Ah, yes.
So with this, we’re back in the thick of it. I’ve been dying to do a scene in a snowstorm for some time, but it’s hard to justify it when your comic takes place in an equatorial rainforest. And yes, to all you military purists, I know that an airstrike in a blizzard is verging on suicidal – but I wanted to draw it, and so I did. Besides, war makes people do crazy things. If you don’t feel like doing your research, that’s the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity they’re bombing there. I had some discussions with the Russian Culture Consultant on this one, and there it is. I love distressing buildings like this. Though I don’t mind admitting this cityscape was a real challenge, especially with the snow, and at night.
AN-y-how… as I write this, it’s WELL in advance of the weekend, and that’s because I’m spending this weekend at the New York Comic Convention. I am playing host this weekend to Jason Brubaker, of reMIND fame, who has come to town to see the sights of New York City, and visit the convention. If you haven’t seen Jason’s work yet, no doubt you will very soon – reMIND recently ran one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever for a comic, netting over $100,000 to fund a second volume. Besides which, his work is first rate! He and I have corresponded on the subject of comics pretty much from the get-go, way back in the Flight Forum days, and so it’s a real pleasure to have him on the Coast here for the weekend.
I also plan to catch up with Christopher Wrann this weekend, who who wrote the guest comic we all enjoyed this summer, as well as Denny Fincke and Tony Bourne, who both contributed, and are spectacular artists I met through NYCC. All of them, Chris, Denny, Tony and Jason, are great supporters of 6-Commando, and great inspirations to me, and so this weekend promises to be a really good one. Oh, conventions! How delightful.
Anyhow, yes. All still seems to be going well. And I’m at a loss for anything else of importance to say, so I’ll leave it at that. See you all next week, folks!
What are the markings on those fighters?
I don’t want to give it away – I’ve been explaining too much lately and I don’t want to ruin it for you. Suffice it to say that if all else fails it will be revealed in the comic later on.
–M
Well, sir. I was not expecting that. I like snow maybe too much, so I may be biased, but I really like this. I keep looking over the city lines…
Have fun at NYCC. I need to get to cons. Gueh.
I love snow. It’s so dramatic and threatening, yet relatively silent.
–M
And yes, you do need to get to some cons soon, man. Stymie is maturing and ready for a big book-form release! For the rest of you, I urge you to check out Jane’s work – it’s spectacular!
–M
Daaaamn.
😀
It was a tough drawing, man. Whoo! And by the way, to everyone else, chevk out Adib’s recently-completed epic Stupid Snake!
–M
Adib? that’s a new one. I got an Afif a few months back (that was actually a nickname in high school haha). I know, it’s not a name you see very often. Maybe I should change my name?
AGH! My fault entirely – I happen to have a very close friend named Adib, is why I continuously have to be vigilant about that. My apologies, Aviv!
But my advice to everyone to check out (by which I mean, PURCHASE A COPY OF) Stupid Snake stands, all typos aside!
–M
Haha don’t worry about!
The capability to deliver CAS airstrikes in zero-visibilty conditions has been with us for decades; it’s the flying really low part that’s suicidal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_AN/MPQ-14_Course_Directing_Central
Yeah, NOE/TERCOM flight is pretty jazzy maneuvering at the best of times. In a snowstorm, over a city, that’s serious. And these guys have no GPS or satcom system to guide them either.
–M
Was wondering whether that was snow or fallout. I’m wondering why they’d bother though, when a nuke would work just as well without risking pilots…
All shall be revealed. I don’t want to wreck it for you just yet. 🙂
–M
Seems like it was only a limited nuclear exchange Twilight 2000 style, but it surley did escalate in a “conventional” shooting war. Keep in mind that 1997 6-Commando universe atomic bomns are low yield “only” and aren’t as numerous as they are in our world. Maybe there wasn’t enpugh of them to eradicate everything and the main targets have been military sites or large assets of the enemies war-infrastructure.
