neighborhood neighborhood
so you want to be a superhero.
watch
special special edition edition
""
the "" lure
i am the good shepherd.
...and this is the city of lost sheep.
by: by:
matt matt owens owens www.theneighborhoodwatch.net www.theneighborhoodwatch.net www.theneighborhoodwatch.net mattnjenny@gmail.com mattnjenny@gmail.com mattnjenny@gmail.com
#1 #1
free! free! dnly dnly dirt dirt is is cheaper! cheaper! fool you should'a taken the night off.
help me.
the costume stinks of sweat and leather. blood and eucalyptus.
maybe i made a mistake with you. maybe you aren't the one i'm looking for.
if the old man finds out i stole it, i'm finished.
look at you. you're sloppy. pathetic. you aren't hero material.
get into first position.
today there will be pain.
i do everything just like he taught me.
don't watch my feet,boy! watch my waist!
i anticipate. i strike first. i put my shoulder into it.
get your hands up!
still, the voice inside haunts. reminding me no matter how good i ami'm not good enough.
you're not ready, kid. you're immature. impulsive. selfish.
no... you're wrong about me...
i will show you.
tonight i don't care about the risks.
anger is a gift. use it- but don't be used by it.
tonight i'm just looking for action.
now- recite the mantra.
call your friends. there's more than enough to go around.
my body is a fist of iron.... ...crafted to smash the yoke of evil.
my body is a sword of tempered steel.... ...forged to strike at the cancer of crime with a calculated stroke.
i hear a whisper on the trees....
please... someone... anyone.... help me.
...i can't help but follow. please- we have to hurry. it's my brotherthey're going to kill him.
waitmiss-
who dwells in valley of darkest night?
they dragged us into the woods and brought us.... we were having a picnictony and me.
there were whispers in the treesand then we saw them.
...here.
...to the killing tree.
cursed to never see the sun.... this is where he fell.
i begged them not to do it. i told them to take me instead. but they would not listen.
this place is giving me the heebie jeebies. to the beast are children born....
...behold... behold a circle...
...made of thorns.
that's when it hits me- this whole deal is a set up.
there's no time for witty banter in the midst of a brawl.
you knowyou guys remind me of a buddy of mine i knew in school.
the babe was just a lure. save your breath for fightingthat's where you need it.
smack! smack! swipe! swipe!
he was all into those-
whatchacallit-
role playing games, you know?
...naturallythe guy goes off the deep end....
bammm! bammm!
you believei run into him at the reunionguy's making six figures now designing video games.
used to stay up all night playing these things....
used to dress up in this silly costume and everything.
...he quits school, disappears.
thwok! thwok!
heard his parents had him committed.
pow!
my confidence grows as the battle progresses....
i start to think....
i can win this....
you don't know what i can do.
i don't need you to teach me how to be a hero.
you don't know me old man.
sss...your soul will be ours... ssss....
thwip! thwip!
but, just when i start getting excited....
promises, promises.
you guys ready to give up ye--- ulp!
ahh... dang.
...cold, cruel reality comes crashing down around me.
you you have have done done well, well, daughter. daughter. this this morsel morsel will will prove prove quite quite delicious. delicious. i live only to serve you, dark father.
seconds before i pass out, i realize- the old man was right about me all along.
you got guts, kidi'll give you that.
stupid. but, gutsy.
well, well lookey here-
renaissance festival must be in town.
sorry to break up the party, but 'till futher notice- the boy belongs to me.
there is an intruder.
i emerge from darkness...into a great light....
so. you go out of your way to steal my costume and go out for a joyride....
...and you don't even have the sense to wear the cloak?
haven't you learned anything?
you were faking?
you didn't really think i was asleep did you, kid?
i thought my ridiculously loud snoring would tip you off for sure.
you said i was wrong about you.
figured i'd give you the chance to prove it.
saddle up. you've had more than enough excitement for one night.
you fools aren't going anywhere !
ah, mani am such a doof.
what about the girl?
beat it, kid. this isn't a fight we can win.
not today anyway.
this wood is full of 'em.
forget her. she's a siren, boy- a succubus.
no! no! the dark father must be appeased!
...he ...he shall shall be, be, child! child! ...he ...he shall shall be! be! noplease! don'tdon't leave me....
the screams follow us all the way home.
the old man tells me it was impossible- but still i wish i could have saved her.
soyou're not mad?
'course i'm mad- you got blood on my costume.
still- you got spiritand spirit i like.
we might find a hero in you yet.
but if you want to wear my colors, sonyou've got to earn the right.
now. get into first position. today there will be pain.