Showing posts with label fighting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fighting. Show all posts
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Preview: Wandering Koala crashes The Auction
You've probably noticed I've been pretty quiet lately. There's a good reason for that. I've been working on a new 80-page comic book. I'm a little over half way done, so you should be seeing it in the next month or so. As usual, I'm trying something new art and storywise. Will it work? Will it be a complete failure? Who knows? But until then, here is a quick preview.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Wandering Koala crunches The Mad Accountant
Here is my latest in a series of Wandering Koala adventures rendered in digital watercolor. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
47 - They Struggle in the Air
They struggle in the air. Their bodies are entwined like
pretzels. Each has a hand around the other’s throat. The Cuscuses were designed
to feel little pain, but the grimace on this one makes me shiver. Kyle is able
to slip loose at the last second and flip himself over a pole and onto the
ground. But his momentum is too great. He crashes thru a newsstand with the
Cuscus.
Kyle is on all fours and tries to spring to his feet, but
the Cuscus is too quick. They grapple with the Cuscus on top, writhing and
struggling. Kyle somehow manages to flip his attacker over his back and puts
him in a headlock.
But it doesn’t last. The other two Cuscuses are behind him
and pull him off. Kyle sidekicks one and roundhouses the other, but neither go
down. The four are back at it punching, kicking, blocking, and chopping.
Kyle looks like he’s starting to breathe hard, and I think I
see what may be a drop of sweat moving down his brow. His endurance is
incredible. I wonder if he’s had any enhancements. I should collect a genetic
sample and have Amazat test it. No, not Amazat. I don’t trust him. Who knows
what he would do with that information. I’ll find another less self-interested
geneticist to analyze the sample.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
46 - They're actually gaining on him
The Cuscuses follow. I thought they would be trailing
behind, but they’ve made up the distance rather quickly. Dr. Amazat should be
commended. Physically they’re quicker, faster, and more powerful than me.
Imagine what they could do with my training and experience. That’s a foe I
wouldn’t want to face.
All four shuffle along the ledge around the side of the
building. Kyle decides to go higher. With bare hands he’s able to scale the
side of the hotel like it was flat ground. I would have a hard time keeping up
with him, but the Cuscuses don’t. Apparently Amazat designed them to move up
and down as well to the side in the urban jungle. Kyle is as surprised as I am.
They’re actually gaining on him. He pops into a window.
I’m tempted to follow them in but hold back realizing this
is not the time to reveal myself.
I hear scuffling and women shrieking. The temptation to go
inside grows.
One of the Cuscuses comes flying out of a window head first
two stories up. The other two fly out of an adjacent window holding onto Kyle.
Or is he holding on to them? They’re at arms’ length and spinning slightly. Kyle
twists one so he hits a cornice with the side of his body and rolls down the
side of the building alone. That leaves him with only one opponent.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
36 - Hit Him While He's Down
All three proceed to kick Kyle while he is down. Not a very
honorable attack, but understandable considering the torment he’s put them
thru.
One of the Cuscuses picks him up by the scalp and holds his
arms behind his back while the other two pummel his stomach. They each take a
special kind of pleasure with every strike.
Kyle slumps to his knees. His attackers go back to kicking
him in the front, back, side, and everywhere in between. I’m a little
disappointed he succumbed so quickly. Maybe he’s gotten old.
The Cuscuses give him one last kick then drop him. His face
smacks the ground. They look up at me and smirk. One folds his arms, another
rubs his chin, and the third squats against the rocks.
I see a twitch less than a moment before Kyle flies up the
rock face again, but this time he’s heading straight for me. I should have
known he wouldn’t go down so easily. He mustn’t see me. I’m not ready to face
him yet.
I’m barely out of the room when he leaps over the
guardrails. He sees back of my head as I turn down the staircase. Does he
recognize me? It’s been years and I doubt he ever expected to see me again. I
wonder if the Cuscuses have recovered and are on their way here. But even if
they were, he has too great a head start on them. I’m on my own.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
35 - This Just Keeps Getting Better and Better
He launches a series of elbow jabs to the ribs, but the
other Cuscus grabs his hair and flips him face forward into the water. His
friend’s head pops up. Then it hits the water again and goes under along with
the other Cuscus. Kyle bursts out of the water and swims towards the waterfall.
The Cuscuses are right on his tail. He pulls himself up onto the rocks and
scales the face of the cliff. The Cuscuses follow. Kyle is so quick and limber
he practically flies up the three stories. The Cuscuses try to encircle him,
but aren’t fast enough to get ahead of him before.
And then Kyle does the unexpected and changes directions. He
jumps straight at the Cuscus on his left, grabs his arms pulling him off the
rocks, spins him around in midair twisting his arms behind his back, and knees
his spine as they hit the water. I see the Cuscus fly out of the water and
strike the rocks with the back of his head. Kyle is out of the water right
after him throwing more punches, launching more kicks.
