{"id":1431,"date":"2022-03-21T14:16:19","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T21:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/?page_id=1431"},"modified":"2024-03-15T15:24:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T22:24:18","slug":"matriarchs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/matriarchs\/","title":{"rendered":"THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN THE UNIVERSE . . !"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1431\" class=\"elementor elementor-1431\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2de8e646 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2de8e646\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4d4d0958\" data-id=\"4d4d0958\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c50f7c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c50f7c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.3 - 28-12-2021 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;Saab Lofton&#8217;s latest work, <i>The Matriarchs,<\/i> cuts brave new ground in the superhero\/sci-fi genre, with an all-female superhero team that combines brains with brawn and a social conscience to get the job done. It is a creative decision whose time has certainly come, and it\u2019s a bit puzzling that no one has done it before. Lofton, the most original writer in the New Millennium, gives us a widely diverse cohort of characters: Captain Thunder, a Nordic librarian with an abusive husband, who conjures herself into having the combined powers of the Norse gods Balder, Odin, Loki, and Thor [hence the magic word, B.O.L.T.]. Ghostshadow, a black stuntwoman and world class martial artist, who obtains a suit that renders her invisible and intangible. Vengador, an impoverished, gigantic Mexican outcast as a girl, who grows up to hold the world wrestling title over male opponents, and whose millions from her winnings support the other Matriarchs. The Elemental, a Native American grandmother who is granted the powers of wind, fire, water and earth by the medicine spirits. Most unique of all, Dragonwoman, a thousand-year-old half Human, half dragon with a brilliant intellect, but who can only emit hisses instead of words, making communication with others a bit of a difficulty, which the other Matriarchs, a bit exasperated, work to overcome. Each woman is a distinct individual, and they don\u2019t always agree with each other, but their chemistry as a team is scintillating. Enjoyable and fresh, they make great strides for women&#8217;s empowerment. Lofton&#8217;s trademark unexpected and droll humor in a dire situation is in fine form here; living in different parts of the world, the women try to ascertain the best means of alerting each other when they are needed as a group, and Vengador suggests, not an &#8216;Avengers assemble!&#8217; cry, but &#8216;maybe we should all exchange phone numbers or something &#8230;&#8217; Saab Lofton&#8217;s encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture combines with his scholarly background in the arts and social sciences to make this work a bobsled ride of entertainment, through an icy course with probing social questions. He has opened new doors in the superhero mansion, and added new stars to the universe.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-214dfd12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"214dfd12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Wendy Joseph, a merchant marine with two master&#8217;s degrees in literature (UCLA and the UW)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-56b877b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"56b877b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f46d5c9\" data-id=\"f46d5c9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-467a842 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"467a842\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.5.3 - 28-12-2021 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Wendy-Joseph-240x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Wendy Joseph\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Wendy-Joseph-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Wendy-Joseph.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-88e3905 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"88e3905\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 120%;\"><strong>\u2026 NOT JUST ONE, <em>T W O<\/em> MASTERS DEGREES IN LITERATURE OF ALL SUBJECTS! BUT WAIT, THERE&#8217;S MORE \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-400031b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"400031b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f8385e\" data-id=\"6f8385e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea71218 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea71218\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;All the characters are so good. It&#8217;s inspiring to see a group of women working together, especially women of different ethnicities. The patriarchy paints us as catty and jealous, and white supremacy tries to divide us by ethnicity. All those barriers are overcome by <i>The Matriarchs.<\/i> I feel empowered.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3f454e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f3f454e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013<\/span><b style=\"font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #000000;\">Ester Gracia, Topeka, Kansas (as in, the very heart of the American Empire)<\/b><\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d021e50 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d021e50\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2bad628\" data-id=\"2bad628\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd569fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd569fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 120%;\">\u2026 <i>EMPOWERED<\/i>, SHE SAID \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-530c1f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"530c1f4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd54c56\" data-id=\"bd54c56\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e24123a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e24123a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"298\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-298x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Clairessa Brumett\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-298x300.jpg 298w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-768x774.