Panel 1
We see an
older model car driving down the road.
Not only is this an older car, but it’s obviously banged up. Obviously the driver doesn’t have a ton of
money to spend on these things. There’s
no indication that it’s going fast, but there’s also no reason to believe it’s
doing anything particularly wrong. No
damage to the taillights, either. Also
important to note that it’s nighttime.
CAPTION:
“His daring life of crime…”
Panel 2
But somehow
a cop car still shows up behind it with flashing lights to pull it over.
CAPTION:
“…Made him a legend in his time.”
Panel 3
The two cars are pulled over and the cop has gotten out and is walking toward the old car. The cop has red hair. We’ll find out shortly that it’s our old friend, Guy Gardner. The driver of the old car is a black man, and we’ll find out shortly that it’s Bloodwynd. We see Guy from the back and Bloodwynd from the side.
TITLE: “The
Ballad of Billy the Kid”
WRITER: Tony
Laplume
PAGE TWO
Panel 1
Now we see
Guy Gardner properly as he approaches the driver of the old car, whom of course
we know is Bloodwynd but we still can’t properly identify him, as he’s looking
forward and we’re looking on from the side, so we can’t see his distinctive
eyes yet. Guy has grown back that beard
and mustache look he had in the pages of Red Lanterns.GUY GARDNER: Okay. License and registration. No funny business.
Panel 2
Bloodwynd is
reaching into the glove compartment, so obviously we still can’t see his
eyes. Guy looks impatient.
Panel 3
Bloodwynd is
still rooting around in the glove compartment.
Guy still looks impatient.
Panel 4
Bloodwynd is
still rooting around, Guy still looks impatient.
GUY GARDNER:
Look, is this going to take all night or summat?
Panel 5
Bloodwynd
has now located the registration and is handing it over to Guy. His eyes are downcast, his manner meek, as
Guy continues to look impatient.
GUY GARDNER:
What are ya, mute? Know why I pulled you
over?
GUY GARDNER:
Okay, forget this. Step out of the car. Hands where I can see them.
Panel 6
Bloodwynd is
emerging from the car, hands raised with documents in them, eyes still
downcast. Guy’s hands are resting on his
belt, one planted firmly on his service pistol.
Panel 7
We see that
Guy has shoved Bloodwynd roughly against the side of his car and has begun
patting him down.
GUY GARDNER:
Don’t have anything I should know about, do ya?
Panel 8
The pat down
continues.
GUY GARDNER:
Y’know, this would be going a lot more smoothly if you just stopped resisting.
Panel 9
Guy’s hand
has reached for his club.
PAGE THREE
Panel 1
(splash)
Bloodwynd
has turned around, only he’s no longer an anonymous black man but very clearly
Bloodwynd, in all his awesome ‘90s glory (metaphorically speaking, as…I’m one
of the few fans nostalgic about him an’ all).
Which is to say, in full white bodysuit and black cape garb. He’s literally glowing, lighting up the whole
page. You’d think his eyes would be
glaring but his look is entirely benign.
His arms are outstretched, holding up his cape like Bela Lugosi used to
as Dracula. Guy looks completely
astonished, and incidentally he’s also facing us, with his head turned around,
as if he turned in fright, the club falling out of his hand to the ground. This is also to say, we can see his named
listed as “Gardner” on his uniform.
Bloodwynd’s word bubble is of course ringed by his distinctive red
fringed outline, which is one of the reasons why we didn’t hear him talk
before, to help emphasize this moment and surprise (for anyone theoretically
seeing this as an actual comic rather than reading it as a script). We can also see that Guy is wearing the
yellow ring for the first time in this particular script, the first real
confirmation we’ve had of that fact.
BLOODWYND: Guy
Gardner, you ignorant slut.
PAGE FOUR
Panel 1
Now that he’s
revealed himself so spectacularly, Bloodwynd has reverted back to civilian
clothes, and has a meek expression on his face.
Of course, he still has his distinctive totally white eyes, which is
another reason why we never saw them before.
Guy still looks completely astonished.
GUY GARDNER:
Bloodwynd…!
GUY GARDNER:
Oh my god!
Panel 2
Bloodwynd
continues to stand by his car patiently.
Guy is suddenly looking apologetic, his hands raised out in front of
him, no longer threatening or reaching for weapons.
GUY GARDNER:
Bloodwynd…! How was I s’pposed to know
it was you?
Panel 3
We see Bloodwynd
frowning.
