Sunday, November 30, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 4

Page 4

The start of Joker's first story. The art for the Joker's stories should be completely different from the rest of the series. It should be heavily impressionistic and vivid in its colors. Also, the panels should be somehow broken, or no panel lines at all, with each scene blending into the other.

Location: Non-descript

Joker: You know, I'm a smiling kind of person.

Joker: Some people naturally scowl,...

Joker: And others always look sad,...

Joker: While others work oh-so-hard on that stern, authoritarian demeanor...

Perhaps use a picture of Batman for the authoritarian demeanor caption

Joker: But smile, and the world smiles with you.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 3

Page 3

Joker (mocking): Batzarro stop crime! Batzarro stop crime!

Panel of Batzarro looking hurt.

Joker: Are you sad, backwards man? Are you sad?

Batzarro: Batzarro not sad. Batzarro happy.

Joker: You're right. Silly me. If you're happy and you know it...

Joker claps his hands twice.

Joker: You like stories? I like stories? No...wait...You hate stories? I hate stories? I won't tell you a story, backwards man.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 2

Page 2

Singing creeps it's way into Batzarro's cell.

Joker (singing): Hello, hello, hello...What a wonderful word, hello!

Batzarro perks up.

Batzarro: Goodbye!

Joker (singing): Hello, hello, hello...You can hear it wherever you go!

Scene: The Joker is holding onto the bars in the window of his cell, pushing his face through the bars. His eyes are wide and glittering. There is a yellow tint in their sclera. His hair is wild and un-kept. He smiles a gleeful, manic smile. His teeth are neat and his smile is wide.

Joker (singing): A stranger in a strange world can't be nearer, But when you hear the hello song it's dearer...

Joker: Or is it goodbye?

Batzarro (starting to smile): Goodbye!

Joker: Oh, you say goodbye, and I say hello! Hello! Hello! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Batzarro (his crying starting to stop due to the distraction): Batzarro stop crime!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 1

Page 1

Location: Arkham Asylum

Scene: Same as the last panel of Part 1.

Next Panel: From the front of Joker, Batman is in the background looking in the cell. Joker starts to laugh.

Next Panel: Batman leaves, and Joker is laughing uncontrollably.

Scene: Batzarro is crying in his cell.

Batzarro (sobbing): Batzarro stop crime!

Friday, November 28, 2008

What the Fuck?

So a customer of mine asked what the hell inspired me to write this thing.

Truth be told, it was my coworker, Zano. Zano asked me to write a Batzarro story for him to illustrate, so I wrote this story. I didn't include a bunch of instructions because I trusted Zano's creativity to make something awesome.

He never got around to it, but I still keep writing. There are a bunch more issues coming up.

So that is why there are not more instructions for artists.

And for those who are wondering why I have titled this story arc Vox Humana, well, you will just have to wait to find out.

Done with the First Issue

One of my friends, after reading this script, looked at me in horror and said to me, "You can't do that to Batman! That is not Batman!".

It amazed me how hurt he looked. He had been a Batman fan for as far back as he could remember and this script did not make him happy.

He was wrong though, I could do this Batman. I can do whatever I like, because this isn't for DC, this is for me and is about what I want. Mind you, this is not necessarily the events I would like DC to have happen, but it is the characters as I understand them or would like them to be.

I would like a Batman who is a human being, and 52 presented a unique opportunity for that. Often times it has been portrayed that Bruce Wayne is an act and Batman is who this character is. Still, even if that were true that Batman was just playing the role of Bruce Wayne, any actor will tell you that a role develops a character and personality of its own, hence Jack Nicholson taking the time to talk to Heath Ledger about the emotional toll of playing the Joker.

And who is Bruce Wayne? Bruce Wayne is an asshole. A drinking, womanizing, and playful asshole.

But why hang out with Batzarro? Because Batzarro wants nothing from Bruce Wayne. Anyone else would either be looking for money or for Bruce to do something for them. Bruce Wayne is a man trapped by his own inheritance, for his inheritance makes any and all of his relationships suspect, and Batzarro is so clear in his wants and needs that their is no place for duplicity on his part.

Batzarro also has a desire, though, and that is to be Batman, and the closest he can get to being Batman is to hang out with him.

But what about Alfred? Hasn't he wanted Bruce Wayne to stop being Batman since forever? Well, once Alfred sees that the Bruce Wayne act is no longer and act, but who Bruce Wayne is, he doesn't like him much, either. Alfred wants a balance between the persona that is Bruce Wayne and the persona that is Batman, as both men are extremes.

But how does this relate to Batman being human? Human beings make mistakes. Some may argue that Batman does not, but he does, he just doesn't when it comes to fighting crime. Batman/Bruce has screwed up so many relationships, mostly by simply not paying attention, and now is no different, it just has harsher consequences when it comes to Batzarro.

Of course, I am sure Keith Giffen will complain about this, but why the Joker? Why the hell did the Joker have to tie into this? As my friend had mentioned to me at one time, the Joker and Batman need each other. I don't believe that. I believe the Joker feels a need for Batman, not vice versa. Since Batman was gone, Joker had to find some way to prompt him to come back.