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-450x454.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Clairessa-Brumett.jpg 952w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-abf8248\" data-id=\"abf8248\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-695c69e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"695c69e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"269\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ramona-Ferrara-269x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Ramona Ferrara\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ramona-Ferrara-269x300.jpg 269w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Ramona-Ferrara.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-16952fb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"16952fb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-55be064\" data-id=\"55be064\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d579240 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d579240\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b3c487c\" data-id=\"b3c487c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6397ee0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6397ee0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;I can&#8217;t seem to quit daydreaming about what the world would be like if women actually had that kind of power like <em>The Matriarchs<\/em>. Nice to escape yet still feel grounded. So many relevant issues and truth bombs perfectly mixed with the stretches of your imagination. And the talking cat. Lol, yes, I love the cat.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-397f79d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"397f79d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013<\/span><font color=\"#000000\" face=\"Arial, sans-serif\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.6667px;\"><b>Clairessa Brumett, the Norma Rae of South Carolina<\/b><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;\">\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-98573b8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"98573b8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a3275d\" data-id=\"4a3275d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65239c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65239c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 120%;\">\u2026 <i>AND\u00a0 MORE<\/i>\u00a0\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-560e130 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"560e130\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48f40ca\" data-id=\"48f40ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-03fa4e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03fa4e6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-de97c74\" data-id=\"de97c74\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6f55a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6f55a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;If Marvel Studios had the rights to Saab Lofton&#8217;s all female team, <em>The Matriarchs<\/em>, there&#8217;d be enough material for ten movies [all it&#8217;d cost is homeownership and a lower middle class existence to go along with it]! <em>The Matriarchs<\/em> contains origin stories for each of the five heroines and their adventures as they learn to work together. Each starts with a familiar oppressive situation faced by women and turns into a female empowerment tale. Across the many adventures they face, new themes not commonly addressed in current superhero movies take hold: Battles don&#8217;t have to be won by annihilating every combatant; negotiations, empathy and letting others fight their own battles can win the day. The socio-economic issues of our times appear throughout the narrative, such as veganism, worker&#8217;s rights, the Taliban and a woman&#8217;s right to an education all come thru in less than a hundred action packed pages. In forming their loosely-coupled alliance, <em>The Matriarchs<\/em> discuss superheroic morality, saying: &#8216;The point is, what does it say about us, if we&#8217;re willing to sacrifice our principles in order to survive? [Morality] isn&#8217;t for their benefit, it&#8217;s for ours, so we&#8217;ll always have bragging rights; so it can be honestly said we&#8217;re better than &#8212; as in, superior to &#8212; our enemies.'&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4cb1df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4cb1df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013Ramona Ferrara, Arizona State University<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-775abbf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"775abbf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad2ff25\" data-id=\"ad2ff25\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-10d55ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"10d55ba\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6bad522\" data-id=\"6bad522\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-234cb97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"234cb97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"112\" height=\"141\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Carla-Korrick-1-cropped.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Carla Korrick 1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec5e7b0\" data-id=\"ec5e7b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b202b6f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b202b6f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"117\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Carla-Korrick-2-cropped.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-73eee77 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"73eee77\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2760f35\" data-id=\"2760f35\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-e884c77 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e884c77\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f021aa7\" data-id=\"f021aa7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e064ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e064ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;I just finished [Saab Lofton&#8217;s <em>The Matriarchs<\/em>]. Fantastic story. I really enjoyed it. Glad there will be a Christmas Special. Would you consider giving the bi-lingual cat a superpower other than talking? Yes, I recall his murderous origin. Thought maybe he could become enlightened from being around <em>The Matriarchs<\/em> [LOL!] I enjoyed the conversations with <em>The Matriarchs<\/em> and the cat. All the other characters are great. I&#8217;m quite impressed. Reminds me of family.