Meta4

Its hard to tell what the meaningvof his screen images are, it seems like subconscious and concious thoughts sometimes. It could be just whats weighing heaviest on his mind at the moment. Im starting to think that the gale theory is spot on. The interaction with robot IV seemed strange, familiar, but threatening at the same time. Plus, he's a snappy dresser. That should be a tip off right there.

You're right, looking closer, they both have horns. Could it be marko's parents? Or maybe just dead moonies that were a casualty of the war. Showing that robots hatred for the "moonies" stems from a secret hatred of himself?

The other interesting tidbit I realized after re-reading issue 12 was the cover. Its set up to look like a "suicide king" playing card, with the position they're in and the sword going through robot IV's head, and the images of alana and marko are depicted as corpses. Maybe signifying that although robot IV wants alana and marko dead, that he's really, secretly wanting to end his own existance because he cant bear to be himself in a society that wont accept him for who he is. His screen showing the "experiencing technichal difficulties" pattern from old TV channels seems to support this too. Prince robot seems to be experiencing some major technical difficulties.

Exactly.

I went back and looked through issues 3-6, I think I'm getting a better idea of whats motovating robot IV. When he shoots the stalk, the image on his screen is a baby's rattle, obviously thinking about the news that his wife is pregnant. But the context isnt shown. Maybe its him worrying and being apprehensive, rather than celebrating his wife being pregnant. Again, vaughan contrasting love and duty, alana and marko would do anything for their child, while prince robot IV sees his as a burden. The other thing I noticed was when his wife told him she was pregnant, she also said to finish the mission because his father wont let him return, even to see the birth, until its done. He responds by calling his father a miserable . Im thinking that his father knew he was gay, but forced him into an arranged marriage to keep the monarchy going. A gay prince would be seen differently by the public, (especially a racist society involved in a species war,) and may have issues producing an heir to the throne. This would explain his hostility towards his father, The other thing I noticed was in issue 12, when gale (winged dude at the royal party) calls robot IV, he taunts him with "theres a certain someone I'm dying to meet, a royal princess with a disticnct glow about her." But rather than responding about gale hitting on his wife, robot resonds with "are you seriously threatening my wife." Gale says he's just reminding him of the stakes. This might be gale threatenng to "out" prince robots sexual orientation to his wife and the royal family. Using it as blackmail to make prince robot go after alana and marko, or hurry up getting it done. Another possibility is that gale and robot were lovers, and he was threatening to expose the whole thing. This would be a good reason why gale knows prince robots gay in the first place. This is all speculation at this point, but there are definately dots connecting here, I'm interested to see where this goes and hear all of your opinions on it.

I think the cover might be prince robots first glimpse of what actual love looks like. Realizing that even though he hates alana and marko for what they stand for, that he's secretly envious of them for following their hearts rather than what their society's tell them to do. He of course, realizes this while making love to his wife that he feels nothing for. This doesn't have to be a major realization, but rather a slow brooding and jealousy that builds over time. In his repressed reality, it would only make prince robot hate alana and marko even more.

Itsjustryan, I wasnt sure I agreed with you until I noticed that prince robot was naked on the cover and thats a bedsheet behind him. I think you're right. I also looked closer and realized thats alana and marko on his screen kissing. Interesting.

"Great posts -- hope you stick around." Thanks, man, I definately will. You guys are great.

Quote: "The story keeps getting better but now I can't wait for #9 and a potential Death vs Ranger Any thoughts on how this might go down, given at the moment their goals seem to align? Warning, Spoiler: Both are after The Chosen. Possibly The Ranger ends up targeting Death's child to get to The Chosen? is the only thing I can think of?" Well, if we look at the points of connection between the ranger and death, we're left with a few options. 1. The ranger somehow uses deaths son to get at the chosen, who've had him imprisoned for some time now. 2. Chamberlain saved the rangers , who says he owes chamberlain and he'll kill him last. Deaths rounding the country killing members of the chosen for taking his child. Even though chamberlain betrayed the chosen, he previously helped them take deaths child. Death goes after chamberlain, ranger owes him one so he defends him. (This seems the most likely choice to me) 3. The ranger goes after deaths wife, because she is now the heir to the house of mao. All politicians are corrupt in the rangers eyes, so he tries to kill deaths wife, and the showdown ensues.

