Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team

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Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 14:11:53 GMT -5

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Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 16, 2009 14:11:53 GMT -5

Sergei's Guardians of the Universe: The Thing, Daredevil, Vance Astro, Phantom Stranger, Canonball, Captain Marvel Jr.

Dashbee's Iron Team: Iron Man, Leonardo, Human Torch, Hellcat, The Drummer, Warpath

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Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 14:24:30 GMT -5

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Post by Batman on Apr 16, 2009 14:24:30 GMT -5

Second verse, same as the first!

So, they've asked me to tell you a little about my new team, the Guardians of the Universe--'cheez what a cheesy name! We should call ourselves "the Lost-in-Space Six." When the six of us found ourselves zapped by the Surge to a planet none of us had even heard of in the armpit of the universe, we were glad we had Astro and his starship the Odysseus III amongst us.

But Astro isn't sure where we are, or which way to Earth, or if we are even in a Universe that has an "Earth," much less if it's the one me and Hornhead are from, or the slightly different one that Vance is from, or the really different one that Freddy's from. I don't know if Stranger's actually from any particular universe--who knows with that guy?

But he claims that we aren't just stranded refugees, but that we are out here together in the great beyond for some higher purpose--that we're destined to save the universe.

Again. I save the universe about as often as I change my socks.

Just wish I knew which universe I was savin'.

VANCE ASTRO

Astro and me have got a lot in common: both Jewish, both pilots and astronauts, both horribly disfigured by an accident in space. Not to get maudlin or nothin'.

Astro spent over a thousand years in suspended animation tryin' to be the first man to make an interstellar flight. And when he woke up with his skin all messed up and needing that suit to stay alive, people had got there ahead of him, because they had figured out FTL in the meantime. Ain't that a bitch?

He discovered that he had the ability to project psychokinetic blasts, and became the leader of a 31st century superhero team. One time when his team were time-travelling back to the 20th Century, he warned his younger self about the accident that would happen to him if he went into the space program, and meeting him brought out the younger Vance Astrovik's powers. I got to know the kid Vance real well when we were both on the pro-wrestling circuit for a while. Good kid. It's easy to forget that Astro ain't a kid no more, never was that kid exactly.

But he still has a bad case of hero-worship of those of us from what he calls the "Age of Heroes." He even went on a quest to recover the legendary shield of Captain America, like it was Excalibur or somethin'. Found it too. The shield is made of a unique Vibranium alloy that can absorb any impact, and ricochet pretty much endlessly without losing momentum, which makes it mighty handy in a fight. Astro works really hard on his hand-to-hand skills so he can be "worthy to wield the Captain's shield," as he puts it.

'Cause of his experience with leading a team, and with outer-space hoo-has like this, we look to him for leadership, but he's also pretty awed by us. He turns to me for guidance and moral support. Being respected by the leader of your team--it's a nice change.

The THING

Well, that's me, Benjamin J. Grimm, idol of millions, your ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing. What you see is what you get. As strong and indestructible as I am handsome.

Did I mention how I save the universe as often as I change my socks?

I'm not actually wearing any socks....

The PHANTOM STRANGER

And then there's this guy. Who knows about him? "He's just a Stranger," he says. No one knows who he really is or where he comes from. He wasn't really stranded with the rest of us, he just popped up on the Odysseus III one day. In the middle of interstellar space! Started callin' us "Guardians of the Universe" and handin' us a line of guff about how we were the destined few that would save the universe from some coming threat.

Personally, that makes me real suspicious. Maybe he's responsible for us being lost out here, 'cause it's where he thinks we need to be? Sounds like somebody I know real well.

But he says we're in the right place at the right time (though he won't say why it's the right place and time) by accident, even if he thinks it's a happy accident. Says that he has no need to manipulate us or lie to us, since if we hadn't found ourselves here by destiny or whatever, and if he had asked us we would all've volunteered, 'cause we're heroes.

Might have a point there. Anyhow, he's annoying, you never know when or where he'll pop up, he talks in riddles, keeps secrets, and I have no idea just what he's capable of--seems to depend on the situation.

Damn glad to have him around in spite of all of that.

CANNONBALL

Sam Guthrie's the kid of the team. Not the youngest, actually, but the most inexperienced. He was just out of high school when he became the man of the house--a big, poor Appalachian family--because his pop died. He went to work in the coal mines, but then his dormant power came out to allow him to save himself and another miner when they were about to be crushed by a cave-in. So then he ended up at Xavier's school.

