Drugs are bad, mmmkay?

[lbd_nytetrayn]

This is why.

We finally have our table and chairs, and after some struggling earlier, the table is complete. Today, I put together the chairs. Then I'll have a place to draw...

Recent synopsis of the first issue of Dreamwave's MegaMan, courtesy of American Dream Comics:

MEGA MAN # 1
Written by Brian Augustyn
Art by Mic Fong
Colored by Stuart Ng

Previews Synopsis: The legendary video game superstar gets his own comic just in time for his highly touted fifteenth anniversary and just in time to kick off Dreamwave’s all-new Capcom line of comics! Though his fame as a battler of evil robots and protector of the helpless is growing, Mega Man has a life as a real boy to build too. When the kindly robotics genius, Dr. Light insists that the young hero seek to fit in among ordinary folks, Mega faces a greater and more dangerous challenge than anything he's ever encountered: JUNIOR HIGH! Can the secret cyborg fit in, without revealing his power? Can he continue to battle the escalating threat of evil robotic menace, if he's sentenced to afterschool detention? And what is he supposed to do when his finely tuned mechanical heart skips a beat every time he sees the cute girl in the next desk?

Meanwhile, a villainous and mysterious mastermind schemes to destroy everything the great Dr. Light has done for the city--including his greatest creation, Mega Man! The latest edition to this year’s 15th anniversary assault that includes an animated series, toy lines and a slew of new games, this action-packed series promises thrills, chills and excitement for fans of all ages!

FC 32pp $2.95 Monthly

*NOTE: This issue will ship with 2 covers by Mic Fong and Skottie Young in equal ratio.


MEGA MAN # 1 (HOLOFOIL COVER)
Penciled by Mic Fong

Previews Synopsis: The first issue of the diminutive blue hero’s new series is also available in dynamic Holofoil glory! Featuring an all-new cover art by Mic Fong, no Mega-fan will want to miss out on this hot collector’s item.

FC 32pp $5.95

I at least hope they're starting post MM&B, so that they aren't rewriting the timeline. If they do that, then I can probably handle whatever they're throwing at me.

Food for thought: Rockman is quoted by Capcom as being programmed to be like a 10-year old boy. MegaMan is quoted by Capcom as being programmed to be like a young adult. 10-year olds don't typically go to Junior High, and I always thought young adults were usually closer to Juniors/Seniors in High School. Maybe they're out to appeal to both types of fans by placing him somewhere in the middle? I dunno.

After some thought, I think from what I can piece together is that the premise is sort of like X-Men: Evolution, in having the hero(es?) going to school, pretending to be normal people, and trying to save humanity on the side.

But given the nature of the foes MegaMan has, it takes a bit of a departure. Characters like Mystique, Blob, Quicksilver, etc., they can all blend in at the school. So unless Wily starts to disguise Robot Masters as kids, I get the feeling they're going to be making attacks, and MegaMan will have to skip out and don his fighting attire and weapons, and teleport to where the trouble is to stop the destruction, provided he isn't stuck on some school project or something first.

And you know what that sounds like? The first seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Good thing I'm a PR fan, but it's not what I had in mind for a MegaMan book. I guess as long as Wily doesn't start shooting rays or throwing skull-bombs to make Robot Masters grow, only to be stopped by MegaMan in a Rush mecha or Hyper MegaMan armor, we'll be alright...

One thing I'll give this book, though: it sounds like we'll get to see plenty of Rock as Rock, and not MegaMan, something even the old toon failed to come through with. So that's a plus. Well, maybe. I note the above description of the book refers to him as "Mega". 90's Animated Series redux? God, I hope not...

LBD "Nytetrayn"... "It's MEGA Time!" *poses*

Edit: Oh, almost forgot. For anyone who's not seen it, I submit this to Dreamwave owner/president/lead artist Pat Lee himself some four days before they admit they had the license for a MegaMan comic. Of course, when they admit to that, they also had the artist and writer picked out. Pity.

Comments

Hmm

[gelgameth.livejournal.com]

However, I for one wouldn't mind rewriting the Rockman timeline a little. Ariga did it, and everyone loves him, why can't somebody else try?

And as for the whole "first episode of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" analogy.. that's rather limited. I like to think something more along the lines of Kikaider, Superman, Spider-man, Batman or maybe Trigun. He tries to escape the problem without fighting, but he's eventually forced to by the attack.. which from what I've seen from Dreamwave, won't be like Power Ranger's monsters which for the most part left the civillians alone. I expect something more like the Ariga scene with Skullman gunning people down with machine guns. And that, my friend, would kick ass.

My greatest fear doesn't lie in the possibility of them doing that, frankly I think it seems rather inevitable... no. My fear lies in the potential that they'll do it poorly. Already the first artist they've hired dissappoints me with the hardly professional quality of his art. But that may change.

Remember, just because it's not your idea doesn't mean it's a bad idea, and I don't mean that to insult you. Everyone thinks that way. Just like I would think it would be a bad idea to follow the games too closely... There are pros and cons to both our views of things, but in the end we're going to wind up preferring our own views of things, because that's just the way people are.

