buffets. Not that a personal chef is required. I have no objection to takeaways such as curry, pizza with all the toppings and KFC. Would prefer my own trailer, but I can haggle on that. If I must share, then I am sure we can find a cast member that I am willing to bunk up with.
I’m sure they’ll feed you the finest Eukanuba known to man.
Definitely would be a step up from the Bachelor Chow (in the Futurama cartoon) or Kibble (slang term for cheap pre-packaged food available in Cyberpunk RPG)..
Anything that sounds like it needs an hazmat suit, in order to handle safely, is not fit for my food bowl!
Note to self – no Dominos Pizza for Yorp.
Or anything from panel 4, shown back in https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/697
My new favourite condiment is Chipotle. Which is probably more likely to be familiar to Americans. But I had never even heard of it, before coming across one particular brand.
Sadly, although the taste is lovely, it does have a heavy concentration of vinegar. And it is mixed with garlic. As yet I have not had the pleasure of trying chipotle on it’s own, and am not too likely to come across it here in Bulgaria. But I shall keep an eye open for it. Because I love the Heinz version on just about anything!
But, it is only a medium sauce. I do stock the hot sauces in that range too, but barely use them. They are nice enough, but do not compare favourably, when I have chipotle in stock.
So I am quite happy to leave the Unmaker shelf to Sydney.
“curry, pizza with all the toppings and KFC”
What about the KFC buffet?
Yea, I would eat one of those. Bit unfair on the rest of the crew though. So I would hope that they get equally tempting cuisine, for their tastes.
Mind you, I have always favoured variety. Takeaways have the advantage that you can vary them easily, from day to day. Subject to location and budget of course. They do not feature in my diet nowadays, as a result. Except for rare treats, when I am able to fix them into my travelling schedule and budget.
Whereas I have already had my annual restaurant treat. A half-day walkies to a nearby village that has a lovely park and restaurant by it. The cheese omelette there is the best I have ever tasted, so it is well worth making a day of it.
From what I understand, Hollywood Crafts Services tables are actually pretty primo grub. It’s like having a caterer on hand with things that are bitesized and nibblable, because everyone has to be in exact places, and might only be able to get away for thirty seconds at a time.
I am always open to new experiences. And some buffets can be very pleasant. The majority though, not so much.
Under-spiced chicken wings, with bland potato salad on a floppy plate leaves much to be desired. Cold mini-sausage rolls and frankfurters on sticks are none too appealing. And, if you get sandwiches, they are usually the little quarter ones. Typically with uninspiring fillings like cheese and tomato or ham and mustard.
Their only real benefit, at office dos, is to soak up the free booze, and ensure you do not get legless in front of your workmates. Unless it was top-quality nosh, I could not face the prospect of eating that kind of mush, on a daily basis, for months on end.
Is Maxi still mad at Harem? o_O
Until Harem at least learns to confine the pranks to down time, probably.
So… never then? o_O
Harem has been assigned here to remind her that she is not behaving acceptably. Until she has done her time, she is wise not to push it.
Also note, Haren was not standing at attention in the second to last panel. Harem was chosen to teach Halo as a reminder she is bound by the same rules.
Maxi just told them to relax (“As you were”)
Missed the as you were but technically as you were is not automatically relax. Is return to previous stance (at ease in this case) you can as you were to any stance including Attention, Parade Rest, At Ease, or Present Arms.
Attention to Present Arms to As You Were would result in returning to Attention.
They are being told to return to the state they were in before being called to attention
Yes, but they weren’t even ‘At Ease’, they had been basically lounging around waiting for the class to begin
Lounging around is a type of ‘at ease,’ though with an officer around, you would be in the more formal ‘at ease’ than when one wasn’t around. They might have orders, after all, and the one who seems most relaxed and ‘at ease’ is usually the one to get them.
Please note, Harem was the most ‘at ease’ and got the extra assignment, though whether it is because she is still on Max’s list or because she was the most relaxed is an open question.
I dunno, I really think I prefer the original phrasing you had, “Stop sticking your chest out like you’re modeling your first training bra” is infinitely more hilarious to me than the ‘on your first date’ bit that’s in there now.
I can honestly say I never stuck out my chest on a first date (nor has anyone I’ve dated) but then I started late and I wear a polo and khakhis so.
But the training-bra comment is something Peggy is unlikely to say to anyone, and nobody with any sense of tact would say to Sydney while in the midst of that crowd (unless they really want to rudely make her feel humiliated).
+1
Peggy was shocked at Harem’s indiscretion, at the restaurant. Clearly Peggy is clued up on good decorum. You need to watch the company you are in, to avoid causing embarrassment, to the person you are addressing. Mrs DaveB called it right.
“Make do” not “Make due”.
Might be a regional thing, because ‘Make due’ seems okay to me
“Due” means “owed” or “expected”. “Make due” developed from “make do” being mis- or badly pronounced, and is utter gibberish.
Like said, might be a regional thing, like spelling half your words without a ‘u’
And like you said, “Due” means “expected”, so she is going to do as expected with her new hearing levels
No, not this time. Not ever in fact. “Due” means that it is time for something, such as “The electric bill is due.” “Do” on the other hand means to take an action, such as “Do the laundry, NOW!” Just more of the normal confusion in the english language.
“Make do” means “get by” or “It’s OK for now” which does fit the intent.
“Make due” could mean make someone pregnant which does not fit very well.
Whoops. Better than “make dew” or “make doo” It’s fixed.
That’ll due, pig. That’ll doo.
Do the Dew, or do not, Doo.
Puns, part deux
Due, or due not. There is no try. (Sorry, couldn’t resist. Excuse me, now I have to go throw a koosh ball at myself for the horrible pun.)
It takes high humidity & relatively cool temperature to “make dew,” and everyone by now should be familiar on how to “make doo.”
O.o
“Make dew” might work if ARCHON running a moonshine operation.
That’s already taken care of; it’s Jiggawatt’s duty to distill the moonshine. After all, it IS also referred to as “White Lightning”…
Not to be ethnist or anything, but “White Lightning”? Jiggie is Black. Her ‘shine woundn’t be “White Lightning”! *lol*
But “Black Lightning” is trademarked…by Black Lightning”.
Um, its “make do”, not “make due”… Copy-pasta from elsewhere- “Make do is short for make [something] do well enough, where do carries the rare sense to serve a specified purpose. So this do is similar to the one used in sentences such as, “I could use a cup of coffee, but tea will do.””
+1
Of the many (mis)usages of English that annoy me, ‘make due’ is one of my least favourite.
It’s right up there with “could of”.
+1
For all intensive porpoises you’re probably right about “make due” being the worst. Its a deep seeded problem…
*runs away*
You are bad.
I like ‘could uv’ myself.
“ten-shun!” sounds a lot like “attention!” in some north italian slang
(italian myself, no racism involved)
‘Ten-shun!’ or ‘Ten-shin!’, close to enough :D
If you asked an Aussie, they would say ‘Ten-shen!’ :P
Sydney, that’s not a serious face. I’m not sure what that is.
I thought I’d found a typo, panel 6 ” I’ll make due” should be “I’ll make do”, but a goggle search proves it is, apparently, *grumble* an acceptable version.
And I’ve learned something about tags, that and closing them properly.
This sentence is italic This one is not.
Told ya puppy! :D
Mmm, I am an advocate of ‘usage trumps definitions’. But a one in ten usage, just says ‘common error’ to me, rather than it being an acceptable variant. For purposes of not distracting nine out of ten readers, anyhow.
Merriam-Webster records it as ‘Make do’. Wiktionary fags ‘Make due’ as an incorrect spelling.
The normally very tolerant Urban dictionary says the following:
fags = flags
Well, that’s a set-up waiting for a punchline, but I’ll leave it for someone who can make it funny without being bigoted.
There’s something out there involving rainbows and flag manufacturers seeing dollar signs, but it’s not worth it.
Yeah, I think doing some sort of gay jokes based on an obvious typo would be fairy offensive.
…
I mean fairly offensive.
Heh heh. There’s a new term for people like me, and I think it’s hilarious.
Will there be flapping, and poles involved?
A banner made of fabric, flown from the top of a pole?
She’s an anime character. That’s the best serious face she can do.
