In the Spring of 2025, I took a course in Writing for TV and Film and another course in Superhero Films (yes, it was a comic book nerd dream come true). When the Superhero Film course assigned us to create something related to comics, I wrote a comic book script for a superhero adventure. It was great fun. This is my best effort of the semester.
INT. LESTER'S LABORATORY - DAY
A television monitor shows a pitched battle between HYPERMAN
and DARKFORCE in progress in the middle of a decimated city.
LESTER is a middle-aged, bald, bespeckled, slightly paunchy
man wearing a laboratory coat. This guy was born wearing a
pocket protector (and he still wears one).
Lester watches the monitor with great concern as he hurriedly
adjusts the controls on a chamber approximately the size of a
phone booth.
TELEVISION ANNOUNCER
The battle appears to be going
badly for Hyperman. According to
our reports, Darkforce has somehow
found a way to increase his power
level by a factor of 4, possibly 5
times his previous level. Hyperman
has fought valiantly, but it seems
only a matter of time--
Lester picks up the TV remote and mutes the sound. He regards
the mayhem on the screen with a pained look on his face, then
turns to make final adjustments to his equipment. He picks up
another remote, its button protected by a plastic cover. He
steps into the chamber and speaks into the microphone on his
headset.
LESTER
This is it. I've done my best. I
can't be sure my calculations are
ready, but--
Lester looks at the television screen. Darkforce is on top of
Hyperman, beating him to a pulp.
LESTER (CONT'D)
--I can't wait. Cindy, if this goes
wrong...you know how I feel. At
least, I hope you know...
Lester flips back the button guard. The button lights up red.
Lester puts his thumb over the button, ready to press it.
Before he can do so, a bright light appears. A ripping sound
echoes through the lab.
LESTER_TWO, a naked version of Lester, appears out of the
light, smoke rising off of his body. He falls to the floor,
somewhat battered. This version is not wearing glasses.
LESTER_TWO
Oh, WOW. I really hoped that was
going to kill me. But this is the
next best thing.
LESTER
Wha...what...what are you...?
LESTER_TWO
I'm happy to explain. But first,
please put down that button.
LESTER
I...I can't. I have to help
Hyperman--
Lester_Two rises gradually, painfully.
LESTER_TWO
I can help you save Hyperman. Trust
me, he can handle Darkforce for
another few minutes.
On the monitor, Hyperman rallies for a moment, knocking
Darkforce several miles away. It's clear from Hyperman's
exhausted expression that it is only a temporary reprieve.
LESTER_TWO (CONT'D)
Please — put down the button and
hear me out.
Lester considers this for a moment, then puts the remote on a
shelf in the booth. However, he leaves the button guard off
and the button exposed.
LESTER_TWO (CONT'D)
Thank you. Say, could you loan me
your coat?
Lester takes off his lab coat and, cautiously, holds it out.
Lester_Two takes it and puts it on.
LESTER_TWO (CONT'D)
Thanks, I appreciate it. Time
travel is cold, so cold that even I
felt it. It's been so long since I
felt cold--
LESTER
Are...are you saying you're from--?
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, the future. Well, maybe a
possible future. I dunno--
LESTER
IMPOSSIBLE. This would be a time
paradox--
LESTER_TWO
Oh, please. How many arguments can
we make to get around time
paradoxes? Five, maybe six off the
tops of our very bald heads?
Lester shrugs in agreement.
LESTER_TWO (CONT'D)
Instead, let me establish my
credentials. Think of something
that you would NEVER tell anyone.
Lester thinks for a moment.
LESTER
Dutch. What happened to Dutch?
A stricken look comes over Lester_Two's face.
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, Dutch. Good choice.
LESTER
So? What happened?
LESTER_TWO
He was hit by a car. Hit and run.
LESTER
Right. That much anyone could find
out--
LESTER_TWO
But he didn't die immediately. He
was...he was suffering--
LESTER
And?
LESTER_TWO
God, are you going to make me say
it out loud?
LESTER
AND?
LESTER_TWO
ALRIGHT, GODDAMIT. I bludgeoned him
to death with a rock. I had to...
Lester_Two pauses for a moment to process his grief.
LESTER_TWO (CONT'D)
I never told anyone. I was so
ashamed--
LESTER
Okay, it's you — I mean, me. Um.
How did you get here? The energy
requirement for a time warp--
LESTER_TWO
Two colliding black holes.
Lester stares in astonishment.
