Inazuma

Blue Steel was also a partner of Back Alley Brawler. I beleive they were both in the Regulators together.

Isn't Minx the sidekick of Synapse?

[ QUOTE ]
1. How are they going to wrap up the current comic? I mean, is War Witch gonna be permanently stuck in limbo staring at a Kheldified Requiem about to kill her?

[/ QUOTE ]

Blue King is going to finish things up in 11 and 12. I just got 11 today. Then Top Cow's comic starts.

[ QUOTE ]
I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that those pages are a preview and the text is not final.
The Hellions/Outcasts error and the repeated text bubbles will be fixed for the final version.

Cheers,
Manticore

PS Brawl is dead on about Sister Psyche.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nice to know, Manticore. I was hoping some editing would still be possible, especially on the Hellions/Outcasts flub. Thanks for the update! I'm very much looking forward to the final product!

I feel bad for that dude with the steel pipe through his chest. That's gonna leave a mark.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I got the impresion that they're in Boomtown. There aren't any Hellions in Boomtown, but there are plenty of Clocks and Outcasts...


[/ QUOTE ]

My guess was Kings Row instead. The bottom panel looks a lot like Paladin had spawned based on the size of that clockwork pictured. Of course it might also be a new villian we haven't seen yet. May be babbage, but doesn't babbage have a big gear as a shoulder?

I'm more surprised someone hadn't picked up the bottom left panel's bubble...
"....like everyone else, his power levels were dwindling fast."

OMG, Statesman PL's!!!!!!!!!!eleven!111!!!!!!fordfairlane!11

[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is Steel Canyon. There are no Hellions or Outcasts in Kings Row, and it's not messed up enough for Boomtown. Steel has Clockies and Outcasts, though.

Interesting changes. I don't see much of a need for the first change, but I'm not objecting to it.

The second change I love. I adore doing missions and find street sweeping boring. Nice to know I'll be better rewarded in mish maps (I grew up in this game playing a blaster, I'm used to deaths).

OMIGAWD!!!!11111!!! Statesman has GONE TO THE AMERICANS!!!

Thank you, Cryptic and NCSoft, for giving me the chance to live out my childhood fantasies of donning tights and fighting crime. BIFF! POW! BAM!

There are no new Accoldaes in Issue #3. That's been confirmed. Still lots of new badges, though. Exploration badges and History plaques added to Hollows, new ones coming with Stryga Island. New kill badges for Igneous, Rularuu, and the new monsters.

Ah, a heaven-send for Blasters! Shrugging off status effects is way cool! Hooray for Statesman!

[ QUOTE ]
5. The massive AOE Alpha Strikes will be addressed shortly after Tankers get their due.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, please tell me AOEs won't be nerfed. I'm a fire blaster, and my aoes are my major strength.

I vote for CuppaJo and Recluse! The greater of two evils!

OOooo, vampires and werewolves stalking the streets for Halloween! I like that! More CoT spectres wandering around, too!

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ted Knight was in Caddyshack with Bill Murray who was in Ghostbusters with Dan Akroyd who was in Blues Brothers with John Belushi who was in Animal House with........

Kevin Bacon.


(sorry, couldn't resist)


[/ QUOTE ]

That's good.. but.. you can do it shorter than that.

Ted Knight was in Caddy Shack with Bill Murray who was in Wild Things with Kevin Bacon. 2 steps.

Not a badge, and not comic related, but I'd guess that Romero Heights in DA is named for George Romero? (I'm really hoping there won't be a "Huh? Who's that?" post put up here...)

[/ QUOTE ]

There's also Cesar Romero, who played the Joker on the old '60s Batman TV series.

Yes, I know. I was just aiming for a joke.

The following is a report filed by the hero Repulse.

The Extradimensionl Alien Invaders

I, like all other heroes in Paragon, were taken aback by the sudden invasion by these extradimensional aliens throughout the city. While we were alert to the rise of aetheric energies, and were not too surprised to see some Rikti forces out and about, these new aliens are truly a shock. During the recent days of nearly constant fighting, I have made notes and examinations of these creatures. What follows are my findings and theories.

The Portals

First, I want to examine the extradimensional portals used by the aliens. Constructs of aetheric energy, these glowing, white circles have appeared in all zones of the city. Although some of the aliens can fly, the portals are never more than a foot or two off of the ground. Over the past several days, the portals have appeared in locations that, to us, make no particular sense. Some have formed in the heart of urban areas, while others arrive in remote locales of no discernable strategic value. The portals seem to open repeatedly in the same spots. Either the aliens are determined to take these points, or these are locations where the dimensional barriers are at the weakest, and thus easier to penetrate with the portals. Further research is required.

It is of importance to note that the portals cannot be used by us. This means either....1) They are geared for the aliens use only. 2) They are one way. Or 3) They require some trigger that we lack.

