I have to admit I’m kind of running on fumes here, because I have NO idea how I managed to finish this page. This was a really weird week when I had to go in every conceivable direction at once, and seemed to be doing everything but drawing comics. And yet, here it is. Wild.
I like this scene a lot. Actually, it’s going to look a lot better as a spread when the other page is finished, so I’ll stick the whole thing somewhere for you to see it next Monday. But I like that it accentuates Mike’s bigness. He’s not a small machine. And there’s good reason everyone is afraid he’s going off the rails – he could really ruin everyone’s day if he decided he wanted to.
As for me, well, I’m turning in. It’s going to be another big one this week, but I’m up for it. And now that we’re “over the hump” with this chapter and events are starting to accelerate, the prospect of getting to draw the rest of the chapter is really exciting. And this one is building up to my second-favorite scene in the entire story, which I’ve been dying, just DYING to draw for three years now. So I’m really starting to have fun with this.
Anyway, until next week, folks, be well!
Great page
We have yet to see Santelli’s face but I’m sure he’s ‘very’ alarmed.
I wonder if we’ll EVER see Santelli’s face.
–M
Are the three star “crosses” on the UNA logo symbolic of something? Something… specific to MIKE? :OOO
It’s the retconned crest of the UNA, which I was trying to go halfway to looking like NATO as well, since they’re far more of a military alliance than the Real UN. The stars are for Europe and North America, Africa and Australasia, which is where all the UNA member states are situated.
–M
“There is no reason to be alarmed. They replaced my original programming with a Bending Unit AI.”.
I wonder if Mike has a degree in Robo-American Studies… 😉
–M
$10 that Mike’s mother was a Killdozer
Mike’s mother was an automated factory complex in Iselin, New Jersey.
–M
I’m so the captains first name isn’t Dave…
I’m sorry, Steve, I’m afraid I can’t do that…
😀
–M
I thought it would probably be incredibly redundant of me to suggest Mike’s voice should sound like Douglas Rain, so I won’t.
Oh, wait…
I find it very hard not to hear Mike’s voice as anything else. Although Kevin Spacey’s rendition of GERTY from “Moon” would be close to the mark as well.
–M
I always imagined Mike’s voice similar to Mark Strong.
Why is it, when people tell me “There is no reason to be alarmed” I suddenly feel VERY Alarmed? I guess its human nature to freak out at those words, wondering, just what it is that we are not supposed to be alarmed by.
By the way, I hope someone is going to explain to Mike soon, just why the world is a radioactive cinder.
You win the prize for picking up on the tone, here. I was trying so hard to strike that chord – that Mike is inscrutable and, in spite of everything, still pretty threatening, to people who have reason not to trust him. You just don’t know what’s going on in his computerized brain. Not yet, anyway.
–am
Its kind of hard NOT to feel threatened by something that was built, expressly for the purpose of intimidation. Mike is a land going Dreadnought, less of a weapon and more of an instriment of terror, intended to cow potential adversaries into submission before a shot is even fired. In that respect its hard to see him as anything but a threat, when he is ultimately a robotic attack dog.
“There is absolutely no reason to be alarmed by the fact that I’m now miraculously undamaged.”
Well, not ENTIRELY, but pretty smoothly patched up, for sure. I was wondering when someone would comment on that… 😉
–M
I wonder what happened to the engineers trapped in the vehicle bay once Mike turned into whatever he turned into?
No red eyes == not evil.
Blue eyes == innocent.
Simple logic, right? 😉
Maybe. One never knows. 😉
–M
No reason to be alarmed…though there may well be in about five minutes once my motors have warmed up and capacitors are topped.
Is what I imagine a crazed A.I. running an advanced piece of military hardware such as Mike.
That said I’d wager the only thing Mike is charging up would be his internal coffee maker.
…he does have one right?
I’m sure he does, but I think adding caffeine to his equation would be a bad idea at this point. 😉
–M
I can hardly imagine what you had to go through, but if this page is what you can do running on fumes, you sir are incredible!
*bows to you in respect*
Kudos for pulling it off…now go hit the rack for a couple of days (if possible) 😉
Thanks, man. I only wish the world would slow down and let me be a cartoonist. But that ain’t how the system works!
Seriously, though, I’m really glad you like the page. These are finally getting towards the kind of soft cel-shaded color that I’ve been striving for, and this one in particular really just came together right on the page.
Having access to an actual tank to draw from was an advantage, too – the local VFW post put an M47 on their front lawn last week!
–M
I would expect Mike the Rumbler to have an alien but strong electronic synthetic voice. Too calm and at odds with his enormous size and power and under combat conditions.
It also seems that the double domes back at the institute made Mike’s electronic brain better than any would expect. Too good perhaps.
I think, at this point, Mike’s “creamy middle” is advanced beyond what anyone ever expected. Teach someone to learn, and you are opening a real can of worms.
–M
MIEK. Y U SO SMEXY?
He was just made that way. 😉
–M
Does Mike Sound like Liberty Prime?
I don’t know what Liberty Prime sounds like. But I lean more and more towards Kevin Spacey.
–M
Look up fallout 3 Liberty Prime. Then you’ll know.
How will we know if they have done something to Mike’s mind!?
…If it starts singing about a so called Daisy, well, I’ll take that as a signal he has gone out of his circuit board O_O
I stumbled onto this site about two days ago, and I’ve been spending hours reading up to this point! This is beautiful, fantastic stuff.
When I read or consume any kind of media, I look for media made out of what my soul is made out of. I have an ordinary, simple life with an average soul. I’ve figure it only takes an extraordinary expert to put a little soul like mine in writing.
This is better than that. This is something I’d like to eat and make my soul out of. Tasty stuff. Beautiful art, well researched construction, and a solid look into the human condition.
Wow. High praise, man – THANK you! It’s been on summer hiatus as you know, but it helps me get back into it to know that people are really getting something out of it. I’m glad!