GODLING # 5: IT CAME FROM AFAR

GODLING # 5: IT CAME FROM AFAR

"Bring it on," Marcus Walker said with a feral grin, wiping a drop
of the fluid he'd just drank from the corner of his mouth. He was in
his office, confronting three big, thug-like looking men. He knew
they'd been sent by the slumlord he'd gotten fined in court an hour
or so ago.
One of them came running at him, swinging a baseball bat in the air.
Walker grabbed the bat with the speed of a jaguar, totally surprising
the thug, leaving him open for a good hard kick in the balls. The thug
went down with a groan.
One of the others pulled a knife. Walker jumped forward with a roar,
like a lion. He was on top of the thug in less then a second, punching
him out with two lefts. He sensed the remaining thug at his back. He
heard a trigger being cocked.
He disarmed the last thug with a roundhouse kick, then grabbed him by
the shirt. A solid head butt knocked him out as well.
Standing over the unconscious thugs Walker felt the adrenalin raging
through him like a runaway train. There was only one way to let it all
out... He threw his head back and roared...
*
Monica Sawyer had just left professor Quentin Alexander's apartment.
He was left dazed and confused. He'd just been holding the woman he
loved and now she was gone again, off to hold the man she loved. He'd
been comforting her when she was afraid something had happened to her
boyfriend, sergeant Wade Hudson. Unfortunately he was intelligent
enough to understand their shared hug was only that of a platonic
friend, like a brother holding a sister. He understood he wasn't man
enough of for a beautiful, selfconscious woman like her.
He walked over to the window, watching her hail a cab. One seemed to
appear from out of nowhere. Monica had that effect sometimes. Sometimes
men seemed to suddenly materialize in front of her to please her. But
what was that dark, enormous shadow that suddenly shrouded the cab in
darkness?
Quentin leaned out of the window and looked up at the sky. At first he
thought it was an enormous blimp, or a weather balloon. The way light
reflected of it, however made him realize it was made of metal, not of
polyester and rubber. It looked like a bullet, surrounded by large
antennae. Did it represent a threat? Or was it just some new
technological wonder designed to scan the city for trouble, or was it
some kind of GPS satellite. Whatever it may be, he felt he had to
investigate only if to appease his curiosity.
Quentin used the power granted to him by Poseidon to change into the
heroic, muscled gladiator Godling. He jumped out of his window, using
the powers of Perseus to take flight. He headed for the mysterious UFO.
*
On the bridge, inside the UFO a tall man with a long beard and long
white hair was gazing at a large screen, depicting the heroic figure
flying at it. The man wore a purple chain mail tunic, a broad metallic
belt and black knee-length boots. Behind him, working the controls of
the strange ship, sat a dozen robots that had long arms and legs,
bullet shaped heads and glowing red lights for eyes.
"Who is that being?" the man asked, but seemingly not expecting any
answer from the robots. He stroked his beard. "A flying man? The data
we gathered seems to be incomplete..." He turned to face the robots.
"Get him aboard!"
*
On one of the dozen screens in his room Master Destiny watched Godling
fly towards the UFO. "What is that thing? It looks very interesting.
It looks even more technologically advanced than anything I have
created."
A beautiful, scantily clad woman had her arms around him. "Surely
that cannot be possible, Master!"
He laughed. "You do your job well, my little whore. But I cannot deny
what I see. I need to find out more about it. Woman, get me the new
recruit."
The woman bowed and rushed off.
*
Godling was nearing the UFO very closely. It seemed to be some sort of
spaceship. Was an actual alien visiting New Troy? There was really
actually life on other planets? It sounded incredible, but after
meeting the Greek Gods, fighting superpowered villains and gaining
amazing powers of his own, it seemed not so impossible an idea.
>>From one of the antennae on the ship a purple energy beam was emitted.
It enveloped Godling, trapping him in a cocoon of light.
He tried to fly out of it, but could not penetrate the beam that seemed
to be more tangible than light could be. He understood it was some kind
of force field. More and more he got the idea he was caught in some
sci-fi movie. He punched the cocoon, but wasn't able to punch
through. It didn't hurt, didn't make any sound, not like punching a
brick wall but the effect was the same. He didn't even dent it.
He found out he could stand inside the cocoon, the light like solid
ground. This gave him the possibility to switch to another power than
flight. He used the strength of Heracles to try and punch through. No
effect.
The beam pulled him closer and closer to the UFO. Finally he decided to
stop fighting it. He wanted to investigate the ship and it seemed he
was going to get his chance.
A hatch in the ship opened. The beam pulled Godling inside.
He ended up in a long corridor. The walls were made out of steel.
Several power cables hung from the ceiling. Two robots walked towards
him. This was getting more incredible by the second.
"Please come with us,'' one of the robots said.
"Is this the part where I ask you to take me to your leader?"
Godling joked. He had to be really nervous. Usually he wasn't much of
a joker.
"Please come with us,'' the robot repeated and grabbed Godling by
the arm. The hero contemplated shaking loose the metallic hand for a
moment but decided to let his curiosity lead him and followed the
robot.
They led him to the bridge of the ship. A room filled with more robots,
with computers, many screens and the captain of the ship.
"Greetings, Earthling," the white-bearded captain said.
"Hello," Godling said. "I am called Godling. What is your
name?"
"I am captain Wrakk, Galactic Raider and champion of the planet
Braxx."
"I'm not sure if I'm pleased to meet you. I don't particularly
like getting hauled into a spaceship like that."
"You should be pleased. You intrigued me, therefore you will have the
chance to tell your loved ones they will not have much longer to
live."
Godling raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"
"I will destroy Earth but I offer you the chance to say goodbye to
your loved ones and explain to the world why I will destroy them."
"What? You're crazy! What are you talking about?"
"Your planet is very rapidly approaching the means for lightspeed
travel. That will entail you will have the possibility to reach my
planet. The history of your planet tells me there is a very big chance
you will try to conquer it. I cannot accept that. Therefore I will
destroy you all."
"But that's crazy! You can't just destroy an entire planet
because we might do you harm in the future!''
"Are you so sure about that? I have studied your history. Imagine
