MISC: GODLING # 48 All-American Hero style? by J. Vandersteen

[jvdsteen1974 at gmail.com]

GODLING # 48  All-American Hero style? by J. Vandersteen 


- GODLING - THE ONE MAN PANTHEON:  All-American Hero style?


Four bearded, armed men carrying AK-47's stand in a darkened room. They look like prototype Al-Qaida terrorists.  A man sits on a chair, his head covered by a sack. One of the man says, "Is the camera ready? Then get the sword."
    One of the terrorists draws a scimitar. "Ready."
    Then a large part of the wall is knocked out and throught the hole walks in Godling. "Right on time, it seems. I'm taking you towelheads downs, All-American Hero style!"
    The terrorists fire their guns at the hero. Channelling the invulnerability of Achilles the bullets don't hurt him, however. He walks up to one of the bad guys and disarms him with a fancy martials arts grip he was once taught in a movie. The terrorist with the sword says, "Surrender or I kill this man."
    "Suuuuuuuure..." Godling says and channels the power of Ares, making him a crackshot with any weapon. He fires one burst, blowing up the terrorist's head. Then he grabs the scimitar the terrorist drops and slashes left and right until all terrorists are in a pool of blood and only he and the hostage are still alive.
     Godling takes the sack from the hostage's head. The hostage says, "You saved me?"
     "Sure did. Thank the Olympians on camera when you return to the States. I gotta run now," Godling says and speeds off with the speed of Hermes. Saving hostages from terrorists is pretty cool work, but I running all over the world doing it really makes it hard to be on the set in time, he thinks.

*
Zeus and Aphrodite look at a magical scrying mirror and watch Godling leave the hostage.
     "Ha! Did you see that?" Zeus claps his hands, delighted. "Not only did he save the hostage and got rid off those terrorists, he also made sure we get some more positive press!"
      "Positive press?" Aphrodite repeats. "He totally endangered that hostage and used a lot of excessive force taking those terrorists down."
       "I wouldn't have handled it much differently," Zeus said.
        "I think the world these days wants heroes that are a bit more... Civilized."
       Arms crossed, Zeus guffaws. "Yeah, yeah. Like that sissy-boy Quintin Alexander you like so much. I know, I know. But in my book Mark Brant is one Hades of a Godling and he will stay so."
       "He will make a mistake you will not be happy about, I am sure!" Aphrodite swears.

*
Wade Hudson pushes Speed Metal into a jail cell. Metal chains are wrapped all around the villain and a balls-and-chain are attached to each ankle.
        "This will be your new home until Godling shows up to lock you op in that superjail of his," Hudson says.
         Detective Darlene King says, "I saw Godling take down this creep on the news. I was wondering what was up with the blonde hair. And that hardcore attitude he was showing. And why didn't he just drop Speed Metal off in his superjail like he usually does? There's something wrong... Something different with Godling."
        "Spoken like a true detective," Wade says. "I guess you have a point. His not being active here but in LA is pretty weird as well in my book. Makes me wonder if it is even the same Godling. Of course, if he isn't, the question is where is our Godling and who is the other guy?"
         "We've seen a lot of Godlings show up during that final battle with Master Destiny (Godling #21). Maybe he's one of those guys?" King offers.
         "Might be. Who can figure out all that weird stuff, right? Isn't that what guys like Doc Proton are there for? Speaking of strangeness and heroes... Who was that masked woman on the bike that tried to save Kiefer?"
       "There have been rumors about some vigilante breaking bones in Lower Troy. I figure we witnessed her stepping out of the shadows," King says.
    "Never thought I would ever miss our good old Godling... But at least that guy seemed to be determined to be a real honest-to-gosh hero. This lady and the other Godling just seem like violent vigilantes."
     "I will look into that woman's actions," King says. "I think she belongs behind bars..."

*
The Dark Monk is standing in a circle of monks people that are sitting on their knees. He is holding a ceremonial knife above his head and is chanting. He stops chanting and screams: "Here is my sacrifice!"
      A glowing hole appears on the floor and from it comes as big cobra with four heads.
      "Naga... Look around you... There is my sacrifice," The Dark Monk tells the snake. The creature attacks the sitting monks, biting, swallowing and killing.
     The Dark Monk watches this, smiling. "Good. After this sacrifice the Naga will be a great distraction for Godling while I gather the wishing jewel from Shambhala and conquer the world...."

*
Quentin Alexander is sitting in his apartment, drinking a glass of Scotch. "I'm not one to drink usually, but I feel like I could use a drink after all that's happened."
     "Drinking might not be the solution to your problems," says Aphrodite who appears out of nowhere.
     "Aphrodite? Why are you visiting again? I would think you aren't interested in me anymore after I lost my powers."
      "To me you will always be Godling. In fact, I think the current Godling can benefit from your advice. He is too selfish and too violent. Maybe you could have a talk with him?"
     "Why should I? You gods decide I wasn't good enough to be your hero. Why should I help you now?"
     "Because I know you to be a person who does what is the right thing to do," Aphrodite says.
      "Right. And still, I am all alone, powerless and feeling generally miserable. I'm done with all of the god and monster stuff," Quentin says and downs his drink. "Just leave me alone."
     "Come on, Quentin... You will find your love, I am sure of it. Am I not THE authority on all things involving love? I just don't understand why you are feeling so down?"
     "I guess being Godling made me feel... Somebody who mattered. Nobody really seemed to NEED me before. When I became Godling it somehow seemed to justify my existence. Without my powers I'm just the same, lonely and useless guy. Who will miss me when I'm gone? Nobody!"
    "That is not true. Janson, Monica... They will miss you," Aphrodite counters.
     "Monica has Wade... And Janson... I just don't know about Janson," Quentin says.
    "And what about your brother?"
    "I haven't visited him in jail for a long time. I wrote him, but he didn't even write back," Quentin says and pours another drink.
     Aphrodite sighs. "I just don't know what to say. I think the world needs you. For instance to talk to the new Godling and tell him how a real hero should act."
    "Just go," Quentin says and downs his glass again.
    "Very well..." Aphrodite says and in a flash she is gone, leaving Quentin all alone with his Scotch.


NEXT ISSUE: The invasion of Shambhala!