kapow! steampunk edition
DESCRIPTION
Kapow! the metahuman fanzine returns with its steampunk themed issue!TRANSCRIPT
Editor-In-Chief: Peter Matthews
Assistant Editor: Maxwell Davidson
Assistant Editor: Joy Kent
Advertising Director: Peter Higgs
Marketing Director: Hannah Kent
Contributing Writers:
Rebecca Brooke, Nanny Flambeau,
Christina Frost, Janie Kane,
Alexander Irons, Archibald McCreery,
Sara Saxon, Fred Sutter, Jared West.
Chief Photographer: Sara Saxon
Contributing Photographers:
Vic O‟Brien, Lisa Walters.
Contributing Designers:
Kelly Orton, Mary Hansen, Ronald
Becktree.
www.KapowMagazine.com
Unit 92
Justice Row
Kings Row
Paragon City
Tel: 763-9203
E-Mail: [email protected]
Our covergirl Trinket talks about herself
and the role of steampunk today
We take an exclusive look inside of the
steampunk spaceship, The Rustbucket.
An interview with a young timetraveller
Steampunk inspired words and phrases.
A look at our favourite steampunk villain
An interesting overview of Steampunk
Space Pirate Thingamewhatzit
A selection of photos from the Steampunk
party hosted in pocket D.
The Steampunk Space Pirate‟s cook shares
a page from her cookbook,
This issue‟s quiz; discover if steampunk is
your punk style!
Unique advice from our Agony Uncle
Archibald McCreery
The best and worst of Architect
Entertainment reviewed.
ell here it is, the long
anticipated new look Kapow!
We launched the first glossy
issue of our magazine back
in February 2010 off the
back of our internet fanzine.
We had hoped to hark back
to the days of the original
Kapow which was printed
back in the 50s. Reception
of the magazine was far
better than we‟d first hoped
and we were soon eager to
put out more issues.
The biggest problem we had
was comparing ourselves to
other magazines sat on the
shelves. We are a self-
funded fanzine and next to
the glossy international
publications we started to
worry we wouldn‟t draw in
new readers due to looking
unprofessional in
comparison. The fan base on
our forums were a great
support to us at this time,
offering us both praise and
constructive criticism.
Initially we‟d wanted to
make changes right away
but the reality of a change
of style quickly hit us hard.
The costs of designers and
new editing software was
daunting and we had to
admit we‟d have to keep
ideas for a revamp on the
fsdfs
ideas for the revamp on the
office‟s „Brainstorming
Board™‟ and continue as we
were.
Over the months we‟ve
scraped together the people,
knowledge and equipment to
change the look of our
magazine and we‟ve had a
lot of fun with it.
In addition to the new look
we‟ve changed the way we
run things as well. Back in
February of last year and
again in January of this year
we published issues devoted
to particular themes;
Valentines and Gladiators
specifically. These issues
received better feedback
than issues detailing general
metanews.
So we decided that all future
issues will have a theme to
them. That‟s not to say we
won‟t keep in some other
articles not on the issues
theme! If a story has had a
big impact or there‟s a piece
of gossip that needs sharing
it will be in the mag!
With this issue we bring the
devoted theme born of a
trend we‟ve noticed
increasing in popularity in
the metahuman community
of
of late. Be it windup
devices, clunky machines
blowing out buckets of
steam or just a touch of
Victoriana in clothing
styles, the Steampunk
trend has hit, and hit hard!
In this issue we‟ll be
looking at what this style
is all about and what we
can expect from the
metahumans who are
choosing to adopt it. We‟ll
also be getting to know
more about those that
have been steamtech for
years.
In closing I just want to
say a big thank you to our
ever faithful fans who
always keep our
enthusiasm up even when
the stress of getting things
to print in time becomes a
burden. I‟ve said it before
and I‟ll say it again;
Without you guys there
wouldn’t even be a
Kapow!
Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief
Short days after our photographer Sara Saxon visited the Steampunk Space Pirates‟ ship, The Rustbucket,
(see Pages 8- 11) we received a visitor to the Kapow! offices. The ship‟s cat(girl), „Quirky‟, arrived with a
brown bag slung over a shoulder. The contents of the bag was one book entitled „Clockwork Lexicon‟, a
handwritten word and phrase book usually locked with a small brass device but it had been left open. We
copied down a few we liked and thought had a chance of cropping up with the use of rich and rare words
being flaunted about in tandem with the steampunk boom.
absquatulate
[ab-skwoch-uh-leyt]
to flee; abscond; The old
prospector absquatulated with our
picks and shovel.
amphigorpy
[am-fi-gawr-ee]
a meaningless or nonsensical
piece of writing, especially one
intended as a parody.
antediluvian
[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]
1. of or belonging to the period
before the Flood. Gen. 7, 8.
2. very old, old-fashioned, or out
of date; antiquated; primitive;
antediluvian ideas.
anxiolytic
[ang-zee-uh-lit-ik]
1. anxiety relieving.
2. antianxiety drug.
canaille
[kuh-neyl]
Riffraff; rabble
circumlocution
[sur-kuhm-loh-kyoo-shuhn]
1. a roundabout or indirect way of
speaking; the use of more words
than necessary to express an
idea.
2. a roundabout expression.
cullion
[kuhl-yuhn]
a base or vile fellow.
culm
[kuhlm]
1. coal dust; slack.
2. anthracite, especially of inferior
grade.
culmiferous
[kuhl-mif-er-uhs]
having or producing culms.
.
equivocation
[ih-kwiv-uh-key-shuhn]
1. the use of equivocal or
ambiguous expressions, especially
in order to mislead or hedge;
prevarication.
2. an equivocal, ambiguous
expression; equivoque: The
speech was marked by elaborate
equivocations.
3. Logic. a fallacy caused by the
double meaning of a word.
gimcrack
[jim-krak]
1. a showy, useless trifle;
gewgaw
2. showy but useless
guttersnipe
[guht-er-snahyp]
1. a person belonging to
characteristic of the lowest social
group in a city.
2. a street urchin.
halcyon
[hal-see-uhn]
1. calm; peaceful; tranquil:
halcyon weather.
