Jet Black #1

Page 1
PANEL 1- Open on a cemetery on a gray and rainy day.

CAPTION: San Francisco, 2000

PANEL 2- Ten or so people dressed in black are gathered around a casket. Most of them hold umbrellas. Central focus is JET BLACK, about 18-19 years old. He has medium length black hair. He is wracked with grief. Someone is holding an umbrella above his head.

PANEL 3- Shot of the casket lowering into the ground. The headstone reads:

‘Chow Li Sung’
Sept. 16, 1952 - October 24, 2001

Page 2
PANEL 1- Same scene as before but now everyone has left, except JET. He is crying silently. He is drenched with rain.

PANEL 2- Close up as a hand rests on his shoulder. Smaller panel.

KAMIKAZE (off panel): I’m sorry for your loss. Your father was a great man and a close friend.

PANEL 3- JET turns and sees a Japanese man of above average size. He is wearing an all white business suit with a red tie. He has a gentleness about him that defies his size. He doesn’t carry an umbrella but he is hardly wet at all.

JET BLACK: Sniff…thanks.

PANEL 4- The man hands JET a business card.

KAMIKAZE: I…worked with your father.

KAMIKAZE: If you ever need anything…anything at all.

PANEL 5- JET looks at the card. It has a stylized L on it, with a phone number.

PANEL 6- His attention drops from the card to the headstone. Close up shot of his face. Over JET’S shoulder KAMIKAZE walks off.

CAPTION: Dad…

Page 3
PANEL 1- Same close up of JET BLACK’S face as the previous page. But now he has short cropped black hair and has sunglasses on, with a black suit. He’s a few years older, and harder. He’s in his mid-twenties, young looking but not a kid. He’s been through some rough times. Think Mark Dacascos/Jet Li as Jack Hawksmoor. He looks like he’s pissed off. Random city shots over his shoulder. (Hot dog vendor/taxis/misc. pedestrians/etc.)

CAPTION: New York City, 2005.

PANEL 2- Pull back and we see him as he enters an office building downtown. He’s wearing a full black business suit. The corporation name ‘MASTERS, INC.’ is labeled on the walls and doors.

PANEL 3- It’s also on the security guards uniforms, who eye him suspiciously as he walks past the front desk. One security guard is talking into a walkie-talkie. Close up on the security guards and in the foreground a shot of JET from his shoulder to mid-waist as he walks by.

PANEL 4- He enters the elevator and presses the elevator button for the top floor. This shot could be from the top corner of the elevator, almost like a security camera.

PANEL 5- Small panel of the elevator doors. It shows a display at the top. Number 85 is lit up.

SFX: DING!

Page 4
PANEL 1- JET steps out. A wide dramatic shot. If this was a movie he’d be stepping out in slow motion. He’s looking down the hall, towards us.

PANEL 2- A bodyguard in a suit (without the jacket and his shirt sleeves rolled up) charges him at superspeed. The guard has long, light colored hair. Maybe some speed lines, or after images to show just how fast he’s moving.

PANEL 3- Without moving the rest of his body JET lets loose a quick kick under the guard’s chin knocking the guard flying backwards. Show this as if it was in slo-mo too. Maybe have the guard spinning through the air with his head arched backwards. JET is standing solidly with his leg fully extended straight up.

Page 5
PANEL 1- Three guards in suits stand in the background. (One is a large, muscular guy, the other two are smaller but have distinct hair styles.) The unconscious superspeed guard is in the foreground at their feet. The three try not to look intimidated.

PANEL 2- Shot of JET from the waist up as he removes his sunglasses. He looks kind of bored.

JET BLACK: You know who I am, and you know what I’ll do to you.

PANELS 3 4 5- These panels combined could be half the page length-wise and full page width-wise, broken up into three separate panels. In each panel is one guard in mid-change to elemental form.
Guard One arches his arms back and ignites into flames, Guard Two raises his arms as his body turns to water, and Guard Three’s body grows larger as his skin converts into a million small rocks.

Page 6
PANEL 1- A full shot of JET as he tucks his sunglasses into his pocket. He is standing very casually.

JET BLACK: I see you’ve made your decision.

PANEL 2- The second full page panel is from just behind JET. The three guards now in full elemental form ready themselves for the attack.

