Fun with props and sets
From her very first game through to today, elaborate construction has been a feature of LJ's personal canon. And I'm not talking about her Lego cities or converted doll houses. I mean the amazing machinery, colossal weapons, alien worlds and byzantine secret laboratories she builds around her stories.
Madtrap! is among the best examples of what I'm talking about, but is far from alone. If you read, in one of my novelisations, that the heroes and villains tussled on a distant space station, then LJ built that station using items in her room. When Bane and Black Panther faced off in the Wakandan Arena of Kings, the kidlet built the whole damn arena. LJ, crazy kid she is, has gone so far as to thank me for "letting her" create these sets. Like I told her, watching these awesome environments arise out of book ends, old toys, doll house furniture and assorted nick-knacks is a joy for me. The scope of her imagination is breathtaking, and I'm just happy to be along for the ride.
Why am I mentioning this? Because her two most recent games have featured some of her best sets to date.
This is Arkham Asylum as we - and the young heroes - have always known it. Five maximum security cells built on a modular design, allowing them to be custom-fitted to contain any villain and counteract his/her powers. But that's not all there is to this venerable (if somewhat trouble-plagued) institution. Though the bad guys sometimes break out (or are broken out) of this grim edifice, no one escapes...
... the real Arkham Asylum: a bleeding-edge scientific and rehabiliation facility extending for hundreds of square feet behind four-inch thick omnium steel walls. You see, While LJ's games focus on events in (and around, and beneath, and above) Super Hero City, there are still hyper-powered battles taking place all over the world. Heroes like the Winter Soldier, Scarlet Spider and the Wakandan Avengers have adventures all their own and, when they win the day, their defeated foes need to be imprisoned somewhere. Arkham, unbeknownst to the public at large, is that place - because the core Avengers and core Justice League are never far away should problems arise.
It was here that Batman brought Robin, Ironclad and Quickdraw to continue their training. Though the Dark Knight did not understand why Iron Man, Captain America, Superman and Flash were suddenly so insistent on the young heroes improving their skills, he nevertheless thought it a good idea and so did not argue. In turn, he showed them:
Cheetah's cell, where the magically-empowered werecat could run on a super-sized treadmill as much as she liked. It was, Batman explained, not a punishment but a way for Cheetah to use up the mystic animal energies that ran through her body in a safe way. Not that the villain appreciated the thought - she hissed, snapped and snarled at the young heroes as they passed.
The "gadget wing", where device-using ne'er-do-wells were imprisoned. Captains Cold and Boomerang were sharing a cell (much to their disgust, and Quickdraw's amusement) while the Reverse World villains had been separated for everyone's safety. Robin wondered how anyone could design a cell secure enough to hold Owlman, given he had the same skills and knowledge as Batman. The caped crusader grinned. "Iron Man went through dozens of designs until we found one from which I couldn't escape," he said. "That's the one we put Owlman in."
The scientific rehabilitation wing was home to the Scorpion and the Lizard. Following his last defeat, Mac Gargan had decided he wanted out of the battlesuit into which he had been fused. The Lizard, meanwhile, was receiving a steady dose of the gene cleanser Spider-Man had developed ("Back in high school," Ironclad whispered reverently) in the hope of reverting to Dr Curt Connors. Both villains greeted Batman warmly and thanked him when he delivered their lunch. "I already knew about this place," Robin told the girls smugly. "The rehabilitation wing was my father's idea. Not that he'll ever admit it - he doesn't want anyone to know the scourge of evil believes in redemption."
Before approaching the final cell, Batman ordered the young heroes to remove all their weapons - and asked Ironclad to leave her suit behind. He then led them up a flight of stairs to an observation deck. Above the banks of computers was a window looking out upon...
... the reinforced plastic cell of Magneto, mutant master of magnetism! Erik Lensherr eyed his gobsmacked young visitors with a wry smile. "It might not be much," he said dryly, "but it's a vast improvement over my former lodgings. Your ever-noble Dark Knight made certain of that." He nodded toward the air filter. "At least I can breathe easy while I await the inevitable mutant takeover of the planet." He then surprised the young heroes by naming each of them in turn. Quickdraw interested him the most. "You realise, of course, that by inheriting your father's powers you are a mutant," he said archly. "Have you never wondered if you're on the wrong side? You are a god amongst insects, Quickdraw - never let them tell you different."
The thought of sharing similarities with yet another villain left Quickdraw feeling queasy. She excused herself to use the bathroom and, before Batman could protest, took off at super-speed. It was a terrible mistake: high above, on the very top ramparts of Arkham Asylum, sat a most hideous-looking statue of a horse and its rider. The vibrations of Quickdraw's high-speed search caused tiny fractures to spider-web their way across its shiny Nth metal surface. Suddenly the statue exploded, releasing the Gentleman Ghost from his decades-long imprisonment!
