THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Comic Discussion => ALICE GROVE => Topic started by: brasca on 01 Oct 2016, 00:57

Title: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 01 Oct 2016, 00:57
While it might be interesting to see what the space kids can do without their body guards I'm leaning to an outcome that has the most buddy comedy potential.  As such Mr. Bad News may be waiting for them at the wagon and will subdue Alice and carry off her and Ardent while Gavia and Sedna escape.  Might get some back story about her and Alice as well as a chance for Gavia to find out she's not as helpless as she thinks without her nanotech.     
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: JimC on 01 Oct 2016, 02:14
Interesting that we don't actually know what plans Pate has for the space kids. Knowledge is to a certain extent power, and there's curiosity besides, so its obvious any executive would want to meet them, especially in light of the moon incident. However, assuming that the Ardent capability is not known, big assumption  perhaps, what *use* are they?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 01 Oct 2016, 04:10
Interesting that we don't actually know what plans Pate has for the space kids. Knowledge is to a certain extent power, and there's curiosity besides, so its obvious any executive would want to meet them, especially in light of the moon incident. However, assuming that the Ardent capability is not known, big assumption  perhaps, what *use* are they?

Pate could be an eccentric who likes to collect rare things and people or their knowledge of the space habitats is what interests him and with Mr. Bad News by his side he gets his way every time, but the bigger mystery is why someone so powerful takes orders from someone who is likely a baseline human who's only power is political.  Can he think on his own or was he so badly injured in the great war that he can be manipulated by schemers?  Or is he in his right mind and just works with people like Pate because they're the best way to flush out immortals like Alice and Sedna so he can hunt them down?  We'll probably find out in the month ahead. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 01 Oct 2016, 06:05
I voted 'yes' but only a certain value of 'yes'. I think that they'll make their escape but it will be a close one and the two Super-Soldiers will end up injured. Gavia and Ardent will thus find themselves in the difficult position of being care-givers (a responsibility far beyond anything they've had before and one they are ill-equipped on a mental or emotional level to bear).
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 01 Oct 2016, 10:59
I'm getting a Mad Maxy vibe here. We have met an imposing lady running a small community in the desert. We have met the local MasterBlaster. A chase scene may be coming up...

Probably no member of our party of four will die. But they may get separated. It could easily happen that Alice and the Vicissitudes need to make a run for it, and cannot wait for Sedna. They will be worried sick, but they will be reunited a few dozen (or hundred) strips further down.

Or, they start the run together and Bad News and Pate begin their chase (Sedna's sabotage not getting noticed and/or not taking effect immediately). They are about to catch up our struthi powered friends when the sabotage finally ruins their engine. If this were a movie, Sedna would leap from the cart to their carriage to complete the sabotage. A fight scene on the roof ensues...

Can we squeeze more tropes in there?

---

Anyway I picked the "Sedna will get captured" -option in the poll because it is closest to my theory that: they need to leave without Sedna, thinking that she may be captured or killed, but she really wasn't and comes to their aid at a later critical stage.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Tova on 02 Oct 2016, 00:06
Ardent will be captured.

Gavia will ultimately need to overcome her resentment to rescue him.

One of my few bouts of speculation.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 02 Oct 2016, 06:15
Ardent will be captured.

Gavia will ultimately need to overcome her resentment to rescue him.

One of my few bouts of speculation.

Gavia wouldn't need to overcome her resentment to rescue Ardent.  The desire to return home is all the motivation she needs.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 02 Oct 2016, 14:21
I do hope Jeph avoids tropes or some interminable chase sequence. Jeph is taking some chances with this webcomic and honestly it's really his best work to date blending action, adventure, comedy and a great storyline together.  QC is a great webcomic, but there's a bit of a "small world" feeling to it because of the intimate nature of the interactions and somewhat repetitive gags. Nothing wrong with that, but the fresh, expansive nature of Alice Grove is (IMO) more interesting.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Tova on 03 Oct 2016, 03:47
Ardent will be captured.

Gavia will ultimately need to overcome her resentment to rescue him.

One of my few bouts of speculation.

Gavia wouldn't need to overcome her resentment to rescue Ardent.  The desire to return home is all the motivation she needs.

Yes, that ought to be enough to overcome her resentment. Probably.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 03 Oct 2016, 05:49
Ardent will be captured.

