Hi again folks, here's a ten pager from my motley crew of Scarlet Witch centric scripts.
This time we've plopped down right in the middle of Kurt Busiek and George Perez's fantastic Avengers run (a personal favorite Avengers era of mine). So we've got Wanda shakily taking the reins of the team, gaining her feet and her confidence.
This story also co-stars Carol 'Ms Marvel' Danvers from this period. Back then she was hitting the local tavern in-between kicking super-villainous ass and sassing her team-mates. Who doesn't love Carol?
Also just for fun - I've revived a Captain America from the late, great (and as yet unsurpassed) Mark Gruenwald's run. The super-bad femin-nazi Superia.
This one was fun to write.
Hope it's fun to read...
NOTE TO ARTIST: I’ve included a suggestion for panel layout at the start of each page. This is nothing more than a suggestion to give you a feel for why I’ve paced the dialogue the way I have. Feel free to lay the pages and panels out what ever way you think works best.
PAGE ONE
Four
panels, two rows. Panel one is page wide and takes up three quarters of the
page. The remaining panels share the bottom row taking up the remainder of the
page.
1.) Its
bright, sun-washed day in New York
City
Strewn
around the lawn at Superia feet are the unconscious forms of the other
Avengers. CAPTAIN
AMERICA lies on his side next to her, several feet away from his shield,
his costumer tattered and smoking. HAWKEYE
lies on the other side of her on his back, his arrows and broken bow scattered
on the grass around him. IRON
MAN lies face down and motionless, one of Superia’s high-heeled boots
resting on his back.
The
voice in the captions belongs to the SCARLET
WITCH who is looking on from somewhere off panel. We’ll see where she is
and what she’s doing in the next panel.
WONDER MAN (choked):
*AKK* WHAT DO YOU
WANT?
SUPERIA:
MY
RECENT DEFEATS AT THE HANDS OF YOUR FLAG-CLAD RINGLEADER HAVE SOWN DISSENSION
AMONGST
THE RANKS OF MY FEMIZONS.
SUPERIA:
I
THOUGHT BRINGING THEM THE HEAD OF A FEW AVENGERS WOULD REMIND THEM WHO IS IN
CHARGE.
2.) Switch
to an angle with Superia’s head and shoulders in the bottom foreground. Our
focus is beyond her, beyond the walls that surround the mansion, one a rooftop
across the street. We can see the Scarlet Witch in full costume lurking behind
a roof turret, trying to see what’s happening but not be spotted stay out of
sight.
SCARLET WITCH:
OH GOD SIMON.
SCARLET
WITCH:
I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A MISTAKE.
I SHOULD BE DOWN THERE BACKING YOU UP…
3.) Cut to a
close up of the SCARLET WITCH peeking out from behind the turret. She’s got a
worried look on her face and her Avenger’s ID card in one hand.
CAPTION:
…NOT UP HERE CALLING
FOR A CALVARY, WHO AREN’T PICKING UP!
4.) Cut to a
shot looking down over the witch’s shoulder at the Avengers ID card she’s
looking at. The little screen in the top left corner is full of crackling
static. The voice of MS. MARVEL is coming into shot from off panel right.
SCARLET WITCH:
COME IN! JENNIFER?
VANCE? SOMEONE!
SCARLET WITCH:
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY!
MS. MARVEL:
HEY WANDA…
PAGE TWO
Six
panels, two rows. Panel one is tall and vertically narrow. It takes up the top
left half of the top row. Panels two and three are stacked one on top of the
other on the right of the top row. Panels four, five and six are across the
bottom with a bit more space going to the last panel. If you want to do
something more imaginative than just three simple side by side panels have at
it. Maybe some short of staggered layout with each panel being bigger than the
one before would work.
1.) Cut to a
full figure shot of MS.
MARVEL. She’s a few feet behind Scarlet Witch (who can be partially visible
in the foreground if there’s room). She’s in full costume but standing casually
with one hand on her hips and the other running through her long blonde hair as
it flaps in the wind. She looks good!
Over
her shoulder we’re getting our first good look at the rooftop. Behind her on
the left a long-shafted TV antenna sticks up out of the roof. Behind her on the
right is a workbench with a bunch of rags draped over it and a few paint cans
resting on its far end.
