Noble Larimer
04-13-2005, 10:27 PM
ISSUE THREE
Page 1
This page should be a series of caption boxes, and panels.
The first panel is a close up of Blaze zipping up his old racing leathers. This is a close up on his chest as he zips up.
2nd panel is a shot of him putting on his racing gloves.
3rd panel is of him sliding on one of his racing boots.
4th panel is of him putting on his brown trench coat.
5th panel is a shot of him lighting a cigarette. He also has on dark sunglasses as well. The torn bloody strip of cloth is still tied around his head.
These panels are all extreme close ups of him as he’s doing these various things.
Caption boxes that will run down the page.
Eli caption; “zat you Blaze? ‘ell I ain’t seen you going on four years now. What brings ya out ta these parts?”
Blaze caption; “Came for my gear.”
Eli; “Damn it, John! Whatdja have ta go and say a damn fool thing like that for? Ya told me I was ta put you down if’n ya ever came lookin’ for that stuff. Tol’ me the only way’d you be lookin’ to get yer gear is if’n ya wasn’t in yer right mind no mores, and I’d a be doin’ the world a favor by puttin’ ya down.”
Blaze; “I know what I said, Eli.”
Eli; “So what in tarnation’s got ya…”
Blaze; “Zarathos. He killed Emma.”
Eli; “Mother Mary and Joseph. I…I… I don’t know what ta say John…is Craig…is he…?”
Blaze; “Don’t know. He either wasn’t there, or Zarathos has him. Either way, I aim to find my boy.”
Eli; “Jesus John, what are ya planning on doin’?”
Page 2
Full page shot.
John is riding on his old stunt bike. He has on his racing leathers, brown trench coat, dark sunglasses and a cig hanging out of his mouth as he rockets down the darkened highway. The tails of his trench coat are flapping in the breeze behind him.
Caption; “Do? What I’m gonna do is send that demonic bastard back ta hell, and kill every son of a bitch that gets in my way.”
Page 3
1st panel
Caption box; “New York.”
2nd Caption box; “Michael Badalino. A man whose life has spun totally out of his control. From decorated detective, to spirit of vengeance, everything Michael has strived for in life has turned to dust in his hands. His quest to bring Ghost Rider to justice led to him being imbued with the essence of Vengeance. He quickly lost control of his alter ego, and embarked on a brutal killing spree. The guilty and innocent alike feel before his wrath. Realizing the error of his ways, Michael took his own life, only to find himself a guest in Mephisto‘s netherworld. Fighting his way back to life, and crawling from the gates of hell themselves, Michael did the only thing he could.
Went insane.
Now a guest of the state of New York‘s mental rehabilitation program, he fights a daily battle to keep Vengeance bottled up deep inside himself. A battle, bit by bit, that he is losing.”
Full page shot. This is a shot of Badalino in the mental facility. He’s in a padded room, sitting in the corner with his arms around his legs, and his knees pulled up tight against his face.
Page 4
1st panel
This is a shot of the front desk of the institute. A cute young nurse is flirting with one of the orderlies. She is chewing gum and has pulled a bit out of her mouth and is twirling it around her finger.
Nurse; “Don’t knock it till you try it is all I’m saying, hun. I got a break coming up in two hours or so. What say you, me, and that nightstick of yours disappear into the maintenance room for a little physical therapy?”
Intern; “Hey whatever..”
2nd panel
He turns his head down the hallway as something has caught his attention.
Intern; “You can’t be in here, buddy! Visiting hours was over hours ago!”
3rd panel
The hallway is darkened and the hall is lined with mirrored walls. There is a shadowy figure standing in the darkness. You can’t make anything out but the general shape of a man.
Intern off panel; “Hey! Yeah, I’m talkin’ ta you pal!“
4th panel
There is a blinding flash of light as the shadow figure transforms into Zarathos. The light from his transformation is throwing sinister shadows across the mirrored hallway.
Page 5
1st panel
The nurse at the front desk screams as the orderly drops his nightstick.
Orderly; “Wh…what are you!?”
