BACKSTORY PAGE
Previously On. Runs along the left side of the page interspersed with downsized panels from the previous issue where/if space permits.
Dimitri Sokolov makes bad decisions. Fleeing from a failed drug deal, he encountered the Shadowmancer, a sorcerer capable of manipulating the essence of darkness and drawing knowledge from the shadows. In a fit of desperation, Dimitri grabbed a mysterious ritual knife and buried it into the old warlock’s heart. The blow let off an explosion of magical energy and left Dimitri bearing the mantle of the Shadowmancer.
Since gaining his powers, Dimitri has been hunted by skinheads and members of a neo-Nazi militia group. It began as a feud over a drug deal gone bad, but as the bodies have continued to pile up, the battle has become personal on both sides.
Now Dimitri has come to their compound itself and has made plans to destroy the organization once and for all. So far, the only unexpected consequence is the burgeoning romantic interest he has developed with the daughter of the enemy leader…
Character Bios. Runs along the right side of the page and each section is matched with a close up of the character’s face.
1. DIMITRI SOKOLOV: Dimitri has worn many hats amateur martial artist, gangster, graduate student, and sorcerer. He’s the child of a family of Russian immigrants originally from the east coast. After his mother died in childbirth, his father let Dimitri be raised by his Uncle Vlad, who installed the boy with a strong Mafiosi sense of honor.
2. ANONYMOUS:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Since becoming the next Shadowmancer, Dimitri has been haunted by a mysterious voice which taunts him and offers him cryptic advice. What this creature is and what it truly wants are currently unknown.
3. THE MERCHANT:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A strange shopkeeper. He seems to have access to some secret knowledge. However, his origin and motivations remain a mystery for the time being.
4. MEGAN PAX: Megan is the daughter of a fascist militia commander. She maintains a cheerful and trusting disposition. While she loves her father, she rejects his extremist’s views and tries to avoid his soldiers whenever possible.
5. THE FATHER:                  The Father is the captain of a company sized paramilitary organization. He’s come to Portland seeking revenge on Dimitri for murdering his sibling. As a commander he is both ruthless and cunning, and more than willing to accept extraordinary casualties as long as the mission is accomplished.
6. JARED JONES: Jared came from a strict military family and was sent to West Point as a matter of course. However, in his senior year he was expelled for cheating and instead joined a far-right paramilitary organization. The Father has come to rely on his second-in-command to carry out his increasingly erratic orders.
PAGE ONE (one panel)
Panel 1. A splash page of the FATHER talking with his honor guard in the parking lot, which is now being drenched in rain. DIMITRI watches from his perch. The title and credits are presented.
1. FATHER: The storm has knocked out power back at the compound. I’m returning there now. Follow me the moment Megan is finished packing.
2. HONOR GUARD: Yes sir!
PAGE TWO (five panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI climbs into his room through the window, he is wearing his shadow armor. There are two honor guards searching the room, one looking in the bathroom, one looking out the front door.
Panel 2. DIMITRI grabs a pillow from the bed and summons a noose of shadow to choke the man by the entrance.
2. GUARD 1: Urk.
Panel 3. GUARD 2 turns and finds DIMITRI, holding a pillow in front of him.
3. GUARD 2: Did you say something…?
Panel 4. DIMITRI looks impassively at the guard, who is off panel. He fires his revolver through the pillow to muffle the sound of the gunshots.
4. DIMITRI: No.
Panel 5. A wide shot of MEGAN’s room. She is packing a suitcase on the bed; she’s recently been crying. DIMITRI stands silhouetted in the doorway.
5. DIMITRI: …Megan.
6. MEGAN: Barry…? Is that you?
PAGE THREE (six panels)
Panel 1. MEGAN rushes to embrace DIMITRI.
1. MEGAN: Thank God you’re alive!
Panel 2. DIMITRI holds MEGAN who is almost enveloped by the shadows surrounding him.
2. MEGAN: We need to get as far from this place as we can.
3. DIMITRI: I know. I’m going to get you out of here, I promise.
Panel 3. MEGAN looks up at DIMITRI. She has begun to cry again.
