UDCU: Ultimate Flash #1

[Equinox]

ULTIMATE FLASH #1
Plot by Kid Kamikaze, Script by Equinox, Cover by Pojoman
Doctor Barry Allen may just be the smartest man alive—but the mystery of the mysterious island off of Manhattan has him perplexed. But when he deciphers the island’s true nature, will he be the first to step foot on its land, or will he be blindsided by his TRUE enemy? The secrets of the Ultimate DCU will slowly be unveiled starting here!




ULTIMATE FLASH

ISSUE NO. 1

“FASTER THAN, PART ONE”

PLOT BY O.O UDEH

SCRIPT BY CHRISTOPHER BURCH






PAGE ONE

PANEL ONE: LARGE, WIDESCREEN SHOT of KEYSTONE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S QUARTER MILE TRACK. We should get a good look at this place, so that we can automatically identify this place as being a college track. There’s a football team in the background, practicing on the wide green in the center of the track; some cheerleaders are in the stands in the far background, attempting some kind of inverse pyramid maneuver. In the foreground, however, is a boy that clearly stands out of place: this is YOUNG BARRY ALLEN, 15 years old. His bright red hair distinguishes him from everyone else, as does his slight, non-muscular frame. He’s sitting down at the very edge of the center green, fixing his running shoes, his socks slightly baggy, as though they won’t even stay up on his stick legs. Life goes on behind him, ignoring him, except for another young man who is walking up the track towards Barry from panel left; this young man is YOUNG HAL JORDAN, 20 years old. He’s tall, muscular, and walking with the swagger we’d expect from the future pilot. He has a curious look on his face, and he’s looking right at young Barry.

1. Caption: Keystone Community College.

2. Caption: Ten Years Ago.

PANEL TWO: Looking DOWN at Barry from Hal’s POV, Hal’s LONG SHADOW smothering the small frame of Barry. Barry is turning to look up, squinting into the SUN behind our perspective, his freckled face so very awkward in its expressions.

1. Hal (off panel, behind): Hey. You Barry?

2. Barry: whha? What—

3. Barry: Who are you?

PANEL THREE: Looking up at HAL, who simply TOWERS over Barry (amplified by the fact that Barry’s sitting down) from over Barry’s LEFT SHOULDER. Barry is bringing up a hand to shade his eyes from the INTENSE midafternoon sun beyond Hal’s shoulders. Hal is looking down, hands on his hips, smiling, all charm even at this age, the consummate ladies man sizing up a young rogue who he may have to mentor.

1. Hal: Name’s Hal Jordan. I—

2. Barry: First in track this semester, second in hurdle, ladies man, charmer, the rogue of the frat parties. Sorry, sun was in my eyes for a second, didn’t recognize you. What do you want with me?

3. Hal: whheeeew, kid. You’re fast. You doing a biography on me or something?

4. Barry: I know stuff. Remember things. What did you say you wanted with me again?


PAGE TWO

PANEL ONE: Close on Hal, brushing a lock of hair away from his forehead, smiling at the kid’s brazen attitude.

1. Hal: Not very trustworthy, though.

PANEL TWO: Mirror shot of BARRY, same motion, now stepping back mentally and trying to be less of a prick.

1. Barry: Sorry. I—

2. Hal (off panel): You’re used to the jocks stepping up to you to try and smack you around some, right? They normally don’t just say “what’s up.”

3. Barry: ...something like that.

PANEL THREE: Full body shot of Hal and Barry. Hal is looking off into the background, waving at a pair of HOT CHICKS trotting by on the track, wearing little but gym shorts and tank tops. They’re eagerly waving back, giggling. Barry is turning around to watch them.

1. Hal: Well, truth be told I thought I’d come over and congratulate you.

2. Barry: For—?

3. Hal: I heard about Professor Luthor. I’ve never seen a first-year teacher more riled up.

4. Barry: I didn’t mean to piss him off. I just—

5. Hal: You just told him he was wrong.

PANEL FOUR: Barry is beginning to STAND UP, brushing off the seat of his shorts, while Hal offers him his hand. Barry is looking at it oddly.

1. Barry: I couldn’t help it! All his math was off, his theorem was, quite frankly, a bit fifth-grade sci-fi, and worst of all he—what are you doing?

2. Hal: What?

3. Barry: What’s that?

4. Hal: It’s a hand. They help people up. Sometimes you feel up girls with it. But since you’re not a girl...

5. Barry: oh

PANEL FIVE: Mid body shot of the pair in PROFILE. Hal is scratching the back of his neck, now genuinely concerned for the kid, trying to figure out what to do with him. Hal is a good FOOT AND A HALF TALLER than Barry, so Barry’s craning his neck to look up.

1. Hal: You really don’t get the friendly treatment much, do you?

2. Barry: I started high school when I was eleven. What do you think?

3. Hal: I think you missed out.


PAGE THREE

PANEL ONE: Close on Barry. He’s got his arms crossed over his chest, looking AWAY slightly, like he’s about to look toward us but isn’t sure he wants to; Barry is a shy kid, always has been, and here he’s opening up just ever so slightly because this popular guy is being nice to him. How often does that happen?

