Origins

Origins is the first issue of Mari Solinski and The Wonder Kitty.and is a more detailed telling of the origin story than was told in the original panels that ran in The Weekly Brahma (publication) in April of 2016. It tells the story of how Mari Solinski and Zandra Niko came to be superheroes and introduces most of the primary characters. This was also posted on THE WEEKLY BRAHMA Facebook page during July and August 2016. The story was rebooted in 2021 as a publication of THE LION GAZETTE.

Plot (2016 Version)
The story begins as US Air Force Major Sampson P. Morton enters the offices of THE WEEKLY BRAHMA and is confronted by Mr. Albert M. Larkin. Larkin informs the Major that he did not sign in, but the Major drives him off saying he has business with Dr, Lola Alotta.

The Major explains to Dr. Lola that he is from the Inspector General's Office and has been sent by Maj. Gen. Joseph Elliot Kawallis to question her about two girls who have some to work at the newspaper, Mari Solinski and Zandra Niko.

Dr. Lola explains their early history as she knows it which is confirmed by Major Morton. Morton questions their questionable employment history, to which Lola blames THE GREAT RECESSION of 2008. She also tells of how she met them when they spilled a fast food meal on her resulting in them being fired. Lola explains that she got them work at the newspaper, in the mail room out of guilt for having been the reason they were fired. In doing so, she explained how they met the staff and were introduced by managing editor Robert Seagull.

Believed to be doomed to a life of boredom as mail room clerks, excitement soon arrived as a UFO was being tracked by NORAD and expected to land near Kingsville, Texas.

Maj. Gen. Kawallis was notified and gathered a make-shift force to secure the area, the Kleberg Co. Park, to prevent danger to civilians. The UFO, however, made a rather loud sound as it "buzzed the town."

Lola told the major that she and Little Alexandra were sent to get the story, but they were stopped by USAF Sargent Jahn and not allowed to proceed. The failure of the star reporters soon spread through the newspaper and in to the mail room.

Mari and Niko soon realized that they could improve their positions at the newspaper by getting the story. Mari knew of a way in, a drainage tunnel that was not well known. Upon sneaking into the park and under the nose of the USAF and US ARMY security forces they found a "flying saucer" and were greeted by a green skinned alien. The Alien, believing himself to be on "Venus" befriend the girls. The girls named him "Steve" and he revealed himself to be a student who's science project was to give powers to the people of "Venus." However, he resolved to pass his class and get an "A" by giving the girls powers.

By this time Dr. Lola indicated she had knowledge that am official from the Pentagon, Lt. General John F. Mesa was on the scene to inspect. Major Morton questions Lola about her knowledge of Classified Information to which she revealed that she has served as Major General Kawallis' assistant prior to being a reporter and that he had asked her to look after the girls in their "civilain job."

Steve had, meanwhile, endowed the girl with powers. Niko was given the power to transform into a cat with other cat like powers and Mari was given an unknown number of powers.

By this time Lt. General Mesa has completed his inspection and informed Maj. Gen. Kawallis that Seeligson A.F.B. would remain open. This news was interrupted as Steve dropped off the girls at the center of the Kleberg Co. Park lake. Due to a rather concerned loud comment by Niko about being "Fired" for being late, Military personnel misheard the comment and opened fire of the flying saucer which crashed on the north bank of the lake exploding apparently killing the alien.

Before the girls could grieve, they were detained by CMSgt Barker and a detail of airmen who took them to see the two general officers. Once back the the air base, the girls were questioned about the incident and, after being informed that they might face Federal criminal charges, agreed to a deal from President Barack H. Obama to serve as officers with the rank of Colonel in the US Air Force under Maj. General Kawallis.

Plot (2021 LION GAZETTE Version)
The Plot of the 2021 version is essentially the same story, however, it lacks the "framing story" of Major Morton questioning Dr. Lola Alotta in favor of a more traditional narrator. Additionally, the story occurs much earlier, in 2009, as opposed to 2016. This was done to provide some historical framing and to avoid having to draw masks as the storyline would eventually enter the age of the Pandemic. Much of the artwork from the 2016 version was retained, many with upgrades. Most notably the characters have been slightly redesigned, however, still retaining their styles. The Story opens with an historical overview spanning the time from when Mari and Niko first met at Gillette Middle School, through their schooling at Memorial Middle and HM King High School and on to their college years and the struggles to find work. Their primary goal in life is to become journalists, their majors in college. The main obstacle is that in 2008 and 2009, when they graduated from Texas A&M University Kingsville, the GREAT RECESSION has set in and there simply were no jobs in journalism to be had.

