Novel Introduction: Thunderclaps 2

 Thunderclaps 2 – Sky and Shadow (サンダークラップス2 スカイ＆シャドウ)

Author: Hazawa Kouichi (羽沢向一)

Illustrator: Senbata Rou(せんばた楼)

Label: 2D Dream Novels (二次元ドリームノベルズ)

Release Date: 5/17/2001

Despite the Thunderclaps title, this sequel barely features them and focuses on the origin story and early activities of a superhero named Snow Wing instead. This is all to set things up for the Thunderclaps' role in Vol. 3, so it does get back to them eventually.

Content warning: Like the first one, this novel contains sexual assault.

Chapter 1: Facts of Vengeance

Chapter 2: Announcer Reborn

Chapter 3: Announcer’s Return

Chapter 4: X-Rated Agenda

Chapter 5: Operation Erotic Storm

Chapter 6: Abnormals Assemble

Chapter 7: Immoral Contest of Champions

Afterword

Thunderclaps 2: Afterword

Welcome to the Offbeat Universe!

I’ve done it again. This is thanks to all of you who love the adventures and sexuality of superheroines. I was delighted by the unexpectedly strong response from comics fans.

What’s that? It’s called Thunderclaps 2 but the heroine is a flying announcer called Snow Wing instead of Flare and the others? And the story isn’t even over at the end of the book? Yes, the story will continue in Part 2, tentatively titled Dark Arena. Look forward to it.

We ended up having to change illustrators to Senbata Rou-sensei for this one, but swapping out artists just makes it more like an American comic, right? Miki ended up more lyrical than I had imagined in my head, so look forward to seeing more of her on that sexual stage.

I am working hard to become the Kurt Busiek, Grant Morrison, or John Ostrander of erotic novels, so I hope you will read Thunderclaps 3 as well. Hm, maybe I should have used names my Japanese readers might actually recognize.

 

April 2001, at the restaurant in the Peace TV building. -Hazawa Kouichi

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 7 - Immoral Contest of Champions

“We will never give up the fight, even if our enemy is the will of the universe itself.”

(1968, Captain Sky’s announcement broadcast from Tokyo Tower)

Said shortly before the showdown against the Space Enforcers who had constructed an asteroid guidance device on Tokyo Tower

 

Square spaces opened in the stage’s floor. Four this time. Figures wearing four different colors emerged, surrounding the four heroes gathered in the center.

The four newcomers all wore cloaks that obscured their bodies. Each cloak was a different color: black, white, red, and blue. The hoods were pulled deep over the face to hide them from view.

Once they had fully risen onto the stage, the Forbidden Four simultaneously pushed a right hand out from their cloak and reached toward the heroes. They each wore a bracelet which had a metal key and a plate bearing one of the heroes’ names attached.

“Now, use the key with your name on it to unlock your collar. If you unlock all four, the brat’s execution will be canceled. Will you acquire the key by defeating your opponent and taking it? Or will you satisfy them with your body and convince them to hand it over? Now, this is a special match, so no additional handicaps will be placed on the superheroes.”

Milk Crown raised his right hand high and then swung it down.

“Fight!” 

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 6 - Abnormals Assemble

“Behold this polluted ocean! You surface people are now an enemy of my kingdom.”

(1967, declaration of war sent to the Japanese government by Lord Abyss of the Undersea Kingdom)

To avoid war, a battle was fought between seven of the Undersea Kingdom’s warriors and a team of superheroes

 

“Miki-san, I won’t ask that you forgive us.”

“But we had no choice.”

The two Justice Circus women wore their superhero costumes just like Miki did.

Madam Scroll wore a dark purple evening dress which did not look conducive to combat. The low-cut chest and deep slits gave her a mystical beauty befitting one of Japan’s leading sorceresses as well as a sexiness befitting the Dark Arena.

Silver Bullet wore a shining silver bodysuit with a black lightning bolt running across it. The skintight fit showed off the curves of her athletic body, but that only inspired lust while in this indecent space. The talisman rings around her neck, arms, and thighs only enhanced her sexiness.

“We have been forced to participate in the Dark Arena for a while now. But Storyteller told us we cannot let anyone outside of the Dark Arena learn of its existence.”

“If anyone does sniff out its secrets, we were ordered to immediately capture them. You should know now that there is no disobeying Storyteller. But neither of us has given up. We will break free.”

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 5 - Operation Erotic Storm

“We thank the entire world and the cosmic rays which gave us our powers.”

(1966, written on the gifts handed out at the wedding of Miss Fascinate and Integral Man, said to be the marriage of the century)

 

“Villains and rogues! Welcome again to the Dark Arena!”

A male voice was answered by thunderous laughter.

(Oh, the audience is loving it. Iyama-san is killing it today.)

Miki pictured the host of the public variety show she had worked on as an assistant after becoming Snow Wing. She imagined the bright lights, the gawdy set, and the young entertainers they had on as regulars.