2. rich; wealthy; prosperous:
halcyon times of peace.
3. happy; joyful; carefree:
halcyon days of youth.
harridan
[hahr-i-dn]
a scolding, vicious woman; hag;
shrew.
impecunious
[im-pi-kyoo-nee-uhs]
having little or no money;
penniless; poor.
kiyoodle
[kahy-yood-l]
a worthless dog; mongrel.
limacine
[lim-uh-sahyn]
pertaining to or resembling a
slug; sluglike.
magniloquent
[mag-nil-uh-kwuhnt]
Speaking or expressed in a lofty
or grandiose style; pompous;
bombastic; boastful.
obnubilate
[ob-noo-buh-leyt]
to cloud over; becloud; obscure.
oligophrenia
[ol-i-goh-free-nee-uh]
less than normal mental
development.
ornithopter
[awr-nuh-thop-ter]
a heavier-than-air craft designed
to be propelled through the air
by flapping wings.
Pyrrhonism
[pir-uh-niz-uhm]
1. the Skeptic doctrines of
Pyrrho and his followers.
2. extreme or absolute
scepticism.
And a Few Phrases:
To steal:
“To obtain by means of questionable legality.”
“To tactically acquire.”
“To obscond away with in a quiet and oh so unobserved manner”
Luck:
“A Fortuitous Combination of Circumstances”
sciolism
[sahy-uh-liz-uhm]
superficial knowledge.
sferics
[sfeer-ik]
1. (used with a singular verb)
electronic equipment for
determining the position of
storms by locating their
accompanying atmospherics.
2. (used with a plural verb) the
atmospheric discharges located
by this device.
ubiquitous
[yoo-bikwi-tuhs]
existing or being everywhere,
especially at the same time;
omnipresent: ubiquitous fog;
ubiquitous little ants.
Quirky absquatulated with the
Lexicon when we looked away.
The Midnighter Club is
rumoured to hold antediluvian
knowledges in its halls.
War Witch enjoys a halcyon day in Croatoa
The vessel belonging to the Steampunk Space Pirates,
The Rustbucket, has become well-known in Paragon. It‟s
a marvel of bolted together pieces that defies all logic by
taking flight and enjoying journeys through time and
space. When the offer of a tour of the ship was offered
to Kapow! we were all thrilled despite worries over
exactly what kinds of shenanigans were commonplace
within the metallic walls.
Despite a good degree of nerves I met the captain of the
ship, Captain Boarder, in Boomtown where his vessel
was parked for the day. After some time politely
declining his flirtatious advances I was whisked away
onto the ship and treated to my first look at the vessel‟s
interior.
The first thing that struck me was the noise, the whir of
the machinery in the engine rooms, the clunks and clicks
of something further into the ship and the ruckus of loud
and cheerful voices of the crew both at work and at
play. As I walked alongside the captain I took in the
rust-coloured walls and the vast number of vents,
switches and levers, it took a good deal of self-restraint
not to want to pull a few levers!
Boarder directed my attention towards the main engines
and the „Temporal Flux Control‟ the setup that allows the
ship to travel safely through time. The dashing captain
Temporal Flux Control
Main Engines
Thingame’s “Bed”
Robot Recharging Station
told several tales from
throughout the ages that
wouldn‟t have been possible if it
weren‟t for the Temporal Flux
Control before we moved on.
Passing the laboratories I had the
privilege of seeing a few of the
crew‟s science officers at work.
Precisely what was being worked
on I really couldn‟t tell but there
was a good deal of „discussion‟
over what to do next with an
artfully arranged pile of scrap
metal and smaller devices.
Without warning one of the crew
threw a lever channelling a
dancing electrical spark through
their creation, causing it to whir
and provoking a mixture of
merriment and arguments
amongst the others in the lab.
(For an overview of the robotic
pirate that was created and gets
all of his upgrades here,
Thingamewhatzit, turn to Page
26)
Next we moved on to the
rustbuckets
„bucket‟s medical department was
where I was shown an array of
equipment, each with a more
baffling name and purpose than
the last. Whilst I couldn‟t entirely
follow what I was being shown, I
was assured that the equipment
had saved the lives of the crew
on more than one occasion.
From the med bay I was escorted
to the front of the ship and
nothing could have prepared me
for what I saw. At the fore of the
ship is the helm and the weapons
systems. First we climbed up to
look at the weapons array.
Treated to a comfortable seat in
front of a blaster turret I looked
out of the windows over
Boomtown and imagined what it
would be like to see the stars
through the thick glass.
Again I found myself overcome
with temptation, the buttons and
controls laid out in front of me
called to me. I (just) resisted the
urge to shoot the weapon at a
pile of scrap and hopped up,
ready
ready to continue my tour.
The captain next led me to the
helm, the real front of the entire
ship. Through the large windows
I looked out over the view again
and wondered what the flight
deck would be like when the
Rustbucket was in flight. In front
of the main windows sat three
control desks, one with the main
ship‟s wheel where the captain or
the main pilot would sit and two
more for navigation or support
crew.
Again, Boarder was quick to tell
more tales of his ship and his
crew, of all the sights that had
been viewed from the helm‟s
windows. Some of his
descriptions defied reality and
when he invited me to travel with
him to see them one day I found
myself tempted!
After seeing where the crew work
I was keen to get a glimpse of
where the crew live and relax. A
short walk from the front of the
cr
Walkway past the crew quarters
Ships Wheel & Command Console ship are the crews‟ quarters. As on many ships
throughout the world a lot of the quarters were
arranged into closely packed bunks though
some rooms allowed a little more space,
obviously an incentive for the crew to keep up
good performances onboard. I was even
offered a brief glance into some of the officers‟
rooms, suites with even more space and more
comfortable looking beds.
From there we moved on to the captain‟s
quarters and I must say it appears to pay off to
be the man in charge! Boarder‟s suite
possesses a private bathroom, study and living
room and in his bed chambers an impressive
four-poster. Again the captain‟s flirtatious
nature shone through and I had to politely
decline his advances.