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e54ed2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e54ed2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013Carla Korrick, Lakeland, Florida<\/span><\/p><p style=\"margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-276dbfe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"276dbfe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5aff8cd\" data-id=\"5aff8cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6e8cd1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6e8cd1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u2026 <span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>TWO THINGS: One, I find it pleasantly ironic that there are five members of <i>The Matriarchs<\/i>, while in reality, a handful of women, <i>from all across America<\/i>, have complimented my work; without them; without their support, neither my characters &#8212; nor myself, for that matter &#8212; would&#8217;ve been around for very long. <i>Thank God they gave me a chance<\/i> \u2026 <br \/>\u2026 and finally, the &#8220;Christmas Special&#8221; Carla Korrick referred to will be displayed here as a free sample (which happens to be in a script\/screenplay format, but <i>The Matriarchs <\/i>itself<i> <\/i>is in short story form, and for the record, <i>I<\/i> consider this material to be PG-13). I&#8217;m homeless, <i>and<\/i> of color (<a href=\"http:\/\/readwdsm.com\">readWDSM.com<\/a>) so the sales from this site &#8212; and my novels\/other online literary serials &#8212; quite literally mean the difference between life and death \u2026 <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u2026 <span style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/checkout\/?add-to-cart=1480\">one-time, twenty dollar ($20.<u>oo<\/u>) fee<\/a>, you&#8217;ll see what means the most to me; of all my creations\/franchises, <i>The Matriarchs<\/i> is the closest to my heart because it represents <i>a return to my roots<\/i> \u2026<br \/><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b050d06 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b050d06\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-168526d0\" data-id=\"168526d0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44c880c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44c880c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; color: #000000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">&#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Their mission: To fight injustice, to right that which is wrong,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>and to serve all\u00a0<\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>[wo]<\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><i>mankind<\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\">.&#8221;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ab3fdc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ab3fdc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;\">\u2013<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font-size: small;\">from the 1973 opening credits sequence of\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font-size: small;\"><i>The\u00a0<\/i><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; font-size: small;\"><i>SuperFriends<\/i><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fda0399 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fda0399\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a671e13\" data-id=\"a671e13\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4680566 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4680566\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: NSimSun; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: HI;\">\u2026 and an attempt to <i>pay it forward<\/i>, as the expression goes \u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-949b47c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"949b47c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"394\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Woman-writer.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Woman writer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Woman-writer.jpg 394w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Woman-writer-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08f68b8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"08f68b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"466\" height=\"403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Preview-scene-comic-edited.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Preview scene comic\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Preview-scene-comic-edited.jpg 466w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Preview-scene-comic-edited-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Preview-scene-comic-edited-450x389.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-373f529 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"373f529\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-970af0c\" data-id=\"970af0c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1682c76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"1682c76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\">\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1505\" class=\"elementor elementor-1505\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1933c8b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1933c8b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9879d3\" data-id=\"e9879d3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a0dd3ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a0dd3ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Mister Hammerschmidt! You&#8217;re a bad ol&#8217; kitty cat!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>HAMMERSCHMIDT: Ach! You think I <em>like<\/em> licking myself, fr\u00e4ulein? I <em>vas<\/em> Human once.