Why Batman v Superman?

Honestly? I could probably just post this if I wanted to give the quick, dirty, and honest answer.

“Who would win?”

It’s an age-old question of endless possibilities. It’s an especially prevalent question among the kind of nerd and geek communities that make up the core comic book fan communities. And there are some variations on the question that could arguably be described as legendary.

“Who’s the better captain, Kirk or Picard?”

“Who’s faster, Superman or The Flash?”

And, of course, “Who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman?”

Which, of course, is silly if you think about it too much. After all, they’re supposed to be on the same side. They are the “Worlds Finest”, after all. But, of course, when two forces meet, the human mind seems wired to try to pick a winner regardless. Does Superman stand a chance when all it takes is the Dark Knight’s prep-time and some Kryptonite? Or does the mere human nature of Batman mean he’s forever doomed to come in second to the Man of Steel?

We’ll probably never have a solid, definitive answer.

But that doesn’t make it any less fun to think, debate, and write about it.

Lex Luthor – Elseworlds: The Super-Man – MK Stangeland Jr.

In this alternate version of the DC Universe, KAL-EL was instead adopted by a childless JULES and ARLENE LUTHOR, who named him ALEXANDER – or LEX, for short.

(7 Panels)

Panel 1: LEX LUTHOR is in the sky over METROPOLIS - here he looks like SUPERMAN but with a somewhat ‘edgier’ and more technical look to his costume, as well as a different color scheme. The costume has much more of a red, white, and blue look as part of an attempt to play up a patriotic and American theme for publicity purposes, though there’s also a touch of yellow in the costume as well that should take on some kind of gold-colored tint.

In front of LUTHOR, being held out in front of him by the throat at arms length, is GENERAL ZOD. Both LUTHOR and ZOD look like they’ve taken a major beating, but ZOD looks far worse the wear.

LUTHOR: But above all else, Zod, you’ve exposed your greatest flaw to be a failure to think intellectually beyond destruction.

Panel 2: LUTHOR flies up into the sky, pulling ZOD alongside him – he’s secretly doing this so that he can continue to speak freely with him without worry of anyone accidentally overhearing him.

LUTHOR: If only your feeble mind had thought beyond that of conquest, you might have discovered there was a way to rule these people without lording over them. The way I do.

Panel 3: LUTHOR hovers in the sky about at the fringe of Earth’s atmosphere, where he’s as far away from the surface as possible without entering the actual vacuum of outer space. He hasn’t yet brought ZOD up from dragging him along behind.

LUTHOR (1): Without having to do anything, this planet welcomed me with open arms.

LUTHOR (2): And then I built a virtual empire through Luthor Innovations.

Panel 4: LUTHOR holds ZOD in front of him so that he can look ZOD in the face.

LUTHOR (1): If that wasn’t enough, these people practically worship me for ‘selflessly’ protecting them from dangers they could never withstand on their own.

LUTHOR (2): I could ask them for nearly anything and not only would they gladly give it to me, but they would thank me for giving them the opportunity to do it.

Panel 5: LUTHOR gives ZOD a piercing look in the face.

LUTHOR (1): I rule them, Zod, by making them want me.

LUTHOR (2): By making them need me.

LUTHOR (3): And you know what the best part is?

Panel 6: LUTHOR brings up ZOD in a backswing over his head as he prepares to throw ZOD back down towards Earth.

LUTHOR: Idiots like you only help to remind them just how much they need me in their frail, feeble little lives.

Panel 7: LUTHOR throws ZOD back down towards Earth’s surface with all his might.

LUTHOR: Thank you for that, by the way.

SFX: SUPER-THROW!

(END PAGE)

Why The Escapist?

In a summer rife with comic book adaptations The Escapist is one of the rare examples of a character born in prose who found his way into comics after the fact. The Escapist, for those living under a rock, came into existence via Michael Chabon's Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. That book follows the lives of two Jewish cousins, artist Joe Kavalier and writer Sam Clay. The novel is firmly rooted in the Golden Age era of comics and The Escapist is the creation of Joe and Sam.

