Grrl Power #515 – Amazon delivery
When you have a team full of people that can do what they did to that poor tank, equipping the Osprey with rockets was probably a difficult line item expense to justify, but Max is all about diversity. Still, it doesn’t cost the team $400K when Max levels a secret evil layer or Heatwave melts Glacier Man, but it’s nice to have the option.
#MakeComics The rubble in panel 1 took so long to draw. There’s so many little rocks and bricks, and then the final step was to add a bunch of dust – cause when you smash a ton of concrete, there’s a lot of dust. :P I think I watched the entirety of City Slickers while working on that panel. Well I watched this spoof first, which is what prompted the desire to watch the movie. But I’m getting a lot better at drawing rubble, and that’s pretty cool.
The vote incentive has been updated! Comment here.
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Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
You gotta love kinetic entrances…
Anvil is all about giving a high energy performance.
Shock and awe in more ways than one.
i’d like to give HER a few kinetic entrances ifyaknowwhatimean
Given that she would absorb the kinetic force nulifing the attempt, I think you would be disappointed and embarrassed.
Indeed, even the super brawler only through punches like a baby, when they hit her.
Mind you Anvil does have control over her power, so can turn it off, should she be favourably disposed. Should she not, then they may suffer a lot more than just embarrassment, for such criminal behaviour. The nose boop of doom is not limited to just noses!
And that’s why we build our armor with handles….
KINEEEETIC ENTRY!!!!!!! *Might Guy strikes again*
A classic Warner Brothers moment. Dropping an Anvil on his head.
+1
Quick Krona, alter the Grand Canyon’s location property to “Next to abandoned Mars factory, New York”. That bad wobot needs to be dropped into it!
Anvil over the radio: “Be vewy vewy quiet, I’m hunting wobots.”
To make it official the golem needs to:
– look upward and see her falling
– hold up a sign with the word YIKES! on it
– open up a teeny little umbrella over his head and wave bye-bye at the readers
I would like to request a fan art or alternate drawing of O.B. Juan’s idea.
Seconded
I approve of this product and/or service.
Makes me think of a moment in the Dresden Files. “And for my next trick….ANVILS!”
+1
+2
+3
Evil… “layer”?
*snerk*
Spoken like a true visual artist.
The only evil layer I can think of is anchovies on a pizza.
What about this?
Good one. Took me a moment, also – a while back the Memory LN.
Speakin’ of layers, though…
Or Empress Leia Vader?
I can’t help but think Anvil is the absolute wrong person to send in here.
1. She has no resistances at all to lasers
2. This golem can (at least temporarily) copy powers from anyone who’s blood it can take.
3. Anvil is a Kinetic Absorber, meaning that if the golem gets her powers even for a short time it’s going to become exponentially more deadly.
I hope I’m wrong and this entrance will even things up. But I’m not terribly enthusiastic.
Yea, I’m wondering if Sydney told them about the laser spikes yet.
Possibly they are getting feed from her pip-boy, as we saw in the first battle.
Failing that though Halo had the roof brought out from underneath her, immediately after the construct them. Plus we had no hint from dialogue, or otherwise, that such had occurred. So I would guess not.
Anvil’s attack however does have a good chance of success, if Archon have identified a likely weak point (presumably where life-stealing sword, or equivalent, is located). Or just ripping it apart might expose it, for a follow-up attack. All dependant on her getting the first blow mind, so Halo’s teamwork will be vital.
If the construct does survive, or preempts the attack and lands the first blow itself, then Anvil is in deep doo doo. But she is an experienced combatant, so we should not write her off too fast. Anvil did demonstrate, in their casual bout, that she is capable of exploiting any weakness exposed by an otherwise theoretically superior opponent.
so “anvil” gonna fall on him… will e coyote would be proud
It’s at this point robo-venger goes “beep beep pluh-pluh-pluh-pluh-pluh!” and vanishes mere moments before the Mighty Anvil strikes…
Don’t worry, we have an entire faction of Wyle E. Cyote’s* relatives on the good guys’ side! And these do not suffer from scripting which dictates that ‘vermin should beat noble predators’.
* Genius by profession
you’re a genius by profession? wow! I’m only ever one by accident!
It will allow me to stay alive, if I can earn a living from my thinkings. Sadly I have focused my efforts far too much into altruistic and non-profitable endeavours. Which I shall have to turn around, and urgently. With Brexit, my easy-going, ultra-low-budget, lifestyle will have to come to an end!
Either I have to make money, from one or more of the concepts, I have developed over the years, in Bulgaria. Or I shall have to return to the rat race, in the UK. The latter though would have a high risk of having to sell my home here, to keep me going, whilst job hunting. I do not qualify for any state assistance, so have to be entirely self-supporting.