Gavia will ultimately need to overcome her resentment to rescue him.

One of my few bouts of speculation.

Gavia wouldn't need to overcome her resentment to rescue Ardent.  The desire to return home is all the motivation she needs.

Yes, that ought to be enough to overcome her resentment. Probably.

But's it's not really overcoming resentment.  It's treating Ardent as a means to an end and once that end is achieved she can do as intended and be rid of him.

Perhaps this is for the best albeit temporarily since they may learn more about themselves if they are separated for awhile.  One possibility within the ones listed is they get away, but have to split up since Mr. Bad News can't chase 2 groups headed in opposite directions.  Gavia seems more adept at surviving than her brother so perhaps some time away with Alice or Sedna may be good for her and everyone else involved.  I think deep down she doesn't really hate him, but to blame the praeses is like blaming her parents or gods and she refuses to consider the possibility that she was a disposable pawn in whatever game they are playing.  Can you blame her?     
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 03 Oct 2016, 15:41
Third of the month! I think this is the earliest I've remembered that there's a new thread every month in quite some time.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: FunkyTuba on 03 Oct 2016, 15:47
or is it time for a PLOT TWIST?!?!
(click to show/hide)

Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Gyrre on 04 Oct 2016, 06:41
Hmmm... I wonder if Pate's glasses are depicted as such to vsually represent that he's blinded by his own ambition?

His body guard also has a thing going on with his eyes. Possibly heterochromia, or perhaps he's blind in one eye (or used to be). Either way, more potential symbolism.

Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 04 Oct 2016, 07:51
I'm just trying to parse Gavia's expression in that last panel.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 04 Oct 2016, 15:03
I'm just trying to parse Gavia's expression in that last panel.

Concern mostly.  I'm not sure what all Alice told her, but if they are leaving abruptly and secretly then she probably concluded that one of the new arrivals must be more powerful and considering what she knows Alice and Sedna are capable of that would be a very big cause for concern.  I would also add a tinge of frustration since this was the best chance to get home and it will either be postponed or they'll have to find another hidden bunker with a spaceship inside.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 04 Oct 2016, 20:46
Yea, I picked up on the emotion, just trying to attach it to a specific cause. Admittedly, it's an odd and troubling situation, I'm just curious what particular aspect has her concerned.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Eversist on 05 Oct 2016, 08:00
Just noticed this detail (http://imgur.com/a/GIVTS) when checking for an update today... Don't see it mentioned here yet. Heh.

Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 05 Oct 2016, 09:12
Staring up blue boy's nose?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 05 Oct 2016, 11:33
Yea, I picked up on the emotion, just trying to attach it to a specific cause. Admittedly, it's an odd and troubling situation, I'm just curious what particular aspect has her concerned.

Yeah. Not at all clear to me whether the concern is actually about the well being of her brother, or her pondering why Alice changed their plan all of a sudden.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 05 Oct 2016, 13:36
Just noticed this detail (http://imgur.com/a/GIVTS) when checking for an update today... Don't see it mentioned here yet. Heh.

I did, but just attributed it to an animation error.  Just like when Ardent is seen with a shirt on in one panel and then its gone in another where there wasn't a passage of time long enough for its removal.  While it's possible that Ardent could be carried away with Alice gripping him that way it cannot be good for his back.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: JimC on 06 Oct 2016, 08:05
Yea, I picked up on the emotion, just trying to attach it to a specific cause. Admittedly, it's an odd and troubling situation, I'm just curious what particular aspect has her concerned.
Probably wondering what Alice will do when Ardent throws up all over the back of her dungarees...
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 06 Oct 2016, 08:22
Yea, I picked up on the emotion, just trying to attach it to a specific cause. Admittedly, it's an odd and troubling situation, I'm just curious what particular aspect has her concerned.
Probably wondering what Alice will do when Ardent throws up all over the back of her dungarees...
Instinctively toss him a half mile away?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Neko_Ali on 06 Oct 2016, 08:23
Probably just hold him out at arm's length with one hand as soon as she feels the heaving.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: retrosteve on 06 Oct 2016, 20:10
Hey, is it just me, or does Ellie look (in panel 3) like she might even be considering his proposition?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 06 Oct 2016, 20:40
I think she's long figured out that he's harmless and is just amused at this point. Plus, he's drunkenly waving goodbye in that panel.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 06 Oct 2016, 22:53
He's actually mostly harmless.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 08 Oct 2016, 08:35
As Ardent waves goodbye, "so long, and thanks for all the beer".
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: JimC on 08 Oct 2016, 12:29
Up.

