True. But then again, 84 can probably pile drive the wizard six feet into the ground. So she’s probably not as nearly concerned as one usually should be when breaking a magic circle.
Plus she hovers usually and the Conjuror isn’t yelling at her. So I don’t know if that would even qualify as breaking the circle.
I like the expression on her face in the last panel. Normally she is so calm and placid, but you can almost imagine the furrows in her brow that he is seeing.
Mmmm. Very interesting theory: In that case Veles may have sent ALL of the heroes fighting him into the egg in groups of five.
Since most metahumans have rather inflated egos, most of them would believe that THEY are the chosen ones when what Veles is actually doing is Zerg rushing them through the egg and triggering Koschei’s traps along the way (for example, Rastov only has to defeat a certain number of heroes before he is free from his obligations), so eventually one of them will reach the eye.
Well that would depend on if he actually wanted or needed what’s in the egg for some reason, so far it just looks like he’s using it as a convenient testing ground for champions (heck for all we know Atlas has gone through and solved the egg for how he earned Veles’ respect). Why waste time building his own testing area when someone else’s already gone to the trouble?
Perhaps, but as of yet we have no idea what will or could happen when someone reaches the centre. Maybe a choice is involved – deciding one way or the other could determine if the egg continues or ceases to be.
I remember an X-Men story from years back. The team were kidnapped (in their dreams as it turned out) and forced to enter a stronghold to attain an artefact. One by one the team was whittled down until only Wolverine remained to claim the prize, whereupon he found that the artefact could grant the holder the power to alter creation to their whim – which he promptly rejected by ‘destroying’ the artefact. This action allowed humanity to continue on unchanged, whereas if he had tried to claim godhood, all of humanity would’ve been effectively destroyed.
I remember that annual. If I recall, the ending was mostly as you describe… except that rejecting the hovering all-powerful crystal at the center of the death-trap maze meant that humanity got to keep evolving and changing and mutating into whatever power it could eventually become. Races that tried to use the crystal’s power to change the universe to their desires got permanently frozen in their evolution. And if I recall right, that was what sent the Kree and the Skrulls down an evolutionary dead end — or at least, so the statues at the entrance to the crystal’s temple implied.
So far we haven’t heard anything about the Egg ‘ceasing to be’ if anyone gets to the center, in fact going by what the wizard says about the Egg to 84 it’ll keep going along just fine since if the Egg ceased to exist if someone made it to the center then there wouldn’t be an option for whoever got there to return to the egg anytime they wanted. Doesn’t seem reasonable it would self-destruct simply because someone got to the center since it’s meant to preserve his existence by protecting his immortality-granting device and having the Egg ceased to exist would kill him by destroying it.
I think that was a measure of respect from Firedrake, toward 84 anyway. I’m not sure Rastov would appreciate/understand being called “Dude”.
I am now most curious as to what shape Neuronet is in after all of this. I would very, very much like to see him forced to swap places with Rastov. I wonder if 84 would make that happen to get the remainder of the group past Rastov and to “avenge” Phlo.
It might be an alternative that Neuronet might accept, if it means he won’t face 84’s wrath outside the egg.
I see a deadpool forming over this! Who will “die” next. Of course everyone would hope that its Neurojerk, but sadly jerks like him seem to survive, just like cockroaches.
Most of the ones I’ve seen in Magic are 1-way protection. they are either to stop something inside from getting out (as appears to be this case), or stop everything outside from getting in. Thus the idea that she came at it from the opposite of what it was designed to stop wouldn’t be a strength feat.
I’m comfortable that Rastov is quite comfortable to remain caught in the circle.
Time is on his side, and while I do accept Conjurer at his word that he’s quite capable — for instance, to have thought of his teammate’s various abilities and construct the circle to allow them to use their powers on Rastov with little hindrance — on ordinarly levels of magic, it is a hastily constructed barrier, and I doubt Conjurer has vindictively built the circle to keep Rastov contained even after his term of service to Koschei is complete.
It is interesting that Rastov has more regard, and quite suddenly, for 84. There may be a cue to that as much in what Fireduck said as in 84’s very obvious strength.
Maybe 84 is a particularly auspicious numerologic figure?
