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Post by johnreiter902 on Nov 25, 2017 13:41:28 GMT
I'm planning on making reference to Axis Amerika in the next post, but before I write it, I'd like some feedback on a question. What would people think of my changing the name of the team from Axis America to something that makes more sense? I never liked the name of that team, and it's only been featured in one story so far on this sight. I think it could easily be that the name Axis America was just the code name or nickname used by the Suicide Squad for the team on that mission. I like that reasoning. In fact, one of the story ideas I’d thought of but never explored too much was having the JSA (or the All-Stars) fight a Nazi super-team during WWII. If you’ll notice, the JSA (known then as the Justice Battalion of America) rarely participated in true wartime cases in All-Star Comics past 1942. But I believe they had more cases fighting the Axis throughout the war that weren’t highly publicized. The Axis Amerika team under a new name could be that Nazi JSA. Just a thought. That's an excellent idea, goes nicely with how I was imagining it. For now, I'm calling the team the World Supermen.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Dec 2, 2017 23:57:37 GMT
Bat went back to practicing his moves. “By the way papa, Overman wanted me to remind you about the meeting with the rest of the World Supermen in Nuremburg on Saturday. He said he won’t be happy if you miss another meeting.” Wilhelm’s voice contained more than a hint of sarcasm as he repeated the message from the team’s appointed leader. Sometimes, Overman’s head seemed more full of hot air than their flying base the Hindenburg. “Apparently, the Fuhrer himself will be there, and he does not take well to embarrassing last-minute changes of plan.”
Georg grunted. “The Fuhrer accepted my apology for my absence last time. He at least understands that I cannot break off my important work in the middle of a case. I’ll try to make time for our update and strategy meeting, but as you know son, our schedule is hardly reliable.” Of course, he understood that there were other members who made much greater sacrifices to serve in the World Supermen. Kamakazi had to make a dangerous commute across Central Asia, and Usil had to be away from his hometown of Naples for weeks at a time. Honestly, Owl would be hard pressed to make a sacrifice like that, even for the Fuhrer.
Wilhelm agreed, and finished up his workout.
“Don’t forget to shower before you change.” His father said. “We wouldn’t want to shock the guests during the party tonight.”
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Post by johnreiter902 on Feb 17, 2018 22:50:06 GMT
I'm planning on one more update soon, and then I will be putting this on a short hiatus while I work on other things.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Feb 18, 2018 21:58:37 GMT
The parties at Von Tregor Manor were the height of the Frankfurt social scene. Georg von Tregor occupied, largely by chance, the ideal social position. He held a high enough rank in the local SS to be considered a “man worth knowing,” but was sufficiently low ranking and apolitical that nobody regarded him as a threat or a rival. Despite being in with the paramilitary branches of the party, his august Prussian background meant he was an old family friend to the regular military elite, so few people had a reason to dislike him. “Excellent champagne as always von Tregor!” General Metzger said as he raised his glass for the fourth time that evening. “You must tell me where you find it.” Georg sipped his own glass and smiled politely. General Metzger was a little too old this sort of thing, but he was due to be transferred to Russia from his old post in Paris, so who could begrudge him a little relaxation. “My own little secret General, just one of the advantages of having the right kind of friends.” They both laughed at the joke. It was an open secret that friends in the aristocracy always helped each other out, even off the books. “You must join me for a hunting party before my redeployment Baron. I plan to enjoy every moment of this leave, and I could enjoy it best with an old friend. Why your father and I. . .” Georg made the appropriate noises, confirmed he would try to fit it into his schedule, and went back to circulating. “Standartenführer von Tregor!” Oberführer Freitag attracted his attention from across the hall. “Heil Hitler!” Georg returned the gesture. “Your hospitality is much appreciated Standartenführer. I wonder if you have had an opportunity yet to review the plans for the new factories to be converted to tank production?” Adopting a slightly more serious mien, Georg answered the question of the local head of the SS. “Have no worries Herr Oberführer, I will personally see to the conversion myself before the end of the week. I know that our boys in Russia need those tanks.” Freitag smiled with satisfaction. “That is good to hear von Tregor. Your devotion to the fatherland is admirable, particularly for a man with such an active social life.” George caught the eye of a beautiful blonde woman in a most attractive dress. “And on that note, sir, I think I will return to a pastime which absorbs me almost as much as the fight for a nation’s glory.” As he retrieved a second glass of champagne of the lady, whose name he didn’t even know yet, Georg wished he could be done with this empty façade of the idle rich. But it was still necessary. There were too many criminal elements, even on the highest levels of the Reich, who would love to strike while he was off guard.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Feb 5, 2021 14:18:21 GMT
