Eric O'Grady - No Respect - Grant McLaughlin

Rows 1 and 2 are both a quarter of the page and are both made up of two panels.  Row 3 is a single panel that takes up the bottom half of the page.

1 – Interior shot of Avengers' Mansion. Eric O'Grady and Wolverine are walking down a hallway. Eric is in full Ant-Man armour. Wolverine is dressed in regular civilian clothing. He's even holding a can of beer. Eric is pretty darn excited; Wolverine looks like it would be hard for him to give less of a damn.

ERIC (1): I came over as soon as I got the call. I'm glad that you guys have finally realized how much I deserve to be on this team.

ERIC (2): To be honest, I'm surprised it took you as long as it did to figure out how badly you really need me.

2 – Eric babbles on. Wolverine continues to pay no attention.

ERIC: So who is it this time? Hyrda? Doctor Doom? Galactus? I'm ready for anything.

3 – Eric finally stops talking, looking expectantly to Wolverine for a response. Wolverine offers nothing, taking a drink of his beer instead. No dialogue.

4 – Move the camera in a little closer on Eric. Wearing a less certain expression, he starts to look and point behind him toward where they've come from.

ERIC: (quieter): Isn't the war room that way...

(off-panel): Thank god you're here. You're the only one who can help us now.

5 – Eric and Wolverine have found their way to the living room. It's a pretty sweet one, to be certain.  Eric looks pretty begrudging.  Ms. Marvel, the Thing, Spider-Man, and some of the other New Avengers are already there. Some are sitting, some are standing, and some are wall crawling, but they are all kind of around the main couch, which curiously has no one sitting on it.

ERIC: Can't you just move the cushions?

SPIDER-MAN: We could, but the remote got wedged pretty far down...

CAROL: Do you think you can hurry? The game's on in two minutes.

The Irredeemable Ant-Man – The Hangover; OR Ant-Man and Taskmaster’s Not-So Excellent Adventure (Featuring She-Hulk) – MK Stangeland Jr.

(Page 2 - 4 Panels)

(All panels should stretch all the way across the page horizontally.)

Panel 1: Close up on ERIC O’GRADY as he lays in a bed out of costume. He’s just waking up and not quite sure where he is.

O’GRADY: Snntzrt-huh?

Panel 2: O’GRADY sits up and looks at the room around him, revealing that he’s in some kind of hotel room. One hand is on his forehead in a typical headache reaction. From what we can see, it’s pretty clear that he’s not wearing much behind his boxer shorts.

O’GRADY: I must have had one hell of a night…

Panel 3: O’GRADY sits up with his legs over the side of the bed as we get a better look at the room. The scene should make it clear that SOMETHING happened before O’GRADY went to sleep the previous night, but it’s really not clear what. There should be a very strong ‘it’s not what it looks like’ vibe to it.

The shades of the window are down, but on the floor around it is broken glass and other debris to indicate that something was shot or thrown through it and nobodies cleaned up yet. A few empty liquor bottles can be seen laying in a couple random spots. O’GRADY’s Ant-Man suit should be located somewhere in the room.

On the TV stand dresser is an open bag, though it’s not open enough for anyone to see what’s in it. A chair sits next to where the bag is, and laying on top of it and laying about on the floor right around it is a small assortment of SHE-HULK’s clothing, including both one of her leotards and small selection of ‘civilian’ clothing, though noticeably absent are any pairs of her footwear.

In a different corner of the room is the table and at least one intact chair, though the other chair might be elsewhere in the room and possibly broken apart as well. TASKMASTER’s cloak should be hanging from the intact chair, and the majority of his utility belts and most of his gear should be sitting on the table.

O’GRADY: Be a lot more fun if I could remember any of it…

Panel 4: Reveal panel of where SHE-HULK and TASKMASTER are. The panel makes it clear that A) They’re tiny, B) they’re outside somewhere (though where is unclear) and C) They’re fighting a lot of ants. Since SHE-HULK and TASKMASTER are tiny, the ants are a lot bigger than them, making them a major problem.

This is a single panel, though the focus of one half should be on SHE-HULK and her half of the fight while the other half should be focused on TASKMASTER and his half of the fight. Both look really angry but determined, and there should be a number of ants in the background behind them if they can be fit in order to make clear that this is NOT a quick or easy fight for either of them.

