Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 16

Page 16

Clayface: Fuck you, Charlie.

Alfred: It seems that no matter how many times you are gotten rid of, you keep coming back. You go to jail, you get out, you are committed, you escape, you die and are resurrected, and every time, you come after Master Bruce.

Alfred walks off.

Clayface: He tried to kill me!

Alfred comes back with the garden hose and drapes it over the side of the well so that the nozzle is pointed towards Clayface and is too far away for Clayface to grab.

Alfred: Batman doesn't kill people. He believes that there is no circumstance where it is okay to kill a person. He has believed so since his parents' death.

Alfred: Thankfully, I don't have that problem.

Alfred leaves and turns the garden hose on.

The last panel is a horizontal panel of the well with the hose in it, the house with its doors destroyed and the car askew in the driveway in the background, and the yard showing. No one is in sight.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 15

Page 15

A grappling line shoots up out of the well and wraps around the branch above the well. Batman comes flying out of the well.

Clayface: Let me out!

Batman calls out.

Batman: Alfred!

Alfred comes outside.

Alfred: Yes, Master Bruce?

Batman: Call Gordon and have him pick Clayface up.

Alfred: Yes sir.

Alfred watches Batman leave.

Alfred turns to the well and talks down to Clayface.

Clayface: I'm going to kill you too, old man!

Alfred: I think it's about time you and I had a talk.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 14

Page 14

Location: Wayne Manor - Outside

Scene: Batman runs outside, slamming the front doors behind him, and then he runs past the limo. Clayface comes through the doors like a freight train, and slams through the limo, brushing it to the side like a shopping cart.

Clayface: You can't run, Bruce!

Batman runs through the yard towards a decorative well and jumps inside of it.

Clayface: Running to your batcave, Bruce!

Clayface jumps inside the well.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 13

Page 13

Batman leaves bedroom and escapes down the hall, utility belt in hand, with Clayface chasing after. Clayface is just fucking shit up as he chases Batman.

Clayface: You held me down in the rain till you thought I was dead!

Batman turns a corner while putting on utility belt. Clayface is still following.

Batman leaps over railing on the second floor into entrance hall, landing a story below in front of the main doors. Clayface just explodes through the railing to the floor below.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 12

Page 12

An arm comes lashing out of Catwoman's neck and grabs Batman's throat. Catwoman is revealed as Clayface.

Clayface: No. I'm not.

The clay from the horrible Clayface arm creeps up to envelope Batman's face.

Batman grabs his utility belt off the back of the chair, wraps it around Clayface's arm, and squeezes the arm apart, like squeezing a space in a tube of toothpaste. This is while Clayface is trying to immobilize and smother Batman.

Batman wrenches free. Clayface continues to lash out at Batman. Batman dodges.

Clayface: You tried to kill me, Bruce!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 11

Page 11

Catwoman starts to walk towards Batman.

Catwoman: Listen to me!

Catwoman collects herself.

Catwoman: You're right. I have been holding back, but I'm not now.

By this point she has come close enough to Batman to kiss him and appears to have reached up to do so.

Catwoman: I love you.

Batman (starts laughing): I know who Catwoman is. You're not Catwoman.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 10

Page 10

Batman: I can't say I'm surprised you're here.

Catwoman (teasingly): Now that I know who you are, I couldn't stay away.

Batman (tersely): What do you want?

Catwoman slumps her shoulders and is saddened that she wasn't greeted happily.

Catwoman: Bruce, don't you realize that if you had told me who you were, we could have had a life together?

Batman: What do you mean?

Catwoman (hurt shouting and getting up from the bed): You were always holding back!

Batman (angry): The same could be said of you!

Catwoman (now angry but still hurt): The difference is that I wouldn't have hauled you off to jail!

Batman (seething): I don't break the law.

Catwoman: Yes you do! Yes you God damn do! You're a fucking vigilante and you break the law every night you go out!

Batman (calmly): Get out.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 9

Page 9

Location: Wayne Manor

Scene: Batman is walking down the hall to his bedroom. He's a had a long night, a long morning, and he is looking forward to getting some sleep. He opens door, there is a utility belt on the back of the chair by his desk near the door. Sitting on his bed is Catwoman.

Catwoman: Hello, Bruce.

Batman is surprised, but quickly collects himself.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 8

Page 8

Batman: Thanks, Alfred. You're a help.

