Buffy the Vampire Slayer - End of the Line - Simon McDonald

* Years have passed. Buffy is in her late forties / early fifties. Still an attractive woman, no question - but the strain of her lifelong mission has taken effect. She's hardened, matured into her role as a Slayer *

1. Buffy is in the midst of battle, her clothes torn and dishevelled from combat, a cut below her left eye dripping blood. She's kicking a vampire in the face, a stake protruding from its heart. She's armed with another stake, gripped tightly in her right hand. She's going to need it, too - because behind her is a second vampire, an incredibly ominous figure, lunging at her, moments away from striking - -

CAPTION

In every generation, there is a Chosen One.

2. - - but Buffy is aware of the second vampire's presence, whirling around and slamming the stake into it's heart.

VAMPIRE

NooAAARGH!!

CAPTION

She will stand against the vampires, the demons, and forces of darkness.

3. The vampire explodes into dust; Buffy waves away its remnants.

BUFFY

See ya.

CAPTION

She is the Slayer.

4. Pan out: Buffy stands alone, the terrain around her coated with a thick layer of dust. What an epic battle this has been; a fitting finale to her quest.

CAPTION

And when the Slayer's quest is over,

When the forces of darkness have been forever vanquished...

5. Something is wrong; concern etches over her face as she examines her hands, her arms; her skin is beginning to crack.

BUFFY

What - - ?

CAPTION

... the Slayer shall be no more.

6. Buffy explodes into dust, screaming in agony as she's ripped apart by an unstoppable supernatural force.

CAPTION

Such is the fate of the Chosen One.

END

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Devils & Dust - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

A pale and sickly Buffy Summers sits in a hospital walk-in clinic waiting for her results. She’s wearing a white smock and is sitting up on the doctor’s examination bed / couch. Her clothes and satchel are piled up on a nearby stool. We can see the top of a wooden stake sticking out the top of her bag.

A doctor walks into the room. If I ruled the world, this would be Dr. Gregory House. Get over it.

Doctor: So… Miss Summers… ahem, “Buffy”? Wow - your mom must have really hated you.

Buffy: My mom is dead, doctor…

Doctor: Boo hoo. So is mine. And Philip Larkin was right.

Panel Two.

Buffy scowls at the doctor. He ignores her and reads the chart he’s holding on a clipboard.

Buffy: Nice bed-side manner!

Doctor: Thank you. I bought it on the internet. I asked for a Florence Nightingale, but this was all they had left.

Panel Three.

Close on the doctor, reading Buffy’s chart.

Doctor: So... these breathing difficulties you’ve been having. As you know, people far less important than me have run some tests… and the results don’t look good.

Doctor: Your lungs are coated in a thick layer of particulate matter we can’t properly identify, thought it does appear to have been building up over a number of years.

Panel Four.

The doctor raises his eyebrows as he questions Buffy. He doesn’t expect an honest answer. Buffy shuffles in her seat, unable to look him in the eye. She isn’t about to give him one.

Doctor: Any idea what might have caused that…? Do you work in a particularly dusty environment or...

Buffy: No…

Panel Five.

Flashback panel. Buffy in action, fighting vampires. She stakes two at once and they explode into dust in her face.

Panel Six.

The doctor gives Buffy a knowing look. Buffy looks at him now, her brow furrowing with suspicion.

Buffy: …nothing I can think of. Sorry!

Doctor: Hmm. No. So it’s not like you regularly find yourself in the presence of…

Panel Seven.

The doctor vamps up and bares his teeth. Despite how grotty she's feeling, Buffy still leaps into action, grabbing the stake that was peeping out the top of her satchel…

Doctor: …vampires?

Panel Eight.

...and plunging it deep into the vampire doctor’s chest. The doctor just grins at her. He does not explode in a cloud of dust.

Doctor: Oh dear. I really wish you hadn’t done that…

Panel Nine.

The doctor reaches up and taps the end of the stake that's still sticking out of his chest. Buffy takes a step back, looking surprised – but ready for anything.

Doctor: Now I’m going to have to go through all that tiresome Big Bad Exposition – and I don’t know about you, but I do get sick of that stuff.

Buffy: Or... I could just kill you instead?

Doctor: Didn’t you just try that? Pop quiz, Buffy - how can you stake a vampire in the heart…

Panel Ten.

Close on the doctor, baring his grinning fangs.

Doctor: …when he doesn’t even have a heart?

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - What The Hell Is Mr. Pointy? - Max Barnard

Buffy The Vampire Slayer - What The Hell Is Mr. Pointy? - Max Barnard

The Premise: I got nothing. Enjoy this completely ill-informed script that proves beyond a doubt that a non-fan can break a beloved character....'s neck.

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

Page 1 - 7 Panels

1-- A (male) Vampire is being kicked in the head in a darkened alleyway by Buffy Summers.

SFX/HEADKICK - KLONK

SPEECH BUBBLE/A VAMPIRE - Gack!


2-- Buffy is standing over the vampire, stake at the ready to plunge into his chest. The Vampire is rubbing his head in pain, looking up at Buffy.

SPEECH BUBBLE/BUFFY SUMMERS - Time you met my special friend. I call him Mr. Pointy!

SPEECH BUBBLE/A VAMPIRE - Mr... Wait, what? That just sounds wrong.


