Avenger Assembled

1958 Gil Kane, Gardner Fox, and Julius Schwartz sit around a writing desk debating how to revive the Green Lantern franchise. A superscience spacecop instead of a magic lone wolf, one who inherited the ring from a dying alien who crash-landed on Earth and passed the ring and its accompanying lantern along to the nearest worthy person. The conversation turns towards the implications of that idea; anyone could have been chosen for the ring had they been the closest honest person without fear. After all, the Green Lanterns and their masters aren't human, so details of human biology and culture are pretty irrelevant to them. Gardner Fox, something of a polymath, happens to mention an article he read about Jacqueline Cochran the other day and somebody gets a neat idea. Otto Binder's recent test run for a "Super Girl" went over pretty well, and he's planning to make her a permanent addition to the Superman franchise. Maybe lady heroes are the next big thing in comics! And besides, that way they have a defense if 'Doc' Smith takes them to court over the Lensman thing. -- Carol Ferris debuts in Showcase #22 (October 1959). The daughter of a WWII veteran and aircraft manufacturer, she would dearly love to go up into space herself, but wouldn't you know it, that's a man's game! Until that aircraft test bed gets sucked into the desert and she meets a dead pink-skinned alien and is passed a ring of great power: the Green Lantern is born! It's the 50s so her writing isn't great (she wishes she could give up being Green Lantern and marry hunky test pilot Hal Jordan "Oh if only HAL would give me a ring!", but there's always another crisis to deal with, and anyway Hal's in love with Green Lantern, not her), but she's still as strong as Robert Kanigher's Wonder Woman and the character sticks. A general theme is that in the Space Age, the only thing that matters to Americans is skill and will. When they put together a super-team for Brave and the Bold #28, Green Lantern joins: sure, why not? (Meanwhile, Hal gets issued this brightly colored gem from the Zamorans, but you know how how that goes.) Sales flag a bit by the 1970s, so they have Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams take over the title and turn it into a Hard-Travelin' Heroes adventure: Carol takes rich industrialist Oliver Queen (he's so old-fashioned and conservative he uses a bow and arrow, for Pete's sake!) across the country, showing him what it's really like for the working man and woman. They do their level best to be feminist, and by the standards of comics of the day, they do. Thanks to support from Carol and Dinah, Oliver helps Speedy dry out instead of kicking him out. Sales keep slipping, though. In 1972, thanks to a preliminary sketch from recently hired artist Dave Cockrum, DC debuts Jane Stewart, a white-haired African-American woman, as Carol's substitute. Jane winds up being around for the Crisis on Infinite Earths, thanks to a poorly-timed event in the Green Lantern title. Whoopsie! (Luckily, Tony Isabella writes her in a very compelling way) Carol still pops up on Superfriends, though, where Darkseid's always trying to marry her. (I'm fast-forwarding through Kylie Rayner's debut, rise, and subsequent fall for the sake of the narrative) Then, in 2005, with enough nostalgia that people want Carol back, Gail Simone is offered a chance to revive the Green Lantern franchise...

Dok, Edge, and Nina discuss the politics of who blew up whose house, and maybe fight something terrible from the depths of space.

