AfterglowNoMore
05-31-2005, 06:44 PM
Night, in a studio apartment, on the tenth floor of a run down apartment building. An unwitting resident enters his apartment after a long day of work. The man is Jerry Garr. He works afternoons at a restaurant waiting tables to try to make ends meet. Other than work and sleep, he does little else. His girlfriend of four years had dumped him for his boss’s son earlier that day. His car was totaled by falling debris as a result of a mid air duel between the Fire Knight and Demon Diablo earlier that week. His best friend was getting married and he couldn’t get time off of work to attend. His life was going no where, but somehow, he was content. Not happy, not particularly sad, but comfortably numb to the world around him. Jerry had always been that way, even when his father would beat him, he would sit there and take it, as if it didn’t phase him. But tonight, for the first time in his life, Jerry has no idea what is going on. Because five seconds ago, Jerry Garr walked into his home to find one of his city’s more prominent members of the hero community lying on his floor bleeding profusely.
“What the hell is going on here!!!!!”
“Calm down Jerry.”
“How the **** do you know my name, and answer my first question!!!!”
“I take it you know who I am.”
“Yeah, you’re Captain Action, but that still doesn’t answer my ****ing questions!”
“Which one do you want answered first?”
“It doesn’t ****ing matter, just answer them!!!”
“Fine, I’ll start with your first one. What the hell is going on here, is that I’m bleeding to death while you stand there gawking at me.”
“Do you want me to call an ambulance?”
“No time for that, I won’t make it to the hospital. I’m here because when the wearer of the Destiny Ring is at his end, the ring selects a new champion of good to channel its power through.”
“Do you need me to deliver your ring or something to the next ****ing ‘champion of good’? And that still doesn’t answer how you know who I am.”
“I have never in my life, questioned the logic of the Destiny Ring, but for some reason, I’m starting to. How the **** it expects you to be worthy of its power is beyond me.”
“What!?!?!? You’re not making any ****ing sense. And what do you mean I’m not worthy? Who the **** are to question the logic of the Density Ring?”
“That’s Destiny Ring, jackass. As for not worthy, have you taken a look at yourself?”
“What? I’m in pretty good shape.”
“I mean your morals, your behavior, your hygiene.”
“Hygiene? The hair is moussed. It’s supposed to stick up that way. And my morals are not even in question. Just because I’m vulgar, doesn’t mean that I’m a bad person. I mean, I offered to help you out didn’t I?”
“Nevermind, there isn’t much time left. Here take the ring, do it proud.”
“Does this mean tht I have to call myself Captain Action now?”
“No, in fact, I’d greatly appreciate it if you didn’t.”
“Well, do I at least get your powers?”
“The Destiny Ring grants the bearer the powers that it sees fit.”
And that’s about the gist of the first issue. Does anyone have any questions?
Yes, Mr. Bourbon, I was just curious as to how you came up with the idea for "Thrill".
Well, it was 4 A.M. and I had just finished eating cold pizza and cream soda, when I doubled over in pain. It wasn't from thought, it was just the combination didn't set too well with my body. But as soon as I recovered, and finished writhing in pain, I had a vision. And the story just sseemed to unfold in my mind. Poe had his opium, I guess that my muse is cold pizza and cream soda. Next question.
Yeah, in the first issue, you never say what Captain Action's powers are. Do you intend on saying what they are at a later date? Or ever?
The truth is that, Captain Action's powers weren't part of my vision. But let's just equate him to your typical flying brick, maybe about like a flying Captain America. Anyone else?
Mr. Bourbon. Um, I've been wondering for some time, and haven't found a suitable answer to this question yet, but, how did you get your nickname of Cap?
It's short for Captain, which is my first name. You see, my dad was a hige comics fan, and at the time of my birth, my parents still hadn't thought up a name. As a joke, my dad suggested the name Captain Bourbon, and forgot that my mom was heavily medicated. And like that, I became Captain Bourbon.
Have you ever thought about changing it?
Why? How many people do you know named Captain? Cap shot the young man a smirk.
He continued answering the fans' questions for another forty-five minutes before he took his leave to go sign autographs out on the show floor. By some fluke of a chance, Thrill had been a hit. the first six issue arc was already out in trade paperback form, and there were a few companies talking movie deal. But Cap didn't let it go to his head. He grew up in Paragon City, Birthplace of Tomorrow. His bestfriend had been living the hero life for for a while now, as the costumed hero known as Humor. After another hour of autograph signing, Cap went to have lunch, as he did every afternoon, with Chester, A.K.A. Humor.
