Rainbow Dash - All the Bronies in the House - R.A.Wonsowski

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Panel 1 - Night, my kitchen.  ME, staring blankly into the screen of my laptop.  I have a blank, worried look on my face, my fingers poised above the keyboard.

NO COPY


Panel 2 - Same as above, but RAINBOW DASH is now peering over my shoulder at my computer screen.  One of her eyebrows is arched in curiosity.

NO COPY


Panel 3 - Same P.O.V., but RAINBOW DASH is mildly annoyed at ME.

RAINBOW DASH:  Are you kidding me?  You can't think of ANYTHING?!?

ME:  You're not helping.


Panel 4 - Same as above, except RAINBOW DASH is smacking ME up the backside of my head in disgust.  I cringe.

SoundFX:  Thwak!

ME:  Hey!

RAINBOW DASH:  I swear to Applejack, this has been happening to you wa-ay too often lately...


Panel 5 - Same as Panel 3.  A 9-inch tall, chain-smoking TRUTH-SAYING BASTARD SPIDEY walks across the kitchen table to talk to ME and RAINBOW DASH.

TSBS:  Remember Pokemon week?  How many times have we done the bowel-disruptor gag now?

RAINBOW DASH:  (pointing at TSBS) He gets a bowel-disruptor?  Where's MY bowel-disruptor?!?


Panel 6 - Same as above, but my head is in my hands as a tiny KRYPTO floats around my head.  RAINBOW DASH looks even angrier at ME,.

KRYPTO:  He cribbed my script from an old Peanuts strip last week...

RAINBOW DASH:  You cribbed the Schulz?!?


Panel 7 - Same as above, but I'm dragging my fingers down my face, pulling down the bags under my eyes in exasperation.  A 12-inch tall SAMMY HAGAR THOR (see comments at http://www.thought-balloons.com/2012/04/why-mjolnir.html ), lightning crackling from his guitar, lands on the kitchen table.

SAMMY HAGAR THOR:  You haven't even brought me up in a year.  I got better things to do than wait on your silly @$$.

ME:  Oh for the luvva...


Panel 8 - DR. DINOSAUR and DEADPOOL, who is pointing at RAINBOW DASH happily surprised, walk in as I get up and walk out.  Everyone is talking after me as I go.

DR. DINOSAUR:  We can help you.

ME:  I'm out...

DEADPOOL:  Hey, it's Rainbow Dash!  I'm your biggest Brony!

RAINBOW DASH:  (calling worriedly after me over her shoulder) RA-A-Y!?!

Krypto - Suppertime! - R.A. Wonsowski

This one's dedicated to my brother Peter (Happy Birthday!)

Layout:
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Panels 1 through 6 - Blue sky, green grass.  KRYPTO happy-dancing a-la-Snoopy.  (reference http://www.snoopn4pnuts.com/index.php?p=product&id=579537&parent=31077 )  Lots of motion or vibration lines at the hindfeet.

NO COPY


Panel 7 - KRYPTO is slowing down his dance, and is looking blankly left.

NO COPY


Panel 8 - Lining up on the left side of the panel:  PA KENT holding the steering wheel of his tractor, wires dangling from the center column; MA KENT holding the broken halves of an oversized red dog dish; CLARK holding broken off barn doors.  The barn and silo is in the background with the roof caved in.  The three are looking angrily at the cause of the localized earthquake.  On the right side of the panel, KRYPTO looks at us sheepishly, embarrassed.

CLARK:  Why can't you eat your meal quietly and calmly like any other normal dog?

CAPTION:  "To live is to dance.  To dance is to live." - Charles Schultz

Krypto - Marks The Spot - Niel Jacoby

Panel 1: Superman has just finished a battle with Metallo, and is tidying up the area in a leisurely fashion. A small transmitter in the collar of his suit buzzes to life.

SFX):*whistling noises*

Transmitter: SUPERMAN! SUPERMAN!

