Difference between revisions of "A Fate Worse Than Chess"
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− | {{ | + | {{Comic infobox |
− | |||
| preview = AFateWorseThanChess1.jpg | | preview = AFateWorseThanChess1.jpg | ||
| release-date = August 13, 2012 | | release-date = August 13, 2012 | ||
| number-of-pages = 33 | | number-of-pages = 33 | ||
+ | | artist = [[Heather Campbell|Heather "makani" Campbell]]<br>[[Jim Murray]] (cover) | ||
+ | | writer = [[Jay Pinkerton]] & [[Erik Wolpaw]] | ||
+ | | colorist = [[Nick Filardi]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | ''' | + | {{Quotation|'''Saxton Hale'''|Listen to my words, Bidwell. These are truth words. '''I am going to fight that @#$%ing monkey.'''}} |
− | + | '''A Fate Worse Than Chess''' is a [[comic]] released August 13, 2012, as part of the [[Mann vs. Machine (update)|Mann vs. Machine update]]. It is a continuation of the earlier comic, [[Blood Brothers]]. The events introduce the invasion of [[Mann Co.]] by [[Gray Mann]] and his army of robots. [[Saxton Hale]] enlists the help of the Team Fortress Mercenaries to destroy the incoming robot invasion. Hale also fights a [[Non-player characters#Yeti|Yeti]]. | |
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− | + | == Synopsis == | |
+ | ''A Fate Worse Than Chess'' opens with a scene of a comic, in which two scientists are discussing how aliens can breathe Earth's oxygen. Saxton Hale interrupts the comic, announcing his "new way" to tell stories: Explosition®. The scene is shown again in the form of "explosition," this time the scientists being two women armed with swords. The first demands to know how the aliens can breathe oxygen, leading to a sword-fight above a volcanic crater. Saxton interrupts once more, once more demonstrating "explosition" in the "explository tale," ''A Fate Worse Than Chess''. | ||
− | The comic cuts to Miss Pauling, who shows them the tape of Hale, who informs the mercenaries that, with the death of the Mann brothers, they are now unemployed. However, with attack of the robots on Mann Co.'s headquarters, they have been re-hired to fight them. Although they are not being paid for their work, to their dismay, Pauling reveals that the robots somehow run on piles of money, so once destroyed, the money that would come out belonged to the mercenaries. The comic closes with Pauling telling them that it is not just a fight for Mann Co. or Saxton Hale, but a fight for their jobs. | + | The comic cuts to the [[w:Samdrup Jongkhar District|Samdrup Jongkhar District]] in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where Saxton Hale, disguised as a primate violence specialist named "Doctor Joanbaez," has requested to see a yeti, the last of its species, while a disguised Mr. Bidwell is informed of an attack on all of Mann Co.'s facilities in the background. Bidwell insists that they leave, but Hale insists that he fight the Yeti. Bidwell decides to videotape Hale fighting the Yeti whilst also briefing the [[Classes|mercenaries]] of the oncoming fight with Gray Mann's army of robots. |
+ | |||
+ | The comic cuts to Miss Pauling, who shows them the tape of Hale, who informs the mercenaries that, with the death of the Mann brothers, they are now unemployed. However, with attack of the robots on Mann Co.'s headquarters, they have been re-hired to fight them. Although they are not being paid for their work, to their dismay, Pauling reveals that the robots somehow run on [[Credits|piles of money]], so once destroyed, the money that would come out belonged to the mercenaries. The comic closes with Pauling telling them that it is not just a fight for Mann Co. or Saxton Hale, but a fight for their jobs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Transcript == | ||
+ | {{/Transcript}} | ||
==Pages== | ==Pages== | ||
Line 52: | Line 58: | ||
File:AFateWorseThanChess33.jpg|Page 33 | File:AFateWorseThanChess33.jpg|Page 33 | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Notes == | ||