having the chance to prevent the Nazi's from invading Europe before
they hatched their plans."
"Even if I'd agree that would be a good plan, then we would be
talking about the actual invaders. If you destroy the entire Earth you
will surely not only kill potential invaders but a lot of innocents as
well."
Wrakk shrugged. "I am a true patriot. My own people will have to come
first."
Godling shook his fist at the captain. "You're a fascist! That's
what you are.''
"Call me what you like. I know my duty and will fulfill it."
"How do you think you could destroy an entire planet anyway? No one
has that kind of power!"
Wrakk laughed. "I've heard that being said on other planets as
well. Minutes later their planet was nothing but dust in space."
"Even if you have that power, I will never allow you to use it!"
Wrakk's voice was like ice. "You don't have the power to do
that."
"We'll see about that," Godling said and charged at the captain.
Immediately the robots grabbed him, piling on top of him.
Godling coiled his muscles and using the strength of Heracles shook
them off him.
"See? Now it's your turn to taste my strength!" Godling wondered
for a brief moment where he got those pompous speeches from sometimes.
It probably was a result of reading to many books about mythology.
He charged Wrakk again.
Wrakk held up a hand and suddenly Godling seemed to walk into an
invisible wall. Wrakk punched air, but still Godling felt it in his
stomach, like being hit by a pile driver.
Rubbing his hurting stomach he panted, "How the Hades did you do
that?"
There was a smug look on Wrakk's face. "I have been genetically
changed by my people to be their ultimate protector. One of those
changes included outfitting me with telekinetic powers. Impressive, are
they not?"
"They might be, but I've been outfitted with some impressive powers
of my own," Godling said and threw a lightning bolt like Zeus would.
The bolt exploded harmlessly against Wrakk's invisible telekinetic
shield. "Nice try."
Wrakk ordered his robots to hold Godling. They grabbed hold of him
again. He started to wrestle their metallic hands loose again, but
before he could completely free himself Wrakk started to rattle off
telekinetic punches in his face and stomach. He'd never taken a
beating like that, not as Godling and not as Quentin Alexander. He
simply seemed to be totally powerless against Wrakk's attacks.
After a while Wrakk stopped punishing him. He was sprawled on the cold,
metallic floor, facedown, aching, hurting, defeated.
"I hope I have taught you there is no use to try and stop me. I am
sorry I had to beat you like that, I greatly dislike violence but I am
afraid sometimes it is necessary. Do not worry, the destruction of
Earth will be painless for all of you."
"Go... To... Hades..." Godling managed to utter.
Wrakk made a little bow to show his respect. "Such an indomitable
spirit. If every Earthling is like you I truly am deeply sorry I will
have to destroy you all. Unfortunately the only thing studying your
history has taught me is how barbaric you all are. All you crave is
power, subjecting others to your will and conquering every new land you
discover."
Godling wanted to counter those words, tell that madman there was more
to the people of Earth than that, but he simply could not find the
energy.
"To show you the respect I have for you I will still allow you to
leave my ship. You have 12 hours to say goodbye to your loved ones and
tell your fellow Earthlings about their destruction. Use that time. You
now know that it is better to spend your time that way then to try and
stop me."
Wrakk raised his hand, raising Godling telekinetically. A hatch opened
and he lifted the hero through it. "Farewell."
Godling was outside, hanging in the sky until Wrakk broke his
telekinetic contact and the hero dropped down.
*
A young man with a spiky haircut in a sleeveless shirt that said
'Finch', tattooed arms and pierced ears walked into Master
Destiny's lair.
"Welcome, boy,'' Destiny said. "I have gathered you are willing
to do my bidding in lieu of the gain of the most amazing powers you
have ever dreamed of?"
The young man nodded. "I want to be like those Speed Demons or
something. I need the ultimate rush, I need to show people I am no one
to mess with. And I'll do anything for that. That's what you meant
with in lieu, right?"
"Yes, I did. All right. So be it." Master Destiny pointed his spear
at the young man, enveloping him in a purplish glow. The boy screamed
in pain. Soon Destiny would have a scout to investigate the spaceship.
When the glow was gone so was the pain. The boy was down on the floor.
Bat like wings protruded from his back. Slowly he got up. He watched
his hands. They seemed more like claws.
He smiled with fanglike teeth. "Kickass!"
*
Marcus Walker was sitting on the steps at this front door. He'd just
thrown out the thugs that had attacked him. He watched two kids playing
baseball in the street. There was hardly any traffic so they could play
unafraid of getting hit by a car. In this area the risk of getting hit
by a bullet was better. Most traffic stayed out of this part of the
city.
He thought about how good he'd felt cutting loose on the thugs. What
a rush it had been to feel the potion run through him, unleashing all
those animalistic powers locked in all of men. He felt ashamed of
himself. He was a man, not some primate. He'd studied to be a lawyer,
to use his mouth and brain to solve problems. Why did he often feel the
best when he'd just been using his fists? Was that the reason Godling
did what he did? Because of the way it made him feel when he unleashed
his violence upon a criminal?
A big shadow blanketed the playing children. Instinctively he felt the
need to protect them from the darkness that seemed to come over the
poor people of the city. That was why he'd returned to New Troy.
Because he felt he could do something to protect the people in his old
neighborhood, not because he liked beating people up.
He looked up at the sky, amazed at the source of the gigantic shadow.
It appeared to be a mix between a plane and a blimp. Almost like a...
space ship? And was someone falling from it?
*
The cars, the pavement, the buildings came alarmingly closer and closer
to Godling as he was plummeting down. He felt so weak he almost
couldn't find the power of will to channel Perseus' power of
flight. Did it matter anyway? He would die along with the rest of the
Earth in 12 hours anyway.
But he still had something to do. He had to say goodbye to his loved
ones. Not that he had to many of them. There was Monica. There was his
brother. Well, his brother hated his guts so maybe he didn't count as
a loved one. But Monica... He wasn't going to die without telling her
he loved her!
With newfound resolve he channeled the power of flight and pulled up
just before he smacked right into a water tower. He set course for
Monica's apartment.
Time for some famous last words.
NEXT ISSUE:
LAST WORDS

