The Birth of a Juke Box Hero pt. 3
A/N: Well, here we go. Last time, Bobby Parkins met the spirit of the late glam musician Ronnie Rocker, who was trapped inside his guitar that Bobby had obtained from a pawn shop. It transformed him into Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor, the living embodiment of rock music. Razor then battled a bunch of hoodlums, leading in an easy victory as well as press exposure. How did Cleveland react? How will the other Marvel Super Heroes react if they found out about Kid Razor? Read on, find out, and enjoy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jane Santos returned to the Channel 6 news building with a look of amazement on her face. She just heard the first words from Kid Razor, Cleveland's own rock superhero.
"I can't believe it." She ran a hand through her auburn hair as she walked down a hall. "A superhero in Cleveland. I've heard a lot about Spidey, the FF, even rumors of a team called the X-Men. This is insane."
"Santos! Santos!" She turned around and running up to her. It was her boss. He was a rather large fellow, in a pair of black slacks, white short- sleeved shirt, and green tie. He was bald, and had thick black glasses. "Santos, you have done it!"
"What did I do, Mr. Frehley?" She asked the man. He was her boss. He had a big smile on his face.
"Santos, you did an excellent job! Now, I have an assignment for you. I want you to find out anything and everything you can about Kid Razor."
"Why? Since when is he of such interest?"
"Because he is a mystery? Who is he? Where's he from? Who's side is he on? Is he a mutant or one of them enhanced humans? People are talking already about this guy." Mr. Frehley shook with excitement. "We're takin' this "Kid Razor" nationwide! I mean, we're gonna show the country that New York is not the only country in the United States with super-powered people in town! WHOOO!!!! YEAH!!!!" Frehley raced down the hall, hooting with excitement.
"Oh God." Santos sighed. "What did I do?" Soon afterwards, Channel 6 News broadcasted the story of Kid Razor's first appearance. Other cities caught wind of the Cleveland hero, and all hell broke loose in the media.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Avengers Mansion, New York City)
Captain America, the leader of the Avengers, was resting in front of the television. He was watching the national news. The newscaster's next story piqued the super-soldier's interest.
"In Cleveland, a robbery was thwarted by what appeared to be a guitar player with superpowers and a killer martial-arts skill. He single-handedly took down all of the perpetrators." A picture of a razor blade in front of a guitar appeared on the screen. "He calls himself Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor." A picture of Razor, taken from Channel 6's news footage, appeared on the screen. "And he says he wields something called the Power of Rock in the battle against evil. Public opinion--" Cap shut off the television.
"A new superhero? In Cleveland? Where did he come from? Who is he?" Cap scratched his chin in thought. "And what kind of name is Kid Razor? That sounds like a name for a wrestler.
"Hey Cap, did you hear? There's this crazy blonde guy in Cleveland and--" The Sentinel of Liberty turned around.
"I know. I know." Cap interrupted the speaker. The speaker was a man with black hair and in a red-and-yellow suit of armor. This man was Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man. "I've heard. What do you think, Tony?"
"I have no idea. Maybe we should go to Cleveland and take a look." Iron Man suggested.
"I dunno. The news story said he punched out a cop." A female voice said. Rogers and Stark turned around to see a woman clad in a dark-red and yellow outfit, and with short brown hair. This woman was one of the first Avengers. Janet Van Dyne, aka the Wasp.
"He punched out a cop?" Cap scratched his head. "What was the officer's name?"
"His name was Harold Polanski." A very tall green-skinned woman carried in a file. "He used to be in the NYPD, but he quit and went to the Cleveland PD. Said he couldn't stand costumed heroes, that they take all the work away from cops."
"I would've really beaten him senseless if he copped that attitude with me, Jen." A brown-haired man with blue over the left side of his face and a red heart over his left eye said to the green-skinned woman. "He got off easy."
"Yeah, yeah. He wasn't very popular with his fellow officers, from what I heard." Jennifer Walters, aka the She-Hulk agreed. "I once interviewed him as part of a case I worked. Guy was a jerk. Half the time, he kept ranting about how much the Avengers kept interfering in police matters. He said some things about me I dare not repeat, Jack. Took everything I had to resist the urge to punch him in the face."
"Sheesh." The man with the heart over his eye said. He was known as the Jack of Hearts (A/N: What's his real name, and what're his powers? I'm not too familiar with him). "That poor dope. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost."
"Is Kid Razor one of the good guys?" Iron Man wondered. "I personally would love to meet this kid."
