From Newsgroup: rec.arts.comics.creative

Original post: https://lists.eyrie.org/mailman3/hyperkitty/list/racc@lists.eyrie.org/message/SZVTCARLDLPV6D6YXD5QXIYE6TSVKQIM/
On Sun, Jan 26, 2025 at 4:05rC>PM Arthur Spitzer <arspitzer2@gmail.com> wrote:

And it's some more Martin Phipps's LNH v1 -- this time
#29-30! First off the LNH gets some therapy! Will it
do any good -- or is it -- A TRAP?!

I mean, they sure could use some

And then some
Star Trekish version of that Classic X-Men Kitty's
Fairytale yarn! Will that also be -- A TRAP?!!!

I prefer the Princess Mouserella version~

"Hi kids! You know what time it is?! That's right! It's time for
.. wREAM AND STIMPY! I'm wReam and this is Stimpy!"
"Hi!"
"WOW, I'm in such a good mood today ... I can't think of *anything*
that could possibly spoil it!"
"Nothing wReam???!!! Not even ..."
"Not even what?"
"Legion Legion angst angst Legion Legion angst angst ..."

"I didn't wake up until he'd finished the whole song ... without so
much as a comma."

Heeheehee. *Man* the 90s were weird.

"What other types of dreams have you had?"
"I dreamt once that I was Ice wReam."
"Ice wReam?"
"Yeah.

...can, can you inform us as to what the joke is here

"Well, one approach is that, in all these dreams, you have no sense
of 'self': you're someone else, drawn from a program or a comic book.
It's as if you're searching for an identity you'd be comfortable with
and so, in the process, you're assuming different personnas to see what sounds good and fits."
"wow"
"I *might* be completely off base though."
"No, I think you're right: ever since Master Roster Man took over
roster duty, 'RosterwReam' didn't seem to fit."

Aha! So THAT'S who's talking! @-@

"You knew what I was going to say before I asked."
"Of course."
"How?"
"Because I'm writing this story."

Okay, I guess this is Deja Dude?? @-@

"Tell me, Doctor, have you ever stood in a computer room waiting
for someone to finish their work so you can post a story."
"Well ... no."
"Well, it's awful. You have a story you want to post and maybe you're
the only one who'll like it but you don't care because you have to get
the damn thing out of your mind and get on with your life."

Awwwwww... Yeah okay, I get it.

"Look, Doc, I really appreciate this."
"You do?"
"Well, part of me does: the Master part."
"And the Blaster?"

I'm glad he's putting this stuff in. I guess this is intentionally
stylistic, which is valid.

"He sees you as a threat, pure and simple. He doesn't act out of
malice: he acts out of instinct."
"And you?"
"I act out of reason. Doc, I didn't know it'd be like this."
"Like what?"
"I only have limited control over the Blaster. I thought it'd be
different ... I'd be Master when necessary, Blaster when necessary ...
but Blaster wants total control."
"Why?"
"That's just the way he is."

This is genuinely some good characterization, and something that feels
like it disappeared from later stories.

"They tell me that you are hounded by a demon."
"Oh yeah? Who are 'they'?"
"Well, Pocket Man for one."
"Yeah, well, he's a jerk!"
"Isn't he your friend?"
"Maybe ... maybe not."
"Tell me about Dah Rrik Ulz."
"Why should I?"
"You don't have to."
"You've got that right!"

The characters that aren't Martin's get less deep treatment, unsurprisingly.

"Let's try some word association: I'll say a word and you say the
first word that comes to your mind."
"OK."
"Black."
"Black."
"No, a different word."
"Does it have to be?"
"No, I suppose not. Tell me, does it bother you when they call you 'Super-Apathy Lad'."
"No."

You could do a *lot* with this.

"You don't look very relaxed."
"I'm not."
"Why is that?"
"I've got work to do."
"Then you'd better go do it."
"Oh."
"Something wrong?"
"I ... like being a Legionaire."
"But?"
"I don't always have time."
"Because you have work to do."
"Yeah."
"What work do you do?"
"Lots."
"What have you done lately?"
"Lately? Well, not much: I still have to get organized."
"Some might accuse you of procrastinating."
"Oh, NO! Look, Procrastination Boy is just the name I go by. It
doesn't *really* mean anything."

