Grrl Power #473 – Exiguous couture
Icon is a suit of sentient armor “cursed to wander the Earth, forever in search of a hero” Or something like that. It’s not literally a curse, he just outlives his “pilots,” or at least outlasts his partners’ useful adventuring career.
Though he (I say he for simplicity even though Icon is obviously genderless) can benefit from The Veil and walk about in the mortal world (as long as he stays away from MRI machines) he’s fairly content to just stand around like an empty suit of armor when nothing is going on. Having no biological processes or urges, he is largely indifferent to the passage of time. Obviously the days of walking around in full plate and taking on the world is long past, so lately he busies himself with affairs of The Council and advocates for the interest of other Sapient Animates. Although he does occasionally resume adventuring with the Semper Vigilantis when the case is suitable.
I’ll make another mention of Wearing the Cape: Team-Ups & Crossovers. Sydney’s first Crossover! (It’s just one section of the book, but this is a canon story for Sydney and co., set just in the future of the events of the comic. If you haven’t read the Wearing the Cape, <- there’s a link to the first book. It’s one of my favorites. (Along with Confessions of a D-List Supervillain, the Renegade-X series, Kid Sensation, and others.)
I’ve made a dedicated blog post for the book, so enjoy! :)
This page colored by Keith.
Double res version will be posted over at Patreon, as soon as I get up. $1 and up, but feel free to contribute as much as you like :)
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.
SuperheroThey're super, thanks for asking!
Meatspace ComicSeriously these are awesome. Check 'em out!
Not UpdatingNo longer updating or only updates sporadically, but definitely worth reading.
SeriouslySeriously you guys. If you like Grrl Power the check these out.
"Mature"Mature subject matter and occasionally something explicit but usually safe. Can't guarantee the ads are safe though.
Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
Pfffhfhfhfhahaha!
My first thought was, “Oh come on, not the Chainmail Bikini trope! Dabbler’s way too smart for that!” Next panel: “Aha!” Thanks for being awesome, Dave. Sorry I doubted you. ^^
I’m…not too sure there’s much of a bikini at all… O_O
rofl. Bikini are overrated. Especially with succubi. Although, this Devi/succubi fusion thing is a little odd.
Don’t know why people have problems with the chainmail bikini anyway. No one complains when a male barbarian wades out of battle with barely a scratch wearing a ratty loincloth and the blood of his enemies, which is even MORE improbable and unrealistic.
Zack Tilly!!
It’s because the barbarian loincloth is usually done as a power fantasy, whereas the chain-mail bikini is sexual. Notice that the loincloth doesn’t tightly conform to the shape of Conan’s crotch, it’s just a hanging veil that makes the area nondescript.
Speak for yourself about the loincloth not being sexual
Copyright, you do understand that the vast majority of the most sexist bodice ripper romance novels are written by menopausal women, right? And that’s not even getting into crap like twilight where it essentially promotes abusive murderers as dreamy boyfriends.
Sounds crazy I know, but us women do as much or more to damage the social image and standing of women as men do. Personally, I go for the attitude and mentality of the women over their clothing. Take dabbler as a for instance. Is she not as much a female power fantasy as Maxima? Does her overt sexing it up make it less somehow? I don’t think so. If she were a bimbo, that’d be totally different, but as is, she’s essentially female conan with cool magitech toys.
Technically. I’ve sat in on author panels in the past at DragonCon. Some of the steamier chapters in novels written by women authors, were written by male authors at the request of the lady. Uncredited. Same goes with romance novels by males. Sometimes a chapter or two is written by an uncredited lady. Though in both situations they’re paid for it.
> Notice that the loincloth doesn’t tightly conform to the shape of Conan’s crotch
we seem to have very different tastes in literature
Well, primarily, wearing metal directly on your skin at some point becomes uncomfortable and unfeasible. Armored knights wear layers of padding under their suits of armor so that the plates don’t rub and cut their flesh up underneath it.
I’d compare the barbarian loincloth archetype more to the barbarian fur bikini (https://img10.deviantart.net/5e26/i/2015/124/b/3/ayla___chrono_trigger_by_ruby3ye5-d1ua36d.jpg ) than the chainmail. Neither the loincloth nor the fur are trying to be armor.
Chainmail, on the other hand, is. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/78/96/8e/78968e00d8babe34809ea792e0d662a1.jpg
Gah, where is my brainbleach?