"Me too." Jen agreed. "Maybe we can find out what's going on around that city." An auburn-haired woman with a red costume and an M-shaped thing on her head ran down the stairs and raced into the room with the other Avengers.
"I fear something terrible is coming." The woman said. Her voice was tinged with a slight Eastern European accent.
"What do you mean, Wanda?" Cap asked the red-clad woman. He was talking to Wanda Maximoff, the Avenger known as the Scarlet Witch.
"My tarot cards." Wanda explained. "The cards told me a great evil is coming. And it's centered in a city of music."
"Oh God, you actually believe a deck of cards?" Jack of Hearts groaned. Wanda glared.
"City of music?" Cap scratched his head.
"Maybe it's Chicago." Jen said. "Chicago is the home of the blues."
"Nah, it's gotta be LA." Tony said. "Many rock bands came from LA."
"Or maybe it's New York." Jen thought.
"Nah, it's Motown, baby! The home of R&B." Jack laughed.
"Wait..." Cap ordered. The super-soldier was thinking. "Maybe this Kid Razor has something to do with it."
"The cards said a musician can stop the great evil." Wanda remarked.
"But Cleveland isn't a city of music!" Jack snapped.
"Think, Jack! What's in Cleveland that could make it a city of music?" Tony told Jack.
"The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. That's what." The Avengers turned around to see a short blond-haired man. He was Scott Lang, known to the world as Ant-Man. "I mean that Kid Razor carries a guitar, the symbol of rock 'n' roll. Cleveland happens to be the location of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. In essence, Cleveland can be considered a city of music."
"Good point, I guess." Jack of Hearts sighed.
"Alright." Cap said. "Avengers, we're going to Cleveland."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Baxter Building, New York City)
Earth's First Family of Superheroes, the Fantastic Four, were doing their daily routine. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, was fixing up his car. Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, was in his lab, was making first contact with another alien race, his twelfth this week. Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin', blue- eyed Thing, was sitting in front of the couch watching wrestling. Sue Richards, the Invisible Woman, was sitting next to the 500-pound ex-test pilot, her daughter Valeria on her lap and young son Franklin next to her.
"Yeah! That's right Nash! Take it to that egomaniacal pretty boy Jericho!" Thing cheered as Kevin Nash smashed Chris Jericho into the wall of a steel cage. "That should teach ol' Lionheart about runnin' his big mouth."
"Ben, turn that off!" Sue said. "I don't want that violence giving the kids ideas."
"Aw relax Susie." Thing chuckled. "It's good for 'em. Besides, Frankie's gotta learn which wrestlers suck and which ones rule." He turned back to the TV. "Yeah! Smash him again!"
"Which one's Jericho?" Franklin pointed at the TV.
"The one in the pink tights." Thing laughed. "He's not very manly. Not like your Uncle Ben. Real men don't wear pink."
"Ben!" Sue snapped.
"Awww! I was only kiddin', Susie!" Thing chuckled. "I was just jokin'." Johnny Storm ran up.
"Guys! Guys! Turn on the news!"
"Later, matchstick! Wrestling's on." Ben waved. Johnny grabbed the remote. "Hey! I was watching Jericho get his!"
"Later!" Johnny groaned, putting on the news.
"Today, a new costumed vigilante made an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio. Calling himself Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor, the costumed man appeared to be a super-powered guitar player. Not much is known about this blond super- musician--" Thing switched back to wrestling. "Oh mah Gawd, King! Look at the carnage!"
"Reed!" Johnny ran to Reed's lab. Mr. Fantastic happened to be talking to an alien on some fancy gadget.
"For the last time Your Majesty, the Fantastic Four do not deliver pizza." Reed sighed, running a hand through his brown hair. He saw Johnny and the other members of the FF standing at the door to his lab. "Excuse me." He turned to his wife, brother-in-law, and best friend. "Yes."
"Look at the news, Reed." Sue told her husband. Sue turned on the news.
"Not much is known about the Cleveland vigilante called Kid Razor. All that is known is that he has blond hair, green eyes, carries a guitar, and is dressed like an 80s rocker." Thing burst out laughing.
"I gotta admit Stretcho, that's a unique gimmick." Grimm chuckled.
"A super-powered rock star?" Johnny laughed. "What's next? Hot Dog Vendor Man?" Thing laughed at that one. "How 'bout Super Plumber?" Thing laughed harder. "Or maybe Lawnmower Girl?" Thing fell on his back and clutched his sides laughing. Human Torch looked at his teammate. "Told ya I was drop dead funny."