He looms.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 08 Oct 2016, 12:32
Maybe he does want to be friends.  For Sedna's sake I hope so or if he's smart enough to realize that if she's there Alice will be getting away with the space dwellers and will run off to stop them rather than kill her. 

And from the looks of it that carriage isn't solar paneled and that one pane above the driver is probably a windshield. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 08 Oct 2016, 13:00
Ohhhhhhhhhhh


Shit
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Neko_Ali on 08 Oct 2016, 13:19
Funny, I don't think he's a big softie like Elliot.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Stoutfellow on 08 Oct 2016, 13:33
I'm hoping against hope that he's got a set of jacks in his pocket.

[Many brownie points for anyone who catches the reference.]
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 08 Oct 2016, 13:40
Maybe Alice is wrong and he's just a big guy with mismatched irises.

I will say that Loom catching them trying to escape is about the least surprising story element I've seen in AG.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 08 Oct 2016, 14:21
Without a doubt he's big, but what's interesting is how someone that size continuously sneaks up on people.  Is it super speed or can he fly?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 08 Oct 2016, 14:26
It would actually be more interesting if they don't fight. Jeph is pulling the tension band tight. It will be interesting to see if the big guy is more than a murderbot.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 08 Oct 2016, 15:13
Yeah, okay, hands up whoever didn't see this one coming? Anyone? Anyone?

Now, if Sedna is smart, she'll run like fun, fun, fun and not look back. The problem is that no-one has ever accused her of being particularly smart, especially when it comes to her 'fighting things is fun' issue.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 08 Oct 2016, 15:37
Yeah, okay, hands up whoever didn't see this one coming? Anyone? Anyone?

Now, if Sedna is smart, she'll run like fun, fun, fun and not look back. The problem is that no-one has ever accused her of being particularly smart, especially when it comes to her 'fighting things is fun' issue.

Maybe, but with Alice she was fighting someone who even if they won wasn't going to kill her.  She doesn't know that with Mr. Bad News so it might be flight before fight this time. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 08 Oct 2016, 16:35
The obvious move is to grab the truck and swing it at him
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 09 Oct 2016, 00:16
If I were Jeph, I wouldn't even show the Sedna-Bad News fight. Instead I'd cut back to Alice & Kids waiting nervously, then making a break for it, then running into Bad News who effortlessly stops their wagon. Next strip, worse-for-wear Alice gets thrown into indestructible cell with worse-for-wear Sedna, and kids have an exposition-fest with Pate.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 09 Oct 2016, 03:12
Without a doubt he's big, but what's interesting is how someone that size continuously sneaks up on people.  Is it super speed or can he fly?

Seriously.

Sedna, assuming basic tactical competence, would have checked on Mr. Bad News's whereabouts before she started.

There's a story behind how he surprised her.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 09 Oct 2016, 05:21
Without a doubt he's big, but what's interesting is how someone that size continuously sneaks up on people.  Is it super speed or can he fly?

Seriously.

Sedna, assuming basic tactical competence, would have checked on Mr. Bad News's whereabouts before she started.

There's a story behind how he surprised her.

Maybe he has a cloaking device.  I forgot to consider that possibility.  It seems likely enough if Alice can generate some kind of shielding around her body then having some ability to bend light and possibly negate soundwaves seems possible. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 09 Oct 2016, 05:42
I'm still convinced that he something designed specially to take down super-soldiers. I which case, he may have some type of adaptation that specifically defeats their enhanced senses. Not a 'cloak' in the common sense but, rather, a jammer. It would probably not have worked on Ardent or Gavia.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 09 Oct 2016, 08:10
In Sergio Leone's classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, there's a convention that if the camera cannot see something, then neither can the characters in shot. On multiple occasions, this allows surprise entrances by characters who logically should have been seen approaching. Roger Ebert explains: (http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-1968)
Quote
In these opening frames, Sergio Leone established a rule that he follows throughout "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The rule is that the ability to see is limited by the sides of the frame. At important moments in the film, what the camera cannot see, the characters cannot see, and that gives Leone the freedom to surprise us with entrances that cannot be explained by the practical geography of his shots.

