The Greatest American Movie

[dans]

Read all the chapters in the introduction to   'The Greatest American Movie'   Chapter 1: Blue Fire in: Out of Circulation   Chapter 2: Black Zero in: Submarine Sabotage   Chapter 3: Lady Fairplay in: Mississippi Mayhem   Chapter 4: Mirror Girl in: Kidnapped   Chapter 5: Dr. Diamond in: War Zone Fort Rosecrans   Chapter 6: Fearless Flint in: Intrigue in Washington   Chapter 7: Willow Wisp in: Cold Justice   Chapter 8: Master Mystic in: The End of the Beginning (Read me last!)

On the Road to... Hollywood

The sleek commercial airliner, among the most luxurious and modern available through any airline, had been chartered by the US Office of War Information for the sole purpose of transporting FDR's guests to Hollywood. It had begun its long transcontinental flight with a before-dawn departure from an Army Air Corps base near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The plane's cabin was spacious and modern, with comfortable seats and large windows. Over the rest of the day, it made several stops at military airports near cities across the country.

Each airport was abustle with activity, as soldiers and personnel scrambled to prepare the plane for its next leg of the journey. After the plane had been serviced at each stop, pairs of guests were welcomed aboard the luxurious ‘Clipper of the Skies’, a superhero or superheroine, each with a favored traveling companion.

By the time the plane departed from San Diego for the short last hop to their final destination of Los Angeles, every superhero who had received a Presidential invitation to participate in 'The Greatest American Movie' from FDR was aboard with their traveling companions

Bruce King, also known as Black Zero, the King of Darkness, and his glamorous Hollywood star girlfriend Gloria Glamour were the first to board as the flight originated in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The couple had been inseparable since Black Zero's heroic rescue of Gloria from the Red Gang just months ago. The cargo handlers grumbled at the pair of oversized trunks that the couple insisted on traveling with. "Just like a typical Hollywood star!" one muttered as they struggled to load a trunk into the baggage hold. "Good thing this is just a charter flight, a regular flight would never get off the ground with all this extra luggage!"

Next to board in New York was Deann Adler, better known as Mirror Girl - the beloved 'Patron Saint of Troubled Girls' - and her handsome friend, FBI agent Sterling Archer.

From there, they made a stop in Washington D.C. to pick up Jack Bradley (aka Fearless Flint), the Famous Flint Man, and his trusted assistant, FBI agent Ruth Parson.

In Toledo, Ohio, they were greeted by a surprise when they expected to board a male superhero but instead met Hazel Hudson - aka Blue Fire - a decidedly female hero accompanied by her college student companion Jack Knapp.

A quick hop to Crystal Bluff, Iowa brought them to Mary Lee (Lady Fairplay), nicknamed 'The Goddess of Chastisement' by the sensationalist press, and her trainer Hiwalani.

After the long flight from Iowa, their penultimate stop in San Diego welcomed aboard Dr. Drake Gordon (aka Dr. Diamond) and his loyal assistant Elena Garcia - who was also the step-daughter of his greatest nemesis.

As each pair boarded the plane, there were two unexpected heartwarming reunions that lit up the cabin. Gloria and Deann's faces lit up as they hugged in delight. They had worked together on several films during their early days in Hollywood - Deann as a fearless stuntwoman and Gloria as a rising star with her captivating sultry beauty. Although they hadn't seen each other in several years, they eagerly renewed their friendship. And Sterling Archer and Jack Bradley shared memories of their time at the FBI Academy. It had been 20 weeks of intense training at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia, where they were first recruited as agents. Despite their intensively competitive natures, they also shared a strong bond, and they were soon swapping outrageous yarns about their heroic exploits.

The last hop was the shortest, from San Diego to Los Angeles. Onboard, the passengers were pampered with impeccable service, a hallmark of commercial airlines at the time, as they were offered a variety of luxurious top-quality refreshments and meals by friendly Flight Hostesses in crisp uniforms who engaged in pleasant conversations with each passenger. The hostesses didn’t try to hide their excitement as they interacted with the famous superheroes on board, matching the enthusiasm of the passengers who were delighted by such exceptional service. It was an unforgettable flight experience that left everyone aboard feeling special.

As the flight drew closer to its final destination, anticipation built among the passengers. This was no ordinary trip - they were headed to Hollywood, where the sun's rays shone brighter and the dreams were bigger! The magnitude of their secret mission, critical to the morale and war efforts of their nation, only added to the poignancy of the moment.

Just before they deplaned, the special passengers were greeted by their host, the legendary World War 1 ace pilot Captain William Wellman, currently a representative of the US Office of War Information. To help everyone protect their identities and maintain their privacy, Wellman distributed anonymous gray cowls that would conceal their faces down to their noses. The smooth, stretchy fabric clung comfortably to their faces, rendering them unrecognizable to anyone who might try to take a peek.

"You may find these useful in public situations related to the film when you aren't in costume," he explained. "Even our guests may benefit from these," Wellman added, "as there may be individuals who target you merely because of your association with these great heroes." While this precaution put a slight damper on their excitement, it was quickly overshadowed by the anticipation of their upcoming adventure in Hollywoodland.

After waiting limousines transported them to the nearby Lookout Mountain Air Defense base, they settled into the 'Visiting Office Quarters' for the next three weeks of filming. As evening descended, they stayed up late chatting, filled with excitement and anticipation for the filming to come. Hard-to-believe origin stories and competing yarns of adventure filled the air as they got to know one another until Time Zone Syndrome caught up with the weary East Coast travelers. Finally, everyone retired to bed, looking forward eagerly to tomorrow's adventures.

The Lookout Mountain dining room was filled with excited chatter at breakfast the next morning, as everyone looked forward to their first day of filming. After a quick breakfast, they hopped into limousines that whisked them away to the world-renowned Democracy Studios.

