Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 2

Page 2

Location: Outside the Watchtower (the JLA satellite)

Scene: Superman is entering the airlock.

Superman (thinking to himself): I saved his city.

Location: Inside the Watchtower

Scene: J'onn J'onzz is watching Superman on the monitor entering the airlock. J'onn looks like his true, Martian form.

Scene: Superman is walking down the hall.

Superman (thinking to himself): This is the thanks I get.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 1

Page 1

Location: Batcave

Scene: The same panel as page 18 of Part 2 (Floronic Man). Batman is walking away from the mouth of the Batcave. Alfred is standing there, looking at Batman with a disapproving look. Superman is on the ground, his face bloody, shouting at Batman.

Superman: You're only human!

The same panel again, only this time, Superman is gone.

Location: In the sky above the earth.

Scene: Superman is flying into the atmosphere.

Superman (thinking to himself): Only human. Is that what I think?

Good News

So, I heard from a pal that Brian Michael Bendis read my blog. I don't know which one, though. I hope it was this one and I hope he enjoyed it.

So, I am almost done with Issue #2.5, so I am going to go ahead and start posting.

I hope you like it.

Where the hell is #2.5?

What do you mean Issue #2.5 isn't up yet? You're not even writing full breakdowns! There is no art and it is taking you this god damn long? What the hell is wrong with you? You complain about lateness all the time and you can't even stay on schedule!

These are the things I say to myself over and over again and will be continuing to do so until I finish this damn issue. Like I said before, this has been a really hard issue to write, and the holidays are busy in the world of retail.

Which only goes to illustrate the need to have things ready before you start posting them online.

Still, stick around, things are only going to get better (in my opinion).

New Krypton and Things Done Right

Recently, I have been reading the New Krypton storyline.

This is a small crossover event that is being handled really well by DC.

"How?", you might ask. Well, I will tell you. They are numbering the order in which they occur on every issue that involves the story. On every cover there is a small diamond/shield shape with a number on it.

That is elegantly simply. More crossovers (especially the larger ones) should do this as well.

God, I am so Jealous

So David Mack came into the store the other day.

Let me say this. I am a fan of David Mack. It was really hard not to be a total fanboy, because I am a fanboy, but he was really nice and put up with me, because God knows I can be annoying. Just ask my friends.

That being said, I am rather envious of the man, and not just because he created an awesome comic (Kabuki), but rather, because of what he does for Christmas.

This guy goes to Portland, gets together with Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming, and Chuck Palahniuk, hangs out with them all, and writes with them. That's it.

Imagine it for a moment. David Mack, Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming, and Chuck Palahniuk, sitting in a living room, sipping on a drink or two, and just chilling.

One day I hope to be there. Till then, I am just going to be jealous.

It was very nice to meet you, David. Thanks for hanging out.

DC and Video Games

The holidays so will soon be over and I will be able to get back on schedule. It is a busy time in the comic shop.

So, DC vs Mortal Kombat is out and from what I hear, it is a pretty good game.

Even so, I think DC (and even Marvel!) are missing out when it comes to video games.

Sounds crazy, I know, but bear with me.

I was talking with my coworker about Green Lantern, Blackest Night, and the Sinestro Corps War. We were talking about how we would love to play a video game of the Sinestro Corps War and the upcoming Blackest Night event. That's when it his us. Wouldn't it be great if DC game out with episodic games that coincided with whatever storyline was coming out? Imagine playing the Sinestro Corps sniper being charged with sneaking onto Oa and taking out lanterns? Or being Despotellis and having to choose different disease vector paths to most efficiently decimate a planet? Or what about being a Green Lantern sent to investigate strange occurences throughtout the universe?

It would work to. Just like Sam and Max became a big hit for Gametap, this would work for DC as well. You wouldn't even have to worry about a comic being late pushing back the game if it only told side stories involved in the event. Wouldn't it be awesome to play a cop investigating the disappearance of children during Final Crisis? No matter how late Grant Morrison was, this story could still be told, and be told in a way that actively engages the audience.

Oh well. Here's hoping.

Merry Christmas.

