The Process: Stand In The Place Where You Are

(Note: This is an entry in an ongoing series of bringing a new twist to an old story.)

Now face the viewer, Mindy Soong, stand still and look pretty!

Fighting over a woman who is standing around uselessly makes me wonder if she is even worth the fight!  To my relief, this maddening plot device can be subverted with the guy standing around while the lady kicks butt (Yes… I’m talking to you, “Buffy” and “Chuck” fans) or be logically explained by having the damsel-in-distress being spellbound/hypnotized/frozen into standing still.

I’m well aware of the cheese (and cheesecake) factor by having a mesmerized maiden, but at least the development makes sense.  If there are any Twilight fans out there who might actually read this blog, I would like to know why Edward would risk his soul fighting for action-less, standing around, mouth agape Bella.     

Mindy's role model for this entranced stance is the captivating Caroline Munro, the only actress (I can think of) who did it twice: 1974's Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter...

… and 1976’s At The Earth’s Core... 

Between vampires and mahars, action rages all around her, but the camera always cuts back to the beguiled beauty not because she is hot, but as motivation for the protagonists to win the fight!

Easy enough to capture this on film, because it is a function of time.  Munro stands still, and the audience knows what has happened.  This is not the case in comics, which is a function of pages.  Comics have static images.  The reader might not be aware that Mindy is supposed to be standing still mindless in this part of Pretty Vacant: Final Repose Part 2.  So she's her hit with an energy bolt!

I truly do like the Mindy character, so I added a cool twist to her predicament.  Her comatose state enables the other characters to utilize her as a human shield.  Mindy actually has a purpose, even if she is unaware of it!

And kudos to you if you know the song lyric were the title of this blog post originated!  Funny dance moves...

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