DC and copyright

It was brought to my attention by a customer of mine that many comic authors won't read writing submissions. This makes sense to me, because if an author used some material from a submission, whether intentional or not, the person who showed them their script could try to hold them liable. It is unfortunate, but true.

So, let me say now that if any comic author, artist, or creator wishes to use any idea, phrase, original character, or anything else from my fan fiction here, feel free to do so. I would appreciate it if you acknowledged that you have read this blog, but I will not be upset if you don't. I put this up publicly for everyone to read, so screw it.

Also, what about DC? I don't own any of these characters that I am writing and encouraging others to draw. Well, I think this falls under fair use. I know there is a ton of fan fiction out there, and if DC does not prosecute all of those people who write it, I do not think they will go after me.

Besides, if they do ask me to stop writing, then that means that they have read my stuff here.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 15

Page 15

Location: Arkham Asylum

Scene: Batzarro is in a cell, curled up, rocking back and forth, and crying, with Batman in the background looking in. Batman leaves cell and goes to Joker's cell. Batman looks in the cell window (which is in the cell door) at the Joker. The Joker is not facing Batman.

Batman: You got Cornelius out, didn't you?

Joker: You forgot us. You forgot me...and when you have loved someone as long as I have, you can pretty much guess what they are going to do.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 14

Page 14 (you know the drill)

Batman launches at Batzarro. Batman is trying to beat down Batzarro. Batzarro is just trying to stop Batman from hitting him. The fight should be ridiculously long and use lots of improvised weapons (like Jackie Chan and including the dead child's body). The fight ends with Batzarro on the teacher's desk, face terribly bloodied.

Batzarro's eyes are watering and tears are running down his face.

Batzarro (blubbering): But...butt...unlike Batman, Batzarro stop crime...

Batman stops hitting Batzarro, horrified realization is etched across his face.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 13

Page 13

Batman ties up Stirk and goes back to the classroom where the child was. Batzarro is there. Batzarro is holding the child's body in one hand and the bone saw in the other. The child's heart is on the ground.

Batzarro: Batzarro stop crime!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 12

Page 12

Location: Gotham Elementary

Scene: Classroom, late night. Stirk has a child trapped beneath him. Stirk's eyes are wide and he has a bone saw in his hand. Batman is in the background behind Stirk.

Batman: Stirk!

Stirk lets go of the child and runs. The child falls to the floor. Batman leaps over child and chases Stirk.

Scene: School hallway. Stirk is running down the hall not bothering to look behind him. Batman is behind him, with illusions of Batman's fears surrounding him. (Things like his parents telling him how ashamed they are. Stephanie Brown (the female Robin, she's a blonde) asking him why he let her die, himself as Batman covered in blood and laughing.)

Batman throws a batarang and hits Cornelius Stirk in the back of the head. Stirk trips up and falls to the ground. Batman catches up and pulls him up by the back of his neck. A child's scream is heard. Batman punches Stirk in the face. Illusions are still happening around Batman.

Stirk: I'm sorry. I need them. I'm going to die without them! I have to!

Child's scream is continuing. Illusions still happening and are still happening.

Batman: No. You don't.

Batman punches Stirk in the face again and Stirk is knocked out. The child's screaming and the rest of the illusions have stopped.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 11

Location(s): More places throughout Gotham

Scene(s): Several panels or pages of Batman investigating, sans Batzarro. Batman beating up a guy and pumping him for information, Batman searching warehouses, Batman in the lab, interrupted by a panel of the newspaper heralding the number of dead as the headline.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 10

Page 10

Batzarro sees look on Batman's face.

Batzarro: What me not do?

Batman is looking at the paper.

Batman (distractedly): Stop crime.

Batzarro (quizzically): Stop crime.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 9

Page 9

Location: Batcave

Scene: Batman is asleep in a chair in front of the Bat-Computer, leaned back, shoeless, with one sock on, mouth open, and snoring. Batzarro is asleep and smiling, leaning against Batman's leg.

Alfred walks in and leans chair back just enough to dump Batman out of it.

Batman: Ooph!

Alfred: Ah. I see you're up, sir.

Batman (getting up): What do you want?

Alfred: I thought you might like to see this, sir.

Alfred drops newspaper on the floor. Headline reads "3 Dead, Hearts Missing".

Batzarro is waking up, arms stretched and mouth open.

Alfred: In all my time with the Wayne's, I have always thought I was a member of your family, but you have made it obvious that I was wrong am but a servant. So unless you get off your self-pitying ass, I am tendering my resignation, effective in two weeks.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 8

Page 8 - Whatever, I'm just gonna say the next page is 9 just cause it's easy

Location(s): Different places throughout Gotham

Scene(s): Several panels or pages (I'm thinking pages) of Batman and Bizarro goofing off, drinking and driving, (I really want a shot of Batman behind the wheel, grinning, with a beer in hand), and perhaps with crimes happening in the background.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 7

Page 7

Alfred: Will you be performing any feats of daring-do this evening, Master Bruce? Or should I put the fresh suit up for the night?