4. MEGAN: You’re not coming…?
5. DIMITRI: I can’t. But I’m going to make sure you’re safe before I do what I have to do.
Panel 4. MEGAN breaks away from DIMITRI. He follows after her.
6. MEGAN: You are the monster they said you were!
7. DIMITRI: I’m not- I…
Panel 5. MEGAN collapses on her bed. DIMITRI sits next to her and places a hand on her shoulder.
7. DIMITRI: I don’t want to do this, but I don’t have a choice. I’m sorry.
8. MEGAN: That’s bullshit!
Panel 6. A close up of MEGAN. She’s turned over to shout at DIMITRI.
9. MEGAN: You’re just as bad as my father and his men are! You’re all killers! You’re all the same! If you really don’t want to do this, then don’t! Just leave. With me.
PAGE FOUR (five panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI holds MEGAN on the bed.
1. DIMITRI: I’m sorry.
Panel 2. DIMIRI covers her face with shadows. She is surprised, but begins to lose consciousness.
2. MEGAN: Mnn!
3. DIMITRI: It’s okay. Go to sleep.
Panel 3. DIMITRI ties up MEGAN with electrical cords.
4. DIMITRI: I really hate to do this to you.
Panel 4. DIMITRI touches MEGAN’s cheek while she remains unconscious.
5. DIMITRI: Boy, I really fucked this one up.
Panel 5. DIMITRI leaves the apartment, but spares a glance back at MEGAN as he goes.
6. DIMITRI: At least I’ll be long gone before you wake up and get free. I sure as hell can’t show my face around here again.
PAGE FIVE (action sequence)
Dimitri goes downstairs and walks outside, killing off the entire honor guard as he does so. He focuses on shooting out lights with his revolver and then smothering the soldiers in shadows.
PAGE SIX (six panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI holds his car door open for his crows, who swoop inside.
1. DIMITRI: We’ll drive out. Can’t risk you two being struck by lightning now.
Panel 2. DIMITRI pulls out onto the road leaving bodies and abandoned military equipment behind.
Panel 3. LUCIFER stands in the road and watches the car’s lights fade into the distance.
Panel 4. LUCIFER steps inside the store, looking around at all the bodies as he does so. He casually takes a pocket knife off a shelf.
Panel 5. LUCIFER enters MEGAN’s apartment. She is still tied up and unconscious. He opens the pocket knife and toys with it in his hand.
2. LUCIFER: Time for you to wake up now, my dear.
3. MEGAN: Hmm…?
Panel 6. MEGAN wakes up and looks around. LUCIFER is gone, but the pocket knife is stuck point up into the ground right beside her.
4. MEGAN: …Who?
5. ANONYMOUS: He- Hee, hee.
PAGE SEVEN (five panels)
Panel 1. An establishing shot of the walled militia compound from above. The compound is built around a large ranch house but there are also several outbuildings. They are on high alert with search lights running off of generators. Soldiers on patrol are being pelted by the storm.
1. ANONYMOUS: AHA HA HA!
Panel 2. DIMITRI is perched on a mesa overlooking the compound from a distance. He is watching the militia through the scope on his rifle.
2. DIMITRI: What are you cackling about now?
3. ANONYMOUS: You will learn, wretched fool.
Panel 3. A close up, viewed through a sniper’s scope, of a squad of militia soldiers on patrol. The entire area inside the walls is bathed in bright white light.
4. DIMITRI: You know I don’t actually give a shit, right? You talk all this cryptic bull that’s supposed to sound deep, but it’s all just a lot of nothing.
Panel 4. A close up of DIMITRI on his stomach and looking through his rifle scope. He is grimacing.
5. ANONYMOUS: False bravado, amusing.
6. DIMITRI: Keep talking. See what happens.
Panel 5. Another sniper view, this time it is of a set of generators running power to the lights.
7. ANONYMOUS: I know what will happen.
PAGE EIGHT (six panels)
Panel 1. A close up of the FATHER’s flask being filled from a bottle of whisky. In the background JARED is watching.