Panel 2: Superman, still tidying up the debris, taps the transmitter. He's calm.

Superman: WHATCHA NEED, GENERAL?

Transmitter: SUPERMAN, THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE!

Panel 3: Superman's stopped in his tracks, one hand at his hip, his other hand at his chin, a pensive look on his face.

Superman: SOUNDS SERIOUS.

Transmitter: IT IS! THE FEED'S JUST STATIC, AND THE ONLY THING COMING OUT OF THE CONTACT MIC IS A SORT OF TRICKLING SOUND.

Panel 4: Superman is already speeding through space, and has his mouth open to talk.

Superman: blank speech bubble

Inset Panel: Close up. Superman is quizzical
Inset Panel 2: Same viewpoint, Superman lightly slaps himself on the head as if to reprimand himself, a sheepish grin on his face.

Panel 5:
Inset Panel: Superman is startled, bewildered, but we don't see what he's reacting to.
Main panel: Zoom out, and Krypto is relieving himself on the Hubble. Superman is doubled over in laughter.

Superman: empty speech bubble
Transmitter: empty bubble

Krypto – Juliet & John – Shaun Richens.

This will be the last entry for my attempt at an on going story here on Thoughtballoons. It was a fun weekly writing challenge and something I am glad to have tried, and I am also thankful for you guys putting up with it. However knowing the next few great picks, I can’t see a fun or interesting way of making them work without losing something of the character or the story I was trying to put together.

PAGE eleven – 7 PANELS.

Layout

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1. Krypto stands on all fours, head forward, eyes narrowed ready for anything.

KRYPTO: Tell me where it is Braini-Cat?

2. Cut to shot of Braini-Cat, Krypto’s nemisis.

Braini-cat is a rather fat ginger cat, she wears a along flowing purple velvet cape and a diamond collar. Around her head is a floating crown (made from an old Brainiac android’s mind) the crown grants her super intelligence.

Braini-Cat sits gracefully her tail curled up around her.

BRAINI-CAT: Foolish canine. No matter how super you may think you are, you are just as easily tamed as your average counterpart.

3. Cut back to Krypto now tighter on him, his eyes look sad.

KRYPTO: I beg of your Braini-Cat where have you hidden it?

4. Cut to close up on Branini-Cat an evil and sly grin on her face, her white pointy teeth showing slightly.

BRAINI-CAT 1: Poor pup. You will never find your bone now.

BRAINI-CAT 2: I have shrunken it to a microscopic size.

5. Pull back to reveal shieldwatch security agent J.D sat watching Krypto the Superdog: The animated show on a TV in the CCTV office.

The office is full of screens of all different sizes. The TV dead in front of security agent J.D shows the howling face of Krypto as he hears the sad news about his bone.

Either side of the TV are two screens showing events we are interested in. Screen one and Screen two.

Security officer J.D: Poor Krypto. That lousy cat’s always playing tricks on him.

6. Close up on screen one. We see a corridor in some other section of the shieldwatch HQ. John, Juliet and Hammer are running down it, Dead of Night and Lady Lightning in hot pursuit.

The panel has a film grain quality to it.

JOHN: Why are we running? Hammer Bamf us outta this mess.

7. Close up on screen two. We see the outside of the shield watch labs. Dr Parker stands on the outside of the glass doors leading into the lab, his back against the door trying to hold them shut. A sign above the doors reads LAB 316.

Green fungus and spores grow all of the glass.

The panel has a film grain quality to it.

DR PARKER: Peter you are even more useless in your current state than when I allowed you to keep this body.

(Ghost Peter doesn’t show up on film.)

And so we end on a cliffhanger.

See you next week when I go back to regular service. 

Krypto the Superdog – “Lex Luthor’s Vat Tuesday!” – MK Stangeland Jr.

(For the best effect, imagine this page as if it was done in a classic Silver Age art style.)

