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Post by jonclark on Mar 7, 2022 0:34:29 GMT
The Dick and Barbara thing always struck me as a post-crisis thing. Pre-crisis, she was a good bit older than him. She used to be a congresswoman while he was still in college. I think it was on the order of a 5 year age gap. Dick flirted with her but at least from her side it was just friendly banter. It was more of crush on a friend's older sibling vibe. Can't recall if the bit about her Congressional career requiring an explanation due to her youth was Pre or Post Crisis
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Post by reichsmark on Mar 7, 2022 12:44:01 GMT
The Dick and Barbara thing always struck me as a post-crisis thing. Pre-crisis, she was a good bit older than him. She used to be a congresswoman while he was still in college. That was a bit controversial after somebody pointed out in the letter column that a congressman/person had to be at least 25. So they fixed that in story post crisis by saying she was able to run for Congress under the Knight Act. Apparently this was named after Sandra Knight the Phantom Lady and allowed relatives to replace their loved one in Congress if they died suddenly. At least under certain circumstances
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Mar 12, 2022 1:50:51 GMT
“What in X’hal’s name is this?” Princess Yrra said, waving the flyer in front of Harry Hokum’s face as he sat behind the desk in his private study.
A crooked smile crossed Harry Hokum’s face. He had to admit, she was cute when she was angry. “It is what is known on my world as a flyer, he said, folding his hands together as he leaned back in his leather chair. “I know it must seem like an antiquated custom by the standards of Euphorix, but it gives the people a little piece of history to hold onto and it is so much more personal than a holo-mail."
“And what about what the flyer says?” Yrra said through gritted teeth.
“Oh, you mean about our upcoming nuptials?” Hokum said. “The graphics team really outdid themselves, don’t you think? The calligraphy is impeccable.”
“Isn’t it customary for the hopeful groom to ask his intended before announcing the wedding?” Yrra shouted.
“Ask?” Harry Hokum laughed, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, I suppose I could have asked you, but then there’s always the chance you could have said no. Neither of us can afford for you to do that.”
“What are you talking about?” Yrra exclaimed.
“Did you really believe that all those jewels you are wearing, that expensive gown and all the adulation that has been heaped upon you came without a price,” Harry Hokum asked sardonically.
“I’m in love with someone else,” Yrra blurted.
“I really don’t see where that’s my problem,” Hokum said. “I suppose this is the point where I should say I don’t care who you should decide to take for a lover, but I’ve never been very good at sharing my things.”
“I am not a thing,” Princess Yrra said indignantly.
“No, you’re not,” Harry Hokum said, spreading his arms magnanimously. “What you are is the sole hope these peasants you claim to love have of a continued existence.” Because
“What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously.
“I picked this world as my hope base be because it is the second most beautiful planet in the Vega system,” Hokum said. “The most beautiful, of course, is Tamaraan, but Kommand’r already has her grubby golden mitts on it.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Princess Yrra exclaimed.
“I allowed my fondness for this world to make me too lenient on these people. Freedom is like a drug,” Hokum said with irritation. “The more you give people, the more they want. It has made these wretches ungrateful. How easily they seem to forget I was the one who rescued them from the Spider Guild!”
“You and I both know you aren’t the savior you pretend to be,” Princess Yrra said with a smirk. “I know a few Omega Men you tried to feed to the spiders. Poor Shlagen still has nightmares.”
A sour look crossed Harry Hokum’s face. “Be that as it may, if I let dissension and defiance fester, it will make me look weak. But I would really hate to reduce such a lovely world to a smoldering ruin.”
“You wouldn’t!” Yrra gasped.
“What choice would I have?” Hokum shrugged. “What I need is a distraction. And what better distraction than a royal wedding? And then, after that, I would no longer be some off-world usurper. No, I would be the husband of their beloved princess… their new prince-regent.”
“So you have it all figured out,” Yrra sneered.
“I dare say I do,” Harry Hokum said. “You could leave. You could run off to whatever handsome, fair-haired boy has stolen your heart. Just remember, the fate of this world hangs on those delicate, porcelain shoulders of yours.”
Yrra’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’ll be in my quarters.” She turned to walk out of the study.
“There’s my girl,” Harry Hokum called out cheerfully as she exited. “maybe later you can help me pick out China patterns!”
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Post by DocQuantum on Mar 12, 2022 19:13:27 GMT
Harry Hokum seems like a really fun character to write! Great characterization.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Mar 13, 2022 3:03:14 GMT
Harry Hokum seems like a really fun character to write! Great characterization. Thanks! He really is. Prose seems to give a lot of opportunities to flesh him out more than he was in the comics. And with the fancy uniform, monocle and cigarette holder, you can't help but write him as larger than life.