During the short walk from the parking lot to a comfortable conference room, they exchanged greetings with numerous A-list Hollywood stars, many of whom were eager to grab autographs from the famous heroes. As he had promised, President Franklin D. Roosevelt greeted them as they filed into the room. He shook each traveler's hand, and took the time to address each of them warmly, thanking them again for their service and bravery.

Next they were introduced to the famous director Thomas Van de Carr and the rest of the cast and crew. During the reception and luncheon that followed, several of the travelers took the opportunity to speak quietly with President Roosevelt and voice their private concerns about the money and resources being allocated to their comfort rather than the war effort. But FDR quickly reassured each of them that he considered that the completion of 'The Greatest American Movie' would be a powerful tool in boosting American morale, far outweighing any expenses incurred.

Finally the team buzzed quietly with excitement as they experienced their first production meeting. They listened eagerly as the director and production team reviewed the plans for the day's filming. It would surely be a long and tiring but fulfilling day on set.

Yet, even as the heroes and their guests settled into their roles on the film set, little did they know that there was a spy among them. An Axis agent had infiltrated the production crew, posing as a lighting technician.

Settling In

As the filming for 'The Greatest American Movie' got underway, the early days were scheduled to be filled with easy scenes. These included stock scenes such as shots of the heroes' headquarters, showcasing their impressive arsenal of gadgets and weapons, travel scenes such as flying and Mirror Girl stepping into and out of a mirror, and some interactions between the heroes that would be spliced between action scenes.

The heroes would play themselves in all the action scenes and every other scene in which they appeared in costume. But famous Hollywood stars would play the roles of their secret identities, with those scenes to be filmed after the departure of the heroes. The unexpected appearance of the female Blue Fire caused a small dilemma; Fred McMurray had already been cast as Blue Fire's civilian identity and would not take kindly to being removed from the cast or demoted to a less major role. Luckily, Deann Adler (Mirror Girl) and Gloria Glamour offered a solution.

"What if we offer Gene Tierney the role of Blue Fire instead of having her play Mirror Girl and offer Fred the role of Black Zero?" Deann suggested when she and Gloria realized that the Black Zero role was still vacant. "Gene looks more like Hazel (Hazel Hudson, the new Blue Fire) than me. And why don't we consider giving Gloria the Mirror Girl role instead of holding more casting calls for actresses? And Fred is prefect for the Black Zero role."

The Producer instantly loved the idea! Gloria was currently the most renowned and desired actress in Hollywood, as well as being regularly linked with Black Zero  in all the Hollywood gossip rags. The publicists would eat it up! And McMurray had earlier expressed a preference for the role of the scientist secret identity of Black Zero, but the part had already been offered to Errol Flynn, who had eventually turned it down. It was a perfect solution!

The actors and actresses finally selected to play the civilian identities of the heroes included:

Black Zero........ Fred McMurray
Blue Fire.........  Gene Tierney
Dr. Diamond....  Clark Gable
Fearless Flint...  James Cagney
Lady Fairplay...  Ginger Rogers
Mirror Girl.......  Gloria Glamour

In between the filming sessions, the heroes shared lighthearted banter and interactions with the other actors that would later allow them to add depth to their characters on screen. Lady Fairplay, in particular, could not contain her excitement during scenes where she got to drive the replica Terrificar at breakneck speeds of over a hundred miles an hour! Some of the other heroes couldn't help but wonder privately if the motivation for her heroic career stemmed from mere thrill-seeking or a sincere desire to fight for justice...

***

The cameras were rolling as the first scene was being filmed, featuring all of the heroes gathered around the iconic round table in their headquarters, known as “The Arsenal of Justice”. However, a hint of tension soon arose.

"Who made Dr. Diamond the leader of our fictional team?" one of the other heroes asked, just a touch of jealously tainting their voice.

"That's what FDR suggested," replied Director Van de Carr, quickly trying to diffuse any conflict. "He's been a superhero longer than any of the rest of you. But don't worry, each and every one of you has multiple scenes to showcase your talents."

There were some mutters of protest, but Hiwalani stepped forward confidently. She was already quietly gaining a reputation for being a successful behind-the-scenes mediator among her famous, much more powerful, and often obstinate friends. She raised her hand to calm them down. "Remember, it's just a movie!" she reminded them. "And I've reviewed the script - you all have ample opportunities to shine in this film."

“Maybe they should write Hiwalani into the script as the team leader ,” Gloria whispered to Deann thoughtfully. “She's showing that she doesn’t need super powers to be respected. She's certainly not intimidated by the rest of you!”

Meanwhile the spy continued his furtive preparations...

[redsycorax]

I'm reminded of a Golden Age Superman imaginary story in which Clark Kent takes Lois Lane to a movie screening of the Adventures of Superman and has to work out ways to insure Lois isn't suddenly made aware of his secret identity when costume change scenes appear on screen. He does manage it, although there's a plot loophole that Clark hasn't similarly interfered with the perceptions of the other movie viewers who are now aware he's Superman. Could there be potential for amusing developments like that? Perhaps the movie stumbles a bit when it comes to lack of insider knowledge and they have to extrapolate, drawing wry smiles and winks from the heroes watching when they get it badly wrong?

[dans]

Apr 3, 2024 22:28:32 GMT redsycorax said:

Perhaps the movie stumbles a bit when it comes to lack of insider knowledge and they have to extrapolate, drawing wry smiles and winks from the heroes watching when they get it badly wrong?

That is what I had in mind. The heroes who have secret ID's to protect are wearing masks when they are not otherwise in costume although Flint, Dr. Diamond, and Lady Fairplay don't normally wear masks. Flint and Diamond have never established secret IDs, though Diamond, at least, is starting to see the need for one. Lady Fairplay uses the Clark Kent trick, she wears heavy glasses as Mary Lee, and emphasizes the differences by wearing her long hair up in a prim bun and wearing granny-type clothing.... All of these heroes may have to establish new identities after a while, though... which shouldn't be too difficult after the war ends when millions of members of the military services arrive back in the states for discharge. 