MS MARVEL:
…WHAT’S THE HUBBUB?
SCARLET WITCH (jag):
CAROL!
SCARLET WITCH:
YOU SCARED ME!
2.) Cut to a
two shot of the girls in profile. Ms Marvel is in the foreground. She has
stepped forward to the edge of the roof and rested on boot on the raised ledge.
She’s leaned forward her arms, crossed, leaning on her raised knee, peering
over the edge of the roof. Beyond her the Scarlet Witch looks annoyed demanding
to know why she didn’t answer her call.
SCARLET WITCH:
I’VE BEEN CALLING. WHY
DIDN’T YOU RESPOND?
MS
MARVEL:
I
WAS IN A BAR, A FEW BLOCKS OVER. THOUGHT IT’D BE QUICKER TO JUST COME.
MS
MARVEL:
WHOA,
SHE’S GOT YOUR HONEY DOWN THERE. I’M SURPRISED YOU WAITED FOR ME.
3.) Close on
the Witch who bristles at that last remark. She’s pointing an angry finger in
our direction as she replies with sneer of growing irritation on her face.
SCARLET
WITCH:
I MAY NOT BE
A MILITARY STRATEGIST, BUT I’M NO HOT-HEADED AMATEUR EITHER.
SCARLET WITCH:
RUSHING IN AND GETTING
MYSELF KILLED WOULDN’T HELP SIMON.
4.) Cut to a
mid figure two shot. Ms Marvel is in the foreground walking away from the edge,
and from the Witch toward us. She’s muttering a half-hearted apology over her
shoulder as she looks around the rooftop, searching for something. Behind her
the Witch’s look of irritation grows as she tries to fill her team-mate in on
the situation but is aware that Ms Marvel is barely listening.
MS MARVEL:
WHOA, EASY THERE
TIGER. I DIDN’T MEAN ANYTHING BY IT.
SCARLET WITCH:
LOOK, I’VE READ CAP’S
DOSSIER ON SUPERIA. SHE’S A HEAVY HITTER.
5.) Reverse
angles. The Witch is now in the foreground with her back turned partially
toward us. We’re looking past her, across the roof at Ms Marvel. She’s breaking
a tall TV antenna
with one hand. The long shaft snaps near the bottom so that Ms Marvel has the
makings of a pretty odd looking spear in her hand. The Witch’s frustration has now boiled over
and she demands to know what the hell her team-mate is doing. Again Ms Marvel
is answering her without looking, she’s focused on her makeshift spear.
SCARLET WITCH:
WE’LL NEED A PLAN IF
WE’RE - -
SCARLET WITCH:
CAROL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
MS MARVEL:
SHE DOESN’T LOOK SO
TOUGH. WHY DON’T WE SKIP ALL THE FOREPLAY…
6.) Pull out
to a full figure up-shot of Ms Marvel. She has stepped back to the edge of the
roof and is hurling the TV antenna spear down at us with all of her might.
Let’s throw in some motion lines showing the arc her throwing arm travels so
the reader can feel the ‘oomph’ she has put behind it.
MS MARVEL:
…AND GET RIGHT TO THE
POINT!
PAGE THREE
Five
panels, three rows. Panel one is page wide with panel two as an inset in its
bottom left hand corner. Perhaps the inset could even straddle the gutter
between the top and middle row a little if it helps with the flow of the page.
Panel three is page wide and horizontally narrow across the middle. Panels four
and five split the bottom row.
1.) Cut to a
high angel shot looking down past the hurtling spear at Superia. Unfortunately
she’s hard to take unawares. She has raised her free hand (her other hand still
holding the stricken Wonder Man aloft by his throat) and disintegrated the
makeshift spear in mid-air with the thunderous concussive blast that roars out
of her closed fist.
SFX:
THROOM!
SUPERIA:
A
SNEAK ATTACK. I THOUGHT SUCH COWARDLY TACTICS BENEATH THE VAUNTED AVENGERS.
2.) Close in
for mid-figure shot of Superia as she pointed both fists at us unleashing an
even bigger concussive blast.
SUPERIA:
COME! SHOW YOURSELF!