Eventually they end up working as carhops and participate in an accident in which they spill a meal on Dr. Lola. This instantly get them fired to which Dr.Lola informs them that she can get them jobs at THE LION GAZETTE, the newspaper where she is a star reporter.

The two girls report for work on the 20th of January 2009 where, at first, they are apprehensive. This is seemingly made worse when they encounter the newspaper's security guard Charlie Murphy who questions the legitimacy of their business at the newspaper. This matter is cleared up when Dr. Lola flags them through, it seems that lots of people attempt to enter under false pretenses.

The two enter the first staff meeting where they are introduced to THE LION GAZETTE staff by the main BOSS, Mr. Robert Seagull. After Alexandra "Lil Alex" Sevilla, Peggy O'Shea, Emmett Neverend and Bret Coogan introduce themselves it is revealed that the only jobs at the newspaper were down in the mailroom as clerks. This, however, was not before Mari made a rather melodramatic speech about how they planned to "make a difference" in journalism.

Niko questions their "luck" when it is revealed that, although stable, life in the mailroom under their immediate boss, Mr. Albert Larkin is quite boring and uneventful. Mari and Niko settle into their job and, after a month, begin to actually unpack all their "office amenities," including a Justin Bieber Calendar which Niko, being an early Bieber Fan, hangs up much to Mari's chagrin.

All seems well at THE LION GAZETTE, however, across the nation at the Cheyanne Mountain US Air Force Base tensions are high as an unknown object is rapidly approaching the WEST COAST of the UNITED STATES at unheard of speeds. It's a UFO...literally a FLYING SACUER that triggered the United States' National Defensive posture. General Hoyt Southerner, the base's commander, contacts President Barrack H. Obama and the US Air Force's SKYWATCH commander Major General Joseph E. Kawallis after it is discovered that the alien craft will make some sort of landing just outside of Kingsville, Texas eventually landing in the Kleberg County Park just south of town.

Maj. Gen. Kawallis was notified and gathered a make-shift force to secure the area to prevent danger to civilians despite the fact that his base, Seeligson Air Force Base is on the BRAC closure list and lacking most of the resources necessary to deploy. Additionally, the UFO made a rather loud sound as it "buzzed the town" prompting THE LION GAZETTE's Robert Seagull to "deploy" his two star reporters, Dr. Lola and Lil Alexandra, to find the story. Upon arriving the the County Park, which was now surrounded by military personnel and tanks, the reporters were turned away by military personnel. Despite their protests, they complied and l left the area without the story.

Upon overhearing news about the failure to get the story, Mari and Niko decide to try to do so on a lunch break. Mari is aware of a secret tunnel, drainage culvert, that she is sure will get them past the guards. They are able to infiltrate the park with said tunnel on sheer luck...one of the tank crew's abandoned a broken down tank allowing the girls to slip by unnoticed. Mari and Niko are soon surprised to discover the FLYING SAUCER parked rather peacefully deep within the county park. They are then greeted by a green skinned alien.

Mari and Niko approach the Alien who informs them that he is from MARS and that he is supposed to be on VENUS. Mari and Niko correct him and tell him that he is, in fact, on the planet EARTH. The Alien seems a bit immature and absent minded, but friendly. He tells them that he is a student in the alien version of High School who is doing a "science fair" like project. Originally, he planned on giving some VENUSIAN powers and documenting the reaction, however, is mistake in coming to earth had jeopardized his grade.

Mari and Niko agree to undergo the experiments with the understanding that the alien, which they named Steve since his actual name was unpronounceable, would remove the powers an hour later.

Meanwhile, Major General Kawallis is growing frustrated as the resources he has to work with are nowhere near adequate to secure the park. To add to his stresses, he is being visited by a Pentagon General, Lt. General John F. Morelli. Morelli is somewhat of an unfriendly rival to Kawallis and the actual commander of the unit of tanks of which Kawallis is forced to work.

Niko is the first of the girls to undergo Steve's experiments being given the ability to turn into a KITTYFORM, to become any cat she wished. Steven indicated, as the girls question this power, that there were cats on all the "intelligent planets" and that she could become any cat.

Mari was then next and given power with the machine set to "omnibus," of which Steve was unsure and assumed it meant she would get "all the powers."

The Battle of Dick Kleberg Park
Niko then pointed out that the time was growing late and that they needed to return to THE LION GAZETTE or risk getting fired...which was her greatest fear. Steve fired up the ship and deposited them on the pier which extended out into the water feature of the county park. As they said goodbye, Niko realized that it was later than she though and began to have a sort of breakdown about being fired. This breakdown carried across the park where it was misheard as an order to fire by an an Army gun crew triggering all unit to open fire.