2nd panel
As Zarathos moves down the mirrored hallway, the mirrors are warping from the heat, (Like the scene from Superman3 when supes heat visions the mirror.)
3rd panel
Zarathos pops out his fire blade from the back of his wrist.
Z; “Death.”
Page 6
1st panel
This is a shot once again of Badalino. The nurse’s screams are echoing through his room. He is covering his ears while he rocks back and forth.
Badalino; “Not my fault. Not my fault. Not my fault.” over and over again.
2nd panel
The door to Badalino’s room is ripped off its hinges.
3rd panel
Badalino stands up quickly hugging the wall in fear; “I can’t have visitors! No!”
4th panel
Badalino is walking towards the door. The lights in the hallway are flickering off and on, throwing shadows into the now open doorway.
Badalina; “You shouldn’t be here. I was bad. Yes, very bad.”
5th panel
Badalino is punching and hitting himself in the side of the head; “I was bad, and I need to be punished! No visitors for bad boys!”
Page 7
1st panel
Michael is sticking his head out the door and looking down the hallway. The hallway is a mess. The door is lying on the floor about ten feet away. The lights are flickering off and on, the mirrors in the hall are warped, some broken. This is a straight shot of the hallway so we can’t see the ceiling.
Badalino; “Hello? My door has been broken, and needs to be fixed. I can get out. Mustn’t let me out!”
2nd panel
This is a worm’s eye shot looking from the floor up past Michael and to the ceiling. Zarathos is scuttling around on the ceiling a few feet directly over Michael’s head. Badalino is completely unaware of Z above him.
3rd panel
This is the same shot as Zarathos is reaching down for Badalino’s head.
Michael; “Mustn’t let him out. I can feel him scratching at my mind! Vengeance mustn’t be set loose! Please!…Please fix my door!”
Page 8
1st panel
Zarathos grabs hold of Michael’s head. Digging his bony fingers into the top of his head and palming it like a basketball.
Michael is screaming as blood runs down his forehead.
2nd panel
Zarathos is still on the ceiling and has drug Michael up to his level. Zarathos has pivoted his head around at a strange angle in order to look Michael in the eyes. Badalino has his arms around Zarathos‘, struggling to get Zarathos’ fingers from his scalp.
Michael; “Let me go! I’ve been good. No penance stare for Michael. No sir! I kept Vengeance locked up deep inside so he couldn’t hurt anybody! You…arrghhhh…you let me go!”
3rd panel
Zarathos gets an evil grin on his face; “You think I’m Dan. How quaint. Blaze made the same mistake. He‘s since found out otherwise.”
4th panel
Michael gets a glint in his eye to show that he’s kind of snapped back to reality a bit.
M; “Zarathos. We…ungh…we killed you!”
Page 9
1st panel
Zarathos; “Silly boy. You can’t kill a demon. Just send him back to hell.
To wait and scheme.
Enough. You have something that belongs to me, and I’m here to reclaim it.”
Zarathos is running his other hand across Michael’s chest. He has his boots wedged against the ceiling to keep them from falling.
2nd panel
Zarathos; “A little piece of myself that Mephisto gave you.”
3rd panel
Badalino; “You? My power came from the spirits of Vengeance! An order intrusted with the safeguarding of..”
4th panel
Zarathos laughs; “Stupid worm! Is that what Mephisto told you? He stole that power from me! Took me apart, bit by bit, and divided my power amongst you, and your undeserving brethren! Well no more! I’m here to reclaim what’s mine!”
Page 10
1st panel
Badalino, blood still running down his forehead from the wounds Zarathos’ fingers are digging into his scalp; “You’ll have to kill me first! I’ve kept Vengeance in check for 15 years. It’s cost me everything, even my sanity, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting that inhuman thing out of it’s cage again!”
2nd panel
Zarathos is running his hand lower on Michael’s chest, across his lower ribs.
Zarathos; “That wasn’t a request, Michael my boy.”
3rd panel
Zarathos jams two of his skeletal fingers into Michael’s side. He is running them under the skin, and across the top of one of his lower ribs. Badalino is of course screaming as blood streams down his chest from the wound.