The other Cuscus drops down behind him and hurling his own
feet and fists. The Cuscus Kyle thought he had taken out earlier has recovered and
lands on Kyle’s shoulders planting him into the ground. He is hungry for revenge.
This just keeps getting better and better.
Monday, June 16, 2014
34 - Strategy over Strength
The other Cuscus slips around the branch behind Kyle who
launches a back kick to let him know he knows he’s there. The Cuscuses continue
to attack from each side increasing the intensity of their blows with each strike.
Kyle leans back dodging their fists, grabs their arms, and twists backwards
pulling both assailants over the rail with him.
I see what he’s planning. He’s positioning them so one is
below and the other at his side so when they hit the water one will take the
force of the blow and the other won’t land on top of him. Clever, using the
environment to his advantage. The Cuscuses must realize it too, because try to
reposition themselves, but Kyle isn’t letting go.
They hit the water as planned. From the sound and the size
of the splash, Kyle has one less foe to worry about. At least he would if his
foe wasn’t genetically enhanced. Kyle is visibly stunned. It gives the other
Cuscus a chance to get behind him, put him in a chokehold, and push him under
the water. I can see him thrashing beneath the surface. The Cuscus has the look
of death in his eyes.
For a moment I wonder if this is how it will end. I’m
tempted to get up to rescue him so that I can be the one to put him down, but then
I see the Cuscus flip over and Kyle come up. Despite an arm still being tightly
wrapped around his neck, he manages to take in a small breath of air.
Friday, June 13, 2014
33 - Bargaining Chips
The first Cuscus pulls himself over the railing dripping
water all over the ground. He is not happy. He sends a power punch directly at
Kyle’s face, but Kyle drops to the floor; the third Cuscus moves his head in
time and is only grazed.
Kyle slides between his friend’s legs. He launches his fist
straight up into the Cuscus’ gut forcing him two feet into the air. He lets go
of René and them rolls over clutching his belly. He’ll be out for a while.
Now that two remaining Cuscuses have lost their shields and
bargaining chips there is nothing to hold Kyle back. Of course, seeing their
brother writhing on the floor probably removes any inhibitions the Cuscuses may
have had. Now we will have a real fight. Now my test can truly begin.
The
Cuscuses move in opposite directions boxing Kyle in. Or so they think. He
reaches up, grabs an artificial branch, and flips himself up onto it. It
figures someone known as the Wandering Koala would take to the trees. The
Cuscuses follow suit, one on the same branch and another on a slightly higher one.
Kyle spin kicks the higher Cuscus who puts his arms up to block. Kyle launches
a few more kicks and punches, all of which are easily blocked. The Cuscus
smiles, but I know he’s merely gaging the Cuscus’ strength and abilities. Just
what I would do.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
31 - A Crowd Gathers
By now the other patrons have crowded around watching the
scene while keeping a safe distance. Several large waiters, probably security,
rush up to the table. But the first Cuscus takes them down with a few swift
kicks and is back on top of Kyle. But Kyle is ready. They trade blows, kicks,
jabs, and stabs with silverware without ever making contact. Amazat did his
work well. These test tube creations are his match.
Kyle tries to move back to help his friend, but the Cuscus
isn’t letting up for even a second. Kyle tries to edge his way back, but the Cuscus
lands a blow each time raising the cost high enough that he stops.
The cell phones are out and the fight is being recorded from
every angle. I’m sure the videos will be posted online before the night is
over. It will provide me with an excellent view of the fight from all angles.
Surveillance has never been easier than in today’s mobile age.
Kyle realizes he’s gaining no ground, and his friends’ blue
faces tell him he doesn’t have much more time, so he tries the opposite tactic
and launches his body forward into the Cuscus’s sending them both over the rail
and towards the waterfall. The Cuscus sees the attack coming and lets his body
go limp to help absorb the force of the blow.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
30 - The Cuscuses Strike!
The shows are rather entertaining. I, of course, am not
distracted, but my quarry is. At least he appears to be. But I must be careful
not to make assumptions. As my last test showed, his mild demeanor is only skin
deep.
I wait for them to finish their entrées and order desert. A
full stomach is a great disadvantage in a fight. This will certainly affect how
he fights. I need to take that into consideration when assessing his skills.
The Cuscuses have replaced three of the waiters. It’s a
common movie cliché, and one never used in real life, so they won’t expect it.
They place the deserts down, and then put all three in headlocks.
Kyle reacts immediately and somehow manages to get his
footing with one leg on the ground and another on the wall. He flips his
assailant overhead, but the assailant is no slacker. He maintains his hold and takes
Kyle with him. Kyle must have anticipated something like that, because he
shifts his weight in midair and lands on top. They struggle for a few moments,
then Kyle slips away and leapfrogs over the table. He aims his two feet at the
heads of the other Cuscuses. They turn to block the souls of Kyle’s shoes with
his friends’ heads, but he weaves his feet around and them and strikes their
hands instead. They don’t loosen their grips even the slightest bit. I can see
the look of surprise in his eyes. Good.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
18 - Scream!