As I do not want to loose access to either my friends here or my doggy’s grave, I shall be doing my utmost to become warrant the classification of ‘professional’!
The genius part though… that I leave up to the coyote. I only rate as average to slightly above average, on that front.
Whatsup with Halo’s Shield!?!?!?!?
Whenever something touches the shield, the shield’s ‘grid’ becomes visible. It’s constantly being touched with all the debris on it, except where there is no rubble sitting on top of it, allowing her to see the robot clearly.
Shield is saying “Don’t worry, I’m working,” by highlighting how much force is pressing on it.
Aw man! The missiles did nothing… bether send in the the heavy stuff then.
Fire the amazon!
Oh no, that is not fair. Anvil may not have had much comic time, but she has done well. I think loosing her job would be most unjustified!
Next time use both at the same time. But Anvil needs a cowboy hat if she is going to ride a missile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snTaSJk0n_Y
I’ve been thinking. If they wanted Sydney to transport people couldn’t they make some kind of pod with air tanks for her to carry. I mean so far it doesn’t seem like her flight has a weight limit
Yes. Air tanks are less useful than carbon dioxide scrubbers mind. That is what will kill them, before the lack of oxygen. Sydney does already carry a mini rebreather, strapped on the back of her belt. But just to give her some extra time, by herself.
More important than the air supply though, is a comfortable couch, home entertainment system, mini bar and generator to supply the power. So they will need to have pretty heavy duty life support, to accomodate that too.
Yes we have talked about that before on these forums. We had many good ideas about how to build a Halomobile if I may say so myself.
Gwen thought of it first… https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/2150
I played a wizard on Everquest for a number of years, and being a guild taxi can be tedious.
Sydney, you need to do extreme taunting. Anvil has no defense against those laser-claws!
Crank your swearing up to twelve!
Don’t TELL her to do some extreme taunting! That will immediately distract her and she won’t be able to think of any good ones!
Maxima: “Halo, that blood golem terminator said that only wussy nerds reads comics!”
“Batman is overrated”…
Who would win in a fight, Lois Lane or Mary Jane Watson?
Mary Jane is a redhead, so automatic win…
And thus why Ireland rules the world… wait…
I think there may be something to it. Dark Willow could have destroyed the world, were it not for Xander convincing her to spare it. So, in her normal red-haired state, she would have the potential to be able to rule it. Were it not for that pesky turning dark and evil side effect, of wielding such power.
I suspect it also has some kind of inverse-ninja law at work. The solo redhead is the one with the guaranteed win, but not necessarily a group.
showing my age:
Do you know why God gave the Irish whiskey?
So they wouldn’t rule the world.
If it were on Pay-Per-View, we would be the winners.
Love the vote incentive. Sydney’s expression at her exposed state is priceless!
Rather concerned about the four disembodied eyes mind.
The eyes are propably just drawing references, like the two bodies on the right.
I suspect you’re just joshin’ about the floating eyes, but I’ll admit that I really love getting to see in-progress work like this, with small studies still laying around here and there, and some of the perspective lines not yet erased. I, personally, have the drawing ability of a dyspeptic ferret on low-quality crystal meth, but I’ve always been fascinated by the process artists go through.
Also: Sydney standing around in her skivvies like that really does a lot of ablative damage to my suspension of disbelief. I mean, yes, fan service, but it feels like watching Batman ride through Gotham on a camel, hooting and firing a pair of six-guns randomly into the air.
Re. your last paragraph, I am fine with it. Fan service, yes, as in it being what fans want to see. But not at the expense of the characters or setting. We have already seen that Arianna packs a lot of clout when it comes to ensuring that Archon is financially self-supporting, as much as possible. Likewise that the heroes get a cut of the generous merchandising.
But you cannot (ethically) endorse a product without even having tried it on. If they want to honestly promote a range of ‘sports bras suitable for super-heroes’ then they have to do their duty at some point. Whilst I picked up on Sydney’s facial expression, her very body language screams how much she is not happy about this.
Yet it is not the awkward shyness she has had before. So it both tells us that she is getting used to being around ‘the amazons’ and that she is not expecting photographs or anything else that will let the public see her like this. Similarly if you look at Maxima’s expression and body language. That is a soldier doing her job.
Not many soldiers are required to do underwear endorsement, but that is part of this unit’s modus operandi.
Hence why my belief remains buoyantly bobbing on the top of the Grrl Power oceans. Dave is very much remaining consistent in his writing, even with these vote incentives.
I guess this picture just looked posed, in a way that Syd brushing Pixel’s tail didn’t. Like this was a “day in the life” kind of photo shoot that I’m sure Arianna is setting up to help the public’s ability to relate to the team. But I’m happy to grant that this is just the impression I got from the way the image is laid out, which has no necessary relationship to either reality or Señor Barrack’s intent.
