State of the DEO and our Options

[The Wonderful Wachter]

I let things settle for just over a week to see where everything stands.

As you all know, MRP gave us one last salute and retired, leaving us with the matter of the DEO to take care of. He was generous enough to choose that issue because his next would have started establishing them. Sadly, a few of us (I know specifically Star and myself) have already used them.

In Star's case, he used them in the past. In my case, I had a veiled reference in the present. Both can be managed and I'd prefer it if Star wasn't forced to make claims he shouldn't have to which would be something like 4 claims.

We have a variety of options available to us.

Option 1: Make the DEO and all associated with it (this case Bones and "generic" Manhunters) shared claims. We can all use them Blah blah blah.

Ulti-Monitor's opinion: I'm against that. There are other things better available to us that would allow someone, should they desire, to continue the work on the DEO with something more specific in mind. Plus, I'd prefer to to take up the least amount of space.

Option 2: We turn the modern DEO into Project Cadmus.

Ulti-Monitor's Opinion: That was actually part of the plan. Waller is/was meant to be the public face of the DEO (since obviously it can't be Bones) and she staged her own coup and lined up her own division and what not. Ever since the old universe, the admins have thought that Project Cadmus was too big for one writer. DEO is still around... just has taken a backseat until someone claims them.

This would allow the Amazo project to be transferred over to the DNAliens/Genomorphs line which could be fun.

Option 3: DEO branches off into A.R.G.U.S. or A.R.G.U.S. rises to prominence.

Ulti-Monitor's Opinion: This wasn't really available to us before and I can see it as being yet another Waller thing organized to take some power away from Bones and utilize her own personal force. Given the claims around the board... I see this as viable.

Option 4: Project Cadmus is an initiative under A.R.G.U.S. (Combines 2 and 3).

Ulti-Monitor's Opinion: I personally like Option 4 the most but you all know my feelings about a tied, cohesive universe. I'd love to see A.R.G.U.S. connecting us all while Project Cadmus is a shadow initiative meant to destroy and/or replace capes.

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These are only my opinions and suggestions. By all means, offer your own. With the core group of writers we have now and the number of issues we have out, options 2-4 become viable without feeling forced. Star's use of the DEO in the past and my use in the semi-present even show us how the universe could have changed.

As The Great and Powerful Ulti-Monitor... I am open to suggestions for the betterment of us all.

[Deleted]

Well, I was originally going to use the D.E.O. in Primal Forces, but foolishly didn't check the MCL before I started me planning process.

At any rate - I actually like the idea of the D.E.O. being part of something larger. Option's 3 and 4 seem to be best, in terms of interconnectivity. Everyone on the board can, in some fashion or another, touch the D.E.O. as Cadmus, or A.R.G.U.S.

I'm all for referencing and having little flashes of other titles within our own. To my mind, that's what makes a shared universe coherent. Not Character A pops up in Character B's book, but little references to say, Richard Dragon coming out of retirement, or 'Did you hear what that British tit did the other day' for Constantine.

So, rambly, but, I like Options 3 & 4.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

You and your ability to continue the DEO as a proper organization more than a need to fill continuity/series requirements given what I know about your title is why I don't want Option 1. The DEO is both small enough yet large enough to deserve a decent role. Project Cadmus (at least for those of us who grew up on the DCAU) is something that connects the world and what the New 52 has done with them is quite similar. Tying Cadmus as the scientific, dark branch of ARGUS is something we can all work with and use... Especially since it was already decided that Waller is shared/board.

As with anything, they could be ultimatized but I'm of the opinion, you'd have to go the Checkmate route and make it all about your title instead of just some "organization" within your title. For Cadmus... That'd be like making an Ultimate Guardian or some such thing with them playing a large role.

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Makes me long for the Old Universe... Right before the reboot, we were going to have Cadmus show up with legions of Super Soldier clones of the president and the man himself had been replaced after an attack by a meta with a copy.

[Deleted]

The thing is, like you say, co-opting the D.E.O. into Primal Forces would make it head down the 'Checkmate' route, where it would have to be about my title rather than a board shared claim.

