Crisis Weekly #10

PAGE ONE

Panel 1

Jack Ryder is doing his selfie show again, only this time, we’re looking at him from the perspective of someone watching him do it, holding up his tablet to record it.  He’s standing in front of gates we’ll shortly see beyond.

JACK RYDER: Hello again!

JACK RYDER: After repeatedly denied requests to speak with the President herself (who, by the way, once again folks, is really the superhero Firehawk, not that she stressed that point when running for the vice presidency and then “accidentally” ending up as commander-in-chief)…

Panel 2

We now see that the gates are in front of the White House.

JACK RYDER: I’ve decided to bring the party directly to her!

Panel 3

Jack is looking in the direction of the voice calling his name.

VOICE (off-panel): Jack Ryder!

Panel 4

Now we see our teenage team the Crisis Compact (Bulletproof, Sparx, Flick & Latch).  Sparx is the one who’s standing in the foreground of the shot and obviously the one who spoke.

CAPTION: Despite all my efforts to dissuade them, my…friends were about to make the biggest mistake of their lives.

SPARX: In the name of truth, justice and the American way, which you’ve tried so hard to make us forget…

SPARX: You’re done.

TITLE: “When the Levee Breaks”

WRITER: Tony Laplume
 

PAGE TWO

Panel 1

The Crisis Compact advances on Jack.  Flick and Latch are the most aggressive in their pursuit, with Sparx directing them and Bulletproof holding back.  This is the first time we’ve seen her in costume.  By this second panel it probably ought to be described.  She’s opted for a silver costume that’s after the fashion of Mary Marvel and the Kamala Khan Ms. Marvel, a skirt ensemble with a cape and a domino mask that are black, as are her gloves and boots.  There’s a bullet emblem on her chest.  Probably exactly none of this was her idea.

SPARX: Crisis Compact, advance!

Panel 2

We see as everyone reacts to a car screeching towards them.  Jack, who has never dropped the tablet from its position broadcasting all of this, has a smirk on his face.  Around the group can be seen ordinary citizens reacting.

JACK RYDER: And that, folks, is how you make an entrance.

Panel 3

Emerging from the car are the Bully Boys, whom we met way back in the first installment of Crisis Weekly.  Here we’ll now give each of them names: the Game is the one with the long hair and beard, the Animal is the large one with muscles, and the Viper is the smaller one with red hair, just like Bulletproof.

JACK RYDER: Row, me bully boys!

Panel 4

The Bully Boys and the Crisis Compact line up opposite each other, poised for battle.  It should be noted that Bulletproof is still standing behind her team, and that Viper is also holding back.

JACK RYDER: This is what superheroes do!  They charge in without being asked!  They attack what they don’t understand! 

Panel 5

Close-up of Sparx and Bulletproof.

SPARX: Bulletproof? 

SPARX: What is it?

Panel 6

Close-up of Bulletproof.

RACHEL ROGERSON: I think one of the Bully Boys is my brother.

 

PAGE THREE

Panel 1

Enough setup!  The clash begins!  Flick is engaging Animal in a fight while Latch and Sparx take on the Game, both sides unleashing concussive blasts, the Game from his eyes as before.  Viper and Bulletproof are absent from the shot, as is Jack.

Panel 2

Bulletproof has approached Viper.

RACHEL ROGERSON: Rob?

Panel 3

We see Flick sailing past Bulletproof and Viper, clearly having been knocked away by Animal.

FLICK: Wow!

Panel 4

Flick getting up as Bulletproof and Viper watch.

FLICK: I hope there’s better than that, buddy! 

Panel 5

Bulleproof is decking Viper.

RACHEL ROGERSON: I can’t believe you!

Panel 6

Bulletproof and Sparx are exchanging looks across the fight.  At this point we see traditional news media in the peripheral, Jack attempting maintain his position in front of them.  It’s probably worth reducing the size of Jack’s word bubble, as he’s generally blabbering to his viewers, unconcerned with whether anyone actually present is paying attention.

JACK RYDER: Ladies and gentlemen, I have no formal connections with the Bully Boys.  Each of them offered their services to me completely unrequested and wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.  You can imagine, however, that I have found them useful at times, people being as they are generally not inclined to look favorably on my work, unflattering as it is to all manner of tyrants…

 

PAGE FOUR

Panel 1

Jack is once again reacting to someone shouting his name.

VOICE (off-panel): Jack Ryder!

