The Great Lakes Avengers in…

PILOT EPISODE

By Brian Hamilton

Madison, Wisconsin
Present

Craig Hollis was no idiot. As Mr. Immortal, the hero who could never die, Hollis led the Great Lakes Avengers. He started the team in response to the Avengers and West Coast Avengers constant neglect of the midwestern region of the United States. He had worked with Hawkeye and Mockingbird and fought Deadpool. For a period of time he even super hero-ed in New York, the center of costumed super community. So, needless to say, he knew when he was being played for a fool.

“No. I don’t like it.” Craig crossed his arms over his chest and intensified his icy stare at the executive seated at the other end of the table.

Last week he had been contacted about the Great Lakes Avengers being the stars of their own reality television series. But now, the more he heard about the offer, the less he liked about it. With just a table separating his team and the television suit, he had made his stance on the issue known. His teammates, however, didn’t agree.

“The man makes a good point, Craig. My modeling jobs have been drying up and no one else is bringing in any money.” While not working with the Great Lakes Avengers as Big Bertha, Ashley Crawford worked as a super model. She was the Midwest’s biggest model, but her commitment to the team prevented her from moving to the coast or even traveling overseas. She was booking fewer and fewer jobs.

“Please,” Flatman pleaded, “Give it some consideration.”

“I can’t believe you guys are actually on board with this.” Mr. Immortal erupted from his chair knocking it to the floor. “Dinah. Doorman. You agree with me right?”

Across the room, what appeared to be a cross between a human and a pterodactyl let out a low whistle. Her voice was incomprehensible by all in the room except for Mr. Immortal, her life long bond mate. Doorman, however, gave no response. He lowered his eyes and stared at the floor.

“Well at least someone agrees with me.” Craig grabbed the doorknob and swung it open. “Come on, Dinah. We’re leaving.” The pink, humanoid dinosaur followed Craig out the door and the building. Even though Mr. Immortal was the only person in the world who could understand her, his anger left her silent.

“Yikes.” Across the table from the Avengers, Samuel Kerns adjusted his tie. “Looks like someone is missing the big picture here. Just imagine the potential. Instead of Iron Man and Captain America, little boys and girls would want to dress up like Flatman, Doorman, and Big Bertha for Halloween. All from watching your adventures protecting the Midwest from,” Sam paused a look of deep thought crossing his face, “just who do you guys fight again? You know what? Never mind. It’s not important. All you guys have to do is be your little costumed adventuring selves and let us film it. Of course you’ll be compensated for your time and energy. Specifics to be discussed at a later date of course. How does that sound?”

Before anyone could give a verbal consensus, Doorman stood and ran out the room trailing Mr. Immortal and Dinah Soar.

Sam’s eyes moved back and forth between Big Bertha and Flatman. “Only two original members? We can make that work.”

“Craig! Wait!”

Doorman caught up with teammates Mr. Immortal and Dinah Soar before they climbed into their car and drove off.

“Finally grew a backbone, huh?”

“Look, no, it’s not that it just that…” Doorman paused to collect his thoughts. Craig was already visible upset by this and he didn’t want to pour gasoline on an already out of control fire. “I don’t know. I can’t say yes or no.”

Craig mumbled something under his voice before climbing into the driver’s seat.

“Listen!” DeMarr interjected. “I can’t say yes or no because this could be exactly what we need. TV studios don’t approach the real Avengers because they’re legit. But this. This could be the thing that gets people to respect us. The question is are we ready to acknowledge what everyone else says about us? That the Great Lakes Avengers are a joke and what are we going to do to change that?”

From the other side of the car, Dinah emitted a series of low whistles. Doorman scratched his head, unsure if she was agreeing with him or not.

Mr. Immortal looked back and forth between the two. His initial reaction was to punch Doorman dead in the face. Knowing DeMarr , he would use his powers and Craig’s hand would only go through his face. His anger would have only proved Demarr right. He knew what everyone else thought of them. He had read what people wrote online after their fight with Quicksand. They hadn’t even captured her. She simply disappeared.

But Dinah made a good point. It’s never been about the respect. Yes it’d be nice, but all he ever wanted to do was help the people other heroes ignored. However, due to money problems, that was becoming harder to do. Forget the respect. This could be their chance to keep helping the people that needed them.

He climbed out the car and slammed the door behind him. “We need to talk with Val and Ashley before we agree or disagree to anything.”

“Only two original members? We can make that work.”

Ashley raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean make it work? I thought this was about us.”

“Oh it is.” Sam backtracked. “It’s just that the studio is going to want to have some input. Maybe have a casting call to replace your friends there as well as get some diversity.”

“Diversity? But Doorman is black,” Val informed.

Sam erupted in laughter, brushing away a tear from his eye. “That was a good one Flats. Of course Doorman is black. His whole body is black.” He broke out into more laughter. “Ya know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the intelligent, funny guy role done before. You could make that work for you.”

Big Bertha and Flatman exchanged glances. They didn’t see what was so funny. DeMarr was actually black.

As Sam’s laughter ended he continued. “Look, the studio is making an investment in you guys. We just wanna make sure we get a return. We want drama and action and most importantly ratings. And without the first two we don’t get the last one.”

Having dealt with managers and agents in her modeling career, Ashley knew where this was headed. “We have some input but ultimately you guys get the final say.”

“Exactly!” Sam shouted, “Now we’re on the same page. Look, let’s be honest here. If we let you guys have the final word then the show would be nothing but bumbling and escaped bad guys. You need some fresh blood. What team do you know that’s been around as long as you and has the same lineup? You’re stagnant. A cast shake up will be a good thing. Trust me.”

Ashley tugged on Flatman’s arm. “Come on Val. Lets get out of here. I think I’ve heard enough.”

“Come on! Without us you guys are just going to stay the butt of everyone’s jokes.”

Sam’s words were met with a middle finger from Ashley. She swung open the door to find Doorman, Dinah Soar, and Mr. Immortal on the other side.

“You guys came back. Great! Now let’s just get these contracts-”

“Shut up Sam!” Craig barked. He directed his attention to his friends on the other side of the door. “Guys, I was wrong.”

Ashley was struck quiet so Val spoke up. “What? We were just coming to join you. This guy is a jackass. We don’t need him.”

“But we do. Doorman said we’re a joke and he’s right.”

“Demarr! What the hell?” Ashley shouted!

“Let him finish! Geez!” Doorman replied.

“Look, you guys can get mad but Demarr was right. People think the Great Lakes Avengers are a joke. So what if they do? Forget about getting presidential medals and awards. Forget what people say on the message boards. This is our chance to keep doing what we started the GLA for. To help the people the regular Avengers forget about.”

For minutes no one moved. The five heroes exchanged solemn glances as their leader’s speech echoed in their heads. Signing the contract meant acknowledging the truth on a national scale. They were able to admit their status as laughing stocks amongst themselves but were they big enough to admit it to everyone else?

Sean pushed five contracts across the table in their direction and smiled. “So guys, is that a yes or a no?”