So I had the idea a few days ago to take some of my favorite comics that I have read in the past months and turn them into short stories. What I hope to accomplish by doing this is to get more people to realize the depth of the stories told in comic books nowadays. I hate it when people think that just because there is a story a comic book follows it is automatically going to be shallow and childish. Sure, 40 years ago comic books were like that, but things definitely change over 40 years. Would you think that a 50 year old man who you see today behaves and thinks the same way he did 40 years ago, of course you would not. Nor would you turn on the TV today and expect to see the same kind of shows that played across TV sets in the 1960’s. The longer things last, the more they mature.
Yes there are still kiddie comic books out there, but those are strictly for kids, you certainly wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) hand a 7 year old an issue of “Punisher: Warzone” in much the same way as you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) hand a 7 year old a copy of Grand Theft Auto 4, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
So hopefully this will convince many readers that just because a story is being told with more colors and pictures then words, it is not automatically a lame story.
Magneto Testament #3 of 5
The German army invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Following the main German forces, Nazi Einsatzgruppen, or “operational groups,” hunted down Jews and Polish intellectuals. In September and October of 1939, the Einsatzgruppen and other German forces killed over 16,000 Jewish and Polish civilians. Two years later, Einsatzgruppen followed the German army into the Ukraine and Russia, slaughtering Jews wherever they found them. By the end of the war, the Einsatzgruppen and the auxiliaries had killed 1.3 million Jews.
September, 1939. Poland
German fighter planes and bombers fill the night sky. The fleet of aircraft are in the process of harassing a prominently Jewish town whose non-Jewish occupants have been obstinately resisting German regulations and control. The German commanders believe by a ruthless show of no mercy to those who resist, there will be little resistance from neighboring towns.
Fleeing the explosions and the burning wreckage of the town are a family of 5: a father and mother with their two children, and the father’s brother. The father leads the way, his left hand tugging his son’s arm to keep the young boy from falling behind, while his right hand is behind him, tightly gripped to his wife’s delicate hand. Bringing up the rear, the brother has his niece cradled in both of his hands. The family has been running for quite some way, they are all breathing heavily, clearly not used to this sort of physical strain. Running out of a back alley and into the vast field that surrounds the town, the family seeks refuge in the forest, a silhouette just barely visible on the horizon against the blue night sky.
A bomb goes off behind them, causing the wife to look back out of reflex. “Oh, Jakob. That whole village…” The wife manages to say to her husband between breaths as they run through the dewed grass.
“Stay low Edie!” The husband calls back. The family runs a little longer in silence, solemnly listening to the destruction behind them. Ahead of them is a waist-high brick wall, probably used to separate property. “Everyone, behind that wall!” The father says. With the prospect of rest in sight, the family kicks up their pace slightly. Running through a blown out section of the wall, they all settle together against the same side.
Unknown to them, two other refugees, both men, have also found shelter against the same wall.
“Where the hell are you fools going?” One of the men asks.
“To the city.” The father replies, catching his breath.
“The Germans have taken the city.”
The brother sets the niece down and crawls next to his brother and says to him and the other two men, “Well, in case you hadn’t noticed, they’ve taken the country too!”
Before the topic could be argued anymore, the young boy spies something coming through the field they just sprinted through. “Poppa, look! In the field.”
“What Max?” The father turns back around to face his boy.
“He’s right, Jakob!” The brother, who had already followed Max’s finger point, said. “They’re here! Come on, this way!” He whispers to the rest of his family and the two other refugees.
One of the refugee men peek up above the wall, “What? I don’t see-” Rifle fire erupts from a half-dozen rifles. “Oh God!” The bullets crack against the brick wall, pinning the two men to their hiding spot. The family dashes into the treeline, staying as low as they can while running. The brother is now leading the family into the woods and is once again holding his niece, his sister-in-law is right behind him, and his brother is in the rear dragging Max by the arm. Listening as they run through the woods, the family can hear the gunfire cease.
“Wait–we’re unarmed!” A refugee cries to his assailants. Caught in the moment, Max stops and turns to face the scene he just fled from. Noticing his son has stopped, Jakob stops for a moment, causing a chain reaction of everyone else to stop. Max stands there transfixed with what he was seeing.
“Don’t shoot please!” One of the men call to the German soldiers.
“On your stomachs now!” A stern looking German calls out, pointing his rifle between the two refugees.
“All right, all right!” Both men lay down on their stomachs, subconsciously putting their hands on their heads in the process. “Just don’t-” Two rifle shots echoed across the field and into the woods, shaking Max out of his trance.
Tenderly Jakob pats his son on the shoulder, “Don’t look back Max. We need your sharp eyes up front.” Jakob gestures up and past where the rest of his family stands motionless. His brother shuts his mouth and swallows a hard gulp while he rocks his niece in his arms as she whimpers into his chest. His wife gazes sorrowfully at her son, tears stream down her face. “This way looks good, yes?” Jakob takes Max by the back and gently nudges him to walk up front.
“Y-Yes…Yes poppa, this way.” Max stammers as he walks alongside his uncle and sister.
“Good boy.” Jakob looks at his wife, Edie, she falls into his arms for a brief catharsis and then regains her composure and turns to walk with the rest of her family. Jakob stands there watching all that is important anymore walk ahead of him. Material things are of no value to him now, just the safety of his wife, children, and brother. Seeing his small black haired son lead them all into the unknown, Jakob knew he would grow up to become a powerful man, if he was even given the opportunity to do so. “Good boy.” Jakob echoed again and followed his family deeper into the forest.
Up in the front the young girl breaks her silence. “Where are we going, Uncle Erich?”
Erich looks down at the girl, “Warsaw.”
“But that man said they’ve taken Warsaw.” Ruthie said, her young mind clearly puzzled.
“Don’t worry Ruthie. Your Poppa knows what he’s doing. If we stay out here, it’s just the five of us. But there are thousands of Jews in Warsaw. Once we make it there, whatever happens…” Erich glances back at his brother, who nods. “…at least we won’t be alone.” Erich smiles down at Ruthie, who grins back up and seems content with things for now.
To finish reading the story pick up Magneto Testament #1
