Friday, May 30, 2014
The Ventriloquist - It Takes A Warehouse Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Niel Jacoby
Batman: BARBARA, I THINK I'VE NARROWED DOWN THE VENTRILOQUIST'S HIDEOUT. THIS SHOULD BE A WALK IN THE-
Panel 2: Batman has opened the door and is reacting in surprise.
Oracle: BRUCE? BRUCE?
Panel 3: We see what Batman is reacting to, a warehouse full of discarded, decrepit mannequins, with the Ventriloquist sitting on a throne made of mannequin parts, Scarface on his knee. Ventriloquist is staring blankly ahead.
Batman(whispering):BARBARA, GET NIGHTWING AND ROBIN OVER HERE FAST.
Panel 4: Same viewpoint as P3, but the mannequins are beginning to get up, and are looking towards Batman. The Ventriloquist's voice is coming out of different mannequins in different parts of the warehouse, and the speech bubbles should reflect that.
Ventriloquist(1):HELLO
V(2):GATMAN
V(3):SO NICE
V(2):TO SEE
V(4):YOU
V(1):AGAIN.
Panel 5: Batman is overwhelmed by the mannequins, who are taking off his utility belt and restraining him.
Batman: WESKER!
V(1):NOW, NOW
V(2):GATMAN
V(3):PLAY NICE
V(2):YOU WON'T
V(1):GE LEAVING
V(4):FOR A
V(5):WHILE.
Panel 6: Close up on The Ventriloquist in his throne, Scarface on his knee. The Ventriloquist's voice still doesn't come out of his mouth, but out of a mannequin head integrated into the throne
Ventriloquist: DON'T YOU LIKE THE NEW ADDITIONS TO MY ACT, GATMAN? EVEN SCARFACE HERE LIKES THEM.
Scarface: YEAH, THIS MUG ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING GOOD FER ONCE, AN GOT ME A GANG TO TAKE OVER GOTHAM WIT.
Ventriloquist: THOUSANDS OF WALKING DOLLS, ALL WITH MY VOICE... MY WILL... MY MIND.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
The Ventriloquist - "The Ventriloquist's No-no / Bat-Comedy-a-Go-Go" - R.A. Wonsowski
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The Ventriloquist – Layers Upon Layers of String – MK Stangeland Jr.
Monday, May 26, 2014
The Ventriloquist - Table Manners - Grant McLaughlin
1 - Wide shot of Arnold Wesker and Scarface sitting at opposite ends of a dinner table. It's set out for a meal, with plenty of food spread out across its surface (think a salad, potatoes, ham, some additional greens, and the like). Wesker and Scarface both have plates filled with food in front of them. Wesker picks at his food gingerly, while Scarface is (unsurprisingly) untouched. While the room is poorly lit, it's clear that they both are somewhat worse for wear, as if they've recently barely emerged from a serious dustup - Wesker has bruises, scratches, and torn clothes, while Scarface is dinged up, missing some teeth and a damaged eye.
NO COPY
2 - Focus on Wesker. He cuts into his ham with his fork and knife. While he's looking down at his food, it's clear that his attention is on Scarface.
WESKER: I wish you'd eat something. You need to regain your strength after what happened.
3 - Focus on Scarface. The dummy sits on the chair, enveloped in ominous shadow.
NO COPY
4 - Wesker has the ham going up to his mouth, but has stopped to look at Scarface and "respond". He looks hurt.
WESKER: Please don't yell.
5 - Back to Scarface. Move in a bit closer. The puppet has not moved, although the shadows remain.
NO COPY
6 - Wesker has put down his knife and fork. He is pleading with Scarface.
WESKER: I know your upset, but --
7 - Scarface. Closer still - right up near the face at this point.
NO COPY
8 - Wesker holds his head in his hands, crying.
WESKER (quietly): I'm sorry.
9 - Scarface. We're right up near the damaged eye, which is sufficiently creepy with the darkness.