1. Barry: Not really. Drugs, teen pregnancy, drinking, you can have all that. Breezing through high school ecumenically wasn’t my problem. Just the kids.

2. Barry: Then my dad decides “Well, we have money, let’s send the boy to college now.” So here I am, youngest kid here on campus, not knowing half of what the hell I’m supposed to do, and I’m pissing off teachers. I mean, jesus, if he’d just taken the time to go over his own work, he would have seen that the ratios were all set wrong, and that—

3. Barry: Oh, hell, I’m rambling aren’t I? I do that a lot. I’m sorry. It’s just that I don’t really get to talk to a lot of people about this, my dad, he tells me “Now suck it up Barry, you want that smart brain to get a degree and you can make money someday, right?” Mom isn’t much better, she’s just counting the bills so that I can stay and—

4. Barry: Oh. There I go again.

PANEL TWO: Close on Hal, his arms crossed over his chest, lips pursed, contemplative. He’s trying to figure out this kid, but this is another beast indeed.

1. Hal: Wow, kid.

2. Hal: This is the fastest conversation I’ve ever had. Which part of the story has Rosebud in it?

PANEL THREE: Close on Barry, looking up from under his brow, glowering slightly. He looks a bit hurt, like a kid who isn’t getting the ice cream you promised him just because you don’t want to get it right now.

1. Barry: aw, hell

2. Barry: Forget you, man. You’re just like the rest.

PANEL FOUR: SAME SHOT, only now Barry is TURNING to walk away, but Hal’s hand is lightly touching his shoulder, coming in from off panel left.

1. Hal (off panel): Hey.

2. Hal (off panel): You run as fast as you talk?

PANEL FIVE: Full body shot of Hal and Barry. Barry is starting to TURN BACK to look at Hal, but Hal is already SPRINTING FORWARD, leaning forward into it, building momentum. There’s a crazy smile on his face, the daredevil smile that ten years from now will turn into a pilot’s smile. Barry looks surprised.

1. Barry: Yeah, I can ru—

2. Hal (shouting): ‘kay, GO!


PAGE FOUR

PANEL ONE: Widescreen panel. We’re just behind Barry, who’s stumbling slightly as he’s taking off to try and catch Hal. Meanwhile, Hal is way in the background, speeding away, classic runner’s pose. His back is straight, his hair is whipping back. It’s like he’s not even trying.

PANEL TWO: Behind Barry still, rounding one corner of the track, the football team on panel left, the cheerleaders in the stands off right. Hal is still far ahead, but now Barry’s pumping, his stick frame in the same pose as Hal, classic runner, only it looks like Barry is pushing a bit harder, leaning into it. Every slight muscle he’s got is tensed and pumping with him.

PANEL THREE: Behind Barry still, and incredibly, HE’S CATCHING UP TO HAL. Hal is oblivious, going about his run, striding away, a perfect sprint, but Barry’s got his momentum going and he’s making his frame work in spite of itself. They’re on the straightaway again, leaving dust behind them, the football team on the left still and actually paying attention to this display of speed.

PANEL FOUR: Still with Barry, and now Hal is so close we could ALMOST touch him. Now he’s looking back over his left shoulder, sees Barry, and his eyes are wide in surprise. He wasn’t expecting THIS out of the kid. Barry, meanwhile, is sweating like a pig, droplets flying away from his body. This is straining him, but he’s not going to give up. He’s going to pass Hal before we can even hit the next panel.


PAGE FIVE

PANEL ONE: Widescreen panel, looking at BARRY and HAL, oncoming. Barry has PASSED HAL. Hal is yelling at Barry to stop, and Barry is complying, his body going limp as he shifts down to a trot out of his sprint. In the background, we should see some of the footballers watching and shouting at them.

1. Hal (yelling): Barry! HEY KID!

2. Hal (yelling): I GIVE!! STOP!!

PANEL TWO: Barry has come to a full stop, bent over double, hands on hips. The sweat is literally POURING off of his face, spattering in the dirt track. Hal is coming up alongside him, slowing his trot to a walk, staring at Barry incredulously.

1. Hal: What the hell...was that?

2. Barry (weakly): You have a....tendency....to slow up on...the corners. It’s slight....but....

3. Hal: I never...slow up, kid. You...

4. Barry (weakly): Passed you....didn’t I?

PANEL THREE: Close on Hal’s face; he’s smiling at the kid.

PANEL FOUR: Behind the two of the them. Hal is leaning over slightly as well, clapping one hand on Barry’s back, as the poor kid tries desperately to catch his breath again. They’re right back where they started, so Barry’s BACKPACK is on the edge of the center grass next to them.

1. Hal: You got a water bottle, kid?

2. Barry (weakly): Backpack.

PANEL FIVE: Next to Hal as he’s CROUCHING ON THE GRASS next to Barry’s pack. He’s got it open, and the bottle is in his RIGHT HAND as he’s passing it to Barry.

1. Hal: Here.

2. Barry (less weak): Thanks.

3. Hal: Gotta tell ya, kid: you got some guts.


PAGE SIX

PANEL ONE: Close on Barry as he’s leaning back and downing some of the refreshing H2O.

