BAMComix Presents - Agent Down - Chapter Two - Uneasy Partners

Agent Down (18) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (19) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (20) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (21) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (22) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (23) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (24) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (25) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (26) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (27) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (28) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (29) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (30) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (31) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Agent Down (32) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (33) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (34) by Dal Lee, on Flickr
Agent Down (35) by Dal Lee, on Flickr

Very well done Dal!

But one thing...I think the heat needs turned up in the Ammo Arms...

AGENT DOWN PART 2:

COVER: Well... at least Jayden is alive... for now!
Will that still be the case at the end of the episode?
Now that she's in the clutches of NoFace?

017 - Poppy is part of the investigation team! That makes sense. Investigations always require photographs. Great variety of pics and angles as the Agents undertake their thorough investigation of the crime scene.

018 - Sounds like Dannii, Poppy, and Bob are all familiar with this Conner character from the past... and nobody seems particularly thrilled that he is back in town.

019 - Again, the variety of angles makes this page quite interesting visually. I like the way the characters approach and recede from one another as their conversations begin and end. Gives the scenes a genuine sense of movement, cleverly portrayed through still photos. Must require a lot of time to set things up and move all the figs around for each shot.

020 - Good tip! Better check the outside of the security door... which apparently wasn't very secure. Or else... it was an inside job!

021 - X's men are assumed to be dead. But Conner is in town asking about Dr. X. Hmmm.... In fact, Carlos appears to be saying Hmmm...! A few inconsequential clues, taken together, are beginning to point in a potentially disturbing direction!

022 - Poppy seems to be quite efficient in her new assignment as co-investigator. And Dannii, being an experienced investigator, knows that no matter how catastrophic an event, if there are deaths, there will be evidence of those deaths. Could X and all of his nefarious associates have escaped the blast? Even those who (we assume) were shot?

Have the Enhanced Agents been thoroughly questioned about those final few moments? Has anyone ever dared to push them to describe the gunshots that appeared to suggest that at least some of X's group were executed on site?

Are the Enhanced Agents thoroughly trustworty? AFter all, they have electronic chips as part of their make-up. And electronics can be hacked.

023 - So Poppy and Jayden are friends, as well as Carlos and Jayden? It's a tight-knit group at BAM-HQ. Let's hope the friendship motivates the searchers and does not cloud their judgement.

024 - Dannii is already piecing clues together, combining them with possible motives and possible perpetrators. Carlos observes, does not interfere, and smokes a cigar while gathering his own thoughts. Very nicely done transition scene, wrapping up "the investigation" sequence and setting the stage for new action.

025 - That's quite the analytical lab Dr. Sid has going there. Makes sense that they could analyze soil samples. I'm sure the composition of Dino Valley soil contrasts significantly with regular dirt from the HQ compound. Apparently HQ has a very thorough DNA database of everyone and anyone with whom they have come in contact. Nice pair of images, dramatic. Love the high angle intro shot of Jake. He looks like he's itching for action. I think Jake takes it very personally when anyone under his command is injured or imperiled.

026 - Great lighting in the Jake & Jenna images. I like that shot of Jake heading out the door. And... referencing back to a loose thread from earlier story arcs: Redbox and the demon! Interesting to learn that there are apparently magic practitioners on staff at BAM-HQ.

027 - Jenna has been considering the demon issue! She's not one to let go of a mystery until it is solved!
The rolled-up flag in the corner is an interesting visual detail that I had not noticed before.

028 - Jake is all like, "uh, gosh, Jenna, thanks for giving me one more thing to worry about! Like things aren't bad enough!" Oh well, one problem at a time.

It's always fascinating to see how little seeds of ideas are planted in passing comments in the conversations of your characters, only to emerge someplace unexpected, often in completely different story arcs well down the line. You weave your smaller stories in to the bigger picture story quite effectively. Do you have a "master plan," a rough idea of the bigger picture that you hope to paint over time, that guides you in placing these little ideas?

Ooh! NoFace elicited a bit of a start there by mentioning Carlos. Apparently Jayden is beginning to feel something for the guy!

Good strategy to try to slow things down, but NoFace saw through that one. Of course, Jayden is not exactly dressed for strenuous, fast-paced hiking over uneven terrain, either.

029 - Jayden is rightfully irritated, but I suspect there is a purpose to her taunts. Set these losers on edge. Get them angry, and get them sniping at each other. Divide and conquer. Smart girl, that one!

030 - Sarcastic thing, ain't she? The ego of the villains is already affecting their behavior: NoFace just revealed that Dr X is alive. Yes, he is taking Agent Jensen to see X, so she would find out soon enough. But in the unlikely event that she were to somehow escape in the meantime, she now knows that X is alive and is seeking retaliation.

031 - Things are being set up for some really scary stuff ahead! Poor Jayden. She's tough, but these guys are cruel.

032 - She's gonna keep rubbing it in. And that guy's gonna lose his grip and go off. Jayden will be ready to take advantage of any opportunity if that happens.

Then again, the guy's a nasty piece of work, and now he feels like he has something to make up for, so he would not hesitate to kick her while she's down, so to speak.

