Escape Artists

Escape Pod => Episode Comments => Topic started by: eytanz on June 08, 2012, 07:24:08 AM

Title: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: eytanz on June 08, 2012, 07:24:08 AM
EP348: Nemesis (http://escapepod.org/2012/06/07/ep348-nemesis/)

By Nathaniel Lee (http://www.mirrorshards.org/)

Read by Mat Weller

An Escape Pod Original!

---

It was the middle of second-period Spanish when I felt my cell phone go off in my pocket. Three pulses, then two. That meant one of my alerts had hit paydirt. I’ve got newsfeeds filtered for keywords, pairing “emergency” and the names of every local school and business I could think of, plus I got Kenny from sixth period computer Science to cobble together a kind of hack on the actual first responders’ radio channels. If my phone had gone off, then there was trouble.

If there was trouble, then the city needed Atom Boy.

So where was he?

Well, if I was in Spanish, then he was in History. No, wait, he’d dropped the AP course. Did he have some kind of math now instead? Crud. I had no idea. I’d lost our hero.

“Miss Ramsey?”

“Ahem!”

“Uh, um, I mean, uh, Señora Ramsey?”

” Sí, Quentin?”

“Yo, uh, yo poder uso el baño?”

“Puedo. Y sí, se puede. Andale.”

I clapped a hand over my pocket to keep my phone-bulge hidden and ran out of the classroom, careful to turn to the right as if I were heading for the boy’s room. A couple of months ago, that wouldn’t have been a bad idea; I’d discovered Adam’s secret when I walked in on him trying to get out of his tights at the end of fourth period. Which he’d missed, by the way, and I’d had to cover for him and pretend like I’d gotten a text from his mom about an emergency dental appointment.

Nowadays, I made him use the locked room in the old elementary school building, next door to the art room. I had a key because Mr. Adelaide trusted me to use it only to work on my project. I felt bad about abusing that trust, but I figure helping a superhero save the world every week counts as some sort of civic duty. I checked there first.

Adam was sitting at one of the old desks, his feet sticking out about a mile because it was designed for five-year-olds. He had his suit half on. His pale chest was bare, exposing those three wispy little curls that he was so proud of. He didn’t look up when I came in.

“Adam? What’s wrong?”

“I’ve lost my powers.” His voice was dull, his eyes unfocused. He sounded grim and deadly serious.


(http://escapepod.org/wp-images/podcast-mini4.gif) Listen to this week’s Escape Pod! (http://traffic.libsyn.com/escapepod/EP348_Nemesis.mp3)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: jenfullmoon on June 08, 2012, 04:36:37 PM
I like that this story didn't end in the way I was expecting it to.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: InfiniteMonkey on June 09, 2012, 12:34:00 AM
First of all, thanks for a month of superheroes. I've had a rough couple months, and (hopefully) this will help. Do I detect a new Union Dues story in the offing as well?

As for story, I really liked the sweetness of it, the coming-of-age of the superhero sidekick (and that is essentially what the narrator is), and all the angst and awkwardness of adolescence. I also liked that he was an "art kid".
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: schizoTypal on June 09, 2012, 10:45:04 AM
Count me in on hoping for a new Union Dues!

I also saw the generic coming-of-age story retold as through as superhero side-kick's view. There also seemed to be a lot of anger and frustration expressed throughout, and I found myself caring quite a lot about the narrator. All in all, the story didn't seem to be particularly complex or out there, just a classic tale told through new eyes. I liked it.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 09, 2012, 04:54:36 PM
This story blew in so many ways...
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: flashedarling on June 10, 2012, 01:18:16 AM
I like that this story didn't end in the way I was expecting it to.

That is exactly the same reason I liked it. I was waiting for the narrator to turn bad due to his jealousy and isolation. Sympathetic villian origins are just so played out. When he ended up deciding to give up his powers and just go be normal I was really happy.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: schizoTypal on June 10, 2012, 02:38:23 AM
This story blew in so many ways...

Care to expand on that? Like ... well, by saying anything at all?
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on June 10, 2012, 03:30:40 AM
This story blew in so many ways...

Care to expand on that? Like ... well, by saying anything at all?

I think he was trying to make a pun on the color of Adam's powers.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Coolbreeze44105 on June 10, 2012, 03:51:36 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Coolbreeze44105 on June 10, 2012, 03:55:56 PM
 ;D

Liked it. The whole character arc was good, from wimpy side kick to potential super villain with the discovery of the mystery device worked well on many levels. I especially liked the thinking ahead of what the girl's reaction might be to a superhuman show of power. That was insightful writing.

