Page 59 » The Specialists

Wolf

That is just…just…so EVIL! A cross between Captain Nazi and Captain America, I am thinking. It is also the logical next step in the super war effort. I like it. I suspect he will have at least one power that seperates him from the others I just mentioned. I also think he is an outgrowth of the science that created the human/animal crossbreed.

“Hast du jemals im einem blassen Moonlich mit die Teufel getanzen, Herr Dockor?”

Heh!

Anonymous

Don´t know the reference, it´s from a movie right?

Moonlight is called Mondlicht. Just by the way.

rickety_rico

I can see this rubbing the Baron the wrong way and the start of a wonderful rivalry, perhaps even seeing who is the Fuehrer’s favorite.

Wolf

It just occured to me that some might think that I am poking holes in this story when i point out the similarities between characters here and in the comic-books. Let me say that I know a good homage when I see one. Frankly, it is near impossible to create a supercharacter that won’t have similarities to some other established character.

Consider Superman. he’s been copied by EVERYBODY! Captain Marvel, Supreme, Wonderman, Hyperion, the Hulk (yes, Hulk. His powers are a cross between Golden Age Superman and Mr. Hyde.) Plastic Man to Mr. Fantastic. Dr. Fate to Doctor Strange. Hawkman to Angel. I could go on and on. Yes, the Super-Nazis ape Colossus, Deadman, Red Skull, Scarlet Witch and, had he not defected to the allies, a cross between the Beast amd Wolverine. The powers matter very little in the long run. It’s the drama and character developement that truly drive the story. I look forward to each new installment of the Specialists and think you all do as well. Keep up the good work, guys!

Specialists uber allez!

http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn

Thanks, Wolf!

We have been steeling ourselves for criticism over those cosmetic similarities. When we first created these characters, we weren’t anticipating that they would be seen by the public, and if we had had a webcomic in mind from the beginning, we may have done things just a little differently. But as you say, there’s nothing new under the sun, and once you get past a similar appearance here or a similar power there, we hope our characters are unique and new. Or at last as new as they can be after the centuries of storytelling that came before us.
- Wolf
  
  No sweat, Shawn. Frankly, even Superman was taken whole cloth from Philip Wylie’s “The Gladiator” (1930). Superman is as iconic as it gets, and the inspiration for him was Hugo Danner (the Gladiator), a man with great strength, speed and invulnerability who was essentially a cross between Hercules and Achilles. Now, I am sure that some would argue that Firestorm was fairly unique. Not really, he was a science based version of Doctor Fate, when you think about it. Only the origin was different. Keep up the good work, mates!

AL_TECH

I understand what you and Scott are discussing “per se’ ” and powers are cool, but what defines this story is it’s perspective and characters, excellent sage work!

http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn

Thank you, Al_Tech!

jonwaynew

found you via Wayward Sons Legends.
Bummed it’s only once a week. But happy to find another comic to read while others are winding down. (or just starting to get good) I can never tell.

By the way, that looks like Hardmans brother.
Wolf: I’ve never danced with the devil, but they say that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. So… I’ve danced with better.

In this case, Hell hath no Fuhrer like a Baron scorned. …does that work?

jonwaynew

Sorry… *Hartmann’s brother.
http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn

Welcome, jonwaynew, I’m glad you found us! Hmm, he does look like Hartmann’s brother, doesn’t he?
Wolf

Ah, another German speaker! Very well said, Frualein Jonwaynew. I was curious who would make the connection. I learned that little quote in a German Gasthaus while stationed in Rheinberg.
- jonwaynew
  
  JUST so you know. I have all my parts, but I didn’t get to choose my avatar: It chose me. And no, I don’t consider myself a German speaker, but I am living there now. And it’s not easy.
  - http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn
    
    Unfortunately, there’s no way to select an avatar within our comment system. However, you can go to gravatar.com and upload whatever image you’d like to use. It’s free and easy. Just make sure to register with the same email that you use when you comment.
  - Wolf
    
    When you say you “have all your parts”, you didn’t specify which set of parts that is. Am I to assume you are a Herr and not a Fraulein? Es tut mir leid! The avatar confused me.

LockeSmith

Shouldn’t it be “Hauptman Deutschland?”
That minor issue aside, I’m really pleased with your comic. I look forward to each update.

http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn

First of all, thank you, LockeSmith! I’m glad you’re liking the comic!

From what I’ve read, both “hauptmann” and “kapitän” are equivalent to “captain”. But it’s certainly possible that only one of them is appropriate to use as a title, as we are here. However, this is a case where I would be comfortable with a minor inaccuracy, simply because I like the way “Kapitän Deutschland” sounds.
- Dr. Oc
  
  Hi Shawn,
  Kapitän is afaik reserved to the navy. There are no Kapitäne in the army.
  But as this is some lovely comic in some kind of parallel universe something ought to be different..
  Keep on going!
  Greetings from St. Pauli, Hamburg.
  - http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn
    
    Ah, so that’s the difference! Thanks for clearing that up, and thank you for the kind words, Herr Doktor!
    - Wolf
      
      Who is to say that he wasn’t recruited from the German Navy? Well, besides Shawn, of course. I would just go with that and maybe later bring in a Hauptmann Deutschland for another team. Or as a replacement if the Kapitan ends up lost or dead.

Dan

Im guessing this serum is not as good as the good doctor claims.
If it is dysfunctional im guessing you have to take it multiple times or it has adverse physical and or mental side effects.

Grime1812

Whatever the Baron is under his mask, he is frowning at this moment.
Frowning and glaring. Even if he doesn’t have eyes or a mouth. It will simply RADIATE from him.

http://www.thespecialistscomic.com Shawn

Glowering, even!

FossilLord

Where do you get the statement “inspired by your own work”? a specific piece of art work?

Anonymous

Metzger is referring to the Übermenschen as the Baron’s “work”. He doesn’t seem to realize that the uniforms and code names came from Joseph Goebbels and that the Baron is not into all that flashy stuff.