whiz radio #1 | audio

[bigredcheese]

[No video here! Just a teenage boy's voice that oddly sounds very professional and official as he records his post.]

Hi there, folks! This is Billy Batson reporting for WHIZ Radio. Now I'm sure a lot of you are wondering, what's WHIZ Radio or even, what's radio? Well for the first one, that's the station I used to work at back home. Hopefully Mr. Morris doesn't mind, but I was thinking it might be neat to establish a station or even just a show here. As for radio... I better let someone with more know-how explain It. But since this isn't technically real radio, the main point here is that our program is audio-only, no video. Does that make any sense?

Now onto the news! Lately our little home away from home has been visited by some particularly foxy newcomers. With them have come their celebrations and traditions, which look to be a lot of fun for all ages. Although it's worth mentioning I've heard reports of pickpockets running about, so make sure to keep an eye on your stuff during those long summer nights. 

And our audience's favorite segment! Billy's Whiz Kid Superhero Sightings! Along with a bunch of other new arrivals, Captain Marvel was spotted at the beach festival not too long ago. Witnesses claim the hero participated in various party games and later assisted the staff at KRABBA. Goes to show you that no act of kindness is too small, even for the world's mightiest mortal.

Have you seen any superheroes saving the day or even going about their daily lives? Maybe you are a hero, and you'd like to come in for an interview! Let all of us here at WHIZ Radio know by contacting our head reporter, um... me, Billy Batson. We'd also love to hear any other news you've got or human-interest-stories or gossip or anything, really!

For WHIZ Radio, this is Billy Batson, signing off.

Comments

voice

[spah]

I'll be damned. I ain't had a real radio show in a long time.

Could probably use somethin' like that around here.

[bigredcheese]

My thoughts exactly, mister. Thanks for the support, and if you want to contribute anything to show, let me know! Right now it's just me... so.

[spah]

Doin' fine job, son. How old're you, anyway?

[Billy sounds pretty young, and Engineer's already impressed a kid his age(?) was running such a tight shit already.

Then again, he's in his forties. Anyone under 25 is "pretty young" to this Texan.]

As for contributin'... well. I reckon there's a lot of interestin' folks around here you can get a hold of, if you need somebody to talk to. Different worlds, different planets... gotta be interestin' talkin' points, right?

[bigredcheese]

16, but I've been working as a reporter since I was 14.

[And it was even harder then to get people to take him seriously. Not that it's all that easy now.]

Definitely. But since you mentioned it, what kind of world are you from?

[spah]

I'd say that's a damn good start.

[Color him impressed!!]

My world? Hmh... thing is, it's hard to know what exactly's unusual in some worlds that's normal in mine. I'm from Texas, work engineering and defense in New Mexico... y'all still got Texas and New Mexico, right?

[He chuckles.]

I can say that superhero sightings aren't really a thing where I come from.

[bigredcheese]

Yeah, we've got Texas and New Mexico where I'm from, don't worry. Kinda sounds like superheroes might be the big difference! They're normal in my world, or well not normal like everyone's a superhero, but... there's lots of them! And everyone knows about superheroes, especially the big guys like Batman and Superman!

[spah]

I read comic books plenty when I was a kid. We just don't have "real" superpowers like that where I come from... 'less you count the Australians, of course.

[bigredcheese]

Sorry, but what do you mean, the Australians? I mean, I know what Australia is, but do people there have superpowers in your world?

[spah]

... Oh. Right. Forgot Australia ain't always the same for folks here.

[He clears his throat.]

Australians, uh... they're kind of a superpower themselves where I come from. Ridiculously strong, ridiculously smart folks - mostly thanks to this mineral they got there called Australium. Figured teleportation, the internet, heap of mustache tech, and a heck of a lot of other things.

[bigredcheese]

Holy moley...

I've got a lot of questions, but I might save them for an interview if that's okay with you? Sounds like there's a lot we could talk about.

[spah]

[Okay. That gets Engie laughing.]

Sure, son. I can do that. Ain't been on the radio since my college years anyway.

voice

[bloodisthicker]

...huh. Well, I'm in favor. They've got things that seem like radio shows on the network, but they're all very specialized. It's nice to have something general like this, you know?

[bigredcheese]

Thanks for the support, sir! Only way this radio station's gonna work is with listeners like you. And if you'd like to contribute, or you've got any tips, or again really, anything, I'd love to hear it.

[bloodisthicker]

Well, I'm sure it's something you can build on over time, though you can't really go wrong with securing a few interviews for the publicity of it all.

voice, un: quinticthreefold

[fourthdimension]

[ she is going to be thinking about how meta that superhero segment is for her entire life. or whatever is left of it. ]

You weren't lying, Billy. You're great at your job, too. You head straight to the source. Lucky for you, I have seen Captain Marvel.

