Grrl Power #79 – A History of Violence
I’m not saying that Max’s daydream is actually what happened, especially with the anachronistic cop, but it wouldn’t surprise me if something like that happened.
For anyone wondering, Gwen’s eyes are supposed to be hazel, and not be quite so much “the darkness must feed” colored. But it works with her goth/lolita thing so I guess it’s ok. Apparently ArcLight has an incredibly relaxed dress code.
In case you’re not familiar with Adderall, the generic version of it simply reads “Amphetamine.” Meth lite basically.
Regular commenter Marscaleb made a top 10 video of his favorite webcomics, it’s kind of long, coming in a around 45 minutes, but actually quite well produced. I watched the whole thing and plan on checking out his recommendations. You can probably guess why I mention it here.
SuperheroThey're super, thanks for asking!
Meatspace ComicSeriously these are awesome. Check 'em out!
Not UpdatingNo longer updating or only updates sporadically, but definitely worth reading.
SeriouslySeriously you guys. If you like Grrl Power the check these out.
"Mature"Mature subject matter and occasionally something explicit but usually safe. Can't guarantee the ads are safe though.
Dongs Ahoy!Full frontal and backal. Lots of skin, sex on some or all pages, explicit or otherwise.
Oh the humanity indeed!
Why do I get the feeling that the officer in question was giggling when he/she wrote that report?
“So, Big Joe. You got your ass kicked by… HER?”
Presumably Sydney is off her medication. At least one fervently hopes this. Because if this is the calmer, saner Sydney…
Eeeekkkkkkkk!!!!!
Ohhh now you have given me a lovely image to ponder. If she is still on her meds..I want to see her off them. *Bouncebouncehyperbounce!!!*
Oh wow,,, you just raised an interesting point,,, altough i should add a comment,, it could be she is still on the med but that they are not strong enough anymore,,, because you see those meds are in fact powerfull stimulant,, and work by trying to make the person’s mind think she is over the treshold and produce hormones to calm them down,,, si if the med is not strng enough,, they make the pronlem worse :)
It’s also aparently a mild form of meth. I don’t know if you’ve ever met a tweaker on a four day high, but that does explain a lot.
I think anyone who knew Sydney was one something would agree needs more, or less, or something else as well.
Love the police report. “Oh the humanity” is something I would want to see, just maybe not be able to sleep for a while after.
a can of monster. and the source of maxima’s powers are revealed.
Amazingly funny page, and yay plot movement! Also, if you had made that Grabthar’s Hammer joke last week, I wouldn’t have got it. I saw Galaxy Quest for the first time two days ago, and this page has as much win as any scene in the movie :)
ahahaha by grabthar’s hammer. feel kind of sry for the mugger
Grinning like an idiot here, and wondering if the little red spot peeking out of the mugger’s jeans is a bloodstain or a cute butterfly tattoo.
Omg… perfect Sydney has ADHD lol….. and Maxima thought that Sydney would have those problems…. but the little thought about what Sydney did to her mugger… a little over the top… but it fits in the story.
Sydney would make an awesome girlfriend…seriously.
I think the Repent quote needs to go on a T-shirt along with the pretzel bending of mugger like you did w/the ninja/nun thing. And on back you can do a top five/8 or fifteen list of best quotes and curses for the lass w/”Oh the Humanity!” at the top as a title.
Or maybe Repent on the back w/said list of egregious actions by Sydney and language mangling curses and “Oh the Humanity” on the front w/shadow outline of above too.
Tongue slam can be done in shadow/outline easily enough too and would make the T-shirt really cool.
When you’re writing like this (and the character’s oddity just helps you come up with things that make everyone giggle/cringe/laugh/wince all the time, then it’s gotta be easy to find things to market on T’s.
Last idea: Five small outlines of Sydney going psycho-jutsu on someone or something…on back w/ ratings and maybe small blurb, say… “Tongue-fu Jutsu face slam!” Ten Points!
The front can caption “Oh the Humanity! Oh the Laughs!” under that have Grrl Power in smaller letters.”
now to come up with five scenes that like tongue slam and the imagined destruction of the mugger are worthy of a montage on the back of a T-shirt and would sell or you would buy.
Methylphendrate (aka Ritalin) is closer to meth than is adderal. Also low doses of meth are sometimes perscribed to ADHD people because it has a slightly different mechanism of action and set of side effects than the other medications. It is not a case of upping the dose as meth is not a more powerful dose of speed but a related stimulant that has slightly different effects.
