Almost 13 pages

So I got a bit distracted today with actually being useful and helping with a holiday mailout. And it's only 3:30 but I'm heading out early because my wife is off early. They had their Christmas Party today and rewarded with closing early. So I'm off and I'll leave you with almost 13 pages of my Marvel Family story - Grundy Night - which I said I'd write for cheap.

It's a really rough draft at the moment so be kind with the spelling mistake pointing out and whatnot. I should finish it either this weekend or on Monday. Happy Holidays.

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PAGE ONE

P1
Open with a silhouette city skyline panel.

Caption
Gotham. October 31st.

P2
City is giving way to swamps surrounding it. This panel is a bit more zoomed in and slightly larger than first panel.

Caption
The children of Gotham go forth to reap their sugary reward.

P3
Shadowy figure draped in flowing robes is skulking through the knotted trees and vines of the swampy area. This panel will be even larger than first two and close enough to show a full body shot of the “Shadowy figure.”

Caption
While in the swampy surroundings of Gotham someone with less savory designs goes forth to reap a reward all together different.

PAGE TWO
Title and splash page

The shadowy figure is revealed to be Felix Faust as he stands in the open reading from a scroll. A bunch of pale white hands are bursting through the earth all around, unearthing the title with them.

Title: The Marvel Family in Grundy Night

Caption
Tonight, Felix Faust, will remind Gotham of its past.

Faust
Prognatus primoris dies!

PAGE 3

P1
A kid’s hand is knocking on a door

Caption
Fawcett City

P2
Looking through the now opened door we see three kids on the door step with huge smiles and holding out loot bags. Billy, Mary and Freddy are all there in costume as their superhero alter egos.

All Three Kids
Trick or Treat!

P3
Side view of a woman tossing candy into their loot bags. Mary is politely smiling at the woman, Billy is looking into his loot bag and Freddy is sort of smirking and looking into his loot bag as well.

Woman
Oh my, what a handsome bunch of Shazams.

Beat

Woman
Here you go. For being so heroic.

P4
Close up of Mary with a hand on her hip, pointing at the woman. Billy and Freddy are behind her and are either proud or embarrassed. It’s hard to tell.

Mary
We’re the Marvel Family. I’m Mary Marvel, that’s Cpt. Marvel and that’s Cpt. Marvel Jr.

Beat

Mary
Shazam is the wizard who gave us our superpowers.

P5
The kids walking towards Uncle Dudley who is waiting at the sidewalk. Mary is in a bit of a huff and the boys are on her heals.

Billy
Nice going Mary.

Mary
Adults. They’re so stupid.

Freddy
Ah, who cares? As long as they keep giving good loot they can call me Shazam until the cows come home.

P6
Mary turning on Freddy. Freddy looking sheepish and regrets incurring her wrath.

Mary
Freddy Freeman, you might not care but I want my public to know who I am.

P7
Billy looking confused and Mary now glaring at him.

Billy
Your public?

Mary
Quiet you!

P8
Uncle Dudley gathering up the kids to go on to the next house.

Dudley
Alrighty kids, are you still up for more candy?

Freddy
Oh yeah. But can we avoid those houses giving out lame fruit bars?

Billy
This neighbourhood sucks. Nobody’s giving out chips or cheesies.

Dudley
Hey, be nice.

P9
The Marvels are walking towards the reader in the panel. Uncle Dudley has his eyes closed as he reminisces but the kids are watching a girl about their age running passed them with her arms in the air screaming and crying.

Dudley
Yep, back in my day we didn’t have this sugarless candy malarkey.

Little girl screaming
NOOOOooooooooo!

PAGE FOUR

P1
Billy passing his loot bag to Freddy.

Billy
Hang on to this for me Freddy. And don’t eat my chips.

P2
Billy raising his fist in the air yelling

Billy
SHAZAM!

P3
Lightning hitting Cpt. Marvel who is floating a bit above the ground. Uncle Dudley is sitting on the ground and the rest of them are all sort of shocked.

Dudley
You should really warn a man when you’re about to do that.

P4
Cpt. Marvel holding out his hand to the crying little girl.

Cpt. Marvel
It’s okay miss. I’m here to help.

Girl
*sob* they…they…

Cpt. Marvel
Yes?

P5
Girl standing up and pointing behind Cap.

Girl
Those little demons took my candy and chased me away.

P6
Cap looking over his shoulder angry.

Cpt. Marvel
Demon scum, they’ll pay for this.


PAGE FIVE

P1
Cpt. Marvel’s feet are hovering above the ground as we see four young boys in costume digging through a loot bag. One is the devil, one is a goblin, one a werewolf and the last a vampire. Two kids are digging through the bag. One kid is chomping on his fingers in fear and the other is gob-smacked while dropping an egg to the ground.