April 2012 "So you just...destroyed his entire castle." Nina al-Darsah was wrapped in a tourist's fleece jacket and heavy slacks, her desert-born constitution not much for southern Germany in April. Alongside Mark Lucas, she stood on the hill overlooking the remains of Schloss Archeville. She actually smiled, leaning over and nudging Mark on the arm. "I have to say, Mark, I didn't think you had that kind of violence in you. Did you take any pictures after you were done?" She smiled, and it was that vicious grin that was so attractive in more private circumstances, but less so now to the heroic UNISON agent. "No, it wasn't like that," said Mark, feeling a little defensive in his blue and white sweater and slacks. Sometimes Nina's approval was pretty great, other times it made him feel...ashamed. "The field agents had just managed to get the prisoners and brainwashed people out of the building. We had no idea if there was some kind of doomsday device in the building, or a portal to the Grue homeworld, or something to summon more Deep Ones...so I took the building down, fast and hard, with all the power I could." He'd had headaches for days afterwards, having summoned by sheer force of will a nickel-iron asteroid that had smashed the building to rubble without doing damage to the surrounding terrain. "And your power is vast." Consoling, Nina slipped an arm through his. "If it makes you feel any better, I've always thought ruins like this are much more attractive than intact buildings. It really gives you a feel for the history of the place." She kissed his cheek as they walked down the hill towards what remained below. "I'm glad you brought me here," she added seriously. "I know this has...troubled you." It hadn't troubled Nina a bit, but she was willing to accept the idea that someone might be bothered by it. "Not troubled," said Mark, picking his way down the fairly rough path from the hill they'd arrived on, the scars from the battle the year before still healing on the land. "I don't have any regrets about being here and standing up for the people in the area. I just wish there'd been another way."

Thanks, SC; just trying to get an older thread wrapped up!

With his friends on their way, Steve sat at the bar table and began taking careful notes about what he wanted to say, precise and planning with his Bic pen on a cocktail napkin. HOW TO COURT WOMEN. IDEAS? And then MUST NOT TELL. He could trust Gabriel and Jack, but if anyone knew Gina's secret, he was reasonably confident it was neither man. Both Jack and Carson seemed like the sort of men who had experience in dealing with women; surely they'd have some good advice, even if his circumstances were singularly unique. Eventually he put his pen away and sat there eating peanuts, waiting for the others to arrive. Clearly visible with his bald head and scarred face in the dark bar, he had a table to himself as the other two arrived.

"Yes, it has been a busy season," replied Steve with the earnest air of a man doing his best to make small talk. "And no, there is no crisis at the moment. This was actually a personal matter. I was wondering if you would like to catch up with me and talk about things. You know, about women, as men do." He nervously crushed a peanut between his fingers as he talked. "I am at a bar called Przezanski's in the West End, I can give you the address. The beer here is very good." Men were watching a soccer game between Poland and the Ukraine on a flickering old television in the corner, the smell of sausage in the air as the bartender laid out a plate of greasy stuff for a hungry customer.

When he hung up, Steve realized he'd forgotten to tell Jack that other people would be at what the television had called a "man-meeting." Oh well, no one was going to be giving away secret identities there, least of all him, so surely there was no potential problem. He'd just have to make sure to call Gabriel in a hurry. He ordered another beer, and this time called up Carson. "Hello, Carson. it's Steve," he said, his flat voice unmistakable even when he was relaxed. "Are you well?" His distinctive appearance was attracting some attention, as usual, but the quiet Polish bar wasn't the sort of place where people stared at each other much,

"Oh, no, no," said Steve, a little awkwardly. He talked to people so little, of course they assumed when he sought them out there was some sort of crisis. "Nothing like that. I was calling to see if you might want to join me for a drink. To talk about women. You know..." That was the sort of thing men talked about in bars, he was sure. "I am at a bar in your part of the city, it is called the..." he peered through the faint haze in the room. Though tobacco smoking was almost impossible to come by in Freedom City, a faint air of it clung to this old place with its smoothly polished, deeply-aged wooden bar with mirror hanging behind. "It is called Przezanski's."

Edge seemed to be everywhere in the battlefield, popping around like a jackrabbit in little bursts of roiling magic energy as he tried to take in everything going on and back everyone up. Mark had a way of stepping up in a crisis, and this was one of the bigger ones he'd faced recently. "Hey, somebody help Cannonade!" he called, pointing to where the helmeted powerhouse was taking some hits from one of the unholy monsters. "It looks like Crimson Bomb's getting somewhere, let's give some backup over there! Great work, Wander, keep hammering them! And somebody help out Nightwatchman, that sword's going to need more hits before he takes anything down! Let's hit them while they're distracted!"

