Every hero is heroic, right? That’s why we like them, because they can do things we can’t do. They do these things and they do them for the greater good. That is why we read about these four colour titans of avenging and justice, right? We aspire to be more and so follow the lead set by decades of perfection.
Right?
Right?
Or do we want to be entertained, or see a little of ourselves on the page, or just have a whole mess of fun? Eric O’Grady isn’t a heroic guy. He isn’t perfect and what little he stands for isn’t in any interest of the greater good of anyone else. O’Grady is a self-centred jerk and he does all the things we’d think about doing with superpowers but never dare discuss with others.
They say a great test is to ask someone which superpower they’d prefer – flight or invisibility. If the person answers invisibility then they’re a jerk because there’s nothing magnanimous you can do with that power – it’s a selfish wet dream of adolescent fulfilment to not be held to your actions. I guess people think flight is a super helpful power (those people should read THE CAPE from IDW).
Eric O’Grady can’t turn himself invisible but with the Pym Particle-powered Ant-Man suit he managed to acquire from his time as a S
.H.I.E.L.D. agent he can get so small as to pretty much be undetectable. He rarely uses this ability to save the world, or really do any good. Instead, O’Grady wants to get laid and he works hard for it. He wants to perve on hot chicks with full impunity and then he actually gets to do it. He’s living the dream, the dream of so many.
And, yet, underneath it all lies a true heroic man. A man determined to be himself. A man who can actually do some good, but he’ll be looking down your blouse with a hand up your skirt as he does it.
The best part of Eric O’Grady, the man we’ve come to know and love as the Irredeemable Ant-Man, is the fact he’s so damn refreshing. He’s the guy you can kind of do anything with. You can make him a terrible person while also getting away with making him do something incredibly sweet and selfless. I like that versatility because it feels real. This is something you can aspire to and actually reach.
Hell, you could probably exceed this guy without trying hard, but I’ll never like you as much as I do the man with the red sideburns.
Oh, and to be honest with you, I chose invisibility.
They say a great test is to ask someone which superpower they’d prefer – flight or invisibility. If the person answers invisibility then they’re a jerk because there’s nothing magnanimous you can do with that power – it’s a selfish wet dream of adolescent fulfilment to not be held to your actions. I guess people think flight is a super helpful power (those people should read THE CAPE from IDW).
Eric O’Grady can’t turn himself invisible but with the Pym Particle-powered Ant-Man suit he managed to acquire from his time as a S
.H.I.E.L.D. agent he can get so small as to pretty much be undetectable. He rarely uses this ability to save the world, or really do any good. Instead, O’Grady wants to get laid and he works hard for it. He wants to perve on hot chicks with full impunity and then he actually gets to do it. He’s living the dream, the dream of so many.And, yet, underneath it all lies a true heroic man. A man determined to be himself. A man who can actually do some good, but he’ll be looking down your blouse with a hand up your skirt as he does it.
The best part of Eric O’Grady, the man we’ve come to know and love as the Irredeemable Ant-Man, is the fact he’s so damn refreshing. He’s the guy you can kind of do anything with. You can make him a terrible person while also getting away with making him do something incredibly sweet and selfless. I like that versatility because it feels real. This is something you can aspire to and actually reach.
Hell, you could probably exceed this guy without trying hard, but I’ll never like you as much as I do the man with the red sideburns.
Oh, and to be honest with you, I chose invisibility.
"If the person answers invisibility then they’re a jerk because there’s nothing magnanimous you can do with that power – it’s a selfish wet dream of adolescent fulfilment to not be held to your actions."
ReplyDeleteWhat about following Terrorists around so that you can find out where they hide? Or doing the same with mobsters so you can catch them in the act? Or being able to out-Ninja Ninja Assassins to save the President? Or...
I'd choose invisibility. What am I going to do with flight? Fly to my day job instead of driving? What if it's raining? I'd still have to drive anyway. Flight is pointless without other powers to supplement it :)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the both of you. And I thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe thing with flight is that there's often no specifics given. I don't already have super speed so does that mean I'd fly at walking pace? I don't have super strength, how much physical exertion does it take to fly?
ReplyDeleteInvisibility. Done.
by: zu
ReplyDeleteTaking a page from Bendis, we're gonna do this next one in his Avengers interview style, where it's just Ant-Man staring at the reader. This is his reality show monologue moment. I see Ant-Man using a lot of sweeping arm and hand motions during this.
It goes:
12
34
56
1.1 Emphatic, pointing down at the imaginary gravestone:
ANT-MAN: And that's what it's gonna say on my grave! Eric O'Grady: Avenger.
1.2 Indignant.
ANT-MAN: But I still get the cold shoulder. I'm treated like I've got leprosy.
1.3 Rueful.
ANT-MAN: And for what? I peek a little bit at Carol Danvers in the shower! That's not a crime!
1.4 Ant-Man holds his hands out in front of him, maybe about two feet away, as if in between them is a spectrum.
ANT-MAN: Tony AND Steve said you're Avengers material. BOTH of 'em.
1.5 Maybe he tilts his head up a little here, the universal sign of smugness and confidence.
ANT-MAN: And they're right. I've gone to places the other Avengers wouldn't go, too!
1.6 Angry.
ANT-MAN: Find me another Avenger that has gone into Luke Cage's colon!
Didn't zu leave a script here?
ReplyDeleteYeah, there was an email notification saying he did :/
ReplyDelete(Once more. My internet has been wonky.)
