PAGE ONE
PANEL 1:
EXTERIOR. Splash page. Rhomann Dey -Nova is standing in the center of a large splash panel, with his arms spread away and below him protectively. His stance is low, defensive. Behind him is a bewildered Richard Rider on his knees, an unconscious Frankie Raye-Nova’s head in his lap. Surrounding them is the engulfing shadow of the hulking Shadow-Thief, his large matte black arms ready to put the trio in a crushing embrace.
1 CAPTION: My name is RICHARD RIDER.
2 CAPTION: Up until a few minutes ago, I was running around a track at my high school.
3 CAPTION: Now, somehow, I’ve been sucked into a spirit world called the PHANTOM ZONE …
4 CAPTION: And the people who MIGHT be able to protect me are getting their collective tails handed to them by TALL, DARK, and HANDSOME over here.
5 CAPTION: I’m sure somewhere in the real world, I’ve SHAT myself by now.
6 SHADOW-THIEF: YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE.
PAGE TWO
PANEL 1:
EXT. Shadow-Thief roars and lunges at Rhomann, whose fist is beginning to glow.
1 RHOMANN: I don’t think you get it, UGGO.
2 RHOMANN: You’re already DEAD …
SFX: RAAARRGH!
PANEL 2:
EXT. Rhomann wallops Shady with a Nova-sized punch, causing the creature to rear back.
SFX: THWACCK!
3 RHOMANN: Do as all a FAVOR and get her to wake up, kid!
PANEL 3:
EXT. Richard looks up startled, lap still cradling the depowered and prone Frankie.
4 RICHARD: W-What?
5 RHOMANN: (off-panel) The filly in your lap, kiddo … WAKE HER UP!
PANEL 4:
EXT. Close-up. Richard looks down at Frankie, realizing the compromised position she’s in for the first time.
6 CAPTION: How the hell am I supposed to wake her … CPR??
PANEL 5:
EXT. Close-up on Frankie, doing her best impression of Sleeping Beauty.
7 CAPTION: Does that even WORK on a spirit?
PANEL 6:
EXT. Close-up. Richard puckers up and closes his eyes, leaning in.
8 CAPTION: I guess I have to at least TRY …
PAGE THREE
PANEL 1:
EXT. Large panel. In the center of the panel, in the distance, we see Richard’s back shielding a frantic, now-conscious Frankie. Shadow-Thief and Nova comically pause their battle in the foreground to turn and see what’s going on.
SFX: AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!
PANEL 2:
EXT. Frankie is up and shaking furiously.
1 FRANKIE: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING DO, YOU PERVERT!?!?
PANEL 3:
EXT. Rhomann gets nailed into the dirt by the large fist of Shadow-Thief, which has morphed into a miniature wrecking ball.
2 RHOMANN: Good job, kidd—-UGH!
PANEL 4:
EXT. Frankie shouts in surprise as she transforms to her golden Nova form.
3 FRANKIE:
PANEL 5:
EXT. Rho struggles against the giant black arm, getting back to his feet.
4 RHOMANN: Forget about me … get the KID out of here!
PANEL 6:
EXT. Frankie whips back around to see Richard, who is still just looking on.
5 FRANKIE: Wha--?
PAGE FOUR
PANEL 1:
EXT. Rho does a swift dodge from a Shady smash, sliding into frame with the two subordinates behind him.
1 RHOMANN: Focus on the BOY!
2 RHOMANN: He’s a part of this mission TOO!
PANEL 2:
EXT. Small close-up. Frankie is shouting.
3 FRANKIE: Since WHEN?!?!
PANEL 3:
EXT. Close-up on Richard, reacting to
4 RHOMANN: (off-panel) Since NOW!
5 RHOMANN: (off-panel) The boy doesn’t BELONG here … he’s got no STARHEART.
6 RHOMANN: (off-panel) He’s just slipped THROUGH somehow … the COUNCIL gave me orders to pick him up … ‘cause he’s not actually DEAD!
PANEL 4:
EXT. Rho’s back in the background, Frankie’s head in profile in the fore.
7 FRANKIE: Why wasn’t I INFORMED?
8 RHOMANN: Top Secret mission … sorry, kiddo.
PANEL 5:
EXT. Closer on
9 RHOMANN: … there is something STRANGE about him.
10 RHOMANN: He’s ALIVE but also in the P-ZONE. It would be devastating if the DIRE WRAITHS found out how to exploit that.