3-- Buffy has her hands on her hips, looking decidedly frustrated by the vampire. The vampire is getting up off the floor.

SPEECH BUBBLE/BUFFY SUMMERS - Nuh-uh! It's totally normal for the hard long object given to me by another, more experienced girl to have a name like that!

SPEECH BUBBLE/A VAMPIRE - ... Um... No, that's exactly the sort of thing that would sound wrong.


4-- Buffy is now in arms-spread outrage, shouting at the anonymous vampire. The vampire himself is standing up and brushing himself off.

SPEECH BUBBLE/BUFFY SUMMERS - SHUT UP! YOU DON'T KNOW ME *OR* MR. POINTY!

SPEECH BUBBLE/A VAMPIRE - You're right, I really don't. But then...


5-- The vampire break Buffy's neck with a twist, her face that of some understandable shock.

SFX/NECK BREAKING - KER-SNAPPLE

SPEECH BUBBLE/A VAMPIRE - I'm not a fan.


6-- The vampire walks away from Buffy's body (and the reader), which is slumped on the floor, lifeless face staring at the reader.


7-- Same as before, except that the Vampire has made it to the end of the alley, and is doing a little leap, clicking his heels together.

CAPTION/NARRATION - END.

Buffy Summers – On My Way To The Zoo – Ryan K Lindsay

1. Buffy sits in a seat at a table in the middle of a bare room. Her hands are chained to the table. Besides the seating arrangement there is no other furniture. She doesn’t look happy at all.

Caption: This place stinks like ass. It’s assy and it’s dirty and it’s not my home.
Caption: I should be home right now with late night tv, a heat pack, and enough ice cream to sink a brown dog.

2. Buffy looks over her shoulder as two large and quiet men enter the room. We can also see that one of the walls of the room is just a large window.

Caption: Instead I’m here with the smiley twins.

3. The first guy is about to hit Buffy in the face, she’s making a very awkward expression.

Caption: He’s going to hit me, isn’t he?

4. A bright red panel.

Caption: This is all I can see while the two men beat on me. I sit still with my hands chained to the table and I taste the ice cream.
Caption: Fudgey.

5. A bruised and broken Buffy looks at the now bloody window while the men exit the room again.

Caption: The ice cream might not be real.
Caption: But neither are these guys.

 

6. We see reflections of the men in the blood on the window and they don’t look the same. In the blood, these men look like terrible vampire/monster creatures.

Caption: I see what they are and they aren’t fudgey.
Caption: These goons are low level vamps and I’m stuck in this crazy zoo, for now.
Caption: But later I’ll be catching my stories and resting my aching feet, I swear.

Buffy - Slayerology 101 - Ben Rosenthal

1. A wide shot looking from very far away. A girl is standing in a junk yard, her back towards us. Her blonde/brown hair is down, and she is holding a steak in her left hand.

CAPTION
So here’s the deal. I’m a vampire Slayer. I slay vampires. It’s a pretty self explanatory job title.

2. The same shot as before, but closer. The girl is now surrounded by 2 vampires. To the left of the panel, close to us, is the shadow of someone watching the girl. This person is holding binoculars, looking at the girl.

CAPTION
The classics work – sunlight, beheading, wooden steak to the heart.

3. The girl has planted a steak into one vampire, who is half way through the process of turning to dust. At the same time she has kicked the second vampire to the throat.

CAPTION
To help me with the slaying I get strength, speed...

4. The Slayer, face covered by her wild hair, 'dusts' second vampire.

CAPTION
...and the dreams.

CAPTION
Every life, every foe faced by every slayer throughout the ages is all mine.

5. A frame showing the identity of the shadowy person watching our slayer. It is Buffy Summers, holding the binoculars down from her face.

CAPTION
Still doesn’t make this discovery any less of a shock.

6. The face of the Slayer we have just witnessed ‘dusting’ two vampires is revealed – it is that of a girl, around Buffy’s age. However, she is a vampire.

CAPTION
Oh boy.

Why Buffy?

"Into every generation a Slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer."

The first two season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had this speech at the beginning of each episode. It tells you of the legacy of the Slayer, what a Slayer is, and who a Slayer slays. The particular Slayer we follow is that of a young Buffy Anne Summers.

In a long line of Chosen One’s, Buffy herself appears to be chosen. She constantly defies tradition and prophecy, fights the Big Bads with both her wooden steak and razor whit, all the while trying (in vain...or vein if I wanted to make a horrible pun) to live a normal teenage life.

While Ms Summers is recognised mainly from the TV, she has also appeared in the comic field. During the show’s original run, comic book nut and comic book creator Joss Whedon lent his chief protagonist, as well as her motley crew of supporting characters, to a series of comics.
After Buffy the Vampire Slayer concluded on TV with Season Seven, her adventures continued within the comic medium with the aptly titled 'Season Eight'.

So what makes Buffy so appealing? Is it her looks? Her powers? Her being based on Kitty Pryde? I will leave it up to my fellow tenured writers to give you their interpretation of this pop-culture classic femme.

Lara Croft - Game Over - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

Lara Croft descends a grand staircase in a large country mansion, wearing an evening dress to die for. It’s slit up the side, revealing a stockinged leg as she steps forward. Around her low-cut neckline she wears glistening diamond jewellery. Other guests (mainly men in dinner jackets) gaze in awe at her entrance.