PANEL 3- JET BLACK shoots forward and slides in towards the Guards. (Maybe some speed lines for a background to show how fast he’s moving.)

Page 7
Panel 1- With his left arm JET grabs the FIRE-GUARD’S right arm.

PANEL 2- JET is still holding the FIRE-GUARD’S arm while he’s on fire. JET looks very calm as he twists the FIRE-GUARD’S arm and breaks it. The FIRE-GUARD throws his head back in pain.

SFX: KRACK!

FIRE-GUARD: AAAHHH F…

PANEL 3- Then JET pokes him in the throat with two fingers using his free hand, blocking off his air. (JET’S still holding his other arm.) The FIRE-GUARD gasps.

FIRE-GUARD: ACK!

PANEL 4- He then kicks (or flips) him into the WATER-GUARD, resulting in a lot of steam, and screams.

FIRE&WATER-GUARD: ARRRRGGGGGHHHH!

Page 8
PANEL 1- JET then spins around them and punches the rock guy with all his might dead center.

SFX: WHAMM!

PANEL 2- Close up of the ROCK-GUARD as he just looks down and laughs.

ROCK-GUARD- HAW HAW HAW-

PANEL 3- Same panel as above but he looks surprised.

ROCK-GUARD- HUH?

PANEL 4- Shot from behind the rock guy as he falls apart into smaller rocks. JET can be seen between the falling rocks. JET remains held in the same punching position as Page 4, Panel 5.

PANEL 5- JET stands before a double door. The plaque reads: MASTERS, CEO.

JET BLACK: Masters…

Page 9
PANEL 1- From inside the massive office, we see JET BLACK kicking open the doors. The unconscious Fire/Water/Rock guards, or their remnants anyway, can be seen in the hallway. Inside the office is a man in a suit with silver-gray hair. He is wearing an expensive suit and stands before a large, ornate desk.

MASTERS: Mr. Black do come in. Would you care for some coffee?

PANEL 2- JET walks up and punches him full force. MASTERS stumbles back into his desk.

PANEL 3- MASTERS stands, and regains his composure, straightening his tie.

MASTERS: Bravo Mr. Black. I actually felt that. It’s been awhile since I felt any pain.

MASTERS: Almost…enjoyable.

PANEL 4- JET jabs two fingers into MASTERS’ neck and MASTERS looks very shocked. He begins to gasp.

PANEL 5- MASTERS falls to his knees clutching his throat as JET walks around casually, looking at the pictures on MASTERS’ wall.

JET BLACK: Now, without the interruptions, Mr. Masters…I know all about your personal bio-field and how it protects you from getting hurt.

JET BLACK: As you probably figured out by now…it’s useless against me.

JET BLACK: I can still hit your pressure points and I’ve just closed off your windpipe.

JET BLACK: It’s temporary but it’ll keep you quiet until I’m finished.

Page 10
PANEL 1- JET is walking behind MASTERS’ desk. He pulls his chair over. MASTERS is on the floor gasping. JET is looking off out the window. He is very calm and composed.

JET BLACK: Now, I know you’ve had a visit from a chronal-manipulator. The building reeks of its energy signature.

JET BLACK: What I want to know, and this is a yes or no, do or die type question here…

PANEL 2- JET leans in real close over the desk, fury in his eyes.

JET BLACK: Was it Father Time?

PANEL 3- MASTERS fumbles a crystal from his pocket. It lands on the desk.

JET BLACK: All I’m looking for is a nod here.

PANEL 4- JET BLACK slams his fist down into the desk, smashing the crystal to pieces.

JET BLACK: WAS IT HIM?!?

PANEL 5- MASTERS nods.

Page 11
PANEL 1- JET stands and regains his composure, readjusting his suit. He stands and walks out from behind the desk.

JETBLACK: Finally…

PANEL 2- JET turns to leave. MASTERS begins to gasp his last few breaths. Then JET turns back towards MASTERS.

JET BLACK: Oh yeah, I forgot…since you were so helpful…

PANEL 3- JET pokes MASTERS in the neck again, but in a different spot.

PANEL 4- MASTERS breathes in a huge deep breath.

JET BLACK (off panel): There ya go…you take care now.

PANEL 5- JET then side kicks him right out the window.

