The End Of The Real American

Yesterday i made my monthly foraging run down the hill and we had no post here. Let's make up for that a bit and go big today - 30 pages of comics to catch up on the rest of what i've got of Real American #1 from Dick Briefer. We ran 3 of the first 4 last week; to finish things up today, here are 5 of the final 6 tales. (I'm missing issue #9 of Daredevil Comics, and we previously missed #4 - just in case you wanted to go hunting for the missing tales)

Without further babblage, here are the stories -

The Bronze Terror did not return in a rip-snorting melodrama of the wild west.

page art by Dick Briefer from Daredevil Comics #s 6-8, 10, & 11 (1941, 1942)

2020 Calendar - Week 02

We'll keep it simple this week - only one of each calendar style - just so we don't start patterns of overkill.

For our Pin-Up Calendar, we've got an Al Moore girl staying warm in winter wear, sort of...

...and our Old Magazine Covers calendar features Rolf Armstrong from January 1919...

Let me pause to remark on how much i enjoy the ... quality of light on the faces of Rolf's portraits. That's the best way i can think to phrase it, so let's take a quick look at a few to see what i mean -

It's not surprising his work was so popular and featured on many magazine covers.

We'll be seeing a fair bit of both Moore & Armstrong on this year's calendars. And we've got Earl Moran for this week's Blue Calendar, and a bit more, in our Adult Content 'back room' - The Other Voice Of ODD! Step on back past the security guard checking ages to see the uncut version of this post.

As always, the calendars are sized to print 8"x10" at 150dpi, with 1" square spaces for notations.

art by Al Moore and Rolf Armstrong (20th C)

Not Quite Reboots

Just a quick cartoon reminder -

Rick And Morty weren't the first to kill and replace themselves...

...and Fry handled it better than Morty...

 ...good times...

screens from Futurama S06E07 (2010)

Dick's Real American

Four months after Captain America punched Hitler on the cover of his premiere, Daredevil Comics spent the entire first issue beating on Hitler (and Goering and Goebbels). Even their big villain, The Claw, got in on the action to double-cross Hitler.

But, we're not looking at that today. We're starting with the second issue and the debut of Real American #1 from one of our old faves, Dick Briefer. (This was selected for preparation before the current dick decided to try to make his pathetic self look like a Real American using the desperation tactics to which he kept saying his predecessor would resort.)

From 1941, we've got three of the first tales of Jeff Dixon (a name obviously assigned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs) as a Native American hero in a time when you might not have thought there were any to be found in pop culture...

Real American #1 had only 10 adventures, running in Daredevil Comics #s 2-11. In theory, we'll have another batch of them later this week.

art by Dick Briefer from Daredevil Comics #s 2, 3 & 5 (1941)

Kelly's Game

You may perhaps recall that last week i posted a pic of a dastardly looking group of Rejects (and another pic in the back room from a SuperHero Guidebook). I offered no explanations nor context for the images at that time. 

Yesterday, we saw some television promos from the world within which i've been dwelling. 

Both sets of pics come from the same place, and before we continue, let me toss in another pic - this one a Public Service poster featuring The Golden Lady, featured star of this week's Epic Super Battles episode; we didn't get a good look at her in the episode promo - 

And i'll let you in a little joke - that wasn't a Hello Kitty shirt Michiko was wearing in yesterday's promo for My Steel Ronin. Look closer... 

Yes, as usual, it's a twisted world when i'm in charge. 

After the recent system death, i managed to start noodling on a new game to keep myself from sinking into those dark, familiar depths. One very nice thing about starting on a new game is that last time i was learning the RPG Maker MV engine (and scores of plug-ins). Now i know what i want to do and have a much more organized approach.

But, you don't care about any of that under-the-hood stuff. On top of the hood, i've been building my cast and sets, and designing new tiles to create this world. 

Let's meet Kelly Friday -

Kelly is our hero, the Player Character in the game. She's a budding young superhero with great potential and a heavy heritage. Her mother and father were the premiere superhero couple on this world (not Earth, but they're from here) - you've seen her Mom, The Golden Lady. Her father is less defined as yet - think a mix of Captain America and Superman for cultural impact level. (I keep putting off working on his model due to indecision. Part of me wants to go Sky High and make him look like Kurt Russell, part is thinking more Chris Evans, and part is leaning toward Tyler Hoechlin for primary influence. We'll see...)

They're gone now - left this world when surprise circumstances required the Golden Lady to return to her Homeworld to assume the throne. So now Kelly is on her own since she wanted to stay on the only world she's ever known. As i said, she's got great potential - including potential power. But what her powers are...? Well, they usually manifest around this time of life. However she was born with one very special power - she is essentially unkillable. Very handy when faced with a steep learning curve.

What powers will she manifest? Well, that varies depending on circumstances, a bit of random chances, and how you do in your superhero training classes. Yes, there's a Registry and Licensing and a full Academy. So the early stages of the game are all about becoming a hero, and what path will you take?

As an example, Kelly will never manifest any mystical/magickal powers if she never studies and finds she has potential. (Even non-magic types often take the classes to prep for when facing magic wielding villains)

Kelly has a few close friends and mentors - old family connections to guide and help her make choices, and she'll make a few new friends (and likely enemies) among the other potential superhero candidates studying alongside her.

In addition to classes and labs, there's also on-the-job training while still trying to figure out both powers and identity. And so we have a variety of "Throw Away" heroes -

These are all intended for short use, often only once or twice, usually to teach a lesson (for further example, see that post in the back room). Obviously, only a few would be seen in each play-through of the game. After all, how many times do you have to learn "No Capes!"? This process is also how the player will choose and connect with their regular "Q" - the Bond kind, not the Picard kind. It's good to build close ties with the one who makes your costume and gear.

And, yes - both CheerKittyKitty and Super Skirt result from punchy late-night sessions with Moon and Teela or other friends.

And, yes, again - Kelly is rather massively endowed, especially for her age, as teased by the "Girl Power" outfit and several other characters in the game. Another heavy legacy from her Mother.

So, these are the sorts of things that keep my mind busy and help keep bits of it working. And keep it entertained.

I think there's a Pug Scouts marathon brewing...

stuff by -3- (2020)

Okay, Brain. We talked about what you wanted to think about. Now will you go prep that stack of pages waiting since last weekend? These folks are waiting for some Real American Dick! (Okay, that sounded bad. But regular readers might know what i mean)

What's On YOUR TV?

Well, you know how it can be around this time of year. It's easy to go into hibernation and withdraw into the cave. But, i've been trying to avoid that and figured out i'd check out what was on tv these days.

I think i forgot to come back from my world first...

Check your local listings for times & channels.

stuff by -3- (2020)