Just a quick update...
So I was thinking about what would be next, what's the next thing that happens to Blackjack, and my first instinct was to have him get a break. He knows some pretty influential people, after all. To turn the backstretch and throw the throttle to full, in his character arc.
But something's been eating at me. In my own life, I've had a few moments like this one. None as dramatic, of course, but there were those moments when I had some bad karma built up, and due to the natural goodness that's in all of us, I'd stepped up and done the right thing. I'm sure you guys can relate. Well, in everyone of those moments, I've had the authority figures in my life behave the same way; punitively. The first time was a simple mistake I made, tempered by an honest effort to correct it. It ended in failure and public humiliation. It's one of the most emblematic moments of my life, and I carry that scar with me to this day.
The other was something similar. Perhaps due to being in one of the lowest moments in my life, I tempted the law and the law won. It's not a situation I recommend to anyone, but we learn by doing, no? Well, at the end of a process that lasted a few years, I came forward in an act of full contrition, and was rewarded with a nice stay in the local jail. It was an opportunity for those in charge to behave with restraint, something I hadn't done, but instead, they threw the book at me. It's only the efforts of a particularly good attorney (and the inspiration for our old friend from book one, Sandy), that I didn't spend a few years in jail.
If that translates to any of you guys, to anyone reading this, then you'll know where we're headed next. The last thing you want is to be an undesirable, like Blackjack; who, despite saving the world twice, finds himself categorized as an escaped and convicted felon. Remember, he took the wrap for the events of book one (something I have some experience with - law enforcement doesn't care for nuances when they have their man), and there's little proof that he was the victim of Zundergrub's attack on Utopia in book 2. For all people know, he was in on it. After all, weren't they all chummy chummy in book 1?
Thematically, it makes sense to go in the direction I'm going. Remember that he "fell" in book 2, hitting rock bottom in typical Blackjack fashion: at full speed. When he "died" as he lay on the gurney on the back of Superdynamic's plane, he didn't see a bright light at the end of a tunnel, bidding him come to a better place. No, he fell to a pit of cold endlessness, to a place where he would be haunted forever by his dark deeds. How much of that was a mental projection, or how much of it is a divine finale, is really up to you as a reader. I don't make you question your value systems, but I do put Blackjack's under the hot spotlights, and as is typical for our wayward villain, he usually doesn't fare well. Book 3, should therefore be the long climb back. Remember the classic movie "Excalibur"? Remember the line, near the end when Percival hands Arthur the grail to drink from, "I did not know how empty my soul was, until it was just filled." Blackjack didn't know how far he'd fallen, until he slammed, face-first into the darkest depths of his soul. And from that depth, will begin the hardest part of his life, the long climb out.
What it means is I've written a the first third of a book that doesn't go next. It's good stuff, and the core of what I have makes for a fantastic book four. But book three has to resolve the issue of Blackjack's comeback. That comes first.
I've also gotten some great character ideas from you in the recent weeks. Most of what you guys threw down on this blog is rolling into one of the two books, but the next story is going to deal with something that we only hinted at earlier in book one. I don't want to say much more, save to say this new revelation has me more inspired and motivated than I've been in awhile.
Yeah, but when are you going to have a freaking book for me to read anyway??? I know, this isn't good news if you're in a hurry, but it's good news in the long run. Starting book 3 from scratch isn't what you want to hear, but I'm more focused than before, and I have book 4 one-third done. The plan is to do 3 for this year, and 4 for March/April of next year, so we get back on track with a book a year.
Interstellar Overdrive sucked up a ton of my time, and will continue to do so, but I've got a great new partner to spread the load, so I'll be able to spend 75% of my time on Blackjack 3 & 4, and get those to you as soon as possible.
So, Blackjack 3 will be "Fugitive", Blackjack 4 will be "Hero".
Dang Ben! I didn't know you were a thug! lol. Cant wait but I gotta.
