Behind the Scenes with Super Rocket Substitute

kmo@c-realm.com — Sun, 31 Mar 2002 21:05:18 GMT

Set up:

Paul Gude planned to spend the month of March in France. While away, he would not be creating his usual daily comics, and rather than let the project grow cold in the hearts and minds of his adoring fans, he issued a call for fan art versions of his daily comic, "Giraffes & Elephants Are Friends." The fans responded with enthusiasm, but what of Seattle's champion, the Super Rocket Monkey? Would the city go undefended for a month? Who could possibly step in to act as substitute?

"An auspicious beginning," thought Hanuman, as he surveyed the city from atop his high perch. Who better to defend Seattle, than the very monkey king who defeated a demon army and rescued the bride of the great god, Rama?

But one anonymous sniper punctured the bubble of Hanuman's self-assurance by writing, "Hanuman is to be fighting the humor! The humor is to be dieing!"

Hanuman pondered these words.

"Yes," he mused aloud. "Super Rocket Monkey engages his foes with humor. I shall do the same."

And so, his confidence (mostly) restored, Hanuman took up his first assignment as the Super Rocket Substitute.

The result? Ambiguity. This piqued the interest of a few readers, but not in the way Hanuman had intended.

"The wise tactician knows when to supplement his skills with the advice of a trusted councilor," he reasoned, and left Seattle for the C-Realm, a "place" from which to gain a new perspective on this difficulty.

Hanuman expected to discuss his difficulties with the C-Realm Lion, but when he arrived...

"I am already to be noticing..."
"I am now to be monitoring..."
Hanuman noticed, with satisfaction, how easily the speech patterns characteristic of the Super Rocket Monkey came to his lips. "All will be well," he decided.

"Perfect?" Hanuman was confused. "PERFECT!?! I feel less confident, resolute, and capable now than I did before I sought that woman's "help.""

Then, to his horror, Hanuman saw the Oracle and her mushroom tower grow pale and indistinct. The C-Realm was fading around him, and he was materializing in Seattle... back in his new role in this demoralized state! Back to face the critics and detractors. Back in a vain attempt to fill Super Rocket Monkey's shoes.