GODLING # 4: ...GOES UNPUNISHED

GODLING # 4: ...GOES UNPUNISHED
By Jochem Vandersteen

Surrounded by two Airsharks, holding one other Airshark in his hands,
floating above the city of New Troy Godling seemed to be in a lot of
trouble. If he turned invulnerable he'd drop down. If he would let go
of the unconscious Airshark the villain would be the one plummeting to
a certain death. How was he going to be a hero and still survive.
The razorsharp fins of the two conscious Airsharks cut through his
skin, making him scream in pain. For a minute he entertained the
thought of using the unconscious Airshark as a shield, but he was
afraid that would kill the villain. He opted for another choice. He
swung the limp body of the Airshark in an arc around himself, hitting
the other Airsharks with the feet of their partner. That move was just
enough for him to create enough space for a moment to fly as fast as he
could down to a rooftop. He set the unconscious villain down on it.
He barely did so and with almost supersonic speed an Airshark flew past
him, raking him again with the razor-like fins. Godling tried to hit
him, but there was some blood in his eyes, blinding him. He missed. The
Airshark's second shot was however again a direct hit. Blood poured
from his side.
The other Airshark joined his partner and punched Godling in the nose.
He went down, just before he could channel the invulnerability of
Achilles.
Laughing the Airsharks began kicking the limp body of the hero. But
then, when it seemed they were going to kill him a loud bang sounded.
An Airshark's head jerked back, his body going limp.
In the air a police helicopter circled. Sergeant Wade Hudson was aiming
a large sniper rifle through the window of it. His face was set in
determination. "You're going to pay for killing off my men!"
The remaining Airshark flew up, swerving around the bullets Wade fired
at him. He rammed his fin into the rotor of the helicopter. Sparks were
set off by the impact as the rotor broke against the impossibly tough
blade of the Airshark. Like a drunk fly the helicopter spiraled down.
Groaning, Godling crawled back on his feet. He saw the helicopter going
down and didn't hesitate for a second. Wiping the blood from his eyes
he jumped from the roof and channeled the powers of Perseus, allowing
him to fly. He reached the helicopter and climbed inside.
"Quick, grab hold of me before we hit the ground!"
"I don't want your help! You're nothing but a troublemaking
vigilante!" Wade yelled.
"Speak for yourself!" the pilot said. "Get me out of here!"
"We'll be dead in a few seconds," Godling said. "There's no
time to argue." With those words he punched Wade in the face,
knocking him out. Then he grabbed both Wade and the pilot and jumped
from the helicopter.
Floating in the air with the two rescued cops Godling saw the
helicopter crash into the side of the New Troy Bridge. There was a loud
explosion, cars crashed into each other avoiding the projectile from
the sky. A fire broke out.
"I've still got a lot to learn," Godling thought. It was pretty
hard to fight villains, save civilians and try to avoid destroying half
the city in the process.
He flew down to the bridge, putting the cops back on the floor. He had
to extinguish the fire before the bridge would burn down. But how? He
wasn't a firefighter. He needed water, lots of it. Of course! He
could use the powers of the one who mastered the oceans. The powers of
Poseidon!
He concentrated on the water, imagining it to be a part of his own
body, like another appendage. Partly to his amazement it worked. A huge
wave rose up from the water beneath the bridge, crashing down on the
fire, dousing it.
The amassed civilians started to applaud this great display of power.
Wade, turned conscious again shouted at them, "He's the reason of
this catastrophe to happen! Why applaud him?"
"Sarge, he saved our skins! We should be grateful to him!"
Godling walked over to Wade. "I'm sorry I knocked you out, but I
had to. You'd be died if I hadn't. Now please sent someone over to
that rooftop where you shot down that Airshark. He might still be alive
and in need of medical help. I'm afraid the other two might've
gotten away. And right now I think I need some medical help myself."
With those words Godling dropped down to the water, willing the waves
to carry him away.

**

Marcus Walker walked out of the courtroom feeling very satisfied. He
was congratulated by several fellow black men. Behind him however he
heard shout "I'll get you for this, boy!"
Marcus smiled. He'd been threatened before but usually those cowards
didn't follow through on their threats. And if they did... Well he
could take very good care of himself since his exile in Africa.
He'd been a lawyer defending the poor people of New Troy for a few
years now. His fee was very minimal, not needing their money because of
his rich parents. The man threatening him was a slumlord who'd been
raising the rent whenever it suited him. He wasn't allowed to anymore
now. Sometimes justice took it's course.
Marcus walked out of the New Troy Justice Building and got into his
Lexus. He drove off, leaving the centre of the city, heading for the
working-class, mixed race neighborhood he lived. He could of course
afford something way better, but he wanted to live among the people
he'd chosen to help. They wouldn't come for his help if he lived in
some high-rise in Upper Troy.
On the car radio a reporter filled with enthusiasm told about how the
mysterious hero they called Godling had prevented the New Troy Bridge
from burning. Marcus obviously wasn't the only person doing good in
the city anymore. Of course, he did it on a much smaller scale than The
One Man Pantheon did. Also, he hardly ever used his superpowers.

**

Only a light year removed from Earth a grand spaceship was moving
through yet another wormhole. The ship looked like a large bullet,
surrounded by antennas and thrusters. On its bridge stood a tall man
with a long beard and long white hair. He wore a broad metallic belt
and knee-length boots. Obviously, he was the captain of the ship. All
around him semi-human looking robots were working on the ship's
controls.
"Full speed ahead, drones," the captain spoke. "Only a light year
to go before we arrive at Earth. We have a planet to destroy and a
galaxy to save!"

NEXT: INVASION!!

GODLING # 3: NO GOOD DEED...

GODLING # 3: NO GOOD DEED...
By Jochem Vandersteen

Three remarkable men filled the sky above the New Troy Police
Headquarters. They seemed to glide through the air. They were clad in
mesh of spandex and what seemed to be metal. On their gloves fins
seemed to protrude, on their heads they wore a big fin as well. They
had large teeth, like a shark's.
One of them told the others, "Airsharks, there are our targets.
Engage."
"In other words, tear them apart!" another one remarked. With that
they swooped down.
Beneath them four armed cops were guiding two super villains into an
armored car - Panzerman and Icepick, both out of costume. The cops
were being led by sergeant Wade Hudson. He was the first one to notice
the three men fall from the sky. "What the hell?"
The Airsharks attacked without mercy. One of them picked up two cops,
flew up and dropped them down on the pavement. A second one ripped out
a cop's throat with his teeth while the third used his fins that
appeared to be sharp as razorblades to slash open another cop's gut.
"Monsters!" Wade yelled furiously an unloaded his gun on the
attackers. They bullets didn't seem to hurt them though. They just
laughed.
"Just keep on laughing. I'm just going to need some heavier
artillery," Wade said and ran off, heading towards a parked police
cruiser.
"You do that, meanwhile we complete our mission," the Airshark's
leader said and grabbed hold of Icicle's throat.
Icepick struggled, trying to get free. An icicle formed in his right
hand. He wasn't fast enough, however. The Airshark broke his neck.
Panzerman, powerless without his armor ran as fast as he could.
"Dammit, Master Destiny must've sent those creeps. Afraid we might
spill something."
He walked straight into the arms of two Airsharks who had simply flown
past him. They smiled, baring their fanglike teeth. The remarked
Panzerman was dead meat.
When Wade returned with a huge shotgun the Airsharks were already
airborne, leaving the corpses of the two captured supervillains
sprawled on the pavement. He shot a few times into the air, but it was
no use.
"I'll get you monsters for this," he swore. "Whatever it
takes."


