Author Archives: Viktor VonGlum

Things I dug in 2011 off the top of my head

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

Wolverine & The X-Men: Aaron’s run is like putting all the quirky ideas & characters from X-History through a blender and bombarding the result with cosmic rays & gamma radiation. It’s the most entertaining X-Book out right now IMO (I dig X-Force but this book has an Allred purity to it.


Cassandra Sanchez:  Not sure how I ended up following this lovely young lady on twitter but she definitely caught my eye. You can get more of her on twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/CassiieMeLinda) or at her official site (http://www.cassiiem.com/index.php).


Redline: It’s a very fun & kinetic anime film. It’s like Furi Kuri had a baby with Hanna-Barbera’s Wacky Races.


Immortals: My reasons are here https://unobtainium13.com/2011/11/19/a-possibly-biased-greek-myth-buffs-review-of-immortals/

Dan Hipp’s  fanart: Mr. Hipp has cranking out cartoon, movie, and videogame inspired zombie fan art throughout 2011. You can check them out here: http://mrhipp.blogspot.com/

Miles Morales aka the Current Ultimate Spider-Man: Bendis and Sara Pichelli have crafted an interesting and endearing character. This is only of the few books where I purchase the single issues and trade because it’s so darn good!

The images belong to their respective owners.

Chuck Hogan & Guillermo Del Toro’s The Strain bring gruesome Vampires back

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

The vampires of The Strain appear to be the next step of the Reapers, Del Toro introduced in Blade II. These creatures far removed from the handsome angst filled vampires of True Blood, Twilight, etc and more in the line with the apex predators that caused nightmares.

Below is the breakdown of the hemophagic corpses (via the wiki page)
Vampire Biology
The vector for vampirism is a capillary worm, which, once introduced into the human host’s bloodstream (either through a vampire’s feeding or direct invasion by the worm through a wound or orifice), introduces an incurable and fast-acting virus. By manipulating the host’s genes, the virus causes a human to undergo numerous radical physical changes.

Vampire Physicality
The first and most distinct vampire adaptation is the development of a long, retractile proboscis beneath the host’s tongue, which is able to extend up to six feet from the mouth. This “stinger” is both the vampire’s feeding and reproductive mechanism, shooting forth to latch onto human prey’s throat or thigh, both draining the victim’s blood for nutrition and infecting the human with capillary worms. The vampire’s jaw is set at a lower hinge than a human, the mouth gaping like a snake’s when the stinger is deployed. As the structure of the stinger is actually modified tissue from the human lungs and throat, vampires are incapable of physical speech.

A vampire’s physical appearance is governed mainly by the host body shedding those human traits that are obsolete to its new life cycle. Hair and fingernails are gradually lost, while the external nose and ears atrophy, leaving a fully matured vampire’s skin as smooth and featureless as marble. The vampire’s complexion is extremely pale between feedings, but appears a flushed red after a recent blood-meal. Eye coloration is a black pupil surrounded by a red sclera, with a white nictitating membrane sliding across for protection. The middle fingers of both hands grow and strengthen, and a thick talon develops in place of the lost fingernail. As vampire reproduction is achieved through viral infection of hosts and not through any sexual mechanism, the human genitalia also atrophy, leaving a mature vampire with no discernible gender.

The digestive and circulatory systems of a vampire are simplified and fused, the vampire’s interior organs most resembling a series of connected sacs. Nutrition from a blood feeding is transported throughout this system via a thick, viscous white fluid that forms the vampire equivalent of blood. The capillary worms are present in this fluid, swimming throughout the circulatory system and often visible beneath the vampire’s thin skin. Like rodents, a vampire is unable to vomit, its suction-based digestive process functioning only one way. All bodily waste is excreted from a single rectal orifice in the form of a pungent ammonia-based spray; a vampire will excrete for the entire duration of a feeding, purging old food as it consumes new blood.

