The Bat, the Doctor, and the Rainbow, revisited? · 12:53am Dec 8th, 2013
Roughly just over a year ago, I started to write a story called, "The Bat, the Doctor, the Rainbow & Mr. Carnage." The premise was a multiple crossover fic, starring an OC that travelled to different universes with Rainbow Dash as a companion. The story was also an unofficial sequel to the fan fic that inspired me to start writing fan fiction in the first place. It was called "Mad House." It’s a crossover fic between Doctor Who and Batman when the Tenth Doctor lands in the middle of Arkham Asylum during a riot. I would highly recommend that story as it is superbly written. A quick warning though, it was sadly never finished so don’t expect an ending.
The idea for "The Bat, the Doctor, the Rainbow & Mr. Carnage," was to combine Quantum Leap and Doctor Who, and create a story where a man is controlled by a mysterious force to visit different universes and prevent catastrophes. He'd be joined by Dash, the Doctor, and various other characters along the way. "The Bat, the Doctor, the Rainbow & Mr. Carnage" was the second story in the saga. So what went wrong? Quite a few things actually.
For starters; I was piss poor when it came to grammar. I mean without my editors, I’d be even worse than I am now. I pride myself with learning from my mistakes, but I physically cringe every time I read that story now. Also, Mr Carnage feels too forced on and too… Gary Stu. He doesn’t completely fit that, but he’s borderline at minimum. It’s ironic because an OC in “League of Extraordinary Ponies,” is called Mr. Carnage, and even has a similar design, but is of no relation. I also fell out of love with it, I fell into depression soon after and since no one seemed to like it, I just gave up on the entire idea.
It was actually during a very dark part in my early life where I considered suicide. Thankfully I realised there were so many more things to live for and it would be nothing but a waste if I took my life. This isn’t a pity party though; I just want to explain why I stopped writing the story.
Every now and then, I’ve received a message from the odd person about when the story would be started again, or if I’ll ever return to it, and this has led me to believe there actually might be something there. If you’re able to wipe away all the shit, there’s actually the potential for a pretty good story. The more and more I think about it, the more I’m tempted to rewrite the bloody thing and see if I can actually summon a decent story from it. I love Batman, I love Doctor Who, and I love My little Pony so what do I have to lose? The point of this blog is to see if you guys think it’s a good idea. I know there are people who avoid multiple crossover fics like the plague, but I never dislike something without giving it a chance. Obviously, if I were to undertake this, I need your feedback. Some shit is just going to have to go and also get replaced, and I know the perfect thing.
So, the basic plotline would remain intact. 3 heroes from different universes would arrive in the middle of Arkham City, a maximum security prison made from a portion of Gotham city, where every kind of criminal and lunatic has been dumped inside. The heroes meet Batman, and the four are forced to work together to return home and stop the madness raging on. These are the things I would change.
Carnage gets replaced
Not even up for debate, I would replace him like that. The role of Carnage was that he was meant to be the practical detective. Someone who didn’t rely on technology like Batman, but used practical means. He’s pointless though and instead an established character should take his place. I know exactly who as well…
Naoto Shirogane from Persona 4. Why? Well for starters we’d get a gender balance. Two boys and two girls. She's a detective, and a very good one too. She's also pretty handy with a revolver, making her the only one who would use a gun. She’s also a very deep character as she suffers from gender identity issues. Namely she dresses and pretends to be a boy when in reality she is a girl. She’s cold, but not in a malicious sense as she lacks a way to socialise with others. Oh, and she wields a power ability called ‘persona’ that is representation of her inner self.
On top of this, she represents one of the top media today, Video Games. Batman represents comic books, Rainbow Dash represents Cartoons and the Doctor represents TV. To me, it just works and when I think of other detectives like Sherlock Holmes, it just doesn’t work as well in my head. I love Naoto, and throwing her in with the other characters would add up to some very interesting situations.
A Different Doctor?
So a lot of you may be able to tell but the Tenth Doctor is my Doctor. Always has been, but, I’m not sure I should use him for this story, and quite frankly I don’t think very highly of Matt smith’s performance. So how about instead we go old school and use…
The Fourth Doctor!!! I mean we don’t get enough stories with Tom Baker, and to be perfectly frank, that’s nothing short of a crime. Both Tennant and Smith are overused as well, so Baker’s Doctor can add humour, but also seriousness. A great combination. However, what do you think? Should I stick to Tennant, or go with Baker instead?
Links to shared universe?