1. FATHER (OFF): Report, lieutenant.
2. JARED: I wasn’t able to raise them, sir.
Panel 2. The FATHER glowers at JARED as he fills his flask. They are in a command room surrounded by company staff.
3. FATHER: Excuse me?
4. JARED: The storm is playing hell with our communications. I’ve also had trouble raising our men on extended patrol.
Panel 3. A close up of the FATHER sniffing the bottle.
5. FATHER: Are you completely fucking useless?
Panel 4. JARED tries to reassure the FATHER, but is shouted away. The FATHER pours himself a large glass of whiskey, but spills quite a bit.
6. JARED: Sir, I’m sure it not-
7. FATHER: It’s him! You fucking moron. All of you, you’re all worthless. Why didn’t you stay with her? You fucking cowards!
Panel 5. FATHER drinks from his glass but he still holds the bottle in his hand. JARED watches with concern.
8. FATHER: She’s gone, because of you! She’s gone.
9. JARED: Sir, we left Meg with our best men. She wouldn’t be any safer here than she is with them.
Panel 6. A close up of FATHER refilling his glass again.
10. FATHER: That’s what I’m afraid of.
PAGE NINE (six panels)
Panel 1. Everyone in the command room looks around in surprise, except for the FATHER who is resigned.
1. FX: BOOM!
2. JARED: What the fuck?!
3. FATHER: He’s here.
Panel 2. A shot of the exterior of the compound. One of the generators has been destroyed and a bullet is striking another nearby. The lights are fading out. The soldiers are rushing around trying to find cover.
4. FX: BANG!
Panel 3. A view of the compound from above. The next generator explodes. Part of the compound still has power, but the rest is blacked out. The soldiers are looking for where the gunfire is coming from.
5. FX: BOOM!
Panel 4. JARED is urgently trying to raise his men on the radio. The FATHER stands in the background looking drinking hopelessly.
6. JARED: What’s going on out there!?
7. RADIO: Sniper! He’s targeting the generators!
8. FATHER: He’s going to kill you all.
Panel 5. A close up of JARED as he shouts into his radio.
9. JARED: Use the spotlights! He’s invisible in the dark!
10. RADIO: He’s too far away!
11. FX: BOOM!
Panel 6. JARED and the FATHER look around as the lights go out.
12. JARED: Shit!
13. FATHER: He’s going to kill all of you. Then he’s going to kill me.
PAGE TEN (four panels)
Panel 1. Out in the rain an OPERATOR is screaming into his radio. Other militia members are firing into the dark around him.
1. OPERATOR: There are more than a dozen of them! We’re getting hit from all sides!
Panel 2. JARED is replying into his own radio back inside.
2. JARED: No, it’s one man! He can relocate instantaneously in the dark! Get into heavy cover and stay there or he’ll pick you apart!
3. FATHER (OFF): NO!
Panel 3. The FATHER pushes JARED aside to issue his own instructions.
4. FATHER: We can’t afford to give him any freedom of movement. He’s coming here, to company headquarters, to kill me. You must go on the offensive with tac-lights and flashbangs. It’s our only chance.
Panel 4. The FATHER and JARED argue while everyone else in the room watches awkwardly.
5. JARED: That’s crazy! The casualties will be-
6. FATHER: Will be one hundred percent if we let him kill us all one at a time! Attack! Attack! ATTACK!
PAGE ELEVEN (action sequence)
The militia leave their compound in an attempt to chase down DIMITRI and are shot to pieces. ANONYMOUS states what each man is thinking about as he dies, in clipped phrases running the emotional range from anger to sorrow to confusion. The battle unfolds slowly as DIMITRI methodically kills them one by one as he remains just out of reach.
PAGE TWELVE (six panels)
Panel 1. The OPERATOR is screaming into his radio while chaos unfolds around him.
1. OPERATOR: We’re getting shot to pieces out here!
Panel 2. The FATHER is brooding in his office, nursing his glass of whisky. JARED enters.
2. JARED: Sir, we need to pull back.
3. FATHER: Pull back?
Panel 3. The FATHER smashes his glass against the wall, screaming in rage.