3.) Cut to a
low angle shot from a few feet below the edge of the rooftop where Ms Marvel
and the Scarlet Witch are perched. They are looking down at us with wide eyed
horror. The Witch is making that distinctive spell-casting gesture with her
hands, a hex bolt leaping from her outstretched fingers and colliding with the
on-coming force blast. Where the two forces meet Superia’s blast is suddenly
diverted, making a sharp turn, missing the girls and colliding with the
building a few inches below them.
NOTE:
The SFX for the blast hitting the building should stretch from this panel into
the next where the consequences of the impact are felt.
SCARLET WITCH (jag):
CAROL!
SCARLET WITCH (jag):
LOOK OUT!
SFX:
SHHAAWWWAA
4.) Cut to a
shot of Ms Marvel in profile as the roof beneath her feet explodes in a furious
orange fireball. Clouds of dust and chunks of concrete are send flying through
the air every which way. Ms Marvel herself is thrown back into the air like a
rag doll.
SFX:
BOOOOM.
5.) High
angle shot of Ms Marvel as she crashes down on top of the workbench we saw
behind her on page two, panel one. She’s gone limp, landing hard. The workbench
shatters to splinters beneath her. She has crashed into the end closest to her
causing a catapult effect that tosses the paint cans that had been resting on
the far end high into the air. The scene is filled with flying globs of paint
and shards of splintered wood.
SFX:
KRUUNNCCHH!
PAGE FOUR
Five
panels, three rows. Panels one, two and three are equal sized across the top
row. Panel four is page wide across the middle row. Panel five is page wide
across the bottom. Panel four should maybe be given a little more space than
panel five as it has a bit of background to show.
1.) Cut to a
full figure shot of the Scarlet Witch. We’re a few feet away as she is not our
primary focus here. Our primary focus is on of the paint cans as it goes
sailing over her head. It has managed to stay upright only tipping slightly as
it flies across the panel. The Witch is watching it go by. We can tell from
it’s trajectory that it’s heading right off the edge of the roof.
NO COPY
2.) Same
shot. Now the paint can is over the edge of the roof, beginning its descent.
The paint inside is beginning to spill out as it tips over. The Scarlet Witch
is still watching it taking a few steps toward the edge of the roof so that she
can follow it down.
NO COPY
3.) Same
shot. The paint can is now off panel. Wanda is at the edge of the roof looking
down. She’s got one hand cupped over her mouth in equal parts amusement and
shock. A screech from Superia is coming from far below. She was unfortunately
directly beneath the falling can.
SFX:
SPLUCH!
SUPERIA (jag):
ARRGGHH!
4.) Cut to
the mansion lawn for a full figure shot of Superia. She is drenched in paint.
It covers her face, shoulders and chest. She’s frantically rubbing at her eyes
with the fingers of both hands. She’s taking swerving, wavering, staggering
steps, panicking due to her sudden blindness. Wonder man lies on the grass
behind her watching, propped up on his one solid elbow. His other hand and both
legs are still nothing but slowly dissipating stumps.
SUPERIA (jag):
NO! I’M BLIND!
SUPERIA (jag):
YOU’VE BLINDED ME!
5.) Cut to a
full figure shot looking up at the Scarlet Witch from a low angle. She has
leapt from the roof and is in free-fall. Her hair and cape is billowing
majestically in the wind behind her. Both her hands are in the spell-casting
gesture sparks of mystical energy dancing between her fingertips. This should
be a kick-ass action shot – it should really pop.
SCARLET WITCH:
THIS IS MY CHANCE!
SCARLET WITCH:
BEST NOT WASTE IT!
PAGE FIVE
Four
panels, two rows. Panel one is tall and vertically narrow. It takes up the top
left quarter of the page. Next to it on the top row panels two and three are
stacked one on top of another. Panel four is page wide and has the bottom row
to itself.
1.) Cut to a
low angle shot. We’re looking up at the Scarlet Witch from halfway down the
building. She’s plummeting toward us her face turned up, eyes looking dead
ahead. She’s got her body straightened and her legs stretched out behind her
like a skydiver. She’s basically nose-diving toward the street but the
expression on her face is not one of fear but if total concentration. Crossing
the panel between us and her is a phone cable on end of which is affixed to
side of the building. She’s got her hands held up in her ‘hex’ gesture. The mystical
sparks swirling between her fingers are leaping to the cable, dancing and
shimmering along it’s length.
