John Sowder -  agentx_@hotmail.com   
THE DEFENDERS-A 4 page Marvel sub.

‘An Average Day’

PAGE ONE. 

Panel one.  Exterior.  Day.  Skyline shot of New York City. 
1 CAPTION:                       
IT’S ANOTHER AVERAGE DAY IN THE CITY.

Panel two. 
Shot of people walking on streets and sidewalks.
2 CAPTION:                        
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO LOSE MYSEL IN THE ANONYMITY OF THE CROWD, BUT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. 

 Panel three.
We see BRUCE BANNER standing in shadows of alley, watching the rush of the crowd go by. 
3 CAPTION:                       
THE SLIGHTEST RUSH OF ADRENALINE WILL TRIGGER A REACTION WITHIN THAT WILL TRANSFORM ME INTO A RAGING BEHEMOTH.

Panel four. 
Closer shot of Banner, we see his face out of the shadows.
4 CAPTION:                        
I SUPPOSE NO DAY IS AVERAGE  FOR DOCTOR ROBERT BRUCE BANNER. 

PAGE TWO

Panel one.
Shot of New York City crowd as we see PATRICIA WALKER (A.K.A. HELLCAT), KYLE RICHOMND (A.K.A. NIGHTHAWK II) AND BRUNNHILDE THE VALKYRIE walking along the streets.  Hellcat and Nighthawk II  are dressed in their normal street clothes.  Valkyrie is wearing a long overcoat over her regular custom.  Hellcat appears to be very happy and throws her arms up in air in joy as the other two look around them. CREDITS and TITLE appear here. 

 SOWDER, DEFENDERS pg 2

 PAGE TWO, cond

1 HELLCAT:                          IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE BIG APPLE!  I LOVE THE RESTLESS ENERGY … THE FRENETIC NERVOUSNESS …  

 Panel two.  
Close shot of Valkyrie’s face, she seems stunned by what she is looking at. 

2 VALKYRIE:                        NO! 

Panel three. 
From the point of view of Valkyrie, we see that several men and women walking near a dark alley is marked with the unearthly ‘deathglow’ that only valkyrie herself can perceive. 

Panel four. 
Valkyrie rips into her coat and pulls out her sword DRAGONFANG.  Nighthawk and Hellcat seem surprised.

3 NIGHTHAWK II:                WHOAH!  CHILL, VAL.

4 HELLCAT:                          BRUNNHILDE, WHAT’S WRONG?

 PAGE THREE

Panel one. 
Something resembling a flash of lightning erupts from the darkness of alley and attaches itself to the people seen with the deathglow on previous page. 

1 FX:                                       SHZZZKT!!

Panel two. 
The people are seen collapsing, their energy and life is being absorbed by a yet-to-be-seen creature in the darkness. 

2 HELLCAT (off panel):        WHAT-WHAT’S HAPPENING?  THOSE PEOPLE ARE WASTING AWAY BEFORE OUR EYES!

Panel three. 
Valkryie throws Dragonfang into the dark alleyway. 

Panel four. 
Dragonfang flies towards its intended victim.  We see blood red eyes glowing in the darkness.

Panel five. 
A woman’s hands clasp Dragonfang and stops it in air.  

            SOWDER, DEFENDERS pg 3

 PAGE THREE, cond

Panel six. 
A FEMALE VAMPIRE is seen emerging from shadows, a mischievous smile on face.

PAGE FOUR

Panel one. 
Shot of our three heroes, perplexed. 

1 NIGHTHAWK II:                           UH .. VAL, THIS A FRIEND OF YOURS?

2 VALKYRIE:                                    NEVER HAD THE PLEASURE. 

Panel two. 
With a wave of her hands, the vampire summons darkness around her.  Black shadowy tentacles arise from alleys and dark corners of city. 

Panel three. 
Show Bruce Banner, look of shock as shadows sweep across the area where he is.

3 BANNER:                                       !? 

Panel four. 
Vampire looks surprised when she hears a the off panel voice of Dr. Strange.

4 DR. STRANGE (off panel):           VAMPIRES.

5 DR. STRANGE (off panel):             THEIR GOAL AND PLEASURE IS TO SUCK ALL POSITIVE ENERGY FROM EVERYONE AND EVERY SITUATION, --

Panel five.
Doctor Strange stands behind our three heroes, with light coming from the Eye of Agamotto amulet, driving away darkness. 

