So why is it we're going through the Giant's Forest? J = . : .—_ P Dude. Weren't you paying attention to the old man who tipped us off? Riiilight. And we would ever want to go there because...? Within the Cave of No Return lies the Armor of Invincibility. Wait. If it's a Cave of No Return, then how does. anyone know what's inside of it? Well where would you suggest they put a suit of mystical Armor of invincibility? “ \ OK, Chuckles. From now on, | pick the adventures.We're lost. You know that, right? Y We've been walking around for hours! Yup. About an hour ago, | found these tracks left by a couple of other guys. So all we have to do is follow these until § they lead us out. q Tell me, what do you know about these guys from their tracks?) Hm, they're about our heights, our ‘weights, seem to be traveling at about our pace One of them is probably wearing a suit of armor and the other seems to have cloak or a robe that brushes the ground after his steps. Why? } These are our own tracks, you nimrod! You've led us in circles! Correction.’ Vil think. / COPYRIGHT ZOOI J le ee eae WWW NUKLEARPOWER COMOK, IF WE CAN JUST We CAN NAVIGATE ¥ GET OUR BEARINGS STRAIGHT, BY WAY OF THEN WE CAN FIND OUR WAY THESE TRACKS! 4 OUT OF HERE. ‘ CHM, SQUISME: Ss) ea ALL RIGHT, WE'LL USE THAT OVERLY HUGE AND STRANGELY PURPLE ROCK FORMATION AS A STARTING POINT "wANO AFTER MAKING A~ THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE AREA USING A GRID-LIKE Zn A, DEAR inca A OON'T TRY TO TALK ME HE SHALL SAMPLE 4 " OUT OF IT. MY BLADE! DON'T... Y'KNOW, PON'T iy USE ANY OF YOUR MAGIC ATTACKS TO INSTANTLY PUT AN END TO THIS BATTLE OR ANYTHING. PLEASE?‘OK, BIG GREEN AND UGLY. ~ PREPARE TO FACE THE INVINCIBLE \ COMBAT WRATH OF MY TIGER STYLE SWORD TECHNIQUE! A LONE, DEFENSELESS MAGE RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS LIKE A SCARED LITTLE, GIRL, EH? TIME TO GO TO WORK, HM, I WONDER WHAT THAT THUNDEROWS EARTH- SHAKING NOISE WAS. WELL, Vim SURE IT WASN'T IMPORTANT, 3 YOUR GP MAN. ~ { THAT IS so ) ee mr ce ee cia WWW NUKLEARPOWER COMALL RIGHT. 7 | DION'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT YOU LEAVE ME NO OTHER CHOICE. C'MON. SURE. JUST LET COUGH UP THE ME REACH INTO MY GOLD, MAGIC- gSECRETIVE MAGE-STYLE, ~_ LOSER, q \ ROBES AND PUL! c OUT. THAT'S OOD, THE THIEF'S ALMANAC’ DION'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THERE BEING A TOTAL ECLIPSE HI IS THERE “S (A WHITE MAGE IN) THE AUDIENCEP _/ Wildl NUKLEAQRPOWER Cc lola ic naedelem iil mens VolaCOPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER (THINK OF SOMETHING! ACCORDING —~ TO THIS, THE GIANT ) IS THAT ALL Laat fe PE | wart, STOP RUNNING. WE GOT A PLAN. _/ YOU WANNA HARE THIS PLAN2, ir oa THe sane ~ THING HAPPENS TO EVERYTHING, BO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO A HIM WHILST 1 WHIP. \ up some J _ MAGIC. 1_12le1 | Wildl NUKLEARPOWER COM‘OH GOO LORD NO! STaP, 1 BES OF YOU! WAIT, WHAT NO, NOT THE CLUB, NOT THERE, IT's FAR TOO fori maGES?\ WL NEVER] WORK, \TALKS BACKWARI TEMPTING, BUT | NEED YOu FOR A Sr. | MEAN TRAVELLING Sy COHORT. (ec ey cee am a cing WWW NUKLEARROWER COMLOVE KILLED) (PION. BESIDES, WS WITH THAT \GHAT THE FORE ele me cel aes di osc WWW NUKLEARROWES COM /ERKILL \ mucH? THE THIEF'S ALMANAC DION'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ATOMIC DETONATIONS EITHER,| CAN'T BELIEVE YOU NUKED THE GIANT'S FOREST. NOW WE'LL NEVER FIND THE Cave OF NO RETURN. JERK, T HATE TO BREAK IT 10 YOU, BUT HE TOOK OUR GOLP, UH, | alt THE FIGHTER | GIVES AWAY ALL OF OUR SHINEYS. SUCKER, WHAT'RE WE WAIT ING ON! YEAH RIGHT, LIKE THE OLD man WOULD LIE AFTER | PAID HIM ALL OUR GOLD IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME INFORMATION ON WHERE TO FIND AN ADVENTURE. THERE NEVER WAS A CAVE OF NO RETURN, YOU €LOD, Hal YOU THINK YOURE SO SMART. WELL, FOR YOUR INFORMATION, HE DION'T TAKE OUR GOLD, | GAVE IT TO HIM, SO THERE. ‘AHEM. NEVERMIND. LET'S JUST GET BACK TO TOWN, TO GET OUR MONEY ‘SHUFFLE ‘SHUFFLE