"A super-powered guitarist?" Sue scratched her head. "I have to admit, that is a new one. What do you think, Reed? Reed?" Reed was deep in thought. His brain was already cooking up possible theories to explain the existence of Kid Razor.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Xavier Institute for the Gifted, Westchester, New York)
"Professor, look at this!" Jean Grey pointed to the television. Professor Charles Xavier walked in with help from his cane. He watched the news broadcast with some interest.
"In Cleveland, the mysterious Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor successfully defeated a gang of thieves who held up Cleveland's 1st National Bank with various weapons, including a sonic cannon. Not much is known about this super-musician, except that he is blond and possesses green eyes. If anyone has any information about this vigilante, please--" Emma Frost, the ruthless telepath known as the White Queen, shut off the television.
"Is he a mutant that just emerged?" Emma asked in a tone that was slightly icy.
"I have done some looking around with Cerebro." Xavier put a finger to his chin. "I have detected several mutants in Cleveland, but Kid Razor is not one of them."
"Then what is he? Some kind of cosmic being or somethin'?" Logan, the feral mutant codenamed Wolverine grumbled.
"He can't be." Scott Summers shook his head. He was known as Cyclops. "If he was some kind of cosmic being, then he wouldn't have to or care to fight a bunch of bank robbers."
"Maybe it's magic." Wolverine shrugged. "Not like we've encountered anything like that before."
"Uhhhnnnn..." Emma, Xavier and Jean felt immense pain in their heads as they dropped to their knees. Their telepathy was picking up something strong. Logan and Scott quickly helped them to their feet. Emma pushed Logan off.
"I'm alright!" She snapped. The chairwoman rubbed her aching head. "Where's the Tylenol?"
"What was that?" Jean groaned.
"Something...truly evil." Xavier grew worried. "Something tells me Kid Razor is involved somehow."
"Is he a telepath?" Scott asked.
"No one knows." Emma responded.
"What do we do?" Jean looked at her husband.
"Maybe we should ask this 'Kid Razor' about what's going on." The catlike, blue-furred Hank McCoy, aka Beast suggested. "We find some way to contact him." Xavier mulled it over.
"Indeed."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Parker Apartment, New York City (A/N: See why I put Razor in Cleveland?))
A beautiful red-haired woman sat in front of the television. She sipped some coffee, waiting for her husband to return from his patrol. You see, this woman's name was Mary-Jane Watson-Parker (A/N: Long name, ain't it?) and her husband was Peter Parker, the costumed crime fighter known as the Spectacular, or the Amazing Spider-Man. Speaking of the webhead, Spider-Man crawled into the apartment via a window. Once inside, Spider-Man removed his red mask with the black webbing lines and big white eyes to reveal a handsome young man with short brown hair and hazel eyes. He let out a tired sigh.
"Well, all's quiet. Looks like the bad guys decided to take the day off." Peter Parker breathed.
"Thank God." Mary-Jane replied, hugging Peter. The television blared out the news in the background.
"Cleveland, Ohio has just been given a superhero of its own. That's right, a mysterious new character calling himself Kid Razor appeared to help Cleveland police take in a group of thieves who tried to empty Cleveland's 1st National Bank. Describing himself as "The Juke Box Hero" and "The Rock 'n' Roll Warrior", Kid Razor has vowed to battle the forces of evil using something called "The Power of Rock." Not much is known about Kid Razor, though. His identity was concealed by what appeared to be paint on his face. Sgt. Harold Polanski of the Cleveland police has said that Kid Razor is no hero, only a menace, and that he vows to bring the guitarist to justice." Peter looked at the pictures of Razor and Polanski on the screen.
"That Polanski reminds me of JJ." Peter grinned. "Jameson would do the same thing if this 'Kid Razor' were here. He'd just stomp about, acting like this..." Peter then did an eerily dead-on imitation of his boss at the Daily Bugle. "Kid Razor is nothing but a glammed-out, guitar-playing menace! How do we know he wasn't working with those thieves? I say we wash that goofy paint off that punk's face and find out who he is." Mary-Jane laughed at the impersonation.
"Cute, tiger. Very cute." Mary-Jane sat down. "I think this 'Kid Razor' is kind of like Spider-Man, only much flashier."
"Whatever." Peter rolled his eyes. "I wonder how that Razor got his powers?"
"Who knows?" Mary-Jane shrugged. "People get super-powers in some very weird ways these days."