Maybe that he concludes she has 83 older siblings outside the Eggverse, where Rastov knows he is soon to travel?
At least he’s smart enough to recognize the “I’m going to punch out your spleen through your face unless you make me happy in the next ten seconds.” look.
“.. Perhaps I should have been clearer. And more polite. And concise, lest I try your obviously eroding patience past its breaking point…”
On the plus side, Phlogiston is alive and relatively unharmed. On the minus side, Neuronet is going to regard this as his ‘get out of felony assault charges free’ card…
I’m no lawyer, but I’m sure what Neuronet did qualifies as reckless endangerment at the least. PS238’s fantastic setting just means it involves superpowers.
Debatable, given that they’re all heroes they all place themselves at risk of injury or death and reduced ability to lay that blame on others particularly if something’s considered normal or standard. Plus they’re in what amounts to a different universe so the only legal laws that apply are those of that universe and it’s unlikely they’ve any laws at all beyond the magical laws governing how you may travel through the egg and respond to the trials.
Not dumb but simply straightforward and unsubtle, hence why he doesn’t recognize ‘little one’ as simply a reference to 84 being a young girl and not a disrespectful dig at her number.
I doubt Julie would think of it, but my response to Mr. Puppet Master and “no one in the egg dies” would be a surprise full-out strike on the possessing bastard. Possibly followed shortly by further inter-party combat since the remainder might think you are possessed, but at least I would have expressed my opinion of unwanted mind control.
Killing someone even if it’s not permanent is not heroic or even remotely moral, that kind of thing is something you do only if you must in a desperate situation because you’ve few to no alternatives. It’s also a great way to begin someone’s Start Of Darkness and 84 has to be above such things.
Ripping apart his suit and wadding it into something the size of a tennis ball right in front of him, however, would be non-lethal and highly instructive… ^^
1) Notice how I phrased that: “my response… would be.”
2) And it is not killing – that much has been made clear. Assault and battery, perhaps? I don’t know the legal terms.
3) Neuronet did not know #2 before taking control of P & 84, so by all rights he is guilty of kidnapping (mind control) and endangerment (attacking with his puppets) and he attempted manslaughter or murder (put Phlogiston in a position she could have died, based on his knowledge at the time).
So ejecting him from the egg now that #2 is known is both a good preventative and far less than he deserves. That being said, I don’t think 84 would be able to do that kind of attack even knowing the outcome.
If Neuronet continues controlling people despite objections, then ejecting him is legal and moral – the laws give broad leeway in defending yourself against kidnapping and self-defense is a right.
Uh yes it’s killing, just because your victim doesn’t stay dead and gets ‘bounced out’ and left remembering it like a bad dream doesn’t make it any less a killing. It leads you to a very dark place.
As far as what Neuronet did, it’s a stretch to try and make him out as guilty of manslaughter (plus going by your reasoning it’s not murder or anything at all since it’s not permanent, can’t think it’s okay for 84 to knowingly kill someone but insist Neuronet who didn’t have a clue thing would go so bad to be guilty of manslaughter or murder). Also a stretch to claim him guilty of kidnapping and endangerment, considering they were all kidnapped and shoved into the Egg by Veles, who would be the one guilty of kidnapping and as we now know it’s impossible to endanger someone in the Egg as the worst that happens is they just appear outside the Egg with it all being a bad dream to them.
The intimidation of a victim to compel the individual to do some act against his or her will by the use of psychological pressure, physical force, or threats.
In this case, it is also assault:
Intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. No intent to cause physical injury needs to exist, and no physical injury needs to result.
You know, I’m really starting to like Firedrake as a character. He’s a fratboy of a superhero, but he’s not -malicious-. Just… Blinded by super-privilege.
But he’s slowly coming to grock Julie and her deal, in his roundabout ass-backwards sort of way.
He’s still an ass, but he’s an ass that’s fun to read more of.
Really wondering what’s up with Neuronet at this point, we haven’t seen a glimpse of him so far to show he’s intact and okay. Those we’ve seen have been understandably focused on the obvious with what happened with Phlogiston while he was more off to the side and seemingly uninvolved. There’s a good chance he was injured by psychic backlash from what happened to her and also out of the running.
