Well, Reade and Anya may have more in common than Reade thought. That’s what happens when you get a book/history lover talking.
Speaking of history, you know the Battle of Teutoberg Wald (9 C.E.)? Arminius led a band of Germanic tribes who bushwhacked and wiped out three Roman legions, making off with their eagle standards? “Quintillus Varus, give me back my legions!”?
Well, the Chuckleslovakians have a different version. It seems a large group of Steel Falcons were returning from a combination religious festival/outdoor concert/new husband hunting expedition when they ran across the 3 legions. Apparently the Roman soldiers offered some rather rude remarks. The Falcons (who were, for the most part, powerfully hung over) showed their displeasure by slaughtering a number of troops and carrying off the rest (abandoning most of their Germanic capt-I mean, future husbands).
Chuckleslovakian historians claim Rome cooked up the whole “ambushed by overwhelming forces led by Roman raised turncoat bad weather mud swamps blah blah blah” to cover their embarrassment at getting their sundials cleaned by a group of women. Germanicus later led a huge expedition against Arminius and claimed to have recovered two of the eagles. Chuckleslovakians claim that he brought two eagles with him so he could save face, since he knew darn well the women were too far East and he had no chance of getting them back anyway.
The Chuckleslovakian version has generally been laughed at by most historians. At least until recently, when metallurgical testing showed that the gold alloy making up most of the Chuckleslovakian Crown Jewels was identical to that used to make the Roman Legion Eagles. Oh, and Chuckleslovakian genetic testing shows a surprisingly high percentage of genes from residents of the former Roman Empire (where all them soldier husbands came from).
As the Chuckleslovakians say: “Popstru Krs Popstru Drgonsrich”: We believe what we know.
And we know what’s coming next, don’t we? You’re so lucky, because we’re gonna spend time with The Most Important Character in the Entire Groovyverse! None other than, that’s right, Her Royal Miffyness! Oh, it’s a Groovy, Kinda Christmas present, just for you!
Seriously, I think you’re in for a surprise or two.
Also, since I’m so darn proud of it, here’s the original of that first drawing:
Anya would fit in well with my ‘social’ circle, some of whom would point out that your author’s note about “genes from residents of the former Roman Empire” is exactly the right way to phrase it — a lot of people assume Roman soldiers were Roman, or at least from somewhere in Italy, but in fact the Roman army was largely made up from conquered peoples; Legions posted to the German frontier were likely made up of soldiers from north Africa or Asia Minor, while German tribesmen who joined the Roman legions were posted off to Britain or Spain or north Africa, or anywhere far from home so they weren’t tempted to revert to native loyalties. I wouldn’t be that pedantic of course, but my friends might be.
Thank you, Pops. Yeah, the legionaires came from all around the Empire, though the XVII (The Rubmblin’ Renegades), XVIII (The Fightin’ Formidables), and XIX (The Battlin’ Bellhops) were formed in Rome and stuck around until they went north. Still, it was enough to mix up the Chuckleslovakian gene pool more than, say, the “filthy inbred genetically inferior in every way Brungarians (to quote any Chuckleslovakian anywhere)”.
I think descendants of the Battlin’ Bellhops made an appearance in the movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel”.
I believe you are right, Pops! I thought it might be an old movie title, but imdb came up blank.
So, if anyone’s looking for a title for a new comic…
That is a fine diner there. I love it, you should definitely be proud, it’s some fine work.
I’m glad Reade and Anya found some common ground! Nothing brings people together better than books!
Thanks, MJ! Though Reade may share Anya’s love of books and history, sometimes enough is enough.
I was going to have an offstage Anya quoting another book “Pork Bones in the Fish Midden: An Analysis of Dung Excavated from Ancient Chuckelslovakian Bogs,” but there just wasn’t space.
Reade has some of the BEST turns of phrase. Seriously. Even when she’s angry she does fantastic things with language. 🙂
p.s. – glad to have a new page – but I’ve taken against Miffy. She’s SUCH a cat!
Thank you! Reade is like Stephanie-sometimes I just sit back and let them write their dialogue. Sometimes she’ll surprise me with what she comes up with (like Stephanie).I think it comes from all the books she reads.
Poor Miffy. Does anybody like her? Besides me, I mean. I love her, annoying habits and all.