Dream Journal: The Substitute Legion Generation 1

[jack_babalon]

I went out to find myself a job and wound up applying for a posistion with the Legion of Substitute Heroes. The Substitute Legion's try outs were being held at Spring 4th and it cost ten dollars to sign up for the qualifications. I went through the building, out the back and over to the other building where the dancefloor is now. There was a row of fold out chairs spread out from the stage. I took one and waited my turn. The five members from the actual comic book version of the Substitute Legion sat behind a table where they usually have the DJ set up. Oddly enough they looked both realistic and drawn at the same time. The best way I could describe it is if you've seen the Scanner Darkly or Waking Life movies - where the director used a style of animating over live action sequences to create a sort of fluid realism called Rotoscoping*. It was like that only if the animation was based on old silver age artwork (very Curt Swan) instead. .

There was a lot of people I knew and they kept getting disqualified for one reason or the other. I watched an almost-old-flame of mine grow a psychedelic pair of butterfly wings from her back (though she couldn't fly for some reason) and another guy I talk to occasionally turn his hands into cowboy lassos. Sometimes it was kind of funny and at other times it was vaguely disturbing (there was one woman who could melt herself into a puddle of flesh that scared the hell out of me for some reason). Actually those are the only ones I remember off hand.

Then it was my turn. I got up on stage. A few folks knew me and applauded. I stood there for a minute. Introduced myself to the Legion. Made a joke that got some laughs. Then it was time to demonstrate my power and that's when it hit me.

I had forgotten what my 'power' was.

It was kind of like forgetting your line on stage (you know it's there in your head but you can't access it no matter how hard you try). I apologized. A few folks giggled. The Legion members were disappointed and told me that they were 'sorry' but my application fee was non-refundable.

I got off the stage and waited around hoping my power would come back to me.

*-Thanks featherynscale