I got hooked on this comic in its web form when someone on an Evangelion mailing list forwarded a link to this. While Fred ‘Piro’ Gallagher’s Megatokyo is heavily influenced by dating sims/anime like Kanon, Air, Haibane Renmei, Michael Poe’s Exploitation Now has numerous references to Evangelion, tentacle monsters, ninjas and even one for Sailor Bubba.
I read the story as having two main threads. Initially it starts out like 4koma with a joke per comic centred on Bimbo Moneymaker (ex porn star) and Ralph Givememore (furry perv) who are gradually squeezed out by the narrative featuring Jordan Kennedy (teenage evil genius) and Bush Moneymaker (teenage deliquent turned evil genius right hand). The whole thing has a chaotic feel to it but somehow it all hangs together and manages to conclude rather well before the story really spun out of control.
Seven kinds of AWESOME.
Bimbo Moneymaker. What. A. Great. Name. It’s her real name. Provides occasional doses of much appreciated fan service.
Ralph. Nobody is quite sure what he is but I think he allows us to communicate with our inner perv. I think this strip reflects the best way to handle a trap situation. LOL
Jordan Kennedy. Has tragic back story, plenty of teenage angst, freckles, schemes for world domination influenced by whatever anime she’s watching at the moment. What’s there not to like?
Jordan Kennedy’s artificial left forearm. A replacement (self-made) for the limb she lost in the accident that killed her parents, it comes with all the necessary things for an evil genius such as plasma cannon, mini-rocket launcher, teleporter and ummm… vibration mode. Like how Raising Heart crushed Belldandy in SaiMoe LOLOLOL, Jordan’s device can give any supporting character a run for its money.
Yuri. This is where I put Bush Moneymaker as she’s the object of Jordan’s lesbian lust that is, alas, unrequited. Sorta.
Assassins. Babylon Jones, Jordan’s former henchwoman and thereafter freelance assassin, has got Manji-like immortality, wound recovery powers as well as a huge hidden arsenal. She fights ninja too. Cool!
Orbital death ray. It’s a bit of a joke at first but the little event with Jordan hijacking the Russian weapon leads to a whole series of dramatic events. It also plays an important role in the climax. Anyway I’ve always wanted one of my own too.
It might seem a bit odd to buy the hard copies since the comics are available on the web. But I really really enjoyed EN so was willing to fork on the graphic novels. Pragmatically I also want some insurance against the web version suddenly disappearing or something. I’ve even pre-ordered the Exploitation Now: Done With All edition and I would plug it but, at the time of this post, it doesn’t seem to be listed on the store so I have no idea when it will reach critical mass needed for publication. Grrr.
I think the one that freaks me out is Jordan Kennedy, if only due to the whole yuri thing that she tries to engage in at the end with Moneymaker’s sister… and of course, that whole ‘teenage genius with a robotic arm/glove’ bit…
Wow… talk about nostalgia. It has been a long time since I have read and completed Exploitation Now. :) I am currently reading Poe’s current series, “Errant Story”. A much more polished and serious story, but still imbued with the perviness and crack-pot humour of Exploitation Now(EN).
Babylon Jones was actually one of his earlier creations, and the archives contain her earlier chapters. The project ended pre-maturely however, and EN became the main project. BJ( yes, the acronym is intentional ;)) remains one of my favourites characters from Poe’s imagination.
Cheers.
I’ve been a big fan of Poe’s work since EN, and love how he’s able to tie so many things together coherently in what, on the outside, appears to be one big chaotic mess (and on the inside, too, for the most part). For instance (not to go into detail for potential spoiler reasons) you have the fact Babylon Jones has more relation to the characters and storyline of EN than just her former job as Jordan’s hench.
He manages to do the same in Errant Story (link on the EN page somewhere), except to an even better degree. As much as I love EN, and as much as I love crackpot and pervy (which it has in spades over Errant Story), Errant Story is a much better story.
“Ralph. Nobody is quite sure what he is…”
I don’t think Poe ever actually comes out and says it (for fear of litigation), but Ralph is definitely a moogle.
Haesslich, how does that freak you out? Those characteristics you pointed out are precisely why she’s my favourite character and why Jordan almost took over EN singlehandedly (sorry, bad pun).
Skane, yeah, I’ve seen the early Babs comics too. Maybe because her powers are a bit too close to Manji guns?
quigonkenny, Though I am enjoying Errant Story, it is just a bit too polished and coherent for my taste - EN was wacky, edgier and sometimes just sooooo wrong in a good sort of way.
Zyl: I don’t think it was the aggression so much as the background that did it for me.. that and her “Thelma and Louise” thing with Bush towards the end of the strip’s run. I still preferred Bimbo, or Babylon Jones, to the underage Yuri Couple.
Haesslich, oh yeah, Thelma and Louise 4tw! And 16 isn’t underaged where I come from. LOL