Moose Kid Comics – Curses – Brian Manton

6 panel grid. Bottom two panels knocked together.

1.

A Giant-ised Moose Kid bounds down the street like a happy Godzilla. Wizards flee from his stomping feet.

CAP: The Blow him Up spell backfired.

2.

Moose Kid sits behind a table loaded with plates of Full English Breakfasts. He stuffs his face with sausages, rashers and eggs. Malph steals a slice of toast from the corner of the panel.

CAP: The Fry him Up runes, a failure.

3.

Kid, Hodge and Malph strut through the streets with beaming smiles. They all brandish impressive dreadlocks. Everyone they pass looks on in admiration.

CAP: The Invocation of Dread was not at all what we expected.

4.

Kid, Hodge and Malph’s heads have all been inflated like helium balloons. They float in the sky, continuing their badminton game unimpeded.

CAP: The Helium Hex, not as horrible as we’d hoped.

5.

A mini wizard (Pocket Wizard to his friends) stands before all the other wizards in their stony castle lair. He waves his wand about to cast a spell. The other wizards are across the room from him. Some run to stop him, some shout in anger, some are frozen in fear.

Pocket Wizard: Hows about we try the Curse of Flatulence?

All the other Wizards (shouting): NO!

Why Moose Kid Comics?

Moose Kid Comics is a new free digital kids comic. Founded by Jamie Smart, issue one features 36 pages of comics by over 40 top comic book artists.

Moose Kid himself was an unsuspecting kid who happened to get on the wrong side of some wizards, get himself turned into a moose and transported directly into a comic. This didn't seem like the punishment it was meant to be to Moose Kid, so the Wizards have entered the comic to hunt him down and drag him back out!

Moose Kid Comics Mission Statement:

We created Moose Kids Comics for three main reasons:

1. To entertain comic readers and win new audiences.
2. To show how fantastic a children’s comic can be when artists create it themselves.
3. To open up the discussion about how we can make children’s comics great again.

Here in the U.K, mainstream children’s comics have been dying out, especially ones featuring original content. The Phoenix and The Beano are the only commercially available weekly titles still producing entirely original characters, but they are competing against big-name licensed titles based on TV shows or merchandising.
We want to help change things. We want to be creating the next generation of loveable characters for the world to embrace, all created by artists who retain their copyrights and put all their heart into their creations.
We want to remind both children and adults alike how fantastical and imaginative comics can be, and to help bring children’s comics back into the public consciousness.

What are you waiting for? Go download and share Moose Kid Comics #1 now!

http://www.moosekidcomics.com/

Spider-Ham - A vs X - R.A. Wonsowski

Panel 1 - From above, we see the Spectacular SPIDER-HAM, IRON MANATEE, WOLVERINE (who is an actual wolverine), FROG THOR, EMU FROST, and PROFESSOR EGGS (a rooster sitting on a levitating wheelchair nest), all looking up at something in the sky.  NIGHTCRAWLER (an actual nightcrawler worm) teleports in on a purple cloud.

SPIDER-HAM:  Well, this has turned out to be the worst Thanksgiving ever...

FROG THOR: Verily, thou speakest for Avengers all.

WOLVERINE:  I don't recall inviting you guys in the first place, bub.

PROF. EGGS:  Enough! We must brace ourselves for the cosmos-shaking power of...

Panel 2 - reverse angle of panel 1, as everyone is looking up at a giant, flaming, and well-basted Thanksgiving turkey, wings and legs spread outward, ready to unleash its power upon the world.

PROF. EGGS:  ...THE DARK (meat) PHOENIX!!!

SPIDER-HAM:  (sotto voce, to IRON MANATEE) Where's Captain Carrot when you need him?

IRON MANATEE:  Who?

CAPTION: to be continued!

Spectacular Spider-Ham - At A Loss For Wordplay - Niel Jacoby

1 2
3 4
5 6

Panel 1: Porker is in battle against The Buzzard, and has hit the winged wastrel with a web blast to the wing.

Porker: PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE NEXT TIME!

Panel 2: Porker is swinging away as the cops apprehend The Buzzard in the background.

Porker(thoughtballoon): PICK AT, NOT ON! HE'S A BUZZARD, PORKER, YOU PORCINE PUTZ!

Panel 3: Peter Porker swings into action against The Bull-Frog, evading a thrust of the Bull-Frog's tongue.

Caption: LATER THAT DAY...

Porker: WHAT'S THE MATTER...

Panel 4: Porker is lost in thought, and has absent-mindedly shot a web at a police officer.

Porker: UH... I GOT THIS... ER... NO, NEITHER OF US IS A CAT... DARNIT!

Panel 5: Porker is mouthing off to the King-Pig, who is puffing on his cigar in his office at his desk.

Porker: YOU MAY BE SMOKING THAT EXPENSIVE CIGAR NOW, BUT... BUT...