1. Barry: Guts has nothing to do with it. It’s all knowledge.

2. Barry: I’ve seen you run at the meets. You ease off a notch on the corners, you gun it on the straightaways. I had a seventy-eight percent chance of catching up to you if I held a steady pace on the corner, a fifty-two percent chance of passing you on the straightaway if you accelerated at your normal pace.

3. Barry: All I had to do was run.

PANEL TWO: NEXT to Hal as he’s staring at Barry, totally lost in the numbers, as Barry looks back at him with a “What? It’s that easy” look on his face.

PANEL THREE: CLOSE on Hal. There’s a tiny smile of admiration on his face, even though Hal would never admit that that’s what it was.

1. Hal: You know what, Barry, you got a hell of a head on those shoulders. What the hell are you doing running?

2. Barry (off panel): It's just for fun. Helps me relax. Helps me think.

3. Barry (off panel): I might even ask you the same thing. You don’t seem to get a thrill out of just running.

PANEL FOUR: Full body shot of Hal and Barry, both standing next to each other as Barry passes the water bottle to Hal. Hal is looking up at the SKY.

1. Hal: Got me there. It’s kind of neat, and I do it well. Mom always wanted to see me do good in sports. Her dad was a track icon. Jay Garrick. You heard of him?

2. Barry: Hell yeah! That man was a flash on the track. Set two world records in the ‘48 Olympics.

3. Hal: Tell you something, Barry: I don’t think I’ve got that flash in me. Thinking about what just happened, I’d say you’re the flash, buddy.

4. Hal: Truth be told, I’m more of my dad’s son than anything else. Someday I’m going to fly. Just like my pop.

5. Barry: Lot of math in that.

6. Hal: Lotta numbers. Yeah.

PANEL FIVE: CLOSE ON HAL, smiling, about to bring the water bottle up to his lips.

1. Hal: You know where I could find a tutor?


PAGE SEVEN:

PANEL ONE: WIDESCREEN SHOT, high in the air, looking down at the TRACK. Everyone seems like ants from up here, small and moving about at their own speed and purpose. Barry and Hal are tiny dots, but we can make them out just slightly enough to know where they are.

1. Barry: Y’know, I think I might.

PANEL TWO: WIDESCREEN SHOT. Now we cut to a VERY SIMILAR shot of the Miami coastline, looking down from say a HELICOPTER’S POV. There’s all sorts of life running about: people on the beach, cars going past, a hot dog stand or two, all of them rather small from our perspective. Focus on one of these ant-sized folk jogging along the strand, wearing a white t-shirt and jogging shorts. This is BARRY ALLEN, now 25.

1. Caption: Miami, Florida.

2. Caption: Now.

PANEL TWO: ZOOM IN CLOSER to get a better look at Barry; he’s trotting along at a good clip, keeping pace with a bicycle. There’s a number of people swarming about, but Barry is ignoring all of them. We can see that there’s a CELL PHONE HEADPIECE in his right ear, and that the phone itself is clipped to a band on his right arm. He’s getting a call from LEX LUTHOR.

1. Luthor (radio balloon): Barry?

PANEL THREE: Profile shot of Barry as he’s running, not breaking stride in the least, very focused, but looking slightly annoyed at the same time.

1. Luthor (radio): I know you can hear me, Barry.

2. Luthor (radio): Don’t get mad that I had to hack into your mp3 player’s audio frequency. You’re the one that turned off that goddamn cell phone. Excuse me, company cell phone I gave to you.

3. Luthor (radio): I realize that you’re on vacation, but we’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a week now.

PANEL FOUR: CLOSE ON BARRY’S FACE as he’s still going, his jaw set as he’s concentrating on both his run and whatever’s going through his mind.

1. Luthor (radio): Barry, an island rose up off the coast of New York and submerged most of Manhattan with the displacement. The president wants us to look into it.

PANEL FIVE: Same shot as PANEL THREE. Suddenly Barry is coming to a STOP, his feet fighting for purchase on the sand-strewn walkway, stopping so suddenly that a jogger behind him is CRASHING into him. Barry’s elbow is going backwards into the other jogger’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Barry doesn’t even pay attention; he just looks completely intent on what Lex is saying.

1. Barry: What?!

2. Jogger: whufff!!

3. Luthor (radio): Good. That got your attention.

4. Luthor (radio): Stay in your current position. We’re bringing the hunter out of stealth mode.


PAGE EIGHT

PANEL ONE: LARGE, WIDESCREEN PANEL, set low to the ground, looking UP. Barry is in the center of the shot, bringing his hand up near his face to SHIELD HIS EYES from all the sand whipping about. Above him, coming out of a CLOAK, is a METAHUNTER HELICOPTER, Cadmus designs, a slick Airwolf-style military chopper. Leaning out of the side-sliding door is DR. LEX LUTHOR. All around Barry, the people on the beach are scattering in fright as this black death machine comes down out of nowhere. Barry doesn’t look inherently surprised.

PANEL TWO: CLOSE on Barry, looking up, slightly disgusted with Lex’s entrance.

1. Barry: Always gotta make an entrance, don’t you?

PANEL THREE: CLOSE ON LEX, looking DOWN out of the side of the chopper, a wide, wolfish grin on his face. He’s enjoying the spectacle; Lex is a bit of a showman sometimes.