There is a moment, for example, when men do not notice a vast encampment of the Union Army until they stumble upon it. And a moment in a cemetery when a man materializes out of thin air even though he should have been visible for a mile.

Jeph doesn't need to explain how Bad News materializes out of thin air either. The old storytelling adage is "show, don't tell." Keep showing Bad News doing this, and it'll just be part of the character.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: FunkyTuba on 10 Oct 2016, 14:31
For those interested in Jeph's conceptional continuity, "quietly looming" has appeared as a character trait in QC's Elliot: http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1868

He's also intimated that it's a phenomenon he knows first-hand because of his own size.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: FunkyTuba on 12 Oct 2016, 11:18
doh. I just noticed a little inconsistency in Pate's wagon... 4 wheels/2 axles when it first appeared and 6 wheels 3 axles now ...

unless Ellie's got a mechanic's shop at the site that works on late model carriages and I should Really Just Relax  :-)
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: retrosteve on 12 Oct 2016, 13:21
With all due respect to Jim Butcher, I have just dubbed the big guy He Who Looms Behind.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: FunkyTuba on 12 Oct 2016, 14:16
He Who Looms Behind.

I was calling him "Heterochromia Goon" in the expectation that there would be other Goons that would take other Modifiers, but Pate appears to only need one Goon.

SO FAR.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 12 Oct 2016, 22:32
Quote from: Sedna
do I go subtle

If she ever does, it will be a side of her character we have not seen before.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 13 Oct 2016, 01:17
doh. I just noticed a little inconsistency in Pate's wagon... 4 wheels/2 axles when it first appeared and 6 wheels 3 axles now ...

unless Ellie's got a mechanic's shop at the site that works on late model carriages and I should Really Just Relax  :-)

From the angle where we first see Pate's carriage it's difficult to tell since his arm is blocking the rear axle. 

He Who Looms Behind.

I was calling him "Heterochromia Goon" in the expectation that there would be other Goons that would take other Modifiers, but Pate appears to only need one Goon.

SO FAR.

Until I know otherwise I'm still calling him Mr. Bad News. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 13 Oct 2016, 01:41
Loomis.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Neko_Ali on 13 Oct 2016, 07:45
Subtle for Sedna would just be ripping the axels off and throwing them a half mile in opposite directions.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 15 Oct 2016, 12:49
Strip is up! 

I'm hoping that was just an anime effect and Sedna's blood isn't spilling out her back, but even if it's not that cannot feel good.

It's still possible for Alice to escape with Ardent and Gavia since the carriage is smashed, but I don't think she can leave a comrade behind.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 15 Oct 2016, 13:25
So this is what Mr Bad News can do by squeezing with his fingertips. Now what will happen if he means business?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 15 Oct 2016, 13:42
Uncertain, but the odds of only the space dwellers escaping just increased dramatically.  Regardless of whether Alice is willing to leave a comrade behind she probably knows that it wouldn't take him long to catch up to the wagon unless someone slows him down.  She may tell Gavia to take Ardent and keep driving until she catches up with them and if she doesn't to make sure no one ever learns of Ardent's ability.

Either that or she'll just carry them both away which would be faster.  Alice may not want to leave Sedna behind, but if Mr. Bad News either subdues or kills her then who would guard her town?     
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 15 Oct 2016, 13:43
This is gonna get worse before it gets better.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 15 Oct 2016, 14:05
When you realise how tough the super-soldiers are (there is reason to believe that their skin is essentially impenetrable and their bones effectively unbreakable), the fact that this... thing is capable of shattering Sedna's shoulder like that probably puts its strength off of the top of any reasonable scale. I doubt that you could stop him with anything less than a capital ship-class laser or magnetic accelerator gun.

We will learn a lot about Alice, as a person and as a soldier, depending on whether she goes back for Sedna.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Zebediah on 15 Oct 2016, 14:17
And Sedna, realizing she'd been busted and was in danger, stayed on-mission and decided to take out the carriage anyway.

I expect Alice will go back for her. It's going to be another month-long no-holds-barred battle scene.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: KevxD on 15 Oct 2016, 14:35
I suspect it's been a long time since Sedna has felt pain like that.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 15 Oct 2016, 18:23
Well, in fairness he acted to stop her from destroying the vehicle AFTER she pummeled the front end. So far he's within his rights to defend his bosses vehicle from someone trying to destroy it for (from his perspective at this point) no actionable reason.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 15 Oct 2016, 21:53
Can Sedna recover from this?