And maybe (just maybe) someone was reasonable (or human?) enough NOT to target large civilian populations? Or maybe MIKE’s HYB-“hacked” AI friends from the Boomer naval nuclear detail had a say in this?
I think those fighters are UNA design.
I do wonder though, since most parts Europe are under FSR dominion, how comes UNA fighter planes can do sorties deeply into FSR territory? Or maybe it’s a civil war?
Likewise, I have to restrain myself here – it’ll all make sense as things go on. Damned real life keeping me from updating every day! Once a week feels so slow sometimes…
–M
Speculating about what is going on or might happen next is part of the fun.
One update per week is absolutley OK. I look forward to every monday morning to check 6-Commando for it’s update. One hell of a way to start a new week. Takes some of that “Monday’s horror” away, too. 😀
Oh, I also love the guessing. But I have this tendency to give far too much away with my answers, so I’m trying to be restrained as much as I can.
–M
Can I guess? Can I guess?
WHITE RUSSIANS
😀
–M
My thoughts exactly after I noticed a certain detail on those planes…
Tasty drink as well – The Dude agrees.
Those SAM emplacements are manned by nihilists. There’s nothing to be afraid of.
No, Donny, these men are cowards.
–M
That cathedral really tied the city together.
Hey man, watch the airstrike, there’s a beverage involved!
Are those CF-100’s with swept wings, so then CF-105 or some such?
And tres neat.
That is so awesome I want to die. I had NO idea that plane existed, and I LOVE to find new planes. I am a huge airplane geek. I actually intended it to be a mix of the YA-9A, the A-10 Thunderbolt-II, the A-1 Skyraider and the Me262 Schwalbe. Basically a mix of every super-cool plane I could imagine. I had no idea it would come out looking so close to the CF-100, which pleases me no end – it means my design was on target!
–M
Well done sir! And I’m so happy I could introduce you to a new plane. If you’re interested in a good general document on the plane through one of my favorite aviation sites here: http://www.airvectors.net/avcf100.html.
I will say I had a blip of Schwalbe when I looked at them due to the wings but the engines where in non-standard places. Still though who would have thunk that a mix of design elements from planes from 1940’s to the 1980’s would end up looking like a 50’s era Canadian interceptor. Nice.
The era the Canuck came from was one of may favorites of the jet age. That first decade and a half had some of the most interesting designs such as the F-89, Sea Vixen, MIG-9, and others.
What the planes look to me the most like are single-seat, swept-wing versions of the Ilyushin Il-102, which happens to be one of my favourite birds. 🙂
The front end definitely bears a resemblance to the Il-102. Planes really started looking all alike after about 1985 though. I’m particularly partial to the early jet age designs, the first British, Russian and American jets. They had real style.
–M
Wow! Excellent way to open a chapter! Had a great time hanging out in NYC. I’m pretty sure we covered every topic known to man and are well on our way to solving all the worlds problems.
Oh, right ON, man. It was a wild scene all around! By next year I predict we’ll br breaking the laws of thermodynamics!
–M
It took a little work to figure out that this was the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in (presumably!) Leningrad. There’s a bazillion Cathedrals of the Holy Trinity. 😉
You win the prize, man.
–M
The snow looks amazing!
Thanks, man! I was worried it would be too visually confusing, but I think it panned out in the end.
–M
>>> Off-Topic: I posted something over at viciousprint. I’d appreciate your feedback. 🙂
So I saw – I haven’t missed it! And anyone else who’s interested, we’re having a fascinating dialogue on the merits of Soziale Marktwirtschaft over on my blog.
–M
I advice everyone to check out that blog. It’s both entertaining and educational.
wow, a shame I missed the update when it came out, so I’ll say now, amazing
Thanks, man! It’s a wild scene drawing this new chapter so far, and I’m glad you’re liking it!
–M
Excellent work on the page. I have a feeling in regards to the planes that it will be the parable of the prodigal son 😉
Well… we’ll see!
😉
–M