4. FATHER: Pull back!? We need to reinforce them, not retreat! Send in back-up, everyone we have! Use of all ordinance is authorized, and any casualties are acceptable!
Panel 4. The FATHER slumps back down and drinks directly from the bottle.
5. FATHER: This is our last stand. Either he dies or we do. And if this is our end… then I won’t let them die as cowards… I won’t. I won’t!
6. JARED: Yes sir.
Panel 5. The OPERATOR is still on his radio. He is surrounded by the dead and the dying. ANONYMOUS’ caption hovers over his head.
7. RADIO: Reinforcements are en-route. Continue the offensive.
8. ANONYMOUS: Those maniacs are going to get us all killed.
Panel 6. The OPERATOR is struck in the head by a bullet, sending a spray of blood into the air.
PAGE THIRTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. The FATHER sits alone in his office. He holds the bottle upturned to check that it is empty. There are electric lanterns everywhere to fill the room with light.
1. FATHER: Everything. I gave them everything.
Panel 2. A group of militia soldiers jump out of a jeep and try and take cover behind it after one of them is shot in the head.
2. ANONYMOUS: Goddamn mud is fucking up the-
Panel 3. The FATHER has dropped the bottle to the ground and he drinks from his flask instead.
3. FATHER: I sacrificed everything for them… and they failed me.
Panel 4. A close up of a shadow puncturing the gas tank of the jeep. In the background the soldiers can be seen trying to return fire.
Panel 5. The FATHER holds his head in his hands in despair.
4. FATHER: Worthless! All of you are worthless! I am betrayed at every turn! Held back by your incompetence!
Panel 6. DIMITRI shoots the pool of gasoline which ignites the vehicle, sending the soldiers fleeing, where they are also gunned down.
5. ANONYMOUS: Anna… I’m sorry…
6. ANONYMOUS: That bastard I’m gonna kill-
PAGE FOURTEEN (five panels)
Panel 1. JARED is back in FATHER’s office making another report. FATHER is still drinking from his flask.
1. JARED: We’ve lost contact entirely. Our forces are broken.
2. JARED: Are you still drinking, sir?
3. FATHER: Don’t you judge me you bastard. Not when you’re one of those traitors who stabbed me in the back.
Panel 2. A close up of the FATHER completely desperate.
4. FATHER: What reserves do we have left?
Panel 3. A close up of JARED looking sad and confused.
5. JARED: Reserves? You ordered everyone sent out already. There’s only company staff and untrained recruits left.
Panel 4. FATHER rises to his feet, suddenly manic. JARED tries to maintain his discipline but he knows that his commander has lost his mind.
6. FATHER: You must lead them out!
7. JARED: Sir, the company is a spent force.
Panel 5. FATHER seizes JARED by the shoulders.
8. FATHER: That’s why they must see that we still have forces left to commit, that will restore their morale. This battle hangs on a knife edge, that’s why you must take command personally. You will be the pivot which brings us final victory!
9. JARED: Sir, I- Yes sir.
PAGE FIFTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. JARED emerges out of the command headquarters with the company staff and some terrified looking recruits. They are carrying jerry cans of gasoline.
1. JARED: We know he’ll have to come to us eventually. I want this whole area ringed in fire. Hopefully the light will draw any of our troops left alive out there.
Panel 2. The troops begin running, spreading trails of gasoline behind them. One of the recruits is struck in the head by a bullet.
2. ANONYMOUS: LT will get us out of-
3. FX: BANG!
4. JARED: Move! Move!
Panel 3. JARED takes cover in the covered entrance to a barracks. He shoots his own trail of gasoline to set it alight.
5. JARED: Light your gas and get into cover! He’ll tear you apart in the open!
Panel 4. JARED opens fire from his position in cover. A few other men can be seen also trying to return fire on DIMITRI. A couple of them are struck down by sniper fire. Lines of flame are streaking across the ground.
6. ANONYMOUS: We’re all going to die!
7. ANONYMOUS: I’m going to kill this son of a-
Panel 5. JARED stays in cover while the air is filled with gunfire from off panel. His gun has jammed and he tries, and fails, to clear it.
