Lights... Camera... ACTION!!: A Hollywood Quest

Distant Marvelous Ripples.

It started with a Real estate mogul wanting a Book published. It began with a comic book visionary getting interested in going into animation. It originated as a challenge to the restrictions placed on a medium because the story was just that damn good, Even if it didn't follow the rules and because somebody said, "Wouldn't it be cool if…"



Joseph O'Brien had a rival. That Rival wanted to publish a successful book with his name on it as an author. Not necessarily write it, mind you, but have the book published so said rival could be seen and noticed. The Rival wanted the publicity of something "real" after the recent artsy release of Joseph O'Brians son and his son's friend's latest work, Star Wars. The Rivals Ego didn't like that Star Wars was playing in every movie theater and on everyone's lips. Still, like all movies, it would be replaced soon enough if nothing kept the Movie in the Public Eye, like, for example, an ongoing comic series. Suppose the Comic series was still being produced, he might have to share news stand and bookshop space when his book was released or, even more embarrassingly, have his book sales overshadowed by children's media. It was time to discuss the issue with his fixer, Roy Cohn. There would be somebody interested in adjusting the status quo. It was, after all, a part of the Art of the Deal.



Marvel had a bit of a problem with the status quo. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's latest masterpiece was Amazing. Was Spectacular... What it was not was compliant with the Comics Code Authority restriction on violence.

In theory, it was not an issue. The Comics Code Authority was a voluntary organization that set industry standards to prevent the Government from creating potentially more restrictive laws by out-of-touch Politicians. It had no Legal weight. Marvel had even successfully released a Spider-Man title without CCA approval. However, given that works without the stamp tended not to get bought by comic book wholesalers unless there were some serious caveats, the work would be tough to get into the hands of readers.

Marvel's previous escape was that the Department of Health Education and Welfare specifically requested the noncompliant work to make drug use as unglamorous as possible. Marvel Publisher Cadence Industries Corporation had been on board with the release, and even then, the work itself had been so unobjectionable that only a lawyer should have had issue with the release. The issue had been published and successful. Marvel had then immediately returned to the fold, complying with the regulatory standards. However, the president had been set, and certain people remained suspicious that Marvel was looking for an excuse.

So far, the sales of Spider-Man Noir had been because it was that damn good a story that the comic wholesalers were willing to take a risk. It seemed to be working out, but then whispers started going around. Marvel going around the Authority, even for a work as good as this one, could potentially herald a dynamic shift in how the industry operated. Just like Lucasfilm was doing in Hollywood. And hadn't Marvel just cut a deal with Lucasfilm? Other comic book publishers and Wholesale comic book buyers didn't like the implications of that.

The Hollywood shake-up had seen the end of the Juggernaut Warner, the end of studios merely coasting by on paint-by-numbers movies, and the dynamic of making movies to make money. Now in Hollywood, it seemed if you wanted to make a movie, you needed to want to make a damn good movie, and hopefully, it would make money. For certain businessmen, this was an intolerable idea. Hadn't the case against Henry Ford in 1919 firmly established that companies were to be run as profit maximisation machines for shareholders? Now, under the influence of the Lucasfilm group Marvel was seemingly gearing up to do the same. Well, then certain calls were going to be made and Marvel was going to have to deal with someone Squashing their Black spider.



It was stupid, idiotic and downright embarrassing. Marvel should have been gearing up for a run of two potentially world-shaking Comic book titles but instead was having significant internal difficulties.

Work on Spider- Man Noir had been electric. It felt like something extraordinary was being crafted between Jack and Stan. Ideas were being thrown around, and truly fantastic story was being created. Jack Kirby was taking Stan Lee's idea and crafting probably the most breathtaking art of his life from it, Emphasizing and enhancing the already brilliant story. Somebody had Joked that if they ever accepted a comic book, it would easily win a Nobel prize in literature.

