MY GREATEST FEAR!!!

I saw the Goosebumps film tonight and upon seeing the overall premise of the film, I realized what my greatest fear and worst nightmare is. The thought that always haunted the dark corners of my mind is what would happen if the supervillains I created for my series became real. I created these characters so I know better than anyone just how psychopathic and bloodthirsty they all are and how much madness, death, and destruction they would unleash upon the world if they were real. In a way, this makes me consider myself to be Doctor Victor Frankenstein and my supervillains my monstrous creations. Every once in a while, whenever I sleep, I would have nightmares of this scenario, which would include a world engulfed in flames, cities demolished, bodies strewn throughout the streets, and my supervillains psychotically laughing in unison. Without warning, I would wake up to find myself in my room and have difficulty sleeping for hours. I guess when all is said and done, the creator sometimes fears his own creation even if the creation originates from his imagination.

CREATION: THE BLACK PANTHEON

The Black Pantheon is the name of Vogan’s supervillain syndicate. It got its name because a pantheon is a group of gods and deities, which is a clear hint of Vogan’s god complex. They are essentially a cult consisting of both human and neohuman followers who worship Vogan and his ideals. Their existence is as old as human civilization itself and they have resources and connections ranging from corporations to politicians. In the first volume, they are the shadowy organization that abducts the Young Guardians and eventually become their primary enemy. They have remained in the shadows for millennia, building their strength and infrastructure until the time is right to initiate Vogan’s age-old master plan. All members regard Vogan with both adoration for his charisma and fear of disappointing him. In the fifth volume, all of the Black Pantheon’s members and resources will be brought to bear as they engage the Young Guardians in one final battle.

SUPERVILLAIN REVIEW: LEX LUTHOR

Another iconic supervillain is Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor would be a prime example of the mad scientist archetype because he utilizes technology and his intellect against Superman. One of Lex Luthor’s weapons of choice is Superman’s primary weaknesses: Kryptonite. With Kryptonite, Lex Luthor uses a mind-over-muscle method in order to fight Superman. In the film Superman Returns, Lex Luthor created a landmass that was completely made of Kryptonite, which was enough to give Superman the strength and vitality of a terminally ill cancer patient. What makes Lex Luthor such a dangerous supervillain is his intimate knowledge of Superman’s weaknesses, which he can exploit for maximum damage. Another aspect that makes Lex Luthor a prominent supervillain is despite his illegal activities, his wealth and resources give him powerful political connections, which gives him enough leverage to not only avoid prison, but also further his agenda. Overall, Lex Luthor is a formidable enemy to face whether if you have powers or not.

CHARACTER CREATION: ALEXANDER ANDREWS

In the third volume of my series, the Young Guardians have encounters with several enemies from their early superhero careers. These individuals were recruited by Vogan (the main villain) to serve as weapons against the Young Guardians. Among these miscreants is the first major criminal the Young Guardians ever defeated: Alexander Andrews. Before the Young Guardians’ careers took off, Alexander was a notorious serial killer and complete and utter psychopath. Although he is one hundred percent human, Alexander has capabilities that would consider him inhuman. For instance, he is freakishly strong, able to overpower and kill virtually any individual with his bare hands. He also suffers from a neurological disease that renders him completely immune to physical pain, allowing him to take serious damage while still able-bodied enough to fight. Psychologically, Alexander’s mind is so twisted and warped that reading his thoughts is impossible, which makes him completely unpredictable. With these traits, when the Young Guardians confronted him, Alexander nearly killed two of the Young Guardians before he was captured. In other words, Alexander Andrews is a dangerous foe to face.

CONCEPT: SUPERVILLAIN CATEGORIES

Some believe that there is no categorization about supervillains, but upon closer examination, I noticed that they each have their own unique connection to the superhero that makes them distinct. The first category is the type of supervillain who tests the superhero’s physical limits and is kind of like a common thug. Another category is the type of supervillain who is a typical sociopath and challenges the superhero on a mental level. A third category is the kind of supervillain who has an intimate knowledge of the superhero, allowing them to exploit their weaknesses for maximum damage. The last category is the kind of superhero who is more of a nuisance than a threat, indulging in petty crime such as stealing. In general, even though a supervillain always commits crimes and evil, they come in many forms, giving the superhero a challenge i any case.

