DAWN.
THE EMPLOYEES OF POWERS INVESTIGATIONS HAVE YET TO ARRIVE AND CONTINUE WORK ON DOZENS OF TOP SECRET PROJECTS WHICH SPEARHEAD AMERICA’S WAR ON CRIME. . .
. . .CATHERINE POWERS, WIDOW AND SUCCESSOR OF DON POWERS, ARRIVES AT HER USUAL EARLY HOUR, DEDICATING HERSELF TO HER LATE HUSBANDS WORK. . .
...TEN YEARS AFTER A TRAGIC FALL ENDED THE LIFE OF ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING CRIMINOLOGISTS...
...AND HIS ALTER EGO, THE CRUSADER.
AFTER I’VE GIVEN YOU A PROPER DEMONSTRATION, I’LL OPEN BIDDING TO SEVERAL IRON CURTAIN COUNTRIES. . . . . .WHOSE LEADERS HAVE AN INTEREST IN MY TOY. BUT DOCTOR STRAND..!
AND SO, LITTLE FOOL, I MUST END OUR CONVERSATION NOW. . .
WHAT? !
DON’’T WASTE MY TIME BEGGING CHILD!
...BEFORE SOME OTHER IDIOT INTERRUPTS MY DEPARTURE...
GOODBY MRS. POWERS!
I’VE GOT YOU CATHERINE! JUST RELAX AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT!
THE FEAR AND DISMAY CATHERINE POWERS FELT MOMENTS AGO HAS TURNED TO SHOCK, AS A MAN SHE BELIEVED LONG DEAD HAS RETURNED TO SAVE HER LIFE. A MAN CALLED DON POWERS... A HERO CALLED... CRUSADER.
IT’S OVER STRAND! QUIT AND I MIGHT LET YOU LEAVE HERE IN ONE PIECE!
C’MON STRAND! YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS!
I CERTAINLY CAN!
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED DEAD, CRUSADER!
NOT BAD DOCTOR!
BUT TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE!
ENJOY!
MY VERY OWN MINATURE CONCUSSION DISCS!
YOU CAN CALL THE COPS AND HAVE THEM COLLECT STRAND...
OR WHAT’S LEFT OF HIM...
DON..!
DON. . ?
DON. . ! YOU...YOU’RE ALIVE! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!
CATHERINE, LISTEN TO ME. AS FAR AS YOU AND I ARE CONCERNED, DON POWERS IS DEAD!
BUT..?
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!
NO BUTS. YOU HAVE YOUR LIFE TO LEAD... ...AND I HAVE MINE!
THE IRONY ISN’T LOST ON CATHERINE: A HERO WHO WAS NEVER TRULY DEAD, LIVES AGAIN. . .
...AND A LOVE THAT NEVER TRULY LIVED IS NOW DEAD.
This story was originally done to get work at D.C. Comics back in the 80’s. My business partner, in ScriptGraphics, and I decided to take characters we liked and write and pencil five pages a piece and exchange them for inking. Lettering was done by hand on the originals but I never liked it, so for this pub I decided to have Ann Apple of the ScriptGraphics letterer pool do the honors. The thing about lettering in this digital age is that it’s a bit more precise than hand lettering and some of the balloons turned out being a wee bit large for the lettering. I initially had her make the lettering larger and thicker but that looked worse. Sometimes you get what you get. This story and one I’ll be printing in an upcoming pub similar to this one will feature my story using Marvels ‘Cat’ from Master of KungFu series. The stories didn’t get us any work from Marvel but we did get placed on D.C.’s ready for work list through their new talent program (where they placed young artists on stories done anthology style using newly created characters just for the anthology). We were on the fourth tier for work when the dreaded implosion happened. OUCH! Such is life. Anyway, this character ran in an Aquaman issue and died in that very same issue. I don’t recall the issue (I know I’ll remember it once this is printed) but your not knowing that info shouldn’t take away from your reading pleasure. Clearly my business partner liked D.C. characters while I was a Marvel man. Enjoy the story and do tell me what you think when you’re done. These labors of love are why we did, and do, what we do. D ‘The Nightray’ G THE UFO CHECKLIST - June 2011 The United Fanzine Organization ( UFO ) is a co-op of small press publishers dedicated to setting a higher standard of quality in independent and alternative press. The members mutually aid one another in the promotion and production of their own publications. Any small press creator who is interested in membership in the UFO should contact the Chairman, Steve Shipley, by email at steveshipley7@gmail.com or by snailmail at: 1825 Eastgate Rd., Toledo, Ohio, 43614 Tetragrammaton Fragments #216: The latest issue of the UFO newsletter which is the central forum for members, containing columns and artistic work that cannot be found anywhere else. Available to non-members for $2.00ppd from: Steve Shipley, 1825 Eastgate Rd., Toledo, Ohio, 43614 Ppfszt! #29: Beautiful wrap-around color cover and lots of cool comic strips from Scott McClung, Steve Keeter, George Leon, Dan Burke and
others! Available for $7.00 ppd from Jim Main, 13 Valley view Rd., Brookfield, CT. 06804. Email Jim at jmain44@aol.com or visit www. mainenterprises.ecrater.com for more info. Tales of Fantasy #53: From writer/ artist Larry Johnson we see more adventures of Madame Boogala, plus a back up strip written by Mike Tuz. Cool color covers as well! 48 page B & W digest size zine for $3.00 ppd from Larry Johnson, 31 Greenbrook Rd., Hyde Park, Ma., 02136. Email him at: LewBrown75@yahoo.com The Peacemakers #11: Steve Shipley brings another adventure in his signature sci-fi series, this time with a color cover. A comic book unlike any other and you can have it for only $1.00 ppd from: Steve Shipley, 1825 Eastgate Rd., Toledo, Ohio, 43614. Email Steve at: steveshipley7@gmail. com or visit his website at: www.budgetcomicsandcartoons.weeebly.com Ditkomania #83: The fanzine dedicated to the works of the infamous Steve Ditko. A very professional fanzine with great articles by Rob Imes and Mike Tuz. This issue focuses on Ditko’s early Charalton work.1This zine is always fun, always interesting and well worth the measly $2.50 ppd from Rob Imes, 13510 Cambridge #307, Southgate, Mi., 48195. Email Rob at: robimes@yahoo,com or go to: www.ditko-fever.com/dmreturns. html Hero Central Universe #2: Jason Bullock serves up another installment of HCU in a high quality comic filled with action and drama! A fun comic book for only $3.00 ppd from: Jason Bullock, P O Box 2684, Loganville, Ga. 30052. Email Jason at: jasonb@girafnetwork.com and see his webcomics at:www.drunkduck.com/hero_central_universe Fantasy Theater #20: Thirty six page comic book featuring Carrier’s Glorianna character in exciting sword & sorcery adventures! $2.00 ppd from J. Kevin Carrier, 1800 Leven Lane, Milford, Ohio, 45150. Email: jkcarrier@aol.com. A new webcomic posted every week at: www. webcomicnation,com/jkcarrier/ladyspectra/series.php Convict #1: A 36 pager comic book that explores new and exciting ways of graphic storytelling! Larry DuChenny is an exciting new talent and proves it with his first UFO comic. For info on ordering your copy, contact Larry at: newworldimagingcomics@yahoo.com Website: www. angelfire,com/art3/newworldimaging