Porker: DON'T YOU MOVE, KINGPIG, IT'S ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE!

Panel 6: King-Pig smirks as Porker's entire body clenches in a fit of frustration and rage.

King-Pig: WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH ME, I'LL BE SMOKED HAM?

Porker(thoughtballoon): IF THAT DON'T JUST BEAT ALL! I'M NOT JUST PARALYZED WHEN IT COMES TO PUNS LATELY, BUT MY OPPONENTS ARE FINISHING THEM BEFORE I CAN! I SWEAR, IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE A PIG SQUEALING MAD!

Spider-Ham – The Human Strikes! – MK Stangeland Jr.

(3 Panels)

Panel 1: SPIDER-HAM is standing just inside what looks like a wrecked laboratory.

SPIDER-HAM: Dr. Connors, what have you done?

DR. CONNORS: (From off-panel) What have I done? I’ve unleashed my true potential and unlocked unparalleled power!

Panel 2: The shadowy form of DR. KOMODO CONNORS.

DR. CONNORS (1): I’ve managed to become the most dangerous and powerful animal of them all!

DR. CONNERS (2): From this day forth, I shall be knows as…

Panel 3: Reveal of DR. KOMODO CONNORS new form – he looks like DR. CURT CONNORS if he had both his arms, and looks like he’s much larger than SPIDER-HAM.

DR. CONNORS: …THE HUMAN!

(END PAGE) 

Spider-Ham - A Rose By Any Other - Grant McLaughlin

Each panel is a different scene taking place at a different moment in time.  The exact moment isn't particularly important.

1 - The Rhino (who is a rhino) sits on the street, defeated.  Spider-Ham has bent a steel beam around him like a rope, restraining the fallen villain.  Spider-Ham stands nearby, delivering a zinger, which angers Rhino.

SPIDER-HAM: I know I've said it before, but you really should have thought twice before charging into that moniker.

2 - The Vulture (who is a vulture) hangs upside down by some Spider-Ham web from a lamppost, restrained.  Spider-Ham sits atop the post, looking down at him and cracking wise.

SPIDER-HAM: I know you're a scavenger by trade, but you should have looked harder when searching for an appropriate epithet.

3 - Spider-Ham rides the Lizard (again: a lizard) like a cowboy on a bucking bronco in the sewers under the city.  It's clear that Spider-Ham is going to come out on top of this confrontation.

SPIDER-HAM: Did the full scale of picking an appellation cause you to slither away in fear?

4 - The Chameleon (who - well, you probably get it by now) sits at a desk in an office, his hands webbed to the desk.  Spider-Ham holds a mask that looks like a rabbit that he has clearly removed from the Chameleon.

SPIDER-HAM: For someone so keen on disguise, you sobriquet is mighty transparent, my friend.

5 - Spider-Ham dodges out of the way as the Jackal (you know the drill) throws a heavy looking object at him.

SPIDER-HAM: Was there a mix-up at the hospital?  Have you ever checked to see whether your species might be listed as 'Bob'?

6 - Spider-Ham delivers a mean right hook to Beetle (you guessed it), which looks to be the last blow of this battle.

SPIDER-HAM: Does not having an imagination ever bug you?

7 - Scorpion (yep, him too) stands in an open hall - let's say a Community Centre of some variety.  He stands at a table, signing a form of some variety.  Many of the villains seen in these earlier panels can be sitting behind the table - they wear the bruises and blows that they've received from these previous encounters with Spider-Ham.  Scorpion is in the midst of asking a question that he quickly realizes the answer to.  The other villains look back at him, unimpressed.  A large banner hangs on the wall behind them reading "Today: Sign-Ups for the League of Poorly Named Villains".

SCORPION (1): I'm all for the cause, but couldn't we have come up with a better na--

SCORPION (2): ...

SCORPION (3): Right.

Spider-Ham - The New New New New Sinister Six - Ben Rosenthal

1. A tight shot of Spider Ham - his spider sense tingling.  He is turning as the danger is behind him.

VOICE (off panel) And now Wall-Borer, face your greatest threat--


2. A large panel showing Doctor Octopus, The Lizard, The Beetle, The Scorpion, The Chameleon and The Vulture poised ready for battle.  However, this is their normal, human forms.

DOCTOR OCTOPUS: the all new SINISTER SIX!


3.  Spider-Ham is standing, confused by what he is looking at.


4.  Spidey has his back to the group, walking away.

SPIDER-HAM: You guys realise how ridiculous you look, right?

Why Spider-Ham?

Peter Porker, the Amazing Spider-ham first appeared in the one-shot humor comic book Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #1, which was then followed by an ongoing bi-monthly series, Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. The series lasted 17 issues, all of which were published under Marvel's Star Comics imprint.

Porker, in his spider-themed alter-ego's first adventure teamed up with other heroes, such as Captain Americat, Hulk-Bunny (Bruce Bunnyer?), Deerdevil, Goose Rider, Ducktor Doom, Raven the Hunter and the Fantastic Fur (they were cats).

