Fury One-Shot Issue

This was the first comic script I ever wrote. The formatting is slightly different from how I tend to write scripts now but overall I’m still pretty proud of this one and wanted to share it, especially since there is zero chance of it ever getting made or published.

I originally wrote this for fun (never actually pitched) as a one-shot issue for the long-since-cancelled DC Comics series Earth-2. A bit of backstory for context, Earth-2 took place on an Earth where an altered history led to different versions of heroes like Superman, Batman, and—most importantly for this story—Wonder Woman. In the actual series, they introduced a character named Fury, an Amazon that served the forces of Darkseid.

At the time, all we knew about Fury was that she was the daughter of Wonder Woman. DC hadn’t come up with a full backstory for the character or determined who her father was. So, I wanted to explore an answer to that question while fleshing out the character’s past and personality.

The issue takes place during a war between Earth and Apokolips (Darkseid’s dominion) that was happening at the time.



PAGE 1

Panel 1:
Caption: Themyscira. Years Ago.

Caption Box (upper left): “I remember blood...”

We are looking through the eyes of an 8-year-old girl, who stares at her shaking blood-splattered hands. Through the gaps in her spread fingers an out of focus battle rages—Amazons against Apokoliptians.

Panel 2:
Caption Box (upper left): “It is my earliest memory...”

We are still looking through her eyes, but the hands have lowered. We see them at the bottom of the panel, about to be dropped away completely. The battle is now more in focus, but the edges of her vision are blurry from the tears and everything is just a little too bright. We see dead bodies, we hear screams.

Panel 3:
Caption Box (upper left): “The only remnant of a life from long ago.”

The hands have dropped away completely. The battle continues on but the brightness has increased even more. A large man (this will be Steppenwolf, but it shouldn’t necessarily be obvious) has just impaled an Amazon and his gaze has turned toward the girl. He is taking a step toward her.

Panel 4:
Caption Box (upper left): “It is my earliest memory... “

The brightness has overwhelmed the panel, we can no longer see the battle—only bright white, but if you look closely enough, there is a shadow in the center, the shadow of the man, moving closer to the girl.

Caption Box (lower right): “…but not my most vivid. Not the one that still haunts me.”



PAGE 2-3

Double Page Splash
Caption: Metropolis. Present Day.

We’re now in present day. We’re watching from the bottom quarter of the left hand page at a diagonal angle—to Fury, who stands tall atop a small pile of rubble on the right hand side of the shot. Her posture is strong, confident; her face impassive. She grips her lasso/whip in her right hand. We see two dead bodies in front of her—one closer to her and on their back, the other a few feet further away, face down. Beyond those bodies, continuing into the left side of the shot, we see World Army soldiers running toward her, guns at the ready. Destruction is all around them. In the very bottom, left hand corner of the shot we see the head of a soldier behind a broken wall. His eyes are full of terror.

CREDITS



PAGE 4

Panel 1:
Fury’s lasso extends out, taut, wrapped around the neck of one of the soldiers. Her stance has changed, braced for a pull. Her right leg has shifted to the back. Her knees are bent slightly, muscles on both legs tense. Her right hand tightly grips the end of the lasso and her left hand holds it further up, toward the captured soldier.

Panel 2:
The captured soldier is in the air, flying toward Fury, while his cohorts have halted and begun to raises their guns to take aim at her. Panic fills the man’s eyes.

Panel 3:
Fury has the man held as a human shield, facing toward his allies who were about to open fire but who now hesitate. Fear is etched on his face. Fury’s left arm is wrapped around his neck in a headlock. Her right hand grips the back of his shirt.



PAGE 5

Panel 1:
Taking advantage of the World’s Army’s brief moment of hesitation, Fury has casually snapped her hostage’s neck and tossed the body aside in one fluid movement. The body is in mid-fall, but she has already started to leap toward the rest of the soldiers.

Caption Box: “No, the thing that still haunts me... “

Panel 2:
We’re watching now from behind the gathered soldiers, who look up scared. Fury rockets toward them, face scowling. In the background, we see the dead soldier on the floor.

Caption Box: “...the image that I still see when I close my eyes...”

Panel 3:
We see the smiling lower half of a woman’s face (Barda’s to be exact, but at this point, she’s much younger than she is now). It is a sickly sadistic smile. One of joy, but a joy that comes from the pain of others.

Caption Box: "...is her smile.”



PAGE 6

Panel 1:
Caption: Apokolips. Years Ago.

