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GreenGrenade
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C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T P R O P O S A L
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T H E F L A S H
B A R T H O L O M E W H E N R Y A L L E N ♦ F O R E N S I C S C I E N C E T E C H N I C I A N ♦ C E N T R A L C I T Y ♦ C . C . P . D .
C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:
Holy Hannah! Ready yourselves, dear readers, for a tale unlike any other! A series of events so heart-poundingly electric, so entirely exhilarating, that even the bravest of souls must steel themselves for the adventures that lay ahead! Escapades full of twists and turns, romance and intrigue – where reality is but a suggestion, and the brave triumph alongside the bold! So hold onto your seats, dear readers, for this is the story you’ve been waiting for… the story of…
Now, we must introduce you to the protagonist of our tall tale -- a bright young man named Bartholomew Allen, born in quaint Midwest America to a star-crossed pair… Our hero grew up with a love of science, spurred on by his loving parents to learn as much as he could, captivated by the wonders of the world! His passion drove him to the magnanimous Central City, gem of the Missouri River, where he pursued his studies with such aplomb, such professional curiosity, that he soon impressed many a professor at his gilded school of academia! It looked as though he may, in time, join their ranks – but fate had other plans!
Lighting struck! Its twisting bolt of heat crashed into Barry as though guided by some unseen force, and our hero was sent into a brief and terrible coma! When he awoke, he discovered that he had been changed… for he could now run at incredible speeds! The very laws of physics he had devoted his time to studying now bent for him! Inspired by stories of Jay Garrick, scarlet speedster of yore, Barry decided to use his newfound powers for good!
It has been five years since he donned a costume in his adventures of super-heroics and science! He has encountered countless incredible individuals, and battled many a dastardly rogue! Influenced by his own escapades in heroism, he has taken up a job as a forensic science technician, so that he might help people both in and out of the mask! He is aided by his trusty partner against crime, Kid Flash! He has a girlfriend! He’s in a league! He is…
THE FLASH!
Now, we must introduce you to the protagonist of our tall tale -- a bright young man named Bartholomew Allen, born in quaint Midwest America to a star-crossed pair… Our hero grew up with a love of science, spurred on by his loving parents to learn as much as he could, captivated by the wonders of the world! His passion drove him to the magnanimous Central City, gem of the Missouri River, where he pursued his studies with such aplomb, such professional curiosity, that he soon impressed many a professor at his gilded school of academia! It looked as though he may, in time, join their ranks – but fate had other plans!
Lighting struck! Its twisting bolt of heat crashed into Barry as though guided by some unseen force, and our hero was sent into a brief and terrible coma! When he awoke, he discovered that he had been changed… for he could now run at incredible speeds! The very laws of physics he had devoted his time to studying now bent for him! Inspired by stories of Jay Garrick, scarlet speedster of yore, Barry decided to use his newfound powers for good!
It has been five years since he donned a costume in his adventures of super-heroics and science! He has encountered countless incredible individuals, and battled many a dastardly rogue! Influenced by his own escapades in heroism, he has taken up a job as a forensic science technician, so that he might help people both in and out of the mask! He is aided by his trusty partner against crime, Kid Flash! He has a girlfriend! He’s in a league! He is…
THE FLASH!
C H A R A C T E R M O T I V A T I O N S & G O A L S:
I’m really just aiming to tell some fun stories with a character I love. I want to write a Barry who’s got a few years as the Flash on his belt, balancing the high-stakes plots that he’s known for with lighter, pulpier adventures befitting a hero who does what he does simply because it’s right. The goal is to inject some Silver Age fun into stories that still fit the mold of this universe – relatively short arcs that give Barry and his cast time to shine, while leaving plenty of room for interaction with the wider World of Heroes.
This Barry is closer to his pre-Rebirth incarnation. His mom is very much alive, and his dad is very much not a wrongfully convicted murderer. He wears a costume for a costume’s sake, and helps people because he’s just that kind of guy. He’s experienced, he’s optimistic, and he enjoys what he does. He’s the Flash. That’s all there is to it, really. I want to have fun with it.
This Barry is closer to his pre-Rebirth incarnation. His mom is very much alive, and his dad is very much not a wrongfully convicted murderer. He wears a costume for a costume’s sake, and helps people because he’s just that kind of guy. He’s experienced, he’s optimistic, and he enjoys what he does. He’s the Flash. That’s all there is to it, really. I want to have fun with it.
C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:
Supporting Cast
Wally West – The Kinetic Kid himself, Kid Flash.
Jay Garrick – The original Flash. Over one hundred years old. Retired.
Iris West – Reporter for the Central City Picture News television station.