Alfred: You misunderstand me, sir.

New Panel
Alfred: You are able to make your choices you did because of your station. The people of Gotham face the same tragedies you do, but they aren't able to make the choice you did. Now, for good or ill, they can now. All you are doing is providing the means to make that choice, sir.

New Panel
Pulling into Wayne Manor, there is a decorative well in the front yard. There is an oak tree next to the well with a large branch that extends over the well.

Batman: Perhaps you're right, Alfred.

Alfred: Of course I am, sir.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 6-7

Page 6 - 7

The limo manages to break free of the crowd and Alfred drives away. As the limo drives through Gotham, people are managing to anticipate the limo's route. People are lining the streets. Some hold signs supporting Batman, some hold signs damning, while a couple support the Joker. Fights may break out between all three. You decide.

Batman: Alfred. Am I doing the right thing?

Alfred: I don't know, Master Bruce.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 4-5

Page 4 - 5

Batman leaves the podium and heads towards the limo. The press corps is going nuts and are shouting questions and trying, desperately, to get Batman's attention. The crowd is mesmerized.

Batman gets into the limo. Alfred is driving. The reporters follow. The crowd slowly circles around the limo, intermingling with the reporters.

The crowd presses itself against the limo and push their faces to the glass. Some are crying, some are shouting, some are thanking Batman, some are cursing him. Alfred slowly pushes the limo through the crowd.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 3

Page 3

Batman: but there doesn't have to be.

New Panel
Batman: I made a choice long ago to become who I am. I now offer all of you that same choice...

Reporter (interrupting): What are you saying?

New Panel
Batman: What I am saying is that I am starting a school to create Batmen. Where people can, and will, learn to defend themselves and the people around them.

New Panel
Batman: I am saying I am putting my trust in the people of Gotham City. Any who want to join me, can, and together, we will save Gotham.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 2

Page 2

Get ready for a big talky part. Panels should, of course, show Batman, but also the press reaction and the reaction of the people of Gotham so as to break up the repetition.

Batman:And I believe in Gotham City. I trust in Gotham to grow and flourish, despite the many obstacles before it. I trust in her strength and resilience in the face of adversity and her many tragedies, such as last night's.

New Panel
Batman: What I haven't trusted in is her people. I haven't trusted you.

New Panel
Batman: This is despite the fact that I know you. I know your joys and kindnesses. I know your pains and heartaches.

New Panel
Batman: I have those same joys, and I have tried to repay your kindnesses.

New Panel
Batman: I know you because those same pains and heartaches have driven me to become who and what I am.

New Panel
Batman: Yet, even though I know you, I have not trusted you. I have not even trusted you with who I am.

New Panel
Batman: If I had, last night might have been prevented, but I didn't, and last night happened,

New Panel
Batman: and I couldn't do enough to save you, for there is only one of me,

Batman Vox Humana Issue #3 Page 1

Page 1

Location: Downtown Gotham

Scene: Downtown is in ruins after the floronic men and Superman's involvement. There is shattered glass, dead bodies of men and women, and pieces of floronic men everywhere. It is as if Gotham had been hit with a tornado. There is a stand with a podium on it. In front of it are members of the press corps. Behind the podium is Batman as Bruce Wayne.

Batman: I'm the God damn Batman!

The reporters go all kinds of crazy. Flashbulbs go off. The reporters yell questions into the air, waving microphones and voice recorders.

Batman (the very epitome of decorum): I'm not answering questions at this time. Just please, let me finish. I am the Batman.

The Difficulty of Issue #2.5

What was really hard about this issue is that there is hardly any action. On top of that, almost all the action is at the end. The rest of the issue is all one long conversation. True, I could have condensed some of the dialogue that I stretch over pages, but I wanted the artist to have the room to really build up the tension, especially since there is no real payoff until the very end. The other hard part was trying not to fall into cliched superhero dialogue. True, it is easier and it works, but I wanted it to sound more like what people really sound like when they are hurt, and what people sound like when they are trying to console them. Usually those things happen and are over with so quickly in comics, but, let's be honest, it often takes a lot longer to put up that stiff upper lip when we feel wronged and alienated.

The Horror of Aquaman

Aquaman gets no love. He is made into a joke on Family Guy and his fellow members of the JLA keep humming the tune "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid whenever he is around. Hell, I only know one guy who is really into him as a character.