We're now in the past, years ago, on Apokolips at Granny Goodness' "Orphanage." It's only been about 6 months since Fury first arrived. In front of us, a crowd of kids, ranging from 8 to 13 are gathered in a disorganized circle around two others fighting in the center. The crowd is cheering in excitement. We can’t fully see the two people in the center yet, just bits and pieces through the crowd, but for reference: an older girl (Barda, about 11 years old) straddles an 10 year old boy that she is mercilessly beating, all while wearing that same smile from the previous panel.

Caption Box: “Her name was Barda.”

Panel 2:
We see a close up of Barda’s arm and fist, having just connected another hit. Blood flies.

Caption Box: “I do not remember my name, but it didn’t matter.”

Panel 3:
Another image of Barda connecting another punch. This time we can see the blood on her knuckles.

Caption Box: “Because there, we didn’t have names.”

Panel 4:
A shot of the crowd, cheering faces all around—all except for one. A young Fury watches on with a mixture of disgust and enjoyment in her eyes.

Caption Box: “Not until we earned them.”

Panel 5:
Now we see Barda in all her sadistic glory. The boy underneath her has been beaten unconscious. Her eyes are wild with excitement, focused on Fury in the crowd, and she is smiling that exact smile from the last panel on the previous page.

Caption Box: “Barda was a few years older than I.”

Panel 6:
Close up on Fury. She is torn and conflicted. She is fighting feeling the same way the crowd does. She wants to feel disgust, but part of her is finding as much pleasure in the fight as Barda.

Caption Box: “And had already earned her name long ago.”



PAGE 7

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “Life in Granny Goodness’ Orphanage was defined by violence.”

The other kids have started to disperse, some bored now that the fight is over, others still thrilled and excited, chatting with one another with bloodlust-filled eyes. The unconscious boy is being dragged away by Apokoliptian guards. Fury watches as his body edges off the panel. Barda stands with her arms crossed, looking on, a smirk playing on her lips. Besides her stand three others—a blonde girl, Silaya, approximately 10 years old, stands the closest to her and wears the same smile Barda does. There is a boy, about 12, face impassive and emotionless. And finally, another girl, green hair, sharp nails scratching lightly against her own face. Off in the distance, up on a walkway, we see a pleased Granny Goodness looking on.

Panel 2:
Caption Box: “Our days were filled with brutality...”

We see a guard whipping one of the older kids, lashing tearing through the shirt and cutting into their back. Granny Goodness stands in front, arms behind her back like a military general, addressing the other children. Barda and her crew are in the front. Fury in the middle of the crowd of kids.

Granny Goodness: “If you wish to steal, do not get caught! Failure is not tolerated.”

Panel 3:
Caption Box: “...training...”

The kids are in an open area, sparing against one another. These fights are not friendly competitions. They are brutal and violent. They are each trying to prove themselves. While one group spars, the others watch on. Currently, we see the green-haired girl fighting against a young Scott Free. She is slashing at him with her claws, but he has slipped right by her. Granny Goodness addresses the crowd from across the sparing ground. Beside her stands Barda.

Granny Goodness: “Through strength you show your worth! Weakness is worthless.”

Panel 4:
Caption Box: “... and torture.”

We see Fury strapped to a table. There is a device around her head that looks like a silver headband with wires coming out and leading to a machine in the back. Around the machine gathers two Apokoliptian scientists (one can even be Desaad). They are observing a screen where we see a young Fury on Paradise Island. The current Fury is being electrocuted and is grinding her teeth together in pain. Her arms are tensed and her fists are clenched. Granny Goodness stands next to her.

Granny Goodness: “Your past life is meaningless. The only life that matters is your new one.”



PAGE 8

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “That was the life I knew for two years. Until I was 10 years old...”

We’re focused on an older Fury, standing amongst other kids. She’s holding a staff and wearing light clothing: cloth pants and a ragged cloth shirt.

Granny Goodness (Off Panel): “You have seen and you have heard. Now you will show us what you have learned.”

Panel 2:
Caption Box: “...when I was old enough to participate in the training...”

We’ve pulled back from focusing on Fury to see all the rest of the kids around her as well. They’re all dressed the same as she and are holding staves. Granny is once again addressing them with Barda by her side. Barda is now 13—her clothes are of a finer material. Still cloth, but not torn or ripped.

Granny Goodness: “You will prove yourself, and if you are worthy enough, you may even gain Patronage from one of Lord Darkseid’s elite.”

Panel 3:
Closer now on Granny and Barda. Granny’s hand is on Barda’s shoulder, and the girl stands proudly.

Granny Goodness: “Like my Barda here—who now gets the pleasure of choosing the first match.”

Panel 4:
Barda smirks, pointing into the crowd, directly at Fury.