Panel 6. JARED looks back out again and all the troops he came out with are dead or dying.
PAGE SIXTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. JARED runs to one of his recruits who is coughing blood.
1. JARED: Goddamnit.
Panel 2. JARED holds the hand of a recruit as he dies.
2. ANONYMOUS: Love… you…
Panel 3. A wide shot. DIMITRI walks into the compound towards JARED holding his rifle. He dry fires it at JARED who reacts in fear. He is surrounded by a wide trail of shadows in places, but they retreat from the scattered fires, creating gaps where the human shows through. The voice of ANONYMOUS comes from him as word bubbles rather than in captions, but retaining their altered color scheme.
3. ANONYMOUS: Awww. It has feelings.
4. ANONYMOUS: Bang!
5. FX: Click.
6. ANONYMOUS: You’re de- What the fuck? AHA HA HA!
Panel 4. A close up of DIMITRI. Firelight is shown on his face and his armor has melted away. He is slinging his rifle on his shoulder.
7. DIMITRI: Round up any of your men left alive and run. Get as far away from here as you can.
Panel 5. Another close up of DIMITRI. He has walked past the fire and his face is covered in shadows again. He is cracking his knuckles.
8. ANONYMOUS: Unless you’re not too much of a pussy to try and avenge little baby brother– who I just executed like a little piggy.
Panel 6. A final close up of DIMITRI standing in firelight once again.
9. DIMITRI: If you leave right now, I won’t kill you.
PAGE SEVENTEEN (six panels)
Panel 1. JARED pulls out a combat knife with a roar. DIMITRI is still standing in the light but is facing away from the viewer.
1. JARED: RAUGH!
2. DIMITRI: Don’t-
Panel 2. DIMITRI steps out of the light and intercepts JARED’s attack by wrapping his arm in shadows.
3. ANONYMOUS: He wants to die too.
Panel 3. DIMITRI throws JARED to the ground with a hip toss.
4. ANONYMOUS: I’ll oblige him.
Panel 4. DIMITRI mounts and pummels JARED who progressively becomes a bloodier pulp.
5. ANONYMOUS: SORRY Megan! He failed you.
Panel 5. DIMITRI continues to beat JARED who has gone limp.
6. ANONYMOUS: I FUCKED your little slut!
Panel 6. In the final shot of the sequence DIMITRI is still pounding on JARED who now obviously dead.
7. ANONYMOUS: Oblige him! OBLIGE HIM!
PAGE EIGHTEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. The FATHER is still sitting in his office. He’s pointing a handgun at the door.
Panel 2. The door swings open and the FATHER fires at it in terror.
Panel 3. The FATHER continues to point his gun at the dark open doorway but nothing is happening.
1. FATHER: Lieutenant…?
Panel 4. The FATHER stands up and examines the door. He is still frightened, but nothing has attacked him yet.
2. FATHER: I know I locked this fucking door.
Panel 5. The FATHER walks through the command center which is now completely empty. The portable lights cast long shadows.
3. FATHER: Where are you? You bastard! I’m not afraid- I’m not afraid of you!
Panel 6. The FATHER spies a shadow which resembles a human shape.
4. FATHER: Found you, you son of a bitch.
Panel 7. The FATHER fires but hits nothing and sends plaster flying.
5. FATHER: This is the captain! Any soldier who can hear me, I need assistance!
PAGE NINETEEN (seven panels)
Panel 1. The FATHER moves from the command room into the residential parts of the ranch. He keeps the pistol held ready.
1. FATHER: I’ll kill you! Do you hear me, you fucking motherfucker! I’ll fucking kill you!
2. FATHER: I need support here Goddamnit! Where the fuck are you cowards!? I have him pinned down! Get in here before he gets away!
Panel 2. An establishing shot of the compound exterior. MEGAN has arrived and is heading towards the ranch house. The rain has become more intense again and the fires have gutted out.
Panel 3. The FATHER takes a drink from his flask. He is hunched over against a wall.as he begins to experience a heart attack.