SHU‘AH, FINALLY. | was STARTING TO OH WAIT! IVE HEARD ABOUT THESE THIS 15 A ’RANCOM ENCOUNTER. DARK SOON? WHAT WELL, UNTIL WE STAY AT AN INN ANYWAY, WHAT'CH YOU TALKIN’ 'BOUT, a2 ee ee oe Be clad NEVERMIND THAT —\_| NOW. WERE ALKOST Nom _“ SHULER SHUFFLES - SHUR ED. RANDOM ENCOUNTERS, YOU'LL JUST BE WALKIN’ ALONG AND WHAM, A BATCH OF MONSTERS APPEAR OUT OF NOWHERE AND YOU Have TO FIGHT THEM TO THE DEATH!MAN, ARE SEE MY BUDDY HERE? HE'S YOU MONSTERS __ ABLACK MAGE, A MASTER OF THE DARK ART IN FOR IT C f OF DESTRUCTION, A WIELDER OF WILL, A NEXUS OF POWER THAT IS TAPPED INTO THE VERY LIMNG LEY LINES OF THE COSMOS! HE CAN SHAKETHE VERY BOUNDS OF CREATION WITH BUT A SINGLE WORD! | —__ THE HEAVENS BOW TO THE MIGHT OF HIS MAGIC! THE GODS QUIVER IN FEAR THAT HE SHOULD FIND THEM LACKING HIS FAVOR REALITY ITSELF IS HIS PLAYTHING, NOTHING MORE THAN, CLAY IN THIS SCULPTOR'S MASTERFUL AND PRECISE HANDS! I~ BUT YOU NEED NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. LO, FOR BEHIND US, CAN YOU NOT SEE THE SMOLDERING CRATER WHAT ONCE WAS KNOWN AS GIAN'TS FOREST? IT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO MERE ASHES. HOW, YOU ASK? TWAS ! MS es THIS VERY MAGE SAYS I! __—- ue © c ‘AND NOW YOU STAND AGAINST Hinz Ae IF YOU ‘OH, HOW | PITY YOU FOUL AND WRETCHED CREATURES, LET ME TALK, ma ‘AT LEAST TAKE SOME SOLACE IN KNOWING THAT YOUR UTTER OBLITERATION SHALL BE SO NIGH-INSTANTANEOUS THAT YOU WON'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO FEEL HOW EXCRUTIATINGLY PAINFUL IT IS, i _( EXCUSE us, a VM TAUNTING THEM ABOUT THE INCRED- IBLE POWER AT YOUR WELL WHY DIDN'T ~— OISPOSAL, —_ YOU SAY SOMETHING or YOU IDIOT! 1 ‘CAN ONLY CAST THAT SPELL ONCE A DAY. I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT! rea Ue alee see La ManabiWE RUN LIKE SCARED LITTLE FOREST ELVES, THAT'S war NOMS 1S NOT & TIME TO POINT _EINCERS a 7 SORRY Fess" JUST pe D SECOND. no MAGE, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK OF SOMETHING! RUN? RUN2! WE CAN'T RUN! NOT AFTER ALL THAT WAS SAID ABOUT YOUR MAGIC POWERS! WE AIN'T GOT ALL DAY, Y'KNOW. THOSE MONSTERS ARE GONNA EAT US ALIVE! AND WHO’ < FAULT IS THAT? a HE THINK WE ARE, MONSTERS?FIGHTERPCKEN! OK. DON'T PANIC. MUST TAP INTO INNER RESERVES OF STRENGTH MUST REMEMBER ANCIENT AND COMPLEX TECH- eng NIQUES OF VARGUS, THE ULTIMATE SWORDS- MAN WHOM | TRAINED UNDER ALL MY LIFE OK, FIGHTER. i SHOULD YOU EVER ‘THIS IS THE MOST FIND YOURSELF BEING HURLED AT COMPLICATED TECHNIQUE Jie AHORDE OF MONSTERS, THIS I'VE TAUGHT YOU IS WHAT YOU MUST DO. Co aaa acauccd ema ined TO HIS DAYS SPENT AT Py TECHNIQUE, GOT IT. cu ae * PA ny EW ae NEXT ON CHICKS IN CHAINMAIL, EVA KNYGHTEBANE SPORTS HER NEW EBONY BIKINI- PLATE ARMOR Be FIRST, ADOPT STANCE THREE-ALPHA, AS THOUGH FALLING FROM A GREAT DISTANCE, WITH 3 THE SWORD PARALLEL TO THE GROUND AS OPPOSED EAH, a STANCE FOUR-BETA c a [3 GOTCHA F a Pe sicko AS. al cl DAMN YOU, WASTED YOUTH! DAWN YOU | SAY) GUESS I'LL JUST HAVE TO IMPROMISE, MONKEY STYLE ATTACK !}1 WHATEVER —~4 THAT IS, IT BETTER INVOLVE KEEPING HIS PANTS ON. lalate "CAN | ASK YOU SOMETHING? ‘ erage Cocnier sine be WALK,Ce oR ale aac AND. YELL SCHOO! CORRESPOND "TWO-FISTED MONKEY \ TO THE I2 SIGNS OF SME! DOESN'T STRKE YOU) ay Pimy tHe 001K. gust AS BEING REALLY (you see. Sn eR ead WEIRD? ss ITS OWN STRENGTHS PMs SO TOO DOES ee a ag eae cro iad FORGET 1 ASKED, _) can LET'S JUST GET ~~ INTO TOWN AND BEAT THE LING BAJEEZUS OUT OF THE OLD MAN THAT TOOK OUR GOLD. “ea! ~ SOUND TERRIBLY) fi NERO 1 WANTS Me ui Vis GOING TO TALK TO MY FRIEND NOw. DOES ANYTHING SEEM STRANGE TO YOu? WELCOME TO CORNERIAL COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER WWW NUKLEARPOWER COMrol “OMe HERE, YOU I910T! DOESN'T IT SEEM | THOUGHT FORGET IT. ODD TO YOU THAT THE _ HE WAS BEING LET'S JUST GET GUARDS CAN ONLY SAY ONE FRIENDLY. WHATS USELESS PHRASE OVER AND OVER? GOING ON, IR MONEY, | WEAVE OCCULT MAGIKS FOR MONE’ AND YOU GIVE IT ALL AWAY BECAUSE YOU'RE A MORON, HEROES, WE AIN'T. WHAT A GREAT IDEA! WEILL