[bigredcheese]

Aw thanks, Miss Elizabeth. And really? Wow, you've gotta tell me everything! I haven't managed to get an interview with him yet, but just you wait!

[fourthdimension]

[ noooo baby ]

I think I saw him at the temple making quite a ruckus. I'd wager that a good amount of people were freed because of him.

[bigredcheese]

That does sound like Cap. I've gotta admit I'm pretty jealous... I've met him a few times back home through my work, but I guess he hasn't gotten the memo that there's another Fawcett local around here. Maybe he'll see this though?

What did you think of him, Miss Elizabeth?

[fourthdimension]

[ she snorts. ]

Oh, to be honest with you, Billy... He reminded me of you. Just another person out looking to help the world. He could have been any one of us— he just happened to actually do something with his desire to better the world. Don't you think so?

[bigredcheese]

Gosh, you think so? [Can you hear him blushing. Can you.] I'm flattered, really I am, but I think Cap's something else. I do my part where I can, of course, but there's just something different about superheroes.

I mean, if I had the Speed of Mercury and all that, it'd be hard not to use it to... I don't know, ace a test in school, or get on the baseball team, or drink malts all day without getting a brain freeze.

[fourthdimension]

[ ...

she's quiet for a moment. ]

I don't think you should use any of those powers in that way, Billy, but that's probably why you aren't Captain Marvel.

[ ;) ]

What's... a malt?

[bigredcheese]

Wait, you've never had a malted? We've gotta change that. It's like... well, it's a milkshake, but it's also way better. You've had a milkshake before, right?

[fourthdimension]

...

[ ... ]

No, I don't think so?

[bigredcheese]

What? Do they really not have them where you're from?

[fourthdimension]

I don't know. I just... think I've never had them.

[ hmm. okay. one more confession. ]

I've only had cotton candy once before.

[ just to give an idea of what we're working with here. ]

[bigredcheese]

What about chocolate? Have you had chocolate before?

[fourthdimension]

No. [ sugar actually wasn't something she afforded much in rapture. ] I guess you could say this is the first time I've had the option to pick what I eat.

[bigredcheese]

Oh... I- I know what that's like.

[He's been lucky enough that Nick and Nora have taken him in, even if that's had its own fair share of difficulties, but it wasn't too long ago that he was working day and night to pay for his own apartment at ten years old. And before he became Cap, he could only sell newspapers in hope of getting enough for a meal.]

But that just means you can try everything now, right? And I can make sure you don't eat any of the gross stuff!

[fourthdimension]

[ she has questions she won't ask him over the network, but that's a bit of interesting conversation elizabeth saves for later. ]

...The gross stuff?

[bigredcheese]

You know, like spinach! Or green beans... or if we're still talking sweets, stuff like cotton candy ice cream can be pretty bad. Or anything grape-flavored.

[fourthdimension]

Greens are good for you, Billy.

[bigredcheese]

I know! And I eat 'em, just not... those ones.

[fourthdimension]

Spinach can be good!

[bigredcheese]

You've never had chocolate, so I think I'll wait until your palate's a little more mature before I trust your opinions on spinach.

[fourthdimension]

Wh... I had it regularly, and it was perfectly fine. Maybe you just haven't have it made properly.

[bigredcheese]

You miiiiight be right. I'm not that great of a cook, so I tend to make whatever's easiest and tastes good.

[fourthdimension]

[ interesting..... ]

You cook for yourself? You'll have to show me sometime.

[bigredcheese]

It's nothing special. But sure, if you want me to...

[fourthdimension]

You'll... show me how you do it?

[ ELIZABETH DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COOK, MUCH. ]

video;

[agains]

[ Keith Goodmann is an all-American man with an all-American smile. ]

A radio show! What a wonderful idea!

Could you tell me more about this Captain Marvel? I confess, I have an interest in Heroes, and Heroes are an interest of mine.

[ because he's also one. ]

video

[bigredcheese]

Oh really? Gosh, I don't know where to start, though. He's sort of this big hero back in my hometown, and I guess he's here now too. He's super strong, super fast, super smart, he can fly and he's got magic powers... he's kind of got it all when you think about it!

video

[agains]

That is quite a lot for one man to do. He must have many sponsors competing for his attention.

[ What a nice-sounding fellow. Of course he should be considered desirable by the people who fund televised heroics, the primary kind that exist in Keith's world. ]

[bigredcheese]

What? Captain Marvel doesn't have any sponsors... what are you talking about? Why would he have any in the first place?

[agains]

My sincere apologies. I am learning that not every world works the way mine does. Where I am from, Heroes are sponsored by corporations, and Heroes wear the logos of companies to advertise for them while performing their feats of heroism.

[ Could this guy get any more repetitive? Tune in at eleven, and at eleven again! ]

Are you perhaps from a place without a formal television show for Heroes?