Zarathos; “I’ve discovered something over the millenia I’ve spent in hell. No matter the brave front you mortals put up, how tough you like to act, the false bravado…”
4th panel
Zarathos flicks his wrist and there is a snap sound coming from Michael’s chest.
Zarathos; “…inflict enough pain..”
Page 11
1st panel
Zarathos is pulling his fingers out of Michael’s side. He is pulling out one of his ribs along with it.
Zarathos; “…enough raw agony…”
2nd panel
Zarathos is holding Michael’s snapped off, bloody rib bone up to Michael’s face. Michael is of course still screaming.
Zarathos; “…and they’ll do anything to escape it.”
3rd panel
Badalino’s skin starts to melt off as he begins changing into Vengeance. Still screaming.
4th panel
Zarathos gets a demonic smile on his face; “Yeeeeeessss.”
5th panel
He throws Badalino to the floor who is still in the midsts of changing.
Page 12
1st panel
Full page shot. Vengeance is now fully transformed. He has his bone chain in one hand, and in his other one of the spikes from his shoulder. (He can remove the giant shoulder spikes and throw them)
Vengeance; “You wanted me you son of a bitch. Come and get me!”
Page 13
1st panel
Zarathos drops to the ground.
2nd panel
He crosses his wrists in front of his face.
3rd panel
His two fire blades pop into view.
Zarathos; “So eager to die, are we?”
4th panel
They are both running towards each other down the hallway. Weapons at the ready.
Page 14
1st panel
Blaze is riding his bike down the dark and deserted highway like a bat out of hell.
Caption box; “Been a long time since I’ve done this. Wind in my face, bike motor rumbling beneath me. Despite everything, hell despite myself, I’m starting to find that I’ve missed this.”
2nd panel
Up in the distance on the side of the road is a small seedy motel. There is one of those huge neon arrow vacancy signs flashing away in the night.
Caption box; “Sometimes, I have to wonder. Wonder what my life would have been like if I’d never made that deal. Would I have married Roxanne? Would I still be selling out shows across the country? Or would I still be the same miserable fuck who’s life has been one shit storm after another?”
3rd panel
Blaze has stopped at a stop sign. The motel is directly off to his left.
Caption box; “One thing I always did hate about the open road. Too much time for you to…eh?”
4th panel
Blaze turns his head, and looks at the motel.
Page 15
1st panel
Blaze turns his bike, and pulls into the gravel parking lot of the motel.
Caption; “I’ve got the strangest feeling in the back of my mind.”
2nd panel
He is driving slowly across the parking lot. He is looking over to his left at the doors of the rooms as he slowly passess them. He has a puzzled look on his face.
Caption box; “Like I’ve forgotten to do something, even though I know I haven’t. Ever left your house, and you just get this overwhelming feeling that you left the stove on, or a faucet running, even though you know you didn’t? This feeling of something you haven’t done…that’s what’s rattling around in my head.”
3rd panel
Blaze stops his bike. The motel has angled in front of him so there is a room door directly in front of his bike. His headlight is still on, but the front of the bike is pointed a bit off to the left so it’s flashing on the motel wall.
Caption; “I’ve never seen this place before, hell I don’t even know where I am, but I have the damndest feeling that I forgot something in this room.”
4th panel
Blaze turns the bike’s handlebars, and the light shines on the door number. It’s #13.
Caption; “13. Perfect. Just had to be 13.”
Page 16
1st panel
Blaze is getting off his bike.
Blaze; “Might as well get this over with.”
2nd panel
Blaze’s hand is reaching out for the doorknob.
3rd panel
Blaze stops. Blaze; “This is stupid. I need to be out tracking Zarathos. Not…and now I’m talking to myself.”
4th panel
Blaze turns around back towards his bike; “Screw this.”
Page 17
1st panel
A ghostly voice comes from inside the room. “Blaze.”
2nd panel
John stops in his tracks.
Caption box; “That wasn’t cool.”
3rd panel
He turns around and looks over his shoulder.