3. FATHER: I’m willing… I’m willing to offer terms. If you leave now, I promise there will be no further retaliations. Do you agree…?
Panel 4. The FATHER lurches off the wall and drops his gun, but he keeps a hold on his flask.
4. FATHER: Do you agree!? Goddamnit!
Panel 5. MEGAN pauses on the porch of the ranch house to look in horror at the bodies. Including JARED’s horribly mangled form.
Panel 6. The FATHER has struggled into a trophy room filled with big game hunting trophies. He collapses near a large picture window. The raging storm is visible outside.
5. FATHER: Why are you doing this to me? Why- why…
Panel 7. The FATHER is near the point of losing consciousness as his heart attack intensifies. He continues to nurse his flask. In the background DIMITRI can be seen holding JARED’s knife, dripping with blood. His face is off panel.
6. FATHER: I’m sorry… sorr-
PAGE TWENTY (six panels)
Panel 1. MEGAN approaches an open DIMITRI stands over FATHER’s body. He is still holding the knife and wearing his shadow armor.
Panel 2. DIMITRI looks back impassively at MEGAN in the doorway. He is heavily obscured in shadows.
1. MEGAN: What did you do?
Panel 3. MEGAN rushes past DIMITRI towards her FATHER’s body. Tears are streaming down her face.
2. MEGAN: What did you do!?
Panel 4. Lightning strikes and strips away DIMITRI’s shadow armor. His posture now registers discomfort and he tries to look away from her.
3. DIMITRI: I didn’t want you to be here.
4. NARRATION: One Mississippi. Two Mississippi…
Panel 5. MEGAN weeps over her FATHER’s corpse. Behind her DIMITRI’s shadow armor has returned and he look totally stoic again. The thunder cracks.
5. NARRATION: Three Mississippi-
6. FX: BOOM!
7. MEGAN: You killed him.
8. ANONYMOUS: His own fear killed him.
Panel 6. Lightning strips DIMITRI’s armor again and he turns to leave.
9. DIMITRI: I have to go… Stay away from me.
10. NARRATION: One Mississippi.
PAGE TWENTY-ONE (six panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI walks towards the door. MEGAN shouts at him as he goes.
1. NARRATION: Two Mississippi-
2. MEGAN: Stop!
3. FX: BOOM!
Panel 2. MEGAN grabs the handgun off the ground and points it at DIMITRI. He’s stopped and turned his head to look back at her.
4. MEGAN: STOP!
5. ANONYMOUS: Shoot, little girl. Find out what-
6. DIMITRI: Megan, please just stay here… I need to leave.
Panel 3. A close up as DIMITRI looks out the window and sees lightning strike on the horizon. He flinches away from the light as it strips his armor.
7. NARRATION: One Mississippi…
8. DIMITRI: You won’t ever see me again, I promise.
9. FX: BOOM!
Panel 4. MEGAN fires a shot at DIMITRI who deflect it with a screen of darkness.
10. MEGAN: You bastard!
11. FX: Bang!
12. DIMITRI: Megan, please… don’t…
Panel 5. MEGAN continues to fire wildly. Shots ricochet everywhere and one rebounds off the wall and strikes MEGAN in the head.
13. DIMITRI: He was trying to kill me! My friends! I had to stop-
14. DIMITRI: Megan…?
Panel 6. MEGAN twitches on the ground as a pool of blood forms around her head. DIMITRI rushes towards her while the shadows follow him.
15. DIMITRI: MEGAN!
PAGE TWENTY-TWO (four panels)
Panel 1. DIMITRI kneels over MEGAN’s dead body, weeping into his hands.
Panel 2. The same shot. DIMITRI stumbles to his feet. The pool of blood has grown.
Panel 3. The same shot. DIMITRI is gone, but MEGAN’s body remains still, in a growing pool of blood.
Panel 4. DIMITRI has his rifle slung over his shoulder and walks away from the compound. He’s no longer crying but his eyes are still red. The entire area is still covered in carnage from the night’s fighting. The sun is just beginning to rise on the edge of the horizon as the storm clouds begin to part.