Keen to move on I asked to see where the crew
relax between shifts and the captain kindly
obliged. We next visited the mess hall, realm of
the remarkable ship‟s cook Nanny Flambeau
(Nanny shares one of her recipes on Page38).
In addition to the mismatched chairs of the
crew I yet again got to see the perks of being
in charge by seeing the grand captain‟s table.
Lastly we moved on to the place where the
crew spends most of its time off, the main bar.
With beer on tap and grog aplenty I whiled
away the rest of my visit in the good company
of a handful of the crew, sharing (increasingly
grandiose) tales and a lot of merriment.
Ships Weapons
Part of the Rustbucket’s extensive Laboratories
Crews Quarters
The Main Bar
The Captain’s Quarters
Professional and Affordable Capture or Extermination of Monstrous and Arcane Threats.
An Established and Trusted Company, Now Working Worldwide.
Consultations are Free. Don’t Hesitate to Contact Us for a Quote.
Further Information on our Previous Work can be found on Our Website.
One hero that has been seen out and about in
Paragon sporting a look reminiscent of the
Steampunk style for a while now is the young hero
Tom Orrow. Tom is striving to prove himself and
establish his name within the City. We met up with
him in the neighbourhood he knows best in Kings
Row to get to know him a little better.
Words by Alexander Irons
Photography by Sara Saxon
When he‟s in his casual clothes
Tom could easily be taken for
your average teen, sporting a
bright Freedom Phalanx fan t-
shirt and working hard on his
car. Despite clearly loving his
vehicle he was easily pulled
away from fiddling with the
engine to talk to us. Tom
“Orrow” Orovski was relaxed
and very approachable, he was
open and honest about his
past, and our future.
“You see.. I am a time-
traveller. A real one... In 2372 I
did this science project at
school you see. I wanted to
make a portable version of a
spacetime distorter or a time-
machine.” He told us.
“Ha... I was influenced by all
those stories of super-heroes
from the past. Legendary stuff
of holo-movies etc.
So.. that worked.. and failed.
The jump
spacetime distorter or a time-
machine.” He informed us.
“Ha... I was influenced by all
those stories of super-heroes
from the past. Legendary stuff of
holo-movies etc.
So.. that worked.. and failed. The
jump started at first test. But
some core-circuits got damaged.
And now I am stuck here.”
Despite being clearly saddened at
being stranded the young man
held himself strongly as he
recounted the traumatic
experience of his arrival in our
time.
“I got hit by a car when I arrived,
I guess the road I ended up on
was on the place my house would
come to be built. They brought
me to one of these meatcleaving
hospitals... No DNA reordening..
no nano tech! I thought I was
going to die or something.”
Even though our tech was not as
advanced as what he had grown
up with the processes the
medical facility, The Hyperion
Clinic, used to heal Tom‟s injuries
were gratefully received by the
young man once he had gotten
over his initial shock. Through the
clinic he was first introduced to
the heroic group The Militia who
he has helped on occasion.
When he first arrived he
attempted to get home by
remaking the damaged part of his
device, but he has had problems.
“Recently I also made a bigger
system to try and reproduce my
missing navigational circuit. The
navigational system this size
need a molecular circuit though,
it‟s a part that is easy to get... in
225 years when it is invented.
You see my problem?
I tried to remake it a bit bigger
and I managed to travel through
time.. but could pinpoint the
place. It took me a month to at
least bring me back to point of
origin!”
time.. but could pinpoint the
place. It took me a month to at
least bring me back to point of
origin!”
His difficulties haven‟t stopped
him working on the technology
however and in the meantime he
uses the „side effects‟ of the
spacetime distorter to fight
crime.
“Now that I cannot pinpoint the
exact time and coordinates to
return home I adapted the
system on a lot of its secondary
functions needed for the time-
jumps. Wormholes, Deflector
shields, Gravitational time
dilation, Gravitational mass
manipulation, Anti-gravity...
those are all effects possible with
the portable distorter!”
He went on to explain that in
addition to the device he also has
psychic potential he hopes to
develop one day.
“I did actually enlisted in school
for Psionic mastery class. It
involved a DNA change to
enhance my psi abilities. But I
am crappy with it and I am still
looking for people here who can
teach me to develop it. Ehh.. this
accident broke off my study.”
Alongside his looking for a
mentor he works repairing cars in
addition to heroing. We spoke to
him about his motivations for
being a hero and the reasoning
seemed to be threefold, of course
he wanted to help people but
there were other factors.
“I like old fashioned 2D shows..
And I love the heroes of this age”
He wanted to be like the heroes
from history he‟d been a fan of
growing up, the heroes who‟s
deeds had stood the test of time,
which brought him to his other
reason.
“So what do I do to make them
able to find me... I get myself in
the papers. Heroic deeds help.
Maybe my dad finds me in there and
Have you had an experience similar to Tom’s? Are you an out of place traveller from a possible past or
future? If so the registered Paragon-based charity The Association of the Temporally Misplaced (or ATM for
short) nay be of interest to you. Offering both support to the temporally misplaced and accepting those
from another time who have settled in this time period to act as mentors to the lost.
For more information visit the website: http://www.atm.org
able to find me... I get myself in
the papers. Heroic deeds help.
Maybe my dad finds me in there
and then knows where to come
get me”
After some discussion on his
heroing work and hopes of
getting home we got onto the
subject of the outfit he wears
most often whilst performing
heroic deeds. We pointed out how
it was very steampunk it was and
asked if it was purposeful.
“Ah.. yes.. after people called me
Steampunk I checked what it
meant. It must be the homemade
stuff. This system is unfinished
metal and still a clunky design.
And the time-travel effect...
well... that made some think of
Jules Verne I guess. I have no
link to any Victorian age though.
I love what scientists can do with
the sometimes ancient tech
available though. It looks
awesome... Reminds me of my
kiddy kits when I grew up.”
Reminds me of my kiddy kits
when I grew up.”
When asked about the rise in
steampunk style he simply
replied:
“Beats me! Fashion? That is
something I never understood.”
He gave a down to earth grin,
and despite his being able to do
amazing things we found
ourselves relaxed in his company.
