Wednesday 24 March 2010

DEADLINE / 3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

No More Heroes will close to submissions on JUNE 15th.


Bill and I have been plotting and scheming in our secret volcano base and we've come up with diabolical plans to turn No More Heroes into a TRILOGY! Yes, like Indiana Jones, or Alien, or Star Wars. Yes, just like those ;)

But we can only do that if we get a decent response to this first one. Early signs are promising, so keep it up, folks! We're seeing a nice mix of styles, too. If you have an idea but you're not sure if it's what we're looking for, don't be shy about querying. We're nice chaps.

edit: regarding multiple subs...we'll send out rejections and acceptances after the deadline, but if you sub something and we either like it but think it needs a rejig, or we've seen too many similiar styles of story and want to offer you the chance to send something else, we'll let you know before the deadline.

And that's HOW for NOW.

Wayne xxx

Saturday 13 March 2010

WRONG EMAIL

I got confused when sorting out all the info and put the wrong email.

It SHOULD be:
nomoreheroesantho@gmail.com NOT nomoreheroesanthology@gmail.com as is listed.

Sorry folks! At least I caught it early, phew!

PDF has been altered: http://www.mediafire.com/?giwmmkdgrug

Guidelines have been updated to include the info in both these updates.

Wayne xxx

Thursday 11 March 2010

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS

UPDATE:

Bill and I have decided that we will allow multiple submissions.

We've decided to do this because we feel that the source material owes itself to multiple interpretations, and if we start to see a surfeit of say, humourous pieces, we want to give people the chance to submit another, more serious, piece. That's just an example though - we'll have more info in this regard much, much later on during the submission period.

Still send one sub at a time though please. We'll give you a personal response later on in the sub period - for now all you'll get is a 'we received your story' email. Thanx!

Sunday 7 March 2010

GUIDELINES

NO MORE HEROES [guidelines updated Wednesday 24th March 2010]
The No More Heroes Anthology is based on a shared universe. We'd like YOU to write stories about the aftermath of The Cataclysm, using the created characters however you see fit. The Prologue to The Cataclysm and character rosters are listed below. We've got a mix of goofy and serious characters, to allow you to chance to write anything from Mystery Men/The Specials style humour (for instance) to darker, grittier plots. Everything (prologue/characters/contact info and guidelines) is available in this fancy-pants PDF!

What we're after:

*Stories must be set after The Cataclysm, although they can reference events before (eg via flashbacks or exposition). Please bear in mind that no-one knows exactly what caused The Cataclysm as all forms of life on Australia were obliterated by it!

*Stories must take place on Earth, in our reality (but once again, other planets/realms/dimensions can be referenced).

*Stories do not all have to revolve around the pre-determined characters, but at least one of them should feature in the piece somewhere (in fact, we'd quite like to see how normal people handle events after The Cataclysm - this is their world, too).

*And following on from that point: you can use as many pre-determined characters as you like, from 1 to (if you feel like going mental) all 60.

Please keep an eye on this site for additional info and updates!

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT

Standard manuscript format [check HERE if you’re unsure] paying particular attention to these changes/points:

Rich Text Format only
Courier font - size 12
Indent paragraphs with one press of the Tab button
Double space the entire manuscript
Use italics - do not underline
Place your contact information on the first page, in the upper left corner - name, address, phone number, and email
In the upper right corner please put the approx word count
No page numbers
No other headers or footers, please
Place your name/pen name under the title


Send submissions to nomoreheroesantho@gmail.com with ‘Submission – Story Title’ in the subject heading.
Please attach the file as a RTF document - do not paste it into the body of the email.
We will send you a ‘story received’ email. If you do not get one of these after 4 days, please query.

Please also mention any of your previous work and a brief explanation of who you are.
Multiple submissions allowed, please wait until you hear back from us about a previous submission before sending something else.
You do not have to live in the US to submit.

WORD COUNT

A very lenient 3000 to 9000 words!

DEADLINE

Anthology opened to subs on Monday 8th Match 2010.
Anthology will close to subs on Tuesday 15th June 2010.

PAYMENT

1 cent (United States) per word, plus a contributor copy of the anthology.

This anthology is being edited by myself and Bill Tucker.
Feel free to contact us via this site, the Library of the Living Dead forum [my username is reverendaustin, Bill’s is grinder], or nomoreheroesanthology@gmail.com.