The vampire’s body temperature runs extremely high, at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and a human is able to feel their ambient heat from several feet away.

Many of the physical changes from human to vampire occur gradually following the initial worm infection, and are accompanied by great pain. A newly “turned” human will lie in a state of suspended animation for an entire day, rising the next night as a nascent vampire. The stinger is present for the vampire’s first foray, in order to facilitate feeding, but other traits (hairlessness, talons on the mid-digit, lack of distinct internal organs) will develop within the first seven nights following infection. The vampire’s mental state will also be confused at first, and its movements will be clumsy and awkward. As it matures, however, the vampire will become supremely agile, able to leap great distances and climb sheer surfaces with the aid of its talons. Full maturity, physically and mentally, occurs within the first thirty nights.

 

In spite of the vampire’s morbid biology stripping legend of most of its romance, the most famously admired trait of the undead remains intact: immortality. Unless slain by violence or sunlight, a vampire’s parasitic body structure will neither fade nor weaken with the passage of time, giving them an effectively endless “life”-span. Even in those cases where the host body is damaged beyond repair, a vampire of sufficient power can transfer their consciousness (via a torrential capillary worm transfer) from one human form to another.

Vampire Senses
The sensory apparatus of the vampire is highly adapted for their nocturnal life cycle. Color vision is replaced with the ability to sense heat signatures, and the world is perceived in a monochrome brightened by sources of warmth (such as human prey). Hearing is greatly enhanced, in spite of the loss of external ears.

The vampires’ greatest sensory asset, however, is the “hive mind” that all new vampires share with the Ancient that propagated them. Each vampire, through some undefined telepathic link, is able to send and receive thought and sensory information to and from their Ancient progenitor. In this manner, the Ancient vampires direct the actions of their individual spawn through mental communication, regardless of distance. Perhaps akin to its radiation shielding properties, the element lead has the effect of blocking this mental connection.

In spite of their biological inability to speak, vampires can communicate with humans through telepathy, transmitting thoughts directly into a person’s internal monologue. Those vampires seeking to pose as human can train themselves to move their lips in a pantomime of speech, but the actual communication is still via thought-transference.

An Ancient vampire is also able to use this telepathic ability as a weapon; known as the “murmur”, this mental shock-wave has the ability to completely overwhelm the minds of surrounding human beings, rendering them unconscious.

Vampires also experience an overwhelming compulsion to infect family members and those they cared about as humans (their “dear ones”). They possess a unique ability to locate such targets, this sense being likened to a pigeon’s homing instinct.

Vampire Weaknesses
Many of the traditional vampire “weaknesses” of common folklore remain effective, although their potency is explained in terms of specific effects on vampire biology.

Sunlight is the vampire’s ultimate destroyer, specifically ultraviolet light in the UVC range. This is due to the germicidal properties of the wavelength, as it breaks down the virus-laden tissues of the vampire’s body. A localized source of UVC light, such as a fluorescent lamp, can be used to repel a vampire, much as a burning torch can repel an animal. Complete exposure, either to direct sunlight or a powerful UVC source, will result in complete desiccation of the vampire’s body, leaving behind nothing but ashes.

Silver, whether in the form of a metal weapon or even a fine chemical mist, can also wound or kill a vampire. Much like sunlight, this is due to the disinfecting properties of the element damaging the vampire’s viral biology. While conventional weapons (lead bullets, steel blades) can cause physical damage, they will not repel a vampire. Silver causes vampires both debilitating pain and a certain amount of fear, and binding a vampire in silver will completely incapacitate them.

Severing the spinal column through any method is another effective way to destroy a vampire. While the vampire’s simplified internal organ structure makes them difficult to harm with attacks to the body, decapitation will result in the vampire’s death.

Although there appears to be no biological imperative behind it, vampires cannot cross running water. This is alluded to as having something to do with the origin of the Ancients, but no further explanation is given. This aversion to water can be overcome, however, if the vampire is assisted (or “invited”) by a human.

