That was a pretty long issue. I have no idea what took me so long though. I kind of got stuck on what to do next, after Firestorm tried to set Napalm on fire. Originally, the meetup with Napalm and the fight with Gauss was supposed to be a two-parter, followed up with a third issue showing everyone’s preparations for the big boss fight. But I guess I bit off more than I could chew, and compressed it all into one issue. With any luck, the next issue will be posted on the date given… April 10. A day that will either live on in infamy, or be celebrated for years after… Depending on our heroes’ actions.
But enough about next issue. Gauss is a big deal in the <3-Verse. I’m hoping I got that across. He’s on countless Most Wanted lists, he almost killed the East Coast Boomers. All the power of Magneto, in the hands of a mental case. I tried to get the creepiness/insanity in there too, but I’m still working on my villain skills. You’d think years of dungeonmastering would help out…
Firestorm’s daddy issues were something I wanted to hint at more, and build up to the Napalm reveal, but I also have big plans for Napalm as a member of Hire-A-Hero, and beyond. He had to be a member of HAH, and he had to team up with the Brat Pack, before becoming their replacement in the company. I just fast-forwarded the team’s leaving the company, and had to bring the reveal forward.
I will be adding ‘The Poet’ to my ‘To Read’ list, but it’s a long list, and I’m back at uni now, so I’ll be a while reading it. Fortunately, Gauss will be locked in Alcatraz for a while, so there’s time.
The plan mentioned didn’t materialize. It was just more to emphasize Mr Perfect’s leadership skills, and Mr Universe’s strategy skills. Those two wouldn’t go in without a plan, simple as that. The way everything just fell together… Well, Pixel came to while Gauss was dealing with Firestorm, Pixel stunned Gauss, who dropped his magnetic control. Mr Perfect escaped, and more importantly, Gauss dropped the ball bearings that were heading for the school. Mr Universe was free to return to the fray. It was really just dumb luck. Because, to be fair, Gauss is a top villain. The Brat Pack have been working for a year.
Pixel doesn’t like infighting, and her friends are her family. She dealt with the threat to her family, but she’s still a nice girl, so she just removed him, rather than hurt him.
Firestorm’s escape wasn’t just for the team, it was to prove to his father that he was better. Looking back, it could also be symbolic, as he was burning blood (blood often represents family). This of course, helps prove my theory that most writers don’t actually insert symbolism, academics just make it up half the time. Many a book has been ruined in high school English this way.
On a related note, there’s a new issue of Shadows Over LA up at <3 Comics Presents. Co-starring everyone’s favourite bad boy, Firestorm/Pumpkin King/Mosley.
I’ll catch y’all at Issue #013 on April 10 (hopefully…). Or just in the SOLA #002 Author’s Notes, which should be up first, but y’all know me…
Later Days,
The Author
<3 Comics