It's whether or not something like the D.E.O. should be tied to something as restrictive as what I am doing, in terms of purpose. One of the things I like about the D.E.O. (aside from Chase and the beautiful visual of a Skeleton smoking a cigar) was that it kind of dealt with a variety of different things, it was Meta-humans but everything that came with them, rather than just say Aliens or whatever.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Aye. But with Options 2 through 4... the DEO still exists (and Star has permission to use them one last time until a verdict is passed), they're just being left open for a bit so that the option of someone renewing Authority based plots or claims. The other two simply spun out of it. I can justify (to myself at least) Project Cadmus and ARGUS being easy fixes with the former unlikely of being approved for any single use. And both stand a chance of having their hands in everything.

DEO on the other hand if made board... That'd end up taking a handful of claims away from any potential writer and limiting the chances/options of Ultimate Chase or Ultimate Manhunter or Ultimate Bones (Noir style story of a younger Bones in the early days of the DEO)... That last one actually sounds pretty cool... since to me, the DEO is about the characters running the show.

DEO would still be referenced. They'd still be known for having "Manhunter (generic)" agents (by people that'd know them) in the past. Waller still would have been the public face for Bones. The organization and the characters themselves would be left open/on hold for a bit in hopes of a writer taking them on and other agencies/initiatives have risen to the forefront since 2007.

[Deleted]

I guess I'll just have to try and stockpile my claims a little bit once the issues are out then...

[The Wonderful Wachter]

You still have spaces, if I remember correctly.

And nothing has been decided yet. Still waiting on board opinion. After that, a decision will be made.

[Deleted]

I do? I thought I was tapped out.

Oh, well...I guess I'll see what the Board says! Thanks Wachter.

[DiscipleofBob]

I have no strong feelings regarding the DEO, though I know that they might affect other stories. Stardrifter's Aquaman I know has already referenced them.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

You have 18 and unless they're required for your first two issues, you can always drop the Pierce girls or just make veiled references to them until you can claim them again. If the DEO is opened up for claiming right away, the least amount is probably Bones, *insert member*, and the DEO itself.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Alrighty guys... You have two or three more days to weigh in before a decision is made so speak now or forever hold your peace.

[Stardrifter]

I'm really up for anything. As stated, my use of the DEO is during 2007, so anything could have happened over those 6 years. In Wachter and my discussion about how I should proceed with my plans, I'll be able to use the DEO one more time and then won't need to until I jump to 2013, so I'm fine if the DEO gets absorbed by another organization or some such.

To be honest, for my needs I can just handwave that the Fearsome Five were transferred to another organization while in prison, so I have no worries.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Given that Bkole is the only one to really weigh in...

We shall go with Option 4.

It allows for the best diversity for the board, we already have Waller open for everyone, it can lead to fun things in the future, and it seems like the next logical step up from the D.E.O.

June will bring with it some more specific discussion but for now, that's what we're going with.

I especially like it because the more I thought about it, Psimon's capture makes for the perfect doner towards Dubbilex. Mammoth is a great match for the strength based creations. Not quite sure about Shimmer. All in all, it allows for a continuation of the use of DNA/Metas for anyone who was going to take part in MRP's Amazo project.

(Star... this means for your time jump, the Fearsome Five are probably in Cadmus "cells")

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Restating of what this means:

What has been done with the D.E.O. within the pages of Aquaman remain in continuity. This includes the generic use of the term "Manhunter." The D.E.O. and their Manhunters can be continued to be referenced by those "in the know" but in terms of status and hierarchy, A.R.G.U.S. is top dog with Project Cadmus as a Shadow Initiative under it.

D.E.O. and characters associated with it are opened towards claiming.

We can all use Waller, Cadmus, and A.R.G.U.S. as needed with titles like Primal Forces probably using/referencing them more. If you want to do something big with them, contact me and I'll give the okay/weigh in.

In June, a new discussion/request will be posted with a way we might be able to use this to our advantage with micro-crossovers/cameos.