Batman gets up, puts on an undershirt.

Batman: I am going out tonight, thank you.

Alfred: Very good, for I understand that Cornelius Stirk has escaped. I think it was due to the new revolving door Arkham had installed.

Batman: That will be all, Alfred.

Alfred leaves the suit and gives Batman a withering look.

Batman: Batzarro sleep now.

Batzarro gets up and a mess of beer cans is revealed beneath him.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 6

Page 6

Batman leaves room, grabbing Batzarro by the collar.

Batman: Batzarro, we're staying!

Scene: Hallway, Batman leaving room, Batzarro in tow.

Batzarro, being dragged along: To carry on!

Location: Wayne Manor

Scene: Days later. Bruce Wayne's Bedroom. Bruce Wayne is asleep on bed, Batman uniform on floor. Batzarro, still in costume, is curled up at the foot of the bed. Alfred is standing next to the bed, with a fresh Batman outfit in hand. There is also a desk and chair near the door.

Alfred: (clears throat)

Batman: groan...

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 5

Page 5

Batzarro: On board, I'm the captain...

Superman: Bruce, he shouldn't...

Batzarro: So climb aboard.

Batman: You're not the supreme authority on should or shouldn't, Clark, no matter what you think.

Batzarro: We'll search for tomorrow...

Superman: I'm just...

Batman (jumps up): I know you're "just". I don't care. I've got him under control.

Batzarro: On every shore.

Green Arrow: Okay guys, calm down. Clark, it's good for Batman to laugh once in awhile. Proves there is a first time for everything. (Turning to Batman) Bruce, he is dangerous. I know you can handle him, but get him off the satellite.

Batzarro: But we'll try, oh Lord, we'll try...

Friday, November 21, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 4

Page 4

Superman: "What is going on here?"

Batzarro: "Set an open course for the virgin sea!"

Batman: Noth-(laughing) nothing!

Green Arrow walks in.

Green Arrow: Lighten up, farmboy! The fascist is having fun for once.

Batzarro: I've got to be free!

Superman: What is he doing on the satellite?

Batman (has regained his composure): I've got him under control.

Batzarro: Free to face the life that's ahead of me!

Superman: He's dangerous.

Batman: I've got him under control.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 3

Page 3

You're just fucking funny.

Scene: Superman opens door. Batman is on a couch, bent over laughing. Batzarro is between them, wearing a Superman cape, singing. The cape is draped over Batzarro's right arm and a good portion of the Superman symbol is showing.

Batzarro: "I'm sailing away!"

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 2

Page 2

Location: JLA Satellite

Scene: Superman walking down hallway towards a door that is ajar.

Batman (not in scene - talking over scene):

The Boy Scout says I should get rid of you.

That your dangerous.

And you are.

And perhaps I should.

But I can handle you.

Not like him. His Bizarro gives him nightmares. Nightmares of what of he could be.

A monster.

You, on the other hand,

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1 Page 1

Page 1

Location: Desert, Empty Quarter of the Ten Eyed Surgeons

Scene: Same as 52: Week 30, Day 3. Horizontal Panel across top of page. We see the back of Robin from the waist down, his cape billowing out left of center, on the center right, Batman is on his knees, arms outstretched, a look of joy on his face. He is wearing a game hunter's shorts and shirt, and a utility belt. The sun is setting between them and the sky is red. There is a box in the upper left that reads "52: Week 30, Day 3".

Batman: It's over. Batman is gone.

Next panel: Horizontal panel again. Profile of Batman, now Bruce Wayne, a look of puzzlement on his face. Same sky as before.

Batman: What do I do now?

Location: Random bar

Scene: Horizontal panel again. Batzarro is on the right hand side. Batzarro is at the bar, the doorway is the background. Batzarro is facing it and is in semi-profile. Batzarro is smiling and waving. Batman (as Bruce Wayne) is wearing jeans and a t-shirt and is walking into the bar, smiling and waving at Batzarro.

Location: Batzarro's trailer

Scene: Horizontal panel. Batman (dressed as Batman) is on the right hand side, Batzarro on the left. Batman is playing a video game and is smiling and laughing. Batzarro is jumping on the couch, obviously excited. There are empty beer cans and snacks everywhere.

Location: Strip club

Scene: Horizontal panel. We see from the upper thigh up of a stripper's legs. Batman and Batzarro are next to the catwalk. Batman is passed out and is laying his head on the catwalk. Batzarro is waving a wad of cash and calling out.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Purpose

I love the DC Universe. I really do. Since I got into comics, DC has generally been the comics that I prefer over all others. That being said, there is a lot that I would like see done differently. To that end, I am going to write my own DC Universe story and just hope that people enjoy it. Since I cannot draw a straight line, even with a ruler, if there is ever anyone who would like to draw my story, please let me know so I can post it here. The scripts are done Marvel style so any artist can have free reign.

If like my story, let me know. If you don't let me know as well. If you have no opinion, well, it's probably best if you keep that to yourself.

Besides scripts, I will also post my thoughts on what I would like the DC Universe to be.