Episode 412 - Escapism, chapters 1-8

Episode 412: Escapism, chapters 1-8

Don’t worry, my interest in organic meat units is purely scientific.

When you’re lost in a strange and hostile wasteland with no idea of where you are and where everything is trying to kill you, there’s only one person that you can turn to. That’s right, a creepy robot girl who instantly solves every problem and sucks even the vaguest hint of a challenge out of the whole setting. And that’s exactly what happens when Jack, Raf and Miko get blown up and land in the Fallout universe for no reason whatsoever in what could be called a crossover if you squint hard. But in the meantime there’s some raiders and a debate over which bridge to use while going on a scavenger hunt and listing what everyone has in their inventory, so you can tell this fic is going to be a thrill a minute. So go spy on your neighbours and watch them sleep for the first portion of Escapism!

Oh, and also there are some Transformers here. Maybe.

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Episode 411 - Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 10-11

 Episode 411: Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 10-11

Karaoke, barbeques and the term ‘United States of America’ did not survive the apocalypse. Unlike extensive knowledge of historical aircraft, the Top Gun beach volleyball scene, Star Trek jokes, Bourbon, Lion King musical numbers and comparing everything to Nazis

As the war against the Coalition reaches its peak, the Mad Dog Squadron decide to take a package trip to Japan. Huh? Yeah, it makes no sense, but then again we are reading a fanfic about wizards flying magical aeroplanes, so I suppose that’s not too much of a leap by comparison. In the meantime, Sake gets lessons in how to be a weaboo, Lance fails at cultural sensitivity, Spaz almost gets a line and we discover that bourbon is the key to resolving international incidents. So head down to your post-apocalyptic Karaoke bar for the final (but by no means conclusive) portion of Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron. Now featuring that one guy who’s totally been there all along.

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Episode 410 - Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapter 9

Episode 410: Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapter 9

The fearsome warrior of the wastelands, Bob from Quality Assurance

Meet Bob. He’s a foul-mouthed alcoholic uncouth backwards hick, so the Mad Dog Squadron take an instant disliking to him probably because he’s so much like them that it actually hurts. Who is he and what does he do? Well it doesn’t really matter, because what this chapter’s really about is how Lance is even more of a creep then he’s seemed to be so far, which is no mean feat in and of itself. Plus on top of that we have the inevitable revenge scheme by the laughably ineffectual designated rival, who this time is armed with magical bullets that are actually less useful then regular bullets. So sit back and light up your smelliest cigar for more Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron. Or else Lance will wipe your brain.

No, really. I’m not joking about that part.

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Evilness versus Effectiveness: A visual representation

The opening to Episode 409 featured one of our favourite types of sketches; one where we attempt to over-analyse the fanfics we read and apply some sort of strange logic to them. The 'evilness versus effectiveness' idea was an attempt to quantify something that logically couldn't be quantified, but of course, that wouldn't stop us anyway.

And while the opening sketch contained descriptions of the various charts, I thought that it would be fun to put them in a more visual form ti give a better idea of what we were talking about.

Episode 409 - Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapter 8

Episode 409: Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapter 8

Does my skull-masked helmet look like it cares?

This newest chapter of Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron brings us something a tad different. Rather then being told from the point of view of an unlikeable, overbearing jackarse it’s instead it’s by an entirely different unlikeable, overbearing jackarse. See? Big change. So, meet Sugar. What do we know about him as a person? Nothing at all, and this chapter won’t change that one bit. Also it features the closest thing the fic’s had so far to  a sympathetic character (hint: not Sugar), dating tips for the single Robot Skull Nazi and some unfunny banter from the enlightened advanced alien, so take that how you may. Good fish!

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Episode 408 - Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 6-7

Episode 408: Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 6-7

I’m just going to say that a band where the lead guitar’s head could literally explode on stage would be the most metal thing ever

What could go better with your magical wizard aeroplane fantasy then a big heaping of Holocaust imagery? That’s right, it’s another big dollop of joy from Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, a fic that is determined to be as awful as possible in as many ways as it can. And just to top that off, we also get a couple of major plot developments that are handled entirely off-screen in a massive expositional infodump as a nice bonus. So once again you can sit back and enjoy the band (as long as they don’t explode) as Lance absolves himself of any responsibility for all of the terrible things that are entirely his fault while refusing to do anything that might interfere in the metaplot. It’s what heroes do!

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.

Episode 407 - Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 4-5

Episode 407: Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron, chapters 4-5

I can’t think of anything more thrilling than an evil wizard’s financial management.

The concept of the Barbeque has not survived the apocalypse. However, historically accurate vintage aircraft, Nazi imagery and the beach volleyball scene from Top Gun has. Bear that in mind when you read your way through these next two chapters, because it’s still the least stupid part of the story. What we do have, however, is a plan that not only is incredibly stupid, but also relies on everyone else to be even stupider in order to work. Naturally this means it goes off flawlessly because Lance thought of it and he can never be wrong, even when he starts and then escalates a feud all the way up to people dying in his place. So snap your teeth and flick your towel for the next portion of Chronicles of the Mad Dog Squadron. Now with free bird seed!

Riffers: Dan, Rebecca Bartley, Tsuneo Tateo and Rick R. Mortis
Written by: Zogster and Rick R.