Mason and the Monsters

By Herman Merman, Striga Isle Informer

STRIGA ISLE - Paragon City has seen a lot of changes lately, and according to some, changes not for the better.

While our fair citizens are happy -- nay, thrilled -- that its heroes tirelessly defend the city's myriad zones from the plethora of unending baddies out there, they seem to be less thrilled at the number of monsters that continue to appear.

"I mean, I'm like, glad they are here and everything," said Tiffany Gelsax, a young, single mother of three. "But sometimes it would be nice to be saved by a good-looking hero, you know? Like that Lava.Lad. Or even Power.Boy. But have you seen the hero call L'il Horfrost?" Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Sometimes he looks like a really short Santa Claus with goat horns, but lately he's been running around looking like the Abominable Snowman. And it's like, scaring the crap outta my kids."

Many zones in Paragon City have monsters -- just take a trip to the forests in Striga Isle or frankly anywhere in Croatoa.

But happily, not everyone feels that the increasing presence of monsters in Paragon City is a problem.

"L'il Horfrost is a very close friend of mine, and we've worked side-by-side for some time," stated Mason Shura flatly.

"Power, Incorporated doesn't just accept any hero you know. And besides - the warshades turn into monsters all the time but no one seems to have a problem with that. And look at all the wolves and tuatha there are everywhere! But when a hero decides to grow a little fur..."

Mason drifted away for a second with a small smile on his lips before catching himself. Clearly the man likes a little fur.

"Anyway, it's simply NOT a problem for us," he finished firmly before flying away.

Not a problem indeed.

This reporter tried to learn more about Power, Incorporated's plans to include more monsters on its roster, including rumors that a new young hero called Power.Babe is being groomed for membership; that he's really an amputee decendent of the great Babe, the Big Blue Ox.

Naturally, neither Power.Woman nor L'il Horfrost could not be reached for comment.