Lane Mastodon vs. the Blubbermen

Yow! Comic books on a computer only $12

Just like comic books but you can see the plot from different points of view

Infocom and Tom Snyder Productions present Infocomics, a bold new form of storytelling.

By this time, many of you have probably snapped a synapse or two trying to navigate your way through the wilds of Quendor in Beyond Zork or dodging bloodthirsty guard dogs in Border Zone. So you're probably ready for a little Rest and Relaxation. Well, don't touch that power switch, because we've got the cure for what ails you. The cure? Infocomics, of course! And what are Infocomics? Simply put, they're traditional comic books brought to life on your computer screen in new and exciting ways.

Now, we all have our favorite comic books or comic strips, but what makes them so special and memorable? It's that comics transport you to new and different worlds, peopled by fantastic and interesting characters who have absorbing stories to tell. And they do all that using a deceptively simple and direct format. When these things come together just right, you've got a comic that grabs you and makes you forget about the outside world for a little while. Infocomics do that and much, much more.

When you boot up an Infocomic, your computer will be transformed into a comic book, mimicking the real thing, complete with turning pages. Picture this: a deadly ray from a far-off planet sweeps through space, causing harmless animals and insects to mutate and devastate Earth. Sounds like a great comic already, right? But because it's an Infocomic, it's unlike any comic you've ever seen.

The panels of an Infocomic use sounds and exciting cinematic - panning, zooms, dissolves - that bring the colorful graphics to life and draw you right into the action. So you'll actually see and hear that ray slice through space and see the animals grow right before your eyes. Then you'll watch them as they run amok, wreaking havoc on the Earth and munching on famous landmarks for lunch.

One story through many eyes

But while Zabor, Chief of the Earth Defense League, helplessly watches these munching mutants, elsewhere our hero, Lane Mastodon, rockets through space, oblivious of the ray's wrath. And on Jupiter, the villainous Blubbermen delight in Earth's deadly dilemma. At any given moment these characters each have their own tales to tell. In order to get the big picture, you'll want to see all of them.

In Infocomics, the tales of these characters and many others are intricately intertwined, their paths merging here and diverging there. The end result is a cleverly fascinating story made up of the labyrinth-like structure of the various characters' story lines. Infocomics allow you to wander through this structure, following any character's tale and branching to another's whenever their paths intersect. At every turn, another piece or another perspective is added to the overall story in an enlightening and often surprising way. The plot thereby delightfully unfolds in a manner that is totally unique to this new storytelling medium.

No puzzles, maps or manuals

While Infocomics are complex in their structure, they're incredibly simple to use. In fact, they're so easy to use, there's no need for an instruction manual. Only four keys are needed to watch them! The "pages" turn by themselves. You can fast forward, stop, and rewind any time you like by pressing the arrow keys or the space bar. To jump to another character's path, press the RETURN (or ENTER) key. Otherwise, just sit back and enjoy!

Something for everyone

The first three issues of Infocomics offer a host of varied and entertaining characters and storylines. There's something for every taste - from comedy to fantasy to adventure.

Check out Lane Mastodon vs. The Blubbermen by Steve Meretzky. In this comic spoof of 1930's science fiction, Lane Mastodon, accountant turned superhero, fights to save humanity from the evil Blubbermen of Jupiter.

Or try Gamma Force in Pit of a Thousand Screams by Amy Briggs. This exciting superhero series features the Gamma Force, a trio of brave aliens each of whom possesses a different power. Thrill to the action as they try to free their planet from an evil overlord and his Pit of a Thousand Screams.

Finally, you'll enjoy ZorkQuest: Assault on Egreth Castle, by Elizabeth Langozy with characters and selected architectonics by Dave Lebling. Follow a caravan of Quendorians as they travel through the countryside, unaware that they are being manipulated by the Evil Magician and headed to a fateful confrontation at Egreth Castle.

There's more action and adventure to come, so don't miss these three premier issues. All three titles will be available in March for Apple II series, Commodore 64/128, and IBM and 100% compatible computer systems. With hours of entertainment at the amazingly low price of only $12, Infocomics are an incredible bargain.

Source:

From The Status Line, Vol.VII No.1 Winter/Spring 88

**Lane Mastodon

vs. The Blubbermen**

Check out the first of this hilarious series! Lane Mastodon, accountant turned superhero, saves humanity from the Blubbermen of Jupiter in this cornball spoof of 1930s space operas!

Source:

From the Triton Software Catalog For Your IBM, 1988