I was about to say that you can find all sorts of nonsense via google (my pet peeve being that “darling else” is a thing while its just a type that’s now used by a few people who don’t know what they’re talking about) but I see it’s already dealt with.
tl;dr: Don’t trust google (or any other search engine) or the internet in general to tell you the truth. They tell you anything, completely indifferent on behalf of the truth.
Dammit.
“its just” -> “It’s just”, “a type” -> “a typo”
Yeah, anything on the internet that functions with “user editing” is bound to have a lot of goofballs stick in their two cents’ worth…However wrong it is. This is why Google & Wikipedia (for two examples) can’t be trusted well enough to be factual or even linguistically correct.
Mmm, showing your age there a bit bud. For Wikipedia anyhow. Sure there are certain things that you need to be wary of, but equally there are warnings for unreliable pages, so you do get hints. Notably I have seen studies comparing Wikipedia with traditional paper dictionaries and the online rivals, and it actually beats them, in terms of reliability and how up to date information is.
And, of course, has vastly more information, than it’s rivals. Seeing as how it draws upon the collective knowledge and input from much of humanity. Highly contentious issues, or those prone to sabotage, are locked, and there are effective measures in place to rapidly repair suspicious changes.
Where I would not disagree is on medical issues, as warnings have been issued to that effect. But more from the point of view that you should not gain life-or-death critical information from such. Although I am perfectly happy to use it for general knowledge purposes, even for medicine.
I find that the commonality of layout and editorial guidelines make wikipedia entries much more easily digested than most professional websites about specialist subjects. If you want to get a bit of information about something, and do not want to have to spend more time familiarising yourself with a strange website, than you do actually reading the information, then it is the resource of preference.
Take note of the nature of any warnings. Some of which make me simply ignore a page, as if it did not exist. Others of which you might not be bothered with, such as readability issues. Once you have learnt the basic facts on a topic, it is then that much easier to compare those to external sources, should you either have suspicions about the information or require a verifiability credible source for some reason.
Yes, I do take any Wikipedia results with a pinch of salt. But, equally, whenever I do investigate items, either on principle, or due to suspicion, I find that usually the wiki entries are materially sound. With exceptions being so infrequent that the time taken, in fact-checking is usually not warranted. Typically I find that the alternate source will not be as informative. But such information as it does have will corroborate the wiki entry.
And, of course, where it absolutely excels is in cutting edge research. I often become aware of things hours, or sometimes even minutes, after they have been discovered and a press announcement has been made. Yet when the press-release has been lacking in detail, and I turn to Wiki for my information (yes, wikipedia is sometimes more informative than the BBC, for example, regarding things of topical relevance) I find that the Wikipedia entry is already fully updated!
“User editing” does give due cause for suspicion. But the perks that said users also include the creators and discoverers of information. previously unknown to humanity. does go a long way to redeeming it’s flaws!
“traditional paper dictionaries” he he, you can see how I made the unconscious substitution, given the thread. But I had intended to say “traditional paper encyclopaedias”. Whilst I do use the dictionaries, I am still much more wary of those than the encyclopaedia entries. Equally though it is far simpler to get a second opinion, for a single word, than a specialist or specific topic of some kind.
“Although I am perfectly happy to use it for general knowledge purposes, even for medicine.”
I agree to that much, at least. If nothing else, it’s something you can ask your doctor for the real scoop on your concerns. In short, it’s best to do other cross-referencing & fact-finding before you use Wiki’s info though…Pretty much like anything else, regardless of the source. My biggest concern is to avoid “taking it at face value” without any effort to verify.
He he. The interactions with Sydney and Peggy had me laughing. And it kept going, and more with Harem and Maxima’s. Especially due to the expressions in panels 4, 7 and 9. Peggy sure called it right!
Peg and Syd are always great, and this training time together… I’m really looking forward to seeing the education of Halo. : )
Goggle search needs Windex, Google search is iffy on grammar sometimes.
ah Sydney you are now entering the fun and exciting world of basic training. You will now be confused and amazed at all the intricacies of how to stand , how to respond to questions and get used to only carrying items in your left hand.
Heh, being a civvy, I had never thought of that. But, I guess being bawled out, for a tardy salute, if swapping things from one hand to another, would give you a hint as to sensible procedures. Let alone the possibility of poking yourself in the head, when saluting. That would be even more of a pointed hint.
Adds a mental note to section headed ‘things that would give Sherlock Holmes a clue that somebody is from a military background’.
It’s quite interesting the parts of military protocol that they are insistent on sticking to, since the whole “uniform appearance” thing has been taken out back and shot.
They still need discipline, even if they are fairly relaxed with dress slash appearance (at least when it comes to physical appearance, can’t do much when your skin is an impenetrable golden colour and permanent red-lips)
Having members who can’t cut there hair also helps sell the allowing everyone there own unique hair style.
Well their new uniforms are still quite literally being made. So I think it fair to wait and see on that score. As for hair styles, when you have some supers who are born with shiny golden skin, purple hair and lips that look like they have make up on (which Maxima does not wear), it is rather pointless to even try.
Plus the only way that they could get a nice photo op, with all eyes on a level, for their ‘eyes right’ drill, would be if Anvil marched on her knees!
Some have suggested Arianna is the one pushing the relaxed feel to individual looks. I forget why. I guess she thinks people would be more relaxed if the looked more like regular folks and maybe that it makes them more recognizable for individual marketing purposes (more superheroine like as well? *shrugs*)
Whilst I am not someone who has suggested that, I can see the sense in it. Archon is both a military and a police organisation. The conflagration of the two probably screaming ‘totalitarian state’ to many American minds. Softening that image, by allowing a more relaxed code, as regards hair style and make up, would be something a public relations person might advise.
Throw in trying to make supers feel more human, than non-human, would elevate that argument to a level that, even those with a military background, might concede it is a reasonable compromise between discipline and public relations.
On the other hand, making certain that Archon members are clearly and unmistakably recognizable in social OR tactical situations would also be a thing.
I am not against the relaxed look they are using, just sayin’.
I think is precisely where the distinction should be drawn. In a social setting you will want them to be as indistinguishable as possible, from the rest of the public. When in civilian clothes. And subject to the limitations of the physiques they were born with, of course.
However, if attending a public function, and meeting and greeting the members of the public, with their helmets off, they want to be as friendly and personable looking as possible. Military hair cuts can be slightly off-putting to civilian eyes. But it is easy enough to get used to them, due to the conformity. But supers come in all sorts of weird shapes and sizes. Some of which would look freakish trying to conform to military one-size-fits-all cuts!
Whereas I totally agree on the tactical point. Both members of the public, and any other military or police unit, should be able to instantly recognise any member of Archon. And their uniforms can fulfil that purpose perfectly well.
Keep the lighthook orb in the left hand, and tentacle everything. Also more hygienic!
“Tentacle Everything” I think I saw that show. It did not seem terribly hygienic.
Maybe it would be if everyone were in the locker room shower stall…
Never underestimate where a tentacle can get to unaided by anything so convenient as nudity.
Never…
At least in the showers, the water drainage pipes are an obviously open…er…access point.
Most military personnel do follow specific dress and appearance standards. There are exceptions such as some special forces units and investigative sections. These units need to not look too military so that they can blend in and be able to do their jobs, whether it be for infiltration or investigation.
Extremely good point, which I had not considered. And Arc-SWAT will be required to fulfil many duties which would normally be fulfilled by special forces units, so your point is highly pertinent.
…And wearing clothes with pockets, but forbidden to carry anything in them without specific permission.
Hey Dave, if you’re looking for something interesting to watch anime-wise, the series “Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon?” is shaping up decently. Problem is waiting while they post one ep per week. Looking forward to when you finally get the first book printed. Keep up the great work.
That sounds amusing, unfortunately I can’t really watch subtitled anime as I spend most of my time drawing. I can listen to shows and occasionally glance up which makes crime procedurals about ideal. Fortunately there are about 700 of them currently running.
Huh… I’ve been reading the scanlations for that, and I didn’t recognize the title until I did a search. I like the manga, although I see the anime’s gone farther than the scanlations.
It’s “Hooray” not “horray”.
you mean urrah
sorry oorah
Or HOO RAH! if you are al pacino
Army version. Pitiful.