Issue 2.5 and New Postings

So, Issue 2.5 has been one of the most difficult things for me to write. There is not a lot of action (which is easier). What is being difficult is creating dramatic tension. Mostly this issue is one long conversation, but one I think will be rewarding for the reader by the time I get to the end. Since this issue is taking me longer to write, I am going to post up one comic page script a day until it is finished, then I will get back to the two a day, as issue #3 is already written. Issue 3.5 is proving more difficult, though, so we will see.

I'm the God Damn Batman

My friend Ben, the same one who feels as though that Batman and Joker needs each other, got upset at me for this ending. He said to me, "Dude! You can't just drop a bomb like that and walk away!"

Well, yes, yes I can.

What is important here is not the revelation that Bruce Wayne is Batman, but why he made the revelation. This is the acceptance of something that very few superheroes have, limitations. This acknowledges that Superman was right, and that he is all too human, which is something I love about Batman.

The Floronic Man

The Floronic Man is a prime example of a person that DC just does not know what to do with. He has been a professor, an interdimensional traveler, a drug dealer, a hero (known as Floro), and a number of things in between. To me, though, he will always be a villain. When I was trying to think of a story for the Floronic Man, I thought about my nightmares and the things that would frighten me. What scares me about this interpretation of the Floronic Man is that he is indifferent to humanity. It is not that he doesn't care about a human's well being (he doesn't), but that it does not affect him either way. People are just tools to be used, and those people that could be competition need to be eliminated. What also frightens me is that the Floronic Man does not attempt to communicate with people at all. By becoming a plant-human hybrid, the Floronic Man has made himself into something truly alien in mind.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 20

Page 20

Batman: I'm the God damn Batman!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 19

Page 19

Location: Downtown Gotham, the next day, it is no longer raining.

Scene: Downtown Gotham is in ruins. There is broken glass everywhere, including ravaged cars, trash, blood, and parts of floronic men. Like tornado damage, but bloodier. In the background, a stand has been set up and there are reporters seated before it. There is a podium on the stand. In the foreground is a news reporter.

News Reporter: We are standing here amidst the wreckage of last night's incident. Though we are all grateful for Superman's timely arrival, massive amounts of damage were caused by him as well as the strange men who appeared during last night's storm. What is even harder to measure is the human cost of this terrible tragedy. Not only did the sonic boom of Superman shatter glass and eardrums as he passed, but many people were also blinded as he broke the light barrier in front of people's eyes. To others it may be a fair price for their lives, for others, a horrible reminder of a night that defies all logic. Now we are awaiting the arrival of industrialist, Bruce Wayne. The Wayne family has long been known for their charity and it is expected that he will announce a relief program for those affected by this awful catastrophe.

Scene: Batman as Bruce Wayne arrives and walks up to the podium.

Batman: Ladies and gentleman, you know me as Bruce Wayne, billionaire, industrialist, philanthropist, but there is something you may not know...

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 18

Page 18

Batman backhands Superman. Superman falls to the floor. There is a kryptonite ring on Batman's exposed hand.

Batman: Look here, Boy Scout! Some of us can't fly. Some of us don't shoot fucking lasers out of their eyes.

Batman kicks Superman in the stomach.

Batman: Some of us work for a living! Some of us were born here!

Batman kneels down and punches Superman in the face with the kryptonite ring.

Batman(in Superman's face): Not everything is a job for Superman!

Alfred walks in.

Alfred: Master Bruce! What do you think you are doing? Go upstairs, now!

Batman stops, gets up, and walks away.

Superman (to Batman's back): Unlike me, one of you isn't enough. I can save them alone, but you can't! You are only human! There is only one of you and there are some things you can't face!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 17

Page 17

Location: Batcave

Scene: Batman is standing at the mouth of the Batcave. It is still raining. There is a speck of blue against the gray sky. The next panel, Superman is in front of Batman, floating, his arms crossed, his cape trailing behind him.

Batman: What did you think you were doing?

Superman (confused): What?

Batman: I didn't ask for your help.

Superman: Bruce, things had obviously gotten out of hand, so I took care of it.

Batman: I had it under control!

Superman: Like hell you did! What were you going to do? Spray some herbicide through the city? Use the Batplane like a crop-duster?

Batman (seething): ...

Superman (incredulous): Oh...That was what you were going to do? That would have taken forever! Do you know how many people would have died? How many people would have lost their parents?

Batman takes off his right glove.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 15 - 16

Page 15 - 16

Location: Batcave

Scene: Batman is preparing the Batplane and listening to the news.