We'd like you to bear in mind that, as far as all the villains are concerned, there are no more heroes left (see what we did there?). Therefore, there's no-one left to stop them doing whatever they want. Plus, the very thing most of them have dedicated their lives to has finally happened, although it's (technically) not a victory any of them earned themselves. How do you think this would affect them? Would it affect them...?

How are the remaining heroes going to handle the prospect of defending the rest of the world when they're outnumbered? How will they show themselves to the remaining villains?

And what of the civilians and governments of the world? How do they handle the fact that, as far as they're also aware, there are no more heroes?

These are all points for you to consider, so have at it!

Bill and I look forward to reading your subs! Good luck!

Wayne Goodchild

nb We'll update this site as the submission, then editing, process goes on, so keep 'em peeled! The publication date for the antho is TBC.
All work on here and in the PDF is copyright W. Goodchild & B. Tucker 2010 - authors are free to use the material provided it's in a submission for the anthology. Cheers and thanks!

PROLOGUE

The first super villain appeared in 1952. Attired in a tattered fedora and white pinstriped suit, with baleful purple glowing eyes and a Mexican skull for a face, he called himself Dr Muertos and possessed powers and abilities the likes of which had never been seen before. It also became readily apparent that not only was he an evil genius, but he'd secretly been building an army of skeletal robots and mutants. He made his aim clear, not just to the American government, but to the United Nations: Give me the world or I will kill you all.

The armed forces tried to fight his diabolical Horde, but their weapons were no match for them, nor for Dr Muertos’ sinister powers. His grip on the planet slowly, inexorably, tightened. He could control life itself, corrupting and destroying all who stood in his way, and his victory seemed assured.

That is until 1957, when a Horde battalion attacking London was wiped out by an unearthly light. The haze cleared to reveal an imposing, pale-skinned figure. Standing over seven feet tall, with androgynous features and blazing white eyes, it called itself The Guardian. Whether an agent of Heaven or extraterrestrial being, it would not say. All it claimed was that it had been watching our planet for some time, and knew its help was finally needed. And with saying this, The Guardian set to work decimating the rest of the Horde, before finally vanquishing Dr Muertos in an epic battle, leveling two cities in the process. Though the cost in collateral damage was great, The Guardian had saved the Earth from its greatest threat.

However, Dr Muertos was not the only individual with powers. From the rubble of his defeat rose a new danger: the League of Doom. Led by a former protégé of Dr Muertos who called himself Muerte, the League comprised of other super-powered individuals, not all of them human. Muerte wanted to complete his master's plan and conquer the Earth, and realized that forming his own, globe-spanning army of villains would be the best way to do it.

The Guardian could not allow this to happen, of course, and so formed the Protectors, a worldwide contingent of people who choose to use their gifts to help others.

Subsequent years were filled with constant battles, with one side pushing the other, back-and-forth, until everything reached a state of super-powered stalemate. Both sides were equally-matched, and it looked as if things would stay this way, in an uneasy equilibrium, unless something or someone could find a way to tip the balance.

But when this happened, it wasn't in a way either side wanted or expected.


Dr Muertos reappeared in early 2008. Nobody knew how or why, as The Guardian had managed to atomize him during their last battle. Some suggested that the doctor's power over life was so great that death was a mere inconvenience; others whispered that the villain had made a deal with a dark and ancient god. Whatever the cause or reason, Dr Muertos was more powerful than before, and this time he didn't want to rule the planet – he wanted to utterly destroy it.

Many heroes, and even some villains, tried to stop him, but Dr Muertos killed them all, or changed them into his minions. And because over forty years had passed since his initial defeat, many of the original, most powerful members of both the League of Doom and the Protectors were dead and buried. A few remained, notably The Guardian, who did not age, and Muerte, who remained young by stealing the life from others and they understood that, as much as the idea of working together offended them, it would be the only way to halt Dr Muertos’ diabolical resurrection.

Both the League of Doom and the Protectors journeyed to the heart of Australia's outback, where Dr Muertos grew a corrupt and repulsive organic city from the bodies of the dead. There, he revealed his new true form of a vast, tentacled beast, and a fierce battle tore through the heat and dust for several intense hours. The brief and violent war did not end with The Guardian's victory once again, nor did Muerte manage to slay his former mentor. Instead, something went horribly, horribly wrong.


Satellite images showed an electric red mushroom cloud suddenly bloom over Australia, accompanied by a visible surge of black energy which blasted out in a radius across the country. There were no eyewitness accounts or news reports because everyone and everything caught in the shock wave was obliterated.