His origin is very much of that era. In it, escape artist Tom Mayflower is recruited by his uncle into the highly secret League of the Golden Key. Bestowed with a costume and a golden key he learns that whilst wearing the costume he becomes physically stronger and is capable of fantastic feats of escapology, strength, agility and derring do. The Escapist himself is a great homage to the characters that came out of that era and is supposedly partly based on the youthful exploits of comics book legend Jim Steranko. 

Jerry Siegel’s father suffered a heart attack after his store was held up in armed robbery and it has often been said that Superman was partly born out of this tragedy, a helpless bookworm on one hand and an all powerful near-God on the other. One who could leap buildings and stop bullets without breaking a sweat. The Escapist serves a similar purpose for his creators. Joe himself has just escaped a war ravaged Czechoslovakia, leaving behind his friends and family. The Escapist allows Joe to deal with that survivors guilt. Not only that but it could also be argued that the character speaks to Sam’s own desire to escape from his frail body (Tom Mayflower has a crippled leg when not wearing the costume) and repressed homosexual feelings. 

It was only logical that he would also ‘escape’ prose and make his mark in comics too. Dark Horse Comics created an anthology title centred around the character four years after the novels debut entitled Michael Chabon Presents the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist. These stories were written and drawn in a mock Golden Age style, perfectly evoking a more innocent era of comics. Two years later a young upstart named Brian K. Vaughan put his own spin on the character with the eponymous series The Escapists. This followed the fortunes of three creators as they buy up the rights to the Escapist character in an effort to revitalise him for a modern audience. The series is a great love letter not only to comics but the hardship, love and craziness that goes into making them. 

I chose this character not only because of my love for Chabon’s novel (it’s still my favourite book of all time) but the range of subject and tone that can be explored with the character. Pulp, adventure, history, war and even the metafictional aspects of comics and their history are all wide open here with Tom and his excellent supporting cast. Ultimately though The Escapist shows us how the best comics help us leave behind our mortal frames and the constraints of dreary reality if only momentarily. 

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night - by Snoopy and R.A. Wonsowski

Panel 1 - SNOOPY sitting on his dog house at his typewriter.

CAPTION:  It was a dark and stormy night. 

Panel 2 - Crime Alley.  THOMAS WAYNE steps in front of his wife MARTHA and young son BRUCE, as JOE CHILL shoots him in the stomach.

CAPTION:  Suddenly, a shot rang out! 

Panel 3 - GREEN ARROW kicks open a door, arrow nocked in his bow, as BLACK CANARY lets loose a sonic scream, blowing everything back.

CAPTION - A door slammed. The maid screamed. 

Panel 4 - PSYCHO-PIRATE on a Carnival cruise ship, laughing as everyone panics.  WONDER WOMAN swings in from behind from her golden lasso.  

CAPTION:  Suddenly, a pirate ship appeared on the horizon! 

Panel 5 - On Apokolips, hundreds of HUNGER DOGS worship a giant statue of DARKSEID.

CAPTION:  While millions of people were starving, the king lived in luxury. 

Panel 6 - Looking up, high above the roof of a barn and silo, a young CLARK KENT launches into a clear blue sky like a streak.

CAPTION:  Meanwhile, on a small farm in Kansas, a boy was growing up.

Panel 7 - Back to SNOOPY on his dog house at his typewriter, still typing away.

SNOOPY (thought balloon):  Still classic, but next time, I'm working with Stan Lee...

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 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.

Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen – Jimmy and Kal-El – By MK Stangeland Jr.

(For the best mental image of this script, picture it as being drawn by either Bill Watterson or Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani.)

(8 PANELS)

Panel 1: JIMMY OLSEN is writing something on a cardboard box with a marker. SUPERMAN lands on the ground next to him.

SUPERMAN: Hello, Jimmy! What are you working on so intently?

SFX: (From marker writing on box) Squeek squeek squeek.

Panel 2: JIMMY OLSON holds up the box in front of him.

JIMMY OLSON: I finally figured out a way to discover your secret identity, Superman!

SUPERMAN: A box?

JIMMY OLSON: Not just any box, a magic box!