"Whatever happened to the good ol' days? You know, the days when if you wanted superpowers, you had be a mutant or be doused in radiation?" Peter joked.
"I don't know, tiger." Mary-Jane laughed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Man, that rocked!" Razor laughed. He and Ronnie were back in Bobby's home. Razor loved the attention he was getting. On the way back, people pointed and murmured. To the rocker, it was music. People were talking about him. It was a real ego trip.
"You punched out a cop." Ronnie groaned. "Not just any cop, but a cop who happened to hate the guts of superheroes! Kid, you gotta watch it! You punched out a cop for God's sake! That's illegal!"
"Ronnie, How many laws have rock musicians broken over the years? Axl Rose was arrested for making too much noise, for example. Giving the metaphorical 'middle finger' to society is what rock 'n' roll is about."
"From what I can tell, Polanski has no qualms about carting your crazy blond ass to jail! He'd love that!" Ronnie snapped. {Damn, I knew Bobby would change if he activated the guitar's power, but he's become near- uncontrollable! How can I help Bobby learn to properly wield the Power of Rock if he becomes a stubborn, wild, egomaniacal rebel when he changes into Kid Razor? As Razor, Bobby can use the Power of Rock, but he must learn to control his actions as Razor, or else we're all screwed!} "Bobby, you must learn to control yourself! Maybe you should transform back to your normal self. It'll be easier for me." Razor appeared to bristle at the notion.
"Change back? Change BACK???" Razor got angry. "No! No way! Uh-uh! I'm not going back! Do you realize what I've become? As Bobby, I was a shy little boy who got stage fright before playing with the guys. Now look at me! I'm a super-human rock 'n' roll superstar, boy! WHOO!!!! Yeah! Now listen Ronnie Boy, I will not turn back into the old Bobby! I'm not him anymore! I finally got confidence! Real confidence!"
"Bobby, you are not yourself! Kid Razor is merely a persona! A character! What you are know is another part of you, the inner rock musician you have kept inside your whole life." Ronnie explained. "You can't take care of what's coming if you don't learn some control! Right now, Razor and Bobby are separate! You must learn to channel Razor, Bobby. Don't let him run wild! That's exactly what you did back there with those clowns in the bank!"
"I beat them, didn't I?" Razor tried to make a point.
"They were merely a bunch of punks, kid! There are people out there who make those dopes look like real clowns!"
"Don't call me kid! I have a damn name!" Razor snapped.
"I know that!" Ronnie snapped back. "You have no control! You gotta learn control!"
"I seem to be doing just fine without it!" Razor yelled. Ronnie looked at a clock hanging on a wall in Bobby's room.
"When's your next class?" Ronnie asked. Razor looked at the wall clock.
"4 PM, why?"
"It's 2:30 now. Don't you think you'd better be ready?" Ronnie smirked.
"I did my homework last night!" Razor yelled.
"You can't show up to class looking like that, Bobby!" Ronnie said.
"Why not? And call me Razor." Bobby smirked. "I look real good."
"People will recognize you!"
"So? I am a superstar, Ronnie! People want to see the Kid of Rock 'n' Roll around town. Let's give the people what they want." Razor did a twirl.
"What if Polanski is around?"
"Polanski's a retard! That idiot can't find hay in a haystack." Razor waved nonchalantly.
"He seemed pretty hell-bent on taking you in. Especially since you punched him out." Ronnie crossed his arms. "And what about your bandmates? How will you explain to them about this."
"What about secret identity, genius? Tony Stark told everyone Iron Man was his bodyguard for years! Then he revealed that he was the man in the iron suit." Razor smirked.
"You are not Iron Man, Razor." Ronnie grumbled. Unbeknownst to Razor or Ronnie, the two were being watched.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The images of a talking/arguing Kid Razor and Ronnie Rocker appeared on a crystal ball. A pair of black shadowed, slightly bony, sharp-clawed hands wrapped themselves around the ball. A shadowed figure watched the college student and the rocker's ghost. The only distinguishable feature was a pair of burning red eyes.
"So..." The figure breathed in a satanic voice. "The Chosen One has been united with his artifact. No matter. He is immature, unsure of his powers. He doesn't have the skill to wield the Power of Rock. He cannot beat me." The figure held up a small energy ball. "This should take care of him in no time." The ball disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Who was that guy? Can Bobby get his Kid Razor persona under control? Will he end up meeting the other Marvel Super Heroes? Can Kid Razor defeat this evil? Find out in the next chapter of Birth of a Juke Box Hero!
