COMIC - File #161: "#OccupySpringfield"

Cobra doesn't take rebellion kindy.


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COMIC - File #160: "The Way Of The Sword"

They didn't always get along.


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COMIC - File #159: "Grass Snake"

This one's a tad cliché, I know. Still, you might enjoy it regardless. It has Wild Bill in. That's gotta count for something, right?


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Q&Ages 25 & Up #27: September 2011

If there's one thing A25U readers are besides made of win, it's curious! This month, we have some more questions from the A25U community. Do I have what it takes to provide decent answers? Let's find out.

Question #1 - Loose Cannon asks:
Are we done with mini-Joes? Bring back more Star Wars or Marvel Universe stuff.

1337W422102 answers:
The Combat Heroes' story is over. Sorry it ran for so damn long.


Question #2 - Solid Strider:
I'm a huge fan of snow dios, any plans to do one this winter? The last one I recall was the Bionicle storyline.

1337W422102 answers:
I haven't thought that far yet, and weather is a real important factor in this, not to mention that I don't have much arctic-themed stuff. But I'll try to work something in!


Question #3 - Flint-wo2 ask:
Will we see Duke Nukem again???

1337W422102 answers:
Duke got screwed over back in #123 and joined the fray during the Combat Heroes story, eventually being critical in getting rid of Cobra's Size-Adjustment Ray System (aka SARS). Unfortunately, things didn't end so well for him.

Have we seen the last of him, though? Let me put it this way: Always Bet On Duke.


Question #4 - Night Viper 143 asks:
Besides Roadrock... who else are you going to be looking forward to including in your comic from the upcoming movie?

1337W422102 answers:
Wait, what? What makes you think I'm interested in anything from that line?


Question #5 - Meddatron asks:
What is one figure/character that has never had an action figure made of, that you wish they did because you either really would like to have in the comic or even have jokes that would work for character in the comic?

1337W422102 answers:
I'd spend four years travelling the Land of the Dead for a some Grim Fandango figures. I'd like to try to make my own Manny Calavera using Stikfas, but I don't think I'd do the character justice.

Hell, I dressed up as Manny for the last Montreal Comiccon, if that's any indication of my love for that game. Ah, how I long for the days when the LucasArts logo was an indication of quality, a medal to be earned.


Question #6 - Meddatron asks:
I know you're a video gamer, and I probably know this answer but got to hear it from the man. Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat? and why?

1337W422102 answers:
I could go into a long-winded rant about the nature of fighting games being inherently based in strategy, characters' moves needing to have priority over other moves but still maintain balance ("Will Dude's standing roundhouse go through Bloke's jumping uppercut?"), games should be more than just LOLGORE, diversity of characters instead of just pallette swaps, balance of characters (even boss fighters and without special moves) and all kinds of other shit, but I'll spare you the details.

But for me, it was Tuesday.


Question #7 - Meddatron asks:
Any chance we get a horror episode for Halloween, maybe akin to The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror?

1337W422102 answers:
Hell yeah, let's do it. I'll make a Halloween-themed Batteries Not Included, too.


Question #8 - Monkeywrench asks:
You have done several challenging comics like the epic silent one, classic #100 stop motion and the Noir story arc. What will be the next challenging comic?

1337W422102 answers:
I don't know yet. I'd like to keep things relatively simple though, since it's my last semester of university, but I'd be doing you guys a disservice if I didn't go all-out. One item on my to-do list is revisit a stop-motion series I used to before I'd started the comic. I had planned three story arcs but only made one. I'd like to remake it as a comic and finish off the story... eventually. It's not Joe-related after the first story, so it'd have to be an "Ages 25 & Up Presents" sorta deal.


Question #9 - Monkeywrench asks:
If there was going to be a live action film based on your Joeverse, what story arc would they use and why?

1337W422102 answers:
I have no idea. The Real American Teamup story with Captain America might work because it'd be easy to merchandise and might work in other countries due to the interpretation of the Cap being taken as social commentary. Maybe.


Question #10 - Monkeywrench asks:
Zombies, Werewolves or Whores?

1337W422102 answers:
Zombies are an overdone fad that needs to end. Werewolves are forever ruined by furfiends and Twilight kiddies.
Bring on the girls.

That's it for this month! Thanks again, gang.

COMIC - File #158: "Falling With Style"

Late once more. This time, it was due to a friend's engagement party, so I guess it's a decent-enough reason, right?

...right?



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COMIC - File #157: "I Don't Get It, Not One Bit!"

I owe you guys a post-comic-con report. But more importantly, I owe you a new comic. Again, sorry for the delay.


