Mysterious Shadow

"Is there a war going on that we should know about?"…

Ok, that was a second-by-second description of the first sequence, but could you have described it any other way?

Quick scene change to a day-lit sky, a stone lion gazing proudly out beneath the sun. The other preferred method of scene change: from night sky with the moon to day sky with the sun, or just a shot of the heavenly body in question and a pan down. Equally effective. We see people walking around long enough to guess it's a school, and the lockers that open the next scene confirm it. Then we get our first look at Lucas Amato, giving a lecture on prenatal development with tongue in cheek. Which really helps when he switches to the next slide, which is accidentally a shot of him in his teenage years, a scranny kid in boxing equipment that looks too big for him. The kids get a laugh out of this, and so does he. And so do we, of course! :) Then we get what we assume to be the head professor showing the new teacher Adrian Seidelman around. Don't like this guy too much, his voice is too nasal and he looks too much like the archetypal unknowing professor; glad he doesn't show up again. They pass Lucas's room, and Adrian glances through the window long enough to get a look a Lucas laughing like a hyena, meet his eyes, and give a look that borders on distaste. Nice first impression, huh? Miracle Adrian didn't write him off there. Fortunately, this snaps Lucas out of the joke and gets him to continue the lesson, and Adrian is shown into what we assume is the room next to his. Time change to Adrian's class, he's reading a poem about love when we see Lori Anderson for the first time, who is giving him big moon eyes and, when that doesn't get his attention, starts blowing kisses. This girl seriously needs help. Adrian attempts to ignore her, but she puts a heart that says "I think I love you" on the book he's reading, and giggling jumps back to her seat. Adrian being Adrian, he slams the heart on the desk in front of her, which is obviously not the response she was looking for. Equally obviously, her three goons are not impressed either, and when Adrian leaves the school that afternoon, they follow him, promising to "teach him a lesson." Fortunately, Lucas looks out the window of his classroom in time to see them, and guess what they're about.
Adrian walks down the street, his nose in his book, oblivious to the people around him and out of step with the rock "gang" theme music in the background, when the short blond rams into him and causes Adrian to drop his book. Adrian attempts to apologise, but the youth grabs his arm, and asks "Hey, what's up Mainframe?" Don't worry, you're not supposed to understand it any more than Adrian did. Blondy tosses Adrian into the alley beside them, where the other two thugs are waiting. The three proceed to back Adrian up against the wall of the alley, spouting more incomprehensible gang-speak, the most notable bits being "Romeo-man" (Adrian) and "Scream-queen" (a rather accurate description of Lori, the leader of the gang.). Except from the unintelligent babble being spouted by these jerks, which is oddly appropriate, I like the way the scene progresses. You really start being worried about Adrian; these guys obviously aren't working with a full deck, and the gliding close-ups of each of them makes them even more menacing that normal. Lucas comes up from behind, though, and without him saying a word the gang decides to split. You see exactly how much Lucas is respected by the students here, which says a lot about his character. He rises a notch in my opinion, and obviously Adrian's. They introduce themselves, and Lucas cracks a joke about Adrian not being the new karate teacher, which Adrian doesn't get. Don't worry, he does develop a sense of humour eventually. Lucas invites Adrian to go get a cup of coffee, and walks away assuming Adrian will follow. Adrian stands stunned for a minute, since he obviously hasn't had too much experience with friends, but eventually shrugs his shoulders and does.
In the café, Lucas reads the headline of the paper, which tells about the two men - an engraver and a printer - disappearing. He starts to ask Adrian about his background, which Adrian stumbles over and avoids, then asks about Lori. Lucas says "She's a good kid - a little mixed up…" I call this the first major understatement of the series. Lucas is distracted by the soccer game on TV - in Argentina, where the comics originated, soccer is called "football" (North America is the only place that doesn't.) and is as big as our football is here - and Adrian reads the headline on the forgotten newspaper. He abruptly gets up, and says that he has to leave. We last see his back as he's walking out the door, while everyone around him cheers on the game. Wonderful contrast. You really see just how different Adrian is from everyone else, and just how alone he is.