He's been in a few adventures since then, but he's still mighty green. He can't control his powers real well. "Cannonball" is a real appropriate code-name. He flies through the air, he knocks down whatever he hits, and he don't make mid-air turns.

But he's a real bright kid and he picks things up fast. He misses his friends and family, but he's a lifelong science fiction reader, so this whole she-bang is kind of a dream come true for him.

Astro says that he'll be just as much a legend as the rest of us in the 31st Century, but I've got to remember--Astro's 31st Century isn't our future. Sam'll probably grow into the hero that Astro read about in his history discs.

But only if he survives.

DAREDEVIL

Ol' Hornhead is the fish out of water in our bunch. As he's pointed out more than once, he's more the guy that you call on to take care of purse-snatchers or pickpockets, not cosmic threats. But the Stranger insists that every one of us will be essential to take on whatever it is that we have to take on, and Deedee as much as anybody--maybe more.

That doesn't surprise me. And not just because of his hand-to-hand skills. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have somebody you can count on to mop up any number of henchmen and goons when your heavy hitters are tied up with their heavy hitters. But the primary thing that Daredevil brings to the table is plain, old-fashioned guts.

Let me tell you, Namor once told me that Daredevil was the most valorous opponent he'd ever fought. And did not qualify that by saying "for a surface dweller." Prince Namor! The most pig-headed arrogant bastard I ever met. (And I know both Reed Richards and Doctor Doom.)

Not that he ain't a great fighter. It's a toss-up between him and Captain America as to who's the greatest hand-to-hand fighter I ever saw. Which works out nice for Astro--he's gettin' lessons to try an' become more worthy of the shield. Deedee says he needs to quit relying on his psychokinetic blasts in a scrap if he ever wants to reach his potential on using that shield. And if anybody would know about overcoming an obstacle to reach your full potential, it's him. Y'see, I know his secret. I'm one of the few who've guessed.

Daredevil is blind. Oh, he can tell where objects are and how fast they're movin'--some kinda sixth sense. But whether the lights are on or off? He has no way of knowin'. Besides, only a blind man would wear that yellow-an'-red costume he wore at first.

Y'see what I mean about guts? A blind man who jumps from rooftop to rooftop to get around? Mainly 'cause it's more fun than takin' the subway? That's guts.

CAPTAIN MARVEL, Jr.

Freddy Freeman has got to be just about the weirdest--and most amazing--kid I ever met. Where I come from, if a kid has superpowers there are older superheroes around to watch out for him. But where Junior comes from, his Marvel Family are pretty much the only super-powered people on Earth--that are good guys, anyhow. And the other two are just as young as he is! The three of them have been the only thing standing in the way of superhuman Nazis and genius caterpillars and such for years. But to him, it's no big deal.

Admittedly, he's powerful. He looks like a shrimpy kid, but he's at least as strong as Thor or Adam Warlock. Which is sayin' somethin'. But inside he's just a regular, fun-lovin' kid. When he says his magic words, "Captain Marvel" he changes back to his normal self. (Which makes it mighty tough for him to introduce himself. Not normally an issue, since he's the second-most famous person in the world where he's from.) Freddy looks just like Junior, but his Marvel uniform changes ta regular clothes, and he loses his powers... and needs crutches to walk.

Apparently, he got his powers and limp at the same time. A super-powered bad guy who was fighting Captain Marvel killed his uncle and hurt him, and the Captain shared his powers with him in order to save his life, but he still limps when he isn't transformed. I think I'd stay Junior all the time if I was him, but he usually stays Freddy when he isn't needed--just enjoys the chance to be a regular kid, limp and all.

Maybe we should be called "the Walking Wounded." We've got the blind, the halt, the "boy in the bubble," the cussedly ugly, and... I don't know, what should we say is wrong with the Stranger?... the weird. But we manage. And--apparently--we're going to save the Universe.

Wonder where everybody else ended up?

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Deleted	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 14:28:03 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 14:28:03 GMT -5 GotU

Habs Showdown Master Mallard-dramatic What the fuck does this do? Posts: 6,570 Online: Sept 7, 2018 7:45:50 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 14:53:36 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Habs on Apr 16, 2009 14:53:36 GMT -5 I just can't vote for Leo... Sorry Dashbee.

