Java 270
It was all an elaborate ruse. So for those of you sending hate mail to MerlinOfTheTower, you can all apologize in the comments. 10 Kick Points to Merlin for “letting” me abuse him in Java’s strip and for guest appearing with his imp butler. Special thanks to the Manchester United fan club in Glastonbury. No wizards were harmed in the filming of this feature.
According to Google Analytics, A big part of Java’s fan base is in the UK. Hopefully, you UK fans don’t mind being manipulated by Java using his Jaguar Mind Tricks on you.
Also, in about a week I should have my hands on the first proof copy of Java Jaguar, Volume One: Brewed Awakening. It’s not done, I’ve still got some errors to correct. But soon, very soon… Be sure to let your local coffee shops know about Java Jaguar so that they can order their coffee table copy for their… well their coffee tables. Then, steal their copy for yourself, so that they have to buy a new one. Then when they get a replacement copy, steal that one, too. Because you should really keep two copies at home. One to read and one to seal in plastic as a collectable. Also, go to your local library and ask for a copy of the new Java Jaguar book. And perhaps your local bookstore, but leave a false name and phone number to trick them into putting a copy of the book into their store that you don’t have to pay for (and more importantly I don’t have to pay for). Well, that’s pretty much the extent of my marketing strategy right there, so go nuts! Especially you Manchester United fans.
Well played, Java, well played. Also nice reference to the movie War Games.
4 Kick Points to Borderwolf for identifying the War Games Easter Egg. I wonder how many Java fans are from the same era as me?
I would be one of them. Another gem of a movie from the 80’s that would be nice to see referenced is “Rock and Rule”.
Huh. I have never actually seen that, I’ll see if I can find it somewhere online…
Another you should see is “The Wizard of Speed and Time”, it is lurking on YouTube with the blessing of the creator Mike Jittlov.
You’re awesome, Matt. Thanks for doing this. 🙂
You’re welcome! Maybe Merlin will show up in The Real Superheroines of Hive Valley next. He can create a superheroine who has powers based on the letters in his name in order to fight Mary Marvel… hmmm…. let’s see…
The Power of Morgan le Fe,
The resiliece of ÉtaÃn,
ummm…. okay, need help on the rest:
R
L
I
N (the cunning Nancy Drew)
Let’s get some more letters up.
The Magic of Merlin (of course) – M
The Leadership of Arthur – Art
The Courage of Knights from Bedivere – Bed
That gives us Artembed, which sounds right for the period.
The heroes weakness is that if anyone discovers his last name his power will end. So he uses different titles, like Kickman uses different sound effects. The media does not always agree – he might want to be called “Artembed Firequencher” for using his magic to put out a fire, but the media might not want to run with that story, instead calling him “Artembed the Irresponsible” for getting in the fire-crews’ way with his magic.
Actually, Mary Marvel gets her powers from all female mythological characters. So I’d like to do the same for… Missy Miracle? Or whatever his version of Mary would be.
Hang on, you’re requesting a feminine name. Artembedia or Artembeda would work.
Oh, you mean *Merlin’s* name. And she has to be a super-heroine, not a hero. Okay, I can work with that. Okay.
Let’s go on a tangent. Magical Emergency Response Logistics Intelligence reNewal. Deployed to prevent the Unsealing before the prophesied time.
Our world currently only needs one Guardian of the Seal on Magic on the unMagical side, Merlina Echanstrass Recovena Lumena Incantus Numenia.
Each name has a meaning – Merlina shows she is of rank in the Merlin Order; Echanstrass shows a talent for the Enchantment School of Magic; Recovena shows that she recovers fast and with little fuss from both Magical and non-Magical injuries, Lumena is a title she acquired for the ‘extreme scope and nuance’ of her illusions, Incantus shows her ‘creative and pleasant’ use of Incantations and Litanies; Numenia for ‘excellent mathemagical skills, especially in the field of odds’.
Merlin has the responsibility of protecting the Seal on the Proof-of-Magic side. Merlina – one of Merlin’s descendants – is deployed to our reality to help with technological developments beyond the scope of human responsibility and is, for example, interested in Magical means for nuclear disarmament and restricting the scope of what she calls technomantic weapons like tasers and explosive devices.
During her work hours she spends her time reinforcing the seal on Magic that, among other things, leaves Magic only visible to those who believe in it enough. She considers prevention of “abuse of technomantic destructive devices’ core to her Mission.
She has a personal field in which the Seal on Magic is usually broken so she can access the Magic she needs for her work.
Her weaknesses include unusual forms of negative Magic and a tendency to see physics and magic as the same thing, where most of us consider them distinct forces. Excellent company if you want to discuss the intricacies of spellcasting and the politics necessary for protecting the Seal. Considers television ‘the most dangerous invention human minds face’ and bemoans the ‘loss of the scrying Art’ that gives it traction.
Her greatest weakness is also part of her cover. People forget her unless they believe in Magic, unless they are considered ‘important’ by the Seal itself.