Huhhhhh. This is hinting at an interesting characterization, but I
don't think it's one that was ever applied to this character
elsewhere. X>;

"I appreciate the work you're doing, Doctor. I understand how
difficult these people can be."
"Oh?"
"Well, yeah. I mean there's RosterwReam: he's as bad as Super-Apathy
Lad or Procrastination Boy! Deja Dude's just plain arrogant and Master Blaster and Sarcastic Lad ... they're just out to annoy people!"
"Well, as a ninja, I'm sure you have your own perspective."
"Hey! I'm not just any ninja! I'm ... ULTIMATE NINJA!"
"Of course."

Martin Phipps
aka Deja Dude

Huh. And that's it. Odd. X> But I guess this was one of those things
he had to get out of his head, which is, yeah, totally fair.

Deja Dude is in the Lobby of Legion Headquarters. It is late in the
evening. He hears sounds from under the reception desk and goes to
take a look. He finds Curly curled up in a box underneath the desk.

"Curly?!"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you here and not in your quarters?"
"I like it here."
"Here? Why here?"
Curly smiled sheepishly.
"Oh, Curly, don't tell me you're here during the day too."
"She's got nice legs."

Ahhhhhh, I see. X>;

"Could you tell me a story?"
"A story?"
"I mean ... as long as you're here ... I'm tired but I can't seem to
get to sleep."

Awwwww.

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Deep Space Ninja and
The Deja Knight were stationed on a space station on the edge of a
wormhole --"

Ahhhh, I see X>

"'"Disruptors"? What's a "disruptor"?'
"The Deja Knight shrugged his shoulders. 'As far as I know, they're
like phasers 'cept bad guys use 'em.'

Pretty much. X>

"'Well, we've got proton torpedos?'
"'Don't you mean 'photon' torpedos?'
"'Depends ... who would you rather have sue us: Paramount or
Lucasfilm?'

Heeheehee

"Deep Space Ninja sighed. 'Look, we haven't got time for this! FIRE
AT WILL!'
"'Fire at whom?'

He's not on this show

"The Evil-Blackhearted Commander appeared before our heroes. He
pointed at The Deja Knight. 'The Force is strong in you. Join me and
we will rule the galaxy together!'
"'NEVER!'
"'Then you will die!' The Evil-Blackhearted Commander activated his
light sabre. The Deja Knight did likewise.
"'No,' began Deep Space Ninja, 'you won't stand a chance!'
"The Deja Knight nodded. 'You're right: here!' The Deja Knight
handed Deep Space Ninja his light sabre.

Oh, you know, I actually like that. X>

"Deep Space Ninja smiled. 'I'm on to you're tricks! This isn't
magic! Look: there and there! STAGEHANDS! They're dressed in black
so that only a ninja like me could see them!'

Okay that's pretty good. X>

"The Deja Knight came out of his trance: he had been building up power
and was ready to STRIKE! Lightening shot out from his hands and
enveloped the Evil-Blackhearted Commander causing him to stop short of disembowling Deep Space Ninja.

Whoa, jumping straight to Force Lightning, that's gonna cost you some
Light Side Points

"With the Evil-Blackhearted Commander dead, the crew of the BIG space
ship lost their resolve. Actually, they weren't sorry to see him go.
In fact, they had a party.

Heeheehee

"Well, Curly, what did you think?"
Curly didn't make a sound. Then he began to snore.
Deja Dude smiled. "Sweet dreams, Curly."

Awwwwww. :>

Next Week: Hmm. Something seems different! Where did all these
blood splattered pentagrams come from? And all these
cigarette butts? And those sinister shadows that
look like they're wearing trenchcoats? Oh no!
Please don't -- Arghhhhhhhh!!!!!

WOO!
Drew "trenchcoat time!" Nilium
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