+ | ; Page 28 | ||
+ | * The Spy's suit was seen with lines running down it on Page 27; however, they disappear on this page. | ||
+ | * The Heavy appeared without his gloves on Page 27; however, they reappear on this page. | ||
+ | * The Soldier is dressed in red fatigues but is wearing the helmet of his BLU counterpart. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ; Page 32 | ||
+ | * The Engineer has a T-Shirt on rather than his regular team-colored work shirt seen in pages 28 and 29. | ||
+ | * What appears to be orange hair is barely visible under the Engineer's helmet, despite the fact that the Engineer was [[Loose Canon|previously shown]] to be bald. | ||
+ | * The [[Demoman]] is putting on [[Prince Tavish's Crown]], and the [[Engineer]] is equipping the [[Gunslinger]]. Also, an [[Officer's Ushanka]], a [[Medic Mech-Bag]], a [[Killer Exclusive]], and a [[Glengarry Bonnet]] are seen on the shelf above them. | ||
== Trivia == | == Trivia == | ||
+ | ; Cover | ||
* The title of the comic is a play on the phrase "a fate worse than death", meaning any misfortune that would make life ultimately worse. | * The title of the comic is a play on the phrase "a fate worse than death", meaning any misfortune that would make life ultimately worse. | ||
+ | <!-- not really * In the comic, Mr. Bidwell seems to look very much like John Lennon. --> | ||
− | + | ; Page 2 | |
− | * | + | * <!-- YMMV as this being relevant Trivia, but the text on this page transported Mikado282 back to 1974, reading the Ben Bova article. -->[[w:Ben Bova|Ben Bova]] and [[w:A. E. van Vogt|A. E. van Vogt]] have speculated about fluorine-breathing life. |
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− | + | ; Page 8 | |
− | * The | + | * The reference notice, "See Team Fortress #2", aside from a play on the game title ''Team Fortress 2'', is a reference to the murder of Blutarch and Redmond Mann by Gray Mann in the ''second'' of two preceding ''TF2'' [[Storyline#Gravel War|Gravel War Storyline]] comics, [[Loose Canon]] and [[Blood Brothers]], which were summarized in the [[Catch-Up|Catch-Up Comic]] tie-in to the [http://www.teamfortress.com/comics.php TF Comic] series. |
− | + | ; Page 9 | |
− | * | + | * Hale's alias is an ironic reference to [[w:Joan Baez#Social and political involvement|Joan Baez]], a famous 1960s folk singer particularly known for her anti-violence activism. |
− | + | ; Page 17 | |
− | * | + | * Bidwell's disguise is similar to the outfit worn by The Beatles, a very popular 1960s band, in their album [[w:Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band|''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'']] that won Album of the Year in [[1968]]. |
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
− | *[[Mann vs. Machine]] | + | * [[Comics]] |
+ | * [[Storyline]] | ||
+ | * [[Non-player characters]] | ||
+ | * [[Mann vs. Machine (update)|Mann vs. Machine]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
*[http://www.teamfortress.com/fateworsethanchess/ ''A Fate Worse Than Chess''] on the [[TF2 Official Website]]. | *[http://www.teamfortress.com/fateworsethanchess/ ''A Fate Worse Than Chess''] on the [[TF2 Official Website]]. | ||
+ | *[http://imgur.com/a/7Ue3V ''Blood Brothers'' and ''A Fate Worse Than Chess''] textless pages | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{MannVsMachineNav}} | ||
{{Comics nav}} | {{Comics nav}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics]] | [[Category:Comics]] |
Latest revision as of 22:35, 7 August 2025
A Fate Worse Than Chess | |
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![]() | |
Comic Strip Info | |
Released: | August 13, 2012 |
Number of pages: | 33 |
Artist: | Heather "makani" Campbell Jim Murray (cover) |
Writer: | Jay Pinkerton & Erik Wolpaw |
Colorist: | Nick Filardi |
“ | Listen to my words, Bidwell. These are truth words. I am going to fight that @#$%ing monkey.