When Spider-Ham accidentally travels to the Marvel Zombies universe, he is suddenly zombified by a group of zombies, namely Colonel America, Hulk, and Wolverine. It appears that he is directly shot on the head by an energy bullet by the Earth 616's Ultron, effectively killing him but, in a zombie state, Spider-Ham turned into... Ham-ibal Lecter.

Do you have a Spider-Ham story in you?  Why not share it with us in the comments section bellow.  The whole idea of Thought Balloons is giving each other feedback.  We sould be happy to offer some you YOU!

Velvet - Two Roads Converged - Niel Jacoby

Full Splash: Interior of a normal-seeming office building, in a corner office. It is obviously after hours, and the only light is moonlight shining in through the windows. Velvet Templeton is opening the door of the office just in time to notice Nick Fury, Agent Of Shield lowering himself in from an air duct. They are both surprised to see the other.

Velvet Templeton – Didn’t See That Coming – MK Stangeland Jr.

(6 Panels)

Panel 1: The headquarters of a criminal organization. The organizations LEADER and an OFFICER are standing next to a table covered in various planning materials, including numerous papers.

TELEVISON: …are unsure as to who was behind the failed attack, but did state that it is currently their top priority.

Panel 2: The LEADER turns to the OFFICER.

LEADER: Explain to me again how our carefully and brilliantly constructed plan to assassinate the very head of ARC-7 itself failed?

Panel 3: The OFFICER gets defensive as he tries to avoid getting any further ire thrown his way.

OFFICER: It was his secretary! Somehow she made a mockery of the entire operation!

Panel 4: The LEADER facepalms.

LEADER: And nobody, not once, ever considered she might come into play somehow?

OFFICER: We didn’t have anything to give us reason to suspect…

Panel 5: The LEADER flips the table over in a burst of rage.

LEADER: WELL THEN SOMEONE ROYALLY &%$#^* UP BIG-TIME!

Panel 6: The LEADER rushes to get in the OFFICER’s face.

LEADER: OUR ENTIRE OPERATION – OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATON – IS IN JEPORDY OF BEING COMPROMISED BECAUSE EVERYONE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO WRITE OFF HIS SECRETARY AS A NOBODY!

(END PAGE)

Velvet - Hard Day, Night - Grant McLaughlin

1 - Night time.  A hotel in an exotic European country in the late 40s / early 50s - Velvet's early career.  She limps back into the room through the balcony door.  Holding an unremarkable briefcase in one hand, she is bloodied and broken.  Her face is a series of cuts and swellings.  She trails blood after her.

CAPTION (VELVET): Everyone has bad days.

2 - Flashback.  Close-up on Velvet's face.  It is about as damaged as panel 1, although her wounds look a whole lot fresher.  Her head is tilted down and she looks dazed (perhaps a little out of it).

CAPTION (VELVET): When all the choices you've made seem like the wrong ones.

3 - Pull back to reveal Velvet is at the mercy of three mean looking mugs.  She is on her knees, flanked by two of them.  One of the baddies has grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back so she is looking up.  She finds herself starring down the barrel of a gun held by the third starring down barrel of a gun of the third man.  This seems to shock her back to reality, as her eyes widen in realization of what's happening.

CAPTION (VELVET): When your doubts and failures stare you right in the face.

4 - Still flashbacking, but a quick jump forward in the timeline.  The three men are down for the count - the manner of their dispatching can be up to you.  The important thing is that Velvet walks away from them - probably with that unremarkable briefcase.  While in serious pain, a look of determination is clear on her face.

CAPTION (VELVET): You know that by the light of day, most of it won't seem quite so bad.

5 - Back to the hotel.  Velvet stands near a dresser / end table in the hotel, looking at the briefcase that she is holding in both hands.  The room's bar service should be visible on that surface, including at least one bottle of liquor.

CAPTION (VELVET): But by night?

6 - Velvet sits (has collapsed?) on the floor in front of her bed.  She looks down at the drink in her hand.  The briefcase lies off to the side, discarded and forgotten.  In the panel foreground off to one side, a near empty liquor bottle should sit on the surface from the previous panel.

NO COPY

Velvet - A Long Line of Dead Men - Simon McDonald

PANEL ONE
We are in a lavish hotel room. Velvet Templeton is attaching a silencer to her handgun. In the background a slightly overweight man is seated smugly on the couch, cigarette dangling from the side of his mouth, seemingly unperturbed by Velvet's presence, or the gun. He's dressed in a suit, the jacket draped over the couch's arm. His name is Paul Lambert (new character, no reference).

CAPTION

London, 1948

LAMBERT

The Service is in disarray.

Sending a woman to do a man's job.

PANEL TWO
Silencer attached, the gun is now turned on Lambert. Velvet's reciprocating Lambert's smug smile.