A baseline could use normal organic self-repair.

Fixing Sedna might require technology that hasn't existed for five thousand years.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 15 Oct 2016, 22:42
Or maybe she heals herself once she's no longer being crushed. Hopefully.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 16 Oct 2016, 05:11
Well, in fairness he acted to stop her from destroying the vehicle AFTER she pummeled the front end. So far he's within his rights to defend his bosses vehicle from someone trying to destroy it for (from his perspective at this point) no actionable reason.

It's also the same justification for Alice's brutal take down of Gavia.  And her justification was Alice scared her.  While it seems unlikely perhaps Mr. Bad News may not be who Alice remembers him to be and may be a good man in the service of dubious boss.   


I expect Alice will go back for her. It's going to be another month-long no-holds-barred battle scene.

If it's anything like the so called minute long fight between Goku and Frieza then Jeph may very well be collecting a pension by the time it's over. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 16 Oct 2016, 06:57
Reminds me of the old joke:

Q: How many DBZ characters does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: One...but it takes forty episodes.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: TinPenguin on 16 Oct 2016, 12:07
I can hear those sound effects. I can feel them. :psyduck:
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 16 Oct 2016, 13:26
Yea, as someone who has had a massive shoulder injury, I definitely felt that one.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 17 Oct 2016, 04:40
Can Sedna recover from this?

A baseline could use normal organic self-repair.

Fixing Sedna might require technology that hasn't existed for five thousand years.

I think that having accelerated healing processes in place might have been a relatively high priority for bio-engineered soldiers. You know, protecting the investment of raising and training them. Of course, it being a government project, they might have concentrated on making the soldiers invincible, and cut the plans of making it easier to repair broken soldiers.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 17 Oct 2016, 13:59
And if all else fails, there's always Ardent.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Welu on 17 Oct 2016, 15:20
This strip made me audibly day, "Ow, ow, ow, ow...." Well done on the effectiveness of that panel, Jeph.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 17 Oct 2016, 18:52
So at this point what does the ability to be damaged and feel pain tell us about Sedna and Alice? In a prior strip Alice was manifesting some sort of armored suit right out of her body (it cut off her long hair) when fighting which is something a robot or  android would do. Now Sedna is screaming in pain in response to injury like a biological human.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 17 Oct 2016, 20:48
In that same story arc, Alice cried out in pain when a bullet hit her eye. It is obvious they gave pain receptors and respond to it it ways typical of biological organisms.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 18 Oct 2016, 04:17
We don't know that they aren't biological organisms.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 18 Oct 2016, 05:51
And if all else fails, there's always Ardent.

He's passed out drunk, but even if he could be awakened I'm not sure what he would do could be much help.  Perhaps he'd touch the carriage and upgrade it into an alcoholic Transformer. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 18 Oct 2016, 14:24
Ouzomus Prime?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 18 Oct 2016, 16:31
Ouzomus Prime?

I was thinking Blackout.  Similar to Knockout except with a perpetual Energon buzz and if Ardent has an additional influence over his personality matrix horny too.   
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: retrosteve on 19 Oct 2016, 12:36
Can Sedna recover from this?

A baseline could use normal organic self-repair.

Fixing Sedna might require technology that hasn't existed for five thousand years.

She's still organic. (All AI's were eliminated in The Blink. Anything godlike enough to sniff them all out wouldn't have missed Sedna.)  Organic beings heal on their own, eventually, if they don't die first. We are all just wondering how fast.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 21 Oct 2016, 05:58
And Sedna, realizing she'd been busted and was in danger, stayed on-mission and decided to take out the carriage anyway.
Yup. Mission comes first to Sedna by instinct.

On the other hand, Mr Bad News now knows that Sedna is not exactly baseline either. Few organically grown ones could do that much damage to the carriage with a single punch.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: TheEvilDog on 22 Oct 2016, 16:02
That...is one terrifying smile on Mr Bad News' face!

And holy crap, how much damage did he do to Sedna's shoulder?
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: wlewisiii on 22 Oct 2016, 16:04
Bravery? That's above & beyond levels. If she keeps him slightly occupied till Alice can get there she's levendary.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 22 Oct 2016, 16:43
The last time I saw someone smiling like that it was Alice and while Ellie may be tough for a baseline woman this fight will be shorter than that time with Gavia. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 22 Oct 2016, 17:22
I'm wondering how FAST Mr. Bad News is. The fact that Pate didn't ride him from the city suggests he's no quicker than baseline. OTOH if he's either fast or non-tiring, getting away from him could be a problem.