WESKER (off-panel): I'm sorry.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
The Ventriloquist - Puppet Master - J.D. Coughlan
Batman reviews video footage of a time when Arnold Wesker was put under hypnosis in order to understand the roots of the Scarface persona.
All of these panels look like a monitor screen, the image black and white and slightly stacic-y, with "REC" and maybe a date/time stamp on them.
Panel 1: Arnold sits behind a desk in a doctor's office, wearing his Arkham jumpsuit. His head is slightly slumped forward, eyes closed.
DOCTOR (O.P.): Arnold, can you hear me?
ARNOLD: (small) Yes.
DOCTOR (O.P.): How old are you, Arnold?
ARNOLD: (small) Six.
Panel 2: Same shot.
DOCTOR (O.P.): And where are you?
ARNOLD: (small) In my house. With my mommy and daddy.
ARNOLD: *sniff*
Panel 3: Same shot. Arnold looks a bit more uncomfortable.
DOCTOR (O.P.): What's the matter, Arnold?
ARNOLD: (small) I think... I think something's wrong with my mommy and daddy.
ARNOLD: (small) There was lots of noise so I came downstairs and now they're not moving and I think it's cause I'm up past my bedtime and I don't want them to be mad--
Panel 4: Same shot. Arnold even more uncomfortable now, his face screwed up, holding back tears.
DOCTOR (O.P.): Arnold, Arnold, it's alright. Stay calm. Tell me what you're feeling.
ARNOLD: *sniff*
Panel 5: Same. Arnold now looks of the verge of crying.
ARNOLD: (small) I'm scared. I duh-- I duh-- I don't wanna be alone.
Panel 6: Same shot, but now Arnold looks up, eyes open, right into the camera. There is a wicked grin on his face. The text in his speech bubble should be notably different.
ARNOLD: You ain't alone, Arnie. I'll protect ya.
ARNOLD: Nobody's gonna hurt you again.
END OF PAGE
Why the Ventriloquist?
When he was a little boy, Arnold Wesker saw his parents gunned down by mobsters and, as a result, developed a dark alter ego to cope with the trauma. Sound familiar?
The Ventriloquist has always been one of Batman's most underrated villains. He is, in a nutshell, everything the Dark Knight's rogues gallery represents: Absurd, but still dangerous. A meek, nervous, badly dressed man who expresses his darker thoughts via a ventriloquist dummy which he gives a cruel, manipulative personality.
Like most Bat-villains, the Ventriloquist also represents a form of mental illness gone wrong. In this case, dissociative identity disorder, sometimes called multiple personality disorder. To Wesker, his dummy, Scarface, is a completely different person from him. He genuinely has no idea he's the one from whom these evil ideas spring forth; it's all Scarface's fault.
Having been part of Wesker since he was a child, Scarface is very much the dominating personality. Wesker knows what Scarface does is wrong, and often tries to speak out against him, but always to no avail. Leading to the question of who is the puppet and who is the puppeteer?
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Days of Future Past - Magneto - R.A. Wonsowski
Layout:
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Panel 1- Close-up, the eyes of MAGNETO. They are showing the strain and exertion of his power, as well as his age, the white brows furrowed from exhaustion.
CAPTION: Do you remember what I told you, Charles?
CAPTION: What would happen if they passed that law?
Panel 2- MAGNETO is levitating in an electromagnetic storm, above a mutant death camp. He is dressed in his olive green prison jumpsuit with the "M" marked over his left breast. His fists are clenched as he readies for attack. Behind him, a giant Sentinel is about to wrap its hands around him.
CAPTION: So much worse than chains and numbers. I never thought I'd see the ovens again.
CAPTION: We should have been gods striding the world, not marching toward smokestacks.
Panel 3- same as Panel 2, but the Sentinel has been taken apart, the components hanging in the air like a designer's exploded drawing. MAGNETO is calm before what he will accomplish next.
CAPTION: So if I am destined to face the extinction of Homo Superior...