*


Godling entered the first aid part of the New Troy Hospital. Nurses,
doctors and patients stared at him, full of amazement. It was not every
day a man with a perfect physique in garish clothing walked in like
that.
One of the nurses, a pretty, freckled redhair recognized him, "I saw
you on TV. You captured those superpowered bank robbers and saved that
security guard. You're Godling!"
The hero gave her a warm smile. "I'm becoming a celebrity
already."
The nurse blushed. "What can we do for you? Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm not. Actually I'm not here for myself. I'm here to do
something for these people," Godling said and made clear with a
gesture of his muscled arms that he was talking about the patients.
"I'm here to heal them."
"Like you did what that security guard?" The freckled nurse was
fascinated.
A male nurse, pushing a cart with a bleeding man on it said, "Then
start with this guy. Bad blade wound. A cop. He'll be dead if we
don't act fast."
"All right. I will," Godling said and walked over to the bleeding
cop. He was bleeding from the stomach. Godling asked the nurse what
happened to him.
"Three supervillains I heard. They attacked the police station. This
guy was one of the luckiest of the bunch. Three others got killed."
Godling's thought confused him. Part of him felt anger towards the
villains who'd hurt these men, but part of him wondered if maybe Wade
Hudson would be one of the victims, leaving Monica Sawyer single and
available for him. He felt disgusted with himself. Time to show himself
he was a noble being. Time to heal.
He put his hands on the wound like he'd done a few days ago to heal
the security guard at the bank robbery. He felt his own life energy
coursing outside of him again, through his hands, into the wounded man.
The wound closed.
"That is fantastic!" the male nursed exclaimed, full of excitement.
Godling smiled, feeling very good. "It is, isn't it?"


*


The Airsharks entered the room where Master Destiny usually resided. As
always he was surrounded by beautiful women and blinking monitors. His
spear was in his right hand.
The Airsharks' leader bowed before Master Destiny. "We were
successful, Master. Panzerman and Icepick won't be able to rat you
out."
"That's very good. Very good," Master Destiny said. "You have
given me confidence you are up to your next mission. There's this
being who has taken out several projects of mine. He needs to be
eliminated. It is a man who calls himself Godling."
The Airsharks' leader saluted his boss. "He's as good as dead,
Master."


*


Dozens of patients were lining up in the hospital to get cured by
Godling. Knife wounds, broken arms, food poisonings, every injury or
ailment known to man seemed to pass by his healing hands.
Godling felt his own energy being drained every time he healed someone.
Finally, try to use his healing powers on a badly beaten up kid he just
collapsed.
Worried, the freckled nurse kneeled beside him. "Godling? Godling?
Are you okay?"
Godling managed to sit up. "Just a little bit woozy. It seems I may
have exhausted myself a little bit."
Impressed, the nurse asked him if in healing these people he was in
fact damaging his own health.
"It seems so," he answered.
"Wow, you really ARE a hero, aren't you?"
"Well, I guess maybe I --," he started to say. But suddenly Circe,
the mythical sorceress appeared. She grabbed his hand. In a flash they
were gone, leaving the pretty nurse quite confused and without the
hero.


*


Circe and Godling both reappeared in a green meadow filled with ancient
Greek buildings. The Greek gods whose powers Godling borrowed to make
his amazing feats possible were lined up next to each other, most of
them standing there with their arms crossed and a stern look on their
faces. Godling felt like he was standing before some sort of tribunal.
He was kind of right.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong or
something?"
Zeus stepped forward. "You have been breaking one important rule. We
do not decide over life and death the way you have been doing this
day."
"What, you mean by healing those poor people? What's so bad about
that?"
"If humans come to depend on us to much they will become weak. What
will happen then if we are not there to guide them any more. No, your
mission is to make them believe in us once again, but not by treating
them as your babies. You need to inspire them, help them realize their
maximum potential. Protect them from evil."
Godling found the courage in himself to disagree with the leader of the
Greek gods. "I am protecting them from evil, right? Some of those
victims were hurt as a result by attacks from evil ones, weren't
they."
All of a sudden a dark mist rose up from nowhere. From it a dark
humanoid shape stepped forward. He was tall, thin and dressed in a dark
cloak. His eyes were glowing a faint red light. "Shut your defiant
mouth, demi-god."
Godling felt like he was being gripped around the throat by a cold,
strong hand. The professor of mythology that was his alter ego
understood who this being had to be. "Thanatos."
"Yes. I am Thanatos, I am Death."
Pompous speech, but the God was speaking the truth.
"I visit the humans to take them away to Hades. You have no right to
whisk them away from my grasp. If you continue that way, people will
cease to believe in Death and I will cease to exist."
"So working to make people believe in the other Gods I will make them
stronger and you weaker? That doesn't sound to bad?"
Thanatos pointed an angry finger at the hero. "You think the world
will be so nice without Death? Let me show you what the world would
look like."
Godling became totally surrounded by the black mist. He started waving
his arms, trying to make the mist dissipate. When the mist cleared he
was looking at all kinds of scenes that seemed to happen in one space.
It was like having all kinds of computer screen standing next to each
other, but instead of computers the image were live, 3-D. He saw humans
shooting each other, getting up, then shooting each other again. He saw
men hacking into each other, blood everywhere. There seemed to be
hundreds of them. Building were burning down, stores were being looted.
An orgy was going on, dozens of people involved. There were people of
all kinds of ages lying on the floor, leaning against the walls,
shooting their arteries full of drugs. He saw no art, no love, no
peace, no sports, no kindness.
"What... How... What.." Godling stuttered.
Thanatos was right behind him. "That is what happens if men do not
fear Death. They have no reason not to take what they want, because
they do not need to fear the wraith of those they take it from. They
can fornicate what they want, because they cannot get any venereal
diseases. Because there is no Death there is no danger, no excitement.
They live forever and forever is too long a time for them, so they seek
their escape in drugs. They fight to unleash their anger because there
is no fear to die from their injuries."
"I... I never looked at death that way. As... necessary..." Godling
confessed.
"Come back with me," Thanatos said. "You seem to have learned
your lesson from me."
The mist appeared again. It hung around them for a minute and
dissipated. They were back with the other Gods again.
"Have you learned your lesson?" Zeus asked.
"I guess. But it's not like I'm making the whole world
immortal."
"No, but you are killing me..." a tired voice said.
Goding saw a weak old man, leaning down on a wooden cane.
"What do you mean?"
"I am Asclepius, whose powers you have been channeling all day. I
have almost no power left in me anymore to power you anymore. Not even
enough to power myself. You are using too much energy."
"So I should take it easy, is that the message?"
"Yes, in a way. When you come into a situation as a hero where you
encounter a wounded one you are allowed to heal them. But you cannot
walk around these men like a full God. You know I once killed Asclepius
for bringing someone back from the dead."
Asclepius groaned. "Took me a long time to get back to Olympeus
again. I do not want to go back to Hades."
Godling held up his hands in surrender. "I got it. You don't want
me to be a Prometheus. Good, if you think I am using my powers in a
harmful way like that, maybe I should take it easy."
"Good, now go back to Earth. As a reward for listening to us I will
lead you to the men that attacked those policemen," Zeus said. He
threw a thunderbolt at Godling who braced for impact. But instead of
hurting him the thunderbolt seemed to teleport him right into the base
of the Airsharks.