11 RHOMANN: That’s why keeping the boy out of SHADOW-THIEF’S hands is our TOP priority.
12 RHOMANN: … WHATEVER the cost.
PANEL 6:
EXT. Small close-up on Frankie, concerned.
13
FRANKIE:
PANEL 7:
EXT. Small close-up on Rhomann, turning around with a sad smile.
14 RHOMANN: GO …
PAGE FIVE
PANEL 1:
EXT. Large panel. Frankie forcefully rockets away from the schoolyard with Richard in tow. She is holding back tears.
SFX: WOOOOOOOOSH
PANEL 2:
EXT. Close on Richard, who is dangling onto Frankie’s left arm.
1 RICHARD: Whoa, whoa, what the hell? We’re just going to LEAVE him back there??
PANEL 3:
EXT. Frankie looks back at him, face screwed up and angry.
2 FRANKIE: You HEARD the man … the mission now is to get you OUT of here!
PANEL 4:
EXT. Closer on Richard, who is growing angrier
3 RICHARD: But … why the hell do I deserve that? What makes ME so special?
PANEL 5:
EXT. Longer side shot, capturing Frankie’s metallic lines as they continue flying. Frankie is looking back at Richard who is still holding on by his hands.
4 FRANKIE: I LIED to you before …
5 FRANKIE: When I said that all spirits come here when they die. It’s a LIE.
6 RICHARD: What? But why?
7 FRANKIE: Only some souls come here—-souls with a shard of the STARHEART.
8 RICHARD: What is THAT?
PAGE SIX
PANEL 1:
EXT. Flashback. A crystal explodes in the blank vacuum of
space.
1 CAPTION: Something very old … when time began, the Starheart was SHATTERED and its shards were lodged in the souls of those waiting to be BORN …
PANEL 2:
EXT. Flashback. A few obscured figures survey the strange
landscape of the Phantom Zone.
2 CAPTION: To recollect the pieces of the shattered heart, the Phantom Zone was created as an artificial PURGATORY.
PANEL 3:
EXT. Flashback. A few oblivious-looking souls wander the
empty streets of the P-Zone.
3 CAPTION: It takes a HUNDRED DAYS’ exposure to the Zone to remove a shard, as long as the spirit is UNAWARE of it.
PANEL 4:
EXT. Flashback. A spirit undergoes a dark transformation
into a shadowy creature.
4 CAPTION: But the shard can give you great POWER if you DO become aware of it. The evil in a soul can CORRUPT the Starheart, turning the spirit into a DIRE WRAITH.
PANEL 5:
INTERIOR. Flashback. In the center of a tall semi-circular
bench manned by obscured figures, stand a few newly minted Novas.
5 CAPTION: The SOLAR COUNCIL, which watches over the P-Zone, handpicked a few noble souls to harness the power of the Starheart and become the NOVA CORPS.
PANEL 6:
EXT. Flashback to Richard having his attack in the field.
6 CAPTION: I don’t know HOW, but you’ve crossed over here without having a shard … this explains why I couldn’t sense anything around you earlier. You are an ANOMALY.
PAGE SEVEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Back to the flying duo. From Richard’s viewpoint, Frankie is looking forward, not turning around.
1 FRANKIE: I have to take you to the Council until they can figure out what to do with you …
PANEL 2:
EXT. Richard, looking concerned.
2 RICHARD: But that man back there … that NOVA …
3 RICHARD: Is he going to be all right taking on that thing ALONE?
PANEL 3:
EXT. Same as panel 1.
4 FRANKIE: …
PANEL 4:
EXT. Richard starts to struggle to free himself from her grip.
5 RICHARD: No WAY … uh uh.
6 RICHARD: I don’t care what you say about being DEAD already, but it’s clear to me things can get HURT in this place!
7 RICHARD: There’s NO way we can just leave him back there!
PANEL 5:
EXT. Frankie halts mid-flight as Richard frees himself.
8 FRANKIE: STOP, you little idiot!
9 FRANKIE: Don’t make his sacrifice in vain!
PANEL 6:
EXT. Richard begins to free fall.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 7:
EXT. Inset close-up on Richard’s face, determined.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 8:
EXT. From above Frankie looking down, Richard suddenly blips out of existence.
SFX: BAMF
PAGE EIGHT
PANEL 1:
EXT. Close-up on Richard’s startled face as he springs up into a sitting position.
