FLESH ANGELS © 2002-2004 M.D. KOFFIN, VON PHANTASI THIS DRAFT IS FOR PREVIEWING PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT COPY OR REDISTRIBUTE THIS MATERIAL WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S EXPRESSED PERMISSION. Reviews of the prerelease: "certainly a unique book. I plan on getting the first issue or so of the continuing series." ~ Kevin Brahmer (Optical Sloth) March 29, 2002 "the writing is R.D. Laing channeling Charles Bukowski writing Steve Ditko's AVENGING WORLD. A truly unique experience" ~ Stephen Grant (BadLands) March 6, 2002 "Well, if you had the promotional blurb that he sent us you can figure out what is going on, but to tell you that here would soil your fun. There is a faint impression of a plot, e-mailed appointments and women struggling against an attack. The majority of the book is the dialogue: measured but full to the brim of ambiguity." ~ Darren Schroeder (Silver Bullet Comics) April 23, 2002 Flesh Angels Prerelease Issue: Happy Hour Synopsis Flesh Angels is a psychological thriller about the mindset of a possessed mass murderer, the Tattoo Killer. The main plot revolves around the tormenting of an individual by the monstrous beings he sees as the Flesh Angels. His desire for the truth in his experiences is his maddening motivation. The Experts view the Killer phenomenon as a form of compulsively violent, copycat hysteria. The events of this story take place in New York; the murders and visitations occuring in underground tunnels connected to the subways. The first issue introduces the characters of John Saint, Melissa Maudlin Townsend, Martha Maudlin, and Felicia Dama. John Saint is not the first victim of the Flesh Angels, and he won’t be the last. In the prologue to John’s torture, his friend Melissa is reluctantly preparing for her wedding to Pritchard Townsend. Her mother and friend tease her about her relationship with John. She goes to meet him at Happy Hour but he does not show. On the way home with Cici, she sees a crime scene and is sure that something bad has happened to him. FLESH ANGELS SCRIPT PAGE ONE (4 panels) Panel 1-4. Depicts email correspondence between John Saint and Melissa Townsend, which reads: Mel I’m not avoiding you. I’ve been busy. If I take the N train, I can get there by 6. My treat. (Hopefully not the last.) JS ----Original Message---- From: Melissa Townsend [mailto: mel_townsend@hotmail.com] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 11:52 AM To: John Saint Subject: Happy Hour Jojo~ It’s been really hard to get a hold of you. I definitely feel like you’ve been avoiding me. I knew you wouldn’t be ok with this. I swear things won’t be any different. How about a pitcher of margaritas after work? ~Mel PAGE TWO ( 7 panels ) Panel 1. Two researchers, ADACHI and COOPER, at work in a sparse and cold computer lab. Adachi is a young Asian wearing a lab coat. He punches his last keystroke with a flourish. Cooper is a white jarhead in a generic flight suit uniform. He is getting up from his chair. 1. CAP: TIMBERLAKE INSTITUTE OF BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH 3:02PM 2. ADACHI: AND... EXECUTE. 3. COOPER: PERFECT, I'LL GO TELL THE BOSS. Panel 2. Cooper stops at the lab door. 4. COOPER: HEY, MARGARITAS SOUND GOOD. YOU UP? PANEL 3. Adachi's face serious. 5. ADACHI: NOT FUNNY, COOPER. NOT FUNNY AT ALL. Panel 4. Cooper is standing just inside the door of an upscale lawfirm-like office with lots of stained wood and dim lighting, a sinister sort of atmosphere. 6. COOPER: SIR. Panel 5. Cooper standing unmoving, waiting. Panel 6. Cooper still standing unmoving, waiting. Panel 7. Cooper snappy. 