What if....... there was a full length fantasy series about KISS's music?
I was thinking about this topic I posted on a forum years ago and I remember a lot of the forum members were very creative with their input! It was nothing serious. Just a bunch of us being silly. I have also been thinking about Pophouse and how KISS's legacy will continue after all the band members are gone. This also got me thinking about Avatars that are supposedly coming in 2027. When I have time, I might write about that but for now, I am "Eh, I'll wait and see". I have also been reading the Psycho Circus comics from my KISS Kompendium. (Reading that thing is like eating an elephant one bite at a time). And that's when wheels in my diabolical head began to turn. What started as a little nugget of an idea has developed into a full blown concept that I wanted to share.
Now this is just for personal amusement. This is nothing more than me indulging in my fannish fantasies if one of the big publishing companies such as Marvel Comics, Harper, or Penguin asked me to write a proposal for a KISS series. Feel free to skip and wait for my next round of KISS pics if reading my hair brained ideas isn't your thing.
What if....... there was a full length action adventure fantasy series inspired by KISS's music? Plot outline and character concepts are under the cut. Grab some tea and hang on.
KISS is a visually compelling band: The costumes, the music, and the videos over time have added mystical, mythical, and gritty layers to the band. Why not take it further and develop a storyline that can span seasons or a whole series based on these attributes? I am talking about something like The Elder but making it a lot more. It was inspired by this post I made a few days earlier. I am thinking of a book, a webtoon, or a graphic novel that takes place in a world that is modeled on LotR and GoT with heart, drama, romance, comedy, and adventure.
I can see a creative team come together and craft a storyline that is inspired by their vast catalogue. It just takes the right vision. My dumbass decided to create a little something and well, it became bigger than I thought. I would like to turn this into a fanfic but I am such a horrible procrastinator. At the same time, I didn't want to keep this to myself.
Here we go:
Synopsis:
In the aftermath of the war, a world governed by The Council of the Rose overseas a vast kingdom ruled by the handsome King of Hearts. Charming and attractive, anyone who visits his court is mesmerized by his and its immense beauty. His right hand man is The Demon, a grim and menacing figure whose intimidating visage belies a tactical mind. His purpose is to maintain the Kingdom of Hearts through fear but underneath that tough exterior is something more. Just outside the Kingdom of Hearts is the wilderness where the Warden of the Wilderness resides. Just beyond the Misty Mountains is where the mysterious Celestine resides. Their delicate truce which was forged in blood is at a breaking point. They are all enemies but they all have a shared history. They remember a time when they were they were The Concordia Quattour, the Four Souls Who Are One.
Caught between this tense situation is a trio of friends who plot, steal, cheat, and laugh their way through some very dangerous situation. They are the Twisted Trio (The Spruce, The Fox, and The Swindler).
Paul: The King of Hearts. His kingdom is powerful, influential, and vast. All are welcome to his court and guests pay tribute in the form of coin, bartering, dance, or music. His court is full of courtesans of both genders. His trade is in pleasure slavery, very similar to Bellavalten and the Streets of Silk. He is very influential in the kingdom and prefers to disarm his enemies through poetry and music. He is sometimes called the "passionate pied piper". He is a very skilled bard who uses honeyed words to distract enemies or perceived threats. He is handsome and regal but if anyone crosses him, they risk being a target of his icy wrath. However, underneath his cool exterior is a man who longs for love. By day, he distracts himself by surrounding himself with beauty, but when no one is looking, there is vulnerability and the question of power and its price. He is the Passionate One. He has a few allies. One of those closest to him is the The Demon, The Unholy One.
Gene: He goes by many names. He uses his position and influence to become a skilled negotiator. His advantage is his grim visage and his size but underneath that intimidating exterior is a shrewd man whose trade is in information and secrets which the King is reliant on him on. He is like the Spider in Game of Thrones. He is arrogant, brash, and cunning. His grim personality is off putting and others are afraid of him, hence his nickname the Demon or the Unholy One.
