Page 23 – Then The Answer is Simple
Another week goes by, and the first chapter keeps hurtling towards its conclusion. More airplanes on this one – here we have a Tupolev Tu-22M “Backfire” bomber, (or at least, my fictionalized version of one) dropping a thermobaric missile on Mike. I wonder if he can take the pressure?
Oy, bad puns. But I just couldn’t resist. At this point, by the way, I’m willing to call things officially back on the weekly schedule. However, I do so with one caveat: next week is Mother’s Day in the United States (and elswhere) and so I’m currently planning a trip to see my long-suffering “Ma” next weekend, and I encourage everyone to do the same, wherever possible. What that will mean for next week’s update is hard to say at this point, as a lot will depend on the schedule in my studio this week, but failing a full page, there will at least be some kind of holiday-appropriate filler material. But there will be an update.
Let me add, also, that the support I’ve gotten from readers old and new over the past two weeks in particular has really been great. I know that 6-Commando is far from alone in the webcomics world. Frankly, how it is that the “top ten” manage to get 20-40,000 unique hits a day is beyond me. But knowing that, even with my limited schedule and funding resources, I am still managing to produce something entertaining to the General Public, so to speak, is very reassuring.
Speaking of which, the folks at the New York Comic Convention have issued another delay in deciding whether or not I’ll have exhibiting space at the con in October, so no word yet there. There’s also editing work to be done once this chapter is done, and then I have to explore printing options, etc. So who knows. Also looming on the very near horizon is something entirely non-comics related: my architectural licensing process is about to get a lot more irritating, as there’s a mountain of deferred paperwork I have to wade through before June. So that’s in the mix. But all told, things are getting into a decent shape now and I’m rolling onward.
So have a good week, folks, and keep on posting, voting, and whatever else!
Simplicity: I loves it. 🙂
Thanks! I thought that the panels in mid-air were kind of understated, and that that would add to the impact of the blast in the last panel. I am really pleased with it – my intent was to make you really “feel” the shock of the explosion.
–M
I was referring to “Then the answer is simple…our troops will DESTROY it.”
But that works too. XD
Well.
Okay then. But of course, it’s NEVER that simple, is it? Though they say that the problem-solving ability of an explosion is directly proportional to its size.
–M
Out of wondering, did you read alot a great deal about the bolo tank’s?
I read Keith Laumer when I was younger, as well as other military sci-fi such as Heinlein’s Starship Troopers and Drake’s Hammer’s Slammers. But to be honest I tried to avoid rereading it before I started 6-Commando, for fear that it would influence me towards making the story too derivative. Mike-One-Echo and his Rumbler brethren are of course of the same lineage as Bolos, Ogres, and Land Ironclads, but I wanted them to be, in their way, unique. I hope I’m accomplishing it.
–M
Great page man. Great color choices for the explosion scene too.
I hope you get into the NY con so you can experience it a bit. It’s great to see that you are starting to get some good traffic too! I’m still confused at how a webcomic can get 40,000 unique views a day. It seems to me like it’s about commitment more then anything. If you can keep posting progress on a weekly schedule then one by one people will be finding it and you will hold the interest of your existing fans. After 2 or 3 years, if you add a few fans a week or a handful with every ad campaign then you will wake up with a following you never thought possible. That’s what I’m learning anyway. 1+1+3+2+1+5+1+2. It just keeps slowly growing if you keep it up.
The endorsement means a lot, Jason. Thanks. Really.
And what you say us true – frankly, I think I’m doing pretty well, considering this is basically a start-up, with an untested art style and a rather unconventional kind of story. When you look at the “top ten,” they have over 200 pages under their belts, and have pretty much been established for several years. And I think that, recluse though I may be, conventions will be a good way to generate interest in the site, and ultimately in the book. Consistency is the key, as you say – which is why I’ve been pushing so hard to keep things on track recently. It’s like exercise. You have to keep it going, and it gets easier.
Thanks again!
–M
Use the new Sukhoi T-50 name. It is Russia’s newest jet fighter prototype, their version of a stealth fighter aircraft. There is no NATO nickname for this aircraft that I know of.
Thanks for pointing that one out! It’s always useful to have extra bits of tech in storage against future need. The T-50 may yet show up if we end up with air superiority issues in the story. Which we might!
–M
The T-50 has the NATO reporting name Felon. I’m not sure when that was assigned; probably between your post and mine.
If the plot calls for an FSR aircraft that doesn’t have an equivalent in our world, the reporting names do have a pattern behind them that can help with plausibility. If it’s propellor-driven (including turboprops), the name has is a one-syllable word. If it’s jet-driven, two syllables. Fighters get names starting with F, Bombers with B, Helicopters with H; there’s also a C initial, but I’m not sure of the range that it covers.
Thanks to Mathieu/Mr. Average for what’s developing into a very interesting work. I’ll look forward to seeing how the timeline of their world differs from ours, and how the characters fit into their world.
Out of interest, have you been playing a lot of Warhammer 40K? I’m seeing influences of the space marines in your shock troops, and it’s pretty cool.
And I will be wiled on for being a geek in 3… 2….
I think it’s pretty much impossible to do military sci-fi without somehow acknowledging the influnece of Warhammer, these days. The pauldrons on the UNA soldiers definitely give them a similar look, I freely admit. On the earlier pages they were smaller and more squared off but they just kind of developed in this direction as I went.
–M
Great page M! Top view of the first panel works very well, and the explosion in the last panel is just awesome. I can almost feel the shockwave!
Yeah, I was of two minds how to handle that scene, actually – I needed to break up the monotony of what was basically four pages of talking heads. A view from above was a nice change of pace. And I’m glad that the explosion gave the desired visual effect.
And as always, the support is much appreciated, Joost!
–M
Mike scoffs at your puny conventional cruise missile!
For just a moment I thought the Backfire was an A-5 Vigilante, and I got all excited.
Ah, a fellow airplane buff, eh? Well, it wouldn’t do for the Commies to be flying American bombers. But you have to respect the design of jets in the ’60’s. I’m still wondering whether or not they have stealth in this universe – mainly because I want to draw Nighthawks at some point.
Thanks for the comment, by the way, Arioch – you gave me some very good advice at the outset that helped get this comic get off the ground, so I’m glad you checked in!
–M
Well, i was remembered to ‘Bolo’ as well as DCL, but i think you are distinctive enough. ^^ I like your style so far, keep it up.
I’m glad you do! And yes, nobody can do giant tanks without at least acknowedging Kieth Laumer. But then, he got the idea from H.G. Wells!
–M
Hah, that’s cute. Mike’s about to curb-stomp your little defense force to ashes.
GEEZ, all those repeated hits! Mikes like an AT-AT on steroids!