Discussion soon broke down into
amicable small talk for the
duration of the interview, but
before we left we asked if there
was anything he‟d like to say to
the Kapow readership and he
responded with conviction.
“Even if you are out of time,
lost your family and everyone
you care about and need to
start a new life... never forget
who you are and what you
stand for. Keep your style!”
Pick a design for your
contraption; Refined and
Small or Big and
Stompy.
Why do you do
what you do? For
Queen and
Country or All for
Yourself?
When working, how
do you perform
best; Alongside
Others or On Your
Own?
How do you prefer
to hear your music;
At the Theatre or
On the Radio?
What is more
important to you;
Being Polite or
Bending the
Rules?
You need to
decorate and invest
in a piece of art, do
you pick a Painting
or Sculpture?
Your contraption is
faltering a little, is it
Spouting Steam or
Leaking Oil?
It‟s time to use a
handheld shooter,
does yours Shoot
Bullets or Fire
Rays?
How do you start
the contraption
you‟re working on?
Turn a Key or
Throw the Lever!
Your contraption
has failed, do you
Take Time to
Mend It or Bodge
It?
Choose a type of
metal to craft your
contraption from:
Brass or Steel.
Add an addition to
your outfit; A
Military Jacket or
Body Armour.
Time for tea! Would
you like yours in a Fine
China Cup or in a Steel
Mug?
You’re making some
modifications, are they
to Your Vehicle or
Your Body?
Are your clothes
mostly coloured
Black or
Camouflage?
Your Style
is A! See
Page 18 for more!
Your Style
is B! See
Page 18 for more!
Your Style
is C! See
Page 19 for more!
Your Style
is D! See
Page 19 for more!
With the growing popularity of Steampunk several other
styles have also started to surface more. From
subgenres of Steampunk to similar Punk styles. You
may be unsure which is a style for you. So we‟ve picked
four of these styles and have put together a quiz to see
w which one would suit you best. Just follow the lines that correspond to the colour of your choice!
START:
Style A is „Victorian Steampunk‟. This style is inspired by Victoriana, the fashions
popular in 19th Century Britain, particularly the styles worn by the Upper Class.
The major difference being the sci-fi leanings of the genre allowing for armour
and devices. The main metals used in this style are usually tarnished, earthy
tones tones such as brass and copper. Contraptions of the Victorian
Steampunk style are driven by steam power or more often
clockwork.
T Victorian Steampunk favours smaller sleeker designs,
things that would conform well to the Queen‟s sensibilities.
As such this style is far more polite and refined than its
stylistic cousin; „Classic Steampunk‟
Another noteworthy theme of Victorian Steampunk is the
allowance for more modern social norms for women.
Whilst women are still be expected to be lady-like this
style allows for things that would be scandalous in the
Victorian age, such as wearing trousers
Style B is „Classic Steampunk‟. Whilst this style has its roots in Victorian aesthetics aesthetics it doesn‟t draw on Upper Class sensibilities. Instead Classic Steampunk is a
practical style. The contraptions born of this style are often bigger and clunkier than those
of the „Victorian Steampunk‟ style but are also made of earthy metals such as copper and
br brass. They are also often cobbled together, parts
bolted on as additions are made to the devices.
Stylistically clothes of this style borrow from both
Upper and Lower Classes of Victorian culture.
Classic Steampunk has a real „Make do and mend‟
men mentality and is very down to earth, someone who
follows this style is likely to „hit it with a spanner‟ if they
believe it has an outside chance of helping something.
This style is big, bulky, spouts steam and is in your face.
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Style C is „Dieselpunk‟. Whilst Steampunk is based on Victorian stylings Dieselpunk
d draws is roots in the interbellum period (the time between WWI and WWII) through the
second World War. This retrofuturistic style is reminiscent of what World War Two would
be have been like if it had had more sci-fi leanings.
This style mixes military uniforms, in particular equipment and
paraphernalia paraphernalia associated with aviation. Inspired by the war there is a
focus on dog fights, zeppelins and astounding underwater vehicles.
Inspirations for this style include things prevalent in the era;
pulp magazines, serial films, film noir, art deco and wartime
pinups.
Contraptions in this style are likely made of steel and have
the sleek lines associated with art deco.
Style D is „CyberPunk‟. Whilst the other punk styles focus on retro-futurism, Cyberpunk
focuses on a possible near-future, but as opposed to sleek technology
and safe havens this style looks at the counterculture. Cyberpunk is
best surmised by „high tech and low life‟
This style is practical, designed for those living on the edge of a
dystopian society. Cybernetic enhancements, hacking equipment
and body armour are commonplace.
As well as drawing influence from technological possibilities in
the near future this style also takes inspiration from the punk
style, especially that popular in the 1980s.
Of the four styles we‟ve surmised here this style was the most
popular in current culture (until the current Steampunk boom)
being popular amongst certain goth circles.
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After some discussion in the Kapow! offices
we came to the conclusion that we simply
couldn‟t do a steampunk issue without
mentioning the „Prussian Prince of
Automatons‟ Lord Nemesis. His style, along
with the uniforms of his army perfectly
encapsulat
supervillain to retreat.
Following the event police forces became
more cooperative towards masked crime-
fighters, which in turn lead to many
metahumans choosing to use their
powers more openly. This growing public
support eventually culminated in the
passage of the 1936 Citizen Crime
fighting Act.
Even though Lord Nemesis had retreated
from his fight with Statesman his web of
influence within the United States still
hadn‟t been entirely untangled. His work
over the previous decades continued as
he patiently plotted, still secretly
controlling much of America‟s arms and
war material manufacturing capability.
Throughout the Second World War
Nemesis, through his agents and
minions, had access to the latest military
equipment and vast sums of money.
With the advent of Victory in Europe Day
the Prussian Prince finally found his
moment to put his plans into action. In
the pre-dawn hours of the day after the
post-war celebrations Nemesis
assembled his horde of fanatic robot
followers within striking distance of
Washington D.C.
As the sun rose over Capitol Dome, it
brought flights of jet powered strike bots,
the arcs of rocket-rifle fire, and
devastating atom ray blasts. Nemesis
and his clockwork troops quickly overran
military and super powered protectors
alike.