But at least it’s nice to have it confirmed that the egg is basically a perfectly safe magical equivalent of a Holodeck adventure where death is just a Game Over with the ‘deceased’ simply ejected from the game.
If Neuronet was injured by psychic backlash… I don’t care. =_= I’d be fine with him being kicked out of the egg and being reassigned as the F.I.S.S. team’s official soccer ball for their get-togethers.
In a previous strip, Rastov stated, “I only need to best -three- of you to fulfill my service…” I wonder if this is what he meant…
Phlogiston is absent-without-a-trace – Rastov says she is now outside the egg. One down.
Neuronet is absent-without-a-face – maybe he’s gone the same way? Two down?
All that needs happen now is for Conjuror to admit defeat (despite having Rastov in a magic circle, he still can’t get him to give them passage out of the loop), and possibly also be ejected from the egg for there to be three of the group ‘bested’ by Rastov.
With three of the group down, Rastov’s service comes to an end… but it doesn’t necessarily mean he gets to leave. His purpose could be simply that he is to remove three intruders, then let the rest pass.
This would just leave Firebonce and 84 to continue with the quest.
Maybe I’m a negative person, but to me 84 is growing to be a very mean and vindicative person. She is still in the “playground” age, and already circled by idiots, jerks and backstabbers.
Agreeing ! Shakespeare may used kings, queens, princes, and gods for his plays about human beings because they make better copy than bakers, ditch diggers, and thieves. but the stories are human stores – human virtues and human failings. Aaron uses the superhero motif to tell his stories. While the environment is different, the characters (the most interesting ones) are driven by human needs and desires and hampered by human flaws.
Ha!
Now this is interesting. Any of the team now knows they can ‘rescue’ the rest of the team by ‘killing’ them.
Fascinating. Neuronut must have read that in Rastov’s mind or something, I’m sure he’ll claim.
What is 84 learning in this place about leadership?
From Phloe, she learned a leader can influence without necessarily being the obvious figurehead.
Sometimes a team leader must sacrifice a pawn to neutralize a bishop, she may be facing this harsh lesson right now.
And how to negotiate from Rastov what he wants in exchange for what the champions need? Diplomacy and trade is a leadership responsibility, too.
Breaking a binding circle from the outside tends to be a bad idea. That’s the kind of stuff that can usually set free whatever was bound.
True. But then again, 84 can probably pile drive the wizard six feet into the ground. So she’s probably not as nearly concerned as one usually should be when breaking a magic circle.
Plus she hovers usually and the Conjuror isn’t yelling at her. So I don’t know if that would even qualify as breaking the circle.
I like the expression on her face in the last panel. Normally she is so calm and placid, but you can almost imagine the furrows in her brow that he is seeing.
Well now maybe we know why velles needs them to get the ‘eye’. He went in once already and lost.
That would make sense.
Chance are because this is a rather contained universe he did not have his full power, so he could not just cheat.
Mmmm. Very interesting theory: In that case Veles may have sent ALL of the heroes fighting him into the egg in groups of five.
Since most metahumans have rather inflated egos, most of them would believe that THEY are the chosen ones when what Veles is actually doing is Zerg rushing them through the egg and triggering Koschei’s traps along the way (for example, Rastov only has to defeat a certain number of heroes before he is free from his obligations), so eventually one of them will reach the eye.
Well that would depend on if he actually wanted or needed what’s in the egg for some reason, so far it just looks like he’s using it as a convenient testing ground for champions (heck for all we know Atlas has gone through and solved the egg for how he earned Veles’ respect). Why waste time building his own testing area when someone else’s already gone to the trouble?
the only flaw in thinking that Altas had gone through the egg is that it would have ceased to be.
Perhaps, but as of yet we have no idea what will or could happen when someone reaches the centre. Maybe a choice is involved – deciding one way or the other could determine if the egg continues or ceases to be.
I remember an X-Men story from years back. The team were kidnapped (in their dreams as it turned out) and forced to enter a stronghold to attain an artefact. One by one the team was whittled down until only Wolverine remained to claim the prize, whereupon he found that the artefact could grant the holder the power to alter creation to their whim – which he promptly rejected by ‘destroying’ the artefact. This action allowed humanity to continue on unchanged, whereas if he had tried to claim godhood, all of humanity would’ve been effectively destroyed.