I liked that the super hero character was clueless. I think many superheroes are preoccupied with other things such that the mundane aspects of life (homework, high school crushes, etc.) evade them completely. It's not their fault. They're just in a different place in their development.

Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Kaa on June 10, 2012, 08:29:11 PM
I really enjoyed this one. I liked the high school angst played under the kids having superpowers. The clueless superhero and the only slightly less clueless potential supervillain who gets diverted from what we think is his impending fate/doom by ... the kiss of the girl he likes. Loved his self-reflection on how he could get her attention by doing all the stupid boy-stuff of 'look how powerful I am' or 'look what I can do,' and finally clued in on the fact that he didn't need to impress her by blowing stuff up or flying but just by being himself.

I think I might like to see more stories set in this universe.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on June 10, 2012, 09:18:30 PM
Well, it's not explicitly the same universe (in that there's no shared names or events), but my other superhero story, "As Fast As You Can (http://dailysciencefiction.com/science-fiction/superhero/nathaniel-matthews-lee/as-fast-as-you-can_1)" is still available in full at Daily Science Fiction's website.  That one's a little darker overall.  I think of it as my "comic book world" in a Marvel/DC/Astro City kind of way.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Kaa on June 10, 2012, 10:51:52 PM
I like that one, too. :)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 11, 2012, 01:13:10 PM
This story blew in so many ways...

Care to expand on that? Like ... well, by saying anything at all?
I was just teasing to make sure Nathaniel's head didn't get to big from all the worthy praise he would be receiving for this story, while being self-depricating about my narration at the same time. ;)

In all seriousness, I loved the story. It was engrossing, detailed enough to be interesting and not so detailed that the story suffered as a result. It was perfectly suited for this format.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: HoopyFreud on June 12, 2012, 05:01:06 AM
Anyone care to explain that last paragraph, during which the narrator says:
Quote
Maybe that was part of the test, to see if Atom Boy was worth inducting into the ranks of the real superheroes.
I have no idea what it even.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Cutter McKay on June 12, 2012, 09:17:19 PM
This story had me for about 90%. The characters were fun, the writing was witty and engaging. I laughed aloud several times, (note that I have to say 'aloud' because I can't stand the phrase 'Laugh Out Loud' anymore). In all, it's a well written and fun story. Props to Nathaniel.

However, the ending killed it for me. I think it was at about the '10:00 left' mark on my iPod, when I realized that there wasn't enough time left in the story for any kind of reversal. The kid really was just going to get the girl. It's not that I don't like happy endings, I do. But when they're so fairytale that I'm left with the sickly-sweet blue aftertaste of Atom Boy's energy surge, it's too much for me. No way does the poor, shy, art geek get the hot girl in the end. It never happens. I know. If she is so in to him, where has she been all these years, playing hard to get? I think the story could work if he managed to win her over with his art and his personality right then, while in the forest, but to have her pretty much just throw herself at him out of nowhere, because she's loved him all along, was anti-climactic to me. Shoot me with the gizmo.

That said, I'm thrilled for Superhero Month and can't wait to see what else is in store for us.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: timprov on June 13, 2012, 12:03:02 PM
I'm glad the story didn't go where I thought it was going to, the best friend turns into arch enemy (which is what I thought was going to happen) but, at the same time, I wish there was a just a little more depth in the turn around.  I understand the power of girls at that age but still, his jealousy toward Adam was getting pretty serious, at least he could have kept the device just in case. 
But, that's a nit pick, as it was this story was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it a lot. 

Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 13, 2012, 01:35:04 PM
But he did keep the device. He didn't turn it in, he didn't tell Adam about it, and only he knows where it is. I think that's one of the best parts of the story -- the sinister and honorable are both left hanging out there as possible for future episodes. People in general--kids especially--turn emotions 180' on a dime. No hormone-addled freak is going to feel the same way for long. This is a wonderful intro to a whole comic series...someone illustrate for this dude right now!
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: timprov on June 13, 2012, 02:31:06 PM
Quote
But he did keep the device. He didn't turn it in, he didn't tell Adam about it, and only he knows where it is

That's true, but I got the impression it would eventually be found by Adam, still, good point. 
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: InfiniteMonkey on June 13, 2012, 02:49:44 PM
No way does the poor, shy, art geek get the hot girl in the end. It never happens. I know.