Meanwhile, the heroes have been authorized to suggest script change suggestions to make their onscreen representations significantly different than their actual secret identities. For example, (I just decided that...) Lady Fairplay's fictional secret identity is Fannie Nightingale, a sultry nightclub singer, nothing like the prissy 6th grade teacher Mary Lee.

(of course, she's got some extra fingers, but who's checking out her hands?)

[redsycorax]

I imagine that there'll be references to poker faces as the heroes watch their ersatz secret identities and contrast them with their real civilian lives. Lady Fairplay, especially.

[dans]

I hadn't planned on going that much into detail about the filming - but maybe, after the movie is released, when the heroes in their civilian identities take dates to see it in their local theaters, they might have to stifle their laughter at the antics of the Hollywood stars portraying their secret identities!

[dans]

Disaster Strikes... And Strikes Again... And Again... And...

"And this is the set where all the indoor scenes for “The Ice Capades Escapades”, released last year in December 1942, were filmed!" the Democracy Studios guide noted enthusiastically to his excited tour group. "And here are Dick Denning and Ellen Drew, the fantastic stars of that movie. Yes, folks, they'll be happy to give you their autographs." Was it just coincidence that these two stars happened to be in the studio at this particular instant?

As the group formed eager lines in front of the two stars, Gale O'Leary chatted happily with her father, who she was pushing in his wheel chair.

"It's thrilling that you feel well enough to join me on this tour, Father!" she said, beaming with joy. "You seem so much better lately!"

"Ever since I started carrying that willow twig you gave me," he agreed. Gale had recently plucked the twig off of the small magical willow branch she had carried since her mother had been murdered 20 years ago and presented it to him.. "While my legs will never heal enough for me to walk again, its absolutely wonderful to be pain-free for the first time in 20 years!"

"Even though she’s gone, I feel mother's love every day through the willow twig," Gale added sadly, touching the sprig she was wearing pinned to her blouse today. "Her magic is always guiding and protecting me!" She thought to herself but didn't say out loud, "In fact, she sent the ’willow impulse' that guided me here today!"

“What’s in big building over there?” a curious tourist asked, pointing towards the rear of the lot, which was blocked off with barricades.

“That set is closed for a super-duper highly confidential top secret project,” the guide replied mysteriously. “It’s for a new blockbuster film, supposed to be the biggest of all time, but we don’t even know the name yet! A lot of the biggest stars in town have read for various parts, but none of them will even talk about it. Very intriguing!” Then he quipped: “Even if I knew, it’s so top hush hush that after I told you, I’d have to make sure you never spoke again!”

“And that’s where my intuition says I’ll need to be!” Gale whispered to herself. She was relieved that the tour was just about over - she needed to take her father back to their hotel and then get back here to investigate further!

Once

On the closed filming set, Van de Carr stood from his Director’s chair, megaphone in hand and ordered with satisfaction, "Aaannnddd..... CUT! That's a wrap! Into the can!" After numerous takes, they were finally finishing up a complicated fight scene involving all 6 heroes and a swarm of vicious enemies. However, before they could revel in the satisfaction of finally earning Van de Carr's approval, a frantic studio vice president barged onto the set panting in panic. "On the radio!” He was barely coherent… “The Lookout Mountain Air Defense Base is being attacked by a group of superpowered individuals!"

"We need to get there immediately and stop them!" shouted Fearless Flint recklessly, the group's champion of bull-rushing unthinkingly headfirst into dangerous situations. "Black and Blue, you guys go ahead! Fairplay will bring the rest of us in the Terrificar!"

Black Zero and Blue Fire were the only heroes in the group capable of flight. The custom built replica Terrificar was equipped with a police siren and lights, and was easily capable of speeds in excess of 120 mph. And it also came equipped with a driver, Lady Fairplay, who reveled in pushing it beyond its limits!

"Wait!" Hiwalani shouted as she stepped boldly between the heroes and the exit. "Instead of charging in blindly, maybe Mirror Girl can do some reconnaissance for us?"

By now, the group had learned to trust Hiwalani’s judgement and advice. Instead of stampeding out the door, they gathered quietly but impatiently around Deann as she closed her eyes in concentration. Using her mystical powers as Mirror Girl, she was able to mentally view areas of the base through reflecting surfaces that she had touched recently. She made a habit of touching windows during her morning walk before breakfast for this very purpose. Now she was able to view some areas of the base - and she was shaken by what she saw!

Her voice was stressed from concentration and alarm. “There may be more, but I can see at least 4 attackers dressed entirely in black costumes. Some are flying and they're easily defeating our soldiers and destroying buildings. Bullets have no effect on them. Our guys are getting slaughtered. I'm going back! Get there as fast as you can."

"Yes, you had better ALL go!" Hiwalani agreed urgently.

That opened the floodgates and then the heroes DID stampede out the door of the set. But before he zoomed off, Black Zero pulled Mirror Girl aside and gave her some important information: "If you need a weapon, You might be able to use a prototype I've been working on in our spare time. My Vertigo Beam Projector is locked in the trunk in my room! The trunk key is under the bar of soap in the shower!"

Then he rocketed off into the sky to join Blue Fire racing towards the fort. Mirror Girl stepped into the full length mirror, specially installed for her travels, and disappeared. The others piled into the Terrificar; Lady Fairplay shouted her enthusiasm wordlessly as she floored it and burned rubber peeling out, laughing as her enthusiastic passengers broke out in rough harmony: "Here we come to save the day! The Greatest American Heroes are on the way!"

Starring in a blockbuster film might be a thrilling experience, but nothing compared to the adrenaline rush of dangerous super heroic action!

Twice

After all the superheroes had charged hell-bent for leather out the door, Ruth Parson urgently addressed the remaining group of companions and the production company. "As you know, Sterling and I both work for the FBI. We noticed some strange things after we all got down to business so we started doing a little off-the-clock snooping."  She paused for a moment before continuing, "We found some disturbing information and compiled it into a report which we sent to the local office. We just received a reply from them by special courier."