VELVET

Oh, I don't work for Military Intelligence.

PANEL THREE

Lambert rolls his eyes, the weapon still aimed at his head.

LAMBERT

Be a dear and put the gun down.

You don't know what you're doing. 

The future you're staring at if you pull that trigger.

PANEL FOUR

On Velvet - no response.

PANEL FIVE

Lambert locks eyes with her, trying to talk his way out of this.

LAMBERT

Ask yourself if you're prepared for what comes next.

The first one is easy. But then there's the second. A third. More.

Are you honestly prepared for the long line of dead men who will haunt

your dreams?

PANEL SIX

On Velvet as she squeezes the trigger

SFX

SPUT!

VELVET

We'll see.

Why Velvet Templeton?

There is more to Velvet Templeton than meets the eye.

By day she works as the secretary to the Director of ARC-7, an elite covert operations organization. But in a previous life, Velvet was an operative of ARC-7, one of the best, until taking up her current role behind a desk.

In other words, Velvet is a badass Moneypenny, who wouldn't put up with James Bond's macho bullshit.

At time of writing, Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting's espionage series has just completed its first arc. It is absolutely fantastic, the kind of spy story I've been missing since Greg Rucka's Queen & Country was placed on perpetual hiatus.

I'm sure Velvet's world will prove a fun sandbox for our writers to play in.

Flash Gordon - A Flash Of Light - Niel Jacoby

Panel 1: Flash Gordon has defeated Ming The Merciless, and is standing by a rocket talking with Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov.

Flash: I'VE BESTED VULTAN'S HAWKMEN, OUTMATCHED PRINCE BARIN, AND FREED MONGO FROM MING'S CLUTCHES. I GUESS THE ONLY THING TO DO NOW IS GO-

Panel 2: Same viewpoint as before, but a small object is flitting around the room, trailing a green light, and Flash, Dale, and Hans are reacting in surprise.

Flash: -HOME?

Dale: I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD FIREFLIES ON MONGO--AND THAT FAST!

Hans: THAT'S NO FIREFLY, DALE, IT MUST BE SOME MANNER OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY!

Panel 3: The object finally stops, and we can see that it is a green ring, of the manner used by the Green Lantern Corps.

Ring(dark green bg, light green text): FLASH GORDON OF EARTH!

Flash: WHY, THE LITTLE FELLA KNOWS MY NAME!

Panel 4: The ring is putting itself onto Flash's hand, and a green glow fills the room.

Ring: YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED GREAT WILLPOWER. WELCOME TO THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS.

Dale: HAH! LOOKS LIKE THE JETS FINALLY WON A RING!

Flash Gordon - Another Life - J.D. Coughlan

Panel 1: Ming and Klytus stand in their evil lair, looking up at a large round viewscreen which displays Earth.

MING: Observe, Klytus!

MING: If my time tamperer has worked correctly--

KLYTUS: And I'm sure it has, my liege.

MING: --then we shall be able to view the new timeline. One where the meddlesome Gordon never came to interfere in my plans!

Panel 2: Close on the viewscreen. An image of Flash has appeared, but not the one we know. His hair is short and smart, and he wears a business suit. His expression is miserable.

MING (O.P.): Behold!

Panel 3: On the viewscreen still. Now it displays Flash sitting in an office cubicle, typing away miserably.

MING (O.P.): The once proud warrior, reduced to a mindless drone! The purpose gone from his life!

Panel 4: On the viewscreen still. Now it displays Flash sitting in a small apartment by himself in t-shirt and sweatpants, watching TV, eating a microwave meal. Emphasise the lonliness.

MING (O.P.): His friends -- his lover -- having abandoned him, and rightly so! In this timeline he is unworthy of attention!

Panel 5: On Ming and Klytus, looking up at the off-panel viewscreen. Ming seems slightly melancholy.

KLYTUS: Genius, sire! Truly your greatest victory!

MING: Yes... but can it really be called a victory...

Panel 6: Close up on Ming, his eyes wandering in thought.

MING: ...if your enemy is unaware of his downfall?

END OF PAGE

Flash Gordon – FLASH GORDON, As Imagined by George Lucas! – MK Stangeland Jr.

(As you may or may not know, prior to making STAR WARS, George Lucas actually wanted to make a Flash Gordon movie. The following takes a not entirely serious look at what might have happened had he actually been allowed to do it…)

(5 Panels)

Panel 1: DR. HANS ZARKOV is showing his starship to FLASH GORDON and DALE ARDEN.

TEXT BOX (1): Returning to theaters this summer for a limited engagement!

TEXT BOX (2): The greatest Science Fiction Epic of all time!

DR. ZARKOV: I came to Earth to find you, FLASH GORDON! Only you can save the universe!

Panel 2: MING THE MERCILESS and GENERAL KLYTUS stand on a tower balcony overlooking the construction of a massive space ship, the DEATH STAR.