ReplyDeletecan't wait either...wonder if that elusive surprise mentioned vaguely in book 1 is the evolving of Blackjack's powers? No, don't tell me. The anticipation will make finding out in the 3rd book all the sweeter
ReplyDeleteSo... eh, the cover art from the previous post... is that for BJak3 or BJak4?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't so romantic, so much as embarrassing to my family, stupid and costly in terms of dollars. I guess there was a lesson learned as well. Never speak to the police. I swear, my attorney almost kicked my ass.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the evolution of his powers, we'll see how they change and adapt to different situations, but in book three, we're back to engineer Blackjack. Not just building an engine our of spare parts in the middle of the desert, but designing all new techs.
That's the cover to three. For four? I'd probably ask Erik to do another closeup of his face, back in his Blackjack costume - with the hood and googles so his face is in shadow - with a wicked smile on his face, like he's played them all, and now it's his game...
Damn straight Ben. Listen up kiddies uncle DiBs is about to lay down some words of wisdom. Give all the respect in the world to the cops but don't ever EVER assume they'll see things your way if you try to explain something to them. To them its more about closing the case than finding the guilty party. They will even say they don't determine guilt, that's for the courts to decide. So if you look good for the crime guess what? CLICKCLICK. So what is the lesson to all this? I'll tell you. No matter what. The four words you should ever say to a cop are I.......WANT.......MY.......LAWYER! That's it. Those four then shut your mouthe. Don't ever make things worse for yourself.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's that sentiment that's guiding me in Black 3. It's the reason why all the goody two-shoes stuff had to go, had to get rolled into something in the future. I know it's a book series about supers and aliens and all that kinda silly stuff, but I always wanted it grounded in reality, based in a plausible world, and it's completely unbelievable that they would be benevolent to Blackjack out of the gate. Only in a Michael Bay movie, where we need to drive the plot and don't have time to do it.
ReplyDeleteBut I see it as a great opportunity. We explored the fall, now lets see what Blackjack does. Let's see what he's made of. It starts with a gesture of contrition on his part, sure, then things fall apart :)
By the way, I recommend everyone watch the following video. It's 48 minutes and worth every second if you have concerns or issues about speaking to authority figures like police. I re-watch this vid every couple of months as a stark reminder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc
Damn that guy could talk fast. But I agree, everyone should watch it and take it to heart.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the surprise has to do with what Apogee said Blackjack could do with his tech in Book 1. Ah the suspense.
ReplyDeleteAh, book three is ALL about the tech! Man, I'm geeking out just thinking of new and novel ways to do things. Ever heard of Aerogel? I'm having some fun with it as we speak...
Deletewhether its his tech or his powers we all know Blackjack will be the same awesome the-world-hates-him-but-hes-really-not-a-bad-guy villain/hero we all know and love. but different, of course. which means he won't be the same...you know what, forget it. he'll be awesome.
ReplyDeleteBen I just have to ask again, are you sure Blackjack can't beat Epic to a pulp just for old times sake?
ReplyDeleteThat would be quite entertaining...
ReplyDeleteSo just one thing... The original 7 were granted x-class powers for being near the lightbringers. Blackjack actually spoke and was healed/changed by them, yet still is outclassed by lord mighty(who presumably spent time around the 7) in every way except his ability to take a beating? Love the story Ben, but there must be more coming in terms of Blackjacks Powers developing?
ReplyDeletethank god somebody else said something. i though it would be rude to outright contradict the author....that and he might ban and or restrict my access to book 3 which would kill me. then again....the 7 were human when they met the LBs. Blackjack is already a meta. So perhaps the changes take some time to set in....and on top of that, there are hints that blackjack's healing factor and strength are actually revolved around a core power: adaptability. He gets injured by plasma rifle then recovers and it no longer seems to hurt him as badly. Same with other attacks. he gets injured once and then is...inured...to attacks of the same nature. So perhaps blackjack adapted to the radiation and it completely bypassed him...OR he's simply too badass already to be affected overmuch by it. Or perhaps it DID affect him and he was only tough enough to take on mighty and everyone BECAUSE he ran into the LBs and it DID change him, it just wasn't as overt as we all though it would be. God i'm long-winded but i thought i should just put those thoughts out there since those seem to be the most obvious answers. However, im not so lucky as to have a direct line into Ben's head so...Maybe all this is BS and i'm an idiot.
