Mistakes are not the Apocalypse

Today I took a visit back to January when I last posted on Letter 44. That comic is so much fun I just had to get back to it and continue reading it. I also did it because I was so pissed at myself for my mistakes in LOTRO. Nothing serious, but I just reminded myself why I really need to pay at least a little attention when I get into games.

Lotro misstep

Hmm…there’s no real way to put this without feeling silly. I screwed up. Fortunately, I only ran through the opening story before I recognized the error, but I feel really dumb. I was so happy to have reached level 7 on my new Hobbit Minstrel and I had reached to end of the introductory tale…in fact, when I picked up the quest, it said that if I hadn’t completed everything in the area that I should make sure to do so before moving forward this quest. So I went to the bed roll where I knew there would be a cut scene showing me visions and I started the dream sequence. What? How is that possible? I’ve been running around with this character – with the nameplate above my head for a while now and I didn’t even realize it.

Yup, I misspelled my name. I intended to explore Middle Earth as Rambling Ruby but instead, I declared myself Rabling Ruby. I don’t like it and I’m pissed at myself for making mistakes I should and could have easily avoided. I could keep going, but I’d be reminded every time I looked at her name about how inattentive I was when creating her. So I’m done with her. I’m only level 7 so I’ll re-roll.

Have you ever done something like this?

In any case, I’m gonna re-roll as someone else and start my journey fresh.

Letter 44 #3

Earth, Space, Pentagon, Clarke, DC…This issue has plenty going on. There’s not a panel that’s not showing something interesting and I’m really enjoying this series.

Last time, in issue #2, the folks up on the spaceship Clarke had to take an EVA to fix the power system and while doing so, shot at “something” dancing around near the ship. This time around, although we stick within the confines of the vessel, there’s plenty of stuff happening.

So yeah, based on the cover and the blurb you can expect some kinky space sex, but it’s depicted to highlight the fact that DC isn’t the only place politics occur. Actually, it points to the tensions that are abundant in a small cramped spaceship with 2 women and a bunch of guys on an extended mission. Sure people are professional but they’re also human.

In any case, this issue starts a couple of months into President Blades’ tenure and things are not going according to how he campaigned. Having to deal with aliens in the solar system may have something to do with that, but the President is frustrated that he’s not doing what he said he’d get done…kinda sounds like most administrations.

Flash to the Clarke where we have different frustrations and learn that keeping the ship together is a full time job. But not so demanding that there isn’t time for some R&R…in zero G. Bypassing the details, the bottom line is that the ship was MacGuyver’d into being ready to send them to visit the aliens and they’ve been using bubblegum and duct tape to keep her together the whole way. Now, not only is the ship being precariously kept in one piece, the crew is showing signs of having frayed nerves.

Back on Earth, the Pentagon warns that announcing the existence of aliens and the Clarke’s mission will cause chaos and devastation to the country and world and President Blades and his advisers worry that may be the only way to get their agenda moving forward.

While politics moves the pieces around in DC, on the Clarke, they discover that the visitors have been busy with some of the asteroids and might be trying to communicate. What to do…oh, put together a plan go to the asteroids to make contact. Personally, I’d be pretty scared out there on Clarke – like I said, the whole thing makes me feel like Alien did.

But the mystery back on Earth is not to be outdone as we visit a restaurant where a family from Kansas is relaxing from a long day at museums when the father meets up with the Chief of Staff in the restroom…that last scene doesn’t look good for Elijah.

I have to say this issue is non-stop. The plot and art compliment each other well as the details in each panel seem to reflect the pacing – scenes with lots of detail are slower than those with little in the background. And the backgrounds can be so detailed – from the floating towel as Manesh is cycling to the food on the tables of the restaurant at the end. I’m really enjoying the art and find that Alburquerque does a great job depicting emotions from the opening scenes in the boxing ring to the looks on the children’s faces in the restaurant. Between the art and story, I find this issue continues the compelling nature of the series and give this issue a B+.

If you’d like to read more about my thoughts on this cool comic series from Oni Press by Charles Soule and Alberto Alburquerque, take a look here where I collect my commentary on the various issues.