SHE-HULK is wearing a pair of battle-damaged jeans and a metal backpack in addition to her normal purple and white outfit. Behind her, an ant has gotten its mandibles around SHE-HULK and is trying to bite down (across?), though SHE-HULK is prepared for this. She’s standing on one leg, with one hand holding onto one of the mandibles and her other foot perched against the other mandible – for the moment, she’s keeping the mouth open, but very momentarily she’s about the push outward and split the ants head in two when she does.

With her other, open hand, SHE-HULK is holding one ant by its mandible and swinging it like a club in front of her. If there’s a way to make the ant have a look of terror in its eyes, it should have it. The result of SHE-HULK swinging her ant club in front of her is that two or three other ants have been knocked around silly and perhaps even thrown into the distance.

TASKMASTER is missing his cloak and most of his gear, though he still has his sword, shield, and a simple pair of belts that would help him carry them around. He’s standing on the back of an ant and has just made a clean cut through its neck. He’s using his shield to hold back an attack from another ant that’s trying to climb up on its now-dead ally and get TASKMASTER from the side.

SFX: (From SHE-HULK’s ant club and what it’s hitting.) WONK!

SFX: (From TASKMASTER decapitating the ant.) Sh-LURK!

SHE-HULK: I swear, when I get my hands on O’Grady, I will KILL HIM!

TASKMASTER: Not if I kill him first, Greencheeks!

(END PAGE)

(Trust me, I DO have a basic story idea to go with this page which I will be more than happy to share if anyone is interested.)

(Also, a thanks to Grant for the time switch!)

Eric O’Grady in "And The Winner Is..." by Danial Carroll

PANEL ONE, WIDE
Wide view of a fancy function room filled with many round tables. At each table is a team/group of Marvel's heroes, all in costume. Popular teams such as Avengers and X-Men should be in the foreground, and lesser-knowns at the back. Somewhere in the middle are the Secret Avengers. There is Sharon Carter, Eric O'Grady, Black Widow, War Machine, Moon Knight, Valkyrie, and Beast, whose exclusion from the X-Men tables will make sense due to Schism.

CAPTION: The 50th Annual Superhero Awards


PANEL TWO
Captain America is standing on stage behind a podium. He is opening an envelope.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: And the winner of Most Heroic Size-Manipulator goes to...


PANEL THREE
Close up of Cap, smiling.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Stature!


PANEL FOUR
In the background we can see Cap shaking Stature's hand as she approaches the podium. In the foreground is the Secret Avengers' table. The crowd in between are cheering and clapping. Eric is looking to the stage with has his arms up in disapproval. The rest of the table are looking at him--Sharon is scowling.

SFX: CLAP CLAP CLAP CHEER CLAP WHOOOOO CLAP CLAP CHEER

ERIC O'GRADY: Are you serious?
ERIC O'GRADY: Boooooooo.

SHARON CARTER: Eric!


PANEL FIVE
Close on just the group now. Eric has turned to face them.

ERIC O'GRADY: Seriously! What's she got that I don't?

BEAST: Tact.

VALKYRIE: Altruism.

WAR MACHINE: Morals.

BLACK WIDOW: A sense of decency--


PANEL SIX, WIDE
Extreme close up of Eric's eyes, looking extremely surly.

ERIC O'GRADY/COLD: You can stop any time.

Eric O'Grady – The Right Thing for The Wrong Reason - Sime McDonald

Preliminaries:

Eric O’Grady has always struggled with the evil in his heart clashing with his desire to do good; to be a better person and a hero worthy of the Ant-Man name. But that innate malevolence has recently. It is no longer a tangible element of his psyche, merely an incorporeal characteristic. A member of the covert Secret Avengers, and finally garnering the respect of its brethren, for the first time Eric O’Grady feels like he is not only living up to the Ant-Man legacy but creating one of his own.

The Right Thing for the Wrong Reason is a two-issue tale and the following page occurs in Part One, page 21. Captain America [Steve Rogers] has been acting aloof during an operation in Latveria to commandeer Nerkkod’s hammer (from Fear Itself) from Doctor Doom. Strangely distant and non-responsive, like his mind is elsewhere, Cap is piloting the plane back to HQ. O’Grady is beside him. Both are dressed in their uniforms / armour.