This event was dubbed The Cataclysm, and happened on 20th November 2009.

Nobody could be certain exactly what happened, but experts reasoned Dr Muertos had unleashed a final, fatal blast of 'death energy', and in doing so decayed and withered all forms and traces of life; cities were reduced to rubble, rainforests to skeletal wood, and rivers and lakes to stagnant expanses. The Guardian and the Protectors were wiped from the face of the planet, along with Muerte and the League of Doom. The death toll totaled twenty-one million people and Australia was left a desolate wasteland, without any trace of life whatsoever.

Through cowardice or other reasons, some members of the League were left, and they came together to rejoice in the aftermath of The Cataclysm. Their victory may not have been gained in a way they expected, but it was the outcome they wanted: all the heroes were dead and the world was theirs.


Or so they thought…


A group of heroes who missed the battle have banded together as a confederation to continue to protect the world. They call themselves The Last Protectors and soon the remaining villains will learn they are not alone.

Along with the heroes, other powerful beings with neutral allegiances who avoided The Cataclysm are making their own ways in the world, but how they react to the unbalanced situation remains to be seen.

the LEAGUE OF DOOM

a ragtag collection of criminals and mutants!

Dr. Pustual
A genius and expert at weapons engineering, and also the self-proclaimed leader of the remaining Leaguers. A freak accident in his dental surgery left him both physically scarred and mad for world revenge! He uses tools such as the pulse-sonic drill, whiting wand, barbed floss lasso, stinging water rinse, and the numb gun.

Goatman
With the head and arms of a man and the torso and legs of a goat, Vivian Dunkard of Manchester, England, is a genetic mutant who is fast and furious, with a rambling insane wit and the ability to run circles around his opponents. Watch out for his head-butts and the swift kicks of his feet!

The Reverend
Blind from birth this man from Cape Town, South Africa, has the ability to look into souls and seek out any corrupting influence that resides in people. Through his intense charisma and dogmatic manipulation he can cause even the holiest to sink to their lowest levels.

Napalm Chicken
After falling into an a vat of boiling water containing experimental growth hormone-injected chickens, Denver Gladstone’s genetics were fused with that of the fowls. After recovering from his burns in his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he began to grow feathers over his skin and a beak over his mouth. Now unable to be harmed by heat or fire he can shoot both from his mouth like a flamethrower.

Cookie Crumbler
Cornelius Sweet of Toronto, Canada, is a man obsessed by cookies to the point of madness; no matter how much he eats them his hyper-metabolic rate keeps him thin and wiry. He uses cookies in all manner of ways to create mischief and mayhem!

Black Empty
A shadow man from a negative-light dimension, he can envelop his opponents with his body causing them to relive their greatest fears, resulting in chilling, deadly ends.

Swivel Hips
A beauty with an hourglass figure, Saskia Ormond of Toulouse, France, has enhanced flexibility, agility, and dexterity with Olympic-level acrobatic skills. Using her feminine wiles, she is quick to capture the attention of men in her pursuit of money and thrills.

Disco Fred
A man who was literally stuck in a 1970s time-warp, Fred Ball, formerly of New York City, New York, was finally released only to find himself unable to cope with the new world he found himself in. Gaining the power of rapid spastic body movements he can shoot beams of colored lights or white strobes from his eyes as well as scream a volley of pulsating sounds at his victims.

Crisis
Don’t be swayed by his cool demeanor and attitude! This man from Oslo, Norway, can instill panic, anxiety, and fear in anyone with his mind. From a single individual to mobs of people he knows how to cause a crisis that is sure to lead to bodily harm without having to physically touch anyone.

Winged Mantis
An alien from a far away galaxy, he has a strong powerful body similar to a giant preying mantis coupled with large wings like a bat. He is highly intelligent and has the ability to communicate with all forms of insects. Though unable to speak in the human language he can relay his thoughts to people telepathically.

Slow Goth
As a teenager taunted and teased for his weight, Nicholas Harvey of Columbus, Ohio, finally snapped. Drinking a concoction of poisonous liquids he found in the family garage to end it all, he instead woke up physically altered. His hair and eyes are now black as night and his skin is white and translucent. He found that he is able to siphon off the physical and mental energies of others making them lethargic and sick whilst making himself feel powerful and fearless.