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>VENGADOR: Se\u00f1oras, \u00bfpor favor? &#8220;Dear Matriarchs, my name is Charleena Lyles, I am fifteen years old and I am your biggest fan. I watch all of Vengador&#8217;s matches. I love how the world heavyweight champion is a <em>woman<\/em>! I loved it when I saw on the news how the Matriarchs destroyed all those giant insects and then stopped that nut who controlled them. That still brings a smile to my face and Lord knows I need as many smiles as possible while living with my step-dad. He keeps touching me <em>and touching me<\/em> and whenever I say no or don&#8217;t do that, he slaps me. Hard. I wish my jaw was as bulletproof as Captain Thunder&#8217;s. I wish I could fight like Dragonwoman. I wish I could hurl fire and tornadoes like the Elemental. Please, come rescue me like I see you rescue folks on the TV. <em>Somebody save me<\/em>. All I want for Christmas is to be saved.&#8221; \u00a1Camaradas, debemos ayudar a esta chica! [Comrades, we must help this girl!]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: By the eye of Odin &#8230; Tragic and horrific as that is, we can&#8217;t be in two places at once. We were just about to embark upon our international mission to eradicate marital rape. Ghana, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Tanzania &#8212; that&#8217;s a lot of ground to cover, <em>even for us<\/em> &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: And unlike you single ladies &#8230; I <em>assume<\/em> you&#8217;re all single, since <em>Ghostshadow<\/em> gets all anal about the whole secret identity thing.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: <em>For damn good reason<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Anyway, I have children and grandchildren who&#8217;ll be expecting the normal me this Christmas, <em>so<\/em> &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN: Hissss &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN HASTILY WRITES A SENTENCE IN ANCIENT TIBETIAN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: Girlfriend, don&#8217;t tell me you done lost <em>another<\/em> palmtop computer? Cap&#8217;n, what she scribbling now?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: She says she&#8217;ll be one thousand years old next month &#8212; at least, she <em>thinks<\/em> she&#8217;ll be &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>VENGADOR: I suppose that&#8217;s your way of asking that I buy another computer with a translation program as a birthday present, huh? \u00a1Dios m\u00edo! I might have a net worth of a billion, <em>but still<\/em> &#8230; Getting back to Se\u00f1orita Charleena Lyles, I say <em>one<\/em> of us stays behind to help her while the <em>rest<\/em> of us take the Earhart and fly to Ghana and Indonesia and Tanzania and everywhere <em>else<\/em> on our tour.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: <em>I&#8217;ll do it<\/em>. If I can strike fear into the heart of the underworld, I can certainly put an abusive parent in his place.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: Just remember &#8212; we <em>don&#8217;t<\/em> take the law into our own hands &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: Damn it, I done <em>told<\/em> yo&#8217; ass about getting on my case!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>VENGADOR: \u00a1Ay, caramba! They&#8217;re fighting, <em>again<\/em> &#8212; I&#8217;m a professional wrestler and even <em>I<\/em> don&#8217;t fight this often &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: (under her breath) Dearie, you gals are too young to know a lovers&#8217; quarrel when you see one.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN: Hisss &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Hang on, <em>I&#8217;ll<\/em> translate this time (grasps a plastic bottle of pure water). <em>Fine<\/em>, so I&#8217;m young compared to <em>you<\/em>! Jeez! Who ain&#8217;t? Besides Yoda, maybe &#8230; Both of y&#8217;all are green, so maybe you two are related.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN: (pissed off) Hisss!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Okay, <em>all right<\/em>! Gawd! Don&#8217;t lay an egg, honey!<br><br><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>L A T E R . . . AFTER <em>THE EARHART<\/em> HAS DEPARTED WITH THE MATRIARCHS, GHOSTSHADOW DRIVES HER PRIVATE CAR, THE PHANTOM CRUISER, TO THE HOME OF CHARLEENA LYLES<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: Bitch, it&#8217;s six o&#8217;clock! Where dinner at?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>MOTHER: I told you, I&#8217;d be late from school today!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: The fuck?! Whatchoo takin&#8217; classes fo&#8217;? Got a house to keep!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>MOTHER: I&#8217;m not a prisoner here! I&#8217;ve a right to better myself!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD SLAPS MOTHER SO HARSHLY EVEN IKE TURNER WOULD BLUSH<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CHARLEENA: <em>Stop slapping mommy<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: Shut the Hell up &#8212; I&#8217;ll deal with you later &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: (voice only) Speaking of <em>Hell<\/em> &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: <em>Who said that<\/em>? Who&#8217;s voice is that?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: (voice only) Charleena? Listen to me very carefully &#8212; take your mother outdoors and call the police &#8230; <em>Do it now<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>MOTHER: What&#8217;s going on? Who is this speaking?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW MOMENTARILY MAKES HERSELF VISIBLE, THEN RESUMES HER INVISIBILITY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CHARLEENA: It&#8217;s Ghostshadow, mommy! Like on TV! The Matriarchs must&#8217;ve gotten my letter! <em>The Matriarchs are here<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: <em>Sheeeeet<\/em> &#8230; I don&#8217;t bit more believe them bitches actually exist than I do the man on the moon!