Caption box; “I don’t know who or what’s in that room, but it knows my name. Definetly not cool.”
4th panel
The door creaks open by itself. It’s pitch black in the room.
Caption box; “This just gets better and better…Get a grip, John.”
5th panel
John pulls his shotgun from behind his back.
Caption; “Wanna play games? Fine, lets play.”
Page 18
1st panel
John pushes the door of the motel room open with the barrel of his shotgun.
John; “Avon calling.”
2nd panel
John walks into the darkness of the room.
Caption box; “As soon as I cross the threshold into that room it hits me. You ever stick your hand in a bag of apples? Digging around for the sweetest, reddest one you can find, only to stick your hand in a rotten one? That feeling of revulsion you get? Add to that a smell that can only be described as rotten meat that’s sat in the hot sun for two weeks to the point of putrification, and a distinct odor that can only be sulfur. Add it all together and I know what’s waiting for me in this room.”
Rest of 18 and 19
Caption box; “Mephisto.”
This is a wide shot as John has litterely walked into hell. Fires raging as far as the eye can see. Demons flying in the distance, people being burned and tortured all around. Sitting directly in front of Blaze on a throne of flesh and bone is Mephisto.
Mephisto; “Welcome to hell, Blaze. I’ve been expecting you.”
Page 20
1st panel
John is putting a ciggie in his mouth. He looks calm and collected. The fires of hell reflecting and dancing in his sunglasses.
John; “Cut the shit.
Save the smoke and mirrors for the rubes. You want to talk to me, then talk to me.”
2nd panel
Mephisto looks enraged. He has fire dancing from the corners of his eyes.
Mephisto; “You dare talk to me in such a manner! I’ll flay the flesh from you bones, you..”
3rd panel
Blaze slings his shotgun over his shoulder; “Yeah, I dare sunshine. I’ve seen your song and dance before, buddy. Didn’t impress me then, doesn’t impress me now. You forget, I’m one of the few people walking this earth that’s actually beaten you at your own game.
Y’know what? Screw this.”
4th panel
Blaze is turning around getting ready to walk out of the room.
Blaze; “I’ve got better things to do than sit around and jaw with an aggrandizing, self centered prick like you.”
5th panel
Blaze has his hand on the knob.
Mephisto from behind him; “Wait. I…damn you for making me say this!”
Page 21
1st panel
Blaze turns around and the motel room has reverted back to its normal state. Mephisto has gained a more human appearance. He even seems a bit small and unimportant.
Mephisto; “I need your help.”
2nd panel
Blaze looks angry; “You need my help? I came to you for help once! You took the pure intentions of an innocent boy, and twisted them around so badly…I’d tell you to go to hell, but it’d be a bit redundant wouldn’t it? I wouldn‘t piss in your mouth if your gums were on fire, pal.”
3rd panel
Mephisto; “It’s Zarathos.”
4th panel
Blaze; “No shit its Zarathos! Notice my lack of an eye? Think I fell asleep with a lit cigerette? That son of a bitch took it! Your pet demon not minding you? Call someone who gives a shit!”
5th panel
Mephisto in an almost pleading tone; “You don’t understand! None of you do! He’s not what you think! He’s an ancient evil, and I fear his time has come round again.”
Page 22
1st panel
This is a shot of Vengeance’s skull. It’s a close up glaring out at the reader.
Caption box; “He’s out there now. Seeking the scattered fragments of his power.”
2nd panel
Pull back and we see that it is only Vengeance’s severed head. Zarathos has decapitated him and is holding his skull aloft towards the heavens with both hands.
Caption box; “Power that I myself divided, and hid from him. For fear of what he was, and what he would have become.”
3rd panel
A blast of lightning hits Zarathos and the skull.
Caption box; “If he regains the three fragments of his power. If he makes himself whole once more…”
4th panel
Zarathos is standing there. He is a little bulkier than he was before. Kind of an amalgamation of the size he was and the size of Vengeance. He also has metal spikes running down his shoulders and arms, and he has longer canines, almost fang like in length. He is even more demonic and foreboding looking than he was before.
Caption box; “He’ll unmake creation!”