Panel 3: Close up on the box and JIMMY OLSON pointing to the word ‘Superman’ that’s written on the side with an arrow pointing to it.

JIMMY OLSON: When I push my special magic button, it’s going to turn me into you! And then your secret identity is all but mine!

Panel 4: JIMMY OLSON holds his magic box over his head and lets it drop on top of him.

SFX: (From JIMMY OLSON) He, he, he

JIMMY OLSON: It’s foolproof! And there’s nothing you can do to stop me!

Panel 5: Double panel, with the top half showing a close-up on SUPERMAN’s eyes and the bottom half matching the first, except that SUPERMAN’s eyes are red to indicate he’s about to use his laser vision.

Panel 6: Double panel. The top half shows SUPERMAN’s lasers writing something on the box in front of the word ‘Superman’. The bottom half shows that the arrow on the box now reads ‘NOT Superman’.

Panel 7: JIMMY OLSEN takes the box off of him. He now looks like BIZZARRO by way of JIMMY OLSON.

Panel 8: The BIZZARRO/JIMMY OLSEN hybrid stands in the same place, with the box behind him and SUPERMAN hovering above the ground next to him.

JIMMY OLSEN: Me Jimmy no think that didn’t work like it was supposed to.

(END PAGE)

Superman - Dual Steel - Brandon Whaley

I apologize in advance.

(There will be two different caption boxes used in this script. The first one needs to be easily related to Superman, perhaps red/blue/yellow in color, with the first one having a small s-shield at the bottom corner. The second needs to be green/black or green/gray and have a more formal font to it. These will be referred to as Caption A and Caption B.)

This is not the first page. On the page prior we saw from an aerial view a lovely countryside, with medieval-esque courtyards expanding in front of a majestic castle. There are green and gray flags flying everywhere.

This page would consist of four panels, one across the top, two in the middle, and one across the bottom.

Panel 1:

We see a much closer shot of the courtyards, with a loud THUD and a large cloud of dust coming from an impact point in the very middle of the yard.

Caption A (continued from previous page): “-not to mention how beautiful and pristine it is here. Hard to believe an area like this houses such evil.”

Panel 2:

This shot would be along the ground. We would see red boots striding along the path on the courtyard with the castle in the near distance. His red cape flaps in the breeze. The shot is from his right, with his legs to the left of the panel and the courtyard in the right. Various villagers would be standing about, their bartering and idle chatter put on halt by this stranger in their midst. Most of them are looking at him wide eyes and jaws agape.

Caption A: “I can't believe nothing has been done about this before. This...this MADMAN is allowed to run free and conduct his mad experiments, all in the name of diplomatic immunity.”

Caption A: “I'm all for leaving things be if possible, but there comes a time someone must make a stand. Someone has to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. If the heroes of this world won't do it...”

Panel 3:

This panel is the opposite of Panel 2. We have someone striding on the right side of the panel. We see his gray metal boots walking through the interior of the castle. A tattered green cloak waves behind him in his haste.

Caption B: “What's this? How DARE this mere man intrude on me and my people right in our own front YARD! This is MY land!”

Caption B: “I rule this country! Me! The guards all act like simpering cowards in his presence, but that will change soon. This UPSTART is going down. The guards want to whimper behind their shields in puddles of their own urine instead of doing their jobs. But if they won't stand up to this pup...”
Panel 4:

We see a side view of the door to the castle. In front of the door, striding purposefully towards the castle with a look of grim determination, we see Superman. Behind him are just part of a gaggle of peasants and townsfolk, all of which have a curious, and somewhat horrified, expression on their faces. When we look to the door of the castle we see why. Pounding through the heavy gates, tossing aside guards with reckless abandon, stands Doctor Doom, his fists crackling with magical energy. Doctor Doom's eyes have met those of Superman.

Caption A and B: “I WILL.”


Yes, I know this is terrible fanfiction, but I missed out on writing the Doctor Doom script and after much thought I thought he would make a formidable enemy for Superman. He's strong, incredibly smart, and he has mystical powers that COULD prove a problem for the Man of Steel. (This is assuming the magic in the Marvel universe affects him like the magic in the DCU.)