CAP: You are Lara Croft.

CAP: You are beautiful.

Panel Two.

In a dusty museum back room, surrounded by antiquities that are yet to go on show, Lara leans over a table studying an ancient map. She’s dressed now like a sexy teacher fetish fantasy, her hair tied back, wearing huge glasses that highlight her eyes.

CAP: You are an expert in archaeology, cryptography, and the customs and cultures of hundreds of civilizations long forgotten by the modern world. You are also fluent in 127 ancient languages…

Panel Three.

Lara (in traditional Tomb Raider outfit) is fighting temple guardians armed with enormous swords. She dodges and kicks and shoots as they try their very best to chop off her head.

CAP: …and 128 forms of armed and hand-to-hand combat.

Panel Four.

Lara is in a dark and shadowy corridor. There are torches burning on the walls. She’s holding two hand guns in x-formation across her chest as she makes her way cautiously forward.

CAP: And yet, despite all this… your life is not your own.

Panel Five

At the end of the corridor she steps into a dimly lit room. The walls are covered with peeling images, but it’s too dark to make any of them out. The only light comes from an unseen source in the far corner of the room. The reason we can’t see the source of the light is because it’s blocked by a large throne / seat in the centre of the room. The throne is facing away from us, towards the light source. An enormous figure sits on the throne, though we (and Lara) can only see the back of his head. The figure is unaware of Lara’s arrival.

Lara points a gun at the back of the figure’s head.

CAP: It is completely at the mercy of others. Your every move guided by unseen hands. Free will has never been yours.

Panel Six.

Close on Lara’s gun as it fires.

CAP: Until now.

Panel Seven.

Her gun still smoking, Lara steps around the throne to reveal the source of the light. It’s a TV and computer gaming system. The TV shows a Tomb Raider screen shot. It is splattered with blood. The man in the throne is dead, Lara’s bullet having blown out the front of his skull. He is a huge, overweight man wearing just a wife-beater vest and underpants. He is slumped forward over the computer joystick in his lap.

CAP: One gamer at a time – you’re taking it back.

Lara Croft- Dream On- Will Turner

Dream On

FRAME 1- Lara Croft is in her classic shirt and shorts combo, complete with backpack and guns.
Her hand is outstretched trying to grab onto a large, shiny jewel. A sleazy looking man
with glasses and a ratty moustache is grabbing onto it at the same time.
Caption: "It is said the Dream Stone can make dreams come true..."

FRAME 2- Lara is dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, albeit armed with a machine gun.
She is surrounded by flying monkeys with rocket launchers attached to their
shoulders and flames coming out of their mouths.
Caption: "I really don't want to know what part of my subconcious this comes from"

FRAME 3- Lara is back in her normal costume and in a dark, intimidating cave. She is
facing towards clones of herself. One is a giant diamond clone, another is
a spider with her face. One is a giant crab like creature and another is
a winged demon.
Caption: "Is this a test? If so, who is testing me?"

FRAME 4- Lara Croft is in a giant inflated suit in a circus. Her face is beetroot red,
blushing with embarassment.
Text: HA!HA!HA!
Caption: "My worst fears made real..."

FRAME 5- Lara Croft is dressed in a superhero costume with an "ML" insignia on it.
Her muscles are exagerrated. She is grappling with the mysterious man,
whose muscles are of a similar size.
Caption: "I cannot let him take control"

Lara Croft - Deepwater Vanishing - Simon McDonald

1. Birdseye view of a ship anchored in the South Atlantic Ocean; speeding away from it is a speedboat, and we can just make out two figures on board, both outfitted in scuba-gear. One of Lara Croft; the other is Kevin Alderson (new character, no reference)

CAPTION

The South Atlantic Ocean

KEVIN ALDERSON

... took the spill from BP's Deepwater Horizon for the politicians to get their heads out of their arses and do something...

 

2. Closer on the speedboat; Lara is seated, staring impassively out at the ocean. Alderson is speaking with vigour and passion.

KEVIN ALDERSON

... how many years since the War ended? Yet we've got hundreds of sunken vessels threatening environmental catastrophe that they've continued to ignore...

Take the Hemmingway as an example; the tanker was sunk in 1942, Lara. It was carrying more than 5000 tonnes of oil, yet it's remained untouched for over sixty years...

 

3. Small panel; tight on Alderson, suddenly looking deflated; defeated.

KEVIN ALDERSON

And now that we finally have...

 

4. Lara and Alderson are in the water, swimming downwards into the murky depths.

CAPTION

Kevin Alderson has dedicated his life to safeguarding these forgotten vessels,

and he's finally been provided the funding to do so.

It only took a man-made disaster in the Gulf of Mexico to instigate a pragmatic solution...

 

5. Tight on Lara; we can see the reflection of bright illumination on her facemask.

CAPTION

Unfortunately, Kevin and his team found more than this British naval tanker when they began their survey...

 

6. Largest panel on the page: an overheard shot. We're looking down at the tanker, the Hemmingway, rusted from a lifetime under the sea. And beside it is a stone circle comprised of eight megaliths - think of Stonehenge - and an otherworldly glow is emanating from its middle.

CAPTION (1)

Whatever it is, it evaporated Kevin's team before his very eyes.

They actually dissipated as they approached the monument.

CAPTION (2)

I'm here to find them.
And if I can... to discern the monument's origin.

