In 2001, I wrote the script for one of Brilliant Digital Entertainment’s 3-D Multipath Adventures of Superman, a digital choose-your-own-path story. According to a Warner Bros press release at the time: “These new adventures, which debut in fall 2001, expand the total number of ‘Superman’ webisodes ordered by Warner Bros. Online to 75. The Multipath Adventures of Superman feature full screen, full motion, real-time 3-D interactive animation produced using the Brilliant Digital’s b3d Studio tool set for a unique Internet experience.”
I wrote the six-part eleventh episode in the series, “When Titans Am Clashing!” The story involves Darkseid and DeSaad of the New Gods messing with Bizarro in their eternal quest to spread evil and destroy Superman. This was sort of an epilogue to the story, a bittersweet little Bizarro solo story.
EPISODE 11.6—WHEN TITANS AM CLASHING: “A Bizarro’s Tale”
SCENE 1 – EXT. – OUTER SPACE – HIGH EARTH ORBIT
SUPERMAN is hovering in outer space, the EARTH the size of a volley ball far below him. He’s scanning space with his TELESCOPIC VISION.
SUPERMAN (V.O.)
It’s been days since Bizarro disappeared…but I know he’s not dead! Wherever he’s been sent, I pray he’s okay…
SCENE 2 – EXT. – SURFACE – ALIEN WORLD – DAY – RE-USE OF FOORTAGE FROM EPISODE 11.3, SCENE 10 WITH NEW V.O.
Sitting on a boulder on the surface of this primitive alien planet, covered in smog and ash, dark and foreboding, is BIZARRO. He’s oblivious to the rivers of lava that run by his feet on the barren, cracked, craggy surface, the black soot that fills the air. BIZARRO is just sitting slumped, staring out at nothing.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Once upon the time, there am bizarro called Bizarro. Him lost in space. Him a happy bizarro! And then stuff happen…then more stuff…
If TELL US MORE, Go to SCENE A1
If CONTINUE, Go to SCENE 3
SCENE 3 – EXT. – SURFACE OF ALIEN PLANET
The surface of the ALIEN PLANET, a beautiful place: lush, tropical alien foliage dotting the landscape, a clear pink sky, ponds and lakes of shimmering, clear waters, etc. A paradise, and not a sign of technology anywhere. And then the same OMEGA BEAM EFFECT that blasted BIZARRO in the previous scene erupts here and BIZARRO appears, looking dazed.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Him go here and there, fight…not know what happen. But Bizarro usually not know what happen. Then him sent away again, to here…!
BIZARRO looks around in awe.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
So beautiful.
ZOOM IN ON BIZARRO’S FACE, going quickly from awe to disgust.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Bizarro hate it! Bizarro think he not stay…
TELEPATHIC (echo)
You! Kind being…you are not one of the raiders!
BIZARRO
Huh?
BIZARRO whirls and sees TWO GLOWING FIGURES floating through the air towards him. They are just OUTLINES OF HUMAN FIGURES with NO FEATURES, containing a YELLOWISH-WHITE LIGHT and glowing.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
…But then glowy men come.
If TALK, Go to SCENE 4
If ATTACK, Go to SCENE B1
SCENE 4 – EXT. – SURFACE OF ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO is stepping towards the TWO GLOWING FIGURES, raising his hand in greeting.
BIZARRO
Am Bizarro. Good-bye.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Good-bye, Bizarro. We come from The Place, a world existing on a different dimensional plane than this one. We have crossed over in search of help.
BIZARRO
Bizarro help.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Yes. Your life energy radiates with good…and such energies are how we perceive all, for in The Place…
Go to SCENE 5
SCENE 5 – EXT. – THE PLACE
This is just an extra-dimensional swirl of colors and pulsating points of light of different colors.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
…The physical does not exist. We are beings of pure energy, sustained by the forces which comprise our dimension.