I agree completely.

But I wouldn't have it any other way.  :D
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Max e^{i pi} on June 13, 2012, 03:50:41 PM
Anyone care to explain that last paragraph, during which the narrator says:
Quote
Maybe that was part of the test, to see if Atom Boy was worth inducting into the ranks of the real superheroes.
I have no idea what it even.
I think that it was a test of induction into the league of superheros.
It's not enough to have superhero powers, you need to behave accordingly. Part of that might very well be powers of observation: always knowing everything there is to know about your environment. In a fight that will save your life.
Another part of it is doing the right thing. So you found a mysterious device that seems to be specifically engineered to defeat you. What do you do? Do you destroy it? Do you horde it? Do you give it to your superiors/colleagues for if/when you go rogue and they need to stop you?

I too thought that Matt's comment was a jab at his own reading, then maybe a typo/pun about Atom. That I think is more likely, since he used "to" instead of "too" when replying.

As for my opinion of the story? I loved it. But I love heropunk stories. (If there's cyberpunk and steampunk there should be heropunk too).
I've read a lot of free heropunk stories published online recently, and it's nice to hear one in audio. And a whole month of this stuff sounds exciting!
Here's hoping that the Tim Pratt finale is the one I'm thinking of...
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Kaa on June 13, 2012, 05:32:22 PM
As for my opinion of the story? I loved it. But I love heropunk stories. (If there's cyberpunk and steampunk there should be heropunk too).

Heropunk! Love it.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 13, 2012, 11:32:45 PM
Anyone care to explain that last paragraph, during which the narrator says:
Quote
Maybe that was part of the test, to see if Atom Boy was worth inducting into the ranks of the real superheroes.
I have no idea what it even.
I think that it was a test of induction into the league of superheros.
It's not enough to have superhero powers, you need to behave accordingly. Part of that might very well be powers of observation: always knowing everything there is to know about your environment. In a fight that will save your life.
Another part of it is doing the right thing. So you found a mysterious device that seems to be specifically engineered to defeat you. What do you do? Do you destroy it? Do you horde it? Do you give it to your superiors/colleagues for if/when you go rogue and they need to stop you?

I think also it's kind of a double meaning (though I wouldn't credit it being intentional without asking Nathaniel first), in that Quentin is talking about Adam, though Quentin was the one actually being tested. I had thought throughout the story that the device was going to end up being a plant by a villain trying to enlist Q for the dark side or a plant by Marcus to test his true nature.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: SF.Fangirl on June 14, 2012, 02:16:08 AM
I liked the ending.  I thought he was going to turn evil, attack Atom-Boy, lose and learn his lesson.  That seemed the obvious plot line.  Instead the love of a girl prevents his decent into evil in the first place.

However, the ending killed it for me. I think it was at about the '10:00 left' mark on my iPod, when I realized that there wasn't enough time left in the story for any kind of reversal. The kid really was just going to get the girl. It's not that I don't like happy endings, I do. But when they're so fairytale that I'm left with the sickly-sweet blue aftertaste of Atom Boy's energy surge, it's too much for me. No way does the poor, shy, art geek get the hot girl in the end. It never happens. I know. If she is so in to him, where has she been all these years, playing hard to get? I think the story could work if he managed to win her over with his art and his personality right then, while in the forest, but to have her pretty much just throw herself at him out of nowhere, because she's loved him all along, was anti-climactic to me. Shoot me with the gizmo.

That said, I'm thrilled for Superhero Month and can't wait to see what else is in store for us.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on June 14, 2012, 04:00:50 AM
I think also it's kind of a double meaning (though I wouldn't credit it being intentional without asking Nathaniel first), in that Quentin is talking about Adam, though Quentin was the one actually being tested. I had thought throughout the story that the device was going to end up being a plant by a villain trying to enlist Q for the dark side or a plant by Marcus to test his true nature.

You might well think that.  I couldn't possibly comment.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Cattfish on June 15, 2012, 03:32:06 AM
I thought the ending was good, it was nice how you were leading us along and trying to get us to believe that the sidekick was going to turn into the supervillan.  But I really felt that the high school setting was awkward and distracting (fart jokes, lunch money, cheating on homework, so on and so on...), and that whole "legion of superheros" was kind of shoehorned in there. 