Traditional religious protections against vampires, such as a crucifix or holy water, display no practical effect. The prevalence of this lore is explained as having been the product of Bram Stoker’s “fevered Irish imagination”.

Garlic, another common folk defense, has no noticeable use in repelling vampires.

Silver-backed mirrors, while they will not harm a vampire, will reveal their presence. While vampires do indeed cast a reflection, it is blurred and distorted, akin to an image vibrating at an impossible speed. Modern chrome-backed mirrors, however, will not have this effect, and the vampire will appear normally in such a looking-glass.

 

 

Images courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

A possibly biased Greek Myth Buff’s Review of Immortals

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

My review of Tarsem Singh’s Immortals will be spoiler free. My love of Greek mythology may have biased me positively (I loved Ninja Assassin because I still want to be a ninja despite being 30 years old).

The Olympians were depicted as young (and attractive) people instead middle aged folks, especially since the ancient Greek culture was so fixated physical perfection forms. These gods showed their prowess in combat and got their hands dirty instead fighting by proxy (Poseidon’s tidal waves and sea monsters, Zeus’ lightning bolt, Apollo’s arrows, and Dionysus’ murderous band of drunk women) as in most media productions.

Luke Evans provided a fresh interpretation of Zeus. He wasn’t the typical rash and violence prone elderly king with the libido of a frat boy, he displayed the same level of fatherly compassion as Anthony Quinn’s Zeus (y’all remember Kevin Sorbo’s Hercules series). He generally cared about humanity and looked at them as something more than notches on his belt like the previous Zeus. He even showed compassion for his children (male and female) unlike the mythical Zeus who only seemed to care about his sons in varying levels.

Found several things interesting:

  1. Theseus’ demigod status and divine paternity was seemingly replaced by a more tragic upbringing.
  2. The bovine suit that Daedalus made for Pasiphaë was transformed into a cruel torture device.
  3. The suit was still linked to the result of Pasiphaë and Mino’s prized bull.
  4. The war between the Olympians and the Titans was similar to the war between the Aesir and Vanir of Norse mythology.
  5. The lack of Hades and the other major 12 Olympians.
  6. Apollo’s weapon of choice was changed from a bow to a hammer.
  7. The racial diversity of the background cast (there were only Caucasian actors and actresses in these types of film).
  8. The religious ideologies of a believer, an atheist and an agnostic played out in the film.
  9. The removal of mere mortals dying when they behold a god’s divinity.
  10. Zeus and Athena using disguises to interact with mortals.

Images courtesy of  IGN’s Immortals review

An Ode to Mike Allred’s Madman

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum



On the surface, Allred’s Madman is a remix of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Frank Einstein (formerly Zane Townsend) aka Madman has more in common with the mythic heroes of legend and inhabits a world equally fantastic. The audience can see that Allred poured his heart into this series. The cast is eclectic and unique (ranging from a scientist with detachable heads, invisible assistants, villainous beatniks turned heroic mutate band, infernal g-men, a beatnik-alien hybrid, jungle themed heroes, an alien inventor, an adult Astroboy pastiche, unlikely celebrity cameos, and comic book guest stars). Allred took great steps to flesh out each character and grant a unique voice.

The thing that stood out most about Frank Einstein is his purity tempered humanity. He’s not an aloof alien judging us & looking down on us like Kal-El or a pinnacle of piety or perfection. He made mistakes, worked to fix them, and helped those in need around him. Madman didn’t perform heroics for attention, adoration, or reward; he just did what was right. His relationship with Josephine Lombard is so organic and beautiful free of the “will they won’t they” that plagued other iconic couples like Pete & MJ/Lois & Clark.

Madman embodies everything that made the 50′s and 60′s era of comic and science fiction great (down to its stylized artwork). If you are comic fan who misses the Golden Age where the focus was on telling an epic and captivating story (minus graphic violence and sadistic acts that emerged during the gritty 90’s) then this is the series for you!