SACRIFICE Ou THE GREATER GOOD--THBBBBBET! OW LET'S GO RUCKUS THAT OLD MAN, (oe) aimee emi) eel clad WW NUKLEAGPOWER COMBUTT WANNA BE A LIGHT WARRIC INE, TELL YOU WHAT, (Ol CAN CONVINCE TWO COMPLETE STRANGI TO JOIN US ON A SUICIDE WISSION TO RIO THE WORLD F GOBLINS AND 5 FOR NO ID REASON, THEN WE NEVER TALK ABOUT THIS LIGHT WARRIOR CRAP A AGAIN, VLL GO BEAT THE DAY LIGHTS OUT OF THAT OLD MAN. HE CAN'T BE WE MEET BACK SOON OTHERWISE, THE POSITION | MEAN, YEAH, * WE'LL MEET BACK HERE IN ONE HEH, HE ACTUAL! THINKS HE'LL FIND SOME: WANTS TO JOIN US. I'M JUST WASTE HIS TIME BROWSING AT A PONS SHOP ANYWAY, HE'S TOO STUPID TO 6 TROUBLE, SO I'VE GOT NOTHII ~ 2 WORRY ABOUT.. TO START? ON LOCAL DONS. SHOP. Cee ae ee eee ad WiiWii NUKLEARPOWER COM‘CLOUD. WHAT'CHA ) T FOR Us? ‘AWESOME! MON ME UP A GOD AND SMITE / Ro SOMETHIN' OOM! WITH ME, OK JUST A LITTLE LONGER q Pm! Cero enn ac4 WW NUKLEARPOWER COMLORNBIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER? WWWNUKLEARROWCR COMPoon wo DAMN, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT IT'@ BE THIS HARD TO FIND ONE STUPID, OLD MAN? Shady Oaks Retirement More old men than ROY WASN'T HIS REAL NAME OF COURSE, THAT'S JUST WHAT WE CALLED DEMONS BACK THEN J A DEMON APPEARED, SAY FROM A SUMMONING CIRCLE INSCRIBED IN BLOOD, WHICH IN THOSE DAYS Lins WERE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS A ‘GRANT'S EAR’, YOU'D SAY 'HERE COMES ROY RIGHT OUTTA SO) THERE We WERE GRANT'S EAR’ BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FACING DOWN THIS STYLE AT THE TIME DEMON NAMED ROY daamin OH, THAT WAS BEFORE YOUR TiMe. WE CALLED THEM A ‘GRANT'S EAR’ BACK THEN ON ACCOUNT OF THE FIRST GUY TO USE CIRCLES. WHAT THE-- NO! NOT GRANT, STEVE. GRANT? THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE! SO STEVE THE SUMMONER WSED THE BLOOD FROM THE EAR OF A GUY NAMED GRANT? BLOOD? THAT'S aN SANITARY! NO, OL! ed EAT ELECTRIC DEATH, OLD MAN!!! YES. THEY WEREN'T CIRCLES 30 wUCH AS SQUARES THOUGH. "THAT EVIL WIZARD 1S SALLOMPHING FOR ROYS' YOU'D SAY, BECALISE IT WAS THE STYLE AT THE TIME: eee eam seem: Em eed ol aed re WWI NUKLEARPOWER COMWELL, IF | HAP TO Gul SAY THAT'S El DEATH, THIS'LL GO A iY LOT EASIE fe 1 WANNA KNOW WHICH ONE OF YOU CRUSTY OLD PLINKS TOOK A WHOLE LOTTA GOLD FROM MY IDIOT FRIEND, FIGHTER THEY HAVEN'T LEFT THIS BUILDING IN S, TEN YEAR’ ee Dn COPRYEIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER WWI NUKLEAGPOWER COMELL CRAP. | STILL PON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW TO FIND THE OLO BASTARD THAT TOOK OUR GOLD, V'VE NUKEO THE OLD FOLKS HOME, VM ERESH OUT AMBP OF IDEAS) imal MORE MONEY THAN | KNOW WHAT BO WITH, IN FACT, SHUT IT, GEEZER! CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TRYING TO THINK OVER HERE! y A NICKEL FOR EVERY OME | HAVE, 10 STILL BE ROLLING IN CASH! i's JUST THAT I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE RECENTLY COME INTO SUCH A LARGE ALL THIS GOLD, AMOUNT OF MONEY. 1 MEAN, cS eS i LEAVE ME ALONE Yt CRAZY OLD MAN} CAN'T YOU IT REALLY IS A GREAT STORY, Y'KNOW, HOW | CAME ACROSS (THAT was ‘— SEE I'M BUSY LOOKING FOF tL AN OLO MAN WHO RECENTLY CAME INTO A BOATLOAD 4 i, OF... MON... EY? WHY ARE YOU LOOKING ¥a] i AT ME LIKE MY BRITTLE OLD MAN eel calm sere) BRIAN Le ciaed WWI NUKLEAQPOWER COMOK, SO 1 GOT OUR GOLD BACK FROM THE OLO MAN, NOW ALL |} HAVE TO OO |§ FIND FIGHTER SO WE CAN SPLIT THE GOODS. OF COURSE, | BET FIGHTER WOULP UNDOUBTEDLY SPEND HIS SHARE ON WEAPONS AND ARMOR THAT WILL PROVE TO BE VASTLY INFERIOR TO WHAT WE WILL FIND IN OUR TRAVELS. AND IF MAG/C SHOP! Spells of Mass Destruction 20% Off! Today Only! No eee a eee) WONDER HOW BLACK MAGE IS DOIN' WITH THAT OLD MAN, | SURE WOULD LIKE TO SPEND MY SHARE OF THE CASH ON WEAPONS AND ARMOR THAT WILL BE VASTLY INFERIOR TO WHAT WE WILL INEVITABLY FIND IN OUR HE DOESN'T KNOW | GOT TRAVELS. ‘CAUSE THEY'RE SHINY. THE MONEY BACK, ams CREEPING SHADOW? LAAAAAAME? iL MISSILE? HEH, PF MORDENKAINEN'S DON'T MAKE CELERITY? HA, ME LAUGH. ih