6 DR. STRANGE:                              --TO DRAG US DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL OF MISERY.  TO INFECT AND INFEST US WITH THEIR SICKNESS.

7 DR. STRANGE:                               HOW I LOATHE YOU AND YOUR KIND.

Defenders

 “Kicking the Bee Hive”

 by Navik vonBathory - nocturne@new.rr.com
Copyright©2002 Navik vonBathory

 PAGE ONE (five panels)
Panel 1: A long driveway leads up to a gorgeous, four-story mansion surrounded by thick woods.

CAP:                            “THANKS FOR MEETING ME HERE.  WE CAN’T WASTE ANY TIME.” --

CAP:                            -- “MOST REFERENCES IN MY BOOKS REFER TO HER AS INCISOR.   WHILE HER WICKEDNESS NEEDS TO BE STOPPED, IT’S MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE SAVE THE PEOPLE SHE HAS LOCKED AWAY.”

Panel 2:
The Defenders in the woods, planning.

HELLCAT:                   SO SHE BREEDS HUMANS?

DR. STRANGE:             CORRECT.  IT’S HER WAY OF LIVING OFF PEOPLE AND AVOIDING THE AUTHORITIES.

VALKYRIE:                 SO WHAT’S THE PLAN?

Panel 3:
Hulk tires of waiting and leaps into action.

HULK:                         HULK GOT PLAN.

Panel 4:
Nighthawk takes after the Hulk.  The rest charge forward (Namor and Surfer flying).

NAMOR:
                    NORIN, QUICKLY, MEET ME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MANSION.

HELLCAT:
                  SOMEONE FORGOT TO BRING THE HULK-LEASH.

Panel 5:
Hulk crashes down through the roof and through every story.

SFX:                            THOOM!

PAGE TWO (five panels)

Panel 1:
Nighthawk swoops down into Incisor’s bedroom through the hole in the ceiling.  Seductively, she sits up on her bed.  Two statues stand at the end of her bed.

INCISOR:                    OOH, SOMEONE CUTE TO PLAY WITH.  SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE GREEN MONSTER THAT DROPPED BY.

Panel 2:
Incisor approaches Nighthawk.  He stands frozen, enchanted.  The two statues turn into shadow demons under her control.

INCISOR:                   DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?

Panel 3:
Namor crashes through the window and picks up Incisor mid-flight.

NAMOR:                      THIS WAY, FOUL DEMON!

Panel 4:
Outside of the mansion, Namor smashes his way out of the mansion’s top level and chucks Incisor at the Surfer.

Panel 5:
Surfer blasts at Incisor, but she dematerializes, and the blast tears into Namor.

INCISOR:                   OH, I’M SORRY, WAS I SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE BRUNT OF THAT BLAST?

NAMOR:                     AHHHH-

 PAGE THREE (five panels)

Panel 1:
Hulk wanders down toward a large steel door.

CAP:                             MEANWHILE, THE HULK INADVERTANTLY WANDERS TOWARD HAVING THE PERFECT PLAN.

Panel 2:
He rips the door off with both hands to find a colony of hundreds of frightened people (three generations worth) in tattered clothing.

HULK:                          HULK CRUSH!

Panel 3:
The people stare forward, not wanting to step closer to the green beast.

HULK:                         WHAT YOU STAND STILL FOR?  GO FREE, PUNY PEOPLE!

Panel 4: Outside of the mansion.  Hulk smashes his way out.  Namor lies unconscious on the ground.  Dr. Strange weaves mystic energies and Incisor has a half-sphere of darkness closing in on the Surfer.  The Surfer retaliates with blasts with cosmic energy, but to no effect.  Hellcat swings up at Incisor and kicks her in the neck.

PAGE FOUR (four panels)

Panel 1:
Hundreds of slaves pour out into the yard through the hole the Hulk made.

CAP:                            FINALLY, INCISOR’S HOMEGROWN HUMANS FIND FREEDOM.