President Truman only escaped thanks to
a well-placed hero with teleportation
powers. Nemesis now held most of
Congress and the entire Supreme
Court hostage. He staged an
elaborate ceremony on the Capitol
steps, and forced the Chief Justice to
swear him in as Emperor of the
Americas.
encapsulate the steam punk style.
Nemesis and his forces have
appeared often in the news
over the last decade facing off
against heroes and villains
alike. It’s often hard to imagine
a time he wasn’t a regular
threat to the people of America.
But how did he rise to this level
of power and influence?
Kapow! is here with a brief
history on notable events in his
c remarkable career.
Arguably Lord
Nemesis‟ most
well known
appearance was
on July 11th
1932, now more
commonly
referred to as
Brass „Brass Monday‟. Following
Statesman, Maiden Justice, The
Dark Watcher, Elementar and team
Vambrace uncovering a suspicious
web of influence through a
company called „Southern United‟
Nemesis swiftly dispatched
hundreds of steam-powered killing
machines onto the streets of Steel
Canyon. Such a showing of force
had not been seen since the time
of the Civil War.
Statesman worked alongside
local authorities to rally the
fight against the Prussian
Prince‟s forces. The
confrontation ended in
Statesman fighting Nemesis
himself and forcing the
super
Heroes came flooding back from
across the Atlantic to face this
unanticipated threat. By the time
the first heroes arrived, led by
Statesman and the Freedom
Phalanx, they found the situation
even more dire than they could
have imagined.
Nemesis had hidden nerve gas
bombs throughout the twenty
largest cities in America. With the
touch of a button he released the
deadly toxin, ensuring a painful
death to tens of millions if they
did not receive the antidote
within 24 hours.
What followed was the most
desperate hour America's heroes
had ever known. World famous
champions of freedom fought
deadly robots and atomic
armored shock troops in the
streets of our nation's capital.
Finally, the heroes faced down
the evil genius himself on the
steps of the Capital building.
simply occurred as a means of
distraction from his over-arcing
scheme.
Whispers in the metahuman
community say that amongst
his most recent plots Nemesis
played a large part in
orchestrating the Rikti War. It‟s
said that he openly
monologued, declaring his
motives in wanting the Rikti to
attack Primal Earth. Those who
know the way the Prussian
works however worry that he
had further reasons for his
actions that may surface in the
years to come.
Whether this is true or not it
can be certain that Lord
Nemesis is still out there,
gaining influence and
resources, through his loyal
automatons. We at Kapow! feel
certain that he is out there
preparing for another
opportune moment to turn his
steam-powered forces on us
once more.
Our sleep won‟t be too uneasy
however as both superhero and
supervillain alike would not
welcome the Prussian as their
Emperor and we have every
faith a metahuman or grouping
of metahumans will either
unearth his plot and stop it or
at the very least will be swift to
act against Nemesis when he
does show his hand.
Overall, Lord Nemesis is an
admirable figure, an intelligent
and patient man who will
always give his all to become a
true ruler and its these traits
that make him a truly terrifying
foe and constant threat.
steps of the Capital building.
Nemesis was ready for them,
unleashing his atom-ray upon
the assemblage, instantly killing
dozens of heroes. However, in
the chaos, Sister Psyche
managed to use her telepathic
powers to pick the location of
the antidote from Nemesis'
mind. The rest of the heroes fell
back before the metal clad
monster's onslaught.
Wounded but still mobile, Sister
Psyche escaped the scene of the
carnage and got word out to the
Army. Within hours, Dr.
Mnemonic had synthesized an
airborne version, and the air
force and flying heroes were
spreading it across the infected
cities.
Nemesis' poison was
neutralized, and Washington
was surrounded. Hundreds of
heroes converged on the capitol
and joined together for a second
march on Washington.
for a second march on
Washington. They fought
through the remainder of
Nemesis' forces and thought
they had defeated the evil
genius himself, only to find
that all they had captured
was a robot duplicate.
Nemesis had escaped once
again.
Although Nemesis lost, he
had done great damage
and, more significantly,
ushered in a new era for
super powered villains the
world over and in Paragon
City particularly.
Ever since his brief time as
Emperor of the Americas,
Lord Nemesis‟ presence has
often been felt though
sightings of the man himself
have been slim to none.
Many argue that all of the
plots seen conducted by the
Nemesis Army in the
previous decades have
simple
Written by Jared West.
Hello and welcome to my first „Epic Reviews‟ article. I‟m Bex, avid gamer and inventor. The introduction of
the Architect Entertainment Studios to Paragon City and the Etoile Isles has been a real step forward in
gaming. AE allows us all to create our own worlds, hypothetical situations and of course fun games. In addition
to creating our own stories we can play through the vast array of stories written by other AE users. The sheer
number of unique AE Story Arcs can be a little daunting however so I‟m here to help you get an insight into
the best (and worst!) the system has to offer. In this issue I‟ll be reviewing two arcs that exemplify the
steampunk theme.
Arc Overview: Something has
gone missing from your contact‟s
laboratory and he offers to fairly
compensate you for its retrieval.
Initial Contact: Nathaniel von
Graff is a gentleman-tinkerer. An
engineer-adventurer, dabbling in
the technologies of numerous
time periods. Seemingly out of
place and ahead of his time
simultaneously.
amphigorpy
[am-fi-gawr-ee]
a meaningless pr nonsensical piece of
writing, especially one intended as a
parody.
antediluvian
[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]
1. of or belonging to the period before the
Flood. Gen. 7, 8.
2. very old, old-fashioned, or out of date;
antiquated; primitive; antediluvian ideas.
anxiolytic [ang-zee-uh-lit-ik]
1. anxiety relieving.
2. antianxiety drug.
canaille
[kuh-neyl]
Riffraff; rabble
place and ahead of his time
simultaneously.
Difficulty: Variable. This arc
uses custom critters and really
relies on your difficulty settings
for guidance. I would however
advise that you don‟t turn your
mob sizes up too high due to
critter powers – those of you
familia arc doesn‟t rely on custom
critters to keep it afloat, instead
focusing on the
antediluvian
[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]
1. of or belonging to the period before the
Flood. Gen. 7, 8.
