The Frontline
Issue 1: A new world of heroes
Writer: David Johansson
PAGE 1 – 5 PANELS
PANEL 1 (Small panel)
A close-up of a Walkie-Talkie. A yellow line runs across the Walkie-Talkie horizontally.
| Blast: (From Walkie-Talkie) | Guys… |
PANEL 2 (Small panel)
Another close-up of a Walkie-Talkie. A blue line runs across this Walkie-Talkie.
| Blast: (From Walkie-Talkie) | I need help. |
Panel 3 (Small panel)
A third close-up of a Walkie-Talkie. A red line runs across this one.
| Blast: (From Walkie-Talkie) | Like now |
Panel 4 (Small panel)
A fourth close-up of a Walkie-Talkie. A green line runs across this one.
| Blast: (From Walkie-Talkie) | Guys! |
Panel 5 (Large panel)
Blast taking cover behind a pile of large crates. Bullets fly all around him. He holds a Walkie-Talkie to his mouth. A white line runs across his Walkie-Talkie. The scene takes place in a large storage unit. Behind blast we see the railing on a second floor.
| Textbox: | New York Harbor. Storage house 58 |
| Blast: | Come on! |
| Narrator: | Stephen Duncan. Also known as Blast. |
| Narrator: | Powers: Energy manipulation |
PAGE 2 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Blast throws away his Walkie-Talkie. He is pissed.
| Narrator: | Captain of New York Legion’s Soccer team |
| Blast: | F**k it! |
PANEL 2
Blast typing on his smartphone.
| Narrator: | Leadership is in his blood. |
| Blast: (Typing on phone) | Guys! I need help! Right now! |
PANEL 3
Blast takes a deep breath. His eyes are closed. His hands are raised in fists in front of him.
| Blast: | You can do this |
| Nick Farley: (Via phone in Blast’s pocket) | I told you to not throw away your communication device… |
PANEL 4
Blast opens his eyes. His hands emit energy in orbs around his hands. His eyes glow from energy too.
| Blast: | You. Can. Do. This. |
PANEL 5
Blast jumps up from behind the crates. The energy orb on his left arm forms a shield. The energy on his left hand he directs into beams onto his enemies. He screams.
| Blast: | Is that all you got. |
PANEL 6
Panel of the Grunts shooting at Blast. We see the Grunts from behind with Blast running towards them (and the reader). One grunt looks at another Grunt being slammed into the wall by Blast’s beam.
| Grunt: (Looking at the hit grunt) | Shit! |
| Blast: | Aaaaah! |
PAGE 3 – 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Blast running towards the enemies while miraculously dodging and blocking the bullets.
| Nick Farley: (Via phone in Blast’s pocket) | Sending back-up. |
PANEL 2
Copy materializes in front of the Grunt army.
| Copy: | Hi guys. |
PANEL 3
The Grunt army fills Copy’s body with bullets.
No dialogue
PANEL 4
Copy laying in Blast’s arms. Copy is dying.
| Copy: | Steve, use my body as a distraction. |
PANEL 5
Blast holds Copy’s body in front of him on his shield. With his free hand he aims forward. Copy looks like a maiden in distress where he lays.
| Blast: | This is gross |
| Copy: | Just get it over with. |
PAGE 4 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
From above. We see Blast running forward with Copy as a shield. A cross hair hovers above Blast.
No Dialogue
PANEL 2
A Sniper Gruntsitting by the railingholding a rifle.
| Grunt: | I got him. |
PANEL 3
Copy standing on the left side of the sniper Grunt. The Sniper Grunt looks up at him.
| Copy: | Camping is for cowards. You know that, right? |
| Grunt: | Huh? |
| Narrator: | Nick Farley |
PANEL 4
Copy looks at the Sniper Grunt with a smile. The Sniper Grunt gets shot in the back of the head by someone standing off panel to the right.
| Sound Effect: | Bam |
PANEL 5
Copy looks up atthe shooter. It is another Copy holding the gun.
| Narrator: | Also known as Copy. |
| Copy: (Not holding the gun) | Nice |
| Narrator: | Powers: Self-duplication |
PANEL 6
The two Copys high five.
