HFSAC:
Panel 1: I can't stress this enough, there is no Logic ore Reality to the TORCverse. We're not interested in that nonsense. So, yeah, Mercury doesn't look like that, it's not that close to the sun, and there is absolutely no way anything could live or exist on its surface. But this is a comic, so I can do whatever I want.
Panel 2: Mercurians- The natives of Mercury are a humanoid, somewhat mammalian species that have no body hair, reddish-purple skin, a large singular nostril cavity, and two pairs of arms. The males have a pronounced under bite with oversized canines. Females give live birth and typically give birth to between 4 and 12 children at a time (the average is 8). Mercurians age very rapidly. They achieve fully developed adulthood at age 5, and typically enter old age at age 30. Mercurians typically don't live past the age of 35. At the beginning of the TORCverse, Mercury was an extremely primitive planet, and the Mercurians were essentially nomadic cavemen. There were hundreds of warring tribes, each led by a King who was the strongest of his Tribe. All of that changed around the time of the "Cosmic Love" series, when the Demon Zarathon singlehandedly hunted down and killed every Tribal King of Mercury, and in so doing united the Planet under his rule. Ironically, Zarathon's rule has proven to be extremely beneficial to the planet, as it has advanced quite quickly, and is now at around Ancient Egyptian levels.
Evolved Mercurian- In the right hand corner, you'll notice a slightly darker Mercurian with horns. This is a Mercurian who has been evolved through Zarathon's Cosmi-Demonic Power. They are stronger, more durable, and more vicious than the average Mercurian. Evolved Mercurians serve as Zarathon's Special Forces and Honor Guard.
Zakathug- Zarathon's Half-Demon, Half-Mercurian son. He is the Prince of Mercury. Although he is only 3 years old, he is extremely powerful already. As a half-breed Demon, he is immortal, but his development is still quite rapid due to his Mercurian blood. The only thing Zakathug believes in is his father.
Zarathon- Zarathon is a Blood Demon Lord from Hell. Most of the Demons in the TORCverse are actually Demonic Spirits who have taken possession of human bodies, while their real bodies are in Hell. As a result, these Demons are weaker and mortal. Zarathon, on the other hand, entered 3D Space by passing through a Hellgate, and as a result he is a True Demon, which means he has his Full Demonic Power and is Immortal. Zarathon debuted in Pulp Horrorshow vol. 1 #4-6 (in what I affectionately refer to as the Zarathon Saga). He was defeated by the Clown in their first encounter, but because the Clown left some body parts lying around, Zarathon eventually completely regenerated. He returned in "SDF: End of an Era" where he nearly killed the Clown and was responsible for the Clown's house blowing up (well, okay, the Clown blew up his own house, but it was in an attempt to stop Zarathon). Zarathon had a string of side plots in "Cosmic Love". Over the course of that series he 1) killed a Space God named Bronze Unicorn and ate his Burning Cosmic Heart, thus gaining Cosmic Powers, 2) Conquered the entire Planet Mercury, and 3) Cosmimystically Evolved a group of Mercurians and sent them to pester the Clown. Shortly after the Clown's Cosmic Rebirth, the Clown and Zarathon had a fight in deep space, which the Clown won by knocking Zarathon into a Black Hole. This did not kill Zarathon, though, because the Demon simply Ate the Black Hole, incorporating its power into his own. Ironically, in "Clown & Penguin" #1-2 it is revealed that Zarathon had left the Ortex Corporation, and as an act of reprisal, Ortex sent an Armageddon Titan to destroy Mercury. Zarathon and the Clown actually teamed up to fight the Armageddon Titan. Very recently, Zarathon rejoined the Ortex Corporation and brought Mercury into the Ortex fold. It is unknown why Zarathon did this, although it is suspected that Ortex threatened either Mercury or Zarathon's beloved son Zakathug.
Panel 3: This is Ortex Tower, the Central Headquarters for the Ortex Corporation. The Roof of the Building Continuously Burns with Hellfire.
Panel 4:
Admiral Stone- Ortex Executive: Military Division. Admiral Stone is a brand new character, and this is his first appearance. Stone is a human, but through a new technique, his body has been bonded with a Demonic Soul, giving him incredible power. Stone is a lifelong military man, and an accomplished General. He is in charge of Ortex's Military Divisions, which includes not only Military Operations, but also Weapon and Vehicle Manufacturing. He is a no nonsense, tough as nails type of guy.