2. very old, old-fashioned, or out of date;
antiquated; primitive; antediluvian ideas.
anxiolytic [ang-zee-uh-lit-ik]
1. anxiety relieving.
2. antianxiety drug.
canaille [kuh-neyl]
Riffraff; rabble
The story isn‟t the most original
but is quite classical of the genre
and quite easy to lose yourself in
of you don‟t think too deeply on
specifics.
The Downside: The critters may
present a little too much of a
challenge to some people,
especially in great numbers.
The story has a few places where
it could be improved to add some
depth and ease the flow of the
missions but I shan‟t discuss
those ideas here (no spoilers
from me!)
Overall: I‟d recommend giving
this arc a go. Even if you don‟t
finish it the enemies and
Nathaniel make it well worth the
effort.
familiar with the multiple
glue arrows slow down will
understand me well on this
one! May not be great for
very low level players.
Gameplay: The two things
I loved most about this arc
are the designs of the
mobs you face and the
characterisation of NPCs
you meet. Nathaniel‟s
speech patterns are a joy,
giving a great impression
of what a steampunk
adventurer should be and
the critters are just
awesome, brass evil twirly
moustaches! What‟s not to
love?
back to basics and to
investigate a local
occurrence.
Steampunk eye-candy
Arc Overview: The Steampunk
Kingdom sees you playing the
role of a rookie hero asked to
investigate Clockwork activity.
Initial Contact: Sgt. Stevens is
your regular PPD man but
though he‟s not dripping in
personality he gets right to the
point as a contact would for a
hero.
Difficulty: This arc doesn‟t rely
on custom critters to keep it
afloat, instead focusing on the
classic enemy of the clockwork.
As such it‟s a good game to play
for beginners and veterans
alike. More experienced gamers
may want to dial their difficulty
settings up a bit.
Gameplay: Want to know what
it‟s like to be a newbie hero? Or
maybe want to reminisce over
what things were like in the
early days of your hero career?
This is a great arc for you.
Amongst the dirth of „Save the
World‟ arcs it‟s refreshing to get
back to basics and to investigate
a local occurrence.
The map choices are short and
sweet without being
disappointingly small and the
objectives are clearly defined
and all fit well with the
overarcing story.
Throughout the missions there‟s
a sprinkling of humour that
causes a smile or two but
doesn‟t detract from the overall
serious feel of the story, it just
adds to the depth of the arc.
At four short missions in length
the arc develops well and
doesn‟t get too bogged down in
complex mechanics.
The Downside: As with a lot of
AE content there‟s the odd typo
here and there but nothing too
jarring. I‟d also suggest that
Sgt. Stevens could be a little
more talkative.
The level cap of the arc is 20 so
people who are attached to
higher level skills and abilities
may not enjoy the missions as
much as I did.
Overall: This is a fun little arc
that should appeal to a lot of
people that‟s easily open to
group or solo play. As well as
being an amusing game I‟d
potentially recommend it as a
training sim for up and coming
heroes to get a feel for what
lies ahead of them. It‟s also a
fantastic option for gaining
experience for those level ones
who are fresh to the Architect
System.
Replayable, simple, fun!
Profile Thingamewhatzit
Real Name: TMWD-A1 v51146 Resource
extraction and refining droid.
Processing system: Pneumatic/Hydraulic Nano-valve
network makes the model A1 resistant to EMP and
scrambling systems targeting electronics.
Operating System: Modified Mining program compromised
by virus. Primary nature of modification expansion of
resource, contaminant and equipment table.
Chassis: Robust mining chassis was left unmodified.
Resultant lack of shielding means that the power plant puts
out dangerous levels of energy at full combat power, the
stresses induced from the extra steam pressure mean the
chassis is vulnerable to compromise when hit by a large
enough physical force.
Power Plant: Modified banks of micro-steam
turbines provide twice the original output roughly
20MW/hr. Ultra efficient intakes gather water from
the atmosphere where it runs through a series of
micro and nano condensers. Combustibles are
gathered by the Q.R.E. System. Original boost was
provided by simply adding an additional generator to
his back, this was unfortunately far too unstable
even for the good doctor.
Motivation: Resource extraction and Adventure.
Wenching Status: Courting
Hands contain Quantum Resource Extractors used
for the extraction and refining of resources also used
for quantum tunnelling to arrive at resource sites.
Secondary usage includes refuelling of the model A1.
Shovel-matron 4000: Original extraction tool, used
to move Q.R.E. output to a suitable receptacle, also
used to extract raw form juice products organic
resources.
Pick-matron 4000: Extraction tool, used to break
up resources that don't respond well to the Q.R.E.
Process.
Rikti 9000+: Extraction tool combines the
capabilities of the Shovel-matron and Pick-matron
and raises them to higher levels of efficiency due to
an energy state cutting edge.
Boarding Axe: Weapon insisted on by the Captain
to assist in boarding actions.
Optic units, contain lens systems to allow incoming
light to be focused and redirected into a “Death Ray”.
Thingame and his wench, Victoria
Originally from a potential
future, super heroine and
this issue‟s covergirl Trinket
„Chronological‟ Carter is well
known for her use of
steampunk stylistic choices
and gadgetry.
During her cover shoot
Trinket spoke at length on
the subject of the use of
steampunk in the modern
age.
Many criticise the use of
„outdated‟ technology in the
present day but there are
many people who still use
designs based in older
technologies, Trinket helped
us understand why.
specifically to design for them.
Besides, by that point I‟d
registered for my heroing license
and was using my designs to help
the people of the city. Why „fix‟
what isn‟t broken?
K: Many critics state that by
using older techniques
steampunk creations will fall
behind more modern ones..
T: (Laughs) Yeah, you‟ll always
get naysayers, people who
assume their way is the only way
to do things right. If something‟s
getting results that‟s the main
point right?
The way I see it is that all
inventors are artists in their own
way, we all have techniques and
materials we‟re most comfortable
with. Sure I can, and have,
studied the use of different
metals, power sources, adaptions
and methods and I integrate
them into what I do but if I
changed my style I‟d be playing
catch up to others who work in
that style for quite some time.