| Copy: | Clone five! |
| (Not holding the gun) | |
| Narrator: | The one leading the team |
PAGE 5 – 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Blast dodging behind his energy shield. His face is strained as if he is in pain.
| Blast: | I can’t hold them of anymore |
PANEL 2
Shard appears in front of Blast. His skin is of a silvery metal. The bullets bounce of his skin.
| Shard: | I got you! |
| Narrator: | Cedric Willow, also known as Shard |
PANEL 3
Shard cracks his fists against each other while walking towards the Grunts (The grunts are off panel). Bullets still bounce of him.
| Shard: | Lets have some fun. |
| Narrator: | Powers: Cell manipulation. |
| Narrator: | Their wall |
PANEL 4
A long row of Grunts looking at their hands where there were guns just a moment ago.
No Dialogue
PANEL 5
Tornado stands on top of a pile of guns. She holds a gun in her hands.
| Tornado: | I want some hands people |
| Narrator: | Susanne Delgermo, also known as Tornado |
| Narrator: | Powers: Speed and agility. |
| Narrator: | She is their brain. |
PAGE 6 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Tornado hands guns to some Copys.
| Tornado: | Lets even the odds people. |
PANEL 2
One Copy pushes ammunition into his rifle.
| Copy: | I love that sound. |
PANEL 3
Blast, Shard, Tornado and 12 Copys surround the Grunts. Blast screams at the Grunts
| Blast: | Surrender! |
PANEL 4
A close-up of a Grunt.
| Grunt: | Initiate order 36 |
PANEL 5
All the Grunt’s shirt light up with ‘10’.
| Sound effect: | Click |
PANEL 6
Shardlooking at Tornado.
| Shard: | Sh*t |
PAGE 7 – 7 PANELS
PANEL 1 (Small panel)
A sprinkler going off on the ceiling.
No Dialogue
PANEL 2
The grunts look up in confusion. The number on their chests are now 8.
No Dialogue
PANEL 3
Tornado looking at Blast and smiles. Blast looks forward with a determined stone face. We see Shard and some Copys in the background.
| Tornado: | The artillery is here |
| Blast: | We should run |
| Copy: | We’ll hold them. |
PANEL 4
Blast waves at the group to retreat. Copy points forward signaling attack.
| Blast: | Retreat! |
| Copy: | Attack! |
PANEL 5
Image from above. We see Blast, Tornado and Shard run away from the Grunts at the center of the image while the 12 Copys run towards the Grunts. Some Copys are already piling up on top of the Grunts.
No Dialogue
PANEL 6
The glass windows on the roof break.
No Dialogue
PANEL 7 (Small panel)
The sprinkler turns to ice.
No Dialogue
PAGE 8 – SPLASH PAGE
PANEL 1
Hail comes falling from the crashed windows on the roof. Around here everything turns to ice. Her hair has turned white. Some grunts are seen encapsulated in ice mid-scream.
| Narrator: | Therese Sung also known as Hail. |
| Narrator: | Powers: Temperature control |
| Narrator: | A kick boxer turned artist. A powerhouse if used correctly |
| Narrator: | Together they call themselves The Frontline. |
PAGE 9 – 5 PANELS
Art notes: while drawing panel 2-4 think popcorn.PANEL 1
A huge iceberg encapsulating the Copys piling on top of the Grunts.
No Dialogue
PANEL 2
One tiny explosion in the middle of the iceberg.
| Sound effect: | Splash |
PANEL 3
Two explosions inside the iceberg.
| Sound effect: | Splash |
| Sound effect: | Splash |
PANEL 4
A lotof explosions inside the iceberg.
| Sound effect: | Splash |
| Sound effect: | Splash |
| Sound effect: | Splash |
PANEL 5
The icebergat the center of the image. All the explosions have died of. Inside the iceberg is now only a red goo.