...and oh yeah.. Rockman started at the age of 10, but he seems to have "grown up" over the years. He's been getting taller and less pudgy as the games go on, suggesting that he's slowly growing up until the point where he's at the same level X was in Megaman X... and has anyone else noticed that X has been slowly getting older too? That's no 15 year old in X5-6.

Re: Hmm

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

On Rock's age, it is supposed to be a fixed age, ironically enough. One of the things to set X apart is his ability to mature. Frankly, despite the "fixed age", I do think it's interesting that the "10-year old boy" is the same height(always has been) as the adults of his world, whether he be a chubby super-deformed figure in the first Rockman or the lean, mean, fighting machine of Rockman 8. It's always been pretty consistent in that regard, despite the changes in styles.

And yeah, there are other ways to tackle the story issue, but I'm not sure we'll see them. I get the feeling the target audience for this book won't be unlike the target audience for MMPR when it came out... hence my apprehension about it.

Incidently, I love X-Men: Evolution. I love MMPR. Spider-man too. But I don't think that's any reason for MegaMan to be emulating it in such a way.

As for Ariga, I'm not sure he was rewriting the timeline, or if those were sidestories. The first two in the new manga seemed to be based on the games, but MegaMan 3 and on seemed more like side-stories, so I'm not sure there. But at least with Ariga's manga, he seemed to keep to the general feel of Rockman, which didn't include detention and getting a boner for the girl in the next row.

On top of that, his art had enough heart and creativity to it, while retaining the feel of the characters(Ariga's Rock has never looked happy while fighting. That pic of MegaMan escaping the exploding ships? The expression, as you've pointed out before, seems so un-MegaMan-like. I'd never expect a pic like that from Ariga).

And I know that just because it's not my idea doesn't make it bad, that's why I'm waiting to read an issue or two before passing judgement. But waiting is the hardest part, and seems to have the least promise. Each time I hear something new, it just seems to chip further away.

So again, at least if it's a post-MM&B side-story type of setting, I can at least deal. That won't help the art, and MegaMan may still have a big goofy smile as he causes acts of mass-destruction from destroying airships or killing his former friends, but at least it would seem to be meant to coexist with the games and their stories, rather than replacing them.

Of course, good or bad, I'm a die-hard collector. I own some Rockman stuff, unofficial even, I wish I'd never laid eyes on. So I'm on board for this for the long haul, good or bad, thick or thin. I just hope I'll find it worth my money the whole way through.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Re: Hmm

[gelgameth.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I came off a little harsh.

And yeah, the art so far seems to be lacking the same soul Ariga's stuff does, and Ariga maintained and enhanced the feel of Rockman.

I guess really I just want to see them doing something like Ariga did. If they can't pull that off, then expect me to be the first one to join you in condemning the filth ;)

Re: Hmm

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. Ariga's stuff seemed to have a Capcom+ quality to it, matching it and taking it a bit further. While some of the other characters here look pretty good, MegaMan himself just doesn't look as good.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

[acrimonius.livejournal.com]

Can the secret cyborg fit in, without revealing his power? Can he continue to battle the escalating threat of evil robotic menace, if he's sentenced to afterschool detention? And what is he supposed to do when his finely tuned mechanical heart skips a beat every time he sees the cute girl in the next desk?

... Cyborg? Since when is Megaman a cyborg?

Oh, Capcom, why must you torture your fans?

To be fair...

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

...Dreamwave came up with the story. Brian Augustyn, apparently.

Of course, we at their forums have been assured that this will go through Capcom for their approval before it sees print. Doesn't that make anyone feel better? Oh, wait, that's right... it's Capcom. They can't even keep their names straight, much less anything else...

Heh, I actually, honestly, don't know what would be worse: if it didn't go through Capcom, or if it does.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

[spydabass.livejournal.com]

Dude, that's just... spooky. O_O;; I didn't know robots could be attracted to human girls. TEACH ME, DREAMWAVE!

Well...

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

Surely you've read the Internet FanFiction Classic "Bass Is Not A Fish", right? ;P

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Re: Well...

[spydabass.livejournal.com]

Well, at least BNF had a good explanation for it. Something tells me this comic won't. >_< But we'll wait and see, I guess...

Re: Well...

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

"Strange new feelings... brewing inside Duff--er, MegaMan! Oh yeah!"

LBD "Nytetrayn"

...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[megax.livejournal.com]

A part of me is jumping around saying " yay yay! FINALLY" and another part of me is saying... " Man, this is gunna be stupid."

This is so stereotypical it almsot makes me sick. i'm gunna loose my banananut muffin. Well, i'll give it a shot. I mean, can't hurt anything and plus, it's megaman, what kinda fan would i be if I didn't check out what's going down.

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's basically my thoughts on the matter. The way I see it, at least, is that the Sonic comic started out kinda crummy compared to its current state, so at least if there IS a comic book, there's a chance it can be improved later on.