So yeah, sorry for this, but I really wanted to write it. :)

Superman - A Question of Superiority - James McNeill

One of my favourite aspects of large comic continuities like Marvel or DC is the endless capacity for crossover. So this takes place somewhere toward the beginning (though not at the very beginning) of a Superman/Question miniseries. And despite my great and abiding love for Renee Montoya -- this one's Vic Sage.

I rather wish I were continuing this, now that I've begun.

A Question of Superiority

1. Foreground: Superman starts walking forward (out of the alley). Background: Question stares straight ahead, ignoring Superman. They stand in an alley in Metropolis, so it'll be fairly clean -- relatively speaking. Question looks a bit out of place.

SUPERMAN

Just think about it.

2. Superman looks back, having detected somehow that he doesn't have Question's attention.

SUPERMAN

I want us to be able to work together.

CAPTION

That's never happening.

3. Question turns away, further into the alley. This should be a fairly symbolic panel, with Superman toward the end of the alley and in light, and Question in the foreground, in shadow.

CAPTION

He's asking the wrong question.

4. From below. Question looks up as Superman flies off, bracketed by the buildings on either side of the alley.

CAPTION

It's his style I don't like.

5. From above. Question still looks up. He's standing on a copy of the Daily Planet, hands in his pockets. Under his coat we can see his suit and tie, a little bit of his alter ego showing through.

CAPTION

His style of journalism.

Superman – Do Over – Ryan K Lindsay

This page is going to be chock full of panels, 10 in fact. There isn’t a lot of copy to be lettered so all of the images should fit.

- - - 

1. These first four panels should be small, a trio across the top of the page. Clark Kent sits at his desk. His shoulders are slumped as we see him in profile. His computer screen is illuminated but he doesn’t look engaged.

Caption: Friday morning.

2. On Clark’s breast pocket we see a red stain starting to spread out. His pen is leaking.

3. Lois walks past Clark, she’s in a hurry.

Lois: Clark, you’ve got red on you.

4. Clark throws his pen down with one hand while his other hand is raised in disgust as he looks at his shirt.

5. These next three panels should form the next row. Clark whistles while casually walking to the bathroom, hoping no one looks at his red stain.

6. We are looking at the Daily Planet from the outside and Superman has smashed out of a window and is flying straight up into the sky.

7. The world spins around fast with Superman zipping around it like he’s those arms that spin around an atom. We see him in three different places at once, he’s that fast.

8. These three panels should form the final row. Clark is back at his desk, though this time he’s standing as he takes a red pen from his breast pocket, his chair has been pushed back behind him.

Caption: Friday morning – do over.

9. Clark passes Lois as she’s walking to the left of the panel, he has the pen in his hand.

10. Clark hurls the pen out a window and into the sun.

Caption: Revenge is a dish best thrown into the sun.

Superman - Related - Max Barnard

Premise: Mon-El and Superman are flying across Kansas, having a good ole chat. There's not much more to it, other than the need to point out that when Mon-El first appeared he was thought to be Superman's brother, and that since the two have been through a lot, including Mon-El returning and becoming Jonathan Kent, Clark's cousin, in the wake of Pa Kent's death.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Page 1 - 6 Panels

1-- Mon-El and Superman are flying up above the clouds. A decent trajectory to get a good look at them in this panel would be if they were going towards the reader, so we can get a clear look at their faces.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MON-EL - Do you remember when we first met?

SPEECH BUBBLE/SUPERMAN - Mmm. Back when I thought you were my older brother. Ha, I even went as far as to name you!


2-- We focus on Mon-El looking at Superman now, with a large grin on his face.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MON-EL - Ahaha! And after a day of the week, no less. Not the most creative child, I must say!

SPEECH BUBBLE/SUPERMAN - Hey, YOU try coming up with a name for someone who fell from the sky. Although... Ah... My family managed that quite easily with me...


