Alpha Flight

With my schedule, I have not really given any one project a lot of attention. So it is with this: a script for an “Alpha Flight” movie.

It began as an intellectual exercise. After catching one of Marvel’s hero films a year or so ago, the wife asked: “If you were to make a film of any comic character/title, what would it be?”

Alpha-Flight

I have long been a fan of Alpha Flight, and have been disappointed by the lack of support the title has received from Marvel. This is most likely due to luke-warm profits (how many Americans want to read about a Canadian superteam?), and I can’t blame a business for cutting losses.

Created by John Byrne, Guardian (Marvel editors renaming the character as Vindicator) first appeared during Byrne’s run on X-Men (April 1979), with the team getting its own book in August 1983 (Byrne used the name Guardian, working the rename into the story).

What I have presented here is a work in progress. A very rough 3-page ‘treatment’ of the script-in-progress, this is my reimagining of the characters and events that led to my favorite team, and some of my favorite characters. I hope you enjoy.

Synopsis:

Birth of Guardian, and Alpha Flight.

Prologue:

A Fresh Face

A montage of news clips, fading into news clippings (“Break-In at Am-Can” “Industrial Espionage suspected…” etc.) scattered across a desk, a TV drones in the background (Roxxon Oil purchases Am-Can Petro-Chemical Company facilities at ?).

An attractive young red-headed woman (19-21) sits clipping another article from the daily paper (The Star [Toronto]).

Story takes place almost exclusively in Ottawa, and its surrounding suburbs [Ontario, Canada]. Prologue introduces Heather and James M. (Mac) Hudson; establishes his clash with Jaxon [Exec V-P, Am-Can], departure from Am-Can, and his development of mental response control helmet and software, and mining suit exo-armor. Mac is approached to join Dept. H.

James MacDonald (Mac) Hudson (30ish), a prodigy in engineering, got his B.S. at 17, and holds degrees in computer and electrical engineering, and has done extensive studies of neurology. Mac is about 6 foot, brown eyes, black hair, and clean shaven.

Act One:

Piece of the Establishment

Hudson brought to secret lab under Parliament Hill, Ottowa, tasked with resurrecting Dept. H. (under Department of National Defence (DND), active: 1944-50, 1962-92), introduced to Dr. Langowski, and Dr. Lazarus.

Langowski is a biophysicist; young, tall, and well built (former college football player).

Lazarus is a geneticist, middle age, black hair and beard, well muscled, slightly below average height, secretive and curt. Occasionally drops outdated colloquialisms, but seems unimpressed by even the most advanced equipment. Lazarus seems to be a study of contradictions.

 Their job is to develop a first line defense against super-human threats. Also introduces updated control ‘helmet’

Despite designated program director, not given access to ‘the morgue’, which contains ‘remnants’ from prior incarnations of the Dept.

            Project: ‘Bedlam’ (failed super-soldier)

            Evidence of ties to unknown program “Weapon-X”

            Strange egg. (in cryo; of alien origin [Plodex])

            Original mining suit developed by Mac

Heather, representing Dept. H visits the medical office [at the Sarcee reservation] of one of her college professors, Dr. Twoyoungmen. [picture on desk of young girl (8?); large unadorned wooden box on shelf at eye level]. Formerly a highly revered neurosurgeon, Dr. Twoyoungmen is asked to act as a consultant on an unlabled project Mac has begun reactivating.

A secret organization within a secret organization. Dr. Lazarus is found to be working within ‘the morgue’. Using Dept. H resources and equipment he has begun making hybrid clones from genetic material of the Plodex egg, and “stray” humans (homeless, etc.).

While at Dept. H., Heather finds her way into the morgue, and uncovers Mac’s mining suit. While examining the suit, she is struck from behind.

Act Two:

A New Master

Heather is captured, and Dr. Lazarus smugly states his “immortality”, and lays out his plans for world domination. He straps her to one of the test tables, and departs. His Plodex clones spread out, wrecking havoc throughout Dept. H. Lazarus, wrapped in his new armor and image as “The Master”, walks calmly through the sea of chaos.

Security Chief rallying resistance: Time to fight for the Red and White!

Responding to the alarms, Mac and Walter step out of the office section to see the approaching wave of destruction. The two fall back, formulating a plan.

In executing the plan, Mac and Walter attack the Master, and are soundly defeated. After blasting Mac across the room, the Master collapses the wall and ceiling upon him. Walter is forced back, and pursued by the Plodex clones. He flees down the hall, arriving in his lab; seals the door behind him. Controlling the systems of Dept. H, the Master activates the emergency vent protocols, sucking all air from the lab.

Locked in his lab, Walter is running out of time and air. He is alone, and powerless.

Wounded, Mac struggles to free himself from the wreckage of the lab. With the Plodex clones closing in, he makes his way to his lab, and the newly modified body suit.

Act Three:

Confrontation

Final Fight. To rescue Heather, Mac dons his modified suit. Believing Mac dead, Walter undergoes his process with surprising results. While they tag-team the Master, Heather frees herself, and joins the fight against the plodex clones by donning her helmet and climbing into James old mining harness.

With the Master defeated (dead, with body recovered), our heroes limp home, lick their wounds.

Epilogue:

Additions to the team

In light of recent events, Department H is given a new, narrower, directive: create a super team. In addition to Guardian and Sasquatch, and a lead on a plodex living in seclusion, the ranks are bolstered when Dr. Twoyoungmen introduces the group to a ‘special’ young woman.