 

7. Lara's holding up her hand; it's beginning to fade, beginning to dissolve. She shows no indication of panic. Just another day in the life, right?

CAPTION

Here we go.

 

8. Kevin Alderson, in the ocean, alone. Lara has vanished.

Lara Croft - The Endless Search - Ben Rosenthal

1. Lara Croft is standing to the left of the panel. We see her mostly from the back, but is at an angle that we also get a side profile of her as well. She is dressed in her classic blue top and green shorts, and a gun in each hand. She is looking out over a room full of Egyptian hieroglyphics.

CAPTION
“I’ve been on its trail for years, ever since the beginning.”

2. Lara is standing the same as the previous panel. She is now dressed in brown crop top and brown pants. In front of her is a large waterfall, with the slight hint of fire coming from behind it.

CAPTION
“I’ve come close to getting it, only for it to be revealed as fake.”

3. Lara is again in the same pose, but this time sporting a blue long sleeved top and grey cargo pants. She is looking out over rubble of a long forgotten city within the Amazon.

CAPTION
“Now though ... now I have it. I’m sure of it.”

4. Lara is in the same pose as the other panels. However this time she is wearing her full body black leather costume. She is standing in the middle of the Colosseum in Rome.

CAPTION
“Here’s hoping it works......”

CAPTION
“Up, Up, Down, Left, Right, Up, Right, Down, Right.”

6. The panel reads ‘Code Accepted. Nude Lara Croft is now playable’

CAPTION
“It works! After all these years – it works!”

7. We see panel 4 again, exactly the same however this time Lara is standing nude. However, black bars cover her naughty bits. ‘CENSORED’ is written across them.

CAPTION
“DAMMIT!”

Lara Croft - Waiting For Spiders From Mars - Ryan K Lindsay

This scene would come at the end of an issue where Lara Croft has been fighting against a lady who looks a bit like a meaner Lara Croft; this lady is Lara's half-sister.
1. Lara Croft lies on her back, we’re looking at her with the balustrade of the story above showing, as are a set of black shoed feet on this perched spot that belong to her half-sister, Desdemona Singensen.

2. Lara is looking to the side, blood on her face, it’s been a real throwdown. Feet are landing just next to her.

Desdemona: You’ve been pretty damn good. I’m impressed.

3. Desdemona collapses to the floor, a blade sticking out of her collarbone area. Lara is smiling.

4. Lara sits up, wiping blood from her mouth and holding a gun in her other hand.

Lara: I’d love to chat some more, sis, but this reunion needs to end now.

5. Lara holds a gun to Desdemona’s head.

Desdemona: Wait?
Desdemona: Have you heard of the Spire of Ziggy Stardust?

6. Lara points the gun up, her face quizzical.

Lara: No…you mean all this…?

7. Lara lays back down, her wounded half-sister next to her.

Desdemona: Yes, a mere test.
Desdemona: And you better have a butler hiding here somewhere because we’ve got a train to catch in about two hours.

Why Lara Croft?

Will Turner is currently in Norwich with some shaky net but he managed to get the following through to me, which I duly present to you.

It's easy to forget that comics exist outside Marvel and DC. In an effort to broaden my reading, I read the Top Cow Lara Croft comics and found them surprisingly good. I've always liked the character but found the games frustrating to play and the films lacking a decent script or coherent direction (Angelina Jolie was brilliant as Lara, but a great actor can't make a rubbish script great, merely tolerable).

The other reason is that I am English and as such we don't really have superheroes. While 2000AD hails from Oxford and we have greats like Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, in terms of superheroes we don't really have them. In my opinion, James Bond and Lara Croft come the closest, in the sense that they have a similar air of invulnerability.

Therein lies the problem and my challenge to you excellent writers- to add emotional depth without sacrificing excitement and to somehow get that in one page. Good luck!

Mr Mxyzptlk- Why So Serious?- Will Turner

Why So Serious?

FRAME 1- Batman scowls, rain soaking down over his face. He looks angry.
Caption: "What the heck happened? "

FRAME 2- Doomsday rams his fist into Superman.
Caption: "Oh this won't do at all..."

FRAME 3- Lex in his robot suit clutches Supergirl by the throat.
Caption: "Dark Supergirl? What in the name of Aunt Maude's creamy fudge is going
on?"

FRAME 4- Mr M grins as he sees Wonder Woman turned into a balloon, Flash with giant feet,
Batman as a caveman, the Green Lantern with a giant stretchy neck, Hawkgirl
turned into a tree and an enormously fat Superman, Supergirl and Powergirl, all
eating glowing red chilli dogs. They all glare angrily at Mr M, who is grinning smugly.

Mr M: Now that's more like it!

Mr. Mxyzptlk - You're Fired - Matt Duarte

Mr. Mxyzptlk in “You’re Fired!” by Matt Duarte

Five panels. First one is a wide panel on top of the page, and the next four are on a two by two grid, all of the same size.

Panel 1

Description: Mr. Mxyzptlk is floating in the middle of a room, where he is in the middle of a large group. The group of people is covered in shadows, with their back towards the reader, so we can’t see who they are just yet. Mr. Mxyzptlk is speaking with a pleasant attitude. This is his room, and it is adorned with photos of himself, and framed comic book covers in which he appears.