Suddenly, as though appearing through a rent in thin air, comes a huge alien device, some sort of large tentacle-like device with a nozzle on the end pushing into this dimension from nowhere. The pulsating points of light all start to swirl around and move towards the device.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Then beings from your dimension discovered our realm. Piercing the barrier between our worlds, they began to steal those forces from us…
Go to SCENE 6
SCENE 6 – EXT. – SURFACE OF ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO and the TWO GLOWING FIGURES.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
…Draining our energies as a source of power for themselves…and dooming our people!
BIZARRO
Bad men hurting glowy men? Bizarro stop them!
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Our thanks, Bizarro, for we are helpless upon this plane of existence to act to save our world.
BIZARRO leaps up into the air, determined.
BIZARRO
Bizarro not helpless. Bizarro am hero!
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Bizarro like glowy men.
Go to SCENE 7
SCENE 7 – OUTER SPACE – IN ORBIT ABOVE ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO comes hurtling up into space from the planet below. He stops when he reaches the FOREGROUND and looks around.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
They no care how he look, that him talk funny.
BIZARRO looks OFF-SCREEN, seeing something that gets his attention.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
They only want to be Bizarro’s friends.
BIZARRO rockets off in that direction…
Go to SCENE 8
SCENE 8 – OUTER SPACE – ALIEN MOTHERSHIP – IN ORBIT ABOVE ALIEN PLANET
…And speeds towards a MASSIVE ALIEN MOTHERSHIP (re-use of any previous alien ship; something bristling with all sorts of massive blasters and cannons) that sits in orbit above the ALIEN PLANET. It dominates the scene and has a single tentacle-like DEVICE snaking from it. The business end of the DEVICE is disappearing in mid-air, through a dimensional warp; the other end is in THE PLACE, as seen in SCENE 6. BIZARRO flies into the screen in the FOREGROUND, then swoops down towards the MOTHERSHIP.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
And Bizarro only want to help friends!
BIZARRO speeds closer to the MOTHERSHIP. Several blasters open fire on BIZARRO.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Hmm…am this bad men?
A couple of the blasts hit him hard, sending him tumbling out of control through space.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Bizarro think maybe yes!
BIZARRO regains control and starts to dart and weave through space, super-speeding around the blaster-blasts being fired at him. They explode all around him, but he keeps going, getting closer to the MOTHERSHIP.
BIZARRO flies up to a bank of BLASTERS, smashing through them like a knife through butter. The wrecked blasters start sparking, unleashing uncontrolled bursts of the energy they’ve been firing. Then they explode, tearing a huge whole in the ship.
BIZARRO swoops back around, flying straight at the ship…then smashes straight through the hull, like an arrow. A moment later, he smashes OUT OF THE MOTHERSHIP at a different spot, an explosion of energy blasting through the hole behind him.
If DESTROY DEVICE, Go to SCENE 9
If ENTER WARP, Go to SCENE C1
SCENE 9 – OUTER SPACE – ALIEN MOTHERSHIP – IN ORBIT ABOVE ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO swoops around, going for the snaking TENTACLE-LIKE DEVICE that’s disappeared into the dimensional warp. While the ship’s blasters blaze away at him, BIZARRO grabs the TENTACLE and starts to pull at it, straining. Finally, the TENTACLE rips free of the MOTHERSHIP, igniting another explosion, this one sparking with the MULTI-COLORED ENERGY that it had been siphoning from the other dimension. BIZARRO uses the detached TENTACLE like a flail, whipping it at the ship, smashing at the armored hull, bashing off big pieces of ship.
Suddenly, the MOTHERSHIP’S engines fire up and, even as BIZARRO continues smashing at it, it starts to move away from the planet.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Bizarro show bad men him friend of glowy men…
The MOTHERSHIP picks up speed, moving away from the planet. BIZARRO prepares to hurl the TENTACLE after the departing ship as it becomes a blur. He hurls the TENTACLE just as the ship’s hyperdrive kicks in and, in a special effect, the ship blurs out as it continues moving forward, then disappears in a blur of light. The thrown TENTACLE hurtles past the spot where the ship disappeared.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
…And bad men go away.
BIZARRO, smiling broadly, turns and swoops back down towards the planet’s surface.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Bizarro am hero!