PANEL ONE

Dynamic shot of the Secret Avengers plane shooming through the sky at an impossible speed just 80 feet above the ocean.

CAPTION [1]

 I learned a long time ago that Captain America doesn’t make jokes. But when he told me:

CAPTAIN AMERICA

[from plane cockpit]

 You’re going to jump out of the plane now, Eric.

CAPTION [2]

 I responded as I thought was appropriate.

PANEL TWO

Inside the cockpit, on O’Grady, who has broken out into a fit of laugher.

ERIC O’GRADY

Hahaha!

PANEL THREE

Captain America locks eyes with O’Grady. There is no humour in his eyes.

CAPTAIN AMERICA

At 80 feet you’re not going to have time to make any corrective measures.

You have one shot at deploying properly.

Get it wrong, you’re dead.

PANEL FOUR

O’Grady’s face has paled to milk.

ERIC O’GRADY

Cap, why –

PANEL FIVE

Captain America gaze intensifies, as only Captain America’s gaze can.

CAPTAIN AMERICA [1]

Sometimes for the greater good you’ve got to do the wrong thing.

CAPTAIN AMERICA [2]

And I trust you to do the right thing, Eric.

PANEL SIX

O’Grady’s lips have become a hard line. He understands.

CAPTION

I knew what Cap was asking me to do.

He wanted me to come after him.

And, cheating slightly now:

The final page of the issue would be a full-page spread of O’Grady floating in the ocean, parachute floating in the water, looking up at Cap’s plane gaining altitude. O’Grady has keyed his intercom, linked to Secret Avengers HQ.

ERIC O’GRADY

 Avengers Assemble.

Eric O'Grady - Speed Dating With The Irredeemable Ant Man - Rol Hirst

Classic 9-panel grid except for the bottom row which is all one long panel.

Panel One.

Eric is sitting at a Speed Dating table in a restaurant / club. Sitting across from him is a buxom blonde. Side view as the blonde slaps Eric in the face.

SFX: Slap!

Panel Two.

Looking over the shoulder of another of Eric’s Speed Dates as she stands up to leave - outraged. Eric is holding up his hands in protest over a misunderstanding, trying desperately to explain himself.

Eric: No, no – I said ants... ANTS! They're nothing like crabs!

Panel Three.

Straight on view of another of Eric’s Speed-Dates, a gorgeous Christina Hendricks type. She’s holding up a crooked little finger, mocking him.

Eric (off-panel): I think you're misunderstanding--

Panel Four.

Eric is holding up his Ant Man helmet, trying to explain another misunderstanding. Another woman is walking away from the table in disgust.

Eric: I was talking about this! Honest!

Panel Five.

A shy, dark haired young woman is sobbing uncontrollably. Eric reaches towards her, awkwardly, unsure how to console her.

Woman: Wuh-wuh-waaaaaaahhhh!

Eric: Really... Was it something I said?

Panel Six.

Eric receives another slap round the face from yet another woman.

Woman: Pervert!

Panel Seven.

Wider shot of the room. We’re in the changeover period where the female speed dates move from one table to the next. There’s no one opposite Eric at this point. The man at the next table, a smug Lothario type, grins over at Eric. Refusing to look at the man, Eric instead scribbles in his notebook.

Smug Man: Not having much luck, are ya, pal?

Eric: You’d be surprised… pal. Take it from me, I’ll be seeing every one of these lovely ladies again very soon.

Eric (smaller, aside): Whether they see me, well, that's a different matter...

Eric O'Grady - By Your Side - Ben Rosenthal

1. A young boy walks through his school. He is of a small build, holding his lunch box in one hand. This is Chris King. His head is looking to the left, a smile on his face as he talks to his imaginary friend.

CHRIS

I dunno Eric. He’s a lot bigger than--

2. We are now looking from behind Chris. He is looking up at three larger boys of typical bully appearance. Kid 3 is in the middle of the three, cracking his knuckles. Kid 1 is to the left of Kid 3, and Kid 2 to the right. Kid 2 is looking at Kid 1, laughing as he speaks.

CHRIS

--me.

KID 1

Talking to yourself again?

KID 2

Nah, his imaginary friend.

KID 3

Gimme your lunch King. We’re hungry.