I read that too, but I thought he was talking about the volunteer medic with the mouse face from the same scene with prince robot IV.

Frank was always ahead of his time. All joking aside, love vs. duty is going to be a strong theme that will run throughout this entire series. My prediction, while majorly early and pure speculation, is hazel is going to grow up to be a great leader. (Genetically half of each side of the galactic conflict) that will bring this war to an end. She represents overcoming the generations of hatred symbolically, but also, I think, will grow up to play a major role in ending the conflict thats chased her family all over the galaxy. Just listening to the tone of her narration, she's telling the story of how she was born/raised in the midst of this conflict from some point in the future. She's re-telling her past, Which leads us to the question, who's she telling the story to?

Oh, thats right. C3PO.

Which leads us to the existential question... Can robots be gay?

I think vaughan will reveal that prince robot IV is gay. Between the scene with him not having much interest in having sex with his wife, to the almost subliminal homosexual images that flash across his screen occasionally, its seems pretty clear to me. Vaughan is trying to contrast the themes of love and duty. Alana and marko go against everything their cultures have told them for generations and follow love alone. While prince robot is married to a woman that he has no attraction to purely because of societal duty. He's in a position of power, and would do anything to keep that power, even if it means living a lie. (Not to get into politics here, but it seems to me like vaughans critique of all the closeted gay senators, televangelists, and CEO's that have littered the news over the past several years. People not feeling like they can be themselves due to society's expectations, people who would rather live a lie than lose a position of power.)

Well put.

I guess I dont see why anyone would want to go from a signed book to an unsigned one (I suppose it's all opinion). Particularly on a series like this where the covers all have a perfectly blank white space just screamin for a signature.

Theres still more blue label rrp's than yellow right now. Theres 26 blue labels listed on the census to only 18 yellow. Even after the influx of yellow label rrp's that are sure to follow NYCC, its not like there's going to be a drastic difference in number, the fact also remains that it's more difficult to obtain a signed and cgc witnessed copy than it is to simply send an rrp into cgc yourself.

You're a champ, sir. I'll paypal you the $ for jonathans signing fee's this afternoon.

I thought about making you an offer on it, but I just sent 4 raw copy's out to nycc to be signed and slabbed. Out of curiosity, how much are you putting it up for on ebay?

Also, the extensive ink stains on many of the copies of the rrp's should limit the number of 9.8's further. This could be a very limited book, even 50 ink stained copy's from the print run would put it at half the available 9.8's that the saga rrp had. Factor in shipping damaged copy's due to this rrp being mailed out rather than given out at a show, and we're looking at one rare book here people. BeerThirty, my books will be arriving at your work today, I cant stress how awesome you are for bringing them to NyCC for me. You are, of course, the man. Its very appreciated.

I also believe this book is going to explode overvthe next 6 months. We saw saga do a similar thing, start off strong, but really blow up around issue 7 after the trade was released. This is the kind of series that after people read the first trade, they wont be patient enough to wait for the second one, and will be floppy buyers.

Have there been any hard numbers given on the Ghost and Forbidden Planet Variants? What Ive been told was a 5000 print run on the ghost variant, and a 1000 print run on forbidden planet. As far as speculating goes, these two or the rrp are your best bet. Plus, I like their covers more than those on the monthly issues so far.

And if you're so secretive about your costs, why post about it on a public forum?

Im 32. I collected in the late 80's through the 90's, then put it aside when I was in high school. Picked it back up in 2006 (thanks to neil gaimans sandman) and have been in deeper than I ever was as a kid. Trades, hardcovers, cgc graded books, custom binding floppies into hardcovers... Im addicted to graphic fiction.

Keep. They're not at the high point that they were 6 months ago, but once this book has 25 or so issues under its belt, rrp's are going to be worth their weight in gold. Saga is actually gaining readers, not many series can actually claim that.