TEXT BOX: WITNESS the epic struggle against the forces of EVIL!

MING (1): Gordon is of no concern.

MING (2): Soon my DEATH STAR shall be complete, and then no power in the universe can stop me!

Panel 3: FLASH GORDON is dueling GENERAL KLYTUS, and each is using a LIGHTSABER.

TEXT BOX: BEHOLD as the heroic young FLASH GORDON learns the ways of the JEEDI GUARDIANS and discovers the truth about his past!

GENERAL KLYTUS: Join with me, Flash! We need not fight each other, Son!

FLASH GORDON: NOOOO!

Panel 4: Squadrons of starships that look like a cross between classic-style ROCKET SHIPS and Y-WING fighters are engaged in combat against squadrons of ships that look reminiscent of TIE FIGHTERS while still maintaining a unique appearance.

TEXT BOX: EXPERIENCE the exciting adventure all over again!

RED LEADER: We need to break through and destroy that ship before it’s too late!

Panel 5: An old-fashion style movie poster reminiscent of the classic STAR WARS trilogy posters by way of FLASH GORDON.

TEXT BOX: This summer, it’s the return of George Lucas’s FLASH GORDON!

TEXT BOX: For a limited time only!

(End Page)

Flash Gordon - Space - Grant McLaughlin

Captions should look handwritten, as they are part of Flash Gordon's "journal entry".

1 - A wide, exterior shot of Flash's rocketship flying through space.

CAPTION (FLASH): The fight against tyranny continues.

2 - Interior.  We see Flash sitting at a desk, facing away from the reader.  The light is low and he is bent over his journal, writing.  There are various items on the desk that will come into focus in the coming panels (including a corkboard in front of him with items that can't be made out yet).

CAPTION (FLASH): It seems every time I strike a victory, I find myself back on this ship, being whisked away to another planet in need.

3 - Focus on the corkboard.  It is covered in handwritten notes from different people who have been saved by Flash's actions.  There are so many that you can only make out bits and pieces of individual letters, lots of "thank you", "forever in your debt", "words aren't enough", careful signatures, and hand drawn pictures (particularly from children).

CAPTION (FLASH): It is tiring, but it is the right thing to do.

4 - Switch to the desk, focusing on a day calendar.  There are many sheets torn off and lying below the current day, building a not insignificant pile.  If desired, have "Travel" written on the current day.

CAPTION (FLASH): And while these journeys are long.

5 - Shift to yet another object on Flash's desk: a photo of him and his gal pal Dale Arden, holding each other close and looking happy.  There should be a handwritten "Come back to me soon!" written in the corner, possibly with her name at the bottom or a cliched lipstick mark.

CAPTION (FLASH): Lonely.

6 - We're once again behind Flash at his desk.  He has stopped writing and is now leaning back in his chair, as if contemplating everything before

CAPTION (FLASH): They give me a chance to experience something I can't seem to find anywhere else.

7 - Repeat the exterior shot of the rocketship from panel 1.

CAPTION (FLASH): Peace.

Flash Gordon - What's in a Name? - Ben Rosenthal

1.  Flash Gordon is camping on Mongo.  It is night.  He sits by the fire.   Dale Arden is asleep, and Flash and Hans talk.

HANS: You never told me my boy.  How did you get the name 'Flash'?


2.  A close up of Flash, thinking about a painful memory.


3.  A dorm room in Yale.  A young Flash of about 16 is topless in bed and looking sad and disappointed.  Next to him in bed is a female laughing hysterically. She has is also topless but the bed sheet covers her breasts.

WANTED: A new TENURED WRITER!

Thought Balloons ( thought-balloons ) are looking for YOU!

A spot has opened up for tenured writers.  This is where you come in.

Think you can produce a single page of comic script once a week?  Ready to get some feedback from other like minded comic writers.  Then apply now!

Thought Balloons is run by writers, for writers.  As the puppet dictator I have seen many a fine scribe pass through it’s doors.  Some of which have gone on to great success - Dan Hill and Ryan K Lindsay are now writing and editing the Monkey Brain hit HEADSPACE.

Drop me a note below or over at the twitter.

Flash Gordon - Black Son - R.A. Wonsowski

The continuity for this is roughly five years after the 1980 movie.

Panel 1- Amidst the wreckage of dead black-garbed soldiers and the golden armoured cavalry, out on the sands of the desert under the red sky of Mongo, FLASH GORDON is fighting a vicious golden-skinned warrior in black robes. Upon the chest plate over the black robes is a stylized eight-pointed golden sun. His hood is down, revealing a shaved head. This is GRYVUS. Both men are dueling with long sabers, and FLASH is on the ropes.

FLASH: Maniac! Look around!

FLASH: You've decimated the planet! You assassinated the Emperor!

GRYVUS: Bah!

Panel 2- GRYVUS surprises FLASH with a roundhouse kick to the kidney. FLASH drops his sword.