3. Looking down at Chris, the shadows of the three bullies eclipse him. Chris looks scared as he clutches at his lunchbox handle with two hands, shoulders shrugged up as Kid 3’s hand reaches for his lunch box. A speech bubble appears to be coming from his shoulder. Chris’ imaginary friend, Eric is talking.

ERIC

Looks like you've had enough, lard arse.

4. Same as Panel 2, however all three bullies are confused, as the voice they just heard was not that of Chris King.

KID 3

Huh?

5 - 7. A succession of three quick panels, all contained within the one. The first showing Kid 1 reacting as if he was punched in the stomach. The second shows Kid 2 reacting as if he was punched in the cheek. The third shows Kid 3 reacting to being punched in the groin.

8. The three bullies lay one on top of the other. In the background Chris King is walking away, lunch box in hand. His head is once again turned to the left, smiling as he speaks to his ‘imaginary’ friend.

CHRIS

Wow, for a small guy you’re really strong. Thanks Eric!

ERIC

Anything for you, son. I mean, kid.

Eric O’Grady – Something About Apples And Trees – Ryan K Lindsay

PAGE 1 - 4 PANELS

1. Eric O’Grady hides in red hair. He is in some sort of cold weather Ant-Man suit.

Caption-O’Grady: I’ve done some pretty shitty things in my time.
Caption-O’Grady: The girl at the grave – what was her name?
Caption-O’Grady: Those three girls at the casino. Full moon, yeesh.
Caption-O’Grady: I even committed mopery. Once.

2. We pan back to see Eric on the head of a lovely looking woman. She’s got gorgeous red hair and a fantastic face.

Caption-O’Grady: But I haven’t seen my sister since she was sixteen walking out the backdoor with a backpack full of my favourite books and our father’s blood on her knuckles.

3. We pan back further to see this woman, Eric’s sister, walking across a snow field. She has a backpack on her back and all sorts of field gear strapped to her – crazy binoculars, one of those stupid trench digging tools, some rope, and plenty of pouches.

Caption-O’Grady: I haven’t even said hello to her yet and I feel bad about that.

4. We have panned back further. Eric’s sister is walking away from us now, we can see a large HYDRA symbol on her backpack, and in the distance there is a helicarrier crashed into the frozen tundra of northern Norway.

Caption-O’Grady: I’m just trying to find the right time.
Caption-O’Grady: The right words.
Caption-O’Grady: The right weapon.

Why Eric O’Grady?

Every hero is heroic, right? That’s why we like them, because they can do things we can’t do. They do these things and they do them for the greater good. That is why we read about these four colour titans of avenging and justice, right? We aspire to be more and so follow the lead set by decades of perfection.

Right?

Or do we want to be entertained, or see a little of ourselves on the page, or just have a whole mess of fun? Eric O’Grady isn’t a heroic guy. He isn’t perfect and what little he stands for isn’t in any interest of the greater good of anyone else. O’Grady is a self-centred jerk and he does all the things we’d think about doing with superpowers but never dare discuss with others.

They say a great test is to ask someone which superpower they’d prefer – flight or invisibility. If the person answers invisibility then they’re a jerk because there’s nothing magnanimous you can do with that power – it’s a selfish wet dream of adolescent fulfilment to not be held to your actions. I guess people think flight is a super helpful power (those people should read THE CAPE from IDW).

Eric O’Grady can’t turn himself invisible but with the Pym Particle-powered Ant-Man suit he managed to acquire from his time as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent he can get so small as to pretty much be undetectable. He rarely uses this ability to save the world, or really do any good. Instead, O’Grady wants to get laid and he works hard for it. He wants to perve on hot chicks with full impunity and then he actually gets to do it. He’s living the dream, the dream of so many.

And, yet, underneath it all lies a true heroic man. A man determined to be himself. A man who can actually do some good, but he’ll be looking down your blouse with a hand up your skirt as he does it.

The best part of Eric O’Grady, the man we’ve come to know and love as the Irredeemable Ant-Man, is the fact he’s so damn refreshing. He’s the guy you can kind of do anything with. You can make him a terrible person while also getting away with making him do something incredibly sweet and selfless. I like that versatility because it feels real. This is something you can aspire to and actually reach.

Hell, you could probably exceed this guy without trying hard, but I’ll never like you as much as I do the man with the red sideburns.

Oh, and to be honest with you, I chose invisibility.