How a Super Villain Slugfest Saved Our Marriage

By Kevin McCloskey

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PAGE 1

I want the first page split into 6 equally shaped square panels. Each panel should show an ALTERNATING male or female MOUTH speaking. Kind of keep it in PROFILE, so that we can see part of the character speaking. Don’t worry so much about the background at this point.

Panel 1:
MALE MOUTH:
…You never listen to anything I say…

Panel 2:
FEMALE MOUTH:
…Why should I? You’re never there for me when I need you…

Panel 3:
MALE MOUTH:
…There for you? YOU’RE never there for ME…

Panel 4:
FEMALE MOUTH:
…I would be if it mattered to you…

Panel 5:
MALE MOUTH:
…It would MATTER to me if you’d stop CRITICIZING me and compliment…

Panel 6:

FEMALE MOUTH:
…Criticizing you?!?…You never do anything right…

PAGE 2

INT. PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Looking into a PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE (BOOKS lining the wall, some psychological degrees, maybe a picture of Sigmund Freud). Angle should be from across a fancy DESK with various files and manila folders on it. Sitting on the other side together on a couch, as far as they can get from one another is BURT BOSCOS and BRENDA BOSCOS. Burt should be in his late 30s, shorter, receding hair line, non-descript suit & tie combo (think Will Arnett from Arrested Development). Brenda Boscos should be mid-late 30s, short, blonde, petite body, formal blouse and dress, fancy but not extravagant (think Amy Poehler from Saturday Night Live) (NOTE: I’m not set in stone in re: the visual references for the main characters. I just wanted a famous couple that is married but not superstar beautiful: If the artist wants to put his own spin on them, be my guest). Both Burt and Brenda should be SCOWLING at each other. Body language should suggest that they’re both ready to STRANGLE the other.

ON TOP MIDDLE OF THE PAGE: THE TITLE OF THE STORY “HOW A SUPER VILLAIN SLUGFEST SAVED OUR MARRIAGE ”

IN THE MIDDLE BOTTOM, CREDITS:
Created by: AJ Apelian
Written by: CoJoeTheLawyer
Art by: The Luckiest, Most Talented S.O.B on the Planet Earth

UNSEEN SPEAKER (Off-Panel):
I’ve heard enough…My opinion your marriage continues to suffer from a lack of communication and teamwork

PAGE 3

This page should be broken up into two equally-sized rectangles going from left to right

Panel 1:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Generic background setting. There should be an office building, with doors, a sidewalk, light post, a bus stop with a bench next to it. The street should be in the foreground, with the benches/sidewalk in the middle and the buildings in the background.

As Burt and Brenda are exiting the building ARGUING in the background, a pair of super villains enter the frame in the foreground, running from right to left. One should be MASTER MALICE, a notorious super-villain. He’s muscular, shaved head, but half his face is covered in a hi-tech metal mask. His costume should be something along the lines of Deadshot from DC comics, with wrist gauntlets and boots, but more black leather bad-ass. The other is his wife, MISTRESS MALICE, another super-villain. She has long, flowing, wild blond hair, a shapely body accentuated by the full body black leather cat suit she is wearing (visually, think The Baroness’s outfit from classic G.I. Joe) but with the same wrist gauntlets as Master Malice and maybe some high-tech sunglasses. She should be shooting with a laser pistol off-panel (*Phew**Phew**Phew*). They should both be laughing (AHA-HA-HA-HA), smiling and otherwise having a great time. Burt and Brenda should still be visible the background, arguing.

BURT:
Maybe we should just di…

Panel 2:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Burt and Brenda are still in the background, arguing As Master Malice and Mistress Malice are EXITING the panel STAGE LEFT (still laughing and shooting), a POLICE CRUISER should be entering the panel from the right, sirens blazing. The cruiser should be BADLY DAMAGED and ON FIRE. The cop at the wheel should looked pissed off, with another cop aiming a shotgun out the rear driver’s side window, firing at the fleeing super villains. Maybe a second Police Cruiser should be on the heels of the first, in the same condition. Burt and Brenda should still be in the background, still visibly arguing.

BURT:
…vorce.

PAGE 4

Two equally sized rectangle panels running vertically up & down the page

(Don’t worry about a background, both characters should be washed in bright light)

Panel 1:

Close up of Burt engulfed in a BEAM OF LIGHT.

CAPTION BOX: BURT BOSCOS, YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED FOR SENTRY DUTY

BURT:
Great…uh…but my wife and I don’t really…

CAPTION BOX: THIS IS SATELLITE SD-171. I WILL BE YOUR GUIDE.YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED EXTREME TEMPERATURE ALTERATION. PLEASE APPREHEND MASTER MALICE AND MISTRESS MALICE

Panel 2:

Close up of Brenda engulfed in a BEAM OF LIGHT (same as Burt)

CAPTION BOX: BRENDA BOSCOS, YOU HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED FOR SENTRY DUTY. THIS IS SATELLITE SD-171. I WILL BE YOUR GUIDE.

