Author: Brian Niemeier - Page 17 - Kairos

Death Cult Vows

Like all religions, the Death Cult that currently dictates Western morality has a creed that its adherents are required to profess in order to be members in good standing. The Z Man complied a pretty accurate encapsulation of the Cult's dogmas, which I present here with some light editing. …

October 4, 202012 Comments

Combat Frame Data: MC4I-04D Tyrant Manticore

MC4I-04D Tyrant Manticore Technical Data Model number: MC4I-04D Code name: Tyrant Manticore Classification: Mass production long range indirect fire support/air defense artillery/dedicated Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) platform Manufacturer: Colonial Defense License Design Operator: Extrasolar Colony Defense First deployment: CY 84 Crew: 1 Pilot/gunner, 1 dedicated electronics specialist/assistant gunner, 2 onboard Gremlin AI Size: Length 58.3…

October 2, 20208 Comments

Combat Frame Data: CF-06-04A Goblin King

CF-06-04A Goblin King Technical Data Model Number: CF-06-04A Code Name: Goblin King Classification: Mass production flight-capable combat frame Manufacturer: Colonial Defense License Design Operator: Extrasolar Colony Defense First Deployment: CY 82 Crew: 1 Pilot, 1 Erlkoenig Battle Director AI, 2 Gremlin Cyberwarfare AI Height: 17.5 meters tall Weight: Dry…

September 30, 20204 Comments

Hamburger Nationalism

With the constant churn of the news cycle, it's easy to forget that the current counterculture moment initially coalesced around pop culture revolts like Gamer Gate and Sad Puppies. Whether the aim was to reform games journalism or expose the logrolling at science fiction awards, these early efforts brought together…

September 29, 202029 Comments

Combat Frame Data: AS-03B Goblin

AS-03B Goblin Technical Data Model Number: AS-03B Code Name: Goblin Classification: Mass production armored combat suit Manufacturer: Colonial Defense License Design Operator: Extrasolar Colony Defense First Deployment: CY 81 Crew: 1 Pilot, 1 Goblin Combat AI Height: 3.5 meters tall Weight: Dry weight 6.8 metric tons, full weight…

September 28, 20207 Comments

Combat Frame Data: The Dome

NHX-01A Dome Technical Data Model number: NHX-01A Nickname: The Dome Classification: transforming mobile artillery combat frame Manufacturer: New Haven Colony Operator: New Haven Colony First deployment: CY 98 Crew: 1 pilot in central cockpit Height: 12 meters Weight: dry weight 99 metric tons, full weight 121 metric tons Armor type: orihalcum alloy Powerplant: cold fusion reactor, max output 2950 KW…

September 25, 20206 Comments

No-stalgia

In sharp contrast to PS2-era webcomics that have shambled on well past their expiry date, the wiser curators of another Gen Y nostalgia brand knew when their moment had passed. Paradoxically, knowing when to dial it back has made Matthew and Michael Chapman's sporadic release of new material a delightful…

September 24, 202012 Comments

Fixing Frank

As a follow up to yesterday's postmortem on Penny Arcade, I thought I'd address some of the comments about how the comic lost its way by showing how it could be fixed.Comics being a visual medium that capitalizes on a picture speaking a thousand words, the best way to explain…

September 23, 20209 Comments

Web Comics Autopsy: Penny Arcade

Pop culture trends come in cycles. A new property shows up on the scene, gains traction, and explodes in popularity. Entropy always gets a vote, though, and the IP holders inevitably turn to milking the brand. A consequent decline in quality follows, and the brand--sometimes the whole genre--goes moribund. The…

September 23, 202020 Comments

Backwards Men

What's striking about the recent announcement of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death is the relative calm in its wake. The news broke on Friday night, and Lefties threw the expected fit on social media, but the weekend passed without any more street violence than usual.Perhaps all the false alarms…

September 21, 202022 Comments