#stc liveblog

[zippy-reacts]

Sonic the Comic Liveblog: Issue 135

Let's see what this issue has in store for us!

Sonic may not want it, but I on the other hand smell it's potential as a plot device

Ooooh, Society Max cleans up well, look how dapper he is in that suit! Although that does makes it slightly akward that he was roaming around in the buff last issue.

Yeah Mighty, it's like taking the car keys away from your grandpa, sure he'll lose a bit of independence but you gotta do it before he ends up killing someone.

And then this page takes a swift turn in tone

Nooooo Max's dapper suit! I feel like this relationship between Bill and Max is a little unhealthy if this transformation is sometimes induced without consent like this.

I love the consistency across media of Vector being the one character that cares about financial matters like bills and insurance.

I was under the impression the Chaotix were broke as hell, but nope, they've got their own Avengers tower.

Sonic may be less of an asshole compared to early issues, but he hasn't stopped completely.

I wonder sometimes why there are so many crackpots who think Robotnik was great, when we saw that life overall was miserable under his rule. Maybe it's a "cheetahs will never eat MY face" type of deal.

It's quite neat to see a take on Knuckles that fully embraces technology

Certainly an interesting looking bunch. I do quite like the design of the giraffe guy.

Sorry Tails, Mobians don't have the ability to ignore the lack of air in space until SA2

[transfemshard]

Stc Tails' confidence is so fucked. He has saved people multiple times by now but still insists he's no hero, the *real* hero is Sonic, and its just so sad seeing him constantly put himself down when everyone around him is saying otherwise

[zippityzap]

As of last night I’ve finally finished reading Fleetway/Sonic the Comic!

Now that spoilers are no longer an issue for me, I’m looking to follow blogs that post about StC, anyone got any recommendations? 👀

[libelelle]

HIIIIIIIII time for me to be ANOYING

[themetalvirus]

thoroughly enjoying the stc liveblog. have you gotten to extra life yet cause that short was FUCKED for no reason ahsjkldg

i did! it truly was fucked for NO REASON

[completeoveranalysis]

While you’re posting these liveblogs, I suddenly remembered. Are you going to watch the STC OVA now that you’ve finished the Nihon arc? Or does your outline plan(?) make it that you should watch it after this/a specific arc?

I put it up for consideration but the general consensus was that we should continue with the Manga for now and save the OVA as a treat for the end.

Which makes sense in hindsight, since these plot twists are WILD.

[geoffreystjohn]

i'm gonna do all of these eventually but i can't decide lol. also i'd be reading them from the beginning (+in fleetway's case i'll probably read stc online too, and with archie i'd try to piece together the side stories in order lol)

[youfilthyhumes]

I know new content is dropping tomorrow, but I thought I'd take a moment to read the VERY first ever Sonic comic:

This is The Official Sonic The Hedgehog Special, possibly better known as the Sonic 1993 Yearbook. This special predates STC and Archie, and features a few people involved with STC: Alan McKenzie (who wrote Issue 1's "Enter: Sonic"), Richard Elson (who did the cover art for this issue and would start contributing to STC around Issue 7 I believe?) and Jon Haward (artist for Shinobi. This issue also contains a Shinobi story, funnily enough). I've been trying to order a copy of this but my bank's being weird, so I'll have to settle for reading the one story I can find online: Cartoon Concerto.

Unlike issues 2-5, this will be a liveblog. For all intents and purposes, I'll be tagging this issue as "issue0." If I ever get my hands on the full comic, I might go through the other stories or at the very least write short reviews on them.

[digamma-f-liveblogs]

I think I found the canon Sonic the Comic voices

[zippy-reacts]

Sonic the Comic Liveblog: Issue 132

Oh that's interesting to see that from this point onwards they start re-printing older stories. I know already that from Issue 185 onwards the comic JUST becomes re-prints so I wonder if this is like, a gradual thing the same way non-Sonic Sega stories got phased out over time?