Wormwoman
Karen Dawes of Seattle, Washington, was a librarian who sought revenge on a duplicitous lover by using an ancient spell book she'd discovered. The spell worked, but it also gave her the power to stretch and elongate any part of her body! She also discovered that if any part of her body is cut off or damaged, including her head, it can repair and grow back over a short period of time.

Hot Possum
Blamed for a murder she didn’t commit, Pamela Patterson of Tampa, Florida escaped to South America to live a life of freedom, but it was not meant to be. After being exposed to a space meteorite and then bitten by a possum her body morphed into a humanoid possum. Now she must sleep and store up energy in the daylight, but when the world darkens she comes alive with power! She can see in total darkness, has great strength, endurance, and stamina. She can also generate an intense heat from her body.

The Purple Wiccan
A witch who claims to be immortal, she uses various books potions, and magical objects to do her bidding. Though not innately evil she puts animal life over that of humans - who she sees as a blight on the world. Prone to whims and pranks she likes to toy with humankind to see how they will respond to her magic tricks.

Kaos Boy
As a young boy Ybabhooo was ousted from his mystical homeland of Ohadi. He promised revenge on all those who scorned him simply because he stood up to the evil King Hsub. Whilst on a quest he fell through a portal that was opened by accident by the Purple Wiccan, and found himself in our world. Once here he discovered he had the power to disrupt or cause a chaotic response to any force put upon him, using only his mind. The Purple Wiccan took him on as an apprentice in a bid to help him learn how to use his powers.

Father Scribe
With strokes of his enchanted pen on an ancient tablet this man from Hanau, Germany, can bring powerful mythological creatures and fictional monsters to life! The larger and stronger the creature the shorter the duration they can exist. Once they disappear they are also erased from the tablet.

Lady Bacon
Like the fictional Pied Piper she is able to control the minds of others and have them follow her commands. Helena Cartwright from London, England, was born with a pheromone that she can release from her body to trigger a response in anyone who genuinely likes the flavor and smell of bacon! The pheromone, though it can linger for some time, still eventually dissipates and she must rest in-between each release.

Gravedigger
The true nature of this creature is still yet unknown. Standing over seven feet tall, but with a gaunt, slim frame, he has great strength, endurance, stamina and is seemingly invulnerable. A mute, he only grunts or snarls and is a fierce fighter using nothing but his bare hands.

Lord Astral
A banished ruler from a planet in another galaxy, this reptilian humanoid has great strength, a thick metal-scaled skin, sharp teeth, and clawed hands and feet. His wish is to return home to regain his throne, but the technology he needs for a ship does not exist on our planet. Seeking refuge from the governments of Earth, he assists Dr. Pustual with his scientific endeavors.

The Terror Twins
Lara and Lucia Marron from El Paso, Texas, are twins who were fused together at birth due to a gypsy curse placed upon the doctor who delivered them! These two girls have grown up with two heads sharing one body, and they have two pairs of arms, but only one pair of legs. Their combined height and weight make them incredibly strong and powerful as their anger is fueled by a world that ridicules them.

Hell Hound
A refined country gentleman who is cursed with the duties of collecting innocent souls for demonic forces, Edward Barrington, III of Vidalia, Georgia, can transform himself into a wild black-furred creature with fiery red eyes, a dog-like snout, and great strength and speed. In human form he can commune with the demons that cursed him and visit their dimensional world in a phantom state. To avoid his own eternal damnation he must deliver 1000 pure souls. It is only with the help of alcohol that he finds the courage to do his duties. He enjoys the rush of power when transformed, but is plagued by guilt over his actions.

Toxic Bomber
Bridget Lockmer of Belfast, Ireland, was once a brilliant, but naive scientist who looked to solve the world’s hunger problems. But when her husband and children were killed in a terrorist attack she became unhinged from reality by the pain, grief, and anger she suffered from her loss, and gave up on her beliefs of a just and safe world. She decided to use her scientific knowledge to create checmical weapons, in order to make the world feel her pain.

Madame Shambino
A practitioner of voodoo, she was driven out of her home in the swamps of Louisiana due to her beliefs by the townsfolk, after years of abuse and turmoil. She got her revenge by killing everyone in her small town with poison, then moved on with her servant Shuffler, never looking back. She is able to control minds with her magic for brief periods and see through the eyes of those she controls. She has great knowledge of plant life and its medicinal uses.

Shuffler
Brought to life by Madame Shambino from clay, straw, and human bones this creature is slow moving, but strong. He protects his mistress and does her bidding. Unable to speak he understands English and communicates with simple gestures and signs.