Celebrity Guests:
Conan O’Brien & Andy Richter

Robert Rodriguez





Images courtesy of Warren Peace’s blog, Mike Allred’s official Site, Mike Allred’s Art Blog, and Comic Art Community

Farewell, Good Sir

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum



My first real exposure to Dwayne McDuffie was the Static Shock cartoon. I was aware of Static before the cartoon (due to the 90’s Milestone Comics, but I didn’t read a Milestone book until recently). Mr. McDuffie gave the audience an engaging narrative in addition to a different type of African American lead, a positive one. Virgil Hawkins was an honor roll student from a good family and not a gang banger, drug dealer, champion athlete, aspiring rapper (otherwise stereotypical black roles).

With the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited cartoons, Mr. McDuffie provided complex and rich stories that made the audience yearn for a world where Wally West, Bruce Wayne, and Clark Kent existed. His iteration of Clark Kent stands out in my mind because his Clark was damaged, burdened with such hurt and pain, yet soldiers on doing what he feels is right.
Later Man Of Action would put their Ben 10 series in his skillfully hands and he took that lump of clay and molded into a magnificent structure. He added so much depth and layers to the characters, put the characters through crucibles which caused to grow, and he also played with the concept of redemption along with good and evil. Now that he’s no longer here, the future of this fictional universe and its cherished characters are uncertain. Hopefully the staff will soldier on and make Dwayne McDuffie proud.

His films, Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths and All Star Superman, were treats for fans of excellent animation, DC fanboys, and lovers of an enthralling stories. I loved how he portrayed the Crime Syndicate as posthuman mafia with Ultraman ruling like some untouchable don as well as his nihilistic iteration of Owlman. He wowed with the way he was able to capture everything that made Kal El fantastic in Grant Morrison’s original story.


A few months ago, a friend of mine gave me the Icon trade (Icon was one of the flagship titles of Milestone comics). This book stood out because it dealt with issues that the Big Two (Marvel and DC) backed away from, such as teen pregnancy, inner city poverty and racism.

Dwayne McDuffie’s passing has impacted his fans and colleagues alike:

“I can’t wrap my mind around the notion that he’s not here anymore, to be honest.”
– Warren Ellis

“To work with Dwayne McDuffie was to be instantly at home with a kindred soul. You spoke the same language, you read the same comics, you tossed around ridiculous characters like B’wana Beast and the Ultra-Humanite with the same ease as two musicians riffing on a beloved childhood song. And like a musician, Dwayne fine tuned his stories until they sang. Dwayne made it easy because he was so good.”
– Paul Dini

Images courtesy of Denys Cowan, Comic Book Resources, Phil Bourassa, and Comic Art Community

Quotes courtesy of Warren Ellis Dot Com and Comic Book Resources

When Robot met Zombie… I meant Deathlok…

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

Most of you know that I am a huge necrophobe but I dig this idea.  The Deathlok character may be a reanimated corpse, he lacks the mindless cannibal angle and is outfitted with state of the art cybernetics. In the 90’s, I discovered Deathlok in his Professor Michael Collins iteration, a pacifist whose brain was transferred into a cyborg killing machine and frequently interacted with A List heroes like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men.

In recent years, robotic zombies returned as prototype troopers of Norman Osborn’s HAMMER organization (while they were more shambling zombies than cyborg killers they did plant the seed for a more fleshed-out reintroduction). The idea made a more faithful return in Jason Aaron’s Wolverine run as anonymous Deathlok soldiers outfitted with web shooters, rapid self-repair function, repulsor ray technology, and laser version of Wolverine’s claws.   This February, Rick Remender transformed the concept into a pan-temporal virus that has infected Marvel’s posthuman populace and utilizes them as a military force. I appreciate what these writers have added to the tapestry but I yearn for the days of a solo Deathlok soldier. Below are my ideas about how to accomplish it.

