"Copyright Infringement"
One night he surfed the web as a way to kill time. He should have been in bed, but he wasn't tired enough. Hercules's eyes were half open in frustrated boredom as he jumped through hotlink after hotlink. He found something about Wonderboy of the Dream League and clicked the website with caution. Dreamchild strongly urged him to never let criticism online break him, and he was generally too shy to even look. But this ad was different, and when he found the unlicensed item for sale…
He nearly broke his chair by how much he quaked in shock. His eyes now fully opened, he stared at the bright monitor in fright and discomfort. He impulsively bought it and even splurged for overnight shipping.
The next day, most of the Dream League talked inside the Overlook when the costumed Wonderboy entered with something in his hand. He raised it up for all to see: a toy in his likeness.
"I'm an action figure!"
"There's nothing we can do," the Masked Mallard said. "We're not copyrighted, and we can't sue, so you'll have to make do."
Dreamchild's grave tone of voice interrupted. "If you think that's terrifying, search for your alias on deviantART."
"No, thank you," Sunshine said, almost panicked. "Once was enough for me."
Wonderboy squeezed the toy and it squeaked. "Why does it do that?!"
THE END
Notes on "Copyright Infringement"
I've said this a few times here, but The Dream League was originally a role-playing forum (now defunct) that featured creations and storylines made up by several role-players or posters in clearer terms. I may have co-created The Dream League with Heffy, but the universe would not be what it is if it weren't for the troopers that participated as long as the forum lasted.
But what I probably haven't said is that Wonderboy did not exist in the original canon. Nobody ever made Hercules, let alone Wonderboy, and so he's brand new for Ultimate Dream League's canon. Moreover, he's the main protagonist of the story! Wonderboy was created by my friend Emma.
Emma values her privacy and I have no intention of betraying her, so I'll only give just enough information. She's the biggest Hercules fan I know, particularly the titular character. She never was a member of the forum but she offered me feedback and made-up scenarios. Her valuable input, which helped UDL's beginnings, impressed the lot of us former RPers to the point where Collin (Maui Mallard, Bert) and I dubbed her "the official unofficial member of the Dream League." Thanks, Emma!
Now back to Hercules. The reason I wanted him to be the main character is that he's exactly what the team needed in order for me to start a new ongoing series. Pretty much the whole team is strong and confident now. I needed a newcomer who had great powers but was scared and ashamed of himself, and a gentle soul in need of an awakening. Who could fit that better than Herc? He served as your eyes and he's the character whose shoes you fill, at least for the first three issues (the "Zero to Hero" story arc). I wanted him to be introduced to the team in a way that was basically being yanked out of your sad, unsatisfying life and thrust into this BIG, NEW, WEIRD, INTERESTING WORLD!
So, don't be so freaked out, Herc. People like you! And those who don't are probably the criminals you painfully stop.