When gets angry, he turns into Dragon like Smaug or Balerion the Black Dread but with his supernatural and cognitive abilities intact and that's what makes him dangerous. This is when he is known as the Destroyer. His worst enemies call him The Black Flame when he is in this form. He is a close advisor to the King. There are whispers that he is more than just the hand of the King. The Demon has few allies and acquaintances. He will sometimes venture outside of the Kingdom to patrol for enemies and gather resources for the kingdom such as water or animals for food. It is also another way for him to keep an eye on the Warden of the Wild. Although he is close to the King, He also has a steady but tense alliance with 'The Spruce' and his companion, the Fox.
Peter: Ousted from the kingdom for his savage temperament, he lives in the woods where he became more animal than man. His cat-like abilities make him an excellent hunter and brilliant tactician. He used his skills as a fallen warrior to hunt and live off the land. He is protective of his territory, both plant and animal. Nothing goes to waste and you kill what you eat. A prayer is always offered before the hunt. He meditates by playing the drums. This is how he becomes one with nature. Anyone who hears his drumming off in the distance considers it a warning or an omen. He is seen as a legend by the locals and he is very hard to find and he goes by many names. To some, he is a dark guardian who guides travelers late at night to safety. To others, he is a monster who stalks his prey. He never harms children. The villagers call him The Warden of the Wild. His enemies or other hunters who attempt to hunt on his grounds call him The Lord of the Kill or the Wild One. To the Kingdom, he is called The Feral King. To his associates or familiars, he is the Cat Man.
He is one of the few that even The Demon has to be careful around. He has knowledge war of and nature which gives him an advantage because he can navigate the world of man and beast. He has a tragic history and will become belligerent if the topic of the war, the King, The Demon, or if the Celestine are mentioned. His anger is rooted more in sadness rather than in hatred. Very few have seen him at his most vulnerable. He doesn't have friends but he will tolerate those who are not a threat to the land and its inhabitants. His familiars include Bruce The Dark, and the Fox. He has a grudging respect for the King's scout whom he calls 'Singer The Swindler'.
Although he won't admit it, he has a soft spot for The Fox. He calls him 'kit' or 'cub'. The Cat Man can sometimes find him annoying, like a little brother who needs guidance. On very long hunts or quests, they both bond over music and commune with the animals. The Fox and the Cat will trade stories about the time before the war when things were different. Only the Fox is one of the few who has seen the Cat Man at his most contemplative. He will also sometimes communicate with The Celestine, the Woods Witch who is rumored to be one of his romantic partners. Peter's character is inspired by Caliban, Mowgli, and Enkidu.
Ace: The innkeeper/lodge keeper whose jolly personality makes everyone feel welcome after a long trip. He serenades his guests with his lyre and fiddle. Everyone likes him because he is a straight shooter who gives visitors and strangers a safe place to stay during times unease. He is also generous with food, drink, and shelter. He is popular with the ladies and some of the guys. He is like the broken clock who is right twice a day. He is a good friend and ally of Bruce "The Spruce" and Eric "The Fox".
Ace can also work beautifully as a female character which is why I think he could also be The Celestine, or the Woods Witch. She could be the female alter ego of the inn-keeper. She is a seer, card reader, fortune teller, who is in touch with the elements. No one knows where she came from. It’s rumored that she came from a distant village and was ousted because she drank from the Forbidden Pool which gave her the ability to see visions. She was brushed off by the villagers for having 'too much drink' but her visions came true. She is like Cassandra and the Lady of the Lake. She speaks in riddles but she is capable of speaking to someone directly (i.e. if they are asking for directions, usually children). Her eyes are dreamlike and heavenly, as if she is in a trace (Or under the influence). Strangers are drawn to her otherworldly beauty and they leave behind tributes such as magical plants, herbs, charms, and cards. It’s implied that she and the Keeper of the Beasts have a romantic connection.
One of the fishwives, Shandi, swears that the Woods Witch and the King of Hearts also have a romantic history. She also has a history with the the Demon. Both The King and The Demon have complex feelings towards her. One of the King's warrior knights, Delilah, claims she overheard The Demon call the Woods Witch "a drunken slattern who would rather live in the clouds and tell dirty riddles than use her natural born gifts." Ace's character is inspired by Cassandra in Greek myth, the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend, and Maggy the Woods Witch from Game of Thrones.
Okay, the so the original band members have the dramatic/romantic storyline. We need some comedy and lightheartedness to balance it out.