— Saxton Hale
|
” |
A Fate Worse Than Chess is a comic released August 13, 2012, as part of the Mann vs. Machine update. It is a continuation of the earlier comic, Blood Brothers. The events introduce the invasion of Mann Co. by Gray Mann and his army of robots. Saxton Hale enlists the help of the Team Fortress Mercenaries to destroy the incoming robot invasion. Hale also fights a Yeti.
Synopsis
A Fate Worse Than Chess opens with a scene of a comic, in which two scientists are discussing how aliens can breathe Earth's oxygen. Saxton Hale interrupts the comic, announcing his "new way" to tell stories: Explosition®. The scene is shown again in the form of "explosition," this time the scientists being two women armed with swords. The first demands to know how the aliens can breathe oxygen, leading to a sword-fight above a volcanic crater. Saxton interrupts once more, once more demonstrating "explosition" in the "explository tale," A Fate Worse Than Chess.
The comic cuts to the Samdrup Jongkhar District in the Kingdom of Bhutan, where Saxton Hale, disguised as a primate violence specialist named "Doctor Joanbaez," has requested to see a yeti, the last of its species, while a disguised Mr. Bidwell is informed of an attack on all of Mann Co.'s facilities in the background. Bidwell insists that they leave, but Hale insists that he fight the Yeti. Bidwell decides to videotape Hale fighting the Yeti whilst also briefing the mercenaries of the oncoming fight with Gray Mann's army of robots.
The comic cuts to Miss Pauling, who shows them the tape of Hale, who informs the mercenaries that, with the death of the Mann brothers, they are now unemployed. However, with attack of the robots on Mann Co.'s headquarters, they have been re-hired to fight them. Although they are not being paid for their work, to their dismay, Pauling reveals that the robots somehow run on piles of money, so once destroyed, the money that would come out belonged to the mercenaries. The comic closes with Pauling telling them that it is not just a fight for Mann Co. or Saxton Hale, but a fight for their jobs.
Transcript
A Fate Worse Than Chess |
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[The first page shows a cover image for a comic, depicting a Yeti wearing a necklace made of flowers playing chess with a hippie, while Saxton Hale is in mid-air about to punch the Yeti in the back of the head. A sticker shows the comic is #78 in the series, released in August at a price of 12¢]
MANN CO. SAXTON HALE'S SAXTON INTRODUCES [The comic opens to two scientists in a small and dull room, with a shelf containing various scientific measuring cups, beakers and test tubes] Scientist A: Just beyond these flat gray walls, doctor, we fight our final battle against the alien hordes. And what a battle! But tell me: how do these aliens breathe our Earth oxygen? Scientist B: That's an interesting story. Well, not interesting, exactly. But it is long and complicated. You see, oxygen has the second-highest electronegativity of all reactive elements. Ha, well, besides fluorine, of course, which— [Suddenly, Saxton Hale bursts through the page of the comic, interrupting the comic] Saxton Hale: EXPOSITION! The art of stopping a story so nerds can find out how things work! It's awful. So I came up with a brand new way to tell stories! EXPLOSITION!® Let's see thats same scene again. [The scene has now been dramatically altered, replacing the scientists with two women wielding swords fighting atop an active volcano, as pterodactyls circle them] Graveline: DAMN your heaving bosoms, Synestra! You'll tell me how aliens breathe oxygen, or I'll gut you like one of your pet terror-dactyles! Synestra: It's a fascinating tale, Graveline! What a pity you won't be alive to hear it! But it involves fluorine! [Saxton Hale emerges from behind the page] Saxton Hale: There! I fixed reading! But don't take my word for it! See for yourself, in the explository tale I call... A FATE WORSE THAN CHESS [The scene shifts to a jungle with mountains in the background. Two hippies are stationed behind a log, with Saxton Hale — under the alias 'Doctor Joanbaez' — next to them, alongside Mr. Bidwell nearby with a telephone, both visibly