The Calendar Killings: A Discussion

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Doesn't feel right to put this in Series Discussion since it's a group project and we're not quite discussing the content in the same way. If it goes anywhere, we'll figure out a better way for those participating to communicate and work together.

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There you have it, folks, celebrating the board's birthday with hopefully a new project. Now, I'd have preferred Ultimate's Finest (a team up of heroes less gruesome than the places this series can go) but what we got is Calendar Killings.

It's a simple scene that may or may not be completely in continuity. Lean towards the former. It's not a chase. It's not action. It's the detective aspect and an introduction to just how twisted this guy is at what he does.

It was decided early on that it'd just be a teaser. Give you a murder. Give you a reason for the murder(s). And then point you in the direction of the next case. It was also decided, since this was my project, not to give any constants on the teaser so as to not lock it down on any period of time or location of Waller's family.

Also leaving it open on whether or not he was stopped before he could carry out Ratcatcher's Day.

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Participation in the project is optional. Even if you don't participate, you can still offer ideas and add to the discussion. If this ends up happening, then said issue/month you take will count for your deadline but not necessarily any other record keeping (meaning you're not gonna get knocked for not using a character).

Since this is my idea... I will personally loan out characters of mine for use. And one thing to remember... Like comics, not everything happens at the same time. While your characters may not be available at the time in your title... They might be with whatever month you're given.

It's also not something that requires you to use capes at all. It is quite possible to tell a dynamic story just from the point of view of your Average Joe who just sees these things happening around him. And who knows, maybe by the end of the issue, he becomes a victim.

It's a fun exercise in my opinion. If you can make an entire issue about a guy or gal watching it on the news, power to you. It lets you explore a style and genre that may not fit within your title(s).

Discuss and throw poo.

[Stardrifter]

So I'm a bit confused. Is he going to be stopped before Ratcatchers Day and we then have to write the earlier months? Because you mentioned some of those, making it difficult to select what we want. Or are we all moving forward, in which case you locked down the next location and theme for whoever writes next.

If we are moving forward, I'd be happy to do July or August.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Ah... I see the confusion. When I mentioned that it wasn't given any constants, I meant (for time/when it happen) I wasn't giving any constants on when the first spree happened. Part of the discussion in the other topic and one of the ideas thrown around was that it wasn't the first time which makes it easier for people to realize either he's back or there's a copycat on their hands.

This happened in the past before Sentinel retired, Jack got a million and one jobs, and Waller got big and bad because she had this to motivate her.

If I remember Liquid's PMs right, this SHOULD have taken place in May of 2000 or 2001, right before Sentinel retires but I wasn't going to lock down a date on my own.
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Part of our discussion when we move forward is if he's somehow stopped during that first time in June (even if he's not caught, he's stopped before he can kill 130 kids at once and the case goes cold). A part of me thinks he should since that'd be seen as one of the ultimate moves on his part. He'd have been truly unstoppable and it gives him something to strive towards during the second time.

Personally... I like Bob's suggestion in the other topic where we start in April since it was an original start of the new year and gives us something to immediately get the ball rolling. Series of practical joke crimes that starts with the cruelest joke of all.

Waller receives a Mother's Day Card on April 1st. Then it all snowballs from there.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Various Points of Discussion

1. Do we want this to be the killer's first time or will we count the Prologue as the last time he was active and he's suddenly got that urge again? (alternately, a copy cat)

2. Both Calendar Man and the Holiday Killer are available to be ultimatized for this even if only as what the media terms the murderer. So... Do we go with that or just gloss over it?

3. Who currently has characters that (even if you don't elect to write an issue) can be used to follow the case from one month to the next?

4. What month (in universe to start)?

5. Who is in?
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My opinions.

1. I like the idea that it's not the first time since it speeds up the process of us realizing it's a serial killer and obviously if we decide that, we'll have to figure out what happened in the past. Might be interesting for a copy cat and to have one of the months deal with a confrontation with the original killer.

2. I'm okay with both of these personally though I think the "Calendar Killer" sounds a bit more threatening. Doesn't mean all three can't be used depending on the situation and who is talking about him.

3. I have Jack (as busy as he is), Cluemaster, and one of my girls can go at least one month forward. I'll also be claiming another character that can be used and I personally want to do a Red X issue towards the end so he'd be able to a follow through for a month at least.

4. April 2013. I'm an asshole. I think starting his whole return with a Mother's Day Card delivered to Waller on April Fool's Day is just nasty enough to get the ball rolling even if there isn't a kill until May. (Though it disappoints me that I won't be able to do a Batwoman and Redbird issue)

5. Obviously I'm in since it's my idea and I'll probably help coordinate everyone. And since it's my idea... I have only one month I truly want to do my way. I can adapt to other months and whether or not 'Haven gets an issue.