News Anchor: Look! Up in the sky!

Location: News helicopter above Gotham

Scene: It is still raining. Inside helicopter, looking outside. News Anchor is in the foreground. Superman is in the background.

News Anchor: It's Superman!

Scene: Close up of Superman's face. It is of serene contemplation, as if he is lost in thought.

Location: Gotham Downtown

Scene: Several shots of downtown. It is still raining. All we see of Superman are red and blue streaks everywhere, with the floronic men being torn apart, straight lines of Superman's heat vision setting some aflame, burning some, causing others to explode in a massive release of steam. The shockwave of Superman breaking the sound barrier downtown is causing windows to break, and glass to shatter. There is glass flying everywhere. People are shielding their eyes from Superman breaking the light barrier (he has to be able to move faster than the speed of light, or he would never be able to make it to any other planets).

Scene: It is still raining. The last two panels is of the first floronic man. The floronic man is crawling as his legs have been shattered. Superman's bright red and shiny boot is in front of the floronic man. The next panel is of Superman's zen-like face as he crushes the floronic man's head beneath his heel.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 14

Page 14

Location: Batcave

Scene: Several shots of the floronic man strapped to a slab and being tested on by Batman.

Scene: Batman hands a clipboard to Alfred.

Batman: Call down to Wayne Chemical. Tell them to make as much of this as they can.

Alfred: Very good, sir.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 13

Page 13

Location: Batcave

Scene: Batman roars into Batcave, skids to a stop, and walks to the dying body of the floronic man, whereupon he stomps the floronic man's face in until it moves no more.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 12

Page 12

Location: Downtown Gotham

Scene: It is still raining. Batman comes at the floronic men. He whips Batzarro's chain around one of their throats, does a U-turn, without stopping, dragging the floronic man behind him. Several shots of Batman weaving back through Gotham, the floronic man in tow. These shots should show the damage being done to the floronic man, a mixture of the floronic man abrading the way human flesh would, and splintering like a tree.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 10 - 11

Page 10 - 11

Location: Batcave

Scene: The perspective is from in front of the screen. Alfred is looking up at the screen, watching the proceedings. Batman is already gone.

Scene: Batman is on the Batcycle and shoots out of the Batcave. Batzarro's chain is wrapped around his left forearm.

Location: Wayne Manor Grounds

Scene: It is still raining. Batman comes shooting forth out of the Batcave. His left arm is raised and Batzarro's chain is trailing behind him.

Location: Gotham and Downtown Gotham

Scene: It is still raining. Several shots of Batman on Batcycle weaving his way through Gotham, culminating to him reaching a crowd of floronic men. The floronic men come running towards Batman, mouths open, like screaming, but making no noise. Batman guns towards them in a straight line.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 9

Page 9

Location: Batcave

Scene: Batman is sitting at the bat-computer. The computer is on the right hand side of the page and Batman is on the left. His cowl is pushed back, leaving his head and face exposed and clearly visible. He has a wistful and longing look on his face. He is leaned back in the chair, his feet on the computer. In Batman's right hand is a beer. In his left hand is one of Batzarro's chains. He is holding the chain up in front of his face, dangling it and playing with it slightly.

Batman (singing to himself): Reflections in the waves spark my memory...

Alfred walks in.

Alfred: You may want to turn on the news, Master Bruce.

Batman turns the screen to the local news.

Location: News helicopter above Gotham.

Scene: The view from the side of the helicopter of the ground. It is still raining. On the ground are hoards of floronic men, killing males and raping females of all ages. The females who cannot get pregnant, either due to age or other reasons, are repeatedly raped to death. Some women are on the ground, giving birth to floronic seeds right there on the street. People are either running into or out of buildings, as are floronic men.

News Anchor: As you can see below me, there is a scene of total chaos. No one knows where these men came from. They don't appear to be interesting in anything besides rape and murder. There have been reports of looting, but not by any of these strange men. The riots are escalating and are threatening to engulf the city. Fleeing residents are being being caught in traffic, so citizens are being asked to stay inside, lock your doors, and draw your blinds.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 8

Page 8

The woman scrambles to her apartment, locks the door, and curls up and cries. She has mentally fallen apart and her body is wracked with her sobs.