WRITING UPDATE: THIRD SHORT STORY (CHAPTER 8)

I am entering the eighth chapter of my third short story and this will be the most morally ambiguous scene in the story. It will depict the origins of Vogan’s god complex and how he views himself otherwise, which will set the stage for the events that are currently happening in the series. Also, this chapter marks the near-completion of this particular short story and the beginning of the fourth. I must say that I feel a very special case of satisfaction from finishing this short story because I have always wanted to depict the origins of the main villain of my series who is the driving force of everything that has transpired so far.

CONCEPT: ANTI-VILLAIN

We are so accustomed to seeing a traditional villain in a story. A traditional villain can range from a sadistic psychopath or a megalomaniacal sociopath. What we sometimes overlook is a type of villain who possesses heroic characteristics. Personally, I find this type of villain more interesting than a traditional villain because they provide a more intricate story and can have motivations that are morally ambiguous. In some cases, the anti-villain’s intentions are good, but the price they are willing to pay is high beyond measure. Other times, the anti-villain has hostile intentions, but end up doing the right thing in the end. One of the main villains of my series will turn out to be an anti-villain. I won’t say who, but what I can say is that their motivations and plans will rock the modern world to its core.

WRITING UPDATE: THIRD SHORT STORY (CHAPTER 6)

I have started on the sixth chapter of my third short story and this will be a critical piece of the story that will set the stage for the events in the main series. Essentially, it will portray the catalyst that pushes Vogan over the edge and transforms him into the main villain of the whole series. The chapter following this one will be the darkest chapter in the story and will involve some aspects of my imagination that must never see the light of day. It is only fitting that the next chapter be the darkest in the whole short story since Vogan is the incarnation of the negative parts of my personality. One might say that writing about Vogan and his origins is a form of therapy that I would not find anywhere else. I have been looking forward to writing the next chapter for some time.

CONCEPT: UNDEAD PHYSIOLOGY

One of the most common and popular elements revolves around the living dead. There are a number of examples of undead creatures that have been depicted in fiction ranging from zombies, vampires, and many more. Being undead is a rather curious form of existence that comes in many forms. In some cases, your body is deceased, but your mind is intact and still active. In other cases, your body is animated, but your mind is a blank slate and you’re a mindless abomination. When I think about it, it would be strange and unusual if I was unable to breathe, tire, or have a heartbeat while still being able to move. In my upcoming fourth short story, the supervillain the main character will face will be either undead or something resembling it. Unlike cliches like zombies and vampires, I am planning on making this individual something completely entirely different. Based on what I have planned so far, the whole idea is already giving me the goosebumps. This new short story, which will commence creation after my current third short story is completed, will be yet another example of asking the age-old question: “How do you kill something that is already dead?”

CHARACTER CREATION: CYBER SHADOW

I based Cyber Shadow on several bullies who tormented me throughout middle and high school to give myself an emotional release and find a healthy way to get revenge.  Before he takes on the name Cyber Shadow, the character’s name was Brick Baxter, who is a psychopathic sadist who routinely targeted the main character, Patrick Donovan.  However, a couple days after Patrick gained his powers from the Genesis Spell, Brick attacked Patrick and Patrick accidentally used his powers to burn Brick alive.  Shortly afterwards, Brick’s remains were salvaged and he was turned into a cyborg called Cyber Shadow.

Because of the potential glitches and defects that could come from being a cyborg, I thought of an ideal way for Brick to be a formidable supervillain and completely miserable at the same time.  To begin with, the technology that is keeping Brick’s organic components alive is highly experimental and inadvertently exacerbates Brick’s already insane, sadistic urges.  Most of his senses are either diluted or gone, leaving him with only sight and hearing, which are still somewhat diminished.  His metal limbs are extremely heavy and difficult to move, which causes serious strain to his traumatized brain.  His robotic head is a poor fit for his brain, which causes him endless headaches.  And his synthetic organs cause him a constant state of nausea, but he cannot vomit because he has no esophagus or mouth.  Overall, Cyber Shadow’s existence as a cyborg is living damnation.  Still, despite the limitless misery he suffers, I made sure that Cyber Shadow was equipped with advanced weaponry to go along with his insatiable bloodlust and hunger for vengeance.  Currently, Cyber Shadow’s ultimate fate is a mystery, but a hint will be revealed in the upcoming third volume.