PAGE SIXTY EIGHT. Exterior. Rooftop of the Cydonian Towers, Amazonis Prime.
It’s a crack, I’m back yeah standing
On the rooftops shouting out,
Baby I’m ready to go
Suddenly Friday! Hope everyone had a good system standard week. I know some people will be sad to see last week’s page move into our Previous Transmissions archive, but we have a lot of ground left to cover. Can’t stand there gawking all sol!
Like any swass luxury hotel, the Cydonian Towers has a VTOL pad on the roof. It usually provides a nice VIP entrance/exit/escape route. Here it serves as Damien Kessler’s staging point. Is it me or do Kessler’s rides keep getting cooler? Here we have an Ares-class gunship (this one is affectionately known as The Gorgon).
There’s a nice, if dramatic, transition here from the quiet, pre-dawn cool tones of the first two panels into the harsh “heat” of the VTOL pad. I have a feeling, and this is just my personal take, that Nic has really come a long way over the course of ‘Free Mars’ when it comes to using colors to reflect a scene’s tone. I mean, Nic was always great with color choices, but I think he’s become an expert on using strong, monochromatic schemes to really emphasize the mood of a given panel or scene (see the red monochrome in the cargo transport attack sequence).
Finally, this week’s music pairing has been a long-time coming. I have a play-list on my iTunes called ‘Free Mars’ (hard to believe, I know) and this song was one of the first in. In my head, this would be the End Credits to the FM movie (or HBO series pilot). I’m not saying Vikki Grimm sounds like Saffron, but I’m not saying she doesn’t either. Republica: ‘Ready to Go (2010 version).’ Plus a great live version from Conan here.
Anyway, I love this song. I love 90’s music. I can admit it.
Until next week, gremmies,
Dave
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it ominous that Kessler’s face isn’t shown in the 2nd panel. I neglected to mention this last week, but I’m really hoping you guys don’t pull a wham episode and kill him off soon. One of many things I have learned from watching copious amounts of TV and movies is that when characters have sex one of them usually dies shortly thereafter. Matrix Reloaded and Starship Troopers immediately come to mind.
Oh, and Ares-class (Greek name for Mars) I see what you did there…
I think it’s time you guys add a fanart page. Surely you receive loads!
I dont thin touring the front is classified as an aceptable date activity
@Tze- we have some, but I’d love to have 5-6 more pieces before we devote a whole page. I LOVE to get fanart and I would really like to display it. Maybe we should do some kind of contest or art drive? I have some original NRG art and some unreleased posters (bigger posters of the MLF teen/CSC Security trooper) that haven’t yet been available.
What if, between now and the end of December, we except fanart of all kinds. Then in January we post it all and let the reader’s vote. The winner, and runners-up, get some FM stuff- including some orginals?
Would all the excellent and talented artists that tune in be interested? Nic and I would make it worth your while to even just participate.
Dave
The fall semester just ended for me, so I’ve got a couple of weeks to lark about. I could probably do a bit of fan art. Can’t guarantee it’ll be good, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
I love trying to draw these three, but more incentive certainly a welcome idea
I seriously just have to say that I love the musical parings you guys do for the pages, an awesome way to really bring that little extra to the mood.
And as much as the Republica sound fits the Sisters Grimm, I must say that I always imagined Vikki to sound a bit like Niagara from Destroy all Monsters
And as to Kitty Porn, well all I get is a mixture of Muse-Newborn(perfect fit for the page btw), Garbage-Crush, Keren Ann-My Name is Trouble and Psyclon Nine-Suicide Note Lullaby… It fells sort of weird but I cant help but to get goosebumps just by the thought of going to one of her shows ^^
Keep up the good work! These cliffhangers are killing me.