My primary Deathlok idea involves a dystopian future 616 where most of the posthumans have been eliminated and humanity is oppressed by the industrial military complex.  The resistance group would recover Steve Roger’s preserved corpse, revive it and outfit it with the technology of fallen heroes (Cap’s body is preserved so that the Super Soldier serum could be reverse-engineered).  The Deathlok would possess Captain America’s Ubermensch brain and most of his body, Wolerine’s Adamantium claws, Tony Stark’s repulsor ray and Uni-Beam, the Iron Spider’s camouflage technology, Henry Pym’s size change technology, the energy version of Captain America’s shield and the Thor Clone’s hammer.

My other idea merges Remender’s viral version with the Techno-Organic Virus (Marvel’s version of the Borg). AIM or Hydra creates a variant of the Techno-Organic virus that grants the host posthuman abilities in addition to integrated weaponry. In true comic fashion, the vial containing the modified virus ends up in the possession of SHIELD operative who eventually uses it to become a super hero.

Images courtesy of Comic Book Resources

No Name Anthologies: Last Script

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

No Name Anthologies: Issue #4

“Date with Destiny”

1st draft 11/24/06

By “Senor Geekus”

REFERENCE

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER

Arielle Thetis: A strikingly beautiful woman from Moniker’s past.  She possesses abilities similar a Naiad. She has long flowing hair that reaches her hips.  She resembles a cross between Monica Bellucci, Mieko Rye, and Sofia Vergara. She is dressed in an outfit similar to the ones worn by Inara in Firefly.

PAGE 1:

PANEL ONE: A building that resembles a Roman Bath.  It is surrounded by a garden. There are cars parked about 100 feet away.

PANEL TWO: The interior of the building looks like the classical Roman Bath house.

PANEL THREE: Zero Moniker is in bath relaxing. His arms are sprawled over the edge. Everything above his chest is in view and above the water. His body is thin yet muscular.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of his head. His head is facing the sky and his eyes are closed.

Zero Moniker: So this is what paradise is like.

PAGE 2:

PANEL ONE: Two watery tendrils form in the pool.

PANEL TWO: The tendrils shoot towards Zero’s hands.

PANEL THREE: They envelope his arms.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face. His eyes show his surprise.

Zero Moniker: What is going on?

PANEL FIVE: His arms are pulled into the pool.

PANEL SIX: The pool ices up around him: trapping him.

PAGE 3:

PANEL ONE: The watery figure is forming

PANEL TWO: The figure becomes more defined. There are pronounced facial features. The curves become more feminine.

PANEL THREE: The figure is now flesh and blood. It is Arielle Thetis. Everything above her shoulders is visible and above water.

PANEL FOUR: Arielle gazes intensely at Zero. There is a look of longing in her eyes.

Arielle Thetis: You have grown considerably since we last enjoyed each other’s company.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero. His eyes illustrate his utter embracement.

Zero Moniker: That was years ago, Arielle. We have both experienced some growth.

PANEL SIX: Arielle blushes and smiles.

Arielle Thetis: Yes, we have more pressing matters to attend to.

PAGE 4:

PANEL ONE: Arielle stands up. Upward flow of water encircles her.

PANEL TWO: Arielle is now wearing a gown. She is standing on top of the water and facing Zero.

Arielle Thetis: Father thinks it is time to evolve your enlightenment.

PANEL THREE: Zero’s eyes show his shock and surprise. An upward flow encircles him.

Zero Moniker: This soon… your father thinks that I am ready?

PANEL FOUR: Zero is now wearing a kimono and standing on the pool’s surface.  He is holding Arielle’s hands. The pool is radiating and energy is emanating from it.

PANEL FIVE: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PAGE 5:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero and Arielle are in a loving embrace. Arielle’s eyes are closed and her head is resting on his chest. They are in a pool but the environment looks like the Versailles Chapel.

PAGE 6:

PANEL ONE: Arielle and Zero are gazing into each other’s eyes.