Panel 5:
We’re on Fury now, gripping her staff tighter, eyes hard. She attempts to maintain a tough exterior, but inside, she is terrified—not only of the fight, but of enjoying it as much as she knows Barda will.

Granny Goodness (Off Panel): “Excellent. And who shall be her opponent?”

Panel 6:
Caption Box: “...and Barda got the chance she had been waiting for.”

Back on Barda. She’s no longer point, but her infamous smile as returned and there is an unmistakable gleam in her eye.

Barda: “Me.”



PAGE 9

Panel 1:
The two girls stand at the ready. Fury is in a fighting stance—one leg back, knees bent, staff gripped in her hands and angled at her opponent. Barda, however, stands facing directly at her. She holds her staff in one hand, the length of it running up the back of her arm. The smile is still on her face.

Panel 2:
Fury charges at Barda, staff pulled back and ready for a swing. Barda still hasn’t moved from her previous position and is still smiling.

Captain Box: “I remember the way my blood boiled during the fight.”

Panel 3:
Barda blocks the attack and throws a punch at Fury’s face, which she barely dodges. Again, Barda still smiles.

Caption Box: “I remember the joy I started to feel.”

Panel 4:
The fight rages. Attacks and blocks. We’re on Barda here, pressing her attack on Fury. She is ecstatic.

Caption Box: “I remember seeing Barda’s face...”

Panel 5:
The fight rages. Attacks and blocks. Now we’re on Fury going wild, getting more and more into it as she goes. We see a smile creeping onto her face, a glint growing in her eye.

Caption Box: “...and seeing my own joy reflected there.”



PAGE 10

Panel 1:
The fight rages. Attacks and blocks. The smile has faded from Fury’s face. We see her hesitate on an attack.

Caption Box: “I remember being weak, and fighting against it...”

Panel 2:
We’re on Barda. The smile is also gone from her face, replaced with a scowl. Her staff is cracking hard against Fury’s back.

Barda: “Worthless.”

Panel 3:
Barda’s staff cracks against Fury’s head.

Caption Box: “...and the pain that followed.”

Panel 4:
Fury on the ground passing out. Barda stands above her, looking down on her, smiling once again.

Panel 5:
We’re in Fury’s POV and are focused directly on Barda’s smile, but her vision is fading, so the edges are growing dark.

Panel 6:
Black Panel.



PAGE 11

Panel 1:
We’re back on the sparing grounds on a different day. Fury is about the fight again, but this time she’s facing off against Silaya, the blonde girl that is part of Barda’s group. Like Barda, she smiles often, but unlike her, not always, and she does it out of a need to please Barda, not because she is truly enjoying the fight.

Caption Box: “From then on, Barda didn’t fight me herself.”

Panel 2:
Silaya is punching Fury in the gut. The younger girl is doubled over in pain. Barda watches on, smiling as always.

Caption Box: “She instead sent her own protégé after me: Silaya.”

Panel 3:
Another day. Another fight. This time, Silaya has Fury is a headlock and is cutting off her air. The younger girl is futility struggling to free herself. Barda still watches on.

Caption Box: “For weeks, she beat on me.”

Panel 4:
Silaya is on top of Fury, punching her in the jaw. There is a cut above Fury’s eye already.

Caption Box: “Growing more and more brutal.”

Panel 5:
Caption Box: “Until...”

We’re moments after the last fight from the previous panel. Fury is struggling to get up. The cut above her eye is bleeding, and blood drips from the corner of her mouth. Barda stands above her, arms crossed, with Silaya by her side. Both of them look down at Fury.

Barda: “Next time, break her arm.”



PAGE 12

Panel 1:
It’s later in the day. There’s gauze covering the cut above Fury’s eye. She’s walking back to her room through the hallways of the orphanage. Around her are other kids as well.

Panel 2:
Fury comes to a stop. She’s looking at something off panel. Eyes wide with fear.

Panel 3:
There stands Silaya, Barda and the rest of their crew—the boy with the impassive face and the girl with the green hair and claws. Silaya stands in front, hands on her hips. Around them, the other students have stopped moving, and are all anticipating a fight.

Silaya: “Tomorrow’s too far away.”

Panel 4:
Silaya lunges and tackles Fury, who struggles but doesn’t immediately fight back.

Fury: “No!”

Panel 5:
Fury is on her stomach on the ground. Silaya is on Fury’s back and has the girl’s arm locked and pulled back. She is grinning maliciously. Fury is looking up at the off panel Barda, pleading.

Fury: “Please no! Don’t! Please!”

Panel 6:
Barda looks down her, simply smiling.