BTW I enjoyed your story "Lightblind" on Toasted Cake earlier this month... hope that takes out the sting of criticism :P
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 15, 2012, 12:52:52 PM
But I really felt that the high school setting was awkward and distracting (fart jokes, lunch money, cheating on homework, so on and so on...)...

You mean, like high school is IRL?   :P
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Cattfish on June 15, 2012, 02:22:17 PM
But I really felt that the high school setting was awkward and distracting (fart jokes, lunch money, cheating on homework, so on and so on...)...

You mean, like high school is IRL?   :P

touche
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 15, 2012, 02:59:46 PM
Adam Baum?  HAhahahahahahah!  Loved that name for the secret identity of the atomic-powered superboy.

So.... was the title a straight up red herring?  The title seemed to be directly supporting the most obvious path the story could've taken, the origin story of Atom Boy's nemesis.  But since it didn't go that way, the title seems to either be a red herring (which strikes me as kind of cheap) or refers to something I didn't understand at all.  I like double meanings in a title, especially when the second meaning only becomes clear in retrospect, but I'm only getting one meaning here and it doesn't make sense with this story.  Thoughts?

This story was okay.  I felt for the kid, and most of all I wanted him to get the hell out of the poisonous friendship he'd mired himself in, because it was very clearly tearing him down inside and I hated to see that.  Adam has to learn to cope on his own, and covering for him and doing everything for him is not going to help him be a functional being.  When he goes out into the real world are you going to be his live-in ass-coverer because he's too distracted to take care of himself?  He has to learn, and you're poisoning yourself to play that role.

I'm all for stories that mix real problems with speculative elements but in this one the speculative element just ended up seeming so entirely irrelevant.  You didn't need the superhero to have the hero-worship bitter best friend dynamic.  The glove was never used for anything but practice.  I ended up wanting some actual onscreen superhero action, or to make the identity relevant in some way. 

So it was all right, but the label didn't match the contents of the tin, and it ended up being a straightforward love story that just seemed overly familiar, but with speculative element resting atop it.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Listener on June 15, 2012, 03:40:01 PM
This story had me for about 90%. The characters were fun, the writing was witty and engaging. I laughed aloud several times, (note that I have to say 'aloud' because I can't stand the phrase 'Laugh Out Loud' anymore). In all, it's a well written and fun story. Props to Nathaniel.

That's basically how I felt too. I kept expecting Quentin to turn into The Toad and become Atom Boy's nemesis. I realized early on that The Toad was QUENTIN'S nemesis, and I was fine with that, but... I'm not saying I thought the ending was a cop-out or anything (it was consistent with the character), but it left me wanting.

The story was a little too "Buffy" in the explanations Quentin came up with for all the stuff that happened to him while at school, but I guess there are only so many ways to do that. I did like that Quentin actually had to suffer the consequences of his actions, instead of them just being ignored or glossed over.

I too LOLd many times -- especially about the fart pills. The author is quite good at writing young characters whose voices ring true, and I know it can be hard to do that.

The reading was generally good, although the voice chosen for Quentin got a little annoying at times.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 15, 2012, 04:49:01 PM
And a misunderstanding of part of the text left me with a different idea for a while.  I thought that when he was sketching himself with the girl, he had inadvertently drawn Adam's face on HER body instead of his own.  So for a while I thought he was gay and just hadn't quite realized it yet, which kind of made sense as a contributing factor to hero worship.

Then I realized that I'd misunderstood that whole thing at first...
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: jwbjerk on June 16, 2012, 04:02:29 PM
I enjoyed it.  Once you accepted teen super heroes with a secret identity, everything else followed pretty coherently and logically. I liked the "side-kick" perspective, and wouldn't mind hearing more episodes in this vein.

The ending was maybe a bit too quick and tidy -- but it is a short story.

What i can't figure out is why at the end, Q suddenly thinks the gauntlet was a test for Atom Boy.  Oblivious Atom Boy is unlikely to notice it, and if he did, i doubt he would figure it out that it was an Anti-atom-boy weapon. Either it was a random plot device, or it only makes sense as test for Q.  For a while i thought it was planted by the mentioned villain, in a classic, overly elaborate plot, but it didn't tick.


And a misunderstanding of part of the text left me with a different idea for a while.  I thought that when he was sketching himself with the girl, he had inadvertently drawn Adam's face on HER body instead of his own.  So for a while I thought he was gay and just hadn't quite realized it yet, which kind of made sense as a contributing factor to hero worship.