I‟m also a firm believer in
individuality, it helps foster
creativity which is at the forefront
of all great invention. There are
so many things we wouldn‟t have
today if it weren‟t for someone
thinking out of the box.
K: There are many arguments for
modern technology over
retrotech, do you have any
counterarguments?
T: Lots! Far too many to detail
them all right now. I don‟t want
to bore you or overburden you
with babble, that really wouldn‟t
be cool. So I‟ll stick with a few
basics!
Upkeep and repair is a biggy, if
your design is sleek and parts
tinymade do creating and selling
devices I made from scrap. I was
a scavenger so of course my
designs leant themselves to the
rusty, cobbled together aesthetic.
those colonists, making do with
scrap to repair their machines
and vehicles that the steampunk
style came to be.
K: So what brought you to our
time period?
T: That‟s... a story for another
time I think, it‟s a long and very
personal one. What I can say
however was that it was a device
of my own invention that got me
here. I needed to get away and I
cobbled it together in my free
time. I had hoped to jump to a
parallel universe not too different
from the one I was in, but in the
end I was hurried and ended up
here.
It‟s why I call where I‟m from a
potential future, I have no way of
knowing if I flung myself into my
past or the past of a parallel. As I
plan not to return I guess it
doesn‟t especially matter though.
K: So why did you continue using
devices in the steampunk style?
T: Well, to begin with I was
scared and alone when I got
here. I was only sixteen and I
was worried that whoever found
me would try to send me back to
the place and time I‟d escaped
from, so I ran.
I was in hiding for a while and
made do creating and selling
devices I made from scrap. I was
a scavenger so of course my
designs leant themselves to the
rusty, cobbled together aesthetic.
K: As you earnt more money did
you consider making your
designs sleeker?
T: Sure, I considered it, but by
that point I‟d grown attached to a
style I thought of as my
signature. And beyond that
people who like the steampunk
look started seeking me out
specifica
I was in hiding for a while and
made do creating and selling
Kapow: Can you tell us a little bit
about yourself to get the ball
rolling?
Trinket: Sure! I guess the biggest
thing is that I‟m not from this
time period, I‟m from a potential
future, the same potential as
Captain Boarder and his crew in
fact!
K: Both you and the crew of the
Rustbucket use steampunk
technology, is it the prevalent
choice in your time?
T: Actually, no. The future I‟m
from has the haves and the have-
nots when it comes to
technological advancement. The
rich and powerful have far
sleeker designs, very high-tech
and what most would think of
when you hear the term
„futuristic‟. That didn‟t stop the
poorer people of the universe
wanting to reach for the stars
however and inventive souls
started to pull together more
viable space vessels for the
common man.
In my time Earth has colonised a
lot of hospitable planets, it‟s from
th
matter where or when you‟re
from you‟ll always find those who
ask „What if..?‟. Whether it‟s first
discovering the fire or developing
a new quantum stabiliser for a
chrononauts vehicle the main
drive, the initial spark, is still the
same.
Prof Danger and I work together
well because we‟re both inventors
and we‟ve both had to adapt to
this time, she‟s a real mentor to
me and a good friend and
colleague to have.
K: Thank you for your time
Trinket, is there anything else
you‟d like to say to our
readership?
T: Oh, wow, yikes!
Talk about pressure, hah, you
don‟t make it easy do you?
I mean, sure, I would love to say
something here that would be
profound, words for the ages that
would be repeated long after I‟m
gone but I‟m not a writer. I‟m
just a girl out of her space and
time who was lucky enough to
manage to cobble a life together
in Paragon in this time period.
I was in hiding for a while and
made do creating and selling
devices I made from scrap. I was
K: You‟re looking for an
apprentice? Can our readers
contact you if they‟re interested?
T: Sure, why not? I‟m open to
possibilities and I want to find
someone who thinks in different
ways. So contacting me after
reading an article in a
metafanzine is as likely as any
other method of contacting me!
What I will say however is that I
work closely with one of the
leaders of The Foundry, Professor
Amelia Danger. The Prof is an
intelligent woman but is also a
timetraveller, she comes from
Victorian times however and as
such has different sensibilities to
most in modern Paragon City so
anyone wanting to work with me
would need to be able to be
sensible when the situation called
for it, be able to be polite and the
ability to make a good cup of tea
is a bonus!
K: You‟re from a future and she‟s
from the past. Doesn‟t that make
working together difficult?
T: You‟d think so, but it really
doesn‟t. An inquisitive mind is a
timeless quality. It doesn‟t matter
send me back to the place and
time I‟d escaped from, so I ran.
I was in hiding for a while and
tiny then finding a replacement in
the field is going to be near
impossible. Steampunk is all
about bodging things together,
bolting things on making repairs
on the fly. I‟d argue that
steampunk designs are far more
resilient in the hands of a trained
engineer or mechanic.
Another advantage that has come
up for me especially is the use of
my technology when heroing. As
well as helping people in this time
period I‟ve been going on
temporal adventures, righting
wrongs throughout the
timestreams. My steampunk
inventions are far far easier to
explain away in a greater number
of time periods than something
more modern looking. And again,
there‟s the repairs and upgrades
issue, I‟d never get a good
plasma coil a century ago, scraps
of metal however are easier to
pick up!
K: Would you advise future
inventors to create things in a
similar style to your inventions?
T: I really wouldn‟t. I‟m happy to
take on an apprentice to teach
the things I know, I‟m looking for
one now in fact, but! And this is a
big but! I stick by what I said
earlier.
Invention is just that, inventive! I
would never tell a creator the
way things should be done, it‟s
their decision to make. Sure, give
a trainee sculptor the clay, the
tools, lessons in some techniques
but let them achieve the end
product themselves with time,
practice and their own creativity.
Sure, that probably sounds a
little wishy-washy for a tech head
but that‟s just the way I am. I‟m
opinionated and stick by my
opinions, its how I‟ve gotten as
far as I have in my careers as a
hero and inventor.
That said I do have a few things to share
beyond what I‟ve said so far;
Reach for the stars, nothing is out of reach,
you just need to find the right tools and skills
to get you there.
