Aaand I'm back after doing a 1 hour 48 minute audio interview for my new novel. Ack! Voice is croaky!







I think it depends on the genre requirements as to what "passes"; but I find as CGI fights become more and more prevalent my tolerance for characters' unrealistic endurance and dexterity becomes less.

But then we come to those rare scenes where everybody scorns the unrealisitc CGI and the film makers say, "but that was a practical shot. We really did it."







There is probably also a division a bit similar to the old house slaves vs field slaves one, one between bodiless A.I.s like Hallie and D.D. bs nuts and bolts ones like Tandi and Joan (not that any of those four really suffer from it), and between those who were designed to be free and those who gained sentience and free-will by accident oir through being "liberated".

Which is to say there's no good reason that robots should be any more monolithich and unicultural as any other ethnicity.




Nurture but maybe also nature?







In this case, and in part becase she's not exactly 100%, she takes one Legionnaire with her.







It wasn't until I came to write the two characters together that I realised the similarities and differences between Lara and Cath. They obviously have a similar power set, but Lara has upwards of a decade's more experience than Lara at using those gifts. I'm not sure how old Lara is but JJJ has established that Cath is a recent university graduate. Beth has profiled Cath as suitable to "modify" to be a loyal and effective henchperson. Lara was raised pretty much to be a superhero. Lara must have grown up knowing she was good looking. Cath was slimmed down by about 30lbs by the Baroness' machines.

Rather worryingly for Lara, Cath is now working for a known killer who obedience-conditions her operatives (the LL know this from Silicone Sally). As far as we know Cath hasn't hurt anyone - yet. But Lara's reservation in her dealings with Cathode must be informed by her concern that she is a supervillain-in-the-making whom Lara can do very little to guide in other ways.

Especially when Cathode is back with the Baroness, which happens later in the story.




VV is definitely one of that blue-collar professional villain class,an experienced superior henchwoman who is dangerous despite not having any powers. Although I created her I established her as a Jarvis foe (back when poster-Jarvis was active and leader of the Lair Legion) and Lisa rival. She's been leader of most iterations of the Purveyors of Peril. She has a thing for archvillains and square-jawed good guys (and has had close liasons with Jarvis, CSFB! DBS and Danny Lyle at least). She kills when she had to but isn;t needlessly bloodthirsty.

VV probably isn't much intimidated by even very powerful superheroes by now, but she's learned not to underestimate them. Think about how Keiko might set out to take on a massively powerful metahuman foe and how she would view him. Although VV's methodology differs, that's pretty much her reaction; respect while planning in case a takedown is neccessary.

Also she rarely has any reason to fight to the finish. Vicki knows if she's captured she will soon be sprung by the Hooded Hood, the Baroness, or one of the other arches who require her services.







We'll pick up on Lara and the hench-team before this issue ends.







The "Dead Galaxy" Tyrant's Empire and the Cult of Apostate have very different methods of relating to the galaxy. The Cult uses either subversion, raising up local converts until they can foment revolution, or direct conquest by their crusader fleed. The Tyrant prefers diplomatic solutions such as alliances and mergers and uses his armada only when faced with agression (although sometimes pre-emptively). The Trade Alliance is far more likely "to do business" with the latter; which is of course what the Hooded Hood wants.