CAPTION: I'll make sure Homo Sapiens marches right with us.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Days Of Future Past - 2099 Problems - Niel Jacoby
Gallows: YOU BETTER KNOW THIS, DOOM: WE AIN'T BROTHERS, WE AIN'T PARTNERS, AND WE AIN'T FRIENDS. ONCE WE'VE DEALT WITH THIS TIME-THREAT, I'M PUTTING A BULLET IN YOUR HEAD.
Doom: I AM WELL AWARE.
Panel 2: Gallows and Doom step into the portal.
NO COPY
Panel 3: Gallows and Doom exit the portal and find themselves in the year 2014.
Gallows: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! CLEAN AIR, TREES, SUNLIGHT? THIS ISN'T ANY EARTH I'VE KNOWN.
Doom: YOU HAVE STUDIED YOUR HISTORY POORLY, JAKE GALLOWS. THIS INDEED WAS EARTH--BUT IF WE DON'T ACT FAST, IT MAY NOT BE MUCH LONGER!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Days of Future Past - Be Not Afraid - J.D. Coughlan
I haven't read the storyline, but as I understand it, Professor X is killed off quite early in this timeline. This is just before those events.
Three normal sized panels across the top, one large panel dominating the page.
Panel 1: Close up on Professor X. Over his shoulder, we see the gigantic leg of a Sentinel. It's probably not visible in this panel, but the mansion around him has been destroyed by the Sentinel, ripped open. The Professor is calm.
PROFESSOR X: I always knew this day would come.
Panel 2: Side view of the Professor. He remains staring ahead, almost not acknowledging the Sentinel. His hand is on the control for his wheelchair and he is slightly starting to turn.
PROFESSOR X: Throughout history, there have been people in power who seek to control or eliminate those who are different from them.
Panel 3: Close up on the back of the Sentinel's head as it looks down on the tiny Professor X, who is now half turned to face it.
PROFESSOR X: I have tried my whole life to show that such thinking is wrong...
Panel 4: Large. The giant Sentinel looms over Professor X, who now faces it, looking up, in the ruins of the mansion.
PROFESSOR X: But now that we are here...
PROFESSOR X: That those in power have deemed me too different to live...
PROFESSOR X: I am not afraid.
END OF PAGE
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Days of Future Past – Doomed Either Way – MK Stangeland Jr.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Days of Future Past - Some Retcons Are More Necessary Than Others - Grant McLaughlin
This scene would take place in the Mongolian monastery immediately after Wolverine is sent back in time by the rest of the X-Men. Forgive me if the logistics aren't quite right - seeing as the movie hasn't yet released here, I'm basing some of this on the Wikipedia summary. Either way, the important thing is that these are the movie versions of the characters (including their respective actors).
1 - In said monastery. Wolverine has just been sent back in time. Professor X, Magneto, Storm, and Kitty stand around looking at each other with expressions running the gamut from hope to doubt. Professor X is particularly serious as only Patrick Stewart can be. Towards the left side of the panel, there can be a door leading to another room - the only important thing about it is that it be visible.
PROFESSOR X: Now all we can do is wait and see.
2 - Move the focus to that door mentioned in panel 1. Nothing has appeared, but a distinctively yellow word balloon emerges from it, as someone (guess who) is clearly just off-panel.
DEADPOOL (off-panel): Don't worry guys, I'm here to help!
3 - Switch back to a focus similar to that first panel, but Deadpool has now entered the frame from the left side of the panel. Unfortunately, it's the terrible Ryan Reynolds movie version who has no mouth, a bunch of random mutant powers, and has pretty much nothing to do with Deadpool. That being said, he does speak in the yellow Deadpool word balloons. The gang from the panel 1 looks towards him in complete confusion.
THE GANG: ...
4 - Repeat panel. The X-Men are still confused, and Deadpool is becoming somewhat bewildered as well. He gesticulates wildly as he tries to jog their memory.