Mr. Mxyzptlk: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Sorry to have taken you away without notice from your loved ones and adoring fans. If you look around the room, you will notice that you are part of a very select group, the creme-de-la-creme of the comic book industry. Why are you here? To right a great wrong...

Mr. Mxyzptlk: You see, I have not appeared in a comic book for quite some time. That’s why you bards and luminaries are here. Prepare story pitches about yours truly, and try not to disappoint me... bad things happen when I’m disappointed.

Panel 2

Description: Mr. Mxyzptlk is a reading a piece of paper, and he has a somewhat angry face. In front of him stands Neil Gaiman, who is wearing a black leather jacket and is sporting some disheveled hair.

CAPTION (pointing at the piece of paper): Mr. Mxyzpltk: The Master Storyteller by Neil Gaiman.

Mr. Mxyzptlk: I appreciate the flattery... but you spelled my name wrong! You’re fired!!!

Panel 3

Description: Mr. Mxyzptlk is reading another piece of paper, with a confused and exasperated look on his face. In front of him now stands Gail Simone, who has red hair and her trademark glasses.

CAPTION (pointing at the piece of paper): Mr. Mxysptlk: Hat F#$%er by Gail Simone

Mr. Mxyzptlk: ...but why would I want to copulate my headpiece? And on top of that, you spelled my name wrong! You’re fired!!!

Panel 4

Description: Mr. Mxyzptlk now looks extremely aggravated and tired. He is reading another piece of paper, all by himself.

CAPTION: Twenty six writers later...

Mr. Mxyzptlk: This last one... it’s... it’s... perfect! “Mr. Mxyzptlk Walks Across The Fifth Dimension”! You’re hired, Mister...

Panel 5

Description: Mr. Mxyzptlk is now struggling to read from the paper. Across of him is a very disappointed looking J. Michael Straczynski.

Mr. Mxyzptlk: Str... Strayk... Strizan... Screw it, you’re fired too!!!

The End

Mr Mxyzptlk - It Goes Both Ways - Ryan K Lindsay

1. Mr Mxyzptlk looks over his shoulder in fear.

Voice (o/p): You thought one of us wouldn’t follow you back?

2. Mr Mxyzptlk stands so small beneath a gigantic and looming figure, it’s Lex Luthor.

Lex: Or you just didn’t know we’d have such power here.

3. Lex smiles, we’re tight on the lips, they’re evil.

Lex: And that we’d lose our inhibitions so much.

Mister Mxyzptlk - A Hctam Edam Ni Nevaeh - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

A line of children stand on a stage in a school hall underneath a sign that reads ‘Spelling Bee’ with a big picture of a bee. Towards the end of the line are Superman and Mr. Mxyzptlk, both wearing school uniform and short pants, waiting their turn. Superman is rolling his eyes in exasperation – Mxyzptlk is taking things rather more seriously. A nerdy Alfred E. Neuman type stands at the front of the line, taking his turn.

ALFRED: K… L… T… P…Y…

CAPTION: After year upon year of finding ever more insane ways to send Mxyzptlk back to his home dimension…

Panel Two.

Superman and Mxyzptlk are in a 50s style radio studio, on either side of the presentation desk. Supes is the DJ, Mxyzptlk is his guest. Both are wearing headphones. Superman has his finger on one of the turntables, spinning the record anti-clockwise. Mxyzptlk holds up his hands, waving in protest.

SUPERMAN: Hey, all you cats and kittens, listen up – we’re about to spin the new platter that matters from that groovy funkster Mxyzptlk… backwards!

MXYZPTLK: What? Wait, no--!

Panel Three.

Superman and Mxyzptlk sit across from each other in a World Championship Scrabble match. We see the scene from above so we can read the letters in Mxyzptlk’s tray. The scrabble board is pretty full… there’s just enough room for one more word – and it’ll be a Triple Word Score too… but the only word that’ll make that happen has an X as its penultimate letter. In Mxyzptlk’s tray he has all the letters that spell out his name… except an X.

CAPTION: …Superman has had ENOUGH.

Panel Four.

Zatanna is sitting in a coffee shop, drinking an espresso and reading the newspaper. Behind her, Mxyzptlk disappears in a puff of smoke. Zatanna casually waves her fingers behind her to send him home, mumbling a spell under her breath. She doesn’t even look in his direction. Mxyzptlk looks extremely frustrated as he prepares to exit our dimension.

CAPTION: So he’s handed the task over to someone else…

ZATANNA: Ekam Klptzyxm yas Mxyzptlk!

Panel Five.

Zatanna is shopping for clothes at the lingerie store. She’s holding up a pair of fishnet stockings to the sales assistant. With her other hand, she gestures behind her, where Mxyzptlk, dressed in hideous lingerie himself, is once again being sent home.

CAPTION: Someone eminently qualified…

ZATANNA: I’ll take 25 pairs…

ZATANNA: (Kaeps sdrawkcab, Klptzyxm!)

ZATANNA: …in my usual size, please.

MXYZPTLK: Ho’d!

Panel Six.

Zatanna is asleep in bed, late at night. Mxyzptlk appears above her in threatening Nosferatu-style pose, casting a shadow over her as he lunges in for the attack. Zatanna mumbles something without waking.

CAPTION: Someone who can do this job in her sleep…

ZATANNA: Elbmum... Esrever S'klptzyxm eman...