She grabs her stomach. She doubles over in pain and her stomach expands. Seeds reminiscent of avocado seeds are birthed from her body, first one, then several, and then more. They keep coming and we see her body being sucked dry. While this is happening, the seeds sprout arms and legs and become more floronic men. The floronic men search the apartment looking for edible objects, food, cardboard, untreated wood, the body of the woman, etc., while some are turning on all of the faucets and drinking all the water they can. This allows them to grow till they are the same size as the original floronic man. They then file out of the apartment, leaving behind the dessicated corpse of the woman.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 6 and 7

Page 6 and 7

Location: Outside Robinson Park on the street
Scene: A woman parks her car, opens her umbrella, and gets out. The floronic man is watching from the park. She walking quickly and briskly to her apartment building. She opens the front door and as she is walking in the door of the building the floronic man rushes into her with the same ferocity with which he attacked the derelict. Fight ensues and she does fight, she bites, and punches, and kicks, but the floronic man doesn't even notice. The floronic man quickly, robotically, and without feeling subdues the woman and rapes her. This scene should be in no way sexy. It should proceed more like a beating than a sexual experience.

The floronic man's face wrenches, and he finishes. There is blood, cum, piss, and shit on the floor. The woman is curled up, sobbing. The floronic man just stands there. Another gentleman has finally built up the nerve and opens the door into the hallway to see what is going on. The floronic man turns his head and rushes the gentleman and proceeds to beat the him to death.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 4 and 5

Page 4 and 5

Scene: Lightning strikes the tree and splits it. The man comes falling out of the tree. The man falls to the ground and is kneeling on the ground, coughing, as if using his lungs for the first time. The bark is falling off of his body, revealing olive toned skin.

Scene: Close up of his face, it is smooth and contains hints of a grain. His eyes seems to be searching and his nose is sniffing the air. His mouth is open and seems to be tasting the world.

Location: Further into Robinson Park

Scene: An old, derelict man is hiding from the rain. He has found a clearing in which a lean-to has been put together. He has a trashcan fire going and is just sitting. The derelict is wearing round rim glasses and a long coat. The floronic man bursts through the trees and bushes and just beats the living hell out of the derelict until he breathes no more. During this episode, the floronic man wears an expression during this time as if he is screaming but he makes no noise at all. The only sound is of flesh being broken and meat being torn.

Scene: The derelict is dead and the floronic man puts on the overcoat. Then he puts on the glasses. For some reason, the glasses now reflect a light, grayish-green color and are opaque for the rest of the comic.(There is no explanation for the change in the glasses color. I just wanted the floronic man to look this way. The clothes are just an acknowledgment of his once human history.)

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 3

Page 3

Location: Robinson Park

Scene: Horizontal Black Panel

Next 3 panels should be right next to each other in one line.

Scene: Panel 1; Tree with the shape of a man twisted into its bark. It should not be obvious, but should hint at the shape of a man, though the face should be more apparent than the body. The face resembles John Glover.

Scene: Panel 2; Close up of the eyes. They are closed and covered in bark.

Scene: Panel 3; Close up of the eyes. They are open now and looking skyward. The eyes are shades of green and brown.

Scene: Horizontal Black Panel

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 2

Page 2

Scene: Horizontal Black Panel

Horizontal Panel
Location: Gotham

Scene: Gotham skyline is lit up by lightning and it is raining.

Scene: Horizontal Black Panel

Location:Robinson Park
Scene: Overhead 3/4, skewed 10 degrees view of sign in the arch of the gate leading into Robinson Park

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2 Page 1

Page 1

Location: Arkahm Asylum

Scene : Same as the last panel of Issue #1, though no text. Rain has started and it is coming in through the bars. Batman is just staring at the Joker.
Next panel, looking in from the outside into Joker's cell through bars. It is raining still and Joker has started chuckling, then laughing.
Next panel, further out, Joker's laughter is trailing out from cell.

A Brief Argument for Continuity

I have heard from several comic creators and enthusiasts that continuity should be done away with and that, instead, the comic companies should focus on telling good stories.

I think that is a mistake.

You see, continuity allows something special to happen to characters. That something is necessary for good story. It allows the character to change and grow.

Without continuity then what happens in a story doesn't matter. Without continuity, the audience has no reason to keep reading.