I had my gremlins pilfer it, needed it to bleach the sheets of a few of my ghost assassins, the whiteness was starting to wear off due to all the blood
Huttj509 has it. The chainmail armor bikini combines the worst elements of both the chainmail and the bikini–it will chafe, pinch (especially when obviously worn without a lining because who the hell would do that?!?) and encumber (metal is still heavier than cloth, even when it’s just scraps of both), without granting a lick of protection. Conan’s loincloth is meant to symbolize a rejection of the trappings of mewling weaklings who rely on armor for their defense; chainmail bikinis are meant to show off cleavage. (Also, just a note–boobplate is arguably even worse–it literally channels arrows and sword-thrusts that might’ve otherwise hit a single lung directly into the heart.)
The obligatory video link that is required to accompany all internet discussions on the impracticality of bikini armor.
TIny rings of metal. Sensitive bits. Imagine that you are fighting in it (without padding, mind you) in a place that is VERY COLD. Getting all sweaty. (even though it is cold, you will sweat when fighting) Battle ends. You stop moving about so acrobatically and start cooling down. Ever seen someone lick metal in the winter? Imagine that, instead of using your tongue, you use your fiddly bits. RIIIIIIIPPPP! Doubly worse if its a guy wearing a chain bannana hammock. Now, burn that image into your skull every time you see a chainmail undergarment trying to pass as armor.
Though, I gotta say…despite removing the vast majority of coverage of vital areas, what she did leave covers some great deflection areas.
You people are completely more-ironic, and more than a little double-standardized: the only reason Sonja wore a bikini top was because of that bollocking “Comic Standards Authority”, and because otherwise she would end up with black eyes every time she fought
Have not personally seen a single piece of chain mail that did not have a built in leather backing, so there goes your idiocy over chafing and pinching (at least from her side)
Why is that no one regards the sweaty smelly loincloth as armour, but they do for the bikini? Because you have nothing better to do than point at her bewbies and snicker (which is the damn point!!!)
No one regards the loincloth as armor because it does not pretend to be. I don’t recall any media where a character wears a loincloth and expects it will protect him against swords, clubs, arrows or any other weaponry.
On the other hand there are plenty of media where a female character wears anatomically correct plate armor, or a version that has a cleavage window and/or bare midriff, and it is still treated as if she is completely protected as much as the fully suited up male companions.
We are talking about the chainmail bikini, not plate armour (boob window or not), and why the loincloth is an acceptable piece of clothing to wear into combat (not just be reduced to it by the end of combat) but a chainmail bikini is not
Personally don’t recall any media which claims either piece specifically as protective armour
I hereby declare Solusandra and this here Guesticus to be the two who actually understood my argument.
Copyright Theft is an SJW doorknob. Thank you.
Armour is for pussies.
It could potentially make sense with Brooke as well, not as armor, but underneath her normal clothes as a backup in case of accidental self-inflicted “clothing damage”.
Titanium, probably. Tungsten has twice its melting temperature, but it’s also four times as heavy.
I always figured they’d use a special carbon fiber weave into the uniforms.
hmm..no wonder Blizzard has such trouble with female plate armor. Dabbler must be one of their coders…..
Or she frequents their offices and the amnesia hammer is slipping
Actually it does gradually wear off, over time. Its purpose is to lessen the impact of the event, rather than doing a ‘MIB flashy thing’ to give permanent amnesia or alternate memory.
Not that I am a fan of even temporary amnesia, but it beats loosing the experience forever.
An immortal suit of sentient armour huh? That’s kind of awesome, but I have a feeling that we won’t be seeing much more of him.
Thanks to Dabbler, we’re not seeing much of him right now.
There was the comment I was looking for.
I would LOVE to see that second to last panel as a wallpaper. >.>!
THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i was just coming to the comments to suggest this…high res wallpaper, most definitely :3
Fourthed.
More like sixthed or seventhed actually, there were calls for it on a previous page too. :-D
If I had an income, I’d propose a Kickstarter for 36″x24″ posters of it.
… I ship it.
Its funny that’s a lot like my head cannon for any of my game characters having bikini armor, its still all there just runes or spells to make it look that way. if you get hit the area the area glitches and you see armor
So basically a hologram over the armor. I like it.
Personally, I always just assumed that skimpy armor worked like Bracers of Defense–enchanted eight ways to Sunday to cover the wearer with an invisible forcefield of protection. But when I imagine it, I think your way would look really cool in a movie or anime. I imagine the sword or axe or arrow or whatever bouncing off the armor, which then becomes visible (kinda translucent but obviously there) for a half-second or so with a series of concentric rings shooting out a couple of inches from the impact point (like when something bounces off a forcefield in a video game), then going back to invisible again.