GRYVUS: Barin was never my emperor! Only the eternal name of Ming will ever cross my lips in fealty!

GRYVUS: As it was with my father who you had slain!

Panel 3- worm's-eye view, FLASH, foreground and lying on the sand, looks up at GRYVUS, who has FLASH at saber-point and pulls his hood up with his free hand. In the sky, the flying city of the Hawk-men can be seen.

GRYVUS: How fitting it is that you should die beneath Vultan's city. He told me all under my blade...

FLASH: Who are you?

Panel 4- Zoom in, GRYVUS pulls something shiny and golden from the folds of his robe as he rattles his saber. His rage is palpable.

GRYVUS: I am Gryvus! I am one of the Ten Thousand Flames of Dyzan, god of the Black Sun!

GRYVUS; I am Gryvus, son of Klytus, who you so cowardly murdered!

Panel 5- Flashback. Foreground, KLYTUS, impaled on the spikes of the gladiatorial platform. Background, FLASH, BARIN, and VULTAN look upon what they had done.

CAPTION (Flash): My God...

Panel 6- Zoom in, as GRYVUS finishes fitting the golden mask of Klytus upon his face.

GRYVUS: I am Gryvus, pathetic earthling!

GRYVUS: WHO CAN SAVE YOU NOW?!?

Why Flash Gordon?

Actually, I have been meaning to approach this character for quite a while, because I was recently reacquainted with him by sheer coincidence...

The first time I met Flash Gordon was through the 1970's Filmation Saturday morning cartoon.  It was episodic, dramatic, and filled with daring-do. Later, as a young adult, I would discover the original Buster Crabbe serials of the '40s, and how closely they resembled each other in delivery, if not content.

The turning point for me was when, in 1981, Flash Gordon came on HBO.  From Ming's opening ennui, "Klytus, I'm bored...", to the rocking Queen soundtrack (Flash! *boom* Aah-aaah - saviour of the universe!) to Sam Jones's deadpan self-introductions and Max von Sydow's merciless emperor of alien Mongo ("Pathetic earthlings..."), to Barin's vicious streak and Vultan's gregariousness ("Gordon's alive?!?")...Lucky for me, my local public library had a beaten copy of the original strips...

That was the first time I ever considered comics as art.  One look at Alex Raymond's dynamic anatomy, his alien landscapes, his seductive females, his futuristic design sense and his pulp action sequences, you're aware that you are holding a Work in your hands.

The irony is that King Features originally didn't particularly care about the strip.  They just wanted something to compete with rival strip Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.  Even the hero's name, in the context of the 1930s, denoted style without substance, a fad.  He was a jock who never used his fancy education (the sport has changed over time; in the first strips, he was a polo player, but he's also been a basketballer, quarterback for the NY Jets, a snowboarder, and in one poorly-thought-out version, the drummer of a rock band).  But his heart, his desire to win, his sense of honor, and his ability to build great teams (including paramour Dale Arden and scientist Hans Zarkov) raised him above the other Sunday comics heroes.  He fights Ming not for glory, but because it is right to fight tyranny and terror, even if you are the only one who knows.

Not too long ago, I was hunting for our new home in Utah, and the local comic shop was putting up Alex Ross posters up, one of Emperor Ming in particular stood out from the others.  The move was my own adventure into unknown territory, looking for work, fighting for my family's survival, fighting my own imperial terror. That night I streamed that 80s Flash, and I knew everything would be fine. As Queen sang, all it takes is "just a man, with a man's courage".

Not long ago, Eric Trautmann and Alex Ross collaborated on a miniseries called Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist, a pulpy love letter to all of the different iterations of the character, and why he is still relevant today.  This year, he turns 80, and what better way to celebrate his birthday than with a week of Thoughtballoons  one-page tributes.

King of the impossible, indeed...

Optimus Prime - Transformers 3.5 - R.A. Wonsowski

Layout is 3 rows, 2 panels each. The setting is Paramount's "green screen" chroma key studio.

Panel 1- SHIA LABOEUF and MICHAEL BAY are sitting on folding chairs facing each other. BAY is flipping through pages on a clipboard, SHIA is leaning forward expectantly. OPTIMUS PRIME is sitting on his haunches in the background, mostly to fit him in the panel.

BAY: ...sorry, Shia, it's a done deal. You're out, Wahlberg's in.

PRIME: Is this the one on Blue Bloods?

Panel 2- SHIA is about to flip out, dragging his fingers down his face. BAY is talking to PRIME earnestly.

BAY: That's Donnie. Mark was the underwear-modeling Funky-Buncher.

PRIME: Your assessment is harsh. The Italian Job was entertaining...

SHIA: Aauugh! Guys...

Panel 3- SHIA is out of his chair, shouting arms wide at BAY, upset and hurt. PRIME regards it all as a bored spectator, begins to stand himself.