Panel 2:
Strange strips the dark orb apart, revealing Valkyrie.   The Hulk speeds into the air and punches Incisor, knocking her far far away.  Two shadow demons crash into the ground and shatter, as Nighthawk flies out from the hole Namor created.

Panel 3:
Incisor lands gracefully on a tree branch.

INCISOR:                   -SIGH- I WAS CONTENT LIVING IN SOLITUDE.  BUT IF THEY WANT TO PLAY, THEN LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

Panel 4:
The group is gathered on the ground.  Namor sits up, recovering.  Incisor’s slaves mill about.

NAMOR:                      AFTER WE TAKE CARE OF INCISOR, SILVER IMBECILE…

DR. STRANGE:            WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR HER NOW.  THESE PEOPLE NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.  WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE’S DONE TO THEM.

VALKYRIE:             THERE’S THREE GENERATIONS OF THEM...  I SWEAR THAT SHE WILL SEE DEFEAT BEFORE I REACH VALHALLA.

The Defenders:
"Incisor's Bite!"

Plot for Four Pages
Prepared for Patrick Carlucci
By Robb Coutinho - Veriatus01@cox.net
First Draft/ February 4, 2002

PAGE ONE
1) The top half of the page is an establishing splash shot of Dr. Stephen Strange's living room. The Doc stands in the center of the room. His Cloak of Levitation flows around and behind him. The shadow of his specially designed window falls across the floor he stands upon. There is an ornately covered sofa before him and a throne-like armchair on his right. Seated upon the sofa are Nighthawk, Valkyrie and Hellcat. The three hero's sit attentively, although, with different looks on their faces. Nighthawk stares with open adoration at the Doc, whereas, Valkyrie stares somewhat Bimbo-esquely [Note: picture Chrissy Snow a la Three's Company], and Hellcat lounges sensually with bedroom eyes shining through her mask. As a study in contrast...standing behind the sofa are the Silver Surfer and the Incredible Hulk. The Surfer appears disgruntled at being summoned - ONCE AGAIN - to another Defender's meeting. The Hulk is the poster boy for Anger Management Therapy. Teeth gnashing and jaw squared and cubed to the nth degree! In the armchair sits Prince Namor, the Submariner. His hands clutch the edge of the armrests, his tense buttocks barely scrape the front embroidery of the cushion, and his legs and feet positioned to launch himself at the Sorcerer Supreme.

2) The bottom left panel is a close-up of Dr. Strange, his long, black, handle-bar moustache expertly groomed. His is patiently explaining the reason for his summoning the heroes and their current situation as though he stands before a classroom of fourth graders. "I've summoned you all here via the mystic power of Vishanti. The awesome eye of Agamotto has revealed to me once again that Earth is threatened by outside forces from the beyond!"


3) The bottom center panel pulls back to a medium [head and shoulders] profile shot of the Doc. In the lower right hand corner, Prince Namor's claw fingered hand and gold bracelet can be seen grasping for Dr. Strange's face. The Doctor continues speaking, oblivious to Namor's threat. "A disturbance has sent ripples across the eldritch ether and alerted me the presence of some Other on this plane. This creature is fast approaching and I fear there is little time to prepare. I apologize for the abrupt arrival some of you experienced and I thank those of you who responded so quickly to my 'natural' summons." Off-panel just above the grasping hand, Namor grumbles, "HOW DARE YOU!"

4) The 'page-turner' panel: The lower right panel is a long [full body] shot of Doctor Strange head on. The wall behind him is crumbling as eight massive fingers [four per side] punch through the wall of the home of Earth's Mightiest Sorcerer! [Note: the eight fingers are steel girders that once belonged to a warehouse that has been transformed into a colossal Destroyer.] The Doc, panic stricken, exclaims, "BY THE VISHANTI, IT IS HERE!" SFX: RUUMMMBLE!

PAGE TWO
1) This panel runs the width of the page. The same long shot as the previous panel. The wall is torn off the side of the house and lifted into the air. Dr. Strange is diving off-panel to the right. [Note: Maybe his feet and ankles are visible?] Namor is on his feet pointing out the gaping hole. Dust and debris cloud the air. Namor exclaims, "What foul sorcery is this, Strange? Who is here?" SFX: SHHRASH!