The Canadian Content Administrator More like AdministraThor, amirite? Beer Money Podcast Posts: 19,199 Online: Apr 19, 2024 22:28:17 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 15:14:34 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 16, 2009 15:14:34 GMT -5 Leonardo still makes very little sense on a Stark-led team, but he also still makes a helluva lot more sense than Matt Murdock: Space Lawyer.
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Lucky Veteran Punster Born to HATE Deposed Posts: 13,318 Online: Aug 25, 2011 1:18:34 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 15:15:33 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Lucky on Apr 16, 2009 15:15:33 GMT -5 Daredevil: Space Ninja. Get it right.
	Wanna make life easier for me with the MK Boards? Try to find an image here: psd-dreams.de/categories.php?cat_id=1 If you can't find an image there try here: s172.photobucket.com/albums/w15/TheWho87EWR/Wrestlers/KyKy/ Or don't do either. If you can't find an image you like at either than don't force it. Just give me something you like and which will look good on the board.

DevSop Global Moderator TV for Vendetta Co-Host Posts: 14,093 Online: Apr 19, 2024 18:59:28 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 22:36:04 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by DevSop on Apr 16, 2009 22:36:04 GMT -5 I'm one of the few with no Leonardo issues. Iron Team wins.

salmonjunkie Showdown Master The Glue that Holds Us Together Posts: 5,386 Online: Sept 5, 2019 0:27:41 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 16, 2009 23:51:40 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by salmonjunkie on Apr 16, 2009 23:51:40 GMT -5 Ok, I can see why Daredevil in a galactic hero team doesn't work for some people. I want to know, did you have issues with Karate Kid in the Legion of Super Heroes?

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Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 18, 2009 23:33:43 GMT -5

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Post by Batman on Apr 18, 2009 23:33:43 GMT -5

Fuck yes. My last team seems to still be surviving. Awesome.

For those who have a problem with DD on this team, I've got a deal for you--before the next round I will prove how well he works on this team by writing two awesome scenes for him. (In space!) First a scene with him teaching Vance martial arts and going all Stick on him. And a scene with him fighting in zero-G for the first time.

I'll get those posted in the next day or two.

Last Edit: Apr 18, 2009 23:34:34 GMT -5 by Batman

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Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 19, 2009 0:17:53 GMT -5

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Post by DevSop on Apr 19, 2009 0:17:53 GMT -5

Apr 18, 2009 23:33:43 GMT -5 Batman said:

Fuck yes. My last team seems to still be surviving. Awesome.

For those who have a problem with DD on this team, I've got a deal for you--before the next round I will prove how well he works on this team by writing two awesome scenes for him. (In space!) First a scene with him teaching Vance martial arts and going all Stick on him. And a scene with him fighting in zero-G for the first time.

I'll get those posted in the next day or two.

It shall not matter as The Guardians will fall to Generations. So it is written, so it shall be.

Sorry bout yo' damn luck.

On another note, love the new pic Serge.

Batman Banned From Everywhere Russian Unicorn If it's my turn, and I'm not logged in, text me: 6122969566 Posts: 8,030 Online: Dec 31, 2022 18:58:03 GMT -5	Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 19, 2009 0:22:30 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Batman on Apr 19, 2009 0:22:30 GMT -5 Re next round: I'm just glad that I don't have to face Team G-S-D again. Re Sig image: Thanks. I figured that my eliminated teams didn't need to be represented anymore.
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Rd. 2: 11. Guardians Universe vs 22. Iron Team Apr 20, 2009 0:40:57 GMT -5

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Post by Batman on Apr 20, 2009 0:40:57 GMT -5

Apr 18, 2009 23:33:43 GMT -5 Batman said:

For those who have a problem with DD on this team, I've got a deal for you--before the next round I will prove how well he works on this team by writing two awesome scenes for him. (In space!) First a scene with him teaching Vance martial arts and going all Stick on him. And a scene with him fighting in zero-G for the first time.

I ended up combining my two ideas for Daredevil-does-his-thing-IN-SPACE! scenes into one. Here you go:

FIRST-PERSON NARRATION BOXES SHOW VANCE'S THOUGHTS WHILE WE SEE HIM DOING COMBAT TRAINING AGAINST ASSORTED ROBOTIC DRONES IN A "DANGER ROOM" LIKE TRAINING ROOM. HE IS SHOWING GREATER ACROBATIC AND SHIELD-SLINGING SKILL THAN NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH HIM, BUT NOT USING HIS PSYCHOKINETIC POWER AT ALL.

