The Velveteen stories began in 2008 as an open-ended series about a superhero universe where cosmic powers not only came with great responsibility, they came with great legislation, merchandising, and focus group oversight. Many young heroes were effectively "adopted" by a corporate entity known as The Super Patriots, Inc., which promised to teach them how to best control their amazing gifts.

Some of those junior heroes wanted out. Few of them got it.

VS. HERSELF

Velma "Velveteen" Martinez was one of the young heroes "adopted" by The Super Patriots, Inc. Sweet, smart, and totally marketable, with a power that lent itself well to the kiddie market, she seemed destined to be one of the company's most enduring properties...right up until the day she walked out on the hero world, choosing to return to a civilian life. The reasons are still coming out. More importantly, the Marketing Department is still trying to get her back.

The Velveteen vs. series follows Velma's adventures as she tries to figure out what to do with her life. Most are set in the years following her departure from The Super Patriots, Inc., although a few flashbacks have shown up, giving us a look at what her life was like before she decided to take it back.

All stories are presented in the order they were written, which is mostly chronological, save for those pesky flashbacks. For a chronological list of stories, see the bottom of the page. (Stories involving flashbacks may appear multiple times on the chronological list.)

VS. THE COLLECTIONS

If you want to support the Velveteen stories and keep them appearing on a regular basis, the best way is by buying the books. Three volumes are currently available from ISFiC Press. Because ISFiC is a small publisher, books are best purchased either directly through them, or via an independent bookstore, such as Borderlands Books in San Francisco, California.

Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots collects "Velveteen vs. The Isley Crawfish Festival" through "Velveteen vs. The Blind Date." Velveteen vs. The Multiverse collects "Velveteen vs. Blacklight vs. Sin-Dee" through "Velveteen vs. The Epilogue." Velveteen vs. The Seasons collects "Velveteen vs. Hypothermia" through "Velveteen Presents Jacqueline Claus vs. The Lost and the Found."

Due to contract terms, the ebook editions of Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots and Velveteen vs. The Multiverse are now out of print. The stories remain free to read online.

For justice!

VS. THE ONLINE FICTION

  1. Velveteen vs. The Isley Crayfish Festival
  2. Velveteen vs. The Coffee Freaks
  3. Velveteen vs. The Flashback Sequence
  4. Velveteen vs. The Old Flame
  5. Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division
  6. Velveteen vs. The Eternal Halloween
  7. Velveteen vs. The Ordinary Day
  8. Velveteen vs. Patrol
  9. Velveteen vs. The Blind Date

VS. THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

The following list presents the "Velveteen vs." stories posted here in chronological order. Stories featuring extensive flashback sequences may be listed more than once, to give the proper order of events.

  1. Velveteen vs. The Flashback Sequence. The flashback portions of this story are set, respectively, thirteen and ten years pre-present. The thirteen-year segments are the earliest yet seen.
  2. Velveteen vs. The Eternal Halloween. This story takes place twelve years pre-present, during Velveteen's first Halloween with the Junior Super Patriots.
  3. Velveteen vs. The Old Flame. The flashback portions of this story are set, respectively, eight, seven, and six years pre-present.
  4. Velveteen vs. The Isley Crayfish Festival. This is the first story of the post-Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division era. Set in Isley, California.
  5. Velveteen vs. The Coffee Freaks. This story takes place within a few days of "Velveteen vs. the Isley Crayfish Festival." Set in Red Bluff, California.
  6. Velveteen vs. The Flashback Sequence. The present-day portions of this story are set immediately after the coffee shop incident. Set in Eureka, California.
  7. Velveteen vs. The Old Flame. The present-day portions of this story are set about three days after the coffee shop incident. Set approximately sixty miles from the California/Oregon border.
  8. Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division. This story takes place immediately after "Velveteen vs. The Old Flame." Set at the California/Oregon border.
  9. Velveteen vs. The Ordinary Day. This story takes place immediately after "Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots, West Coast Division." Set in Portland, Oregon.
  10. Velveteen vs. Patrol. This story takes place immediately after "Velveteen vs. The Ordinary Day." Set in Portland, Oregon.
  11. Velveteen vs. The Blind Date. This story takes place approximately eight weeks after "Velveteen vs. Patrol." Set in Portland, Oregon.