Bruce (The Spruce): Bruce is the dark knight with the heart of gold of the King's court. He is the noble hero who has principles. He is dutiful and loyal. He gets a long everyone but he has limits. He is nicknamed the "Spruce" because he doesn't seem like a threat but that is where his enemies undermine him. Bruce is an excellent swordsman who surprises his enemies with sharp quick blows from his sword, named Revenge, which feel like pine needles against their skin. He is also a master fiddle player and will sometimes use this skill to combat his enemies in place of shedding blood. While he is distracting his enemies with music, The Fox goes behind their backs to steal resources such as weapons or information. Most of the times it's just food. Bruce is a war veteran. This has shaped his views and attitude towards the world and others and which is why he doesn't resort to violence unless he has to. Bruce is a blend between Sir Galahad from Arthurian legend, Sir Davos from GoT, and Maximus from "Gladiator".
Eric The Fox: Bruce goes on quests with his companion, Little Eric nicknamed the Fox. Both Bruce and the Cat Man call Eric 'lad'. The two of them go off an adventures throughout the kingdom brokering deals for the King of Hearts but not without nearly getting swindled or killed. Sometimes both. They are the heart and comedy of the series. Eric is the trickster, he is the foil to Bruce's steady coolheadedness. When Bruce's diplomatic tone won't work, Eric uses his innocence and cunning to get what they need. Eric uses humor and his childlike sense of wonder to forget about the war. His weapon is a small knife he named "Little Ceasar". The Fox is that character who will help ducklings cross a road, even if it means wasting time from the quest. He will also help a fish if it's swimming upstream. Because of this, the Keeper of the Beasts tolerates, even feels protective of The Fox. Eric is modeled after Robin from the Batman cartoons, Legolas from LOTR, and of course, Reynard the Fox.
Eric 'Singer the The Swindler': He serves as the scout and messenger for the Kingdom but even he gets tired of running errands and will sometimes take little breaks from his weeks long missions to reconnect with friends and former lovers. His more of a loner and a bit of an antihero. He will sometimes join The Spruce and The Fox for adventures or simply because he is bored. Singer 'The Swindler' will join up with his friends who were also veterans of the war as a way to take a break from his duties. He will invite them for a drink at the inn and reminisce about good times before the war. This is also where they speculate about the unspoken tension between the King of Hearts, The Demon, The King of Beasts, and the Celestine, the Concordia Quattuor, the Fourbound, the Painted Four.
The interactions between the Cat Man and The Swindler are tense but never violent. Usually they will settle disagreements with sword fights. The Cat Man is older but he has experience and he will use his age to undermine and anticipate his enemy's next move. Singer will tease the older man but it's meant in good fun and to break down defenses but the Cat Man does not always see it that way. The spats between the experienced veteran and the younger soldier are never settled in blood, only one yields or offers to buy the other a drink. The Cat Man harbors a small grudge towards Singer because he is still part of the King's Court. While this happens, Bruce will drink from his cup of quietly and shake his head and play his instrument or polish his sword. Meanwhile, The Fox looks at the stars or tries to catch fireflies or chat up one of the barmaids, Christine. Sometimes Eric will watch the fights and then act like a sports commentator or referee. Singer or the Cat Man will then tell him to "Shut up!"
At an evening campfire one night, they discuss the war and its repercussions. It's 'Singer the Swindler' who makes the observation that the war was started by The Four and that they were all just caught up in it. They all share rumors and speculation that they have picked up over the years. They make a passing reference to "The Warrior" who became so traumatized, he spends his days playing his instrument and prattling on about talismans, demons, stars, and beasts. "The warrior" is a tragic figure whose fall from grace is seen as a cautionary tale. The village tolerates him. One of the villagers, a medicine woman named Beth watches over him and acts as his caretaker.
Sir Thomas: He documents the events. He is up in his study and serves as the reliable but unreliable narrator who has some reserved words for the Celestine and the Keeper of the Beasts for neglecting their duties. He has heavily hinted that there is a very deep history between The Concordia Quattuor.
I wrote a chapter based on Psycho Circus a long time ago but kind of gave up. Maybe it’s a sign we need to continue as a community. I think it’d be awesome as an anthology-type with different works based on different eras
Just got my time off approved for my birthday which means the international trip I’ve wanted since high school can finally happen! I’m so excited 😆 if anyone has any recommendations on destination, feel free to share 💙
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