I’ve been on Ritalin. It was an interesting experience seeing everything become so much more…well, we’ll leave it at “interesting”. ;-P
My best description of it was it was like putting on a new pair of gasses (or a freshly cleaned pair).
That’s about as close as it gets, heh.
Really? I don’t even notice when I’m on the stuff. To me it’s no more noticeable than taking a Tylenol. I’m amazed that anyone can use it, or any other stimulant, for recreational purposes, since I never feel like they do anything other than make me slightly jumpy if I take too much by accident.
I can literally drink a pot of coffee and then go to sleep right away.
People around me claim that it makes a difference, and I don’t get fired from jobs or fail in classes when I’m using it consistently, which is a slight clue that there’s something messed up with my brain chemistry.
Anyway, thanks for clarifying on the meth, methylphenidate thing.
Gotta say that Max nailed it. This is pretty much exactly what I could see happening. Is there are victim’s support service for idiots who try to mug Sydney? Given her personality, there might even be a club for people savaged by the hyper-chihuahua.
Their dress code appears to come straight from the top. What is Zephan Zoeng wearing? I initially thought it was a dressing gown, a la Hugh Hefner. Like the eerie tats, though.
One of the guys here that I’ve introduced to the comic thought the table covering a little over the top. A US flag AND the guy’s brigadier insignia? I’ve had to explain to him that I’ve seen exactly this kind of in your face, over-use of commonly recognised symbols many times when working with/being exposed to US Army and Navy types; and the Marines are even worse!
Great stuff. Keep it up. I just wish the updates were EVERY DAY.
I’d be happy with just Monday/Friday so as not to burn his energy away.
Just my 2 cents worth, but I think the star is supposed to be the groups symbol, not the generals rank.
Speaking of the star, which is also on Maxima’s jacket, I realized the background changed colour, and the star now has a blue pentagon around it.
Old star (on Max’s jacket): https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/253
Err… yellow pentagon, sorry.
Hah hah yeah, I’m super bad about little details like that. I really need to make myself model sheets for all the characters. I keep having to go back through the archive to remember what colors everyone’s chokers are. Eventually I’ll do a pass through the archive and normalize that stuff. Don’t read anything into it in the meantime.
Bah, why go back and fix?
Just say that the color/shape background on their chokers is pseudo-techo-magical (made by a certain succubus alien sex bomb (errr she probably has one of those stashed in her locker for a rainy/slow day- doesn’t she?) ) – Let’s say that they offer a visual cue via color/shape/background as to the state (mental and physical) of the wearer at the time. Maybe a security device (as well as fashionable) to prevent mind-riders or telepaths from controlling one of the ARC members. If that happens the collars might go all swirly and bright. Same thing if someone else morphs into a team member and puts on the original collar.
If anyone asks about that lil visual cue in the comic (ie you can bet that the lower members w/o mental training/blocks won’t know why it does it/ that is changes background shape and color around the initial representing the team member) you can be sure that Sydney will know why and can quote at least ten comics in which something similar was used or should have been because of the above security holes/risks in a facility for superheroes.
Hell once she’s properly fed and medicated she’ll probably blast all sorts of holes in the ARC facilities security set up by just proposing a few simple ways she could get in and out or someone w/certain powers could.
Next you’ll see a red faced general and a bemused Golden lady looking at the reports and expenses…and the entire team is shown reading and leafing through piles of old comics…
Meanwhile Sydney is smiling (as her partner counts all the money from the sale of all those old comics they could never sell…)
… win win for sydney, she gets respect for her esoteric knowledge and ability to think outside the box with the team and her business benefits by supplying all the reading material for the ARC geeks and Heroes to read. (Her partner probably won’t even blink twice when that crew arrives to buy comics by the armload, he’s done cons before. Neh? But the other customers…real heroes shopping at that comic store? instant word of mouth advertising and likely the evil guys will stop by to get intel and see what’s up… end result. Lots of weirdness, some silly dialogue and new power stunts…
All this from one simple continuity mistake in logo color and background shapes… go back and fix all that or have fun with the mistake and let the stories write themselves…
Which is more fun for you Dave?
I’m guessing after that poor mugger, word got around in the criminal community: If you see Sydney and are thinking of crime…Just. Say. NO!
Correction: Just say No unless she wants you to say Yes.
Considering what we know of Sydney so far, I think Maxima pretty much nailed it as to what happened with the mugging (except for the 1930s cop of course) :D They probably took her in thinking she was the attacker! :LOL:
Oh and what happened to Max’s Lennon glasses?