It goes without saying that standing and fighting Mr. Bad News is not a workable plan.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Tova on 22 Oct 2016, 17:27
Bravery? That's above & beyond levels. If she keeps him slightly occupied till Alice can get there she's levendary.

That's what I was thinking.

Don't blame her for breaking into a sweat, though.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: KevxD on 22 Oct 2016, 17:53
That final panel is brilliantly done, kudos to Jeph.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 22 Oct 2016, 20:22
The non-reaction to getting hit in the head is honestly more terrifying than the smile.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 22 Oct 2016, 21:43
He's a simple man. It doesn't take much to make him smile.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Kugai on 22 Oct 2016, 22:37
"I like Pie" 

Herpa derp
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 22 Oct 2016, 23:14
Ellie can swing a pipe hard enough to bend it around an obstacle. She might not be baseline.

How much did she know about Loomis? If she thought he was at all close to baseline, then using that much force showed intent to kill. If she knew he was a whatever-Alice-is, why the surprise that her attack failed?

Noble but futile attack in another universe (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=746).
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Welu on 23 Oct 2016, 04:05
That's an interesting reaction. I wonder if it's because getting attacked means he gets to attack back.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 23 Oct 2016, 05:52
 
Ellie can swing a pipe hard enough to bend it around an obstacle. She might not be baseline.

How much did she know about Loomis? If she thought he was at all close to baseline, then using that much force showed intent to kill. If she knew he was a whatever-Alice-is, why the surprise that her attack failed?

Noble but futile attack in another universe (http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=746).

Perhaps Ellie is descended from a line of super soldiers who were not in the same league as Alice or Sedna, but stronger than the average human or maybe she struck him with a pipe that was made of softer metal than steel.  Who knows what's been dug up from people who lived possibly a century after our time.  It would be more impressive if it wasn't for the fact that she's just picked a fight with someone that Alice fears.  When she first sees Mr. Bad News looming over her she probably assumed he was hired muscle and thought she had a chance with the element of surprise.  It could've worked if he was baseline or possibly the same vintage as Ellie, but he's not and I think that's why she's surprised.       

That's an interesting reaction. I wonder if it's because getting attacked means he gets to attack back.

Possibly.  If Mr. Bad News is indeed taking orders from Pate then he was probably ordered not to harm Ardent and Gavia because of the information they have as well as Alice and Sedna within reason.  I imagine Pate would love to hear what Sedna knows about the past and would order her taken down without killing her.  Ellie, however, is an archaeophile of some importance, but not enough to get the same leniency unless Pate steps in and decides to be merciful.  More than likely he'd use her death as an example for what happens to poor business partners.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: KevxD on 23 Oct 2016, 06:15
It's interesting to contrast the expression of Mr Bad News in the final panel with the first panel. In the first panel he seems almost bored.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Zebediah on 23 Oct 2016, 06:37
In the first panel it's "just business". But now he's going to have some "fun", for certain very horrible values of fun.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: pwhodges on 23 Oct 2016, 07:39
Cue Alice-to-the-rescue...
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 23 Oct 2016, 09:07
I think Ellie is baseline. She's just a burly gal; I wouldn't want to face her in a brawl, but she's not a super-soldier. If Bad News wants to, he can break her like an egg.

WRT who's coming to the rescue, I nominate Ardent rather than Alice. I think Bad News would have no more trouble with Alice than he did with Sedna, but Ardent is another thing entirely. Either he'll need to leave Ardent alone due to OrbitalKidz™ importance to Pate, and/or perhaps Ardent's nanobots have another trick up their sleeve.

