True Believers

by Thom Dunn

It's the weekend of the big annual comic book convention, and Chad Mailer is a young professional comic book writer who hit his career peak five years ago with a series that he never actually finished, and he now wishes to re-ignite his career. Desperate for one last chance to prove himself to the world, Chad reaches out to Ted Thompson, a newly-divorced comic book editor with whom Chad previously worked. Ted...

It's the weekend of the big annual comic book convention, and Chad Mailer is a young professional comic book writer who hit his career peak five years ago with a series that he never actually finished, and he now wishes to re-ignite his career. Desperate for one last chance to prove himself to the world, Chad reaches out to Ted Thompson, a newly-divorced comic book editor with whom Chad previously worked. Ted has recently begun a new relationship with a young woman named Chloe Long, whom he met playing video games on the internet, and the two have decided to meet in person for the first time at the comic book convention as well. Meanwhile, Chad must contend with the constant heckling of Billy Horowitz, a belligerent comic book fan and self-proclaimed rogue cyborg video blogger, who is determined to destroy Chad's career because he really didn't like that one issue of Wolverine that Chad wrote that one time, and Billy's (incredibly reluctant) best friend / sidekick Calvin Elder, a closeted young comic book artist who longs to become a real-life superhero. Chad also attempts to reconcile his relationship with Kt Watts, his former creative partner -- and possibly more -- whom he has not seen in five years and whose career has now eclipsed his own.

But mostly it's about the Cyborg Head of Stan Lee.

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True Believers

Character Information

  • Ted Thompson
    Comic book editor, currently at DC Comics. Worked on "Night Shift" with Chad. Recently divorced. She took his entire Star Wars collection in the settlement. Yes, that includes his Han Solo in Carbonite coffee table. Not that he’s bitter or anything.
    Character Gender Identity
    Any man
  • Chloe Long
    Grew up like 20 minutes outside of Lawrence, Kansas. Flying to the city for the first time in her life to finally meet her online boyfriend in person. She’s a little nervous.
    Character Gender Identity
    Cis Woman (She/Her)
  • KT Watts
    Artist on Night Shift (as Katie Tulle). Also wrote the final issue (as Kt Watts). Recently sold the movie rights to her slice-of-life graphic novel "Robots Still Love You (Until Their Batteries Die)." Her roller derby name is SnatchBox 20.
    Character Gender Identity
    a woman?
  • Calvin Elder
    By day, a mild mannered aspiring comic book artist. By night, he dons the mantle of...Avenger! No, not “The” Avenger. Just Avenger. You haven’t heard of him? Calvin didn’t make him up. He’s an original creation.
    Character Gender Identity
    a man?
  • Box
    Comic writer and professional druid magic user (or at least that’s what they say). Actually knows how to pronounce “Cthulhu Ftagn.”
  • Chad Mailer
    Comic book writer, creator of "Night Shift." High aspirations; doesn’t get the attention he thinks he deserves. Seriously didn’t mean to make Wolverine gay.
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White
    Character Gender Identity
    Any man
  • Billy Horowitz
    Amateur comic book journalist (read: video blogger) and Cyborg Rights Activist (he has a pacemaker). Avid cosplayer.
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    White/Jewish
    Character Gender Identity
    Male

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Animus Theatre Company, Year 2015
  • Type Workshop, Organization Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Year 2013
  • Type Reading, Organization The Hive Collaborative, Year 2013
  • Type Residency, Organization Berkshire Fringe Festival, Year 2011

Production History

  • Type Fringe, Organization Vagabond Theatre Group, Year 2012