Sterling Archer spoke up in confirmation and added, "They agree that there is something sinister at play here and are warning us to be on guard for potential enemy action. I think the attack on the Air Base could be a diversion to draw the heroes away and leave the studio vulnerable for an attack to destroy our movie project."

The warning from the 2 agents sparked a flurry of fervent discussion among the group. While some were initially hesitant to believe in any threat against the studio, they couldn’t ignore the evidence of the current attack on the Lookout Mountain base. It was easy to believe that their close association with the gathered heroes could make them targets as well. With this realization, the group huddled together nervously, and they all suspiciously surveyed everyone and everything around them, alert for indications of betrayal or danger.

"We need to get out of here and split up!" Sterling warned, as he surveyed the group. "We're too vulnerable all clustered together inside like this."

"Say, has anyone seen Silvio Stiletto?" Ruth asked urgently. Stiletto, a lighting technician, had a reputation for making unwelcome advances towards the female extras. "He was here before we heard the warning! He's the guy we thought might be a spy!"

"I saw him heading for the equipment room, but then he disappeared," young, sultry Penny Hoffman, Stiletto’s ‘favorite’ female extra, reported nervously. 

"The rest of you, head for the main building! We'll look for Stiletto!" Archer ordered.

But tragically, they were not fast enough... As the last three to leave the room - Archer, Parson, and Penny - tried to make their way out, a massive explosion ripped through the studio set centered around one of the props in the middle of the room! The retreating group was thrown into chaos as the door behind them blew off and many were knocked to the ground.

“Get some first aid kits!” Elena shouted as soon as she realized she had only minor injuries. “I’m a doctor!”

As Jack and Hiwalani rushed towards the nearest studio buildings - where first aid kits were always mounted on walls near all exits - Gloria joined Elena in tending to those injured, helping them to their feet or advising them to stay still due to their injuries. "I used to be a nurse before I became an actress," Gloria told her friend. "I can help too!"

Covered in blood, Sterling and Ruth stumbled out of the damaged building carrying the lifeless body of Patty Hoffman between them. "It's too late for her," Ruth cried out in anguish.

By this time, the studio police and full-time medical staff had arrived and were taking charge of the disaster scene. In the distance, sirens could be heard as police cars and fire trucks raced towards the embattled. Amidst the frantic rescue efforts, a bit of order began to emerge from the chaotic scene.

Interlude - Ghostly Retribution

With a self-satisfied smirk, the Axis spy Silvio Stiletto slipped through the corridor towards the emergency exit located at the back of the massive studio building. The cluttered corridor served as a convenient impromptu storage area, filled with things like spare cameras, unused props, and even racks of costumes, all within easy access from the studio during production. Within a matter of seconds, the time bomb he had carefully placed inside one of the props in the middle of the studio would detonate, bringing an end to this disgusting propaganda film.

This act of sabotage, combined with grim reports from multiple battlefronts across the globe where Axis forces were currently launching new and more deadly operations, would surely crush America's morale and potentially weaken their military strength. In this moment, Silvio felt invincible.

But suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the corridor into darkness. Stiletto stumbled to an abrupt stop before he could crash into some of the stored stuff and frantically began groping his way towards the exit. What had seemed like a swift sure escape only moments ago now felt uncertain. The bomb hadn’t exploded yet, so why were the lights out? Had they discovered his plans and plunged him into darkness to hinder his escape?

As he was trying to deal with his growing unease, he was knocked flying by the concussion of his bomb exploding, and battered painfully as he was violently smashed against the stored equipment. As he struggled to his feet, he was startled by a dimly glowing figure that appeared in front of him - a ghostly presence that cast eerie shadows in the pitch-black corridor. His doubts and fears grew as the figure floated closer towards him.

“Silvio Stiletto, not only are you a treasonous spy, not only have you betrayed your associates, you have murdered Patty Hoffman!” The ghastly voice was shrill and wavering, sending terrified chills down Stiletto's spine.

"No! Stay back!" the spy screamed in horror as he frantically squeezed the trigger until his pistol was empty. The bullets passed harmlessly through the ghostly figure, the sound of ricocheting bullets ringing through the air until, with a final scream of agony, Silvio Stiletto collapsed on the floor, a bullet through his eye.

The ghostly figure flickered brightly for an instant, as if satisfied, then dimmed as it floated slowly away and passed easily through the closed exit door at the end of the corridor.

Again?! You can't be serious!

The rescue efforts on the studio lot came to a abrupt halt, disrupted by a string of small explosions. Jack Knapp immediately spotted the cause - a dark menacing figure in black costume and cloak, with a black hood concealing his identity. As the figure pointed, more blasts erupted, stirring more fear and chaos. People scattered toward the shelter of the nearby buildings, some grabbing stretchers to carry away the wounded. In a moment of desperation, Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue leather pouch, hesitantly shaking out a large blue pill.

"I'm not ready for this," he whispered shakily. "But whether I'm ready or not, it's time for the world to meet.... Frostbite!" With a hesitant gulp, he swallowed the pill and in an instant, his body was encased in a glimmering layer of blue ice.

He forced himself to stand tall in the path of the approaching villain. “Why not pick on someone your own size, coward?” For an instant, all was still as the two powerful figures fiercely locked eyes.

"Who the hell are you?" demanded the figure in black, his voice deep and menacing. "And how do you intend to stop me?"

"I'm Frostbite," Jack loudly announced his new name with bravado, despite the pounding in his chest, "and I'll stop you using everything at my disposal!" He could feel the power of the blue pill surging through his veins.

The villain smirked at Jack's defiance. "You're just a weak imitation of a real superhero," he taunted. "You can't possibly hope to stop me with ice!"

Frostbite shook his head. "I've faced much worse than you. And I've always managed to come out on top!" He didn't add '...back when I was Blue Fire!'