Gypsy Girl
Over three hundred years in age, this woman has been able to keep her youthful appearance by feeding off the life force of young girls every 10 to 15 years! She can mimic the form and voice of anyone she has ever physically touched and has become quite adept at using her abilities so as to continue a life of crime.

Misfit Boy
The mutant progeny of carnival sideshow freaks, Davey Natter’s parents were killed when he was a young child and he was enslaved by the carnival’s owner. Though not evil he has great anger and a fear of abandonment, and hates how the “normal” people stare at him. Standing at a maximum height of three and a half feet, he has great strength for his size and is an expert at tumbling and rolling. His entire body is covered with a thick matted fur.

Grillmeat
Logan Kyle of Pasadena, California, sought fame and fortune by any means and hoped to get his big break by his daring attitude and outrageously obnoxious personality! In a freak accident in which he lit his body on fire to reenact a stunt he saw on TV, he was doused with a chemical mixture then jumped in a pool. Although he survived, he was now hideously deformed, and knew he would never get what he wanted so he settled for a life of crime. His body and face are a twisted mess of scorched rough skin, that is immune to heat and fire and gives him enhanced strength and protection.

Rabid Fox
Through mystical means a large red fox was given human intelligence, the ability to speak, and an increased life expectancy so as to be his master’s familiar. Tucked away for many years in the European countryside he lived a secluded life until his master died. Going out into the world he soon learned how different he was, but used his natural animal instincts and abilities along with his human qualities to survive. A ferocious combatant he is not afraid to start a fight but is smart enough to know when to retreat!

Dark Fairy
A dark-skinned, small pixie-like female creature who was banished from her home world because of her mental instability. Sent through time, space, and dimensions she ended up on Earth. She soon gained the attention of villains who offered a community that accepted her despite her off-kilter behavior. She has wings that allow her to fly, can release an enchanted cloud from her hands that can cause temporary paralysis in others, and turn her body into an intangible form.

Sumac
Juan Rodrigo from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was bombarded with cosmic rays whilst out camping as a teenager, giving him the power of the very next thing he touched. Unfortunately, this happened to be a patch of poison ivy! Given the ability to cause itching, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, and a burning sensation on any person that he comes into contact with, this has stopped him getting physically close to others. He channels his frustration and anger into a life of crime, thinking that great wealth will make him happy.

Grinder
Riku Tokushima was born in Osaka, Japan, with an innate ability to meld with inorganic material on an atomic level. He can use this ability to ‘pass through’ solid objects (and likewise, allow objects to pass through him). He can also disrupt inorganic material by touch, causing its atoms to ‘grind’ against each other, subsequently atomizing it into a fine dust. Initially a hero, Grinder accidentally destroyed an orphanage whilst battling an elemental villain named Landslide. The constant recriminations from others in the hero community wore away at his self-belief until he snapped, and went rogue. Now he aids the remaining Leaguers in a demented plan to prove himself capable of using his powers to the best of his ability.

Morto
Abdullah Duponte of Lagos, Nigeria, was the partner of the villain known as the Bushman in both crime and life. His powers were passed down from his grandfather after it’d skipped several generations. He is able to communicate with and briefly control the spirits of the dead who have not passed on. When he makes eye contact with living creatures he can briefly induce a catatonic state in those caught in his gaze! As he is not attracted to woman he may very well be the last of his line with his powers. After the Bushman was killed in The Cataclysm he took over control of the fearsome Crocodator.

Crocodator
This reptilian creature is part crocodile and part alligator and was the pet and companion of the villain known as the Bushman. It has the natural abilities of both animals, but multiplied five-fold, and can understand human speech. It is a vicious fighter, whose dangerous nature is commanded and reined-in by a collar controlled by Morto.

Evil Penguin
The being named Shatouno comes from a parallel universe in which penguins are the dominant species on Earth. A renegade scientist, he flew into space desperate to find the life equation of the Great Creator. However, he lost control of his ship during a cosmic storm, and crash-landed near Vladivostok, Russia! He was captured and imprisoned by the government to be used for scientific experiments. Angered and confused because he had never seen humans before, he barely escaped with his life. Seeking out other penguins he soon learned that there was no-one else like him and he was obviously not on his own planet. Feeling trapped and alone he blamed the Great Creator for leaving him to this fate. Soon his existence became world news and various groups started to hunt him down. He came to develop a sever dislike for humans until a group of villains approached him and offered sanctuary if he would join them. Realising these humans were different to the others he’d previously encountered, he agreed and has been working with them ever since. He has the form and natural abilities of an emperor penguin. He can swim at great speeds and is immune to the cold. He understands and speaks English. He is a brilliant strategist who is able to access situations quickly and to make hard decisions without allowing his emotions to get in the way. He wears a jetpack of his own design that allows him to fly.

the LAST PROTECTORS

the steadfast remains of the world's superhero community!