PAGE NINE

PANEL ONE: Another LARGE PANEL, this time an AERIAL SHOT of CADMUS’ METROPOLIS BUILDING (see ZEITGEIST for more info). The Metahunter is parked on the landing pad on the top of the building, looking for all the world like a silent hawk. The Cadmus building DWARFS every other rising skyscraper around it, save for the impressive sight of the DAILY PLANET in the background. A striking blue SIGN on the side of the Cadmus building reads just that: CADMUS.

1. Caption: Metropolis.

2. Caption: Three hours later.

3. Miss Teshmacher (inside Cadmus building): Welcome back, Barry. Did you have a nice vacation?

PANEL TWO: Inside the Cadmus hallways, looking at both Luthor and Barry, now each clad in classic white lab coats, Barry still pulling his on. A number of scientists and technicians are running about the place, some of them analyzing data on flow charts as they go. Barry and Luthor are WALKING PAST Miss Teshmacher’s desk. Miss Teshmacher is lovely, slightly heavy girl, no more than 23. She’s smiling brightly at the duo. Barry is still wearing headphones, his mp3 player in his shirt pocket.

1. Barry: Yes, yes, thank you Miss Teshmacher.

2. Barry: You analyzed every frequency pattern that we know of on the electromagnetic scale?

3. Luthor: Of course I did, twice even. No matches.

4. Barry: Cascading energy sources?

5. Luthor: Barry, those are metatheoretical. Even if we could lock onto a source, we still can’t—

6. Barry: So you didn’t attempt any of those, then?

PANEL THREE: Behind Barry and Luthor. They’re standing in front of a pair of double doors, each one marked with a plaque that reads MEETING ROOM. Barry and Luthor are looking at each other, Barry reaching up to pull out his headphone, Luthor looking at his colleague with a look of impatience.

1. Luthor: Barry. Those are metatheoretical. We can’t try matching the shield’s signature if we don’t—

2. Luthor: Bloody hell, pull those goddamned headphones out of your ears, Barry.

3. Barry: oops

PANEL FOUR: Same shot, only now the two of them are staring at the doors, prepared to enter.

1. Luthor: Showtime.


PAGE TEN

PANEL ONE: Ceiling camera, looking DOWN at the meeting room. It’s a oblong table, with multiple screens wrapped around the borders of the room, same shape as the table. There’s a HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAY in the center of the table, showing a 3-D image of the ISLAND that rose in ZEITGEIST. BARRY and LUTHOR are entering the room from the upper left of the panel. Already seated at the table are MISTER SIMPSON, a cold looking man (think Cigarette Smoking Man from X-Files), BRUCE WAYNE, and GENERAL TOM LANE. They’re all turning to look at the scientists entering the room. Bruce is the most casual; his feet are up on the table.

1. Luthor: Good morning, gentlemen. I’d like to introduce my colleague and partner, Doctor Barry Allen. Barry, this is Mister Simpson, one of Cadmus’ senior executives, Bruce Wayne, head of WayneTech, and General Tom Lane, here on behalf of the president.

2. Barry: Good morning. Sorry if I’ve kept you waiting.

3. Bruce: No worries, Doc. Mister Simpson has kept us rolling in the aisles.

4. Simpson: You’re lucky you’re our largest funder, Wayne. Otherwise I’d have you thrown out of here on your ass.

5. Bruce: You see? Swear to god the man’s a regular Gallagher.

PANEL TWO: On the table, focus on the ISLAND HOLOGRAM. Behind it, Barry is taking his seat, next to BRUCE, staring at the island intently.

1. Barry: Is that it?

2. Bruce: Most accurate three-dee image we’ve got of the island at the moment. Geographically speaking, it’s no Oahu, but as you see, we don’t have very much detail to go by.

3. Barry: Has anyone cross-referenced the geography of the island with that of any old-world texts, say, maybe Greek legend or old Druidic tomes?

4. Bruce: ....I’m sorry, you lost me at “cross-referenced.” What are you going on about?

5. Barry: Islands aren’t just formed overnight. There are a number of mythological stories involving sunken islands, Atlantis foremost among them. I’m suggesting that we do a search through old-world texts for possible geographic maps to compare to our image.

PANEL THREE: Close on LUTHOR in profile, scowling across the table (looking panel RIGHT), while sitting NEXT to him is SIMPSON, holding out an assuaging hand, while also looking in the direction that Luthor is scowling; to be blunt, they’re both looking at Barry.

1. Luthor: I’d say that’s reaching a little bit already, Barry. In fact, it’s a bit presumptuous—

2. Simpson: Doctor Luthor.

3. Simpson: Doctor Allen has only the best intentions, and—

4. Barry (off panel): It’s Themyscira.

5. Luthor and Simpson: What?

PANEL FOUR: Continuing the image from panel three, showing us the other half of the table. We can see the 3-D map, and BARRY is LEANING FORWARD, pointing at one part of it, while Bruce is leaning back with a wolfish grin on his face.