A/N: Well, here we go. Last time, Bobby Parkins met the spirit of the late glam musician Ronnie Rocker, who was trapped inside his guitar that Bobby had obtained from a pawn shop. It transformed him into Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor, the living embodiment of rock music. Razor then battled a bunch of hoodlums, leading in an easy victory as well as press exposure. How did Cleveland react? How will the other Marvel Super Heroes react if they found out about Kid Razor? Read on, find out, and enjoy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jane Santos returned to the Channel 6 news building with a look of amazement on her face. She just heard the first words from Kid Razor, Cleveland's own rock superhero.
"I can't believe it." She ran a hand through her auburn hair as she walked down a hall. "A superhero in Cleveland. I've heard a lot about Spidey, the FF, even rumors of a team called the X-Men. This is insane."
"Santos! Santos!" She turned around and running up to her. It was her boss. He was a rather large fellow, in a pair of black slacks, white short- sleeved shirt, and green tie. He was bald, and had thick black glasses. "Santos, you have done it!"
"What did I do, Mr. Frehley?" She asked the man. He was her boss. He had a big smile on his face.
"Santos, you did an excellent job! Now, I have an assignment for you. I want you to find out anything and everything you can about Kid Razor."
"Why? Since when is he of such interest?"
"Because he is a mystery? Who is he? Where's he from? Who's side is he on? Is he a mutant or one of them enhanced humans? People are talking already about this guy." Mr. Frehley shook with excitement. "We're takin' this "Kid Razor" nationwide! I mean, we're gonna show the country that New York is not the only country in the United States with super-powered people in town! WHOOO!!!! YEAH!!!!" Frehley raced down the hall, hooting with excitement.
"Oh God." Santos sighed. "What did I do?" Soon afterwards, Channel 6 News broadcasted the story of Kid Razor's first appearance. Other cities caught wind of the Cleveland hero, and all hell broke loose in the media.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Avengers Mansion, New York City)
Captain America, the leader of the Avengers, was resting in front of the television. He was watching the national news. The newscaster's next story piqued the super-soldier's interest.
"In Cleveland, a robbery was thwarted by what appeared to be a guitar player with superpowers and a killer martial-arts skill. He single-handedly took down all of the perpetrators." A picture of a razor blade in front of a guitar appeared on the screen. "He calls himself Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor." A picture of Razor, taken from Channel 6's news footage, appeared on the screen. "And he says he wields something called the Power of Rock in the battle against evil. Public opinion--" Cap shut off the television.
"A new superhero? In Cleveland? Where did he come from? Who is he?" Cap scratched his chin in thought. "And what kind of name is Kid Razor? That sounds like a name for a wrestler.
"Hey Cap, did you hear? There's this crazy blonde guy in Cleveland and--" The Sentinel of Liberty turned around.
"I know. I know." Cap interrupted the speaker. The speaker was a man with black hair and in a red-and-yellow suit of armor. This man was Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man. "I've heard. What do you think, Tony?"
"I have no idea. Maybe we should go to Cleveland and take a look." Iron Man suggested.
"I dunno. The news story said he punched out a cop." A female voice said. Rogers and Stark turned around to see a woman clad in a dark-red and yellow outfit, and with short brown hair. This woman was one of the first Avengers. Janet Van Dyne, aka the Wasp.
"He punched out a cop?" Cap scratched his head. "What was the officer's name?"
"His name was Harold Polanski." A very tall green-skinned woman carried in a file. "He used to be in the NYPD, but he quit and went to the Cleveland PD. Said he couldn't stand costumed heroes, that they take all the work away from cops."
"I would've really beaten him senseless if he copped that attitude with me, Jen." A brown-haired man with blue over the left side of his face and a red heart over his left eye said to the green-skinned woman. "He got off easy."
"Yeah, yeah. He wasn't very popular with his fellow officers, from what I heard." Jennifer Walters, aka the She-Hulk agreed. "I once interviewed him as part of a case I worked. Guy was a jerk. Half the time, he kept ranting about how much the Avengers kept interfering in police matters. He said some things about me I dare not repeat, Jack. Took everything I had to resist the urge to punch him in the face."
"Sheesh." The man with the heart over his eye said. He was known as the Jack of Hearts (A/N: What's his real name, and what're his powers? I'm not too familiar with him). "That poor dope. I almost feel sorry for him. Almost."
"Is Kid Razor one of the good guys?" Iron Man wondered. "I personally would love to meet this kid."