I remember that annual. If I recall, the ending was mostly as you describe… except that rejecting the hovering all-powerful crystal at the center of the death-trap maze meant that humanity got to keep evolving and changing and mutating into whatever power it could eventually become. Races that tried to use the crystal’s power to change the universe to their desires got permanently frozen in their evolution. And if I recall right, that was what sent the Kree and the Skrulls down an evolutionary dead end — or at least, so the statues at the entrance to the crystal’s temple implied.
Here’s the shot I’m thinking of: http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chronocomic/entries/scans16/UXann11_Citadel.jpg
So far we haven’t heard anything about the Egg ‘ceasing to be’ if anyone gets to the center, in fact going by what the wizard says about the Egg to 84 it’ll keep going along just fine since if the Egg ceased to exist if someone made it to the center then there wouldn’t be an option for whoever got there to return to the egg anytime they wanted. Doesn’t seem reasonable it would self-destruct simply because someone got to the center since it’s meant to preserve his existence by protecting his immortality-granting device and having the Egg ceased to exist would kill him by destroying it.
I think that was a measure of respect from Firedrake, toward 84 anyway. I’m not sure Rastov would appreciate/understand being called “Dude”.
I am now most curious as to what shape Neuronet is in after all of this. I would very, very much like to see him forced to swap places with Rastov. I wonder if 84 would make that happen to get the remainder of the group past Rastov and to “avenge” Phlo.
It might be an alternative that Neuronet might accept, if it means he won’t face 84’s wrath outside the egg.
84’s wrath? imagine what Phlogiston would do to Neuronet once back in the outside world.
I suspect 84’s wrath will be much worse than Phogiston’s.
Firedrake isn’t a bad guy apart from his stereotypical “fiery” impulsive overconfidence. I expect him to be the next to go.
I see a deadpool forming over this! Who will “die” next. Of course everyone would hope that its Neurojerk, but sadly jerks like him seem to survive, just like cockroaches.
I wonder if the magic circle is now broken.
And I think Rastov just figured out that ‘put a fist through a dragon’ thing I mentioned a few pages back.
I’m surprised no one has commented yet that the ‘eye’ Veles has requested might be the ‘center’.
Ah that’s why Koschei is known as “The Deathless”.
Hm… does that mean Koschei has been to the center?
Koschei made this egg.
So… did 86 just casually reach through a magical protection circle?
No, 86 did not. 84 on the other hand did.
Most of the ones I’ve seen in Magic are 1-way protection. they are either to stop something inside from getting out (as appears to be this case), or stop everything outside from getting in. Thus the idea that she came at it from the opposite of what it was designed to stop wouldn’t be a strength feat.
Alternatively, it could be designed to stop arcane effects, but not purely physical ones.
Ha, I just this image of FISS #86, based on Maxwell Smart.
Ok, maybe it’s not that funny.
I dunno. I think it’s funny.
I had the same thought. Boy, would that make for a lot of, “Sorry about that, Chief.”
Headmaster: Well done. So, what do you want for your reward?
86: I want a shoe with a telephone built into it.
Headmaster: Missed it by THAT much!
I am more interested when she pulls him through the barrier…
I suspect she won’t let magic rules bother her.
Given his quick turnaround in attitude, I imagine that she’s currently holding his entire weight stiff-armed, well above the ground.
And no casting spells on her, since her attacks of opportunity would probably knock his hitpoints well into the negative triple-digits.
Also, grapples make it rather tough.
Silly Ruduen. Nobody actually understands the grapple rules. She’s about to use disarm.
On his arms.
There is a subtle but important difference between being disarmed and de-armed.
I’m comfortable that Rastov is quite comfortable to remain caught in the circle.
Time is on his side, and while I do accept Conjurer at his word that he’s quite capable — for instance, to have thought of his teammate’s various abilities and construct the circle to allow them to use their powers on Rastov with little hindrance — on ordinarly levels of magic, it is a hastily constructed barrier, and I doubt Conjurer has vindictively built the circle to keep Rastov contained even after his term of service to Koschei is complete.