I did get a hint of the ‘posed’ myself, at first look. Simply because all the heroines are looking at me!
*wags tail enticingly*
Of course, you may be under the misapprehension that they are looking at you…
… however that is just an optical illusion, as they are almost certainly posing whilst looking at a wall mirror positioned at our viewing point.
Mirror! Excellent! My suspension of disbelief is now spackled, repainted, and good to go. Can hardly tell there was a ding in it at all. =)
They are still freaking me out though. Dabbler has not noticed them, because she is fixated on Maxima’s bum. But some fiendish four-eyed cheshire cat nightmare from hell has snuck up on her. And we know the demons are sex-tourists here! Maxima will not like being propositioned by a demonic kitty peeping tom!
And those spectral manikins are surely the next wave of killer manikins, and they have caught our heroes flat footed!
Noooooooooooo!
Uhm, if you are planning surprise anvil drop shooting a missile at it first is usually a bad idea.
Asking Sydney to get aggro back might be a bit far fetched too.
Seems to me that the missile was an attempt to take it out with one shot and, failing that, provide cover fire and possibly injure it sufficiently so Anvil can land a bit more safely.
Whether that tactic actually works.. we’ll see.
Those google drive symbols in the shield lol
Question:Did Peggy follow Sydney’s bubble in her Osprey along with Harem and Anvil?
Possibly. At the time though the Halomobile team were going to a routine meeting. Harem would not need to, in any event, as she has ‘familiar locations’ on the East and West coasts respectively. One of which is presumably in or near New York (check Dave’s blog, when Harem turned up initially, for his precise wording).
However if it was not already on route, it will have been dispatched as soon as the attack on the Twilight Council occurred. This is akin to a terrorist attack on the UN in terms of importance (probably more so). Since then there will have been analysis of the attack, a debriefing, organising of the response (both politically and militarily), a briefing and the teams making their way to their respective missions.
The osprey has a top flight speed of 351 mph. The distance from Dallas (for argument’s sake) to New York is 1,373 miles. So under four hours flight time.
The times match well enough with the later departure. Plus there is probably an extra bit of flight time when a small part of New York was in a ‘time-loop’. The sky looks light enough that it could be fast approaching dawn, so plenty of scope for either option.
Not to forget: how ever much time Peggy had to take to go pick up Anvil (wait, she was on one of the other teams, wasn’t she? or is that me mis-remembering things?)
:) I didn’t know Amazon delivered the big guns…. but it’s definitely time to bring them in!
I am really hoping we get to see several pages of Sydney and Anvil using teamwork to stymie the Construct and showing off why Anvil is a vital part of the team and not Warf in a Seven of Nine suit.
Epiphany: Sydney’s lighthook is rated at about 16 tons. She uses that to whack at Anvil a few times, then pick her up and hurl her at the robot. Rinse lather repeat. All to the refrain of “Sixteen Tons” :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCen9-RELM
I like this version a bit more… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2aqvKY6zLc
Your taste is good.
That is one guy who really does not want to be recognised when he is down the grocery store!
Who is the hottie in green?
Possibly Rhonda Smith – Jeff Beck’s current bassist.
Not a huge Beck fan (I like his style, but choices must be made…), but his current touring group includes Rhonda. And the hair looks right.
Seriously? Three minutes of nothing at the end? Just to remind people what song they just listened to? o_O
I agree, I want to see some Anvil action.
Be sure to hit the vote button then. You have that in there, along with several other of our partially-clad heroines.
Better hope it doesn’t decide to throw something at the Osprey.
The osprey could be at any altitude up to 5,400 feet, having used a rocket attack. We can take it that Peggy is a correspondingly good pilot as she is a sniper. So I doubt that she will have opted to go in closer than necessary.
Mind you, in order to keep Anvil’s drop time to a minimum, they will probably be lower than the maximum altitude. However, even then, Anvil is the one who is in far more risk. She has no defence against laser claws!
After which (possibly coagulated) kinetic-absorber blood will be available for analysis.
Ok, the vote incentive…
Cant speak for you guys at all, but i find Sydney to be a so much more sexy and attractive phenotype than the supers. The personality prob helps too. Dayum.
And also, Dabbler… Is she, um.. wearing pants? Did not imagine her going for the hippy/natural look.
Yeah, was wondering that about if Dabbles was wearing ‘fur’ or ‘furry-panties’
Oh yea, we are 100% on the same opinion about Sydney. With or without the personality boost.
None of the others would get my attention mind. Not unless Pixel transformed, into her human form, or Dabbler gave one of her cheeky grins. Although we have not seen any of those for a while, and the super-cute looks she could achieve, with those, were part of a passing art style.