No Dialogue
PAGE 10 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
A locker room door. In front of the Locker room door goes a red band and a sign says ‘Closed due to renovation’
| Stephen Duncan: (From inside the door) | Why aren’t you listening to me! |
PANEL 2
Stephen Duncan without his Blast-mask screaming at Nick Farley without his Copy-mask. Stephen Duncan is shirtless. Nick Farley talks back calmly. Nick Farley seems more interested in the buttons on his shirt than on Stephen screaming at him.
| Stephen Duncan: | We don’t kill! |
| Nick Farley: | No, you don’t kill. I, on the other hand, work according to a different code. Besides they all died anyway. |
PANEL 3
Stephen Duncan throws his shirt in Nick Farley’s face. Nick Farley has still his hand on the buttons of his shirt’s arm.
| Stephen Duncan: | That is not the point! Killing is wrong. Idiot! |
| Nick Farley: | That was so unnecessary. Now I have to shower. |
PANEL 4
Cedric Willow, Therese Sung and Susanne Delgermo sitting on a bench. Cedric Willow wears jeans. Therese Sung and Susanne Delgermo has their Hail and Tornado suits on but no masks. Cedric Willow hands Therese Sung a soda bottle. Therese Sung looks at him and smiles. Susanne Delgermo stares forward at Stephen Duncan’s and Nick Farley’s argument continuing off panel.
| Stephen Duncan: (Off panel from the left) | Who cares? Is this even the real you? |
| Cedric Willow: | Soda? |
| Therese Sung: | That would be lovely. |
| Nick Farley: (Off panel from the right) | I consider it safe enough to visit a closed down locker room, don’t you? |
PANEL 5
Stephen Duncan standing by a locker. He leans his head against the door.
| Stephen Duncan: | Sigh |
PANEL 6
Nick Farley standing with his hand together as someone holding a speech at fancy party. He looks at the reader (it is really the three on the bench) and smiles.
| Nick Farley: | This little chit chatter aside. I am so proud of you guys. We didn’t just protect the valuables in that storage |
PAGE 11 – 7 PANELS
PANEL 1
The storage unit. It is empty. The iceberg is melting. Blood slowly leaks out on the floor.
| Nick Farley: (Off panel) | We also saved the whole dock from a terrifying explosion. |
PANEL 2
Grunts standing by the entrance to the storage unit. General Mordare enters through the door.
| Nick Farley: (Off panel) | I would call that an enormous win on our side. |
PANEL 3
General Mordare’s shoe in the pool of blood leaking out from the iceberg.
| Cedric Willow: (Off panel) | What where those guys after anyway? |
| General Mordare: (Off panel) | Who tripped the alarm? |
PANEL 4
A Grunt standing behind General Mordare.
| Grunt: | Sergeant Mark Lycke, sir. He is dead inside the ice. |
| General Mordare: | How sad. I really wanted to kill him myself. |
| Susanne Delgermo: (Off panel) | And why where they armed? |
PANEL 5
The Grunt is torn in two. General Mordare smiles.
| Grunt: | Aaaaaaaah |
| General Mordare: | I guess I’ll settle for the second best. |
| General Mordare: | Please now, open the crate for me. |
| Nick Farley: (Off panel) | I don’t know |
PANEL 6
Two Grunts open a smaller crate (approx. 1 meter long, 20 centimeter wide and 20 centimeter high)
| Grunt: | We are on it, General Mordare |
| Nick Farley: (Off panel) | Somehow, I got the feeling we’re going to find out |
PANEL 7
A close-up on General Mordare’s face. His smile takes up most of the image.
| General Mordare: | Hello beautiful |
PAGE 12
PANEL 1
Nick Farley with his hands out. He smiles confidently.
| Nick Farley: | But for now, celebrate the win. Do something fancy. Drink champagne. Eat caviar. |
PANEL 2
Stephen Duncan standing with his hands on his waist. Cedric Willow, Therese Sung and Susanne Delgermo sits on the bench. Therese Sung drinks soda, the others stare in disbelief at Nick Farley who is off panel (it looks like they stare at the reader).
| Stephen Duncan: | Do I look like a champagne drinker to you? |
| Cedric Willow: | I’ve never even heard those words before. |
PANEL 3
Nick Farley walking out with his back turned against the reader (and the rest of his team in The Frontline). He raises his hand in a waving gesture.
| Nick Farley: | Well, celebrate in your own way then. I’m off. |
PANEL 4
View from outside the locker room. Nick Farley exiting the locker room. He lifts the ribbon and locks around to make sure no one sees him.
| Nick Farley: | All clear |
PANEL 5
Nick Farley fades away.