DEADPOOL (1): Don't you recognize me? It's Wade Wilson!
DEADPOOL (2): aka Deadpool!
DEADPOOL (3): aka The Merc with a Mouth that everyone knows and loves!
5 - Close-up of Kitty as she leans towards Professor X to ask him a question. In the background, Storm and Magneto are unimpressed.
STORM (quietly, in the background to Magneto): Why would anyone call him that if he doesn't have a mouth?
KITTY: Professor, what is he?
PROFESSOR X: The very thing that Logan is trying to prevent from ever happening in the first place.
Days of Future Past - Complete - Ben Rosenthal
1. A close up on Master Mold's eyes. They are scanning something off panel.
MASTER MOLD
Scanning.
2. Pulling out on Master Mold. It has finished scanning.
MASTER MOLD
Complete. Analysing molecular structure.
3. Further out still, from Master Mold's chest, up. He is in the process of changing from the traditional pink to a silver.
MASTER MOLD
Complete. Upgrading.
4. Reveal - Wolverine's adamantium laced skeleton lays on a slab in front of Master Mold, the same silver colour that Master Mold now is.
MASTER MOLD
Complete.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Future Shock - X-Men: Days of Future Past - Simon McDonald
Present day Eva Bell - Tempus - is suffering from a nightmare, bathed in sweat. Her eyes crackle with temporal energy.
Why X-Men: Days Of Future Past
I hadn't read Days of Future Past until a couple years ago, when the film adaptation was announced. I'd read bits and pieces of the Claremont and Byrne run at that point, but honestly, I don't think that stuff has aged particularly well. Too much exposition, too many words cluttering the art. Sacrilege? Maybe.
Most surprising to me was that the storyline is so finite. Given its resonance in comics history, I'd figured Days of Future Past was a Stephen King Dark Tower-esque opus. But it's actually a tight three issue arc, taking place in the pages of Uncanny X-Men #141-142. In it, an adult Kitty Pryde transfers her mind to her younger self, and rallies the X-Men to prevent a fatal moment in history that will lead to a dystopian future founded on anti-mutant hysteria. High stakes stuff, huh?
Cut to 2014, and just a few days from now, we'll be watching Days of Future Past on the big screen. A very different version, sure, with Wolverine taking center stage - but with its core narrative seemingly intact.
This week, we're playing in the Days of Future Past sandbox. Utilizing characters from the original comics, or from the adaptation, the Thoughtballoons crew has the opportunity to play in one of the greatest X-Men sandboxes of all time.
See you on the other side.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Delilah Dirk - Mexican Standoff - R.A. Wonsowski
Layout:
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Panel 1- Center, DELILAH DIRK and ZORRO, both holding rapiers and bullwhips, barely standing, surrounded by fallen Mexican soldiers. In the background, we see smoke billowing from the entrance of Los Cajones silver mine. Freed prisoners are cheering in the distance. Our heroes are breathing heavy from their exertions.
BOTH: Hh...hh...hhh...
Panel 2- Head and shoulders of DELILAH & ZORRO as they exchange sidelong glances.
BOTH: Hh...hhh...
Panel 3- Close-up on their faces as they look longingly into each other's eyes. ZORRO is smiling mischievously.
DELILAH: Do you have any idea what I want to do right now?
ZORRO: I can only imagine...
Panel 4- In a lavish parlor, DELILAH is doing a victory dance as she moves her white queen to topple the black king. In her other hand she is sloshing tea out of her china cup as she kicks up her feet. Her chair is knocked over. DON DIEGO DE LA VEGA looks on at all this, dressed in evening wear and wishing he was elsewhere, contemplating another glass of red wine as he looks upon the chessboard on the table.
DELILAH: Checkmate again! Checkmate again!
DON DIEGO: ...not what I had in mind at all...