Arielle Thetis: Evolution is a painful process. Are you sure that you want to go through with it?

Zero Moniker: Yes… I am certain.

PANEL TWO: A watery tendril rises behind him.

PANEL THREE: It splits in two.

PANEL FOUR: The two tendrils ensnare his arms.

PANEL FIVE: The main tendril ensnares the rest of his body.

PANEL SIX: The tendrils become solid ice.

PAGE 7:

PANEL ONE: Arielle has her right hand extended towards Zero. Her hand is open. There is a golf ball-sized energy sphere in her palm.

Arielle Thetis: Your evolution begins now!

PANEL TWO: Arielle places the sphere into his forehead.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of his face. His eyes are pupil-less.

PANEL FIVE: Energy shoots out of his eyes.

PAGE 8:

PANEL ONE: Zero’s body is radiating and emitting energized particles.

PANEL TWO: The ice restraints disintegrate and the kimono dissolves from the heat.

PANEL THREE: Zero is levitating about the water with his hands extended.

PANEL FOUR: Bolts of energy shoot out of his hands.

PANEL FIVE: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PAGE 9

PANEL ONE: Zero is in Zero Star form and ripples are emanating from it.

PANEL TWO: The Zero Star starts to split.

PANEL THREE: There are two Zero Stars now.

PANEL FOUR: The twin Zero Stars start to split.

PAGE 10:

PANEL ONE: The four Zero Stars are in a baseball diamond formation.

PANEL TWO: A baseball-size sphere of pulsating energy is in the center.

PANEL THREE: The sphere is growing and the surroundings are striking around it.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Arielle Thetis. She is shielding her eyes because of the radiance and there is a smile on her face.

Arielle Thetis: You did it! Your evolution is so beautiful!

Page 11:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero’s complete evolution now looks like Red super giant with four Zero Stars in its orbits. It takes up a large portion of the room. Arielle is twice the size of its satellites.

PAGE 12:

PANEL ONE: A close-up of the central sphere.

Zero Moniker: Such power is like ecstasy. I feel a greater connection with the universe.

PANEL TWO: The Zero Universe starts to pulsate.

PANEL THREE: The Zero Universe reverts back to the Zero Star.

PANEL FOUR: The Zero Star transforms back into the man.

PANEL FIVE: Zero is levitating above the pool.

PAGE 13:

PANEL ONE: Zero falls into the pool.

PANEL TWO: Zero is floating on the surface with his face towards the ceiling.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Zero’s face. His eyes convey his exhaustion and his contentment.

Zero Moniker: Is this how you feel every time you evolve?

PANEL FOUR: Arielle cradles Zero in her arms and looks loving at him.

Arielle Thetis: Yes, it is the continuation and enhancement of the enlightenment bliss.

PAGE 14:

PANEL ONE: The water around them begins to glow.

PANEL TWO: White space to represent a blinding flash.

PANEL THREE: They are back in the bathhouse.

PANEL FOUR: Arielle helps Zero to the edge of the pool. The upward flow of water still surrounds her.

PAGE 15:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Zero and Arielle are at the edge of the pool. Zero has his left arm around her shoulders. His other arm is sprawled over the edge. Arielle has her head resting on his chest. Arielle’s eyes are closed. Zero’s eyes convey his bliss.

 

FIN

No Name Anthologies: Script #3

Posted on by Viktor VonGlum

No Name Anthologies: Issue #3

“Jingoistic Reject”

1st draft 11/23/06

By “Senor Geekus”

REFERENCE

VILLAIN

Samuel Anthony Revere: The failed test subject of the Vietnam Post Human Initiative turned career criminal. He has an extremely muscular built, a cross between Marv from Sin City and Dog Chapman the bounty hunter. He is dressed in a dapper suit.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTER

Shango: A renowned Post Human cyborg bounty hunter. He’s of African Descent. He looks like Leonard Roberts, but a lot more muscular. He has a scar running down his face. He wears a black wife beater, army pants and combat boots.