3-- Both supermen are now veering down through the clouds.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MON-EL - Works for you! They called me Bob Cobb. Still, I have your father's name now, so I shouldn't think back on that. And, erm, about that. I wanted to tell y-


4-- Below the clouds now, Superman has stopped and has his hand in front of Mon-El, instructing him to cease flying. Superman is craning his ear to hear something. I'd hazard that this would look best from a side view of the characters, but really as long as we can see Superman's action here it will work fine.

SPEECH BUBBLE/SUPERMAN - Hold on Jon, there's a volcano erupting in Iceland, we'll talk after dealing with that.


5-- Both are now flying full speed now, with their trademark colour schemes trailing behind them.

SPEECH BUBBLE/MON-EL - Okay, but I just wanted you to know...


6-- The two coloured blurs are now approaching the erupting icelandic volcano, with the fading trails of colour spiraling behind them. The reader is probably best seeing this from an isometric/bird's-eye view, the characters moving from the foreground into the background.

TEXT BOX/MON-EL - ...I'm glad to finally be related to you, cousin.

Superman - Writers' Block Is My Kryptonite - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

A backstreet bar; a crummy dive. A man, a writer, sits alone in a booth, head in his hands, an array of empty glasses on the table before him. He doesn’t look up when a tall stranger approaches. The stranger is wearing a dark coat with a large trilby hat pulled down over his brow. We can’t see his face; the writer doesn’t even look. The light is dim and there are blinds in the window which cast horizontal shadows across the faces of our protagonists. When we can see them.

Stranger: Is this seat taken?

Writer: No, go on, knock yourself out, pal…

Writer: Just don’t expect no joie de vivre or bonhomie or… none of that stuff, French or otherwise.

Writer: I’m all out.

Panel Two.

The stranger takes his seat. The writer doesn’t lift his head, he just stares down at the table in desperation, running his hands through his hair like he might be about to pull it out.

Stranger: What’s the problem?

Writer: I blew it - that’s the problem. All I ever wanted was to write comics. All my life, I’ve been waiting for someone at one of the big companies to give me a chance – just one… just to let me show them what I can do…

Writer: And when finally it happens… who do they want me to write? Superman!

Panel Three.

Close on the writer, head still down, feeling majorly sorry for himself.

Writer: It’s just not fair.

Stranger (off-panel): Why can’t you write Superman?

Panel Four.

The writer lifts his head and rolls his eyes, throwing his arms about and knocking over glasses as he rants.

Writer: Because he’s too powerful. With his super-hearing and his super-vision and his super-invulnerability and his super-barn-dancing and his super-shorthand-typing and…

Panel Five.

He continues to rant.

Writer: And he’s too good. Truth, justice and the American way! There’s no moral complexity. No self-doubt. No depth. Just smug, self-righteous, bleeding heart…decency! How do you write an interesting story about a character like that…?

Panel Six.

The stranger takes a pen and begins scribbling on a napkin. We see this from above, his head bowed forward over the table as he writes. The writer stares at him with suspicion.

Stranger: Well, you could try… I mean, how about if…? Just off the top of my head…

Panel Seven.

The stranger hands the napkin to the writer. The writer’s eyes widen as he reads it.

Writer: Wow – man, that’s brilliant. Genius! What an idea! I can’t believe nobody’s ever…

Writer: How did you even come up with that?

Stranger: Oh, I, guess you could call it… super-inspiration.

Panel Eight.

The writer clutches the napkin to him, not wanting to let it go… but the stranger reaches to take it back.

Writer: Say, do you mind if I use this? This could be just what I was looking for!

Stranger: Oh… no… I was merely trying to show you what could be accomplished if you really applied yourself. But I couldn’t let you use that idea. It just…

Panel Nine.

Close on the stranger’s face, still mostly in shadow… but a bar of light from the blinds now falls on his forehead, just below the brim of his hat. A familiar curl of dark hair drops down…

Stranger: Well, it just wouldn’t be ethical, would it? I’m sorry.