Who? RA? Egyptian Sun God, if you must know.
Ahh, modern day sun worshippers.
*nods sagely*
I see many on the beach.
But the sun is Sydneys one weakness!
Well… that and mittens.
And bullets.
And wooden stakes to the heart.
Semper Fi!
Or for Yorp, Semper Fido!
Lol. But dogs are famous for a certain kind of fidelity. More loyalty than monogamy, but still. Semper Fido, indeed. : )
Just finished reading “Semper Mars”- a story about Marines, ON MARS! Technically the first Space Marines, in a way.
It was funny, though, because it was set in, like, 2076, but written in 1996- it knew about the Internet, and understood how important it was going to be, but a 1 gig storage device was super-valuable, Usenet is the biggest site on the Web, and they’d half missed the prevalence of smart-phones- wrist-mounted computers were common, but didn’t come with their own screens, and touch-screens were around, but weren’t portable.
At least the year is more reasonable. All too many near-future sci fi tries to set things a handful of years in the future.
The safest bet is to get out actuarial tables, find out what age you are likely to die at, and set it a few years after that. Then, if you got it laughably wrong, at least you don’t have to put up with snickering questions like ‘so where is your air-car parked?’
Max Headroom. It’s set only 20 minutes into the future.
Many cyberpunk games fall victim to that. Cyberpunk 2020, for example. After reading the Chromebooks, I was thinking “Wait a minute. So they have technology so advanced that they have full-body replacement cyborgs… but cell phones are still the size of bricks?”
Also, laptops have about 6 megs of RAM and a 30 megabyte hard drive. The one place it has real-world laptops beat is that the battery lasts 12 hours on a full charge. It’s obvious that Mike Pondsmith (or, more likely, one of the contributing writers) seriously underestimated Moore’s Law.
On the other hand, in most cases they neatly averted the problem by defining a computer’s speed with a dice mod (e.g. Speed +1) and its storage in “Memory Units (MU)”, without actually defining what an MU was equivalent to. Didn’t early editions of Shadowrun also have a similar problem (of seriously underestimating how fast computer technology would advance)? I don’t remember.
Also averted in later editions… Pondsmith’s next version of Cyberpunk will be set in 2077, and the current edition of Shadowrun is set in 2078. They seem to have pretty reasonable expectations for what consumer electronics will be capable of doing.
Sam was awesome in that. : )
One of my favorite science fiction series, Brian Daley’s “Floyt and Fitzhugh” books, accurately predicted the modern smartphone back in 1985.
The problem there was that the novels were set a thousand years in the future. :D
Harry Harrison was the best. I remember reading some of his stuff and, over the years, mentally checking off each item, as they came to fruition. Some have still not been mind. But I see that they are actually not far from the shop floor.
Arthur C. Clarke was the more famous, but his stuff was mostly up in space. Whereas Harrison’s I can see in the high street.
Yes. This.
Unless you’re trying to make her say horrible or something that sounds like porridge.
Whoops, fixed that too.
And, hey! I see that Peggy just made Captain.
Depends on if she’s Army, Air Force, Marines, or if she’s Navy. In the first three services yes she would be a Captain. But in the Navy she would be a Lieutenant. Navy Captain rank would be Full Colonel in the other services.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that captain is not only a rank, but also the common term to refer to the person in charge of the boat?
Army captain = Navy commander, I believe.
Or it could actualy be: Army Captain = Navy Lieutenant
Okay, fine. Navy ranks always confuse me, with their Jigs and their Petty Officers. So weird. ; )
Army Captain = O-3.
ship (unless it’s a submarine)
What for a sub, then?
Submarines are traditionally referred to as “boats”. Yes, even the frackin’ BIG nuclear jobs.
Reason being that the early subs were tiny and with VERY limited range / endurance.
I’m still learning. Thanks! : )
You need to zoom in closer. Peggy has two gold bars, not two silver bars. You can see them much more easily on the previous page.
There is no corresponding rank insignia (that I could find, anyhow) in any service.
Correct. They should be silver, if she’s a captain. There should be only one, silver, if she’s a lieutenant.
Single gold bar for Army 2nd Lt. (O-1) Single silver bar for Army 1st Lt. (O-2) Double silver bar for Army Cpt. (O-3) Gold Leaf Cluster for Army Major (O-4), Silver Leaf Cluster for Army Lt. Col. (O-5), Silver Eagle for Army Col. (O-6) Silver Stars for Army Generals: Brig. 1 star; Major 2 stars, Lt. 3 stars, Gen. 4 stars (Be My Little General); General of the Army is 5 silver stars in a pentagram.
Side stepping the most likely reason; Artist mistake,Lets take this one into No-Prize land.
it is possible that Archon insignia is attempting to be even more unique. (Which should just ruffle the feathers of the rest of the DoD even more than the mere introduction of a new Branch of service)
But i can see how a golden version of the O-3 insignia works out. As a rule US insignia are silver. A gold insignia denotes a Junior grade of the silver rank.
It is great for denoteing who is in charge.
And implies that technically some random Archon Captain that can issue orders to any LT or less as a matter of course.
However whenever a Captain/LT with the silver version is present, said person would be deemed “In Charge” and could countermand anything an Archon representative had to say.
Which falls nicely into how Archon is expected to be deployed. If it specifically falls into Archons’ area of responsibility (Emergency & Disaster Relief. whether man made or natural) Then Archons rep is in charge of whatever forces are available to them to command.
(think Captain America to the NYPD and National Guard during the battle of new york. Though in truth Cap is a special case because he is in fact a Captain in the US Army with enough time in grade to Outrank any captain ever. He still gets to Yes sir, No Sir! any Major that comes along.)
Outside of that particular Mission, Archon personnel are outranked by similar ranked personnel when they come across them.
so “Captain Peggy” can tell any line unit’s commander what to do to best help out when vehemence is starting a riot somewhere. But when its just your normal day in the sandbox that situation is reversed.
Brevet Captain was a rank, sort of. Archon could adopt a new rank, one supposes, between First Lieutenant and Captain. Maybe they need a lot of junior officer ranks, compared to other services. I do like the idea of Brevet Captain for Peggy.
Like something we constantly had to tell a Second Lt who was an amateur radio operator in his spare time, when he would try to change the Comm plan if the highest ranked person there was only a corporal. “Sir, please do not confuse your rank with my responsibility”.
you speak of the option a mechanic has to as a E-2 tell a O-1 unbolt those side plates on this track and expect compliance (not that the O-1 would listen or even be there to do his job on his track because he “is above such tasks” and “to busy”). or an enlisted cook can kick a general out of the D-fac for misbehavior or disrespect to people working.
This was a very common thing in WW2. The US Army had to mechanize itself. And had to do so in a hurry. Lots of planes (supply) trains and automobiles meant that the keeping the motor pool running was just as important as anything else at getting the mission done. Between this and wireless portable field radios (the training for repair maintenance and operation thereof required the moderm equivalent of an IT Professional)
This gave rise to the “technical” designation for NCO’s. Rank sufficient to do their job, but ready to be ignored when the shit hits the fan and everyone (everyone, sir? EVERYONE!) had to drop whatever they were doing, grab a rife and hope you remembered your basic training.
Thus a Corporal in charge of a fire team can and would tell the technical SSgt (who at this point has spent the war fixing radios and hasnt fired a shot since basic to shut the fuck up, get in that crater and keep your eyes on your sector..
Guess that’s why the Corps doesn’t have technical ranks, every Marine is a rifleman (or riflewoman Maxima) before anything else. Im interested in seeing how Arc develops into there own branch over the new few years (weeks, in comic time). I seem a hodgepodge of things being taken from the different branches and being made there own.
Something the senior service (the Navy) has seen happening time and time again. Methods are usually optimised for the role and capabilities of the new service. For the various trappings though, such as uniforms, codes of conduct, ceremonies, and so on, are probably wisest to draw upon existing sources.
Partly from practicality (people are familiar with them, so they do not seem odd). But, also, because you can draw in a lot of heritage and pride with it. Allowing members of the new branch to tap into the feelings of brotherhood and history. Giving them a sense of purpose, to help them in forging their own.