034 - Oho! NoFace is not the typical idiotic megalomaniac after all! He sees through Jayden's game!

Clever writing here, Jayden playing both roles in a "good cop, bad cop" type scenario, and NoFace seeing right through it. Or thinking he sees right through it. I suspect Jayden's tactics will simply become more subtle.

Although her plan is working already. Now NoFace has called his underling a fool. That will goad him as much or more than Jayden's taunts. He will feel that he is being treated with disrespect by both the enemy agent and by his boss. His anger will grow.

Good chapter, getting things rolling, providing a motivation for the kidnapping, introducing all the main characters, and setting up the chase to come!

I'm exhausted after reading that......I mean Dave's analysis not the latest chapter

Great chapter Dal ...looking forward to chapter 3

inntruderr61 wrote:

Very well done Dal!

But one thing...I think the heat needs turned up in the Ammo Arms...

Cheers Jim!

SCU_HQ wrote:

AGENT DOWN PART 2:

COVER: Well... at least Jayden is alive... for now!
Will that still be the case at the end of the episode?
Now that she's in the clutches of NoFace?

017 - Poppy is part of the investigation team! That makes sense. Investigations always require photographs. Great variety of pics and angles as the Agents undertake their thorough investigation of the crime scene.

018 - Sounds like Dannii, Poppy, and Bob are all familiar with this Conner character from the past... and nobody seems particularly thrilled that he is back in town.

019 - Again, the variety of angles makes this page quite interesting visually. I like the way the characters approach and recede from one another as their conversations begin and end. Gives the scenes a genuine sense of movement, cleverly portrayed through still photos. Must require a lot of time to set things up and move all the figs around for each shot.

020 - Good tip! Better check the outside of the security door... which apparently wasn't very secure. Or else... it was an inside job!

021 - X's men are assumed to be dead. But Conner is in town asking about Dr. X. Hmmm.... In fact, Carlos appears to be saying Hmmm...! A few inconsequential clues, taken together, are beginning to point in a potentially disturbing direction!

022 - Poppy seems to be quite efficient in her new assignment as co-investigator. And Dannii, being an experienced investigator, knows that no matter how catastrophic an event, if there are deaths, there will be evidence of those deaths. Could X and all of his nefarious associates have escaped the blast? Even those who (we assume) were shot?

Have the Enhanced Agents been thoroughly questioned about those final few moments? Has anyone ever dared to push them to describe the gunshots that appeared to suggest that at least some of X's group were executed on site?

Are the Enhanced Agents thoroughly trustworty? AFter all, they have electronic chips as part of their make-up. And electronics can be hacked.

023 - So Poppy and Jayden are friends, as well as Carlos and Jayden? It's a tight-knit group at BAM-HQ. Let's hope the friendship motivates the searchers and does not cloud their judgement.

024 - Dannii is already piecing clues together, combining them with possible motives and possible perpetrators. Carlos observes, does not interfere, and smokes a cigar while gathering his own thoughts. Very nicely done transition scene, wrapping up "the investigation" sequence and setting the stage for new action.

025 - That's quite the analytical lab Dr. Sid has going there. Makes sense that they could analyze soil samples. I'm sure the composition of Dino Valley soil contrasts significantly with regular dirt from the HQ compound. Apparently HQ has a very thorough DNA database of everyone and anyone with whom they have come in contact. Nice pair of images, dramatic. Love the high angle intro shot of Jake. He looks like he's itching for action. I think Jake takes it very personally when anyone under his command is injured or imperiled.

026 - Great lighting in the Jake & Jenna images. I like that shot of Jake heading out the door. And... referencing back to a loose thread from earlier story arcs: Redbox and the demon! Interesting to learn that there are apparently magic practitioners on staff at BAM-HQ.

027 - Jenna has been considering the demon issue! She's not one to let go of a mystery until it is solved!
The rolled-up flag in the corner is an interesting visual detail that I had not noticed before.

028 - Jake is all like, "uh, gosh, Jenna, thanks for giving me one more thing to worry about! Like things aren't bad enough!" Oh well, one problem at a time.

It's always fascinating to see how little seeds of ideas are planted in passing comments in the conversations of your characters, only to emerge someplace unexpected, often in completely different story arcs well down the line. You weave your smaller stories in to the bigger picture story quite effectively. Do you have a "master plan," a rough idea of the bigger picture that you hope to paint over time, that guides you in placing these little ideas?

Ooh! NoFace elicited a bit of a start there by mentioning Carlos. Apparently Jayden is beginning to feel something for the guy!

Good strategy to try to slow things down, but NoFace saw through that one. Of course, Jayden is not exactly dressed for strenuous, fast-paced hiking over uneven terrain, either.

029 - Jayden is rightfully irritated, but I suspect there is a purpose to her taunts. Set these losers on edge. Get them angry, and get them sniping at each other. Divide and conquer. Smart girl, that one!