Kid 1 digging through bag
I should get more cause it was my idea

Kid 2 digging through bag
No flipping way it’s straight four-way split.

Kid chewing fingers
Eep.

Kid dropping egg
Uh-oh.

Cpt. Marvel - Off panel
Well what do we have here?

P2
Devil kid looking up in anger as the others are scared and backing off.

Devil kid
Back off you big bull- AAARGH! Shazam!

Werewolf kid
Run Away!

P3
Cpt. Marvel cracking his knuckles looking down at the kids in tears now, as the werewolf kid has beat it into the distance with his arms over his head.

Cpt. Marvel
Looks like I’ll have to teach you demons a lesson in respect.

Devil kid
We was just checking for razorblades in the apples, Mr. Shazam, sir. Honest.

Vampire kid
Please don’t break my face.

P4
Kids all running towards the reader but away from Cpt. Marvel and in tears. Mary is yelling at the fleeing kids while she stands beside Cpt. Marvel. The Cap looks smug.

Mary
And it’s Captain Marvel, not Shazam you schmucks!

P5
Cap picking up the loot bag, looking at Mary

Cpt. Marvel
Schmucks?

Mary
Well that’s what they are, the bunch of bullies.

P6
Cap handing the loot bag back to the little girl as she’s reaching up with one hand and wiping away a tear with the other.

Cpt. Marvel
Here you go ma’am. Your sweeties are safe and sound.

Girl
*sob* Thanks sir.

PAGE SIX

P1
A much more urban setting where a bunch of demons and goblins are ripping a kid’s bags, spilling candy all over or jumping on their backs and riding them like horses.

Caption
Gotham.

SFX
Kids screaming

P2
Robin ripping a troll off a kid’s back. The troll should be elongated in a way that is simply inhuman and way too elasticy.

Robin
Every year it’s the same thing with you isn’t it?

P3
Robin throwing the troll into a demon looking kid ripping into a loot bag. The two creatures are mixing together.

Robin
You’re reduced to actually stealing candy from children.

P4
All the demons and goblins stop and look at the mess or their mixing compatriots or angrily at Robin.

Robin
I mean really Clayface, couldn’t you at least plan a jewel heist or something? Rob a bank maybe? Heck, burgle a senior’s home for a change of pace.

P5
Clayface coming together and towering over Robin.

Clayface
I happen to like free candy bird-boy.

P6
Clayface starts to shoot that clay-arm spray at Robin but is hit by some type of freezing bomb.

Robin
Predictable chump.

P7
Robin calling the police on his Robin-cycle. There’s a big nasty shadow looming behind him.

Robin
This is, uhm, an anonymous civilian tip. Robin just single handedly captured Clayface and froze him in place on Timm Street.

Radio
Can we have your name and address please sir?

Robin
Trust me. Just send someone before he’s pliable.

P8
Robin getting his clock cleaned by a white fist in a tattered sleeve.

Off panel
Grundy punch.

PAGE SEVEN

P1
Dark apartment that is chalk full of random doodads and mystic looking whatchamahoozits. There is a knock at the door.

Caption
Elsewhere in Gotham

P2
Door smashing open to reveal Solomon Grundy.

P3
Solomon picking up a hand mirror. Seeing Faust being reflected.

Solomon Grundy
Purdy.

P4
Shop that has the lights on but the shades drawn. The shop has a huge sign over top that simply states MAGIC. There should be a sign in the window that says: Closed for ‘The Gathering.’ Solomon Grundy is slumping into the frame. This one looks a bit thinner than the one who picked up the mirror.

P5
Inside the shop we see various mystic looking people sitting around a table. There is a blonde, slightly frumpy looking Zatanna costume, a fat man dressed as the Phantom Stranger, a guy in a suit and jeweled turban, and another woman in a crushed velvet dress. They should all be holding hands around a glowing ball or candle.

Woman in dress
Oh great Nero, in your night of nights we beseech that you send to us a messenger…

P6
Same panel only this time a newspaper dispenser is smashing through the window and everyone is fleeing in utter panic.

P7
We see the shop from outside as if we were walking down the sidewalk towards it. The door is being kicked open by Grundy.

P8
Grundy walking out carrying a wooden box that looks like a cross between a treasure chest and jewelry box. The woman in the dress is shaking her fist at him as she leans out the window or door.

Woman
You didn’t have to break the window and the door you big jerk!

P9
Cut back to the other people at the séance. Turbaned guy is pasted against the wall in a frozen death scream, the fat phantom stranger is passing out, the zatanna knock off is is cowering with one leg raised and both arms up in a classic “running in fear from the villain” pose.