Sasquatch: [grinning, looks at Guardian] Any other leads?

Guardian: [a hint of a grin touches the corner of his mouth] A couple.

Camera pans and closes on some folders on Guardian’s desk:

Beaubier, J-M; Beaubier, J-P; Crawley-Jeffries, L.; Dibney, K.; Judd, E.; Killgrave, Z.

[CREDITS]

Credits disolve into dark water that lightens as the camera is lifted to shallower depths. As the camera breaks the surface, we see the shore about 200 yards away. The shore juts out, and is marked by a quaint lighthouse. Beyond the house are thick woods stretching as far as the eye can see. A ‘girl’ (16ish) breaks the surface. Her skin is a soft yellow bordering on green; her hair is a dark green, almost black, and cut short; and her eyes are pure black, shiny. She blinks [dual lids?], and turns to the shore, where a young man is walking towards the water. They wave to each other, and we see her fingers are long, slender, and have webbing between them [webbing recedes as hand lifts from the water].

Suddenly, she freezes, and looks over her shoulder, back to sea.

Masters voice: Come.

[fade to black]

So...Here it is. The cover scan for one of my "titles". Generally, I create story outlines before drawing, but this one was special.

Sadly, the only scanner I have access to at the moment does legal size, so the sides were cut off. I will try to get a proper scan in the near future. The image itself is pencil, with minor inking. Once I get a proper scan, I plan on trying to add some finishing to it.

Inspired by a friend, the title is a psudo-historic adventure tale taking place at the end of the 16th century. The title would begin around 1580, and follow a dashing and charismatic sea-captain around the world. Accompanied by an inquisititve (and perhaps too smart for his own good) ferret, and her crew, Mita & Illert find themselves caught up in civil wars of Europe, jungle explorations in Brazil, and countless other adventures.

Synopsis: Anna Marita, and her faithful companion Illert get in and out of trouble in their search for the important things in life. This includes riches, niceties, but mostly…simply having fun.

"She stood tall, and proud upon the deck. A tri-corner hat tipped forward in a roguish angle above her brow. Her eyes were bright despite the shade, and an impish grin bespoke of unimaginable intentions. The sea air swept gently across the bow, blowing her auburn hair softly upon the breeze. The day was perfect. She was master of the deck, and queen of all she surveyed."

The meaning of silence.

Ok...So there's been a lot of dead air. But I have still been working (at least a little bit). Due to a number of personal events, the idea of digital publication will remain a pipe-dream. I am still fleshing out story arcs for a number of titles/characters, as well as working (very little) on a dream script for an Alpha Flight movie (property of Marvel Comics, but with the success of the Avengers, who knows). The current project consuming my creative time is research for a period piece, but more on that later. I will have a cover-design completed by the end of the month, and hope to have it scanned and posted no later than the 30th.

Priorities

Too much is going on. I end up with further concerns as quick as I can unload them. Due to family obligations and concerns, I admit that I have had next to no time to dedicate to this task. With holidays quickly approaching (and how long each page takes without the proper equipment), I am putting any further webcomic production on hold till the new year. In the off chance that I can lay my hands on all required hardware before then (which I doubt), I may get more up. But don't count on it. For those who may be reading this to which it applies, I have just given a hint on what to expect from Santa.

In the works

Ok...

Here is an in-the-works draft of the cover to The Templar #1.

It is quite time consuming doing all this without the proper equipment, and a complete issue may be too much to hope for at this time. If I stick to only rough-cut (no digital touch-up) , I am not sure how the results will be. Thoughts on the subject are appreciated. As for the design, I was inspired by some old pulp rags I found at the local second-hand bookstore. (I even found an old Nero Wolfe mystery in German!)  As I have been doing a bit of research into the Templars and the Crusades, It seems to have affected my All Hallows Eve.

The missus is to thank for the wonderful seamstressness (it's a word now).

The costume is a decent approximation of what the Tempars wore, and basically the standard worn during the events of "The Templar."

I have not heard back from the one shop, so I am reevaluating my standards. I have to keep this short, but I hope you enjoy the pics.

The Weekend

This past weekend I spent my time in search of hardware and software. I found a shop that might be able to obtain a copy of CS3 for me. I also spoke with them regarding computers and laptops (since I have decided that my current computer is not going to suffice for my needs). I should hear back regarding the program later in the week, while I continue my search for the required hardware. I also have a wish list for some additional programs, but I may need to hold off on those for now.

Work Lag

Ok, mea culpa.

Things have been so tremendously crazy at work for the last week or so, combined with everything else in life. So...I still have not yet gotten a scanner. I am weighing the benifit/cost of getting an entirely new computer as well. Our current one is adequate, but for what I need, I may be asking too much of it. The monitor is far too dark (even with the brightness level all the way up) and the dvd burner (necessary for the program I will be using, as well as the level of backup recommended) requires a little manual assist in opening the tray.  All in all, I think it is time, but with everything else, it might be too cost prohibitive at this time.

On the plus side, I am still drawing. Last night I drew up a cover design for "The Temlar" no. 1. It is strictly pencil at this time, and will probably remain so. I will try getting it posted in the next week or so, so check back. As entire issues in this fashion would be trying to both create, post, and (most of all) read, I will be avoiding such. What I might do is post either a synopsis of some issues (quicker than actually writing and drawing them all), or eventually post the scripts. Either way, we'll see together.