NO COPY
2.) Bring
our point of view up, level with the Scarlet Witch. As she plummets past the
cable she has reached out and grabbed onto it with both hands.
NO COPY
3.) Tight
close up on the cable where it is affixed to the building wall. Her extra
weight has yanked the cable loose of its mornings.
SFX:
SNAP
4.) Pull out
to a full figure shot of the Scarlet Witch as she swings across the panel,
several feet above the ground holding onto the severed phone cable like
Spider-man. She has twisted her body around thrusting on foot out in front of
her like a jouster’s lance. Her eyes are narrowed and her teeth are gritted.
Her scarlet cape flaps wildly in the wind behind her.
NO COPY
PAGE SIX
Two
panels, two rows. Panel one takes up the lion’s share of the page. Panel two is
page wide across the bottom taking up whatever space is left.
1.) Big
action shot. As the Scarlet Witch swings up past Superia her outstretched boot
collides with blinded villainess’ chin. Superia pitches backward toward us. Her
face is etched with pain and a spray of blood flies from her mouth.
SFX:
KRRUUNTT!!
SUPERIA (jag):
OOMMPPH!
2.) Superia
goes bouncing across the lawn before crashing back-first into the wall of the
mansion with a bone-crunching thud. Let’s show ghost images of her path across
the path (you know the way John Romita used to do those ghost images of Spidey
doing complex web swings around a cityscape).
SUPERIA:
OOF!
SUPERIA:
UFF!
SUPERIA:
AGGH!
SFX:
THUD
PAGE SEVEN
Six
panels, two rows. Panel one takes up, roughly, the top left quarter of the
page. Panel two is next to it but it is not as big leaving some room for panel
six to encroach into the top row a bit. Panels three, four and five are stacked
one on top of the other in the bottom left quarter of the page. Both panels
three and four shouldn’t take up too much space, panel four being especially
small and narrow. Squish them as much as required to give panel five the space
it needs. Panel six is tall and vertically narrow in the bottom right. It can
use up all the space that’s left.
1.) Cut back
to a full figure shot of the Scarlet Witch. She’s standing in her fighting
stance, prepared for Superia to get back up. Her stance is softening though as
she turns her head to glance back at Wonder Man who lies on his back on the
grass just behind her. He’s propped up his one good elbow again. He’s looking
up at her is awe and disbelief.
SCARLET WITCH:
SIMON? ARE YOU OKAY?
WONDER MAN (whisper):
WOW WANDA…THAT WAS…AMAZING.
2.) Cut to a
tight two shot of Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man. She’s hunkering down next to
him. He’s smiling up at her dopily, reaching out to her with his dissipating
hand. One of Wanda’s hands is one his shoulder the other is waving in the air
in an exasperated gesture to go with the scowl of irritation on her face.
WONDER MAN (whisper):
I NEVER KNEW YOU COULD
FIGHT LIKE THAT.
SCARLET WITCH:
DON’T YOU START WITH
THAT.
3.) Cut to a
tight head and shoulders close-up of the seemingly unconscious Superia. She
lies slumped against the fractured brick of the mansion wall. She’s got a
splash of blood at the corner of one mouth and a little stream of blood flow
from each of her nostrils. Her face is bruised and swelling. She looks like
she’s been through the mill.
SCARLET WITCH:
HAS EVERYONE
FORGOTTEN…
4.) Tight
close up on Superia’s eyes as they suddenly snap open.
SCARLET WITCH:
I’VE BEEN AN AVENGER
FOR A LONG TIME.
5.) Low
angle shot of the Scarlet Witch. She is caught completely by surprise as
Superia arms shoot in from behind her (in from off the top of the panel) and
wrap themselves around her throat in a vice-like grip. The Witch’s face
contorts in pain and surprise.
SUPERIA (off panel):
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT
WITCH…
6.) Full
figure shot of Superia and the Scarlet Witch. The super-villainess is behind
the Witch both hands still wrapped around her throat. She’s using her immense
strength and height to life Wanda up off the ground. Her feet jerk and kick at
the air looking for purchase and finding none. She’s yanking at Superia’s grip
with both her hands but she’s much too strong. If there’s room show Wonder Man
lying in the grass reaching out toward them with his dissipating hand but
unable to help.