*
The Airsharks' base was the rooftop of a New Troy skyscraper. It was
sparsely furnished with a few chairs and a table and was mainly used to
divide the money they earned with their missions. They were just doing
so.
"And to think Master Destiny will double that money when we take out
that Godling character," the Airsharks' leader said, counting out
his share.
Another Airshark, watching his leader count the money, making sure he
didn't take more as the deal was said, "Yeah, this Destiny is
getting us filthy rich. But of course first we need to track down that
Godling guy. It's not like he's in the Yellow Pages, so we--,"
His mouth fell open.
Godling was standing right in front of them. "You are going to pay
for what you did to those cops."
"Don't let this opportunity pass by, Airsharks! Attack!" the
leader shouted.
Two Airsharks grabbed hold of Godling and whisked him up into the air.
They flew higher and higher. The hero looked down. That could be a
nasty drop. Time to act.
He raised his arms and grabbed hold of the Airshark's head fins.
Using them, he banged their heads together. CRACK! They dropped him.
Falling down, Godling channeled the powers of Perseus so he could fly.
He was glad he still had enough energy to do so. He flew towards the
two Airsharks. Dazed, they flew in a drunken pattern, like a fly that
had just been swatted.
He concentrated, flying as fast as he could, landing with both feet
into one of the Airsharks' face. The villain was catapulted right
into the wall of a large building. Unconscious, he dropped down.
Godling flew down to pick him up. He wasn't about to hand him over to
Thanatos. That didn't go with his idea of a hero.
Behind him the other Airshark and his leader were flying towards him.
Godling felt rather than saw them coming and turned around. The
Airshark in his arms hindered his maneuverability, leaving him little
chance to evade the oncoming villains. And if he channeled Achilles'
invulnerability he'd loose his flying powers.
The attacking Airsharks laughed. "That money is ours..." The razor
sharp fins clawed into the hero's skin.


*
On Olympus Thanatos smiled. It seemed there was another one to pick up
soon.


NEXT ISSUE:
The death of Godling?

Godling #2: True Hero

GODLING #2: TRUE HERO?
By Jochem Vandersteen Artwork by Huy Hoang

Professor Quentin Alexander was sitting in a diner with his colleague
Monica Sawyer. They were having a cup of coffee together on their lunch
break.
"Wade encountered something very weird yesterday," Monica told
Quentin. Wade being her fiancée, and a sergeant with the New Troy
Police Department. "There was this muscular guy in weird clothing
taking out the Speed Demons."
"That does sound weird," Quentin admitted. He was thinking how much
weirder it would be to Monica if she knew she was sitting across the
muscular guy she was talking about. "Does the guy have a name?"
"He called himself Godling. Sound pretty arrogant, right?"
Quentin shrugged. "If he took out the Speed Demons maybe he has a
reason to be a little arrogant."
"Maybe. But what's so weird is that according to Wade this Godling
character had all sorts of superpowers."
"That sounds only weird to a degree. There've been a growing number
of superpowered villains appearing all over town. Maybe it was time a
superpowered hero appeared."
"Yeah, but where are all these people coming from? Everybody wants to
know but nobody seems to."
Monica was right of course. Quentin knew where his powers came from,
but he didn't think the villains got those from the Greek gods. Up
till then no reporter, detective or whoever had unraveled the secret of
those powered villains. They almost never got captured and whenever
they did they were keeping their lips zipped.
Suddenly there was a lot of noise outside which sounded like
"KRA-KA-KOOM!"
"What was that?" Monica said and looked through the window.
Across the street there was smoke coming from the bank that was
situated there. When the smoke cleared a large hole in the wall was
visible.
Monica shifted her view from the window back to Quentin but to her big
surprise he was gone.

*


What Monica didn't know was that Quentin had used the speed of Hermes
to quickly leave their booth and head for the bank, changing into
Godling. He passed citizens staring shaken up at the bank with such
speed some of them lost their hats and had to hold on to their glasses.
Inside the bank were to garishly clothed characters. One was dressed in
a blue and white skintight outfit and a ski-mask, the other was dressed
in black armored plating, which made him look like a human tank.
"Hello everyone," the man with the ski mask said. "My name is
Icepick and this is my partner in crime Panzerman. If you relieve
yourselves of all your money nobody gets hurt."
A security guard went for his gun. He'd been working at the bank for
years and he'd be damned if someone would rob it just before his
pension.
Icepick created a large icicle out of nothing in his hands and threw
it. He hit the security guard in the chest. The guard went down,
clutching his wound.
"I warned you," Icicle said.
A female bank employee sat down with the guard, trying to stem his
bleeding. She looked up at Icepick. "You monster!"
The villain just smiled. "Sticks and stones. I'm too cool to be
bothered with that."
"Well maybe you can be bothered by this?" a voice said and Icepick
was knocked across the room. Godling had arrived, having used his
Heracles strength to take the villain out.
"The boss warned us about you," Panzerman said. "He'll reward
me very nicely for taking you down."
"Give it your best shot," Godling said, while wondering who exactly
Panzerman's boss was.
Panzerman did. His best shot was a punch that sent Godling flying into
one of the walls, so hard the plaster came down from the ceiling. If it
hadn't been for his Achilles invulnerability he would've been dead.
Rubbing his neck Godling got up again. He understood there was no
reason to hold back against this foe. Time to go full speed ahead. With
Hermes speed he came at Panzerman, like a bullet from a pistol. Just
before he connected with the villain he channeled the strength of
Heracles and hit him with a roundhouse right. The speed combined with
the strength had the effect for Panzerman of getting hit by a F-16. He
was hurled through the air, through the wall. He bumped into a police
car that had just arrived, almost breaking it in half.
In front of the bank more and more people had shown up, including a few
photographers. A SWAT team had the bank surrounded, guns drawn. Among
them was sergeant Wade Hudson, asking himself what the hell was going
on.
Godling ran towards Panzer again and started to strip the still dizzy
villain of his armor. He then wrapped it around him, trapping him in
his own armor.
"Sergeant, he's ready to be driven to the station," Godling told
Wade, recognizing him.
"It's you again, huh?" Wade has his arms crossed and looked very
annoyed. "What do you think you're doing? This is our work, I told
you that before."
That ticked Godling off somewhat. He'd just risked his own health
fighting those villains and now he was getting his ass verbally kicked.
"Come on, sergeant! You guys are heroes, fighting the good fight
against these superpowered thugs with just your wits and guns but
you're largely outmatched by them. I'm just trying to help out, do
what's right and get this city safe."
Wade made a gesture with his hand at the bank behind him. "Take a
look at that building! You trashed it! You're not a hero, you're a
vandalistic hazard."
"Think what you like," Godling said. "There's a guy in there
needing medical attention and I'm going to see to it that he gets
it." With those words he hurried back into the bank.
The female bank employee was still sitting with the wounded guard.
Godling kneeled next to them. He was no doctor but he could channel the
powers of all Greek gods, right? So he should be able to channel those
of Asclepius, the god of healing as well. When he tried to he felt his
hands start to tingle and glow. Gently he put them on the guard's
wound. The icicle had already melted, but the wound still was there and
looking very nasty.
It was as if he felt his own life energy coursing outside of him,
through his hands, into the wounded man. Before his amazed eyes Godling
saw the wound close.
Coughing, the guard sat up suddenly. "What happened? I was in
incredible pain, and now it's all gone?" In awe he looked at his
rescuer. "Did you do that? Did you heal me?"
"I guess I did," Godling answered, still pretty shook up himself.
So far, he'd only just his powers in an offensive, aggressive way.
But this, this was fantastic. With this power he could help so many
people. He had to think this over. But first he had to get back to
Monica. She'd probably be looking for him, the sudden way he
disappeared. Quickly he ran off.
But Monica wasn't looking for him at that moment. She was in the arms
of her fiancée, Wade Hudson. She looked to be a little shook up by
what happened. That figured, she'd be more interested in the strong
arms of that macho cop than in those of a weak professor in mythology.
He decided to just leave. Using the powers of Perseus he flew off.