Many questions have been raised. I suppose the main one is whether or not Johnny here knows his machine does something completely different than what he says it does? Johnny did look reluctant earlier so it's possible there's some double agent shenanigans afoot.

Ok so not a double-agent, I guess the thing they said last episode about the caped guy absolutely 100% being Johnny was a bit of a red herring then

Its a little funny we just kinda skipped the whole villain monolouge

And very self-aware about it too!

I do like that this one random guy has glasses for no reason

SonicCommitsGenocide.png

SInce they essentially gave us a reason as to why Johnny hasn't been around much, I wonder if we'll see him more often now?

Could you imagine someone in real life being so much of an egotistical prick that when they meet another person with the same condition of having a supernumerary body part, that instead of solidarity they go "Ha! But I still have more than you!"

Hello Bambi's mum

AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN REAL!! How much of a prat do you have to be to make yourself look like you have a congenital disorder and then boast about ""having a better version"" to someone with the actual friggin' condition!!! Holy shit I know it ain't that deep but the absurdity is hilarious.

There are different opinions among the fandom about wether or not mobian birds should fly. My view is whatever you decide to go for, try to make it look a bit less silly than Tekno's T-pose and hover technique.

You know, it took me until this panel to realise this character in the red jacket is a woman. I do applaud making a female character not traditionally feminine, it can be an unfortunate trope for some artists in this comic to make all the mobian women look dolled up with barbie-like figures and uncannily human faces. But this lady fits right in with the guy in blue to the left.

[transfemshard]

These nameless zone bitches never do anything themselves, the slightes bit of trouble surfaces and they immediately call Tails next theyre gonna ask for his help to turn the stove on

[zippityzap]

Ever get the urge to do like, five or ten different things simultaneously???

[thankskenpenders]

Yeah I had made an attempt at a StC liveblog a while back, though I dropped it because I would go months at a time between issues and it turned out I'm not the type of person who could easily liveblog something so I just decided to straight up read the issues by myself. (if someone ever comes across the blog, be warned that a lot of the earlier issues were liveblogged "pre-Destiny Debate" so to speak)

Yeah, I don’t think it should be understated that running a liveblog like this is a LOT of work. Posting random silly panels is one thing, but actually trying to post enough to convey the narrative while talking about continuity, characterization, the evolution of the art, how things connect to the games, and the behind the scenes turmoil... it’s an undertaking. There’s a reason why I only do four issues a week

I’ve been back for over two months now, which means that this is now the longest streak this blog has ever had without a months long hiatus. I initially only ran the blog for a little under two months before the hiatuses started

[havinagiraffepixelbrain]

Alright, is this fucking thing on?

So, what you’re looking at, if the tagline didn’t tip you off, is one American’s liveblogged rereading of STC, the UK’s Sonic the Comic. occasionally known as Fleetway Sonic even though it has a fucking distinct name already you peons.

Now, some backstory here: I first encountered this series back in 2008 via STC Online, one of its fan-made continuations, and not long after sought out a torrent of the whole thing. Given that scans of Archie Sonic weren’t nearly as easy to come by then as they are now, I ended up becoming a lot more familiar with STC at the time than I did my own native comic that I’d grown up with.

Suffice to say, this comic has a special place in my heart, despite never having actually seen or touched an issue of it in person before. It’s been years since I read it all the way through, and the fantastic Bobby Schroeder and her blog @thankskenpenders​ have inspired me to copy her shtick wholesale follow in her footsteps.

As for the title? You can blame this: https://twitter.com/Faulerro/status/1411406646937587714

[themetalvirus]

the speed at which you are reading stc is terrifying btw

whaddaya mean?? im reading it at normal speed? im actually reading it a liiiittle bit slower than i would otherwise because im liveblogging it

[sepdet]

Star Trek Discovery: ep 2

Okay, I absolutely adored the premiere, which I liveblogged Sunday night. But I’ve been feeling rotten and groggy and didn’t watch episode 2 until tonight. 

I’m kind of glad I waited.

I’m transcribing remarks I made to a friend in a private chatroom while watching, and then I’ve added some thoughts afterwards.