Curse you! Now I want to create an animation or video clip of that mental image, and I don’t have the gear to do cool visual FX! XP
The internet can provide legal free software for most common needs. For instance I use Open Office, which is a perfectly fine alternative to Word, Excel and Access. There will be all the tools you need out there, if you genuinely want to give it a go. I am sure members of the community could even give tips on some good ones.
Wasn’t icon in one of the previous pages?
if i’m not mistaken he’s one of the council seats, and he was present when Sydney got introduced to the Council(with a blank Crest on his chestplate instead of the Succubi inspired one here)
#443 if you want the specific page, but he’s just a background character on that one.
You mean other than the last page when he said he would allow it?
Everyone seems to be going gaga over the 6th panel (the one with the chainmail bikini), but personally, I’m drooling over the one after that. That last panel might just be the most gorgeous that Dabbler’s ever looked!
Her face in panel six is also adorable, she looks so happy :D
Interesting >.> That last panel is probably my least liked visual of Dabbler to date.
That said, I don’t particularly like panel 6 either. My favorite here is 4 xD
I think Dabbler looks good on the whole page. But I still feel that she looks at her best here.
Now you people have me imagining what she’d look like in a live-action GrrlPower movie!
Hahaha, what an coincidence – DMFA had a strip concerning “non visible” armor today as well.. and to make matters … better … the armors were on succubi / incubi, too!
Today must be a ‘cubus fan awareness day, so many fans being serviced..
Heh, that is funny. As for fan service, that would be achieved by seeing Sydney visualising herself in such armour. Mostly to see her reactions to the thought mind. :-D
I think even Dabbler’s “after-glamour” look would be a bit too much clothing for Deja Thoris or Thuvia (the book versions, not the movie ones)
Heh, I commented about that below (your comment showed after I did my search) I think that’s why Dave did the comment about her usual style.
Worth to notice that it’s not Dejah or Thuvia’s style in particular but of all martians in general.
Weird that Icon doesn’t remember their previous adventures together. https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1145
Did she hammer him to do not left him ruined for other knights? https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1694
That was a very different looking suit of armor. I’m not going to list all the differences, but that was a one-piece, this is closer to a bikini.
Believe they were talking about the panel four version, before it got Dabblefied
Well, Dabbler do not use always the same glamour :)
Icon, both before and after the glamor, looks nothing like the armor worn in the flashback. Icon isn’t the only armor in existence, probably not even the only sentient armor.
Just curious, but what made you think that was Icon?
Simply making a funny
+1
Duende Sociopata is a master of straight-faced comedy. Who I am relieved to see still commenting. Clearly some nasty rehab clinic has insisted on a strictly limited comments quota.
Break free, I say! Throw of the shackles, restraining you from unlimited fun!
;P
“Just curious, but what made you think that was Icon?”
If you want to know what made me recall her armor, it was the colour scheme (white and gold) and the basic style (look for instance the foot protection here and at the central panel in the page I linked).
For those that only read the comics or saw the movies: in the orginal books Dejah Thoris’ wardrobe was entirely made out of air.
Actually the typical Barsommian wardrobe consisted of A cross chest harness, belt, shoes/boot, and what ever ornamentation their station provided.
Oh and weapons long sword, short sword, dagger ,pistol, and rifle for guys,
Normally short blade and pistol for the ladies, with some exceptions.
Maybe “wardrobe” was the wrong word? I meant it as their clothes: they use none.
What they do use, and you cited, are harness and the like, to carry weapons or tools, as well as ornaments. I don’t remember anything about shoes. They use boots and furs but only as protection while travelling the colder lands, not as “clothes” in our sense of the word, and nowhere else.
I believe you are required by law to refer to her as “the Incomparable Dejah Thoris”, or, in more formal occasions: “the Incomparably Beautiful Martian Princess, Dejah Thoris”.
“Don’t make this weird” says the suit of armour that just jumped onto a SUCCUBUS WITH A MORE-AVERAGE-THAN-MOST TWISTED SENSE OF HUMOR!? what did he/she/it think was going to happen? we’re lucky there wasn’t a joke about a kiss or a drink in there!
That will be later, with Icon saying something about Dabbler owing him dinner from the “Night we were together”
”The knight they were, together.”