SUPERIA (off panel):
…BECAUSE IT’S ABOUT TO
COME TO AN ABRUPT END!
PAGE EIGHT
Four
panels, two rows. Panels one and two can be stacked one on top of the other or
placed side by side, whatever looks better and is makes the reading sequence
clear to the reader. Panel three is next to panels one and two on the top row.
Panel four is narrow on the left of the bottom row leaving plenty of space for
the action shot in panel four.
1.) Close in
for a shot of the Scarlet Witch. We don’t need to see her in her entirety (feel
free to cut her head out of the top of the panel). We’re interested in her hand
which is at her side making the spell casting gesture. That familiar mystical
energy is swimming around her fingers again.
NO COPY
2.) Close on
Superia’s feet. Perhaps we can see the Scarlet Witch’s kicking feet thrashing
in the top left of the panel. Our focus her is Superia’s boot (the one closest
to us). The mystical hex energy is shooting down into shot to dance around the
heel of the boot.
NOTE:
Depending on the layout you go with it may be cool to have a little stream of
hex energy connect Wanda’s hand in the previous panel to Superia’ heel in this
panel (split by the gutter of course).
NO COPY
3.) Cut to a
full figure shot of Superia as the heel of her boot gives way beneath her. The
sudden break causes her to off balance, dropping the Scarlet Witch and stumble
a few steps toward us. Her arms are stretched out to either side flapping in an
attempt to prevent her from over-balancing.
SFX:
KRAK!
SUPERIA:
DAMMIT! MY HEEL!
4.) Cut to a
tight head and shoulders reaction shot of Superia. Ms Marvel’s voice is coming
in from off panel causing Superia to suddenly look up. Her eyes are wide and
her face is portrait of mounting horror.
SUPERIA:
OF ALL THE CURSED
LUCK! I WAS - -
MS MARVEL (off panel):
DISTRACTED BY THE
PITFALLS OF FIGHTING IN HEELS…
SUPERIA:
HUH?
5.) Pull out
to a wide shot. Ms Marvel is rocketing into shot from the top left corner of
the panel. She has both fists stretched out in front of her like a aerodynamic
human missile. Both fists collide with Superia’s gut. She is doubled up and
carried off her feet by the force of the impact. Carol is grinning from ear to
ear, her long blond locks flapping wildly around her in the wind.
MS MARVEL:
…THAT’S A ROOKIE
MISTAKE LADY!
SFX:
WHAM!
PAGE NINE
Six
panels, three rows. Panels one and two are on the top row. Panels three, four
and five are across the middle row. This should be the tallest row on the page.
Panel six is a narrow letterbox panel across the bottom. It doesn’t need a lot
of room
1.) Cut to a
high angle shot. The force of Ms Marvel and Superia colliding with the ground
is digging a huge, deep grove in the lawn. Grass, dirt and mud go flying as
they skid to an eventual halt a few feet into the middle ground.
SFX:
THUD-UD-UD-UD-UD!
2.) Pull out
to a long shot. The Scarlet Witch is partially in the bottom right foreground
rushing along the muddy groove in the lawn to Ms. Marvel’s side. In the middle
ground on her feet, at the far end of the groove, wiping the dust and dirt from
her hands is Ms Marvel. She’s casting a disdainful glance back down at her
fallen foe. Superia lies a few feet behind Carol sprawled and broken upon a
mound of dirt and mud. Carol’s costume is marred with mud stains here and
there. Superia’s costume on the other hand is caked in paint and mud – she
looks a right state.
SCARLET WITCH:
CAROL!
MS. MARVEL:
I’M ALRIGHT. I’M
ALRIGHT.
3.) Cut to
shot of Ms Marvel and Scarlet Witch looming over the off panel Superia. We’re
looking up at them from her point of view. Let’s maybe show Superia’s hand
reaching up into shot from off the bottom of the panel. Both Avengers are
looking down at us with a mixture of wariness and pity.