1 RICHARD: YAH!
PANEL 2:
EXT. Pan out as Rich is sitting in the grass in his gym uniform, attempting to collect himself. His best friend and roommate Isiah, dressed in school uniform, is crouching next to him, holding his arm.
2 ISIAH: Welcome back to the land of the LIVING, bro.
3 RICHARD: What?
PANEL 3:
EXT. Richard looks around, face agitated and bug-eyed.
4 RICHARD: What did you just say to me?
PANEL 4:
EXT. Isiah smirks.
5 ISIAH: Chill out, kid. It was just a JOKE.
6 ISIAH: Teacher came and got me when you started wiggin’ out again.
PANEL 5:
EXT. The smirk changes to a look of concern.
7 ISIAH: Seriously though, you gonna be straight, man? I don’t think you should go to the NURSE again today …
PANEL 6:
EXT. Richard begins to rise, still filled with agitated energy.
8 RICHARD: Uhh, yeah dude, I’ll be FINE.
9 RICHARD: But I need you to do me a FAVOR …
PANEL 7:
EXT. Richard grabs Isiah’s shoulders brusquely, eyes wide.
10 RICHARD: I need you to send me BACK!
PAGE NINE
PANEL 1:
INT. Richard and Isiah are now in their shared dorm room. It is messy and the walls are filled with posters of semi-clad women. It is a typical teenage boy’s room, save for the computer parts strewn around the room. Isiah is sitting in a chair at his console, while Richard leans over him intently. Behind them, the sun is setting in the window.
1 ISIAH: Okay, I STILL don’t get what this master plan is …
2 RICHARD: I need you to find and download a video clip of that Japanese cartoon that sent all those kids into fits a few years back …
3 RICHARD: You know what I’m talking about?
PANEL 2:
INT. Isiah throws a look over his shoulder sardonically.
4 ISIAH: Yeah, man …
5 ISIAH: Even if I have no idea why you want to INDUCE an epileptic seizure in your dumb ass.
PANEL 3:
INT. Richard sits back on the bed, opposite the computer monitor.
6 RICHARD: Joto, you TRUST me?
7 ISIAH: (off-panel) Yeah, man … O.C.
PANEL 4:
INT. Close-up on Richard barking orders.
8 RICHARD: Then just DO it!
PANEL 5:
INT. Isiah rolls away from the monitor in his executive chair, closing the blinds. The room is dark, lit only by the monitor.
9 ISIAH: Here goes nothin’ …
PANEL 6:
INT. Close-up on Richard’s face in the darkened room as intense colors dance across his wide open eyes.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE TEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Richard sits up again, startled, eyes hollow.
1 RICHARD: (thought) … did it work?
PANEL 2:
EXT. Long panel. A growling Shadow-Thief races across discolored grass.
2 SHADOW-THIEF: RAAAAR!
PANEL 3:
EXT. Medium shot. A beaten, battered, and bruised Rhomann turns from the fight, surprised.
3 RHOMANN: What the devil!?
PANEL 4:
EXT. Richard is amazed that his harebrained scheme succeeded.
4 RICHARD: (thought) Unbelievable!
5 RICHARD: (thought) I can’t believe that worked! I figured I just had BRAIN DAMAGE …
PANEL 5:
EXT. Large vertical panel.
6 RHOMANN: …
7 RHOMANN: KID … what the hell are you doing here and where’s Frankie!?
PAGE ELEVEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. A should ram sends Rhomann flying as Richard looks on in horror.
SFX: WHAMM!
PANEL 2:
EXT. Rho digs a trench in the dirt with his body as it forcefully slides across the field.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3:
EXT. Richard turns in shock.
1 RICHARD: NOVA …!
PANEL 4:
EXT. Determined to help, Rich turns to face down the hulking shadow.
2 SHADOW-THIEF: HAAAAAAAAARRR
PANEL 5:
EXT. Small panel. Richard’s stone cold expression.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 6:
EXT. Small panel. Close-up as the creature bellows.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 7:
EXT. Richie grits his teeth and charges.
3 RICHARD: That’s IT, you son of a bitch …!
PAGE TWELVE
PANEL 1:
EXT. Richard yells forcefully, pointing to himself.
