Starbolts 2020 Vision

 Hail!

It's the annual end of the year comic and I thought I would mix it up a bit. The first sixteen panels or so are not really in canon. However, the rest of the comic is very much IN canon. As you can probably guess, the next storyline will involve time travel. Young Sirak has traveled back in time and is on a mission. What could his mission be? Who does he sense. What's going on? We'll find out in time. All I can say is that there is a time monster on the loose. Can three generations of superheroes stop him? I hope so!

2019 has certainly been a rough year for our heroes. Crystal and Sara found out that they were blood Whitefoxes this whole time. Firaxil found his parents. So much stuff happened that it would have been hard to recap everything in just one comic. Either way, we have the future to look forward to. And it is going to be amazing!

Look for this storyline to begin early next year!

As far as this comic goes, I wanted to include how the Agents got together. Stan, Andrea and Richard met on the roof of the Department of Metahuman Affairs building. The rest as they say is history. They really did end up making a great team.

Of course with the Whitefoxes meeting, all I can think of is Stan saying to Jack, Sara and Crystal "And that, children, was how I met your mother."

This comic was definitely fun to do and I look forward to showing everyone what we have planned for next year. Stay tuned and Happy New Year!

Starbolts #461: The Gift

 Hail!

This year I bring you a different kind of holiday comic. Like the Halloween one, this one is in canon. It is holiday themed because Jenna has received a very important gift. Time. She wants to start a family with M'anta and sadly has to wait a while before she can actually do so. You can also say that she has a lot more in common with Sara now. Remember back in Starbolts #275 when she fought Jade Skull? Well, that ending wasn't as happy as we thought. Jenna still has a few lingering aftereffects of her transformation into her torch form. Sara used to have similar troubles with her solar powers back in the day.

Speaking of back in the day, I show off yet another glimpse into the Agents' past with Richard Dastara's armory. Richard used to be the hero known as Cobalt. His armors made him an important member of the team. I have been showing a lot of the old Agents recently. This isn't a coincidence. It's all leading somewhere. It will all come together in the next storyline! Wait and see what Sam and I have up our sleeves!

The past, present and future are going to collide!

Starbolts #460: Earth's Mightiest

Hail!

Wow! We have a lot going on this week don't we? The first thing we should talk about is Clive and Stan's conversation. I never really explored what Stan can do. He has the ability to tap into a mystical source and use its energies. Sam and I figure it's the reason why Sara can teleport. Maybe it's also the reason Crystal can turn invisible and why she has claws? Hmm. Makes you think doesn't it? Still, this is the last we are going to see of Clive for the foreseeable future. He'll be rotting in prison for a long time and I wanted to have Stan have it out with the mad scientist who stole his children. There's certainly a lot of tension here!

Next we have Crystal. She has become the woman the Starbolts all knew she could become someday. Her parents' knew it. She is ready for the next great step in her life as a superhero. What will happen? That remains to be seen. Her new middle name comes from the Cherokee "She who brings happiness". That was going to be Crystal's name if she had been raised by Stan and Andrea. Stan belongs to the Cherokee nation and I thought that name really fit her.

Sara gets a new middle name as well. Her middle name is Carter. She takes her name from the first Lady Liberty, Linda Carter. As you can imagine, the girls' birth certificates were changed to reflect what their names were supposed to be. They decided to keep Sara and Crystal as names for convenience. The middle names, though, now give them a closer connection to their families and in Crystal's case, her heritage.

Really wish I could have found the Cherokee word for fox, though. That would have suited Crystal!

Now, then. What about Jenna? Will she give up her mantle as Lady Liberty to Crystal? Find out next time!!

Starbolts #459: The Kids Are Alright

Hail!

Beginning a December to remember this week as the Whitefox children react to the news from a few weeks ago. If you recall, last comic it was revealed that Sara and Crystal were blood Whitefoxes the whole time. Now that's an early Christmas present for the family! The dust settled and now everyone has to deal with the news in their own way.

Funnily enough, this week's comic presents the kids' bits in reverse birth order. Jack was born first, naturally. Then came Sara. Crystal, of course, is the baby of the family. She's the youngest and most precocious out of the three of them. I can't wait for the day when the three of them confront Cobra over his misdeeds. It'll happen sooner or later. Don't you worry!

It also looks like the three of them have made significant steps with their significant others. Crystal is no longer afraid to have children. Sara's sure about bringing a child into this world. Jack admitted his love for Anya. I think the parents would be proud of their kids. They are in fact going to be alright.

And to make sure it stays that way.....

Well, tune in next week for that comic!

See ya next time!

Starbolts #458: Like Mother, Like Father

Hail!

There you have it. Sara and Crystal Whitefox have been confirmed to be sisters and the daughters of Earth's mightiest heroes, the second Lady Liberty and her husband Stan Whitefox! There's a little bit of genetic genealogy this week. Parents share about 3,000+ centimorgans of DNA with their offspring. Full siblings share  2,000 or more with each other. It's a little complicated. If you'd like to learn more, please check out Dr. Bettinger's shared cM project. It's pretty cool stuff!

On the comic side of things, I talked things over with Sam when I thought about making Sara and Crystal blood children of the Whitefoxes. We felt it was the best thing to do considering their past. We just had to make it believable. So, we concocted a plan where Andrea's embryos were stolen from a lab and implanted into metahuman hosts.