They always went to the same place, Fat Frankie's. They had been going there since they were 14 years old. Any time they had money when they were younger, Cap and Chester would go to Frankie's and grab a bite. It wasn't that the food was particularly great, or that the place was especially nice, but that at any given time, any number of Paragon's finest heroes could be found relaxing after a day of patrolling. Fat Frankie used to be Frank Pan, the silver age hero known as The Frier. Cap and Chester had taken a liking ot Frankie at an early age, often badgering him till he would tell them a story of his days as a hero. Nowadays, Frankie's son runs the diner, and the caliber of hero that ate there had dropped off due to Frankie's son Gerald's price gouging. But Cap and Chester remained true to habit.
Chester, how goes life with Codex Prime?
Not bad, sometimes I think that my boss is a few beers short of a six pack. How'd that convention go?
Not bad, mostly people wondering about the name though. A few more of those, and I can get out of that studio I'm living in.
There is one thing that I always found weird about your name. Your last name is Bourbon, but you don't drink. You gotta admit that is kinda strange. "
"Well, my first name's Captain, but I'm not a superhero or soldier either."
"As for the apartment, I told you that with the money I'm making from Primary Industries, I can afford to put you up in a nicer place for a while.
Nah, thanks anyway. You keep your money, I'll manage, I always do.
You have to let me pay you back some how for you putting me up while I was out of work. There has to be something.
There is something.
What is it? Anything.
Well, could you stop trying to get my publisher to push me to do a Humor comic book?
What?!?! C'mon, not that.
You said anything.
But, that? I mean, you have to admit, why should you write about a fictional hero in a city with this high of a hero density? Especially when your best friend is on the fast track to celebrity.
Chester, what d oyou expect me to do? Follow you around all day? I can't really use your take on it. I mean, we're like brothers, but you have a tendency to exagerrate.
What do you mean?
Ok, remember two years ago at Chrsitmas, you said that you had a date with a girl that looked like Janet Jackson, but she really ended up looking more like Tito. Remember that?
Ok, ok, just never bring that story up again and you have a deal. The waitress is here, so what do you want for lunch?
C'mon, you guys come in here everyday, you argue for fifteen minutes about what you are going to eat and always end up with the same thing. And I've been working here for 3 years now, for once could you call me by my name? How about making my job easy today?
Ok, Janice. I'm having a pretty good day. we'll take the usual then.
Wow, you're in a good mood, almost sounds like you finally got Chester off your back about that comic idea.
What, it's a good idea!
Chester and Cap finished their lunch, and went their seperate ways, Chester back to a meeting with Jacob Stround, head of Primary Industries, and Cap to his apartment to try t ofinish up a few issues of "Thrill".
Cap scaled the ten flights of stairs to his apartment, like he had done for hte past six months since the elevator cables snapped. He slid his key into the doorknob while going through his mail. He walked over to the fridge to grab a drink so that he could breathe comfortably after his ten flight jog.
Holly ****!!!!!!!!!
“What the hell is going on here!!!!!”
“Calm down Jerry.”
“How the **** do you know my name, and answer my first question!!!!”
“I take it you know who I am.”
“Yeah, you’re Captain Action, but that still doesn’t answer my ****ing questions!”
“Which one do you want answered first?”
“It doesn’t ****ing matter, just answer them!!!”
“Fine, I’ll start with your first one. What the hell is going on here, is that I’m bleeding to death while you stand there gawking at me.”
“Do you want me to call an ambulance?”
“No time for that, I won’t make it to the hospital. I’m here because when the wearer of the Destiny Ring is at his end, the ring selects a new champion of good to channel its power through.”
“Do you need me to deliver your ring or something to the next ****ing ‘champion of good’? And that still doesn’t answer how you know who I am.”
“I have never in my life, questioned the logic of the Destiny Ring, but for some reason, I’m starting to. How the **** it expects you to be worthy of its power is beyond me.”
“What!?!?!? You’re not making any ****ing sense. And what do you mean I’m not worthy? Who the **** are to question the logic of the Density Ring?”
“That’s Destiny Ring, jackass. As for not worthy, have you taken a look at yourself?”
“What? I’m in pretty good shape.”
“I mean your morals, your behavior, your hygiene.”
“Hygiene? The hair is moussed. It’s supposed to stick up that way. And my morals are not even in question. Just because I’m vulgar, doesn’t mean that I’m a bad person. I mean, I offered to help you out didn’t I?”
“Nevermind, there isn’t much time left. Here take the ring, do it proud.”
“Does this mean tht I have to call myself Captain Action now?”
“No, in fact, I’d greatly appreciate it if you didn’t.”
“Well, do I at least get your powers?”
“The Destiny Ring grants the bearer the powers that it sees fit.”
And that’s about the gist of the first issue. Does anyone have any questions?