No Dialogue
PAGE 13 – 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
A champagne bottle, opened.
No Dialogue
PANEL 2
Nick Farley drinks champagne from a glass. His eyes are closed from enjoying the drink.
No Dialogue
PANEL 3
Nick Farley admiring the champagne glass.
| Nick Farley: | Mmmm |
PANEL 4
Nick Farley looks out through a big ass panorama window in his suit at the top floor. We get to see the entire city.
| Nick Farley: | If they only knew what they are missing. |
PAGE 14 – 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
View from outside the locker room. Cedric Willow and Stephen Duncan on the left side of the door. Therese Sung exiting. Susanne Delgermo on the right side of the door. Stephen Duncan investigates his Walkie-Talkie (White line horizontally).
| Stephen Duncan: | What’s with the Walkie-Talkies anyway. We have phones, you know. |
| Therese Sung: | Nick said something about them being our trademark thingy. |
| Susanne Delgermo: | Yeah, and they were really cheap. |
PANEL 2
The group on their way through the corridor. Cedric Willow now hold his Walkie-Talkie in his hands (red line). Stephen Duncan laughs with his Walkie-Talkie still in his hand. Therese Sung puts on her backpack. Susanne Delgermo eats a powerbar.
| Cedric Willow: | Nick doesn’t look like someone cheap. |
| Stephen Duncan: | Exactly! That suit is probably worth more than I own. |
| Susanne Delgermo: | More like, more than us combined. |
PANEL 3
The group exiting the workout center. Therese Sung looks back at those about to exit. Cedric Willow is about to exit, and Susanne Delgermo is right behind him. Stephen Duncan holds the door.
| Therese Sung: | But it doesn’t seem like Nick hides how rich he is. So can’t we just ask him how expensive the Walkie-Talkies are? |
| Stephen Duncan: | Nah, what’s the fun in that. |
PANEL 4
Still in front of the closed down workout center. Cedric Willow waves and walks to the left. Susanne Delgermo also walks off to the left. Stephen Duncan and looks at them and smile. Therese Sung waves back.
| Cedric Willow: | There is my bus. See you guys. |
| Susanne Delgermo: | I’m off too. Bye |
| Stephen Duncan: | See ya. |
| Therese Sung: | Bye! |
PAGE 15 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
Stephen Duncan and Therese Sung walk on the street. Stephen Duncan points to the right and Therese Sung points to the left.
| Stephen Duncan: | I should get going too. |
| Therese Sung: | Me too. |
PANEL 2
Stephen Duncan and Therese Sung walk into each other.
| Stephen Duncan: | Hmpf |
| Therese Sung: | Hmpf |
PANEL 3
Stephen Duncan and Therese Sung stand really close to each other. They blush.
| Stephen Duncan: | Oh, I’m so sorry. |
| Therese Sung: | Oh, I’m so sorry. |
PANEL 4
Stephen Duncan has his hand on Therese Sung’s upper arm. Therese Sung blushes and looks down on her hands.
| Stephen Duncan: | Are you okay? |
| Therese Sung: | Yes. |
PANEL 5
Stephen Duncan still holding Therese Sung on the upper arm. Their eyes meet.
No Dialogue
PANEL 6
Stephen Duncan scratches the back of his head and blushes. Therese Sung’s blushing has turned high red.
| Stephen Duncan: | Yeah anyway, I really need to get going because you know stuff. |
| Therese Sung: | Me too, lots of stuff. |
PAGE 16 – 5 PANELS
Art notes: Pages 16 and 17 should be on the same spreadPANEL 1
Stephen Duncan entering through a door. He throws his bag on the floor beside him.
| Narrator: | They all live so different lives |
| Stephen Duncan: | I’m home! |
PANEL 2
Matt Duncan and William Duncan jump Stephen Duncan. Stephen Duncan almost loses his balance from their attack.
| Matt Duncan: | Daddy! |
| William Duncan: | Daddy! |
| Stephen Duncan: | There you are my little rascals. |
PANEL 3
Cerise Duncan touches Stephen Duncan’s arm while Matt Duncan and William Duncan climb their father.