My name is Vance Astro. The good news is--strapped on to my right arm is the legendary shield of Captain America. The bad news?--I am not worthy of it.

When I heard the rumors and clues that put me on the trail of the shield, it had been missing for centuries. I thought that it would be like a quest, like finding Excalibur or something--except that Captain America's legend is at least double that of King Arthur. He saved the universe a dozen times with just his wits and his incomparable fighting skill and his amazing shield and his indomitable will. When the Red Skull had the power of the Cosmic Cube, Captain America defeated him. When Dr. Doom had stolen the power of the Beyonder, Captain America defeated him. I've done an amazing thing or two, defeated a few impressive baddies, but how can I--how could anybody--live up to that?

I was always a big superhero fan as a kid growing up in the 20th Century, and when I ended up in the 31st Century via suspended animation and saw how their legends survived a millenium, I was all the more awed by them. My favorites were always Captain America and Ben Grimm, the Thing. Daredevil always seemed like such a dark figure--not my kind of thing, really. But now that this Surge has thrown us together--me, and my legends, and legends from other dimensions I've never heard of--lost together on the far side of space and time, and they're all looking to me for leadership... I told Ben about how I felt about being unworthy of the shield and asked for his advice...

SWITCH TO ROUNDED-CORNER PANELS TO INDICATE FLASHBACK, SWITCH SCENE TO ELSEWHERE ON THE ODYSSEUS III, BEN AND VANCE ARE TALKING...

...come on, how's any man supposed to live up to that?

Kid... I mean, Vance... I never met nor heard of nobody who specialized in one simple weapon, and used it as effectively as Captain America does his shield. Nobody 'cept f'r one guy--and that's Daredevil with his billy-club. And even if Captain America hisself wuz here, he wouldn't be able to do more for ya than DD can--the way he fights with that shield comes as natchrel ta him as breathin', he can't explain it. If you don't ask hornhead ta help ya with this, yer a damn fool, he's just the man fr the job.

An' once ya get ta know him, he's not so intimidating as he seems.

BACK TO SQUARE-CORNER PANELS AND FIRST-PERSON NARRATION, AND VANCE TRAINING WITH SHIELD IN TRAINING ROOM...

Easy for him to say. But I was surprised to find out that he's right. With the devil-suit he wears and his tendency to go around beating up thugs, you'd think that he was a guy who was trying to be intimidating--like that Bat Man we met during the Crisis. Now there's a guy who seems to spend every waking moment thinking of new and better ways to intimidate and strike fear into the hearts of evil-doers. Even though none of the people from our dimension had ever heard of him before, (except for the Hulk for some reason) we were all instantly impressed by his whole... mystique. Daredevil has almost as much mystique himself, but there's a big difference--in his case, it isn't self-conscious or self-constructed at all. Not even a little. He seems a little surprised any time he's reminded that people think of him that way. He doesn't wear a red devil suit because he's a scary red devil-man who wants to be frightening. He wears it because he's a daredevil--emphasis on the "dare" part.

He seems a lot like that Bat Man guy superficially, but when you get to know him better, he seems a lot more like... I don't know, more than anything he reminds me of the test pilots I knew when I was in the Air Force. They call him "the Man Without Fear" and it's one of those things that you expect to be hyperbole, until you meet the guy and it turns out to be understatement. Most brave people feel fear when there's danger--they face it, they deal with it, they do what needs to be done; that's what courage is. And then there are the death-wish headcases--the ones who don't fear danger because they don't care if they live or die. Daredevil isn't like either--he wants to live all right, but he enjoys danger too damn much to avoid it. Quite the contrary, he courts it with childlike glee. You may call it adrenaline addiction--he just calls it fun.

"FLASHBACK" PANELS, DAREDEVIL TALKING HEAD.

That "Man Without Fear" stuff is hogwash. I'm scared of plenty of things--danger just doesn't happen to be among them, that's all.

PRESENT. STILL VANCE TRAINING.

Whatever that means. What is a man who isn't afraid of danger afraid of? I think maybe I don't want to know.