WEEEEEAAAAK, Pr gti ea ll IOI eee ee WHERE DO YOU YW You nus ow KEEP THE REAL SPELLS, KNOW, | KEEP THE GIMME GIMME MAN2 THIS STUFF IS J TRULY POWERFUL GIMMeH? CHILD'S PLAY! SPELLS HERE BEHIND in eel eT, COUNTER QO NOT SULLY THE OH, YOUR POWERS OF DEDUCTION ARE EXCEPTIONAL! SPELL BOOKS WITH YOUR 1 SIMPLY CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO GREASY HANDS, THEY ARE > WASTE THEM HERE WHEN THERE ARE MUST BE SO MANY MONSTERS ROAMING THE PRETTY POWERFUL JIN’ LAND AT THIS VERY MOMENT. SPELLS, HUH? ode GO, GO! FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY!STUPID MAGIC SHOP GUY, WELL ANYWAY, I'VE GOT SO MANY DOOMSDAY SPELLS, | DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM ALL! HEH, WHITE MAGIC, ‘OH, LOOKIT ME! ace woe 9 MAG/C SHOP! NURTURING AND-- Spells of Healing 20% Off! THSBBBPTI’ ¢ Today Only! HEY! WHY DON'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GO, a. = SNAP OUT OF IT, YOU FOOL! 1 MUST NOT THE MOST GORGEOUS WOMAN IN THE UNIVERSE IS TALKING HAVE SEEN YOU FROM 4 VOU TIME TO RN Ont MABE! | CASTS THE AROUND THE CORNER, SPELLS THAT MAKES THE PATENTED BLACK MAGE ARE YOU OK2 CHARN AND MAKE A GOOD THE PEOPLES FALL FIRST IMPRESSION OF COURSE YOU ARE, I'M GOING IN HERE NOW, PLEASE DON'T FOLLOW ME, J lesa elli—--—=—<—~— AH, IT'S PRETTY _ ROUGH HERE WHAT WITH THE OLD FOLKS HOME DOWN THE STREET AND THE CHILDREN'S CENTER NEXT DOOR. SO, WHAT'S A NICE MAGE LIKE YOU DOING IN A MEAN PART OF TOWN LIKE THIS? wT at TT] Tl a THEY DO THOSE KIDS CAN BE PRETTY CHARITY WORK TWISTED. THEY'RE VERY TINY. FOR THE SMALL HANDS. BEADY LITTLE EYES. ELDERLY, MORE, SUCKERS! IT’S PRETTY FUNNY, | WAS JUST AT THE OLD FOLKS HOME AND THOSE CRUSTY OLD FREAKS ry ARE COOKED! e . P war KIND OFS WELL, 1 HORRIBLE BRUTE DON'T LIKE| COULP 20 THAT TO TO BRAG, POOR DEFENSELESS BuT I= OLD PEOPLE! os A FORK IN ‘EM, THEY'RE DONE." COOKED. a! b | | WHY, IT WOULD TAKE SOME KIND OF INSANE MEGLOMANIACAL FIEND TO TAKE PLEASURE IN WIELDING THE TAPESTRY OF CREATION TO FOCUS PURE ENERGY INTO REALITY THROUGH NOTHING MORE THAN MY OWN WILL, RUSH OF ELECTRICITY THROUGH MY BEING, THE POWER--MY GOD, THE POWER! IT'S THE ONLY TIME J a FEEL ALINNINIVES EXCUSE ME. : OO YOU CARRY ANY RESTRAINING ORDER SPELLS? peee el mee oe WWI NUKLEARPOWER COMHi, WE WERE TALKING BACK THERE IN THE MAGIC SHOP. oe | E EXACTLY. ANYWAY, | WANT— —D TO ASK YOU | WAS WONDERING, AND THIS MAY SOUND STRANGE BUT JUST Q BEAR WITH ME, ARE YOU FROM VENUS? ‘cause, BAay\ ag YER ASS | _ 2 2 | a ot 0 bbe! eat (eel alee ea ead Dee eee el a eeeVM GOING TO REGRET THIS, AREN'T 12 ALL RIGHT. VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU, SERIOUSLY THIS: TIME, ER, RIGHT ‘CAUSE | COULDA SWORE | SAW YOU YOU DON'T | CHECKIN’ OUT MY HAPPEN TO WORK AT THE UPS, 00 YOU PACKAGE! Peele cae eee as esd elect WWW. NUKLEARPOWER.COMHEY, I'M SORRY ABOUT BEFORE, BUT | REALLY DO HAVE SOMETHING | WANT TO TELL YOU. COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER | JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT THOSE ROBES LOOK REALLY GOO? ON YOU BUT BABY, THEY'D LOOK EVEN BETTA ON MY BEDROOM THAT MUST BE JAM ‘CAUSE JELLY DON'T SHAKE LIKE DAT! BABY, | KNOW YOU MUST BE TIRED ‘CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN WALKIN' THROUGH MY MIND ALL DAY, IF 1 SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY, WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME? RIBS... BROKEN, ORGANS... BLEEDING. SPLEEN... STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR: e na alga 4 (|STRENGTH. RETURNING. BONES... MENDED. HEALED. ORGANS. AND | OWE IT ALL SELF-NARATION. FARING, YEAH, WELL LET'S NOT MAKE A BIG THING OF IT. 1 JUST DID WHAT TO BE DONE. WAIT, YSEE, IT'S JUST THAT YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY A VERY INTELLIGENT AND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AND | GUESS 1 WAS | Guess | GOT NERVOUS ABOUT APPROACHING A WOMAN OF YOUR HIGH CALIBUR Dee aectacie OL eee, | WANT TO APOLOGIZE WELL, UM... MY FRIEND AND | ARE TRYING OUT