Aztek – Means, Motive, and Opportunity – MK Stangeland Jr.

(5 Panels)

AZTEK has just discovered that LEX LUTHOR is the primary means of funding behind the Q Society, isn’t too happy about it, and decides to go visit LEX himself.

PANEL 1: LEX LUTHOR is standing near a waiting Limo, and he looks particularly annoyed. UNO, AZTEK’s alter-ego, is currently standing between LEX and his limo. LEX’s aids, including the chauffeur and a bodyguard, stand nearby with their weapons drawn but not pointed at UNO, as LEX is waving for them to stand down.

LEX: Can we make this quick please, Uno? I’m a very busy man.

UNO: You know who I am?

LEX: Of course I do. But if you’re here, you already know that, don’t you?

PANEL 2: UNO stands face to face with LEX LUTHOR. LEX is completely calm and has his arms crossed in front of him.

LEX: So what’s so urgent that you had to come all the way down here without your magnificent costume or even so much as the courtesy to call ahead?

PANEL 3: UNO is pointing at LEX. LEX looks down at UNO’s finger rather than looking back at UNO, as his body language says he’s heavily disappointed in what he interprets to be UNO’s ‘childish’ behavior.

UNO: I want to know what your motivation is.

LEX: For what?

UNO: For funding the Q Society and making me who I am.

PANEL 4: LEX gently moves UNO’s finger to the side. He uses his free hand to lightly ‘dust off’ the portion of his suit that UNO was pointing at.

LEX (1): My “motivation”, as you put it, is to save the world.

LEX (2): In case you weren’t aware, we are on the same team.

PANEL 5: LEX begins to circle around UNO as he tried to get to his LIMO.

UNO: Forgive me if I don’t believe you.

LEX (1): That’s your problem, Uno.

LEX (2): Question my methods if you like, but please don’t insult me by questioning my motives.

(END PAGE)

Aztek: The Ultimate Man - Preoccupied - Grant McLaughlin

Four rows of panels. Each row is a single panel, all of equal size.

1 – An image of a young child sitting atop an Aztec pyramid. He is wide-eyed and confused. He is surrounded by a number of mysterious figures in Quetzalcoatl regalia (“feathered-seprent” motif in their headdresses, masks, tattoos, dress, and so forth). The art style seems to be an imitation of Aztec art, but kind of poorly done, as if the artist is inexperienced. It is basic and spartan, with parts of unrecognizable words written at different places on the panel.

CAPTION (AZTEK): I was selected from birth by the Q Society to be Quetzalcoatl's champion.

2 – Same crude art style. In the child's place is a man grown. He appears to be a rough approximation of Aztek in full costume, but again, the artistic rendering is a bit lacking. At his feet is a pile of defeated foes. He stands ready, prepared for anything that may come his way. The unrecognizable writing continues.

CAPTION (AZTEK): It is my destiny to fight against all of His enemies to protect the world from the forces of the diabolical Tezcatlipoca.

3 – Same crude art style. This panel is rather bare, with only two figures. Aztek remains, but he is tired and sad. He holds his helmet in his hands, looking downwards. Above and behind him is an enormous depiction of Tezcatlipoca. Despite the crude rendering, it looks quite fearsome and omnipresent.

CAPTION (AZTEK): I live a life of strife. Battle is rarely far and the constant violence and bloodshed can be... exhausting.

4 – Switch to a regular superhero comic art style. Aztek is in his secret identity of Dr. Curtis Falconer. It appears that he is in an art class. There are a few students in the background working on their own projects. Aztek sits at his painting, which is actually a canvas containing all 3 of the above panels.  Aztek looks tired and a little sad. An art teacher stands looking at his painting, unsure of what to think.

CAPTION (AZTEK): To prevent their defenders from becoming overwhelmed by this never ending task, the Q Society encourages them to take up a hobby to provide some much needed diversion.

TEACHER: Well, it's certainly an interesting composition...