*


"I'm worried about Quentin," Monica told Wade. "He suddenly
disappeared when the bank robbery started. I was looking outside at the
noise and when I looked back at where he was sitting he just went up in
smoke."
"Come on, baby, don't worry about the professor. He's a grown
man, he can take care of himself. He's just a little cowardly.
Probably ran off for his mommy when he saw what was going on."
"Quentin is not a coward! He stood up for me against the Speed Demons
[editor's note - it happened in #1]!"
Wade held up his hands in defense. "All right, all right. Forget I
said that. He's a true American hero. Speaking of which, where's
that longhaired terrorist Godling?"
One of the SWAT officers pointed to the sky, "He flew away."
Wade grunted. "Typical. Leaving us to clean up the junk. Load those
baddies into the van. Keep them sedated. I don't want them to use
their crazy tricks on the way over to the station. I want some answers
from those guys. It's time we found out where they get their powers
from." He gave Monica a quick kiss and told her he'd call her in
the evening. He had work to do.
Monica watched the cops load the villains into their armored van and
drive off. She stayed there looking at them until they disappeared
behind the horizon, wondering why Quentin just left her alone like
that.


*


Quentin was back in his office at the University. He was sitting behind
his desk, his head resting in his hands. He was feeling so many things
at the same time he didn't know what to think about. He felt elated
he'd just discovered another power he could use to help mankind but
also felt sad and jealous about Monica's love for Wade. Were those
the thoughts of a hero? Those of petty jealousy? Wade was an honest,
upstanding cop. A real hero to the city. He'd been protecting New
Troy long before Quentin did. And he didn't need superpowers to
persuade him to put his life on the line. Feeling disgusted with
himself he got up and swept his books of his desk with one move of his
arm.


*
In his computer-filled room the mysterious man with the spear clenched
his fist. On one of his monitors he saw Icepick and Panzerman being
hauled off by the police. "Damn that longhaired do-gooder!"
Two Asian females dressed in long purple dresses came in carrying trays
of food. "Master Destiny, please let us take care of your sorrows. We
bring you the finest food of our country."
"What do I care about your stupid food? That Godling is taking out
all my men!" The man the women called Master Destiny aimed his spear
at one of the trays. A red beam shot from it and destroyed the tray.
"Leave me!"
The women hurried off. Leaning on his spear Master Destiny talked to
himself. "I can't let him interfere with my plans. The city of New
Troy has to be mine if I am to carry out the rest of my plans. He needs
to be taken out. I need more villains."


*
Icepick was being interrogated by Wade Hudson at the station. He was
seated in a crummy old chair in a dark interview room. Wade was leaning
into him, shouting. The only thing separating them was a table between
them. "You'd better tell us how you came by those powers, you thug!
It's the only way to get a shorter sentence!"
"I'm not telling you anything," the villain said decidedly, his
arms crossed.
Wade hammered his fist on the table. "If you don't your buddy
Panzerman will. And then it's too late for you as well!"
"Whatever you've got planned for me it won't be as bad as what
will happen when I squeal."
"Squeal? You're protecting someone? Someone who'll kill you if
you tell me anything? I can help you get protection. Get you set up in
a witness protection scheme."
"Forget it! I'm leaving!" Icepick said and got up. He formed two
icicles in his hands. He trusted them back, ready to strike at Wade.
The sergeant however, kicked him between the legs and punched him in
the face. Icepick stumbled back and fell over his chair.
Wade rubbed his fist. "Don't try that again, punk. But okay, if you
want to play it that way that's fine with me. You're going to be
locked away."


*


"Quentin?" a voice sounded from professor Alexander's door. He
was still standing in his office, looking dazed at the books on the
ground, thrown there in an outburst caused by the inner conflict
between jealousy and heroism.
Quentin looked at the door. "Monica?" Every time he saw her he was
struck by her beauty. That shiny hair, those lustrous curls and full
lips, her pale unblemished skin.
"Quentin, are you all right? You look troubled? And where did you
suddenly go to at the diner?" Monica asked. She didn't seem annoyed
at his leaving. Just worried. One more reason to love her.
"I went out to phone the cops and noticed I'd be too late for my
next lecture when I wouldn't leave soon. I passed a taxi and decided
to catch it." Great, now not only was he a jealous hero, but also a
lying one.
"Don't ever do that to me, Quentin. I was so worried about you."
"I'm sorry, Monica. You know me, sometimes I mess up a little."
Quentin shrugged helplessly.
Monica shook her head. "It's just impossible to be angry with you,
professor. But let me tell you what happened while you were gone. I saw
Godling! He was just amazing!"
Quentin sighed. Another hero to compete against for professor
Alexander.


