Grrl Power

Heh. One of my friends loved to tell the story of the time that her boyfriend came over while her father was cleaning his pistol (totally unrelated. He just did that regularly). The father and boyfriend were talking amicably, father finishes cleaning parts, rapidly reassembles pistol, boyfriend leaps up and yells, "That's a gun!"

Actually, while the time limit is a bit extreme, that strikes me as a pretty good qualification for getting a license. After all you need to prove you know what you're doing to get a driver's license.

Max answers the question.

I really love how Sydney completely missed the first part of the point - she just got a demonstration of how dangerous it can be when Maxima points at something, but she didn't register it as a potential threatening action at all.

Also, I can think of another possible reason besides the one Maxima just demonstrated... does she have a lower bound to those blasts of hers? If the weakest her blast could get is "tear a human in half," she might carry a gun around in order to have a less lethal ranged option at her disposal (presuming she also has something like a rubber bullet or the like).

It took me forever, but I think Maxima's point is "I use guns because I want to make it clear that I'm threatening someone."

I say "think", because "I use guns so I don't vaporize the fuck out of someone" is a much easier and just as valid (if not more valid) point.

Even if her energy blasts can't be turned down farther than that (though keep in mind part of her power to shift her attributes gives her more versatility on that front than most supers), she also has super speed and strength. If she needs to handle a baseline human nonlethally, she has other options.

Yeah, she does have the ability to shift where her powers are focused, but it's still possible that Max just can't do a non-lethal (to baseline mortals, at least) energy blast. Also, yes, her array of powers does mean that she has multiple takedown options.

That said, it never hurts to have even more options (particularly when carrying a piece isn't particularly onerous), and the gun might just be the best option in a given circumstance. Also, we don't know exactly what loadouts Max can get in her bullets. Smoke pellets, tranq darts, shot pellets... there's multiple things one can potentially do with a gun that aren't "put bullet through head".

I believe the key point that Max is making is 'presenting a clear threat and intimidation/authority' vs 'I'll look silly if all I do is point at people'. When dealing with an unknown party(enemy, civilian, or other), clarity in communicating intent is paramount. It isn't so much about Max knowing what she can do, as it is that the other party knows. A body language 'translation convenience', if you will.

edited 16th Jun '15 10:38:05 PM by ArcanGenth

New strip. Ms. Exposition strikes again, but we do get a visual punchline.

*snerk* Bayonets on a minigun...

edited 18th Jun '15 4:48:51 AM by FuzzyBoots

Well, if their main reason for carrying guns is for intimidation, note that one of the main reasons that modern armies still issue bayonets is apparently for intimidating effect...

Forget the knives, why does Sasha that minigun have a joystick on it?

Oh, I'm not disputing that the main effect of Maxima's sidearm is more obvious intimidation. I'm just thinking that it might not be the only reason she carries it. Maxima strikes me as the type that likes to have multiple uses for everything she carries.

That part on the back doesn't look mobile at the base, so I don't think it's a joystick - it's a fixed grip so that it can easily be held. Now, as to why a freaking minigun needs a grip for easy handling... I take it that's what Maxima uses when she needs to do a ranged attack but is primarily focused on pumping her other stats.

So I was right on that point. I honestly wouldn't have been as confused on that point if Sydney didn't stupidly underestimate Maxima's finger after it just fired off a Death Ray.

....Y'know, sometime back it was mentioned that Maxima's team seems to be designed/specialized in overcoming enemies with brute force. Maybe the gun really is nothing more than an intimidation tactic for her, since she could just straight-up take on most threats single-handed. The only things really keeping her back are target casualties and collateral damage.

Finally, those knives strapped onto the minigun....man, either they break off easy or they make the worst mess.

Maybe they're the ammo?

edited 18th Jun '15 11:34:37 AM by FuzzyBoots

Why wouldn't you put bayonets on a minigun? It makes the gun that much more amusing to the person using it, and that much scarier to the person it's aimed at. For the few seconds of life remaining to them.

Maxima probably doesn't carry the minigun, because she can just fingerblast people. She can run around fingerblasting everyone all day. A big ol' fingerblasting extravaganza. (I am such a child.) But she's not the only strong person there. Maybe if Anvil needs to do a long-range attack, that's what she uses. Or Harem could join her selves together to get the strength necessary to use it.

Or, you know, maybe Maxima is in a bad mood and fingerblasting someone isn't enough so she throws a bullet orgy.

Yeah, I was thinking, that would be the perfect weapon for Anvil.

New strip. Peggy out-thinks Max.

And, mass out-foxes Sid.

New strip. Nice to see that Sydney is a Hot Fuzz fan.

Another new strip. I think that I like this guy, but Sydney really isn't thinking clearly. Also, good technical writing in that e-book.

I'm rooting for "actually spiders."

Meh; Sid can take him.

edited 29th Jun '15 6:13:27 AM by Euodiachloris

His favorite band better be Foo Fighters.