“I’ll take that.” The low, sultry voice stopped Georg in his tracks. Turning, he beheld a truly stunning woman that he had definitely never seen before. She had a hungry, angular look to her face, which some men might have found too severe, but gave him the impression of a hunting vixen. Her dark brown hair was voluptuous, and cascaded over her shoulders. She stood out dramatically among the more subdued women in the group in a blood red gown and elbow-length white gloves. With a slight smile at her boldness, Georg handed her the glass. “How do you know I wasn’t going to give that to someone else?” “Because you’re not remotely interested in her.” She said coyly. “Oh, and I am in you?” “Of course, or you wouldn’t still be talking to me.” For the first time that night, Georg’s keen senses perked up. This woman is interesting. “I don’t believe I caught your name, frauline?” “Likely not,” she took a sip of her champagne flute and returned his smile with one of her own, “As I don’t remember dropping it.” The orchestra began to play a slow waltz, and many of the distinguished guest made their way to the dance floor of the ballroom. The mystery women took another sip, then set her glass down on a table. “It’s such a shame,” she said with mockingly exaggerated regret, “That in all this room there isn’t one, gallant young handsome gentleman with a Prussian soul and a Parisian step to dance with me. O, whatever shall I do.” His smile of mild interest turning into a full-blown chuckle, Georg offered her his arm and led her to the dance floor. “I’m not sure I’d call my step Parisian, fraulein, but I’ll see if I can’t do credit to my noble forebears all the same.” They danced slowly and gracefully around the room. George von Tregor had trained his body to the peak of physical fitness, and yet he had rarely danced with a lady so able to keep pace with him. She was as quick on her feet as a cat, and seemed to sense his movements almost instantly. In truth, he hadn’t danced with any many women at all since his wife’s death. It brought back too many painful memories. He hadn’t intended to dance with anybody tonight, but something about this lady drew him in. What am I doing? He asked himself. I should know better than this. The memory of his long-lost Elena, woke him from the pleasant haze of the moment like a cup of cold water down the back. Still, he managed to finish the dance without missing a step. His partner clearly had sensed something, however. “That was marvelous, Herr baron, except of course for the end.” She turned to depart into the crowd, but first, turned her head back over her shoulder to pay a final remark. “My name is Ophelia. I think we will meet again.” While Georg watched her walk off, Wilhelm watched his father with some displeasure. He always felt out of place at these social gatherings anyway, there was never anybody his own age. Most of the guests talked over him. He would rather be training with the other boys in the local Hitler Youth, or playing with his schoolfellows. He knew perfectly well that the hole left in his father’s heart by his mother’s death could never be filled. Yet, for a moment there, he had seen a light in his father’s eyes that he vaguely remembered seeing there years ago, in happier times. And it worried him. It worried him a great deal.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Feb 5, 2021 14:18:45 GMT
It Lives! I finally got over my writer's block
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Post by dans on Feb 5, 2021 15:48:26 GMT
It Lives! I finally got over my writer's block Awesome, thanks for getting back to this one!
You do a very good job of painting pictures with your words, and a great job of picking those words. 'Voluptuous hair' and 'hunting vixen' stand out as examples.
As well, the jarring touches / poison pills that remind the reader that no matter how familiar and 'normal' the scene seems to be, it's in Nazti Germany, such as speaking to the head of the SS or Wilhelm wishing he were off with the Hitler Youth...
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 2, 2021 21:16:41 GMT
Hi John, I'm planning out a story that involves several of the Earth-2 Axis mystery-men/super-agents active circa 1940/1941.
Is it possible that the Horned Owl and the Bat could be active for a few months prior to July, 1941? I'm thinking of plans for them that would keep them occupied for at least a few months from July, 1941 to possibly early 1942. If this story is based in November, 1942, it's well past the point that it should matter to my story, unless there's something that my plans would interfere with.
My story calls for a third figure to be active with them, a civilian who assists them, and I'm trying to figure out who that could be. Could the Horned Owl and the Bat have their own "Alfred", or some kind of loyal older assistant who helps keep their crimefighting equipment in good order -- perhaps a trusted estate caretaker who is privy to their secrets? Let me know if this is feasible. If not, I might have to make one up just for the story.
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Post by johnreiter902 on Aug 3, 2021 1:38:23 GMT
I was planning on the Horned Owl and Bat being active since the late 1930s. I don't think your plan would affect my story at all.
I didn't want to have an Alfred counterpart, because I was trying to keep them from being too much like Batman and Robin. However, if it is important to your story, I'm OK with it. Just describe the character to me, so I can incorporate them into my story when I get back to it.
As an alternative, I was going to have Horned Owl and Bat have an SS liaison officer, with access to their headquarters, who knows their identities. He provides them with information from the Nazi government, and officially keeps tabs on them (however, they have developed a great respect and a highly unprofessional friendship towards each other). I came up with the idea, since I couldn't imagine a police state like Nazi Germany allowing it's mystery men to operate without official oversight.
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Post by redsycorax on Aug 3, 2021 5:48:59 GMT
If you want to add a level of verisimilitude to its depiction of wartime Nazi Germany, there's always Volker Kutscher's excellent Gereon Rath series of detective novels, centred on a non-fascist Berlin police detective. And there was at least one serial killer lurking around in Nazi Germany- Paul Ozgorow: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_OgorzowThere's also "Ubermensch!", a quite memorable SF story about a Nazi Superman by UK SF author Kim Newman. His rogues gallery consists of a range of figures from German prewar expressionist films: sorcerersskull.blogspot.com/2015/01/wednesday-comics-ubermensch.htmlThey could make some interesting Horned Owl adversaries too.
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