Heroes for Hire #6

[The Frankster]

WHY THE $!#% IS AL RIO DOING HEROES FOR HIRE #6!!!

[pctchuck]

Because Marvel is paying him to do it??

[Delvie]

To piss you off...  

[jsniderfamily]

Billy was a test.  Palmiotti was the in for that crowd and he is gone now.

[BillyTucci]

The whole thing pisses me off.

[jsniderfamily]

Marvel must go overseas now to make budget and is borrowing from Avatar.  I love Al Rio's work, but Billy would be my pick for a cover.

[The Frankster]

geez... so what now Billy  ??? is there anything else you'll be doing besides the cover and HFH annual.?

[BillyTucci]

geez... so what now Billy  ??? is there anything else you'll be doing besides the cover and HFH annual.?

I'm not sure.  The annual isn't even a go yet,  They haven't read it yet.  I think someone named Zeb Wells or something like that is writing HFH after Jimmy.  I didn't even get a chance to pitch a story.  Here's my Arena pitch for you guys let me know what you think:

[BillyTucci]

Heroes For Hire - The Arena!
By Billy Tucci

Millionaire businessman and sometimes hero, ALEJANDRO MONTOYA (aka, AGUILA), approaches Nightwing Restorations to investigate multiple reports that CAPTAIN AMERICA has been ?terrorizing? many small towns and villages just south of the Mexico/Texas border.

Even though Aguila presents photographic evidence, MISTY KNIGHT and COLLEEN WING are both skeptical of the fact.  But since Cap?s gone underground, no one is truly certain that it isn?t the star-spangled fugitive.   More to the point, business has been slow, Montoya?s been a trusted ally in the past, and his money is something that just can?t be ignored.  After all, this is precisely what the Heroes for Hire do.

TARANTULA, itching for some action, and being of Mexican descent, volunteers for the assignment. HUMBUG, having recently lost and regained his head from Chondu the Mystic, and wanting to prove his worth to the team (and himself) tags along, unwanted and unwelcome, but grudgingly accepted.

Since the consensus is that this will all add up to nothing, the two are given Misty and Colleen?s blessing to set off down Mexico way.

During the sun-scorched search for ?Captain America? it becomes hilariously obvious that Humbug has transferred his affections from Colleen to Tarantula. He courts the mysterious beauty with gifts of spiders, especially tarantulas, sometimes in great numbers, convinced that the way to woo her is to swarm her with her namesakes at the most inappropriate moments. She?s the girl of his dreams. Now how can he persuade her that he?s the man of hers?

Unfortunately for our bugger, this creepy-crawly courtship is soon interrupted when the two come across their mark, but as Misty and Colleen expected, he isn?t the star-spangled sentinel of liberty, but rather a very tragic imitation?

The ANTI-CAP.  

The result of the US Navy?s super-sailor program, ?Anti-Cap?s? life was changed forever when his girlfriend was killed in a terrorist attack on the U.S.  Initially rejected by the US Navy, the fiercely patriotic boy was instead selected by the Office of Naval Intelligence (O.N.I.) program to create an enhanced operative.

Thus, the misguided sailor has killed in the name of his country, fought drug lords alongside the Falcon and after a brutal battle with the idol he was ordered to imitate, chose ?death? over dishonor in the subways of Paris.

Ever faithful to the oath he swore to up hold, the nameless hero actually escaped to become a nowhere man, a shadow bent on protecting America?s borders from terrorists -- even if he must do it illegally.  Still garbed in the faded glory of his government issued Captain America-like costume, (now sun bleached a light blue) the ?Anti-Cap? patrols the Mexican border, to the dismay of that country?s citizens and the ire of its government.  

With an audience of a lone sombrero-wearing old-timer, the three face off in the dusty circle of a decaying bullring on the outskirts of a deserted border town. During the battle, it becomes clear is that Tarantula and Humbug?s abilities are oddly complementary as the two eventually take Anti-Cap down inside the dusty arena.  Immediately relaying the message of the fugitive?s detainment to Misty and Colleen, all parties soon realize that the real battle has just begun.

Aguila, whose earnings off undocumented migrant workers has suffered millions in losses due to the ?Ugly American?s? border guarding, convinces the Mexican government to demand the surrender of ?Captain America? to that country?s authorities.   Thousands of troops aided by many of Mexico?s own heroes surround arena. This edict and act, fueled by the world press unites a divided country whose anger towards their bullying neighbor to the north is the now focused onto the very symbol of Yankee imperialism cowering behind the walls of a decaying bullring.

Of course America?s greatest heroes are powerless to intervene.  Being publicly registered with the US Government, even the mighty Avengers cannot break Mexican sovereignty -- especially when faced with an endless press questions and cameras constantly thrust into their faces.

Worse yet for our three is that the arena also becomes a beacon to scores of super villains convinced the real Captain America has been isolated and thus vulnerable.  Behind Aguila, a fragile alliance is formed as they stand side by side with the Mexican army and Axteca?s heroes.

But despite such a desperate situation, the besieged three find hope in the lone witness to their impending slaughter -- the sombrero-wearing spectator turns out to be the none other than the Master of Kung Fu himself, SHANG CHI!

So with the whole world watching, the final battle begins as an isolated foursome desperately defends their ground against thousands while their allies, now reduced to white-knuckled spectators helplessly watch from the sidelines.

The ARENA is the tale of a 21st Century Alamo of which there is no retreat, no surrender.  But then again Tarantula, Humbug, Shang Chi and the ?Ugly American,? wouldn?t have it any other way.

[BillyTucci]

I'm also working on a Black Cat pitch as well.

[pctchuck]

Hmm, you doing a Tarantula story or a Black Cat story.  Looks like the Cardinals playing the Tigers either way to me.

[Delvie]

Sorry to change the subject, but can you tell us anything about  DS pt2?

[The Frankster]

 :-[   Sorry Guys!!1

I meant to say HFH #6 i remember it being the one that looks a cover to the Saturday Evening Post.  My Bad!!!  But is Al Rio doing #5?

[kikuchiyo]

Billy, I think the story sounds great. I love how it relates to reality. I hope the pitch works, I want to see Shang Chi kick some major @$$.

[jsniderfamily]

I remember a story line in Master of Kung Fu where his father goes all out and has 100 or so men facing Shang Chi.  He works up a sweat and defeats them all with his skills.  I wish I knew the # of that issue.

[BillyTucci]

Sorry to change the subject, but can you tell us anything about  DS pt2?

What's that?  Difinitive Shi?

[BillyTucci]

I remember a story line in Master of Kung Fu where his father goes all out and has 100 or so men facing Shang Chi.  He works up a sweat and defeats them all with his skills.  I wish I knew the # of that issue.

Joe please let me know if you find it.  I'll look for it too.  It'll help my story.

[toranoshi]

I have a bunch of Shang Chi back issues I will take a look through them and see if I have it.

[toranoshi]

Took a look and I can not find it, but issue 100 has a pretty cool 6 page origin showing his training as a child at the hands of Fu Manchu.

[jsniderfamily]

Do you have Giant Size #2? I seem to remember that one for some reason.

[Delvie]

Sorry to change the subject, but can you tell us anything about  DS pt2?

What's that?  Difinitive Shi?

Yuppers... ;D

[toranoshi]

Do you have Giant Size #2? I seem to remember that one for some reason.

No I don't have any of the Giant Size just a scattering of issues from the run.

[kikuchiyo]

i have them all. I will take a look for them today if I can find some time.