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New comic delayed unti (at the earliest) Sunday

I hate to do this, but I'm just too busy right now to get it done. Lots to do this weekend, including the Montreal Comic Convention, where I'll be tomorrow, dressed up as Manny Calavera from Grim Fandango. Give me a shout if you see me.

COMIC - File #156: "Let's Do Lunch"

I'm later than usual this week. Sorry, guys...


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COMIC - File #155: "The Shrunk Machine"

At long freakin' last! The final issue of the "Heroic Combatants" story. I'm now aware that I've been running this story in some shape or form since January, and the story itself is caused by an event that happened back in December of 2009.

Y'see, I got this crap all planned out. Yeah.

Anyway, here's the conclusion of the story. Questions linger, but they'll be addressed later. Right now, let's move on, yes?


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Q&Ages 25 & Up #26: August 2011

Ready to get some answers? Let's rock.

Question #1 - G.I.Eddie asks:
Any plans to get Cap a new costume (like you did with the 25th figures) since the movie line has given us so many choices?

1337W422102 answers:
Other than maybe a Captain Britan to antagonize Union Jack and/or a Red Skull, I'm not getting anything from that line.

The Cap got a new costume in #146 "Two Holidays With One Stone." His new outfit looks like it's made of iron and custom-made for a patriot.


Question #2 - G.I.Eddie asks:
I may have asked this before, but since the weather's nice, do you have any plans to shoot any comics, or part of them, outside?

1337W422102 answers:
Not currently, but damn, you're right. It's going to get shitty out real soon, so I'd better step on it.


Question #3 - G.I.Eddie asks:
After seeing Connery in the Jeopardy comic, it got me thinking... any chance you could do a custom with maybe the SDCC Destro in a suit to create 007?

1337W422102 answers:
No chance at all. I don't have that Destro, I probably wouldn't make a custom out of an exclusive, and I don't have a young Sean Connery head, either, you know?


Question #4 - G.I.Eddie asks:
Since Fighting 1:18th is a bit more of a site for grown-ups, have you considered doing a hard R- or even X-rated comic?... with Clutch's hijinx and the suitcase full of cash that Destro comes with, I bet you could have a lot of fun...

1337W422102 answers:
Just because I have an account at that site doesn't mean I'm going to completely re-brand the comic, dude. I post at JoeCanuck.com (the leading Canadian Joe community), so would I make Guardian from Alpha Flight the main character? Would I replace the whole cast with Jedi for my friends at BanthaSkull.com, the greatest motherkriffing Star Wars forum ever? I could go on like this for a while, but you get the picture, and I don't want to sound like a passive-aggressive prick.

I don't have that Destro and I don't think I'd feel right cutting up an exclusive to make a custom. R-rated? The language in the comic is colourful enough without overdoing it, and excessive amounts of Photoshopped gore would be really, really tacky. And X-rated? Really? Do you really want to see the badly-done customs I would have to make for that sort of stuff interacting that way?


Question #5 - G.I.Eddie asks:
There have been so many great 1:18th figures coming out lately, be it PoC, or Marvel or any of the movie lines... When can we expect more cameos? They are my fave part of your comics...

1337W422102 answers:
I'm very selective in the figures that I buy. Just because it's 1:18th and/or a character I know doesn't mean I'm going to buy it. I love putting in non-Joe cameos. Just look at the current story: Joes teamed with Autobots and Indiana Jones, with Duke Nukem around! Expect more cameos, well, pretty much at any time. You never know who'll end up in the Joes' stockade or have a drink with Beard Force.


Question #6 - G.I.Eddie asks:
Halloween's coming up... great opportunity for a costume comic... Flash could be the nerdy guy that goes way over the top and makes a full on Voltron costume... and all the chicks can dress up as slutty *insert anything here*

1337W422102 answers:
Other than headswaps or just saying this figure is another character dressed up (like Clutch in the S.N.A.K.E. Armour), there's not really much I can do. Well, other than dressing 'em up in different vests and harnesses and stuff. But now that you mention it, yeah, I'd like to make a Halloween issue. I don't think I've done that before.


Question #7 - Monkeywrench asks:
You have run contests before, what's the chances of running a custom figure contest or even just a figure contest in general where readers would send you figures and you would create a story arc just using those figs?

1337W422102 answers:
I don't mean to hate on anyone's customs, but YOU made them so they're YOURS. You made the figures, you made up the characters, you know their stories. If you want those stories to be told, only you can tell them. And I'd feel really bad if I took your figures and didn't do them justice.