"Me too." Jen agreed. "Maybe we can find out what's going on around that city." An auburn-haired woman with a red costume and an M-shaped thing on her head ran down the stairs and raced into the room with the other Avengers.
"I fear something terrible is coming." The woman said. Her voice was tinged with a slight Eastern European accent.
"What do you mean, Wanda?" Cap asked the red-clad woman. He was talking to Wanda Maximoff, the Avenger known as the Scarlet Witch.
"My tarot cards." Wanda explained. "The cards told me a great evil is coming. And it's centered in a city of music."
"Oh God, you actually believe a deck of cards?" Jack of Hearts groaned. Wanda glared.
"City of music?" Cap scratched his head.
"Maybe it's Chicago." Jen said. "Chicago is the home of the blues."
"Nah, it's gotta be LA." Tony said. "Many rock bands came from LA."
"Or maybe it's New York." Jen thought.
"Nah, it's Motown, baby! The home of R&B." Jack laughed.
"Wait..." Cap ordered. The super-soldier was thinking. "Maybe this Kid Razor has something to do with it."
"The cards said a musician can stop the great evil." Wanda remarked.
"But Cleveland isn't a city of music!" Jack snapped.
"Think, Jack! What's in Cleveland that could make it a city of music?" Tony told Jack.
"The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. That's what." The Avengers turned around to see a short blond-haired man. He was Scott Lang, known to the world as Ant-Man. "I mean that Kid Razor carries a guitar, the symbol of rock 'n' roll. Cleveland happens to be the location of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. In essence, Cleveland can be considered a city of music."
"Good point, I guess." Jack of Hearts sighed.
"Alright." Cap said. "Avengers, we're going to Cleveland."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Baxter Building, New York City)
Earth's First Family of Superheroes, the Fantastic Four, were doing their daily routine. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, was fixing up his car. Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, was in his lab, was making first contact with another alien race, his twelfth this week. Ben Grimm, the ever-lovin', blue- eyed Thing, was sitting in front of the couch watching wrestling. Sue Richards, the Invisible Woman, was sitting next to the 500-pound ex-test pilot, her daughter Valeria on her lap and young son Franklin next to her.
"Yeah! That's right Nash! Take it to that egomaniacal pretty boy Jericho!" Thing cheered as Kevin Nash smashed Chris Jericho into the wall of a steel cage. "That should teach ol' Lionheart about runnin' his big mouth."
"Ben, turn that off!" Sue said. "I don't want that violence giving the kids ideas."
"Aw relax Susie." Thing chuckled. "It's good for 'em. Besides, Frankie's gotta learn which wrestlers suck and which ones rule." He turned back to the TV. "Yeah! Smash him again!"
"Which one's Jericho?" Franklin pointed at the TV.
"The one in the pink tights." Thing laughed. "He's not very manly. Not like your Uncle Ben. Real men don't wear pink."
"Ben!" Sue snapped.
"Awww! I was only kiddin', Susie!" Thing chuckled. "I was just jokin'." Johnny Storm ran up.
"Guys! Guys! Turn on the news!"
"Later, matchstick! Wrestling's on." Ben waved. Johnny grabbed the remote. "Hey! I was watching Jericho get his!"
"Later!" Johnny groaned, putting on the news.
"Today, a new costumed vigilante made an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio. Calling himself Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor, the costumed man appeared to be a super-powered guitar player. Not much is known about this blond super- musician--" Thing switched back to wrestling. "Oh mah Gawd, King! Look at the carnage!"
"Reed!" Johnny ran to Reed's lab. Mr. Fantastic happened to be talking to an alien on some fancy gadget.
"For the last time Your Majesty, the Fantastic Four do not deliver pizza." Reed sighed, running a hand through his brown hair. He saw Johnny and the other members of the FF standing at the door to his lab. "Excuse me." He turned to his wife, brother-in-law, and best friend. "Yes."
"Look at the news, Reed." Sue told her husband. Sue turned on the news.
"Not much is known about the Cleveland vigilante called Kid Razor. All that is known is that he has blond hair, green eyes, carries a guitar, and is dressed like an 80s rocker." Thing burst out laughing.
"I gotta admit Stretcho, that's a unique gimmick." Grimm chuckled.
"A super-powered rock star?" Johnny laughed. "What's next? Hot Dog Vendor Man?" Thing laughed at that one. "How 'bout Super Plumber?" Thing laughed harder. "Or maybe Lawnmower Girl?" Thing fell on his back and clutched his sides laughing. Human Torch looked at his teammate. "Told ya I was drop dead funny."