Wasting no time, Jim Craddock began looking for Stark Technology to wreak terrible vengeance for past transgressions. Sensing Ironclad's Arc reactor (thanks to the lingering vestiges of his technology-possession power), he released the other villains to create a distraction. The heroes quickly found themselves under attack from fighting-mad inmates while Ironclad flew for her life, unable to convince Craddock she wasn't her father! Fortunately, Batman's kindness had won the heroes allies - Scorpion and Lizard turned on their evil brethren and helped the dynamic duo restore order.
Desperate to fix her mistake and save her friend, Quickdraw used her head. She raced to Magneto's cell (Craddock hadn't freed his old rival) and asked him to help. The terrorist agreed - provided Quickdraw promised to visit him once a week and discuss his philosophies. A deal was struck and Magneto was unleashed upon the world. With his tremendous, terrible power he pulled chunks of Nth metal up from deep beneath the planet's surface and sent them hurtling through Arkham. Under his control they homed in on Gentleman Ghost and his demonic mount, entombing them once again. Then, to everyone's surprise, Magneto returned to his cell without incident. "I keep my promises," he said, giving Quickdraw a meaningful glance.
Ironclad was incredibly grateful for the rescue and wrapped Quickdraw up in a big hug. Nonetheless she was really worried about the deal her friend had made. Quickdraw just smiled. "Are you kidding? It's the best deal ever," she said brightly. "With an insane killer robot on the loose, who better to have on-side than a mutant who can manipulate metal with a thought?" Ironclad gaped at her friend in slack-jawed admiration. "I might have my daddy's powers," Quickdraw quipped, "but I've got my momma's smarts!"
-----
Remember Doctor Octopus' secret laboratory and it's "brain benches"? Well...
Here it is, in all its glory. As you can see, Green Goblin and Venom accepted their invitations from the "master planner". Venom was keen for anything that might increase his power, however Norman Osborn took some convincing. "You say you're upgrading their powers and pooling their experiences in a database," he growled. "I know you better than that, Otto. What are you really doing?"
In the privacy of his control room, Ock explained everything. The brain benches not only absorbed data from each villain's brain, they allowed him to input new data as well. He was subtly programming the Spidey villains to work together - to take advantage of one another's powers, enhancing their team work and reducing their mutual distrust and antagonism. Eventually, they would become a fighting force so well-honed that Lex Luthor and the DC villains couldn't hope to stand against them.
The Goblin nodded approvingly; it was indeed a good plan. He agreed to join in so long as Ock disabled the teamwork programming in his brain bench. "Upgrades only," he cautioned, "no head-shrinking." Ock agreed and they shook on it before Goblin slid into his brain bench.
That night, the newly-upgraded "Sinister Seven" wreaked havoc. Electro (now a teleporter) and Venom (whose enhanced adrenalin glands super-charged his symbiote) overpowered Joker and Clayface while robbing a LexCorp computing facility. Shocker (now impervious to blunt-force trauma) and Vulture (whose wings had monofilament edges) looted a weapons depot and left Gorilla Grodd in near-critical condition. Finally Sandman (no longer water soluble) and Rhino (able to create sonic booms by stomping his feet) hauled back armfuls of blueprints stolen from Mr Freeze, whose life-preserving armour they'd shattered. The Goblin had watched it all from afar while fending off the Scarecrow (who'd beset him with multiple, nightmarish Spider-Man hallucinations) with his new pyrokinetic abilities.
Flush with success, the Sinister Seven returned to Ock with their spoils. He congratulated them and urged them to return to their brain benches so he could download their adventures for further study. No one, not even the Goblin, raised an eyebrow - keen for more upgrades, they hurried to their positions. Ock, meanwhile, relaxed in his chair and pondered his good fortune. He'd not told Goblin the true scope of his plan. The villains - Osborn included - were also being programmed with a powerful post-hypnotic suggestion that drove them to attack LexCorp property. Ock's goal was to provoke a super villain civil war as quickly as possible - and then unleash the final, ultra-secret phase of his master plan.
Miles away, at LexCorp headquarters, Luthor looked over his beaten and battered employees. "This was my plan," he growled at Clock King. "Whoever's doing this is stealing my plan! For scientific reasons I've yet to discern, the powers of the Avengers' enemies are easier to upgrade, to enhance, than those of our allies. That's the reason for the experiments in the basement - to rob those fools of their abilities and transfer them into us." He glowered darkly. "Find out who's doing this," he told Clock King. "Find out who's making these fools villains more powerful... and eliminate them."