St. North
A millionaire thrill seeker, Simon North of Denver, Colorado, turned his life around after almost dying in the mountains of Nepal. If it was not for a silver amulet he found in the snow cave he fell into he believes he would have perished. Once Simon placed the silver amulet around his neck it fused to his skin permanently, granting him super strength, endurance, invulnerability against all forms of cold, and the ability to fly. He also has the ability to generate cold and snow in all forms with his hands, and blow up to blizzard-force winds with his breath. Believing that it was only divine intervention that saved him Simon now devotes his life to helping others and spreading his belief in miracles, as well as leading the Last Protectors.

Nykee
Natalie Enson of Glasgow, Scotland was a young woman working as a museum restorer, when she opened a recent acquisition of an anonymously-donated small Grecian urn. Upon lifting the lid off the urn her body was enveloped by a sparkling gas that turned her skin a permanent golden color! Natalie soon learned the gas had given her special abilities: super strength, speed, reflexes, invulnerability and the ability to create energy wings at will, allowing her to fly. She decided to use her powers as a protector of Earth, and is a brave warrior.

Ressig
He is a mutant among his own race of underwater dwellers, who live in an ancient city deep beneath the Pacific Ocean! Acting as his peoples’ protector he decided to come to the surface world to learn about its customs and society. It wasn't long before he met and befriended the existing superhero community, and now splits his time between the sea and land, reasoning that protecting both will help all. He is an amphibious humanoid that can breathe and survive on land and underwater. He has the natural enhanced strength and density of his people that allows him to survive the pressures and depths of the oceans. He can swim at super speeds and see in the ocean’s darkest depths. He also has a chameleon-like ability that allows him to change the colors of his body to blend into any background.

Best Man
Once a famous rock star who lived a hard, fast life, Roberto Diaz of Beverly Hills, California, suffered an overdose and was technically dead for a few moments. Luckily, the doctors managed to bring him back to life, but Roberto was a changed man! Feeling that he was touched by the hand of fate and given a second chance, he sought out and studied with a swami in India for a number of years. The swami treated Roberto like a son, as he taught him the ways of enlightenment and spiritual growth. When the swami suddenly died Roberto relapsed into his old ways and spent the night drinking, and falling into a deep depression. In a haze the spirit of the swami appeared and promised to help Roberto become the best he could be. The swami’s spirit then entered the young man’s body and caused him to black-out. In the morning it was clear to Roberto that he was different; better. He felt the presence of the swami inside him and realized he had been granted new abilities which could be used to protect humankind: telepathy (including the power of suggestion), telekinesis, precognition, teleportation, and the ability to see and communicate with the dead.

Farmer & Agrow Boy
When the Jenkins family of Topeka, Kansas, refused to sell their large family farm to a farming conglomerate, the company took steps to poison the land with an experimental plant food. After unknowingly ingesting the unstable chemical, Frank Jenkins, his wife Matilda, and their son Harry were hospitalized. Matilda and Harry survived, and upon leaving the hospital they discovered the chemical had bonded with their DNA, granting them unexpected powers. Vowing to avenge the death of their husband and father, Matilda and Harry work to protect the world from corporate greed and injustice under the names of Farmer and Agrow Boy. Farmer has the ability to communicate with, control, enlarge and grow at great speeds all forms of plant life, whereas Agrow Boy can absorb ambient chlorophyll from plants, giving his body great strength, density, and endurance. He is able to grow to a height of 12 feet or shrink to 6 inches, retaining his great strength.