TO BE CONTINIUED
Page 1
This page should be a series of caption boxes, and panels.
The first panel is a close up of Blaze zipping up his old racing leathers. This is a close up on his chest as he zips up.
2nd panel is a shot of him putting on his racing gloves.
3rd panel is of him sliding on one of his racing boots.
4th panel is of him putting on his brown trench coat.
5th panel is a shot of him lighting a cigarette. He also has on dark sunglasses as well. The torn bloody strip of cloth is still tied around his head.
These panels are all extreme close ups of him as he’s doing these various things.
Caption boxes that will run down the page.
Eli caption; “zat you Blaze? ‘ell I ain’t seen you going on four years now. What brings ya out ta these parts?”
Blaze caption; “Came for my gear.”
Eli; “Damn it, John! Whatdja have ta go and say a damn fool thing like that for? Ya told me I was ta put you down if’n ya ever came lookin’ for that stuff. Tol’ me the only way’d you be lookin’ to get yer gear is if’n ya wasn’t in yer right mind no mores, and I’d a be doin’ the world a favor by puttin’ ya down.”
Blaze; “I know what I said, Eli.”
Eli; “So what in tarnation’s got ya…”
Blaze; “Zarathos. He killed Emma.”
Eli; “Mother Mary and Joseph. I…I… I don’t know what ta say John…is Craig…is he…?”
Blaze; “Don’t know. He either wasn’t there, or Zarathos has him. Either way, I aim to find my boy.”
Eli; “Jesus John, what are ya planning on doin’?”
Page 2
Full page shot.
John is riding on his old stunt bike. He has on his racing leathers, brown trench coat, dark sunglasses and a cig hanging out of his mouth as he rockets down the darkened highway. The tails of his trench coat are flapping in the breeze behind him.
Caption; “Do? What I’m gonna do is send that demonic bastard back ta hell, and kill every son of a bitch that gets in my way.”
Page 3
1st panel
Caption box; “New York.”
2nd Caption box; “Michael Badalino. A man whose life has spun totally out of his control. From decorated detective, to spirit of vengeance, everything Michael has strived for in life has turned to dust in his hands. His quest to bring Ghost Rider to justice led to him being imbued with the essence of Vengeance. He quickly lost control of his alter ego, and embarked on a brutal killing spree. The guilty and innocent alike feel before his wrath. Realizing the error of his ways, Michael took his own life, only to find himself a guest in Mephisto‘s netherworld. Fighting his way back to life, and crawling from the gates of hell themselves, Michael did the only thing he could.
Went insane.
Now a guest of the state of New York‘s mental rehabilitation program, he fights a daily battle to keep Vengeance bottled up deep inside himself. A battle, bit by bit, that he is losing.”
Full page shot. This is a shot of Badalino in the mental facility. He’s in a padded room, sitting in the corner with his arms around his legs, and his knees pulled up tight against his face.
Page 4
1st panel
This is a shot of the front desk of the institute. A cute young nurse is flirting with one of the orderlies. She is chewing gum and has pulled a bit out of her mouth and is twirling it around her finger.
Nurse; “Don’t knock it till you try it is all I’m saying, hun. I got a break coming up in two hours or so. What say you, me, and that nightstick of yours disappear into the maintenance room for a little physical therapy?”
Intern; “Hey whatever..”
2nd panel
He turns his head down the hallway as something has caught his attention.
Intern; “You can’t be in here, buddy! Visiting hours was over hours ago!”
3rd panel
The hallway is darkened and the hall is lined with mirrored walls. There is a shadowy figure standing in the darkness. You can’t make anything out but the general shape of a man.
Intern off panel; “Hey! Yeah, I’m talkin’ ta you pal!“
4th panel
There is a blinding flash of light as the shadow figure transforms into Zarathos. The light from his transformation is throwing sinister shadows across the mirrored hallway.
Page 5
1st panel
The nurse at the front desk screams as the orderly drops his nightstick.
Orderly; “Wh…what are you!?”
