Chapter 17 | Page 3b: Hot Stuff

Today’s page takes us back to Ralph’s Diner, where Captain Heroic proves—once again—that nothing rattles him… not even a surprise soup bath.

Hailey is mortified, Captain Heroic is dripping, and somewhere across the diner, Yazmine Velour is livestreaming the whole thing as heart emojis rain from the internet. It’s a small moment, but one that says a lot about who Cap really is—and why people can’t help falling for him.

Transcript

Panel 1
Hailey (distraught that she has dumped hot soup on Captain Heroic): Omigod Omigod Omigod…

Captain Heroic (turning to another person eating at the diner): Excuse me. Would you hand me a napkin, please? (The person hands him a napkin)

Panel 2

Hailey: I’m so sorry Captain Heroic, sir. I didn’t mean to — {sob}

Panel 3

Captain Heroic (handing her the napkin): Here. Please don’t cry.

Panel 4

Captain Heroic (continues): Most of my first impressions involve disintegration rays. And actual impressions. In concrete.

Panel 5

Captain Heroic: This was far more pleasant — not counting the bay leaf in my shirt.Yazmine Velour (as she livestreams the interaction from the other side of the diner, a torrent of heart emojis flow from her phone as the audience reacts): Omigod Omigod Omigod

After Dark

This week's commissioned MicroFic delivers exactly what you’d want from a pairing between Dynasty and Father Christmas.

  • Yes, he lives up to his name.

  • Yes, Dynasty knew exactly what she was doing.

  • No, the North Pole will never be the same.

I also posted the Goblin Girl MicroFic from the Monster Girl poll — and the response was so good, I might need to make these poll-powered MicroFics a recurring thing!

Will female superheroes get their glory?

A story in the Kansas City Star today raises a really good point. Will female superheroes ever get their glory?

[KANSAS CITY STAR:] Wonder Woman, we need you!

As it stands, nearly all female superhero flicks make our crime-fighting sistas look laughably pathetic. Consider these disasters: “Supergirl” (Helen Slater), “Elektra” (Jennifer Garner) and “Catwoman” (a hissably bad Halle Berry).

None won over audiences or critics, and the reason is obvious: All were rotten.

The only time we see female superheroes truly living up to their potential is when they’re lumped into an ensemble cast. “The X-Men” and “The Fantastic Four” are prime examples, with women matching brains and brawn with their male counterparts.
Read more.

If anyone is capable of giving up a strong, capable superheroine, it’s Joss (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Whedon, who is reportedly developing a feature-length Wonder Woman. ‘Till then, it’s a really good question to ponder.