| Cerise Duncan: | Hey honey, how was soccer practice? |
PANEL 4
A close-up of Cerise Duncan kissing Stephen Duncan’s cheek.
| Stephen Duncan: | Oh, it was alright, I guess. |
PANEL 5
We see the family from the back as they walk to the kitchen. Matt Duncan hangs in Stephen Duncan’s arm. William Duncan sits on Stephen Duncan’s shoulders. Stephen Duncan and Cerise Duncan holds hands.
| Stephen Duncan: | We had a new player visiting. That guy really has some talent. |
PAGE 17 – 5 PANELS
Art notes: Pages 16 and 17 should be on the same spreadPANEL 1
Therese Sung enters through her home door. She hangs her bag on a hanger.
| Narrator: | Yet they are similar. |
| Therese Sung: | Darlings, I’m home. |
PANEL 2
2 cats greet Therese Sung. The cat named Spot (mostly white with black spots) climb on her shoulder. The cat named Tiger (grey with stripes) stretches for her hand. Therese Sung pets the one on her shoulder.
| Therese Sung: | There you are. |
PANEL 3
Therese Sung walks up to her mother Maria Sung sitting in a wheelchair.
| Therese Sung: | Hi mom, you can’t guess what happened today. |
PANEL 4
Therese Sung kisses Maria Sung on the cheek. Maria sung looks hollowly forward with an open mouth.
| Therese Sung: | Someone bought one of my paintings. |
PANEL 5
We see them from the back as they walk to the kitchen. Therese Sung pushes the wheelchair in front of her. Spot and Tiger follow them.
| Therese Sung: | Then I saved the day with the Frontline. |
PAGE 18 – 6 PANELS
Art notes: Pages 18 and 19 should be on the same spreadPANEL 1
Susanne Delgermo and Cedric Willow sitting next to each other in a bus. Susanne Delgermo waves at Cedric Willow and Cedric Willow waves back.
| Narrator: | They come from completely different pasts. |
| Susanne Delgermo: | This is my stop, bye. |
| Cedric Willow: | Bye. |
PANEL 2
Susanne Delgermo leaning forward as the family dog Bingo greets her at the gates to their house.
| Susanne Delgermo: | Hi buddy. Have you missed me? |
PANEL 3
Susanne Delgermo entering through the front door. Bingo jumps up and down by her feet.
| Susanne Delgermo: | Hello, I brought the honey. |
PANEL 4
Selina Delgermo hugs Susanne Delgermo by the door.
| Selina Delgermo: | You are a godsend! I don’t know what we would have done without you. |
PANEL 5
SusanneDelgermo walks past some caserolls in the kitchen. She lifts the lid and smells the food.
| Susanne Delgermo: | Oh, it smells so good. |
PANEL 6
Family dinner. Everyone smiles. Everyone is happy. Carl Delgermo and Lilly Delgermo sit to the left of Susanne Delgermo. Selina Delgermo and Richard Delgermo sit to the right of Susanne Delgermo.
| Carl Delgermo: | I want to becomes an astronaut. |
| Susanne Delgermo: | How great! |
| Richard Delgermo: | Then you have to take care of your grades Mr. I could ask Marlo about the private tutor they hired. |
PAGE 19 – 6 PANELS
Art notes: Pages 18 and 19 should be on the same spreadPANEL 1
Cedric Willow sitting alone in the bus.
| Narrator: | Yet the paths they wander mold them in such similar ways |
| Driver: | End station. |
PANEL 2
Cedric Willow stands by the entry to a trailer park of standard really bad. To the right we see a group of hobos sitting around a bonfire.
| Cedric Willow: | Hi guys, how is life? |
| Hobo: | We’re hanging on Ced’. Always hanging on. |
PANEL 3
Cedric Willow entering through a trailer door. He holds up some cash.
| Cedric Willow: | Hello, I brought the money. |
PANEL 4
Cedric Willow watching Marlo Simmers count the money.
| Marlo Simmers: | You are a godsend Ced’. Who knows what would have happened to Winona if you had been any later. |
PANEL 5
Cedric Willow stands by a microwave. On the bench we see an opened can.