LESTER
...yeeaaah, that would do it. But
how did you survive the trip--?
LESTER_TWO
Because of what you were about to
do.
LESTER
IMPOSSIBLE. Sure, I'll become
highly resistant to harm, but what
you're suggesting is--
LESTER_TWO
In the beginning, I wasn't this
tough. But my power grew over time.
LESTER
But my calculations don't show
that--
LESTER_TWO
Your calculations are incomplete.
Your understanding of what you are
doing is even more incomplete. But
it does seem to work as expected--
On the screen, Hyperman's reprieve has passed. Darkforce
resumes his beating.
LESTER
But, Hyperman--
LESTER_TWO
I know. You want to help him. And I
did--
EXT. DECIMATED CITY - DAY
Lester_Two lands in a hovercraft. His lab coat and clothes
are tattered and scalded, as if he has been in a fire. His
glasses are gone.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.)
I didn't know how to fly yet, so I
had to take the hovercraft. By the
time I got there, it was almost too
late.
Hyperman is unconscious. Darkforce holds Hyperman up by the
collar with one hand while savagely beating him with the
other.
Darkforce sees Lester_Two.
DARKFORCE
LESTER! Hyperman's trusted
sidekick. So glad you decided to
join us. I'm looking forward to
turning your head into PASTE. Hang
on - I'll be done in a minute.
LESTER_TWO
Why wait? It doesn't look like
Hyperman is going anywhere.
Darkforce looks at the unconscious Hyperman, then drops him.
Hyperman crumples to the ground.
DARKFORCE
You know, maybe you're right.
Darkforce starts to walk toward Lester_Two. Lester_Two gets
out of the hovercraft, calm and confident.
DARKFORCE (CONT'D)
After what you did to me in
Helsinki--
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, I got you pretty good, didn't
I?
DARKFORCE
Yeah, you did. But I've quadrupled
my power level since then. Your
magic science weapon won't work on
me anymore. Even your glorified
protector couldn't handle me--and
neither will you, you little PRICK-
-
Darkforce jabs a punch right into Lester_Two's face.
Lester_Two doesn't move at all. The collision of Darkforce's
fist with Lester's face makes a giant clanging sound.
Darkforce cries out in agony and grabs his hand. He gapes at
Lester_Two, astonished.
Lester_Two smiles.
LESTER_TWO
You sure about that?
Lester_Two punches Darkforce with a devastating uppercut.
Darkforce is hurled straight up and out of sight.
Lester_Two rushes over to Hyperman, who is just stirring.
HYPERMAN
Les...Lester? That you?
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, pal, it's me. How you doin'?
Lester_Two helps Hyperman to his feet and leads him to the
hovercraft. Darkforce comes back down and hits the ground
with a resounding BOOM. He is quite unconscious. Hyperman
stares at Darkforce.
HYPERMAN
Worse than some, better than
others. I guess your experiment
worked.
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, it worked great.
HYPERMAN
Lester, I'm worried. We still don't
completely understand the theory--
LESTER_TWO
It's okay, Sam. I'm fine--
LESTER_TWO (V.O.)
But I wasn't fine.
INT. LESTER'S LABORATORY - DAY
Lester_Two sits in a chair, still exhausted from the time
trip.
Lester hands him a cup of hot cocoa. Lester sits down in his
own chair.
LESTER_TWO
I had super strength, a high
resistance to harm, I could fly,
and I could blast high-energy beams
from my hands. After a few months
of training, I thought I had my
powers figured out.
BEGIN MONTAGE
EXT. VARIOUS OUTDOOR LOCATIONS - DAY
Lester and The League fly through the sky in formation
I went on missions with The League.
Lester smacks another generic supervillain silly.
I fought supervillains.
Lester uses his force beams to vaporize an avalanche of rocks
before it can fall on a European village.
I rescued people.
A crowd of people cheer and wave as Lester flies over them.
He smiles and waves back.
I saved a lot of lives.
END MONTAGE
Then, one day, The League and I
faced off against an idiot who
called himself Tyrantman.
LESTER
Tyrantman?
LESTER_TWO
Hey, I don't pick these morons'
names. Still, he was tough enough.
The League engaged him while I was
saving Pompei from the Vesuvius
eruption--
LESTER
Vesuvius erupts again?
LESTER_TWO
Yeah, let's not get distracted,
okay? We're on a clock here.
LESTER
Ooookay--
EXT. ANOTHER DECIMATED CITY - DAY
It looks like the first city we saw that was destroyed by a
superhero/supervillain battle.
