Super Heroes - Ashcan Preview

Heroes are coming! This you'll have to see to believe! The amazing three-part ASHCAN PREVIEW of Super Heroes is coming right atcha, and it's packed to the edge of the page with

  * ACTION!
  * EXCITEMENT!
  * WONDER!

Don't throw it away, don't sleep on it, open it up!

For future reference, every issue, we'll be leaking out the pieces so you'll have a little something to whet the appetite! If you've got ideas you want incorporated, email the guy you know to email or post on the Discussion tab!

Opening - Iraq

IRAQ, 2003. The coalition is dismembering the feeble Iraqi forces, but in the chaos...

The interior of a helicopter. Baghdad is visible out of an open window. STRIKER is crouched to the side, in some sort of HIGH-TECH-COMBAT-SUIT, smoking a cigarette and holding an automatic weapon.

STRIKER: Well, we tracked the metal man to that building.

STRIKER points out the open door to a large industrial compound, the walled-in courtyard of which is replete with panicked, armed employees rushing around in response to the presence of the helicopter.

STRIKER: I never seen nothing like it. Granted, I never seen nothing like YOU, either.

Reveal, standing back from STRIKER in the doorway, VIHO in his MARION SUIT.

VIHO: This is all EMIR's fault. And I'm going to END IT.

VIHO leaps from the helicopter, engaging his booster thrusters, flying straight for a metal roll-up door in the front of the compound.

STRIKER rushes to the pilot.

STRIKER(to pilot): Shit, man! Get us over there, that's my CLIENT who just jumped into a courtyard full of AUTOMATIC WEAPONS!

VARIOUS GUARDS fire their weapons at VIHO, with no effect.

From VIHO's perspecitve: An infrared scan of the scene. Behind the door, there is a man-sized heat signature that is solid red.

VIHO crashes through the door, as the helicopter comes around in the background, and STRIKER and his men rappel down.

Dead center frame: ELEMENTAL stands, head down, on fire.

VIHO pauses momentarily.

VIHO: What IS this thing?

VIHO sees a helicopter in the back of the factory floor, with its rotors starting to spin.

VIHO: EMIR, is that YOU? You're NOT getting away!

VIHO flies towards the helicopter.

He is violently stopped by ELEMENTAL. ELEMENTAL throws VIHO back to the door.

STRIKER enters, flanked by five HIRED GOONS.

STRIKER: Everybody DOWN! This factory is now COALITION property! Do not resist or we will OPEN FIRE!

STRIKER looks back to the door, to find that VIHO is gone.

STRIKER: Wha...?

VIHO crashes through the roof of the factory, headed straight for the helicopter.

Once again, ELEMENTAL intercepts him and flings him to the ground.

VIHO: #$%&*!

The helicopter is now off the ground, and the roof is opening to allow it to depart.

From a loudspeaker on the helicopter comes a FAMILIAR VOICE.

FAMILIAR VOICE: Destroy the intruders!

VIHO: EMIR! I KNEW it!

VIHO picks himself up, and desperately flings himself at the helicopter. ELEMENTAL grabs him, but this time VIHO deploys his light burst.

ELEMENTAL's flaming hand cuts through the MARION's leg like a hot knife through butter, and VIHO collapses to the ground.

VIHO(weakly): Dammit...

As a last resort, the MARION's arms join together into an OVERDRIVE CANNON. A powerful blast cuts the helicopter in half.

VIHO: Hard to fly away now, eh Emir?

ELEMENTAL, seeing the plummeting passenger compartment, flies up to it, and grabs it.

VIHO: Ah, hell...

ELEMENTAL flies out through the roof, carrying the passenger compartment of the helicopter.