They look more like the old fashioned “pince-nez” glasses, literally means Pinch Nose cause that was all that held them on, Teddy Roosevelt was rather famous for wearing them. I’d love to find a pair of readers like this.
They’re tinted dark purple, so they might just be shades, which she wouldn’t wear in a softly lit office.
Bronze, Maxima’s specs are dark BRONZE! We really need an edit here.
Amen Brother Darkhound! You’re preachin’ to the choir with my sad typing skills!
One of my FRP characters wore them because normal glasses wouldn’t fit on a feline head
What about sport goggles they use and elastic band rather than earpieces?
thought about that but they kept squashing his ears…and looked undignified :P
And cats are REALLY into dignity! Ever see a cat slip on a slick surface? :D
I meant to do that!
Again Maxima is unsurprised and can even imagine what the poor police force endured let alone the idiot that tried to mug her!!!!
I think Maxima was feeling sorry for both the mugger and the policemen!
Love the Galaxy Quest.;-)
..reference. Ahem.
I must say I do like Gwen’s look. But then the whole comic is a joy for the eyes. The color pallet I find comfortable. What is Grabthar’s Hammer anyway?
One of the things that is needed in a good leader, like Maxima, is the ability to size up situations an people correctly. She has Sydney nailed down pat.
Grabthar’s Hammer is the Galaxy Quest ;)
..reference. Ahem. :D
galaxy quest is a movie,,, a kind of parodie of space opera like startrek,, but a very good and inteligent one
About a very naive alien race.
Galaxy Quest is also the most popular Star Trek parody among Star Trek fans, because they really nailed it, Guy’s freak out because he thinks he is still a “Redshirt” (essentially) is among my favorite moments in the film. Also the very obvious dubbed line from Weaver’s character upon seeing the “chomper”. Really I love it from beginning to end.
The only thing it needed was Wil Wheaton appearing as a rabid fan who was complaining about how having a kid on the show totally ruined it.
That does it!
I need a copy of that dvd!
Can’t believe I missed that reference!
all i can say is LOLROTF to the max
I’m on that
wow. its monday and we are already on 2 pages of comments.
The only problem with Maxima’s version is that it is probably the nice, safe, censored version.
Word.
I was actually prescribed adderall to bring me back to life after a six-month bout of chemotherapy. Does horrible, horrible, HORRIBLE things to your stomach when you finally stop taking it. Plus there’s a point where it actually stops waking you up and starts anesthetizing you. Weird drug, and you would not believe the dirty looks cops give you.
I was stopped for speeding (They’d just changed the speed limit on that road), and they found the prescription bottle in my pocket. Keep in mind I was hairless and white as a sheet at the time, and they still detained me and searched my car for drug paraphernalia! The puritan morality of this country blows. God forbid you should get sick. Even if you can afford your treatment, you’ll still be treated like a damn criminal.
Anyways, Gwen looks interesting. I notice her bio isn’t up yet, but I’m guessing with the name and appearance she has something to do with witchcraft. Salem maybe? Had a relative there during the witchhunts. She was acquitted, though.
There are laws (In most parts of America) to protect people from those kinds of searches. If the Prescription was in your name and you had your ID on you (To prove you were, who you were). Then the police violated your fourth amendment rights. Because, you can legally have the script on you
I do not know how long ago it was so it is probably too late, and I usually dislike doing this but, LAWSUIT.
I do not like them but from time-to-time they have their uses.
I contacted several attorneys, but no one would touch it. Apparently the court costs would vastly outweigh anything we could squeeze out of the police department. Republican Florida apparently means I could only sue for harassment, which wouldn’t have been worth it. Had they actually found anything in the car, it would’ve been illegal search and seizure, and therefore inadmissible as evidence, but that wouldn’t have stopped them from putting me in prison in the meantime.
I hate this country.
Gotta love the South. One of the reasons I moved back North after 30+ years. Well for 10 I was a minor but I finally got out..
Just try Mexico, Cuba, or Allah forbid, the Middle East.
In some ways America is like a group of small countries. Attitudes, accents, value, education all are subtly different. Even the words we use change region to region. In the South they say “y’all”, in New England they say “wicked”.
Well, with a country the size of a content, you will generaly have diffrent variations in speach and mannerisims. Look at Russia and China, they have some huge variations.
Same goes for small countries also. Look at England.
Actually both Russia (or more accurately the USSR) and China were originally groups of separate countries later united by a conquering force.
“By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged!”
