Friday, December 7, 2012

The Pop Culture Hero

Prince Perseus, since so many who have studied your achievements have selected you as the most probable modern day hero, a set of labors has been created for you. Should you choose to undertake these tasks you will be rewarded richly. Our media will bestow upon you the coveted celebrity status and from this you will gain countless riches. We will set aside a day in April to be declared the Festival of Perseus Day during which we will celebrate your triumph. Above all else, you will receive the respect and admiration of the American people, an irrefutable spot in our history books, and the love of any maiden you choose, for as long as her passionate mood suits her.

The Boogeyman
This evil entity has terrorized our children for decades by hiding underneath their beds as they try to sleep. Your first task is to find the elusive Boogeyman and expunge him from our society so our children can sleep safely, with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

The Chupacabra
This creature, also known as the goat-sucker, is of Latin-American origin. He preys on our livestock, upon which many of us rely for sustenance, and kills them by draining them of blood. Your second task is to slay this dreadful being and mount his head upon a plaque of timber to be displayed in your home. If you complete this task you will be given one hundred acres of farmland upon which to keep your own livestock, free from the threat of the Chupacabra. Additionally, if you wish to use your livestock for sacrificial purposes, we will provide you with a team of attorneys and public relations managers whose duty it will be to maintain your image and keep PETA from demonstrating on your doorstep.

The Sasquatch
Another elusive and nocturnal creature, also known as Bigfoot, inhabits the forested areas of North America. He isn’t known for anything particularly devious or iniquitous but he once reportedly cohabited with the Henderson family in the state of Washington. Your third task is to provide irrefutable proof of his existence. You will be provided with still cameras, video cameras, infrared cameras, tracking devices, and a team of investigators to assist you with this task. If you happen to capture him you will need to deliver him to the nearest television studio to ready him for a barrage of interviews.

Sparkling Vampires
These entities have risen in popularity recently and our traditional vampires are quite disturbed by this trend. Your fourth task is to find them (they have most recently been spotted in northwest Washington state) and take them to the lair of The Old Ones, where they will be instructed on proper vampire behavior. Their hordes of fans will be placated by your image team and their attentions redirected to a new species of supernatural beings known as the Flock.

Zombies
We have been receiving weekly updates on the zombie infestation that has all but obliterated the state of Georgia. Small factions of survivors have been found in the heart of the Red Zone but we are unable to reach them. For this task, we have procured the Cap of Invisibility, with which you are already familiar, and an arsenal of cranial-annihilating weaponry. You will be aided by Apollo the far-shooter and his twin sister Artemis of the golden arrows. Your fifth task is to eradicate this plague of the walking dead and transport them to Hades.

Aliens
For your sixth task you will act as ambassador between Earth and all other life-supporting worlds within our universe. You will need to commandeer a spaceship (we suggest the Enterprise) and it may require many years of travel. We need to establish a treaty with these beings in order to protect the inhabitants of this planet and create peaceful relations for trading purposes. You may assemble an away team of your choosing to assist you in this endeavor.

The Time Lord
While you are traveling through the universe you should be on the lookout for this individual. He was born nearly one thousand years ago on the planet of Gallifrey and he goes by the name of The Doctor. He has taken on many new faces over the years but you will know him by his ship – a blue phone box known as the TARDIS. Transport him, unharmed, and his TARDIS, undamaged, to me at my home. I am destined to become his next traveling companion and I wish to join him as soon as possible. For this task you will be rewarded with ten trips anywhere in space and time.

Pennywise
He is a scary clown. No further explanation needed. Kill him. Kill him with fire.

We sing your praises, Prince Perseus. If you will just sign your name at the end of this legal contract – it’s merely a formality, you understand.