NEXT ISSUE:
Master Destiny strikes!
The gods are unhappy!

Godling #1, Origin

Godling #1, Origin

By Jochem Vandersteen

After 9-11 the fear had gotten worse and worse. We feared for our lives
from the terrorists that were prepared to die to inflict their damage
on our society. I felt so powerless against it all. To top it off, my
own city had fallen into the hands of strangely powered villains.
Nobody knew where they came from, they just suddenly were there. They
were armed with futuristic blaster weapons, some could control heat or
cold or fire energy blasts with their fists. And where was I? Teaching
mythology at the University. I was too weak to fight. But looking at
the movie reels of the war, I could think about only one thing. What if
the old gods still lived. What if we had heroes like Hercules and
Achilles at our side? What if we were able to wield the power of Zeus
to strike at the enemies threatening our city?
And then came the day I got my chance....


I was walking across the campus grounds with professor Monica Sawyer
when out of nowhere five leather-clad men appeared. On the backs of
their jackets they wore a logo that said 'Speed Demon Gang.' I knew
them. They'd been plaguing the city for weeks now. They'd been
looting stores, beating up people at random, stealing purses; they'd
even been raping women. They acted like a street gang permanently on
amphetamines with an extra edge - super speed. They seemed to be able
to move faster than sound, which made the police helpless against them.
How do you stop a criminal who you can't hit, can't shoot, just
because he's so fast you hardly see him? The fact that they now were
on campus grounds spelled big trouble for everyone present.
One of them walked over to Monica. I immediately felt all my protective
instincts rise to the surface. I'd been in love with Monica since the
first time I laid eyes on her. A pity she's engaged to a tough cop
and not interested in a bookish nerdy professor like me.
The Speed Demon grabbed her arm. "How about a little kiss, hottie?"
"L-leave her alone," I told him. I wish I hadn't stuttered. Maybe
then I would've made more impact.
The Speed Demon laughed and shoved me to the ground. "How romantic.
You like being a hero? Well, maybe you can save a cat from a tree?"
He grabbed me and pulled me along with him. I couldn't resist against
him, everything just happened too fast. When he let me go I found
myself hanging in a tree. From there I could see the Speed Demons throw
rocks through the University windows, steal student's money and
jewelry.
After a few minutes they got bored. Maybe being able to do everything
at super speed does that to you pretty quickly. Anyway, the just left.
Kicking up dust, they were gone in the blink of an eye.
Monica stood at the base of the tree, looking up. "Need any help
getting down?"