Mind you, Aquaman is difficult. It takes some work to determine how he can really be used, and if the adventure is on land, well, why would an author even use him?

Yet the sea affects us all, so I think that Aquaman must be more powerful then we realize. If that were true, why would he hide it? On top of that, seeing all of he beautifully ugly things that come up from the deep sea, I began to wonder, "What if Aquaman wasn't a hero?" Oh, sure, he has done lots of heroic things, but what if he did them for terrible reasons? That's when I started to think that maybe Aquaman, as well as the rest of the Atlanteans, were further removed from humanity than we thought, and, if so, what it would be that they really want?

Friday, February 27, 2009

What the hell took so god damn long?

Hello gentle readers (both of you),

Here is why things took so long for the script for issue 2.5. First, my computer broke, a lot, several times, and I had to get it repaired. Then, when I got it back, I just couldn’t bring myself to write. I know, it sounds stupid, but I just couldn’t do it until today. As you can see, I wrote a lot. On top of that, I have also written issue #3 already. I will post it in its entirety later on today or tomorrow. I am working a double today, so I don’t know if I will even want to look at a computer screen when I get home. Also, I have to post a few more random stuff first, just because I want to. Issue 3.5 is going to be a tough one as well. But, I will tell you that it has to do with Alfred, because he has one of the greatest histories in comics and needs some of his stories told.

Till then, thank you, both of you, for continuing to read my attempt at writing DC.

James

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 20

Page 20

Superman (thinking to himself): My God! My eyes!

Superman reaches his hands up to his face.

Superman (thinking to himself): It hurts to look.

Superman pushes his thumbs into his eyes. Droplets of blood float away from his face.

Superman (thinking to himself): My God, it's full of stars!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 19

Page 19

Splash page. Superman is in the center of the page. All around him are strange stars and nebulous gasses, the shapes and angles of them are distorted in different ways, as if oddly shaped lenses and prisms had been placed on the page. There are hints of tentacles, horrid limbs, teeth, and eyes in the shapes.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 18

Page 18

Superman is flying through space.

Superman (thinking to himself): This has to be a trick. This can't be happening. Something has to be controlling them.

The background of space is getting stranger and more distorted.

Superman (thinking to himself): I can tell the Lanterns.

More strange backgrounds and more distortion of shapes and lines. Red shift behind Superman, blue shift in front.

Superman (thinking to himself): Where am I going? I have never flown this fast before.

Superman (thinking to himself): Dear God!

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 17

Page 17

Superman takes off. Aquaman and Martian Manunter look to each other.

Aquaman: So, will he stand in our way?

Martian Manhunter (telepathically): He knows there is nothing he can do. He wants to fight, but he knows it will not be enough.

Martian Manhunter (telepathically): More than that, he wants to go home, as we all do.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 16

Page 16

Aquaman kisses Superman, spiked tongue and all. Superman's eyes are wide and his pupils are dilated, he cannot believe what is happening and that he is helpless to stop it.

Aquaman ends the horrible kiss. Superman looks disgusted.

Aquaman: You can't stop it, Kal, and you can't fight me if I won't let you. Just turn away.

Aquaman: I will release you, but if you fight, back down you go.

Aquaman releases Superman. Superman staggers up, retching.

Superman looks a Martian Manhunter and then at Aquaman. Martian Manhunter presses a button, opening an airlock for Superman.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 15

Page 15

Aquaman: I will let you speak.

Superman: Why do you save them? Why do you save people? Aren't you human?

Aquaman reaches up to his face and pulls off his skin, revealing a fishman underneath. I am thinking something along the anglerfish, and his tongue is covered is a double row of sharp, pointy, hooked teeth in a V pattern.

Aquaman: No, I'm not. And I save people because when the old gods return, they have to eat something.

Aquaman: I do not want to see you die, Kal. I am truly your friend, and unlike those pretenders you hold so dear, I love you.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 14

Page 14

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): You wouldn't be doing it for nothing.

Aquaman: The gods of the first world can give you want you have always wanted. A home where you belong.

Aquaman: They can remake Krypton for you.

Martian Manhunter (still telepathically): They are giving me Mars.

Aquaman: All they want is to come home. All they want is what you want, a home of their own.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 13

Page 13

Aquaman: This isn't your world. Never was and never will be. It's not even the human's world. It belongs to another people. Mine.

