After several hours of applied mad sciences, Dr. Muskiday finally has a plan.
The macronanos have been feeding on Fairmount City’s emotions, growing stronger with every burst of anger, embarrassment, infatuation, and fear. Muskiday’s new device is designed to reverse the process — converting a macronano back into harmless micronanos while safely discharging all that stolen emotional energy.
There’s just one problem.
To test the thing, they need a macronano.
Fortunately, HoloClone Miss Match knows exactly how to bait the hook. A little romance. A little melodrama. And perhaps just a touch more enthusiasm than Dr. Muskiday was expecting.
Science demands sacrifice. Apparently, dignity is first on the list.
One Hot August
On Friday, I posted a wrap-up of all of the August exclusives — complete with previews of all the spicy selections. You can download all of them without becoming a Patreon backer here.
Transcript
Panel 1
Dr. Muskiday finishes tinkering on his device in front of a whiteboard that shows how the device works.
Macronano —> containment unit —> compression field emitter —> emotion output emitter
Muskiday: OK… I think we’re ready to test it out. Can you attract one of the macronanos?
Panel 2
HoloClone Miss Match: Musky, darling, this may be our last chance to consummate our love before the macronanos take over!
Panel 3
A macronano reacts as Holoclone Miss Match (continues off-panel): Take me, my love. I’m yours, body and soul!
Panel 4
The macronano enters the lab, and HoloClone Miss Match slams the door behind it.
HoloClone Miss Match: Ha-HA! You sure are gullible! I can’t believe you fell for that. GET ’IM MUSKY!
Panel 5
Dr. Muskiday is in the act of taking off his pants: …Huh??
There’s been something bothering me about Batman: Cacophony #2 ever since I first read it. The hook is solid, the art is great, and I’m fully invested in the story.
But… well, check out these excerpts from two-and-a-half pages of Alfred and Bruce Wayne in the Batcave.
Alfred: If you ever wanted to triple the Wayne fortune, Master Bruce… All you’d need to do is invest in a suture manufacturer.
Bruce: …Further proof no Leaguer should ever let someone else assume their mantle.
Alfred: I’m sure Jean Paul Valley would be heartbroken to hear you say that, sir.
Bruce: I liberated them from Star City General Hospital shortly after the incident.
Alfred: you most definitely need a hobby, Master Bruce.
Bruce: What do Virago, Buckeye, Green Arrow and I have in common?
Alfred: Minor psychoses and god complexes, sir?.
Here’s the thing: What makes Alfred a stellar character is that he’s from the David Niven school of humor — ultra dry and delivered with a sly smile that never veers into a smirk. This didn’t read so much as David Niven to me. It was more like Henny Youngman.
But I still love this series. Smith had me hooked in Issue One when the Joker dropped trou’ for Onomatopoeia. It takes a bit to make my jaw drop, and this one had me staring and re-reading in disbelief.