2nd panel
As Zarathos moves down the mirrored hallway, the mirrors are warping from the heat, (Like the scene from Superman3 when supes heat visions the mirror.)
3rd panel
Zarathos pops out his fire blade from the back of his wrist.
Z; “Death.”
Page 6
1st panel
This is a shot once again of Badalino. The nurse’s screams are echoing through his room. He is covering his ears while he rocks back and forth.
Badalino; “Not my fault. Not my fault. Not my fault.” over and over again.
2nd panel
The door to Badalino’s room is ripped off its hinges.
3rd panel
Badalino stands up quickly hugging the wall in fear; “I can’t have visitors! No!”
4th panel
Badalino is walking towards the door. The lights in the hallway are flickering off and on, throwing shadows into the now open doorway.
Badalina; “You shouldn’t be here. I was bad. Yes, very bad.”
5th panel
Badalino is punching and hitting himself in the side of the head; “I was bad, and I need to be punished! No visitors for bad boys!”
Page 7
1st panel
Michael is sticking his head out the door and looking down the hallway. The hallway is a mess. The door is lying on the floor about ten feet away. The lights are flickering off and on, the mirrors in the hall are warped, some broken. This is a straight shot of the hallway so we can’t see the ceiling.
Badalino; “Hello? My door has been broken, and needs to be fixed. I can get out. Mustn’t let me out!”
2nd panel
This is a worm’s eye shot looking from the floor up past Michael and to the ceiling. Zarathos is scuttling around on the ceiling a few feet directly over Michael’s head. Badalino is completely unaware of Z above him.
3rd panel
This is the same shot as Zarathos is reaching down for Badalino’s head.
Michael; “Mustn’t let him out. I can feel him scratching at my mind! Vengeance mustn’t be set loose! Please!…Please fix my door!”
Page 8
1st panel
Zarathos grabs hold of Michael’s head. Digging his bony fingers into the top of his head and palming it like a basketball.
Michael is screaming as blood runs down his forehead.
2nd panel
Zarathos is still on the ceiling and has drug Michael up to his level. Zarathos has pivoted his head around at a strange angle in order to look Michael in the eyes. Badalino has his arms around Zarathos‘, struggling to get Zarathos’ fingers from his scalp.
Michael; “Let me go! I’ve been good. No penance stare for Michael. No sir! I kept Vengeance locked up deep inside so he couldn’t hurt anybody! You…arrghhhh…you let me go!”
3rd panel
Zarathos gets an evil grin on his face; “You think I’m Dan. How quaint. Blaze made the same mistake. He‘s since found out otherwise.”
4th panel
Michael gets a glint in his eye to show that he’s kind of snapped back to reality a bit.
M; “Zarathos. We…ungh…we killed you!”
Page 9
1st panel
Zarathos; “Silly boy. You can’t kill a demon. Just send him back to hell.
To wait and scheme.
Enough. You have something that belongs to me, and I’m here to reclaim it.”
Zarathos is running his other hand across Michael’s chest. He has his boots wedged against the ceiling to keep them from falling.
2nd panel
Zarathos; “A little piece of myself that Mephisto gave you.”
3rd panel
Badalino; “You? My power came from the spirits of Vengeance! An order intrusted with the safeguarding of..”
4th panel
Zarathos laughs; “Stupid worm! Is that what Mephisto told you? He stole that power from me! Took me apart, bit by bit, and divided my power amongst you, and your undeserving brethren! Well no more! I’m here to reclaim what’s mine!”
Page 10
1st panel
Badalino, blood still running down his forehead from the wounds Zarathos’ fingers are digging into his scalp; “You’ll have to kill me first! I’ve kept Vengeance in check for 15 years. It’s cost me everything, even my sanity, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting that inhuman thing out of it’s cage again!”
2nd panel
Zarathos is running his hand lower on Michael’s chest, across his lower ribs.
Zarathos; “That wasn’t a request, Michael my boy.”
3rd panel
Zarathos jams two of his skeletal fingers into Michael’s side. He is running them under the skin, and across the top of one of his lower ribs. Badalino is of course screaming as blood streams down his chest from the wound.