Edge is going to drop another Inspire.

2 makes the most sense for me, and I'm sure Rene wouldn't mind spending an HP to let you see what he's doing? Sounds like a plan to me.

Harrier, Jack of all Blades, and Gabriel learn that in vino, danger!

April 2012 Steve Murdock didn't have a lot of friends, which was really no surprise. It wasn't that he was anti-social so much as social and he simply weren't on the same team. Of course, that meant when it was time for something important, as in subtly finding out how he should go about pursuing a romantic relationship with his new girlfriend, he had a difficult task before him. Though watching television had taught him a great many things about how the people of Earth-Prime socialized with each other, as had occasional invisible observation, he just didn't know enough. He did know some things, however; a man looking for advice on women certainly never went to his female friends, so Miss Americana, Fleur de Joie, and Dragonfly were out; he'd have to talk to the men he knew like Jack of all Blades and Gabriel. He knew how men were supposed to talk to each other, in smoky bars where sporting events were playing on the television, but one thing he didn't know was how to contact all the people he cared about directly. He'd made a conscious effort to avoid learning the secret identities of his fellow supers, which while good for his peace of mind did make it tough when he wanted to talk to them. So instead, using the new cellphone Gina had repaired for him, he sat in a quiet corner of the bar and called the contact number he'd exchanged with Jack of all Blades after they'd had a few adventures together. This was a social call, but Jack hadn't mentioned this was a line for emergencies only. Some heroes preferred only to be called for emergencies. (Some had stressed that to him specifically) "Hello, Jack?" he said, his slightly mechanical voice sounding much more confident than the last time he'd spoken to the swordsman. "It's...Steve."

APPROVED

Liberty Park proved to be a remarkably changed place once the heroes made it there via motorcycle and flight. (Sure enough, Etain felt no effects from the simulated motorcycle) All three arrived simultaneously; Sharl's rapid teleportation limited by the fact he had to fly in from the nearest wireless hubs a few blocks down from the park itself. The whole city was clearly in trouble, trees and plants gone wild as they made war on the metropolis, but Liberty Park was the most changed of all with its giant primordial forest looming high over the urban skyline nearby. There was something eerie about the giant forest to Sharl's eyes, and even to the humans there it was a bizarre sight. "All right," Citizen said, hovering by the broken-open gate like a ghost of holograms past, "I can't see anything in there, so whatever's going on has snapped all the electrical lines." He looked at the others. "I guess we're supposed to go in?" Sure enough, the forest proved to be as alien as it looked. Within moments of stepping into the forest, the three heroes lost sight of Freedom City altogether. An eerie silence hung over the green twilight in the park: no traffic noise, no urban hum, not even the sounds of woodland creatures or birds. There was nothing but silence. The air was heavy with moisture and the scent of living plants. Thick trees created a leafy canopy filtering out the sun, casting greenish shadows over the thick bed of grasses, creepers, and spongy moss covering the ground. Of the old trails, fences, and other artifacts of humanity there are no signs, as if the forest simply has swallowed them whole. Strangest of all, once inside the simulated winter outside was gone as if it never was: this was a forest frozen in an eerie summer twilight, too warm and too humid to be natural.

"I do not believe she has made your acquaintance," replied Steve a little elliptically, who was telling the truth for all that he had no idea Gina had somewhat outed herself to Viktor Archeville as a means of becoming his employee. Hmm, I do not actually know who else knows the secret. I could not simply ask Gina who else knows, as if there was something shameful about what she truly is. He was clumsy at social deception, but managed to get out "Given her nature, and mine, she prefers that I keep who she is a secret from others. What I wanted to ask you, though," he said, taking a seat and giving Viktor an intense look. "Is how a man should court a woman. I have watched your television programs extensively, but I know they do not always reflect what this world truly is."