Several superheroes, including Hyperman, lie unconscious on
the ground, their costumes in tatters. Tyrantman stands over
them, gloating.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.)
By the time I got there, Tyrantman
had plowed through the entire
League.
Lester_Two flies onto the scene wearing a superhero costume,
complete with a cape. He is still bald, a bit overweight, and
not at all muscular. He does not look like a superhero.
Tyrantman is unimpressed.
TYRANTMAN
HA. I just tossed the entire League
around like ragdolls. None of them
were able to stop me.
LESTER_TWO
WAS able to stop you.
TYRANTMAN
What?
LESTER_TWO
It's "None of them WAS able to stop
you." In this context, "none" is a
singular noun, so it's "None WAS,"
not "None WERE."
TYRANTMAN
HA. Okay, GRAMMARLY MAN. None of
them WAS able to stop me. What're
YOU gonna do about it?
LESTER_TWO
Try me.
TYRANTMAN
Happy to oblige.
Tyrantman aims a barrage of energy blasts at Lester_Two. They
have no effect. Lester_Two stands there unfazed.
TYRANTMAN (CONT'D)
That...that's IMPOSSIBLE.
LESTER_TWO
My turn, dipwad.
Lester_Two aims a short blast of energy at Tyrantman. The
blast extends from Tyrantman's head down to his knees.
When Lester_Two stops, all that's left of Tyrantman is his
legs from the knee down. One leg topples over, followed by
the other.
Lester_Two is shocked. He didn't expect this result.
LESTER
Oh, my god...
INT. LESTER'S LABORATORY - DAY
Lester_Two, still sitting and sipping his cocoa, continues
his story.
LESTER_TWO
I figured Tyrantman was nearly
invulnerable in order to defeat The
League. Still, as a precaution, I
fired my beams at their lowest
possible energy level. I didn't
think they would affect him at all.
Instead, they vaporized him.
LESTER
Maybe he wasn't that invulnerable
after all.
LESTER_TWO
Oh, yeah, he was. At my initial
power level, he would have kicked
my ass. Now, a few months later, he
wasn't even a challenge.
LESTER
How...how could your power increase by
that much in only a few months--?
LESTER_TWO
I had no idea. It was frightening.
But before I could figure out the
cause, we had to deal with an
invading alien armada.
LESTER
A what--?
EXT. OUTER SPACE - NIGHT
Lester and several other heroes fly toward a massive fleet of
spaceships. The ships surround the heroes.
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP
An alien crew works the ship's controls. Exactly how they
look isn't important as long as they don't look remotely
human.
The ALIEN COMMANDER stands before a monitor. Hyperman,
Lester_Two, and other superheroes are visible in the monitor.
ALIEN COMMANDER
THIS IS COMMANDER *unintelligible*
OF THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE FLEET. WE
ARE ON A VITAL MISSION. WE MUST
DESTROY THE DECIMATOR. WE WILL
COMMENCE FIRE IN THE TIME PERIOD
YOU CALL "ONE MINUTE." WE ADVISE
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT THE
DECIMATOR TO GET OUT OF RANGE.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Hyperman, Lester_Two, and other heroes float in space. The
ships in the armada aim their weapons toward Lester_Two.
There is a rising whine as the weapons ramp up to fire.
HYPERMAN
What? Who are you? How can I hear
you--?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
YOU ARE HEARING MY THOUGHT
TRANSMISSIONS. WE ARE NOT HERE FOR
YOU. WE ARE HERE FOR THE ONE YOU
CALL "LESTER."
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Lester_Two looks puzzled.
LESTER_TWO
What? Me?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
WE DETECTED ITS ENERGY EMISSIONS
FROM FIVE GALAXIES AWAY. IT MUST BE
DESTROYED. YOU HAVE FORTY-FIVE
SECONDS.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
HYPERMAN
Why do you want to destroy Lester?
What's the problem--?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
IT IS THE DECIMATOR, THE END OF ALL
THINGS! WE MUST DESTROY IT WHILE WE
CAN--IF WE CAN. GET AWAY FROM IT IF
YOU WISH TO LIVE. THIRTY SECONDS.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
HYPERMAN
Now look, whoever you are--
Lester_Two flies away at high speed.
HYPERMAN (CONT'D)
Lester, what are you doing?
LESTER_TWO
I won't risk the rest of The League
getting hurt. Stay where you are.