SPOILERS.

Ep 2.

Raw remarks transcribed from private chat while watching (slightly edited)

So, our cliffhanger ended with Michael committing mutiny trying to save them, her captain betrayed and pointing a gun at her, and a whole Klingon fleet warping in like several buckets of shit flying towards a fan.

I’m still trying to get used to Sarek being nicer to a human trying to Vulcan than he was to a son whom he practically disowned for leaving Vulcan to join Starfleet. But I love Sarek so will try to muffle the "buts." I want Amanda to show up.

Parting word to Michael: "Behave." On the bright side, seems like it took her seven years before she LOL NOPED.

I hope the Klingon fans are happy. This is a very ponderous language to listen to when it's whole scenes of dialog and not just quick commands or insults. But I know there's a whole branch of fans who embrace Klingon culture and language, and I hope they're as thrilled as I was to hear Sindarin Elvish spoken.  (And that they're not too perturbed that the Klingon look has mutated again.)

Oh SHIT. I know the Captain was trying to defuse situation with diplomacy, but did they not have their shields up? Or was this just an old ship and/or Klingons managed to puncture shields. Ouch ouch ouch.

Wow, Michael is not having a good day. Waking up in remains of brig with failing containment fields around her — whole sequence is impressive and sad.

I like the way they're employing FX in service to story. It's hard not to let CGI overwhelm. But here, no matter how spectacular FX are, they're functional, rather than an end to themselves: like incidental music the Big FX moments help set mood/tone and give audience catch breath to process what just happened. As opposed to only using FX to foster one mood, maximum adrenaline, and keep audience off-balance so they have no time to catch breath and reflect on situation.

Intense telepathic scene with Sarek. Man he really likes this kid. He is one crazy ass Vulcan, even if he won't admit it: sharing a katra with a near stranger, especially a human child, is pretty drastic. (Also I'm confused: thought he adopted her after parents died in attack, but it looks like Michael was already his ward during attack?

ARGH.

Sarek: "I did not come here to judge your actions. I came here to—"

*Pumpkin, who likes to snooze on desk next to keyboard and occasionally use it as pillow at inconvenient moments, carefully and deliberately stretches out paw and plants it over ESC key, backing up browser window to several URLs ago, losing livestream.*

Cats. Such exquisite timing.

Back online.

Okay yes [STC sounded slightly noncommittal when I was enthusing about restraint of FX] now they're getting a little show-offy. But yikes. First time I've ever seen a space battle using classical Greek naval warfare maneuver. Trireme beak-ram!

...although it could be coincidence, and I'm reading it that way because of my classical studies background. They might've come up with that unusual and dramatic visual independently. At any rate, impressive.

OOOOO. Just hit scene where Captain, out of options, sees Klingons beaming up their dead, and she sees option.  I've been kind of waiting for her to be proactive instead of reactive. Earlier her hands were tied by trying to avoid conflict (following orders).

...DAMMIT. Just Googled to find out spelling of Phillipa's last name and saw the kind of spoiler I really hate to see. Stupid, stupid me.  I really honestly didn't know, since I had been so strenuously avoiding behind-the-scenes stuff. 

—

[At this point I stopped babbling in the chatroom to watch final scenes, so rest is post-watch thoughts.]

At least we have one great sequence between Burnham and Captain Georgiou, although the lull to confront one another and devise a strategy was a little forced— Klingons being very polite about not finishing them off. And YES, YES YES, finally seeing Michelle Yeoh fighting, which believe it or not I never have. (I don't watch many films or really much media.) 

:( Ouch. So close. Just a second or two longer.

So that's that. Man, that's gotta be a record even for Trek; can't even get through two eps without ship's destruction and crew evacuation. (Mom and I used to get annoyed at destroying Enterprise for shock value; first time was so dramatic and meaningful, whereas repeat felt gimmicky.) 

Not sure Michael's Expository Speech is did her any favors at this trial, but at least now we hear what she thinks.