7. HANKS(OP): THE EXPERIMENT IS PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE. 8. COOPER: THE VIRUS HAS BEEN ACTIVATED, SIR! 9. HANKS(OP): GOOD. GOOD. AS YOU WERE. PAGE THREE ( 5 panels ) JOHN SAINT is sitting at his desk in his apartment attempting to write a note about his Happy Hour date. 1. CAP: JOHN SAINT'S APARTMENT 3:08PM PAGE FOUR ( 4 panels ) I SCREAM. I SCREAM UNTIL MY JAW MUSCLES CRAMP INTO TIGHT KNOTS. I SCREAM UNTIL THE VEINS PULSE HARD IN MY NECK. I SCREAM UNTIL I FEEL LIKE MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE IF IT DOESN’T STOP. WHY DO I SCREAM? IF YOU HAVE TO ASK, THEN WHY ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME AT ALL? -SPIDER-SCORPION ANGEL WHO AM I? TO ASK QUESTIONS IS TO INVITE LIES. IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS LIGHT PAGE FIVE ( panels ) AND IT WAS NOT GOOD. THE LIGHT SHOWS ME THINGS YOU’D RATHER NOT HAVE ME SEE. PAGE SIX ( panels ) YOU DISGUST ME. I AM ALWAYS SHOCKED BY THE RAW EXPOSURE OF YOUR EXISTENCE, CRAWLING ON A CROWD OF SPREADING LIMBS, TEMPTING ME WITH PRIMAL VIOLENCE. YOU’D LIKE TO IMPLY AN ANCIENT BRIDGE BETWEEN HERE AND THERE, A HISTORY BETWEEN YOU AND ME. THERE’S NOTHING BETWEEN US, NO CONNECTION. WE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF DIFFERENT WORLDS. YET THERE IS SOMETHING ALLURING ABOUT YOU. A PRIMITIVE BEAUTY I CAN APPRECIATE. SEEMINGLY MINDLESS, BUT REALLY OF ONE MIND, AN INHUMAN KIND OF CONSCIOUSNESS. YOU ONLY TRY TO APPROACH ME WHEN I AM UNAWARE OF THE ATTEMPT, WHEN I AM TOO PREOCCUPIED TO NOTICE. SEEKING SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER THIS WASTE OF HUMANITY WITH YOUR DECEPTIVE SHYNESS. WHY DO YOU TORTURE ME? PAGE SEVEN ( panels ) THIS BEHAVIOR IS REVOLTING TO ME. YOU MATE ONLY TO SPREAD YOUR AGGRESSIVELY BRED OFFSPRING. BIOLOGICAL TIMEBOMBS TO CARRY THE GENES OF FUTURE DISEASES, TO DESTROY FERTILE MINDS WITH THE FUTILITY OF FIGHTING OVERWHELMING NUMBERS. IS YOUR GRAND DESIGN PART OF THE DIVINE? IS THAT WHY YOU ARE HERE? PAGE EIGHT ( panels ) BUT YOU ARE NOT HERE. YOU ARE ALREADY GONE AS I KNEW YOU WOULD BE. RECEDED FROM THE LIGHT SO THAT ONLY I REMAIN EXPOSED. -HAND-MOUTH ANGEL I REMAIN ALONE TO WITNESS THE NEXT BATCH OF HORRORS TO EXUDE FROM THIS CAVERNOUS SHRINE TO HUMAN FRAILTIES. GAPING HANDS REACHING OUT WITH THE SAME DIRTY TRICKS PAGE NINE ( panels ) MAKING ME LOATHE TO TOUCH ANYTHING YOU MAY HAVE TOUCHED. NOTHING UP YOUR SLEEVE. NOTHING BUT RABIES, THAT IS. YOU REPULSE ME EVEN MORE THAN THE HIDEOUSLY BEAUTIFUL LEGION. YOUR REACHING IS SELF SERVING AND ALWAYS COUPLED WITH MEANINGLESS PLATITUDES POORLY COVERING THE DESIRE TO GET IN BED TOGETHER. LETS CUT THE SENSELESS JABBERING AND GET RIGHT TO BUSINESS SHALL WE? YOU LAUGH AT MY HONESTY. YOUR LAUGHTER MOCKS MY SENSES. IS IT WITH ME OR AT ME? I THINK I’M INTIMIDATING YOU WITH MY BLUFF, STIRRING YOUR SHAME AT YOUR OWN CONDITION, YOUR OWN NEEDINESS. YOU IGNORE THE RUDE AWAKENING, BUT LOVE TO HATE ME ANYWAY. YOU CONTINUE TO PUT ME THROUGH MY PACES, FORCING ME TO STRUT MY STUFF WHILE ENVYING ME. WATCH ME PERFORM. THE HAND IS QUICKER THAN THE MOUTH. PAGE TEN ( panels ) DO YOU WANT TO LICK MY BALLS, OR CRUSH THEM? MASTICATE OR MASSAGE? A LITTLE OF BOTH, PERHAPS. I WANT NEITHER. NOT FROM YOU OR FROM ANY OF YOUR KIND. YOU ARE FILTH. YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME. NOTHING MAKES ME WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU. NOTHING MAKES ME WANT TO GIVE ANY OF MY SELF OVER TO YOU. WHY SHOULD I WHEN ALL YOU DO IS FOR YOURSELF? HAND DIRECTLY TO MOUTH. GRASPING AND DEVOURING. CONSUMING AND MASTURBATING. YES, GO FUCK YOURSELF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SPANKING YOU IS BETTER THAN BITING ME. SHIT. I PUT ON QUITE A SHOW FOR YOU DON’T