1. Barry: There, that canyon ridge. According to basic research in the old Barbarian texts, Themyscira was said to have enormous canyon walls surrounding the Amazon’s central temple. It was an impregnable fortress, but then for some reason the island sank—

2. Luthor (off panel): First you suggest we go looking through ancient texts, then suddenly you just remember one—

3. Barry: I have a photographic memory, Lex, I was only going through the text after you confirmed that no one else had—

4. Bruce: Amazons? Kinky.

PANEL FIVE: Close on SIMPSON’S face as he’s talking. He looks a little more than tired; he looks horrible, dark circles under his eyes, bony nose, bony cheeks.

1. Simpson: All right. We’ll have some research assistants go to the library or Wikipedia or something and get some more information on this Amazonian island.

2. Simpson: There’s other business as well. What about this bat-man character over in Gotham City? Any insights, Mister Wayne?


PAGE ELEVEN

PANEL ONE: Next to Luthor, who is staring over at Bruce, SWEATING just a little bit, looking incredibly unnerved, while across the table, Bruce is suddenly LEANING FORWARD, hands clasped in front of his mouth, hiding his face but for his EYES, which look frightening. He’s staring down Luthor, letting him know with his eyes that Luthor should be very careful with his words.

1. Bruce: I believe Doctor Luthor and I have already had a conversation on this matter.*

2. Luthor: err

3. Luthor: Mister Wayne was...gracious enough to procure the Gotham Police files on bat-man...they’ve determined that he is not a metahuman, just some crazy playing Halloween.

4. Luthor: I, ah, personally confirmed their DNA evidence. It’s good enough for me.

*note: read ULTIMATE BATMAN #3 for more insight.

PANEL TWO: SAME SHOT, but now we’re next to BRUCE, looking across the table at MISTER SIMPSON, who’s leaning forward, palms outward, looking totally calm. Bruce is casually pointing a finger in Simpson’s direction.

1. Bruce: Now, Simpson, I understand a good portion of my funding is going towards those All-Stars?

2. Simpson: The All-Star Squadron is under our budget, yes, but your funding in particular is going towards—

3. Bruce: Isn’t that Ted Kord’s team?

4. Simpson: He’s associated with their Blue Beetle, yes.

5. Bruce: Not sure I feel comfortable with you folks funding the competition.

6. Simpson: Neither, in fact, do we. Kord’s hired the villain known as the Toyman to produce weaponry and gadgets for the team. We’re funding partly to keep an eye on them, and partly to insert a splinter cell within the group*. If they get out of hand, we’ll be able to deal with it.

* note: read ULTIMATE ALL-STAR SQUADRON #2 for details.

PANEL THREE: Close on Barry. There’s a mad grin on his face, as though he’s already solved the problem of getting through the island’s shield. Well...

1. Barry: You guys. There’s a monumental discovery sitting right here in front of us, and you’re discussing reality-show heroes and punishers in pajamas?

2. Barry: You’re sitting here ignoring the big prize, and I think I’ve already solved how to get through the shield.


PAGE TWELVE

PANEL ONE: WIDESCREEN SHOT of the rest of the table. From left to right, Bruce, General Lane, Simpson and Lex are ALL TURNED AND LOOKING AT US. Each one of them has a comical “What did he just say?” look on their faces.

The next four panels are a series of similar headshots:

PANEL TWO: Bruce. He’s smiling, partly to himself, partly because he can’t help it, and partly at the audacity of this kid. Punishers in pajamas indeed.

1. Bruce: I like this kid. Can I get him transferred to WayneTech?

PANEL THREE: General Lane. He’s lifting up his hand just slightly, one eyebrow cocked; he’s been trying to follow this conversation, but he’s lost.

1. General Lane: Did this kid just solve our problem in ten minutes? Really? Haven’t your scientists been working on this for a week with no—

PANEL FOUR: Simpson. He looks eager to hear what Barry has to say.

1. Simpson: Well? Out with it, Doctor.

PANEL FIVE: Luthor. He doesn’t look pleased. Not one bit. Now he feels he has to play damage control.

1. Luthor: Barry. Let’s not get too hasty, here. We should go over some hard data before you start—

2. Simpson (off panel): Luthor.


PAGE THIRTEEN

PANEL ONE: Next to Luthor, in profile, looking over at Simpson, who is giving Luthor a dirty look. In the background, General Lane looks confused over the inter-company politics at play.

1. Simpson: Doctor Allen, I believe, has something he’d like to share. Perhaps we could let him?

2. Luthor: ...of course. Go ahead Doctor.

PANEL TWO: Close on Barry, hands out as he explains his theory, looking excited. Maybe have him look a little younger here, drawing parallels to the YOUNG BARRY from the opening of the book.

1. Barry: Here’s the thing: this is an energy signature that’s never been seen or used by modern man. If this island is Themyscira, and I’m certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is, then we may be looking at the first evidence of magick in the 21st century.

2. Barry: The pattern doesn’t line up with known frequencies, but I believe it’s operating on a cascading resonance signature that, well, that very well could be channeled from another dimension. And if that’s true, then we need a mirror image signature, stacked on top of the shield’s energy, to cancel it out and let us in.

3. Barry: Problem: the hole would be open for potentially a nanosecond, so timing would have to be exact or our man would be dead.

PANEL THREE: Same shot, only now Barry is LEANING back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling as he crunches numbers in his head, deciphering the method needed for this intense experiment.