Myrrym
Miranda Mirur of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a brilliant scientist who was studying water samples collected from the planet Mars. In a freak lab accident she suffered cuts and was infected by the microbiological organisms within the sample. Immediately her body began to transform as the alien life forms fused with her on a genetic level! Her body changed into a crystalline humanoid form with its own special abilities; she has incredible strength and invulnerability. Her body shines and reflects like a mirror, allowing her to refract light, and to reflect any force put upon her. She no longer has human senses due to the lack of facial features. She communicates by vibrating her body to a pitch that creates a 'voice', and her reflective body allows her to “see” in any direction. Her body also absorbs sound and translates its meaning to her via vibration at a specific frequency. Technically no longer human, she has embraced her new role as a superhero and remains ever vigilant against evil.

The Canadian
John Redclaw, an Inuit born in the upper regions of Canada with mutant abilities, became one of the country’s national heroes while still trying to hide his identity and live a normal life. Only a few superheroes and his family know the truth about who he is. He has the ability to fly, to survive in outer space and has enhanced strength and endurance. He can discharge bolts of electrical energy from his hands and create an energy staff to use in physical battle.

Blue Mouse
This light-blue skinned, two foot tall humanoid rodent is the last survivor from his home planet, whose spacecraft crash-landed on Earth. Having been in suspended animation for over two hundred years it took him some time to adjust to Earth and its people. He has the natural ability to absorb knowledge and information, including language, through physical touch with any living creature. He is a nimble fighter who is stronger than he appears, with retractable claws on his hands and feet and sharp teeth. His senses of hearing, smell, sight, and taste are all higher than those of humans and he can also sense impending danger!

Wonder Pigeon
This creature comes from an inter-dimensional cartoon world in which there are no humans, but is instead populated by a world of anthropomorphic creatures and beings. He was cast out from his world by a dark magic spell and has no idea how to return home. Standing at seven feet tall this Technicolor pigeon talks and thinks like humans and is quite fascinated by what he sees as their silly ways! He has all the natural abilities of a pigeon, but on a much larger scale. He is an excellent tracker, with the ability to mentally communicate with avian life forms, and to screech out a powerful sonic cry.

Zombie Girl
Sarah Jones from Phoenix, Arizona was an ordinary teenage girl who was killed by a drunk driver, only to be resurrected after her father traded his soul to a demon to bring her back to life. Once the father realized how foolish this was for his daughter because she began to rot, he begged the demon for further help. Already owning the man's soul, the demon offered to give Jenny special abilities if the father was willing to sacrifice his life for hers. The father agreed without even having the chance to say goodbye to his daughter. Distraught at the loss of her father, and at her frightening appearance, Jenny sought out others who were outcasts. Her dead body does not grow, change or decompose due to a protective skin that has bonded over her flesh. She has no need for sleep, food, or water and is not affected by heat or cold and never tires. She can see in bright light or total darkness. Though strong her reflexes are slow. She is immune to magic forces.

Dreaming/Neon Black
Daniel Gallows of St. Paul, Minnesota, is a true split-personality, harboring a side that is gentle and cerebral and another that is aggressive and physical. He does not know how he came to possess the powers that he has, simply stating he “just woke up one day and they were there.” During the daylight hours and exposed to the sun Daniel has the powers of Dreaming that include the ability to make others sleepy and lethargic, to transform his body into a grey cloud of smoke and to induce others to day-dream, making them unable to focus. In the darkness of night he switches to Neon Black in which his body turns into a humanoid being of pure light, with which he can fly at great speeds and use as a source of intense light and heat. He also shoots bolts of dark matter that pack a powerful punch of cold energy. Though Daniel cannot communicate between his two personalities each is aware of what the other is doing and experiencing.

Moon Druid
He is a man who claims to be an ancient immortal druid! He wields an unbreakable shining sword with deadly accuracy, and his dark cloak allows him to turn invisible. In the moonlight he can magically change into the shape of a large wolf.

Junkenstein
Created by Dr. Pustual in an early attempt at having a servant to do his bidding, this creature was put together from a mishmash of parts taken from a junkyard, together with a brain the doctor had removed from one of his former patients: a Mensa member named Walter Rothberg from Clarksburg, West Virginia. Unfortunately, during the operation a power surge occurred and caused the magnets in the machinery to fuse man and metal into a living creature! Physically strong due to the parts that make him up, Junkenstein has various weapons as a part of his body and is always trying to develop new ones. After escaping from Dr. Pustual he wanted to work with the good guys.

B'hall
A humanoid creature made of stone and rock minerals from deep inside the Earth, his slumber was disrupted during an earthquake and he found himself on the surface for the first time. Curious about humans he decided to live topside and was soon recruited by heroes to help protect the planet. It took many years, but he learned English and continued to study Earth’s history and cultures. Super strong with great invulnerability he moves faster than expected. He claims to be able to communicate with rocks and stones divining information and feeling an emotional connection with them!

