There were two issues that plagued this strip kind of from the get-go.
One was what Percy was going to eat in panel two. I originally scripted it as the femur of one of Zurida’s palace guards, but after seeing Marc draw it I realized that was just one cannibal too many for SuperFogeys. Plus, that’s just not Percy. Percy is tough–really tough, though you havent’ seen that yet–but he’s not sadistic or outright evil. I asked Marc to change it to a giant turkey leg like you’d find at Disneyland, but Marc came back with the alien lobster thing you see above. I loved the detail and sheer bad@$$ery of that, so it stuck.
Two was when Dark Maiden got her new costume. I decided the last panel made the most sense as you assume a time gap between panels 2 and three in which Dark Maiden worked with a designer and stylist to get just the right look. Seriously, she would have had to do something like Ā that. As a kid, I always took superfolk costumes for granted–but as an adult graphic designer I know to think about the time and effort that goes into these things. If you’re a superhero or super villain, you almost have to be a designer as a matter of course. Doesn’t matter how awesome your powers are, if your costume sucks people are gonna laugh at you.
This concludes the flashback for Dark Maiden. Hopefully, it also answers some of the questions some of you had on Monday. Thanks for reading so closely!
Interesting answers to Star Maiden’s dark turn, but yet I do wonder if any part of her loved Swifty at all ? š
That’s a great question. Have we ever seen her reciprocate?
Mmmmmm… four-clawed scorpion…
Whoa! It does kind of look like a scorpion!
Decades ago, before the Crisis in Infinite Universes (probably screwed up the name, but the first one) DC solved the costume issue by having a tailor who made super hero costumes. He had a nice niche business. I think he first appeared in Flash.
That makes a lot of practical sense, but I think I like the idea that all superheroes are also fashion designers a lot better. It’s funnier.
That would just be the gay ones they’re coming out with…
No capes. Don’t these supers know they could get sucked into a vortex.
Brock, I’m glad you explained panel 2 – I thought Zurida was putting Percy down for a nap using an alien face sucker. I’m comforted knowing it is the food, not Percy.
I didn’t even guess that someone might not get that Percy was eating, so I’m glad I did offer up some commentary. Though your version sounds way cooler.
You know, gnrrrg’s question from Monday wasn’t really answered in this comic…
Well, he didn’t really pose a question so much as make a supposition. That being that Dark Maiden is working for the aliens. This strip is supposed to make it clear that she certainly doesn’t see it that way. She has set herself up as their new queen–so in her view THEY’RE working for HER.
That sets up a good plot point for later on, when the greenie meenie’s decide to continue with their original mission, and it doesn’t line up with Dark Maiden’s