Aquaman: Did you ever wonder about what you would call the first world? With all your adventures, you probably never even gave it a thought.

Aquaman: It never ended. The gods simply left to explore the Bleed, and now they are returning.

Aquaman: My people were charged with taking care of this world for them and we do not need you to get in our way.

Aquaman: All I need from you is this. When they come, look away. There are an infinite number of people across the universe that will need saving.

Aquaman: Save them instead.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 12

Page 12

Aquaman: I don't talk to fish. I speak to the brain stem. I control it and willpower has nothing to do with it.

Aquaman: You know why you can't talk right now? Because I am preventing your brain from reaching your vocal cords and mouth.

Aquaman: You knw why you fell to the floor? Do you know what you just experienced? It was a heart attack.

Aquaman: You are weak as a kitten right now.

Aquaman: You should be glad, for without me, you would have never experienced it, Kryptonian.

Aquaman: I didn't want to have to do that, but I need you to listen.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 11

Page 11

Superman pimp slaps Aquaman. I would like this panel to mimic the one where Batman hits Superman.

Superman goes to beat the tar out of Aquaman, but finds he cannot move.

Aquaman: Having trouble, Kal?

Superman clutches his chest and falls to the floor.

Black Panel

Panel from Superman's perspective. He is on the ground, face up. Aquaman is leaning over him.

Aquaman: I don't think any of you ever really understood what I can do.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 10

Page 10

Aquaman: And when you tried to help him and his fellow humans, he lashed out and tried to kill you.

Superman (shaking his head and with his hand in his hair): Well, I had said-

Martian Manhunter (interrupting) (speaking in Superman's mind): It doesn't matter what you said. He tried to kill you, like Luthor has continually tried to kill you.

Superman (businesslike): What are you getting at?

Aquaman: Maybe it's time you hung up the cape.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 9

Page 9

Aquaman: But you still haven't been. Your confrontation with Bruce demonstrates that. They still don't love you.

Aquaman comes close to Superman and places his hand on Superman's shoulder.

Aquaman: Kal, I know that Bruce has been your friend for a long time, but when he needed simple companionship, he didn't come to you.

Aquaman: He went to someone else.

Superman looks hurt and confused.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 8

Page 8

Aquaman: It wasn't a mistake. You're right. Bruce is only human and he will never be able to do what you can.

Superman: What? Okay, wait, what are you saying?

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): He's reminding you that you aren't human.

Superman: You think I don't know that? You think I haven't worked hard to be accepted here?

Monday, January 5, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 7

Page 7

Superman: What did I say?

Aquaman: You reminded Mr. Wayne that he was only human. That there were things he would be never be able to do.

Superman: Yes, I did. It was a mistake, and how do you know what I said?

Aquaman: We were watching you, and it wasn't a mistake.

Superman: What?

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): Please take the time to listen to him, Kal.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 6

Page 6

Martian Manhunter changes back to his Martian form.

Superman (puzzled): I thought Mr. Terrific and Red Tornado were on watch duty today.

Aquaman: We relieved them. I wanted a chance to talk to you.

Superman: What about?

Aquaman: About something you said today.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 5

Page 5

Martian Manhunter should now look like he did in New Frontier.

Martian Manhunter (shouting): Would you prefer this? Do you know why I go around looking like this? Do you?

Martian Manhunter: I do it because if people are laughing at you, they aren't scared of you!

Superman (shocked, like a deer in headlights): I'm sorry. Its...its just been a long day. I'm sorry, J'onn.

Aquaman walks in.

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 4

Page 4

Scene: Superman is walking into the observation deck. J'onn J'onnz is there in all his Martian glory (like the pre-human disguise Martian in New Frontier).

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): Hello Kal. I saw you come in. Are you well?

Superman: I'm fine, thank you.

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): You are bleeding.

Superman: I'm fine. Look...could you talk out loud, please?

Martian Manhunter (speaking in Superman's mind): I apologize. Speaking is uncomfortable for me. Would you rather I change my appearance too?

Batman Vox Humana Issue #2.5 Page 3

Page 3

Scene: Superman opens the door to the restroom. There is a sink in his vision.

Superman (thinking to himself): Radiation poisoning and a busted lip.

Scene: Superman is washing his face.

Scene: Superman is looking at himself in the mirror, assessing the damage.

Superman (out loud and to the world around him): I'm his friend.