Doubtless though Sydney would be awkwardly embarrassed (or angrily so, given her current expression) to be observed in a state of undress, so if I were there I would pointedly avert my gaze. Whilst Dabbler would be irritated that her hypnotic boobs were not functioning!
But, with her ability to mentally check out people’s desires, I think there would be hope of seeing a cute smiling Dabbler. Or Sydney’s twin.
Finally, it just struck me that if Pixel did resume human form, right now, her underwear would probably fall off!
Fashion ninjas created super expando undies to go back to original shape and size, so no, down boy.
Hmmm, does Arianna have grammer ninjas to do final edits of press releases?
Dammit the spell check and no comment edit. “Grammar”, so back off you spelling ninjas.
I think grandma is in the sexy vote incentive.
I think they are all quite pretty. Female beauty comes in so many variants. But it was rather funny that Dave put little Sydney between the busty giants. I can hear my inner Dabbler making a lewd comment about that last sentence I wrote.
Oh they certainly are. I have always found Maxima’s face to be very pretty, likewise metal skin is cool (ahem) and I like her personality. Max is just outshone by Sydney.
Mind you, we know that there are plenty of folks who favour Maxima and each of the others, respectively. Our comments are just expressing personal attraction. I can see that Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Leonardo Caprio are all handsome. But I do not feel the urge to hop into bed with any of them!
Sydney pushes all the right buttons. Her companions, scantily clad or otherwise, would need their super powers to even find mine!
Totally agree. Especially when Sydney gets the manga/pussinboots liquid eyes…
Still, feeding it any Anvil blood could be a really bad idea…
Yup. Mind you, unless they are getting direct feed from Sydney’s pip-boy they probably would not be aware of the laser-claws nor the power copying ability. That part only just happened and. even Sydney, right in front of it, had not had time to react to that (other than her startled remark).
Sydney needs to prioritise protecting Anvil now, whilst thinking three steps ahead. She need to figure out how to destroy the construct (find the blood-drinking sword fragment, or its equivalent), free herself from under the rubble and get Anvil safely clear of the construct (possibly before she even attempts her attack, if Sydney feels she has not distracted it, in time).
I can see what Sydney may need to do, and I don’t like it!
*tail threshes around anxiously*
… I don’t think Peggy hit the golem with a Hellfire- the blast would have taken out the rest of the roof and the corner of the building. Arc-Swat probably has a two round launcher for APKWS 2 rockets on each landing gear sponson- given that she only had 4 shots https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwivgbvjqonTAhUGxGMKHa50DooQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.defenseindustrydaily.com%2Fapkws-ii-hellfire-jr-hydra-rockets-enter-sdd-phase-02193%2F&usg=AFQjCNGUsYN1qSE82SSTFd0pHYIgxZiWMA&sig2=kXieVOONLU_d5Itav7CkOw
…okay, does that mess happen to anyone else ?
Yea, sometimes links do not like being embedded. Certain sites do not format such in a way that allows such. Unless I recognise the format or am familiar with the site, I usually test out the link itself first, to see if it will even open, in a separate tab. That one does not.
If it does though, I then try it out in an HTML sandbox, to see if it is compatible. If running the test shows the picture then all is well. Should it be a video link or something more complex, then that testing would not be of use sadly, as it can only display relatively simple content.
If you have a big messy link you do have the option of converting it into a more compact form (I stress at your option, as I am sure not everyone likes the prospect), using the following format:
<a href=”Messy_URL_goes_here”>Text_you_want_to_display_goes_here</a>
Which can be tested (or even initially created in) the sandbox I mentioned previously:
https://www.w3schools.com/html/tryit.asp?filename=tryhtml_links_w3schools
One tip though, that I forgot to mention. Sometimes it depends on what part of a site you are on. It may (for example) allow linking to an article. Or it may only allow the embedded item (eg photograph) to be linked. Or vice versa. Or neither. Or both.
… Thanks Yorp. It probably would have helped if I had copied the URL from the website instead of the google listing ( trust me to find the wordiiest article of a RW weapon to comment on a superhero web comic …)
is the shield orb floating above Sydney’s head?
No, just six balls
I seem to notice that Anvil’s boots don’t seem steel-tipped…
No, that was Heatwave, and she won’t make that mistake a third time
Yup. Anvil is someone that would get no benefit from that. In fact any normal form of armour (all of which historically have focused on protecting from kinetic damage) will weaken Anvil’s capability, rather than improve it.
Armour is Anvil’s mittens!
Laser-ablative, or reflective, armour mind would be right handy about now.
With her superstrength Anvil would hardly be slowed down by heavy armor. That would mean less female muscle for us to enjoy though. Maybe Dabbler could use that spell that makes armor look like something else on Anvil.
True enough she would still get the normal protection from armour. It is her offensive capability that would suffer though. If attacks cannot get through to her then she cannot absorb them, in order to top up her kinetic battery and counterattack.