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: (gritting her teeth to such an extent that doing so becomes audible) <em>Like I said<\/em>, Charleena, take your mother to your neighbor&#8217;s and call the cops from there. Your step-father and I <em>have much to discuss<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>FROM OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, CHARLEEENA AND HER MOTHER CAN ONLY, BARELY, OVERHEAR THE CLAMOR &#8212; AS THE SOUNDS OF A MORON GETTING AN ALL AMERICAN SMACKDOWN CAN BE DISCERNED &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CHARLEENA: Aren&#8217;t you glad I wrote that letter, mommy?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>MOTHER: (stunned) Uh huh &#8230;<br><br><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>ABOARD <em>THE EARHART<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: I&#8217;m telling you, ladies &#8212; trust someone with the wisdom of Odin, it was a bad idea to let Ghostshadow go alone &#8230; She <em>will<\/em> kill that man.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Maybe it&#8217;s just that you wanted to go with her? To look over her shoulder &#8212; whisper in her ear &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: What&#8217;s that?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Nothin&#8217; honey.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: I&#8217;m turning the ship around &#8212; we&#8217;ll be a day or two behind schedule, but I&#8217;d rather <em>that<\/em> than read a scandalous newspaper headline about how one of the Matriarchs beat a man to death &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>VENGADOR: \u00a1Por el amor de Cristo! You chicas must think I&#8217;m made out of money! Now I&#8217;ll have to reschedule my title defense against George the Animal Steele, and <em>yes<\/em>, doing so <em>is<\/em> costly.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN: (scribbles glyphs) Hisss &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Focus on steering this space ship, captain, I&#8217;ll translate (holding that bottle of water alongside Dragonwoman). She&#8217;s saying she wants George &#8220;the Animal&#8221; Steele&#8217;s autograph.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>VENGADOR: Oh, <em>no<\/em> you <em>don&#8217;t<\/em>. I&#8217;m now <em>well aware<\/em> of your amorous obsession. Bam Bam Bigelow has already placed a restraining order against you. (Dragonwoman lowers her head and frowns) So has Big Van Vader, Kamala the Ugandan Headhunter <em>and<\/em> the Missing Link.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: <em>Really<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Kinda, <em>yeah<\/em>. She&#8217;s worse than Pep\u00e9 Le Pew when it comes to the more, ahem, monstrous wrestlers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>DRAGONWOMAN SLAMS HER WEBBED HAND ONTO A COUNTERTOP, SHATTERING IT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ELEMENTAL: Hey, we all have our type! You should see who <em>I <\/em>ended up marrying sometime!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: (sighs) Great, so now there are <em>two<\/em> members of the Matriarchs I have to worry about.<br><br><\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>INSIDE CHARLEENA&#8217;S HOUSE <\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: What&#8217;s my <em>name<\/em>, you worthless bastard?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: Guh &#8230; Guh &#8230; <em>Ghostshadow &#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: And what yo&#8217; ass gonna do when the pigs get here?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: Tuh &#8230; Tuh &#8230; Turn muh &#8230; muh &#8230; Myself in &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: And why the fuck is that?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>STEP-DAD: Cuh &#8230; Cuh &#8230; &#8216;Cause I&#8217;m an abyoo &#8230; abyoo &#8230; abusive piece of shit ..!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: What do you know? There might just be hope fo&#8217; yo&#8217; ass after all (noticing the entrance of Captain Thunder and going from being content to resentful) Didn&#8217;t trust me, <em>did<\/em> ya? Just <em>had<\/em> to check up on ol&#8217; Ghostshadow; make sure she didn&#8217;t cross the line, eh?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: Well, I&#8217;m glad you proved me wrong.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: Uh huh &#8230; Now that <em>this<\/em> shit&#8217;s taken care of, what&#8217;s say we show those countries that still permit marital rape the true meaning of Christmas?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>CAPTAIN THUNDER: After you &#8230; Okay, so, <em>after<\/em> Vengador gives little Charleena her autograph &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>GHOSTSHADOW: Oh, lord &#8230; Look at this here &#8230; Now it&#8217;s, after all the <em>other<\/em> kids in the neighborhood get one too &#8212; <em>Gawd<\/em>, we might <em>be<\/em> here for a while &#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-34e805a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"34e805a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96f1934\" data-id=\"96f1934\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c29d7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5c29d7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"Standard\"><b><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; color: black;\">\u2026 again, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/checkout\/?add-to-cart=1480\">one-time, twenty dollar ($20.<u>oo<\/u>) fee<\/a> and you&#8217;ll see what means the most to me \u2026<\/span><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Saab Lofton&#8217;s latest work, The Matriarchs, cuts brave new ground in the superhero\/sci-fi genre, with an all-female superhero team that combines brains with brawn and a social conscience to get the job done. It is a creative decision whose time has certainly come, and it\u2019s a bit puzzling that no one has done it before. &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/matriarchs\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN THE UNIVERSE . . !&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_ppp_document_settings_meta":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1431","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1431"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2205,"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1431\/revisions\/2205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saablofton.com\/serials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}