"Variety" called it "undead schlock dulled by a slasher-film mentality". Schlock Mercenary is a comedic webcomic written and drawn by Howard Tayler. Landis made his directorial debut with "Schlock". "Forbes" called the music video "B-movie schlock retrofitted to K-pop perfectionism". In Howard Tayler's webcomic "Schlock Mercenary", every modern computer is a ternary computer. The Troy Rising series has been inspired by the webcomic Schlock Mercenary and its universe. John Ringo's "Troy Rising" series has been inspired by the "Schlock Mercenary" universe. While working at Novell, Tayler began online publication of "Schlock Mercenary". Schlock is a prehistoric apeman who terrorizes Southern California. In the distant future of "Schlock Mercenary"'s setting, many changes have faced Terran society. Regardless, Lasseter publicly dismissed "Antz" as a "schlock version" of "A Bug's Life". Cal uses a flare to get Schlock to drop Mindy. To be funny, even schlock has to believe in itself. Cal defends her against Schlock, by using a flare. In 1783 the Schlock County was added.