Some may argue that what happens in a story only matters within that story. Well, that's not true, for it is earlier stories that allow for authors to reference events as a cause for the story they are telling. There would be no Nightwing without Robin.

When it comes to the audience having a reason to keep reading, well, as we all know from our own lives, what we do determines what happens next. The events of our lives are predicated by the choices we made earlier. The audience won't keep reading a story just because it has a character they no in it, and no amount of X books will convince me of that. People keep reading about these characters because the author(s) have given them a reason to stay interested. If everything is just a unconnected mess, no matter what the quality, people won't read it.

Also, by creating a place where only a single story at a time is focused upon would create an environment in which lesser known authors would suffer. People won't want to take the risk, especially since comics will be going up, on someone they do not know. Continuity allows for larger authors to set the stage for lesser known authors and gives those lesser knowns a (hopefully) good place to start telling stories.

Heck, most of the problems in continuity are caused by one thing, authors who ignore continuity.

So, to the comic companies out there, be more strict about continuity, and force your authors, no matter how big, to pay attention, and I swear to you, your books will only get better.

Jack Napier and the Origin of the Joker

In issue 1.5 the Joker tells a story about Jack Napier feeding the anti-corruption crusader, Edwin Atherton, to several members of Gotham's criminal and corrupt element before the advent of Batman. Some may complain that the Joker was a comedian, a la Killing Joke, or the Red Hood. Personally, I always really liked the Jack Napier origin.

That being said, this is not meant to define Jack Napier as the origin of the Joker, but rather, to simply add to the supposed many origin stories of the Joker as to who these myriad of people were before Joker came about. This story may be true, it may not. It is the Joker after all. Even he, in this story, does not know why he remembers the tale, he just tells it.

What is the deal with the Joker?

With the advent of The Dark Knight, everybody is talking about the Joker again. Not that the Joker ever went away, but now the average person on the street is talking about him. People who I have never seen in the store are now coming in to purchase the Joker graphic novel, small kids want the Heath Ledger toy, and the Killing Joke is selling that sample sized pieces of crack.

But what is the deal with the Joker anyway? My friend Ben loves the Joker and says that the Joker is a mirror image of Batman, and that neither could exist without the other. I think that is bullshit. The Joker is now anti-Batman and Batman would continue to do what he does without the Joker around. It is the Joker who needs Batman, not vice versa.

Ben also says that the Joker isn't crazy, but is rather super-sane and it only appears like craziness to us normal sane people. I will also say that is bullshit. The Joker is crazy. I say this because sane people can describe something they are not, craziness, but no one has ever been able to describe super sanity to me. You know why? It doesn't exist. That's why.

So, what is the deal with the Joker? The Joker feels a need to make other people like himself, hence Joker gas, my having him mutilate random people, and his obssession with Batman. Why his obssession with Batman? Well, because Batman is someone who will never, under any circumstances, be like the Joker, and so the Joker has to try to change him.

Issue #1.5? What the hell?

One thing I really annoys me about event comics is the periphereal issues. You know the ones. Secret Invasion Inhumans, all of the incarnations of Final Crisis, X-Men Civil War, blah blah blah. Now, periphereal comics are great (in theory at least, X-Men Civil War sucked crusty prison dick), but one thing that gets me is that they are hard to place in the timeline of an event. Maybe I am not that smart. I don't know, but I do always have a hard time figuring out when and where and how a periphereal comic relates to the main comic. Some cases it is better handled than others, but in most cases, I am lost. Even when I enjoy the story, I get lost (not too smart, remember?)

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 21

Page 21

Location: Arkham Asykum - Inside Batzarro's cell

Batzarro now looks like a bizarro version of the Joker. Do Bizarker however you want. I suggest overalls instead of a suit. Remember Batzarro has no eyes, so none for the bizarro Joker.

Batzarro: Batzarro never Bizarker!

Bizarker: Bizarker stop crime!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 20

Page 20

Joker: So Batman took Batzarro out of Arkham.

Joker: Where Batzarro will never rot, for so small was Batman's love.

End of Joker Story

Location: Arkham Asylum Cafeteria

Joker (whispering in Batzarro's ear): Batman will always love you.

Batzarro (tears on his face, his mouth open and screaming): Batzarro stop crime! Batman good!

Batzarro runs out of cafeteria.