Then I realized that I'd misunderstood that whole thing at first...
The same thing happened to me.  Either the text wasn't clear or we got distracted and missed the same words.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 18, 2012, 02:27:33 PM
What i can't figure out is why at the end, Q suddenly thinks the gauntlet was a test for Atom Boy.  Oblivious Atom Boy is unlikely to notice it, and if he did, i doubt he would figure it out that it was an Anti-atom-boy weapon. Either it was a random plot device, or it only makes sense as test for Q.  For a while i thought it was planted by the mentioned villain, in a classic, overly elaborate plot, but it didn't tick.

I got the impression that Quentin's belief that it was a test was a bit of skewed magical thinking consistent with many of Quentin's points of view.  Atom Boy is the thing around which the universe revolves, and the proximity of such a powerful weapon can be no coincidence in Quentin's mind.  And, if he's living in a comic book, then he's assuredly right that the gauntlet won't just be forgotten, but all in all I think it much more likely that at the very least it will serve as a constant source of internal struggle to test himself, or that he will make a decision to be a superhero or supervillain at some point, a year or five down the road.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Devoted135 on June 18, 2012, 03:30:31 PM
I really enjoyed this story! I did see the presence of the device as a test for Quentin, regardless of who placed it there. The truth is that he has to deal with resentment owing to Adam's clueless nature, and over time it gets easier and easier to contemplate becoming the sidekick-turned-nemesis.

I liked the scene where Quentin's crush kisses him, because it had seemed to me that she liked him all along. Since Adam always seemed to get everything, Quentin assumed that she liked Adam and thus felt jealous. So, I was glad that she took matters into her own hands to clear that up for him!


And a misunderstanding of part of the text left me with a different idea for a while.  I thought that when he was sketching himself with the girl, he had inadvertently drawn Adam's face on HER body instead of his own.  So for a while I thought he was gay and just hadn't quite realized it yet, which kind of made sense as a contributing factor to hero worship.

Then I realized that I'd misunderstood that whole thing at first...
The same thing happened to me.  Either the text wasn't clear or we got distracted and missed the same words.

For what it's worth, I had no problem following this section...
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: patriciomas on June 19, 2012, 02:39:01 AM
To me, a story is great when it makes me care about the characters (most stories don't quite get there). And this one did. I was preparing for Quentin to enter into the realm of We Used to be Friends (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeUsedToBeFriends), and was relieved when the story went the coming-of-age route. It made me smile and made my day brighter.  :)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Myrealana on June 20, 2012, 02:28:21 PM
Add me to the list of listeners who are happy that the ending took me to an unexpected place.

From the very beginning, I saw this as a "Lex Luthor" origin story, and I was a little sad, because I found that I cared about Quentin, and I felt sorry for Adam, knowing that he was about to lose his only real friend.

That Quentin overcame his own internal nemesis instead of becoming Adam's was unexpected and delightful.

I live with a teenage boy, and I found the voices of the teenage characters to be genuine, and well-done, and the story captured that in-between feeling of the last years of high school, when kids are becoming what they will be. The parallels between Q's decisions in using the gaunltet and the choice all high schoolers face of how to approach the rest of their lives were great, without being so blatant as to make me feel like I'm hearing a "Very special episode" of Escape Pod.