 

PAGE 1:

PANEL ONE: An overhead view of the Las Vegas.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of a seedy bar with a sign that reads “Fish Monger’s”.

PANEL THREE: The bar is crowded. The patrons are the surly criminal type.

PANEL FOUR: Zero is at a table in the company of four beautiful women. One girl resembles Natalie Raitano. One resembles Kristin Kreuk.  One resembles Meagan Good. The last resembles Gloria Velez. They are dressed in the current trendy style.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero’s eyes. They convey excitement and enjoyment.

PAGE 2:

PANEL ONE: Revere bursts through the bar door. Splinters are flying.

PANEL TWO: The patrons are visible shaken.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Revere. His teeth are clenched and there is a murderous look in his eyes.

Revere: What the Hell do you think you’re doing with my girls!!

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face.

Zero Moniker: I thought that I would show them that a real man is like.

Zero Moniker: All those muscles don’t compensate for what they really need.

PANEL FIVE: Revere pulverizes a near-by table.

Revere: No prissy conservative puke is going to come to my bar, take my women and insult my manhood and LIVE!

PAGE 3:

PANEL ONE: Zero blasts him through the wall. The back of Zero’s head is in view. The beams hits Revere in his midsection.

Revere: Oooof

PANEL TWO: Revere is slammed into a parked 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee

PANEL THREE: Revere gets up and dusts off suit. He has a grin on his face.

Revere: Seems like you have a pair, boy!

PANEL FOUR: Revere rips out a lamppost and swings it at Moniker. There are speed lines as he swings.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Zero’s face. There is shock in his eyes.

Zero Moniker: Why is he so quick?

PAGE 4:

PANEL ONE: It stops inches away from Zero. An electrical glow surrounds it.

PANEL TWO: Revere is struggling with the lamppost.

Revere: What the devil just happened here?

PANEL THREE: Revere fires an optical laser beam at Moniker.

PANEL FOUR: Zero blocks the beam with his force field. His hands are stretched out in front of him.

PANEL FIVE: Revere swings the lamppost and it connects. It catches him on his left shoulder.

PAGE 5:

PANEL ONE: Zero is hurled towards the traffic light.

PANEL TWO: Zero spins himself like a top.

PANEL THREE: Zero lands on his feet about 15 feet away from Revere.

PANEL FOUR: Zero is facing the reader. A barrage of energy bullets are coming from his head.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Revere’s eyes. His left eyebrow is raised. His eyes illustrates his shock

Revere: Looks I just stepped in it!

PAGE 6:

PANEL ONE: The barrage hits Revere.

PANEL TWO: Revere stands with his arms crossed. His suit is seriously damaged, but his skin is undamaged.

Revere: Boy, I received a few more upgrades since I left Uncle Sam. I doubt I can still be grouped with you baseline types.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Zero’s head and his secondary eyes are focused on Revere and glowing.

PANEL FOUR: An X-Ray view of Revere. His skeletal structure is mechanical.

PANEL FIVE: Revere is grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Revere: Guess that now my secret is out of the bag… there’s no need for me to hold back.

PAGE 7:

PANEL ONE: Revere lunges at Moniker. Speed lines come off Revere as he lunges.

PANEL TWO: He jabs Moniker in the jaw.

SFX: CRACK

PANEL THREE: The punch sends Zero flying through the bar window. Speed lines come off Zero as he flies into the Window.

PANEL FOUR: A bike similar to the one Kaneda drove in Akira crashes into Revere.

PANEL FIVE: Revere slams into a parked bus.

PANEL SIX: The bus explodes.

PAGE 8:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): Shango is standing grabbing his fist. He has a serious P.O.ed look on his face. The civilians around him are in shock and awe.

PAGE 9:

PANEL ONE: Revere emerges from the wreckage relatively unharmed. The fire has burnt off his hair.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of Revere’s grinning face.

