DIrishB
The Timeline Guy
So I've been mulling over an idea for a comic book called "Traveler", a story about a time-traveling reporter from our future (the 22nd century) named Orpheus O'Malley. Orpheus uses time-travel to travel back in time to specific points of interest: historic military battles (D-Day), histories mysteries (What ever happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Who was Jack the Ripper? Did those 3 guys really escape from Alcatraz? Who really shot JFK?), etc.
Basically, he travels into the past to answer these questions, then reports on them in his own present time in a weekly E-News article. Since time travel is an accepted element of their current society (though still heavily controlled by the government), all of Orpheus' activities are overseen by a cantankerous goverment agent named Duvall.
When he time travels, he swaps places with a person who is tied into the events he's investigating. That person's actual body is transported into the future and kept in an unconcious state so they'll have no memory of what happened to them. Orpheus assumes their identity through 3D holographic imagery and voice synthesizing, and builds up a knowledge of the people and events surrounding the particular mystery he's investigating by studying as much as possible those events. Of course, history is written by the victors, so sometimes he gets those things wrong and this leads to chrono-hijinks! When the mission is complete, the person whom Orpheus portrayed is returned to their home time with implanted memories of the events they missed.
Throughout Orpheus' travels, he occasionally runs into his arch-enemy, the immortal first man Adam. Adam has been driven slightly insane by his extended life, growing more disgusted by humanity's base selfishness and growing destruction of the world and environment. Adam has been behind some of histories greatest tragedies, from the fall of Rome, the Black Plague (a bit of medieval biological warfare on Adam's part), right on up to 9/11. As humanity's technology and potential for world-wide catastrophe increases, so do Adam's attempts to end all (or most) human life on this planet. How else can he re-build Eden but to wipe away this world of sin (thats his motivation, anyway)?
The idea is to provide a unique look at history, while at the same time unraveling the truth behind it. Its a little bit Flash Gordon, a little bit Da Vinci Code, Indiana Jones and Doc Savage pulp, and a little Transmetropolitan all rolled into one. Ideally, each issue or arc would have a particular style or tone to it: Jimmy Hoffa storyline would use elements of mobster movies, JFK storyline would involve political thriller and espionage tones, etc. Also, the nature of the book allows Orpheus to wrestle with the idea of changing the past for the betterment of the future: even if it drastically changed the future of the world, would you be able NOT to kill Hitler if presented with the opportunity? Or what about a serial killer from the 16th century no one remembers or ever heard of? Chronal displacement and alternate timelines follow...stay tuned.
Anyway, I'm still developing the idea, but I think it has potential. any suggestions would be appreciated.
Basically, he travels into the past to answer these questions, then reports on them in his own present time in a weekly E-News article. Since time travel is an accepted element of their current society (though still heavily controlled by the government), all of Orpheus' activities are overseen by a cantankerous goverment agent named Duvall.
When he time travels, he swaps places with a person who is tied into the events he's investigating. That person's actual body is transported into the future and kept in an unconcious state so they'll have no memory of what happened to them. Orpheus assumes their identity through 3D holographic imagery and voice synthesizing, and builds up a knowledge of the people and events surrounding the particular mystery he's investigating by studying as much as possible those events. Of course, history is written by the victors, so sometimes he gets those things wrong and this leads to chrono-hijinks! When the mission is complete, the person whom Orpheus portrayed is returned to their home time with implanted memories of the events they missed.
Throughout Orpheus' travels, he occasionally runs into his arch-enemy, the immortal first man Adam. Adam has been driven slightly insane by his extended life, growing more disgusted by humanity's base selfishness and growing destruction of the world and environment. Adam has been behind some of histories greatest tragedies, from the fall of Rome, the Black Plague (a bit of medieval biological warfare on Adam's part), right on up to 9/11. As humanity's technology and potential for world-wide catastrophe increases, so do Adam's attempts to end all (or most) human life on this planet. How else can he re-build Eden but to wipe away this world of sin (thats his motivation, anyway)?
The idea is to provide a unique look at history, while at the same time unraveling the truth behind it. Its a little bit Flash Gordon, a little bit Da Vinci Code, Indiana Jones and Doc Savage pulp, and a little Transmetropolitan all rolled into one. Ideally, each issue or arc would have a particular style or tone to it: Jimmy Hoffa storyline would use elements of mobster movies, JFK storyline would involve political thriller and espionage tones, etc. Also, the nature of the book allows Orpheus to wrestle with the idea of changing the past for the betterment of the future: even if it drastically changed the future of the world, would you be able NOT to kill Hitler if presented with the opportunity? Or what about a serial killer from the 16th century no one remembers or ever heard of? Chronal displacement and alternate timelines follow...stay tuned.
Anyway, I'm still developing the idea, but I think it has potential. any suggestions would be appreciated.