I'll lead them away.
The alien armada flies after Lester_Two. The rest of The
League, Hyperman in the lead, tries to fly after them, but
they cannot keep up and fall behind.
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
FIFTEEN SECONDS. FIRE ON MY
COMMAND.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
LESTER_TWO
Please, can we talk about this?
What have I done wrong?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
YOU ARE ABSORBING DARK ENERGY AT A
GEOMETRICALLY INCREASING RATE. THIS
WILL SOON DESTABILIZE THE HIGGS
FIELD, CAUSING A FALSE VACUUM
DECAY.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Lester_Two stops flying. The armada arranges its ships around
him.
LESTER_TWO
Dark energy? I've been tapping into
dark energy?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
DID YOU NOT REALIZE THIS?
READY!
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
LESTER_TWO
No, I...wait...did you say, false
vacuum decay--?
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
AIM!!
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
LESTER_TWO
Please, I don't understand--
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
FIRE!!!
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
Energy beams from the alien ships converge on Lester_Two from
all directions. Lester_Two isn't bothered at all.
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN CREWMEMBER
SIR, WE ARE EXCEEDING OUR MAXIMUM
LIMITS--
ALIEN COMMANDER
INCREASE POWER. CONTINUE FIRING!
ALIEN CREWMEMBER
SIR, OUR SHIPS' ENGINES ARE
OVERLOADING--!
ALIEN COMMANDER
CONTINUE FIRING!!!
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
A few ships explode, then some more. Still, the remaining
ships keep firing.
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
HUMAN, LISTEN TO ME.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
LESTER_TWO
Yes, I hear you.
INT. DECK OF THE ALIEN ARMADA COMMAND SHIP - CONTINUOUS
ALIEN COMMANDER
WE FAILED TO GET TO YOU IN TIME.
YOU MUST FIND A MORE DESTRUCTIVE
ENERGY SOURCE THAN WHAT WE CAN
CONJURE. DESTROY YOURSELF BEFORE--
Instrument panels on the ship start exploding. Alien
crewmembers are thrown around the deck and blown to pieces.
They make terrible screeching noises as they die.
ALIEN COMMANDER (CONT'D)
--IT IS TOO LATE.
EXT. OUTER SPACE - CONTINUOUS
The command ship explodes. One by one, the remaining ships
also explode. Lester_Two is left floating alone in space.
Debris floats all around him.
The rest of the superheroes catch up and surround Lester_Two.
Everyone has a stunned expression. The superheroes stare at
Lester_Two with a mix of concern, awe, and terror.
INT. LESTER'S LABORATORY - DAY
Lester stares at Lester_Two with the same look of concern,
awe, and terror.
LESTER
Did - did you say, false vacuum
decay?
Lester_Two nods.
LESTER_TWO
You know what that means.
LESTER
...oh, god...
LESTER_TWO
The universe wiped out in an
instant.
LESTER
...but...what happened then?
BEGIN MONTAGE
EXT. OUTER SPACE - NIGHT
(NOTE: all of the montage scenes occur in outer space).
Lester_Two flies toward the Sun.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.)
I tried everything I could think
of. I flew into the center of the
Sun.
Lester_Two plunges INTO the Sun.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Then, a supernova.
Lester_Two files into yet another sun, which then explodes.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I crashed into an exploding
magnetar.
Lester_Two flies into a magnetar, which then explodes.
LESTER_TWO (V.O.) (CONT'D)
I dove into a black hole.
Lester_Two flies into a black hole. It spits him out.
END MONTAGE
LESTER_TWO
Nothing worked. Nothing could kill
me.
LESTER
So you tried two colliding black
holes.
LESTER_TWO
While I hoped for the best or, um,
the worst, my calculations showed
even that much destructive power
might not suffice. To hedge my
bets, I took our time machine with
me.
LESTER
That old thing? I thought it would
never work in practice. The energy
requirements are--
LESTER_TWO
--astronomical. Two colliding black
holes did the trick. The trip was
pretty rough, but thanks to my
invulnerability, I made it.
LESTER
Okay, you're here. Now what?
LESTER_TWO
Any moment now, I'll snap back to
my time. Shortly after that, my powers
will trigger the false vacuum decay and
destroy the entire universe.
LESTER
But...what do you want ME to do?
LESTER_TWO
I'm still impervious to harm.
There's no way to destroy me. Our
only hope is for you to NOT push
that button.