1. Barry: The way I see it, our man would have to be traveling at precisely the right speed before hitting the energy barrier in order to make it through, so a traveling device would be necessary. Perhaps a treadmill. Get our man running at the right speed, turn off the treadmill at the right moment, he goes running straight into the barrier as fast as possible, activate the singularity...

2. Barry: carry the five

3. Barry: Gentlemen, I think I can have this up and running within thirty-six hours.

PANEL FOUR: Shot of Luthor. He doesn’t look happy; in fact, he looks like he wants to severely beat Barry right now.

PANEL FIVE: SAME SHOT of Luthor, only now he’s looking off to PANEL LEFT as GENERAL LANE speaks.

1. General Lane (off panel): Make it happen, Allen.


PAGE FOURTEEN

PANEL ONE: WIDESCREEN PANEL. General Lane is leaning forward on the table, resting his elbows and clasping his hands. He’s finally caught up with the rest of the conversation, so he looks pleased with himself that he has. He’s also pleased that someone has finally come up with SOMETHING.

1. General Lane: Doctor Allen, I speak on behalf of the president when I say do it. Make it work, make it happen. Whatever resources you need will be at your disposal.

2. General Lane: Keep Doctor Luthor posted on your project, and as soon as any results can be done, the president would like to see them. And please, don’t kill anyone in your experiment; looks bad for the country.

3. General Lane: Good day, gentlemen.

PANEL TWO: Everyone is standing now, mingling, post-meeting. Bruce is talking to Barry, one hand on Barry’s shoulder, while Luthor and Simpson are close to a full-blown argument. General Lane, meanwhile, is putting on his HAT and is walking out the door.

1. Bruce: You had me sold at treadmill. Brilliant concept.

2. Barry: Thanks, I—

3. Luthor: —not ready, Simpson, I’m telling you, we’re not—

4. Simpson: Keep your voice down, you idiot.

PANEL THREE: Close on Barry and Bruce, looking just past us at Lex and Simpson (off panel). Bruce is scowling slightly, give him a hint of his alter ego, while Barry is simply pursing his lips in thought.

1. Bruce: Listen, Barry, if Luthor gives you a hard time, I want you to come to me immediately.

2. Barry: Don’t worry, Mister Wayne. I know how to handle Lex when he’s like this.

3. Bruce: Still. Just let me know if anything...out of the ordinary happens. I’ll be in touch.

PANEL FOUR: Behind Barry, hands in the pockets of his lab coat, looking PAST him at Luthor, whose arms are crossed and his look is pissed. Mister Simpson is WALKING PAST BARRY, out the doorway. He looks slightly perturbed, not even looking up at Barry as he goes by.

1. Simpson: Doctor Allen.

2. Barry: Simpson.

PANEL FIVE: WIDESCREEN, profile shot of Barry on PANEL LEFT, looking at LUTHOR PANEL RIGHT. Barry is smiling halfway, trying to figure how to best defuse the situation, while Luthor seems prepared to ignite.


PAGE FIFTEEN

PANEL ONE: CLOSE on Luthor, eyes dark and menacing. This is a much different side of Luthor than one we’ve seen before; this is an almost psychotic looking Lex, a very dangerous Lex.

1. Luthor: You made me look bad.

PANEL TWO: Headshot of Barry, ROLLING HIS EYES.

1. Barry: I did not.

PANEL THREE: Luthor, glowering.

1. Luthor: You did. Barry—

PANEL FOUR: Barry, impatient with this childishness.

1. Barry: Lex. This isn’t college anymore. I didn’t point out any flaws in your work this time. Just chill out, will you?

PANEL FIVE: Luthor, shouting in anger.

1. Luthor: We had a deal! You submit the research to me, I present the theory to the labs! That was the deal!

2. Luthor: You just came up with some half-cocked theorem to a problem that no one in the science community has been able to comprehend! Hell, even that blowhard Richard Reeds from that New York think tank is perplexed!

PANEL SIX: Barry, angry at Lex’s anger, ticking off his fingers as he counts.

1. Barry: Doctor Reeds isn’t proficient in cascading energy signatures, Lex. No wonder the old man can’t wrap himself around it.

2. Barry: I’ve been tracking this energy in metahumans, in static effects, in quantum mechanics...jesus, Lex, I’m the only scientist willing to look at the big picture here! Dimensional cascading energy exists!

PANEL SEVEN: Luthor, glowering again.

1. Luthor: It exists in your head. There’s no proof that it exists as more than an ambient force, no proof. You made me look bad, Barry. We had a deal here.

PANEL EIGHT: Barry, pissed and shouting.

1. Barry: We also had a deal that you wouldn’t sleep with my wife, Lex! What happened to that one?!

PANEL NINE: Luthor, in his anger, vicious now.

1. Luthor: Don’t you mean ex-wife, Barry?

2. Luthor: That certainly didn’t last very long.


PAGE SIXTEEN

PANEL ONE: LARGE, WIDESCREEN PANEL as Barry PUNCHES Lex with a wicked RIGHT CROSS. Lex, completely taken off guard, reels back over the table.

1. Luthor: gwwguh!!

PANEL TWO: On the table, next to Luthor as he’s trying to GET UP, wiping his face. We’re focusing on Barry, standing over Luthor, pointing at him, a strange, unreadable look on his face.

