Another page without words, but I’m sure, again, that you’ll forgive the heavy-handed symbolism and agree that getting rid of the dialogue was probably the best way to make this scene work. And by the way, you may all be interested to know that this week is the beginning of the thirtieth anniversary of the Able Archer Crisis, which very nearly resulted in an accidental nuclear war between the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. So this scene comes at a rather opportune moment in history, coincidentally.
The Able Archer Crisis, if you don’t know, was caused by an unusual confluence of events – a NATO communications exercise that coincided with Revolution Day in Russia, a period of ramped-up anti-Communist rhetoric in the United States, and a series of errors in the Soviet early warning satellite system that resulted in a period of increased nuclear paranoia in the Soviet military leadership. The communications exercise being carried out by NATO was testing the reliability of the command and control procedures of the allied network in the event of an invasion of Western Europe, which at the time, we were terrified might happen at any time. What we DIDN’T realize, however, was that the reverse was true as well, and that in the tense political climate of the time, the Soviet leadership believed that the exercise was a ruse of war, and might be used as cover for a preemptive Allied nuclear attack on continental Russia. In the West, we thought the Soviets would understand that “of course” we would never strike first with nuclear arms; in the East, they thought that “of course” the perfect time to stage a first strike would be under the cover of an exercise, in the middle of a Soviet national holiday, when it was politically supportable with a hard-line anti-Communist American and British leadership in power. Totally oblivious to the enormous provocation on the one hand and the enormous paranoia on the other, the exercises went forward, and the result was very nearly a catastrophe – all because East and West were not communicating with each other properly, or, more precisely, because we totally misunderstood what we were doing. So, the scenario of this story is not really quite as far off the mark as we all might like to think – it actually almost happened.
As for me, it has been another really long week, and I’m turning in. Whew! All the best, everyone.
You sir are superb at conveying scenes like this though i feel sorry for the reds that arent in more then just a gasmask unless their apcs are protected against the effects of the radiation
you did well. text would have ruined the effects of the sublime body language on this page, since it isn’t needed.
Thanks, um glad you agree with me on that!
–M
You sir, are on a roll. I especially liked seeing Santelli’s response to the dropping of the AK.
Now it’s time to see if the Suds decide to follow along and play nice.
The sad thing is it’s still entirely possible to have a nuclear war by “accident” – both the US and Russia still have thousands of nukes, and even though they aren’t technically pointed at each other anymore, a few keystrokes can easily and quickly change that.
All it takes is some early warning satellite misinterpreting something that looks like a missile launch and sending an alert, and unless the side that gets the alert has another Stanislav Petrov who’s willing to take the chance of ignoring that alert, it’ll be WWIII and nuclear winter for real, and just when both major nuclear powers are supposed to be “friends”.
AHHHHHH HE DID THE THING! GO SANTELLI! MAKE CUPCAKES NOT WAR. Hopefully Haulley won’t send more troops who might muck it up with some accidental shooting.
On a related not I’m really excited to see if we get Santelli’s face in the next few panels. He’s actually managing to be my favorite character in the comic, the infantry officer just trying to do the right thing while everyone above him is freaking out.
Note*
At the other hand there is still time to use… >:-)
Never mind, this is much better. And yes, Santelli’s cool impresses, and opening the hatch like that is a bold move, but such moves has historically sometimes paid off in abundance and for the good for all parts.
No dialogue here was the right thing to do. Body language and facial expression seem to say more than I think words would.
And finally, as far as I have read about Able Archer, I consider it a small miracle that it did not get “worse”. The English Wikipedia article is sobering, to say the least.
Why is it I wouldn’t be surprised if someone made a war cupcake during the Cold War probably in an attempt to finally destroy innocents
Digging the story very much. As a former cold warrior its amazing that the two sides didn’t blow up the world. Did you ever read Blind man’s bluff? A great account of the cold war through the submarine force. In that book I finally realized after all those years the Soviets thought that the west was plotting to invade them, not the other way around. Crazy.
Everyone usually believes there a good guy and remember has anyone heard of the polar bear expedition if not please look it up
Well, more precisely, everyone believes that they’re doing the right thing – I don’t think anyone sets out to do things that are evil, unless they’re some kind of sociopath. But in e broad social scale, everyone in a war thinks they’re fighting with right on their side.
And Tony, I HAVE read Blind Man’s Bluff – the Cold War was an incredibly complex and very bizarrely secret conflict. Most bizarre of all was that at some points, there was as much of a struggle NOT to have a was as there was to win it. The K129 crisis was pretty crazy in itself.
–M
Actually what most people here is missing , is the epicness of the effect of emotion from both soldier of both side , who well waging a war that is to be devastated entire world thought nuclear bomb . Many million of people die in that war , much suffer and losses were to both side , but no one did gain anything .