And, unless one particular service has a stronger useful legacy to associate with the new one, then picking and choosing which to have from the existing services, allows the process to be customised to the exact feel that works best for the new branch.
Baggy one-size-fits-all uniforms not snappy enough for fly-boys? Skip that one. Burial at sea or horse-drawn-procession? Mmm, well better options than going for sky burials? Picking such wisely, allows a suitable tone to be carried. Without the need for trial-and-error, as would be necessary for something invented from scratch.
Dangit, I thought LT was 2 gold bars. I don’t know why I didn’t think to confirm that. I’ll have to add it to the fix list.
Brass bar – 2nd Lt.
Silver bar – 1st Lt.
two bars – Capt.
OR
you can use this to explain just how bad ass peggy really is.
A super sniper in that made captain in whatever special force that she served in. I imagine the only reason Archon got her was because of the missing leg.
I imagine her transfer was equally due (do,dew,doo,deux) to her exceptional skill and her friendship with Maxima. When Maxima was given the command she would want to bring along at least one known, trusted, skilled officer.
Plus the person who has dealt with Sydney before and made her speechless on a few occasionsl.
I suspect that Peggy actually is a very-minor super… her power being that if she aims a rifle at something in range and pulls the trigger, she hits it, period, end of discussion. An F5 tornado simply obscures the target a bit, but if she can see it well enough to aim, she can shoot through the tornado. No other application for the power. No versatility. Absolute reliability.
Army, Air Force and Marines all use the same officer rank. Navy uses the same insignia as the other services, but with different names. Oh, and for the dress uniforms, they wear stripes on the sleeve. For the first three, in ascending order are 2nd Lieutenant, one gold bar. 1st Lieutenant, one silver bar. Captain, two silver bars linked at the top and bottom. Major, a good oak leaf. Lieutenant Colonel, a silver oak leaf. Colonel, an eagle with its wings spread. Brigadier General, one silver star. Major General, two stars. Lieutenant General, three stars. General, four stars. In general address, both 2nd and 1st
Lieutenants are called “Lieutenant” and Lieutenant Colonels are called “Colonel”. When referring to a Colonel, troops will often specify that they are a “full bird colonel.” As in, “Did Maxima make Full Bird Colonel yet?” And I know rank shouldn’t be capitalized without a proper name. It was to make a point, darn it.
Oh, and for combat uniforms, insignia is muted. Silver insignia are matte black and gold insignia are matte brown.
Whoever came up with the levels of general knew what a lieutenant and major were, and their relative ranking. So why does a lieutenant general outrank a major general? It sounds to me like the very model of a modern major fubar.
Quirks of history and a desire to hang onto tradition.
Lieutenant is also a generic term for a second-in-command (or at least second banana, for the various state lieutenant-governors). Basically someone who acts in lieu of someone else, hence the name.
A lieutenant-general was originally a lieutenant (in the sense of a second-in-command) to a full general, so he got that word added to his general rank and ranked immediately after “general” in the pecking order.
Major-general is (according to wikipedia) a shortening of “Sergeant-Major-General,” which some medieval or early modern genius decided would be a good name for the next rank.
Or at least that’s the short version.
And now you know…
In hindsight, the word “deputy” may have been a better choice than “second-in-command.”
Plus the deputy doesnt get shot. Only the sheriff does.
But, the eternal question, is by whom?
The guy in the black hat, of course!
Don’t feel too bad on this mistake. You did tell the 7 of us who showed up that you did your best going back and fixing all of the mistakes with the rank badges alone.
+1
Doing that was very cool. Thanks, DaveB. : )
I did a quick search and found this link with a comparison or the various branches.
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/images/rank_officer.gif
I had no idea that there were 5 different flavors of admirals. That is only one less than quarks.
Don’t feel bad. CNN broke the story that Cap’n Crunch is really wearing a Commodore’s uniform.
https://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/20/a-cereal-imposter-is-capn-crunch-really-a-captain/
There is no evidence that any of the musical group the Commodores actually served in the Navy.
Colonel Sanders did actually have a service record, but did not officially earn his assumed rank.
Sorry, make that ‘commander’ not commodore.
P.S. The estate of Count Chocula has refused comment on whether he had legal right to the title.
You’ll no doubt be shocked to learn that Colonel Abrams is not a colonel *, and Captain Sensible holds no actual rank.
* it’s his real given name(!)
Major Payne earned his rank through sheer attitude.
then they wanted to muster him out because he had already killed all the bad guys and they didn’t need him anymore. Major Payne one of my all time favorite movies.
But how about Captain Obvious?
Up, Down, Left, Right, B , and A.
Wait what?
I think that was a comment about the quarks.
Yeah because they’re up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom, and I wanted to do a Konami code thing….
That would be up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start
Assuming I’m remembering correctly.
I dunno, the ladies of today sure have embraced new fangled things, rather than embracing the old ways. Whatever happened to ‘drop one, purl one, stitch one’?
;-)
I’m so confused at this entire particular thread, still.
That is a good thing. It shows you did not have a misspent youth, playing on consoles and using cheat codes for them. The other tangents were for quantum physics and knitting. So I would expect there to be more than a few folks who had difficulty following it.
Let alone how it got to consoles in the first place. The only link I can see being Comodore —> Comodore 64 (computer) —> Console controller.
Shucks. I pointed this out on last Thursday’s page, but I was kind of hoping Peggy had gotten a promotion due to some conspicuous sharpshooting from the previous evening. The buzz being, don’t mess with Archon, They’ll shoot your eye out.
(Anyway, Dave, when you get around to fixing stuff, https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1751 last panel needs adjustment on Peggy’s collar as well).
So there’s a ‘Golden Hour’ for inner ear injuries even for Psyonic Healing?
A day or two later is too late?
I guess in this universe it isn’t like magic.
Depends exactly on Super Docs’ abilities: if it is just enhanced assisted healing (as in, she is only able to speed up the patients’ natural healing) then yes, there is a limit before an injury becomes the new ‘normal’, and in Jiggs’ case, 95% hearing is it
Somewhere it was specified to simply be accelerated natural healing. Whilst this would still allow for some injuries to be healed which would not in real life (where deterioration, infection or other side effects cause them to worsen faster than they are repaired), it still has a finite limit on what she can cure.
It is correct to say that Super Doc’s power is not magical healing. But not to say that such does not exist in the universe. Other supers may well be very good healers. Some of which may even work in America But, if so, presumably, they preferred life in the private sector.
Almost certainly pays better, for one thing.
Makes sense, or else Peggy wouldn’t be quite as peggy anymore.
In other words, if you’re dead, you’re dead, Jim.
“Ah-ten-SHUN!” Where you drag out the middle syllable, and emphasize the last word. That is the proper Army way to do it. Of course, it IS Harem adding to the tension by calling the room to attention.
Yeah, and, like when people just say ‘The hell?’, Harem is leaving off the first part
Again, just like with ‘Make due’, it could be a regional thing or simply a Harem thing
Stop saying that, it’s not true.
Lol.
Interesting because in the British army the way to do it is you start with the group you are addressing (squad, company, parade, in this case “room”) then the order. So for this it would be “roooom-shun!”.
you mean “room/ group A-ten chun” right?
For calling a general room/area to attention, you use just the word. If you are in a area with a specific unit only, or just want a specific unit to come to attention, then you would preface with that unit, and you might even get more specific, such as “1st Platoon, A Company, Attention!”
As the highest (read “only”) ranking member in the room it would be Harems’ duty to call the room to attention at the entrance of the unit commander. She actually did good.
From my brief period sort-of-in the Air Force (AFROTC in college, freshman and sophomore years only), it would be the responsibility of the first person to spot the approaching officer to alert everyone in the room in a manner appropriate to how close said officer is at that moment. Down the hall and clearly heading for the room: “Officer approaching!” In the doorway: “Room ten-HUT!”
If the major has his back to the door when the colonel opens it, the airman who sees the colonel’s insignia calls the major to attention.
(Of course, all this is only if the approaching officer is higher rank than the highest-rank officer in the room. Although I’m not sure how it works in, for example, a class being taught by a sergeant with some officers among the students, when another officer approaches who outranks the instructor but not all of the students.)
Too bad about Jiggies hearing. Maybe they should take Varia down to the Doc’s and see if they can extend her healing abilities a bit.