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Delilah Dirk - Between Adventures - J.D. Coughlan
Panel 1: Wide panel. Delilah stands proudly in a cafe which looks like a disaster area, the aftermath of a fight, tables and chairs lying all strewn about, window smashed. The cafe owner glares angrily at her, arms folded. In the background, Selim sweeps up some glass.
DELILAH: Obviously I apologise for the damage to your property. These things happen when your on the trail of a jewel thief.
Panel 2: Close up of the manager. Still glaring.
MANAGER: And just how do you plan to compensate for the damages? Does catching jewel thieves pay well?
Panel 3: Close on Delilah. She remains confident.
DELILAH: Only in satisfaction.
DELILAH: However, given that my companion and I have some downtime now...
Panel 4: Same shot. Delilah has a "what if?" expression on her face and in her body language, extending a hand. Selim stands behind her.
DELILAH: ...might I offer you my services in some kind of security capacity?
Panel 5: Close on the still angry manager.
MANAGER: You mean to prevent people from breaking my window?
Panel 6: On Delilah again. She is somehow even more confident, pointing a thumb over her shoulder at Selim, who rolls his eyes.
DELILAH: Did I mention that my friend makes a great cup of tea?
SELIM: sigh
END OF PAGE
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Delilah Dirk – Bigger, Better, More Absurd – MK Stangeland Jr.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Delilah Dirk - Decisions, Decisions - Grant McLaughlin
1 - Delilah Dirk and Erdemoglu Selim sit around a camp fire, drinking some of Selim's delicious tea in the early morning. Delilah wears a relaxed expression; Selim cocks an eyebrow inquisitively in response to her words.
DELILAH: I've come to a decision.
SELIM: Oh?
DELILAH: If we are to be traveling companions, I think it would be prudent for you to learn how to defend yourself in the event of a fight.
SELIM: We do seem to get up to an awful lot of those.
2 - Delilah is up and on her feet, offering a hand to help Selim up.
DELILAH: Exactly. And while your delicious tea is most appreciated, it might not be enough when we're starring down fifty hostile swords.
SELIM: This is also true.
3 - Selim stands holding a sword. It is still in its hilt. Delilah looks disappointed in the background.
CAPTION: And so
DELILAH: No
4 - Selim, a look of panic on his face, swings the sword wildly at a nearby buzzing bee, missing every time. Delilah looks on in a mixture of disappointment and frustration.
DELILAH: No
5 - Selim, looking confused, holds his jacket out, a big wide gash cut through it.
DELILAH (off-panel): No
6 - Delilah is crouched in front of a tree, a look of surprise on her face. Above her, Selim's sword is embedded within the wood, as she has just managed to ducked under it. Selim stands a few feet away, looking incredibly shocked and embarrassed.
DELILAH: No.
7 - Selim runs away from the bee from panel 5. Delilah facepalms in the background.
DELILAH: No
8 - Selim and Delilah look up at the top of a tall tree, where the sword is impaled deep into the top of it. They are both quite confused as to how this could have happened.
DELILAH: I don't even.
9 - The end of the long day. Selim and Delilah are sitting around the same campfire as in panel 1 (although its flame is far more brilliant now that it is night). Selim is tired and his clothing is scuffed up from the exertion. Delilah is in similar circumstances.
DELILAH: I've come to a much better decision.
SELIM: Oh?
10 - Close-up of Delilah's hands holding that warm and steaming cup of tea.
DELILAH (off-panel): Delicious tea is more than enough.
SELIM (off-panel): Agreed.
Why Delilah Dirk?
There's a charming and delightful Canadian comicker by the name of Tony Cliff who, if he isn't already, should be on your radar. This past August he released Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant through First Second books, and let me tell you, that comic is one hell of a read.
I came across it almost by accident, stumbling across some preview pages while figuring out who to interview while covering New York Comic Con last year. The art was absolutely gorgeous and I was instantly smitten. I fired off a quick email to see if I could get in some words with Mr. Cliff and raced through the book in preparation.