Well it won’t have any connection to Mad House as that just overcomplicated matters. The carnageverse though is a possibility, but it would be very faint so you wouldn't need to have read any of the other stories. Just thought I would mention it.
How do the characters fit together?
Well, Naoto is calculating but easily embarrassed. Dash is passionate, but arrogant. The Doctor is witty and clever, but sometimes delusional. Batman is serious and tough, but his self loathing can often get the better of him. Dash knows her Doctor in her reality, so her meeting the Baker Doctor has some very interesting implications. Naoto and Batman are both detectives, but their views on guns would separate them. The potential is definitely there, it would simply be a matter of me trying to work with it. I honestly think I can though.
So honestly, what do you think? I’ve linked it to my changeling story because I honestly want to know if people who have no idea what the story was before hand think it’s an idea worth working on. I will stress that it will NOT affect my other stories, just something for me to throw about. Or, should I just abandon this and continue with my other work. I think it has potential, and I want to try and do a really good multiple crossover fic. Go against the grain as it were. But if you guys think it's a waste of time then this will be the end of it. Thank you for reading.
Naoto's a good choice, she's one of my favorite Persona characters.
Yes, but you'd have to rewrite a bit of Friendship is Murder to comply with Carnage not hopping to this universe, and Dash coming with him.. otherwise, you would have to sever the tie we thought we had, and establish a new reason for Dash to be in that universe. TBH, i find that Alternate ending you have for it to be perfectly acceptable. Perhaps a new story from that ending, too?
About the Doctor...I dunno.
Put it off until 12/13 comes in, we'll see how he is.
Would I read it?
Short answer: No.
What? You wan't a long answer also? Fine!
Friendship Is murder and The Bat, The Doctor, The Rainbow, & Mr. Carnage are in my top 5 favorite fanfics of all time. And for good reason.
It the the first story I read where an O.C was the main character, lightening up my opinion of O.C's being the focus of a story. If it wasn't for that, I would have never gotten past the first chapter of Past Sins, my favorite fanfiction of all time. Not to mention, Mr. Carnage was interesting. I wanted to see the adventures of this guy! And when it was revealed to me that a sequel was also out, I squealed with joy. And then it had to go on a hiatus. And I was bummed out. But I kept my cool and said that I just had to wait a while. During that time I had gotten an idea to create a fanfiction with a superhero group. You probably don't remember this but a while back, I asked you if Mr. Carnage could make a cameo. You said yes as long as I gave you credit for creating him or something, and I squealed with joy. So I had written that chapter down. I still haven't gotten around to publishing that chapter yet, but that's not a big problem.
About a month later(today), I see TBTDTRAMR has updated. It turned out to be this. But when I saw that it had been canceled I got worried. I then see the chapter saying: "Should I start again?" I start to calm down a bit, of course this was before I found out what you are going to do with it. Speaking of that, the only reason I read that crossover was because it was a sequel to Friendship Is murder. So seeing this. I just skimmed through it a bit getting a basic idea of what you are saying..... And then see this.
Oh shit.
Please don't say yes.
Which is a reason he was really good.
Another reason he is a cool character.
Sorry, I couldn't hear you. I was to busy tying this rope to the ceiling.
..... Well the noose is around my neck, might as well jump. Nah I'm joking, I'm to self centered to do that. But, WHAT?! FIRST OF ALL! What do you mean by established? Second, does this mean no more Mr. Carnage in you're stories? Well, who are you going to replace him with?
Don't know her, don't care to know her, never played the Persona games, never will. What's your reasoning?
*facehoof*
So was Mr. Carnage.
OK, you go reasoning there.
Well, I gotta cut it here. Will I read it? No. I can't, I'm sorry. I have to much dedication to the Mr. Carnage series. And I really feel bad for saying this, but I am just a real fan of the two stories. I can't guilt trip you into putting it back, but I am sorry that I come off as mean. I'm just a kid who doesn't like what he is given. Maybe if it got the front page I might read it, but as of now. I cant. I am just that dedicated to the original. Hopefully you will realize that....... What the hell am I saying?! I didn't teach you a damn thing! But why not, Lets just be sappy and say thank you for creating two of my favorite stories. And the only fanfic's on my top five that doesn't involve one of the ponies becoming a mother, or being adopted. Never expected to like those types of stories so much. It's weird.
Well.... Bye.
I would love to read this!
How is Mr. Carnage "Garry Stu" in any way?
