"Spectacles of Doom" (an ongoing multi-part sci-fi adventure comic).

[Low_Roads]

Episode 17, scene 4, pages 26-27:

... one more scene to go!

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Reminds me of the battle in the bowels of Cloud City, that it does (Scenery, anyway). And lo!, could it be over (With one scene left I imagine nearly so)? But, what will be done with the 'helm? As long as it exists it is a threat to all.

 

[Low_Roads]

Yeah, Lucas loves this sort of thing! The climactic duels in Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace (best fantasy swordfight ever, in my estimation) and Revenge of the Sith also make use of this dynamic... threat of falling, either from great height or into great heat. At the time "Spectacles" was written (mid-to-late '80s), lots of other examples had come and gone: T2, Cobra (both set in iron foundries), Highlander, all involving the same railed walkway setting... the image, in fact, was becoming overly familiar, but the idea of drawing all that high-angle danger was too tempting to resist!

Yes indeed, the disposition of the Gorgonhelm will be Priority One in the coming denouement, though it will have to share the space with curtain calls (I like to give the major characters a little bow towards the end, either visually or by verbal reference). At first, I'd planned to send the artifact tumbling into the reactor core, thus solving the sticky problem of having it around. But that seemed too easy (and a bit of a cliché)... I hope that what I finally came up with makes some sort of sense!

 

[His Divine Shadow]

At first, I'd planned to send the artifact tumbling into the reactor core, thus solving the sticky problem of having it around. But that seemed too easy (and a bit of a cliché)...

Not to mention the fact that, if a Dark Lord of the Sith thrown into a reactor probably close to the size of the entire X-Minus-Zero creates a swirling release of power, something like the Gorgonhelm is bound to be a rather spectacular bomb.

 

[Low_Roads]

You're right! The idea did enter into my thinking! That, plus the possibility that the atomic furnace might not be able to melt the Gorgonhelm anyway.

 

[His Divine Shadow]

You're right! The idea did enter into my thinking! That, plus the possibility that the atomic furnace might not be able to melt the Gorgonhelm anyway.

Perhaps it must be cast into the fires of Mars' own Mount Doom, Olympous Mons. Then again, the O' Mons hasn't had too many fires for a good while. And then again, I should just shut up and wait for the conclusion, aye. 😛

 

[Low_Roads]

Olympus Mons... ah, genius! Might be worth stoking up the blaze once again for the sake of a definite conclusion! (Agony! The Tolkien Estate lawsuit pains're comin' back!)

 

[Low_Roads]

Episode 17, scene 5, pages 1-5:

 

[Low_Roads]

Episode 17, scene 5, pages 6-10:

 

[Low_Roads]

Episode 17, scene 5, pages 11-13:

Pages 4-5 - a smattering of panels from the aborted second Commander Duck story, Day of the Devastator. Production never got past the first chapter:

To all those who've been kind enough to follow this very long story, particularly those who've offered encouragement and compliments, my profoundest thanks! You have not only my gratitude, but my admiration for your fortitude!

 

[Violetta]

It's been a heck of a ride, LBH. I'm sincerely grateful that you took all the time and energy to share this one with us. It was an incredible story from start to finish. As long awaited as the ending was, I'm sorta sad that it had to come so soon now. But it was so very satisfying. Thank you again. n_n

 

[Low_Roads]

That's very kind of you to say, Sammi! Thank you so much for all the appreciation you've provided throughout the course of this story! It's really kept me going, kept the enthusiasm high! Perhaps I'll resurrect Day of the Devastator one of these days, once the Low Roads has been wrapped up. It would make a good future project (assuming I live that long! :laughing🙂 The kind reception "Spectacles" has received would make the effort more than worthwhile!

 

[Janus4385]

So this wonderful adventure finally reaches it's conclusion... I'm certainly gonna miss it :sad:

You have a fantastic imagination my friend, thank you for sharing your vision with the rest of us. Commencement it is then, Spectacles may have had its finale, but it only means that a new adventure shall begin soon :content:

The final chapters from spectacles were everything I could have hoped for and much more, indeed you have delivered an amazing journey to the community.

Once again, all I can really say is thank you, and CHEERS, here's to seeing the Low Roads and Day of the Devastator as well be completed someday

:super_hap Great job LBH :super_hap You are a true artist!!!

 

[Low_Roads]

So this wonderful adventure finally reaches it's conclusion... I'm certainly gonna miss it :sad:

I know! It hasn't really sunk in yet... I'm still keyed up for another late-night bout of image reconstruction! Janus, thanks a million for the mountain of encouragement you've supplied over the months! It's been great fun swapping observations, and your constant wonderful compliments have warmed my heart! Makes me glad I never completed the project until now... the response would never have been this satisfying!

 

[Janus4385]

You've just given me an idea my friend, just give me a couple of days and you'll see what it is... 😉

And don't sell yourself short LBH, I'm sure this would have been a success anywhere you decided to publish it! Still, I'm really glad you decided to do so here... 😀

 

[Low_Roads]

You've just given me an idea my friend, just give me a couple of days and you'll see what it is... 😉

Zounds! Sounds mysterious and incredibly intriguing! I await with baited breath (happily, I bought a fresh tube of breath bait just last week!)