[dans]

Who is... the Green Skull?

Deep within the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, a buried fortress of unfathomable size and power stood strong against the outside world. Recently carved undetected from the unyielding bedrock by powerful magic, its many levels and corridors were guarded by impenetrable wards and spells, shielding it from detection and protecting it from all who might foolish dare to enter. On the lowest level, closest to his ultimate master, in a chamber shrouded in darkness, lurked the infamous Axis spymaster known only as the Green Skull.

With maniacal laughter echoing through the cavernous room, the Green Skull gazed into his Crystal of Dark Scrying. This powerful tool allowed him complete control over his malevolent forces currently rampaging in California - all with just a single thought. Each agent was tattooed with a cursed talisman, the ink distilled from the dried entrails of innocent human sacrifices. These sacrifices had been made in twisted rituals, the pain and suffering of the innocent victims fueling the dark magic that bound his minions to the Green Skull. And even after their death, these fallen innocents continued to serve him, their cursed talismans granting his Crystal the power to peer through the eyes of his minions at his will. The crafting of these talismans had required unspeakable sacrifices and the deaths of many innocents, but the Green Skull and his Axis masters had many prisoners.

He was surrounded by an army of enslaved warlocks and witches bound to him by powerful spells and dark magic, standing ready to carry out his every command. Their mouths had been sewn shut and sealed by hideous rituals to prevent any betrayal. They were forced to obey or face gruesome consequences at the hands of their master. The Green Skull took great pleasure in punishing those who failed him - with just a simple touch on their nose, a curse dooming their living bodies to painfully decay into twisted corpses bearing a sickly green skull. His power knew no bounds as he reigned supreme around the world, lacking in power only to Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito - all of whom he planned to betray and enslave once the Allies were defeated. After all, what more could be expected from a power-hungry, malevolent warlock?

To the Green Skull, the so-called "Greatest American Heroes" posed no real threat - they were merely a momentary amusement. And even if by some miracle they were able to defeat his lackeys in battle, his Incantation of Annihilation would ensure their demise, causing his captured minions to detonate in powerful explosions at the exact moment of heroic triumph, securing his ultimate victory. For the Green Skull, there was no such thing as failure or defeat - his plans were always foolproof and his power unstoppable.

But far above the infamous chamber of the Green Skull, a tiny bubble of glowing white slipped undetected through the ceiling of a chamber on the uppermost level. Slowly and carefully, it made its way cautiously down through each level of the fortress, pausing frequently as each new ward or defensive spell was encountered. Though it may have been noticed by certain of the slaves, their mouths sealed shut and minds enslaved by dark magic left them unable to warn their evil master - not that any of them would chosen to do so. With cautious determination, the bubble continued on its journey towards the heart of this bastion of unspeakable evil. 

[redsycorax]

I take it there's no Marvel Comics on that Earth, then? Remember how litigious DC got about Captain Marvel 'ripping off' the core concept of Superman? One imagines that much the same might happen if a Stan Lee analogue saw this and got irate that this Green Skull might be ripping off a certain long-time Captain America villain.

[dans]

Apr 5, 2024 22:29:52 GMT redsycorax said:

I take it there's no Marvel Comics on that Earth, then? Remember how litigious DC got about Captain Marvel 'ripping off' the core concept of Superman? One imagines that much the same might happen if a Stan Lee analogue saw this and got irate that this Green Skull might be ripping off a certain long-time Captain America villain.

Well, Marvel Comics WAS around during World War 2 (or Timely, at least), so it could very well exist on this particular Earth, but I imagine if Stan and Jack were to pop in on the Green Skull to complain about a copyright violation, they might regret it... Besides, how do we know that the Red Skull wasn't the rip-off?

[dans]

The Battle of Overlook Hill... Mirror Girl

Mirror Girl discovered a flaw in her careful preparations, despite all the precautions she'd taken earlier - there were no mirrors in the hall outside Black Zero's room, so she couldn't peek to see if the hall was empty. And she couldn't tuck the bulky Vertigo Projector inside her skin-tight costume, so she would have to join the battle on foot. She could, however, use her powers to scout the battle she could easily hear raging loudly right outside this building - a pitched battle between a squad of soldiers and two of the black-costumed villains, one a flier and the other with super strength. The flier was diving on solders and ripping at them with vicious claws and beak, while the other was standing clear and throwing heavy rocks and chunks of rubble. Some of the soldiers were carrying improvised shields against the deadly stone projectiles. While the black costumes of the villains provided them with some protection against bullets, they could be driven back by concentrated volleys. The soldiers were retreating slowly toward the center of the base as they began to run out of ammunition, carrying their wounded with them.

Mirror Girl cautiously slipped into the hallway, ready to fire the Vertigo Projector if she unexpectedly encountered any enemies, then ran to the building’s covered exit alcove, where she was temporarily unnoticed in the chaos of the battle. She immediately joined in the fight by firing the Projector at the flier. Suddenly nauseated by a violent vertigo attack, he fell from the sky, wings fluttering and limbs flailing weakly. He managed break his fall with his heavy feathered wings so probably wasn't severely damaged, although she could hope he'd at least broken some wing bones in the impact!

When the flier continued to writhe weakly on the ground, she turned the beam on the other costumed villain, dropping him to the ground instantly. To her horror, some of the nearby soldiers were also affected by the Vertigo Projector's power! She stopped firing instantly, realizing that It was impossible to aim the bulky prototype device accurately.

Suddenly, there was a loud popping noise, and the projector began to shudder violently, startling her into dropping it. She felt a small burst of relief as it was instantly vaporized in a brief burst of intense heat. Though she was now weaponless and dependent on her own resources, she no longer needed to rely on untested technology during the rest of the fight. With determination, she rushed to assist her unaffected allies in subduing their temporarily disabled enemies before they could recover or be rescued.