In the next few comics, we're going to be getting more in depth reactions from Sara, Crystal and Jack. Though, I have a feeling Stan and Andrea are going to want to have words with the mastermind behind this plot. That man being Clive Marshall. Stan and Andrea aren't too happy with the mad scientist....for obvious reasons.

Sara, of course took the more pragmatic approach to everything. She needed to see things for herself and since she is a scientist well....that makes sense. Crystal was more passionate as seen in the panels on the holodeck. She called up a recreation of the hell she lived in and trashed it with her own claws. I think I could have made more damage. However, the point has been made.

At least now the girls are confirmed Whitefoxes. That means I'll be updating their bios and the timeline on the site. No big deal. Look for more fallout from this revelation, soon!

See ya next time!

Starbolts #457: The Missing Whitefox Children

Hail!

This week we have more on the incident at Harris Labs and wow is that a bombshell and a half. Are Sara and Crystal truly the daughters of Stan and Andrea Whitefox? All signs are pointing to it being a distinct possibility. If it is the case, what does it mean for previous comics where I hinted at otherwise? Well, the characters who said those things could have been dishonest. Or they didn't know. What does it mean for the future of the comic going forward? Time will tell.

One thing's for sure. Cobra, Clive and Gladstone definitely have a lot to answer for. Good thing two of them are currently in jail. Cobra, as we saw in the Halloween comic, is back on Earth. I think once word gets out he's gonna be in hiding. At least for a while. You can't keep a good villain down can you?

I spent a while trying to figure out what Harris's role was in the Agents roster. He was clearly the team's royal smart person. He was their scientist. I'm thinking he was the Bruce Banner to Richard Dastara's Tony Stark. Maybe he had a little Hank Pym in there, too. Don't know, yet. His suit, though, did come with a shiny helmet. Hmmm.... I should develop him more. Not sure if he has powers or not. Still, he is a cool guy and tried to give his best friends the best gift of all and he should be applauded for it.

Could Sara and Crystal be Stan and Andrea's long lost children? Find out next time!

Starbolts #456: Much Needed Advice

 Hail!

This week's comic gives the Starbolts a chance to reflect on everything that has happened in the last three or so months in universe. The Inobe civil war, the return of Sara and the end of Terra Nova are all discussed. M'anta still feels the weight of the world on his shoulders. Luckily his friends are there to keep him grounded and focused. However, Sara isn't without important issues to resolve. She's got a lot of things to work through. Crystal, too.

However, I think things will improve soon enough for our heroes. You can't keep a good Starbolt down for long. Who knows what's in store on the horizon.

It should also be noted that Crystal also feels a bit uneasy bringing a child into the world. They both have a lot to work through. However, I think their parents will be more than willing to step up. I wanted this comic to show how the Whitefoxes treat their adopted daughters. Like Andrea said. I think they're going to be just fine.

See you next time!

Starbolts #455: Dirty Little Secrets

Hail!

Happy Halloween! This year's Halloween comic brings back the ghosts of Soldier Six members Scarlett, Mask, Air Raid and Cheetah. This time they've decided to confront Cobra about a secret from his past. It looks like he was the one who started the fire at Harris's lab. Not only did he do that. He stole the embryos the Whitefoxes intended on using.

Now the question is. What happened to the embryos? Where did they go? They went into Terra Nova's clutches. That's never a good thing as far as I'm concerned. We'll find out soon what happened to them. For now just keep guessing. Perhaps the answer will reveal itself. Or perhaps you know the answer already!

See you next time!

Starbolts #454: Surprises on the Horizon

Hail!

The celebration of the upcoming nuptials of Firaxil and Sara are just about over. Surprises are on the horizon if the end of this week's comic is anything to go by. There's never a dull moment when it comes to this superhero team, right? I did have a lot of fun dressing up Earth's mightiest for the night on the town. I know the bars seemed similar but let's put it this way: Both bars were designed by two guys who work for the same company. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. It's a shame Norad wasn't invited. Then again he doesn't eat or drink. So there's not much he can do. Plus someone has to be on duty.

At least Norad got to listen to Andrea's story. That story is going to come into play soon and we're going to learn more about what happened in next week's Halloween comic as we visit a friend we haven't seen in a LONG time. How does he tie in? Well, we shall see. That comic will, of course, be in canon. The stuff that happens in that comic really happened in this continuity.

Still, this week does raise a few questions. Andrea and Stan had two more children? Who are they? Are they alive? What happened to them? We'll find out soon enough. Stay tuned! 

Starbolts #453: Out on the Town

Hail!

This week brings some exciting news for one of the ladies of the team. It turns out that Sara and Firaxil are having a baby! That's definitely exciting news. We'll be seeing how Sara reacts to it next week. She has some thoughts on the whole issue considering who her parents are. Don't worry. I have a feeling everything'll work out in the end.

Look for Crystal's reaction to the news next week! The rest of the year's comics have been planned. There's going to be plenty of drama to go around. Do stay tuned. You don't want to miss it! So excited for Sara and Firaxil!

See ya next time!

Starbolts #452: Family Matters

Hail!