Although made of energy, the portals have proven to be harmed by just about anything. Energy blasts, melee weapons, even bare fists. It is my theory that physical disruptions to a portal's energy matrix eventually cause it to collapse. This is good, as we lack any other means of closing them once they open.

The Eyeballs

First among the aliens themselves are the "eyeballs," so nicknamed by every hero in Paragon, though I have heard references to "beholders" and "cacodemons." Some heroes play too many video games. Ahem.

Literally giant floating eyeballs, approximately 6 feet in diameter, sometimes larger, these aliens are, from what we have seen so are, the field leaders. Most of their forms are covered in a hard, spiky, chitin, providing a natural armor. They fly under their own power. Perhaps air sacs or telekinesis?

Offensively, the eyeballs can emit blazing blasts of energy from their pupils. These blasts, aside from being harmful, also possess a paralytic effect (thankfully temporary). Additionally, the eyeballs can "whip" themselves about to release and launch their chitinous spikes in a wide spray. My own battlesuit's armor can attest to these spikes from it's numerous dents and scratches.

I have noted a heirarchy among the eyeballs, largely denoted by eye color. Those with yellow irises I name "Overseers," and they seem to be in charge, leading invasion forces. Next come the "Observers," with blue irises. They appear to act as lieutenants. Finally come the "Watchers," with green irises, who protect and serve the higher-ups, and take command of the "Brutes," if deprived of Overseers or Observers.

Please excuse the names. The eyeball/vision theme seems to work well.

No noted form of communication among the eyeballs. Telepathy, perhaps? Maybe our own mentalists can 'tap in?'

The Brutes

Named because of their brutish, ape-like builds, these humanoids seem to be the bodyguards and foot soldiers for the eyeballs. Their bluish-purple hides are tough and sinewy, and they possess spike-like growths of bone over much of their bodies. their right arms end in a large bulb, covered in bone spikes, which they use as melee weapons. Strong and enduring, they are clearly built for combat, but don't seem to be great thinkers.

Most freakishly, their heads are nothing more than a singly large eye. Are all creatures from their dimension like this? Eye color varies, and again, seems to run along a heirarchy of some sort. There are clear combat leaders among them, and some with healing abilities. Like the eyeballs, they have no verbal communication that anyone has noted. Again, telepathy?

The Brutes can also emit energy blasts from their eyes, but thankfully lack the paralytic effect of the eyeballs.

In Closing

Portal occurances are on the rise, and the invasion forces are growing larger. This whole...thing...is still gearing up, I'm afraid. I wonder if there are other types of aliens to come? We shall see, I suppose.

Anyway, I should return to action, now that my armor is repaired. No rest for the righteous, I guess.

Respectfully submitted,
Repulse

Leo sniffed at the crumpled piece of paper. It smelled of cheap booze and cheaper leather. He sat down on the unconscious form of the Hellion he'd just taken the note from. The gang member grunted in pain as the superhero's bulk pressed down on his back.

"Oh, quite whining, sissy." Lionsmane snorted as he worked to flatten out the crumpled paper. The Hellion's two partners lay knocked out nearby on the floor of the dirty alleyway. The tools of their attempted break-in on the covenience store were scattered all over. Leo frowned and rubbed his shoulder where the lead Hellion had uses a crowbar to strike him during the fight.

Brushing back the long, thick, wild hair that in part gave him his codename, Leo raised an eyebrow at the message.

"Another new hero has arrived on the scene. This Lionsmane could become a serious problem, and might disrupt the unloading of the latest artifact. We need to meet and discuss potential solutions." The message, for all it's lousy handwriting, ended with a time and address. The time was within the hour.

"Well, Azuria said my patrols of Atlas Park had put you boys on edge." Lionsmane smirked, though the Hellions made no reply, being prone and groaning in pain.

"I'm flattered you guys are so worried about me. I've only been hunting you for a few nights now. But I guess any gang of scuzzballs gets worried when a hero puts a dozen of their members in jail that fast, eh?"

Lionsmane rose to his feet, folding the note and tucking it into the waistband of his brown and gold tights. The muscular yet graceful man stretched luxuriously, like a great cat.

"Now, I think I'm gonna go to this meeting of yours. Your pals may appreciate my input on myself. And I'd like to know what this artifact is all about. You guys stay here and wait for the cops. You've been tagged for arrest and the paddywagon is coming. In fact, I can hear the siren now."

Had the Hellions been conscious, they would not have heard anything, but Lionsmane's hearing was far better than normal. All his senses were enhanced, and he could hear the police cars coming from a mile away. Chuckling, the large man leapt an impressive height over the wooden fence at the end of the alleyway and disappeared into the night.

The King of Beasts had a party to crash...

((to be continued))