I. BUT I’M NOT READY FOR WHAT’S NEXT. PAGE ELEVEN ( panels ) -MELTED DUO ANGEL OH PLEASE, CAN’T I HAVE A REST FROM THESE TRIALS. I NEED TIME TO HARDEN MYSELF IF I’M GOING TO ENDURE WHAT’S COMING. I AM ONE OF THE OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN FORSAKEN. SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER REST IN PEACE. I CANNOT SPEAK. NOTHING I WOULD SAY COULD END THIS FOUL JOINING BEFORE IT REACHES THE POINT OF INEVITABILITY. I’M OUT OF TIME-OUTS, I’M OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS MINE. I’VE LOST ME. PAGE TWELVE ( panels ) YOU’RE TAKING THE PLUNGE BUT I’M THE ONE WHO’S DROWNING. I’VE BEEN STOMPED ON AND STRANGLED, AND NOW I AM DROWNING. YOU DON’T NOTICE BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING FUCKED BY YOUR OWN DESIRE, YOUR OWN GREED. YOU WANT ME, I WANT SOMEONE ELSE, THAT SOMEONE WANTS. I DON’T GIVE A FUCK. MAYBE I DO. I WON’T SAY IT THOUGH. SHHH. I AM DROWNING MYSELF IN YOU TO COVER IT ALL OVER. YOUR HOLD ON ME MELTS MY WILL. I DON’T KNOW WHERE I STOP. YOU BETTER SAY WHEN IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU. PAGE THIRTEEN ( panels ) GOOD FOR YOU, YOU SAID WHEN. TOO BAD IT CAN’T BE STOPPED NOW, NOT WHEN WE’RE ALL HAVING SO MUCH FUN. SO IT HURTS, LOVE HURTS. WE’RE CASHING IN. UNTIL DEATH DO US PART. -HE COMES UP FROM THE TUNNELS BUT NO ONE ON THE STREET NOTICES HIM. I WILL ESCAPE. YOU SCREAM SILENTLY. YOU WON’T ESCAPE. WHAT IS DEATH BUT A WISH FULFILLED. THE WISH THAT YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN. THE WISH FOR THE END TO YOUR SUFFERING. THE END TO YOUR BOREDOM CAUSED BY LACK OF MEANINGFUL SUFFERING. THE END. PAGE FOURTEEN ( panels ) -FACE AWAY ANGEL I HAVE NEVER TRULY SEEN A FACE. HAVE YOU? LIAR. LOOK AT ME NOW. YOU CAN’T. TO SEE YOUR SOUL REFLECTED AS OTHERS SEE IT TERRIFIES YOU. EVEN WHEN YOU ARE STILL I CANNOT CATCH A GLIMPSE. ARE YOU EVER STILL, POOR RESTLESS SOUL? I WISH I COULD HELP. ANYTHING FOR RELEASE. WHAT CAN I DO? I AM FLESH AND I AM CURSED. THAT COULD BE OF USE TO YOU. DO YOU HATE ME? THAT IS WHY YOU CANNOT BEAR TO LOOK AT ME, YOUR CURSED CREATURE OF FLESH. DO YOU LOVE ME? THAT IS WHY YOU ALLOW THESE TORTURES TO GO ON, MY LESSONS TO CONTINUE. I HAVE NOT YET LEARNED ENOUGH FOR ASCENSION. FINE. TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. IF YOU WOULD LOOK UPON ME, JUST ONCE, I AM SURE ALL WOULD BE REVEALED IN THAT TIMELESS GLANCE. BEGGING DOES ME NO GOOD. YOU WILL ONLY BE PROUD OF ME IF I BELITTLE MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN YOUR PRESENCE. I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE FALLEN FOR YOUR GRACIOUS GOOD GRACE TO GRACE ME. I HAVE TO MAKE IT KNOW THAT I AM WEAK. I AM NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR DIVINE ATTENTION. THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR. BUT YOU KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO HEAR IT, MAKING MY WHISPERED PRAYERS SELFISH AN UNREWARDABLE. PAGE FIFTEEN ( panels ) I AM WORTHY. YOU SAW ME STOMPED ON AND STRANGLED AND DROWNED. OVER AND OVER I FACED THESE TRIALS. PAGE SIXTEEN ( panels ) THERE IS NOTHING WORSE YOU CAN DO TO ME. NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU TO SHOW ME THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN, EXCEPT THE TRUTH IN YOUR FACE. SHOW ME. PAGE SEVENTEEN ( panels ) Panel 1. In the background, Melissa and Cici can be seen through the front window of a bar. Mel is looking down at her drink while Cici is dancing in her seat. In the foreground John is partially in shadows; blood is dripping of his hand. 1. JOHN: I MADE IT. I'M HERE. NOW. Panel 2-X. John looks lost and confused. There is a child standing next to him, a young boy. John's mannerisms are more like a child while the child behaves more mature. There is a roach on his shoulder, then in each successive panel there are more and more roaches crawling on his face and body, until he is made entirely of roaches. Then the roaches break apart and crawl up John. 1. BOY: ARE YOU ALRIGHT MISTER? 