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Post by DocQuantum on Mar 13, 2022 7:02:52 GMT
Yeah, he's a menacing, but also a ridiculous figure.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 8, 2022 0:21:34 GMT
Princess Yrra sat forlornly on the edge of her bed in the lavish guest quarters of the royal palace. When she had first arrived, she had thought the quarters were wonderful. Now they felt like a prison.
After Hokum’s sham of a royal wedding took place, would he expect her to move into his quarters? Would he expect the marriage to be consummated? Would he expect her to give him an heir? The thought made her nauseated.
Her thoughts turned to her handsome love, Prince Ryand’r. Oh, how she longed for him. She wished he could come rescue her like the princes in the stories her nannies told her as a child. Princes wearing shining armor, riding into battle to slay terrible beasts to rescue fair maidens. If only this were one of those tales. It was much worse, though. And she dare not even think of letting herself be rescued, lest the people of Euphorix pay the price.
A tear rolled down her cheek at the thought of how much she missed him. If only she could at least see him again.
Suddenly, a spark appeared in the middle of the room. Then, there was a flicker. The flicker then turned into a figure that appeared in the center of the room. It was her beloved Ryand’r, just as she had wished.
“Y’rra,” he said.
“My love!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and rushing to him.
A look of dismay crossed her face as her hands passed through him. Now that she was closer, she could vaguely see the dresser behind him. He was but a hologram.
“You’re not really here,” she said sadly.
“No, but I will be… eventually,” Ryand’r said. ‘That I promise you. Can they see us?”
“No,” Y’rra said. “I made sure there were no monitoring devices in my quarters when I first arrived here.”
“Why are you here?” Ryand’r said with concern. “Why take such a risk?”
“I’m sorry,” Y’rra cried, emotion choking her voice. “I just missed you so much. I was so wrong.” She brought her hands up to her face. “I was so stupid and selfish and spoiled. Everything everyone says about me is true.”
“Those people don’t know the side of you I fell in love with,” Ryand’r said. “And the fact that you’re still here is proof that everyone who said those things were wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Y’rra sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I ‘ve seen the holo-vids and the flyers,” Ryand’r said. “I know what he is forcing you into.”
“You do?” Y’rra said.
“You know this palace better than Hokum ever could,” Ryand’r said. “You could escape whenever you want. He must be holding something over you. He’s threatened your people. Hasn’t he?”
“I’m their princess,” Y’rra said, looking down. “It’s my duty to save them.”
“I can’t allow you to make that sacrifice,” Ryand’r said.
“You can’t stop this!” Y’rra exclaimed. “He’s threatened to reduce the whole planet to a smoldering ruin!”
“He can’t do that if he’s no longer in charge,” Ryand’r said with determination.
“You have a plan?” Y’rra asked.
“We’re working on it,” Ryand’r said. “Just trust that we will get you out of this.”
“O-okay,” Y’rra said, not sounding completely convinced.
“I had better end the transmission before they detect me and block me in the future,” Ryand’r said. “I… love you, Y’rra. Never forget that.”
They both held their hands up to each other, wanting to touch but unable to actually make contact. With a flicker, the image of Ryand’r was gone and she found herself alone once more.
Y’rra walked over to the enormous, canopied bed and threw herself upon it. The tears came quickly.
She had prayed so long that she would see Ryand’r again. Now that she had, she missed him even more.
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Post by dans on Apr 8, 2022 1:10:48 GMT
very nice emotion-packed scene!
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 8, 2022 2:15:14 GMT
very nice emotion-packed scene! Thanks, Dan!
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Post by DocQuantum on Apr 9, 2022 18:00:48 GMT
That scene helped me understand the Omega Men a bit better: they're basically the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars, fighting the good fight against the Empire (the Citadel)! I mostly just thought of them as alien superheroes until now, but they're basically DC's answer to Star Wars (when it was still good).
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Apr 10, 2022 5:17:01 GMT
And like the Empire, just when it seemed like they were defeated, they came back. Always the opportunist, Harry Hokum was ready to take over the void of leadership when Tigorr defeated and destroyed the Citadelian progenitor. The Omega Men are like the Rebel Alliance with super powers.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 7, 2022 2:37:01 GMT
Primus walked into the private quarters he shared with Kallista. He found his wife sitting by herself. He recognized her expression. She was worried.
“You are thinking of Yrra,” he said softly.
“I promised my parents I would always take care of her,” she said ruefully. “Why does she always have to make that promise so hard to keep?”
“She is a teenager,” Primus smiled sympathetically. “That is her job.”
“Not for much longer,” Kallista said. “And legally, she is an adult. The time for making excuses for her is past.”
“That seems harsh…” Primus said.
“Harsh, but true,” Kallista said. “Did you ever wonder why I was made queen when her father had been next in line for the throne before he was killed in battle?”