1. Barry: Don’t bother telling me I’m fired, Lex. I’ll be cleaning out my desk by the end of the week.

2. Barry: But before that, I’m going to conduct my experiment and prove that cascading energy exists.

3. Barry: You think I made you look bad? Wait until I beat this, Lex. Watch me.

PANEL THREE: CLOSE on Luthor, blood running from out of his nose. He’s beyond anger now; his furious eyes tell us that he wants BLOOD now.

1. Barry (off panel): I’m going to go down in history, Lex.

2. Barry (off panel): You don’t get the credit this time.

PANEL FOUR: Looking INTO the room through the OPEN DOORS, as Barry STORMS OUT, walking towards us. In the room, Luthor is sitting up now, WIPING his nose again. Both men are silent, both men look grim.


PAGE SEVENTEEN

PANEL ONE: HALF-PAGE PANEL of CADMUS’ BLAST TESTING LAB. The room is huge; placed in the center of the room is a MASSIVE, CIRCULAR GATE, sort of like the STARGATE from the films and TV show. All around the gate, numerous technicians and scientists are running about, putting the finishing touches on welding, wiring, and calibrations. Above the gate is a HALF-ORB jutting out from the ceiling; attached to it are multiple CAMERAS for recording purposes. Before the gate is a long, wide TREADMILL. A few techs are going over it, securing it to the floor. In the background on the far wall is the OBSERVATION ROOM, a narrow rectangular window our viewport inside it. We can make out a couple of figures standing there, but nothing more. A robot that looks like a RETRO FITTED MARTIAN ROVER is welding parts of the gate together.

1. Caption: Three days later.

2. Caption: Experiment Number One: The Fieldgate.

PANEL TWO: Inside the lab locker room. CLOSE on BARRY’S HAND pulling a CRIMSON COLORED GLOVE over his LEFT HAND.

PANEL THREE: CLOSE ON Barry’s FOOT, as his gloved hands pull on a CRIMSON BOOT; it looks wing-tipped, like Hermes’ shoes.

PANEL FOUR: CLOSE on Barry’s CHEST, as he’s TUGGING at the SLEEVE of his impact suit. Focus primarily on the YELLOW LIGHTNING BOLT on his chest. We can see the bottom half of Barry’s face. Hanging loose around the back of his neck is what looks like a MASK.


PAGE EIGHTEEN

PANEL ONE: WIDESCREEN PANEL. Looking over BARRY’S SHOULDER at the door to the locker room, as LUTHOR walks in. He’s caught OFF GUARD by the sight of Barry in the impact suit; actually, he’s rather surprised by it.

1. Luthor: Barry?

2. Luthor: I came down because I wanted to observ—

3. Luthor: What the hell is this?

PANEL TWO: LARGE, FULL BODY SHOT of Barry, clad in the RED AND GOLD IMPACT STRESS SUIT he designed for the test. The mask is still hanging behind his neck. There is a sense of power in it already, on Barry’s slim but muscular frame.

1. Barry: This is the stress/impact suit I designed for the test.

2. Barry: Realistically speaking, there’s probably going to be a significant amount of pressure on my body when I jump through the fieldgate. With this I can decrease it and spread it out proportionately. Should also reduce any friction from the amount of speed I hope to achieve to break the gate barrier.

PANEL THREE: Profile shot of Luthor and Barry, Lex pointing his finger angrily in Barry’s face. Barry looks like he could care less.

1. Luthor: I didn’t authorize this.

2. Barry: I highlighted the suit in my outline for the experiment. You signed off on it. If you didn’t read the outline, that’s not my—

3. Luthor: You know what I mean. Using yourself as the test subject. This is against company policy Barry, and I’m not going to—

PANEL FOUR: CLOSE ON BARRY, staring us down, staring Luthor down, really, standing firm and asserting himself.

1. Barry: Going to what? Stand for it? What are you going to do, fire me?

2. Barry: I’ve already got my desk cleared. Following the test I plan on leaving tomorrow morning. You can take the results to the General yourself, but he’ll know who achieved it.

3. Barry: You can have your glory, Lex. You’ve been leaning on me since my college days. STAR Labs has a nice, cushy lab role for me in Keystone City, one where I might even get credit for my own designs.

4. Barry: So stand or sit for it, I don’t give a s**t about it, Lex.

PANEL FIVE: CLOSE on Luthor. He’s angry, but there’s something else there, a hint of—zen? Calm? Calm anger from Lex Luthor? Almost impossible to think, but here it is, staring us in the face.

1. Luthor: And if you’re wrong, Barry? If the experiment fails?


PAGE NINETEEN

PANEL ONE: Barry is WALKING PAST LEX, leaving the locker room. He isn’t even looking back.

1. Barry: That’s the best part Lex. I’m never wrong.

2. Barry: Goodbye, Lex.

PANEL TWO: CLOSE on Luthor again. He looks grim now, less angry, more like he has to accept what’s going on here, but knows it won’t turn out Barry’s way.

PANEL THREE: From behind Luthor, we see him walking down a narrow CORRIDOR. At the far end, the direction Luthor is walking, is a set of stairs leading UPWARD.

