“Oh, no – Pluto!” /Mickey-Mouse-voice – Chapter 8, Act 2, Strip 87

You could consider 8-Megadork-8’s massive weapon (which is called the 8-Megacannon-8, unsurprisingly) the opposite of a TARDIS: it’s smaller as long as it’s on the inside.

This works because the insides of transforming mecha operate somewhat like a pocket dimension – or a bag of holding, if you prefer the fantasy equivalent. The total volume of the components involved in such a robot’s transformations far exceed the volume of the base form: so you have to assume that all of this is getting folded down and minimized in size to a degree that reaches magical. Well, and once you’re there, there’s really no longer any limit, so you can just go wild…

And the 8-Megacannon-8’s firepower matches its humongous size! Unfortunately, Mopey was a little bit naive as far as targeting was concerned…
Which is understandable. In my youth, I might have made precisely the same mistake, thinking along the lines of “who would invest the huge amount of money involved in the development of such a weapon without also investing a reasonable amount into a targeting system to make sure the whole thing is actually useful?” Of course, by now I have learned of enough instances throughout history where precisely this obvious mistake was made to declare it one of the classic blunders. >_>

As for Pluto…well, good riddance. I’ve really never cared that deeply about Pluto’s status as a planet to begin with, and found the public debate on it a bit absurd. So I’m kinda content that my own fictional universe here is now forever rid of this controversy, as well as of Pluto itself…and, after all, it’s not like this fictional universe doesn’t have many other and much more pressing issues to deal with…

More on Monday.

8 Replies to ““Oh, no – Pluto!” /Mickey-Mouse-voice – Chapter 8, Act 2, Strip 87”

  1. Evading? What a dirty trick. Truly they are the most despicable honorless villains ever.

    1. Yeah, typically the only thing villains are allowed to evade are questions – mostly along the lines of “why don’t we just shoot him” etc. XD

  2. Faulty targeting systems build up dramatic tension and signal to the audience that the hero is making the shot based on their own skill/merit rather than “cheating.”

    Just look at Stars Wars IV: They have fluid space travel technology and advanced energy weapons and shields but the targeting computer can’t pull off a shot equivalent to playing the first hole in putt-putt golf.

    1. Well, in defense of George Lucas, a space battle where the exchange of fire takes place before the opposing sides ever get within visual range of each other might have been more realistic – but it wouldn’t have made for a very interesting or engaging film sequence. XD

      The targeting systems on the Tie-Fighters are also worthy of a shout-out. Back in the day, those wireframe 3-D graphics must have seemed like the very cutting edge of technology – with little room for possible improvement even in the far-away future. Judging by the standards of 3D FX today, that assumption appears a little bit…naive. XD

  3. Can’t believe this is secret setup for the Revenge of Pluto. I know how B-Movies work!!

    1. XD That’s actually not a half bad idea, perhaps I can fit that into the next chapter somehow. For, of course Pluto could have easily faked its own destruction in order to better plot its revenge from the depths of the Kuiper belt. Perfectly plausible by B-movie standards. XD

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