Zarathos; “I’ve discovered something over the millenia I’ve spent in hell. No matter the brave front you mortals put up, how tough you like to act, the false bravado…”
4th panel
Zarathos flicks his wrist and there is a snap sound coming from Michael’s chest.
Zarathos; “…inflict enough pain..”
Page 11
1st panel
Zarathos is pulling his fingers out of Michael’s side. He is pulling out one of his ribs along with it.
Zarathos; “…enough raw agony…”
2nd panel
Zarathos is holding Michael’s snapped off, bloody rib bone up to Michael’s face. Michael is of course still screaming.
Zarathos; “…and they’ll do anything to escape it.”
3rd panel
Badalino’s skin starts to melt off as he begins changing into Vengeance. Still screaming.
4th panel
Zarathos gets a demonic smile on his face; “Yeeeeeessss.”
5th panel
He throws Badalino to the floor who is still in the midsts of changing.
Page 12
1st panel
Full page shot. Vengeance is now fully transformed. He has his bone chain in one hand, and in his other one of the spikes from his shoulder. (He can remove the giant shoulder spikes and throw them)
Vengeance; “You wanted me you son of a bitch. Come and get me!”
Page 13
1st panel
Zarathos drops to the ground.
2nd panel
He crosses his wrists in front of his face.
3rd panel
His two fire blades pop into view.
Zarathos; “So eager to die, are we?”
4th panel
They are both running towards each other down the hallway. Weapons at the ready.
Page 14
1st panel
Blaze is riding his bike down the dark and deserted highway like a bat out of hell.
Caption box; “Been a long time since I’ve done this. Wind in my face, bike motor rumbling beneath me. Despite everything, hell despite myself, I’m starting to find that I’ve missed this.”
2nd panel
Up in the distance on the side of the road is a small seedy motel. There is one of those huge neon arrow vacancy signs flashing away in the night.
Caption box; “Sometimes, I have to wonder. Wonder what my life would have been like if I’d never made that deal. Would I have married Roxanne? Would I still be selling out shows across the country? Or would I still be the same miserable fuck who’s life has been one shit storm after another?”
3rd panel
Blaze has stopped at a stop sign. The motel is directly off to his left.
Caption box; “One thing I always did hate about the open road. Too much time for you to…eh?”
4th panel
Blaze turns his head, and looks at the motel.
Page 15
1st panel
Blaze turns his bike, and pulls into the gravel parking lot of the motel.
Caption; “I’ve got the strangest feeling in the back of my mind.”
2nd panel
He is driving slowly across the parking lot. He is looking over to his left at the doors of the rooms as he slowly passess them. He has a puzzled look on his face.
Caption box; “Like I’ve forgotten to do something, even though I know I haven’t. Ever left your house, and you just get this overwhelming feeling that you left the stove on, or a faucet running, even though you know you didn’t? This feeling of something you haven’t done…that’s what’s rattling around in my head.”
3rd panel
Blaze stops his bike. The motel has angled in front of him so there is a room door directly in front of his bike. His headlight is still on, but the front of the bike is pointed a bit off to the left so it’s flashing on the motel wall.
Caption; “I’ve never seen this place before, hell I don’t even know where I am, but I have the damndest feeling that I forgot something in this room.”
4th panel
Blaze turns the bike’s handlebars, and the light shines on the door number. It’s #13.
Caption; “13. Perfect. Just had to be 13.”
Page 16
1st panel
Blaze is getting off his bike.
Blaze; “Might as well get this over with.”
2nd panel
Blaze’s hand is reaching out for the doorknob.
3rd panel
Blaze stops. Blaze; “This is stupid. I need to be out tracking Zarathos. Not…and now I’m talking to myself.”
4th panel
Blaze turns around back towards his bike; “Screw this.”
Page 17
1st panel
A ghostly voice comes from inside the room. “Blaze.”
2nd panel
John stops in his tracks.
Caption box; “That wasn’t cool.”
3rd panel
He turns around and looks over his shoulder.
Caption box; “I don’t know who or what’s in that room, but it knows my name. Definetly not cool.”