PANEL FOUR: The Observation room. Lex is EMERGING from the stairwell, entering the room. A tech is sitting in front of one of the computer terminals, headset on, and turning to see Lex coming up the stairs. On the far wall ABOVE them is a SECURITY CAMERA.

1. Tech: huh—oh, hey Doctor Luthor. What—

2. Luthor: Came to give the terminals a once over before Doctor Allen does his thing. You wanna grab some coffee for me? Been up all night going over the specs.

3. Tech: Oh yeah. Yeah! Coffee sounds really good right now.

4. Luthor: Get some for yourself, maybe a doughnut for me. Chocolate glazed, I saw them in the cafeteria.

PANEL FIVE: We see the Tech walking down the stairs and away from us. At the same time, Luthor is REACHING into the pocket of his lab coat.


PAGE TWENTY

PANEL ONE: EXTREME CLOSE UP on Lex’s hand; he’s pulling out what looks like a GARAGE DOOR REMOTE from his pocket, and is PRESSING THE BUTTON.

PANEL TWO: EXTREME CLOSE on the SECURITY CAMERA, looking at us, red power light ON.

PANEL THREE: SAME SHOT. Now the red power light is OFF.

PANEL FOUR: EXTREME CLOSE UP on LUTHOR’S HANDS, typing something on the KEYBOARD of the terminal.

PANEL FIVE: EXTREME CLOSE UP on the WAVE FREQUENCY MONITOR SCREEN of the TERMINAL. Right now it is GREEN, displaying an oblong sine pattern, reading FREQUENCY 2431.098.

PANEL SIX: SAME SHOT, but now the oblong wave is more TRIANGULAR, reading FREQUENCY 2430.665. A small message reads: WARNING! UNKNOWN FREQUENCY PATTERN!

PANEL SEVEN: BEHIND LEX, as he’s LOOKING OUT the observation room’s window, down at the laboratory below. Barry and his crew are setting up the treadmill in the lab. This needs to look very ominous, as very bad things are about to happen to our main character.

1. Luthor: Goodbye, Barry.


PAGE TWENTY-ONE

PANEL ONE: Down in the lab. Barry is standing on the treadmill, holding onto the rails on either side of it. The crew is busy putting the finishing touches on the wiring connecting the treadmill to their equipment in the background. A Female Tech is placing a small headset/mic on Barry’s left ear.

1. Barry: Okay people, time! Let’s get this thing moving!

2. Female Tech: How’s that fit?

3. Barry: Good. Can barely feel it. Test mic!

PANEL TWO: BEHIND the treadmill, looking at it and the fieldgate in the background. One of the techs at the equipment connected to the treadmill is touching a HEADSET on his head, while Barry in the background is turning and giving him a THUMBS UP.

1. Headset Tech: Testing, one two. Testing, one two. Come back Doctor Allen, over.

2. Barry: Audio works. Okay, people, back it up, clear the floor!

PANEL THREE: CLOSE ON BARRY as he PULLS THE MASK OVER HIS FACE. It’s a full face mask, with transparent GOGGLES for eye pieces. The suit is complete, now.

1. Barry: Remember, monitor the frequency for any disruption! I should be able to run right through the barrier field if this works!

2. Barry: Activate the fieldgate!

PANEL FOUR: Looking through the window of the OBSERVATION ROOM. We can see Luthor inside, accepting the coffee and doughnut from the tech from before. The Tech is distracted by Luthor; he’s actually looking AWAY from the computer terminal.

PANEL FIVE: CLOSE ON BARRY, the FIELDGATE reflected in his goggles. WAVES OF LIGHT emanate from BEHIND our perspective.

1. Barry: Alright, kids...


PAGE TWENTY-TWO

FULL PAGE SPLASH, set BEHIND BARRY as he LEANS FORWARD on the treadmill, beginning to trot. In the background, the FIELDGATE has taken on a STARTLING EFFECT: between the circular columns a SPHERE of PURPLE ENERGY has begun to coalesce, reaching out with liquid arms to connect to the columns. A thin field of electricity surrounds the sphere itself, which is surrounded by another thin field, which is surrounded by another thin field, all in layers, like a RADAR display with waves of light reflecting between them. All the light in the room is being SUCKED INTO the sphere, which is now the only source of light in the room. And now Barry, our hero, is running straight into his doom.

1. Barry: ...let’s run.


TO BE CONTINUED

[pojoman]

awhh, man i knew i forgot to do something today, well i'll post up the cover tommorrow afternoon. sorry man, i thought it was next week. seriously sorry

[Equinox]

No worries, Pojo, things happen.

[Salieri]

Bumping because this was a brilliant delivery of a brilliant concept. Call me whatever you like, but I can't let that go unnoticed.

[Equinox]

Originally Posted by Salieri

Bumping because this was a brilliant delivery of a brilliant concept. Call me whatever you like, but I can't let that go unnoticed.

Aw, shucks.

Just wait until you see the NEXT issue!

[Equinox]

UPDATE: Pojoman's cover has finally arrived. I think it's awesome. Bask it in, people!!

[-domino-]

BUMP!!!! and this cover is absolutely fantastic pojoman!!!! i love the overall design and effects!!! well done mate!!!!!

[pojoman]

thanks for the support guys, and again, sorry i was late in turning it in