Stranger: Still, keep at it, eh? I’m sure you’ll come up with something…

Superman - A Love Scorned - Simon McDonald

A couple of years into my comics-collecting career, Superman turned into a being of energy, split into two, a red version and a blue version - - and somewhere around that same time, the character of Scorn became a prominent member of the Superman supporting cast, along with Ashbury Armstrong, daughter of Daily Planet reporter Dirk Armstrong. Scorn and Ashbury formed a relationship, they were together for at least a year or two, from what I can remember... and then they vanished from the Superman books. I've no idea what happened to them; maybe I missed something. But for whatever reason, whenever I think of my earliest days of reading Superman, I think of Ashbury and Scorn - thus, it seems appropriate they play integral roles in my Superman script...

1. Ashbury Armstrong is standing on the edge of the Daily Planet rooftop. It's bucketing down with rain, and she's standing in it, soaked to the skin, seemingly oblivious, her mascara running. She's in a wedding dress that might've once been a thing of beauty, but is now smudged with grime - and, ominously, appears bloodstained.

CAPTION (1)

Superman always keeps his promises.

CAPTION (2)

The bastard.

2. Birds-eye perspective: looking down on Ashbury, still on the rooftop's edge. The street below is a scene of destruction; cars turned over, fires burning, debris strewn about. Nothing the good citizens of Metropolis aren't used to.

CAPTION (1)

This is all his fault.

CAPTION (2)

He brought the love of my life back to me.

3. Tight on Ashbury. Tears are streaming from her eyes. For those not familiar with the character - she's blind. She is not observing the scene of destruction below, but she knows it's happening. She can't see it - but she can sense it.

CAPTION

He unleashed the monster on Metropolis.

4. Cut to - - Superman, struggling to his feet. He's recovering from being punched through a building, looking a little worse for wear - cape in tatters, covered in dust. Debris is strewn around him, smoke is wafting about.  

SUPERMAN

Ceritak - -

Stop this, before I - -

5. Through the smoke we see the shadow / outline of Ceritak / Scorn. Check this out for reference, but he's a big, hulking creature. Kind of like the Hulk, I suppose - but blue, and with tusks.

SCORN

Stop?

6. The smoke clears - the monster reveals itself. It's Ceritak / Scorn, growling, furious, hate in his eyes.

SCORN

You started this, Superman.

You brought me back.

Brought me to her.

Your mistake.

7. Superman, standing tall, looking - dare I say it? - super; determined; ready to take on this threat.

SUPERMAN

Then I'll have to rectify it.

Scorn first appeared in Superman (v2) 122, 1997

Ashbury Armstrong first appeared in Adventures of Superman 546, 1997

Superman - Envy - Ben Rosenthal

I must admit I have very little Superman knowledge. Having said that, the following could have taken place in Superman’s past, and could also contain the origin of one of his rouges. A ‘No-Prize’ goes to the first person to guess who it is.

This page has a single wide panel at the top, followed by two rows of three equal sized panels and finishing off with two panels down the bottom which are of the same size.

1. A wide panel. We are at street level looking up at the buildings. A small boy, dressed in a green jacket, looks up in amazement as people rush past him. He is looking at a giant robot (one that you may see in the old 1950’s sci-fi movies) smashing its arms into buildings, sending debris to the ground. What the boy cannot see, but the reader can, is that one of the robots arms has smashed the building directly above the boy, and debris is rapidly descending towards him.

2. We see a close up of the child’s face. It is half covered in the shadow of the rubble that is making its way down to him. The boy is looking up, mouth wide open and unsure as to what to do.

3. This is a side shot taking in the previous two panels. We are at street level, seeing the full body of the boy looking up, and the debris inches away from engulfing him.

4. The same panel, with the debris almost hitting the ground. However, the boy is not in the panel, and a blur of red and blue streaks from one side of the panel to the other, as if something very fast has just dashed by, and we are unable to see it.

5. A panel that mimics the previous panel of the close up on the boy’s face. It isn’t as tight, and we can see that the boy now stands on a roof top. His mouth is again open wide, this time in amazement. Off panel comes a speech balloon, simply saying “Are you ok?”

6. A full body shot of Superman, hovering in the air. His cape is blowing to the left and out of the boundaries of the panel. In the background to the right is the robot, which is tearing its way through Metropolis. It is obvious that Superman has dropped the boy on a roof top on the other side of the city.

