COVID COMIC CRUSADERS

In the previous blog a hideous creature known as INFECTO has emerged from a pestilential swamp in the comic book world to be greeted by a swarm of bats. 

The story resumes with teenage cartoonist, Ralph Zoombroom, working on the next edition of Crusader Comics at his desk in the family study. He is startled when an evil looking comic book BAT flaps out of the drawing. It circles the room, as if on a recon mission, while being harassed by a barking Charlie, the family mutt. Ralph rises and knocks over a waste basket as he rushes to grab a tennis racket on a wall hook. He takes some swipes at the bat before it vanishes back into the drawing. Bewildered and alarmed, Ralph stares at the drawing. What was the bat doing here? Ralph doesn’t know. But he senses that it portends some ominous event in the comic book world. He is right.

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose

The news that Infecto has emerged from the swamp has alarmed the denizens of the Comic Book World. It was years ago that a demented sorcerer created the evil creature with a deadly virus that he could spread throughout their world. To confront the crisis, the superheroes and supervillains united. 

However, they were unable to get within a few feet of Infecto without being exposed to the virus. It was up to Maid Merlin to use her wand to encase him in ice, which enabled them to throw Infecto into the swap without being contaminated.

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose

Infecto has a problem.

Infecto is safe from his advisories as long as he remains in the pestilential swamp. But being confined there prevents him from carrying out his plan to take over the comic book world by spreading a deadly virus. To resolve this dilemma, and to protect himself once he emerges from the swamp, Infecto needs a confederate.

Recruiting a superhero from the ranks of The Astral Paladins is not an option. But there is supervillain – Vulturo – who Infecto believes could be persuaded to betray his fellow members of The Dark Legion. To find out he sends Igor, the leader of Infecto’s swarm of bat allies, to contact the vulture like creature. 

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose

Infecto has a request for Vultoro. Does Vultoro know a way he can protect himself from his advisories when he emerges from the swamp to unleash the virus? Vultoro does, but the evil bird is canny. Before he can serve Infecto, he has to be able to protect himself as well, but in his case from the virus. No problem, Infecto assures him. The swamp is proliferated by Tana bushes with berries that when eaten will provide immunity from the virus.

After consuming five Tana berries, Vultoro embarks on a mission to steel something that Infecto can use to shield himself from the weapons of his enemies.

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose

Infecto uses the Space Maiden’s WONDER WAND to create a force bubble that will shield him from his advisories. When he flies out of the swamp in the bubble, he is immediately confronted by the superhero, ULTRAMAN, who fires his laser gun. Infecto laughs as the laser disintegrates harmlessly off the bubble. Now Infecto can unleash the virus on the denizens of the comic book world with impunity.

Or can he?

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose

The denizens of the comic book world welcome Superdoc and provide him with information about Infecto that they have learned by the creature’s previous visit. Infecto need only cough to release the virus. 

To prevent this, Superdoc advises the superheroes and supervillains take turns watching Infecto. If he emerges from the space bubble, they can destroy him with their weapons.   

Then Superdoc seeks out his nemesis, who is still inside the force bubble. Infecto greets him with a show of sneering arrogance. He knows from Vultoro about the plan to keep him under constant surveillance. “And no doctor, not even a super one,” he boasts, “will be able to deal with the virus once I unleash it!”  

Superdoc is not intimidated. “Although the force bubble protects you,” he tells Infecto, “it also prevents you from releasing the virus as long as you are confined inside.”Infecto laughs. “There is another way, Superdoc!”

What is Infecto’s ominous “other way”?  To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose 

Having heeded Infecto’s warning about another way to unleash the virus, Superdoc organizes the denizens of the comic book world to manufacture masks and provide him with a clinic and a laboratory. Superdoc also suspects that Infecto will use his cadre of bats to spread the virus and  alerts the superheroes and supervillains to be ready with their laser weapons in case that happens.

It does happen. Sent by Infecto as an observer, Vultoro hovers at a safe distance to watch Igor and his bat brigade unleash the virus only to be met by a barrage of lasers. Although most of the bats are destroyed, they are able to carry out the mission.

With the virus loose in the comic book world, what can Superdoc do now?

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose  

The  spirit of D’Archangel visits Ralph again with another urgent job. This time to use the MAGIC PEN to create a Supernurse to assist Superdoc in dealing with the virus while he also tries to develop an antiviral drug  and vaccine.   

Ralph envisions an angel of mercy with wings. But he is baffled at what name to give her. In his mind comes a request from his new covid crusader. ANGELICA.

To be continued...

Illustration by Richard Rose  

Vultoro has informed Infecto that Superdoc is trying to develop an antiviral drug and vaccine to combat the virus. Infecto decides that the lab must be destroyed. Using Maid Merlin’s magic wand, he creates a powerful bomb to drop on the lab, a mission he assigns to Vultoro. And if Vutoro refuses, Infecto will contaminate the Tana berries that Vultoro must consume to remain immune from the virus. A reluctant Vultoro departs with the bomb.

To be continued....

Illustration by Richard Rose