FOR THAT LIGHT WARRIOR JOB 1 THOUGHT THAT. A WHITE MAGE WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE TEAM? A CUTE LITTLE GUY LIKE YOU DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT. NOW LET'S MEET THIS FRIEND OF YOURS, wow, THAT ACTUALLY WORKED! SUCKER!YO FIGHTER, HOW GOES THE HERO SEARCH? HEY, SORRY ABOUT THAT, 1 HAD TO GO TO YE OLDE PAWNE SHOPPE TO CASH IN iN "FINDINGS. COINCIDENTALLY, | MANAGE TO FIND A LOT OF "DROPPED" | IT's SO sweet OF HIM TO GIVE TO CHARITY! IT'S PROBABLY TO MASK HIS OWN : SELF-LOATHING, =! OON'T BE HURT, HE LASHES OUT AT EVERYONE, HE HAS ISSUES HE NEEDS TO WORK THROUGH. See? YA HE WAS A \ GREAT GUY! PS YOU kl WWE BEEN THAT | FOUND ONE ALREADY! yp GREAT GUY. HE'S. Y OH YEAH WHERE I$ HE? AND TAKE THEM TO A “7 A PAWN SHOP, fatee 1 TOLD ‘NOW, SAYING FOR 1 COULD VERY EASILY DESTROY YOU Al WELL, LET'S SEE. HE KEPT PATROLLING THE LINE OF APPLICANTS TO_MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO PICK-POCKETS ABOUT, BUT | HAVEN'T SEEN HIM mY A WHILE NOW, OH SURE. YOU'D BE SURPRISED BY THE THINGS PEOPLE "PROP" AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH THEY ARE "DROPPED" GIVEN THEIR: HIGH MONETARY VALUES. BUT WOULON'T YOu ONLY BE DESTROYING LL.M. YOURSELF?ree oer eae DL ee tale ell SO, BLACK bef nace, WHAT'RE YOU THINKING ABOUT? NO | AM NOT | UNPRESSING YOU WITH THE POWER A OF MY MIND! |WELL, SINCE FIGHTER WAS ‘| IDIOTIE ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU OUR CONTRACTUAL TEAM LEADER, | GUESS YOUIRE IN, THIEF. BUT COULD YOU AT LEAST CLUE ME IINTO WHAT SKILLS, OTHER THAN AMORALITY, YOU'LL A WHAT GOOD Lalas BRING TO THE PARTY? ca | GRRR WHITE i MAGE, WHY DON'T -| 4 TELLS US WHAT aus YOU CAN DOF YOU GOT BEAT UP BY A GIRL? SUCKER! HM2 ER, OH YES. WELL, | HEALED BLACK MAGE FROM THE BRINK OF DEATH A. AFTER | BEAT HIM WITHIN AN ree oer aed FCT Eee.SO SHE CAN CUNT pees | AND WIELD A Cunt errs | HAMMER, es heheh sp IE ecm, ey ee tery oN als eae all COs ila aaa rm ( THIS LOOK LIKE Petero ETD A CHARACTER Fie stetel BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND Sie aA IN ORDER aS 2; TO ADD POINTS TO MY CHARACTER POINT POOL. THUS | MAXIMIZE MY POWERS AND MINIMIZE MY DISADVANTAGES. HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO GET YOUR STATS SO HIGH AS A LEVEL ONE, [aoe MO Ly fetes) TST) Le GEE, | JUST PUT VERYTHING INTO MY SE SWORDS TO KILL STUFF" SKILL. [7 YEAH, WELL. YOUR INTELLIGENCE... IS THE ONE WITH THE UH SCO h YOU GOT BEAT UP BY A GIRL! WELL THAT EXPLAINS WHERE YOUR SCORE IN INTELLIGENCE 4PRETTY GOOD TEAM HERE, WELL MAYBE, JUST MAYBI WHEN WE APPROACH THE HE'LL MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AND FORGET TO COUNT HIMSELF TOO! COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER WWW.NUKLEARPOWERCOM LET GO OF ME! JUST ONE FIREBALL, THAT'S ALL | ASK! | DESERVE AT LEAST THAT MUCH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! VM AFRAID NOT. THE RULES SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THERE CAN ONLY BE FOUR LIGHT WARRIORS. WE ARE FIVE. YOU FORGOT TO COUNT YOURSELF! YOU CLOD, Ct oa ae) Cece THAT WOULDN'T WORK. VM SO BAD ASS THAT | COUNT FOR TWO LIGHT WARRIORS, $0 THE KING WOULD STILL PERCEIVE US AS FIVE. DAMN MY INCREDIBLE FIGHTING SKILLS!FIGHTER, | JUST Nana) | TO HAVE SOME SLIPS OF PAPER HERE THAT WE CAN ATSreran USE TO VOTE WITH. 2 Wal er er i alciala GOT Sp cons voursee? Fe rhislis eRe ees aren ae 1) Seat FISPBUNGTING! EXCELLENT. OF COURSE, a eee aoa ea ee ae iaalia ad ry eee see) gous AS ce FROM BEING VOTED OUT. NOW WE JUST NEED SOMETHING TO CAST THE VOTES IN. LIKE A GIANT OVERSIZED I'VE GOT BLACK MAGIC, A HAIR TRIGGER, AND A SHORT FUSE, F BRING IT! oe nee Ns Wut NUKLEARPOWER.COMWHY DO WE HAVE TO USE MY HAT? RED MAGE HAS A PERFECTLY GOOD Al HAT. USE HIS, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ONE OF US OUT, AND WE NEED YOUR HAT TO BO IT. hs a 4 HEY! LL HAVE YOU KNOW THIS IS A PLUMED HAT OF POWER. IT GIVES ME A +4 TO MY MAGIC SCORE. wre ONLY WAY YOU'RE GETTING YOU ANO