Location: Arkham Asylum - Outside Batzarro's Cell

Batzarro: Batman good. Batman good. Joker bad. Batzarro still wants to be Batman. Batzarro will be Batzarro still.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 19

Page 19

Joker: But Batman loved Batzarro, and he told Batzarro.

Joker: Batman loved Batzarro so much, Batman didn't want to hurt Batzarro.

Joker: Batman gave Batzarro good instructions.

Batman: Stop crime.

Picture of Batzarro with dead child's body.

Joker: So Batzarro didn't do just that.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 18

Page 18

Joker: Batzarro hated Batman, and never wanted to be like Batman.

Joker: Batzarro didn't want Batman to hate him.

Joker: Batman seemed to hate Batzarro.

Joker: Batman was Batzarro's enemy.

Joker: Batzarro was sad.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 17

Page 17

Joker is annoyed and angred by Batzarro.

Joker (screaming): Who cares about fucking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

The Joker collects himself.

Joker (malevolent): I don't have a story for you.

The section of Joker's storytelling should have a non-descript background.

Joker: Don't let me paint a picture for you.

Joker: There never was Batzarro.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 16

Page 16

Batzarro is waving his plastic spoon around.

Batzarro: Joker story funny! Joker story interesting! Batzarro won't tell his story.

Batzarro: Batzarro full, so Batzarro puts away bread, peanut butter, and jelly.

Batzarro: Batzarro takes peanut butter and jelly off bread.

Batzarro: Batzarro starving again!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 15

Page 15

The guests have now sat down.

Professor Hugo Strange: And will you be joining us?

Jack Napier: No, I won't be. Just think, after tonight, you will all have the same secret. When you go after each other, remember what you did together,...

Jack Napier: And remember who made you do this.

Jack Napier (smiling): Now take, eat, all of you. This is the blood of the new covenant, which is shed for me and by many. Do this and forever remember me.

Location: Arkham Asylum Cafeteria

Scene: All of the people at the Joker's table, except for Batzarro, is just staring at the Joker, wide-eyed with their mouths open. They cannot believe what they just heard. The Joker is laughing.

Joker: I don't know why I even remember that story, but it has always made me smile.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 14

Page 14

Doctor Karl Hellfern: You expect us to eat him?

Jack Napier: That's right, like one big, happy family.

Luigi Maroni, Vincent Falcone, and Penguin jump up from the table.

Luigi Maroni: I've already got a family, I don't need another!

Vincent Falcone: Same here!

Men come from the darkness of the warehouse, guns drawn. They each put a gun to the head of each dinner guest.

Jack Napier: Ah, but you don't really have a choice.

Vincent Falcone (defiant): No. I'm not doing this.

Vincent is immediately shot through the head.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 13

Page 13

Scene: The cover on the platter is removed by the Harley lookalike, revealing Edwin Atherton (his picture can be found on Wikipedia), naked, gagged, and hog-tied.

Jack Napier: Or Sunday dinner.

Gillian Loeb jumps up.

Gillian Loeb: What the hell is this?

Jack Napier: Don't you recognize your dinner? Detective Edwin Atherton here wouldn't play ball, so I thought I would take care of him for you.

Jack Napier: And you're right. I shouldn't expect this of you.

Jack Napier then pulls out a ball peen hammer and beats Edwin Atherton in the head until he is dead.

Jack Napier: No one likes food that moves.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 12

Page 12

Jack Napier: Look, there are always going to be some small disputes, right? But we here, we gotta look at the big picture.

Jack Napier: These wars are bad for business, and at our core, we are businessmen.

Penguin: Get to the point, Jack.

Jack Napier: The point is that to be able to get on with each other, we need to be less like businessmen, and more like a family...

Jack Napier: And family is all about the shared experience, be it childhood, church,...

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 11

Page 11

Close-up of Jack Napier's face, grinning.

Jack Napier: Why, indeed.

New Panel

Side shot of Jack Napier. One hand is raised to his chest, palm down, with the fingers splayed and dangling. The other arm is extended from the elbow from the waist, palm up.

Jack Napier: Gentlemen, we all have our differences, yet we all want the same things, money and power.

New Panel

Tony Zucco: Yeah, well, what else is old?

Peter Grogan: Quiet, you. (Turning to Jack Napier) Yeah, so?

Jack Napier: So...there really is no reason for all of us here to not get along. There is more than enough for all.

