Strip 44: The Upper Hand

I would apologize for the pun in today’s strip title...but I’m really not sorry. When I was thinking of non-lethal tricks Roger might have built into him, a grapple beam seemed like the most logical choice. Not only can he use it to snatch pointy sticks from angry Dy-Gars, but he can use it to get around vertically when he’s not attached to someone’s elbow. As for why it’s a beam and not a physical grappling hook, I think that playing Super Metroid at an early age instilled an appreciation for grapple beams in me that’s still alive today. I also like that you can’t quite tell at first what he’s charging up. It could be a death ray, or it could be a flashlight. You don’t know. Well, now you know, but you get the idea.

Also, the last panel here is our first demonstration of Dy-Gar’s digital converter at work. If you were wondering where all of his stuff goes when he sticks it back in his cloak, it doesn’t just magically disappear. The little orb in his chest can convert matter into data and back again. We’ll go into greater detail in the About page and in the comic itself, but for now there’s your answer to that particular mystery.

- J.S. Conner

February 14th 2014