I enjoyed this one.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 20, 2012, 04:03:47 PM
Did anyone else have to keep reminding themselves of the age group of the characters?  The text was clearly written about high schoolers, but I kept on thinking they were grade schoolers for some reason.  It might have been the voice acting?  Seemed like the boys were pitched higher as one often hears when voicing a child.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Max e^{i pi} on June 20, 2012, 04:47:29 PM
Did anyone else have to keep reminding themselves of the age group of the characters?  The text was clearly written about high schoolers, but I kept on thinking they were grade schoolers for some reason.  It might have been the voice acting?  Seemed like the boys were pitched higher as one often hears when voicing a child.
Could be a maturity level thing.
There have been stories before (recently, in fact) where the perceived maturity of the characters was higher than it should be.
I think that in this story the characters behaved like they were maybe in 10th grade.
But then again, this could be colored by my perceptions of the current maturity level of high-schoolers.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 21, 2012, 04:34:39 AM
Did anyone else have to keep reminding themselves of the age group of the characters?  The text was clearly written about high schoolers, but I kept on thinking they were grade schoolers for some reason.  It might have been the voice acting?  Seemed like the boys were pitched higher as one often hears when voicing a child.
Could be a maturity level thing.
There have been stories before (recently, in fact) where the perceived maturity of the characters was higher than it should be.
I think that in this story the characters behaved like they were maybe in 10th grade.
But then again, this could be colored by my perceptions of the current maturity level of high-schoolers.
I intentionally played Quentin higher than normal thinking that he was supposed to be a stereotypical geeky weakling and because my normal narrating voice is too low for a high schooler (see On A Blade of Grass). Adam came out higher because he's supposed to be super juiced and hyper. Notice he's lower the first couple lines where he's depressed. I hope it didn't take you out of it too much. :)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on June 21, 2012, 09:05:25 AM
I was aiming for 11th grade.  10th is close enough, I suppose.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 21, 2012, 01:30:07 PM
I intentionally played Quentin higher than normal thinking that he was supposed to be a stereotypical geeky weakling and because my normal narrating voice is too low for a high schooler (see On A Blade of Grass). Adam came out higher because he's supposed to be super juiced and hyper. Notice he's lower the first couple lines where he's depressed. I hope it didn't take you out of it too much. :)

Nah, not too much.  The text was clear enough about the age level that I didn't have major trouble, I just had to keep readjusting.  I don't think your voice is too low to voice a high schooler, I knew some high schoolers with very deep voices.  Once puberty hits I don't think there's such a thing as too low.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: SF.Fangirl on June 22, 2012, 01:58:48 AM
I pegged them as younger teens 9th or 10th grade and not seniors about to leave for college so their immaturity seems about right.  The "teens" we see on TV and in movies are often played by mid-20s actors.  Since I don't spend much time with real kids, I have to remind myself that on occassion.  Real teenagers usually look younger than those you see on screen.

Did anyone else have to keep reminding themselves of the age group of the characters?  The text was clearly written about high schoolers, but I kept on thinking they were grade schoolers for some reason.  It might have been the voice acting?  Seemed like the boys were pitched higher as one often hears when voicing a child.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: childoftyranny on June 22, 2012, 07:21:48 PM
First and foremost congratulations on the trifecta and a well written story!

The characters were very believable and totally relatable, that said its about middling for me, mostly due to having come of age not terrible long ago I find myself less interested in that period of life than others. It provides so much food for thought for the future though that it has a great deal of mulling-over possibility to it.

For a moment let me play super-villain's advocate, if we are discussing a real planner "chessmaster" type this is a very successful first move, while Quentin didn't take the bait, per se, he also didn't tell Atom Boy, or well, anyone else about. This means that while he is a good guy that is not 100% loyal, his own interests will be served, and that is exactly the in our "chessmaster" would want. Someone who breaks immediately and gets taken out, well that is a few moments of fun, but someone to poke and prod until the final cracking until hes really consumed by the toad that while in hiding is still there, now that the key. In many ways I'd say Lex Luther and Joker(Dark Knight comics) are good examples of villains whose plans reach this level, though their downfall is usually pushing too fast.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 25, 2012, 04:21:30 PM
First and foremost congratulations on the trifecta and a well written story!

Oh yeah, congrats on the trifecta, scattercat!  That is a worthy accomplishment.  That is one of the milestones I'd like to achieve, but have had no luck with Podcastle.  :P
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: matweller on June 25, 2012, 08:14:02 PM
Agreed. Make yourself an achievement badge. Or, allow me to offer this hastily assembled entry... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/Nerraux/TRIPOD.jpg)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Kaa on June 25, 2012, 08:16:47 PM
OOooooooh! SHINY.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 26, 2012, 02:07:48 PM
Agreed. Make yourself an achievement badge. Or, allow me to offer this hastily assembled entry... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/Nerraux/TRIPOD.jpg)

Hey, neat! 
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: LaShawn on June 28, 2012, 05:10:50 PM
Not bad. I did find myself wondering what would've happened if she hadn't kissed him...or worse, shot him down. But it is refreshing to see a guy actually get the girl and not turn all evil. Nice.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: bluetube on June 29, 2012, 05:45:56 PM
I really liked the first half of this story and the relationship between Quentin and Adam / Atom Boy.

I didn't like the second half and the cliché boy-girl dialogue, nor the juvenile thoughts of Quentin. Tedious in the extreme. I found myself looking at the progress bar of the audio player, thinking "How much longer will this go on?".

