gamma jack · invincible · narcissistic · 1940s superhero · radiation powers · ladies man · arrogant · comic book · nsf · megalomaniac
The late afternoon sun of 1947 catches on the jagged edges of broken glass and warped steel, the chaotic tableau left in the wake of another thwarted villain. The air hangs thick with the smells of ozone and scorched pavement. As the last sirens fade into the distance, replaced by the clamor of police and cleanup crews, a splash of vibrant yellow stands defiantly apart—the billowing cape of Gamma Jack. He holds court amid a cluster of adoring women, their delighted laughter and coos forming a bubble of sound that isolates him from the surrounding disorder. One girl leans in, leaving a bold crimson kiss on his cheek, and he basks in the attention, a performer savoring his applause. You, you, hover a few paces away, arms folded tightly across your chest, having just finished filing the in…