After all, this is Ardent's last chance to impress Ellie.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: cesium133 on 23 Oct 2016, 09:10
*Ardent touches Mr. BadNews*
*Mr. BadNews turns into Giant Death Robot*
Alice: "I can't let that kid go anywhere...  :psyduck:"
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Pogopotamus on 23 Oct 2016, 11:45
*Ardent touches Mr. BadNews*
*Mr. BadNews turns into Giant Death Robot*
Alice: "I can't let that kid go anywhere...  :psyduck:"

I'm not going to chase down all the panels but I'm pretty sure Ardent has been in physical contact with Alice at multiple times with no nano infection happening, so how he would infect the big guy who is (seemingly)  a parallel bio-construct to Alice and Sedna is unclear.     
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 23 Oct 2016, 12:47
That's an interesting reaction. I wonder if it's because getting attacked means he gets to attack back.
Don't forget Alice's maniacal grin when fighting Gavia. At their core, they are sapient combat tools, even if they are capable of being more. I'm sure their is a certain satisfaction in performing one's primary function.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Is it cold in here? on 23 Oct 2016, 19:07
I just hope Loomis never says "To the Moon, Alice!".

Against an opponent like him Alice will need to operate with her full capabilities. That's going to be interesting. She may have worse things in reserve than creating pools of lava.

Raising the issue that Alice's full capabilities are not something to be unleashed if innocent bystanders are in range.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 23 Oct 2016, 21:24
If she truly has the capability of turning rock molten, that speaks to epic levels of power. The energy required to do that is not something you want to be anywhere near
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 23 Oct 2016, 22:17
From what I could tell, Alice is considerably more powerful than Sedna. But Eyeball* incapacitated Sedna so damn effortlessly that I'm honestly not sure who's stronger, him or Alice.

I wonder if Alice and Eyeball* are gods of sort.

*I just don't want to call him "Bad News" and couldn't think of anything else.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 23 Oct 2016, 22:20
Either way, it won't be fight like any Alice has likely had in thousands of years.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 23 Oct 2016, 22:23
I can't imagine Alice fighting unless she absolutely has to, if only because a fight between the two is surely to cause massive damage and to put everyone nearby at significant risk.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 23 Oct 2016, 22:26
Plus it would be a huge pain to draw.  :wink:
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 23 Oct 2016, 23:26
Based on Jeph's 'no-one is safe' Tweet, I'm worried that this thing has been knocked onto 'Full Auto' mode. It will now kill Ellie and will massacre the entire population of the dig site because any one of them could maybe be another hostile, even if it receives direct orders to the contrary.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: JimC on 23 Oct 2016, 23:35
Ellie can swing a pipe hard enough to bend it around an obstacle. She might not be baseline..
Or it could be fairly thin walled lead pipe which would bring weight and bend into human range.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Wildroses on 24 Oct 2016, 00:09
Well I'm alarmed. Sedna destroying the car didn't cause him to change his placid expression, just give a little squeeze which caused major damage still with his placid expression. And yet it's Ellie and her lead pipe that is getting an excited reaction. I don't hold out much hope for Ellie surviving this, baseline or not.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: sitnspin on 24 Oct 2016, 00:40
It is possible he has protocols in place that limit his behavior. A direct instigation of violence against him may have just given him to unleash hell, hence the look of sadistic pleasure.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Alesayr on 24 Oct 2016, 04:52
I'm looking forward to seeing what "our level bad news" can do. That said, it doesn't look good for Ellie here
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 24 Oct 2016, 05:55
I just hope Loomis never says "To the Moon, Alice!".

Against an opponent like him Alice will need to operate with her full capabilities. That's going to be interesting. She may have worse things in reserve than creating pools of lava.

Raising the issue that Alice's full capabilities are not something to be unleashed if innocent bystanders are in range.

Well we've seen that Alice has an armored form.  Perhaps she has 2 more transformations complete with dramatic music and guttural grunting. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 24 Oct 2016, 06:26
Well we've seen that Alice has an armored form.  Perhaps she has 2 more transformations complete with dramatic music and guttural grunting.

Plus a climactic battle that will take Jeph more than five years to finish publishing at an update rate of 1/week.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: brasca on 24 Oct 2016, 06:44
Well we've seen that Alice has an armored form.  Perhaps she has 2 more transformations complete with dramatic music and guttural grunting.

Plus a climactic battle that will take Jeph more than five years to finish publishing at an update rate of 1/week.

Speaking of DBZ.  Am I the only one who thinks Gavia could've been Frieza's kid?  When she was first introduced the resemblance was uncanny. 
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: hedgie on 24 Oct 2016, 08:43
Well we've seen that Alice has an armored form.  Perhaps she has 2 more transformations complete with dramatic music and guttural grunting.

Plus a climactic battle that will take Jeph more than five years to finish publishing at an update rate of 1/week.