But with that much hatred that suffering — both of these soldier ignored it , and they realized something different something they have in common . santell is realizing that there is too much killing going on around he stop and saw the expression of the russian infantry slowly hand over her gun to him in hope of being “what you say?” seeking shelter in the enemies who have once before obliberated her country and so did his country obliberated her .
It a dramatic movement of the panel that most people couldn’t grasped on the aspect of it , it amazing since we only need so feel panel to expressed it === the way she as a soldier kneldown and still looking at her adversary and handed (kicking) over her weapon to santell . And santell as a soldier who is realized on the heavy armor to protected himself , removed his helmet show a sign of trust and no hostility.
Actually althought santell and his men oberseved the russian army(once) and evacuated forces come to the base fearing they mightbe kill or take over never realized , there fear is actually the opposite of what they should have feel , because the fear is actually from the russian evacuation convoy that is rightnow try to negotiated (signaling ) the need for shelter – the action of the russian soldier who surrendered her weapon show is that they despered need of everything a shelter could possibiliy give them in exchanged for themselve being the prisoner or worse , POW .
So i really hope it not that way and santell and that girl is able to talk to each other and show each other that no one wanted any harm , so many lost have been in just FLASH .
ok that is the part i talk about it , now i really detail about what i think about it .
OK the russian girl is Gorgues damn i wanted her to be my girl friend , and she is extremely strong , did anyone here actually notice how she kneel herself slowly ? that is discipline that is reflect of bone and muscle that is so so “damn i forgot the word – but it kinda base on human muscle strong and healthy moving quickly” And her look wow that is a warrior . I think she could punch anyone of us here to death ” kill by a girl arhhhhh”
oh and yeah kicking a AK gun is not that easy if you actually handle a AK before , chances is everyone here gonna kick it only to a inch and your foot almost break hahahaha realistic is awesome .
OK now about santelli , well the armor is damn cool , i mean it worth to say it a medium armor ” yeah i still think the UDF have more heavy armor this thing still look to thin” but i don’t know what mister averages would say so i just wanted something bigger , but that not what i talk about now .
Santell inner suit seem to be , steam punk , and alot of detail — the suit basicly a tanker , a hazzmad suit , a heavy armor suit that is to protected from small and medium gun firer ( ok yeah i don’t know but does the russian minigun guy can penetrated it? i mean those Cornasur have to used a anti tank gun to kill one of these guy _ oh yeah what is happen in the bunker , did they stop killing each other yet ? we have refugees here people stop killing each other )
by the way the reason i tell you the action , movement expression he removed the suit was a sign of trust is because it was what it is . Contraty to what you see on TV and Movie where every single goddamn commander always removed there helmet , in reallife most commander is extra carefull than there entire platoon because they know they are the one who is in command lot of repsonsibiliy not to mention too is (santell is capable of independant thinking and good reaction in hard situation so he kind of important very good person as of his job) there and you know removed your helmet as a commander of medium infantry in a middle of a supposedly russian rush( actually most people here doesn’t bother whether they are refugees or not _ shoot to kill is very likely if MIKE doesn’t show up some of those marine could even play heroes in the most stupid way as general “forgot the name” says used the A-2 mine to kill a bunch of harmless people , who just happen to be arrived with russian armament .)
Is considered to be retarted , dumb , idiot , tactical failer and not suit for job as a commander, deserved to be strip of rank and be court marchall because leaved a sign of trust on a whole army that is supposedly to be invaded or not invaded the bases .
SO this is where emotion kick in and ye i think santell ain’t gonna let the order control him to kill the people for no reason.
oh and the “click is just so amazing” when i was young ages and still drawing the most thing that fascinating is part of a armor or a skin or a mechanical device slowly open it up and ………….. ye everything that is like it .
ok now for the whole panel mister averages draw i have to say —- you cut short the scene again , damn it .
I can’;t draw like you so i won’t demand much only protested even if i like your drawing alot .
ok let imagined this so even if you don’t draw it i can still imaginated it and visualized it , saving what left of my expectation.
IN the middle event bettwen the panel of the week before and rightnow
panel .
you should have give us a steering scene between both army , between a small platoon of medium infantry platoon and the whole russian refugees facing each other and ready there weapon ( becasue as i explain above the emotion show trusting that mean you actually let us missing alot of thing )
you should have show us how big the refugees is (welll that maybe in the next panel , because i know you would like to show us the scale of it , every artist like to do this , even myself , to draw a big escalation __)
but most of it is the russian army to show the might and potential threat to the UDF , who being caught suprised and confused that , is it MIKE is betraying , or those RUSSIAN heavy robot just play dumb and not kill them already , and then the whole division of russian army(refugees actually) just coming right by them ,caught them almost off guard since they pay much attention to MIKE coming out slowly .