JJ Brownlee
This flame-haired beauty from Lexington, Kentucky, was a writer and illustrator of children’s books whose life was saved by the humanoid creature B’hall. They soon became fast friends as she was drawn to his gentle nature and child-like curiosity. Their friendship blossomed into a great affection and emotional love despite their physical differences. One day she was kidnapped by a villain named Repel who planned to make her his bride. He had infused JJ with his blood hoping to bond them together forever! B’hall and a group of heroes stormed Repel’s castle fortress to rescue JJ. In the battle Repel was killed and JJ was found lying on a table, dead. Taking swift action a heroine named Sizzler used her electrical powers to ‘shock’ JJ back to life. After returning to full health JJ soon discovered that Repel’s blood and Sizzler’s electricity had given her powers of her own: she now has the power of magnetic control! She can repel, attract, and manipulate metal through her hands, which also allows her to fly. Not happy about her powers she had no desire to become a costumed superhero. Her reluctance put a strain on her relationship with B’hall, but she promised to stay by his side. After The Cataclysm occurred JJ decided to join the Last Protectors with B’hall and help to protect humanity, but she refuses to wear a costume or take a codename.

Stand-Up Guy
Sanjay Patel of New York City, New York, is the masked hero known as Stand-Up Guy. A commercial actor and quick-witted comedian, he’s not afraid to laugh in the face of danger. An above-average athlete, he was born with the mutant ability to leap and bounce with frog-like dexterity and agility and he uses joke-related tools and devices in his fight against crime!

the UNKNOWNS

individuals whose exact nature and allegiance are known only to them!


ESBer Man
A mild mannered horror writer from Bethesda, Maryland, who uses the pseudonym 'Ezra Braun', he was born with what he calls extra sensory baseline. He has the ability to perceive and sense what others are experiencing through their senses and then manipulate and change those sensations in others with his mind, thus changing reality!

Wombler
An eco-activist who planned on bringing down a chemical plant with a homemade bomb, Patrick Wombler of Caliente, Nevada, got caught in the blast and was exposed to radioactive materials! He found himself changed into a small furry creature with a pointed nose, sharp claws, and a mean disposition. Still a fanatic about environmental issues he collects and recycles anything to make weapons to continue his fight against those who hurt the land. He prefers to live in the desert and is a speedy burrower.

Dead Mama
She is a ghostly spirit who is believed to have lost her children in a horrific manner, as her soul will not rest. She has a haunting wail and has a habit of hurling objects. Though she can make herself invisible she prefers to scare people with her terrifying visage. She is a protector of children and will punish those who hurt them.

The Dunwoody
Little is known about the man who calls himself The Dunwoody. Dressed in a monk’s attire, he’s believed to have traveled from Bhutan. He is dark, enigmatic, and speaks very little. He can create a mystical barrier around himself for protection and can hurl balls of that same energy with stunning results.

Gadfly
A well-known actor and political activist, Gary Caddly from Hollywood, California, did anything in his power to stir up trouble and controversy, in a misguided attempt to both make a better name for himself and to right wrongs. Finally he angered the wrong people and he was kidnapped, tortured, and used for scientific experiments. Left for dead in a shallow grave, whatever was done to him did not kill him, but it did change him! Now, his mind races as he is fueled with constant kinetic energy. He can shrink his body to four inches in size and can fly at great speeds with the ability to release a stinging sensation when he makes physical contact.

Misty and Buttercup
Two beautiful sisters who are half-human and half-demon! They are emotional vampires who travel the world living a life of luxury and leisure. Misty is a platinum blond who can feel the emotions of others as well as induce and control their emotional states. She can transform her body into the shape of a white cat or a dove. Buttercup is a brunette and can make males who find her attractive fall under her emotional and mental control. She can store up emotional masculine energies and release them at others in the form of painful mind blasts. Both have enhanced strength, but prefer to avoid physical encounters.

Editrix
Keniesha Powell is a copy editor from Washington DC with a true photographic memory. She can remember anything she sees, hears or reads, and her ability to store and retrieve the information like a living computer makes her a valuable asset to those seeking information.

Bagabones
This being is a living skeleton that wanders the Earth pulled along by unknown forces. He often shows himself to those who are close to impending danger to announce cryptic warnings of what is to come!

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