Panel 4
Bloodwynd is
reaching down for the fallen club.
Panel 5
Bloodwynd is
handing the club back to Guy.
Panel 6
Bloodwynd is
still frowning as he finally replies.
BLOODWYND:
Why would it have mattered?
PAGE FIVE
Panel 1
Guy suddenly
has a friendly posture. Bloodwynd has not
changed his expression.
GUY GARDNER:
Bloodwynd, buddy!
GUY GARDNER:
Long time no see! How long’s it been?
Panel 2
Bloodwynd
has no immediate response.
Panel 3
Bloodwynd
continues to frown as he responds.
BLOODWYND:
Not since the Doomsday business, I imagine.
Panel 4
Guy is
running his hand through his hair with an abashed look on his face.
GUY GARDNER:
Yeah. That. Nasty business. None of us came out looking good after that
one.
GUY GARDNER:
‘Course, Superman dyin’ an’ all…
Panel 5
Flashback
panel to Guy in the immediate aftermath of Doomsday smashing his face, his eye
sockets completely crushed, that ridiculous bowl haircut that artists finally
moved past. Of course he’s also in that
blue costume we’ve been referencing in Guy’s previous Crisis Weekly appearance,
and although we can’t see it, has the yellow ring the first time. This callback to Doomsday will prove more
significant in later weeks as we revisit Bloodwynd’s experiences related to it,
so this also amounts to a teaser and preview of sorts.
GUY GARDNER:
Face still hurts. Case you were
wondering.
PAGE SIX
Panel 1
Bloodwynd
and Guy continue to talk.
BLOODWYND: This
was unnecessary, Guy Gardner.
Panel 2
Same as
previous panel.
BLOODWYND:
This business of pulling me over.
Because I am black.
Panel 3
Guy is
suddenly looking defensive.
GUY GARDNER:
Whoa, whoa! Let’s not be hasty here!
Panel 4
Bloodwynd
shoots Guy a look.
Panel 5
Same as
previous panel.
BLOODWYND:
Guy Gardner. Do not lie to me.
PAGE SEVEN
Panel 1
Guy has
begun leaning against the side of Bloodwynd’s car.
GUY GARDNER:
What kin I say? It’s been rough
recently. Been under a lot of
stress. You have no idea.
Panel 2
Same as
previous panel.
GUY GARDNER:
Okay, I admit it. Okay? I don’t even know why. Okay?
Panel 3
Same as
previous panel.
GUY GARDNER:
It wasn’t even black people. It was
White Martians.
Panel 4
Guy is
looking at Bloodwynd, searching for sympathy, of which he is receiving
none. Bloodwynd is blank, stoic.
GUY GARDNER:
I know, I know. The White Martian
business was after your time in the League.
Technically after my time, too, but I was still active in the
field. You weren’t. But we all know you spent time trapped inside
J’onn. You knew about the White
Martians, right? You know what I’m
talking about?
Panel 5
Bloodwynd
doesn’t immediately respond.
Panel 6
Same as two
previous panels.
BLOODWYND: I
know about the White Martians.
Panel 7
Another
silent panel as Guy continues to look at Bloodwynd, this time with a curious
expression.
Panel 8
Guy looks
amused.
GUY GARDNER:
“Ignorant slut”?
Panel 9
Guy is
smiling.
BLOODWYND: A
cultural idiom. I heard it on TV
once. I was trying to fit in.
PAGE EIGHT
Panel 1
Guy has
stood back up from Bloodwynd’s car, getting ready to go back to his squad car.
BLOODWYND:
Guy Gardner. Wait.
Panel 2
Guy has
turned back toward Bloodwynd.
BLOODWYND:
About the White Martians.
BLOODWYND: I
have agreed to investigate them for President Reilly.
BLOODWYND:
Regardless of what happened here tonight, I would appreciate your help.
Panel 3
Guy looks
relieved.
GUY GARDNER:
Yeah. Sure. Anything I can do, buddy.
GUY GARDNER:
Sorry about all this. Swear I’m not bad.
Panel 4
Bloodwynd is
responding, but he’s also distracted. He’s
looking upward.
BLOODWYND:
No, you’re simply Guy Gardner. You
cannot help yourself.
Panel 5
We pan
upward and see what has caught Bloodwynd’s attention: a swarm of bats in the
night sky.
Panel 6
Bloodwynd
continues to look toward the sky. He is
alone in this panel.
BLOODWYND:
Bats…
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.