Revere: So the runt called his big brother to fight his battles.

PANEL THREE: Shango picks up a Dodge Charger and hurls it at Revere.

PANEL FOUR: Revere smacks the car away.

PANEL FIVE: The car is heading towards the helpless onlookers.

PANEL SIX: Shango speeds before them and destroys the car with an optical beam.

PAGE 10:

PANEL ONE: Revere speeds towards Shango and punches him in his gut.

PANEL TWO: A close-up of Shango’s fists grabbing Revere’s arms.

PANEL THREE: Shango throws him into the air.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Shango’s eyes flashing.

PANEL FIVE: Shango fires another optical beam at the airborne Revere. The reader sees the back of Shango’s head and the beams traveling upwards.

PAGE 11:

PANEL ONE: Revere dodges the beam.

PANEL TWO: Revere speeds towards the Earth bound Shango.

PANEL THREE: Revere’s eyes flashes and he grins insanely.

PANEL FOUR: He crashes into Shango at full force.

PANEL FIVE: The scenery is covered with a cloud of smoke and dust.

SFX: KAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

PAGE 12:

PANEL ONE (ONE-PAGE SPREAD): There is a huge crater in the middle of the street. Revere is holding an unconscious Shango with his left hand. His right hand is raised in preparation for delivering the death blow.

PAGE 13:

PANEL ONE: Revere recoils his right hand ready to decapitate Shango.

PANEL TWO: An electrical glow surrounds his fist.

PANEL THREE: A close-up of Revere’s eyes. He is complete shock.

Revere: Wh… What is going on here?

PANEL FOUR: Electrical glow now surrounds his entire body.

PANEL FIVE: Electrical energy surges through his body.

PAGE 14:

PANEL ONE: Zero is now in front of him. Zero’s suit is a bit worst for wear.

PANEL TWO: Revere is grinning.

Revere: So the wimp is back in the game. I thought that my jab would have obliterated a pencil neck like you.

PANEL THREE: Zero glares at Revere with both sets of eyes.

Zero Moniker: It will take more than a cretin like you to awaken me!

PANEL FOUR: Zero’s secondary eyes are glowing.

Zero Moniker: I will now enlighten you.

PAGE 15:

PANEL ONE: Zero and Revere on eye level. An energy wave is leaving Zero’s secondary eye and entering Revere’s eyes.

PANEL TWO: Revere’s eyes close and he falls unconscious.

PANEL THREE: Revere awakens tied to a stake with chains.

PANEL FOUR: A legion of Zeros holding spears stand before Revere.

PANEL FIVE: A close-up of Revere screaming in agony.

PAGE 16:

PANEL ONE: Revere is in a fetal position sobbing.

PANEL TWO: Shango is emerging from the crater.

PANEL THREE: Shango’s face conveys his utter shock.

PANEL FOUR: Shango and Zero are face to face.

Shango: What did you do to him?

Zero Moniker: I gave him a little taste of Tartarus.

Shango: …

PANEL FIVE: Shango’s eyes convey intense fear and dread.

PAGE 17:

PANEL ONE: Zero points to the traumatized Revere. He is facing the reader.

Zero Moniker: You can take him. He has been enlightened so he’s all yours.

PANEL TWO: Shango binds Revere with chains.

PANEL THREE: Shango places a large hi-tech collar around Revere’s neck.

PANEL FOUR: Shango hoists Revere over his right shoulder.

PANEL FIVE: Shango holds out his left hand and gives a thumb up.

Shango: Thank you

PAGE 18:

PANEL ONE: Zero is standing by himself. His jacket is blowing in the wind and his hands are in his pocket.

PANEL TWO: The four women are walking towards him.

PANEL THREE: Zero has his arms around their shoulders as they walk towards the casino area.

PANEL FOUR: A close-up of Zero’s face. He has a look of contentment in his eyes.

Zero Moniker: I will make amends for the abysmal day.

 

FIN