Warren Ellis's GRAVEL - Turn the Page, Part 5 - Ray Wonsowski

See last episode for links to the first 4 parts to the story...

Previously...CLEA, antique dealer AUGUST TURN, and private eye JESSICA JONES had been pulled into the Dark Dimension via a portal hidden in an armoire. Sensing the mystical imbalance impending, LADY SATAN has dispatched to their aid the mysterious gunslinger, the ACE OF SPADES, and a certain WILLIAM GRAVEL...

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Panel 1- CLEA, her hands in the throes of magick gesticulation, strains to reinforce her protective spell, a large translucent angelic aura embossed with the glyphs of Heaven. AUGUST and JESSICA hide behind her as a cadre of MINDLESS ONES batter the aura.

CLEA: Shield of the Seraphim!!

AUGUST: What are these things?!?

CLEA: Minions of my uncle. Mindless Ones - their only drive is to destroy all that lies before them.

JESSICA: We need help!!

Panel 2- same as above, except, as if on cue, mystic bullets curve and weave through the MINDLESS ONES, causing them to shatter, just as CLEA's shield cracks.

(Off-panel): Right.

Panel 3- POV change, Dutch angle, two silhouettes, one a bulky male, the other a slender female, both holstering pistols, walking toward us through a cloud of floating pebbles.

GRAVEL: This isn't just a stroll through the Body Orchard. This is the first salvo in what could be an interdimensional war.

Panel 4- same as above, but the pebble cloud has parted like curtains, revealing WILLIAM GRAVEL, dressed in military fatigues, and the ACE OF SPADES, minus the cowboy hat, hair tied back, in purple silk pants and blouse tied at the navel (note: her revolvers are holstered handles outward, as if she draws cross-armed). The ACE points her thumb at GRAVEL, while he waves her off with his palm.

ACE OF SPADES: Mister Melodrama here, everything is so "worst case scenario"...

GRAVEL: 'cuz everything IS worst-case. 

GRAVEL: I'm Bill Gravel, S.A.S. Combat magician. This is the ACE, immortal gunslinger.

ACE: We're the cavalry.

...to be continued...

Public Domain - Lady Satan and the Ace of Spades (Turn the Page, interlude) - Ray Wonsowski

In case you haven't joined us before, here are the previous chapters of Turn the Page:

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4

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Panel 1- a lady's slender fingers, her nails shellacked blood red, lightly brush the surface of a crystal ball. A green glow from the serpent ring on her middle finger seems to cause eddies in the grey mists inside the glass.

LADY SATAN (off-panel): The Ring of Dragon Scale unveils the shadow-world. The Sorceress Supreme eclipsed...

Panel 2- same as above, except the image in the ball is cleared: CLEA, consumed head to toe in the Flames of the Faltine, tearing the Cloak of Levitation in two.

LADY SATAN (off-panel): ...undone by her Faltine blood and passions strange long cooled...

Panel 3- same as above, but the image has changed to the confused goofy expression of AUGUST TURN, his head encircled by surreal shapelets.

LADY SATAN (off-panel): Turn to a new apprentice, she has chosen poorly...

Panel 4- same as above, the image has coalesced to a towering DORMAMMU.

LADY SATAN (off-panel): ...leaving her unprepared for her demonic uncle lying in wait...

Panel 5- from her chair behind a simple table, her fingers still stroking the now fogged crystal ball, rises the LADY SATAN (imagine Betty Page in a sleeveless blood red evening gown, a pale green silk blindfold over her eyes). The wallhanging behind her is a blow-up of the Tarot card, the Hierophant.

LADY SATAN: What she sees as unfinished family business, may actually be a dimensional incursion the likes of which she may be woefully unprepared for.

Panel 6- reclining in a throne-like chair, long legs draped over one armrest, sits the ACE OF SPADES. (She is slender, lanky, dressed like a female Stevie Ray Vaughn, black leather boots and pants, black silk shirt knotted at the navel, her domino mask visible under her wide-brimmed western-style hat, reddish brown hair knotted in a ponytail.) She is pushing her hat brim off her brow with a shiny steel long-barrelled Colt Revolver, a thin-lipped smile at us. - Behind her is another wallhanging, the Wheel of Fortune.

ACE OF SPADES: She's been beyond her reach since Stephen Strange disappeared. She may need a little back-up.