Akuma Boy- Ortex Executive: Planetary Security. Akuma Boy is a human who bonded with a Japanese Chaos Spirit. He first appeared in "Gullatta!" vol. 1. Originally he was a Good Guy (albiet a cocky, conceited one), but at the Battle of Ortex Tower he betrayed the Skull Mob and was personally responsible for the deaths of Riddle Bug XII, Mister Halloween (who has since been resurrected and is now a member of HFSAC), and Cosmico Rex (the older brother of new HFSAC member Phantasmo Rex). As a reward, Ortex made him an Executive and a Member of the Board of Directors. Akuma Boy is a cocky jerk. He has a longstanding grudge against King Dark, and a more recent grudge against Secret Soldier, who defeated him in Pulp Horrorshow v. 3 #4. Akuma Boy is in charge of Planetary Security. Not only does that mean protecting Ortex's interests, but it also means hunting down and destroying Rebel/Terrorists Factions (of which there are hundreds currently).
Luther Dirge- Ortex Exective: Religious Division. We covered this jerk yesterday. Moving on.
Admiral Fiskerton- Ortex Executive: Business and Manufacturing. Fiskerton is a brand new character. Much like Stone, Fiskerton is a human who has bonded with a Demon Soul, giving him Power. Fiskerton is an accomplished and ruthless businessman who runs the bulk of Ortex's business and manufacturing interests. His title of "Admiral" is largely ceremonial, as he has no actual military experience. Despite this, he has his own personal military and space fleet at his disposal.
Admiral Ahab- Ortex Executive: Interplanetary Acquisitions. Ahab is a brand new character who was Created and Designed by Scott "Boolah" Bayler. Much like Stone and Fiskerton, Ahab is a human who has had his spirit bonded with a Demon Soul, making him more powerful. An experienced military veteran and tactician, Ahab and his Fleet are responsible for conquering other Planets, Moons, and Planetoids in the Sol System.
Kikki Fortune- Executive Representative for the Assassin's Guild. Kikki Fortune debuted in Cosmic Love #1. A Thief, woman of ill-repute, and assassin, she was the Clown's girlfriend for awhile. Things did not end well between them (you can see how their relationship ended by checking out my "Lost" comic "Clown & Penguin" #0, available for viewing at www.patreon.com/torcpress for a meager Dollar Donation). She joined Ortex, and is now a major player in the Assassin's Guild, which is exactly what it sounds like. She's got Fire Powers.
Old One Eye- Ortex Executive: Research & Development. Ah, Old One Eye. One of the Original Demons of Hell, Old One Eye first appeared in "Watchdogs" #1. He's popped up a bunch since then. He HATES the Clown and is continuously hatching schemes to kill the Clown, preferably using various minions and traps. (You can check out one of Old One Eye's assaults on the Clown over on the Patreon for a buck) Despite his numerous failures to kill the Clown, Old One Eye was a pivotal player in Ortex's Conquest of Heaven. As a reward, Old One Eye was given a group of Angel Slaves to serve as his personal bodyguard. Despite the fact that Ortex lost possession of Heaven in the Bad Rapture Event, Old One Eye still has his personal Angelic Guard. Old One Eye also personally controls Four Armageddon Titans. He used to have Five, but the Clown and Zarathon destroyed one of them. Old One Eye is in charge of Research and Development, which is basically Ortex's Monster Making Division.
Voodoo Dolly- Executive Leader of the Ortex Elite Forces. Voodoo Dolly is a living Voodoo Doll. She used to be a friend and ally of the Clown, but she fell in love with Johny Styles and joined the Ortex Corporation, breaking the Clown's heart. She married Johny Styles, and is now in charge of Ortex's Elite Forces, which are obviously the Best of the Best. She is a genius fighter and possesses incredible Magicks.
Johny Styles- Executive Vice President of the Ortex Corporation and Vice President of Earth. Johny Styles is the #2 Guy at Ortex. He first appeared in the very first TORC Press Comic, Pulp Horrorshow vol. 1 #1. Styles is a Half breed Demon (half human), and is also known as the King of Vanity. He is incredibly deadly, even in his human form (at the Battle of Ortex Tower he killed Mr. Hex and Bad Jack (aka the Death Moth) without accessing his Demon Form). Perhaps the only Fighter who can go toe to toe with Johny Styles is Secret Soldier, and even then... maybe not. And again, that's just his Human Form. Styles is married to Voodoo Dolly.
Well, that went on awhile. Hey, Boolah, you're up!
Ah, Doom Eagle. The contrast of Secret Soldier. I write Doom Eagle like a bro, but really I love the character. I've been trying to work different gags into the stories using his power. He combines living things with weapons. (You've heard of nanotechnology? I call this Mamm-o-technology. Mammals + Technology = craziness.)
Secret Soldier is hard, brash, and old. He's seen too much. I'm going to write him like a fallen patriot. Hopefully an origin story is to come if you follow SDF vol 2.
Aliceislost is back after rescuing Death Moth from the Sixth Dimension as well (See Skull Mob #6). She's going to be an integral part of things to come.
Plus, I snuck in the 24 hour comic flier Monty Floyd asked us to during our 24 hour comic days. That guy is so cool I once drew a picture of the Spider-Man villain Rhino on the toilet for him.
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