It is interesting that Rastov has more regard, and quite suddenly, for 84. There may be a cue to that as much in what Fireduck said as in 84’s very obvious strength.
Maybe 84 is a particularly auspicious numerologic figure?
Maybe that he concludes she has 83 older siblings outside the Eggverse, where Rastov knows he is soon to travel?
Or, yeah, she’s that scary to scary people.
Hrm.
“8” Does look like the symbol for infinity, and “4” is the numerologic figure for death.
To a guy who figures he can’t die permanently but can suffer.. Infinite Death would be pretty disturbing.
This may very well be the most insightful comment I have ever read on 84’s choice of brand.
Is it just me or does it look like she is about to work out a few anger management issues on him?
I think Rastov now agrees with the statement – “Never annoy a child who can one-punch you into orbit.”
At least he’s smart enough to recognize the “I’m going to punch out your spleen through your face unless you make me happy in the next ten seconds.” look.
huh, when /I/ do it they usually just start with the screaming.
…the screaming isn’t useful
Flatten him just to be sure Julie.
I find that people become remarkably talkative after a few longbone fractures.
“.. Perhaps I should have been clearer. And more polite. And concise, lest I try your obviously eroding patience past its breaking point…”
On the plus side, Phlogiston is alive and relatively unharmed. On the minus side, Neuronet is going to regard this as his ‘get out of felony assault charges free’ card…
Neuronet might, but I somehow suspect others might not… and will pointedly point out to him the error of his thinking.
This.
I’m no lawyer, but I’m sure what Neuronet did qualifies as reckless endangerment at the least. PS238’s fantastic setting just means it involves superpowers.
Debatable, given that they’re all heroes they all place themselves at risk of injury or death and reduced ability to lay that blame on others particularly if something’s considered normal or standard. Plus they’re in what amounts to a different universe so the only legal laws that apply are those of that universe and it’s unlikely they’ve any laws at all beyond the magical laws governing how you may travel through the egg and respond to the trials.
So death is not permanent in the egg? Great! I know a certain fellow “hero” that 84 would probably like to test that theory on.
Remember 84, when punching fools you place your thumb over your fist.
I doubt that that is important for someone invulnerable
That’s *why* it’s important. If a normal person tries that, they’ll break their thumb. She’s adding an extra pointy bit to the punch.
Wow. Is Firedrake as dumb as a box of rocks, or what?
At least he’s showing 84 some respect, even if it is mixed with a bit of fear.
Machiavelli would be proud of our young superhero.
Not dumb but simply straightforward and unsubtle, hence why he doesn’t recognize ‘little one’ as simply a reference to 84 being a young girl and not a disrespectful dig at her number.
I doubt Julie would think of it, but my response to Mr. Puppet Master and “no one in the egg dies” would be a surprise full-out strike on the possessing bastard. Possibly followed shortly by further inter-party combat since the remainder might think you are possessed, but at least I would have expressed my opinion of unwanted mind control.
Killing someone even if it’s not permanent is not heroic or even remotely moral, that kind of thing is something you do only if you must in a desperate situation because you’ve few to no alternatives. It’s also a great way to begin someone’s Start Of Darkness and 84 has to be above such things.
Ripping apart his suit and wadding it into something the size of a tennis ball right in front of him, however, would be non-lethal and highly instructive… ^^
1) Notice how I phrased that: “my response… would be.”
2) And it is not killing – that much has been made clear. Assault and battery, perhaps? I don’t know the legal terms.
3) Neuronet did not know #2 before taking control of P & 84, so by all rights he is guilty of kidnapping (mind control) and endangerment (attacking with his puppets) and he attempted manslaughter or murder (put Phlogiston in a position she could have died, based on his knowledge at the time).
So ejecting him from the egg now that #2 is known is both a good preventative and far less than he deserves. That being said, I don’t think 84 would be able to do that kind of attack even knowing the outcome.
If Neuronet continues controlling people despite objections, then ejecting him is legal and moral – the laws give broad leeway in defending yourself against kidnapping and self-defense is a right.