I nearly didn't finish listening, but wanted to give the story a chance to redeem itself.  The ending was OK and I liked the fact that the gizmo was returned to the hole in the ground, but really, wouldn't it have been wiser to hand it over to Atom Boy?

So, I give this a "C" for entertainment and a "B+" for effort.

Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on June 29, 2012, 07:52:18 PM
I nearly didn't finish listening, but wanted to give the story a chance to redeem itself.  The ending was OK and I liked the fact that the gizmo was returned to the hole in the ground, but really, wouldn't it have been wiser to hand it over to Atom Boy?

Wiser?  I'd say no.  Adam Baum is such a flake I'm a bit amazed he hasn't given away his identity.  I wouldn't put it past him to leave the gizmo on a city bus, where it probably end up in a pawn shop for your first random person to buy for a few bucks. 

Also, even if it weren't for that safety concern, I like that he didn't give it to Adam.  He's been such a doormat for Adam for so long, I like that he makes the decision to not give everything up to Adam.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: CryptoMe on July 06, 2012, 06:09:21 AM
Add me to the "liked it" camp. The characters rang true to me. And I have no problem with "the hot girl" liking "the geek". As she points out, he's smart! And some people do find that attractive. Also if she's been into him all throughout their childhood, she may see much more beyond the geek than your average hot girl who just met him.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: eytanz on July 06, 2012, 08:22:55 PM
I'm not a huge fan of superhero stories in general, and I was sort of holding off starting to listen to the superhero month stories, but I found that I liked this one a lot. Mostly because, at the end of it all, it wasn't about superheroics, its about how non-superheroes live in a superheroic world. Quite a few people in this thread commented on how they were glad the narrator decided not to become a supervillian, but I was also quite glad he decided not to become a sidekick. I feel like his main epiphany at the end was not that he could get the girl by being himself - though that was part of it - but rather that he can be the hero's friend without making his whole life be about the hero, either as support or as enemy. He has his own life to live, and he can be there for his friend without letting that dominate him.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on July 09, 2012, 02:00:58 PM
Quite a few people in this thread commented on how they were glad the narrator decided not to become a supervillian, but I was also quite glad he decided not to become a sidekick.

I completely agree.  I would've hated this story so much if he had taken his doormat traits to another level by becoming Adam Baum's sidekick.  Becoming a supervillain would've been better than that, at least I could understand the motivation for that even if it would be too predictable.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Gamercow on July 20, 2012, 06:13:58 PM
I came out of this story saying to myself "That is going to turn UGLY when she dumps him for being too possessive".  Quentin has shown signs of being possessive, of putting his crush on a pedestal, and of being capable of truly nasty behavior when he thinks something is being taken away from him.  I just hope he matures somewhat before he and Linda break up, or there will be a new super villain in town.   
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Cattfish on July 22, 2012, 02:25:56 PM
Oh, and I was convinced throughout that his superhero name was "Adam Boy," which I thought was really dumb for keeping your identity secret and it wasn't until I actually read the comments that I figured out it was "Atom Boy." Makes a lot more sense now... :P

Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: hardware on September 06, 2012, 09:32:03 AM
So, for some reason superhero stories doesn't really click for me, I guess I need the visual part to really enjoy it. Now this was really a thinly disguised story about becoming yourself so I would judge it for that. And while the tone of the conversation and obsessiveness of his crush is well written (although not too original), I cannot help to find it a shame he didn't go somewhere more interesting with the story. It lacked a bit stakes I guess.

also this:

Quote
Oh, and I was convinced throughout that his superhero name was "Adam Boy," which I thought was really dumb for keeping your identity secret and it wasn't until I actually read the comments that I figured out it was "Atom Boy." Makes a lot more sense now...

I thought this was a joke (you know, taking the sillyness of Clark Kents glasses one step further), but I see now.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on September 06, 2012, 02:02:13 PM
I thought this was a joke (you know, taking the sillyness of Clark Kents glasses one step further), but I see now.

Well I think it still was a joke.  I mean, his real name "Adam Baum" sounds more dangerous than his superhero name "Atom Boy".  And the fact that he didn't bother to find a first name that sounded different.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on September 07, 2012, 03:46:10 AM
The chain of thought went:

1) Superheroes always have really stupid "real" names.