You’re not alone, no matter what happens,
no matter how alienated you feel you are there
are others out there who are just as lonely and
there are people who will love you for or
despite the things you think of as flaws.
Never force your opinions onto others, if
you want others to respect you show them
respect first, talk openly. Debate, don‟t argue.
...if anyone ever asks you to say a few words
for a magazine article remember clichéd
phrases are cool and never go out of style!
Besides if you can touch just one person with
your words, no matter how hackneyed they
are, then you‟ve done something worthwhile!
Words by: Janie Kane
Photography by: Vic O’Brien
You’re not alone
Every year countless people throughout the world are affected by blossoming metahuman
powers, be it their own or those of a loved one. The Foundry is a registered charity
operating out of Talos Island, Paragon City offering help and support for people struggling
to understand all forms of metahuman abilities. We operate anonymous phone support and
a drop in service for people wanting or needing help with powers. Don’t suffer alone,
contact The Foundry today.
The Foundry
Talos Island, Paragon City
(800) 763-1903 | www.TheFoundry.org
Your unregular advice column from self-proclaimed expert, Magus-Colonel Archibald
William Stephen McCreery.
Dear Archie,
How do I tell my undead
boyfriend that I'm pregnant?
Signed, Babymaker in
Brickstown
Ho there, lass! The answer is
simple: Don't! As I learned to my
cost in Nepal, such offspring are
invariably the infernal spawn of
dark and apocalyptic forces bent
on the ruin of humanity! Alas, my
vampiric wife did warn me shortly
before she was consumed from
within by the the devilish little
tyke. But I was young and foolish
(though still as dashing as I am
now, I assure you), and I thought
the bond between a Father and
Son could transcend dimensional
wards and the will of the Old
Ones. Turns out not!
Do the right thing and throw
yourself from a bridge or tall
building right away!
Dear Archibald,
In your opinion, what is the
co
correct procedure for
tremuffling a drunging
serapin?
Yours, Doctor Adventure
If memory serves, counter-
clockwise. Good luck with the
wibbler beams, dear chap!
Help! Please! I've- I've been
kidnapped. Some kind of..
There are people outside and
I don't know what-.. They're
coming! What- I- Ah! Aaaagh!
Fret not, laddie or lassie! Plenty
of times I've been in a pickle
such as yours, so it's important
not to lose hope! For example, if
you are reading this reply then it
means your captors are of
sufficient good taste to purchase
this delightful publication. Surely
a good sign!
However, now I consider your
predicament more, since you are
not me, the chances are that you
are now actually dead, a
hideously mutated laboratory
experiment, a brainwashed
soldier
soldier, or similar. So you must
forgive me if I dedicate no more
of said delightful publication's
page space on a lost cause. Good
luck anyway!
Archie,
My girlfriend is always asking
me to wear my superhero
costume in the bedroom. At
first I didn't mind, but now
I'm worried she doesn't love
the person behind the mask.
From a True Believer
Well, my dear do-gooder, I'm
afraid without evidence such as
pictographs and videograms of
your supple athletic frame both
wearing and not wearing your
tight spandex leotard, I cannot
venture an opinion. I also offer
my services as a personal
relationship consultant in this
case. And doubtlessly, we can
come to a mutually beneficial
arrangement regarding the small
matter of payment.
Do you have a query, dilemma, problem or general curiosity you would like to direct to the
Magus-Colonel? Please don’t hesitate to send them to us at the address on Page 2.
On June 11th 2011
heroes and villains alike
gathered in the lower
blue bar of Pocket D to
drink, tell stories and
share their love of all
things steampunk.
Kapow photographer
Sara Saxon was there to
capture the night’s
events.
Cecilie Michaux-Breaker Kit Danger
Archibald McCreery ensures Chiroptech’s tale is listened to.
Pocket D regulars Claire and Vanessa Arthur Mainbark
Foxienne A celebrating clockwork Good Gentleman
Dr Fallout, King of Cogs and Nanny Flambeau
Assembled partygoers
Ray Hammerfall approves of Clockwork Kong
Gentleman Freak
Nanny‟s Fungus Splodge (also known as Quorn veggie spaghetti bolognaise)
Things we‟ll need:
2 tbs Oil (not the black kind as it don't taste right!)
2 small Onions
1 small packet of Minced Stuff (can be Quorn™ or any other mince)
1 tin of Chopped Tomatoes (or some real tomatoes and an axe to get the right texture)
Tomato Sauce or Tomato Pureè
1 Red Pepper all chopped up
Some mushrooms (if yer like 'em)
1 teaspoon of Yeast Extract (or that stuff you'll either love or hate!)
4+ teaspoons of mixed herbs
How t‟do it:
Get the large frying pan down and make sure there's no brains left on t'outside o'it.
Put in a bit o' oil and heat it up.
Throw in some chopped onions and fry 'em for about 2 minutes.
Throw in the minced stuff and fry that for about 4 minutes or so.
Boil some water in a kettle and then pour 1/4 of a pint in to a container.
Dissolve the yeast extract in the boiling water then pour it in to the pan.
Chuck in the chopped tomatoes with a squirt o' sauce or pureè to taste.
Throw in the mushrooms and chopped pepper.
Mix it all round and then give it a stir every once in a while and let it simmer for about 20 minutes
or so, or until it looks right.
Dollop it out on to plates of spaghetti or some kind of pasta. Jolly delicious and should be enough
for 2-3 people!
On our trip to the Rustbucket we were fortunate enough to get their cook, Nanny
Flambeau to agree to share with us her book of recipes. Printed below is one of
our favourites, enjoy!
The Hyperion Clinic is a medical facility open to all those who have developed some form
of mutation, with the focus on "late-life, unexpected or accidental mutation and
transmutation". The clinic has specific expertise on diagnosing and treating those who
have had their genetics altered through exposure to outside agents, be they energy
based, chemical or technological in origin
Appointments available and a walk-in service is offered on weekdays between 9am and 6pm.
The Hyperion Clinic, High Park, Kings Row
Call (800) 789-9999 (Toll-free) for more information.