1 RICHARD: IF YOU WANT ME …!
2 RICHARD: THEN WHY DON’T YOU LEAVE EVERYONE ELSE OUTTA THIS …!
3 RICHARD: AND COME AND GET ME, UGLY …!
PANEL 2:
EXT. The creature roars in delight, lunging towards its prey, its hands morphed into sharp spikes.
4 SHADOW-THIEF: HAAAAAAARRR!!!
PANEL 3:
EXT. Richard’s hands instinctively go up, guarding his face. His eyes are closed.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4:
EXT. Blank panel.
SFX: CRUNNCH!
PAGE THIRTEEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Small inset. Richard cautiously opens an eye.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2:
EXT. Splash page. The creature’s advance has been halted by Rhomann, who has thrown himself in front of Richard as a human shield. The many spikes have completely skewered his body. Richard still stands in his guard, aghast.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3:
EXT. Small inset. Nova turns, managing a smile through bloody teeth. As he bleeds, the inky blobs rise upwards, not down, defying gravity.
1 RHOMANN: … IDIOT …
2 RHOMANN: Now, why in the HELL … did you think THAT … was gonna …
PANEL 4:
EXT. Small inset. The hero crumples to the ground, the monster having pulled out. Visibly larger globs of blood are floating into the air.
SFX: THUD
PAGE FOURTEEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Large panel. The aerial cavalry of Novas have arrived, with Frankie leading the charge. Her face is tense and concerned, as she and the others send a blazing salvo towards the monster below.
1 FRANKIE: RHOMANN!!!
PANEL 2:
EXT. The Shadow-Thief yells in pain as it is scorched by the explosion of light and heat that hits its chest. It rears back from the fallen hero and stricken Richard.
2 SHADOW-THIEF: HRAAAAAAR!!!
PANEL 3:
EXT. Assessing its bad situation, the creature again melts away into the shadows, this time of the fallen Nova. In the background, Frankie is ahead of the pack and steaming towards Rhomann.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4:
EXT. The panel tightens on the shadow as it reverts to
normal, and the fallen form of
3 RHOMANN: Hey, kid …
4 RHOMANN: … don’t WORRY about it …
5 RHOMANN: My fight’s over …
PANEL 5:
EXT. Tight profile on Richard’s face. A gash has opened up on his cheek, from which he is bleeding. His blood is falling down, as it would in the real world.
6 RHOMANN: (off-panel) I’ve been doing this … since I died … in 1923 …
7 RHOMANN: (off-panel) I was a steelworker … from
8 RHOMANN: (off-panel) I think I deserve … my retirement.
PANEL 6:
EXT. Nova beckons to Richard to come closer.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 7:
EXT. Blank panel.
9 RHOMANN: (off-panel) But for you … it’s just BEGINNING …
PAGE FIFTEEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Large panel. As Richard grasps
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2:
EXT. Close-up. Richard blinks.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3:
EXT. The Phantom Zone returns to normal as Frankie lands next to a still-stunned Richard, who is looking around to see if anyone else noticed. She powers down as she lands, tears streaming down her face. Rhomann is suddenly differently attired in workman’s clothes. His body seems healed.
1 RICHARD: Whoa, what just happened there?
2 FRANKIE: Omigod,
PANEL 4:
EXT. Close-up on
3 RHOMANN: This kid’s here for a REASON, Frankie … you look after him.
4 RHOMANN: Or I will seriously HAUNT your butt.
PANEL 5:
EXT. On Frankie, who is hovering over her friend and colleague, holding his hand, still crying profusely.
5 FRANKIE: You go on, boss …
6 FRANKIE: Go on to your REWARD.
PAGE SIXTEEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. Light begins streaming from out of Rhomann’s body. His eyes are closed, head tilted back. Some of the white energy emanating from his body takes on the shape of small birds, flapping away. Frankie covers her mouth and just sits back alongside Richard.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2:
EXT. Aerial shot, looking down. Like a zipper getting zipped, Rhomann has disappeared, leaving only a trace of white light.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3:
EXT. Richard sits back on his haunches, stunned.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 4:
EXT. He then notices that all the Novas and Frankie have turned around to look at him. Their expressions are not angry or curious, just blank.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 5:
EXT. Suddenly self-conscious, Richard shifts his eyes.