The defenders of the base fought fiercely against at least three more fliers, who swooped and dodged with deadly precision. One attacked with deadly claws and beaks, diving on the embattled defenders and striking out with vicious ferocity. The others unleashed blasts of destructive energy that left trails of devastation in their wake. Within this chaos, one of the energy blasters caught sight of Mirror Girl's distinct bright red and black Gossamer Garment and changed course to target her instead. His full-face visor emitted a brilliant red beam, striking her before she could dodge. The impact sent her flying through the air like tumbling shrapnel, but she quickly regained control using her expert stunt skills. As she spun back around to face her attacker, the relentless beam from his visor continued its search for her, leaving a trail of devastation on the ground below as he swiveled his head to mimic her every move.

Darting for cover around the corner of a nearby building, Mirror Girl took a moment to catch her breath and plan her next move. She desperately hoped that the inside of her opponent's visor was at least partially reflective as she concentrated on a long-unused aspect of her powers - a power that had once struck fear into the vile human traffickers she had warred against in her her early years as a vigilante, earning her the nickname 'The Patron Saint of Troubled Girls'.

The flier screamed in horror when a brightly glowing red visage appeared - INSIDE his helmet! He screamed and totally forgot about the battle as he frantically tried to escape the illusion of her costumed face which Mirror Girl was projecting onto his visor.

His dive had brought him close to her, close enough, she hoped, for her own attack. She burst from behind the building, running at top speed and leaped towards his legs, wrapping both arms tightly around him. Her unexpected weight dropped them both to the ground. He was still recovering from his sudden terror and she managed to squirm around on top, then started pummeling him. Some of the nearby soldiers were heartened to see one of their enemy brought down, and they surged forward and joined her in battering the downed enemy flier, shattering his visor which blunted his power and then quickly beating him unconscious - and maybe continuing a short while after that, just for revenge...

The Battle of Overlook Hill... Black and Blue

Black Zero reached the Overlook Hill base before Blue Fire did, to find a chaotic battlefield filled with gunfire and small explosions between the soldiers of the base, two flying attackers and several ground-based assailants. Some of the enemy fighters were firing a variety of energy blasts and others were throwing stones and chunks of rebel with super strength, while yet another black costumed figure seemed to be shielding the others from return fire with a mysterious force field.

Buildings had crumbled under the relentless assault, turning what had once been a pristine parade ground into a cratered scene of destruction. The ruins and rubble offered some protection for the soldiers from the constant barrage of destructive energy beams. Rather than engaging in close combat, the enemy ground forces bombarded the base from afar, seemingly more interested in destroying it than killing all the soldiers within. The smell of burning metal and scorched earth hung heavy in the air as the battle raged on.

Black Zero rocketed to a position directly above the cluster of super powered attackers and activated his Column of Darkness, enveloping himself and the enemy fighters in a column of absolute blackness.

“Hopefully, total blindness will give the soldiers time to regroup!” he hoped. But the winged flier arrowed through the blackness to attack. “Damn! It must have vision like an owl to see through the dark,” he swore as he dodged the deadly claws. He blasted his foe with his Cold Ray, instantly coating him in a thick shell of white ice. Amazingly, the ice exploded instantly, revealing a very large bird surrounded by intense red flames.

“A Phoenix! Double Damn!” Zero swore again as he prepared for what would surely be an intense fight against this formidable foe.

The brief blackout had allowed the defenders to swiftly advance and strategically reposition themselves for a stronger attack. As soon as their targets were again visible, they resumed their relentless withering barrage of gunfire. As Blue Fire raced to join the battle, she was struck from behind by a powerful ball of lightning, which extinguished her blue aura and jolted her senseless for a long instant. And then she realized that she was falling!

Her instant flash of panic sent a jolt of adrenaline surging through her as she desperately poured her every erg of energy into reigniting the blue fire to stop her descent. With a burst of speed, she shot back up into the sky. She refused to look down, she didn’t want to know!

At last, she caught sight of her assailant: a flying woman dressed in the enemy's signature black costume and hood, who left in her wake a jagged trail of quickly-fading electric blue light. She aimed both arms at Blue Fire; brilliant electric sparks crackled around her fists as she prepared launch another ball of lightning. “Die before the awe-inspiring power of Zickzack!"

Jack had trained her how to use the Blue Fire to become intangible. “Please let me have time!” she pleaded silently as she triggered the change. It seemed her wish was granted, as the next ball passed through her. But even in her intangible state, the powerful electricity jolted her with intense pain. She wasn’t going to be able to withstand much more of that! It was time to take the fight to her foe.

"Your name is Zig Zag? Is that the best you could do?" She taunted her foe. “And if that was your best shot, Zig Zag, you might as well surrender! It will take more than that to put out my Blue Fire!” She hoped her boast was more than just bravado! Meanwhile she summoned the Blue Fire, mentally shaped it into a ball of flaring blue plasma, and launched an attack of her own!

[redsycorax]

There could also be a comic interlude in which the Green Skull comes across a Timely Comic featuring Captain America and the Red Skull, takes offence, and commits mayhem on the Timely Comics offices...

[dans]

Honestly, the Green Skull may not be long for this world (or any other...)

[dans]

The Battle of Overlook Hill... The Titanic Trio

Moments later, with the engine roaring with furious anger, the Terrificar barreled onto the scene, sliding around a corner with a deafening screech, the siren blaring and lights flashing, then squealing to a stop with tires screaming and flames shooting from the brakes! With a loud “WHOOP!" Jack Bradley burst out of the rear door well before the vehicle even fully halted. His feet hit the ground running as he sprinted towards the chaotic scene ahead, determined to join the fray.

"Is he nuts?" Lady Fairplay’s voice echoed with shock and disbelief as she screamed at Dr. Diamond. "He's in his human form! He'll be killed!" As they bolted from the car, their disbelief changed to horror as as Bradley deliberately ran into the line of fire from the soldiers. “He’s throwing his life away!”