That being said, reader, toy supplier, and all-around great guy D.Chan provided me not only with a bunch of figures that I wasn't able to find myself, but also many custom figures and characters. Squads of expendable troopers, Cobra subgroups, servicemen from Fort Wadsworth who feel the Beard Force is giving the Army a bad name, vehicles and drivers, a team of battle-harded ladies who can give Clutch and the boys a run for their money, and more. He didn't just make the figures, either -- each of his characters have their own filecards with names, backstories, personalities... I want to use them before I go asking other folks to send in their stuff.

He's the one who made the Cover Girl from the Christmas 2011 issue that a lot of folks asked about. D.Chan, if you're reading this, thanks again! I sure hope I can do your figures justice.


Question #8 - Monkeywrench asks:
If you could go back and redo or change a previous story or comic... Which one and why?

1337W422102 answers:
There's a lot I'd do differently. The Plastic Gear Solid: Tactical Espionage Action Figures story wasn't paced well and kept jumping back and forth between attempts at humour and accuracy to the serious story of the game. I'd rework that one for sure. Unfortunately, real life tends to dictate how much I can do with the comic during a certain week, so sometimes I have to cut scripts in half and spend two weeks telling what I had originally planned on doing in one. That's part of why some stories drag on and on.

Another thing I'd change is layout. I really don't like the way I arrange my panels. Layout is literally an afterthought, so the comic looks like a messy collage instead of, you know, a page out of a comic book, which is what I'd like. I think I'm just making panels too big. The layout would improve if the panels were smaller, but then there'd be tiny-ass pictures and it might be boring. I don't know.


Question #9 - Monkeywrench asks:
The second Joe "movie" has started filming. Can we get an official statement from you on your early thoughts?

1337W422102 answers:
It seems to me like they're trying really hard (if not TOO hard) to make Joe fans think that Hollywood gives a fraction of a shit about them.


Question #10 - Monkeywrench asks:
Let me throw an idea out to you: Ages 25 and Up: Special Missions featuring Cap! What do you think?

1337W422102 answers:
He'll cut down his foes like he cuts taxes for the mega-rich. He'll liberate your head from your neck. Captain Freakin' America.

"Hey, Cap, we're gonna get some lunch. You want Chinese takeout?"
The Cap spits and replies, "I'd rather take out the Chinese!"

I'll be completely honest: I'm really kind of getting tired of my Cap dude. I know a lot of readers like him, but I feel that I'm just making the same jokes again and again. He'll be bad, hence the new suit, but I don't want to overdo him like I did Rezzy-T, the Resolute Trooper who acts like a wannabe rapper. Hell, even I got tired of Rezzy.


Question #11 - Monkeywrench asks:
Is Rezzy T really dead?

1337W422102 answers:
Well, Rock N Roll shot him 9 times with the HumVAMP's gatling gun in #153, so he'll be gone for at least a while. Whether he recovers and thinks the incident gives him street cred, well, we'll wait and see.

Considering that he's the only Resolute Trooper produced at all, I don't want to write him out. So we'll see him again, but maybe this time, he'll know better and keep his mouth shut.


Question #12 - Monkeywrench asks:
How many action figures do you own?

1337W422102 answers:
You mean you guys count how many figures you own? You know the size of your collection doesn't make your penis any bigger, right?

I really have no idea, but at least several hundred from all kinds of different series and toy lines. My collection is definitely not growing exponentially like it used to. I'm glad it isn't. I'm running out of space. And cash. Luckily, crap movie toys and lack of availability/shitty distribution of the stuff I actually want helps me from spending as much as I would otherwise. That and great friends who help with the hunting.


Question #13 - Monkeywrench asks:
#150 was Awesome and thanks for using my idea! We talked about this before but when is a 25 and Up Wiki page going to get started?

1337W422102 answers:
Before anyone gets any crazy ideas, I didn't play favourites and pick Monkeywrench's idea because he's the unofficial Ages 25 & Up community manager/liason/badass. I chose it because it fit the criteria I was looking for in that it was short, easy to put together (didn't require making customs or elaborate sets or anything), and I thought it'd be funny to have Sean Connery played by Sean Connery. There were a lot of other great ideas, including an incredibly cool-sounding cowboy story with Wild Bill and Spirit!

The A25U wiki has already been started. I've been working on it over the summer. But I don't want to officially launch it until there's enough content on it. Otherwise it'd be pretty useless and filled with red links and "TO BE ADDED" reminders to myself. I'm trying to keep the articles short with links where needed, and pictures along the way. Nothing fancy. As always, your support and patience means everything to me. Thanks, guys!