Elaborate Cover Up

Page 271

Elaborate Cover Up
Cartoon Brian

Elaborate Cover Up

Original Release Date: September 18, 2012

Something from this page that I have thought about a lot over the years, but didn't strike me when I drew it, is Stu's resolve. He is calmly playing the short game here--he's knows he's among the expendables in the plan. He's in a fight he doesn't expect to come out of alive, has accepted it, and is deadly focused on diverting the goons long enough for Renee and Ohtani to complete the primary mission objective. He's not concerned about winning this fight; it ultimately doesn't matter. The key is simply staying alive long enough for the others to take care of business. I have to imagine that's a tough predicament in which to find oneself, but Stu is handling it like a professional. I cannot say I expected any less from him.

I struggled with how to dress Renee for combat. I wanted her to be comfortable and mobile, but not illogically sexy. You may recall Tiffany's action attire from Volume One being totally ridiculous. That was a deliberately sensual design choice I made for Tiffany (being that she is sleazy Robert Pratt's aide), but the total opposite of what I wanted for Renee; it wouldn't fit her character or sensibilities at all. So I settled on what I think is a pretty simple, modest look that I hope is reminiscient of an Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor--Renee is here to save the world, not turn heads (not to mention do the thing she is literally employed by Ohtani to do).