This week's comic is all about family issues. The first half is devoted to Ellie and her father getting some much needed closure. Nothing like being greeted by the OG Avengers, though, right? Here is who everyone is in that group:

From left to right:

Elaine Dastara
Gregorio Arlandero
Rebecca Johnson
Richard Dastara
Andrea Whitefox
Stan Whitefox
Theodore Ferguson
Avery Johnson
Gloria Arlandero.

If you noticed, Kevin's parents aren't there. His mom was a teammate of theirs and his father killed her. It's too bad Sirak and Yeena J'arrsti weren't there. That would have made this scene awesome. I was tempted to put in the newest members of the Starbolts parents, Dendra and Nisson Odanta. Probably too soon for them to be involved in any Agents missions.

I also wrapped up Tanis's storyline this week. He'll be leaving for Aquarius and will be on Xemplara with the likes of Garazo. Oh, he's gonna have fun with him. So much fun. Shrall will be back for the wedding, though. And speaking of the wedding. Looks like we have girls' night and a stag party to work on!

See you next time!

Starbolts #451: The SUPER Nanny

 Hail!

This week marks the start of the closing chapters for the Terra Nova arc. However, this week ALSO begins the start of a new storyline. There are loads of foreshadowing things in this week's comic. I can't very well go through all of them because they would indeed be spoilers. Let's just say things are going to be drama filled. Some good things will happen. Some bad things, too. We'll find out soon enough.

At any rate, Cece is now gainfully employed by the Agents to look after the children of superheroes. Not an easy task. Is she up to the task? I hope so. I know she will be. We still have one more person to help. That will be next week. Who is that? Well, we've met Ellie's mom. What do you say we meet Ellie's dad?

See you next time!

Starbolts #450: Their Other Mother

 Hail!

The 450th comic ends with a very happy reunion between Sara, Crystal and the woman who raised them from ages 5 months to 5 years. Her name is Cecilia Rivera. I should probably tell everyone that the last video in panels nine and ten was made the night Sara died. That just adds to the "feels factor" doesn't it? Basically, their timeline goes like this:

Ages 0-5: With Cecilia. Parents weren't around much.
Ages 5-15: HELL
Ages 16 to the present: With Stan and Andrea.

Now that Cecilia is back with the girls I wonder how she will react to the lives they had. It was not boring. That's for sure! At least she is on her way home and this part of the Terra Nova saga can come to a close.

I'll be starting a new storyline, soon. I dropped a few subtle hints to what it's gonna be about this week. But, first we still have a few other things to take care of before we get to that story. Stay tuned because that one will be awesome!

See you next time!

Starbolts #449: Loose Threads

Hail!

We're just one week away from Starbolts #450 as loose ends are beginning to be finally tied up. What could possibly be on the recordings made by the live-in nanny? Feel free to speculate! Guaranteed there will be feels! So many feels. That's all I can say right now without spoiling anything!

Really glad that we wrapped up the Nisson issue quickly. I wasn't about to let it drag. The guy is just a little out of sorts from being in a deep freeze for twenty years. He's a bit lost, confused and shaken up. At least things look to be improving on that front.

But, now we have some more loose ends with Terra Nova. Who is Cecilia Rivera? What is her connection with Sara and Crystal? What's on those tapes? Their records may be clear but they have other priorities at the moment. Stay tuned as we delve a bit more into Sara and Crystal's shared past! See you next time!

Starbolts #448: Meet the In-laws

Hail!

Meeting the in-laws is always a very awkward and tense situation to deal with. And due to Dendra and Nisson's situation, it's bound to be a wee bit more awkward and tense than anything else. At least Dendra seems to be cool here. Nisson on the other hand is a wee bit more tense than anything else. Either way, next comic will deal with the fallout from this week's little adventure at the dinner table and the announcement at the end of the comic.

I wonder what that announcement is. Everyone is smiling in the last panel. I'll leave you, the reader, to figure out what they are happy about. Sure Sara swore. But, it's a happy swear. Trust me. She is elated. More on that next week and more drama to come regarding Nisson. I hope he comes around soon. Can't have him be this grumpy at the wedding.

Oh and I am trying different special effects for Sara's teleportation effects. I am trying to see what works. This one seems to be okay. But, I think I can do better. Time will tell.

See ya next week!

Starbolts #447: The Legacy of the Shield

Hail!

This week's comic has a little bit of history in it doesn't it? Check out Andrea's uniform from when she worked with the first Lady Liberty. Does the design look familiar? It should. Crystal has a design similar to that now. Interesting. It's also interesting to note that Marcus's mother designed BOTH uniforms. She's like the Edna Mode of this universe. Still, we have no capes!

This week also saw Sara meet the future in-laws. That meeting may not go as you might expect. Look for more on that next week. At least we have some vague idea of what's going to happen to the metahumans and Shenra now that they've been freed.

We also got a look at why the Starbolts and the agents have those four pronged stars on their suits. Pretty crafty idea, Andrea. And now we have some solid background for her, Stan and the other Agents. The first Lady Liberty left a legacy for the others to follow and if you ask me, I think the current generation is doing great living up to her legacy.

See ya next time!

Starbolts #446: Operation Odanta

Hail!

