Take 5 with Zeus Caesar

Matt: A first today for our Crimsonstreak Tour 2012 Take 5 series...a bona fide supervillain. Zeus Caesar joins me on the blog to...um...I guess we'll find out. Thank you for joining us today.

Zeus Caesar: Who is this "us" you speak of? Are there others listening in? Are they hidden? Have they powers?

Matt: It's a blog...you know what? Never mind. Thanks for joining me.

Zeus Caesar: Do you wish to take over the world? Do you wish me to join you in this bold endeavor?

Matt: (facepalm) Tell me about your upbringing. Where did you grow up?

Zeus Caesar: I was suckled by the gods themselves, raised up high on Olympus and privy to the glory and honor of the highest powers. With my mighty hammer I crushed all comers and became worthy of renown, forging mine own army of Legionnaires to sweep across this tainted sphere and restore the full glory of the Roman Empire.

[Editor's Note: Zeus Caesar was born Arthur Roman in 1973. He grew up in New York. This story about being "suckled by the gods" on "Olympus" is his usual delusional rambling. It is included for entertainment purposes only. Note how he mixes in some Nordic lunacy. To my knowledge, he never carried a hammer.]

Matt: That's quite a story. This Legionnaires Army...where did it come from?

Zeus Caesar: I was granted these charges by Olympus himself, who sent me an army of powerful warriors to crush the armies of this mortal realm and remake the Empire.

[Editor's Note: Here, Caesar refers to Olympus a god. It's a mountain. The "warriors" sent from Olympus were mostly disaffected extras from a Hollywood epic. Surprisingly, he actually did train them well for combat.]

Matt: Are you Greek or Roman?

Zeus Caesar: Yes.

Matt: I see. So, what's with the lightning?

Zeus Caesar: As the son of Zeus and Caesar, I command the heavens. I strike with the mighty roar of my forebears, unleashing energies of untold power.

[Editor's Note: Translation: he controls lightning. Again, he was born in New York. His parents were immigrants, although he seems to believe Zeus and Julius Caesar created him. He might mean this literally...but then again we are talking about Zeus Caesar. He's...unbalanced.]

Matt: What's going on up there? In your head?

Zeus Caesar: This question baffles me.

Matt: This interview baffles me. Let's say you kill someone in battle. What happens to them?

Zeus Caesar: (nods and smiled broadly) Yes, now I understand. I am afflicted with the souls of those whose lives I have taken. They continue to live within me, as if I am Charon guiding their souls across the river Styx. I fear they may never reach home.

Matt: That actually explains a few things.

Zeus Caesar: What things?

Matt: It's not important. Thank you for joining me.

Zeus Caesar: Cura ut valeas.

Matt: Read more about Zeus Caesar in I, Crimsonstreak, available in a variety of formats from these fine retailers:

Candlemark & Gleam Website
Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle Edition
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

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ABC's of Crimsonstreak: Letter Z

Z is for Zeus Caesar.

Zeus Caesar looks like the most fearsome gladiator you can imagine. Big, bronzed, and muscle-bound, Caesar would've eaten Maximus alive (I mean that figuratively, but you never know...). Armed with the power of flight and the ability to generate and manipulate bolts of lightning, the villain isn't very happy with the current state of the world and believes we'd all be better off if the Roman Empire had never fallen.

To prove his point, Caesar engineered a reign of terror across the Midwest with his Legionnaires. Miss Lightspeed arrived and fought Caesar to a standstill before the villain caught her with a bolt of lightning that killed her. Colonel Chaos managed to contain Caesar, but his wife's loss would send him into a tailspin...and forever alter the global landscape.

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I, Crimsonstreak: The Costumes Uniforms

A superhero's costume uniform is one of the most important parts of comic books--especially given the emphasis on dynamic visuals. I, Crimsonstreak isn't a comic book, yet our heroes and villains still have splashy, bright uniforms.

Let's visualize!

Crimsonstreak: All right, this one's easy. For better or worse, Chris Fairborne AKA Crimsonstreak appears on the cover of the book in full uniform. His ensemble has more in common with a speedskater than anything else; it's designed to be streamlined and wind-resistant. Crimsonstreak travels at such high speeds that regular spandex probably doesn't do the trick.

Crusading Comet: The Crusading Comet appears in his full regalia only a handful of times in the book (only in flashbacks, actually). Think of his suit as a combination of Batman body armor (Bale or Keaton version; it doesn't really matter) with a splash of Ted Kord-era Blue Beetle. The Comet wears a darker shade of blue (more of a navy) and has a stylized "comet" symbol across his chest. His mouth and chin are exposed; the Comet does not wear a full helmet.

Colonel Chaos: During his early days as a villain, Colonel Chaos favored black bodysuits with ridiculous accoutrements like garish shoulder pads, white forearm gloves, and a flowing cape. After repenting of his villainous ways, he retained an affinity for sleek black bodysuits for work in his lab and out in the field. In the age of the New World Common Wealth, Chaos' look has evolved toward a militaristic tunic with a high collar and NWCW logos on the shoulders. No matter the outfit, Chaos sports shiny black books polished with obsessive detail.

Miss Lightspeed: Before her death, Miss Lightspeed was atypical among female heroes. While her contemporaries favored tight bodysuits, sequins, and midriff-baring "barely there" outfits, Miss Lightspeed dressed far more modestly and put an emphasis on practicality. Her usual outfit included an off-white top with matching pants; both had a variety of zippered pouches. A dark red cape and matching boots were concessions to her superhero lifestyle. She did not wear a tiara.

Enforcers: As befits their role as faceless scourges of a totalitarian regime, Enforcers wear generic, matte-gray, hard-shell armor devoid of personality or customization. Think Starship Troopers or Minority Report, and you get the idea. Members of the law enforcement arm of the NWCW also wear visored helmets and keep a nasty particle buster holstered by their side at all times.

Mortimer P. Willoughby: A butler's job is never done...and Mortimer P. Willoughby always carries an aura of elegance. A topcoat with tails, expertly tailored pants, crisp white shirt with a bow tie, and white gloves speak to his refinement and attention to detail. Morty's typical outfit also includes thick-rimmed glasses, polished dress shoes, and an assortment of secret devices hidden within his seemingly harmless topcoat.

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