WHAT ARMY OF ARCHFIENDS, CHUMP-BOY2 § /7.cONE ON NOW GUYS. LET'S SETTLE THIS LIKE ADULTS. STEAL FROM THE ELDERLY BECAUSE 'T FIGHT Kz LIE ABOUT YOUR SAVING BLAST A HIGHLY POPULATED AREA INTO ASHES, BLAME IT ON FIGHTER, AND RUN LIKE HELL? | KNEW YOU WERE LYING ABOUT THAT! | DON'T EVEN KNOW ANY SPELLS, MAGE, HOW COULD | NUKE THAT TOWN2 COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER WWW, NUKLEARPOWER.COMANYWAY, AS | WAS SAYING, WE CAN USE WY ¥ HAT, BUT YOU CAN'T SEE ME WITH ITS A BLACK MAGE THING, YOU WOULDN'T WELL MAYBE |F YOUR Sone eee lS KINDS OF PERSECUTION My can U arrested PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE PAB TeMM oR Gat Loge) FOR CENTURIES! AND ALL 74 Su aeacor ta BECAUSE OF THE COLOR A OF OUR SPELLS! ogatif te] OH | SEE, SO YOU'RE SAYING easy V'M_A WHITE MAGE, 1 CAN'T UNDERSTAND THe f YOU DON'T KNOW THE ARE YOU SAYING THAT BLACK MAGIC AND IT'S PRACTITIONERS. ARE INHERENTLY EVIL? | 7 NAME ONE POSITIVE, NON-DESTRUCTIVE USE THEN PICK OFF ANY SURVIVORS WITH BOLT-2 SET TO A WIDE DISPERSAL. COMIN’ EITHER, SUCKERS! rele ic aie 2e)e] i nL old WWW. NHKLEARPOWER.COM eae Ba ealatar GOT TO SAY Cols maree: aL melas eens NEXT ONE.WE EACH GET AND ONE VOTE TO REDUCE NO MATTER WHAT, OUR NUMBER TO FOUR SO © | CANNOT BE VOTED OFF THAT THE REST OF US CAN = BECALISE | AM THE TEAM APPLY FOR THAT LIGHT A LEADER DUE TO FIGHTER’S WARRIOR JOB eee sae eeete WAIT, WHY WOULDN'T WE TRUST BLACK MAGE TO BE ALONE AND UINSURPERVISED FINE, AS LONG AS 1 CAN STAND AROUND ‘ THE CORNER SO THAT NO ONE SEES ME, CAN WE TRUST BLACK MAGE NOT TO FIX THE VOTE? ALTERING VOTES? ——] Rae ead MAGE 'CAUSE HE m Fame nem (a) Y'WANNA eT [ols ore GONNA CHEAT GONNA CHEAT GONNA CHEAT Came mea cr Sea OF COURSE! BLASTING INNOCENT PEOPLE INTO ASHES 1S ONE THING, BUT VOTING? WHY THAT'S A SACRED TRUST! YEAH, 50 ANYWAY, BLACK MAGE. BO YOU \4 PROMISE NOT TO ABUSE js YOUR EXCLUSIVE ACCESS Couly oe cat TO THE VOTES? aa NEVER BREA oe ee a [orate al fal EAT Oi a COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER Pee aie atale eee OL)SHAMPOO WiTH, : a = ae E WONDER ~ es EE ie ve IF | CAN CHEAT Y seg, BOTH RED MAGE } | POINT OR TWO moRE 4 TSIM ANO FIGHTER £ es mel AWAY, ‘TTRIBUTE. al ; oa = Eu El ee ees |i mR Ell SNIFF, . =r Cera Ce ] }BOY, IT SURE | (kk 7 15 FUN BEING AN SORRY, MISTER Von ee, ReC'MON, GUYS. THAT SCREAM CAME FROM THE CORNER WHERE BLACK MAGE 1S HIDING WITH SL THE VOTES. ® PANIC. JUST HANDLE THE SITUATION IN A CORNER, WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT SCREAM THEN | NEED TO DISPENSE WITH THE EVIDENCE THAT | GROSSLY ALTERED THE OUTCOME OF OUR eee cig 22a esl ela DUN deta) ereoem SO a ems aro] PAN a ee Sc a Cana Sel YOURE THINKING, BUT =y THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, YOU'RE DOING AWAY Tae ora et Hin ae ¥ BECOME owls [oat ee ate can ows | WOULD eRITICISE Kot SONS Wear > Hit, BUT HE REALLY OUGHT / TO GET AN XP BONUS FOR VOTE WAY BEFORE HE STUMBLED PON ME, KNOW. THIS 1S WHAT I BO. ONE SIDE, JERK-ASS, THING | KNOW MY SHARE OF HEALING SPELLS, NOT TO MEN- eae TION MORALS! Ly COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER PAS Lae saline) see)= GeWELL, I'M STUMPED, THE KIO'S GOT FULL HP AND NO STATUS AILMENTS. | HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM, us rele eee = en NO ONE COULD EVER La eae ADMISSION OF GUILT. to Le elial Cy Ue a ae ag BY BEING CONFRONTED WITH SOMETHING beets eA aero ea Moe eo eal ae Oa ale a a aa YEAH, NOW THAT | THINK 1 ABOUT IT, I'M PRETTY SURE | FOUND HIM IN THE TRASH THEREFORE EXPLAINING WHAT YOU SAW. | WAS PULLING THE POOR TYKE OUT, OHHHHHHH, WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME, GOOD OL’ BLACK MAGE, HE'S ALWAYS TRYING TO NOT STUFFING HIM IN. SO ITS HELP PEOPLE, A SIMPLE #ISUNDERSTANDING, RIGHT? EH HEH, a U a | a Po P| BLACK MAGE IS ALWAYS. HELPING PEOPLE. THE PROBLEM lls YOU TALKING 1S, THEY ALMOST NEVER UNDERSTAND a ABOUT! HIS UNIQUE BRAND OF HELP SO: THEY LSHALLY END LP YELLING... OR SCREAMING... OR BURNING, bs MEANWHILE, ‘i