SCARLET WITCH:
IS SHE - -
SUPERIA (weak):
SIS - - SISTERS - -
4.) Same
shot of the ladies looming over Superia. Superia’s hand has now clenched into a
shaking fist. The Scarlet Witch and Ms Marvel are exchanging glances as if
they’re considering her proposal.
SUPERIA (weak):
YOU HAVE PROVEN
YOURSELVES MIGTHY WARRIORS. JOIN ME.
SUPERIA
(weak):
TOGETHER
WE COULD WREST THE REINS OF POWER FROM MEN AND RULE THIS PLANET AS
GODDESSES!
5.) Same
shot. Now both of Superia’s hands are in shot, palms out in a ‘don’t hit me
gesture’. The Scarlet Witch is drawing back her fist ready for the knock-out
blow. Ms Marvel is pouting her lips and screwing up her brow in a ‘nah’ gesture
and she’s shaking one limp-wristed hand in a ‘no thanks’ gesture.
SCARLET
WITCH:
I
ALREADY HAVE A MEGALOMANIAC FATHER AND AN EGOMANIAC BROTHER…
SCARLET WITCH:
…A MISANDRIST SISTER
IS THE LAST THING I NEED.
SUPERIA (weak):
SISTER. NO PLEASE.
6.) Extreme
close up on the Scarlet Witch’s fist surrounded by impact lines. This is the
knock-out blow – Batman 66 style.
SFX:
POW!
PAGE TEN
Six
panels, three rows. Six panel grid, two panels per row.
1.) A full
figure two-shot of the Scarlet Witch and Ms Marvel. Wanda is shaking her
stinging fist trying to ease the pain in her knuckles from the punch she just
laid out Superia with. Ms Marvel is hitting her with a congratulatory, but
inadvertently painful, pat on the back. Wanda is shooting her an irritated
glance. Carol is smiling broadly at her.
MS MARVEL:
WAY TO GO WANDA. I DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD IT IN YA!
SCARLET WITCH:
OUCH!
2.) Cut to a
shot of the Scarlet Witch from Ms Marvel’s point of view. Wanda is coming at
us, brandishing an accusatory finger and look of contempt.
SCARLET WITCH:
LOOK. I DON’T KNOW WHO
YOU THINK YOU ARE PATRONISING ME BUT - -
3.) Cut to a
mid-figure two-shot of the ladies. Ms Marvel is on the left holding her hands
up in a ‘whoa’ gesture. Wanda is on the left shying away from her, blushing.
She’s coyly brushing her hair out of her face with her hand.
MS.
MARVEL:
HEY,
ALL I MEANT WAS, IF IT WAS A CHOICE BETWEEN YOU WATCHING MY BACK AND ANY ONE OF
THE
GUYS.
MS. MARVEL:
I’D TAKE YOU ANY DAY
OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAYS!
SCARLET WITCH:
OH – WELL I – THANKS…I
THINK.
4.) Cut to a
full figure two shot of the ladies. The Scarlet Witch is gesturing toward the
guys who are still lying strewn on the lawn in the background. She’s looking
glum now. Ms Marvel, still smiling, is waggling a thumb between Wanda and
herself in a’ you and me’ gesture.
MS.
MARVEL:
TELL
YOU WHAT. HOW ‘BOUT WE GET THESE GUYS TO THE INFIRMARY, GET SUPEY HERE HAULED
OFF
TO
THE VAULT…
MS MARVEL:
…THEN YOU AND I HEAD
OUT FOR MOHITOS?
SCARLET WITCH:
OH. I SHOULDN’T. SIMON
IS - - I SHOULD - -
5.) Tight
head and shoulders close up of Scarlet Witch. She’s finally treating us to a
smile as she decides ‘to hell with it’ and gives in to Carol’s charms.
SCARLET WITCH:
ON SECOND THOUGHT,
AFTER WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH…
SCARLET WITCH:
…I COULD USE A DRINK…
SCARLET WITCH:
…A BIG DRINK.
6.) A
‘walking off into the sunset’ shot of Ms Marvel and the Scarlet Witch. We’re
behind them watching them walk off toward the mansion. Carol has one arm draped
over Wanda’s shoulder.
MS MARVEL:
WANDA HONEY…
MS MARVEL:
…NOW YOU’RE TALKING MY
LANGUAGE.
BLURB:
THE END
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