Detective James Forrest – CCPD Detective, Major Crimes division.
Henry and Nora Allen – Barry’s parents.
Rudy and Mary West – Wally’s parents.
Digger Harkness – Ex-Rogue, current bartender.
“Enemies”
The Rogues – Led by Captain Cold.
The Turtle – Old.
More to come.
Wally West – The Kinetic Kid himself, Kid Flash.
Jay Garrick – The original Flash. Over one hundred years old. Retired.
Iris West – Reporter for the Central City Picture News television station.
Detective James Forrest – CCPD Detective, Major Crimes division.
Henry and Nora Allen – Barry’s parents.
Rudy and Mary West – Wally’s parents.
Digger Harkness – Ex-Rogue, current bartender.
“Enemies”
The Rogues – Led by Captain Cold.
The Turtle – Old.
More to come.
S A M P L E P O S T:
Keystone City, Kansas
1970
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said the man in the turtle costume, “This is a robbery.”
For the men and women in Lampert Fox and Company’s Belmont branch, this was, of course, just another Tuesday. Keystone City was no stranger to this kind of thing. It hadn’t been for over three decades. Since before America joined in on the Big One, the hard-working citizens of this fair town had become well-acquainted with unfortunate circumstances like these. They supposed that it came with the territory, really. Where lightning strikes, fire follows.
But the fire so far had been mediocre at best. All style and no substance. No pizzazz. These people, they saw costumed crime every day and they shrugged. Laughed. Waited impatiently for it to be over. They didn’t shudder, or cower, or cry. The problem was, they had no respect. No respect for the game. And who could blame them, with the all the bozos running around these days? What, were they supposed to be intimidated by the Eel and his grease gun? Was the Rag Doll going to stretch the fear of God into them? And what was the Shade going to do? What exactly did he have to terrorise Keystone with?
“Oooooh, look at my shadows?”
Pffft.
No, what this town needed was someone who knew how to play the game. Someone who was more than just his gimmick, who put as much effort into his schemes as he did to acquire the one hundred pound shell on his back that made walking maybe a little too hard to be worth it. Someone who was made of the right stuff, the stuff that gets you in the history books.
Someone like the Turtle.
And so he walked into that bank, and he announced himself with confidence, because he’d planned this, and he had goons, and by God was he going to show Keystone City what he was made of. As the patrons of Lampert Fox, America’s seventh-largest bank holding company, laid down on the ground with their hands behind their heads, the Turtle dragged his feet with purpose towards the Belmont branch’s manager, staring up at his immaculately groomed face with a triumphant sneer.
“Empty your safe,” he said. “All of i– ”
He didn’t get to finish his well-rehearsed demand, on account of the bank very suddenly transforming into the inside of a police car. He became keenly aware of a pressure around his wrists, which he came to realise were now behind his back. On the window nearest to him leaned a helmeted man dressed in red, a large yellow lightning bolt streaking down his torso.
“Those handcuffs aren’t too tight, are they, son?” asked Jay Garrick.
The Turtle peered over his shoulder, trying to get a good look at his hands. He couldn’t see past his shell.
“They’re fine,” he said, then spat, “Flash.”
Garrick nodded, satisfied.
“That shell,” he said, “What are you called? The Turtle?”
“Yes,” he beamed. “Your greatest enemy. The yin to your yang.”
Garrick chuckled. “Are you, now?”
The Turtle nodded.
“Well, Turtle – from one archenemy to another – let’s agree not to see each other again for some time, okay? I don’t want to see you doing this kind of thing again.”
“Oh-ho, don’t you worry, Garrick,” said the Turtle, using his shoulder to wipe away some spittle, “We’ll be seeing each other again soon. You may have beaten me this time, but mark my words, Flash – I, the Turtle, your greatest enemy – will clash with you once more. Our battles will be legendary. Keystone City – no, the world – will hear of our magnificent throes for an eternity to come. You’ll see.”
“Hmm. I sure hope not, son.” Garrick smiled. “You take care, now.”
He tipped his helmet, and in a blink, he was gone, leaving nothing but a cool breeze as the air rushed in to fill the space where he stood just a moment ago. The Turtle leaned back as far as his shell allowed, feeling a smile form on his lips. The famous Flash, stopping him on his first ever heist. This surely could be nothing but a sign of his own greatness? A sign from above that he was, indeed, made of the right stuff? The stuff that gets you in the history books? The stuff that gets you respect? That makes you into a legend?
“Oh, yes, Jay Garrick,” said the Turtle. “We’re going to do this forever, you and I.”
P O S T C A T A L O G:
Artwork by Doc Shaner
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