ReplyDeleteOkay, two things.
ReplyDeleteFirst, about Epic (and this also applies to Atmosphero): I'd love to bring them back and toss them around the room a few times. Epic in particular, since I establish that he's so physically gifted, yet lazy and unmotivated. Imagine him with a personal trainer...
The problem is that we've done it, especially with Atmosphero. In fact, if you guys remember the Hashima sequence, Blackjack just ignores him, like if he was just a pest.
I had an idea, that may resurface later, which was to make Epic into the hero he's supposed to be. Sure he's pompous and a bit lazy, but he's a paragon of good, like Superman or Captain America. He would see his defeat at the hands of Blackjack as something inconsequential in the process of capturing him and consider that as a victory rather than a loss. I mean, at the end of the ordeal, Blackjack was in jail. Epic won, as it were. Hell, he might justify it all in his head as he was tiring out the bad guy, kind of like what Blackjack does to Lord Mighty in book two.
I thought that they might bump into each other, maybe at Superdynamic’s tower, and Epic might say something like, “It’s good to see you on the right side now,” or something like that. Then not think about it again. He’s too busy to grow hatred toward Blackjack, too involved to worry about one single blip on the radar. Imagine them having to work together towards a common goal…now THAT would be kind of interesting.
Atmo is different. Their hatred towards each other borders on the legendary, but I don’t see Atmo as a guy who would go evil, or do something to destroy all that has worked for. What was the car I attributed to him at the beginning of book one? A Murcielago? Or was it that Bentley? I don’t recall. I think he might harbor that hatred on the inside and just suck it up. Don’t we all harbor those deep resentments that we can’t do anything about? It might be a mother-in-law or boss or co-worker we wish would fall down an empty elevator shaft, but in reality we just have to endure.
I’ll admit that I’ve toyed with the idea of a Dark Epic, drunk on a Caribbean island, distraught with his embarrassment at the hands of a two-bit villain like Blackjack, approached by Haha (or enticed via subliminal suggestion on the nearby TVs) and motivated to come after Dale. He’d work out, learn to fight for real and finally have a mean streak to motivate him during the dark moments of a drawn out fight. Sure, I’ve thought about it…
Okay, second. About Blackjack’s strength.
ReplyDeleteBefore we start talking about the details of how strong he is or isn’t, I want to correct something you said, Devilheart. You shouldn’t be afraid of correcting me. I’m pulling a lot of strings with this story and if I made a mistake, then it’s not a sin to point it out. Especially not when you’ve been so helpful to me since you’ve joined the Blackjack team. Hell, call me out all you want. The only thing that will happen is that I make less mistakes in the future, that I’m tighter with my stuff and it ends up better in quality. That’s a boon for everyone.
As far as Blackjack’s strength, I kind of put the Original Seven in a different category. They came back changed directly by the Lightbringers (how – I’M NOT TELLING YET) and they possessed powers that were far above anything that came after.
There was a generation of supers that followed them, a second wave as it were, which were incredibly powerful, and Lord Mighty falls into this category. I describe him as a guy lost in the 40s and 50s in book two and I think in book one I use him as a sample of that second generation. These guys were changed in-vitro, whenever their mother would be in near proximity to one of the Original Seven during a specific part of the pregnancy. Another guy that falls into this group is Captain Miraculous, though I didn’t give him enough props in book one. It’s my equivalent of the Golden/Silver age of comics, and most of this stuff predates the events of Blackjack Villain. Another member of this era is good old Black Razor.