Lady Fairplay became a blur, racing at lightning speed to try and intercept her friend. The soldiers stopped firing in horror! But they were too late - Bradley was hit by a bullet. Terror switched to astonished disbelief as the impact with the steel bullet instantly transformed human Jack Bradley into the indestructible form of Fearless Flint, the Famous Flint Man amid a shower of sparks! Flint was well in the lead of the reckless charge of the heroes at the group super powered black clad villains, and they instantly focused all their attacks on him.

The onslaught of attacks was relentless - streams of fiery plasma splattered against him, ice balls shattered on impact, and lightning bolts crackled around him before bouncing off and exploding on the ground around him. He simply laughed at any solid projectiles - boulders, concrete chunks, steel rebar missiles, spears, arrows, and bullets alike were like a refreshing spring shower against his invulnerable form as he exploded through their ranks like an unstoppable juggernaut!

"I wish the cameras were rolling now!" he roared triumphantly as he slammed to a halt in front of a veritable giant in jet black armor, who towered over him, a giant at least twice as large as he. "C'mon, buddy, put up yer dukes!" he demanded, assuming a classical boxing stance, feet apart, fists raised, head slightly scrunched.

"Are we going to let him have all the fun? Let's get the rest of these guys!" Dr. Diamond boomed, eager enthusiasm echoing in his voice. " You go left, I'll go right." He and Lady Fairplay darted among the recovering villains and struck, swiftly and fiercely! The clash of fists and grunts filled the air as the villains fought back desperately.

Dr. Diamond merely grunted from the impact of rock-like fists, bullets and knives, while his diamond-hard skin shrugged off every type of energy attack. His powerful fists struck with the force of sledgehammers, dropping his black-clad enemies around him. Lady Fairplay was barely visible as a lightning-fast blur. With each flick of her steel baton, she left a trail of battered and bewildered villains moaning on the ground in her wake. Only a few were quick enough to even target her with their energy powers; those that did were tricked into blasting their own allies as she vanished from between then at super speed. The chaos around them resembled one of the fight scenes yet to be filmed from their movie, with explosions and flashes of light filling the air as the two heroes tore into the attackers. Van de Carr would long bemoan missing this one!

Meanwhile, Fearless Flint faced off against the colossal villain in black, trading blows that shook the very ground beneath them. The giant swung with immense strength, but his blows merely glanced off of Fearless Flint's invulnerable form, while with each punch Flint landed, sparks flew and cracks appeared in the villain's black, armored costume.

"You're tougher than I thought, big guy!" Fearless Flint grinned as he ducked under a massive fist and countered with a powerful uppercut that sent the villain staggering back. The giant roared in fury and lunged forward! He knocked Flint down and grabbed him by the ankles, lifted him high and then slammed him into the ground with earth-shattering impact. When he raised him again to repeat the attack, his allies saw with horror that the weakly writhing figure about to be bashed to death was no longer invulnerable Fearless Flint, but Jack Bradley! The watched in horror as the giant once again raised Bradley over his head. This time, powerless, the impact would surely kill him!

“I can’t understand why he hasn’t figured out yet to carry around a rusty nail or something!” Lady Fairplay snarled in contempt. “He won’t always have us around to save him!” She flicked her wrist and her steel baton flashed through the air and bounced off Fearless Flint in a shower of sparks.

“That ought to do it,” Dr. Diamond noted. “We’re not quite finished here yet, are we?” Lady Fairplay nodded in agreement. The two cracked a couple of villainous heads together, taking the fight out of their last two feisty opponents, and stepped back to watch the rest of the heavyweight battle between Flint and the giant.

It was a short fight, but a glorious one.

[dans]

The Battle of Overlook Hill... Blacker and Bluer 

To his dismay, Black Zero was discovering that his science-based powers were of little use in his battle with the fiery Phoenix. The magical raptor attacked unhindered through his zone of darkness and its brilliant flame instantly nullified the effects of his cold ray. It was impervious to his new million candlepower light ray, and actually absorbed power from his heat ray. His force field, which provided some protection against energy attacks, couldn't block the extreme heat radiating from the Phoenix. As he struggled to defend against fireballs and streams of flame, he could feel himself slowly being cooked alive just by being near his opponent.

Across the sky, Blue Fire was finding that her own powers were equally ineffective against ZickZack. The villain's black suit shielded her from heat and she was protected by an electrical field that was able to deflect Blue Fire’s powerful fireballs and scorching plasma beams. The constant barrage of ball lightning attacks left Hazel in excruciating pain, even though she was intangible. And hand to hand combat was futile as long as she remained in her intangible form. With each lightning attack, the toll on her body increased and it became clear to Blue Fire that this was a battle she could not win.

The lesson of teamwork, in Bruce’s opinion rather clumsily worked into the script of 'The Greatest American Movie', had always seemed cheesy to Black Zero. However, as he desperately wracked his mind for a way to defeat his fiery opponent Phoenix in their intense battle, that once-cheesy lesson suddenly clicked in his thoughts. "I'm fighting a being literally made of flame! And one of Blue Fire’s powers is to CONTROL flames!"

Across the sky, Blue Fire was coming to a similar realization, though she had never found the lesson to be cheesy. "I'm fighting a villain who wields electricity! And Black Zero's powers make him IMMUNE to electricity!"

Simultaneously, each hero decided to switch opponents, and they streaked across the sky to confront their new foes. It still wasn't easy.

One of Blue Fire’s abilities was the mental control of unresisting, inanimate fire, but the magical Phoenix was far from being unresisting or inanimate. Their respective powers rendered them immune to each other's flames, forcing Hazel to physically touch the mythical bird in order to exert her mental control over its fiery form - or let it touch her! Desperate to escape, the Phoenix fiercely attacked with its beak and claws, which Hazel barely noted in her intangible state. With each attack, however, she weakened the Phoenix's flames through her mental commands until it was reduced to a mere condor, falling helplessly from the sky.

