Page Four - Inked Without Inset

The process of inking was done by laying a transparent sheet of cotton-based vellum over the penciled sheet, and utilizing Pigma Micron pens. This particular page will be the base of the fourth page of the first issue, which takes the form of an advertisement for the model kit of the MRK-04 TT Mandrake Triumphant, Alexia Nickelovich's unit for the majority of the story. The core module (right) of the 04 TT is launched into space along with it's partner, the MRK-06 TT Mandrake Hivemind, where it joins with the armor module, resulting in the left image. The joined form of the Triumphant is strictly for space use, and is stored in space due to the hefty cost of launching such a large mecha every time the Earth is threatened. The module's legs are entirely for show; they are chicken-legs, rather than straight legs, due to the designers' realization that the model kit resulting from the mecha would be unable to stand.

The barrels on the armor module's arms are not cannons, but rather arrays for the mecha's laser blades, which are capable of emitting a sustained blade up to a quarter mile in length. The grids on the surface of the armor are all solar energy collection panels, which recharge the module while it sits in the Earth's orbit between missions. In the model kit, the solar panels are functional, and are used to provide power for the LED lights. The model kit carries a hefty 120 dollar price tag, beyond the range of all but the most hardcore collectors.

It should be mentioned that the existence of in-story model kits is an essential part of the plot: the U.S. government realizes that they can essentially build zero-cost high performance test vehicles by opening up the Mandrake program to a full range of merchandising. The only thing teenage boys love more than giant robots are real giant robots, and the effect is much like the cultural impact of Pokemon; only, in this case, the merchandising represents an actual paramilitary force which saves the world at least once a week.

The Mandrake program is led by Boris Nickelovich, pilot of the 01 TT Mandrake Thunderlord. Other members of the six-pilot team include his two daughters, Alexia and Anya, and Anya's boyfriend Jimmy. As the almost-exclusively teenage team is constantly in the public eye, Anya and Jimmy's relationship has become a celebrity relationship, and numerous tabloids offer constant speculation over when the two will finally tie the knot. It should be added that Boris is not overly impressed with Jimmy, and that Jimmy is constantly trying to win his boss's respect. Anya finds this humorous, and spends considerable energy unraveling Jimmy's attempts to win her father's favor. The other 2 members of the team, Cynthia and Flora, bemoan the fact that the only teenage boy on the team is spoken for, and constantly push for the expansion of the team to allow for more (male) pilots. They will get their wish when the MRK-07 TT Mandrake Deathwing is activated, but not in the way they expect...