Teaser for next episode (or "real" Discovery show) follows. Kinda confusing that they're convicts but on a Federation ship? Or did she get transferred from prison?

I am still mourning the captain and really not in the mood to parse the trailer. DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT. I was wary of this show, but after watching Ep 1 I let my guard down and was SO EXCITED.

I had seen one article about this series last spring showing what looked like a predominantly white-dude bridge with generic-looking white male captain and a few tokens, just like TOS. That had dampened my enthusiasm for this show and prevented me from getting into it or looking forward to it.

But recently I saw posts saying, "Yo, WOC captain and first officer!" (or rather, in Tumblr's usual WE MUST MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR NOT SUPPORTING THIS THING YOU WEREN’T AWARE OF, SHAME ON YOU!!! way, there was a post berating Tumblr for lack of photosets and buzz and excitement over Michelle Yeoh and Sonequa Martin-Green, and why weren't we getting behind WOCs when we'd been all excited for Gal Gadot?) And I thought, Wait—what?! I thought this was going to be generic white dude captain with token black female first officer which is okay but not ANYTHING LIKE as cool as what you're saying?

And since I do try to avoid spoilers and PR I didn't know Yeoh wasn't going to be the regular series captain. Or rather, I was confused why the hype I was seeing now differed so drastically from that one article I’d started to skim and then closed thinking, “Nah, I’m going to avoid spoilers.” Had the showrunners changed their minds and decided to bring in Michelle Yeoh as an upgrade after seeing their version of Captain Pike wasn’t good enough to anchor a series?I was just going to wait and see.

I forgot any doubts when Episode 1 gave me EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED: Two great female characters with a friendship and professional working relationship. Banter. Excellence. Skills and wits. Clunky TOS tech and new shiny bridge set. Smart captain. Brave first officer. With two WOC they couldn't be tokens; they had to be expanded as just... 3 dimensional characters.

I was so here for that. I loved that whole opening minisode, and also the Captain sending Michael off to play in a brief voyage of discovery and enjoying that her first officer was enjoying herself.

Their friendship was perfect, legendary Kirk and Spock material. It was distracting me from the other bridge crew— even Saru, who is an interesting character, but I was focused so much on these two women— but I figured other characters would get filled out in subsequent episodes.

And now?

"Here. Here's what you really wanted. Two women being superbly competent officers with a meaningful friendship, leading a show just the way Kirk and Spock did. And it's going to be about discovery and an older woman mentoring another one, and tackling difficult ethical problems without providing easy answers and— PSYCHE! 

“...FOOLED YOU! Two leading women in a Kirk-Spock dynamic? Oh, we could never do that. So we're killing off your already-favorite character. As consolation prize, here, have an incarcerated and demoralized WOC who has to be 'grateful' to a white dude for letting her out of jail. Power imbalance between her and captain, no close friendship, and oh yeah, instead of voyage-of-discovery and complicated-ethical-problems Star Trek, it's going to be various people being macho and angry, and a depressing Federation-Klingon War."

 I hope I'm wrong.

It feels like they gave me everything I'd hoped for and more, and then, once I'd let my guard down, they took it away. I'm left with a character and actor (Sonequa Martin-Green) I like enough that I'm going to watch anyway...for now. But I'm back to being wary. And here we have yet another WOC/minority being killed to make way for generic white dude. So now I'm disillusioned and won’t trust this show, and we're only at the end of ep 2.

Okay, yeah, I'm pissed. 

Discovery could redeem itself and turn out to be fantastic. There is a lot of potential here and a lot to like. Saru and Burnham are good characters, and I assume some of the others will be too. But they're going to have to pull off a miracle now to keep me from fantasizing about the better show that COULD HAVE BEEN.

ETA: so maybe I should have read the behind-the-scenes stuff beforehand so I’d be prepared for this premiere to be backstory, in effect. I guess everyone else knew her death was coming, and could appreciate the drama while anticipating this would be a tragedy. Either I’m naive, or too groggy/tired to pick up the Obi-Wan vibes.