Panel 7- LADY SATAN and ACE OF SPADES face each other from opposite sides of the swirling crystal ball. LADY SATAN still stroking the glass, her ring still glowing, the ACE holsters her pistol. On the wall hangs a third Tarot blow-up, the Lovers.

LADY SATAN: You yourself may not be enough to turn the tide. A gifted gunslinger you may be, but to win, it may take the aid...

Panel 8- close-up of the crystal ball, the image of the profile of WILLIAM GRAVEL, head haloed by a ring of bones, now clear.

LADY SATAN (off-panel): ...of a combat magician.

...to be continued...

Jessica Jones - Turn the Page, Part 4 - Ray Wonsowski

Previously, CLEA was investigating an armoire that doubled as a portal to the Dark Dimension, in the possession of antique shop owner AUGUST TURN. But the portal has started fighting back...

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Panel 1- JESSICA JONES walking down Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village, past the vintage shops, window shopping and enjoying the sunshine. She's in t-shirt and jeans, shades in her hand as she squints at the sun.

CAPTION (Jessica): For once I've got the day to myself. Luke is taking Dani to Westchester...

Panel 2- exterior, August's family antique shop, the sign in the window reads "Turn's of the Century - Family Antiques". JESSICA has her hand on the door as she puts her shades in her purse.

CAPTION (Jessica): Kinda weird when the Beast is your pediatrician. Frankly, I'm just looking forward to a day without weirdness...

Panel 3- JESSICA enters the shop, surprise on her face as she witnesses CLEA, hands gesticulating in a very Dr Strange manner and glowing with magicks, and AUGUST, dagger in hand, fending off tumorous tentacles reaching out from the armoire portal and wrapping around their waists.

CAPTION (Jessica): ...

AUGUST: Doc!!

CLEA: By the Hoary Hosts!!

Panel 4- POV facing the storefront exterior. JESSICA tries to run out the shop door, a tentacle reaching for her.

CAPTION (Jessica): Have I mentioned how much I hate this $#!t...

Panel 5- same POV, the tentacle grabbing JESSICA around the torso, yanking her off her feet.

JESSICA: AAHH!! GETOFFGETOFFGE--

Panel 6 - same POV, the shop door slamming shut on the unsuspecting city.

NO COPY

...to be continued...

The Dark Knight Returns - Turn the Page, Part 3 - Ray Wonsowski

Previously, young antique dealer AUGUST TURN stumbled upon an armoire that in actuality is a portal to the Dark Dimension. Doctor CLEA Strange  discovers that TURN has an eye for magicked items, and arms her new  charge as they prepare for the crossing...

Panel 1 - Interior, the antique shop. CLEA gives AUGUST the silver dagger.

CLEA: Be ready, August. The Dark Dimension is...

Off-panel: What is this?!?

Panel 2- stepping out of the armoire is a confused but angry Miller-esque DARK KNIGHT. He is huge and aggressive, ready to tear through the store.

DARK KNIGHT: Where am I?!? Do you know who I am?!?

Panel 3- CLEA wiggles her fingers, and the DARK KNIGHT warps painfully out of our reality. AUGUST hides behind CLEA in fear, as this is the first salvo of what may be a long fight.

DARK KNIGHT: I'm the goddamn BatmaAARRRGH!!!

SoundFX: FrrT!

Panel 4- CLEA walks through the distortion into the armoire, AUGUST follows close behind.

CLEA: My uncle has much to answer for...

AUGUST: Your uncle's Frank Miller?

...to be continued...

Jay Garrick - Turn the Page, Part 2 - Ray Wonsowski

Previously, CLEA is brought to the antique shop of AUGUST TURN, who shows her an armoire that is actually a gateway to the Dark Dimension.

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Panel 1- Background, Interior of the shop, antiques everywhere, most prominent is the open armoire, abstract energy beginning to emanate forth. Foreground, AUGUST stands behind CLEA, the Eye of Agamotto having floated upon her forehead, glowing mystically.

CLEA: How long have you been collecting for your shop?

AUGUST: Year, year and a half. Why do you ask?

Panel 2- POV, as CLEA, looking out at the store. Numerous items gleam white with power.

CAPTION, CLEA: It seems you have a gift for the esoteric. For example...

Panel 3- CLEA stands at a china hutch, holding the winged helmet of Jay Garrick gingerly, regarding it respectfully as AUGUST looks on timidly.

CLEA: ...this helm was touched by one of your Greco-Roman gods. It actually hails from another Earth, and blessed its agent with superhuman speed during that world's second World War.