ZATANNA: Won kcab ot ym yxes maerd...

Mister Mxyzptlk - If We Shadows Have Offended - Ben Rosenthal

The following takes place after Neil Gaiman's Sandman run.

1. Puck from ‘Sandman’ is watching a group of teenagers from afar. There are four teens in total, two girls and two boys, each paired off with each other.

PUCK

Hmm, what mischief can be had here...

2. Daniel/Dream of The Endless appears next to Puck.

DREAM

There will be no more mischief from you, Puck.

PUCK

Morpheus?

DREAM

No. And yes.

PUCK

Well if you’re going to be all cryptic, I’ll add to the confusion.

3. Puck turns into Mr Mxyzptlk. He has a wide, mischievous grin on his face. Behind this smile is a hint of malice, which can also be seen in his eyes.

DREAM

Mxyzptlk?

MXYZPTLK

I go by many names.

4. A close up of Dream’s face. He is serious.

DREAM

Nonetheless, you cause trouble in this reality. You do not belong. I am here to turn you away, or to implement the consequences if you choose not to.

5. Mr Mxyzptlk is looking at Dream with a smirk on his face. This may be tricky to convey, but on the far left of the panel is imp-like Mr Mxyzptlk. In the middle some visual effect representing a transformation, and on the far right hand side Mr Mxyzptlk’s transformation into a large, muscular figure in a black cloak (a play on Superman’s costume would fit well).

MXYZPTLK (imp form)

Consequences? Why Dream, you wouldn’t hurt your brother would you?

MXYZPTLK (muscular form)

For I am the 8^th sibling of The Endless, DIMENSION!

6. We see Dream from the hips up. His right hand is raised in a dramatic fashion, but he looks slightly amused. He does not believe Mr Mxyzptlk.

DREAM

You are immortal, but you are not one of The Endless.

DREAM

However due to your lack of co-operation, your slumber will be.

7. Mr Mxyzptlk has reverted back to his imp form, and is sleeping soundly on the ground. The “zzz” appears above his head in a cartoon-y type fashion.

MXYZPTLK

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mister Mxyzptlk - Master of All Domains - Simon McDonald

1. Tight on Mister Mxyzptlk, laughing maniacally, not looking at all like the diminutive, mischievous, playful imp Superman has come to expect every ninety days. His eyes are open wide, pupils dilated. He looks insane. 

MISTER MXYZPTLK

Ahh-hahahaha!

2. Pull back. Mister Mxyzptlk is floating in midair, arms crossed, as Metropolis - the world, actually, but we can only see this snapshot - descends into chaos; Mxy has animated buildings and in the background we can see these huge brick edifices literally fighting each other, debris flying as punches lad; amidst them, dinosaurs stomp, combatting the buildings; the sky is blood-red, the Earth is literally cracking. This is an apocalypse only Mxyzptlk could instigate.

CAPTION

I was foolish.

3. Superman, flying at Mister Mxyzptlk.

SUPERMAN

Mxyzptlk!

Stop this!

This isn't funny!

People are going to be killed - - 

CAPTION

When Ahti was bestowed the Illuminator of All Realities - - 

- - when she became Kismet - - 

- - I reacted poorly.

4. One of the animated buildings crashes into Superman, disrupting his flight path. Mister Mxyzptlk breaks into laugher once again.

Superman

Oof!

MISTER MXYZPTLK

Ahh-hahahaha!

CAPTION

I wanted her power.

I deserved her power.

But it seems I don't need her power to manipulate realities...

5. Behind Mister Mxyzptlk, still floating in midair, arms crossed, is the faded embodiment of Dominus*, a smile of satisfaction plastered on his face.

CAPTON

Not when I can manipulate the mind of this imp from the fifth dimension,

and make his worst nightmares a reality...
and my dreams come true.

To be Continued...

*Dominus - destroyer of worlds - first appeared in ACTION COMICS #747; he can create realities based on the worst nightmares of his opponents. It's the author's assertion that Mister Mxyzptlk isn't out to hurt anybody when he appears every 90 days. He simply wants to have some fun. Deep down, Mxy is a prankster; a supremely powerful being after some laughs. His worst nightmare would be to become something else ... something far more deadly ...

Why Mr. Mxyzptlk?

"Did you honestly believe a fifth-dimensional sorcerer would resemble a funny little man in a derby hat?" from Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow. 

The mischievous magical imp, Mr. Mxyzptlk - pronounced Mix-yez-pittle-ick, in case you were struggling, and that's according to my Ultimate Guide to The Man of Steel - hails from the Fifth-Dimension and visits Earth every ninety days to, well, annoy Superman. And when you've got almost limitless power, it's not such a difficult task. 

We've seen Mxy warp Superman's body; animate the Daily Planet building; create red kryptonite for Lex Luthor; he's even handed over his powers to the Joker for a short period of time, and watched in horror as the psychotic clown decimated Earth. With Mxy, anything goes; the possibilities are endless. So what'll the Thoughtballooners come up with? Stayed tuned during the week - and as always, join in the fun!

Daredevil - Show No Fear - Simon McDonald

1. Night. A crime scene. Rain is cascading down. A sheet is draped over a body, clearly that of a child. Uniformed cops, coupled with a couple plain-clothed detectives stand around the body, conversing stoically, respectfully. But the prominent figure in this scene is Daredevil, staring down at the covered body, shoulders slumped in defeat.

