In other words, this week’s competition.
Captions are easy, guys. This week we’re going for the hardcore option. But first… the prize.
I’ve been doing this book for Vertigo called Crossing Midnight, and the first trade comes out next week. The book has been described as a fairy story for adults, but it’s also a weird clash between East and West. It’s set in Japan – in Nagasaki, to begin with, and then in Tokyo – and it’s got a lot of characters from Japanese folklore turning up in it. But it’s inspired by a Western fairy tale, The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen.
Two twins are born on either side of midnight. The after-midnight twin is stolen away into the realm of the kami, the supernatural beings who rule over our world, and the before-midnight twin sets out to bring her back.
Now imagine the above as filmed by Takeshi Miike, with horror and extreme violence leavening out the fantasy.
The first trade collects both the introductory arc, The Shrine, and the two-part follow-up, Cut Here (which gives the collection its title). And a signed copy can be yours for free if you’re prepared to apply your ingenuity and perverse imaginations to the following task.
A character from a comic book meets a character from a prose novel or a play. They talk. Write the conversation – or a chunk of it – as a playscript, with a maximum of 250 words. Stage directions are allowed, and the winner will be announced next Friday.
Make me proud.
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Cool competition. *Any* comic character and *any* novel/play character? It’ll be hard to even pick just two before next Friday.
June 26th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Which caption won the last contest?
June 26th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
You can find the winners here:
http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/06/22/competition-winners/
June 26th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Thanks. I was trying to gauge Carey’s humor before I attempted this next contest.
I’m also glad the “spoon” one won, it was my favorite.
June 26th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
INT. EVIL LAIR – SUNSET
LORD VOLDEMORT examines a leather bound spell book. Strapped to a chair in front of him is MOLLY (of “Runaways”).
MOLLY
Can you untie me now?
VOLDERMORT
No.
MOLLY
How ‘bout now?
VOLDERMORT
(sighs)
Can’t you just shut up for five minutes?
MOLLY
Chase says he likes that I talk a lot.
VOLDERMORT
Sometimes I regret kidnapping you.
MOLLY
No DUH! You’ll really regret it when my friends get here and kick your butt!
VOLDERMORT
Are you unaware of whom I am? Do you not realize what pain I could put you through?
MOLLY
I saw my parent’s murder a girl and then one of my best friends tried to kill me. Then there was the other time my former friend’s dad came to the future, like that movie with Doc Brown, and he killed my friend Gert. She was really cool. I miss her. Oh and then there was this other time that… wait what did you ask me?
VOLDERMORT
I am He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named! You should fear me.
MOLLY
I’m Princess Powerful! I don’t get scared of guys who wear dresses.
VOLDERMORT
It’s a robe.
MOLLY
Looks like a dress to me. Why did you kidnap me again, I forgot already.
VOLDERMORT
(sighs)
I’ve already explained this three times. I’m holding you hostage until Brian K. Vaughn decides its time to start writing “Runaways” again.
MOLLY
OH yeah! Well ok then. I don’t mind being a hostage.
June 29th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Okay, here goes. Set at the end of Dune Messiah, guest-starring a comic book character that should be very familiar.
(The desert. A man stands waiting. After a moment, a blind man enters.)
LUCIFER: “Now I am free.” Those are fine words to go out on, all things considered.
PAUL ATREIDES: What? Who’s there?
LUCIFER: Just a traveler, passing through. Don’t concern yourself–I won’t disturb your planned future.
PAUL ATREIDES: Be warned, stranger. There’s a worm coming. Leave while you can.
LUCIFER: Oh, I won’t be staying long. I merely wanted to convey my… my congratulations.
PAUL ATREIDES: Congratulations? Are you mocking me?
LUCIFER: Not at all. It’s been a long time since I was last here. When I decided to look in on Creation, I didn’t expect to find someone forging his own way with such ruthless determination. It’s been… enjoyable. You remind me of myself.
PAUL ATREIDES: There is something about your voice… Do you see the spice visions too? Then why have I never seen *you*?
LUCIFER: In a manner of speaking, I suppose. And as I said, I’m only passing through–there was no reason you should have seen me.
PAUL ATREIDES: It doesn’t matter anymore. My time is at an end. My future set.
LUCIFER: You’ve a ways to go yet. That’s why I came, really. Hate to see you give up now, so I thought I’d show you some living proof.
PAUL ATREIDES: Proof of what?
LUCIFER: Of the fact that you *can* escape predestination and set your own chosen course. Even if it *was* predestined that you’d do so all along.