So Daredevil agreed to train me. This training seems to consist primarily of Daredevil doing his best to murder me while I desperately try to stay alive. Except when he's running me through complex drills to improve my skills on getting the shield to ricochet off of multiple moving objects and then return to me. I used to use my psychokinetic blasts to manipulate the shield to ricochet the way I wanted it to. Daredevil calls this a "crutch," a crutch he's been quite happy to kick out from under me. And his idea of a ricochet drill has an uncomfortable resemblance to a death trap.

FLASHBACK, ALSO OCCURRING IN TRAINING ROOM, VANCE FACED WITH COMPLICATED, DIFFICULT, AND DEADLY-LOOKING TASK REQUIRING RICOCHETING SHIELD. DD LOOKING ON IMPASSIVELY.

I... Sensei, I can't.

You can. You will. Or... you'll die.

PRESENT, VANCE TRAINING.

As a man he reminds me of the test pilots I used to know, but as a teacher he takes me even further back--more than anything he reminds me of my drill instructor in Basic. Except multiplied by about a million. And that's not a comparison I make lightly--I still have Basic Training nightmares.

FLASHBACK, TRAINING ROOM. DAREDEVIL AND ASTRO "SPARRING." "SPARRING" SHOULD LOOK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE LIKE A FIGHT TO THE DEATH. DAREDEVIL IS SMILING AND HAVING A GRAND TIME. ASTRO IS PANTING, EXHAUSTED, AND BEDRAGGLED.

This whole taking on a student thing is working out much better than I expected--it's a blast! I should have done this years ago.

Finally... releasing... repressed... homicidal... urges?

No. it's just... normally I have to hold back in a fight, (unless it's Bullseye, and that's still no fun, 'cause he takes it out on innocent bystanders if he's losing. Damn sore loser.) But normally I hold back, because I don't want to really hurt anybody--not even a thug. But you... you asked for this.

Arrgh.

And here I always thought Stick was just a sadistic bastard.

PRESENT, VANCE TRAINING.

He says that training me just brings out his old sensei ("Stick") in him, like they say that people often unconsciously act like their own parents with their kids. (Note to self: never have kids.)

Daredevil figures that in return for all of this attempted homicide, I owe him something, and has me working out with him on stuff that's specific to ship-board hand-to-hand combat--zero-G fighting and the like.

FLASHBACK, TRAINING ROOM. DAREDEVIL AND VANCE ARE SPARRING IN ZERO-G. ROOM IS FILLED WITH OBSTACLES, GYMNASTIC EQUIPMENT, AND ATTACKING DRONES THEY HAVE TO FIGHT OFF WHILE FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

If I'm supposed to be the team's hand-to-hand expert, I need to be prepared for any eventuality.

Don't worry, it's not far-fetched at all. One of the most common things the bad guys will try to turn the tables in a boarding situation is to knock out artificial gravity, presuming that they will be more at home in a zero-G environment than you are.

PRESENT, VANCE TRAINING.

For the record, any advantage I had from years and years of zero-G experience lasted about five minutes. The man's just a natural at anything that combines fighting with acrobatics--zero-G just adds an interesting new dimension for him. I've realized that I'll never really catch up with someone like Daredevil. I fight because fighting is part of my duty. He fights because he's a fighter and it's what he loves.

I talked to Ben again about my all-new and different insecurities:

FLASHBACK, TALKING HEAD BEN GRIMM.

Vance, quitcher worryin'. It ain't just fighters what makes the world go 'round. We need y'r more intellectual types like you, too. If ol' winghead were right here he'd say just the same.

Last Edit: Apr 20, 2009 4:05:50 GMT -5 by Batman

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Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 16, 2009 14:11:53 GMT -5

Post by Batman on Apr 16, 2009 14:24:30 GMT -5

Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2009 14:28:03 GMT -5

Post by Habs on Apr 16, 2009 14:53:36 GMT -5

Post by The Canadian Content on Apr 16, 2009 15:14:34 GMT -5

Post by Lucky on Apr 16, 2009 15:15:33 GMT -5

Post by DevSop on Apr 16, 2009 22:36:04 GMT -5

Post by salmonjunkie on Apr 16, 2009 23:51:40 GMT -5

Post by Batman on Apr 18, 2009 23:33:43 GMT -5

Post by DevSop on Apr 19, 2009 0:17:53 GMT -5

Post by Batman on Apr 19, 2009 0:22:30 GMT -5

Post by Batman on Apr 20, 2009 0:40:57 GMT -5