If she can build up a ‘store’ simply by walking, then armour shouldn’t have any effect on absorption
It would, simply because it is a matter of the amount of energy that reaches her.. If a lot is being absorbed by the armour (crumpling up, flexing or whatever) then it is not available for her to use.
Walking is only good to keep an already full battery topped up, or to very slowly build it up initially. Whereas, on a battlefield, her offensive energy needs are bound to be far higher than can be replaced by simply walking around. Anvil does not want to be loosing most of the incoming energy, if it leaves her unable to do more than walking damage to an enemy.
Reinforced silk would help protect from puncture wounds without reducing the energy of an impact, not by much anyway. Bullet proof vests do nearly nothing for a sledge hammer strike.
Most modern battlefields tend to feature bullets more though. Mind you Anvil does have a higher chance of encountering the exceptions.
Exactly, it filters out the projectiles, but not the kinetic force behind them, or sledge hammers, or ignorant supers.
The silk yea, not so much the bullet proof vests though. From Wikipedia:
So whilst a fair bit of the force does get through (causing bruising) to the wearer (thus giving that proportion to Anvil), there is also a lot being lost as the fibres tear, along with any additional ballistic plate bending. Every component that gets torn, cracked or bent is expending energy that Anvil could otherwise make use of.
https://i.imgur.com/NWUe0YE.gif
Marvel boss says “Diversity’s killing sales”. Marvel boss later indicates this is based on hearsay, rather than objective analysis of the cause.
Who needs tired old Marvel with their boring and stereotype superheroines when we got webcomics like Grrl Power?
It would be neat to get a 16 page printed version every week. If the quality remained the same.
Ooh, ooh, and I wish that mine is delivered to me, in person, by our Halo, along with complimentary kisses!
*rubbing lantern so hard steam starts to come out of it*
Two pages a week is quite enough. Also reading one page at a time makes you apreciate it more.
A friend has invited me to a movie. Of which Ghost in the Shell is the only easy one (we have very restrictive bus schedules). Plus it is available in Imax (which I have never experienced) at barely any more cost than the regular (overpriced) normal ticket price.
Question: Is it worth risking me going postal at having a whitewashed lead? The massive film fan demon in me is warring with my feminist angel side.
Or are the new Kong, Logan or Life the better options, despite the hassle and lack of Imax?
Ghost in the Shell is a great movie and Scarlett Johanssen and the others do a great job so I think we can tolerate some whitewashing in this case.
Major was always non-Asian, so no, no ‘white-washing’ involved
The major is always in a robotic shell sooooooooooo
No, no she’s not
Hey, no empiricist implications! It is how she identifies that is key. If she wishes to pass as a squishy organic and live as one then I consider her to be human. And if the shell she favours is Asian, then I follow the same logic.
However if she feels the latter to be of no consequence and the particular choice is incidental, then that is another matter. And Japanese fans will be far better placed to assess the nuances of such. So if they are fine with it, then I guess I can pack the firebrands away until another day.
Thanks all for the feedback. Still not sure which we will watch, but at least I can make a more objective decision, without feeling the urge to just burn the money, at the booking office!
Rumor has it that the question of whether or not the Major should self-identify as Japanese actually comes up in the movie.
Ultimately all our shells are transitory, no matter the form. So it is what we do, and how we feel, that determines who and what we are, more than our flesh, and what flavour it comes in.
Watch this scene and see she was always white, so no HolyWeird ‘whitewashing’ (which seems to be coming from idiots who have never seen the original Anime)
Except that is not the original source. It is itself based on the manga by Shiro Masamune.
First off I prefer the work of the original artist to be respected. Secondly I dislike commercial pressures changing things. To cite something that you are more likely to feel empathy to, note that the anime was prioritising appealing to the widest possible market, in order to maximise the profits.
In this case though I am not talking about making her white, but rather the censorship of sex scenes. OK they had a fair argument in that the series might not have been aired with them, so I am not saying that commercial decisions should be ignored in these matters.
However just because one adaptation did disrespect the original material, there is no need for Hollywood to do likewise. Global audiences are sophisticated enough that could easily have made a hit with a competent Japanese actress. They chose not to because it would affect their bottom line profit, as opposed to being able to pretend that western audiences would have boycotted it because she was not white.
Unlike the Marvel issue, in the previous thread, this is a gripping story and character who would put bums on seats.
But, if Japanese fans are fine with it, then I will not be too bothered. It is a shame not to have used this to allow a Japanese (or other Asian) actress to break through and become a global household name mind.
And financially stupid of them, given that other studios are working hard to break into the Chinese market. Expanding the profile of Asian actresses in general (or just de-emphasising the obsession with Caucasian leads) would pay off, in the longer run, for the studios that realise that the world does not just consist of white audiences or tastes!