CAPTION (AZTEK): It's not really helping.

Aztek: The Ultimate Man – Cycles – Ryan K Lindsay

PAGE 1 – 5 PANELS

1. A little kid holds a newspaper in his hands. He is standing on a busy city street and we are reading over his shoulder.

Newspaper description
Headline: Blood Eclipse To Drown City
Image: artists rendition of this red eclipse, make it look like Berni Wrightson drew it
We can’t make out the rest of the words.

2. People look up into the sky, at us, their faces beginning to show surprise, fear, anger, etc.

NO COPY

3. The same panel as before but this time there’s a red shadow creeping up on them.

NO COPY

4. The same panel again but the red has almost overtaken them.

NO COPY

5. The kid is scrunching the newspaper in his hands, the red is right below his eyes.

Kid: C’mon, Dad…

Aztek – End of Days

1. A wide panel showing the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and its jungle surroundings.

CAPTION

December 21, 2012.

The final date on the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar.

2. Closer in on the temple, with the door to the temple barely visible. It is open.

CAPTION

Many different theories were thrown about, ranging from the end of the world to a new age of spiritual enlightenment.

Strange that no one could see that it wasn't a calendar at all...

3. Closer in on the door of the Temple. A figure is emerging from it, power surging and crackling from every pore. The ground beneath the figure scorched.

CAPTION

...but a countdown.

4. A close up on the figure emerging from the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. It is Aztek, The Ultimate Man. However, he is now the God Quetzalcoatl. And he is ready for destruction.

CAPTION

It was a warning.

Aztek: The Ultimate Man - False Destiny - Sime McDonald

The following script takes place in the DCnU, wherein Aztek has never made an appearance and is an entirely unknown entity. Liberties have been taken; but as there’s no continuity to contradict, I feel I’m obliged to spin things as I like.

PANEL ONE

Within the ancient ruins of an Aztek temple hides the ultra-modern headquarters of the Q Society. Aztek Codices adorn the walls; the room in which Aztek stands – clad in his iconic armour– is a shrine to his people, with contemporary additions, such as the flatscreen monitor adorning the front wall, its screen currently blank. In front of the screen stands a shadowed figure; a secretive member of the Q Society, a man whom Aztek answers to. For reference, this man is Ra's al Ghul – though we’ll keep that a secret for now.

RA’S AL GHUL

Tezcatlipoca has surfaced.

The black’s presence taints a great American city.

PANEL TWO

The screen flashes to life, displaying a shot of Batman’ cape outspread, looking particularly fierce.

RA’S AL GHUL

[off panel]

His darkness will soon be felt across the planet.

PANEL THREE
Ra’s Al Ghul, still in shadow, identity still obscured, points at Aztek.

RA’S AL GHUL

Your destiny comes to a head.

PANEL FOUR
On Aztek. His mouth is a hard line. He is a warrior. Determined and focused. Ready to face his destiny.

AZTEK

For Quetzalcoatl.

PANEL FIVE
Aztek takes off, flying up and away from Ra’s.

RA’S AL GHUL

No…

PANEL SIX

On Ra’s Al Ghul, face how visible, looking up at the sky, watching his stooge head for battle.

RA’S AL GHUL

For me.

Why Aztek: The Ultimate Man?

I remember Aztek dying.

It was in Grant Morrison’s final JLA arc; World War III. Aztek, the Ultimate Man, who’d been trained since birth for battle against Tezcatlipoca, sacrificed himself to enable Superman and rest of the League to save the world.

It was an abrupt end to a character I loved.

Granted, he wasn’t around long; created by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar, his series lasted a paltry ten issues (that’s not too bad in comparison to today’s standards, I suppose) and he was restricted to appearances in DC’s flagship title JLA. But Aztek was a character I started reading about when I first got into comics. He’s character I associate with my youth.

I’ve always hoped he’d return one day. Perhaps with DC’s new universe we may see Aztek again.

But not before Thoughtballoons is done with him.