PAGE EIGHT

P1
Cpt. Marvel back amongst his group and looking proud.

Caption
Fawcett City

Freddy
I guess you didn’t need any backup this time, huh?

Cpt. Marvel
No, chum, I had those devils right where I wanted them.

Off Panel
Marvel Family, your presence is required in my lair.

P2
Same shot but only Uncle Dudley remains. He looks shocked.

P3
Uncle Dudley looks a bit put out.

Dudley
Typical.

P4
Dudley walking away with the loot bags thrown over his shoulder.

Dudley
Ah well, I should at least make sure the candy stays safe.

PAGE NINE

P1
The wizard Shazam sits atop an imposing throne carved out of the rock walls of his own cave. The cave is lined with torches and the statues of the seven deadly sins. The Marvels are now all in superhero mode looking up towards the wiz.

Caption
The Rock of Eternity. Outside of the realms of human knowledge and the lair of the Wizard Shazam.

Shazam
Welcome to my eternal lair Marvel family. I, Shazam, have a request to make of you all.

P2
Over the wizard’s shoulder we see the Marvel’s looking at us.

Cpt. Marvel Jr.
You know us wiz. Whatever you want, you got it.

PAGE TEN

P1
Wizard now down off his throne and talking to Cpt. Marvel directly. A hand on his shoulder.

Shazam
I am troubled by developments in the city of Gotham. I am sure you are aware of the local legend there called Grundy’s Night?

Cpt. Marvel
Sure. It’s a kid’s rhyme isn’t it? Solomon Grundy, born on a Monday.

P2
Still in discussion

Shazam
This is no nursery rhyme my friend. I fear that someone has been dabbling in powers they do not understand and cannot control.

Mary Marvel
What do you mean by “no nursery rhyme?”

P3
Shazam looking on Mary with a bit of pride.

Shazam
Ah, always so incisive and wise my rose between two thorns. You are right to ask. Tonight someone has tried to perform the rituals that allow Solomon Grundy to rise out of Gotham Swamp. Both Grundy’s eternal prison and eternal womb.

Mary
But it didn’t work?

P4
Showing the wizard.

Shazam
Oh the spell worked to rise Grundy from the swamps, but not as the caster expected.

PAGE ELEVEN

P1
Robin clenching his jaw as Grundy looms over him.

Robin
Ouch.

P2
Robin rising and shooting his bat grappling hook at Grundy.

Robin
Welcome back Grundy. Long time no see.

P3
Solomon Grundy is bound with his arms straight to his sides and Robin kicking him in the gut.

Robin thinking
There is no way this is going to turn out well.

P4
Grundy laying on the ground. Robin is standing over him. In the distance a pudgier Solomon Grundy is looming closer with what looks like an old branch.

Robin thinking
This is REALLY not going to turn out well.

P5
Grundy is behind Robin about to smash down on him with both hands.

Robin
Uh oh, bad breath.

P6
Robin jumping over his Robin cycle that Grundy is now smashing instead of Robin

Robin
Son of a…

PAGE TWELVE

P1
Cpt. Marvel looking a bit confused.

Cpt. Marvel
An army of Grundies?

P2
Shazam reproaching him as if he were a misbehaving child.

Shazam
Not quite as many as an actual army corps, but essentially – yes.

Cpt. Marvel
Have they hurt anyone yet?

Shazam
They are trying but are so far unsuccessful.

P3
Mary Marvel looking like she’s figuring something out.

Mary
Wait a minute. Who did you say was in charge of the Grundies?

Shazam
I have not said my dear because this man wishes to remain anonymous. He has shielded his identity from me as best he can.

P4
Shazam conjuring up some glowing blue Solomon Grundies each carrying an item. The one with the mirror, the box and the stick are also there. Add more if you like with random mystical objects.

Shazam
Each of these creatures carries an item with a very specific property in common. Each one of these items has the ability to bind with the soul of its owner.

Beat

Shazam continues
I can only think of one man with the desire to hide away parts of his everlasting soul and to hide his existence from me…

P5
Close up of Shazam’s glowing conjuring ball thing that is in the shape of Felix Faust’s head.

Shazam
…Felix Faust!

P6
Marvel family posing again

Cpt. Marvel
Well Marvel Family. It looks like we’re going to Gotham.

PAGE THIRTEEN

P1
Robin standing over the ruins of his bike with his back against the wall, looking a bit worried at two approaching Grundies, covering their ears to the crack of thunder. There is a bolt of lightning overhead.

Grundy 1
Loud!

P2
The Marvels are looking at the Grundies who are no longer looking at Robin. Cpt. Marvel Jr. is cracking his knuckles.

Cpt. Marvel Jr.
Let’s bust some dead-heads.