SUPERMAN
I’ll be back for you.

7. This panel is the same as the previous, however Superman now has his back to us as he flies in the direction of the Robot. We see his cape, the ‘S’ symbol clearly visible.

8. We are in a darkened room, illuminated only by the thousands of television screens which plaster the only wall we can see. From behind we can see the full body of a man, standing watching the largest of the screens. The smaller screen show news channels from around the world. The large screen shows the panel we were just looking at. However, the image is coloured green and slightly pixelated. On Superman’s left shoulder, near the “S" logo, is a bright, shining green mark. The words “OBJECTIVE COMPLETE” are written across the top of the screen.

9. We have a tight short of the man’s face. It is Lex Luthor. He has a smirk on his face.

LEX
All too easy.

Superman - Mild Mannered Reporter - Matt Duarte

Superman in "Mild Mannered Reporter" by Matt Duarte

This page is to be set in four panels, a grid of two by two, with all being in the same size. It is set in a distant past, shortly after Superman made his initial appearances in Metropolis.

Panel 1

Description: Superman is sitting in a chair, looking rather uncomfortable, as if he was too big for the furniture around him. He is not putting his full weight on the chair, as if he was afraid to accidentally break it if he did. Behind him is an open glass door that leads to a balcony, with the curtains flowing because of the wind.

SUPERMAN (CAPTION): What does she know?

SUPERMAN: I'm truly sorry Miss Lane, but I don't think I fully understand that last question. What do you mean by "What do I do in my free time?"

LOIS LANE (off panel): I think it's a pretty straight forward question Superman...

LOIS LANE: You are not Superman ALL the time, so there must be something you do in your free time. I would even wager that you have a job, somewhere in Metropolis.

Panel 2

Description: We can see the back of Superman's head now, still sitting in the chair. In front of him sits Lois Lane, sitting in the same type of chair, but more comfortable, with her legs crossed and a note pad on top of them. She's looking at the note pads while she writes down the answers that Superman is giving.

SUPERMAN: And what leads you think that, Miss Lane?

LOIS LANE: It's quite simple, really. Ever since you showed up in Metropolis I have been collecting witnesses account, and there are certain times when you are never seen patrolling the skies. From nine in the morning to five in the afternoon, to be specific.

LOIS LANE: With your physique, most people would assume you are a firefighter, or a policeman, but looking at your "schedule", I can't help but think you are an office worker, a postman, or maybe even...

Panel 3

Description: A close up of Superman's face, he is smiling nervously.

LOIS LANE (off panel): A mild mannered newspaper reporter?

SUPERMAN (CAPTION): She knows.

SUPERMAN: Umm, Miss Lane, I am terribly sorry but I hear sirens on.. uh.. the other side of the city. I am afraid I must cut this interview short. We shall finish it on another occasion, yes?

Panel 4

Description: Shot from behind Lois Lane's back, the door to the balcony is now open, with Superman flying into the distance. She is still sitting in the chair.

LOIS LANE: Whatever you say, Superman.

LOIS LANE (CAPTION): I knew it. Now I just have to find a way to prove it.

The End.

Why Superman?

It's a bird... It's a plane... It's Superman!

Our next character is none other than what is arguably the very first super hero ever, and one of the most popular and recognizable characters in all of not just comics, but fiction in general. Why did I pick him? Various reasons. He's not what I would call my favorite character, heck, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't even make my Top 5. One of the main reasons I chose him is that we needed a change of scenery. So far we've had mostly villains, and all Marvel characters. We were due for a DC character, and someone that was unequivocally a hero.

Above all, I wanted to pose a challenge. Superman is a really hard character to write, and a polarizing one among fans and writers, who see him as just a big blue boy scout. To write a compelling Superman story, one need to perform a balancing act of epic proportions. And judging by the emails I got after informing my fellow ThoughtBallooners, half of them loved my choice, and the other half now hate my guts. In any case, I think it will make for an interesting week.

Note from the author: We may still have a Doctor Doom entry coming in after this goes live. Damn you, Time Zones!

Superman is a character owned by DC Entertainment