Delilah Dirk is a terrific example of the strong female protagonist that so often seems to be lacking from mainstream comics. She can hold her own in a fight, is never at a loss for a clever remark, and is completely without fear. It also helps that she gets into all types of madcap adventures that recall a certain degree of Indiana Jones, but set in and around early 1800s Europe (or Africa, or North America, or...).
She also has a most delightful traveling companion in Erdemoglu Selim, the turkish lieutenant of that titular pair. A brilliant tea maker, Delilah accidentally saves his life towards the beginning of the narrative, and while he isn't initially cut out for a life of adventure, he starts to grow into it (at least a little bit).
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Crack!! |
However, like so many of my Thought Balloons selections, what it all comes down to is that Delilah Dirk is fun. So. Much. Fun.
Feel free to give it a gander, and then don't hesitate to join in on the fun!
Friday, May 9, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - War Of Northern Aggression - Niel Jacoby
CAP(Williams): THERE HADN'T BEEN AN INVASION OF US SOIL SINCE 1812. SOME OF US THOUGHT THERE NEVER WOULD BE AGAIN. BUT NOT ALL.
CAP(Williams): SOME THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE RUSSIANS, SOME THE CHINESE. SOME EVEN THOUGHT THE UN WOULD TEAM UP WITH THE SECRET MUSLIM CALIPHATE AND THE ILLUMINATI-TRAINED NORTH KOREAN COMMU-FASCISTS.
CAP(Williams): (WELL, MORE LIKE ONE GUY WHO WOULDN'T SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT)
CAP(Williams): BUT NONE OF US EXPECTED IT TO BE THE CANADIANS.
4th Year Anniversary - R.A. Wonsowski
Part One of the Walker Roth Trilogy: JACKRABBIT
Set-up: The Don Bosco Salesian School is a high-priced K-12 Catholic alternative for the children of expats, diplomats, and executives in the upper echelons of Paraguayan society, an educational oasis for the scions of the Latin American third world. It has been taken hostage by a radical offshoot of the EPP (the People's Paraguayan Army). Two teachers plan to stand against them, Howard Scott, a former Marine Sergeant, and Walker Roth, a literature professor whose past has just caught up to him.
The VIDEOTAPE:
Layout is 3 rows of 2, panels in the shape of TV screens. Captions beneath the screens hold the dialogue. This page is a continuation from the previous page where the video began.
Panel 1- the MARISCAL, our villain, walks between a row of 2nd graders, foreground, and 3rd graders,background, in what looks like the school cafeteria. He is dressed in olive fatifgues and a wood handled revolver holstered on his hip. A young female teacher lies in front of them, dead and bloody. The children are crying silently scared. They are dressed in Catholic school uniforms.
CAPTION, MARISCAL: Some may ask, why speak this message in English? One must admit, it is the language of business, and I am here to negotiate.
Panel 2- the MARISCAL stops to face the camera, one finger held up.
CAPTION, MARISCAL: One, 25 million US dollars, part used cash, part in gold jewelry priced at today's exchange.
Panel 3- the MARISCAL now holds up two fingers.
CAPTION, MARISCAL: Two, official recognition of Boqueron province as a sovereign nation, as well as my leadership of this new country. All foreigners, get out.
Panel 4- the MARISCAL touches the head of one crying boy in the row before him, a Hispanic child whose nose is running.
CAPTION, MARISCAL: While you arrange this, I will get to know some of the students.
CAPTION, MARISCAL: What is your name, child?
BOY: H-Hector...
Panel 5- The children react in horror as the MARISCAL pulls his pistol and shoots HECTOR in the back of the head. His face explodes in a pulp toward the camera.
CAPTION, SOUND FX: BLAMM!!
Panel 6- flat black.
CAPTION: End message.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - Pirate Eye - J.D. Coughlan
PAGE ONE
Panel 1: Wide panel. A small, one-room flat. It is a mess; littered with papers, clothing, food, and generally not well kept at all. Our hero, Arkley Gold, lies face down in the bed. Note that this takes place in the early 18th century, so clothing and setting should reflect that.