PAGE 13

Panel 1:
Focus on Fury’s face, eyes clenched shut, waiting for the pain.

Caption Box: “I don’t know why, but at that moment, I thought of my parents...”

Panel 2:
Caption Box: “...and could not remember what they looked like.”

We see bare outlines of two people. The image is murky and blurry. There are small details, maybe some hair color, but we cannot see their faces at all. For reference, we’re looking at Wonder Woman and Orion, but Fury does not know this.

Panel 3:
We’re back on Fury, eyes still clenched. Her arm is strained to the breaking point. Around her, other kids are cheering and shouting.

Caption Box: “I cannot recall my parents’ faces, but I know who they are.”

Panel 4:
We see the Roman God of War, Mars, with a faceless, young Wonder Woman by his side.

Caption Box: “My mother: the Daughter of War.”

Panel 5:
We see Darkseid with Orion facing away from him so we cannot see his face.

Caption Box: “My father: the Son of Darkseid.”

Panel 6:
Caption Box: “I am the child of War and Rage.”

Back close on Fury’s face. Her eyes are now clenched in growing anger. A tear rolls down her cheek.

Caption Box: “My blood screams for violence.”

Panel 7:
Caption Box: “And finally, I answered it’s call.”

Fury’s eyes have popped open. There is rage and anger burning inside them. The power of the Gods has been released.



PAGE 14

Panel 1:
Fury screams in anger and tosses Silaya off of her. The girl crashes hard against the wall.

Panel 2:
Fury rises, smiling wickedly. Her eyes are different—hungry, excited. Silaya is looking up at her, horrified at what she sees.

Panel 3:
Silaya lunges at Fury, throwing a wild punch in her direction. Fury simply moves aside and slams her fist into Silaya’s midsection.

Panel 4:
Fury scowls and tosses the winded Silaya to the floor.



PAGE 15

Panel 1:
Face still twisted in anger, Fury kneels, pressing one of her knees into Silaya’s back and grabs one of the girl’s arms in a lock.

Panel 2:
Silaya’s arm is tense and strained. She is screaming underneath Fury, who is looking up at Barda, who is currently off panel.

Silaya: “Ahhhh! No! Barda! Help me, please!”

Panel 3:
Close on Barda. She stares back at Fury, smiling her smile and making no move to assist Silaya.

Panel 4:
We’re focused solely on Fury, who smiles widely. Her body has shifted slightly. There is a loud crack and a piercing scream from an off-panel Silaya.

Panel 5:
Caption Box: “That was the day I earned my name.”

Fury has stood back up in front of Barda, still smiling and leaving a crying Silaya on the floor, clutching her broken arm. Around her, the other kids are cheering in excitement.

Panel 6:
Caption Box: “That was the day I became Fury.”

Back on Barda, whose smile has become even wider.



PAGE 16

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “From then on, Barda and I spared regularly.”

Fury and Barda face off against each other, both smiling, enjoying the thrill of battle, the violence.

Caption Box: “We fought others sometimes, but we were in a league of our own—violent and brutal, thrilling and joyful.”

Panel 2:
They trade blows while others watch on, cheering enthusiastically—all except one. Silaya watches them, furious.

Caption Box: “Silaya watched from the sidelines, seething, taking her anger out on younger kids.”

Panel 3:
We see Silaya viciously beating on a 9-year-old kid in the hallways. She isn’t smiling. She’s crazed—teeth clenched, eyes mad.

Caption Box: “Eventually, a year later, she demanded to fight me on the field.”

Panel 4:
Caption Box: “She lost...”

Fury smiles down at a badly beaten and unconscious Silaya.

Caption Box: “...badly.”

Panel 5:
Caption Box: “She tried to challenge me again, but Barda refused.”

Silaya points at Barda, cursing and yelling at her. Barda stands in front of her, arms crossed, her face twisted into a grimace.

Caption Box: “So she challenged Barda instead.”

Panel 6:
Caption Box: “They fought.”

Barda stands holding the lifeless body of Silaya by the neck with one hand. Blood drips down Silaya’s nose and the side of her face from a cut on her temple. The knuckles of Barda’s other hand are covered in blood.

Caption Box: “And Barda broke her neck.”



PAGE 17

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “One year and countless battles later, I gained Patronage.”

We’re in a throne room belonging to Steppenwolf. In the forefront stands Fury, older now (12, going on 13), dressed in fine clothing similar to what Barda wore when the two first fought. She’s standing proudly at attention, arms behind her back. In front of her is Steppenwolf in fully armor, helm removed. Granny Goodness stands off to the side, smiling happily at another successful student. Barda stands behind her, equally proud.