SHIA: You can't get rid of me! I'm your gateway character in this franchise!

SHIA: I represent the audience! I'm the Everyman!

Panel 4- SHIA is now standing on his chair, in the stance of a petulant child shouting at the sky. BAY looks bored. PRIME is now standing, and all we see is his legs.

SHIA: I am Everyman who dreams of having the coolest car, while the popular guys drive Honda minivans!

SHIA: I am Everyman who fantasizes about hot girls out of their league, but could be "the one" if they only had a chance!

Panel 5- BAY flinches and shields his eyes as SHIA and his chair explode in a sudden blast of pink laser fire from above.

SHIA: I--

SoundFX: kaBWOW!!!

Panel 6- PRIME is still standing, BAY is looking up at him as the ashes of SHIA and his chair spark and smolder.

PRIME: Sorry, Michael. "Everyman" was an asshole.

BAY: Did you learn nothing after the Megan Fox incident?!?

Optimus Prime - Optimus Crime - Niel Jacoby

Full Splash: Optimus Prime and Bumblebee are driving down the highway, full blast, as a Decepticon police car trails them.

Optimus: BUMBLEBEE, DISTRACT HIM! WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS TRUCKLOAD OF ENERGON AND COORS LIGHT OVER STATE LINES BY NIGHTFALL!

Bumblebee: ROGER THAT, OPTIMUS!

Caption: CROOKED COP BEHIND THEM, 100 MILES OF HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF THEM!
CAN OPTIMUS AND BUMBLEBEE GET A TRUCKLOAD OF ENERGON TO AUTOBOT HQ IN TIME?

Optimus Prime - A Time to Talk, A Time to Fight - J.D. Coughlan

Five wide panels, same POV each time.

Panel 1: Optimus Prime stands on one side, staring across a ruined human city at Megatron on the other. Megatron has his arms wide, taunting. Optimus remains still.

MEGATRON: You arrive at last, Prime, as you always do.

MEGATRON: Never first.

Panel 2: Optimus now begins to slowly, deliberately cross the distance between them. His body language should not be aggressive. Megatron remains smug.

MEGATRON: Always after the carnage, to deliver pitiful words of comfort.

Panel 3: Optimus, still calm, is now halfway to Megatron, who still taunts.

MEGATRON: Tell me, Prime, what have you to say about the death and destruction I have wrought this time? What petty moralising shall you comfort the lost with?

Panel 4: Optimus is now, still cool as ice, right in front of Megatron, who has his hands on his hips, confident.

NO DIALOGUE

Panel 5: Optimus lands a mighty sucker punch on Megatron, sending the villain backwards.

SFX: POW!

END OF PAGE

Optimus Prime - Moving Words - Grant McLaughlin

William "Sparkplug" Witwicky, the human ally of the Transformers from the animated series and the comics, confronts Optimus Prime and the Autobots in their HQ. (I'm aware that this doesn't completely fit within continuity) (Also to note: panel 4 should be the main focus of the page)

1 - Sparkplug stands before Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and potentially a few more Autobots.  Sparkplug is distraught, tears openly flowing from his eyes.

SPARKPLUG (1): I'm ruined!

SPARKPLUG (2): I spent all my time helping you.  Giving advice, repairs, and anything else you've ever asked of me.

2 - Sparkplug sits down on the ground, overwhelmed by the slings and arrows of life.  He holds his head in his hands, doing little to slow his outpouring of tears.  The Autobots are stunned.

SPARKPLUG (1): And because of it, I've lost my job.

SPARKPLUG (2): My wife left me.

SPARKPLUG (3): And now the bank is repossessing my house.

SPARKPLUG (quietly): I can't even afford to move out what little I have left.

3 - Optimus Prime moves towards Sparkplug (who is still on the ground) and places a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.  Optimus looks apologetic and sorry.

OPTIMUS (1): I'm so sorry.  We had no idea.

OPTIMUS (2): Don't worry, we'll make this right.

4 - Optimus Prime, in truck mode (with his tractor trailer), is parked outside the Witwicky homestead.  There is a big "REPOSSESSED" sign outside the home.  Bumblebee and other Autobots gleefully carry boxes of Sparkplug's possessions to be packed away in Optimus' tractor trailer, moving him out of his lost home.  Sparkplug watches this sequence of events, crying.

AUTOBOTS (whistling): ♫

Optimus Prime - The War at Home - Ben Rosenthal

1.  Optimus Prime sits in his seat in Cybertron Parliment.  He is their leader - the governing body.  In front of him a Decepticon stands, yelling at a seated Autobot.  Both are dressed in robes.  This is a parliamentary debate.  The war has been over for years.

CAPTION (Prime)
The war has been over for years.
The Autobots were victorious over Megatron and his guerilla forces.