“I’ve never been one for politics,” Primus said in a tone that made it clear he did not like the direction the conversation was going. “I assumed it was because of her age.”
“Well, it’s true that the difference between my brother’s age and mine made Yrra and I more like siblings than aunt and niece,” Kallista said. “But it was more than that. After my brother’s death, my parents met with the Council of Eldermen to judge her worthiness to rule. They decided she was too shallow and immature to ever make a fit ruler.”
“Yes, I’m all too familiar with the unfairly judgmental nature of the nobility of Euphorix,” Primus said sourly. His mind flashed back to his youth as a member of the farmer class. Even when his unique abilities allowed him to infiltrate the ranks of the royal guard at an early age, there were those who still treated him like dirt.
“That’s hardly the same thing,” Kallista said.
“Oh really,” Primus said. “You realize this ‘shallow and immature’ girl is sacrificing herself for your subjects right now?
“It wasn’t her place to do that,” Kallista said.
“X’hal!” Primus cursed. “You sound just like your mother.”
Kallista looked as if she had been slapped. “How could you say that to me?”
“Did you ever think the way she acted before might have been because everyone had such low expectations of her?” Primus snapped. “Children have a way of rising to our expectations… or sinking to them.
“Y’rra didn’t ask to be in the position she’s in,” he continued. “But now that she is there, she’s trying to do the right thing. If those aren’t the actions of a real princess, I don’t know what they are. Now it’s up to us to help her. And once we have her back, it’s high time you stopped treating her like your burden and started treating her like your family."
As Primus left the room, a shamefaced Kallista cursed, "Sound just like my mother." Her gaze drifted to the mirror and for a second, the reflection looked familiar in a way she did not find pleasing at all.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 7, 2022 11:16:19 GMT
“Why have you summoned me here,” Y’rra asked with annoyance, her arms folded crossly. “Since we are going to be married, I thought we should share things with one another,” Harry Hokum said. “Perhaps it will make us closer.” “I have no desire to be closer to you,” Y’rra said. “Well, I’m showing you anyway,” Harry Hokum said, smiling. “What am I looking at,” Yrra said, staring at the objects in the glass case. “That’s a Tommy gun,” Hokum said, pointing at the weapon. “It was my weapon of choice in the old days. I had it on me the day the Psions abducted me from Earth. I was fortunate they found it interesting enough not to toss it out. I think they thought it was quaint.” Next to the tommy Gun was a fedora. A younger Harry Hokum was wearing it as well as a striped double-breasted suit in the photo in the framed newspaper article. He was holding the tommy gun, pointing it skyward as he hung off the side of a Ford Model V8 sedan, holding onto the door with the other hand. “What does the headline say?” Y’rra asked. “I do not read your language.” “The Brain Gang Strikes Again,” Hokum chuckled. “The Brain Gang?” “’Big Brains’ was a nickname my old boss gave me because I was always coming up with crazy schemes that always seemed to work. That eventually led to me being his main guy. He didn’t realize that big brain of mine would lead to me being the number one guy in charge. And then his old gang became the Brain Gang. I think the papers liked it better. Thanks to the intricacies of space travel, I’m not as old as that date on the paper would led you to believe.” “Why do you still have all this?” Y’rra asked. “It’s always good to remember where you came from,” Hokum said. “I keep these s a reminder.” He walked over to a pedestal that had a holo-viewer and switched it on. “The least I could do is let my bride-to-be have the same benefit.” Above the viewer, an image flickered to life. It was a group of the young, idle rich of Euphorix sitting in a booth in a night club. All appeared to be highly intoxicated. One of the party goers could not be betrayed by her eyes because they had no pupils. Instead, it was her slack jaw and the fact that her friends had to hold her up for the picture. Y’rra found herself flushing with embarrassment at the sight of the image. “You seemed like fun,” Harry Hokum chuckled. “I’m not that girl anymore,” Y’rra snpped. “Oh, please. That picture is a year old. Two at the most,” Hokum said. “What you are is what I made of you. Whenever you start to believe your press too much, I want you to come in and look at that picture. What Hokum giveth, Hokum can taketh way.” He pointed at the picture. “If she really bothers you, try to remember that.” Hokum chuckled to himself as he left the room. “Not that girl anymore. Ha! Can I cook or can I cook?” As he exited, he whistled a big band tune from his youth. Y’rra stared at the image of the party girl in the hologram who looked as if she would pass out from the many narco-fruits she had consumed that night. She wasn’t that girl anymore, no matter what he said. And she never would allow herself to be again.
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Post by lawrenceliberty on Jun 7, 2022 16:39:34 GMT
Harry Hokum reminds me of Dr. Smith from Lost in Space.
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Post by DocQuantum on Jun 7, 2022 17:17:28 GMT
No woman wants to be told she reminds them of her mother. Primus, you’re in the doghouse tonight. 🤣
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