| Sound effect: (Microwave) | Pling |
PANEL 6
Dinner on the sofa in front of the TV. Martha Willow is stoned to the left in the sofa. She is completely zoned out. Cedric Willow hands Winona Willow a plate with food. The table is full of bear bottles and cocaine lines.
| Cedric Willow: | How much did Marlo give her? |
| Winona Willow: | Too much. |
PAGE 20 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
A close-up of Nick Farley’s face. Next to it is a picture of Nick Farley as Copy. Under the two images is the information:
Name: Cedric Willow
Alias: Copy
Power: Duplication
| Narrator: | As you understand |
PANEL 2
A close-up of Stephen Duncan’s face. Next to it is a picture of Stephen Duncan as Blast. Under the two images is the information:
Name: Stephen Duncan
Alias: Blast
Power: Energy Manipulation
| Narrator: | Serves a team of this magnitude |
PANEL 3
A close-up of Therese Sung’s face. Next to it is a picture of Therese Sung as Hail. Under the two images is the information:
Name: Therese Sung
Alias: Hail
Power: Temperature Control
| Narrator: | No threat |
PANEL 4
A close-up of Susanne Delgermo’s face. Next to it is a picture of Susanne Delgermo as Tornado. Under the two images is the information:
Name: Susanne Delgermo
Alias: Tornado
Power: Speed and Agility
| Narrator: | To an organization as ours |
PANEL 5
A close-up of Cedric Willow’s face. Next to it is a picture of Cedric Willow as Shard. Under the two images is the information:
Name: Cedric Willow
Alias: Shard
Power: Cell manipulation
| Narrator: | But the implications of a superhuman powered team once again walking the streets |
PANEL 6
A board room. To the left end we see a panorama window. At the right end we see a white wall. An oval table stands in the middle. Seven suited individuals sit around the table, everyone wears a mask with a different animal. The animal masks of the people around the table are as follows cat (man), fox (woman), giraffe (woman), dog (man), eagle (man), lizard (woman) and fish (man). In front of the table a man with an owl mask (with him they are eight in total) holds the presentation with the heroes of the Frontline still on display.
| Narrator: (Owl-man) | are severe. |
PAGE 21 – 6 PANELS
PANEL 1
A close-up of the owl-masked man.
| Owl-man: | Even though some of you still were in diapers during the last wave of heroes |
PANEL 2
The owl-manwalks behind the cat-man, the fox-woman and the giraffe-woman.
| Owl-man: | I don’t think I have to remind you of what happened. |
PANEL 3
The owl-man stands furthest back in the room with his hands resting on dog-man’s shoulders (we see on dog-man’s hands that he is coming of age).
| Owl-man: | If the information somehow slipped your mind, I suggest you ask your fellow board members. The events were quite brutal and grotesque. Don’t you think so dog? |
| Dog-man: | Uhm… Yes, it was quite a burdensome time indeed. |
| Owl-man | Exactly. An eye leaves quite a scar, doesn’t it? |
PANEL 4
Owl-man walks up to the screen again. This time he walks on the side of the table closest to the window.
| Owl-man: | It will hurt worse if we let it rise again. |
PANEL 5
Owl-man supports himself on the table in front of the screen. He stares at the reader (the board members).
No Dialogue
PANEL 6
Owl-man still standing in front of the screen supporting himself on the table. His head is bent down.
| Owl-man: | Sigh. Off with you. |
PAGE 22 – 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
Owl-man sitting in front of the screen leaning his face on his hands.
| Fred Stanford: (Off Panel) | Was the meeting to your enjoyment, Mr. Shirah? |
| Owl-man/Mr Shirah: | No. No it wasn’t Fred |
PANEL 2
Owl-man removes his mask, but we don’t see his face
| Owl-man/Mr Shirah: | They have become weak. |
PANEL 3
Mr. Shirah (he who wore the owl-mask) walks to the window. He holds the owl-mask in his hand.
| Owl-man/Mr. Shirah: | We have to clean up the line. We have to make them remember what’s important. |
PANEL 4
We see Mr. Shirah through the window. He smiles. Mr. Shirah’s hair is blonde in a back slick. His irises are white. He has fangs.
| Owl-man/Mr. Shirah: | Fred, we have a war to win. |
© David Johansson
DBJ 