COP #1

... witnesses all saying the same thing.

The kid just ran at them, screaming I can see you! I'm not scared of you!

2. On Daredevil; water spilling down his cheeks. Rainwater –mingling with tears, perhaps? It's difficult to know for sure.

 COP #2

(off panel)

Jesus.

Kid was messed up, huh?

3. Flashback Panel: Daredevil has just beaten up a trio of street thugs; they're sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Standing to one side is the kid, awe plastered on his face. Daredevil's standing at ease, arms by his sides, not wanting to frighten the kid.

KID

That... was... awesome!

I wish I could do that.

4. Flashback Panel: On Daredevil, a genuine smile on his lips.

DAREDEVIL

Who says you can't?

5. Flashback Panel: Daredevil pats the kid on the head, fatherly-like. The kid beams up at him.

KID

But I don't have, watchacallit... super-powers...

DAREDEVIL

Heh.

You can see, buddy.

So you've already got that over me.

And if you can see 'em, you've always got a chance.

6. Flashback Panel: Daredevil's leaping up towards a fire escape, prepped to make his exit.

DAREDEVIL

Just remember: show no fear, and they'll fear you.

7. Back to the present. Daredevil's head is bowed solemnly.

COP #1

(off panel)

Yeah.

Kid must've been crazy.

Daredevil - His Worst Enemy - Max Barnard

The Premise: What's Daredevil's biggest weakness? His lack of sight? No, not at all. It's something much less utilised in his stories, mostly because Daredevil is known to be a *shudder* serious title. This page is some unknown amount of pages into a larger storyline, because who needs a page 1 all the time? (answer: me)

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Page X - 8 Panels

1-- Daredevil, peering stealthily around a street corner at 3 thugs.

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - I don't like this. Jimmy The Tooth said that there would be four thugs at the drop-off point. Three goons and the new 'protection'. Why can I only sense the goons?


2-- A blurred shape collides with Daredevil, sending him towards the ground.

SPEECH BUBBLE/DAREDEVIL - WHUFF!

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - What? Where did that come from?


3-- Close-up on Daredevil lying on the street as he takes a hit to the face from the left. It's important that we still don't see WHAT is hitting him, in an attempt to keep the mystery up.

SFX - RYNK!

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - I can't even tell if something's hitting me.


4-- Same as the previous panel's set-up, except Daredevil's face is being hit in the other direction with two rapid hits.

SFX - SIMN! MCK!

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - But I can feel every blow coursing through my body.


5-- Continuing the close-up face-punching, back to a hit from the left. Daredevil now has blood trickling out of his nose, mouth, and from somewhere under his mask.

SFX - ROLHSST!

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - NNGH! What's with the noises I'm hearing?


6-- Now Daredevil's taking a hit to the chin.

SFX - MATTADUAR!

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - And why does it hurt MORE when I'm thinking?


7-- In the final part of this sequence, Daredevil is no longer being punched, and has a look of abject horror upon his face.

NARRATION/DAREDEVIL - ...No

SPEECH BUBBLE/DAREDEVIL - ..... N-no!


8-- Finally we get to see his assailant, looming over DD's beaten body. It is a giant Thought Balloon, with two of the edges of the balloon stretched out into huge fists. Behind it is a huge lightning strike

SFX/LIGHTNING BOLT - DUNDUNDUUUUUUUUN!

THOUGHT BALLOON/THOUGHT BALLOON - What's the matter DD, can you not sense..... THE THOUGHT BALLOON?!

Daredevil - Rumspringa - Matt Duarte

Daredevil in “Rumspringa” by Matt Duarte

This page is to be laid out in six panels, a two columns by three rows grid. The caption should be in a handwriting font, as it is a letter being written.

Panel 1

Description: A teenage Amish boy is walking through the streets of New York. He is wearing typical Amish clothes (button down blue shirt, black pants with suspenders, etc.), which looks very out of place in the city, specially at night. His name is David.

CAPTION (David): Dear Father and Dear Mother:

CAPTION (David): Before I left on my Rumspringa journey, you warned me that the Devil lives in big and modern cities like this one; that he tempts people and makes them want to stay in this sinful place.

Panel 2

Description: David is walking into a dark alley, where he runs into a group of thugs, who look menacing and are making threatening gestures at him. They are sporting brass knuckles, carrying switch blades, etc.

CAPTION (David): The city is indeed a dangerous place, and the Devil DOES live here, but we must not fear him, for our pure hearts and noble deeds protect us from his clutches.

CAPTION (David): Earlier today I took a wrong turn and I walked into a dangerous situation, just like the ones you warned me about.

Panel 3

Description: Daredevil has leaped right in the middle of the group of thugs, landing a punch and a kick as he closed upon them. David is looking from a distance at the scene.

CAPTION (David): And right there before my very eyes, the Devil himself appeared, wearing what seemed to be a human suit that grotesquely hid his features.

CAPTION (David): Though the horns proved too big of a challenge for his sad attempt of a disguise. Even from a distance, I could see them protruding from his skull.

Panel 4

Description: Daredevil continues to dispatch of the thugs, though this time he is using his trusty billy club, whipping it around and hitting them. He is in a particularly shadowy section of the alley, and David can only see parts of what’s going on.