Wow. You are definitely not prepared for feels this week as we have a comic wrought with emotions. Firaxil's parents, Nisson and Dendra Odanta, are back in the land of the living. Eh, technically those two were never really dead. How about "The land of the defrosted". That makes more sense. Be sure to note the body language in this week's comic. Poor Firaxil is all over the place in terms of emotions. Poor guy. Then we have Crystal. She was upset when her parents were mentioned and that sparked her comment later in the comic. She basically stole Manta's line. I think she'll get a free pass from her boss for that one.

Crystal and Sara are just beginning to deal with the ramifications of everything. They'll be getting medals of honor for sure. But, I think the Odantas will have something to say about those two. It's going to be a long road. Will they be accepting of those two? How will they react to Firaxil being engaged to the daughter of the people who did this to them?

There's a lot for them to take in. Look for some serious drama in the coming comics! See ya next time!

Starbolts #445: The Final Fate of Terra Nova

Hail!

Finally Terra Nova has come to an end and Elisabeth King was unceremoniously carried out of her own building! That has gotta suck for her. Well, it's what she deserved after getting a shield thrown at her. Yes, that's a Captain America reference. When Wildcat throws her mighty shield....

Eh, it doesn't have a good ring to it. Never mind. At least the team is back together again and now they can concentrate on bringing the Odantas back. Look for their revival soon. And now that Crystal has a minute to breathe, look for her to come to grips with the magnitude of what just happened. I mean...she beat Terra Nova! That is awesome! Next week we begin Operation Odanta!

See ya then!

Starbolts #444: Cat and Mouse

Hail!

We're getting close to the end of Terra Nova here as Crystal and Elisabeth King prepare to face off. However, it looks like she's more interested in talking about the shield on the wall. Keep talking, lady. You're gonna eat that shield if you aren't careful.

The comic took a while as I wasn't sure how to best show the stairwell. It's an okay design. Could have been a little better, I think.

Anyway, enough about that. We got a fight next week!

Oh, and the guys that Draco torched? They dead. So very dead.

See ya next time!

Starbolts #443: Shenra's Revenge

Hail!

This week we learn a bit more about Shenra's past. She was originally going to assassinate Demonstorm around the same time Sara was kidnapped. So now Gladstone has TWO kidnappings under his belt. What is it with that guy and kidnapping women? He's got serious issues. Well, now we know that Emil was the man responsible for brainwashing the metahumans under Terra Nova's control AND Shenra herself. Naturally, she didn't take the news well and the guy lost his head. Literally.

As far as Firaxil's parents go, we'll be seeing them soon. The "gold" team has been sent on a rescue mission while the "blue" team is in the tower. This is a reference to how the X-Men were split in the early '90s. And it's also a reference to how the Avengers were once split into West and East coast divisions.

This comic also showed practically every Starbolt. That was pretty amazing. I haven't had the chance to put everyone in one comic in a while. Just missing Anya. She's just off being a spy somewhere. =)

I do like that brief conversation Marcus had with Tanis. Expect more from those two in the near future. Shenra has some things to work out and has a mad hatred for the son of Demonstorm. I don't think they'll be friends any time soon. The speedster, meanwhile, is just not having it with him. He's nervous and wants to see Terra Nova end.

It will end. And soon. See ya next time!!

Starbolts #442: Surprising Revelations

 Hail!

What's a raid on a Terra Nova facility without a few surprises, right? It shouldn't take long for anyone to figure out who Subjects EX001 and EX002 are. A few questions remain. If they are held captive by Terra Nova, then whose bodies were in the cave? We'll find out the answers to these questions in Starbolts #446 and beyond.

Needless to say Firaxil is going to be extremely excited about this. I left him out of the comic this week as he had his hands full with TN goons and Draco. There wasn't any place to put him. Although, I could have swapped him out for Shrall and Crystal's panel.

Still, I had a little bit of fun writing Tanis's parts. That kid is a lovesick puppy and is going to get a stern talking to. Again. Will it be Sara who gives him another lecture? Will it be Marcus? Who knows?  Needless to say Shenra isn't quite receptive to Tanis's advances considering she is with the Resistance and he is the son of her world's supreme ruler. I don't think they hit it off very well, either. It's unfortunate. But, it should be understood (By him.) that Shenra's situation is very different from Sara and Crystal's rescue. And their experiences differ as well.

So with Tanis's antics in almost costing a VERY important mission to fail and this startling news, it looks like things are starting to get tense at King Pharmaceutical. Stay tuned for more!

Starbolts #441: The Raid on King Pharmaceutical

Hail!

The raid on King Pharmaceutical has begun with a bang. No jokes from Crystal this time. She's all business as she leads an Aquan ninja, a soldier, a space cop, a samurai and an empath into battle. Crystal is determined to put Terra Nova out of business by any means necessary. However, it looks like there may be a wrench or two in the works.

First: Elisabeth is ready for Crystal aka Whisper. She is going to do whatever it takes to stop her and possibly even recapture her. Not a pleasant thought. Oh and take note of that shield in her office. That shield has some important significance. I won't say how or why just yet. Feel free to guess!

Second: Then there's Tanis. That boy has a one track mind doesn't he. He wants to save Damselfly aka Shenra. But, it looks like she can save herself. That and it seems that the two are not going to have a good relationship going forward. What's gonna happen?

Stay tuned! The battle has just begun!

Starbolts #440: Bringing the Party to Terra Nova

Hail!