"A super-powered guitarist?" Sue scratched her head. "I have to admit, that is a new one. What do you think, Reed? Reed?" Reed was deep in thought. His brain was already cooking up possible theories to explain the existence of Kid Razor.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Xavier Institute for the Gifted, Westchester, New York)
"Professor, look at this!" Jean Grey pointed to the television. Professor Charles Xavier walked in with help from his cane. He watched the news broadcast with some interest.
"In Cleveland, the mysterious Kid "Rock 'n' Roll" Razor successfully defeated a gang of thieves who held up Cleveland's 1st National Bank with various weapons, including a sonic cannon. Not much is known about this super-musician, except that he is blond and possesses green eyes. If anyone has any information about this vigilante, please--" Emma Frost, the ruthless telepath known as the White Queen, shut off the television.
"Is he a mutant that just emerged?" Emma asked in a tone that was slightly icy.
"I have done some looking around with Cerebro." Xavier put a finger to his chin. "I have detected several mutants in Cleveland, but Kid Razor is not one of them."
"Then what is he? Some kind of cosmic being or somethin'?" Logan, the feral mutant codenamed Wolverine grumbled.
"He can't be." Scott Summers shook his head. He was known as Cyclops. "If he was some kind of cosmic being, then he wouldn't have to or care to fight a bunch of bank robbers."
"Maybe it's magic." Wolverine shrugged. "Not like we've encountered anything like that before."
"Uhhhnnnn..." Emma, Xavier and Jean felt immense pain in their heads as they dropped to their knees. Their telepathy was picking up something strong. Logan and Scott quickly helped them to their feet. Emma pushed Logan off.
"I'm alright!" She snapped. The chairwoman rubbed her aching head. "Where's the Tylenol?"
"What was that?" Jean groaned.
"Something...truly evil." Xavier grew worried. "Something tells me Kid Razor is involved somehow."
"Is he a telepath?" Scott asked.
"No one knows." Emma responded.
"What do we do?" Jean looked at her husband.
"Maybe we should ask this 'Kid Razor' about what's going on." The catlike, blue-furred Hank McCoy, aka Beast suggested. "We find some way to contact him." Xavier mulled it over.
"Indeed."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(Parker Apartment, New York City (A/N: See why I put Razor in Cleveland?))
A beautiful red-haired woman sat in front of the television. She sipped some coffee, waiting for her husband to return from his patrol. You see, this woman's name was Mary-Jane Watson-Parker (A/N: Long name, ain't it?) and her husband was Peter Parker, the costumed crime fighter known as the Spectacular, or the Amazing Spider-Man. Speaking of the webhead, Spider-Man crawled into the apartment via a window. Once inside, Spider-Man removed his red mask with the black webbing lines and big white eyes to reveal a handsome young man with short brown hair and hazel eyes. He let out a tired sigh.
"Well, all's quiet. Looks like the bad guys decided to take the day off." Peter Parker breathed.
"Thank God." Mary-Jane replied, hugging Peter. The television blared out the news in the background.
"Cleveland, Ohio has just been given a superhero of its own. That's right, a mysterious new character calling himself Kid Razor appeared to help Cleveland police take in a group of thieves who tried to empty Cleveland's 1st National Bank. Describing himself as "The Juke Box Hero" and "The Rock 'n' Roll Warrior", Kid Razor has vowed to battle the forces of evil using something called "The Power of Rock." Not much is known about Kid Razor, though. His identity was concealed by what appeared to be paint on his face. Sgt. Harold Polanski of the Cleveland police has said that Kid Razor is no hero, only a menace, and that he vows to bring the guitarist to justice." Peter looked at the pictures of Razor and Polanski on the screen.
"That Polanski reminds me of JJ." Peter grinned. "Jameson would do the same thing if this 'Kid Razor' were here. He'd just stomp about, acting like this..." Peter then did an eerily dead-on imitation of his boss at the Daily Bugle. "Kid Razor is nothing but a glammed-out, guitar-playing menace! How do we know he wasn't working with those thieves? I say we wash that goofy paint off that punk's face and find out who he is." Mary-Jane laughed at the impersonation.
"Cute, tiger. Very cute." Mary-Jane sat down. "I think this 'Kid Razor' is kind of like Spider-Man, only much flashier."
"Whatever." Peter rolled his eyes. "I wonder how that Razor got his powers?"
"Who knows?" Mary-Jane shrugged. "People get super-powers in some very weird ways these days."