But, all arguments considered, no reason to let it interfere with enjoying a good movie mind.
*tries to calm facial twitch*
You specifically mentioned possibly going postal because of the whitewashed lead
Just because it’s a Japanese Anime (or Manga), writing and drawn by Japanese writers and artists, produced in Japan, does not mean that all the characters are going to be Japanese, check out this video, specially the end when they talk about their fascination with having non-Asians in their anime (they use the blond-haired blue-eyed Naruto in their example, but there are dozens of others, like “Sailor Moon”, not sure if there is anyone on that show or the books that could be considered ‘Asian’)
Forget to mention that bit about the censorship: was amazed at your shock, Americans are simply like that: they have no problem with violence (the more the brutal the gratuitous the better), specially if they can put it in some kiddie show, but show a bit of thigh (or, Lords Below, a nipple!) and they go apeshit!!
No shock, I was just using it to illustrate that the animated version was not true to the original material.
She looks Japanese to me. Either way though it is still a missed opportunity to have cast a Japanese actress. I have seen some very talented ones, but they get precious few breaks. And never get the opportunity for a lead in an international blockbuster.
Failing to take the chance is blatantly an injustice. But, as I reiterate, if the Japanese fans are reconciled with it, then I will go with that. They have the greater say over what is OK, for a medium produced and set in their culture.
And the key thing about the story is the spirit transcending the shell. So it is the former that is more important, for this particular movie. If they have gotten the spirit of the story right, then I can live with the shell they chose.
I like her, in any event, despite my protestations. So I am sure I will enjoy the movie, if I can get to see it.
… Go see it with a open mind- since the director of the 1995 film+the Japanese fans are happy with ScarJo’s casting, that’s good enough imho. As for the other 3, Kong looks to be a great popcorn movie and definitely see Logan…
I say watch Ghost in the Shell or Kong on Imax, because the visuals would give an immersive impact. Wait for Logan to come out on Blu-ray or DVD, that way you could binge watch the Wolverine/ X-men movies.
Quick kinetic absorption question… What is the range on Anvil’s kinetic aborption? Even if it is personal/touch as I believe, could the following be effective conceivably?
Anvil, in her standard skimpy non-armor gets fill in the blank biological opponent (so not necessarily relevant in our current scenario) in a bearhug or some such move with significant body to body content. She then exerts her absorption ability negating the kinetic energy being exerted within the body of the opponent to conduct their circulation. Quick knockout by stopping their blood flow for a sufficient period to cause oxygen deprivation.
Thoughts?
I think it is based on the writers idea behind standard Newtonian physics. Absorption of kinetic energy occurs when object ‘B’ traveling at a different relative speed impacts the person ‘A’ (for Anvil). This could be a moving B hitting a stationary A, or a moving A hitting a stationary B. Common movement does not apply (you can not absorb the kinetic energy from a car you are in, or from a rotating Earth).
The relative speed may be an issue depending on how fast the absorption works. A bullet may be moving too fast to bleed off the energy before it penetrates the body. The shape of the object may also matter. She might be able to be poked by a needle that does not have a wide enough contact with her body to let her absorb the motion. Anvil might be cut by a knife moving in a parallel slicing motion rather than a direct stabbing motion.
For more on this topic see the X-Men villain Sebastian Shaw.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebastian_Shaw_(comics)
I think you may very well be right. However, Anvil is a character whose kinetic absorption abilities have incredible potential. Her powers are impressive enough right now with Boops of Doom and the like. However, I am reminded of an old X-Men comic where the White Queen in a coma took possession of the body of Bobby Drake (aka Iceman) and proceeds to increase the efficacy of his powers by a factor of 10 at least. She illustrates to him subsequently that he had been making do with what he already knew because it was good enough to get by rather than learning about his true potential.
Theoretical abilities associated with kinetic absorption have such a staggering potential, that I would love to see what Anvil is currently working on developing. I’d like to think that the team wouldn’t be satisfied with the status quo.
A lot of it depends on the writer. The character Shaw I referenced could do different things depeding on what storyline he was in. He was know to be able at different times to be able to absorb kinetic energy, heat, electricity, atomic radiation, and other characters energy beams. He may or may not be able to halt bullets or deflect edged weapons. He may either absorb infinite energy or pass out if if he goes over his (undefined) limit. The gained energy has been put towards such things as increasing his physical strength, increase his speed, increase his skin’s toughness to that of adamantium, shoot his own energy beam, avoid the need to sleep, heal wounds, or stay young forever. (I can imagine him looking into a mirror and saying “I’m starting to develop some crow’s feet. Punch me in the face a few times, OK?”)
He was also able to ‘cheat’ physics and build up his own energy by spending time repeatedly punching a wall.