2), 3) & 4) Three panels all show the ragged hole from a medium to long shot perspective. In the first panel gray clouds of dust fill the opening. In the second panel a dim outline of a female figure approaches through the haze. Finally, in the third panel we see Incisor, in all her feminine glory. She wears a wicked smile and very little else. She is posed seductively on the hand of another Destroyer she transformed from a factory.

5) The bottom panel is a wide 3/4 shot of Incisor addressing the Defenders. We see Incisor, in a seductive pose, from slightly behind - mostly her backside and part of her face. The Defenders are arranged as follows from right to left; Namor is in full fighter stance, fists clenched, legs bent and muscles tensed, but his face is frozen in a dopey, love puppy grin. The Hulk stares at Incisor in wonder, with his mouth pursed in a little 'O'. Clinging to the Hulk's back is Hellcat. Her arms wrapped tight around the Hulk's massive neck and shoulders. Her eyes are wide beneath her mask. Valkyrie still sits on the sofa, much the same look on her face as in panel one, page one. Behind her stands the Surfer, his chrome face beaming with adoration. Nighthawk is helping Dr. Strange to his feet, but both men have their eyes pinned on Incisor. Incisor asks, "I seek the Sorcerer Supreme. The human male called Dr. Strange?"


PAGE THREE
1) The upper left panel is a medium shot of Dr. Strange and Nighthawk. Strange is pushing away the over-helpful Nighthawk. Nighthawk doesn't seem to notice as he is still ogling Incisor. Dr. Strange seems oddly mesmerized as he answers, "I am Dr. Stephen Strange, Master of the Mystic arts. Who are you and what do you want?"

2) The upper right panel is a medium shot of Incisor. Her smirk is somewhere between the promise of sex and the threat of pain. She says, "I have returned to this plane to discover that my brother's and sister's-in-blood have all been destroyed by you! Even my master and lover, Dracula, is gone!"

3) The center left panel is another medium shot of the Doc. He approaches Incisor as if in a trance. Her hand is seen held up before his face as she guides him to her. He explains, "Yes. I eradicated the virulent vampire taint from this plane. Every nightwalker perished. Dracula was a cancer and I was bound by my mystic oath to destroy him."

4) The center right panel is a close up of Incisor. Her face is contorted in rage. Her fangs are sprung. She shrieks, "Then it is fortunate that I am a daywalker and therefore unaffected by your malevolent magic. If I can never see my beloved master and his family again, then it is only fitting that you feel Incisor's bite!"

5) The bottom left panel is a close-up of Dr. Strange. Incisor's hand is glowing within a dark aura and growing reptilian claws. Dr. Strange's face is bathed in this glaring anti-light. Dr. Strange exclaims, "YOG-SOGGOTH! MY EYES!"

6) The bottom right 'page-turner' panel is a close-up of Dr. Strange. Incisor's hand is gone [Note: Perhaps just a few fingers and claws are visible at lower panel's edge.] and the Doc's eyes are completely black and blind! His jaw dropped in a soundless scream.

PAGE FOUR
1), 2), 3), 4) & 5) [Note: These five panels can be arranged however you see fit. Preferably scattered all over the page in such a way so the reader's eye tracks left to right, top to bottom into the next page. What needs to be seen is:]

a. Hellcat leaping at Incisor with claws outstretched. Hellcat is screaming, "What have you done, bloodsucker?"

b. Namor, Hulk, Surfer, and Nighthawk snapping out of their trances. Staggering or unsteady on their feet. Moans and groans, "HUH? WHUH- GRRUHH?"

c. Valkyrie comforting Dr. Strange. Waving her hand in front of his sightless black eyeballs.

d. Namor, Hulk, Surfer, and Nighthawk jump Incisor all at once in one panel.

e. And in the next panel Namor, Hulk, Surfer, and Nighthawk are instantly swept away by a gigantic backhand from the Destroyer. However, Surfer and Nighthawk, both flying, manage to swerve and evade. SFX: FWAP!



TO BE CONTINUED?

Troy Anderson - TAnderson@transy.edu
2/7/02

DEFENDERS PROPOSAL

 CAST OF CHARACTERS

DR. STRANGE
 Dr. Stephen Strange used to be the greatest surgeon ever. That was until a car crash robbed him of the grace that once dwelled in his hands. Thus, he was sent down the path to becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. But how much magic does it take to repair a once perfect life?