4th panel
The door creaks open by itself. It’s pitch black in the room.
Caption box; “This just gets better and better…Get a grip, John.”
5th panel
John pulls his shotgun from behind his back.
Caption; “Wanna play games? Fine, lets play.”
Page 18
1st panel
John pushes the door of the motel room open with the barrel of his shotgun.
John; “Avon calling.”
2nd panel
John walks into the darkness of the room.
Caption box; “As soon as I cross the threshold into that room it hits me. You ever stick your hand in a bag of apples? Digging around for the sweetest, reddest one you can find, only to stick your hand in a rotten one? That feeling of revulsion you get? Add to that a smell that can only be described as rotten meat that’s sat in the hot sun for two weeks to the point of putrification, and a distinct odor that can only be sulfur. Add it all together and I know what’s waiting for me in this room.”
Rest of 18 and 19
Caption box; “Mephisto.”
This is a wide shot as John has litterely walked into hell. Fires raging as far as the eye can see. Demons flying in the distance, people being burned and tortured all around. Sitting directly in front of Blaze on a throne of flesh and bone is Mephisto.
Mephisto; “Welcome to hell, Blaze. I’ve been expecting you.”
Page 20
1st panel
John is putting a ciggie in his mouth. He looks calm and collected. The fires of hell reflecting and dancing in his sunglasses.
John; “Cut the shit.
Save the smoke and mirrors for the rubes. You want to talk to me, then talk to me.”
2nd panel
Mephisto looks enraged. He has fire dancing from the corners of his eyes.
Mephisto; “You dare talk to me in such a manner! I’ll flay the flesh from you bones, you..”
3rd panel
Blaze slings his shotgun over his shoulder; “Yeah, I dare sunshine. I’ve seen your song and dance before, buddy. Didn’t impress me then, doesn’t impress me now. You forget, I’m one of the few people walking this earth that’s actually beaten you at your own game.
Y’know what? Screw this.”
4th panel
Blaze is turning around getting ready to walk out of the room.
Blaze; “I’ve got better things to do than sit around and jaw with an aggrandizing, self centered prick like you.”
5th panel
Blaze has his hand on the knob.
Mephisto from behind him; “Wait. I…damn you for making me say this!”
Page 21
1st panel
Blaze turns around and the motel room has reverted back to its normal state. Mephisto has gained a more human appearance. He even seems a bit small and unimportant.
Mephisto; “I need your help.”
2nd panel
Blaze looks angry; “You need my help? I came to you for help once! You took the pure intentions of an innocent boy, and twisted them around so badly…I’d tell you to go to hell, but it’d be a bit redundant wouldn’t it? I wouldn‘t piss in your mouth if your gums were on fire, pal.”
3rd panel
Mephisto; “It’s Zarathos.”
4th panel
Blaze; “No shit its Zarathos! Notice my lack of an eye? Think I fell asleep with a lit cigerette? That son of a bitch took it! Your pet demon not minding you? Call someone who gives a shit!”
5th panel
Mephisto in an almost pleading tone; “You don’t understand! None of you do! He’s not what you think! He’s an ancient evil, and I fear his time has come round again.”
Page 22
1st panel
This is a shot of Vengeance’s skull. It’s a close up glaring out at the reader.
Caption box; “He’s out there now. Seeking the scattered fragments of his power.”
2nd panel
Pull back and we see that it is only Vengeance’s severed head. Zarathos has decapitated him and is holding his skull aloft towards the heavens with both hands.
Caption box; “Power that I myself divided, and hid from him. For fear of what he was, and what he would have become.”
3rd panel
A blast of lightning hits Zarathos and the skull.
Caption box; “If he regains the three fragments of his power. If he makes himself whole once more…”
4th panel
Zarathos is standing there. He is a little bulkier than he was before. Kind of an amalgamation of the size he was and the size of Vengeance. He also has metal spikes running down his shoulders and arms, and he has longer canines, almost fang like in length. He is even more demonic and foreboding looking than he was before.
Caption box; “He’ll unmake creation!”
TO BE CONTINIUED