You are right that a lot depends on the quality of the writing: both the thought that goes into it and the writer’s dedication to being faithful to limits and abilities established by canon.
Thankfully, we have Dave. :)
TACTICAL ANVIL INCOMING!
*insert obligatory Roadrunner reference here*
Quick question … I can’t remember whether it has been established yet? Does Halo’s shield negate inertia or mitigate it to a degree, or have no such effect?
I was re-watching the 1980’s classic The Explorers (with River Pheonix and a YOUNG Ethan Hawke) and inertia negating force fields were at the crux of the plot.
We do not know the mechanism yet. It stops stuff. And did not go rolling across the desert when the nuke-like attack hit.* So it is able to inhibit knock-back. Vehemence has been able to drag it, slightly though (but maybe no more than allowable by artistic and comedic licence).
Unlike Achilles’s invulnerability (six star defense) it is not an absolute (only rating at five stars). The same doubtless applies to its knockback too, which the Vehemence example can be seen as hinting at.
The flyball though does have some peculiarities which might extend to that though. Broadly speaking it is actually a gravity control device (as evidenced by Halo’s hair hanging up, when she is upside down, i.e. her local gravity is inverted).
However carefully analysed scenes have convinced our physicists that it is rather more complex. Which may include inertia control, with appropriate implications when using both fly ball and forb.
Or Dave was not running it by a physics professor, and it is a gravity control ball.
* With the usual disclaimer that it is not nuclear in nature, but if it has a mushroom cloud that is an easy way to describe it.
Anvil should let Maxima use her for a punching bag before every fight, just to charge up. Although you’d have to worry about hitting some limit – but if she can store and release power at will, she could punch even harder than Maxima for the duration of a fight.
This is what’s known as a HANO entry: High Altitude No Open. :-)
Heh. Whereas Sydney is clearly capable of HALO flight (High Altitude Low Orbit).
Landings though …
*looks at page above*
… she needs to work on.
I am SORRY to ask but…did Anvil gained…like TEN BONNETS IN SIZE??? GEEZ LOUISE.
Do you feel like you are shrinking?
nope but that someone went all looney toon on her and blew them up BIGGER for the event…
maybe Arianna’s publicity idea again.
I love that shield grid pattern.
SUPERHERO LANDING!! SHE’S GONNA DO A SUPERHERO LANDING!!!
you know, those are REALLY hard on your knees.
You make me wonder ‘what would Deadpool do?’
He would moon the villain, but with our cast that sort of thing could be seen as an invitation.
Did any one here get the joke? Dropping an Anvil on it.
Yes.
Metalworking is our most ancient symbol of the transition from the stone age to the copper age and the technological eras beyond it. So the juxtaposition of a Anvil (similar to “anvil”) being dropped onto, and hopefully defeating, a magical abomination, is hilarious!
Symbolising the ascendancy of technology and science over superstition. Deep, despite the altitude!
Rolls in air, laughing.
Shield and Anvil aside, any speculations on how Halo will provide the distraction? I’m thinking tug of war with the Lighthook or she goes full Daffy Duck.
“I am the Mighty Halo, I work on a merry go round, the job was swell, it all went well, ’til the merry go round broke down…”
I completely forgot about that song! Kudos to you sir. +1
Such a shame they seriously toned Daffy’s daffiness down :(
Yeah, he’s less daffy these days, more of a Cranky Quack.
Actually, since Anvil in her current equipment seems to have a relatively small ability to provide pinpoint precision in arranging her fall to land on the proverbial dime, Sydney might be able to use the lighthook to coordinate and effectively provide last minute guidance to pull Anvil over to land with precision on her target/the golem’s noggin. Relatedly, has it been established how far the lighthook can reach?
Re the last no, but the scene where she tries to pick up the girders shows that it can get very long.
I visualise her signing her name, on the Moon, until we get proof that it is shorter range than that.
Need to figure out Anvil’s rate of unassisted fallage: when Kevin flung her to the Heavens, she said it would take her 10 seconds at her current rate to land, and that’s when Sydney *Whiplashed* her back down sooner (with added momentum)
I am reminded of Schlock Mercenary’s Maxim 5: Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Like I said before, at this point Sydney makes a great distraction. However later on once she is fully trained Sydney will become a very dangerous fighter. She needs the training first though.
I agree but training time hasn’t happened yet, and she is on her own wavelength in combat, especially without Max to keep a close eye on her…
Now people know why Maxima brought Sydney along. She is a perfect ambulatory…
… ooh, say, is that what I think it is? Shiny.. pretty ..I wonder….
That’s one hell of a bombshell!
Just as a side point…. Am I crazy, or is it correct that on the outside, Halo’s shield orb is clear & see thru, but whenever we are “inside” it we see that it is made of of those hexagonal tiles.