(9 Panels)

Panel 1: SUPERMAN is in the bottom of an empty chemical vat. He looks weakened from the effects of an unseen source of Kryptonite. LEX LUTHOR stands on a walkway overhead, looking as sinister as possible as he laughs in an evil fashion over the expected demise of his arch-nemesis.

TEXT BOX: Meanwhile, SUPERMAN has found himself trapped by Lex Luthor’s latest scheme!

LEX LUTHOR: Muah ha ha, Superman! This vat used to hold liquid Kryptonite! Soon, it shall also hold your dead body!

Panel 2: Panel of a weakened SUPERMAN inside the vat. He looks like he’s struggling. A music note comes from his mouth.

SUPERMAN: (Thought Balloon) He’s right! Power…failing…only hope…my super-whistling power…to call for help!

Panel 3: KRYPTO, flying through the sky, has a turned head as he reacts to the sound of SUPERMAN’s SUPER-WHISTLE.

TEXT BOX: Meanwhile, over the skies of Metropolis...

KRYPTO: ?

Panel 4: KRYPTO is seen flying towards the DAILY PLANET.

TEXT BOX: Hearing his master’s plea for help, KRYPTO the SUPERDOG flies to get assistance!

Panel 5: KRYPTO lands in front of LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSON. KRYPTO barks to let them know that SUPERMAN is in trouble.

JIMMY OLSON: It’s Superman’s dog, Krypto!

KRYPTO: Woof woof! Arf arf!

LOIS LANE: What’s that boy? Superman’s in trouble?

JIMMY OLSON: And he needs our help! Let’s go!

Panel 6: Back inside the location with LEX LUTHOR and SUPERMAN. KRYPTO bursts through the ceiling.

SFX: Bam!

KRYPTO: BARK!

LEX LUTHOR (1): Krypto!

LEX LUTHOR (2): You mangy mutt! Soon you’ll suffer the same fate of your owner!

Panel 7: LOIS LANE and JIMMY OLSON are at a control panel.

TEXT BOX: While Krypto keeps Lex Luthor busy, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson free Superman!

JIMMY OLSON: We need to get Superman out of that chemical vat!

LOIS LANE: I think this should do it!

Panel 8: The chemical vat holding SUPERMAN flips on its side, allowing SUPERMAN to roll out.

SFX: Thunk!

LOIS LANE & JIMMY OLSON: SUPERMAN!

Panel 9: LOIS LANE is kneeling on the ground next to SUPERMAN, while JIMMY OLSON stands next to both of them.

SUPERMAN (1): Thank you, Lois and Jimmy! I can feel my strength returning already!

SUPERMAN (2): Now I need to help Krypto and stop Lex Luthor!

(END PAGE)

Krypto- Ode to Joy -Dan Hill

PAGE ONE

Panel One
Close up on Pa Kent, facing right as he looks off panel. A sunbeam comes in from the right side of the panel, covering Pa in its golden hue.

Pa wears a pair of oily overalls and a lumberjack shirt.

PA KENT(CAP): Dealing with Clark can be heartbreaking sometimes.

PA KENT(CAP): He just wants to play with the other children.

Panel Two
Zoom out, still focusing on Pa Kent the shot cutting off at chest level.

PA KENT(CAP): And I have to tell him that he can’t.

PA KENT(CAP): “Maybe when you’re older”, I say.

Panel Three
Zoom out to reveal Pa Kent is at a sink in the kitchen. He’s peering out through a window at the fields beyond.

PA KENT(CAP): And he’ll look at me and get real quiet. I can hear the tick of the clock and Martha listening to Beethoven’s 9th symphony in the next room.

PA KENT(CAP): It’s put me right off that guy, that’s for sure.

Panel Four
Pa, out on the porch of the farmhouse now holding an ice cold glass of homemade lemonade as he continues to stare across the fields. A small, grateful smile plays across his face.

PA KENT(CAP): It’s the silence that hurts. I can see him thinking, wondering if he’ll ever be ‘normal’.

