Almost Infamous: A Supervillain Novel

Copyright © 2016 by Matt Carter

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover illustration by Adam Wallenta

Cover design by Jason Snair

Print ISBN: 978–1-940456–50-8

Ebook ISBN 978–1-940456–51-5

Printed in the United States of America

To Scott Carter,

The greatest hero I’ve ever known.

1944–2015

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SUPERHEROES

The Stone Age of Superheroes

1854:
At the Battle of Balaclava, shields created by Corporal Langston Hicks protect charging British cavalry and result in an overwhelming victory for the British over Russian forces. The “Charge of the Light Brigade” is henceforth known as the first public confirmation of superhuman existence.

1854–1900 (approx.):
Amid intense fascination and fear of superhumans due to the British Empire augmenting their military and political strength with superhuman aid, a general wave of fear and disgust by humanity keeps many supers in hiding.

1867:
Infamous Wild West outlaw, Jill “Blackjack” Winchester, outs herself as a superhuman, widely regarded as both the first professional supervillain and superhuman to use a codename.

1871:
Sailors of the HMS
White Walrus
become the first humans to survive first contact with the xenophobic, reptilian natives of Lemuria. Shortly after, representatives of Atlantis reach out to the British Crown with an offer of peace in an effort to outdo their Lemurian rivals.

1870–1900 (approx.):
With superhuman aid, scientists like Tesla, Moreau, and Edison make scientific discoveries decades past what conventional technological wisdom believes possible, helping reshape the public image of supers more in their favor. Many smaller, less ethical “mad” scientists push the boundaries of science and accidentally create many proto-supervillains.

The Iron Age of Superheroes

1898:
The 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, under commander Theodore Roosevelt, is one of the first military units primarily filled with superhumans. Their battlefield prowess and raw power brings a swift end to the Spanish-American War. Cuba is soon after made the forty-sixth state to enter the Union.

1914–1916:
World War I is triggered by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This global conflict (exacerbated by the navy of Atlantis informally aiding the Central Powers) sees widespread use of superhumans in battle, improving their public image and bringing a swift end to the conflict while bringing a singular brutality to warfare that had yet to be seen. Conditions under the Treaty of Verdun financially punishing Germany and illegalizing humanity’s use of Lemurian and Atlantean technology keep tensions around the world lingering.

1917:
The islands of Hawaii are seized and claimed by cultists and redubbed New R’lyeh. Weakened by the war and not seeking the wrath of such powerful magic, world leaders acknowledge the new nation.

1917:
Bolstered by superhuman forces, the Bolsheviks seize power in the Russian Revolution. Through efficient programs managing the superhuman population and putting them to work for the greater good, the Soviet Union rapidly becomes one of the most prosperous and powerful empires of the twentieth century.

1922:
An Egyptian tomb unearthed by Howard Carter releases the trapped energies of the Egyptian pantheon upon the world. Their public revelation and general declaration of peace (some outliers aside), as well as the acknowledgment of other deities including Maui, Ishtar, Raven, Tezcatlipoca, and Sun Wukong, confirm to the world that gods walk among us.

The Golden Age of Superheroes

1930:
Miguel Díaz dons a handmade luchador outfit and emigrates from Mexico to the United States as El Capitán. Declaring neutrality from any government influence, he decides to use his powers for the betterment of mankind and soon becomes the world’s greatest superhero. His example of costumed vigilantism is soon followed by many with increasingly flamboyant identities and costumes.

1938:
The Empire of Japan’s invasion of China combined with border tensions with the USSR trigger World War II, an even more destructive and globe-spanning conflict than its predecessor. Superhumans around the world are pressed into service, while costumed superheroes use their celebrity influence to drum up support.

1940:
After Japanese naval attacks on America’s west coast, President Roosevelt orders the internment of Japanese-American citizens. Sixteen-year-old Kazuo Nagano escapes internment and, despite lacking superpowers, uses his genius intellect to transform himself into vigilante the Gamemaster, fighting against government oppression and corruption.

1941:
Seeking an end to the war, El Capitán, the Gamemaster, and French superhero Stone Spirit meet in Amber City. From this meeting they create the idea for the Protectors, a civilian team of superheroes not answering to any particular government and aligned with the goal of saving humanity from this destructive conflict. Nearly a dozen other heroes soon join this team with the goal of world peace.

1942:
One year and a day after the founding of the Protectors, El Capitán raises an American flag in Berlin, declaring an end to the war.

1943–1950 (approx.):
Despite postwar prosperity, tensions begin to rise between the allied empires of the United States, the USSR, the British Empire, and Atlantis in a nonviolent but vaguely hostile “Cold War.”

1947:
At the height of a competitive “Space Race” between the United States, USSR, and Britain, a spacecraft from the mysterious Gray race crash-lands in Roswell, New Mexico, confirming the existence of alien life. Technology salvaged from this craft makes the US the dominant spacefaring nation for decades to come.

1949:
United States president Thomas E. Dewey is the first sitting world leader to walk on the moon, and is famously photographed shaking hands with El Capitán in the Sea of Tranquility.

The Silver Age of Superheroes

1950:
Triggered by humanity’s deeper exploration of space, the First Gray Invasion of Earth occurs. Millions of lives are lost and large portions of East Asia and Africa, still recovering from World War II, are laid to waste. With most militaries disabled by Gray technology, humanity is saved by an expanded roster of Protectors, who repel the invasion and kill the Gray Emperor.

1951–1964 (approx.):
Earth is invaded periodically by alien races including the Grays, the Traknet, and the Roball Empire. An increased emphasis on Earth defense technology and a higher superhero population help defend Earth from serious damage. The required global unity in defending against these attacks prevents the Cold War from escalating.

1950–1969 (approx.):
Postwar prosperity creates an explosion of supervillains looking to acquire this wealth for themselves. Looking to stand out from others, villains often strive to become more over-the-top and flamboyant than their peers. In response, superheroes become more flamboyant and colorful. Campy one-liners, themed schemes and henchmen, and ostentatious displays of wealth become common for both superheroes and villains.

The Bronze Age of Superheroes

1969:
In response to the foundation of the Villains Union, the world’s first major team of supervillains, El Capitán and the Gamemaster, with the help of a reformed Blackjack, recreate the Protectors as a world-spanning team of superheroes in many subteams. The villains escalate their numbers and plots in kind, kicking off a conflict they dub the “War on Villainy.”

1970:
The Protectors open the Tower, the world’s greatest prison designed for housing supervillains.

1969–1993:
The War on Villainy is waged around the world, with civilian- and government-sponsored superheroes slowly imprisoning and exterminating the entire world supervillain population. Superheroes get an increasingly militarized look, with increasingly violent tactics approved, and edgier attitudes beloved, by the public.

1993:
With the defeat of Otis Shylock in Chile, and every last known supervillain eliminated, the War on Villainy is declared over.

The Digital Age of Superheroes

1993–Present:
Even without supervillains and few wars to fight, superheroes are still a part of daily life. They star in movies, dominate tabloids, and wield tremendous political power for the betterment of mankind. Occasional attempts at villainy are made, but the heroes quickly defeat them before any damage can truly be done. Losing their edge from the War on Villainy, they take on colorful costumes and kinder images.

Under their benevolent protection, all is well.

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THE REQUISITE ORIGIN STORY