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FEMFORCE #41
COVER: Heike From Black
EDITORIAL CONTENT: Back cover pin-up of 50th
Anniversary of Miss Victory; Fem-Paragon pin-up
MILESTONES: 1st appearance of Fem-Paragon; Death
of Octavia Howard
1st Story: Untitled (Femforce story) (21 pgs)
Credits:
Lenny Gray, plot; Bill Black / Mark Heike, dialogue; Lee
Larkins, pencils;Mark Heike / Jordi Ensign, inks; Tim
Twonky, letters; Bill Black, edits
Synopsis:
In a dimension parallel to ours lies a world dominated by
women and ruled by a fascist female counterpart of our
world's Paragon. By a freak coincidence, scientists of both
dimensions simultaneously activate dimensional transporters
being tested by both Paragons. The Fem-Paragon arrives on
our Earth where she discovers to her disbelief that women
are still struggling to achieve full equality with men. She
reacts violently, determined to impose her form of society
on the world. The Femforce are called in to assist, and they
arrive in Washington just after Fem-Paragon has confronted
the president and launched a media blitz that soon has women
rioting in the streets. The male heroes Paragon and Atoman
are easily defeated, as are the Femforce, who fight in
defense of their government. Even Rad, who had streaked up
from Florida to protect her reputation, goes down easily,
leaving only Synn to save the day. Using her illusion
inducing mental powers, Synn creates the image in
Fem-Paragon's mind that she has succeeded in conquering the
world. In reality, she has been placed in a stasis chamber
similar to the one in which Dan Barton was maintained for
decades.
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Heroes / Heroines
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Last App
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Next App
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Atoman (Euell McGuire)
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FF 36
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Para 2
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Ms. Victory II (Jennifer Burke)
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GGAQ 5 (1)
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MsV GA Spe1 (1)
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Paragon (Charles Starrett)
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FF 36
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AC Ann 3 (1)
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Rad (Joan Wayne)
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GGAQ 5 (1)
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MsV GA Spe1 (1)
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She-Cat (Jessica Hunt)
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GGAQ 5 (1)
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FF 42 (1)
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Stardust (Mara)
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GGAQ 5 (1)(C)
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FF 42 (1)
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Synn (Silva Synn)
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GGAQ 5 (1)
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FF 42 (1)
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Villains / Opponents
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Fem-Paragon (O)
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1st app
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FF 66 (1)
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Supporting Characters
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President Bush
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only app
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Others
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Inhabitants of parallel dimension; Earth scientists;
soldiers; Laughing Horse bartender; male reporter; CNN
newscaster; women rioters
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Geography
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Parallel dimension; Orlando; Washington DC; unnamed
city
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Sites
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Dimensional labs in both dimensions; Femforce HQ; Capitol
building; White House; Laughing Horse bar; CNN studios
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Time
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Present, about a 1 -day period within a week after Tara
gains her growth powers
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Magic & Technology
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Transport devices; stasis chamber
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Notes:
Fem-Paragon orders the dimensional gateway created so
she can spread her rule to other worlds.... Atoman is on as
good a footing as he ever gets with Paragon and the other
heroes; his compliments are especially welcome to Synn,
since he was the one who originally "escorted" her to the
LSD complex.... She-Cat mentions Tara's recent growth and
her tie-ups with TV interviews as the reason for her
absence.... Rad gets a call for help from the Defense
department, even though she is still presumably wanted by
the Feds; this adventure just predates her moving into Lady
Luger's lab.... Part of the reason for Paragon's easy defeat
is that his power is mental-based; his lack of absolute
belief and confidence that he could defeat Fem-Paragon, and
his desire to avoid combat with a woman, literally reduced
his power level to the point where he became easy prey....
Fem-Paragon is released from her stasis chamber in the "My
Sister, My Enemy" storyline in FEMFORCE NO. 66.
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2nd Story: Devil Island (6 pgs)
Credits:
The Count, story / layout; Bill Black, finishes; Tim Twonky,
lettering
Synopsis:
This story, a prequel to the Shroud Wars, depicts the fate of Janis
Lawson as the Shroud's evil overwhelms Jungle Island. The rest of the
Island staff has disappeared, leaving Janis alone and helpless. One
of her beloved lions, apparently driven rabidly insane, attacks her,
but she escapes to the safety of a small boat in which she puts out
to sea. Desperately tired and sick, and unsure of the way to the
mainland, she feels that for now, at least, she is safe. Unseen by
her, a shark bears down on the small craft.
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Others
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None
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Geography
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Jungle Island
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Sites
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Janis's quarters
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Magic & Technology
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Tara's knife; Janis's boat
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Notes:
Tara appears only in Janis's dream, screaming hatefully at her as she
attacks.... Janis's running monologue narration is worded as if she
were speaking directly to Tara.
3rd Story: Tears on My Pillow (4 pgs)
Credits:
Bill Black, story; John Nadeau, pencils; Mark Heike, inks; Tim
Twonky, letters
Synopsis:
In their run-down room, Dan Barton and his recently acquired
girlfriend argue over the squalling of the infant Octavia Howard,
whom Barton kidnapped about a week earlier. The girl refuses to
believe that both Barton and Octavia were adults during World War II,
but her own eyes tell her that the baby is getting smaller by the
minute as she approaches the size of a newborn. Octavia's crying
alerts the manger, who summons the police. The officer kicks open the
door just as Barton and the girl slip out the window. Sadly, time has
run out on Octavia Howard as the officer and the manager find in the
crib all that remains of the once-brilliant scientist.
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Heroes / Heroines
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Last App
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Next App
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None
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Villains / Opponents
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Black Commando (Dan Barton)
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FF 40 (1)
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MsV GA Spe 1 (1)
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Supporting Characters
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Octavia Howard (D)
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FF 40 (1)
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Para 2 (F)
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Others
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Barton's girlfriend, police officer; apt. manager
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Geography
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Unnamed city (possibly Orlando)
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Sites
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Dan Barton's apartment
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Time
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Present (about a 15-20 min. period), about a week after
Barton kidnaps Octavia
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Magic & Technology
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None
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Notes:
Presumably, Octavia continued to de-evolve even into the embryonic
stage, succumbing only when the tiny body was too undeveloped to
support life.... This story, along with the kidnap sequence from FF
40, are reprinted in issue 3 of the Paragon: Dark Apocalypse
mini-series. |