Is this an actual difference or just an artist choice so that we “the reader” can see inside?
Fairly sure we saw the tiles on the outside during the “Scare the Press” moment in the desert
Naa, the patterns appear (regardless of whether the point of view is inside or out) whenever the shield comes under attack. Or, in this case, is being stressed by rubble pressing up against it. Where there is no rubble the pattern is faint enough to see through clearly.
Have a look back to Maxima pounding on it, in the boardroom (and the press demonstration, as Guesticus says), to see that it has always worked like this.
So I’ve had this idea for a superhero… or…being really and I’d like some feedback if anyone is willing.
Male, human looking, balding, kinda pudgy, wears glasses but doesn’t need them just wears them to help him be non-descript, about 30-40 years old looking. He goes be the name Hugo Un, (its an inner circle joke, he’s in only one in the circle).
Origin story: A cult from a Multiverse that died long ago wanted to deny the gods, to ignore them as such they experimented on people to make them something that ignores the gods. In Hugo they had their only success. He is Un-everything, Un-killable, Un-aging, Un-anythingyoucanthinkoforevencant.
BUT, and its a big but, he has no active powers, no super strength, no heat vision, no Super High IQ, nothing. He could use a gun but its not really his kinda thing, he doesn’t see the point in them.
Okay…so Hugo is old, by old I mean beyond what can be put into words, he has been around long enough to see more than one multi-verse collapse and be reborn, he has done pretty much everything there is to do, tried suicides in the billions, gone insane – sane – insane again and sane multiple times, at this point be is just bored. He is the old man grumbling to himself and telling kids to “Get Off My Lawn” of the superhero world, he’s been kidnapped any had people try to experiment on him with no effect and basically just proved that he was Un. He’s been worshipped as a god made flesh, he’s had real gods try to murder him, imprison him, he’s been sucked into black holes and leaped into them just to pass the time.
He’s working as a High School janitor, ignoring the students bullshit, and just trying to get past every day so he can go home, turn on the TV and let his mind go numb. He doesn’t have any ancient wisdom to share, doesn’t want a book deal and doesn’t want to save the world. To him it doesn’t matter.
Okay…that’s the idea basically. Think this guy… then he becomes known to the world…to his endless irritation.
He is an interesting character for storytelling. Powers wise he is actually very similar to Achilles, but that is irrelevant as the backgrounds, personalities and drives are very different. Either his boredom might drive him into associating with folks getting up to interesting things (read ‘superheroes’ … or ‘supervillans’) in which case he could provide a protagonist role similar to Sydney’s.
In his case he is not interested in telling people about his past, so he would make a good medium for the reader/viewer/player to view the activities of those he is associated with instead. With the bonus (similar to Sydney’s) that events of a massively disastrous nature can occur yet he will still be around to move the story onto the next arc. Even if nobody else survives.
So that has the potential to put ancillary characters, that the readers become fond of, in massive peril. Like Sydney’s companions in this fight. Anvil is in mortal peril right now, even though Halo is apparently safe. This is a powerful mechanism.
Plus do not forget the agony of always outliving your loved ones. The movie Highlander showing these problems. Perhaps this character (like him) will attempt to avoid getting too close to anyone, for just such reasons. But intentions do not always work out.
Alternatively (whilst still facing the latter issue) it could go down the path of ‘what is life, as a normal person, like, when you are totally invulnerable and immortal?’ He could, of course, just remain cranky and isolationist by choice, and refuse to be drawn on any interviews or to go and help rescue people from burning buildings. But he will still have to deal with people looking at and treating him differently.
So a much ,more low-key drama type of story, dealing with everyday issues. But with a character who could step in front of a crashing car, to save a kitten. And with his history of mental instability, plus the possibility of something from his ancient past, his own background could yet have a significant role to play in events, even in a slow-paced and otherwise non-super based storyline.
Finally he is not just at risk from emotional and mental perils. Without other super powers, even a normal prison would be able to contain him. Clearly he desires socialisation, or he would have become a hermit. So solitary confinement would be a powerful tool to coerce even a cranky immortal, with no loved ones.
Therefore he may end up working as a super soldier, even if he hates it! Most governments do not have a Maxima-like figure who will insist that there be ‘no whisking away’ and confinement or coercion of super heroes.
Gus, look up and watch the movie “He never Died”. It is on netflix for streaming and may be found on dvd somewhere. The main character is a lot like what you describe, I think you might find the twist interesting indeed. Henry Rollins plays the lead. Great movie all around.
Ahh, interesting. Not what I thought you were recommending, before I looked it up. Personally I had previously been trying to grasp for an older movie, but (as ever) could not remember the name. But I remembered a keyword that helped me this time. Don’t click either link below though, if wishing to avoid spoilers:
He never Died
The Man from Earth