95% isn’t bad, and some people lose the upper range naturally, usually through getting older
Sure its not the end of the world. But if Varia could help make it better… why not? If this is the type of career where, if you live, you take little hits like this as you go it would be nice to hang on to what you can if possible for the next time that part takes a hit.
And if Varia can extend the doctors abilities into unnatural type healing now’s a good time to experiment before somebody looses a toe or something…
Good suggestion.
….. Except that it is already established that Varia’s “copying” of other people’s abilities does not make for a superior power, simply one that is “different”.
So having her do something like what you suggest may not necessarily be any improvement on what the Doc would do, and there is a very distinct chance that something bad could result instead. Not something to be tried without VERY careful experimentation first, certainly.
Yea, animal testing and so on, would be necessary before risking an inured person. And it is worth bearing in mind that Heatwave gives Varia cold abilities. So it is not necessarily going to remain a beneficial power. It could manifest as the ability to inflict wounds, or infections, on others, which bleed at an unnaturally fast rate or purify in minutes.
However it is worth finding that out sooner rather than later. A variant beneficial healing power may well be able to cure things that the super doc cannot.
Mmm, something springs to mind at this point. Varia has two flavours of her power.
Variant A: Manifesting a new power, that whilst having some tenuous link, might be very different in function and usage.
Variant B: Removing the limitations of the partner’s ability, in such a way that it allows them to make their combined power more effective.
Possibly Varia working with Doc can eliminate the slow recovery (Sydney needing to wear her eye patch for a few hours, as an example), and allow for instant recovery! Such would still be limited to what could be done with natural healing. But there would be no hanging around for it to work.
On the other hand, if thinking worst possible case, it COULD be that, instead of Doc’s sped-up healing abilit, Varia causes cancer. After all, on a very fundamental level, cancer is what youget when the reproduction of certain cells goes whacko.
As you say, though, the possibility of Varia extending the Doc’s powers is well wotrth exploring.
Since Varia’s new variant power can’t directly affect the original they can just clear it of everybody but her, the Doc, and whatever they have for lab rats.
it would be funny if the DI is a Marine because the first time they call cadence Sydney would be like what the heck did they just say.
Things I’ve learned today:
Dave is married.
He has the same phone I do, and thinks the camera in it is crappy. I wonder if he’s played with the features.
There’s a difference between “ten-hut” and “attention.” And I’ll never be caught dead engaging in either.
Sticking one’s chest out is, apparently, a thing to do on dates.
Now, I’m trying to remember, but didn’t Archon ask Sydney to join them? Man, if I were Sydney, well, I certainly wouldn’t have joined, but even if I did I would only have done so as an independent contract, thus avoiding such formalities as stances and salutes.
(Heh, I’d love to have that moment like in Dr. Who where I can tell some hyper soldier not to salute me, and my companion can be all, “You can salute me! ♡”)
(Note to self: “Hyper Soldier” sounds likea cool name for a hero/villain.)
I thought she had to join as a new recruit because she isn’t experienced with her powers and needs training, compared to Dabbler who already knows her stuff in and out before joining Archon and so has leverage to act independently.
sydney not join an elite super group? yeah right thats her dream come true
I’ve done super hero teams. It’s a terrible idea, and nothing could get me to do it again without HUGE amounts of cash incentives. Also a leadership position.
Ahh, that would explain the rumours.
It’s well known that collaborations don’t work.
Thing is with the military that, no matter how sweetly they ask, it does not make much difference once you have put your mark down on the paper. Accept the sovereign’s coin and your ass is theirs to do with as they want.
The unit does have civilian specialists on it, such as Dabbler. Who do indeed have a lot more lassitude in their behaviour. But that option was not offered to Sydney. And she is keen enough to be a soldier, that she did not explore the alternatives. I think it will do her good. Even though it will be challenging for all involved.
Agreed to everything. That’s why I’ll never join the military. I don’t really see the benefit of becoming the property of someone else.
But this would definitely be a positive experience for Sydney. She really needs to learn more discipline and self-control, for everyone’s sake.
But if you’re accepted, you can tell the ladies that you’re “Government Inspected Prime Beef”…
Honestly though, I’ve personally never worked up enough guts to say that to the ladies. I’ve seen too many others get their faces slapped for it.
As an officer, in uniform, especially full dress, you wouldn’t have to. People will throw their daughters and nieces at you. I’ve had many a quiet dining experience interrupted by some nice middle-aged couple wanting to chat me up, and, once finding out that I was an officer, inviting me around to meet their daughter or niece. Seriously! This happens! I had thought it was just a Hollywood thing. And it doesn’t matter where you are, American Mid-West, South, East & West Coast, Great Britain, Middle East, Central or South America; a military officer is prime eligible bachelor material. It can get truly awkward if the daughter or niece is present, as she either resents the idea, or whole-heartedly engages in it. And all I wanted was a nice steak, baked potato with fixins, and piece of pie before I got sent off to get shot at, again.
Oh, and you throw “Minnesota Nice” on top of that, and there is little chance of escape.
The only thing more powerfully attractive than that, would be a Brit officer, with full cultured accent. Especially to American dames.
I see your bid, raise you the same, but include “doctor” in the job description.
Nod.
Thing is, I think asking Syd was more of a formality. Max has made it pretty clear that you’re either with ARCHON or you’re with the terror— I mean, you’re one of the bad guys.
Dabs being a civilian contractor is dubious at best, considering that unlike Syd, she isn’t a United States citizen, and can probably piss off back to whatever dimension she wants to whenever she gets bored being in ARCHON, or Max gets too bossy.
So Syd having a say in whether she joined or not, and being put through all the military rigamarole, is kind of a false choice. It was be drafted, or be locked up.
Nope, she could have gone her merry way provided she didn’t use the orbs for anything illegal.
from Grrl Power #145 – Let’s talk numbers
“You get a badge, or you get a 10×10 cot and a pot.”
That for using your powers for anything. Sure, if you have powers, don’t use them, you’re good. Use them, you get registered, you get drafted, or you get locked up for the crime of using powers.
Actually, it was made clear they can use their powers for anything unless it’s an illegal act or vigilante behavior (which is also an illegal act, but was specifically singled out, because superheroes.)
Basically, if you want to use your powers to fight crime, you have to join ARCHON. If you want to use them build high-rise office buildings in record time, just make sure you get your contractor’s license first.
+1
I sit corrected. Point of order withdrawn.
Me and my old Champions group had a setting where we went over all the real-world implications of super-powers (at least, all we could think of). One was super-powers in the workplace. That person using their powers to build high-rises, for example. Someone with super-strength? No problem. They fall under the same category as normal workers. Someone that can control magnetism to assemble girders and beams? Now you’re getting into trouble. Does it violate safety codes? Is he considered a construction worker or crane operator? Can the company be insured for that kind of work?
The worst, hands-down worst, is healers. At best they get nailed for practicing “medicine” without a license. At worst they get arrested for using unregulated medical procedures to sure the sick and injured.
“How does it work?”
“I touch them, and the wounds heal.”
“What about infection? Internal injuries? What about brain trauma? Are there any side effects?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Yeah, you’ll have to come with us.”
So I totally understand regulation and registration of people with powers, vigilante or otherwise. I’m glad I was wrong about the Meta-Draft though.
Which begs the question…do healing supers require approval from the FDA, or just a medical degree? Or are they just considered “generally recognized as safe?”
I like the snap sound effect to show Varia has had basic training already and jumped to position when the order was called.
Sydney trying and failing is cute and realistic as, well you had to get trained to stand correctly. (Movies generally don’t care so it is all incredibly inconsistent and generally sloppy.)
And while I do not know about all units. Mine had a general order that we only called our area to attention if a full bird colonel or higher grade entered. (Air Force shop had a lot of officers coming and going. So going to attention for every Lt. would mean nothing got done.) Also you don’t go to attention or salute if out of uniform. (Unless they earned a medal of honour but that is getting technical.)
In summary, I love how this page works.
Oh and anyone who has worked as a drill instructor apparently can hear an ant fart a mile away and know which ant it was.
