From the sketchbook...
Added 2020-08-02 12:00:03 +0000 UTCMy older son and I sat on the front porch for a solid two hours brainstorming a super power for this new character. For a good, long time, he had ghost-based powers. Then he was a sorcerer.
Finally, one of us stumbled on the concept of reincarnation, and we knew we had it. This new villain can summon forth any of his past lives. So, if he was, say, a caveman in a past life (or a cavewoman), he can bring that person back for a limited amount of time. (Both the caveman and the villain would be able to work together on whatever situation was at hand.)
And that meant that — in order to prevent screw-ups — we'd need to develop a bible of past lives for this character. And we'd need to work backwards from the death of the most recent life, and so forth. We made it as far as the Ottoman Empire.
The previous life — an accountant — is the reason this villain landed the job.
His name will be FLASHBACK.
...or maybe Rewind. Or Replay. Or the Recycler.
I'm still working on that...
Comments
Interesting idea, but I notice that his/her past selves seem to die pretty young. I know that modern lifespans are significantly longer than in days of yore, but I'm thinking that there must be some entertaining tales about the demise of, say, the 25-year-old flapper -- and her predecessors. Could there be a curse involved? Or is s/he a reckless danger freak?
Phil Atcliffe
2020-08-03 10:47:07 +0000 UTCI second Flashback. That just seems perfect for the power set described.
DC
2020-08-02 23:15:33 +0000 UTCHmmm.... interesting idea. If you're going to have one of his past lives in the Ottoman Empire, maybe you should have him tangle with Nasreddin Hodja (though Nasreddin was back around 1503) and lose (Nasreddin was a famous wise man and comedian of the day). Hmm... what other famous historical figures could Flashback tangle with for him to learn (or not learn) lessons for his current villiany? Ben Franklin? Nostradamus? The Flying Dutchman?
Andrew
2020-08-02 18:40:23 +0000 UTCI like the name Flashback, Repeat would also be a good one.
Syntroy Coleman
2020-08-02 13:32:46 +0000 UTCBrilliant idea. Of all the cartoons I've read, I have seen plenty of ghosts that live in this world but can't remember a reincarnation. (Mind you, I do hope that Sylvia Snyder, in Wilde Life, will return.)
Dampflok
2020-08-02 13:11:40 +0000 UTCHasn't there been a superhero or two with this power? Seem to recall one guy who could become a caveman (ancestor) or psionic (decendent)
Richard Willis
2020-08-02 12:08:41 +0000 UTC