The problem is, will people support it long enough to reach that stage?

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[megax.livejournal.com]

(nods) i hope so too. My only dissapointment is that it's gunna be very predictable. Come on. MM in high school. MM with Crush... MM.... GAH! MM is now offically gunna be screwed becasue you know what's ghunna happen:

Girl: Save me megaman! KYAAA!
MM: OH NO! i must save (Insert whatever her name is here) but i can't let (insert event here) happen! What do I do?!"

Or/And/this most likely will happen/the old hostage trick

Wily: i have th girl oyu like
Girl:HELP ME!
MM: Oh no!

and I'm sure all the fans that are sick of those plots are gunna sigh and say " Megaman is about FIGHTING robots and kicking ass and blowing shit up.... man, this sucks."

but i DO pray that maybe things won't be so corny. Either way as long as Roll's there I will not mind. Plus, when things start out they usualy suck... like movie series...^_^

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

You forgot saving the school/girl without exposing his "secret identity". ;P

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[megax.livejournal.com]

Oh, i'm sorry, i should be more compasionate. What, is Rock now i transformer? YOu know, more than meets the eye. ^O^

Does he remove his shirt and then you see the blue and he strips and POW

" MEGA MAN!"

what?! Cause you know, at some point we're gunna get this dramatic " can a human love a robot?" thing and they'll fall in lvoe and it'll be really lame... but hey,can't wait for the first issue

AND, if I recall correctly formthe Animation there is an episode dealing with a robot school so there's a possibility that he may very well not have to worry about identity.

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

From what I've read, the robot school doesn't seem too likely, with the bits about "building a life as a real boy" and "fitting in among ordinary folks".

Anyways, as for his transformation, who knows. I expect a pose followed by a catchphrase then a transformation, maybe.

And also, make a note of this: I bet that given the scenario, the setting, that they'll probably have at least one story where Rock falls in with the "wrong crowd" or something at school...

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Re: ...hmm, don't know how to put this but..

[megax.livejournal.com]

Megaman falling in with the wrond crowd. The fact that you're 100% right DISTURBS me...

Why, Megaman, Why?

Were we not loyal enough? Did we not care enough? Did we not buy your games and action figures and othe merchandise....nooooo (wailing)

[magnus-samma.livejournal.com]

I'll be blunt. I'm afraid. Mega Man going to school? Crushing on girls? Having detention? That little blue son of a bitch has saved the world more times than you can shake a stick at! Who the fuck is going to give Mega-freakin'-Man fucking detention!? And Skull Man gunning down people in the streets? That'll never happen. It's obvious they're aiming this shit at kids, if it wasn't from the high-on-speed grin he's had on his face in every piece of art we've seen from these bitches. I'll read the first issue, sure, I'll probably even buy it. But will I enjoy it? Rather, will I tear it into little pieces and then mock the creators' penis sizes afterwards?

I think I will.

(Disclaimer: Admnittedly, there is a chance, a small chance, that the comic isn't going to turn out as bad as I think it will, but... fuck, this is CAPCOM we're talking about. When have they NOT dissapointed us MegaMan fans in the past few years? If it's good, I will be the first person to sing it's praises and love buying every damn issue, but I really just can't believe that's going to happen. It's gonna suck, you mark my words.)

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

I have to echo the thoughts in your disclaimer, that's basically my take on it. Sadly, Capcom has admit their target for MegaMan seems to be the boys 8-12 demo... makes me wonder if even a Dreamwave X or Zero(or even Legends) series would have the kind of maturity(not Terminator, but something a little more than this) that we would come to expect of the darker side of MegaMan.

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Something else I forgot to mention...

[lbd-nytetrayn.livejournal.com]

"Meanwhile, a villainous and mysterious mastermind schemes to destroy everything the great Dr. Light has done for the city--including his greatest creation, Mega Man!"

As if the description didn't make it sound obvious, I think the cover insures that this will be Dr. Wily he finds himself up against. But wait, what's this?

"Though his fame as a battler of evil robots and protector of the helpless is growing, Mega Man has a life as a real boy to build too."

If it's a mysterious mastermind, I imagine that is meant to imply it's someone that MegaMan wouldn't be familiar with. But if that's the case, then how did he become famous? Whose robots was he fighting? Hmm...

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Merh.

[zaphy.livejournal.com]

I have to say that whenever something comes out based on a previously laid down story, only shrunk back a few years so that the main characters are still in school, I go AUGH. I didn't care for X-Men Evolution, Extreme Ghostbusters (as short as that was), I didn't even like Batman Beyond as much as the original Fox Kids cartoon. Somehow they always turn out to be sub par. I'll watch/read them, but it lacks something.

Admittedly I haven't been really impressed with ANY of DW's projects for whatever reason, and I still say that artist is poopy too, though I imagine that as the comics go on, he'll get better. Though no, he won't ever touch Ariga.

I'm going to scream if they make a lot of "mega" puns. X/