030 - Sarcastic thing, ain't she? The ego of the villains is already affecting their behavior: NoFace just revealed that Dr X is alive. Yes, he is taking Agent Jensen to see X, so she would find out soon enough. But in the unlikely event that she were to somehow escape in the meantime, she now knows that X is alive and is seeking retaliation.

031 - Things are being set up for some really scary stuff ahead! Poor Jayden. She's tough, but these guys are cruel.

032 - She's gonna keep rubbing it in. And that guy's gonna lose his grip and go off. Jayden will be ready to take advantage of any opportunity if that happens.

Then again, the guy's a nasty piece of work, and now he feels like he has something to make up for, so he would not hesitate to kick her while she's down, so to speak.

034 - Oho! NoFace is not the typical idiotic megalomaniac after all! He sees through Jayden's game!

Clever writing here, Jayden playing both roles in a "good cop, bad cop" type scenario, and NoFace seeing right through it. Or thinking he sees right through it. I suspect Jayden's tactics will simply become more subtle.

Although her plan is working already. Now NoFace has called his underling a fool. That will goad him as much or more than Jayden's taunts. He will feel that he is being treated with disrespect by both the enemy agent and by his boss. His anger will grow.

Good chapter, getting things rolling, providing a motivation for the kidnapping, introducing all the main characters, and setting up the chase to come!

She is indeed! but who knows what no-Face has install for her???

017 - Yes! One of Poppy's duties include assisting in investigations as well as being a journalist, a cover that will no doubt come to good use in further adventures.

018 - The problem with Carlos is that no one truly seems to know what he is about? When he first arrived at BAM HQ, Redbox and Dr X were trying to recruit him, but now it seems he has taken a side.

019 - It does take a fair bit of time to re-position the figures but as you say, it does help give them a sense a movement, rather than just being static. The different angles again comes from all the years I spent reading comics .

020 - yes, the door opening does seem a little odd doesn't it?

021 - Indeed! we will have too see where the clues lead us?

022 - Poppy is fast becoming a huge asset to the Agents. Carlos is a clever guy, well you would have to be, to be a gun for hire. Details are everything.

023 - Like in real life, they are lots of tight friendships within the HQ, but they all gather together when they are needed.

024 - Dannii isn't just a pretty face, she is every bot the investigator as her other agents, but of course her advantage is her skill as a tracker. If anyone can find Jayden, it's Dannii.

025 - Dr Sid as all the scientific toys he needs (one day I might actually get around to making him a lab?), and having Stark and the Doctor on the payroll helps too! BAM HQ has extensive records of all and anyone who enters the base, especially the troopers, just in case it's ever needed.
Again, with the shots of Jake, I wanted to try and create some images with a tense atmosphere.

026 - Ah, I always plant small ideas in chapters and refer back to prior story arcs. I am sure we have not seen the last of Sakkara! Again, Jake has a wide range of agents, troopers and specialists on hand. Merci Dante & Dean Winchester specialize in the supernatural.

027 - There's no doubt about it why Jenna is the agent of charge of he BAM Agents. Jake's study is full of small items, who knows whats in there??

028 - I am not sure Jake fully knows what to do about Sakkara? but he is doing what he does best, focusing on the problem at hand.
I do have an over all plan, but how and when I will get there, I haven't decided yet? Still lots of adventure idea to finish writing and weave in somewhere down the line.
I always liked the idea of planting the seeds of an idea, like in Jurassic Park for instance, when he guy who nicks the dino samples and is eventually killed by the small dinosaur loses the canister, which rolls away and is covered by the flowing mud in the thunderstorm. I always liked to think, it would be discovered years later perfectly preserved
No doubt about it that Jayden rattled him!

029 - They shouldn't underestimate Jayden!

030 - she is that! and her ploy worked, she now knows that Dr X is alive and kicking!

031 - Time will tell I guess???

032 - Yeah, Jayden will keep pushing his buttons too see what happens, divide and conquer! If only she could distract him long enough she could get the drop on him?

034 - Very true Dave, I didn't want my No-Face character (Like I have done with all my other Dr X bad guys) to just make up the numbers. I always figured No-Face would be clever and sneaky? Also with Jayden I wanted to show that not only is she clever but sarcastic too, and being able to deal with any situation.
I am pleased you have enjoyed the opening couple of chapters, more to come soon!

Rogue-Trooper wrote:

I'm exhausted after reading that......I mean Dave's analysis not the latest chapter

Great chapter Dal ...looking forward to chapter 3

I always enjoy Dave's comments, they really help me keep on track when writing the next chapter . Really pleased you enjoy the chapter two Chris, more to come soon!

Very entertaining, as always.

Kimono Troop Command wrote:

Very entertaining, as always.

Thanks Gary, more to come soon!

No Face’s words are really nasty but then again No Face is a nasty man after all. Enjoyed reading this chapter.

Prof Gangrene Fan wrote:

No Face’s words are really nasty but then again No Face is a nasty man after all. Enjoyed reading this chapter.

Really pleased you enjoyed it Alex. I really wanted to explore the character of No-Face here, putting my own stamp on his personality

Well you certainly have put your own stamp on his personality that’s for sure mate.