SFX: KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
GOLD (CAP): Life on the ocean had taught me one thing...
GOLD (CAP): Well, many things, but one thing seemed very relevant now...
GOLD (CAP): Never trust a moment of calm.
Panel 2: Gold raises himself from the bed. He is unshaved, scruffy and his clothes dishevelled. He looks wearily towards the door.
SFX: KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
GOLD (CAP): I was in the middle of enjoying a few days of sleep in my busy schedule of nothing when I was interrupted with my first case in some time.
GOLD: Innaminute.
Panel 3: Gold on his way to the door, swigging out a bottle.
SFX: KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
GOLD (CAP): As much as I enjoy doing fuck-all, there's no denying my work has its bonuses.
GOLD (CAP): Namely money.
Panel 4: Gold opens the door to his landlord, an old, bearded man with a parrot on his shoulder.
GOLD: There had best be reasons numerous for this visit, Mr. Cartwright. Besides rent, which I have already made excuses for; it's not my fault if they're terrible excuses...
GOLD (CAP): Y'see, what I do can be pretty grim -- acting as a private detective for pirates.
Panel 5: Close up on the landlord and his parrot.
PARROT: There's been a murder, Mr. Gold!
GOLD (CAP): It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. And that someone is me...
Panel 6: Close up on the parrot. It narrows its eye.
GOLD (CAP): Arkley Gold--
PARROT: A murder at sea!
GOLD (CAP): --Pirate Investigator.
END OF PAGE ONE
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - Mondo Mega Mechs - Big Trouble in Old Kyoto - MK Stangeland Jr.
(Important information - KING RUMBLER is a giant 'wild' robot, KWAN SATOMI - SATOMI - is the main character of this story, and F-SIERRAH is one of three fighting robots that she commands.)
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - Deniables - Simon McDonald
Deet!
Deet!
CAPTION
Monday, May 5, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - Adventure Calling - Grant McLaughlin
Sunday, May 4, 2014
4th Year Anniversary - Dojo Kun - Ben Rosenthal
4 Years of Thought Balloons
This Thursday, May 5th marks four years of Thought Balloons.
I kinda covered that in the topic already.
As the only surviving OG tenured writer (well, technically Sime is, but he went away for a while so I'm claiming the title as my own) it is my task to look back on these four years.
Many talented individuals have passed through our little website. Most have gone on to do some very exciting things in the world of comics. Off the top of my head Rol Hirst is self publishing 'Department of the Perculiar', Dan Hill is also self publishing his own works as well as editing the very very very very good Headspace which happens to be written by Thought Balloons founder Ryan K. Lindsay. Some of us have even banded together to come up with a new series, which is coming soon (seriously you guys - sooooo good).
Oh yeah, I also have comics out for free over at Man In Suit Comics and benjum.com. Hey, what's the point of being a puppet dictator if you can get a cheap plug in every now and then.
Thought Balloons is such an invaluable tool. I have met many great people on here, honed my writing and even used it as a testing ground for techniques in my writing. It continues to grown week to week, and I am positive that it is only getting started.
This week the tenured writers and I are celebrating with another 'Creator Owned Week'. One page of scripts of creator owned properties will be filling the pages this week. And now more than ever we would LOVE your feedback.
Have an idea of your own you would like feedback on? Post your single page script below, each and every week.
I have rambled on long enough, but would like to close by saying thank you to each of the tenured writers, both past and present and also to all of you who continue to read our words.
Best,
Ben Rosenthal
Puppet Dictator, Thought Balloons
May 1, 2014.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Rhyno - Lights, Camera, Action! - Niel Jacoby
Cap(Rhino): I BEEN TRYIN' TA GO STRAIGHT FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT NOTHIN' EVER SEEMED TA STICK
Panel 2: Flashback, Rhino, in a tailored security guard outfit, the hat hanging off his horn, stands at the door of a bank.
