Ok,
after some thought, it occured to me that the Clone comic series could potentially be revamped and updated so as to be a little more palatable. Removing the obvious Macross influences would be a step in the right direction. Figure the series is set in the mid-2050's and the colonists come from Earth, Mars and Jupiter perhaps wanting to start anew somewhere away from the Earth. The interesting thing is that it doesn't have to solely be about military characters but could be stories based on a broad range of themes: exploration, societal/libertarian freedoms vs security, old grudges (perhaps the military complement are from the deep space colonies and dont really like the Earthers) etc. Of course, it would need to be handled with care so as to not treat the reader like a 4-year old or slack-jawed moron.
The Mordecai (or whatever it will be called) itself would be revisualized to be an Ark Angel-class Colony Ship leading a fleet of other ships (some civilian, some military) to try and explore, map as well as colonize the Andromeda galaxy as well as provide reconnaisance to see if the Riddle of Protoculture has taken root there (to steal a line from both End of the Circle and Eps. #38 False Start). If need be, using older designs like that of the Valivarre (from The Sentinels) to base most of the military forces on with a few escorts like older Ardennes-class Heavy Cruisers pulled out of a boneyard and updated (the same way the Tokugawa was) and some old Garfish-class Light Cruisers. Civilian ships might range from Shuttles to something larger created solely for the comics like a hydroponics habitat like that in Silent Running or the neo-Battlestar Galactica mini-series.
Mecha, again, could be newer designs like the Gamma (representing cutting edge), Super Shadow Alpha's, Synchro-Cannon armed Beta's, MBR-Boxer, SDR-Cougar, ADR-Jaguar, HWR-Tiger, Bioroid Interceptor's as well as older designs brought out of retirement like VHT-1A1 Spartas hovertanks, VHF-10 AGACS or even VF-4's and VF-1R Valkyries. Perhaps the newer mecha are exclusively military units while the older mecha are colonial militia/mercenary units. Sort of a way to please old fans by showing that there are still some of the earlier mecha in use.
Of course, this whole series is predicated on the idea that there is no Protoculture shortage anymore. The Mordecai would have its own Protoculture Factory aboard, a stable Matrix and access to crops of the Flower of Life. Perhaps a few Solugi and half-Solugi, Tirolian and half-Tirolians are aboard to aid on technical matters. Throw in micronized Zentraedi and their descendents (1/2 and 1/4 Zentraedi) as well as regular humans and it could make for interesting tensions. Perhaps some of the former Tirolians, being members of the Scientist or Clone Master Caste antagonize the various Solugi or Zentraedi they work with. A sneer here, a snide comment there, etc.
Enemies should straight up be degenerated Zentraedi of some sort, perhaps outposts of the enigmatic Disciples of Zor, a few Invid colonies that don't exactly conform to the standard Invid etc, plus some new baddie that has emerged from the power vaccuum left behind by the collapse of The Masters' continuum. As much as I hate to make comparisons, Star Trek and Macross Frontier are good examples to follow (just not to overtly imitate).
after some thought, it occured to me that the Clone comic series could potentially be revamped and updated so as to be a little more palatable. Removing the obvious Macross influences would be a step in the right direction. Figure the series is set in the mid-2050's and the colonists come from Earth, Mars and Jupiter perhaps wanting to start anew somewhere away from the Earth. The interesting thing is that it doesn't have to solely be about military characters but could be stories based on a broad range of themes: exploration, societal/libertarian freedoms vs security, old grudges (perhaps the military complement are from the deep space colonies and dont really like the Earthers) etc. Of course, it would need to be handled with care so as to not treat the reader like a 4-year old or slack-jawed moron.
The Mordecai (or whatever it will be called) itself would be revisualized to be an Ark Angel-class Colony Ship leading a fleet of other ships (some civilian, some military) to try and explore, map as well as colonize the Andromeda galaxy as well as provide reconnaisance to see if the Riddle of Protoculture has taken root there (to steal a line from both End of the Circle and Eps. #38 False Start). If need be, using older designs like that of the Valivarre (from The Sentinels) to base most of the military forces on with a few escorts like older Ardennes-class Heavy Cruisers pulled out of a boneyard and updated (the same way the Tokugawa was) and some old Garfish-class Light Cruisers. Civilian ships might range from Shuttles to something larger created solely for the comics like a hydroponics habitat like that in Silent Running or the neo-Battlestar Galactica mini-series.
Mecha, again, could be newer designs like the Gamma (representing cutting edge), Super Shadow Alpha's, Synchro-Cannon armed Beta's, MBR-Boxer, SDR-Cougar, ADR-Jaguar, HWR-Tiger, Bioroid Interceptor's as well as older designs brought out of retirement like VHT-1A1 Spartas hovertanks, VHF-10 AGACS or even VF-4's and VF-1R Valkyries. Perhaps the newer mecha are exclusively military units while the older mecha are colonial militia/mercenary units. Sort of a way to please old fans by showing that there are still some of the earlier mecha in use.
Of course, this whole series is predicated on the idea that there is no Protoculture shortage anymore. The Mordecai would have its own Protoculture Factory aboard, a stable Matrix and access to crops of the Flower of Life. Perhaps a few Solugi and half-Solugi, Tirolian and half-Tirolians are aboard to aid on technical matters. Throw in micronized Zentraedi and their descendents (1/2 and 1/4 Zentraedi) as well as regular humans and it could make for interesting tensions. Perhaps some of the former Tirolians, being members of the Scientist or Clone Master Caste antagonize the various Solugi or Zentraedi they work with. A sneer here, a snide comment there, etc.
Enemies should straight up be degenerated Zentraedi of some sort, perhaps outposts of the enigmatic Disciples of Zor, a few Invid colonies that don't exactly conform to the standard Invid etc, plus some new baddie that has emerged from the power vaccuum left behind by the collapse of The Masters' continuum. As much as I hate to make comparisons, Star Trek and Macross Frontier are good examples to follow (just not to overtly imitate).