AUGUST: ...wow...

Panel 4- CLEA hands the winged helmet back to AUGUST reverently, but something else, a dagger on a writing desk, has caught her attention.

CLEA: This runner was so fleet, he broke the barriers between worlds, and started a legacy of speedsters that will pass through generations and across the multiverse.

Panel 5- CLEA holds the dagger up to her face. It is silver, and simple, but sharp and gleams in the Eye on her forehead. AUGUST looks over her shoulder again, a bit more nervously.

AUGUST: What happened to him?

CLEA: What eventually happens to all runners. And heroes.

CLEA: He fell.

To be continued...

Clea - Abdication - P. A. Nolte

1/ Clea's hands grasp the golden ringlet set with a large sapphire resting upon her brow.  We can only see from just under her eyebrows to just above her hairline.  She is going to remove the Flames of Regency.

Dormammu (OP): Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, eh, niece?

2/ She kneels in front of Dormammu, offering him the crown of the Dark Dimension's ruler.  He is reaching out for it, all too happy to take on the responsibility, even though he is Faltinian at his core.

Dormammu: I believe one of your terran bards coined that particular turn of phrase, but who can be bothered to keep track.

3/ At his touch, the Flames begin to merge with Dormammu's already fiery personage.

Dormammu: At last!  The Flames of Regency fall to their rightful owner.  Now...

4/ She walks away from her uncle.  Stephen Strange has his arms around her tenderly, but the look on her face is not one of acceptance.  Behind them, Dormammu throws out an arm as he issues Clea's banishment.

Dormammu: Be gone!  Once again, this is a place of true magicks.  There will be no need for the parlor tricks of misguided children or the interference of street wizards here any longer.

Strange: Ignore him, Clea. Let this Ozymandias alone to look upon his works.

5/ Over her shoulder, Clea gives the Dark Dimension's new master a final warning.

Clea: I will return... Uncle.

Clea – EXPULSION – Derek Adnams

Page 1 – (6 Panels)

1.1:  Exterior, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, night.  The entire student body stands lining the torchlight path leading from the entrance to a waiting Kestrel drawn carriage.  Walking down the middle of the path is Clea, age eleven, followed by Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape, both considerably younger than in the Harry Potter book and movie series.

Dumbledore:  I hope you understand why you must leave the school, young lady.  It’s not that you aren’t welcome here, it’s just . . .

1.2:  Clea walking along the path, Dumbledore and Snape trailing a good distance behind, a young white-haired boy, a Malfoy, stepping forward.

Malfoy:  Good riddance, you Dark Dimension rubbish!

Snape:  Malfoy!

1.3:  Clea using some Ditko-inspired magic to lift the boy off the ground, vaguely demonic energies emanating from her hands and surrounding the boy in vapor tentacles.  Dumbledore and Snape are flinching back slightly.

Dumbledore:  Oh my!

1.4:  The boy being slammed to the ground behind the departing Clea, Dumbledore and Snape, the gathered students looking at their fallen classmate, most snickering, the rest recoiling in fear.

Snape:  Just like his uncle.

Dumbledore:  Well, some bloodlines that will never change . . .

1.5:  Clea, a smirk on her face, getting into the carriage.  Dumbledore and Snape watching in the background.

Dumbledore:  . . . and others appear to just get better and brighter with age.

1.6:  The carriage departing into the night, Dumbledore and Snape looking after it, whispering in tones only they can hear.

Snape:  Do you think Clea will be alright, Professor?

Dumbledore:  Most certainly, Severus, and I do believe that returning her to her home is exactly where she will do the most good.

Dumbledore:  After all, she is the greatest witch of her generation.

Clea - The Anthropocene - David Press

PAGE ONE.

1.1: A dark panel covered in little specs of light shining through like stars in the sky. Clea’s narrative captions hang in space like Hazel’s handwriting in SAGA, so they look like they’re dangling in the black like constellations.

       1. CLEA [CAPTION]: When we came here my father and I had nothing.

1.2: The lights turn on to a degree. We can see shades of NORTH AMERICA in the constellations.

       2. CLEA [CAPTION]: It wasn’t like…

       3. CLEA [CAPTION]: …Let there be light!

1.3: A SLASH OF LIGHT crosses the night sky, like someone is cutting into the fabric of space-time. Edges of color leak through it.