and then those russian army looking mean , erhhh they look dangerous , holyshit they even brought the chooper and stuff , and there is only having 5 medium armor at the gate , we are over run 100(suppposedly number of russian army-(again refugees)) against 5 medium infantry standing at the gate , so the best word is WE SCREWWWWWWWW , oh man i don’t know i think i am gonna die .
ye mister average you should at that feeling to if not santell than his troop , you should let us see the silent conversation between each suit about the confusion and sudden fear awaken between the team member . NOT to mention about someone in the group mention to santell about the A-2 mine ( IT FULL OF DRAMATIC) also the reaction of soldier getting aim with there visor but not there machine gun ( to much showing — but the armor visor is silent , best tactic) ready to fired at any moment .
and then the russian girl , climb down from the minigun infantry from the 3 panel if you count from here to before .
SHow us some chooper wind , some noise , well even the shooting from the background even if it small .
damn it be like 20 panel if minimized , damn it my head rightnow is full of imagination to filling the gap of it arhhh it amazing .
i am gonna comment more but rightnow need to take a breath , writting those thing well , is only a small section of what i wanted to mention , i do need to upgrading my volcabulary thought , in the moment i writed that i actually forget about the word ” refugees and flexing ” high reflex .
oh and Mister averages can you give us a panel show us how to draw that russian girl ? i like her and since /. I never draw a girl before , so please show me right here rightnow please .
oh and one more movement i didn’t mention that you are missing is , finger off the grip movement from santell troop and him , it kind of reasured , it slow but dramatic . so that make it 5 panel if not included everything i said above , damn so that mean we cut alot of back ground heh.
you know if i can concentrated i think i like to draw as much action as possible . OH and i need to learn how to draw emotion too . yes i also need it .
there is a effect on me mister averages , when i saw the panel with the russian girl is the way she cry and the way she look , it make me feel hurt , softed , shy from it , i don’t wanted to look at it because the overwhelming emotion from it . IT just not every kind of webcomic or comic or draw can do this , and it amazing , please give us more .
The last panel drives me nuts because I keep imagining the panels closing up again and squashing his head flat — it seems that the rear hinges are either not high enough, or the “lid” isn’t curved enough. Maybe his head just isn’t low enough?
Otherwise, love this sequence.
Sorry for the duplicate, unsure what happened there.
Popping the top, is about the only way Santelli can make himself vulnerable without getting out. At first I thought there was a perspective shift between those panels. If you look at the one with the head, you can see off the edge of the frame the third interlocking piece folding out to the right as well. Between the images you go from chest view to 45 degree view. The thing I don’t like about that explanation is the light source on Santelli’s right (near) shoulder doesn’t change to correspond with that perspective shift.
I just spent about 30 minutes trying to figure out how I would get out of that Armored M&M. I doubt egress is something which can be done alone while the suit is upright. You could probably get in/out if it were on its back or front, but then there would be some interesting flexing rocking to get back upright. I bet under one of those flaps is a set of rings hooked to his inner suit. A derrick/hoist would then be used like for a deep sea diver hard-suit. The inner suit has catheter interfaces in the proper places and then a consolidated jack that sits at the cossix to plug you into the outer shell and activate the beast.
My realization was that as part of the suit removal process when the top is popped, the body is raised to facilitate egress — some sort of internal suspension. Looking at the overall design, that becomes almost a requirement. With the top hinged at the rear, the angle of the shoulders and leg joins would make rear egress nearly impossible. Unless the drivers are all double leg amputess — even then it would be tricky. Us humans don’t bend that way.
I think I’m going to go with the head being too high for where the panels were in their unfolded state.
I love everything else about this page– the fourth panel especially. Get close so we can see the indecision give way to resolution on his… eyepiece! 🙂
The last panel drives me nuts because I keep imagining the panels closing up again and squashing his head flat — it seems that the rear hinges are either not high enough, or the “lid” isn’t curved enough. Maybe his head just isn’t low enough?
Otherwise, love this sequence.
ah , wow never thought someone would think like that but hey i have being like that one , you should look from below to above , ok so it make as santell helmet open with a click and then review his helmet
squidDNA, you may well be right. It doesn’t bother me so much, but it’s definitely an awkward perspective. Ah, well, I’ll try to better next time.
–M
I think I’m coming off as very nitpicky here, sorry.
Hey just wanted to say thanks for making such a great webcomic for free. It really made my night reading from the beginning up to here. Your artwork and scripting is excellent, well done.
Hey, thanks for saying so. Doing comics these days is really a labor of love, and I’m glad to hear that people are enjoying it.
–M
Hey! Call me Autumn. I’ll be making only sporadic commentary around here. I discovered your work around page 100 and I’ve loved it ever since.
Also:
Privet, Tovarishch Polkovnik Talinina!
Hey, Autumn, thanks for looking this comic up! I’m very glad you’re enjoying it so far!
–M