Dabbler: “Funny…most guys want to get into my pants. You just forced me into yours!”
Icon: “……I SAID DON’T MAKE THIS WEIRD!”
Wait… Keith got to rub his brushes over this Dabbler? And he got paid for it?
Damn.
One of the artists, on Deviant Art made the comment “My life sucks”, as a caption under his beach photo-shoot, of twelve gorgeous nudes.
I actually had a pretty fun time with this…except damn Dabbler’s stripes, heh.
Whilst I can appreciate the technical difficulty they would pose, for me such things would be the highlight.
Regardless of that though kudos on a job enjoyably and well done!
Don’t kid yourself, it was weird the moment she considered stepping into the room and it will never stop being weird.
Unsurprisingly, one of my favourite pages so far. Surprisingly, not due to the fanservice.
*offers high four*
So what is it that does push it to the top of your list?
I love the icon Icon displayed when Dabbler was armored up!
And it’s still there in panel six
You appear to be right but my cell phone is Tiny enough that I didn’t see that tiny little thing
Didn’t notice it at first either, too many other things distracting about that panel >_>
“That’s what she said.”
“Don’t make this weird.” Even the completely genderless and sexless Icon is becoming uncomfortable. Dabbler’s one helluva woman.
comment on the glamour overtaking the visibility of the suit of armor – don’t worry folks, she STILL has Buns of Steel.
ah, yes, that one is the exit door? …..
Transmogs. What would we do without them?
Meanwhile, offscreen, one of the mannequins clears its throat. Another surreptitiously checks its watch!
Or they could just notice the odds against them and give up. It’s happened before.
But I doubt it.
Good luck America. Whichever way you vote.
I usually use a ballot.
It is going to be an interesting four years, regardless the outcome.
Who says it’s going to last that long? o_O
The results of the election are in. Here is a clip from the acceptance speech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp069Y_P-9M
Aye. We can only hope that the rhetoric does not find its way into implementing the more extreme policies. However I shan’t be holding my breath. History has shown us that it can go the other way, and further, like that clip foreshadows.
Mind you at least Putin is happy.
“Although [Icon] does occasionally resume adventuring with the Semper Vigilantis when the case is suitable.”
Heh, specilly when it’s suit-able, right? :)
Thank you and good knight everyone!
It will be alright on the night. Because the knight will be alright on her tonight.
Just let us know if there armor puns to follow.
Better vam-brace yourselves, lads and lasses. The baddies just threw down the gauntlet. Whatever the guard was, next time they better doublet. I promise that by this time tommorrow, someone is going to be greaves-ing.
…..yeah, I fail. Disappearing now. *poof*
Missing comma.
“I’m a succubus Icon.”
Should be:
“I’m a succubus, Icon.”
Yer probably right. But then again, she has become pretty iconic as a succubus!
Dabbler knows her puns well.
If I ever wed again, I’m going to have to remember to remark to my wife that I’m going shopping and would she like me to bring her back some exiguous couture (the more exiguous, the better).
Of course, I’m going to have to learn how to pronounce it first.
Please tell me I’m not the only one who noticed that Icon’s Sigil changed when he gomped Dabbler into something fitting her character?
Indeed you were not. Keneth being the first one to mention it, a mere four minutes after the comic was posted.
Have to admit the look is both appealing and practical, I like!
Speaking of that coat of arms, I’m going to assume – just for the sake of argument, you understand – that it wasn’t merely something Icon did because he knows what sort of person Dabbler is. Instead, I’m going to guess that he magically “reads” everyone who wears him and comes up with a suitable coat of arms for them.
My question then is what sort of coat of arms Sydney would have gotten had she been grabbed. Or Maxima. Or whoever. You get the idea!
For Sydney, I’m gonna guess a video game controller or a comic book being orbited by her orbs.
For Maxima, perhaps a golden fist?
Nah, for Sydney, it would be either something to do with killer peppers, or a string of swear characters (or both)
Arianna: The scales of justice. With bags of money on either side.
Heatwave: A flying phoenix, with one claw missing.
Harem: Five black shields.
Anvil: An anvil.
Achilles: A disco dancer, rampant. With a shiny disco ball overhead.
Peggy: A split shield. With one part having her sniper patch and another her pilot’s one.
Math: A cartoony wolf head, whistling and with his eyes bugging out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mon1FUXnGCo
Jiggawatt: A Flux Capacitor.