Vincent Falcone: Maybe for you.

Jack Napier: Oh, but not for you, of course not. Your son getting shot last week isn't enough for you, eh? Good thing that pretty boy Thomas Wayne is around, huh?

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 10

Page 10

Location: Morning in the Arkham Asylum Cafeteria

Scene: The Joker and Batzarro are in line getting food put in their trays. Crazy Quilt is in the line with them, as is Two-Face, Maxie Zeus, The Mad Hatter, and Mr. Zsasz.

New Panel

Scene: Batzarro and Joker are sitting down to eat.

Joker: You know, I used to eat like this all the time, all the time. Everyone would come. Everyone who was anyone. No one turned down my invitations.

Location: Joker's Warehouse

Scene: The Joker, (as Jack Napier) has set up a banquet table. On it is a large covered platter, candelabras, drinks, and place settings. Sitting at the table is a woman who looks like a non-costumed Harley Quinn (it isn't Harley Quinn, I just thought that it would be good to have a lookalike for her here, it kind of sets the stage for Harley in the future), Luigi Maroni, Professor Hugo Strange, Police Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb, Tony Zucco, Vincent Falcone, Penguin, and Doctor Karl Hellfern (Batman's first supervillain). The lady who looks like Harley Quinn is sitting at one end of the table, the Joker (as Jack Napier) is standing with his chair behind him at the other end.

To help distinguish this Jack Napier from the later Joker, for this section I will refer to him as Jack Napier.

Peter Grogan (annoyed): What's the meaning of this, Jack?

Professor Hugo Strange: Yes, some of us have business to attend to.

Jack Napier: Gentlemen, please, surely we have time to be civil. I promise I didn't ask all of you to be here for idle chat.

Luigi Maroni: Then why are we here?

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 9

Page 9

Batzarro (singing): When I brush for quite awhile,

Batzarro (singing): I will have a happy smile!

Batzarro: That song awful! The words make sense!

Location: Arkham Asylum

Scene: Batzarro is laughing uproariously. The Joker is in the background, looking dismayed.

Joker: Where's the joke? Where's the funny? I just don't understand.

Scene: The Joker has turned his back on the door, his head is turned looking behind him, his arm is waving goodbye.

Joker: I'm going to bed. I need to sleep. I'll tell you another story tomorrow.

Joker: Good morning, backwards man.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 8

Page 8

Batzarro: So Batzarro stays in bed and refuses to sing toothbrush song.

Batzarro (singing): Here's my toothpaste, here's my brush!

Batzarro (singing): I won't hurry, I won't rush!

Batzarro (singing): Working hard to keep teeth clean...

Batzarro (singing): Front and back and in-between!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 7

Page 7

Location: Arkham Asylum

Scene: The Joker is laughing.

Batzarro: Story funny, funny man. Batzarro not have story. Batzarro keep story to himself!

The art for Batzarro's stories should be extremely simple. Not necessarily minimalist, just simple.

Location: Batzarro's Bedroom in his Trailer

Scene: Batzarro is in his bed. It is morning.

Batzarro: One night, Batzarro fell asleep.

Batzarro: Batzarro yawns, and his breath smells sweet.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 6

Page 6

Picture of the Joker's hand holding the face of one of the people picked up off the street. Their are tears in their eyes Joker's other hand is holding the blade. Other victims are in the background.

Joker: Just a couple of quick movements.

Close-up of the Joker cutting the victim's cheek from mouth to ear.

Joker: And then just a little motivation to smile.

Joker is kicking the victim someplace sensitive, such as the genitals or stomach. This causes the victim to scream, ripping their cheeks open.

Joker: And then they will always be smiling, just like I do.

Picture of the victim's face with scars where their cheeks were cut.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #1.5 Page 5

Page 5

Picture of the Joker's silhouette, with a wide-brimmed hat on his head, smelling a flower.

Joker: The world would be such much better place if everyone smiled as much as I do.

Close-up of the Joker's smile.

Joker: But it is not enough to just smile, no, it takes work to gain a smile like mine.

Picture of the Joker holding a straight-razor or scalpel.

Joker: But why not make it easy on these poor, smileless folk? I could do the work for them.

Random shots of people being grabbed off the streets, (businessmen, children, women, indie kids).

Joker: It wouldn't be too hard.