Everyone is up to speed on Elisabeth King being the head of Terra Nova. They have plenty of evidence as provided by Sara. They are now able to run a preemptive strike against King Pharmaceutical! That starts next week and man what a strike team we have:

Firaxil, whose parents were killed by Terra Nova and who is now one of the most powerful members of the team.
Jack, adoptive brother of Crystal who is also a super-soldier.
Takashi, a master computer expert.
Angela, one of the most powerful members of the team.
Shrall, a telepath and master swordsman.

And Crystal, who was raised to be an assassin by Terra Nova.  This is an X-Force level team here. This is a team you send in to do damage. Crystal made this team with one purpose--to destroy Terra Nova. With a team like that, how can she lose?

Well, it looks like Tanis is on his way to join his friends. He might throw a wrench in the whole operation. Actually scratch that. He will definitely throw a wrench in the operation if he isn't stopped.

Meanwhile, it looks like Ellie took the news about her mother as best as she could. What is she going to do next? Well, it looks like Sara and Ellie's relationship took a good turn at least. It's all she can hope for.

Next week, though, look for some serious action. Play some tunes while the raid begins. I recommend "Ride of the Valkyries" or something about a lab experiment fighting against her "masters". This is gonna be GOOD!

Stay tuned!

Starbolts #439: Legacy or Birthright

Hail!

I think we can all appreciate Crystal's invisible obscene gesture in that last panel. I blurred it out as much as I could so it could be noticeable and still censored. Probably would have been better if she turned her hand visible. But, she promised that she wouldn't be seen by Doctor Marshall.

So, now we have the truth. Elisabeth King is really the head of Terra Nova! Who saw that one coming? It was probably a little obvious considering her mad hatred for anything metahuman, her familiarity with Clive's work and the fact that she had been ignoring her daughter Ellie ever since she came out of the metahuman closet. Rest assured the Starbolts will be raiding King Pharmaceutical very soon. Like next comic. Nothing like a preemptive strike! And what a strike team it will be.

Sara, of course, has to remain on the sidelines because of her probation. She'll be there, though. She'll be the woman in the chair guiding the team to defeating Terra Nova/D.I.S.C.O.R.D. once and for all. She's also firmly entrenched in team science now along with Kevin, Takashi and Aquita. She's going to publish her findings. It may even have a forward by Aquita. Think of the press that will get. Talk about hitting the mad scientist where it hurts.

It's just as well. Marshall deserved it. It's a fitting end to this madman. His science experiment revolted and next week Terra Nova's OTHER science experiment will revolt. Sucks to be Terra Nova.

See ya next time! 

Starbolts #438: True Love or Fantasy

Hail!

There is a lot to unpack this week. Sam and I were initially going to try to write Tanis as sympathetic and jealous this week. That has proven to be a very hard task to pull off. I don't think he's sympathetic at all to be honest. He's jealous of Marcus and always has been and now he wants to try and save Damselfly the same way Marcus saved Crystal and Firaxil saved Dennis. However, there's a bit of a problem with that.

When Firaxil saved Sara, it took some time for her to open up to him. Crystal also had an emotional wall around her too. Just a different type. So it stands to reason that Damselfly and the other members of this "Sinister Six" team I have here are going to be messed up should they decide to defect from Terra Nova. We will see what happened then.

For now it looks like Sara has been put right back to work the second she got home from vacation. They are supposed to be celebrating the engagement! Don't worry. Celebrations will be had. Count on it!

See you next time!

Starbolts #437: Sinister Temptation

Hail!

Tanis, what are the Starbolts going to do with you? I want it understood that Tanis knew what he was doing when he went after Damselfly. That dust wasn't hypnotic or anything. As I'll explain in the next comic it's more like an aphrodisiac. The female of the species produces dust from her wings to attract a mate. And....that's what she did. Sufficed it to say that the Starbolts are going to be angry at Tanis over this for a very long time.

In any event, the Starbolts lost the first round with the so-called Sinister Six. I know that name's taken. I just thought I'd call 'em that. They'll have to regroup and recover while four members of the team will be out of commission for a while. Don't worry. Firaxil and Sara will be back next comic. Crystal is probably going to ask her a few questions. Namely....why did Mr. Mental call her Whisper? Hmmm....So many questions.

Enjoy the comic! Man, I wouldn't want to be in Tanis's shoes right now.

Starbolts #436: Opening Day

  

Hail!

This week, Marcus is without a place to live. Well, that didn't last too long as his girlfriend, Crystal was there to save the day. For this comic, I was trying to go for a Spidey/MJ+Black Cat dynamic for the two characters. I think that worked out nicely. Looks like Sara isn't the only daughter of Liberty to have a major positive moment in her life.  That was the plan of course. Everything getting better for those two.

Though, I think Crystal forced her hand a bit. After she finished talking to Ellie she went and grabbed Marcus's stuff and put them in her place anyway. She knew he wasn't about to say no. Why would he? They love each other. 'Nuff said.

Tune in next week because the Terra Nova baddies are going to strike!

Starbolts #435: Ridiculously Over-the-Top Supervillains

Hail!

Why settle for one ridiculously over-the-top supervillain when you can have seven? New Terra Nova recruits are just aching to challenge the Starbolts and that's just what they'll do very, very soon. They come from all over Earth and at least one of them came from Demonsk. Demonsk, by the way, is the home realm of Starbolts baddie Demonstorm. It's also where Tanis of the Starbolts is from.