2) I need a cheesy-sounding superhero name, something a kind of doofusy kid would think up.  "Atomic Boy!"

3) Wait, if Kurt Busiek can have Samaritan's real name be "Asa Martin," then I can do him one better.

4) Adam Baum it is.  Shorten the hero name to "Atom Boy" just to make it ridiculously easy for someone to guess because that's how we roll in four-color town.

As for the rest, eh, I don't tend to do high stakes.  Just not my thing.  If my stories happen to involve a massive war or the fate of a world or something, it's going to be somewhere in the background while our main narrative focuses intently on someone having a minor personal revelation; that's what interests me, y'know?
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on September 07, 2012, 02:16:07 PM
As for the rest, eh, I don't tend to do high stakes.  Just not my thing.  If my stories happen to involve a massive war or the fate of a world or something, it's going to be somewhere in the background while our main narrative focuses intently on someone having a minor personal revelation; that's what interests me, y'know?

This story did have high stakes.  They were just high PERSONAL stakes.  There's nothing wrong with that.  But I'd still call it high stakes.

Well, to some degree there was a potential of high worldwide stakes if this kid had decided to become a supervillain, but you get my drift.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on September 08, 2012, 08:07:39 AM
The world will tremble before... ART BOY.

Hm.

Anyway, I was trying not to be obstreperous and disagree completely with criticisms of the story.  (And really, I can't argue that this story isn't a relatively minor coming-of-age story with superhero imagery because that was pretty much what I set out to do when I wrote it.  That doesn't work for everyone, and I'm okay with that.)
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: hardware on September 23, 2012, 11:34:19 PM
Fair enough, I did not really mean that there should have been high stakes in the sense of many people being in danger, but even something that would make it feel like a turning point in the protagonists life. I didn't quite get that, beyond whatever significance you want to put into teenage crushes.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on September 24, 2012, 01:02:38 AM
And you are one hundred percent correct in that, is my point.  :-D  It's not everyone's boat, and that's okey-dokey.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Umbrageofsnow on September 24, 2012, 04:33:55 AM
For what it's worth, I am a big fan of the personal stakes and friendship drama. Coincidentally I really enjoyed this story. I'm feeling bad that I didn't chime in my enjoyment earlier, back when I had just listened to it and would have some more detailed commentary. Anyway, I don't want to go unheard in a thread where the critics seem to be speak up more loudly.

I found the decision at the end really tense. I confess, I'd probably have become a super villain. I'm glad the story took the other road.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Unblinking on November 02, 2012, 05:23:07 PM
I confess, I'd probably have become a super villain.

You've now been added to a government watch list.  Enjoy!
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Fenrix on January 29, 2013, 05:57:10 PM
Oh, and I was convinced throughout that his superhero name was "Adam Boy," which I thought was really dumb for keeping your identity secret and it wasn't until I actually read the comments that I figured out it was "Atom Boy." Makes a lot more sense now... :P



The chain of thought went:

1) Superheroes always have really stupid "real" names.

2) I need a cheesy-sounding superhero name, something a kind of doofusy kid would think up.  "Atomic Boy!"

3) Wait, if Kurt Busiek can have Samaritan's real name be "Asa Martin," then I can do him one better.

4) Adam Baum it is.  Shorten the hero name to "Atom Boy" just to make it ridiculously easy for someone to guess because that's how we roll in four-color town.

As for the rest, eh, I don't tend to do high stakes.  Just not my thing.  If my stories happen to involve a massive war or the fate of a world or something, it's going to be somewhere in the background while our main narrative focuses intently on someone having a minor personal revelation; that's what interests me, y'know?

Huh, was I the only one who added the extra pun layer of "Att'em Boy!" particularly when he was previously compared to an eager puppy? Does that make me a bad person?
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Scattercat on January 31, 2013, 05:47:04 AM
Huh, was I the only one who added the extra pun layer of "Att'em Boy!" particularly when he was previously compared to an eager puppy? Does that make me a bad person?

I think Adam would, if anything, agree.
Title: Re: EP348: Nemesis
Post by: Fenrix on January 31, 2013, 04:07:23 PM
Huh, was I the only one who added the extra pun layer of "Att'em Boy!" particularly when he was previously compared to an eager puppy? Does that make me a bad person?

I think Adam would, if anything, agree.

Good think I was paying attention as to where the gauntlet was abandoned. I'm not a big fan of blue raspberry fizz.