1 RICHARD: What?
PAGE SEVENTEEN
PANEL 1:
INT. Richard, Isiah, and his other two friends, Lorena and Emil, are sitting together at a set of two-seater couches that are arranged in a square. They are in school uniform, but the scene is casual, an after-lunch break before class. Other students occupy the background, but the foursome has these couches to themselves. Richard is looking thoughtful as Isiah takes up an entire couch to himself, lying down with a laptop. Emil has his arms folded, looking pompous, as Lorena sits coquettishly, facing Richard.
1 CAPTION: DAYS LATER
2 CAPTION: IDCAP
3 ISIAH: I STILL don’t believe you …
4 RICHARD: Why not, what incentive would I have to lie? It’s not like I’m the ATTENTION WHORE type—-
PANEL 2:
INT. Close-up on Emil, arms folded and eyes closed.
5 EMIL: Rider, if I thought for a SECOND that you really believed what you were saying, I’d have you COMMITTED …
PANEL 3:
INT. Close-up on Lorena, who is trying to be conciliatory.
6 LORENA: I think what Emil is TRYING to say, jackassery aside, is that it’s hard to believe you without any PROOF …
PANEL 4:
INT. Close on Isiah, who nonchalantly continues typing.
7 ISIAH: Seriously man, we go to friggin’ IDCAP … math and science is in our BLOOD.
8 ISIAH: You need some HARD evidence.
PANEL 5:
INT. Close on Richard, looking thoughtful.
NO DIALOGUE
PAGE EIGHTEEN
PANEL 1:
INT. Richard gets the ‘I have a bright idea’ look in his face. From the side, Lorena casts a quizzical look.
1 RICHARD: You know there IS something she said--
2 LORENA: --SHE?
PANEL 2:
INT. Richard leans over to Isiah and his laptop excitedly.
3 RICHARD: Yo, Isiah, search me something real fast.
4 ISIAH: What am I looking for?
5 RICHARD: Crimes committed in
PANEL 3:
INT. Isiah, still uninterested.
6 ISIAH: I gotcha one fitting that description.
7 ISIAH: A CARL SANDS … botched robbery on an elderly couple turned into a DOUBLE HOMICIDE … says the grandson shot Sands while he was trying to FLEE.
8 LORENA: Jesus …
PANEL 4:
INT. Emil leans forward, still skeptical.
9 EMIL: Forgive if I missed the part where that PROVED anything—-
PANEL 5:
INT. Richard smiles.
10 RICHARD: It hasn’t YET, buddy. But it’s a LEAD.
11 RICHARD: If I’m right, I’ll be able to find out something about what happened that no one else could POSSIBLY know …
1 RICHARD: Would that be proof enough for ya?
PAGE NINETEEN
PANEL 1:
EXT. The orange and pink skyline of the Phantom Zone.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2:
EXT. Frankie Raye and Richard are flying, much like they were before. A white armband adorns Frankie’s left arm, signaling mourning.
2 RICHARD: So what EXACTLY is supposed to happen today?
PANEL 3:
EXT. Close on Frankie’s face, expressionless.
3 FRANKIE: The Council’s been in chamber for DAYS …
4 FRANKIE: … deciding what to DO with you.
PANEL 4:
EXT. From behind the pair, we see they are closing in on a small island near a large purple icicle suspension bridge. A tall radiating white tower stands in the middle of the island. The further you look up it, the more indistinct it becomes as it closes to a point of white light.
5 FRANKIE: That’s SOLAR HALL.
6 RICHARD: Interesting … this is where
PANEL 5:
EXT. They land at the steps to the mystical tower.
7 RICHARD: What is the big hubbub about anyway?
8 FRANKIE: Before he died … Rhomann DID something, something we’re not sure the meaning of.
9 RICHARD: What is that?
PANEL 6:
EXT. She stares forward intently, head cocked to the side.
10 FRANKIE: He gave you his STARHEART …
PAGE TWENTY
PANEL 1:
INT. Inside the exotic chamber. The nine member Council is composed of some odd looking characters, led by a short man with oddly plastic-looking purple hair, eyebrows, and goatee. He is arrayed in a strange white get-up that puffs out his body to boxy proportions. The other members are sitting down on a bench that is almost a full story above ground. Before the Council stand Richard and Frankie, who remains powered-up.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2:
INT. Closer on the leader of the group, named Dasor. We see the other members to the side of the long panel.
1 DASOR: Welcome.
2 DASOR: I’m glad you BOTH could make it.
3 DASOR: Before we make our decision, we should have all the viewpoints be expressly stated on this matter, of course.