SUST To THE “S20 COMMON BALES LEFT OF THOSE ALLOW YOU TO ADD ea oe ‘FEATS’ TO FURTHER SPECIALIZE YOUR Cee caer ea eed lace PUAN ees ce. eee).WE WERE SORT OF HOPING YOU COULD TELL US THAT. WELL... | SEEM TO REMEMBER... | WAS 4 GOING TO THE STORE FOR MY MOM WELL... IT GETS KINDA FUZZY cn Hy: if ile fia RIGHT AROUNG | Mg r 7 “ = F ci ‘ q 7 | / [oe ea ae ead GUESS WE CAN’T POSSIBLY TRUST Blea RMI MO) -9 meee ed Se Mila St al a alae | “a, BEFORE I EVER GOT HERE MIND YOU-- $O NO MATTER WHAT HE SAYS, ie tec OM stm els tise ee ead Ue eal GOOP, GOOD. OFF YOU GO THEN. DON'T DAWDLE. GUESS, JUST A LITTLE O1ZZY, BUT | SHOULD SBE FINE, THANKS. WWW NUKL EARPOWER COM ee ease SPEAK OF THIS DAY AGAIN, ia eee [ella Ce cea ‘ eld clair Cela meen el aaPp WELL, NOW THAT WE'RE DONE WITH THAT STUPID BRAT... BACK TO VOTING FIGHTER AWAY, HERE'S A HINT. NEXT TIME YOU FIX A VOTE, DON'T Just weite \_/“cpg, THE FAKE VOTES ON THE BACKS OF THE REAL VOTES, OK? 1 DIDN'T DO |. IN FACT, YOU LOOKS LIKE THIEF CAN'T BE VOTED OUT WE HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU SIGNED HIM VOTE AGAIN. UP TO BE OUR LEGALLY - BINDING SLAVEMASTER FOR LIFE, YOU JACK ASS. YOU AND | CAN'T BE VOTED OUT BECAUSE WE'RE THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE TEAM. | WELL, FOR THE GOOD ‘OF THE TEAM, NOT TO MEN- TION $0.1 CAN LEARN MORE OF THESE 'FEATS!, | VOTE 4 > FOR RED MAGE. . Lo I YAY FOR RED PRTC | 8UT.. | LIKE SWORDS. mage! | LIKE HIM AH, BUT T CAN GREATER RANGE OF SPELLS, aero $O THE ONLY REAL DECISION HERE THEN IS BETWEEN REO MAGE AND WHITE MAGE. BUT I CONTRIBUTE A WEALTH OF HEALING SPELLS TO THE PARTY WHICH WE WILL NO DOUBT NEED IN CAST WHITE MAGIC ) DO SO MORE EFFECTIVELY, N AS WELL. AW, HORSESHIT! - ta trae ery ett aan renee iret a ayFLAT SURFACES ‘R’ US serving all your planar needs for 30 years! COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER: Dd ae ate a Ol eeea a ae | Love You PHALLIC-SWORD EARTH TO WORSHIPPING STRANGELY ENOUGH, | FIGHTER, COME WARRIOR WOMAN. THINK GETTING VOTED TAKE ME. ol al ioe rel TM a oe ce ms IN FIGHTER,MUST RESIST URGE TO DESTROY IMBECILES, WE'RE GONNA 1 BE LIGHT WARRIORS! MUST USE THEM TO AD- VANCE OWN GOALS. if ‘OH, YOU KNOW. anata ITS A FAIRLY CRUDE [meio TERM FOR 'MELONS'— CANALS dda THINK BcrORE CONTACT. ; alter avo he) BLUNDERING POLT! OKAAAAAAY, ANYWAY, I GUESS THIS 1S GOODBYE. HEARD OF THAT ONE BEFORE MUST BE A LOCAL TERM THAT GREW OUT OF THE FARMING TALKING ABOUT AND (EFINITELY NOT SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PARTS OF THE FEMALE 2 TRADITION. HERE * ANATOMN. ©: Nice? 1. AN EXPERIENCE a WELL, IT INEM / MEETING YOU AND THE } WAS CERTAINLY INGtsem( OTHERS. 1 DON'T THINK uM. aed \ ILL BE ABLE TO FOR- TOLER- GET YOU ALL. Je 7 a a WORTH- 2 - Dee eR a pee a1 a Od bn aa ee ae WAIT! WILL | EVER SEE YOU AGAIN? fea ae SY SURFACE AND LAID WASTE TO THE lo US ee cia Lee. ee ela al Ce aaa \'M SORRY, WHAT? | HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD YOU SAID ‘CAUSE | WAS STARING AT YOUR GAZONGAS. , BUT I PROBABLY SHOULON'T HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT ALL THAT JUST NOW. 5 aY'KNOW, IT'S A SHAME THAT SHE COULDN'T COME WITH US. WELL, IT HAD TO BE ONE OF US... ER NOT ONE OF WS REALLY SINCE MAGE AND FIGHTER SEEM DESTINED TO TEAM UP COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER — WWW.NLUKLEARPOWERCOM IN THE END, SO IT ONLY CHOICE, AFTER ALL, Dl ae rE) a | racrsay a Noe Taecroly Ce HEY, WE NEVER DID FINO OUT WHO BLACK MAGE WANTED TO JOIN OUR TEAM, NOT THAT IT MATTERS NOW. DO YOU LIKE HER, OR LIKE HER’ LIKE HER? i i i i i A i i | ne all ee te pene eae rd eee teAND SO, AS THE WARRIORS OF LIGHT GATHER THEIR STRENGTH... ered a Patol ct Seen GOD, YOu" Dea BO OnTe ISN'T IT. re eo oe PF WHAT'RE YOU GONNA HAVE HIM BO? POKE ME eee Cee cae olel es mea clare Dd ae ate al eelBY BAHAMUT'S FLAME, WHAT ARE YOU BOING? Ne La - if ty ee ee i fon tee a etm tf Pha Fa ee sae ieee THIS, BUT I HAVE TO, ASK. WHY ARE YOU TRYING IT ON? oy PROBABLY. BUT, AS I