I have to agree with EVERYDAYWESHUFFLIN on some level.,I agree that Mister Carnage was a great character. This guy can be put in line of unique OCs along side FlufflePuff and the NonBrony from life of a none brony fanfics. His getup was cool, his Quantum Leap like adventure is a cool concept for an OC, and he is even a detective. Replacing him with Naoto is like if DC decided for the next issue of Batman, Robin is replaced with Kid Flash; no explanation except they wanted to have someone else instead. You can rewrite the entire thing and use the 5th doctor for all I care, just don't replace the one character that made your fics rise to the top.
1585046 1584326 1584134
Basically, I hate him. He's too much the centre of the story, when it should be shared among all four. He hasn't got a perfect home life, but he's too damn jolly and happy about all the shit around him.
You may ask, why not just rewrite it so he isn't? Easier said than done. Basically, he's the OC, people need to learn who he is. I can only do that if the story focuses on him enough, but in the process, he always seems to become the main focus. Having four established characters means more time given to each, reflecting on their evenly. It also avoids drowning out the story.
So will he be in it...? Maybe.
If I put him in, I would completely rework him. He'd have the same mannerisms, but his origin and presence would be different. Basically, he'd be a more mysterious character whose story you would only discover a the end. He'd be a watcher, a casual observer to the chaos around him and only partially get involved. That's not a bad idea actually, but I'd definitely give him a new name. The more I think about, I actually think I might have something. What do you think? If I have him in, he won't be exactly the same, but he'd be important to the story.
1583944 I just wouldn't connect them. I'd have Dash enter the city a different way. I have considered this, and I have a few ideas.
I've never read that story, so I couldn't say. What I can tell you is, don't beat a dead horse. I have one story like yours, the type I go back, read it, and cringe. I dropped it like a bad joke. Sometimes you just have to.
I won't tell you to, cuz like I said, idk what kind of potential that story has. But I will tell you that just because a few people liked it enough to bother you for more, doesn't necessarily mean it was good.
I'm just giving you some honest, blunt advice here. Might be tough to hear it, but I think you need to.
On the other hand, you may well be able to rewrite the whole thing and have a masterpiece. I think it all depends on your writing skill, style, and the plot you have picked out. AND it depends on who will read it. If a story's success is to be gauged upon how many people read it and like it, you're taking 4 totally different characters from 4 different worlds. This rather limits readers to people who are familiar with at least 3 of them. Or 2 since we're all familiar with one of those.
1586339 How many of the above do you really know? Ignoring the obvious MLP
1586359 Moi? Batman. I'm familar with the later doctors only... so that's kind of halfway. And that's it.
1586627 I see, well there is a large part of me that still feels that some things there. I've been brainstorming today and I have some surprisingly solid ideas. I think I'll give it a shot when I make more headway on other stories.
1586640 The absolute best advice I can give you that I WILL actually TELL you to follow is:
If you have the story in your head, write it.
1586663 Good advice.
>>Infinite Carnage Another thing you should know is that makeing the main character of the fanfic series just an observer is downright "wat" material. If I may go back to my Kid Flash analogy, it's like they only made the decision because they didn't like how they made Robin. Having your character being involved in the situation is the key to a story. And since you also said it was a mix of Quantum Leap, you also have to remember that Sam Becket was not one to just leave things as they were and would always do the right thing. And since he isn't a Time Lord, he could have more freedom when it comes to different timelines he travels to but still at least have a few rules available (fixed point in time and the like)
And about the name,you should keep name of Mr. Carnage since it's a name that is pretty unique to a hero (or anti hero, have to wait to find out wich to call him) like how Ghost Riders look is unique to a hero that is looks like a villain gettup.
Your talk of how you want to have slow character development is fair; you don't want to jumble every single thing about said character into one or two chapters.
Change of appearance? That could work, but remember that you actually made an iconic look to your character. Maybe if it was a choice for the character to change looks like how the Doctor for every regeneration to change his choice of clothing.
That's all just me though. Just try and think of what I said into consideration.
I like the Idea. If you really do clean the stuff up decently that could be one heck of a read... It also reminds me of That Fanfic...
1586770 He'd be more than a observer, but I couldn't say more without spoilers. I have a name in mind. Isiah. Biblical, and what it represents is in this quote.
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
- Isiah 40:11
The name "Mr. Carnage" is also being used in an ongoing fic of mine, the League of Extraordinary Ponies." It would feel weird since that one I do intend to continued. Look, I'm not doing this to annoy people. I honestly see this as an improvement on the original. He'd play a large role, that I will assure you.
1585064 I'll read what ever you put out to read, but i will miss the original carnage all the same.
Please continue this story.
please continue. I really enjoy the story