 

[His Divine Shadow]

So they didn't destroy the 'elm after all. Seems risky. Have none of them read Tolkien? 😛

So ready for sequels it is (With part of one there, although I admit some confusion trying to keep track of all those panels. 😛). But, a fine closure to a splendid tale. The heroes are elevated, the villains in chains. This is about where that fairy from Fractured Fairy Tales gets squashed by the storybook and the scene fades out, methinks. Well done and all that. *Confetti toss* :happy:

 

[Low_Roads]

Ah! Thank you for the flying mounds of confetti, HDS! It's been my deepest pleasure to have your lively, informed commentary brighten so much of "Spectacles"! You were there with a thoughtful, supportive reply a year and a half ago when I made my very first submission to the TTC, and have been unfailingly kind since!

Fractured Fairy Tales! Man, I love Jay Ward stuff! I got a good measure of my tangled sense of plotting by watching serialized episodes of Crusader Rabbit and Rocky and His Friends when a kid! Unfortunately, those panels from Day of the Devastator are particularly tangled and would be almost impossible to decipher, having been slapped together as a rough collage rather than an attempt to maintain any story continuity. And with exciting key scenes missing, it doesn't even serve well as a coming attractions trailer! Let it be said that "Devastator" is a rough sequel to "Spectacles"... at first blush, the two would seem disconnected; the third, untitled story would tie them together.

No, unfortuantely the Commander Duck braintrust shows none of the wisdom evinced by the Council of Elrond! The Gorgonhelm was meant to figure in the succeeding stories, more lavishly and directly in the third than in the second. It would have been tough to toss it out, having squandered so much attention on it in "Spectacles"... but the superweapon was ultimately meant to serve as a key rather than a club (if that isn't pointlessly cryptic!)

 

[His Divine Shadow]

No, unfortuantely the Commander Duck braintrust shows none of the wisdom evinced by the Council of Elrond! The Gorgonhelm was meant to figure in the succeeding stories, more lavishly and directly in the third than in the second. It would have been tough to toss it out, having squandered so much attention on it in "Spectacles"... but the superweapon was ultimately meant to serve as a key rather than a club (if that isn't pointlessly cryptic!)

Ah, I see I see. But, remember that before Elrond's Think Tank of sorts was about, the LOTR world (Well, whatshisname (I canna spell it and Imma too lazy to look it up) specifically) failed to destroy the 'ol circlet. 'Course, it never had so high a purpose as key, no no... Cryptic! Absurdly cryptic! But, I've come to expect that. 😛

 

[Low_Roads]

That's right! Issildur (that can't be the right spelling. I know I must have hopelessly mangled it... I'm also too lazy to look it up! :redface🙂, the guy who severed Sauron's pinkie and got a few arrows in the back for his trouble! That's the way it happened in the movie, anyway. Right off, I don't recall how he was literarily done to death. Let's hope the Commander doesn't come to a similar end... the kiddy market would revolt!

 

[leenotler]

Here is a very belated "thank you". Despite my recent disgustingly busy schedule, I'm glad I took the time to catch up and finish reading this sci-fi adventure. I enjoyed the story, art, and the running commentary that illuminated your writing process. I know it was intended as "just" a children's TV show. Nevertheless, I have the same feeling as when I finish a good book or movie - one of thoughtful reflection, satisfaction and that sense of wonder that sci-fi can inspire. Thank you for your efforts.

 

[Low_Roads]

Never too late to reply, Leenotler! Certainly not for you, who were so inspiringly supportive so early on! I'm most flattered that you took the time to finish this story, as I know how busy you've been, and more pleased than I can say that you've found it worth the read! My effort has been more than compensated by such thoughtful, appreciative responses! Thank you for having made this experience such a pleasure!

 

[melanie2]

My grateful thanks, HDS! :happy: And I wouldn't be a bit surprised! Though the Commander's a bit of a sap, if you ask me: dragging along the useless Mr, Celluloid; leaving enemies at his back, as well as in front... he'll be darned lucky to get away intact. Then again, who says he will...

now now wait a minute there....i happen to like Mr Celluloid lol...i know i was going to wait until i read the entire series before bumping it up but wow..i had to bump this up anyway..the effort, the details, the cool plot, all have me mesmerized...and i haven't read anymore yet since they left that enemy behind to forge ahead to the real enemies..this is fascinating stuff...you rock..you are simply too talented for me to conceive of..does that make sense? hehe...anyway...now that i've bumped it up, it will make it easier for me to continue on...and thank goodness my computer hasn't been giving me anymore trouble...i can't wait to see how this all turns out...and i see you also have posted some stories..i'll have to check those out as well..

nice job my friend..😉

imzadi

 

[Low_Roads]

Hello Imzadi! What a very neat early-summer surprise; a nice bump up and plenty of kind, heart-warming compliments! Thank you so much! I'm very pleased that "Spectacles" has satisfied thus far and hope it will continue to do so! I have indeed made a few purely literary submissions to the forum, though none of them are really conventional stories (poems and screenplays, mostly).

I really don't want to be too terribly hard on Mr. Celluloid ... he was the main role I played on the live-action Commander Duck show, so I have a soft spot for him! Still, I must confess he's hardly a man of action... unspooling movies and getting in the way are his primary skills, and the Commander might have done better than to haul him around (if only he hadn't needed the ship!)

Once again, thank you for your wonderfully flattering commentary! It's just the boost I needed on a week when increasing outdoor temperatures and a wearying work schedule have been wearing me away to a numb nubbin!