       4. CLEA [CAPTION]: No. Someone performed surgery.

1.4: CLEA appears in the darkness, framed by the constellations, her finger up to her lips. This is a MEDIUM SHOT, so from her chest up, but she’s not wearing what she would normally be wearing—something slightly more tasteful. She’s wearing a colored shirt, a string of pearls light up her face and accent her silver hair.

       5. CLEA: That’s when he came for me.

1.5: DOCTOR STRANGE blasts through the scalpel tear in dimensions.

NO DIALOGUE.

1.6: They stand next to each other in the newly illuminated DARK DIMENSION.

       6. CLEA [CAPTION]: He brought the anthropocene: The age of humans in the Dark Dimension.

Clea – Tricks and Treats – MK Stangeland Jr.

(6 Panels)

Panel 1: CLEA, dressed as SORCERESS SUPREME, is attempting to study within her sanctuary in the DARK DIMENSION. The sound of a doorbell rings, has disrupted and annoyed her.

SFX: ddrrrr-RING!

Panel 2: CLEA has opened the door to find herself looking at a number of fun-sized MINDLESS ONES. They are dressed up in Halloween costumes and holding bags. One is holding a poorly painted sign reading “Trick or Treat!”.

Panel 3: CLEA looks out beyond the door to see what looks like DORMAMMU hiding just out of view behind some piece of lawn-like decoration.

Panel 4: CLEA holds her arms up and her eyes glow, with energy flowing from her fingers to the MINDLESS ONES.

CLEA: [Some kind of magical words indicating that CLEA is casting a spell.]

Panel 5: DORMAMMU pokes his head up as he looks at the MINDLESS ONES turning to look at him.

Panel 6: CLEA has a smug look on her face as the MINDLESS ONES chase after DORMAMMU.

(END PAGE)

Clea - Missing the Mark - Grant McLaughlin

1 - Dr. Strange is in the kitchen, chopping veggies.  I know he wouldn't actually be wearing his Sorcerer Supreme outfit, but I think it would be funny if he was.  Instead, I guess he can have a novelty kitchen apron - maybe another Marvel superhero like Captain America or something?

CLEA (off-panel): For the last time, I don't know who your baby's father is!

SFX (off-panel): slam!

CLEA (off-panel): argh!

2 - Clea stomps into the kitchen, clearly frustrated.  Doctor Strange looks up from chopping.

DOCTOR STRANGE: Something the matter, honey?

CLEA: The mystical tip line is a failure.  The only callers I've gotten seem obsessed with the idea that I should read their future.

3 - Clea hands over a piece of paper to Doctor Strange.  Strange takes it, interest on his face.

CLEA: I don't understand it.  I took out an ad and everything, just like Danny and Luke suggested.

4 - Doctor Strange looks at the paper, a small smile on his face.

DOCTOR STRANGE: Did they by any chance write that ad for you?

CLEA: Why do you ask?

5 - Focus on the paper / ad.  Doctor Strange's hand is visible at one side holding the paper.  There's some copy at the top referring "Horrible hauntings?  Monstrous maulings?  There's a solution for you!"  Some of that can be cut off by the panel border, as the focus is on the following words:

It won't cost a fortune.  I'm telling you don't miss this chance.  Clea is here to help!  Call me now!

That said, four words in that block of text are much bigger and bolder, causing them to stand out

Fortune Telling Miss Clea

Which, along with the "Call me now!" could lead to a much different interpretation than what Clea is likely going for.

DOCTOR STRANGE (off-panel): No reason.

Clea - Turn the Page, Part 1 - Ray Wonsowski

Panel 1 - Interior, an antique shop in Greenwich Village. It's crowded with furniture and knick-knacks, near impossible to be walked through, but we are being led by the owner's son, AUGUST TURN, to the back of the shop. He is in his early 20s, completely average in height, weight and looks. He wears glasses and a bowling shirt, brown hair combed back. He's walking backwards, talking to us, smiling nervously.

TURN: ...so I figured, 19th century Russian armoire, and the lady's storing mops and brooms in it. I give her a hundred bucks and bring it here.

Panel 2- TURN gestures to an armoire in the back of the shop. The design is based on the Louis XV style (see photo reference here), but the panels have etched inlay design, reminiscent of old Russian religious icons, and the trim seems slightly distorted by wrong geometry.

TURN: Pretty sweet piece, right? So, I'm cleaning it, checking it for nicks, I open the door...

Panel 3- TURN opens the armoire door. Inside is the Ditko-esque surreal landscape of the Dark Dimension.

NO COPY.