ReplyDeleteby: zu
Taking a page from Bendis, we're gonna do this next one as the Avengers interview, where it's just Ant-Man staring at the reader. This is his reality show monologue moment. I see Ant-Man using a lot of sweeping arm and hand motions.
It goes:
12
34
56
1.1 Emphatic, pointing down at the imaginary gravestone:
ANT-MAN: And that's what it's gonna say on my grave! Eric O'Grady: AVENGER.
1.2 Indignant.
ANT-MAN: But I still get the cold shoulder. I'm treated like I've got leprosy.
1.3 Rueful.
ANT-MAN: And for what? I peek a little bit at Carol Danvers in the shower! That's not a crime!
1.4 Ant-Man holds his hands out either side of his head, maybe about a foot away, as if in between them is a spectrum.
ANT-MAN: Tony AND Steve said you're Avengers material. BOTH OF THEM.
1.5 Maybe he tilts his head up a little here, the universal sign of smugness and confidence.
ANT-MAN: And they're right. I've gone to places the other Avengers wouldn't go, too!
1.6 Angry.
ANT-MAN: Find me another Avenger that has gone into Luke Cage's colon!
zu - nice use of the interview technique, with a cool "euuurrghh" ending. My original story idea this week involved Eric being drafted in to help the Hulk manage an STD... but in the end, I decided against it.
ReplyDeletezu - I really like this page, man. Panel 4, where he talks about Tony AND Steve rings out as a super true moment. I just don't think the final panel pays off as they good a joke to sully the page, though it's all kind of a set up for that anyway, I guess. I think there could have been a better line...maybe.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, great dialogue, man.
Zu the interview format was cool and as Ryan said panel 4 felt really strong and two. My only little problem was the use of Carol Danvers full name, it felt a little expositional, but thats just for me. Other than that was a cool page.
ReplyDeleteEric O’Grady – In The Mouth Of The Kraken – Shaun Richens.
ReplyDeleteBuild up. Eric O’Grady has been called in to complete a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D, he has no choice but to accept sadly.
1. ERIC O’GRADY as ANT-MAN sits, ant sized, on the necklace of an attractive woman. The necklace sits just above her ample bosom.
CAPTION ERIC: Normally I would love to have this kinda view.
2. We pull out slightly to see more of the woman; we can see her from the waist up now. She has long read hair and is very attractive. She is wearing a figure hugging black leather combat suit.
CAPTION ERIC: Don’t get me wrong she’s super hot…
3. A page wide panel. Pulling back even further we see the woman stood in the centre of a control room, it is covered in computer screens displaying all kinds of data. Men rush around busy doing important things. They are all dressed in HYDRA uniforms and we can now see the attractive woman has HYDRA logos on her outfit.
CAPTION ERIC: I just don’t see eye to eye with her on certain things.
4. Same as 1. but inlayed into the right hand side of 3.
CAPTION ERIC: Now that I’ve got on board the question is…
5. Half page splash. Deep in the ocean a huge, sci fi looking submarine moves through the water. A HYDRA logo is displayed down one side. Go crazy with the design on this.
CAPTION ERIC: How the hell do I get off?
@zu - I did like this interview page, which is weird as I am not the greatest fan of them in the Avengers books. I thought the line at the end was a great pay off gag.
ReplyDelete@Shaun - so this is totally a sequel to Ryan;s page, right? Not a bad thing if it is.
@zu Nice page with a good last panel. You went for dialogue and character with this one and I think you pulled it off really well.
ReplyDelete@shaun Solid page with a good buildup to that sweet half page splash. There should be more Hydra subs in comics.
I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with this weeks effort.
Page 1
The page has two tiers of two panels. These two tiers are one complete image broken up by the gutters. The third and final tier consists of one, page width, panel.
ONE
We OPEN on a PROFILE shot of ERIC. He's sat down in a booth in a tacky looking roadside diner. He's wearing civilian clothes. A red hoody over a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He fiddles with the menu, not making eye contact with whoever's in front of him. Customers and waitresses go about their business throughout the page.
ERIC: I'm sorry I hit you...with a bus.
TWO
CUT TO the person opposite him, CASSANDRA LANG in PROFILE. She's wearing civilian clothes too. Her hair is tied up and she wears a black jumper and jeans. A steaming cup of coffee sits in front of her, both of her hands cupped around it. She stares at Eric, unimpressed.
NO COPY.
THREE
CUT back to Eric. He looks up slightly.
ERIC: And I'm sorry I insulted your dad.
FOUR
CUT to Cassandra, serious.
CASSANDRA: I get it. They're big boots to fill.
FIVE
WIDE PANEL: A PROFILE shot of the pair looking across at each other across the booth, finally making eye contact. Eric smiles a bit, loosening up a little.
ERIC: Big boots. That's pretty funny.
CASSANDRA: Shut up. Don't spoil it.
ERIC: Okay.
@Shaun - you kinda stole my schtick :) Nice work to the last panel in both words and image. I like it.
ReplyDelete@Dan - si,ple page but I like the structure and the joke at the end works for me. Good work building on a great scene from Initiative.
@ Shaun & Zu: Nice. I like.
ReplyDelete@ Dan: I love the callback to Initiative. That was one of my favorite series when I started getting into comics big time, so It's great to see someone do a page like this that does such a fun job making use of one of the funner moments from the series. :-)