-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF
Madtrap! is among the best examples of what I'm talking about, but is far from alone. If you read, in one of my novelisations, that the heroes and villains tussled on a distant space station, then LJ built that station using items in her room. When Bane and Black Panther faced off in the Wakandan Arena of Kings, the kidlet built the whole damn arena. LJ, crazy kid she is, has gone so far as to thank me for "letting her" create these sets. Like I told her, watching these awesome environments arise out of book ends, old toys, doll house furniture and assorted nick-knacks is a joy for me. The scope of her imagination is breathtaking, and I'm just happy to be along for the ride.
Why am I mentioning this? Because her two most recent games have featured some of her best sets to date.
This is Arkham Asylum as we - and the young heroes - have always known it. Five maximum security cells built on a modular design, allowing them to be custom-fitted to contain any villain and counteract his/her powers. But that's not all there is to this venerable (if somewhat trouble-plagued) institution. Though the bad guys sometimes break out (or are broken out) of this grim edifice, no one escapes...
... the real Arkham Asylum: a bleeding-edge scientific and rehabiliation facility extending for hundreds of square feet behind four-inch thick omnium steel walls. You see, While LJ's games focus on events in (and around, and beneath, and above) Super Hero City, there are still hyper-powered battles taking place all over the world. Heroes like the Winter Soldier, Scarlet Spider and the Wakandan Avengers have adventures all their own and, when they win the day, their defeated foes need to be imprisoned somewhere. Arkham, unbeknownst to the public at large, is that place - because the core Avengers and core Justice League are never far away should problems arise.
It was here that Batman brought Robin, Ironclad and Quickdraw to continue their training. Though the Dark Knight did not understand why Iron Man, Captain America, Superman and Flash were suddenly so insistent on the young heroes improving their skills, he nevertheless thought it a good idea and so did not argue. In turn, he showed them:
Cheetah's cell, where the magically-empowered werecat could run on a super-sized treadmill as much as she liked. It was, Batman explained, not a punishment but a way for Cheetah to use up the mystic animal energies that ran through her body in a safe way. Not that the villain appreciated the thought - she hissed, snapped and snarled at the young heroes as they passed.
The "gadget wing", where device-using ne'er-do-wells were imprisoned. Captains Cold and Boomerang were sharing a cell (much to their disgust, and Quickdraw's amusement) while the Reverse World villains had been separated for everyone's safety. Robin wondered how anyone could design a cell secure enough to hold Owlman, given he had the same skills and knowledge as Batman. The caped crusader grinned. "Iron Man went through dozens of designs until we found one from which I couldn't escape," he said. "That's the one we put Owlman in."
The scientific rehabilitation wing was home to the Scorpion and the Lizard. Following his last defeat, Mac Gargan had decided he wanted out of the battlesuit into which he had been fused. The Lizard, meanwhile, was receiving a steady dose of the gene cleanser Spider-Man had developed ("Back in high school," Ironclad whispered reverently) in the hope of reverting to Dr Curt Connors. Both villains greeted Batman warmly and thanked him when he delivered their lunch. "I already knew about this place," Robin told the girls smugly. "The rehabilitation wing was my father's idea. Not that he'll ever admit it - he doesn't want anyone to know the scourge of evil believes in redemption."
Before approaching the final cell, Batman ordered the young heroes to remove all their weapons - and asked Ironclad to leave her suit behind. He then led them up a flight of stairs to an observation deck. Above the banks of computers was a window looking out upon...
... the reinforced plastic cell of Magneto, mutant master of magnetism! Erik Lensherr eyed his gobsmacked young visitors with a wry smile. "It might not be much," he said dryly, "but it's a vast improvement over my former lodgings. Your ever-noble Dark Knight made certain of that." He nodded toward the air filter. "At least I can breathe easy while I await the inevitable mutant takeover of the planet." He then surprised the young heroes by naming each of them in turn. Quickdraw interested him the most. "You realise, of course, that by inheriting your father's powers you are a mutant," he said archly. "Have you never wondered if you're on the wrong side? You are a god amongst insects, Quickdraw - never let them tell you different."
The thought of sharing similarities with yet another villain left Quickdraw feeling queasy. She excused herself to use the bathroom and, before Batman could protest, took off at super-speed. It was a terrible mistake: high above, on the very top ramparts of Arkham Asylum, sat a most hideous-looking statue of a horse and its rider. The vibrations of Quickdraw's high-speed search caused tiny fractures to spider-web their way across its shiny Nth metal surface. Suddenly the statue exploded, releasing the Gentleman Ghost from his decades-long imprisonment!