Yes, Mr. Bourbon, I was just curious as to how you came up with the idea for "Thrill".
Well, it was 4 A.M. and I had just finished eating cold pizza and cream soda, when I doubled over in pain. It wasn't from thought, it was just the combination didn't set too well with my body. But as soon as I recovered, and finished writhing in pain, I had a vision. And the story just sseemed to unfold in my mind. Poe had his opium, I guess that my muse is cold pizza and cream soda. Next question.
Yeah, in the first issue, you never say what Captain Action's powers are. Do you intend on saying what they are at a later date? Or ever?
The truth is that, Captain Action's powers weren't part of my vision. But let's just equate him to your typical flying brick, maybe about like a flying Captain America. Anyone else?
Mr. Bourbon. Um, I've been wondering for some time, and haven't found a suitable answer to this question yet, but, how did you get your nickname of Cap?
It's short for Captain, which is my first name. You see, my dad was a hige comics fan, and at the time of my birth, my parents still hadn't thought up a name. As a joke, my dad suggested the name Captain Bourbon, and forgot that my mom was heavily medicated. And like that, I became Captain Bourbon.
Have you ever thought about changing it?
Why? How many people do you know named Captain? Cap shot the young man a smirk.
He continued answering the fans' questions for another forty-five minutes before he took his leave to go sign autographs out on the show floor. By some fluke of a chance, Thrill had been a hit. the first six issue arc was already out in trade paperback form, and there were a few companies talking movie deal. But Cap didn't let it go to his head. He grew up in Paragon City, Birthplace of Tomorrow. His bestfriend had been living the hero life for for a while now, as the costumed hero known as Humor. After another hour of autograph signing, Cap went to have lunch, as he did every afternoon, with Chester, A.K.A. Humor.
They always went to the same place, Fat Frankie's. They had been going there since they were 14 years old. Any time they had money when they were younger, Cap and Chester would go to Frankie's and grab a bite. It wasn't that the food was particularly great, or that the place was especially nice, but that at any given time, any number of Paragon's finest heroes could be found relaxing after a day of patrolling. Fat Frankie used to be Frank Pan, the silver age hero known as The Frier. Cap and Chester had taken a liking ot Frankie at an early age, often badgering him till he would tell them a story of his days as a hero. Nowadays, Frankie's son runs the diner, and the caliber of hero that ate there had dropped off due to Frankie's son Gerald's price gouging. But Cap and Chester remained true to habit.
Chester, how goes life with Codex Prime?
Not bad, sometimes I think that my boss is a few beers short of a six pack. How'd that convention go?
Not bad, mostly people wondering about the name though. A few more of those, and I can get out of that studio I'm living in.
There is one thing that I always found weird about your name. Your last name is Bourbon, but you don't drink. You gotta admit that is kinda strange. "
"Well, my first name's Captain, but I'm not a superhero or soldier either."
"As for the apartment, I told you that with the money I'm making from Primary Industries, I can afford to put you up in a nicer place for a while.
Nah, thanks anyway. You keep your money, I'll manage, I always do.
You have to let me pay you back some how for you putting me up while I was out of work. There has to be something.
There is something.
What is it? Anything.
Well, could you stop trying to get my publisher to push me to do a Humor comic book?
What?!?! C'mon, not that.
You said anything.
But, that? I mean, you have to admit, why should you write about a fictional hero in a city with this high of a hero density? Especially when your best friend is on the fast track to celebrity.
Chester, what d oyou expect me to do? Follow you around all day? I can't really use your take on it. I mean, we're like brothers, but you have a tendency to exagerrate.
What do you mean?
Ok, remember two years ago at Chrsitmas, you said that you had a date with a girl that looked like Janet Jackson, but she really ended up looking more like Tito. Remember that?
Ok, ok, just never bring that story up again and you have a deal. The waitress is here, so what do you want for lunch?
C'mon, you guys come in here everyday, you argue for fifteen minutes about what you are going to eat and always end up with the same thing. And I've been working here for 3 years now, for once could you call me by my name? How about making my job easy today?
Ok, Janice. I'm having a pretty good day. we'll take the usual then.
Wow, you're in a good mood, almost sounds like you finally got Chester off your back about that comic idea.
What, it's a good idea!
Chester and Cap finished their lunch, and went their seperate ways, Chester back to a meeting with Jacob Stround, head of Primary Industries, and Cap to his apartment to try t ofinish up a few issues of "Thrill".
Cap scaled the ten flights of stairs to his apartment, like he had done for hte past six months since the elevator cables snapped. He slid his key into the doorknob while going through his mail. He walked over to the fridge to grab a drink so that he could breathe comfortably after his ten flight jog.
Holly ****!!!!!!!!!