Later that day, after the damage had been assessed by the insurance
company and the cops had been by to take their statements I went for a
walk on the campus grounds again. Monica had invited me for dinner with
her and her fiancée, Wade Hudson, but I didn't feel like it. She
said she wanted to thank me for stepping in there for her. That made me
feel even more stupid. The only thing I'd managed to do was getting
my ass kicked. The only reason she was left alone was that the Speed
Demon liked making a fool of me more than hurting Monica. Wade
would've at least gotten one good punch in.
I really wished I could do something against these Speed Demon guys. If
they'd continue on their rampage across the city there won't be
much left of it in a couple of weeks.
Then, from a tree appeared one of the most beautiful women I'd ever
seen. "Professor Alexander?" she said.
"Yes? Do I know you?" I asked, surprised. She was so beautiful and
exotic, wearing a thin jade gown and bedecked by sparkling jewelry.
"From name, yes," she said. "Or maybe I should say by legend. My
name is Circe."
I blinked. "Circe? Like the sorceress from Greek myth?"
"Yes, I am she."
"You shouldn't drink that much."
She sighed. "So you want proof? Fine. Watch that handsome boy."
She pointed at one of the students walking the grounds. I knew him. He
was a good football player.
Her hand started to glow with a purple light. The boy started to...
change. He became smaller, his ears started to change, his nose.... And
finally there was no football player anymore. Not even a human being.
No, where there had been a student now stood a... pig!
"I'm dreaming!" I said.
"No dream," she said. "I'm really here. And I'm here to take
you to Olympus."
"Olympus? But...."
She moved her hands in a strange pattern. We became enveloped by
purple light and suddenly.... I wasn't on the campus grounds anymore.
Where I was it took me a while to believe.
They had to be gods. The man with the white beard holding the shaft of
lighting had to be Zeus, the woman with the large shield Athena. It was
like they'd stepped right out of the ancient Greek vases I'd
studied for years. There were dozen more like them... I glanced at
Circe with big eyes. "Are they really...?"
"Gods? Yes. Welcome on Olympus."
I couldn't help but kneel, overwhelmed as I was by the presence of
godhood.
"Stand, son!" the one who had to be Zeus bellowed. "We have no
need for your worship. Instead we have need of you as our messenger."
I got up, a bit embarrassed by my actions. I thought it against my
principles to bow for anyone. And it felt very wrong to bow for these
beings. I'd been raised a Catholic, and although my faith had lapsed
through the years I still felt like I'd sinned. The things you feel
when facing godhood. "Messenger? What do you mean?"
"When you look at us closely you will notice we sometimes turn less
tangible..." Zeus was right. Sometimes I could see right through
them, and even for a blink of an eye they seemed to shimmer out of
existence. "That is because the faith of the people on Earth has
dwindled to a bare minimum. And without faith we cannot exist, for it
is that same faith that has created us, centuries ago. We need people
to believe in us again, and we want to use you to help us achieve this
goal."
"What? You want me to act as your prophet? Or priest or something? I
don't know if I'm right for that. I mean giving a lecture is a
whole lot different from preaching the gospel of the Olympic gods.
Besides, won't I go to Hell for that?"
Zeus smiled. "Not even Hades. But no, we don't need you as a
standard prophet or cleric. We want to give the world a hero to
remember us by. It is obvious the time is very right for a new hero to
appear. With the terrorist actions across the world, the super powered
villains showing up, with the dangers yet to come... A hero will make
the greatest impact on the people. And you will be that hero. The
biggest hero the world has ever known."
"Hey!" a huge guy covered in a wolves' skin protested.
"Quiet, Heracles!" Zeus ordered. The guy obeyed. With the kind of
voice Zeus had everyone would have. "Please, son. Get in the
basin." He pointed at a large, stone basin. Its edge was surrounded
by impressive looking, ornate, bejeweled knives, all placed with their
points down in the stones. Thirteen steps led to its bottom. Without
thinking I did what he said. "Undress," he told me. So I did. It
was if I had no mind of my own. Heracles guffawed at the sight of my
naked self. "Ha! Is that the body of a hero?" Zeus silenced him
with but a gaze.
"All right," Circe said. "Let the bloodletting begin."
"The what?" I asked.
Then all the mythical beings gathered around the basis and plucked the
knives from the basin's edge. They started to cut themselves. I
yelled them to stop, not sure what they were doing but it looked like
suicide.
"Don't worry, they have a lot of blood to bleed. They're not
human like you, remember," Circe said.
The basin filled with their blood and I found myself bathing in it. And
the more the basin filled, the stranger I started to feel. It was if
the blood rushed into every pore of my body. I started to feel more
alive, more invigorated than ever.
"W-what is happening to me?" I uttered.
"Just relax," Circe said. "It's just part of the ritual."
Suddenly all of the Olympians' wounds started to close and the blood
disappeared from the basin.
"Get out of the basin, son," Zeus said. I climbed the steps out of
it.
"What did just happen?" I asked Circe.
"We just granted you the ability to channel the powers of all
Olympians gathered here," the sorceress told me.
"What do you mean?"
"Just think about Heracles' strength," she said.
I did, and noticed how Heracles' body started to shimmer again, like
he was going to disappear. But at the same time I felt the blood rush
through my arteries like a speeding train. I felt... stronger somehow.
"Hit that stone column," Circe said and pointed at an impressive
looking stone column that had once held up an Olympian structure but
now stood there as a reminder of a once majestic place.
"Hit it? Are you crazy? I don't want to break my hand!"
"Trust me."
"Do it," Zeus said.
"Okay, I must be crazy, but here goes." I drew back my fist and hit
the column. My fist shattered it like it was nothing. Amazed I saw it
crumble to dust. I went numb.
Circe smiled a mischievous smile. "Incredible isn't it. Now think
about Hermes' power of flight."
I shrugged and did. Heracles seemed to become more solid, but now the
helmeted form of Hermes started to fade. I felt my blood rush trough my
body again. Suddenly I was in the air. I was flying. Like in a dream, I
was flying. It felt incredible, free, wonderful.
"He still doesn't look like a hero to me," Heracles mentioned.
"Allow Poseidon to rectify that," a bearded figure with a trident
said. I knew who he was without hearing him say his name. He walked
over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Remember the myth of how
Poseidon, at her request transformed the the maiden Caenis into the
invulnerable, male warrior Caeneus?"
"Of course I do. I teach about myths for a living."
Poseidon walked forward and gently put his trident against my forehead.
I felt my bones move inside my body, my muscles grow.
"Look," Poseidon said and created a lake out of nothing. I peered
into it and found myself staring back at a longhaired, muscular
warrior. My clothes had changed as well. Instead of my usual suit and
tie I wore yellow boots, a gold belt with a studded red ruby in the
middle, wristbands, dark blue leather britches and a blue jerkin, all
with gold stitched linings. I cut a very impressive figure.
"Now that is the way a hero's supposed to look," Zeus said, quite
satisfied. "Now get back to earth and show you can act like one as
well. I think there are some heinous villains you would like to test
your new power on."
Before I could say anything Circe stepped over to me and took my hand.
We were enveloped in the same strange light again that brought me to
Olympus and suddenly we were gone again.
I was standing in the middle of a dark alley. I was looking at the
leather clad backs of the Speed Demons. They were arguing.
"I get 30% ! I was the one who tried all the combinations on the safe
in record time. I earned the most!" one said.
"Bull! I was the one who took out the guards. I've earned it the
most!" another one said.
This was it. Time to be a hero. It was everything I'd wished for,
right. Time to show some courage. "Don't fight. I've got another
idea. You give all the money back from whoever you stole it from.
How's that?"
They turned around. "Who're you supposed to be, clown?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to look as impressive as
possible. "I'm Godling, and I'm the one who's giving the city
back to the decent people."
One of them unsheathed a knife. "You're the one who's going to
bleed to death in this alley, clown! That's who you are!"
He came at me with lightning speed, but I had the fighting reflexes of
Ares. I punched him in the face just before he could cut me. He went
down. I picked him up, using the strength of Heracles and threw him
into a pile of trash cans.
Another one came at me, moving so fast I couldn't really see him. He
started to punch me. Then, I channeled the speed of Hermes and managed
to match evade his blows and match him punch for punch. He went down
just as nicely as the first Speed Demon had. Three left to go.
The started to run around me with such speed I got caught into a
twister. I felt my feet leave the ground. I got trouble breathing. I
had to think of something. I couldn't run away with Hermes' speed
or use the fighting skills of Ares in this predicament.
"Gonna kill you! Gonna kill you!" I heard their voices buzzing
around me. They thought they'd defeated me. Time to prove them wrong.
I clapped my hands together with the strength of Heracles, as hard as I
could. The resulting shockwave threw the Speed Demons to the ground. I
fell down to the ground, using the athletics of Achilles to break my
fall, roll and get up.
Still a bit disoriented the Speed Demons tried to get up. I kicked one
down while I took another one out with a chop to the throat. The last
one I picked up and held him high above my head. I recognized him. He
was the one who left me in the tree.
"I'm the one doing the shoving around now, buddy," I told him and
using the powers of Perseus flew up. Then I dropped him. With a loud
thud he fell into a dumpster.
In the distance I could hear sirens. Good, they could take these guys
with them.
Two police cars stopped and four cops got out, guns at the ready. I
recognized one of them. It was Wade Hudson. This was the first time I
looked more muscled than him. "Freeze," he said.
I got up my hands. "Don't panic. I'm on your side. I just took
care of the Speed Demons for you. They're all ready to be taken down
to jail. You'll find some stolen goods in their possession I
think."
"Who are you?" Hudson wanted to know.
"The name is Godling. I'm here to help you get things under control
in this city."
"I'm not sure we need a vigilante running around. Catching the bad
guys is our job."
"We'll see," I said. Before he could go on I was gone, using the
speed of Hermes. It felt good being a hero.


Somewhere, in a secret location, filled with computers and ancient
artifacts a tall man stood, watching a monitor. In his hand was a large
bejeweled spear. He wasn't happy. The monitor showed the image of
four cops arresting the Speed Demons.
A scantily clad woman walked over to him and touched his chest. "Why
are you so angry?"
"There's some kind of costumed do-gooder in the city, taking out
my men. I invested in that gang. I'll need to invest some more. This
city will be mine, whatever the cost! And if that Godling character
wants to interfere... He'll die!"


TO BE CONTINUED

First Post

I have been writing about Godling for several years now. I will be putting up his stories on this blog.
Quentin Alexander is a college professor with an amazing ability... He's got the power to channel the amazing abilities of the Greek Gods and heroes, making him the greatest super hero of his time and a One Man Pantheon.