So I've been working on some stories...

[Man of Doom]

So a couple of days ago, Impie and I were discussing some stories that I've had in my head for some time now. Even though they're mostly fleshed out (ranging from scenarios to characters), I've yet to actually solidify these stories on documentation. That being said, I would like to get some critiques and suggestions.

 

These stories are a take on superhero works, and transplanting them in a cyberpunk setting, and are meant to be affectionate parodies of such superhero works. They're also meant as parodies of "darker and edgier" works, and are even meant to satirize various topics, much like how RoboCop did it. Additionally, these stories draw influence from many different types of media, which range from anime (Berserk, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, AKIRA, Ghost in the Shell) to games (Doom series, the Machinegames Wolfenstein games, Overwatch, Resistance series, Gears of War series) to films (RoboCop, Terminator series, Blade Runner, Dredd) and even draw influence from Lovecraftian novels. In summary, these are meant to have a "but-not-too-serious" vibe to them, even if they do cover some rather dark and adult topics (which they will). Even so, they'll always have a sort of self-awareness and irony to them, which mostly manifests itself in either the characters or the scenarios.

 

Here are the brief summaries of these stories:

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The League of Super Critics (anime film/season 1 of Netflix series/Netflix miniseries):

In an alternate universe of the year 202X, a group of Internet critics are drawn into a web of deceit and horror when several among them have been kidnapped by the United States government, involving experiments to create "transhumans," the City in which they live in, and an omnipotent force that threatens to consume humanity.
As they try to uncover the truth, they are being hunted down by an elite police force known as the Hell Walker Corps.

 

Angry Army Corps (live-action film):

A recently-anointed transhuman sets out to create the Angry Army, an alien defense force that features the public alliance of both humans and transhumans, alongside the critics who left The League in the wake of The City's destruction. Meanwhile, an experimental transhuman military unit known as the Reaper Crew are tasked by the US Government to hunt down the Angry Army, although the Reaper Crew's inception came with horrific consequences that the Angry Army soon discovers. 

 

NekoPhalanx (live-action film):

The notorious Angry Army recon unit known as NekoPhalanx must set out to Neo-Tokyo in search of a weapon known as the Antihuman, an android created for the sole purpose of killing transhumans. 

But when the Antihuman holds Neo-Tokyo hostage and starts playing a game of psychological cat-and-mouse, the cat girl unit must fight their way past violent motorcycle gangs, corrupt police forces, deployed US soldiers, and their own inner demons in order to get to the Antihuman. 

 

The League of Super Critics: In Space (video game):

In the year 203X, an alien invasion sweeps up the human populace, orchestrated by an old nemesis of the League's new leader. However, the nemesis's actions spark a gateway from another dimension, spawning a pantheon of unspeakable cosmic horrors and eldritch gods that can reshape the universe as they see fit. 

It's up to the new League, the Angry Army, and the descendants of the old critics known as Delta Green, to ward off this pantheon of eldritch abominations.

 

Just as a bonus, I've even discussed the possible soundtracks for these works while discussing them with Impie:
 

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TLOSC- Industrial music in the style of NiN meets the soundtrack from Wolf: TNO

AA Corps- dark synth blended with industrial djent in the style of Doom 2016

NekoPhalanx- a more 80s synth, fused with something you might hear from Quake III Arena

TLOSC: In Space- a fusion of Wolf: TNC with some reprisals from the AA Corps soundtrack and the original TLOSC

 

So, anything you might want to add or revise for these stories?

[Cheshire Sphinx]

So, um...

 

I love encouraging people to follow their dreams and I think you've got some fun ones. But do you think you'd be able to finish a (few) short stories set in this world? It'd allow you to flesh out the world and see where some of this stuff hits and where it flops. If it comes to it, you can also bundle up your writing into a collection of themed stories and put them on amazon-- win/win, right?

 

But aiming for Netflix and mass distribution might be a touch ambitious for an unproven talent. That said, you can do amazing things with a few hundred bucks and a good camera.

 

My money would be on testing the ideas and improving my craft, which may/would include learning how to write scripts and submitting them widely when the feedback I was getting back was more positive than (nuanced) critique. Take a look at Andy Weir's "The Martian" as a really good example of something that started out as a 'what if' and through iteration and polish became a (really good) book and then a movie.

 

I enjoy the idea though, and I'd like to see where it goes. . . .I'd just temper my expectations until I have some words under my belt. :)

[Endless]

Well...I gotta admit, It sounds bizzare, but, thats good. It would be a really special as a true parody. Although, dont go so high with such expectations, Netflix already? Holy crap.

 

Anyway. Sounds interesting, I myself dont like to much such, Ahm... unique themes.

 

Go on an follow your dreams, but start from the bottom. You could make various tales about your universe an link them all. That will be fun and also would give you more creative freedom somehow. Well is just my opinion, for me, keep the work going.

[Man of Doom]

Thank you guys for the feedback thus far!

 

On 9/2/2017 at 4:08 PM, Anidrex_1009 said:

Although, dont go so high with such expectations, Netflix already? Holy crap

 

On 8/24/2017 at 3:04 PM, Cheshire Sphinx said:

But aiming for Netflix and mass distribution might be a touch ambitious for an unproven talent. That said, you can do amazing things with a few hundred bucks and a good camera.

Yeah, I'm aware that a medium like Netflix might be a tall order to achieve, but it doesn't hurt reaching for the stars!

Besides, it's not I plan on going it alone with writing such stories. 

In fact, I've been trying to gather other like-minded individuals into a team for fleshing out these stories and giving them meaning. 

 

On 9/2/2017 at 4:08 PM, Anidrex_1009 said:

You could make various tales about your universe an link them all. That will be fun and also would give you more creative freedom somehow. Well is just my opinion, for me, keep the work going.

 Funny thing is, these works are already linked together in terms of characters and overarching events. 

 

Some examples:

While NekoPhalanx might be getting a solo movie, this recon unit is actually introduced in Angry Army Corps. 

Speaking of AAC, it's a direct follow-up to The League of Super Critics. 

TLOSC: In Space is basically one big ensemble title, much like the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War. 

 

Possibly, some spin-off stories can exist in comic books or manga, depending on how receptive potential audiences are. 

 

Like I said guys, the critiques are much appreciated!