The third generation is Blackjack’s and it includes just about every super we’ve written or talked about. I think I mentioned somewhere in book one that most of the “twos” were gone now, retired, imprisoned or dead. Well, Utopia was split wide open, so we’ll get to play with some “classic” villains. Some that you’ve never heard of before, some that you guys have designed within the pages of this blog. Some as soon as Act three of book three, coming to you soon.
The strength part is simple, as we get farther away from the originals, the less powerful everyone is – within a wide variance. Epic is a gen 3 guy but he’s as strong as they come, right? But I never gave a definition to the drop off between generations and I think here’s where I may have made a mistake. My idea was that the gen 1s were off the charts. We call them Class-X in the book. Gen 2s were lesser creatures, reaching what we call Class-A as their maximum. Gen 3s are even farther down the power level totem pole, with only a few reaching Class-A in any category. Guys like Epic and Apogee. That was my intention, at least. But I don’t think I made all that stuff clear enough in the two books so far.
ReplyDeleteBlackjack starts book one as a guy who knows he’s superhumanly strong, but isn’t aware of his limits, and part of what’s confusing people here is that the books are from his point of view and sometimes it isn’t reliable. When Influx (moment of silence) tells him that he’s Class-A physical strength and toughness, it comes as a surprise to him.
He meets a “version” of Dr. Retcon in the keransansui garden, and yes, that affects his power-level positively.
Later on, we see feats of strength that are far beyond what we expected of “the archer guy” like when it takes all of Haha’s and Cool Hand’s abilities and powers to slow him down from tearing Zundergrub apart as they’re about to depart Dr. Retcon’s Rocket Flyer when they travel to Nostromo’s moon base. Moments later, he fights Apogee in her full fury and manages to subdue her. Imagine Hawkeye stopping Ms. Marvel…
Later on, he’s exposed to the “brilliance” of the Lightbringer when she cows him at the arena scene. He’s inches from her/it and afterwards we see him do something that even Epic with the combined strength of all the assembled heroes couldn’t, bring down the walls of Retcon’s fortress.
Part of that is a change in his biology from the experience of meeting a Lightbringer, yes, but part of it comes from something that was driving him that day. I referred to it recently in this blog. It was desperation. If he failed, Apogee died. For the first moment in his life, Dale felt more for someone else than for himself, and the walls, when you really think about it, had no chance.
As far as the nebulous feeling you guys get when you think about Blackjack’s “powers”, I know what you mean, and the only explanation is that the writer kinda screw it up. I made reference to his “adaptability” during that conversation with Haha on Shard World, and I think it’s also mentioned in book 2. The fact is, I fumbled that whole thing. So if you’re confused, it’s because I blew it.
ReplyDeleteHe changed, you see. When I first decided to bring this story to life, it was based on an RPG game we had played and as an homage to a dear friend that had passed recently. Blackjack 1.0 was an archer through and through, with a mixture of Nightcrawler’s powers thrown in. That’s it. Putting it on paper, I gave him the steroids and made him uber strong. It was artistic license in order to give him more of a leading man quality. Hey, I’ll admit all my own inequities. I’m not a tall guy and I’m neither handsome nor strong, and writing Blackjack was a wonderful catharsis. In that process, I may have over and under stated him, depending on the trouble involved, playing the part of Deus Ex Machina whenever I needed Blackjack to win something I had made too tough (aka the Australia fight vs 100 villains).
I’m learning, and I promise to only get better. To that end, keep calling me out, keep pointing out my mistakes. Don’t pull any punches. And I promise to be more precise and cohesive about the powers from now on.
….talk about long winded, huh, Devil?
Dear god i shouldn't have said anything...about the long-winded posts at least. :P well, that answers some questions up to and beyond my satisfaction, thanks. Well, now that you know all this you can eliminate any incohesion(is that a word?) in your next books.
ReplyDelete