Uh yes it’s killing, just because your victim doesn’t stay dead and gets ‘bounced out’ and left remembering it like a bad dream doesn’t make it any less a killing. It leads you to a very dark place.
As far as what Neuronet did, it’s a stretch to try and make him out as guilty of manslaughter (plus going by your reasoning it’s not murder or anything at all since it’s not permanent, can’t think it’s okay for 84 to knowingly kill someone but insist Neuronet who didn’t have a clue thing would go so bad to be guilty of manslaughter or murder). Also a stretch to claim him guilty of kidnapping and endangerment, considering they were all kidnapped and shoved into the Egg by Veles, who would be the one guilty of kidnapping and as we now know it’s impossible to endanger someone in the Egg as the worst that happens is they just appear outside the Egg with it all being a bad dream to them.
Legally, mind control would be coercion:
The intimidation of a victim to compel the individual to do some act against his or her will by the use of psychological pressure, physical force, or threats.
In this case, it is also assault:
Intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. No intent to cause physical injury needs to exist, and no physical injury needs to result.
Neither offense is capital in nature.
If that’s true why do you look so worried about what 84 is about to do to you?
You know, I’m really starting to like Firedrake as a character. He’s a fratboy of a superhero, but he’s not -malicious-. Just… Blinded by super-privilege.
But he’s slowly coming to grock Julie and her deal, in his roundabout ass-backwards sort of way.
He’s still an ass, but he’s an ass that’s fun to read more of.
Really wondering what’s up with Neuronet at this point, we haven’t seen a glimpse of him so far to show he’s intact and okay. Those we’ve seen have been understandably focused on the obvious with what happened with Phlogiston while he was more off to the side and seemingly uninvolved. There’s a good chance he was injured by psychic backlash from what happened to her and also out of the running.
But at least it’s nice to have it confirmed that the egg is basically a perfectly safe magical equivalent of a Holodeck adventure where death is just a Game Over with the ‘deceased’ simply ejected from the game.
If Neuronet was injured by psychic backlash… I don’t care. =_= I’d be fine with him being kicked out of the egg and being reassigned as the F.I.S.S. team’s official soccer ball for their get-togethers.
Note to self:
Do not.
EVER.
NEVEREVEREVER
Tick off Ms. Julie Finster (a.k.a. 84)
Addendum: And being a snide schmuck about it is probably a Very Very Bad Idea [TM] too!
*snrk* Well, someone is learning manners very quickly. 😀
Julie’s expression says “I’m getting a happy ending OR ELSE!”
In a previous strip, Rastov stated, “I only need to best -three- of you to fulfill my service…” I wonder if this is what he meant…
Phlogiston is absent-without-a-trace – Rastov says she is now outside the egg. One down.
Neuronet is absent-without-a-face – maybe he’s gone the same way? Two down?
All that needs happen now is for Conjuror to admit defeat (despite having Rastov in a magic circle, he still can’t get him to give them passage out of the loop), and possibly also be ejected from the egg for there to be three of the group ‘bested’ by Rastov.
With three of the group down, Rastov’s service comes to an end… but it doesn’t necessarily mean he gets to leave. His purpose could be simply that he is to remove three intruders, then let the rest pass.
This would just leave Firebonce and 84 to continue with the quest.
Maybe I’m a negative person, but to me 84 is growing to be a very mean and vindicative person. She is still in the “playground” age, and already circled by idiots, jerks and backstabbers.
Perhaps she is surrounded by idiots & the like;however, she also has people like Moonshadow that she’s trying very hard to be like.
Honestly, even nice people will get seriously pissed off if you kill their friends and will be willing to hurt you for it.
That doesn’t make them any LESS nice. It just makes them human.
“superhuman” does not mean not human. Despite their abilities, they are all human beings.
Well, except those that aren’t, like Prospero.
Um… Were you agreeing with me, or disagreeing? Because nothing you said conflicts with anything I said.
Agreeing ! Shakespeare may used kings, queens, princes, and gods for his plays about human beings because they make better copy than bakers, ditch diggers, and thieves. but the stories are human stores – human virtues and human failings. Aaron uses the superhero motif to tell his stories. While the environment is different, the characters (the most interesting ones) are driven by human needs and desires and hampered by human flaws.