It was easier for Black Zero. His opponent ZickZack had two powers at her disposal: flight and lightning balls. But Bruce’s Black Zero Transmitter gave him a multitude of abilities. He stuck to the ones he was most familiar with. While his electrical force field easily absorbed each of ZickZack's attacks, he countered her by first blinding her in total darkness and then freezing her into a block of ice. The ice shattered when she fell to the ground, but he was there to restore it... and the final engagement in the Battle of Overlook hill was resolved.

[dans]

The Show Must Go On!

Back at the studio, Frostbite stood defiantly in front of the black-costumed villain, until suddenly the villain laughed maniacally and unleashed his next attack.

"This time, you'll end up six feet under! You are no match for Cherry Bomb, you bush league son of a bench warmer!" With a casual gesture, there were a dozen small explosions around Frostbite's feet, chipping his armor and filling the air with streamers resembling confetti, seemingly created by the explosions instead of smoke.

Jack staggered backward a few feet, then unleashed a wave of powerful icy wind. Cherry Bomb had to lean far forward to resist the wind, but his costume protected him from the intense cold.

"You'll never defeat me, Frostbite! My explosions are unstoppable!" the villain taunted, firing off another burst of confetti-filled explosions.

"You're repeating yourself," Jack smirked in return, trying to conceal his unease with bravado. "This will stop you!" Instantly, Cherry Bomb was surrounded by a barrier of shimmering ice.

The villain's laughter turned into a growl of frustration as he tried to break through Frostbite's icy barrier. He battered a single point with repeated explosions and howled in triumph as the barrier finally shattered!

But before he could attack again, a chunk of solid ice slammed into his armored suit with enough force to cause serious injury if it had hit a weak point. In retaliation, he gestured and the next ice projectile exploded and then the two foes unleashed their full powers against each other, filling the air between them with a tremendous seemingly endless storm of explosions, flying shards of deadly jagged icy, and showers of colorful confetti.

The two combatants seemed to be equally matched, locked in a fierce battle that was destroying the entire studio lot. The once pristine plants and trees were now battered and frozen, some even shattered by the force of their fight. The beautiful lawn was torn up and scattered with soggy confetti, while icy water flooded the ground.

In the dubious safety of a nearby building, Elena and Gloria continued to aid the rescue teams tending the injured. Meanwhile, Hiwalani, Sterling, and Ruth stood in the shelter of the building's entrance, their hearts racing as they watched the intense battle raging outside, covering their ears against the loud explosions and crashing of the intense combat. FrostBite needed their help, but they needed a plan before wading into that super powered maelstrom of chaos and destruction!

“We need to lure Cherry Bomb into a trap!” Hiwalani exclaimed urgently, her voice barely audible over the chaotic din. “But first we need a trap!”

In a race against time, experienced FBI agents Ruth and Sterling quickly took stock of the resources available to them: the damaged studio lot, Frostbite’s icy powers, and their own tremendous determination to help. They needed something that would both draw Cherry Bomb in and neutralize his powers. Finally, after what felt like hours but must have only mere seconds, Ruth proposed a plan.

“Suppose we get him to blow himself up?” Ruth suggested. Her friends were skeptical, but the skepticism turned to enthusiasm as she explained.

“OK, let’s do it!” Hiwalani agreed, her voice filled with determination. “Right now!”

Sterling went back into the building and quickly returned, carrying a pair of the heavy chemical fire extinguishers that were hung on walls throughout all the set buildings. “You distract, we attack!” he told Hiwalani as he handed the other extinguisher to Ruth.

“We need to wait until they’re a little closer,” Hiwalani cautioned her friends against acting too soon. They waited anxiously until the battle drew near enough.

“We may never get a better chance!” Hiliwani warned urgently. “Everyone ready?” At their nods she held up three fingers. “OK, on GO!” she yelled as she began counting down, folding her fingers in sequence. “3… 2… 1… GO GO GO!”

On Go! she WENT! With speed astounding to her friends, she burst through the door and sprinted for another building across the court, screaming as loud as she could: “Hey, Cheery Bum! Run, run, as fast as you can! But you won’t catch me!”

The startled combatants turned to watch towards her, unaware of the 2 agents running up behind them. Before Jack could take desperate action to protect his foolish friend, or Cherry Bomb could attack her in anger, Sterling and Ruth both unleashed their fire extinguishers, coating Cherry Bomb’s head in thick chemical foam!

“Blast it, Jack! Freeze it solid!! FAST!” Ruth was hollering even before the extinguishers were empty. Jack concentrated and gestured, pushing his intense cold producing power to its maximum, instantly freezing the foam solid around Cherry Bomb’s head, continuing to pour it on until the weight crushed the villain heavily to the ground, and then burying him under a growing pile of steel-hard ice.

“Now we hope he panics!” Sterling announced. “Though even if he keeps his head, he’ll have a tough time breaking free of THAT!”

Inside his tomb of ice, Cherry Bomb was unable to breathe! His hands were frozen solid, he couldn’t even wiggle his fingers to produce tiny explosions to try and crack the ice and free himself. In desperation he strained and unleashed all his power in a tremendous explosion that blew him to smithereens, while barely cracking the ice barrier above him.

“Guess he lost his head, after all,” Ruth quipped in triumph at the success of her plan. "Among other things." She hadn't actually expected him to destroy himself, but that was his problem, not hers. “Hoist by his own petard!”

Satisfied that they were finally safe, the three turned back and welcomed the arriving police and fire departments.

To everyone's astonishment, before the last emergency vehicle had left the scene, a team of workers dressed in white appeared, carrying landscaping equipment. They had arrived in trucks clearly marked with "Ball's Landscaping" and a catchy slogan underneath that read: “For landscaping done right, ya gotta have Ball’s!” The lot was a hive of activity as they got to work.

“Filming on a normal schedule tomorrow!” Van de Carr reminded seriously those remaining on the lot. “Remember, the show must go on!”