Steppenwolf: “I’ve had my eye on you a while. I always knew you had potential. What are you called?”

Fury: “Fury, Lord Steppenwolf.”

Steppenwolf: “I like that. Has a certain... directness to it. What would you say to being my protégé, my young Fury?”

Fury: “It would be an honor, my lord.”

Panel 2:
Steppenwolf is grinning joyfully. This is a moment he has waited for, for years now—ever since taking her from Paradise Island. Fury has clasped her fist over her heart and bowed before him.

Steppenwolf: “Excellent. It is done.”

Panel 3:
Steppenwolf: “Granny, what say we celebrate this occasion with an exhibition from your school’s two best students?”

Steppenwolf has turned toward Granny Goodness, hand sweeping out in a grand gesture. Granny grins back willingly. Barda has already started walking toward Fury.

Granny Goodness: “I believe that to be a grand idea.”

Panel 4:
Steppenwolf and Granny stand to the side to watch on as Barda and Fury face each other. They’re both in fighting stances and both smiling widely. Fury is thrilled and Barda is just as excited for her.



PAGE 18

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “Throughout the years, Barda and I continued to spar each other.”

Continuing from the scene in the throne room, Barda and Fury charging at each other about to connect blows, still smiling.

Panel 2:
Caption Box: “Never holding back, never pulling punches.”

Fury and Barda are a few years older (13 and 16), sparing again. The transition from the previous panel to this one should be seamlessly—like it’s the exact same fight, but a few years later. They’re in much better clothes, close to the costumes they wear in present day. In all these panels, they’re still smiling.

Panel 3:
Caption Box: “Sometimes nearly beating each other into unconsciousness.”

Continuing theme from previous panel, Fury and Barda are a now around 15 and 18. The transition from the previous panel to this one should be seamlessly—like it’s the exact same fight, but a few years later. They’re more bruised at this point, as it’s later in the fight. In all these panels, they’re still smiling.

Panel 4:
Caption Box: “Even after Barda graduated from the Orphanage...”

Last one. They’re 16 and 19. Barda is in her costume at this point, having left the Orphanage and now working at the Prison (where she will meet Scott Free).

Caption Box: “... we still fought.”

Panel 5:
Caption Box: “And Barda always won.”

These next panels are each reflections of the previous panels, only at the end of the fight—Barda always triumphant, either standing above Fury or helping her up. In all of them, both girls are smiling. Reflecting Panel 1, Barda and Fury in the throne room.

Panel 6:
These next panels are each reflections of the previous panels, only at the end of the fight—Barda always triumphant, either standing above Fury or helping her up. In all of them, both girls are smiling. Reflecting Panel 2, Barda and Fury at 13 and 16.

Panel 7:
These next panels are each reflections of the previous panels, only at the end of the fight—Barda always triumphant, either standing above Fury or helping her up. In all of them, both girls are smiling. Reflecting Panel 3, Barda and Fury at 15 and 18.

Panel 8:
These next panels are each reflections of the previous panels, only at the end of the fight—Barda always triumphant, either standing above Fury or helping her up. In all of them, both girls are smiling. Reflecting Panel 4, Barda and Fury at 16 and 19.



PAGE 19

Panel 1:
Caption Box: “Then the day before I graduated from the Orphanage...”

A close-up of a devastated Fury at 18, a mix of shock and confusion on her face, and an Apokoliptian soldier giving her the news.

Caption Box: “...I learned Barda had disappeared.”

Panel 2:
Caption Box: “Gone without word or warning.”

Soldier: "... escaped with a prisoner. Helped him break out."

Fury’s face turning from shock to anger. Rage burning in her eyes.

Caption Box: “That was the day the joy of battle left me.”

Panel 3:
Caption Box: “I had lost my past. I had lost my joy.”

Fury has started attacking the soldier, beating him mercilessly. Other soldiers try and stop her, but she continues to attack, tearing them apart. She is a wild animal, snarling in anger.

Caption Box: “And I had lost my friend.”

Panel 4:
Caption Box: “All I have now...”

Fury stands over the bodies of the Apokoliptian soldiers, face emotionless, but there is a definite sadness there, hidden in her eyes.

Caption Box: “...is my rage...”



PAGE 20

Splash Page
Present Day Fury standing amongst the destruction, dead World Army Soldiers surrounding her. Her face is emotionless, but there is a definite sadness there, hidden in her eyes. It’s the same expression from the previous panel. In the background, in the sky behind her, we see the ghostly image of the lower half of Barda’s smiling face.

Caption Box: “...and the memory of her smile.” 

END