2.  A close up of the Deceptacon yelling his vitriol.

CAPTION (Prime)
I was elected to lead.
Only this battlefield the weapons of choice are name calling--

3.  A close up of the Autobot leader smirking smugly as he is being yelled at.

CAPTION (Prime)
--and looks of smug self-righteousness.

4.  A close up of Prime.  He is bored.  His eyes are distant.

CAPTION (Prime)
This is what I fought for.

5.  Prime is out on the road on Earth, speeding along a highway in his truck form.  He has run away.

CAPTION (Prime)
It is not a victory I can be a part of

.

Optimus Prime – Never Forgotten – MK Stangeland Jr.

(This script takes place separate from any existing Transformers continuity, in a version of their universe long after both the defeat of the original Decepticons and well after OPTIMUS PRIME has passed on. BUMBLEBEE has since risen to the rank of PRIME, and now goes by the name of GOLDFIRE PRIME.

GOLDFIRE PRIME’s design should have BUMBLEBEE’s original design as a starting point, and from there his new design should look upgraded, more ‘beefed up’, and aged with wear and tear to show he’s seen a lot since rising to his current rank.)

(7 Panels)

Panel 1: GOLDFIRE PRIME is on the MOON, where he’s facing off against MEGAPRIME – a Decepticon who wears pieces from a long-dead MEGATRON’s body as intimidating-looking refurbished armor. Nearby is a technologically advanced looking tower, which MEGAPRIME is using to attempt to steal the moon so he can use it along with the moons of Cybertron to basically destroy the Cybertron then use its remains to remake the planet as he sees fit – it runs on your basic comic book evil maniac science logic, so probably best not to think about it too much. There are also a few other ruined structures that have been blasted apart from the battle proceeding this scene.

GOLDFIRE PRIME gets to his feet as he tries to recover while MEGAPRIME picks himself up. A ghosted image of OPTIMUS PRIME stands in the background behind GOLDFIRE, overlooking the scene.

GOLDFIRE PRIME: You know the difference between you and me?

Panel 2: GOLDFIRE PRIME charges at MEGAPRIME and prepares to attack.

GOLDFIRE PRIME: We may both fight with the memory of someone long past.

Panel 3: MEGAPRIME swings at GOLDFIRE PRIME. GOLDFIRE PRIME dodges using that maneuver where you roll over the opponents back when you don’t quite jump all the way over them.

GOLDFIRE PRIME: But you’re just using a twisted memory of someone as weapon like a deranged maniac!

Panel 4: GOLDFIRE PRIME hits MEGAPRIME with an uppercut that staggers the Decepticon.

SFX: SHMACK!

GOLDFIRE PRIME (1): But I fight with the inspiration of the greatest Autobot who ever lived!

GOLDFIRE PRIME (2): And so long as his memory survives to inspire us, then NO Autobot…

Panel 5: GOLDFIRE PRIME hits MEGAPRIME with a massive blow. A ghosted image of OPTIMUS PRIME encompasses GOLDFIRE PRIME’s body, following his movements.

SFX: WHAM!

GOLDFIRE PRIME: …Will EVER!

Panel 6: GOLDFIRE PRIME hits with a follow up to PANEL 5. A ghosted image of OPTIMUS PRIME encompasses GOLDFIRE PRIME’s body, following his movements.

SFX: BAM!

GOLDFIRE PRIME: FIGHT!

Panel 7: GOLDFIRE PRIME hits MEGAPRIME with a haymaker that knocks off MEGAPRIME’s helmet and smashes half his face off. A ghosted image of OPTIMUS PRIME encompasses GOLDFIRE PRIME’s body, following his movements.

SFX: TKRrrHyAHMN!

GOLDFIRE PRIME: ALONE!

(END PAGE)

Why Optimus Prime?

“Freedom is the right of all sentient beings!”

In popular culture, especially surrounding comics, there are two particular individuals that stand out as champions of truth and justice (and the American way) – Superman and Captain America. True leaders who inspire those around them, they can regularly be counted on to do the right thing and to stand up for those who can’t. And if you find yourself in a situation where they fail to live up to this standard, you can automatically tell that something has gone very, very wrong.

And if I may, I believe there’s another individual who’s worth of standing alongside these classic icons – Optimus Prime.

While he doesn’t have the same history as Superman and Cap, what with Transformers only having been around since the 80’s, it’s hard not to look at Prime’s resume and see the parallels between him and the two more established icons. Classically coming from humble origins as Orion Pax before being chosen for greatness, Prime arrives from a distant world to protect a people that he could just as easily lord over if he weren’t such a heroic individual. Which becomes even more impressive when you consider all he’s willing to sacrifice in order to keep protecting them. And he continues to do so even in the face of challenges that would break the spirits of lesser individuals. And by doing so, he inspires those he leads to stand with him against such challenges as well.

Superman

Captain America

Optimus Prime

They’ll stand up for those who can’t longer than should be possible. And as long as they do, the fat lady won’t be singing anything anytime soon.

“Transform and Roll Out!”