"I appreciate the offer, Viktor. But for all that has happened...the past cannot be changed. The dead cannot be brought back to life." Harrier turned away from the broadcast of the long-gone horrors, silhouetted by some grim children's entertainment. "Those of us with regrets must remember that, if we are to be of any use to the world. What has happened has happened." He reached out to Archeville and clasped him on the shoulder briefly, his grip as always a little stiff and awkward. He coughed, and his manner changed. Steven said, "Come, let us talk of the future, not the past. I have a, ah, girlfriend now. Tell me, how has your relationship with Mona Teymourian progressed?"

Bike, no Custos, have an HP, Roo!

Huh. Well, that's weird. Citizen wondered for a moment if his emulator was malfunctioning, or if Etain was somehow gaming the system with stealth technopathic abilities. But he hadn't seen any hint of powers like that from her, so it was more likely he just hadn't been able to see it. I guess it makes sense, though... Magic! He tore himself from wondering about his teammate and unfocused his eyes, scanning Freedom City through its computers, oddly missing the familiar touch of Miss A in the real system. "Oh man, you guys!" he called out. "It's bad! All over the city, trees and plants are going crazy. They're ripping things up, digging into concrete...even in people's houses! Looks like it's worst in Liberty Park; it's practically a forest of these pine things!" Sure enough, from the sirens, screams, and faint rumbling as plants dug through concrete, it was easy to tell they were in for more plant trouble. In fact, if the leafy tops appearing over nearby buildings was any sign, the trees in Liberty Park were outgrowing even the nearby buildings! "I can send myself there through the wiring!" he called. "Do either of you have a way of moving quickly?"

All right, none of them can reasonably make that save, so blargh they are dead.

Citizen flies over to Vine #1. He spends an HP and surges for a standard action: 30 He spends another HP to acquire the Improved Crit feat on his Unarmed, making that a DC 33 Tou save. Deaaad! Vine #2 attacks Sharl and does tiddly-squat. Etain is up.

"Does this happen a lot around here?" the alien teenager asked no one in particular before springing into action. Since the tentacle Crimson Tiger was attacking had proved all too vulnerable to her chakram, he decided to let the teenager handle it herself and concentrate on the vines trying to pull the building down. He settled for a good solid punch, flying over quickly to the nearest vine and grabbing on with both hands as he tried to rip apart a limb as thick as his whole body. "Leave the building alone! This is what's wrong with putting forests in cities!" The plant gave way as the electronic teenager yanked, ripping in half and falling to the ground, spraying everything but Citizen nearby with plant ichor as it shriveled and withered, needles falling away to reveal the planty core beneath. "Take that, you stupid tree!" 'Seeing' its comrade fall, the other vine turned on Citizen like an angry snake, but however it whipped through his body with its massive needled coils it could find no purchase on his electronically projected flesh. "Yeah, you just try it! This is science, you weirdo!"

A 29 does hit. 11 Ouch! Well, these are just a warm up, so I'll keep that roll. Tentacle 5 is staggered and dazed as CT's chakram cuts deep, and it writhes as planty ichor leaks from the gash! One more big hit will take care of it. Go ahead and post IC.

Crimson Tiger: 26 (tiebreaker) Citizen: 26 Vine #1: 11 Vine #2: 10 Changeling: 9 Vine #3: 5 Crimson Tiger is up.

Steve walked up and put his hand on the screen, as if trying to reach through and touch his mother's face. "They were alone, Viktor. Their world was dead. The worlds like their world were dead. All those they had loved, all those they had admired and respected..." He waved a hand. "Gone. No one was coming to save them." He folded his hands together and stared at the screen, paying close attention to all Viktor said. "That...that is good. I had feared that they meant it, even once. That they had served without compulsion in the face of such horror." He forced himself to keep watching. "They were never shown the Doom Coil as Annihilists were, never...warped inside the way their more mighty peers were. They simply served, and lived, and remembered." Harrier couldn't cry; he physically lacked the ability, but he felt his voice tighten all the same. "Until they could do no more. I thank you for this, Viktor. It was good to see them again, after so long. Even like this."