A shot of the moon to set the scene, and pan down to see Lucas walking home. His quiet walk is interrupted as the walled-off alley in front of him explodes in a shower of wood and a Fixed Idea comes running out, scared for his life. Watch for Lucas's flinch as the Fixed Idea crashes through; it's quick but it's perfect. Love those animators! Lucas looks up to see the caped figure outlined perfectly for an instant in front of the moon as she reaches the peak of her leap, then glides down to chase after the escaping Fixed Idea. Faced with these unusual events, Lucas does what any sensible person would do: he runs after them. Wait, it gets better! We see just how sensible he really is when, unable to keep up with the two figures, he decides that rather than run down the stairs, he's going to jump off the side. No, Lucas, just because you see them do it, it doesn't mean you can do it too. Men! Fortunately, his fall is broken by a chicken cope, not his spine, and he slides out and continues his chase. By this time, everyone at home should be doubting his sanity; I know I am. The Fixed Idea makes it to the bridge before the other figure swoops down on it, all shadow, cape, and glowing eyes. Love this part, for a second she looks really evil. Makes you wonder which side is the right one. Lucas reaches the bridge - incidentally flanked by a pair of large, winged gargoyles, more evil imagery - in time to see the caped figure bend over the unconscious Fixed Idea and stand up. He - and we - gets the first really good look at the mysterious figure, including the face. Familiar? :) She looks stunned for a second, whispering, "You!" But when Lucas comes closer, she cries out, "Stay away!", leaps up and disappears. Lucas tries to ask who she is, but it's too late, and goes towards the Fixed Idea instead - just in time to get the green glow right in his face, and watch the man evaporate into nothing, despite his protest of it being impossible. Commercial break, joy. When everything starts again, we see that only the clothes are left, which Lucas searches to find a glowing green vial that falls out of the arm of the coat. He pockets the vial and leaves. Wouldn't you have at least searched the rest of the clothes, though? Oh, well… Quick pan up to see that the woman never left, and is crouched on top of the bridge watching everything. Her left arm is suddenly covered in bolts of electricity, which fade to a green glow as she cries out in pain. But she's distracted from the pain when she sees another Fixed Idea chase after Lucas.
Scene change to Lucas's apartment, where like any good scientist he starts examining the vial he's found. Oh, this all has been perfectly reasonable, I'm sure it's safe! Brother… While opening the vial, he spills some, which burns a neat little hole in his wood floor, proving that it's a nice, reactive acid. See, I told you it was safe! But such scientific inquiry is interrupted as he realizes there's a figure at the window of his fifth-floor apartment: the woman in the black cape and hat. Good effect with the curtains obscuring her, by the way. Prelude to the change scene coming up later. Lucas demands how she got up there, but he's really putting the vial away, which is a good thing because that's the first thing she asks for, claiming it's hers. Lucas plays innocent, then asks what she is. Note that: "What." He also asks what she wants, which she repeats is the vial. At least she's consistent…LOL Lucas tries to stall when her arm "shorts out" again, bringing her to her knees. Lucas, helpful soul that he is, comes over. In an exaggerated voice and manner, showing how hurt she really is, the woman says he's in danger, and he has to give her the vial. Lucas asks if she's hurt - duh - but she says she's not and asks for the vial again. Must be important… Lucas then asks her to let him help her - um, I thought you didn't trust her… - which leaves the woman shocked for a few seconds. We never get to hear her response because just then the Fixed Idea she saw earlier bursts through the door and runs straight towards them. Lucas, being Lucas, gets up and assumes a boxer stance, despite the woman's cry of "Don't," and when the Fixed Idea moves to head for her Lucas moves in front of her. This gallant attempt is rewarded with a casual back swing from the Fixed Idea and a close meeting with the wall. The Fixed Idea tries to hit the woman, but she jumps out of the way, and lands a good kick which gives her time to tell Lucas to run. Of course, we should know by now if he's going to listen… The Fixed Idea tries to attack her with a low coffee table, but she avoids his swings and when it stops to look at the broken end when its last attempt doesn't work starts getting in her own hits. It works fine, too, until her arm shorts out again and the Fixed Idea slams her against the wall, crying out "You kill brother!" It can talk! Amazing! Lucas yells at it to leave her alone, and tries to push the Fixed Idea away. He succeeds, too, partly because the Fixed Idea slips on the rug and falls right out the window. Unfortunately, Lucas is also still moving forwards, and for good measure has grabbed onto its shirt, and doesn't let go until they are both headed for the ground far below. Did I forget to mention they totally wreck the window on the way out? A Fixed Idea with arms outstretched is kinda larger than the average window… The woman leaps out the window, dives until she's level with them, uses her cape for a parachute - cool, she should do that more often - and kicks Lucas right back into his apartment. Double cool. She looks up satisfied, but forgets there's a Fixed Idea right below her, and they're both headed for earth at a high speed, when it grabs her arm and pulls her over a railing with it, whacking both their backs in the process. A green glow from the stairs behind the railing, then we see the Fixed Idea is gone, its clothes and a vial left behind, and the woman, hurt but alive. She takes the vial, and drinks the acid inside. Lucas, who is just recovering from his trip back up to his room, looks out the hole in the wall that used to be a window to see - nothing. The woman is hiding below in the shadows, looking at her arm, which isn't shorting out anymore, then fades into the blackness.

Continued...