This barrage of tank fire came to the attention of the Generals and they immediately ordered the salvos to cease, however, not before the tanks had ranged the target and scored a direct hit which sent the FLYING SAUCER crashing into the embankment of the water feature. Mari and Niko watched in horror and then sadness as the alien craft EXPLODED with almost no trace.

This incident became known as The Battle of Dick Kleberg Park, despite being a chaotic example of misunderstanding and miscommunication,

This "disaster" prompt the Generals to question how it could have happened and the presence of Mari and Niko is brought to their attention. Lt. General Morelli orders their apprehension and CMSgt Barker and a security detail find and arrest the girls who are still sadden and shocked by the events.

Mari and Niko are then brought to Seeligson A. F. B. where they are heavily questions and passive aggressively threatened by Lt. General Morelli who offers them a deal. By order of President Obama Mari and Niko will, if they accept commissions in the US Air Force and agree to use their powers in service of the United States of America, avoid a lengthy prison sentence. They would have to serve with Major General Kawallis as their direct superior, which also allows for Seeligson A.F.B. to remain open with renewed purpose.

The girls agree fearing the prison term and sign the document. They will remain at THE LION GAZETTE, which is about 30 miles from Seeligson, but under the supervision of Major General Kawallis and on call should they be needed for testing, missions or anything similar.

2021 On-line Version
A version of "Origins" was posted on FACEBOOK in JULY 2021 which restores the framing story and updates some artwork.

Characters (In order of Appearance)

 * Mari Solinski
 * Zandra Niko
 * Various H.M. King High School Graduates
 * Dr. Stephen Tallant
 * Texas A&M-Kingsville Graduate
 * Samuel L. Jones- Supway Shop Owner
 * Penelope Garriga- Allmart Floor manager
 * Dr. Lola Allota
 * Charlie Murphy
 * Alexandra Sevilla
 * Peggy O'Shea
 * Bret Coogan
 * Emmitt N. Evers
 * Robert Seagull
 * Justin Bieber (on Calendar)
 * Colonel Karl Lee West, USAF
 * Agent Melvin Rutherford, CIA
 * General Hoyt G. Southerner, USAF
 * Colonel Isaac Lookman, USAF
 * President Barrack H. Obama
 * Major Archie R. Vandenberg, USAF
 * Lt Col Christopher M. Sims, USAF
 * Colonel Roger D. Vela, USAF
 * Major Guy Reed, USAF
 * Major General Joseph E. Kawallis, USAF
 * CMSgt Lewis Edward Barker, USAF
 * Albert M. Larkin
 * Various US Airforce Personnel Guarding Kleberg Co. Park
 * TSgt Michael Jahn, USAF
 * Steve the Alien
 * SSgt Robert Thompson, US Army
 * Captain Juan Salazar, US Army
 * Lt. General John F. Morelli, US Army
 * Pvt Austin Briggs, US Army
 * Pvt Rodney McNeal, US Army
 * Colonel Rufus Gunter, USAF
 * Captain Joshua Anderson, USAF
 * Colonel Dr. Benny Jackson, USAF

Publication History
The original version of ORIGINS ran in The Weekly Brahma in 2015 with a crude version of the story. While all plot points are basically in place, it was rather truncated and did not focus on many major characters. In 2016 the story was upgraded for an ONLINE version will better art work and a framing story where a Major Morton visits The WEEKLY BRAHMA to interview Dr. Lola Alotta about the incident.

In 2021 the story was upgraded for publication in the LION GAZETTE where characters we adjusted and more backstory was solidified. The framing story was also missing in favor of a narrator. The character designs were also slightly cleaned up, however, some of the 2021 version are merely alterations of the 2016 artwork. It is hoped the artwork will continue to evolve.

Commentary
The main inspiration for Origins are 1950s B-movie Science Fiction films and pulp novels of that genre. The tropes present are obvious including, 1) reporters looking for a story, 2) military personnel, 3) Flying saucers and 4) grey aliens (although Steve the Alien is actually green.) There are many modern tropes as well including Millennial/Gen X/Boomer Drama, where Mari and Niko struggle with modern Millennial issues like having difficulty finding work and older characters do not refrain from labeling them as "Millennials."

The story takes place in 2009, providing for some hits at nostalgia and keeping the characters and events separated from modern "present day" events. That said, the narrator does sometimes reference what will be future events.