The popularity of the Marvel vs. Capcom video game series finds avatars of very different proportions being pitted against each other (i.e., Superman vs. Raiden).

This new arena has created strange artistic demands for a panoply 'War of Avatars' or war of gods, and the comic book should not fall short.

To that end, I've come up with a strange adventure-romance union story/idea: Shiva and Harley Quinn are found in a realm of bad water.

Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and meditation, the supreme master in the pantheon of Hindu gods, perhaps the Hindu equivalent of Zeus from Greek mythology.

Harley Quinn is the trickster nemesis of the caped crusader and vigilante Batman. Harley Quinn often works with Batman's deadly foe Joker, an anarchistic trumpeteer of general mayhem. Harley Quinn carries quirky and deadly weapons and was once a respected criminal psychologist until she was persuaded by the devious Joker to become a society nemesis.

Both Shiva and Harley Quinn in their respective worlds of fantasy tales and mythologies characterize human curiosity about intrigue, libertine values, stealth, and philosophical musings about anarchism. Shiva has the reputation of being affably clumsy with women, and Harley Quinn has the reputation of being quirky with men, so the two seem like a good fit for general folk tales.




So here's a story about Shiva and Harley Quinn finding each other in this world:

"Shiva is wandering the terrain of Canada in disguise when he realizes that society has become obsessed with the comic book hero Batman. Kids are buying Batman toys, adults are watching Batman movies and shows, and men and women are talking about the euphoria of vigilantism associated with the Batman universe. Shiva goes to a comic book store and notices that the sales representative at the desk is a beautiful woman dressed up as Batman's nemesis Harley Quinn. Shiva is incredibly attracted to her, even though one of his wives, Kali, is very cautious about Shiva exploring the human world and human activity.

Nevertheless, Shiva can not help but be intrigued. He asks the sales rep woman out for lunch and the two enjoy coffee and sandwiches at a local Canadian joint called Bistro Talea. He tells her that he thinks he is very attracted to her, and she replies that she likes his demeanor and is interested as well. However, she then tells Shiva that she is not just a sales representative at the comic book store where he found her. She tells him that she is actually Harley Quinn and that she wanders Canadian streets inspecting how this recent fervor with Batman comics is affecting people's views on criminal psychology itself. She tells Shiva that the Batman universe is real and that people have discovered its magic through artwork but that they are now dangerously obsessed. She tells Shiva that she fears that a local Canadian man may be conducting secret experiments creating a deadly fear toxin with the intention of donning a raggedy mask and outfit and calling himself Scarecrow, a deadly nemesis of Batman.

She tells Shiva that if he is interested in her, he would have to join her crusade. Shiva is so in love with her that he tells her that in fact he will become Batman and stop this Scarecrow character she is investigating. She agrees happily. Shiva creates a fancy Batman cape and cowl outfit and decides to track this Scarecrow character. He knows he can not easily derive an antidote for this supposed fear toxin Scarecrow is concocting. Instead, he decides to start a fresh bottled spring water company called Enterprise Fresh Water. Shiva, now Batman, decides to monitor the bottling of water carefully, ensuring that no foreign substances are introduced. The people of Canada are so pleased with this new water and Shiva/Batman's company grows at an alarming rate, frustrating Scarecrow who intended to poison Canada's unbottled water supply.

Shiva/Batman returns to the comic book store two years later, now rather wealthy, finds Harley Quinn still there and tells her of his successes and how the Scarecrow is nowhere to be seen. Harley Quinn is overjoyed and the two marry. Shiva takes Harley Quinn back to his cottage in the mountains of Nepal and introduces her to his other wife Kali, and all is well. To ensure that Scarecrow does not rise to power again, Shiva/Batman distributes a motto for his successful Enterprise Fresh Water company--- 'Take care to ask your politicians about the nature of drinking water in their region.'

Years later, Shiva and Harley Quinn are enjoying a passionate and joyous marriage. Shiva/Batman also relishes drinking his own Enterprise Fresh Water bottled products. His company has now expanded into Iceland, Hong Kong, and Spain. Shiva thinks all is well, until one day, Harley Quinn says to him, 'Good, but now I want you to curtail manmade acid rain!'"


Hopefully, manmade acid rain will not destroy the colorful marriage of Shiva/Batman and Harley Quinn.






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