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From: Ann Douglas <annd@pop.tiac.net>
Subject: {AnnD}"The Adventures Of Ultra Woman And Mega Girl "(FF )[2/7]
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Hello once again. As in the past, comments are
both appreciated and encouraged. Suggestions
are also welcome. Please respond by E-Mail as it
makes it easier for me to get your reaction. One
thing I do ask is that you now include your first
name and age in your comments. It gives me a
better idea who my audience is.
The Adventures Of Ultra Woman And Mega Girl
Part Two
by Ann Douglas
“Hmm,” Jackie murmured as she looked
at a few of the drawings. “Most of these are
pretty good.”
“You really think so?” Jo asked, her eyes
lighting up.
“Yes I do,” Jackie answered, surprised at
the level of professionalism in Jo’s work. The girl
had definite talent -- that was sure. If it wasn’t for
the fact that she might be faced with laying off
staff in a few months if sales didn’t improve, she
might consider hiring Jo as a staff artist. She was
certainly better than some of those she inherited
from her Uncle.
“You are talented,” Jackie repeated.
“Didn’t they tell you that when you went to any of
the other comic companies?”
“Oh I haven’t gone to any other
companies,” Jo replied with a new confidence in
her voice. “I wanted to come here first.”
“Why here?” Jackie asked out of
curiosity. Usually the kids hit the big companies
first.
“I grew up reading Creative Comics,” Jo
grinned. “I used to dream about writing and
drawing my own and having them appear under
the CC Logo.”
“I guess we should be honored." Jackie
smiled back. In her mind she was trying to think of
the best way to let this talented girl down. "We're
pretty well staffed here right now," Jackie lied as
she looked at a few more drawings. "You might
want to try some of the other companies and. . ."
Jackie paused in mid-sentence as she
opened a thick sketchbook. Laid out throughout it
was the equivalent of at least a half dozen
completed issues of a comic. The title on the front
page was "The Adventures of Ultra Woman and
Mega Girl."
"What's this?" Jackie asked.
"That's just a strip that I created for fun."
Jo said. “I forgot it was in there." She added a
little embarrassed.
“I think this is very good." Jackie said as
she flipped through the pages. "Very good
indeed."
"It is?" Jo asked in surprise.
Jackie was indeed impressed. Every
aspect of creation was there. Pencils, inks,
coloring, lettering - all of it done professionally.
"How long does it take you to do a page?"
Jackie asked.
"You mean doing everything?" Jo asked,
to be answered by a nod of Jackie's head.
Her answer made up Jackie's mind. Even if
it meant firing some of the useless jerks her Uncle
had kept on staff, she was going to hire Jo Simon.
"Well I couldn't offer you a lot, at least at
first." Jackie smiled. "But what would you think
of this as a starting salary." She asked as she
wrote down a figure on a blank piece of paper.
"Oh yes!" Jo gushed as she looked at the
figure on the paper. It was more money that she
was earning in Taylor's Dry Goods back home.
“It's really not a lot," Jackie admitted.
“Especially if you plan to live here in the city.
But you would gain a lot of experience and
hopefully in time I'd be able to increase it."
“I’ll take it." Jo said. "When can I start.?"
She was eager all right, Jackie thought, almost as
eager as Jackie herself was a few years back.
"How bout you come in Monday morning
and we'll get you settled in." Jackie said. “I'll
see what department I think you should start out
in."
"Oh thank you, Ms. Kirby." Joanna said,
her voice filled with the excitement of a dream
come true.
"Do you mind if I keep this for the
weekend?" Jackie asked as she held the home
made comic. “I'd like to read it and see if you're
as good a writer you are an artist."
"Okay," Jo said a little hesitantly. It was
obvious that she didn't really want Jackie to read
the story but wasn't about to risk her new job.
“Fine, then I'll see you early Monday
morning." Jackie said as she escorted her new
employee out the door.
That had been four years ago. Over that
weekend, after reading “The Adventures of Ultra
Woman and Mega Girl" a dozen times, Jackie
changed her mind about where she would put Jo.
Rather than make her an apprentice to one
of the more experienced authors or artists, Jackie
had decided to let her take on her own title. In
fact, she had decided to publish the Adventures of
Ultra Woman and Mega Girl.
That decision had been met with some
derision from her staff. That she was out of her
mind was one of the louder comments from the
'old hands'. That she was throwing away money
the company could ill afford was another. The
bottom line, however, was that it was her
decision. One of the senior editors went so far as
to call Mike Kirby and tell him what his crazy
niece was doing to his company.
Mike Kirby had called his niece five
minutes later and asked her one question. Did
she really believe in this book? Then he wished
her luck.
When the first issue of The Adventures of
Ultra Woman and Mega Girl appeared on the
stands, it was an instant sellout. For the first time
in the history of Creative Comics, a book went
into a second and then a third printing. With it
came a storm of controversy, which only
increased sales. People either loved or hated the
book. There seemed to be no middle ground.
At first look, the series seemed to be an
unlikely success - having almost none of the
elements of any of the current popular titles. In
an industry where publishers seemed to find hot
concepts such as mutant superheroes and then
work it to death, it seemed too risky to go out on
a limb on something new and different.
First of all, the series was set in the late
1940's, a time few comic readers were familiar
with. At first glance, the two main characters
followed an old familiar formula. Ultra Woman
was the secret identity of a policewoman who had
tired of being delegated to traditional 1940's
female roles. Mega Girl was a teenage girl she
had saved from the streets. Neither had any
special powers, relying instead on training and an
assortment of gadgets.
The stories were pretty basic too, although
they seemed to carry an underlining sexuality that
you no longer found in Batman and Robin - the
series they were most often compared to. In fact,
just like the early years of Batman and Robin,
there were complains from certain quarters that
the underlining sexuality of the series was one of
homosexuality. Or more appropriately in this case
-- lesbianism.
That accusation had made Jackie laugh.
Aside from a single clothes-changing scene
where you saw the two heroines in bra and
panties, there wasn't a single slightly erotic scene
in the book. In fact, unlike many of the costumes
wore by present day heroines, Ultra Woman and
Mega Girls were almost comical in the amount of
clothing they wore.
No more amply endowed that Jackie or a
vast majority of the women in the office; Ultra
Woman hid it under a full double-breasted red
tunic that resembled the police uniforms of that
day. Mega Girl wore a simple long sleeve white
pullover blouse with red trim and cape. The skirts
both of them wore would do a catholic schoolgirl
proud.
Of course the bad guy, or girl in this case,
wore something a lot more daring. Yet even that
was more than most girls wore on any public
beach.
A year after the first issue hit the stands,
Jackie was able to walk into the office with a
pride in her decision. Each issue outsold the last
and it wasn't long before the series went from a
bi-monthly book to monthly and then just last
week to a twice-monthly publication.
*********************************************************
Comments are the life blood of any amateur writer, the
currency in which they are paid. It only takes a few minutes to
send off a few lines, which is little to ask for in exchange for
hours spent creating a story. So be sure to take those few
minutes, it can only result in more and better stories in the
future.
*********************************************************
The entire Ann Douglas collection,as well as a multitude of other great
stories can be found in the alt.sex.stories.moderated archive
If you are just looking for a part of one of my stories go to
http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/Year97/dec.html
For the main page with full listings go to
http://www.qz.to/erotica/assm/
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