Man Grandiose’s Origins: Prologue

Content Warning: Violence and Body Horror

 

 

You parked the car in front of a bank.

 

Robber #1: “Okay, Alix. You wait here and keep the car running until we get back.”

Robber #2: “I don’t know about this, Bob. Don’t you think robbery is a bit extreme?”

Robber #1: “Do you want to go back to the factory to work for squat? This is easy. We go in, scare the plebs, and take their wallets, purses, and valuables. It will take the cops about 7-10 minutes; we should be done by five. Now, let’s go!”

 

Your friends left while you stayed in the car, keeping the engine running. Since it would take them about five minutes, you did a little reading from your favorite comic book series, Man Grandiose. This guy started the rise of the superhero genre after the greatest war in human history. He had everything: Super Strength, Energy Projection, and Flight, and he was very handsome. You wished that you had a fraction of all that. “Where did I go wrong?” You asked yourself before hearing the sound of thunder. Whatever was making that sound flew over you and straight through the wall of the bank. “Was it a meteor?” You cannot say.

 

Suddenly, your friends were sent flying out the front door and ran straight to the car.

 

Robber #2: “Drive! For ****** sake, Drive!”

 

You put your foot down on the pedal and quickly drove away from the bank with smoke trailing behind you.

 

Robber #2: “Did you see that? It was…It was…”

Robber #1: “Shut it, Marty! We just need to get out here, lay low, and…”

 

A swift blur passed the car and stood a couple of yards away. You tried to make it out before Robber #1 slapped you in the back of the head.

 

Robber #1: “What are you doing? Turn right! Turn right!”

 

You did what you were told and made a wide turn. The car scraped against another vehicle, but you ignored it and kept moving. Then, the blur flew by you and again stopped a few yards.

 

Robber #2: “Ah! Aahahaa!”

Robber #1: “Lose that thing, Alix!”

 

You made a sharp left turn and ran over a bench. But the car was going strong. The blur went by your ride again, but it stood a few feet before the car this time. Now, you got a better look at the thing chasing you. You recognized the figure’s muscular physique, their silvery jumpsuit with golden pauldrons and bronzed gloves. It was Man Grandiose, but how? He was a comic character. You didn’t have time to question that as the vehicle crashed before an energy barrier. You were a bit giddy when you met your favorite hero, but you noticed that the energy’s color was odd. You remembered it was more rainbow, but this one was dark, almost foreboding.

 

Man Grandiose blasted the car with all of you inside into a vacant lot. Your companions got out and started running in different directions. Man Grandiose went after your bossier friend first. He rammed into him with great force, turning into red graffiti on the nearest wall.

 

Robber #2 (Turning to see what happened): “Bob…no…”

 

Man Grandiose turned to look at your other friend and flew over your car.

 

Robber #2: “No! NoOoOo!”

 

Man Gradiose fired a beam at him while he tried to run. Your friend’s jacket burst into flame, and soon the rest of him.

 

Robber #2: “AaAahaaaa! Woooaaaaaaaa!”

 

Man Gradiose did not stop. He kept the beam on him while your friend’s flesh melted, his clothes turned to ash, and his screams were soul-shattering to your ears. Eventually, the menace that was once your icon stopped, and your last friend was what could be described as primordial ooze. Fear immobilized you until Man Grandiose looked at you, and you knew you needed to leave. You tried to unbuckle yourself, but the seatbelt was jammed.

 

It was too late anyway because the superhero punched through the window and dragged you out. Man Grandiose lifted you over him, and you had a much better look at him to see that his face resembled the comic book character, but he had a lot of surgical stitches like Frankenstein’s Monster. He was about to plunge his fist into probably your chest cavity before he flickered with sparks and dropped you. Man Grandiose frantically struggles in the air while you take the opportunity to run before a tranquilizer dart hits you. Your body got heavy and numb as you fell on your back. The last thing you saw was the disfigured face of Man Grandiose staring back at you with lifeless eyes, and the last thing you heard was…

 

Male Voice: “This was an absolute disaster. He is not even ready to handle common criminals the right way, let alone be the beacon of hope to Humanity. What should we do with this one, doctor?”

Female Voice: “Mmmm? He knows too much. Let’s take him and be sure to keep him sedated. I can always use a new test subject…Proj…”

 

To Be Continued…

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