Go to SCENE 10
SCENE 10 – EXT. – SURFACE OF ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO landing on the alien planet’s surface, very pleased with himself. The TWO GLOWING FIGURES are hovering the air where he left them.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
The destroyers…they are gone?
BIZARRO
Bizarro break spaceship. Now Bizarro go home with glowy men and live with friends!
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Bizarro…as a physical being, you would be unable to survive in our world.
BIZARRO
But…glowy men like Bizarro! Bizarro never live with people who like him…
TELEPATHIC (echo)
We are truly sorry, our friend. Though you shall have our eternal gratitude…
The GLOWING FIGURES are starting to fade from sight. BIZARRO steps urgently towards them, pleading.
TELEPATHIC (echo)
(fading volume)
…Our worlds must remain forever separate. Farewell, friend Bizarro…
BIZARRO
No! No leave Bizarro…please…no leave…
The GLOWING FIGURES wink out of sight, gone. BIZARRO hangs his head, sad.
BIZARRO
(sad)
…Your friend…
BIZARRO sits down heavily on a nearby rock, pretty much in the same pose as we first saw him in SCENE 1. He looks sad.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Bizarro all alone again. Friends gone. Lost in space.
(beat)
Alone.
BIZARRO looks up, into the sky as camera tracks in on him for a CLOSE-UP.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
But that okay. Bizarro am hero. Have a world where him loved more than Superman.
CLOSE-UP ON BIZARRO, where we see a single tear fall from his eye and roll slowly down his cheek.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
And that make Bizarro…happy…
FADE TO BLACK.
SCENE A1 – EXT. – SURFACE – ALIEN WORLD – DAY – RE-USE OF FOORTAGE FROM EPISODE 11.3, SCENE 10 WITH NEW V.O.
BOOM TUBE SFX. A BOOM TUBE blasts open in front of BIZARRO. BIZARRO hardly reacts, not changing his position, just turning his head to look at the BOOM TUBE.
DESAAD
(reverb/from BOOM TUBE)
Bizarro! You have been chosen!
BIZARRO
Me have?
BIZARRO once again looks left. Looks right. Scratches his stomach, then shrugs and stands up.
BIZARRO
Okay.
BIZARRO flies into the BOOM TUBE. The BOOM TUBE CLOSES.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Bizarro am thinking being chosen am good thing.
Go to SCENE A2
SCENE A2 – INT. – APOKOLIPS – DESAAD’S LABORATORY – NIGHT
BIZZARO is dropping out of the other end of the BOOM TUBE in DESAAD’S LABORATORY on APOKOLIPS. Waiting is DESAAD coming towards the confused BIZARRO, greeting him with what passes for a smile on his evil little face.
DESAAD
Welcome, dear Bizarro. I am Desaad.
BIZARRO
Good-bye. Me am Bizarro.
DESAAD is by BIZARRO’S side, taking him by the arm to lead the confused creature deeper into the LABORATORY.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Handsome man tell Bizarro what great hero Bizarro am. Tell Bizarro it not fair that Earth love Superman, not Bizarro. Bizarro am as great as Superman.
Got to SCENE A3
SCENE A3 – EXT. – METROPOLIS – DAY – RE-USE OF FOOTAGE FROM EPISODE 11.2, SCENE 4 WITH NEW V.O.
SUPERMAN and BIZARRO are locked together, plummeting towards the street below, SUPERMAN has the front of BIZARRO’S costume clenched in his fist.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Next thing Bizarro am remembering, him trying to kill Superman.
(beat)
What am friends for?
Go to SCENE A4
SCENE A4 – EXT. – OUTER SPACE – HIGH EARTH ORBIT – RE-USE OF FOOTAGE FROM EPISODE 11.5, SCENE 10 WITH NEW V.O.
DARKSEID, his face twisted in fury, turns his gaze on BIZARRO.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Bizarro not sure what next. Nice guy called Darkseid show up. Him love Bizarro so much!