Max’s will be a pressure gauge with a broken case from over-pressure
Dabbler seems… off in this page, can’t tell if it’s because of how she’s drawn (there has been alot more emphasis on her lips in her true form lately, which I’m not a fan of) or that her dialogue sounds more like sydney if she were a succubus than Xuriels style of speech.
I am with you on the lips. Although, on this page, I am OK with them, as there is only the one panel showing them, and she has a sweet smile in that.
May I suggest that the visuals support the connection you are making with Sydney, in as much as Dabbler is looking cute and unsure? Even with her sexy look, in the penultimate panel, her knees are bending inwards, as if she were a shy schoolgirl.
Dabbler is also a wee bit shinier than normal, in the last couple of pages. Whilst that is not a criticism (and both pages come across very well), it does contribute to Dabbler’s ‘shiny bubbly schoolgirl’ image.
I agree, it’s as if recently the style on her face has shifted to a simpler anime drawing style, which also has the effect of making her look… not quite physically mature, but on an obviously mature body.
Compare that style here with this where Dabbler actually looks like a fully grown woman
Ha. The crest changed once Icon has fitted upon her.
Took me a moment to realize Icon’s faceplate wasn’t literally floating, but that it was representing that he was doing the talking.
Beats me. I did not get it at all, until I was corrected on the matter.
Allow me to tip my hat to you.
*doffs hat*
Never seen Dabbler so happy :D
“Don’t make this weird”
Well…the ship sailed on that dear sir when you decided to turn our regular succubus into an Autobot.
I was wondering: why stop mid fight for fashion. Then it hit me:
An illusion in combat armor could be useful: Picture, an illusion of a hole over your chest. The enemy, if aware of this, is going to think: “Idiot! Who wears armor and exposes their vitals?’ And will proceed to attack the point…
The enemy, constantly attacking one spot, will be far easier to defend against.
Or in a general melee, do you go after the invulnerable woman (Max), the girl in the impenetrable bubble (Halo), or the soft, un armored lady who entered into a sword fight?
Few things are more powerful in combat than deception, and deception is what illusions are.
Yup. Dabbler may be showboating, but there are tactics to go with it, as you say. Plus a big chunk of her powers rely on her appeal. Which would be badly hindered if she is concealed too much.
Can Dabbler using lust aura effect Icon?
Any physical manifestations of evidence of it working?
…Watch to see how his sword changes…
If Dabblers glamour can make two arms disappear, can she make herself invisible entirely?
Dabbler has been known to cast “Invisible Web” (a.k.a. “sticky air”) against Math, when sparring. So she does have the versatility to use invisibility effects over and above her racial abilities. Between the two she has the technical capability to turn invisible, I would say. With a suitably adapted version of one or the other.
Trouble is it would take some effort to develop that. Which might be more effort than Dabbler feels inclined to make. Especially as avoiding attention may not be something which appeals to Dabbler.
One of the adverts…
*points paw at sidebar*
… was for a new webcomic called Discord. It is good enough that it has gone into my ‘follow regularly’ folders.
I like the belt buckle… Pie over *cough*… this is a family page after all… but it’s still a good nerdy joke.
The buckle is the same ‘coat of arms’ she had on her fully-covered (boo!!!!!) chest
yes after capturing that frame and zooming in, it is the same as previously indicated.
I retract my statement, but add that from my natural zoom level for this page. It looks like the symbol for pie. and I have a naturally dirty mind to begin with.
LOL! I love the coat-of-arms. I just noticed it. ;)
I wish I had a real-life Icon right now. I could use a sapient set of armor.
I hope that it is just from justifiable nerd-desire, rather than something more ominous.
Personally I would opt for a real-life nerd girl like Sydney. Orbs not necessary.
Dabbler looks super cute in the second large panel.
I didnt notice that there is the Sex Symbol on the Armor when ist attached (?) to Dabbler. Is this Dabbler Icon? And I find “confused Dabbler” the cutes look…
Yes it is Dabbler’s symbol. Albeit that we do not know if it may be one she had previously earnt or if it is just Icon’s interpretation, based on what he knows of her. The other possibility, as he is clearly magical in nature, is that it is a magical power which creates the crest. In which case it may be Dabbler’s genuine crest, even if neither she nor Decolette told Icon that such existed!
I dunno, anybody who’s played World of Darkness, or read pretty much any urban fantasy stories, knows that there’s plenty of shenanigans to be party to, even if you’re just the supernatural police