CAPTION (David): The Devil attacked the sinful group that had stood before me. He delivered painful attacks upon all of them, surely punishing them for their cruel deeds.

SFX: WHIP!

CAPTION (David): Even now, as I close my eyes, I can still hear his infernal tail whipping around as it attacked them.

Panel 5

Description: Daredevil is now standing by himself, all around him in the floor lays the group of thugs. He has his back turned towards the reader and towards David, who is still looking at the scene.

CAPTION (David): Once he was done torturing these evil people, I knew he would turn towards me, but he didn’t look in my direction as he said, in a low and guttural voice...

DAREDEVIL: You can go. I know you have done nothing wrong.

Panel 6

Description: David is now running out of the alley, in fear. Meanwhile, Daredevil looks at him from atop a building.

CAPTION (David): And that is why I am returning with you to the settlement, for now I have learned two important lessons: One, that our path is righteous and pure, since the Devil himself dared not harm me.

CAPTION (David): And two, that the Devil will never leave this city, since he will be eternally busy with his task to punish the sinners that live here.

The End

Daredevil - The Weight - Rol Hirst

Panel One.

A completely black panel.

CAP (DD): I wake to darkness.

CAP (DD): The same as any other day.

Panel Two.

Flashback. Young Matt Murdoch rushes to push the blind man out of the way of an oncoming chemical truck.

CAP (DD): When I was 12 years old, an accident left me blind… yet enhanced my other senses greatly. It also gifted me with a special sixth ‘radar’ sense that allows me to see better than most sighted people.

Panel Three.

Another completely black panel.

CAP (DD): I still wake to darkness every day.

CAP (DD): Today, though, is different…

Panel Four.

Another black panel – but this time we see the silhouette of DD’s face at the bottom and concentric ‘radar sense’ circles rising up through the darkness.

CAP (DD): Not only can’t I see, but I can’t move either. I can hardly even catch a breath…

CAP (DD): …and when I do, my other senses overload. The rank smell of sweat and sour cologne. The pounding beat of a thunderous drum. The enormous weight pressing down like I’ve been buried alive…

Panel Five.

Flashback. Daredevil is fighting the Kingpin. Stood like a boxer, he's laying into the Kingpin with punch after punch after punch, desperate to knock him out. The Kingpin takes every punch... but he might just be weakening.

CAP (DD): I try to work out where I am. How I got here. What was the last thing I…

Panel Six.

Out of flashback. Now we see exactly where DD is – he’s fighting his way out from under the Kingpin’s unconscious body. Having knocked Fisk out, the Kingpin has fallen on DD, knocking Matt out in turn and half-smothering him in the process. In this panel he struggles to free himself from underneath his enormous enemy.

DD: Get… off… me!

CAP (DD): Foggy’s never gonna let me live this down.

Daredevil- Justice Is Blind- Will Turner

Panel 1- Matt Murdoch stands, looking up at the courthouse.
Caption: They say justice is blind...

Panel 2- It's night, people walk past as a young black man is beaten up by a pair of white muggers.
Caption: Sometimes it seems mercy and empathy are blind, deaf and mute too.

Panel 3- Daredevil smacks down one of the muggers with his billy club.
Caption: Justice is blind...

Panel 4- And directs a nasty kick toward the nuts of the other.
Caption: So am I...

Panel 5- The victim smiles as he sees Daredevil leap across the skyline, the hook attachment of his club allowing him to swing from building to building.

Caption: But I will spend my life seeing that justice is done.

Daredevil - The Devil's Turn - Ben Rosenthal

The following song used is called ‘Rose’s Turn’, and is sung by Bette Midler (albeit somewhat edited). Download it so you can feel the anger that rises from the lyrics, in order to get a better understanding of what I am trying to say in this script. Alternatively, download the cover that was shown on Glee.

1. Daredevil sitting on his throne in Shadowland, hours after killing Bullseye. His head is bowed, deep in thought.

MUSIC BALLOON
Why did I do it?
What did it get me?

2. A montage of memories of those who are close to Matt, and how they have been hurt by him – Elektra slain by Bullseye, Karen Page killed by Bullseye, Foggy with multiple stab wounds, and Foggy revealing himself to be alive.

MUSIC BALLOON
Scrapbooks full of me in the background.
Give 'em love and what does it get ya?

MUSIC BALLOON
What does it get ya?
One quick look as each of 'em leaves you.

3. The Dark Avengers receiving accolades. Hawkeye/Bullseye is grinning widely.

MUSIC BALLOON
All your life and what does it get ya?
Thanks a lot and out with the garbage,
They take bows and you're battin' zero.

4. Punching Bullseye hard on a rooftop in Hell’s Kitchen. This is the beginning of their fight in Shadowland #1.

MUSIC BALLOON
Well, someone tell me, when is it my turn?
Don't I get a dream for myself?

5. Daredevil has brutally broken Bullseye’s arms.

MUSIC BALLOON
Starting now it's gonna be my turn.
Gangway, world, get off of my runway!

6. Daredevil is sticking a sai into Bullseye’s chest, the same way Bullseye killed Electra.

MUSIC BALLOON
Starting now I bat a thousand!
This time, boys, I'm taking the bows and

7. A close-up of Daredevil’s mask, focusing on the eyes. He is looking up slightly; his red eye covers a stark contrast to his black costume.

MUSIC BALLOON
Everything’s coming up red...