I introduced these characters a while back as a symbol of things to come. Looks like they'll be having an impact soon. The trick to creating these characters is to counter the abilities of each Starbolt. It doesn't look it. But, Damselfly does have retractable bug-like wings like Tanis does. We'll be seeing them soon.

We also have a bit of a mystery. Who is Doctor Adams talking to? Whoever it is has a rather intimate knowledge of the Starbolts. The person called Sara Project Sola. It doesn't take much to figure out who Project Whisper is supposed to be. (Yes, it's Crystal.)

The Starbolts are definitely gonna have their hands full with "Project Redemption". Terra Nova isn't as gone as we thought it was!

Starbolts #434: Two Years in the Making

Hail!

Well, this was going to happen eventually! Firaxil and Sara are headed to the chapel of love! And what a wedding it will be! It'll be coming your way for Starbolts #450, We have some time before then. So, look for some drama. Not with our newly engaged couple here. No, no. Something else is cooking down the road. This is a brief respite before the next round of crazy comes.

This week's comic sees a bit of genealogy involved here. Makes sense. How else would Sara get records of Firaxil's ancestors. Especially the direct ones. Chances are really good that he is going to cherish that picture of his deceased parents. Who wouldn't?

It was a long time coming for these two. So, that makes what? Two Starbolts couples married. A few are dating and we have this newly engaged couple. Crystal was right. The team is pairing off like crazy. Well, that's what happens when you have a bunch of people who click really well together. It's called life and our heroes do their best to try and have a normal life.

Congrats, Firaxil and Sara! =D

Starbolts #433: Moving Forward

Hail!

Looks like things are moving forward for our heroines, Crystal and Sara. Though, the She-Ra thing is more than likely going to be a one-off thing. I talked to Sam about it and we both agreed that Crystal on her own is pretty formidable. She has razor sharp claws, invisibility and cat-like reflexes. She doesn't need a She-Ra style armor. If anything, that get-up would impede her movements. Still, it might be good for a costume party or something. Right now she's as good as is and that's how Sam and I like her. Will she achieve her true potential? Time will tell. The only reason Marcus didn't transform is because he already achieved his full heroic potential. Crystal will get there some day. If anything, the sword is telling her that she has much more to do.

Sara on the other hand? Well, we have plans for her. I'm not at liberty to say what they are. But, I have a feeling it might be obvious. You don't just take a woman away with you to a romantic spot on a far away planet for kicks. Firaxil is up to something. Next week we'll find out what that something is. Trust me there won't be a dry eye in the house!

See you next time!

Starbolts #432: Sisterly Bonds

Hail!

This week's comic marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Sara and Firaxil are on their way to New Inobus. There they will most likely have a fun adventure. Nothing too crazy, I am sure.  Look for another loose end to be tied up over there and the start of something huge.  And it looks like our heroes will be making their way to Earth in the interim. Sounds like a lot is happening for the Starbolts in just a short time.

Of course, like M'anta said, there are other issues to be resolved. There are other threats out there. Right now it's a good idea to let our heroes relish in the moment.  A lot more action is coming.

As far as this week's comic goes, I enjoy the bit I had with the kid, Crystal and Sara. It shows that the former Terra Nova girls are slowly but surely getting respected by the public. They've come a long way from the angry women they were some time ago. They're better people now. Both of them and that scene clinches it. They're both in happy, healthy relationships. Life is finally going in a good direction. I don't think they could ask for anything more.

See you next time!

Movie Thoughts: Avengers Endgame

Starbolts #431: Happy Endings

Hail!

Every once in a while I try to give the Starbolts a happy ending. They deserve it. There's more drama coming, though. Make no mistake about it. For now, though, things have calmed down. Crystal and Sara are allowed to relax after putting an end to this part of Terra Nova. There's more out there and I daresay perhaps this was the worst part.

Still, I wonder what the happy ending Aquita is working on is all about. More on that another time. I would have translated what she was saying in Aquan. However, that would be a spoiler. I'll leave it up to you, the reader, to decide what she's saying. It's something good. That's about all I can tell you at this point.

Still, it looks like everything's going well for the Starbolts. Obviously they can't interrogate Clive. Conflict of interests. They trust the DMA to do their job. We'll most likely be seeing less of that mad scientist! As for Sara and her heart issue, I am confident Aquan science can fix her heart. It did cause the problem. It can solve it. Basically, Clive used Aquan tech which was intended to clone simple tissue like skin or organs to clone something as complex as a human.This was the side effect of using the tech on a Terran. Aquita will solve the problem. Count on it!

See you all next time!

Starbolts #430: Call of the Whitefox

Hail!

It finally happened! Clive has been captured and now the Starbolts can breathe a little easier knowing he'll be locked up. Still, there are a few questions that need to be answered. First. How did Sara get the ability to teleport? Second. What was that beeping noise? We'll find out next comic. For now the Starbolts are relishing in their victory. Clive Marshall has been caught. It seems that for all his bluster, he isn't that good at the supervillain gig. That's why he was behind the scenes. He was never a hands-on mad scientist.

