Taking place 20 Minutes into the Future in Atlanta, Georgia, where superheroes are the norm yet can only do so much to curtail the violence brought forth by superpowers and organized crime, Wright as Rayne focuses on Alex Rayne - a mid-twenties, non-superpowered vigilante with no secret identity and relying on his wits and fighting style to get him in and out of trouble.
But it fails to keep him from getting into trouble one night with a team of superpowered thugs. Alex is captured by Eighth Sin, a "legitimate" business that's secretly one of Atlanta's top crime syndicates headed by one of his old flames, Sarabeth Phoenix. In order to escape from her position as the organization's leader, as it's usually a life-long commitment (as in, "As long as you're alive,"), she decides to put Alex to work in upsetting the syndicate's power balance.
Because Alex's cooperation wouldn't be guaranteed and they need to keep his exact nature a secret, Alex's consciousness is moved into the body of Dorothy Wright, a normal sixteen-year-old girl. Now needing to cooperate to reverse the transformation, Alex is forced to use his combat skill and crimefighting experience to Sarabeth's ends and unseat her from the position of Eighth Sin's leader. Between schoolwork, crimefighting, and furthering Sarabeth's agenda, Alex Rayne has a lot to put up with in his borrowed life.
Can be read here: http://wrightasrayne.thecomicseries.com
The Black Princess
A sister comic running in conjunction with Wright as Rayne. The Black Princess centers on two of the women involved in Alex's abduction, Sareena Black and Misty Smid. Sareena is the titular Black Princess, the youngest of seven children in the main family of a group of witches and warlocks and the only daughter. Her roommate, the somewhat goofy Misty Smid, also works with her in the Paranormal Division of Eighth Sin, investigating the strange and unusual. In the meantime, Misty finds herself having to adjust to being brought into the inner circle of the Black Family.
Can be read here: http://theblackprincess.thecomicseries.com
Blue Blood Heroes
Another sister comic running in conjunction and is set in a town originally called Stonewall, but later renamed to Sapphire City. A genetic phenomenon causes some children to develop preternatural capabilities and advanced intellect, and this change is signified when the person's blood turns blue. Several of these children are studying at a boarding school where this condition is being studied, and they decide to start fighting crime together - about as well as superpowered children are able - and dealing with the issues around being so advanced as children yet facing such grown-up situations.
Can be read at https://bluebloodheroes.thecomicseries.com/
Tropes used:
- Artificial Human: Nine Eyes looks human, but has swirling energy in place of innards, doll-like hair, and has mentioned a creator.
- Ascended Fanboy: Alex grew up a huge fan of Miss Mania and Bell, before getting into the superhero business himself.
- Berserk Button: Nine Eyes does not take being hit in the face well.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Sarabeth leads a semi-legitimate company as well as a crime syndicate, but loves anime and dyes her hair blue.
- The Cameo: Grant from Blue Blood Heroes sends Alex an e-mail. Mech from the same appears in a bar at one point, as does Starswirl the Bearded.
- Civvie Spandex: Alex fights crime in his typical street clothes, including his big purple coat.
- The Clan: The Black family fits the bill based on the nine members of it seen.
- Covers Always Lie: The weremole featured prominently on the cover of "The Moon Prince" only appears briefly toward the end of that chapter; meanwhile Orlando appears on the corresponding "Anger Management" cover in a different outfit from what he wears in the chapter, and when he only has a minor appearance in it.
- Day in the Life: The Wright As Rayne chapter "These Days Go By" is basically this, following Alex on a typical day beating up various gang members and hanging out with classmates.
- "Freaky Friday" Flip: One-sided example - Dorothy's own mind is held suppressed inside Sareena.
- Funny Background Event: The Black Princess has a lot, mostly from Edward's shadow.
- Incredibly Lame Pun: The Cocktail is a gay bar.
- Kubrick Stare: Starchild does this the first time we see her. Even referred to as such in the author's comments.
- Missing Mom / Disappeared Dad: While we see all of Sareena's siblings and her grandfather, no mention is made of her parents.
- Nonindicative Name: It's more accurately Rayne as Wright.
- One-Steve Limit: Dorothy Wright and Paul Wright are confirmed to be of no relation.
- Punny Name: Laura Croft. And for that matter, her middle name is Chris - Chris Croft.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Alex is very fond of purple.
- Refuge in Audacity: A newspaper headline says that Xmarlek stole the Miss Universe crown. He keeps this framed next to the object itself.
- Rewatch Bonus: The Eighth Sin members who attacked Alex were seen in the background during the conversation at the Cocktail.
- Sylvain is first seen in the background of the first chapter, before being introduced in the last panel of the third.
- Right-Hand Cat: Sareena's brother Stephen has yet to be seen without his. It seems rather friendly at least. To him.
- Secret Public Identity: Alex in his own body doesn't hide who he is. Maybe he should have.
- Show Within a Show: Technical King.
- Shrinking Violet: Laura stutters her way through sentences and is almost always blushing.
- Straight Gay: John is rather straight-faced, and Alex describes as someone who would never be seen in The Cocktail.
- Stylistic Suck: The text in the chatroom exchange has plenty of typos to be found.
- Triple Shifter: Alex gets a dose of this in These Days Go By. We follow him over the course of 24 hours, over which time he gets barely any sleep.
- The 'Verse: Wright As Rayne, The Black Princess, and Blue Blood Heroes all take place in the same universe.
- What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?: Misty's main ability amounts to sensing where someone is standing and if they're looking at her.
