Page 20 – He’s Coming For You!
I really like this page. And not just because I got it out on the weekly schedule I have been working to get back to, but because I really think it hangs together just the way I wanted it to. It’s also the start of a rather experimental layout design which will unfold over the next few weeks, and which I think will be cool. It might also backfire on me. But we’ll just have to wait and see.
So. Major Bronniford’s lines here are based on an apocryphal story from World War II that I heard when I was a kid. As it goes, an American pilot was downed by the Japanese just after the first atomic bomb fell on Japan. His captors interrogated him and beat him, demanding to know about “the bomb.” The airman knew nothing about the atom bomb, of course, but as an act of defiance, he told his interrogators “That was one of the small ones. We have a thousand more that are twice the size!” In this case, I thought it an appropriate thing for Sarah to say. Not to mention the fact that she has managed to remain pretty good-looking, even though she’s had the crap beaten out of her.
The Federate tanks in the last panel, by the way, are based on the ISU-152, a late-war assault gun that the Russians used very successfully against German tanks and gun emplacements. I have tried to give the FSR troops a slightly more rugged and primitive-looking technology than the United Nations – broken bits, bent and dented plates – to make them seem a little more like veterans, and a little more down-and-dirty than their enemies. It’s a balance, though. In most American films and literature from the Cold War, Russians are depicted as either bunglers or sociopaths, and the real Soviets were neither. As John Le Carré wrote “If you make your enemy look stupid you lose your justification for taking them on.” And so I wanted my “Soviets” (who the FSR is basically a stand-in for) to seem like a geunine threat, but without being over-the-top. They’re soldiers, and they’re very good at what they do. But they’re also rational and reasonable – they aren’t fanatics. At least, not all of them. And there are some UNA soldiers who are crazy in their own ways, too.
In any event, here we are. Back on schedule for now. Thanks to everyone who’s voted and to all of you who have kept following along! The daily hits have settled into a neat groove for the time being, meaning that there’s a very good reader base out there – the advertising seems to have spiked my hits and then backed off, as expected, but there’s a solid base of readers following along now, so to all of you, thanks! (Interesting side note: Germany is now the number two nation following 6-Commando – surpassing Canada this week!)
So anyhow, I’ll be back next week, and as previous weeks have shown, posting here is welcomed, even encouraged, and I try to answer every post, so go for it! Keep on rolling, and don’t forget to vote, post, write reviews, and pass the link to friends!
Those guns remind me of the German STUG…..god I hate the German Stug….
I was always partial to its design, actually, impractical though it may be as a modern weapon. The Swedes tried it most recently, with the S-Tank, but laying the gun and not getting outmaneuvered is basically impossible when you’re up against turreted tanks. Still, the ISU series seemed a good way to give the FSR a bit of heavy gunnery with a distinctive look. Mike is pretty powerful, but the Republicans are still able to put up a decent fight.
–M
I really like Mike. I hope he becomes a major character. 😀
Nice art and story and keep up with the updates!
I’m really glad you’re enjoying it so far! What with 45-50 hour weeks and all, it’s tough to keep it together, but I’m making a go of it. And a little encouragement can go a long way, so thank you!
And don’t worry – Mike is one of the main characters. There’s a lot more story yet!
–M
Let’s see… if he does act like a BOLO those units fireing on him will be destroyed before the last one can fire it’s first round, none of their’s will impact close enough to damage him… and he’ll have time to stop and pick up a t-shirt at the souvineer stand.
And that’s just a Mark II model….
“I’m not the Devil… I’m his landlord, and he owes me rent.”- Unk. M1A2 tank commander heard over company channel
Well, he isn’t actually a BOLO, he’s a Rumbler. So he’s not quite as quick as THAT. But he is pretty good at what he does.
But as I’m drawing the next page right now, I won’t say any more!
–M
Oh no, I know he isn’t but with the current trend in radar guided artillery and the use of doppler radar detection to find the source of incoming artillary I’m sure Mike has something to cope with incoming rounds and since “he” uses both set peramitters and fuzzy logic to operate I’m sure “his” reaction will be swift and effective. After all an A.I. advanced enough to operate independant of man on the battlefield must be flexible… and effective.
oh be still my beating heart.
Yeah, I know a week’s a long time to wait between updates. But I have to keep the rent paid! It’s an odd thing having basically two jobs, both of which you love to do. But the one which pays is the priority.
–M
Great looking page M! Can’t wait to see the next one.
P.S. Good to see your ads are paying off. I mean all these people with in depth knowledge of tanks and warfare and such, who are commenting here, really cool!
Thanks once again for the compliment! I am certainly glad to see the comments as well, Joost. A little bit of publicity goes a long way, and knowing that people find your work entertaining is extremely encouraging!
By the way, I listed my comic on belfrycomics.net, and though the list is mostly devoted to the “furry” community, I’ve had a bit of low-level but very consistent traffic from there, and a number of very insightful comments from the readers. I recommend you list Semmie there, as well – I think it’d play well with their readership.
–M
Thanks M! That’s some excellent advice, I’m going to list there. You see I haven’t got a strategy right now for promoting because I don’t want to spend all my spare time “promoting”. I figured I need to promote it there where I attract a specific focus group that will most likely like my comic. Up till now I didn’t have any idea where to start but belfrycomics.net looks like a really good first step.
Thanks again!
Is there a forum for this webcomic?
I think this is basically it, as of now. I might add one in later if there’s enough demand for it, but this is a pretty tight group right now so the extra site space (and the time I’d have to put in moderating a forum) isn’t worth it just yet.
I won’t write it off entirely, but rather asnwer with a resounding “Maybe Sometime.”
–M
Well I am sure you wont have any lack of willing volunteers for moderating stuff >.>
Not that I want it, but I would be happy to volunteer…
hint hint nudge nudge wink wink