: Inciting Incident Anniversary + Progress Update



An inciting incident is the second most important scene you’ll write behind your novel’s climax. It’s a crucial moment because it sets up why a reader should care about the rest of the book. It’s the hook that will keep someone reading until they figure out whether the protagonist will succeed or fail. Easy to update, no compatibility to worry about, it's all online anyways, and if you really wanted to get fancy we could allow offline downloads with eventual dedicated apps. As an aside, Brightburn was a weird but decent movie. I liked the premise, but kept getting distracted by 'Oh, Kim from Scrubs! Oh, Roy from The Office! It would be pretty unfair to give you a progress update without talking a bit about the content of the sequel, especially considering the abrupt and shocking way Inciting Incident ended. A word about the structure of this sequel first. As some of you might (or might not) know, Inciting Incident is supposed to be a “Common Route”.

  1. Writing An Inciting Incident
  2. : Inciting Incident Anniversary + Progress Update Report

James Tynion IV's newsletter continues to be a wealth of information. And a wealth of Bleeding Cool articles. Tynion talks about which books he will be writing in the DC Infinite Frontier comic book in March kicking off the DC Infinite relaunch that follows Future State. Tynion states in The Empire Of The Tiny Onion that the special will set up the Batman comic books to come with a significant incident drawn by Jorge Jimenez. And it will also see him write the original Green Lantern Alan Scott. The character was recently established as a gay character in DC continuity. Tynion will again be writing about his superheroic children, Obsidian and Jade, as a sequel to his Green Lantern 80th anniversary comic- which reaffirmed Alan Scott's sexuality. The question was asked what this might mean for the characters classically portrayed as his kids, and it looks as if Tynion will be addressing that, with artist Stephen Byrne. James Tynion writes;

Death Metal ends in a few weeks times and sets the stage for Future State, which I won't be taking part in (for the sake of my schedule)… But all of that sets the stage for what we're calling DC: INFINITE FRONTIER in March and Beyond. I've got TWO stories in that issue, one with my Gotham partner in crime Jorge Jimenez setting the stage for all things Batman and one with the amazing Stephen Byrne with Alan Scott, Obsidian, and Jade at the center, building off my Green Lantern 80th Anniversary Special story from last summer.

Something BIG happens in the Batman-centric pages of Infinite Frontier that serves as the inciting incident for the entire Batman line. Another pillar of classic Gotham falls and sets all the pieces in motion… In 2021, Gotham City is going to E-X-P-L-O-D-E.

: Inciting Incident Anniversary + Progress Update

Here's the solicitation.

INFINITE FRONTIER #0
written by SCOTT SNYDER, GEOFF JOHNS, JAMES TYNION IV, JOSHUA WILLIAMSON, GEOFFREY THORNE, PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON, BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS, BECKY CLOONAN, MICHAEL W. CONRAD, JOËLLE JONES, and TIM SHERIDAN
art by JOHN TIMMS, HOWARD PORTER, JOËLLE JONES, JORGE JIMENEZ, ALITHA MARTINZEZ, DAVID MARQUEZ, STEPHEN BYRNE, JAMAL IGLE, DEXTER SOY, RAFA SANDOVAL, ALEX MALEEV, JOHN ROMITA JR., and others
wraparound cover by DAN JURGENS and MIKEL JANÍN
card stock variant cover by JOHN TIMMS
ONE-SHOT | ON SALE 3/2/21
$5.99 US | 64 PAGES | FC | DC
card stock variant cover $6.99 US
The next phase of the DC Universe begins here! Dark Knights: Death Metal presented the darkest threats of the Multiverse. DC Future State revealed what may lie ahead. Now it's time to look into the Infinite Frontier of the current-day DC Universe.
In Gotham City, The Jokerjolts citizens awake with an attack even the Dark Knight never expected. In Brazil, a young woman discovers her destiny and her connection to the Amazons. In Belle Reve, Amanda Waller plots an invasion of Arkham Asylum. In the far reaches of space, Mongul dreams of galactic domination, while the Green Lantern Corps hosts a summit of its greatest enemies. At the Hall of Justice, the League joins forces with Black Adam. Beyond the mortal world, Wonder Woman settles into a new role in the godsphere. And somewhere in the DC Universe—it's the return of Stargirl, in an all-new tale written by Geoff Johns! James Tynion IV On Alan Scott, Obsidian & Jade In Infinite FrontierThis oversized, all-star issue kicks off the next great era of storytelling and excitement as top writers and artists reveal what's next for the World's Greatest Heroes and opens the door to some of the greatest stories of 2021.

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Saturday, May 30 at 7:30 CDT

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The Sparrow tells the story of Emily Book, a small-town high-school senior returning home ten years after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her entire class. As the town struggles to accept the strange girl who reminds them of what they lost, Emily attempts to hide the special powers that make her different.


The Sparrow ran in three consecutive productions in 2007. Opening at the Viaduct to rave reviews, the show extended and sold out its run and transferred to the Garage at Steppenwolf as part of the Visiting Company Initiative. Broadway in Chicago helped the show make a commercial transfer to The Apollo Theatre where it received national acclaim.

: Inciting Incident Anniversary + Progress Update

Writing An Inciting Incident


The performance was recorded with multiple cameras in 2007 by HMS Media at The Apollo and features The House company members Carolyn Defrin as Emily Book, Paige Hoffman as Jenny McGrath, Cliff Chamberlain as Dan Christopher, along with ensemble appearances by Johnny Arena, Stephen Taylor, Lauren Vitz, Ele Matelan, and Chris Mathews. Guest artists include Erin Neal, Ryan Bolletino, Lauren McCarthy, Elizabeth Levy, and Patrick Andrews. Design work by Tommy Rapley (Choreographer), Kevin O’Donnell (Composer), Collette Pollard (Scenic), Ana Kuzmanic (Costumes), Ben Wilhelm (Lights), Michael Griggs (Sound), Dennis Watkins (Magic), Lucas Merino (Video), Tracey Otwell (Props) and Brian DesGranges (Stage Manager). The production was directed by Nathan Allen.


Who will be on the live-stream?
On the live stream, Company Members Carolyn Defrin (Emily Book), Cliff Chamberlain (Mr. Christopher), Paige Hoffman (Jenny McGrath), Chris Mathews (co-author), Jake Minton (co-author), and Nathan Allen (co-author, director). You can chat with us and with each other in the YouTube chat, and we'll welcome your stories of seeing (or missing) The Sparrow back in 2007.

: Inciting Incident Anniversary + Progress Update Report

Can kids watch?
Older kids (10+) can watch. The play is rated PG-13. It deals with themes of death and grief around the untimely passing of children. In some scenes we see parents coping with loss in very tangible ways. Late the play, an adult crosses the line with a student, merging grief with desire in a way that is complicated for adult viewers and may not be suitable for kids watching. We'll keep the commentary by the artists as PG as we can!


CONTENT WARNING: The House is so proud to offer this show as an uplifting and joyful celebration of theatre and community healing. However, the play's inciting incident is the 10-year-anniversary of the deaths of many second-grade children in a bus accident. Emily Book is the sole survivor. We grieve with the parents, many still locked in their loss, as they navigate Emily's return to their small town.

Thank you to these donors of the amazing items in our prize packages!
Jim Allen, David Shapiro, Abbi Cucci, Jim Adair, Roark Frankel, Smoke Daddy, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lettuce Entertain You restaurants, Cards Against Humanity, and Orange Tree Imports