While this was energizing most of the Marvel staff, they also found themselves distracted and leaderless, and Marvels perennial problem of missed deadlines was rearing its head again. Stan Lee's relocation to LA for the Film and Animation opportunities was a good idea.Getting into Animation could be very good for Marvel. The problem was the move left the DC office relatively leaderless and lacking a functional editor-in-chief.

At present, most of the Creatives were either their own editors or were editing their friend's work while being badly distracted by the magic that was the Crafting of Spider-Man Noir. Not the best combination for objective work. Roy Thomas, who had been functioning as editor-in-chief, was unavailable as he created magic with the Star Wars title. It didn't leave him much time and energy for editing duties.

Len Wane, who had stepped in and whose work was, in hindsight, probably undervalued, had just been poached by DC and was rumored to have been approached by DC's new owner Alan Hirschfield. Len had been asked to write for Batman as DC prepared to take advantage of the Superman movie's impending release.

Nobody else had stepped up to the plate as an Effective Editor in chief. The best sort of substitute was the somewhat junior Jim Shooter, who, while effective, had some of Marvel's creatives accuse him of being a bit of a Bully. Still, selecting a new editor that everyone could work with and help steer the ship correctly was only a matter of time. Sure, finances were a bit tighter than Marvel would like, and publishers were annoyed at a few missed deadlines, but they were about to release amazing titles. It was not like they would immediately fight a rebellion against some evil foe who sought their muzzling or destruction like a real-world version of Star Wars.


The Duplicity of the scheme going around would have you convinced it was concocted in a dark office with smoke drifting up from cigarettes in ashtrays. In truth, it happened nothing like that. It was a series of phone calls with a real estate tycoon saying he knew someone who could make a situation go away with minimal unpleasantness; trust him. It was a fixer taking to publishers, comic book wholesalers, and even some of the larger newsstands and bookstores in DC, stoking fears and suggesting a message be sent less what was happening in Hollywood happen here, did you want to be the next Warner. It was conversations at dinners at charity meets at expensive restaurants suggesting that Morality might be in danger and it got seemingly different groups to move as one.

It is easy to demonize a text that no one has read. Write an alarmist editorial, write a response that was even more alarmist to that. Bring the response up in a social setting near a "For the children" activist who hasn't properly interacted with a child for years. Say the Comics code authority has refused to publish for being too violent. Run a few more editorials. Have someone explain why this breech of the comics code authority is terrible for child development. Take a recent judgment out of context and point to a court case where a child thief, using lessons and morality learned from Star Wars, manipulated and ruined the reputation of an otherwise good-standing congregation member. You don't want that happening to you do you?

All the while whisper in the right ears that it is to keep that business on Hollywood out of DC, that you are doing them a Favor. Remind them it doesn't have to go too long or cause too much trouble only until the finances bite and force Marvel to Give In. and then just to keep Marvel off balance buy and renovate a building just down the street. Make it inconvenient for Marvel with loud work and cuts to water and power at odd times. Just to keep the Folks in Marvel off balance and not making the best decisions when it comes to negotiations and explanations.



Ultimately, it all came together as a series of letters on Stan Lee's desk that together spelled out in no uncertain terms that if Marvel wanted to continue to be able to operate, Spider-Man Noir would cease production completely along with Star Wars and any contact with Lucasfilm. That work would be redirected back to non-controversial titles immediately, and deadlines would be met at the Pain of legal consequences regardless of how well or poorly the stories were selling. A little digging made it obvious who was probably behind Marvels recent bad luck but no true evidence.

What could Marvel do but give in? Bruce O'Brain wanted a comic book series not a Comic Book studio. Bruce O'Brain was not so generous as to buy out Marvel just to keep it afloat to make his comic book no mater how cool an idea people may think it would be.

Conan Production 4:

-[X]The Tale of Conan: You are going to focus on getting into the Headspace of Conan the Barbarian, the wise if not great King of the Hyborian Age. Not entirely of course, but you are going to at least try to. Mostly to give a more… fun thing. Rolled:D100 - 10 => 71

To say that the dour mood of much of the production had sent you into a strange haze of in and out of being able to do things on set is almost an entire thing…

You were honest, you were lost. There was a quiet thing. Being lost. You looked at most of the things and just wanted to pack things up, leave, and go off home to wallow in your failure.