2. JOHN: WHAT? DID YOU... 3. DID YOU SAY SOMETHING TO ME? 4. BOY: YOU'RE BLEEDING, MISTER. PRETTY BAD. 5. JOHN: OH. IT'S NOT MY... I MEAN I DON'T... 6. BOY: YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. 7. JOHN(WHISPER): NO. PAGE EIGHTEEN ( panels ) 1. BOY: I WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS NEXT. 2. JOHN: NO. 3. I MADE IT. 4. BOY/ROACHES: THE DESIGN WAS FLAWED. 5. JOHN: I'M HERE. 6. BOY/ROACHES: THE PURPOSE, CONTRADICTORY. 7. JOHN(WHISPER): WHY? 8. ROACHES: ALL TOO HUMAN. 9. JOHN: YES. 10. I WAS. 11. ROACHES/JOHN: WE HAVE EVOLVED. PAGE NINETEEN ( panels ) Panel 1. Inside the bar at Happy Hour, Melissa looks disappointed. 1. CICI: I TOLD YOU HE WOULDN’T SHOW. HE WON’T COME BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. Panel 2. Melissa puts lots of cash on the bar. 2. MEL: LET’S GO. Panel 3. Cici teases Mel. 3. CICI: GIVING UP ON YOUR LOVER SO EASILY? 4. MEL: JUST QUIT IT, OK? 5. CICI: SURE, WHATEVER. PAGE TWENTY ( 3 panel ) Panel 1. They leave the bar and walk down the sidewalk in silence. Panel 2. Crime scene in subway entrance. 1. CORONER: ESTIMATED TIME OF DEATH 2. 5:30 PM. Panel 3. Mel scared. 3. MEL: OH SHIT, JOHN! PAGE TWENTY-ONE ( 5 panel ) Panel 1. Mel breaks through police line; an officer stops her. 1. MEL: MY GOD, IT CAN’T BE! Panel 2. Officer lifts sheet to show chopped torso parts, some with possibly identifiable tattoos including one of an egyptian heiroglyph with a pyramid. 2. OFFICER: YOU KNOW HER? Panel 3. Mel throws up. Cici unaffected. 3. CICI: YOUR MOM SAID YOU’D PUKE. Panel 4. Mel turning away from officer. 4. MEL: I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET...SO I THOUGHT...I WAS MISTAKEN. Panel 5. Officer turns to other lookee-loos. 5. OFFICER: STAY BACK. PAGE TWENTY-TWO ( panels ) Panel 1. Cooper is standing in the sinister wood office again. He looks very uncomfortable. Panel 2. A pair of hands are folded on a large desk over a folded newspaper. ARTICLE (not front page): KILLER RESUMES UNDERGROUND MUTILATIONS By Cornelius Scipio, Times Staff, October 14, 2004 In a seemingly endless string of murders, the Tattoo Killer continues to threaten residents of this city. The targets do not seem to have any discernable pattern other than their brutal dissection. The latest victim was recognized as Lucille Herman after a tattoo of a pyramid on her remains identified her as the Long Island interior decorator. Friends of Ms. Herman are quoted as saying "She was a truly wonderful and creative person. No one would have harmed her who knew her. Just look at my kitchen." A contractor from Queens was held briefly and released after his alibis could not be disputed. Investigators are anxious for any information which may provide concrete links to the killers identity. Panel 3. A trickle of sweat runs down Coopers brow. Panel 4. 1. HANKS(OP): THIS TRIAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE. 2. COOPER: SIR. 3. HANKS(OP): WELL? 4. COOPER: SIR... 5. HANKS(OP): WE ARE GETTING CLOSE. HAVE ADACHI ADJUST THE DESIGN. 6. COOPER: THAT'S JUST IT SIR, THE INITIALIZATION WAS PERFECT. IT'S THAT THE PROFILE DOESN'T MATCH THE DESIGN. 7. HANKS: COOPER... 8. COOPER: YES SIR, THE VIRUS MUTATED. FLESH ANGELS © 2002-2004 M.D. KOFFIN, VON PHANTASI THIS DRAFT IS FOR PREVIEWING PURPOSES ONLY. DO NOT COPY OR REDISTRIBUTE THIS MATERIAL WITHOUT THE AUTHOR'S EXPRESSED PERMISSION.