PAGE TWENTY. Exterior. Martian desert. Night. A revolution begins with a shot in the dark.
Maybe it’s a little predictable, but Muse and Uprising seem appropriate.
Things sort of align this week. First, we have our 20th page, of which we are extremely proud. Next we add the fact that the page’s contents represent a major event in our story that will have long-term consequences. Finally, we’re making a major change to our comic this week: we’re giving it a new name.
So welcome to ‘Free Mars.’ I’ll let our “official” press release tell the whole story. Rest assured, besides the title, nothing is changing. Thoughts on the new name?
Press Release 12/09/2010
FREE MARS, the Sisters get a name change.
After much deliberation, the Sisters Grimm webcomic team has decided that we need to do a little rebranding. We have decided to update the name of the weekly comic Sisters Grimm with a new title: FREE MARS. We feel that not only will the new name cut down on any future confusion with other similarly named entities, but it also better reflects the direction of the story.
Rest assured that this title change has no effect whatsoever on the content of our comic. The band you’ve become familiar with is still called Sisters Grimm; named for the band’s founder and lead guitarist, Victoria “Vikki” Grimm.
The current website url (www.sistersgrimmcomic.com) will continue to work for the foreseeable future, as will the new url: www.freemarscomic.com. The Twitter account will remain unchanged, though the FaceBook page will be replaced with a new one (Free Mars Comic).
We appreciate your patience and we firmly believe that this change now will benefit the webcomic in the long-run.
Dave Pauwels, writer
Nicolas R Giacondino, artist
Love the new name. It’s much more instantly-descriptive than the previous, which will make it stick in the mind easier.
Any reason for the TK-421 designation? Star Wars comes to mind.
I like the direction the comic is going in, but I have to ask; why are the revolutionaries not wearing pressure suits, considering Mars’ surface pressure (0.6 kPa, or 0.087 psi) is drastically below Earth’s (101.3 kPa, or 14.69 psi)?
Brian- good question. The long answer will be addressed eventually in one of our background pieces and I’ll go into the details there. But, your query deserves an answer. Basically, there have been a number of terraforming attempts. None have been completely successful, however. A hydrogen embargo in 2250 sort of slowed the progress of the atmosphere building. The planet is warmer and the atmosphere more Earth-like, but a good amount still leaks out into space.
So, if you’re in the lowlands, you can get away with breathers and thermal clothing. The higher you go the more problematic it becomes and that’s where you still need pressure suits.
As to the TK-421 reference, it’s actually the name of GE’s latest microwave (see ’30 Rock’). Keep an eye out for other references. As a writer, it’s too much fun not to include them.
I think (and hope) that’s what they were going for with the reference.
I support the name change as well, especially after telling a few friends to google you and they got results for the kid’s book series and figured I’d been pulling their chains.
Keep up the great work, eager to see where this leads.
Thanks for the response. Basically you’re saying the atmosphere been built up enough to not cause decompression, but it’s still cold as mess.
By the way, I love the background pieces (I make them myself for my own stories) so the more you do the better. It gives an added depth to your story that a sci-fi nut like me just loves to get into.
TK-421, why aren’t you at your post? TK-421, do you copy?
Or is it the microwave that uses FIVE kinds of heat?!
Yes, referencing a reference. Let me tell YOU. But you’re right. It’s just too much damn fun not to. I do it all the time, myself. Hell, the second chapter of my comic is built around “Plan R.” Who can resist?
We’re living in the age of referential art. I guess it’s just a sign of the times.
–M
And by the way, I might be the only person to say it, but I prefer The Sisters Grimm. Guess I’ve been shouted down by the press club, but there it is.
And also – I noticed traffic on 6-Commando a few days ago originating here, and realized you guys linked to me. So many thanks for that!
–M
Believe me, I hear ya. The band’s name remains unchanged and, on some level, I will always love the original title. But, in a very practical way, we’ve been lucky to grow quickly and we’ve had a couple serious/semi-serious discussions about getting the comic published. To that end, we really need a unique identity. And ‘Free Mars’ does suit what we’re doing and where we’re going.
As to the link- I think I mentioned some weeks ago that ’6-Commando’ was one of the few webcomics I read regularly. As a ‘Hammer’s Slammers’ fan from way back, I dig what you’ve been doing. Great stuff.
http://www.viciousprint.com/6commando/
free MILF??