"Whatever happened to the good ol' days? You know, the days when if you wanted superpowers, you had be a mutant or be doused in radiation?" Peter joked.
"I don't know, tiger." Mary-Jane laughed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Man, that rocked!" Razor laughed. He and Ronnie were back in Bobby's home. Razor loved the attention he was getting. On the way back, people pointed and murmured. To the rocker, it was music. People were talking about him. It was a real ego trip.
"You punched out a cop." Ronnie groaned. "Not just any cop, but a cop who happened to hate the guts of superheroes! Kid, you gotta watch it! You punched out a cop for God's sake! That's illegal!"
"Ronnie, How many laws have rock musicians broken over the years? Axl Rose was arrested for making too much noise, for example. Giving the metaphorical 'middle finger' to society is what rock 'n' roll is about."
"From what I can tell, Polanski has no qualms about carting your crazy blond ass to jail! He'd love that!" Ronnie snapped. {Damn, I knew Bobby would change if he activated the guitar's power, but he's become near- uncontrollable! How can I help Bobby learn to properly wield the Power of Rock if he becomes a stubborn, wild, egomaniacal rebel when he changes into Kid Razor? As Razor, Bobby can use the Power of Rock, but he must learn to control his actions as Razor, or else we're all screwed!} "Bobby, you must learn to control yourself! Maybe you should transform back to your normal self. It'll be easier for me." Razor appeared to bristle at the notion.
"Change back? Change BACK???" Razor got angry. "No! No way! Uh-uh! I'm not going back! Do you realize what I've become? As Bobby, I was a shy little boy who got stage fright before playing with the guys. Now look at me! I'm a super-human rock 'n' roll superstar, boy! WHOO!!!! Yeah! Now listen Ronnie Boy, I will not turn back into the old Bobby! I'm not him anymore! I finally got confidence! Real confidence!"
"Bobby, you are not yourself! Kid Razor is merely a persona! A character! What you are know is another part of you, the inner rock musician you have kept inside your whole life." Ronnie explained. "You can't take care of what's coming if you don't learn some control! Right now, Razor and Bobby are separate! You must learn to channel Razor, Bobby. Don't let him run wild! That's exactly what you did back there with those clowns in the bank!"
"I beat them, didn't I?" Razor tried to make a point.
"They were merely a bunch of punks, kid! There are people out there who make those dopes look like real clowns!"
"Don't call me kid! I have a damn name!" Razor snapped.
"I know that!" Ronnie snapped back. "You have no control! You gotta learn control!"
"I seem to be doing just fine without it!" Razor yelled. Ronnie looked at a clock hanging on a wall in Bobby's room.
"When's your next class?" Ronnie asked. Razor looked at the wall clock.
"4 PM, why?"
"It's 2:30 now. Don't you think you'd better be ready?" Ronnie smirked.
"I did my homework last night!" Razor yelled.
"You can't show up to class looking like that, Bobby!" Ronnie said.
"Why not? And call me Razor." Bobby smirked. "I look real good."
"People will recognize you!"
"So? I am a superstar, Ronnie! People want to see the Kid of Rock 'n' Roll around town. Let's give the people what they want." Razor did a twirl.
"What if Polanski is around?"
"Polanski's a retard! That idiot can't find hay in a haystack." Razor waved nonchalantly.
"He seemed pretty hell-bent on taking you in. Especially since you punched him out." Ronnie crossed his arms. "And what about your bandmates? How will you explain to them about this."
"What about secret identity, genius? Tony Stark told everyone Iron Man was his bodyguard for years! Then he revealed that he was the man in the iron suit." Razor smirked.
"You are not Iron Man, Razor." Ronnie grumbled. Unbeknownst to Razor or Ronnie, the two were being watched.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The images of a talking/arguing Kid Razor and Ronnie Rocker appeared on a crystal ball. A pair of black shadowed, slightly bony, sharp-clawed hands wrapped themselves around the ball. A shadowed figure watched the college student and the rocker's ghost. The only distinguishable feature was a pair of burning red eyes.
"So..." The figure breathed in a satanic voice. "The Chosen One has been united with his artifact. No matter. He is immature, unsure of his powers. He doesn't have the skill to wield the Power of Rock. He cannot beat me." The figure held up a small energy ball. "This should take care of him in no time." The ball disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Who was that guy? Can Bobby get his Kid Razor persona under control? Will he end up meeting the other Marvel Super Heroes? Can Kid Razor defeat this evil? Find out in the next chapter of Birth of a Juke Box Hero!