LESTER
Why haven't you stopped me? You
could just kill me or destroy the
equipment--
LESTER_TWO
I'm still too weak from the trip to
stop you, Lester. It's up to you.
It's your decision.
Lester hesitates for a moment. Then he rises from his chair,
goes over to the booth, and picks up the remote. He looks at
it longingly. The red light from the button illuminates his
face from below in classic supervillain fashion.
Then, Lester flips the protective cover back on. The button
light dims and goes out.
LESTER
I really wanted to be a superhero.
It was my dream.
LESTER_TWO
OUR dream, Lester. And, at first,
being a superhero was great--until
it wasn't.
LESTER
Hey, what's happening to you--?
Lester_Two starts to fade from view.
LESTER_TWO
YOU DID IT, LESTER. My timeline is
being destroyed. I'm fading from
existence.
LESTER
WAIT.
Lester gestures to the television. Hyperman is still getting
his ass kicked.
LESTER (CONT'D)
What about Hyperman--?
LESTER_TWO
Oh, RIGHT. Get weapon X-12.
LESTER
Weapon X-12? But that only shoots
out a beam of neutrinos--
LESTER_TWO
TRUST ME, LESTER. Weapon X-12.
It'll cause Darkforce to suffer
TPD.
LESTER
OH. Okay. Thanks. Thanks for...for
everything.
Lester_Two is almost invisible now.
LESTER_TWO
No, problem, pal. Remember — you
don't always have to be super to be
a hero...
Lester_Two fades away. Lester's lab coat floats to the floor.
EXT. DECIMATED CITY - DAY
Lester arrives in his hovercraft. This time, his lab coat and
clothing are intact. He is also wearing his glasses.
Darkforce is hitting Hyperman like before. As Lester lands,
Darkforce sees him.
DARKFORCE
LESTER! Hyperman's trusted
sidekick. So glad you decided to
join us. I'm looking forward to
--
LESTER
OH, SHUT UP!
Lester pulls out the Weapon X-12 rifle, aims it at Darkforce,
and presses the trigger. Nothing seems to come out of the
rifle, yet Darkforce stiffens and jerks as if he is being
subjected to a massive electric shock. Stiff as a board,
Darkforce falls forward and hits the ground face-first with a
satisfying THUMP.
Lester rushes over to Hyperman.
HYPERMAN
Les...Lester? That you?
LESTER
Yeah, pal, it's me. How you doin'?
Lester helps Hyperman to his feet and starts leading him to
the hovercraft. Hyperman stares at Darkforce's unconscious
form.
HYPERMAN
Worse than some, better than
others. I guess your experiment
worked.
LESTER
Well, not exactly.
HYPERMAN
Then, how did you--?
LESTER
Weapon X-12. It caused Darkforce to
suffer TPD — Total Power Depletion.
He's an ordinary human again.
HYPERMAN
Weapon X-12? All that does is shoot
out a beam of neutrinos. How did
you know it would work?
LESTER
Hindsight.
HYPERMAN
What?
LESTER
I'll explain later. Come on. Let's
get you back to the lab. I'll fix
you up, then I need to dismantle my
equipment...
Lester helps Hyperman into the hovercraft.
CUT TO:
INT. LESTER'S LABORATORY - CONTINUOUS
CINDY is a middle-aged, slightly paunchy woman who wears a
white laboratory coat and thick-rimmed glasses. She is a
female counterpart to Lester.
Cindy enters the lab. The room is empty and quiet. The
television is off.
CINDY
Lester? Are you here? Have you
heard about what's going on in the
city?
She looks around and spots Lester's headset in the booth. She
hurries into the booth, puts on the headset, and hits the
play button.
LESTER (O.S.)
This is it. I've done my best. I
can't be sure my calculations are
ready, but...I can't wait. Cindy,
if this goes wrong...you know how I
feel. At least, I hope you know...
The playback ends.
CINDY
Oh, Lester, what did you do?
Cindy spots the button still sitting on a shelf in the booth.
Curious, she picks it up and flips back the protective cover.
The button lights up.
A bright light appears. A ripping sound echoes through the
lab.
A naked version of Cindy, CINDY_TWO, appears out of the
light, smoke rising off her body. She falls to the floor,
somewhat battered. This version is not wearing glasses.
CINDY_TWO
Oh, WOW. I really hoped that was
going to kill me. But this is the
next best thing.
CINDY
Wha...what...what are you...?
CINDY_TWO
I'm happy to explain. But first,
please put down that button...