SILVER SURFER
Norrin Radd is a stranger in a strange land. Forever lost from his homeworld of Zenn-La. He makes due with his new home, Earth. But, can he deal with his new friends?

HULK
Dr. Bruce Banner was once a world-renowned nuclear physicist. He once didn’t have worry about murdering people. He once didn’t have to worry about controlling a dangerous green giant. Things change.

SUB-MARINER
Namor of Atlantis, was once King. He was once an Invader, a bum, a businessman and an enemy of the World. Now, he’s forced to live with five of the most intolerable people in the world. What’s an amphibian to do?

VALKYRIE
From the Mead Halls of Asgard to the dirty streets of Boston, the Valkyrie strives to keep her dignity in the mortal world. But, she swears if she has to deal with one more crack about her height, she’ll gut the next mortal she meets. She’s a warrior born, and deserves the respect of one.

NIGHTHAWK
Kyle Richmond, is the most underrated hero around. He is what Captain America strives to be, what Iron Man can’t upgrade to, and he swings better than Spider-Man. And he knows it.

BACKGROUND

Following current continuity, this story will take place at least 6 months after the events of “The Order”. The series currently dealing with the Defenders. The team isn’t as hated as the X-Men. But, they’re not as welcomed as the Avengers. In addition, they all hate working together. They must learn how to function as a team to succeed. So, where does that leave them? No support, no money, and no direction. The World’s Mightiest Heroes? Not yet.

SPLASH PAGE

 TITLE: (in a creepy Gene Colan era “Tomb of Dracula” style)

THE FIRST TASTE

Panel 1:
Boston at daybreak. The sun is steadily coming up, as the darkness of the previous night, begins to fade back into the abyss. The picture should be of the Boston metro area around 6 a.m. . Some traffic, with a wide shot of all the skyscrapers.

PAGE 2

First panel:
A shot of an old, abandoned AIM (Advanced Ideas and Mechanics) research building.

Second panel:
A blur of a dark robed person, rips what appears to be a vault door of its hinges. The door should appear as though it were to leap off the page at the reader.

Third panel:
ZOOM in on a vial full of velvet colored liquid. It’s in a rather thick tube, with some writing on it.

Fourth panel:
The dark figure’s hand wraps around the vial, and takes it.

PAGE 3

First panel:
The sunlight begins to creep through a broken window inside the AIM building.

PAGE 4

First panel:
The dark figure pulls a hypo out of her pocket, and opens it.  Close up on her hands.

Second panel:
She cracks the vial and pours it’s content into the hypo.

DARK FIGURE: This better work.

Third panel:
Close-up on her slamming the hypo into her heart, and pushing the plunger.

PAGE 5

SPLASH PAGE
She tosses her head back and screams at the top of her lungs. This needs to be a shot from above her, as she looks up. Blood leaking in tiny streams out of her mouth, eyes, and nose.

PLOT/WHAT’S TO COME?

If our Defenders proposal were to be accepted, I would like to develop the story into one part of a 4-issue story arc. And that initial 4-issue arc, would tie into a 12-issue arc.

The first arc would deal with the intro of Incisor, how she became what she is. The team moving to Boston, reforming after the events of “The Order”. Great moments to be experienced with the team, readjusting to each other. Then, the eventual fight with Incisor. Where she reveals a bit of her master plan. Plus, we find out that she is the Marvel Universe’s last vampire. Now enhanced, due to the injection in issue#1. She wishes to create a new race of vampires, unwillingly knowing that she is helping Mephisto’s master plan.

Incisor, our new villain, will be revealed to be a disciple of Mephisto. Mephisto, has dispatched her to test the Defenders, to see if they can turned. The reason for that is, Mephisto is starting to feel the beginnings of a revolt in Hell. He’s trying to manifest a super powered army to ensure his reign.

 But, our heroes refuse and are trapped in Hell. As a battle rages for the Throne of the Netherworld, our heroes are forced to revisit the worst fears and lowest points of their lives. Will they escape in one piece? Or will they become another soul trapped in the lakes of fire?