JACK RYDER: Oh, come on!  What is this?

Panel 2

We see someone charging at Jack in full Navy SEAL gear, with a gas mask on.  This is Rachel’s classmate Marty Kirby, now costumed as the new Sandman.  His rotund figure is still present.

MARTY KIRBY: You’re being exposed, you fake journalist scum, as a White Martian! 

MARTY KIRBY: Everyone, Jack Ryder is really the Creeper!  But he’s been a White Martian all along!

Panel 3

Sparx, shooting off another blast at the Game, is now redirecting her attention at Marty.

SPARX: What?  No!  That’s not what this was about at all!

SPARX: The Crisis Compact came here to confront a bad journalist, not to claim he was…

Panel 4

Sparx is being hit in turn by another blast from the Game.

SPARX: Wait, Jack Ryder’s the Creeper?

SPARX: Hey!

 

PAGE FIVE

Panel 1

Bulletproof is restraining Marty.

RACHEL ROGERSON: Now’s not the time, Sandman.

Panel 2

Viper is swinging at Bulletproof, while Sandman jumps back in alarm.

VIPER: There’s a lot you don’t know.

VIPER: You should’ve stayed away.

Panel 3

Viper is holding his hand in immense pain.  He’s just found out how tough Bulletproof’s skin is, exactly like some idiot trying to punch Superman.

RACHEL ROGERSON: I’m beginning to see that there’s merit to all this.

 

PAGE SIX

Panel 1
Flick is knocking Viper down as Bulletproof and Sandman watch.

FLICK: Proof!  I had no idea you were so interesting!

Panel 2

Flick watches as Bulletproof punches Animal.

BULLETPROOF: You’ll find I’m full of surprises.

Panel 3

Secret Service agents are now beginning to swarm the scene.  Jack is continuing his show all this time.

JACK RYDER: Go ahead and hide, President Firehawk!  But you can’t hide from the truth! 

Panel 4

The agents are taking the Bully Boys into custody.  Jack is reacting with indignation, but pointedly shouting into his tablet for the benefit of his audience.

JACK RYDER: This is reprehensible!  This is a direct assault on freedom of the press!

 

PAGE SEVEN

Panel 1

Sparx is helping Marty to his feet.

MARTY KIRBY: I can’t help but notice that they’re leaving Ryder alone.

SPARX: Not now, Sandman.

Panel 2

Marty is now shrugging Sparx away from him.

MARTY KIRBY: No!  Now’s exactly the time! 

MARTY KIRBY: I did the research!  I know what I’m talking about!  Why won’t anyone listen?

Panel 3

Flick has walked over to them as Marty continues to rant.

MARTY KIRBY:  He’s the Creeper!  This was no coincidence!  Don’t listen to what he says!  The Bully Boys work for him!  This was all misdirection!  Don’t let him get away!

Panel 4
Marty is attempting to reach Jack as Sparx and Flick restrain him.

MARTY KIRBY: Let me go!

FLICK: Sandman, he broadcasts all the time.  He’s hiding in plain sight.

MARTY: Exactly!

Panel 5

Same basic image but the focus has shifted to Jack, who is continuing his show.

JACK RYDER: You can see for yourself.  They’re dangerous lunatics, completely out of control.

Panel 6

Marty continues his struggle as we pull away from the scene a little.  Marty’s speech bubble is small to illustrate the distance and how it’s not as important to continue listening to him.

MARTY: Dangerous lunatics!  I’ll show you a dangerous lunatic!

 

PAGE EIGHT

Panel 1

We now see that scene from a distance and can no longer hear any of them.

Panel 2

Now we become aware that the distance was formed by Bulletproof and Latch.

LATCH: Your theory was correct.

Panel 3

Their conversation continues.

LATCH: The Vampire didn’t sense anything Martian within Jack Ryder.

LATCH: He may be the Creeper, but he is not a White Martian.

Panel 4
Latch has transformed back into Vanessa Holly. 

LATCH: But, there was…

LATCH: I don’t know exactly what it was.  There was some kind of disturbance.  The Vampire wasn’t at all pleased about it.  Kept…chattering to me. 

Panel 5

Latch is looking increasingly uncomfortable.

LATCH: It was agitated.  I couldn’t understand what it was saying.

LATCH: I’m scared, Rachel.

Panel 6

Latch and Bulletproof are embracing.

LATCH: It wasn’t Ryder, but I think there WAS a White Martian here today…

LATCH: And I have no idea who…