Yet on the night you were about to call it a loss, you found a manuscript at your desk, with a note from the Howard Estate.


You took the day off. No one was doing anything that day anyway, construction on the set was still needing another day or two.

But warranted you to read it all, was the simple fact that in this story, Conan began defeated, but through his guile, trickery, and his strength, he was able to get over and survive.

It was almost impossible to really understand it. But you were happy.

And it gave you a newfound encouragement.

Reward: You are beginning to feel better.

Though not enough to be seen. But everyone feels the energy was going to be better.
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-[X]Table Reading: We're doing one more table read while the set is being repaired. Rolled:D100 - 10 => 68

Damn, that was incredible. It was happy, and despite your dour mood, everyone read the lines with energy.

Everyone was getting over the setback and now you and everyone else were in the saddle. Steve even joined in with his mini camera and just watched everyone be themselves and their characters. It was fun.

It was what this filming was supposed to be. A fun adventure.

Reward: Everyone besides you, gains a +20 to SP and Chemistry.
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-[X]The King of Stunts: Jackie Chan is really having fun with some of the downtime, balancing things around and doing other things that should not fly on set… like doing handstands. Rolled:D100 - 10 => 89

Jackie and you had this energy that was funny, and acceptable. There was of course some animosity, but that was only because you were stressed out of your mind with trying to keep this boat afloat when everything was going down.

Instead, he just walked over to Bob Anderson and just told him that he needed to do some awesome fight between you and Conan, if not for the sake of the film, then for something to keep your mind occupied.

And it took most of the day, but you had a rehearsal… than an idea. Then a true battle between equals. Agents of Doom battling the Thief and the Barbarian

And then it turned into a huge battle of thieves and barbarians with magical powers.

Reward: Gain a new set piece and action: The Battle of Thieves.

+20 to Jackies SP and Chemistry.
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Production roll:D100 + 20 => 51

Production began with a delay, but with the sets ready, and everyone ready, it went well enough.

You were still not at your best, but somehow it was elevated by everyone else. Conan's stoic mannerisms seemed to fit you to a t, despite it seeming awkward and not you.

It was alright. Though it was almost a disaster. The perfect take was nearly ruined because one of the camera operators nearly ran out of the film.

But you nailed it all in one take. And so much more.

And Steve was brilliant. He decided to save money on only repairing part of the set, and used the rest of the sets as the village ruins and outskirts of a city that is torn between the magical and the realistic.

This is why Steve was the true master of adventures in your mind. He was so damn good.

Reward: Production continues, slowly, but surely. With simple and big problems alike being solved in creative ways.
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Choose 3

[]And the Greatest Feat of All from ILM. A Funny-Looking Elephant Head: The Elephant costume is amazing. Let's go, and see how it can do.

[]The Battle of Thieves: Steve, let me take the camera. I'm about to show you how Action is supposed to be shot.

[]A City More Ancient than Hyboria: Going to Jerusalem to shoot the scenes gives the city atmosphere something ancient and powerful. And it was perfect

[]Ole Max Von Sydow: Max is an actor you never had the pleasure to be around, and you think he wants to just be calm, professional… and other stuff.

[]The Joy and Wonder of Christopher Lloyd: Chris is a huge fan, and honestly, you wonder just why he likes you so much.

[]Sarah Douglas, and the Crazy Shit she's now in: Sarah is a little bit scared right now… no, mortified, because she just got a call that after this production, she has to go directly to Superman shoot, and she's afraid she will get fired because if she tries to talk to you.

[]Meeting James For the first time: James Earl Jones is a man who had been around set, but you never met him. So time to meet him.

[]Sophia Loren, and the Quest to Stay out of the Spotlight: You have never met someone so vain…no scratch that. She was just screwing with you. Wow, were you really that dense?