The look on Derek’s face tells me he is even more surprised
than I am. Derek put the weight of his entire body behind that punch, and Kyle
blocked it like it was a love tap. He didn’t even flinch. What a psychological
blow! And the cracking sound from Derek’s fist tells me the damage isn’t
limited to his ego. Shock should compensate for the rest of the fight, which shouldn't
be long.
I still can’t figure how he was able to take the force of that
blow. Derek must have nearly a hundred pounds on him. That punch should have
sent him flying thru the door. There is definitely more to him than I ever
suspected. I’m glad I decided on these tests.
I see the Wandering Koala clench his fist crushing the bones
in Derek’s hand even more – he may never use it again. He is able to somehow force
Derek down to his knees before delivering two swift kicks to the stomach that end
this fight. Someone had better find a body fluid kit.
My photographic memory captured every moment of the
skirmish, but I wonder if I shouldn’t have supplemented it with a mechanical
recording. Kyle is so much more than I ever suspected. The strength, the
agility, the strategy – it’s almost beyond belief. I saw it with my own eyes,
and I can still hardly believe it. I’d better hold off on the next test until
I’ve had sufficient time to study this one. There was more to learn than expected.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
17 - Fight!
He walks down the isle flexing his rippling muscles and bulging
veins beneath leathered skin. A bit clichéd for my taste, but theatrics never
hurts in a fight. They often provide the psychological advantage to turn defeat
into victory.
The Wandering Koala remains planted at the end of the aisle,
his hands both hanging at his side. He gives no indication of his next move.
Risky, but clever. And a great improvement from the last time I faced him. Back
then he broadcast every move long before he made it making it easy to prepare a
counterattack. But he appears to be much quicker and more lithe now. He can
afford to take the gamble. And it forces his opponent to react to his lead.
Derek stops inches away from his foe in a forward stance. I
wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle can feel his breathe. They stare into each other’s
eyes. Are they waiting for the other to make the first move? No, Derek cocks
his arm back slowly, deliberately announcing his next move.
Kyle doesn’t twitch an eyebrow.
Derek steps into the punch throwing the entire weight of his
body behind it.
Kyle’s hand stops the punch two inches from his face. The
whole car can fell the smack, but there isn’t even a hint of pain in his eyes.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
16 - Catch Me If You Can
The Wandering Koala slithers out from underneath his 240+ pound
attacker and is on his feet in one motion. He gestures ‘come on’.
Derek holds his side as he rises to his feet. He wipes his
mouth. “You got lucky. It won’t happen again.” He pounds his fist into the
opposite hand repeatedly. He feints a strike then sends his other fist
barreling thru the air. Kyle’s body moves to the side. Derek stops the punch in
mid air and reverses it into a backhand strike. Kyle drops to the ground. The
fist brushes over the tips of his hairs before smashing the back off an empty
seat.
The onlooking passengers scurry over each other to the back
screaming both out of fear and out of amusement.
The Wandering Koala springs into the air and leapfrogs over
Derek’s head. Derek reaches up to grab him but is launched several feet forward
by a sidekick in his back. He reaches out to catch himself but is thrown
farther than he thought and sprawls forward onto his belly. The humiliation
must be killing him.
Derek picks himself up, turns around rubbing his chin, and
grins. “I’m surprised such a little guy packs so much wallop in his kicks.
Maybe my employer didn’t overpay.”
Thursday, May 15, 2014
13 - Thinking on the Past
How fortunate for his friend that he chose to leave when he
did. When I saw him begin blogging on his palmtop, I thought he would be there
for hours. That would have been most unpleasant. For him.
Kyle’s alone, slumped against the window sleeping. He looks
so calm, so peaceful, so completely opposite of the angry, scared, and lost
young man I knew at master’s dojo. And yet I swear he hasn’t aged a day. There
is more to him than meets the eye. I never would have believed it back then. Pride
was my downfall. It was a painful lesson, but one I needed to learn.
I mentioned the incident once to a master I had been hired
to silence. He was incredibly skilled, and for a time I wasn’t sure I would
come of victor. When I finally did overpower him he made one last request of
me: he wanted to know what had forged me into such a perfect and undefeatable
weapon. He was worthy of an answer. He told me I should be grateful for the
lesson. It had corrected a serious character flaw that would have prevented me
from becoming the unrivaled master of death that I had.
I could see his point, but the humiliation of losing to …
him – he wasn’t even a top student and had lost to several lesser fighters –
haunted me in my dreams every night. It still does. It must be avenged. I must
be avenged.
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