PA KENT(CAP): But it’s why I treasure moments like these.

Panel 5
Wide. From Pa’s POV we can see a beautiful Rockwellian landscape of a wide open field and the cornrows on the horizon as the sun begins to set on a beautiful day in Kansas.

A young Clark (aged about 11-12) runs with a frisbee in his hand, Krypto giving chase playfully. There’s no restraint here at all. Just a boy playing with his dog, joy and play unleashed.

PA KENT(CAP): A dog’s bark.

PA KENT(CAP): Our boy laughing.

PA KENT(CAP): Beat that, Ludwig.

Krypto - Here Boy - Ben Rosenthal

1.  A lonely graveyard on a stormy night.

2.  Close up of a silhouette of a single grave.

3.  A lightening flash reveals the grave to be that of Krypto, the tomb stone bearing his name.

4.  The white paw of Krypto sticks out from the grave.

5.  A shot showing the graveyard and the gates in which one enters.  Above it is a sign that reads ‘Pet Cemetery’. 

KRYPTO (off panel)

HOOOOOOOOWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

Krypto - His Master's Voice - J.D. Coughlan

Panel 1: Jor-El and Lara's home on Krypton. Jor-El sits at his computer console, turning to face Lara and rolling his eyes. If possible, the screen of his computer should read "POTENTIAL SEISMIC INSTABILITY". Lara carries a box with a little white puppy, Krypto, poking out, wagging his tail.

JOR-EL: For Rao's sake, Lara...

LARA: I couldn't just leave him in the bio-sci labs, Jor-El. You know what happens to those animals.

LARA: Don't worry; I'll take complete care of him. You won't have to do anything.

Panel 2: Jor-El pacing around their living room, gesturing angrily. Krypto, now a bit bigger, sits up on the couch, watching him in the classic HMV pose. Jor-El is looking at Krypto, as if he can understand.

JOR-EL: Can you believe it?! They refused my proposal again!

JOR-EL: It's almost like they don't want to know whether this planet -- the one we live on -- is safe or not!

Panel 3: Jor-El sits at his console, which displays a familiar, small spaceship. Krypto sits next to him and Jor-El rubs behind the dog's ears. Krypto is now full-size.

JOR-EL: Don't worry, friend, you'll be safe. Better off than staying here, anyway.

JOR-EL: And, if it works for you...

Panel 4: Jor-El and Krypto asleep on the couch together. Behind them, Lara stands, hands on hips, but smiling wide.

NO TEXT

END OF PAGE

Why Krypto?

By Alex Ross

Because he's such a good boy! Yes he is! Yes he is!

My secret is out: I am a dog person. When I first decoded the cryptic telegram, sent via hawk, that told me I would be writing for Thought Balloons, the first thing I did was take my own dog (half Jack Russell, half shih tzu; a jack shit, if you will) for a walk and contemplated characters I could choose. Including everyone's favourite Super-Dog, Krypto.

The whole "super-pets" phase is one of the most used examples of Silver Age wackiness. You had Ace the Bat-Hound, of course, but it was Superman who had to clean up the most poop, with Streaky the Super-Cat, Comet the Super-Horse, and even Beppo the Super-Ape. And while most of them either vanished or became ordinary house pets in modern times, Krypto has endured.

By Francis Manapul

Perhaps this speaks of the loyalty of dogs in general. Krypto has remained Man of Steel's best friend, always ready to come when called for a dramatic last-minute rescue, or even just steadfastly guard the Fortress of Solitude (although if he's anything like my dog, all you need to do is walk in the front door and ferocious barking turns into playful face-licking).

Just as Superman lives the life of an ordinary mortal albeit with amazing abilities, Krypto is at his best as a character when acting like a familiar, faithful dog... who can fly and shoot lasers out his eyes. This is best shown in Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul's Superboy, where we see that under the big, wide puppy-dog eyes and permanently stupefied expression, Krypto really does mean well. 'Cause all dogs take after their masters.