Page 12
PANEL 1- Shot of MASTERS as he plummets to the street below.

MASTERS- AAAAAAHHHHH!

PANEL 2- The CHRONONAUT hears screaming and looks up. The CHRONONAUT is a kid about 18, with an innocent look about him. He’s wearing just a futuristic-looking jacket with a clock design on the back, a white T-shirt, and jeans. He’s buying a hot dog from a hot dog vendor. The vendor and all the casual pedestrians look up.

CHRONONAUT: Not again…

PANEL 3- He runs to try and clear the people from the area.

CHRONONAUT: Lookout! Lookout! Get back!

PANEL 4- CHRONONAUT turns his head, flinching and making an “ooooh” face as MASTERS slams against the sidewalk, making a crater and kicking up dust from the pulverized concrete. People run screaming, some stand paralyzed.

SFX: BOOOM!

PANEL 5- The dust is settling and people are rubber-necking, and taking pictures.

Page 13
PANEL 1- JET BLACK comes walking out of the building. He walks over to CHRONONAUT. He’s putting on his sunglasses.

JET BLACK: He was here…

PANEL 2- JET BLACK and CHRONONAUT walk away from the scene. In the background people gasp as a shaky hand pops out of the crater.

CHRONONAUT: Really?

CHRONONAUT: What now?

PANEL 3- They are further away from the crater still, and closer to us. MASTERS stands up from the crater dazed.

JET BLACK: Now, we head back to HQ and find out where he went.

PANEL 4- MASTERS collapses into the crater. We see JET BLACK and CHRONONAUT’S shoulders as they turn to energy and fade out.

JET BLACK: Then we take him out of the game.

Page 14
PANEL 1- JET is inside the LEAGUE HQ (JLA Watchtower meets the Authority’s Carrier and then some). It is expansive and technical beyond belief. Shining, and sleek. A few people in uniforms (think more like jumpsuits than costumes) are running equipment.

CAPTION: League HQ, Between Reality and Unreality.

PANEL 2- A slightly older KAMIKAZE from the flashback flies down, and begins hovering alongside JET. KAMIKAZE is wearing an all white suit/uniform with a red circle design in the center.

KAMIKAZE: Jet, we have to talk. I’m concerned about you.

PANEL 3- JET is walking along not really looking like he’s paying attention to KAMIKAZE.

KAMIKAZE: I had you head up the search for Father Time as a favor to you…and your father.

KAMIKAZE: But you just threw a man out of his office window.

PANEL 4- JET is looking annoyed by the conversation.

JET BLACK: It was just Masters…I bet he doesn’t have anything worse than a headache.

KAMIKAZE: Regardless…that doesn’t mean you can do what you like to him. The man does have certain rights we must respect…

PANEL 5- JET still looking disinterested, as KAMIKAZE looks off in the distance, almost unsure of his words.

JET BLACK: Suddenly we work within the law?

KAMIKAZE: We’ve had this conversation before…you know I can’t condone this behavior. If your methods don’t change, I’ll…

Page 15
PANEL 1- JET turns and faces KAMIKAZE. There’s a fury in his eyes.

JET BLACK: You’ll what?! C’mon…what?

JET BLACK: This world doesn’t live by your moral code!

JET BLACK: If I don’t catch this psycho before he slips back into the Timestream… who knows when he’ll appear again!

PANEL 2- Shot of JET clenching his fists.

JET BLACK: You know what happened last time he popped up.

JET BLACK: I have to grab him before…

PANEL 3- JET looks suddenly calm and sympathetic. Dramatic shot.

JET BLACK: I owe it to my father…

PANEL 4- KAMIKAZE looks saddened by the sudden thought of JET’S father.

KAMIKAZE: I know…that’s why I brought you in.

KAMIKAZE: But I also assigned Chrononaut to you in hopes you’d use a little more restraint.

KAMIKAZE: Against my better judgement, and only because I owed your father my life…I won’t report this to the others in the Directorate.

KAMIKAZE: Just be careful…please.

PANEL 5- JET walks off towards us (the foreground), leaving KAMIKAZE floating behind in the background. JET has a look of grim determination.

JET BLACK: I will…and don’t worry…

JET BLACK: This will all be over very soon.