Wasting no time, Jim Craddock began looking for Stark Technology to wreak terrible vengeance for past transgressions. Sensing Ironclad's Arc reactor (thanks to the lingering vestiges of his technology-possession power), he released the other villains to create a distraction. The heroes quickly found themselves under attack from fighting-mad inmates while Ironclad flew for her life, unable to convince Craddock she wasn't her father! Fortunately, Batman's kindness had won the heroes allies - Scorpion and Lizard turned on their evil brethren and helped the dynamic duo restore order.
Desperate to fix her mistake and save her friend, Quickdraw used her head. She raced to Magneto's cell (Craddock hadn't freed his old rival) and asked him to help. The terrorist agreed - provided Quickdraw promised to visit him once a week and discuss his philosophies. A deal was struck and Magneto was unleashed upon the world. With his tremendous, terrible power he pulled chunks of Nth metal up from deep beneath the planet's surface and sent them hurtling through Arkham. Under his control they homed in on Gentleman Ghost and his demonic mount, entombing them once again. Then, to everyone's surprise, Magneto returned to his cell without incident. "I keep my promises," he said, giving Quickdraw a meaningful glance.
Ironclad was incredibly grateful for the rescue and wrapped Quickdraw up in a big hug. Nonetheless she was really worried about the deal her friend had made. Quickdraw just smiled. "Are you kidding? It's the best deal ever," she said brightly. "With an insane killer robot on the loose, who better to have on-side than a mutant who can manipulate metal with a thought?" Ironclad gaped at her friend in slack-jawed admiration. "I might have my daddy's powers," Quickdraw quipped, "but I've got my momma's smarts!"
-----
Remember Doctor Octopus' secret laboratory and it's "brain benches"? Well...
Here it is, in all its glory. As you can see, Green Goblin and Venom accepted their invitations from the "master planner". Venom was keen for anything that might increase his power, however Norman Osborn took some convincing. "You say you're upgrading their powers and pooling their experiences in a database," he growled. "I know you better than that, Otto. What are you really doing?"
In the privacy of his control room, Ock explained everything. The brain benches not only absorbed data from each villain's brain, they allowed him to input new data as well. He was subtly programming the Spidey villains to work together - to take advantage of one another's powers, enhancing their team work and reducing their mutual distrust and antagonism. Eventually, they would become a fighting force so well-honed that Lex Luthor and the DC villains couldn't hope to stand against them.
The Goblin nodded approvingly; it was indeed a good plan. He agreed to join in so long as Ock disabled the teamwork programming in his brain bench. "Upgrades only," he cautioned, "no head-shrinking." Ock agreed and they shook on it before Goblin slid into his brain bench.
That night, the newly-upgraded "Sinister Seven" wreaked havoc. Electro (now a teleporter) and Venom (whose enhanced adrenalin glands super-charged his symbiote) overpowered Joker and Clayface while robbing a LexCorp computing facility. Shocker (now impervious to blunt-force trauma) and Vulture (whose wings had monofilament edges) looted a weapons depot and left Gorilla Grodd in near-critical condition. Finally Sandman (no longer water soluble) and Rhino (able to create sonic booms by stomping his feet) hauled back armfuls of blueprints stolen from Mr Freeze, whose life-preserving armour they'd shattered. The Goblin had watched it all from afar while fending off the Scarecrow (who'd beset him with multiple, nightmarish Spider-Man hallucinations) with his new pyrokinetic abilities.
Flush with success, the Sinister Seven returned to Ock with their spoils. He congratulated them and urged them to return to their brain benches so he could download their adventures for further study. No one, not even the Goblin, raised an eyebrow - keen for more upgrades, they hurried to their positions. Ock, meanwhile, relaxed in his chair and pondered his good fortune. He'd not told Goblin the true scope of his plan. The villains - Osborn included - were also being programmed with a powerful post-hypnotic suggestion that drove them to attack LexCorp property. Ock's goal was to provoke a super villain civil war as quickly as possible - and then unleash the final, ultra-secret phase of his master plan.
Miles away, at LexCorp headquarters, Luthor looked over his beaten and battered employees. "This was my plan," he growled at Clock King. "Whoever's doing this is stealing my plan! For scientific reasons I've yet to discern, the powers of the Avengers' enemies are easier to upgrade, to enhance, than those of our allies. That's the reason for the experiments in the basement - to rob those fools of their abilities and transfer them into us." He glowered darkly. "Find out who's doing this," he told Clock King. "Find out who's making these fools villains more powerful... and eliminate them."
-----
Greet the Fire as Your Friend,
SF