Cap(Rhino): I TRIED SECURITY GUARDIN', BUT TURNS OUT A GIANT SCHMUCK IN A RHINO SUIT DON'T MAKE PEOPLE FEEL ALL DAT SECURE.
Panel 3: Flashback, Rhino is standing next to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is at least a head shorter and narrower than him.
Cap(Rhino): TRIED STUNTMAN WORK, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE DAT I FIT IN TERMS A SIZE, IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
Panel 4: Flashback, Rhino is at a construction site, and the Wrecking Crew is scowling at him.
Cap(Rhino): EVEN TRIED DEMOLITION WORK, BUT TURNS OUT THERE WERE ALREADY GUYS WORKIN' DAT BEAT.
Panel 5: Rhino is standing in gorilla position in the UCWF(Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation) Arena in New York City, right about to go through the curtain. There's a heavyset guy with a ponytail sitting at a little table watching a monitor, and Rhino is talking to him.
Rhino: YOU THINK I'LL DO ALRIGHT, PAULIE?
Paulie: AH, DON' WORRY ABOUT IT, I BOOKED YOU AGAINST THE BEST GUY IN THAT LOCKER ROOM. JUST LISTEN TO HIM, AND YOU'LL HAVE THE HANG OF THIS IN NO TIME.
PA: APPROACHING THE RING AT 355 POUNDS, HAILING FROM LINCOLN NEBRASKA, THE DEMOLITION MAN!
Panel 6: Rhino is walking out to the ring, loudly arguing with children in D-Man shirts in the front row.
Cap(Rhino): I THINK I'M GONNA LIKE THIS GIG.
PA: APPROACHING THE RING AT 385 POUNDS, HAILING FROM NEW YORK CITY, RHIIIIIINOOOOOO!
Thursday, May 1, 2014
The Rhino - Osborn's Six - J.D. Coughlan
Basically, the Sinister Six re-imagined as an "Ocean's Eleven" style heist crew in the 1960s. Slick con artist Norman Osborn has begun to recruit his team.
Panel 1: A seedy dive bar. Criminal types fill the place. They are all giving Aleksei Sytsevich, who sits in the foreground at the bar, the stink-eye. He is wearing braces over a vest, and a flat-cap. A large pint of beer sits in front of him, and he stares at it intensely.
OSBORN (O.P.): This seat taken?
ALEKSEI: Is free country.
Panel 2: Same shot, Osborn now moves to sit next to Aleksei. Osborn is grinning smugly, dressed in a sharp dark green suit and purple tie. His hair is greased back, but still looks a bit like his usual weird cornrows. Aleksei continues staring intently at his drink, ignoring Osborn.
OSBORN: Heh. Yes it is, Aleksei, yes it is.
OSBORN: I have to assume that's why you moved here from the good ol' U.S.S. of R.
Panel 3: Reverse angle. The other patrons are now in the foreground. Some are still giving Aleksei dirty looks, but not as many. Osborn has swivelled round to look at them, leaning back on the bar. Aleksei still has his back to us.
OSBORN: America! The land of opportunity! Not many opportunities for a dirty commie though, right?
Panel 4: Close up side view of the two men. Aleksei closest to us. He looks up, but still not at Osborn. Osborn leans back so we can see him behind Aleksei, still grinning.
ALEKSEI: Please do make point, man-who-knows-my-name, or you will to be leaving through window.
OSBORN: How d'you like to achieve the American dream, Aleksei -- money -- and lots of it?
OSBORN: See, I'm putting together a little team for a pretty big job, but my intentions are somewhat... sinister.
Panel 5: Back to front view. Aleksei now looks at Osborn for the first time.
ALEKSEI: How many men you have?
Panel 6: Close up of Osborn's hand as he holds up two fingers.
CAPTION: To be continued...
END OF PAGE
I may keep this going with future Spidey villains picks, we'll see.