BRENDA:
Look…Maybe you didn’t notice…we’re not the…

CAPTION BOX: YOU HAVE BEEN GRANTED EXTREME TEMPERATURE ALTERATION. PLEASE APPREHEND MASTER MALICE AND MISTRESS MALICE

PAGE 5

Split this page into 4 equal square panels

Panel 1:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

The Background should now be TRASHED things on FIRE and DESTROYED in the background.

Burt should have a faint BLUE AURA around him and ICE CRYSTALS forming on his hands, head and clothes. Brenda should have a faint RED AURA and WISPS OF SMOKE should coming off her hands and head, maybe the hem of her dress should be BURNING. They should be looking at each other with a mix of wonder, anger and bewilderment.

BURT:
Ok…we need to work together or we’re going to get hurt…

BRENDA:
…if we can work together…

Panel 2

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Perspective shifts to the Malices. They’re trading a SIDEWAYS GLANCE at each other. Mistress has an BEMUSED look on her face. They have their weapons aimed that the Boscos, but they’re not firing just yet.

MASTER:
Pair o’ Beamers, eh… butcher’em outright, or just maim’em Love?

MISTRESS:
Murder them, of course darling…The Satellite can always pick more…

Panel 3:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Perspective is from behind Burt and Brenda. The Malices are ATTACKING. Mistress should be in a FLYING KARATE KICK directed at Brenda’s Midsection, while Master should be trying to SHOOT Burt with his wrist gauntlet, grazing his head with the shot. Body language from the Malices suggest they’re enjoying every second of the beatdown. In profile you should be able to see Burt and Brenda, and they looked surprised and unprepared.

No dialogue

Panel 4:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Foreground is Brenda and Mistress Malice. Perspective is from Brenda’s point of view. The Mistress is STANDING OVER her, victorious, AIMING her LASER PISTOL at Brenda’s head. Mistress should have a TRIUMPHANT look on her face, and she’s about ready to pull the trigger. In the background, you can see Burt wrestling/grappling with Master, whose trying to pin his arms down.

BRENDA:
Burt…HELP!!!…

PAGE 6
Split this page into 4 equal square panels (Same as Page 5)
Panel 1:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Foreground is Brenda and Mistress Malice. Perspective is still from Brenda’s point of view. Same framing from Page 5, Panel 4. However, Mistress Malice’s ARM AND LASER PISTOL is now coated in SOLID BLOCK OF ICE. Her facial expression is of BEWILDERMENT and RAGE. In the background, Burt is still battling with Master in the background, but managed to FREE A HAND in order to freeze blast the Mistress.

No Dialogue

Panel 2:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Foreground is Brenda and Mistress Malice. Perspective is from the side. Brenda has RECOVERED, and is now THROWING A PUNCH to the Mistress’s MID-SECTION. Her hand should be FLAMING, Street-Fighter style. The Mistress should be in obvious pain, with her arm still encased in ICE.

BRENDA:
Great shot honey!

Panel 3

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Foreground is Burt and Master Malice. Perspective is from the side. Burt is still GRAPPLING with Mister Malice, whose has gotten behind Burt and put him in a STRANGLE HOLD and is CHOKING him to DEATH. Burt is clearly in danger of losing his fight, but STRUGGLING to free himself.

BURT:
You know…gkkkkkk…important…..kkkkkk…in a marriage?

MASTER:
Eh?

BURT:
Communication…gkkkkkk….and Teamwork…

Panel 4

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Foreground is Burt and Master Malice. Perspective is from the side. Master Malice is being hit by a BALL OF FIRE from the side/back. The blast should be powerful enough to knock him OFF HIS FEET, yet missing Burt. Brenda should be in the background, and it should be apparent that she just fired the fireball that took out Mister Malice.

No dialogue

PAGE 7

This page should be broken up into two equally-sized rectangles going from left to right.

Panel 1:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Burt and Brenda are on OPPOSITE SIDES of the panel. Perspective should be form the side. On either side on them are the battered, bruised, bloody, burnt forms of Mister and Mistress Malice, clearly DEFEATED. Burt and Brenda are looking at each other. Body language should suggest EXHAUSTION, but VICTORY. Brenda’s clothes should be thoroughly BURNT, and Burt should have some bruises and similar WEAR & TEAR

BURT:
We won…We really won…

BRENDA:
Wow…that was….

Panel 2:

EXT. OUTSIDE OF PSYCHOLOGIST OFFICE

Close the perspective from Page7, Panel 1. Burt and Brenda are both RUNNING towards each other, obviously ECSTATIC to see the other.

BURT:
Are you ok…

BRENDA
…I was so worried about you…

BURT:
…I thought she was going to…

BRENDA:
…he had you in a choke hold…

BURT:
Listen, I’m sorry…about everything…

BRENDA:
So am I…Oh shut up and kiss me!

PAGE 8

Splash Page time. Center panel should be Burt and Brenda in a long, deep Hollywood happy-ending KISS. They should be AWASH in BRIGHT LIGHT, as the Satellite is beaming away their powers.

CAPTION BOX: THIS IS SATELLITE SD-171.

CAPTION BOX: THREAT NEUTRALIZED.

CAPTION BOX: SUPERHUMAN ABILITIES RESCINDED.

CAPTION BOX: THANK YOU. HAVE A NICE DAY.