ENDNOTE

The length of the series depends on how many participate and how many months they elect to do. Not every issue has to be something like your main. What happened in the Prologue which kicks it at around 1500 words is perfectly acceptable in both terms of length and content.

It can be possible that we skip months in universe (though they're still referenced) even if it's not something I'd prefer. In those cases, I hope that among the volunteers for the project, someone can at least put together a small vignette for it like the Prologue. (Example: Say it's the month where someone is speaking to original killer if we go copy cat.)

[Stardrifter]

1. I like the idea of him being stopped but not captured in the past and he's now starting back up. It adds some drama. I would even suggest that he was stopped by Alan, Jack, or Waller in a grand chase but they didn't see his face. He ends up falling into the ocean or off a cliff or some such. Something that could have killed him but no body is found. Or a burning building perhaps. And he has some sort of permanent injury or scar that he blames the person who stopped him for.

2. I say just use Calendar Man to avoid redundancy.

3. It's really going to depend how far I get with Aquaman when the time comes for me to know who will be available.

4. Just go with April.

5. As I said, I'm in. I'd like to do July or August.

[DiscipleofBob]

1. Agreed with both

2. Personally I say Calendar Man as well

3. I don't think I really have anyone who would be following the case in my story, other than the basic Gateway City Police Department, but I don't have any specific officers or detectives or anything like that.

4. April's easiest. Especially if there are a bunch of prank-themed murders for April Fool's, but investigators first assume that it's a spree by Joker or Toyman or someone similar, forcing the killer to step up their act in May to get noticed.

5. I'm still tentative. As fun as this sounds, I'm still unsure how I could contribute using any of my characters so far.

[liquidsword34]

1. I agree with Star's idea

2. Calender Man

3. Alan (Obviously), maybe Constantine could be involved in some way although whether he goes to America or the killer comes to England I'm not sure (The latter makes more sense, and I have a story idea in mind which would involve Constantine being in America)

4. April

5. I'm in

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Glad to see this got some response while I was out of action. (And as a note: I might be again. Should have read the fine print... Didn't realize how badly I was screwed... again. ;_;).

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1. So we're agreed on the second time... To expand on Star's idea... His "fall" could even be related to the myths and truths surrounding the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Could have been his own plan the entire time or delicious irony.

2. Thumbs up from me.

3. Nth generation, Blackhawks, Bob? Vanessa and Etta trying to play hero? Steve making contacts with another city? Steve seems like the kind of guy that would have followed a case in Gateway on the news so even if he can't actually move... he might be able to make some calls... Liquid, I haven't caught up with that series yet so I can't really weigh in. I'm not entirely against him going to England. And this is another one where Deadman could come into play.

4. April is good. It'll probably be something of a vignette month/short scenes instead of a proper issue. Waller's card and the crimes are reported or cased but not really seen. Set the basic hints for May which hopefully, given some of the research in the other topic, Bob can do his own short issue. Either that or June. Both offer up good WW tie ins.

5. Star, I still give you permission to use Jason if possible. Bob, that's why I've offered up volunteers from my own cast. Just steal Wildcat from Adrini. Or I'll let you take Deadman... Ooooh. How bout Lady Shiva?

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I'm gonna start another topic before bed then after that's taken care, I'll see where it stands and if anyone wants to do the short April issue.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Now that we know where Waller is at...

Who wants to take April's short issue (or long if they prefer)?

[The Wonderful Wachter]

Given the way things look with Batman and depending on how our discussion of ARGUS turns out in a couple of days, I can probably get us to July or August for Star's (first) turn at bat by writing April's then outlining May/June for someone to write and I do whatever they don't.

Since it's still early in the killings, we can get away with these shorter issues and potentially lack of clues but I'll need to see how things look around the board (there are certain potential titles, discussions, and what not that can improve my story ideas) in mid-June before finalizing anything in my plans.

Simplified Version:

I can help get us get started by writing the first (April) issue myself, planning another, and then writing another.

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As for participation in the project and the benefits. It's been decided that based on what's used (meaning even if you don't write it) of your characters or your setting and your role, you may be able to get the following rewards:

-Meet your (a) deadline for the month.
-Meet your (a) issue for the month (in this sense, issue is defined a claim worthy)
-Early claim to use at your leisure.
-Extra claim to use at your leisure.
-Extension forgiveness. (which could mean an extension is forgotten or you can make claims despite being late for the prior month)

To use the Prologue as an example. It does meet Liquid's deadline for GLC given Sentinel's star power in it. And had the perks been decided at the time, he probably could get the early or extra claim as a bonus. But as he didn't write it, wouldn't count as an issue or go towards extensions.