Reminds me of a story told to me by one of my uncles who served a total of 20 years in three different services… Army, Air Force, and Navy, not in that order, though this story was from his time in the Army. His drill sergeant was looking for someone to fill the role of scout, and he interviewed my uncle. It went something like this:
DI: “Do you see that tower over there?” (points at a tower about a mile away)
Uncle: “Yes sir.”
DI: “Do you see that bird on that tower?”
Uncle: “No, sir, but I can hear it chirping.”
He got the job.
I just love that bit about the medal of honour. Quirky military traditions I like, anyhow. Just because they are interesting and add character. But that particular one is offering extra respect, where respect is due. Thanks for mentioning it.
You also also generally don’t salute without a “cover” (a hat) on, so more often than not, you don’t salute in doors, since hats come off the moment you cross the threshold. There are exceptions, such as when you are reporting for duty.
Ten-Shun-Han!
…What, no one? C’mon, I don’t even think that highly of DBZ and I came up with it.
*pout*
Lots and lots of lovely expressions on this page :D
You did good DaveB :)
+1
Saluting in doors is only done if you are under arms. (Carrying a weapon, does Halo’s orbs count?) And I was going to say Salutes? Plural, but then realized yes there is a hand salute and a weapon salute. After boot camp I could count the number of times I had given a weapon salute on one hand (during eight years) but it is still a thing. And I would agree with Kaian to a degree. My CommO would general say something along the lines of Carry On, ill be here all day. This way we didn’t salute him every time he came back into yard. But it was rare that we had many other officers visit us, just a lot of staff NCOs. Each officer who came to visit usually wanted to be saluted, so its more what the unit wants in accordance with set protocol. Some are tight ast about it others more lax. (sorry my rant is long on this, once had to write an 1k word report on why we salute officers when I missed saluting a butterbar)
Middies on their Midshipman cruise are worse then butterbars when it comes to being anal about salutes.
We used to sucker the really eager butter bars into saluting us. All you have to do is make eye contact and dip a shoulder a bit. Once the butter snaps an eager salute, you just return it with a “Carry on” and a smile. The only time we were called on it, the butter was a WM, and she came back to make us render ” a proper salute”. When we told her that she was the only one to ever call us on it, she laughed and seemed pleased. “I’ll spread the word” she told us. With a slight smile, and a look. We stopped doing it, after that.
At the rate she’s going Harem is gonna need a shovel.
I guess that could work as a paddle.
I was referring to the hole she’s digging herself.
Ooooh, I thought you were referring to what she is always shoveling to get herself so far up it that she would have to use the shovel as a paddle.
Easy mistake to make. ^_^’
In case she’s up a creek?
*touches nose*
S**t creek is not a good place to be, with or without a paddle. Just sayin’.
Dat jacket in panel five.
Anyone familiar with the 1980s Sunbow cartoon series G.I.Joe? How would Maxima look dressed like the character of General Hawk-meaning the helmet and goggles..! :)
The wrestler Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus) was the inspiration for the same character in G.I. Joe. And surprising he had actually served as a Sgt. in the Marines.
And Captain America really IS a Captain in the military, it’s not just a heroic-sounding thing.
Same for Captain Atom in DC comics.
I’d be surprised though if Major Force was a Major, because that guy’s a psycho and I don’t see him outranking Captain Atom. Maybe his first name was Major.
Private Major Force.
Point of Interest: As soon as Varia released her hand to snap-to, the orbs returned to orbiting only Halo.
Speculation: Varia’s powah needs either contact or concentration to maintain.
Yup, it does very much support that supposition.
I also like how Sydney’s hand flopped out of position, without Varia pulling it up, as she was at the end of the previous comic. Clearly she has brought up the other hand, to compensate, whilst letting out her “Eep”.
All the more amusing, when you consider that she was still tensed up from fearing getting a whammy. So this sudden reaction was alarming!
Hurrah is generally Marine, but whatever. A new service gets to steal all the traditions.
A Lt. Colonel in civvies is off duty and doesn’t have the room called to attention – and they generally do it once a day for commanders to prevent it happening constantly and disrupting the mission. (Visitor/VIPs as needed.)
That all said when an Lt. walks in and someone does it anyway, they will STILL react. Sydney at least TRYING should have Max doing cartwheels in her brain.
It hits me that if Harems “audit” doesn’t take, the next on has TWO of her to “help her focus” – then three, etc.
Heh. One way to make her pay attention. Have all her eyes and ears in the same room.
Now I wonder whether anybody noticed that about the orbs at all, given that the orbs returned to Sydney on broken contact.
Yup, Greyman even mentioned it. Personally I had been expecting that, since last week.
I am also imagining steam coming out of some readers’ ears, from the frustration of nobody in the room having noticed them orbiting both Varia and Halo.
No (or yes *), I meant whether one of the characters in-comic noticed it before getting distracted by Max’ entrance.
*: So you I take it that you take it that none of the people in the room caught it. That would be a pity…
…
…
…
Aaaarrrghhh!!!
If they had noticed it, they surely would have mentioned it, yup.
But do not despair, the comic has featured delayed realisation before. Although this time Sydney was not looking in the right direction. So if somebody twigs the fact late, I do not expect it to be her.
What Sydney might do is consider it a possibility, to be eliminated, just from informed speculation. Just like me, she will probably reason that the orbs were interfering with Varia’s “clue” gaining ability. And once you are thinking along those lines it is not a big jump to realise that Harem’s gestalt ability does not match the pattern of the other gestalts. But that orb commanding would.
Mind you Varia herself will probably want to try it again. So it can be re-introduced easily, whenever Dave has made enough cups of tea, and no longer needs his human kettles.
I still don’t get how to quote, so:
> And once you are thinking along those lines it is not a big jump to realise that Harem’s gestalt ability does not match the pattern of the other gestalts. But that orb commanding would.
Uh. You lost me at this point. Sorry, I don’t understand what you are saying, at all. (This doesn’t happen often, so congrats :^) )
Doing the fancy quotes is not necessary, by any means. I just do it because it can break up what might otherwise be a long post. Sometimes because it looks cool. But if you want to, anytime, the format is as follows:
<blockquote>”Text_you_want_to_quote”</blockquote>
Re. your latter point. Every example power that Varia has gained gives her a new self-contained power. Be that icy body and powers or a crackling lightning version or a metallic body.
Except for her gestalt with Harem. That, instead, in effect, changes Harem’s power so that she can take Varia along. Ok, in practice, it can be working the same way. It can be viewed as giving Varia the ability to share Harem’s teleport.
But, either way, it does still intrinsically mean that Varia only gets to use that gestalt power as and when Harem chooses to activate her power.
Thus Varia’s power comes in two flavours. The ability to grant herself a power, and the ability to remove a restriction on somebody else’s power.
If using the latter logic on the orbs, then the two orb limit jumps out as being a possible application for the latter flavour. But it does require a train of thought that might be pointing in that direction. These things can be obvious in hindsight, but need a clue, and/or the right mindset, if never encountered before.
Many Thanks, twice :)
Understood, now…
“it can be working the same way. It can be viewed as giving Varia the ability to share Harem’s teleport.” – that’s how I perceived it. One could say it “extends” Harem’s power in a very specific (and restricted) way, or Varia gets the (again, very specific and restricted) ability to “link in” with a teleportation that Harem is about to do – but it does not give Varia the ability to do the teleportation alone & on her own.*
Same with Sydney, as I perceived it: It could be that Varia gets enough off of Sydney to control two more orbs, but it could also be that Varia just gets enough to make the orbs consider Varia’s body as an extension of Sydney’s body (thus the orbiting around both of them) and nothing more. And anything between these two extremes. The whole power copying demo/experiment was quite out-of-the-blue and non-scientific and thus leaves possibilities. We’ll get questions answered once Sydney wields an orb while Varia touches her. :)
* : Which might be a Kopy Kraut problem, as in, Varia simply does not know how to do a teleportation. But I doubt that, because going along with a Harem-controlled teleportation is very different from what Harem’s other bodies (can) do. Rather, I think, it’s a twist of Harem’s power. As such it seems quite fitting to (most of) Varia’s other “options”, because it requires & supports keeping up the contact.
My pleasure. I think all of your lines of thought are sound. We are very much at a wait and see stage now, I think.