OMEGA BEAMS FLASH from DARKSEID’S eyes and speed towards the confused BIZARRO. SUPERMAN springs forward, towards BIZARRO.
DARKSEID
…Your life is forfeit!
SUPERMAN
(shouts)
No!
The OMEGA BEAMS strike BIZARRO before SUPERMAN can reach him and, in a wink, he vanishes, as though wiped from existence. Enraged, SUPERMAN turns towards DARKSEID, whose eyes are still flashing red from the OMEGA BEAM.
CONTINUE to SCENE 3
SCENE B1 – EXT. – SURFACE OF ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO is reacting to the TWO GLOWING FIGURES, immediately leaping up and flying at them. He flies right through them, causing them to do little more than shimmer where he touched them.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
Glowy men look friendly…so Bizarro attack!
TELEPATHIC (echo)
Please, we need help! We mean you no harm…
BIZARRO
Everybody always telling Bizarro that…before them harm him!
BIZARRO is turning to attack again, his eyes starting to glow with HEAT VISION.
BIZARRO (cont.)
Bizarro not falling for that a 97th time! Me have heat vision to…
TELEPATHIC (echo)
No! That would disintegrate these fragile forms…and then all would be lost!
The TWO GLOWING FORMS are shooting a massive beam of energy from their bodies straight at BIZARRO before he can blast them with HEAT VISION. BIZARRO recoils, screaming as the energy closes around him.
TELEPATHIC (echo/cont.)
We can spare but the smallest expenditure of energy for defense… pray that it will be enough!
BIZARRO seems to dissolve into nothingness with the energy crackling around him. By the time the energy dissipates, BIZARRO is gone.
TELEPATHIC (echo/cont.)
Regrettable…but the fate of our people depends upon our survival…!
Scene fades to BLACK. STATEMENT APPEARS:
BAD END STATEMENT
POOR BIZARRO! HIS IMPULSIVE ACTIONS HAVE COST HIM DEARLY…AND PERHAPS DOOMED AN ENTIRE WORLD!
TRY AGAIN!
SCENE C1 – OUTER SPACE – ALIEN MOTHERSHIP – IN ORBIT ABOVE ALIEN PLANET
BIZARRO swoops around and flies down the length of the TENTACLE, headed towards the business end, which is disappeared into the WARP leading to THE PLACE. At the mouth of the WARP, BIZARRO grabs hold of the TENTACLE and starts to pull at it, straining to yank it from the WARP.
BIZARRO (V.O.)
This am thing hurting glowy men, so him try to smash it.
A BLASTER BLAST hits him from behind, causing him to hurtle down the length of the TENTACLE and fall towards the WARP.
BIZARRO (V.O./cont.)
Him not do such a good job…!
BIZARRO looks startled as he tumbles past the TENTACLE and into the WARP.
Go to SCENE C2
SCENE C2 – EXT. – THE PLACE
In THE PLACE, at the point where the TENTACLE emerges from the WARP into THE PLACE, where the scattered multi-colored points of light are flashing through the psychedelic void. BIZARRO comes tumbling through the WARP.
BIZARRO regains his equilibrium and looks around, a smile spreading across his face as he sees the points of light flitting around him like fireflies. He reaches out a hand as though to touch the nearest point…but then his expression changes, turning pained. He starts to double over in pain even as he turns to the WARP, now reaching for that, as though struggling to fly back towards it. But he can’t and as we watch, he starts to come apart, disintegrating, like his molecular structure is separating. With a look of horror on his face, BIZARRO disintegrates, spreading across the screen like a mist, until…he’s gone, the points of light swarming around where he used to be.
Scene fades to BLACK. STATEMENT APPEARS:
BAD END STATEMENT
A PHYSICAL BEING IN A REALM OF ENERGY, BIZARRO IS DESTROYED…AND THE PLACE DOOMED TO EXTINCTION!
TRY AGAIN!
© DCE
Tags: 3-D digital animation, BDE, Bizarro, Brilliant Digital Entertainment, Darkseid, DC Comics, DeSaad, Superman, The Multipath Adventures of Superman, webisodes