I LOL’d. Great page! I’m a new reader, read through the entire archive while listening to your TGT interview. :)
I am thinking about getting back on Adderal. But I remember what Ritalin did to me back in High school. A part of me is afraid to return to that state of mind. Clouds everywhere, the only light came during the weekends and summers when I was not on the crap. But, it would allow me to focus (on one thing at a time) again and that would be a good thing.
I like Sydney, part of me wishes I could find a real woman like that.
If you’re looking for something with less side effects, try talking to your doctor about Strattera. It’s a much milder medication than Adderall, though it’s also a bit pricier since it’s not available as a generic yet.
Maxima drinks Monster?
It is possible that the whole power-shifting thing burns a good deal of energy, in which case Max could be hypoglycemic (I know how that is and verily it dost suck. and somewhat wierd being hypoglycemic in a family of hypoglycemics.)
*Hyperglycemics damnit!
Alternatively, she might be immune to its effects altogether (her skin is made of an unknown substance, presumably the rest of her body is the same) and simply like the taste… though I can’t imagine why anyone would (I tried it once during finals, it tasted like chalk dust.)
tastes good to me max may like it to or she could be an energy drink addict from service time. (yes that happens in the military but command don’t care)
First time we see Gwen, right ?
Zephan too, yes ?
Do they have any previous history together ?
she’s probably his apprentice. I don’t think she’s out there enough for Dabbler to teach.
I’m sure they do to some degree. I haven’t entirely come up with their backstories yet but I have some ideas.
she could always be his lover (Who knows what kind of spells he’s devised in his career) ;)
Or his daughter which would mean she could have inherited his abilities and needs training.
Nice!
that was just awesome
….. i want to be surprised but i’m not.
…… where are the comments?
I can tell you from personal experience….the walls of jericho move would have been a lot more painful >.>. Lot’s of stress on the throat and neck and if you hook your foot right and lift you can cut off their windpipe.
Remember though, this is Max’s imagination. Unless Sydney watches wrestling, MMA or similar, any moves she pulled would have been made up on the spot, since she doesn’t have any kind of combat training.
I wonder how it would help now that I am on a Cpap machine though adderal is nasty stuff took it once for my Adhd and felt like my heart was going to explode but it was nice to be able to focus on something for once. Now that I know where Sydney’s behavior comes from I am not surprised by it she is just another ada girl/guy which means she is a hunter in a gathers world. Lol she can do the Sherlock Holmes trick oh look I’m 7 moves ahead of you, I can juggle 12 tasks at once woohoo look over there there is a shiny object.
Guido
“By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Warvan, I shall repent!!!”
Last panel is my favorite picture of Maxima thus far.
Zephan has awsome tattoos btw.
the last panel is my favorite picture of Maxima thus far.
Zephan has awsome tats.
Is this the first confirmed presence of magic? It might have been in the comments before but I missed it if it was.
Dabbler also uses magic, as well as pretty much everything else.
Am I the only one who noticed that the mugger is wearing pink undies with little hearts on them? LOL Nice touch!
Ah… good to know that I really should not do meth….
Scarily enough, I can see something like that having happened. As to the medication, cute comment. You did your research there, so kudos. At least you didnt cop out and use the med most writers love to use, Ritalin. Adderall of course is still well known, just not AS well known as Ritalin. As a side note, its not the only med used for ADHD that has “meth” in it in some form.
Anyway, I sort of expected this, but its interesting how you’re showing what would “realistically” go on before inducting a new member into a super-power team. They’d do things like this, look into criminal background, medical background and all that. Last thing you need is a “Psychic” type who’s is on any of a number of psychotropic medications.
Except for the cop, I think Maxima’s imagination is pretty much correct.
Something tells me Zephan’s specialty is in gathering intelligence (and through either mystical, martial, or legal means). I based this on the tattoos on his wrist and his purpose in this scene, and yes I will admittedly mention that the fact that hes’ Asian and is wearing what looks like a formal robe made in the eastern part of the globe had a part in my guess. T,..,T (I’m not racially profiling! I swear!)
I don’t think Maxima’s prediction is entirely correct, although the police report definitely hints that Sydney’s craziness was definitely involved. But aside from that, I’m betting there’ll be something unusual on her record that Zephan brings to light in the next page. What that may be, I look forward to seeing. X3
I’m thinking Dr. Strange has a influence in DaveB’s choice of dressing Zong up like that.
Heheh, yeah that definitely seems like a likely possibility. X3 Dr. Strange is awesome.