First off this is NOT criticism, Dave, you research very well and I like GP too much for that. The following is just observation and discussion.
Being retired Army I’m having a difficult time reconciling ARC’s place in the Government. I’m sure most of your readers in the armed forces gave a little wince or raised eyebrow over this page. FYI, FM 3-21.5 covers “Drill and Ceremonies” (for the Army anyway), BUT I don’t see how it is entirely applicable to ARC supers. I mean “Weapons Drill” and “Manual of Arms”, really? Max’s “stances and salutes” got the ‘Spocks eyebrow arch’ from me. That would be under ‘Individual Drill’ and if anyone thinks even the basics are going to be learned in a day as well as remembered and done correctly is … Um mistaken. One would think that a simple movement as “about, FACE’ would be a snap, but in any training unit you’realwYs going to have those guys and gals with ‘two left feet’. Watch a bunch of ‘boots’ practicing ‘about, FACE’ in the barracks after hours and hilarity ensues.
I guess part of what I’m getting at is that I’m not sure how the entirety of military discipline and structure is going to apply to a bunch of ‘Supers’ who were essentially drafted. There is a reason why only about one percent of the population serve in the military which can mostly be summed up as compatibility with that kind of life style and giving up a great deal of one’s Constitutional Rights. Sydney I think is a prime example of this although Batman also comes to mind. I dunno, I just can’t see Bats and a whole other plethora of supers doing platoon level D&C including a lot of PG’s ARC recruits (draftees). They just don’t have the temperament for it.
Keep in mind, that while there is discipline, its far away from the snap and polish of formal military behavior. So giving Sydney a brief run down of how to stand and when is more to keep her from looking totally stupid like she did just now than to make a drill sergeant weep with pride in her sheer perfection. A simple, “Stand more or less like this when this happens, do this when an officer walks in” would be sufficient for now, and can be perfected later.
Its also possible that Peggy was just assigned to basically, well mentor is the best term I can think of, sydney on these basics. It might be an ongoing thing where she quietly whispers to sydney what she should do till she learns it all. You cant expect a lt cmdr to waste her time teaching a recruit these simple things after all. This training is more for super power training than for military decorum, so the early crap is being rushed through, (I dont think anyone will be measuring the gaps between hangars in her locker with a ruler) in order to get to the important stuff like, how NOT to blow up the innocent and yourself.
Having gone through 3 years of a Military Academy I agree to most of what you said. Not only are some folks less coordinated but (in my case) some are shorter or taller than the rest and must adjust their stride to match everyone else. But every group needs at least some form of discipline. I doubt very much marching will be any part of Sydney’s training. A cohesive team needs a well understood chain of command. Max is using the military one because that’s what she knows and it’s easy to teach to recruits especially the basics. Although she may never use a gun in combat knowing it’s capabilities will be important as she will probably face them. Much of the “military” I learned had other uses but he team-building part was something most people didn’t notice. It turns out to be Very important both in and out of the military. Most of the ex-military people who had great success in later life (Presidents, Corporation heads etc) did so because of this skill. Yes some of it is silly and seems useless but there is reason behind it.
It is interesting how traditions and expectations change with the times. The Spartans used to highly value dancing, and would encourage budding soldiers to learn that, before they even set foot on a parade ground! On the principle that if you can master a complex dance routine (with a partner or in a group, as opposed to solo), then holding your place in a formation is relatively simple in comparison.
Some of their advanced maneuvers were complex enough that they would draw heavily on their dance experience.
Sadly we could not have the same here. At least not without Girl Power After Dark starting up. Such dances were typically performed naked.
The early Greek Olympics were all performed naked…I kinda wish that was a tradition that they would’ve kept.
I was going to say that if they did that there’d be no way for us to know which country each athlete represents. Then I remembered body paint :D
I like it when girls get body-paint, which is so well done, that it can be mistaken for clothes. Then they can walk about in public, without offending prude folks. Whilst still being very… cheeky.
Yeah, I’ve seen (in pictures only that I’m aware of) some pretty amazing stuff done with body paint.
Way back then, only Greek citizens could participate in the Olympics. People from other countries were free to come & watch the Olympic Games, but they were limited to watching; needless to say, most of them expressed a high admiration of Greek physical fitness.
It would be more of a matter of identifying which city-state in particular had someone on the field…which was usually announced (loudly) before each event.
I could see some new versions of those popping up, though. Like supers with flight capability learning flying formations, or potentially thing like having a low-level of your power going when standing at attention during training/drills (if it’s possible to do that safely), so as to both allow everyone to easily identify your powers, and to encourage awareness of potential hazards- things like Heatwave’s aura, Sydney’s shield, having more than one Harem, stuff like that.
I could actually see a lot of that being pushed by Arianna, even- things like having 3 flying supers coming in in tight formation would be very photogenic, as would having displays of powers during ‘parade’ moments.
‘Although she may never use a gun in combat knowing it’s capabilities will be important as she will probably face them.”
As in, facing the wrong end of them being most likely. But yeah, even though Sydney is not likely to be using standard military weapons, she’ll still need to be familiar with them & what they’re capable of doing…Especially when it comes to protecting the innocent civilians who don’t have a shield like hers.
Speaking about protecting innocents, Sydney is also going to have to learn some basics about first aid, as an immediate response to treat catastrophic injury…At least until professional medical personnel arrives. In the Navy boot camp, we were taught about first aid for everything from simple & compound fractures, basic CPR, shrapnel still protruding out from eyeballs, and everyone’s personal favorite…Sucking chest wounds!
Yup, and she has even had some field experience in assisting. So the lesson will not seem arbitrary.
I’m former Air Force. We spawned from Army (and stole… KEPT many traditions) because a new type of warfare existed – flying. I have no problem believing supers would cause the same thing, especially when there aren’t many available. You can’t let one service keep them.
I also agree with above. The basics of Attention, Parade Rest, Present Arms can be taught in a day. Yes, it takes longer to get them RIGHT and they take something like all of Basic for marching (by actually marching everywhere).
Suspend some disbelief- they’re also letting her work her store half days. She’s Active Duty + Reserve with a specialty that’s LITERALLY less than one in a million because of its diversity. They WILL make allowances.
Very nicely put.
But given said specialty…”Present Arms” and “Parade Rest” are extremly unlikely to ever happen as they are used for presentation only (right?), and why bother about an “Attention” stance – all that is really needed is
– Know the ranks.
– and take your commanding… er… persons dead seriously. Which they are already not doing, we know this from the “make Maxima say” contest. (Sydney doesn’t know about it yet. Most likely.)
Having (these) supers do a parade would nearly guarantee hilarity, with all the mentioned diversity given. So it would be pointless to learn, except for a respect thing, or a punishment.
They are basics of discipline and snap-to-order obedience, which is extremely desirable in certain tactical situations.
Now see, I just don’t think a bunch of supers would be willing to fall into line for this sort of job. They’d have to have all been willing to joint he military in the first place, but the odds of military willing AND super powers just isn’t likely.
Especially Sydney doesn’t seem the type.
If you have a bunch of people powerful enough to throw tanks over a hill, yet are not willing to accept normal military discipline, then you have to doubt their commitment. Personally, if I were a civilian, in that world, and found out that Archon personnel baulked at such a basic requirement, then I would not be willing to trust them in any position of authority. Public trust is something that is fundamentally required for both police and army.
Not to mention that such practices are vital in instilling discipline, and a willingness to obey orders, in members of the armed forces. If they refuse that then they are a mob, not a military unit!
Mind you, I can easily see how you think the way you do. It stems from ‘if I had the power to do anything, then I would not put up with that’. And you would not be alone. The private sector, in their world, is full of supers who have the same attitude. Not to mention all the super villains.
But those who agree to be soldiers and police know what society, and their organisations, expect of them.
It’s a bit more than that. Even from what we’ve seen, the supers are supposed to be a minority. Yet, we’re seeing plenty enough to not only make enough villains to be an issue, but enough to form an army?
It’s also one thing to say “Sure, I’ll help you, do this, follow your orders, etc etc.” and another to be “I’ll do that AND stand at attention for you, salute you, and basically bow down to your every word.”
People don’t tend to do that in the private sector to that degree. There’s the “Yes boss” but military is a whole other beast.