(Wait!)

It suddenly hit her that the show was starting, but she was not in the studio. She was somewhere dark, but not a dressing room or behind the set.

(Oh, no. The director is going to let me have it!)

“Sorry I’m late.”

She opened her eyes, bringing the audience into view. Something wasn’t right.

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 4 - X-Rated Agenda

“A mysterious metal woman rescued Hoshiyama Industry’s president from the terrorist group.”

(1965, from Sun Sports News)

The armored hero Comet Hawk was later revealed to be the president’s wife, Hoshiyama Azusa.

 

“Ozora Miki, move out.”

An announcement rang through the announcer division. The voice belonged to Sakuma Masateru, well-known as a skilled producer at Peace TV.

A key station like Peace TV had a lot of employees, but the only one told to “move out” was Ozora Miki.

Miki had just been returning from the break room with tea for the more experienced announcers. She looked over to see another new announcer, Matsuya Naoko, reaching out and taking the tray from her.

“Sakuma-san is calling for you, so go get changed already.”

Miki bowed apologetically.

“Sorry, Naoko. You always get stuck serving the tea.”

“I don’t mind, really. I mean, you’re keeping us all safe. And you still get paid the same as a newcomer like me even though you’re getting better ratings than anyone else.”

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 3 - Announcer’s Return

“At this school, I hope to teach you that your great power comes with great responsibility.”

(1964, from Headmaster Kusui Shirou’s speech at Tenyo Academy’s opening ceremony)

That was Japan’s first school for Offbeat children and it produced many superheroes.

 

In Mito, Ibaraki, Miki was curled up with her back against the steel beam on the inside of a 3D sign on a building rooftop.

After losing control in Shibuya, she had flown off at a ludicrous speed, crashed into this building’s sign, and finally managed to calm down. She had landed inside the sign so no one could see her.

That was when Captain Sky woke up.

He used his wristwatch communicator to let his Justice Circus teammates know he was safe. It was hard to believe he had been unconscious just a moment before. He felt as reliable as ever, so Miki was convinced she would be fine and everything would work out okay as long as she was with him. He had been working as a superhero since before she was born and she had seen his heroics on TV since before she could speak.

“I am so sorry for getting you caught up in this mess.”

That living legend of Japan’s heroes spoke with an upbeat and manly voice that was also thoughtful and pleasant to listen to. She could not help but be drawn in.

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 2 - Announcer Reborn

“Offbeats? Superheroes? They get no praise from me. Nothing but attention-seeking troublemakers, and hypocrites to boot.)

(1962, from an editorial by the Daily Central’s editor-in-chief)

 

“Kya ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!”

The naked boy called Barnstorm surrounded himself in a mini-tornado and flew spiraling between the buildings. He shrieked with laughter with typhoon-level winds blowing below him, dragging everything into the sky. More and more of the fleeing people were slammed against the building walls or the asphalt.

“Burn, burn, burrrrn! Leave nothing but ashes behind!!”

Crimson flames erupted from Rapid Fire’s naked body while he stood atop a streetlight. Innumerable fireballs followed, raining down on the people’s heads.

Many men and women were enveloped in flames just like Rapid Fire himself, but for everyone but him, that was a one-way ticket to hell.

Water Wraith said nothing. The naked woman’s mouth instead released more water than could possibly fit in a human body.

The narrow stream of water rushed straight out to tear through the building walls and sweep across the crowds with fearsome pressure.

When Miki saw the tragedies unfolding in Shibuya, she forgot all about her own situation and confronted Stonemason about it.

“How can you do this!? It’s unconscionable!”

The leader of Natural Law’s cold face was unmoved.

“This is a reasonable punishment given their sins.”
“Sins!? What sins have these people committed!?”

“The sin of living within a manmade city. The sin of wearing manmade clothing.”

“That’s absurd.”

“Hold your tongue. You are only allowed to live to convey our message to the world.”

Thunderclaps 2: Chapter 1 - Facts of Vengeance

“Hey there, Captain. You really do belong in the sky, you know that?”

(From History of the Justice Circus Ch. 1 by Kashima Kengo, Published in 1980)

1962, Super Offbeat’s first words to the first superhuman he met in Japan while visiting to protect human right’s activist Aaron

 

Someone was speaking somewhere.

“My name is Storyteller. My job is to tell your story. Now, let us begin.”

A beautiful woman’s body trembled in a dark room.

Long, delicate fingers touched her breasts and rubbed at her skin.

“Your body is a terribly sexual thing.”

A tremor ran through her breasts.

“Your body constantly desires sexual pleasure, even in defiance of your own will.”

The fingertips moved up to her throat. She gulped and a sigh of anguish escaped her lips.

“No matter how much your mind resists, your body will throb in its desire for pleasure and drive you mad in its longing for orgasm.”

The fingertips moved to her lower stomach and her hips moved back and forth all on their own.

“Speak your name.”

“…Lily.”