SAIP BEFORE, YOU'RE BAD AT THIS. ec 22 a eed ele PN easel eee IN eagy n - = Pot Hs Nera =~ yKNow, TE BEEN KIDNAPPED ABOUT HALF A DOZEN TIMES AND THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST INEPT Bee pin 108 TVE SEEN, BaRRY'S CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL OF ARCH-VILLAINY EVEN THE FOREST IMPS, WHO HAVE NO ACTUAL LANGUAGE, WERE ABLE TO KEEP ME FROM WANDERING AROUND THE - el + + ek FRONT DOOR IS UNLOCKED, THE BACK DOOR IS WIDE OPEN, AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A MAZE OR SWITCHES OR ANYTHING. | COULD'VE LEFT AT ANY TIME, ARE YOU EVEN TRYING? A a WELL, ORDINARILY I DON'T LIKE ASSISTING FOUL SERVANTS OF THE DARK DOING, THEN IT'S IN THEIR VILE PLOTS TO WORTH DOING et He HOA. + Paral ote ch eo i a a 7 Le as BARRY'S CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL OF ARCH=VILLAINY BUT IF SO) THING'S WORTH A COPYRIGHT 2001 a Canela 3 WWW.NUKLEARPOWERCOMI'M A THIEF, 1 CAN ONLY WEAR UH... DUE TO MY LEATHER ARMOR. ONE DUAL CLASS NATURE, i I CAN ONLY WEAR LIGHT oO OF YOU GUYS TAKE ARMOR. FIGHTER'S GOT THE THE HIT. BEST DICE POOL FOR a r Doe Th LY pO ps Se ARE We RUNNING? Fes | A BLACK MAGE, HE IM GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU UNTIL, la) i eit AW, 1 DON'T MIND. IVE BEEN STABBED BY BLACK MAGE LOTS OF TIMES. USUALLY IN MY SLEEP, ANYWAY, IT’S NOT THAT Cee rer eee aed eo 7. | fie Wer ele eae se eM: oe ole WWW, NUKLEARPOWER.COM IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST, YOUR DOWNWARD STABBING MOTION LOSES TOO MUCH LEVERAGE, YOU HAVE hs HiMM, YES. aad TILL KEEP THAT Pi IN MIND FROM MAYBE WE SHOULD NOW ON. LEVEL UP A LITTLE BEFORE aia alas SEEING THE KING SO HE POWER OR MEET KNOWS WE'RE SERIOUS WITH THE KING TO ABOUT THIS LIGHT Core ea oe WARRIOR GIG. LORD OVER NEWBIES EN eases og a GHKKK! @ a 1 | BET HE PROBABLY FAINTED FROM EXERTION, WHAT WITH CARRYING AROUND ALL THESE ITEMS THAT ARE 1 HEARD HIM HEAVY WITH UM... VALUE, SAY “MUNCHKIN T SHOULD LIBERATE THEM, ‘JUST OVERLOAD." ER FOR HIS OWN FAINTZ 6000 OF COURSE,FOR SOME REASON, 1 FEEL AS THOUGH MY ENCUMBRANCE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE WEIGHT OF THE GOLD 1 KNOW I WAS CARRYING AND HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO CHECK SINCE WAKING uP. um, I WOULDN'T WORRY Pa ABOUT IT, RED MAGE, IN FACT, LOOK OVER THERE! WHAT ARE HEY THERE, YOU LOOKING AT; TALKATIVE GUARD. FLESH-BAG? WHAT'S UPz THE KING IS LOOKING FOR THE LIGHT WARRIORS. YOU DO NOT HAPPEN TO: AHEM, LIGHT WARRIORS? ER, UM. YEAH. THAT'S US. WE'RE HERE TO SEE THE ROBOT uf ONLY OUR BLATANT LIE, ud MORE RUNNING l Gisele INTO THE fu Fy COPYRIGHT ZOO! BRIAN CLEVINGER LU Neel el caelBath CL =_ <= yr WOW, THIS { PLACE IS REALLY NICE. A> hy piety hi ce sehees a aaLe FOR A KING! \ EVEN THINK THE WALLS ARE PLATED WITH ‘oo. : os ae me airs wacteee Wacthies 5 eh ren a Ee oa) ay MAN, SOME % i Pag] OF THIS STUFF pa Cade) BL must cost A GR a b FORTUNE. WE SHOULDN'T ‘al JUST HANG AROUND IN THE HALLS LIKE RIFF-RAFF, THE GUARDS MIGHT CATCH US, [ere atte ¥ J en Rae Pe Pye hooa Cuecol so ernie roar ie, | aN Scam an) ao wale HEY. ee WHERE'D YOU i GET ALL THIS : a STUFF? | Ld S Lao eae RUN FOR DARN YOu, THIEF! Mm aa eS i relic alae 26, Om oe ol es, a on Pr ewer ttasy)IDEA CERTAINLY HAS MERIT, DEAR, BUT HOW CAN WE BE SURE THEY'LL BE THE RIGHT LIGHT WARRIORS? THE PROPHECY VM TELLING vou HONEY, THIS LIGHT WARRIOR SCHTICK OF WINE IS BRILLIANT, YOU HEAR ME? IS FAIRLY VAGUE ABOUT SRILLIANT! THEIR IDENTI- Tae TIES. ear eS mela eal FIGURE WE'LL GET A LOT OF APPLICANTS FOR THIS GIG. NOW, IT WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK ON OUR END TO SHUFFLE THROUGH THEM ALL TO FIND THE TRUE LIGHT WARRIORS, TO SAVE US ALL RIGHTE Ali Po aed SO WHY DON'T WE SKIP THE MIDDLEMAN Pee} AND JUST SEND THEM ALL? ene) THE WEAK WILL PERISH AND THE CHOSEN ONES WILL RISE FROM THE LEFTOVERS BUT DOESN'T THAT INVOLVE THE SLAUGHTER VRRP THINK THE THAN OF POTENTIALLY HUN- iT REDS OF LIVES? Ont e008 EA De a eatale el es Oa ad elec