disguised as hippies themselves] [ Samdrup Jongkhar District, Kingdom of Bhutan ] [ Three days after the end of the Gravel Wars. ] Hippie: We're so sorry you had to wait this long to see him. But this Yeti is the last of its species. We have to be very selective who we let visit. That said, we're told you're a primate violence specialist, Doctor Joanbaez. "Doctor Joanbaez": Yes. I am the best at primate violence. I'll be square with you, though. This monkey of yours is a creampuff. Bidwell: Reddy? What is it? [The view shifts to reveal a passive Yeti across from them, sniffing a flower] Hippie: Yes, and thank god. When we found him he was unspeakably savage. "Doctor Joanbaez": You don't say. Hippie: It's taken months of behavioral counseling and intense aromatherapy just to get the poor thing this far. Even the slightest aggressive gesture could erase all the pacification work we've done. "Doctor Joanbaez": Something as trivial as hitting him? Hippie: Well-- "Doctor Joanbaez": In the face, say. Just spitballing here. Hippie: I don't even like to think about it. Nothing on Earth would be able to stop him. [Saxton Hale grins whilst cracking his knuckles. Bidwell now wears a shocked expression as he stands up] Bidwell: Slow down, Reddy. Which facility? What do you mean "all of them"? Sir, Mann Co. is under attack! [Saxton Hale turns to face Bidwell, no longer grinning] Saxton Hale: I know. Bidwell: We—what do you mean you know? Saxton Hale: Found out yesterday. Damn it, Bidwell, you know my stance on having sensible conversations with hippies. I'm stridently against it. Bidwell: You insisted I wear a costume for this operation, sir. Saxton Hale: Well, now I'm insisting you look too convincing. All I'm hearing out of your mouth is "I don't have a job, please put your fist through my sternum." Bidwell: Sir, when were you planning on telling me that Redmond and Blutarch Mann are dead and their long-lost brother is launching his robot army at every Mann Co. facility on Earth? Saxton Hale: Tonight. Over Yeti steaks. Bidwell: Mister Hale, we need to leave now. [Saxton Hale turns away, now grinning again] Saxton Hale: Bidwell, I have waited ten blasted months for this. I've forged credentials. I've bribed officials. I think I had Bob Hope killed, and in retrospect I don't even remember why that was necessary. I'm not going to sugar-coat it, we are probably going to jail again. If all that wasn't enough, I've had to pretend to be a hippie for ten minutes now. Listen to my words, Bidwell. These are truth words. I am going to fight that @#$%ing monkey. Bidwell: I-- but-- *sigh* look, I have a video camera. Maybe you could deal with this crisis while you fight the Ye-- [Suddenly, Saxton Hale's disguise as "Doctor Joanbaez" blows off in an explosion as he jumps over the log, with the text 'UNDISGUISED!' for dramatic effect, as Bidwell prepares to bring out a video camera. The hippies watch on powerlessly] Saxton Hale: Mercenaries! Join me for fortune and glory! Bidwell: Not recording yet, sir. Hippie: HALE! Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest! [The view changes to the perspective of a recording video camera, as Saxton Hale charges towards the Yeti, of whom is now noticed his approach and smiles to him] Saxton Hale: How about now? Bidwell: Rolling, sir. Saxton Hale: Good. Listen up, mercs! [He punches the Yeti cleanly in the face, with the text 'EXPLOSIPUNCH!' for emphasis] Saxton Hale: There are robots coming! [The Yeti, now enraged, begins to fight with and bite Saxton Hale's arm, causing it to bleed] Saxton Hale: I won't smooch backsides on this either. These things are bigger than you. They're stronger than you. In fact, now that I'm saying it out loud, they're better than you at just about everything. Bidwell! Idea! What if we just hired the robots to-- Bidwell: No, sir. Saxton Hale: Damn. Bidwell, stop tape. These mercs are going to die. Bidwell: Not necessarily, sir. We do have an R🙲D devision. What if we give them all our experimental new tech? Saxton Hale: "Give"? Bidwell. Can you see my teats in this shot? Bidwell: No, sir. I've chosen a tight close-up on the Yeti's fangs. Saxton Hale: Oo! Good. Where was I? Right. Teats. They're dry, Bidwell. Dry