Originally I was going to have the press in the last two panels. But, space was limited. We'll see a few reporters next time. Though, I honestly don't think Jack is going to let Crystal take Clive to the DMA. Not with her history with him. Let's just say it'd be a bumpy ride.

Either way, this comic sees Sara's return as a superhero. The question is what is she going to do with her new abilities. Time will tell! See you next week!

Starbolts #429: Liberty's Daughter

Hail!

Part one of Sara's epic fight with her father, Clive Marshall is here! Watching on the sidelines of course are her adoptive siblings, Jack and Crystal and her boyfriend, Firaxil. Sara seems to be quite outgunned here. However, pay attention to what happened in the last panel! Looks like someone's got powers back. Metahuman abilities can't be taken away permanently. We saw that with Jenna. If you recall, this is probably how she saved herself from Clive's clutches.

This week's comic was fun as I got to make an Iron Man style HUD for Sara. Lightning's all around her and she has Aquita in her ear. Such a dramatic moment. Let's hope she has what it takes to finish Clive once and for all. Gotta love that superhero landing in panel 13. =) Totally played the Avengers theme while working on it.

In other news, I have opened up a sister blog for this site. It's a genealogy blog. If you are interested in the field of genealogy or already are a genealogist, check out the fun over at All Roads Lead to Haverhill. I have a couple entries there and I plan to make many more. I basically go over my adventure in the field of genealogy, offer tips and other fun things. Check it out!

See you next time!!

Starbolts #428: Texts from a Superhero

Hail!

The next two comics are going to be nothing short of epic as Sara goes face to face with her birth-father, Clive Marshall. I say there's going to be two comics worth of action and drama because that's how long the battle is going to be. Trust me. It's going to be a long haul. So, set your calendars for the next couple weeks. Oh and get your popcorn ready! There is going to be some action coming soon!

Sam and I envisioned this comic to be a sort of jumping on point for new readers. Basically, we'd introduce the world to the Starbolts again just to give people an idea of what they are about. They are Earth's mightiest heroes and have dedicated their lives to training metahumans and non metahumans alike. They also protect the planet from threats like Dr. Clive Marshall here.

Going over the scripts for the comics again. Wow. There is a LOT of action here. See you next week for part one of the final battle between Clive Marshall and Sara Whitefox!

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Ellie is texting her best friend we saw in that New Years comic. Dunno if we'll be seeing her again. We WILL be seeing that techie again, though. Spoilers.

Starbolts #427: A Team Reunified

Hail!

With the threat of Terra Nova's return looming on the horizon, Shrall has returned to the team. Sara has also been fitted for her armor and is ready to take on the organization, her biological father and everything else that stands in their way. The Starbolts are whole once again and this time there is no stopping them.

I really enjoyed writing the "daddy/daughter" moment this week. It'll be a sharp contrast compared to what's to come this April as Sara takes on her biological father. But, first we're gonna have a montage with Ellie narrating. That should be fun! Stick around for that.

It's also a little weird seeing Tanis look so awkward with Sara nearby. Let's hope the bug gets over it, huh? See you next time!

Starbolts #426: Home Again

Hail!

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. Hang on. Who are those five people in that locker room? Apparently there is a sixth member of that group in a room marked "CAUTION". What's going on here? We won't have long to wait. But, it's clear that one of those people has the ability to alter others' minds. Could they be metahumans? Time will tell.

In the mean time it looks like Shrall has vowed to stick around and see that the Terra Nova/D.I.S.C.O.R.D. mess is resolved once and for all. He is after all a Starbolt. That memorial to his parents was really touching. I had feels writing that scene and making it in sprite form. Now that Shrall is helping out his friends, I think Terra Nova may need to rethink their resurgence plans.

Next comic we will check in on Sara and after that? Well, we shall see. Enjoy the ride, everyone! It's gonna get exciting!

Starbolts #425: Surviving the Experience

Hail!

There's a reason why Angela Arlandero is considered to be the most powerful member of the Starbolts. She is an empath who can force the truth out of people, generate a light form and fire energy blasts. That is pretty strong. Probably not a good idea to get on her bad side and she, like the other Starbolts, have been having a bad week. Sara's clone, Psyche, would say that they're still loud. They're going to be loud until Terra Nova is finished.

Shrall is going to make good on his declaration to stay on Earth while the team sorts out the Terra Nova situation. After all he is a Starbolt and Queen Tayalla understands that her husband will do whatever it takes to make sure they are gone for good. After all they could easily set their sights on other planets and the King is not about to allow that to happen.

At least Sara and Ellie appear to be on the mend. Sara apologized for her actions from a couple comics ago. She was working on anger and that wasn't a good look. At least they are on the road to finally becoming sisters. Perhaps.

More drama is coming next week as we follow Shrall on a feels trip!

Starbolts #424: Welcome to the Starbolts, Ellie

Hail!

Hot off the heels of my Captain Marvel review comes the newest comic with the newest Starbolt taking center stage! Welcome to the Starbolts, Ellie! Hope you survive the experience! Ellie's powers are the ability to touch metal and take on its properties. However, this could be expanded upon in the future with other elements. Basically she'd be able to turn into any element. If she touches stone, she'd become stone-like. Since her powers just started, she has a long way to go before mastering all  of the things she can turn into.