There IS quite a bit of latitude when it comes to following orders. Part of the Military Oath of Office includes “to obey all lawfully issued orders from designated superiors.” If any higher rank orders you to commit what you KNOW to be a crime, then it’s NOT a lawful order & it MUST be disobeyed…Even though you’d get into a lot of trouble & can prove that the order was not lawful, you’d still be on top of the situation.
If they were the types to be willing to take orders in a military fashion, then the question would be, why didn’t they join the military to begin with.
To be fair, this is (so far) a really, really light version of military discipline. For actual military discipline, you have to go through a ~2 month training course, the first two weeks of which are just getting yelled at and running. Partly it’s tradition, and partly it’s to get you used to the idea of quickly understanding and following orders in a high-stress environment.
“Ten-hut” is for quick call of attention. If this were the Marines, the first to notice an officer would sing out “Officer on deck!” and the ranking non-com would give the call to attention. Not sure about the lesser services. When there is time, the proper delivery goes “Awwww tennn Hut!”
Quick tutorial…
All drill commands are made of a preparatory part and an action part. For example, the “Awww ten” is preparatory, and the “Hut!” is the action part. That way, everyone snaps to attention at the same time. If it’s anything too complicated for regular drill commands, the leader will say “When I give the word, I want you to blah blah blah.” And then “Redeeeee… Move!” Keeps everyone synchronized, like a unit instead of a mob. “Mobbing around” is frowned upon.
When soldiers are ready to form up, like after chow or whatever, the leader has to first tell them “Example unit, fall in!” Then call them to attention. This is important, because you can’t give others drill commands to anyone who isn’t at attention.
since I was in the Navy but got assigned TAD to Marine units a lot I always wondered what language DI’s were speaking when they called cadence. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying but I wasn’t dumb enough to ask. The worst one I dealt with was a Gunny who had just finished two rotations as a DI at Parris Island.
Lol. I don’t know what it is about those PI guys. I had one come in as a replacement for a DI who broke an ankle. He was just about unintelligible. He marched us up to building, went inside, and then popped out to bark something with maybe two syllables that ended with an “eee” sound. When we just stood there looking dumbfounded, he exploded. “I told you ‘At ease’, God damn it! &#$#@%”
Ah. Good times. ; )
LOL. Yeah Marines calling cadence is its own language.
I nearly pee’ed myself, laughing, the first time I was on a Marine Base. I had just been pulled out of Central America, and was waiting around for transport back to Benning, when a Marine platoon came marching by, and I distinctly heard the D.I. calling, “Knuckles! Feet! Knuckles! Feet!” as a cadence. Gotta love those D.I.’s!
You were a Corpsman? If so, thank you very much for your service. : )
thank you for saying corpsman and not the other name.
HUHlehhp
HUHlehhp
HUHlehhp rot lehp
*slaps motorfirebox on the back*
You all right there? Sounds like you are choking!
*very concerned look*
Actually, slapping someone on the back if they’re choking stands a good chanced of making the object stuck in their throat lodge in more deeply…Heimlich Maneuver is the correct method. Yes, I’ve had some formal training in that.
Yea, but if you are doing it as a gag, that could easily be misinterpreted. In various ways…
Strange. I did a first-aid course recently (1 year ago), and they instructed us in the back-slap, then (if that fails) the abdominal thrust.
Furthermore, the Wiki on the abdominal thrust notes a degree of controversy about Dr. Heimlich and his manoeuvre.
Lol. I can’t believe I remember all that so well. It’s been 35 years, almost 40 since boot camp.
motorfirebox is calling cadence…
Your left
your left
your left right left
To paraphrase Dr. McCoy: “It’s the ears, son. They hear everything!”
Two cents offered: Air Force regulations, which I do believe Maxima belongs/ed to, specifies the call as ‘Tench-Hut!’
People actually got chewed out for trying to turn it into an actual ‘Attention’ word in my basic flight.
Cool. Sounds like there is significant variability between the services. Ergo Dave is perfectly correct in allowing Archon to do likewise.
Also, I work on a flightline repairing aircraft and dealing with pilots, who are exclusively officers. Salute regulations are waived for anything below full Colonel, with the exception of our personal squadron commander being a LtCol, we do salute him if we see him.
And regardless of rank, nobody salutes on approach indoors. You call the room to attention until given an ‘at ease’ or ‘as you were’, generally. If you’re saluting indoors, it means you’re either getting an award, or stepping into the CO’s office, so either very good, or very bad.
Which says to me that the look, which must have been thrown in between the final two panels, must have very much said “step into my office”. Or at least “you are on probation Harem, consider this to be my office”. Judging by Harem’s response.
And we can see much of the look, still on Maxima’s face, in the final panel.
Only 1/5 of harem is in the room plenty of alibi too prank
Heh, Maxima is not exactly in uniform atm. I bet she decided that her presidential meeting was more than enough formality for one day.
Actually, she might be in civvies because she’s going to brief congressional leadership and doesn’t want to be too military-looking while she does.
Is “horray” the Arcswat’s “Hooah”(army) or “Oorah” (marines)? kind of weak if so, you want something strong for a combat group…
Not even a little bit.
In Panel 8, the horray Harem said was in response to receiving orders for what amounts to a “shit detail”
That sarcastic response was so far into “gripe” that it was deemed a disrespectful lack of discipline.
Maxima threw Harem a “Look” that reminded Corporal de’Shantis that not only is she still on the C.O.’s shit list (for lack of discipline no less) and that Lt. Colonel Leander just gave an Order that needed to be responded to in an appropriate manner.
Thus the second Hoorray Ma’am.
ah. That makes sense, but when she threw it out in the last panel, along with Max’s response I read it the other way.
So is this still one big flashback? If so when do we catch up to real time?
Sometime following Sydney’s promotion to Corporal.
In ‘several months time’. Given that is how far back the flashback went, when Sydney was doing the voice-over introducing it. And that started yesterday.
DaveB advised us that basic training will take up the majority of that, over the course of this book. Book one having ended at lights out after the big fight.
We will likely be in flashback mode for several years of real time yet. At which point the story will have caught up to the first pages. Which were set in 2011.
So no guarantees if it will ever come up to the present day. Unless Dave gets bored date-checking every cultural and technological reference he makes, to try and keep it consistent. In which case he might fast forward.
he’s already applied some present time references, last page with the Frozen reference, so I think Dave has already said bugger it with the dating
True. But that is easily rationalised in a world where you have supers involved. For instance their uniforms are made of something that we have not even developed yet, several years later. There are supers working in the private sector, who will be accelerating the pace of innovation in their world.
So Dave can be fairly relaxed about such things, unless he decides that the queries about the discrepancies become too much of a distraction.
I could just see a private sector super who can draw really REALLY fast doings cells for animation at Disney. They don’t invest in Pixar and do Princess flicks ahead of schedule. Monster’s Inc delayed until a thinker steps up to quadruple CPU cycles.
CGI behind the times by 10 years because heroes extended the lifetime of hand drawn and super stuntmen making monsters and CGI wire fu unnecessary. Then sudden leaps as the chip making thinkers are allowed to do non-military work.
“What do you mean there is a strike at the digital effects studio? Damn it. Well we shall just have to shoot those Apollo 13, explosion scenes on location, and use mechanical effects. Where is Super Hiro’s number?”
Extremely easy to imagine the ‘Fast & Furious’ folks getting highly enthused about finding stuntpeople who are basically indestructible and/or can fly and/or can make whatever car they are sitting in fly.
…. AND, as came up a long time ago, imagine the ‘Mythbusters’ team being able to have an extra-tough super for their stunts. If only for guest spots (I’m sure Arianna would LOVE that idea)
“OK, Achilles. Just clip on these sensors and go stand over there, right under that big crane, would you? Thanks, dude.”
At the very least, they could save a fortune in crash-test dummies.
He is so well suited for doing that, in all ways, that it would only surprise me if he had NOT appeared on it.
I can visualise that tonight Sydney is going to be standing in front of her mirror, practising her facial expressions.
And will be thinking of those boot camp movies which have the scene where the bayonet instructor says “now show me your killing face!”
“What makes the green grass grow?”
Blood, Blood, Bright Red Blood Drill SGT!!!