Duster and now even Harriet are so awesome in battle. When will Matty get his chance to shine?

Poll results: What alien machine from the series would you want as a “pet?” 44% chose a Starman, 37% want a UFO, 8% desire an octobot, 6% want a nuclear reactor bot that could blow up your house, and 5% want a wooly shambler. I don’t think any of them would obey you.

Harriet has gotten better and Duster is just a natural combat artist. But what about Matty?

Meedee is busy again this week, so unfortunately there’s no Thursday update. Next week we expect to be back to the usual schedule, and we’ll try to post a bonus page on Feb. 29th, the leap day.

In the mean time, I added some info cards: Gullible Guy, Duster’s Boots, Sturdy Monopod, and Galvanized Twirler.

Duster is scary. He can go from innocent puppy dog eyes to bloodlust fueled battle rage in a snap. Time to take back the mall! Pretty much the moment after it was just taken.

Poll results: Give the 2nd panel of 242 a cheesy movie poster title. They Came for our Capitalism barely won with 41%, with The Starmen go Shopping in 2nd at 39%. The Mall Rats VS Mars got 11% and The Men from the Stars Attack! got 9%.

No update today, meedee has been busy. Check back Thursday. If we still manage to do a second page this week we’ll let you know.

So where to next on our mall adventure? It’s not like anything has attacked us since the beginning of this chapter, so we might as well… Do you hear something?

Valice 2, the sequel to my first book, has been out for a while now but I never really announced it much. I was waiting to finish its web pages first. But now it’s done, as its Website. Most of the art is by meedee, it’s available as a paperback and ebook pdf, and it’d be a great way to support us. Of course you’ll probably want to read the first book beforehand.

Poll results: About the number of hours spent gaming last month? Straight down the line with 37% for 40 or more, 35% for 20-39, 22% for 1-19, and 6% for none.

New outfits, new attitude! Obviously Harriet will revert to wearing a dress again eventually, but new outfits always spice things up for a bit.

The Minecraft server is all upgraded again. If you want to join it, request whitelisting via PM on Starmen.net or in the Valice.net forums.

Harriet plays the make stuff up game and scores a new weapon! And what’s this? New “combat gear” is incoming?

Poll results: Which quirky mall store would you run into first? 47% chose the Store of Worthless Junk, probably out of curiosity. 22% are for the amazing World of Cardboard: More than just boxes. 17% thought Lots of Hammers sounded interesting, 7% want to try out Blubber and Bubbles, the combination bubble bath/candles made of whale blubber place, 4% were hoping to switch out their kids at Child Exchange, only to find that it was a clothing store. Finally, just 3% would go into Fab Abs, the strange new-age mini-gym.

Vote now and see these new outfits as an incentive.

A traveling salesman, seller of exotic goods? At these prices, though, he must not do much business. Perhaps Harriet’s Speech/Charm/Convince stats can help here.

A new incentive shows this guy in his early form.

Harriet, having found “nothing,” is prepared to give up on this mall. Until an offscreen voice gives her hope…

Poll results: How often do you go the mall? Sometimes: 38%, Rarely: 33%, almost never: 19%, all the time: 5%, and only during holidays: 5%.

Just one page of shopping, and Matty has already found a better weapon! Will Harriet find anything? And will Duster ever care?

If you check out info cards, you’ll find new cards for Azura City and a few of its locations, Matty’s shield, and the Hummingbird Egg.

We’ve given the mall a big panel. Hm, could it be that something dramatic will happen here shortly?

Check out a brand new Azura City newspaper and info in towns and news.

Poll results: What would you do if you met an alien? Most of you, 64%, would ask him about his world. 17% would do the typical thing of asking to how to achieve world peace and clean energy. 12% just want to see him vaporize something, hopefully not a person,. Just 4% and 3% want to play alien invasion video games or see an alien invasion movie.