Still moving faster than DoA.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: FunkyTuba on 24 Oct 2016, 12:27
one red eye kills my theory about biology-based heterorchromia :( and therefore goodbye to "Heterochromia Goon" (I was probably the only one still calling him that anyway)

I wonder if Alice and Eyeball* are gods of sort.

*I just don't want to call him "Bad News" and couldn't think of anything else.

"Eyeball" it is 👁
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: retrosteve on 24 Oct 2016, 16:57
I can't imagine Alice fighting unless she absolutely has to, if only because a fight between the two is surely to cause massive damage and to put everyone nearby at significant risk.

Alice has already made it clear that she doesn't think that she and Sedna, TOGETHER, are a match for He Who Looms Behind. Whatever rescue methods she employs, they probably won't be a direct fight if she has any choice in the matter.

As to Loomis' speed, I have to wonder if the reason he just appears behind you is that he moves silently in an eyeblink to that position. Supporting evidence:  http://www.alicegrove.com/page/8 shows Loomis appearing out of nowhere behind Alice, and she susses that he's stronger than her, right away.

Maybe she knows him, or recognizes the model. But maybe not. Maybe instead she is just really observant (soldier training: you watch your six), and KNOWS he was nowhere nearby a quarter-second ago.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Method of Madness on 24 Oct 2016, 16:59
I don't think it was so much she didn't think she could take him as much as she couldn't take him without massive amounts of collateral damage. But you could be right.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: retrosteve on 24 Oct 2016, 18:26
I don't think it was so much she didn't think she could take him as much as she couldn't take him without massive amounts of collateral damage. But you could be right.

She may not know enough about her opponent to judge one from the other. If my guess about his speed is right, all she knows for sure is that he's enhanced, he's bigger than her, and he's much faster (hence her fear on first glance). Those last two are enough of an advantage that she knows he won't be a pushover, and suspects that she may be totally outclassed.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: jheartney on 24 Oct 2016, 23:08
If Bad News is a Speedy Gonzales, then running away from him doesn't seem all that practical.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Skewbrow on 25 Oct 2016, 00:30
I think Ellie is organically grown. Her buff comes from a life-time of exercise using picks + shovels, lifting rocks and whatever her passion for archeological digging brings with it. She will suffer a nosebleed and some bruising (not unlike Gavia at Alice's hands).

But I don't think that we will see the epic Loomis/Bad News vs. Alice fight. At least not yet. I think that Mr Pate will emerge soon, and stop all fighting with a single word. This has the plus side that we will also learn the big guy's name. "Timmy. Stop."

Alice is on her way, sure. But I don't know if she will arrive sooner than Mr Pate. Some plans of some participants will be partially exposed in the ensuing discussion ("the need-to-know" trope familar from for example Dumbledore+HP heart-to-heart chats will be observed).
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Neko_Ali on 25 Oct 2016, 05:47
I don't think Loomis has super speed. Nobody has commented on him moving incredibly fast. That is the sort of thing that tends to make someone stand out, if they can  literally move great distances in the blink of an eye. I think that, through training or technology he just has a 'pay no attention to me' aura, or is naturally stealthy. That way he moves about, largely unnoticed until he chooses to call attention to himself, or someone realizes there is an eight-foot wall of muscle standing directly behind them. As Mr Pate's muscle/bodyguard he's probably cultivated that talent quite a bit.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: BenRG on 25 Oct 2016, 05:51
FWIW, I'd say that he probably is more like the Discworld golems - relentless with infinite endurance and patience. Whilst you could outrun him, you'd need to stop eventually to eat or sleep and he's still trundling towards you at a steady 10mph jog. Basically a humanoid avalanche with just about as much pity and conscience as one too.
Title: Re: Alice Grove MCDLT - October 2016
Post by: Verteiron on 25 Oct 2016, 13:46
I'm wondering how FAST Mr. Bad News is. The fact that Pate didn't ride him from the city suggests he's no quicker than baseline.

It's possible Pate doesn't know what he is, and just employs a huge guy as a bodyguard and luggage hauler. Teatimesaurus may find it useful to hang out with a baseline that travels a lot.

He seems so different from Alice and Sedna, I can't help but wonder if he's a different class of being altogether.

Edit: Also, red eye. That's Alice-class humanoid-speak for "you gonna die, fool."