Panel 4- TURN closes the door, a half-smile on his lips, fixes his hair as he twists to talk to us again.

TURN: Swear, straight out of Ghostbusters, am I right?

Off-panel: Sorry?

TURN: Ghostbusters? "Who ya gonna call?"

Panel 5- TURN still talking to us, albeit sheepishly embarrassed, hands in jeans pockets.

Off-panel: I don't know what that means.

TURN: ...er, never mind...

Off-panel: Besides, you called me. None to soon, from what I see.

TURN: You know what that is?

Off-panel: Of course...

Panel 6- POV shifts, from inside the armoire, we are looking out, the doors thrown wide open by CLEA STRANGE, sorceress supreme. She is dressed in her typical purple, pink, and black tight fitting tunic and leggings, the Cloak of Levitation over her shoulders, the Eye of Agamotto shining at her throat. TURN stands behind her, looking curiously over her shoulder, eyes wide.

CLEA: ...this is my home.

TURN: ...err...

CLEA: Come, August Turn. I believe my uncle is waiting...

...to be continued...

Why Clea?

You mean, other than me hinting here and here that she would be my next "big story" character?

If you recall, I'm a bit partial to the creations of Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange near the top of that list. Clea, his lover and disciple, is one of my favorite characters to boot, but I always got the feeling she was a victim of tropes and cliches. She's the damsel in distress of the Dark Dimension (alliterative!) turned sorcerer's apprentice turned stranger in a strange land torn between love and duty turned magical warrior princess leader of a homeland rebellion against her evil family.

But what a family. Her mother, Umar, is the sister of Dormammu, and the bride of Baron Mordo. The story of Orini, her father, is one of countless betrayals against whoever he happens to be serving. Dysfunctional is an understatement.

Yet it doesn't undermine the core of her character. She's pragmatic; at one point, she leaves Dormammu in charge of the Dark Dimension because he was the only one who could keep the destructive Mindless Ones at bay. She's fiercely loyal, committed with all her heart, whether that's to Strange or her rebellion, but understands that sometimes one suffers for the sake of the other. Probably most importantly, her moral compass is one of the most true in the Marvel universe, and can be crushed when one doesn't live up to her standards.

For a woman from the Dark Dimension, she shines.

Ashkan Honarvar’s Heroes - ...coming soon two... - Ray Wonsowski

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Panel 1- outside the Best Western Hospitality House on E 49th St, a 50 ft tall, street-wide amalgamation of heroes groans and shambles on its motley of limbs. The core of it seems to be Henry Pym in his GIANT-MAN persona, but we can also see ICEMAN, ARCHANGEL, BEAST, VALKYRIE, NIGHTHAWK, Daimon "SON OF SATAN" Hellstrom, GARGOYLE, HELLCAT, NAMOR, HULK, LUKE CAGE, HERCULES, GHOST RIDER, IRON FIST, DAREDEVIL, BLACK WIDOW, and the SILVER SURFER, his board sticking out of Pym's neck. All the faces are absent of expression, mouths agape  in hypno-catatonia.

CAPTION: The magicks are powerful, but unfocused. The hands that wielded the spellrites, untrained.

CAPTION: A heroic cancer of champions and defenders, threatening to spread through the city.

Panel 2- on the roof top ledge, a purple booted foot is perched.

CAPTION: Oh, Stephen. If you could only see what has been wrought against you. By the Flames of the Faltine...

Panel 3- Full reveal, CLEA, in a purple version of Dr. Strange's tunic, standing on the hotel roof ledge, the cloak of levitation swirling about her, her white hair blowing in the breeze, the Eye of Agamotto at her throat, her head proudly back, in magical rapture, yellow tongues of flame in the palms of her hands...

CAPTION: I will heal this city and set it free...

A new multi-part story coming soon, stay tuned!

Trio of Photos - ...coming soon... - Ray Wonsowski

Working on a future multi-chapter story slash proposal that's been rummaging about in my head...

Have you or your neighbors experienced back door sacrificial body part transplants?
Has your food been possessed by the restless spirits of ancient Mayan priests?
1-877-STRANGE

Does your armoire lead to otherworlds and Dark Dimensions?
Does your class or study group use the Darkhold as a textbook?
You need Doctor Strange.

Are your business packages being couriered by a Voodoo delivery service?
Does your husband's severed head keep you awake at night with dreamspeak?
Call Doctor CLEA STRANGE.

...a NEW Doctor is in...more on this coming soon!