Not only do we have Ellie getting her powers this week. We have her meeting with the newbies. I think Richie and Ellie will hit it off. Don't you? Hey. Stranger things have happened. For those of you keeping score, the powers of the newbies are as follows:

Kenji: No powers
Richie: Flight, some super strength and energy blasts.
Carra: Super strength and heightened senses
Adam: Telekinesis
Donna: Super strength and flight
Ellie: Absorption of elements

Not a bad crew. I have a feeling Ellie's mom would not approve of this. Oh well. Who cares?

Now that her powers have been revealed, I think it's time for a sister/sister talk. Stay tuned for that! See you next time!

Movie Thoughts: Captain Marvel

Hails and horns!

I just got back from seeing the first Marvel blockbuster of 2019 and that movie was Captain Marvel! As many people know, I like the character of Carol Danvers. She's one of my favorite Avengers of all time and let's face it a very complex character. In the comics she struggled with alcoholism like Tony Stark. She lost her powers at the hands of the X-Man, Rogue and bounced back more powerful than ever. Without a doubt, Carol Susan Jane Danvers is a fighter! And this movie brings that message home!

Captain Marvel covers so many elements of the character it's hard to really explain. We see her open snarkiness. That's always a pleasure. We see her bravery and empathy. We see many things that have made the character who she is. Aside from her amazing powers, she is a woman who is driven to be the best she can be. That's something to be admired. In many respects Carol is basically Marvel's version of Wonder Woman.

The movie itself has many twists and turns. There's plenty of action, comedy and drama. There's also a few twists and turns. It happens whenever Skrulls are involved. And wow the effects on those green-skinned aliens were pretty amazing. I hope we see them again now that Marvel Studios and Disney are hard at work securing the rights to the Fantastic Four and X-Men. Imagine Reed and his family taking on the Skrulls. That would be cool.

I also think with the movie taking place in the '90s it sets up a lot of the things that happened in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I won't spoil it here. You'll just have to see it for yourself. All in all Captain Marvel is a fun ride and I'm glad I saw it. It's definitely a worthy addition to the MCU franchise. I don't think there's ever been a really AWFUL movie in the MCU. That's something to be proud of. I look forward to seeing Carol once again in Avengers Endgame. Thanos honestly has to watch out. She's coming.

And since this movie will most likely get a sequel, I hope we see her friend, Jessica Drew aka Spider-Woman. A guy can dream can't he?

Now then should you go see Captain Marvel? Yes. Go see it. There's plenty of action and it's got a really good story to tell. The CGI for young Coulson and Fury are also good. Marvel has found a winning formula. I don't think they'll be slowing down any time soon.

Go see the movie! Oh and keep an eye out for that Stan Lee tribute. You'll get misty-eyed, true believer.

EXCELSIOR!

Oh and the movie does have a pre and post credit scene. Check those out! Bye!

Starbolts #423: Daughters of Liberty (Part 6)

Hail!

Both sides are gearing up for their eventual battle and all I can hear when the armor comes down is the Avengers theme. Sara is going to wear that suit when she fights her father and it looks like he'll be using a leftover Manhunter armor. Hmmm....This could be an interesting fight. Safe bet who's gonna win here.

So now Sara has access to a cool armor we haven't seen Jenna wear in quite some time. This is going to be a match for the ages!

Hold on! That's not all! It turns out that Ellie is metahuman. What kind of powers will she have? Well, we won't have long to find out. So, stick around! Man, I can't get that song out of my head!

See ya next time!

Starbolts #422: Daughters of Liberty (Part 5)

Hail!

This week’s comic is full of drama isn’t it? Just wanted to say for the record that both womens’ problems aren’t completely solved this week. They still have a long, long way to go. Needless to say both Sara and Crystal have been profoundly changed by the people in their lives never giving up on them. They’re ready to move on from being what Terra Nova wanted them to be. That’s what this whole arc has been about. They’re no longer the daughters of Terra Nova. They’re the daughters of Lady Liberty.

Stan and Andrea Whitefox raised the two from the age of sixteen or so. Check the timeline for details! It was actually Andrea who gave Crystal her middle name. The way I see it is Terra Nova’s birth certificate for her was as cold as you can get. Her parents only gave her a first and last name. There was also a clause in there which made them relinquish all rights to the child after five years. Mary was Andrea’s mother’s name and Crystal had to be adopted right away. So, they needed to create a new birth certificate with “Crystal Mary Whitefox” on it and that’s how she got that full name. Sara on the other hand had to deal with Elisabeth insisting on falsifying records and all that. Both sets of blood parents are charmers aren’t they? Well, both Elisabeth and Clive had better watch out. The Daughters of Liberty are coming!

Fast forward to this week’s comic and we have Crystal looking for comfort and answers. A lot of people in her life screwed her over. She knows her adoptive parents and brother wouldn’t hurt her. She just didn’t feel human during this mess. So, I created a Peter Parker/Mary Jane style scene for the two. Thankfully that couple is back together in the comics because I’d be ranting about that right now. Haha! Sara’s scene is more akin to something Black Widow or even Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) would deal with as she was poked and prodded more than Crystal. In a way Crystal is a bit like Carol Danvers then. I’ve tried to convey that Carol/Jess style relationship in the comic and I hope I succeeded.

We’ll be seeing more of the Daughters of Liberty next week as the mini-arc concludes! See you then!