from from(sic) all the suckling. You and these mercs have suckled them dry. No. They'll pay for our products like everybody else! [The view shifts to a room containing a bloodstained package reading 'FRAGILE CONTENTS' 'FILM CANISTER' 'DO NOT EXPOSE TO SUNLIGHT' alongside some notes on a table, as well as a television, with all nine mercs — each representing either RED or BLU team — and Miss Pauling stationed around it] Bidwell: Sir, they are defending your company from extinction... Saxton Hale: Bullsauce! They're as neck-deep in this as I am! In fact, why am I even talking to you? Mercs! Your jobs died with the Mann brothers. You hear me? As of now, you are all unemployed! Also, straight plain talk here: nobody's ever going to hire a non-metal man again with these robots around! I've seen them. They are spectacular. Now for the good news! You're all re-hired! Grab a pen, here's your new job description: Kill robots! Now get out there and kick some can! [The end of the tape shows Saxton Hale being pinned down by the Yeti] Saxton Hale: I'd help, but as you can see, I will be fighting a Yeti for nine more hours. MAKE ME PROUD, BOYS! [Miss Pauling sits in a chair to address the mercs directly] Miss Pauling: So... Scout: Yo, Miss Pauling! Miss Pauling: Keeping in mind I will not be taking any questions from Scout... Scout: Aw. Miss Pauling: Are there any questions? Sniper: I got one. We getting paid for this? [Out of view, the television suddenly resumes playing the tape again] Saxton Hale: Saxton Hale again. This is pre-taped, so I don't know what anybody's talking about right now, but I am not paying you for this. Yeti: RRARRRGH! Saxton Hale: Whoa! Ha ha ha! Miss Pauling: For reasons I can't comprehend or explain, the robots run on piles of money. Destroy them and whatever falls out is yours. Any more questions? No? Good. Get to Mann Co. immediately. And remember... [The scene changes to the mercs gearing up to fight. Some of the mercs have special equipment, such as Engineer preparing a Gunslinger, and Demoman putting on a crown] Miss Pauling: [...this isn't like any other assignment you've been given.] [It's much, much more serious.] [This isn't just a fight for Mann Co., or Saxton Hale] [It's a fight for your jobs.] [Get to work.] TO BE CONTINUED IN MANN VS MACHINE |
Pages
Notes
- Page 28
- The Spy's suit was seen with lines running down it on Page 27; however, they disappear on this page.
- The Heavy appeared without his gloves on Page 27; however, they reappear on this page.
- The Soldier is dressed in red fatigues but is wearing the helmet of his BLU counterpart.
- Page 32
- The Engineer has a T-Shirt on rather than his regular team-colored work shirt seen in pages 28 and 29.
- What appears to be orange hair is barely visible under the Engineer's helmet, despite the fact that the Engineer was previously shown to be bald.
- The Demoman is putting on Prince Tavish's Crown, and the Engineer is equipping the Gunslinger. Also, an Officer's Ushanka, a Medic Mech-Bag, a Killer Exclusive, and a Glengarry Bonnet are seen on the shelf above them.
Trivia
- Cover
- The title of the comic is a play on the phrase "a fate worse than death", meaning any misfortune that would make life ultimately worse.
- Page 2
- Ben Bova and A. E. van Vogt have speculated about fluorine-breathing life.
- Page 8
- The reference notice, "See Team Fortress #2", aside from a play on the game title Team Fortress 2, is a reference to the murder of Blutarch and Redmond Mann by Gray Mann in the second of two preceding TF2 Gravel War Storyline comics, Loose Canon and Blood Brothers, which were summarized in the Catch-Up Comic tie-in to the TF Comic series.
- Page 9
- Hale's alias is an ironic reference to Joan Baez, a famous 1960s folk singer particularly known for her anti-violence activism.
- Page 17
- Bidwell's disguise is similar to the outfit worn by The Beatles, a very popular 1960s band, in their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band that won Album of the Year in 1968.
See also
External links
- A Fate Worse Than Chess on the TF2 Official Website.
- Blood Brothers and A Fate Worse Than Chess textless pages
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